by Dilys Xavier
He fiddled with a scrap of paper that he pulled out of his pocket. Then he went on. ‘I felt unwanted and set aside. I found it a bit hard to take even though you had a perfectly legitimate reason to refuse.’ Then he looked straight into her eyes. ‘I should never have reacted the way I did. Please accept my sincerest apologies for assuming too much.’ He took a deep breath, and looked soulfully at her, like a little boy apologizing for breaking the best china vase.
‘Oh, Rex, please don’t worry about that,’ she said, with a smile, and reached out a reassuring hand to him. ‘Come on in. It’s lovely to see you, and I can do with some company. Will you join me for supper? It’ll take only minutes to sort out a pizza.’
Rex livened up immediately. He settled down in the comfortable chair while she slipped into the kitchen, and within fifteen minutes they were eating. They spent the rest of the evening just sitting quietly, with very little conversation. Katie felt that this quiet behaviour was most unusual for Rex, but it was just what she needed; company, with no amorous advances, but with peace and quiet instead. He had not talked at all about his travels, nor asked her any leading questions.
‘Will you be all right on your own?’ he asked, as the end of the evening drew close. ‘Maybe one of your daughters could stay the night.’
‘I’ll be fine,’ Katie assured him. ‘It’s getting late now, and I feel quite exhausted so I think it’s time I went to bed. Thank you for your company; it was what I really needed, and I appreciated it. I’m so glad you called.’
‘My pleasure,’ he beamed. ‘I’m pleased that I came at the right time,’ Rex said, seeming to hesitate a little as he prepared to leave; it gave her the distinct feeling that he was still bothered about something. It wasn’t until she reached for his jacket off the hallstand that he asked her something that had obviously been sitting quietly on his mind for the whole evening. ‘Tell me, was it you I saw in a green Bentley this afternoon?’ He gave a nervous little cough. ‘I saw it at the crossroads, and I could have sworn it was you in the passenger seat.’
‘Yes,’ Katie answered, in a controlled voice, ‘it was me.’ There was a momentary silence and Rex seemed to be waiting for an explanation. Katie decided that if he questioned her, she would have to put him straight on that issue. He had no claim on her time, and she would point out that she was free to go wherever, and with whomever she chose. But Rex made no further comment. Instead, he firmed his lips, pushed his hand into his jacket pocket, and drew out a colourful booklet. ‘It’s probably the wrong time to give you this,’ he said, ‘but I was in town this afternoon, and picked it up. You might as well have it now, in case I... er, mislay it.’
Katie saw that it was a travel brochure. On Majorca. Her eyes twinkled as she gave him a meaningful glance, and she was about to say something when he spoke again.
‘The offer of a trip to my place there is still open,’ he said, his lips curving into a slight smile. ‘After your aunt’s funeral is over, maybe you’ll be in need of a break. I know I would.’ He gave the brochure she held a little tap with his finger. ‘Take a look through that, but don’t make up your mind one way or the other… yet.’ Then he took her hand gently. ‘I would consider it a great honour if you’d come, Katie, and I promise… no strings attached whatsoever. Don’t dismiss the idea out of hand. Please give it some serious thought.’
He slipped on his coat and made for the Mercedes. He was quite right, of course. She would need a break. And if she did accept his offer, at least he would be the best person to look after her on the flight, and take her around an interesting holiday on a Mediterranean island she didn’t know.
The next day, when Katie answered a knock on the back door, she opened it to find Pat standing there, but without his normal cheery greeting. In fact, he looked quite solemn, and his colour was pale, as though he was very tired.
‘I’m sorry to hear about your aunt,’ he said. ‘I had no idea... I’ll give the garden work a miss until after the funeral, if you wish.’
‘No need for that,’ Katie answered. ‘You carry on as usual, Pat. The funeral is in Hereford, not here.’
He hesitated as though not knowing what to say next, and his face flushed a little as he looked into Katie’s eyes. ‘There’s something weighing heavy on my mind, Mrs. Turner.,’ he said, his colour deepening, ‘and it would help if I could talk about it for a minute. Do you mind?’ He breathed deeply, and allowed a few seconds to tick by before speaking again. ‘I want to say I’m sorry… about… about not taking you shopping for the roses.’ He spread his hands and looked appealingly at her. ‘It was unkind of me. I should never have said what I did… it was quite uncalled for. I didn’t mean it, and I don’t know what got into me.’
Katie got the impression he didn’t know how or when to stop apologizing, because he seemed to go on and on. ‘I think I’ve been overdoing things, on top of the worry at not being able to find myself another place to live.’ He looked embarrassed, and shifted uneasily on his feet as he stared at the ground. ‘It’s not like me to be so mean.’ He took another deep breath. ‘I haven’t been sleeping well either, so I paid a visit to the doctor, and he advised me to cut down on the work a bit.’
Katie smiled at him, thankful that he had brought up the subject himself. She wanted the air cleared, and this was the ideal opportunity. ‘Oh, Pat, don’t you worry now.’ She smiled and had a sudden urge to throw her arms around this lovely, sensitive Irishman, and hug him tightly, but quickly realized that might give him the wrong message. ‘There’s no need for you to feel badly about it,’ she said. ‘I understand. I’m well aware that you really have been going it a pace, and a body can only take so much, and then it folds. What took place is the least of my worries. Let’s forget it ever happened, okay?’
Pat’s expression brightened immediately. ‘Thank you, Mrs. Turner. I’ll make it up to you in some way.’ His sudden change of manner made Katie instantly happier, and she watched as he walked jauntily into the garden to get on with his work. She couldn’t help thinking that he really was one of the best, and went straight inside to make him a coffee.
‘Feeling better now, Pat? she asked, handing him the hot drink. ‘You’ve done so much out here for me, and it all looks great — the fencing, the new trellis, and I can see how much things are progressing — and I’m more than grateful. Considering your doctor’s advice, I think you should finish early today.’
Pat did as Katie suggested, but before he drove off he asked, in his usual jovial manner, ‘Is there anything else I can do to help?’
This was more like Pat’s old twinkling self and it delighted her to think that they had regained some semblance of the happy rapport they had previously enjoyed. Pat was the last person in the world that she wanted to fall out with.
‘Yes, thanks for asking, Pat; perhaps while we’re at the funeral?’ she said. ‘It’ll be a comfort to know there’s someone looking after the place when we’re not here.’
She walked back into the sitting room and picked up the brochure Rex had given her. Then, comfortably seated, she flicked through the pages, running her finger over the descriptions of various locations. Every one of them looked delightful, and she wondered if the island really was that pretty.
She closed her eyes and recalled what Rex had said, and smiled as she remembered his description of where his villa was: idyllic surroundings, peace and quiet, blue seas and warm sunshine, good food and wine, soft music. And my undivided attention … ‘Ah,’ she breathed. She could just see herself there, soaking up the sun in a bikini, lying back in a comfortable recliner chair at the side of the water. It was certainly worth considering.
That night Katie slept far better than she thought she would, but time seemed to hang heavy for her throughout the whole of the next day. She wanted the business of the funeral and the house clearance to come to a close now. As usual, she spent much of the evening gazing through the window. She watched as the sun dropped lower, and was enjoying the brilliant colours in the sk
y when a police car pulled up outside and jerked her out of her reverie.
‘Oh, my God,’ she murmured, her heart giving a sudden jump, ‘what now?’ She hurried and opened the door just as the officer was about to knock.
‘Mrs. Turner. May we have a few words with you?’
‘Certainly. Come inside, Officer.’ By now, Katie’s heart was pounding hard against her ribs. Her first thought was that there had been an accident; that something dreadful had happened to one of her children. With clenched fists and bated breath she waited.
‘I’m sorry, we have some bad news for you. We understand that your aunt, Miss Bertha Barrett, is staying here with you.’
‘Yes, she was here. She passed away only days ago,’ Katie said, wiping away a couple of tears that were suddenly there. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘I am sorry to hear about your aunt,’ the officer said, pausing for a reasonable time, ‘but we have to inform you that there was a robbery at Miss Barrett’s home this morning, and that certain items may have been stolen.’
Katie had been so afraid that the news was going to be much worse, that she even felt a momentary sense of relief. ‘A robbery? In broad daylight?’ The realization that her aunt’s place, which was now hers, had been broken into, drove home. ‘What can you tell me about it?’ She sat down and gestured for the policeman to sit opposite her.
‘It seems that your aunt’s next door neighbours disturbed the thieves, but not before they had loaded some stuff into a van. I’m afraid the neighbour, a Mr. Jones, was injured in the ensuing fracas, but his wife, who was thrown to the ground, was not as badly hurt, and was able to phone the police.’ He spread his hands. ‘At this stage, there’s little more information we can give you, but I would suggest that someone goes there as soon as possible to check out the place and make it secure. The local police have done what they can, but the responsibility is… well, yours now, I’m afraid, Mrs. Turner.’
Katie felt numb… this on top of everything else. Was fate playing a game with her? ‘I understand,’ she murmured. ‘Thank you for letting me know. I’ll see to it as soon as possible.’
After he left, Katie sank back into the chair for a few minutes. Then she made herself a cup of tea, and rang the girls, and then Richard, to tell them what had happened. That done, the tears flowed down Katie’s face. This was the last straw. She quickly swilled her face in cold water just minutes before Richard and Sam arrived together.
‘I’ll have to get up to Avondale as soon as possible,’ Katie said.
‘Well, don’t go there on your own, Mum,’ Sam said. ‘You’ll need someone with you to deal with that sort of trouble.’
‘I’d come, only I’ve got an important meeting tomorrow,’ Richard said, ‘one that I dare not miss. Actually, I had rearranged it so that I’d be free for the funeral.’ He gave an enquiring glance at his sister.
‘Claudia’s not well,’ Sam said, ‘so I can’t leave her. I wonder if Tanya could have time off school to go with you, Mum. Of course, it’s no good hoping Margie will; she’s always so busy, just living, that she’ll probably be unable to do it.’ She turned back to her mother. ‘I don’t suppose checking out the place can wait?’
‘No, it can’t; I must go as soon as I can.’ She smiled at them. ‘It’s good of you to be concerned, but it’s no problem really… I just have to see that the place is properly secured, that’s all.’
The day was almost through by the time they left, and Katie had made up her mind to go to Avondale Manor first thing in the morning; it was too late to consider going there now, as it would be dark before she arrived there.
Sleep that night was full of unpleasant dreams… of shadowy figures climbing in through the windows of her house and threatening her. She was glad to see the morning sun streaming in through the window and realize that she had been dreaming. She rose early, and took her coffee into the sitting room from where she could see her garden, and sat down, still in her dressing gown, while she thought about the trip in front of her. As she gazed through the window, she saw Pat arrive earlier than usual. She showered and dressed hurriedly, and when she came down she could see his outline through the glass of the back door as he waited outside.
‘Top o’ the morning to you,’ he said, apparently once more his cheerful self.
‘Hello, Pat,’ Katie said, quietly.
He stared hard at her. ‘Something’s wrong, Mrs. Turner. I can tell by your face that something’s very wrong, to be sure. What is it?’
Katie backed away from the door, and Pat stepped inside with a concerned look in his eyes. He placed a protective arm around her shoulders. ‘Come on now,’ he soothed, taking her to a chair, ‘Let me make you some tea before I start work.’ He switched on the electric kettle, ‘By the look of you, ‘tis tea with a shot of brandy in it that you’re needing, Mrs. Turner.’
‘No. No brandy, thank you.’ She gave him a weak smile. ‘Plain tea will be fine.’
Pat sat down with her at the kitchen table. ‘Now tell me what’s upset you like this, and on such a lovely morning.’
‘There’s been a robbery at Avondale Manor, and I have to go there this morning, make sure the place is secured, and see the police about what is missing. Quite honestly, getting to Avondale is usually no problem, but today I rather wish I didn’t have to drive all that way on my own, especially without Aunt Bertha there; it’ll seem so strange.’
‘Do you really have to go today? You’ll be there for the funeral in a few days’ time, won’t it keep until then?
‘No. The police think I should go straight away. You see, the place is my responsibility now, and it needs to be secured. It was too late for me to go last night, but I really must go today. They believe that some antiques have been stolen, and time is a crucial factor if they are to be retrieved.’ She cupped her face in her hands. ‘It’s a fair old trip, but that’s not what bothers me; it’s just that after what’s happened, I don’t relish the idea of visiting there.’
Pat handed her a second cup of tea, and sat with her for company for a few more minutes before going outside to carry on with his work. It was just then that Sam phoned.
‘I’ve just met Rex at the bank, and told him about the robbery. He’s coming straight over to see you, Mum. Thought I’d better let you know. I’m in a hurry… see you again. Bye now.’ Then the line went dead.
Seconds later, there was a light tap on the back door, and Katie looked up to see Pat framed in the doorway. ‘I’ve been thinking,’ he said, slowly. ‘There’s no reason why I can’t drive you to Avondale Manor, and maybe I can secure the place for you. Would you like that?’
Katie took a deep breath. This was something she had not expected. ‘But your work, your… ‘
Pat lifted a hand against her objection. ‘It involves no one else… I’m here all day today. It simply means that I’ll be driving you instead of digging your garden, that’s all,’ he said. ‘I’ve arranged to view a house that’s to let this evening, but I can see it another day. I could take some tools with me just in case we have to board up any damaged doors or windows.’ He spread his hands. ‘It’s entirely up to you, Mrs. Turner, but if we’re going, then we’ll need to get away immediately.’
‘You’re kindness itself, Pat,’ Katie said. ‘Thank you for the offer. I’ll get ready right now,’ she said, feeling both relieved and delighted.
‘Good. I’ll gather some essentials we may need, then I’ll fill the car with petrol.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘How soon will you be ready?’
‘Within minutes. I’ll phone to tell the children we’re going,’ she said. She had just phoned Sam and asked her to pass the message on to the others, when Rex turned up at the back door, looking most concerned.
‘My dear Katie, I met Sam earlier and she told me about the robbery. She also told me she thinks you shouldn’t be driving there today, under the circumstances, so I’ve called to offer my services. I’ll take you, if you like.’ He was all smiles and his old self again
.
Katie hesitated, hardly knowing how to tell him that it was already decided that Pat was going with her. ‘I’ve only just sorted it all out,’ she said. ‘Thank you so much for the kind offer, Rex… I do appreciate your generosity, but it’s all sorted out. I’m on the point of leaving right now.’
‘That soon?’ Rex said, with raised brows. ‘But it’s barely fifteen minutes since Sam told me about your problem.’ He looked perplexed. ‘Then I’d better get out of your way,’ he said, when there was a tap on the back door.
‘Mrs. Turner, I’ve loaded tools and such… everything I need… into the Volvo, so if you’re ready we’ll go straight away.’
Katie glanced quickly at Rex, and saw the puzzled look in his eyes.
‘Is there a problem?’ Pat asked, when she hesitated, unable to see Rex standing behind the door, where he was able to hear what had been said.
‘No, I’ll be there in a minute, Pat. Would you wait in the car for me?’ She looked sideways at Rex again. His dark look clearly showed how annoyed he felt, and for a moment, Katie wondered if she should tell Rex that if Pat hadn’t offered she would have gladly gone with him.
‘Oh, I see,’ Rex said, rather dryly, pulling back his shoulders and drawing himself up straight. ‘So it’s the gardener who’s going with you?’ With his lips set firm, he dusted down his trousers with the back of his hand, like he always did when he was annoyed. ‘Right, well, you know I was ready to help, but since you have made arrangements, I won’t delay you.’ He gave a brisk nod and made for the open door. ‘Have a safe journey, Katie.’
Chapter Eight
Only seconds after Rex left, Katie and Pat were on their way. It was still early in the day, so Katie had no worries about the time. The journey was uneventful, and the roads were fairly clear of traffic, even on the motorway. When they arrived at the village, Katie guided him through the maze of narrow country roads to the manor.
As Pat drove up the curving drive, his eyes widened when he saw the imposing building in front of him. ‘That’s it?’ he asked, in an incredulous tone. ‘Oh, an’ what a place, to be sure. ‘Tis all yours now?’
