First Friends

by Marcia Willett

  How romantic and glamorous it all was, she thought. I suppose it isn’t Mark’s fault that I saw him as something on a film set. What a turn-on that strong silent approach was! That wonderful feeling that love conquers all. Perhaps it’s as well that the young never think about the stark realities of life. It’s essential that they feel that they can cope with anything it throws at them. How else would they have the courage to go forward?

  She remembered her own high ideals, the part she’d hoped to play in Mark’s life and the aura of excitement that had surrounded the Navy and particularly the submarine service.

  It was like being presented with a big beautiful box, she thought, only to find that when the paper was torn off and the ribbons undone, the bloody thing was empty!

  ‘You’re looking far too sad.’ One of the men was bending over her, filling her glass. ‘Cheer up, your old man will be home before too long. Come on, let’s go and swing a leg!’

  IN THE NEXT EIGHTEEN months, Kate found Dartmoor a tremendous solace. She rediscovered old haunts and found that the wild contours and rolling landscape were a constant joy. Its vast spaces kept her problems in proportion; beside such immensity and timelessness it seemed that nothing could be so terribly important. Out walking with Megs and the twins, her heart was soothed and uplifted and she understood the psalmist’s cry: ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills.’

  With the twins at school she was free to spend more time on jaunts to Dartmouth and Totnes, often accompanied by the General. He was an unexacting, easy companion to whom she often found herself talking about her anxieties. It was a relief to voice her thoughts, to look at them calmly and rationally instead of arguing round and round inside her head. The General listened thoughtfully. He was fair and sensible and yet she knew that he was on her side. Kate found this immensely comforting. Her mother had the same approach but she had been unwell of late and Kate was too frightened to burden her with her own problems on her visits to St Just. Her mother rarely made the trip to Devon now. Her father was closer to his sons and Kate had never been intimate with him. She had no idea how seriously the General took his role of confidant, how he mulled and brooded over their talks and worried in case he was in any way misjudging the situation. It was not so much a question of advice but more of allowing her to talk things through and he prayed for guidance.

  Mrs Hampton was another good friend. Wise and motherly, she had the same effect on Kate as the General had already remarked on himself and the children. She made her feel safe. In her company she could relax, shed her responsibilities. This was an enormous luxury for Kate who had no one to turn to when pipes froze, the children were fractious or she was ill. There was no one to make her a cup of tea, take the twins off her hands or dig the garden. No one came home in the evening to share anxieties about money, laugh over some amusing incident or advise her about bringing up two boys. Mrs Hampton was an invaluable ally and Kate tried to repay by taking her for trips in the car. They would go Tavistock most Fridays to explore the market where Kate would pore for hours over the second-hand books whilst Mrs Hampton pottered about inspecting the home-made goodies and fresh vegetables and fruit. When she had made her purchases, Kate would help her carry them back to the car and then they would go and find some coffee.

  Tavistock was Kate’s local town and she would often go there to shop and visit the library, stopping off at the Bedford Hotel for coffee or for lunch, a great treat for the twins when they were on holiday. Gradually she began to make a few friends but, even so, it seemed odd to be living without the framework of the Navy after nearly nine years within it. She missed the life in the base and felt a strange sense of loss that she no longer had the support and companionship of other naval wives.

  Only once did Mark invite her up to Dolphin to a party on the boat. The Wardroom greeted her with a certain amount of deference and some reserve and Kate, remembering Cass’s words, wondered how Mark had represented her to them: as some potty woman living in the wilds of Dartmoor, unsocial, uncaring, wrapped up in her own life?

  He paid a great deal of attention to one of the younger officer’s wives as if to imply to Kate that he had been obliged to make the invitation but was resentful that she had accepted it. The girl was very flattered by his attentions and giggled and squirmed a great deal. Kate waited for her to say: ‘Oh, you are awful!’ It seemed that she had been made much of when she went out to Nova Scotia during the boat’s visit, this much being made clear to Kate by veiled hints and allusions and sidelong glances. The young officer, delighted to see his Captain so en rapport with his wife, encouraged and took it all in good part.

  In the end she found herself talking to Ralph Masters, the First Lieutenant, a very pleasant and serious young man who clearly disapproved of Mark’s behaviour but was doing his best to hide his feelings. He went to fetch her a drink and returned with a tall, dark girl.

  ‘I can’t remember whether or not you have already met Harriet? We’re engaged to be married now,’ he said.

  Kate smiled. ‘Yes, we met at the Drake ball, didn’t we?’ Suddenly she had a vision of Cass at that summer ball in the base at Devonport saying ‘ . . . we could all be Captains’ wives. Think of the glory . . . ’

  That night in their room at Anglesea, Mark had had enough to drink to be sexually aroused but not enough to make him incapable. Kate, who after months of being alone longed for love, was disappointed. All she got was sex; brief, unsatisfactory and degrading.

  She drove back to Devon, tired and dispirited, put the car away and let herself into the cottage. Before the kettle had boiled there was a knock at the door. The General stood outside.

  ‘How lovely,’ Kate dragged him inside. ‘I’ve just got back. The kettle’s on.’

  He followed her into the kitchen and surprised her by taking both her hands firmly in his.

  ‘You must be very brave, my darling,’ he said. ‘Your father telephoned me earlier when he couldn’t get an answer from you. Your mother died this morning. It was her heart. She died, suddenly and painlessly, as she sat up in bed to have her morning cup of tea.’

  Kate stared at him uncomprehendingly. It was simply not possible that her mother should die. Despite the fact of the deterioration in her health, Kate had not seriously considered that she could be left without the solid wall of unconditional love and support that had been at her back since memory began. She thought of the beloved face, worn with pain but still serene, and pictured quite clearly her mother’s hand, holding her own, touching the twins, soothing pain, drying tears. Never again would she see that smile of welcome or know a safe place of shelter. Kate shook her head and her face crumpled like a child’s. The General gathered her to his breast, comforting and consoling her, as if she had indeed been one of the children. With her cheek against his heart, her hands clutching the rough tweed of his coat, Kate tried to imagine a world that no longer contained her mother. Her mind baulked and shied away from the idea. It was totally unimaginable. Presently the kettle boiled and, placing her gently in a chair, the General made the tea.

  ‘What shall I do?’ she asked helplessly at last. ‘I need her.’

  ‘Oh, my dear.’ The General put the mug beside her and she looked up at him. Today he looked his age and Kate’s heart contracted with terror. One day all those whom she loved and needed would die and she would be left to go on alone. Interpreting her look correctly the General put his hand on her shoulder, his long fingers gripping the rounded bone.

  ‘Don’t dwell on the inevitable,’ he said and his voice was firm. It was almost an order. ‘You are stronger than you can possibly imagine and I am here. For the moment that will have to be enough.’

  Ten

  ‘I’ear the Rectory’s comin’ up for sale.’ Mrs Hampton put a plateful of aromatic kippers before the General and looked to see the effect her news might have.

  ‘I’d heard some rumours about that.’ The General shook out his napkin. He rarely volunteered information related to the village altho
ugh he heard a great deal from his old crony, William Hope-Latymer. ‘I don’t suppose that the Tanners will be too heart-broken. It’s a big place for a middle-aged couple with no children. And, of course, the church can’t afford to keep it repaired and I’m sure the Rector can’t afford to heat it properly. They’ll probably be better off in a smaller modern place.’

  ‘Old Tukes’ place,’ nodded Mrs Hampton, making toast. ‘Very nice so I’ve ‘eard. Everythin’ all built-in. ‘Twill be a change but does seem funny to me.’

  ‘Why’s that?’ The General attacked his kippers with relish.

  ‘Rector ’ve always lived up at the Rectory. Don’t seem proper, ‘im livin’ in old Tukes’ place.’

  The General reflected that the new house at the end of the village would probably always be known as ‘Old Tukes’ Place.’ Old Tukes, a solitary and unsavoury ancient, had lived in a falling-down disgusting shack on that spot for time out of mind. Now that he had been carted off to a modern hygienic institution where, no doubt, he’d be dead within months, the owner of the plot had sold it to a local builder and in the place of the old ruin, like a Phoenix from the ashes, had risen a sparkling little modern box.

  ‘Times change, Mrs Hampton.’ The General shook his head. ‘And not always for the better. I expect the Rector will be happy enough—happier perhaps. And we may get a young family at the Rectory who can afford to put it to rights, as it should be. It’s a lovely house and it would be good to get some young blood in the village.’

  ‘ ’Tis funny you should say that.’ Mrs Hampton busied herself with the coffee. ‘I was sayin’ to my Jack only last night, what we need is a nice young family up at the Rectory, just like the General’s Cassandra and all ’er little ‘uns.’ Mrs Hampton sighed wistfully and peeped at the General out of the corner of her eye. ‘Twould be just the ticket.’

  The General had sat bolt upright and, neglecting his toast, was staring thoughtfully at the wall opposite.

  ‘An’ my Jack said,’ continued Mrs Hampton somewhat mendaciously, Jack’s actual contribution to the conversation having been a series of ‘ar’s,’ ‘ ’e said, “Can’t be right draggin’ they children from pillar to post. No settled ‘ome.”’ Mrs Hampton shook her head regretfully. ‘An’ that little Charlotte. ‘Ow she do love bein’ ’ere. Do seem cruel, some’ow. And Kate’s twins off to boardin’ school next term. She’s gonna miss ’em somethin’ terrible. ‘Twould be lovely to my mind to see both they girls settled ’ere, close like.’ She placed his coffee beside him.

  ‘Mrs Hampton, you’re a genius,’ said the General slowly. ‘This is quite the most brilliant idea!’

  Mrs Hampton bridled a little at the unprecedented success of her ploy.

  ‘I wonder who the agent will be?’ The General was almost talking to himself. ‘Perhaps William will know? I must speak to Cass. Should be able to get it for a song.’

  ‘ ’Tis in a terrible way, so I ‘eard,’ volunteered Mrs Hampton. ‘Needs lots doin’ to it.’

  ‘That’s all right.’ The General was pushing back his chair, his coffee untasted. ‘First things first. Before we do anything else I must sound Cass out. Mustn’t look as if I’m trying to take over. Now where have I put her telephone number?’

  CASS REPLACED THE RECEIVER and sat for a few moments staring at nothing. Her father’s suggestion had come as a tremendous surprise and she needed some time to assimilate it.

  It was well worth thinking about. Only recently, she and Tom had been discussing the possibility of buying a house and putting down roots. After all, schooling was likely to become a problem now. Charlotte was already on her second primary school and had made a great fuss about having to leave Meavy school and her friends to come north. She hated Helensburgh and couldn’t understand the speech of the local Scottish children and Cass dreaded the next move which would probably plonk her down in Alverstoke to start all over again. Oliver would begin school in the autumn and it would be very sensible to go back to Devon and put them in Meavy school where they could stay until they started to board.

  Besides, it would be lovely to have her own home. Cass gazed round the unexciting married quarter and imagined how wonderful it would be to have one’s own choice of decoration and furnishings. She was beginning to realise that she could have just as much fun in a settled situation—if not more. After all, Tom would still be going away and as well as naval friends she could at last develop a circle of civilian ones, knowing that she would be staying long enough to make it worthwhile.

  Of course Dolphin was the best base for a submariner’s family to live near but now that nuclear boats were running out of Devonport there would be much more going on. And there was the usual one in three chance of Tom being based there.

  She felt quite sure that he would be all for it. Her father’s offer was amazingly generous but she was certain that he would not have been prepared to be quite so helpful if the Rectory hadn’t happened to be half a mile from his own front gate. And that, too, in Tom’s eyes would be another advantage. There had almost been an incident a few weeks back when he’d come home unexpectedly and found Cass with another officer. Fortunately, everything had seemed quite innocent and the officer had been very quick with an excellent reason for being there. Nevertheless, Cass had felt a tiny suspicion still dwelt in Tom’s mind. To have her under her father’s eye would be—to Tom—a plus factor. After nine years of quarters and hirings, a large Georgian Rectory with an acre of garden would be quite impossible to resist. And she would be near Kate. Without stopping to think any further, she reached out and picked up the telephone receiver.

  ‘IT’S GOING TO BE such fun,’ said Kate cheerfully. ‘Lots more things to do, lots of boys to play with. You know quite a few of them already and you’ll be playing rugby and football and cricket. Before you’ve been there five minutes it will be time to come home for the first Sunday out. And then there’s exeats and half-term. With me being only ten minutes away across the moor we shall be able to make the most of every minute.’

  The telephone rang and Kate picked up the receiver with relief. She felt exhausted.

  ‘Hello. Oh, hi, Cass. How nice to hear you. How are you?’

  The twins raised their eyebrows at each other and, with one accord, rose and strolled out into the garden.

  ‘I’m fine.’ Kate lowered her voice a little. ‘Just doing one of those confidence boosting “of course you’re going to love school” chats. I think Guy will. Not so sure about Giles but they’ll have each other and they know a lot of the service families with boys there . . . Oh, I know. Mount House is a super school and it’s not as if I’m far away, although they’re very strict about taking them out. Quite properly . . . I know we did. I tell them that but we were twelve when we went, not eight . . . Yes, I’ve got the “wonderful opportunity for the best education” bit to go yet. I’m not really worried about them. It’s me who will be devastated . . . What? . . . I don’t believe it! Oh, Cass, that would be magic . . . Is he? Oh, what a duck he is! When? . . . Oh, I see. Yes, of course, so you’ll be coming down to look over it. It’s the best thing I’ve heard for years. How’s Tom? . . . ’

  In the garden, Guy stooped to tie his shoelace.

  ‘D’you think we’ll like it?’ asked Giles.

  ‘Should think so. Charlie Blackett says it’s brilliant.’

  ‘Yeah. I know.’

  ‘The Head’s got a dog like Megs. He’s called Winston.’

  ‘Matron calls him Poops.’

  They began to laugh immoderately, pushing and barging into each other. They started to wrestle half-heartedly and, as suddenly, fell apart.

  ‘Paul says it sounds like prison. He says he’d hate not to be able to go home to his mum after school.’

  ‘That’s ‘cos he’s a sissy,’ said Guy nonchalantly. ‘A mummy’s boy. Anyway, his dad couldn’t afford for him to go. He’s jealous, that’s all.’

  ‘Shall we get our bikes?’ suggested Giles, feeling happier. ‘Mum will be hours if sh
e’s talking to Cass.’

  ‘MY DEAR GIRL, YOU must be exhausted.’ The General brought Cass a drink as she sat in her usual place in the corner of his sofa. ‘What a journey!’

  ‘Well, it was.’ Cass sipped appreciatively. ‘I suppose that it was madness to drive all the way down but Tom’s at sea and it was a heaven-sent opportunity to have a little holiday. Scotland is very beautiful but it’s an awfully long way from home.’

  ‘It’s wonderful to see you.’ He sat down opposite and raised his glass to her. ‘Mrs Hampton was quite beside herself at the thought of seeing all the children.’

  ‘Well, I must say that if I hadn’t known that she’d be here to take over I might not have brought them. Nearly ten hours on the road with three Smalls, not counting the stops, is one hell of a trip!’ Cass shook her head. ‘Mind you, Charlotte would never have forgiven me if I’d left her behind. She hates Scotland and school and she misses Tom. I can’t think why. Apart from those two years in Chatham, he’s hardly ever been around but, to be fair, he does spend a lot of time with her when he is. Anyway, you look wonderful! Full of beans! This really is a terrific scheme and it’s awfully generous of you.’

  ‘Not a bit. Not a bit. Got something put by for just this sort of thing. Been waiting for the right moment. What does Tom say?’

  ‘He was absolutely thrilled. He says he can cope with the mortgage and he’s more than happy to pull his weight getting the place to rights when he’s home.’

  ‘Well, that’s what I want to talk about.’ The General put his glass on the slate hearth and felt in his pocket for his tobacco. ‘I want to make sure that the basics are right. It’ll almost certainly need rewiring and replumbing. Thank God the church had the roof done when they did—about ten years ago. Heating may be a bit of a problem. It would be nice to fit proper central heating but I’ll have to do my sums first. No point you and the children living there in misery. We’ll go and have a look at the place tomorrow. You may hate it.’