by Dilys Xavier
‘A linnet, I’m sure,’ Rex answered. ‘I’ve done quite a bit of bird watching.’
They were soon enjoying a simple meal of the best Aberdeen Angus steak, with mushrooms, onions, and French fries, in a quiet country inn. After their coffee had been served, Rex reached across the table and took Katie’s hand. Her first impulse was to pull away, but she hesitated, curious to know exactly what was in his mind.
He spoke in a low tone. ‘Katie, we’ve met a few times now… and I can only hope that you enjoy my company as much as I enjoy yours.’ He paused, looking anxious as he waited for her response.
She wondered what was coming next. No way was she going to commit herself, but neither did she want to say anything that would put an end to their pleasant relationship, such as it was. ‘Yes, we do get along fairly well.’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking,’ he said. ‘I’ll be taking a trip to my little place in Majorca fairly soon.’ He looked her straight in the eyes. ‘What I’m trying to say is that it would be far more fun if you’d come with me.’
Katie’s jaw dropped in surprise at the unexpected suggestion. ‘It’s a... ‘ she faltered, groping for words. As she pulled her mind together, she remembered the serious condition of Aunt Bertha’s health; it would be a genuine excuse. ‘It’s a wonderful idea, Rex, and so kind of you to invite me, but I’ll be unable to take advantage of your tempting offer. Going away anywhere is out of the question while Aunt Bertha is so ill.’ She reached out her other hand to cover his. ‘You do understand?’
‘Ah, sorry. Didn’t think of that,’ Rex said, shaking his head vigorously, with disappointment in his eyes. A moment later he perked up. ‘But when your aunt is fully recovered and back home, will you come then? I can wait.’
‘She’s not going home,’ Katie replied. ‘I’ve invited her to live with me, so my freedom will be curtailed as soon as that happens, which will be once she comes home from hospital.’ ‘Going away then will be out of the question.’
‘Ah, I see.’ Rex rubbed his fingers over his beard while he thought for a moment or two. ‘But once she’s better, could she not stay with one of your daughters, or go into a home for a short while so that you could take a holiday?’ ‘You’ve told me you’re badly in need of a change, and surely here’s an offer too good to miss.’
He spread his hands wide and looked pleadingly at her. ‘Imagine this: a beautiful hillside setting, overlooking the sea, lazy days basking in the gentle warmth of glorious sunshine, good food and wine, dreamy music, and nothing to do.’ He smiled broadly as he spoke and patted her hand. ‘There’s more… and me to look after you with undivided attention, on a part of the island frequented by royalty and film stars.’ He took a deep breath and smiled. ‘Your own room of course; no strings attached, I promise.’
‘It sounds a dream of a place. Yes, it’s a possibility, but remote, Rex, so please don’t start planning anything.’ She was thankful to have Aunt Bertha as an excuse allowing her to gracefully get out of trip without offending him.
‘All right, then we’ll leave the matter in abeyance, but I hope things will work out favourably.’ He called for the check and as soon as he settled it, he took her arm. ‘Now my sweet Katie, I think I should take you home.’
Pleasantly comfortable, and fully satisfied with the evening out, Katie felt sleepy on the journey home. ‘If you don’t mind, I won’t ask you in tonight, Rex,’ she said, as he drove in through the gates. ‘That country air has made me so relaxed, that I think I’ll go to bed straight away.’
‘As you wish.’ Rex pulled to a stop and left the Mercedes. He walked to the front door with her, and, without hesitation, folded his long arms around her and held her tightly for several seconds. His breathing was heavy, and made Katie wonder if he was going to try and kiss her again. Strangely, she wanted him to now, and snuggled her face into his broad chest. He must have sensed her willingness, because he released his tight hold, and leaned back to look down into her face.
‘Katie,’ he said, in a low tone, ‘I think I’m getting a bit too fond of you.’ Then he sighed deeply, and lifted her chin. He kissed her gently at first, and then, as passion took over, his kiss became harder, more urgent, and deeper.
A little taken aback by his sudden fervour, Katie stiffened in his arms as he kissed her.
Obviously sensing her mood, Rex released her, and stepped back. ‘Goodnight, dear Katie,’ he whispered, then turned and left.
Katie closed the door behind her and leaned against it, feeling pleasantly tired. Once she was tucked into bed, as she lay there, she couldn’t help but think over Rex’s proposition. The more she thought about it, the more interesting it seemed. Perhaps his idea was a good one, she thought… that Aunt Bertha could stay with one of the girls once she had settled in at Priory farm.
The following week Rex stopped by, and Katie watched as he called out to Pat, who was on his knees in the garden. Through the open window she could plainly hear what he shouted to the gardener.
‘I say, you’re doing a fine job here.’ Rex gestured around at the improvement that was clearly evident.
‘There’s a lot more to be done before I’ll be happy with it,’ Pat called back, standing up to answer the professor.
Katie smiled as she watched him lean on his spade as he continued to look at Rex, and she guessed he might be wondering what it had to do with the professor. Without saying any more, Rex shrugged and turned away, lifted the heavy brass knocker and banged it three times.
Katie opened the door and invited him inside. ‘I’ve just made coffee,’ she said. ‘Let me take one out to Pat, and then we can sit down in comfort and chat over ours.’ As she took a steaming mug of coffee out to the garden, she felt pleased that Rex had called today. It had been a bit quiet without him. There had been no telephone call from Tom either, and Katie concluded that the colonel must have forgotten all about her.
After returning to the house, she settled on the settee across from Rex.
‘I was passing, and couldn’t resist calling. How is your aunt?’ he said, taking the coffee from Katie.
‘Oh, she’s much better, thanks, but still very frail,’ Katie said, sighing deeply. ‘The additional tests she was given were satisfactory, so all I have to do now is get a downstairs room ready for when she comes home at the end of the week.’
‘I’m on my way to give a talk at the Town Hall, but I couldn’t resist stopping to see you,’ Rex said. ‘Have you given any more thought about my invitation to Majorca?’
‘Yes, plenty of thought,’ Katie smiled at him. ‘But nothing’s changed I’m afraid.’
‘Keep thinking then,’ Rex said. He finished his coffee and stood up once more. ‘I’m sorry to run away like this, but I’ll be in touch soon.’
As Katie watched Rex’s car drive through the gates, she spotted Pat coming from the greenhouse with his wheelbarrow. He stopped and nodded at her, but the customary smile was lacking. He set the wheelbarrow down and walked towards her.
‘I see that you’ve planted all the shrubs we bought,’ Katie said cheerfully. ‘Shall we go to buy the roses soon?’
He didn’t seem to be his usual happy self. He seemed withdrawn, and hesitated for several seconds before answering.
‘I’m sorry, Mrs. Turner,’ he said, looking slightly embarrassed, and looking away, ‘but I really don’t have the time to take you. It’s planting time I’d be using, you see, and there’s my other work to consider as well, to be sure, it’s all getting a bit much. ‘He looked down at his boots, while Katie stood there silently, and then continued. ‘I have to tell you that I really am going to cut down on my workload. You see, I’m often working into the night, with no time or energy these days for even a leisurely beer of an evening.’
Katie felt the muscles of her face tighten, and a funny little trace of fear niggled up her spine. ‘Here? Are you intending to cut down on your work here?’
Pat turned his head away as though he had not heard her question, and picked
up his wheelbarrow without giving an answer.
It’s not like Pat to be churlish, Katie reasoned. His tone had been quite sharp, and he had behaved almost like a stranger. Something’s upset him, she thought, and tried to think of what it could be. She followed him into the vegetable garden. ‘You’ve always been so obliging, Pat, so willing to help. It’s not like you to be so offhand. Have I offended you in some way? Because if I have, I want to know how, and try to put it right.’
Pat looked at her without the flicker of a smile, and his bright blue eyes narrowed beneath a furrowed brow. ‘The truth is, Mrs. Turner., I’m a very busy person, but I do need an hour or two to myself at times.’ Then he looked up at her. ‘If you’ll pardon my saying so, I feel that your friend with the silver Mercedes probably has more time to spare than I have. Maybe he could take you shopping for the roses?’
Pat picked up his spade and hoe, and turned to Katie. ‘And now, if you’ll kindly excuse me, I have to put these in the shed so that I can go home.’ With that, he tightened his lips, gathered up the rest of his tools, and marched off to store them away.
Katie stood stock-still as she watched him go into the tool-shed. Minutes later, Pat reappeared, and then left, saying no more than a terse, ‘G’night, now, Mrs. Turner.’
Chapter Seven
Hot tears sprang to her eyes as she watched Pat’s car disappear down the drive. On top of everything else, the last thing she wanted to do was upset Pat O’Reilly, for without his help, her huge garden would soon be in a dreadful state again. She wondered what was behind his reference to Rex Charteris? What she did with her private life should be no concern of his, and she certainly felt no obligation to explain her actions to him… or to anyone else, for that matter. Anyway, Rex was only a friend, but a good one — even if he had kissed her goodnight. But only she knew about that.
She wandered indoors and rang Elspeth; she just wanted someone to talk to, and she could not imagine herself discussing this sort of thing with her children.
‘What a surprise,’ Elspeth said. ‘I was going to ring you later anyway. What’s up that makes you ring me for a change?’
Katie poured out her problems; told her about Aunt Bertha’s impending return home, about meeting the colonel, about Rex’s invitation to go on holiday, and finally about Pat’s inclination to go and live in Ireland. Ultimately, she told of his puzzling reluctance to help her shop for roses.
For a change, Elspeth listened quite patiently, and then retorted, ‘That’s men for you my dear. They’re the same the world over; bossy, manipulative, possessive, selfish and jealous. In fact, everything a woman can do without.’ She waited a few seconds, but when Katie did not reply, she added, ‘What if I slip down in a couple of days? We could go out together and enjoy ourselves. It might help you forget it all.’
‘Do that,’ Katie replied, reflecting that even entertaining Elspeth was better than nursing her miseries.
‘I’m chairing a meeting tomorrow night, Elspeth said, and I’ve something else on for the following morning.’ She stopped for a few seconds. ‘What if I say I’ll come in a few days, as soon as I’ve got those out of the way. Okay if I just turn up?’
‘You do just that, Elspeth.’ Katie replaced the phone, and sighed… everything she did seemed to go wrong, and there was the added worry about Aunt Bertha. It was only when Tanya called on her way home from her art class that she brightened up.
‘Mum,’ she said, brightly, ‘do you remember a Cuthbert Alexander when you were in school?’
‘Of course I do. Who could forget a name like Cuthbert, poor soul? He was very good at art, if I remember correctly. Nice looking boy, pleasant too—Elspeth had the hots for him in those days.’ She thought for a moment. ‘Matter of fact, I’m sure we saw him at Tintern Abbey when we went there recently.’
‘Well, he’s joined the art class that I belong to. We got talking tonight, and he asked me about you, and said to give you his regards.’ Tanya flopped onto the big settee, and leaned back into the squashy feather cushions. ‘Cuthbert seems ever so nice, and a real gentleman. Told me he never married. Teaches history at Bowden Boys’ School,’ she prattled on, and then stopped and thought for a couple of moments. ‘Look, Mum, in a couple of weeks we’re holding an exhibition of class students’ work. He’ll be there for the opening, a Saturday, exhibiting his own efforts like the rest of us. Be nice for you to meet up with him again. What d’you say?’
Katie hesitated at first, but then went on, ‘I’d like to see your work on display, so I’ll come for that reason; give me the details to put in my diary.’
‘Must dash now, Mum; lots to do… got a busy day tomorrow.’ Tanya threw her arms around Katie and planted a noisy kiss on her cheek before rushing out to her car. Katie waved her off, but when she went inside, she began to hunt through the bottom drawer of the old desk. She knew there was an old school photograph in there somewhere, and felt certain Cuthbert would be on it. She pulled out a tightly rolled up photo, and sure enough, it was a wide shot of the lower sixth form of her year. She spread it out on the table and weighted down both ends to study it. She smiled widely… Cuthbert’s face was unmistakable; she could even see the brace on his teeth. She ran her finger along the line, and stopped at Elspeth; she was on it too. She remembered how crazy her friend had been about Cuthbert. Her finger moved along until she came to her own picture, her fair curls framing her face like a halo, and felt delighted that her appearance hadn’t changed all that much over the years.
She spent the next half hour studying the sea of faces, wondering where they all were now, and thinking how nice it would be if they could have a reunion. Then she sat back, and silently reminisced some more. She did well in her A levels, but then she met Greg, and could think of nothing else but marrying the love of her life. Her father had wanted her to go to university, so her wish to marry Greg had made him furious. It was Greg, or university. He eventually gave them his blessing when he saw how much she loved Greg, and Katie had never regretted her decision. She sighed deeply, and decided to take a wander around her garden before she became introspective again.
Soon she left the house to bring Aunt Bertha home. Her aunt got into the car and the ward Sister gave Katie some medication for her.
‘She must rest as much as possible,’ she said, looking most concerned. ‘She has no energy at all, and wants to sleep all the time, but that’s understandable at her age.’
Within the hour, Katie had Aunt Bertha tucked up in bed downstairs, where it would be easier to look after her. She was sitting with her aunt that evening, when the phone rang. She ran into the hall to answer it, and brightened up immediately; it was the Colonel. So much had happened since she had met him that she had almost forgotten him, but he had kept his promise.
‘I was called away on business,’ Tom said, full of apologies. ‘I was annoyed when I discovered I didn’t have your number with me, so this is the first opportunity I’ve had to ring you. How are you… keeping well I hope?’
‘I’m fine, thanks, Tom, and how are you?’
‘Well, thank you, but look here, Katie, I’d like to know if I can call to see you. We could pick up our conversation where we left off at the dinner.’
‘By all means,’ Katie said. ‘But there are complications; my aunt has just come home from hospital after an operation, so I’m house bound, which means I’m not able to go out.’ She paused for a moment. ‘But of course, you’re certainly welcome to come here.’ She gave him directions to Priory Farm. ‘Come to afternoon tea with us tomorrow.’
‘That’s great. Then I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow,’ he said.
The next morning, Katie decided some dainty smoked salmon on brown bread would be nice, and she made some light, plain scones as well. Then, she pulled out a fresh pot of her home-made strawberry preserve, and some fresh Devon clotted cream, for a typical English afternoon cream tea.
Tom’s car pulled up in the forecourt at exactly four o’clock. She watched hi
m stride from his car to the front door, his shoulders firmly squared, and his hands clasped behind him. He looked handsome and every inch the army officer. As Katie opened the door, he held out both hands and grasped hers tightly. She drew him inside, and immediately offered him a drink, which he declined in favour of a cup of tea.
Katie poured a cup for Aunt Bertha as well, but her aunt had slept most of the afternoon, and was still asleep when Katie took in the tea.
The tea trolley was loaded with what she had prepared, and she rolled it into the room where Tom was sitting. Katie sat down alongside him, and felt pleasantly surprised that she felt so comfortable with him. He was easy to get along with, and they chatted away in low tones so as not to wake Bertha in the next room. She listened intently to more tales about Tom’s life in foreign parts where he had served, and felt thankful that so far he had made few demands to know all about her life.
‘My wife and I were looking forward to coming back to the English countryside,’ he said, ‘but, it was not to be.’ He gazed absently through the window and sighed deeply. ‘Shortly after taking early retirement I found an idyllic spot to live. My wife and only son were driving to meet me there to look around. It was on a day when the weather was absolutely atrocious.’ He shook his head vigorously before he continued. ‘Flooded roads and all that, and I warned them not to come, but Gail was keen to see the place and refused to postpone the trip. She insisted they would be all right, and made the journey much against my wishes.’
He ran his fingers over his jaw and took a very deep breath. ‘They were involved in a horrific motorway pileup. Both were killed instantly.’ He looked down into his tea. ‘The shock was dreadful. My world collapsed around me. I thought I’d never get over it, but life goes on.’
His voice was so thick with emotion as he told the story, that Katie felt tears stinging her own eyes as she listened. He drew another deep breath.
