Guy dropped all the Buntings off at the hospital and went back to The Grange to pick up a few things that he’d forgotten to take with him to the Rose and Crown. He’d like to have been able to avoid his mother but as she had little to do with her time she was on the lookout for him.
“Darling,” she greeted him, putting Guy immediately on the alert. “Darling, I was wondering if you’d like to take me out for a drive this afternoon. We could find one of those nice quaint places for tea in the country; have a little chat. After all, we haven’t seen much of each other lately, have we?”
“I’m sorry, Mother, I can’t. I have to pay a visit to the Planning Department to clear up one or two small points.”
“Couldn’t you do that another time? It would be nice for us to spend some time together. In any case I’m so bored.”
The truth at last.
“I’m sorry, no. If you’re bored why don’t you go into the lounge and talk to some of the residents. It’s always nice for them to see a new face, much as they enjoy the familiar ones.”
Alexandra looked shocked; almost as if he’d said something rude.
“Those people,” she said with emphasis. “What on earth would I have to say to them?” she asked, putting the stress on the last word.
Probably nothing good, Guy thought but it wouldn’t have been politic to say so. He tried side-tracking.
“Have you had any ideas about where you’d like to go from here?”
She patted the sofa next to her in a manner meant to be inviting. Guy realised he’d have to give her some time but sat opposite her, terrified she might pat his knee or something equally revolting.
“I know you’re planning on giving this place a makeover and I understand it will take some time to build a new place for those people.” I wonder if she knows how condescending she sounds. “But when it’s done, well, you’ll have the whole place to yourself again. I could move in here with you.”
“No!”
It probably sounded a bit harsher than he’d meant it to but in any case he knew he needed to be firm. He couldn’t afford to give her the tiniest fraction of an inch.
“Why not?”
The sharpness was back in her voice. It was certainly preferential to the wheedling.
“Because I’m far too old to live with my mother, for one thing.”
“It’s my home.”
“No it isn’t and you were very ready to take my money and run when I bought it from Dad.”
She took a deep breath and was about to speak again but Guy stood up and raised his hand.
“There is no point in you trying to pursue this, Mother. The answer will always be no and you’ll only distress yourself if you persist. If you’ll excuse me I have to go out now.”
He let out a deep breath as he entered the hall, stopping only to apologise to Betty on his way to pack his stuff.
“If it’s too much for you, Betty, tell me. I’ll get rid of her somehow.”
“Don’t you worry, Guy, I can deal with the likes of your mother now she doesn’t have my livelihood hanging over my head. If you want some advice, though, come and see me when you have a few minutes. I’ve one or two suggestions.”
Clutching at the proffered straw Guy said, “Yes, I’ll do that. Thank you.”
It didn’t take Guy long to put his few remaining things into a bag and drop them back at the hotel. The bulk of his belongings were in storage, waiting for the time he could settle down properly, and now he had an added reason to hope that would happen as quickly as possible. It was obvious to him that Honey only regarded him as a friend (men are so blind) and he was sure if he was to have any chance with her at all he would have to move very slowly. Guy was as apprehensive as anyone on their first date but was looking forward to spending the evening, a proper evening, having dinner with Honey. Tom, he was sure, would be an asset rather than an encumbrance. In any case, he was inordinately fond of the boy and beginning to wish he had children of his own. He had all the innocence and refreshing honesty of a five year old so it was a pleasure to be with him.
Once Guy had started making a name for himself people had fawned on him and he’d mistakenly thought their adulation was friendship. As a child who had so long been deprived of affection he didn’t recognise that the sycophancy was much the same as fans would give a film star. By the time he’d learned that it was not who he was but what he was that was attracting people to him he’d become disillusioned and more introverted than ever, not that an observer would have known. His social skills were honed and his company sought. Any gathering of which he was a part was guaranteed to have some modicum of success. To him though it was all hollow and was eventually the cause of him heading back to Rills Ford. He may not have had a happy childhood there but his home, the place itself, was a stronghold in his mind and he resolved to turn it into his own personal fortress – after he’d built a new facility for its residents. The arrival of his mother was an added complication and he knew that trouble lay ahead but he was strong enough now to deal with it. Doing so kindly could prove to be difficult. Though he didn’t hold her in affection he was not an unkind man. He scratched his head and went off to collect the Buntings from the hospital.
“How is she today? Any change?” he asked Lucy while Bas and Honey were saying their goodbyes.
“She squeezed my hand really really hard today,” said Tom who had heard the question. He had been persuaded that it was a sign of his grandmother’s attachment to him and as such was proud of himself. “Mummy says I’m helping more than anyone.”
“And I’m sure Mummy is right but if you don’t stop tugging on my sweater it isn’t a squeeze of the hand you’ll be getting from me. Come on, now. If you want to stay up for dinner we need to get you bathed and into some clean clothes. You do have clean clothes?”
Tom giggled.
“Of course I do.”
Emergency at the Grange
Guy dropped the three older Buntings at the teashop and took Tom back to the hotel for the promised bath. Meanwhile Honey spent more time, much more time than usual preparing herself for…what? Was it a date? It could hardly be called that, not with her nephew being there as well. Mascara wand in hand, she paused in its application to realise that she couldn’t actually remember the last time she’d been on a date. For heaven’s sake; you’re nearly thirty years old. Stop acting like a teenager. Oddly enough though she felt like a teenager and there was a little place somewhere in the middle of her stomach that reminded her of that wonderful weaving and swooping starlings do before settling down to roost.
Guy was also taking extra care over his appearance and was sufficiently honest to know he was out to impress if he could. He hadn’t told Honey the complete truth when he’d said the idea of dinner for three had been Tom’s. It was something he’d planted subtly in the boy’s mind and he felt almost guilty when Tom said:
“You didn’t think of asking Auntie Honey for dinner. It was me,” but he gave him credit and praised him. Tom was very excited, overly in fact, and Guy was a little bit doubtful now about his idea to keep him up so late. He needn’t have worried. Tom adopted the attitude of a fifty rather than a five year old, studying the choices on the menu (after Guy helped him read them), discussing the merits of this one, the demerits of that. In the end he chose a pasta dish and neither Honey nor Guy was optimistic about him maintaining the cleanliness of his clothes. They’d underestimated their charge and both were hugely entertained by his contributions to the conversation. Until, that is, the moment when a neighbour leaned over from an adjacent table and said to Tom: “What a good little boy you are,” before turning to Honey and Guy. “Are you two getting in some practice then, looking after children?”
Honey was overcome with embarrassment as Tom looked first at one and then the other.
“Are you having a baby?”
“No, of course not, Tom. We’re not even married.”
Realising that the hole was getting deeper she began to flound
er but her rescue came from an unexpected quarter.
“My mummy’s having a baby.”
There was a stunned silence from both Honey and Guy before she said: “That’s wonderful. I didn’t know.”
“Oh, I forgot; I wasn’t supposed to say.”
Guy, who had been uncharacteristically quiet for a few moments, reassured him immediately.
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with us.”
Honey jumped up to give her nephew a hug and that’s how she and not he ended up with pasta all over her clothes.
Lucy and Basil were having a wonderful time at The Grapes. It wasn’t often they had a chance to be alone for what seemed to them both to be a romantic dinner for two. After they’d ordered their meal Basil held his wife’s hands across the table.
“You look beautiful, Luce. Pregnancy suits you. I remember with Tom, you were glowing then just as you are now.”
She didn’t argue with him; why would she? She just smiled back serenely and returned the pressure on her hands.
“I was a bit worried; you know, bringing you all this way.”
“I know you were but you see I’m fine. I wish Daisy was in better health but it’s been lovely meeting Honey and seeing Guy again. He haunted the house so much when he was in Oz that I didn’t realise how much he’d become a part of our lives until he’d gone. I missed him.”
“He’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I used to think he was looking after me. Well, he was looking after me but I didn’t know then that I was doing the same for him. You wouldn’t believe how cold his mother was.”
“Oh yes I would. You’ve told me enough times and he’s hinted as much to me himself. Poor little boy.”
For a moment she looked troubled and he knew she was thinking of Tom and their loving home and feeling sad for the boy Guy used to be.
“You’ll probably have the doubtful pleasure of meeting Alexandra soon now she’s come back to Rills Ford.”
“I can’t wait,” she said, the irony plain to hear.
The waitress came and lit the candle on their table and Lucy watched her progress as she did the same around the restaurant. One table had a single specimen rose on it.”
“Isn’t that Suzie; Honey’s friend? Looks like a cosy little tête-à-tête over there.”
Basil looked over his shoulder and waved.
“Yes and she’s with Jack Jennings, her boss. Not that it looks like a work dinner and certainly not with that rose.”
Suzie waved back but she was by no means pleased to have been seen on this, her first date with Jack, the one she’d been anticipating for what seemed like years. Actually it is years she thought. Somehow, after all this time, Jack had suddenly seen Suzie not as an employee but as an attractive young woman whom he felt he’d rather like to get to know better – away from the office.
Back at the Rose and Crown Tom had suddenly become very quiet and a little bit pale.
“Time for bed, young man. Come on, I’ll carry you up on my shoulders.”
Guy didn’t think Tom would submit lightly to being carried up in his arms so this was the best alternative he could think of.
“Will you wait here, Honey? We can have coffee if you wouldn’t mind ordering it. I shouldn’t be long.”
She looked around her, thinking how nice it was to have a proper evening out. She couldn’t even remember the last time. Since her father had died and her mother had become more dependent on her, albeit somewhat grudgingly, there really hadn’t been much opportunity. Suddenly she felt, not resentful, that was far too strong a word; regretful; that was it. Time had gone by without her even noticing and she’d missed a lot. Guy was back before she had time to start feeling sorry for herself and they spent the rest of the evening talking small talk before Honey said, “It’s okay. I’ll walk home. It’s only across the road.”
“I don’t feel too comfortable with that but I must admit I’d feel less comfortable leaving the building when Tom’s supposed to be in my charge.”
“It’s nice you take your responsibilities so seriously,” Honey said, smiling because she meant it.
“I’d hate the little chap to wake up and call and for me not to be there. There’s a gadget in Reception that will signal if he wakes up and I’d sooner be here in case that happens. ”
They stood up, neither sure what to do next. They could hardly shake hands and anything else was shaky ground for both though neither knew it about the other.
“I’ve had a wonderful evening, Guy. Thank you.”
She leaned up, kissed his cheek, turned and left before he could see the colour flare up in hers.
The next morning Guy took a sleepy Tom with him to The Grange where he had some paperwork to do before collecting the family after lunch to take them to see Daisy. It had already become a routine and one he enjoyed since it made him feel useful. Tom was doing a great job of entertaining the residents, quite happy to talk to them and not the least put out if they didn’t respond, so Guy decided to leave him there as daily visits to the hospital were tedious for a child of his age.
Lucy, still in a rosy glow from her romantic evening the night before, was quite pleased to have a little break from her bouncy boy. Daisy, who was making steady progress, seemed to be looking around for him but settled immediately without any obvious untoward effect. Such was Daisy’s improvement that the hospital had said she might be able to return home soon. They were unable to offer make any promises but the prognosis was good.
“It’s possible she’ll be better off in her own environment,” the doctor said and Honey couldn’t help looking across at Guy…this raised her earlier concerns all over again about the upheaval for the residents of The Grange. Guy met her gaze steadily and she looked away, at her mother’s face, at the doctor, anywhere but at him. “We’ll give her another couple of days here before we make any decision. This is just to prepare you.”
“For the worst, Doctor?” Basil asked.
“By no means, Mr Bunting. Just for the change in the situation.”
“Why don’t you all come back to The Grange for a while? The tearooms are covered and it will give you a break. I know you’ll start working if you go back now, Honey, and we have a wonderful choice of cakes made by a local talent. I think you’ll enjoy them.”
Honey wasn’t immune to this sort of flattery and it would be more comfortable for all of them. Lucy and Basil naturally wanted to see Tom so they all piled into the car and headed back.
“Betty, I wonder if you’d mind rustling up some tea and cakes for this hungry horde. Is Tom still in the residents’ lounge?”
“Holding forth the last I saw of him.”
Guy went off in search of his godson while the others went into the study, a room large enough to serve as a personal sitting room. He appeared in the doorway a couple of minutes later with a big grin on his face.
“The little sod’s done a runner. He’s probably in the garden bending Henry’s ear. I’ll be back soon, once I’ve put him over my knees and given him a good spanking.”
He wasn’t back quite as soon as they thought he’d be and when he did return his face was the colour of paste.
“He’s gone! Tom’s gone! I can’t find him anywhere.”
Frantic Search
“You’ve checked the bedroom?” Basil said, jumping up.
“The whole place except the residents’ rooms and I guess he could be talking to one of them. It’s a big house so it’s best if we search systematically. We’ll divide it up between us and meet back here in ten minutes. If we haven’t found him by then,” Guy paused, not wanting to but having to say, “I’ll phone the police”.
It was fortunate his large frame was barring the doorway or they’d all have shot out willy-nilly. He stopped them, organising them into in pairs. That way, as soon as they found Tom, one of the two could find and reassure the others while his or her partner looked after the boy in case he’d hurt himself or got lost and needed comforting.
Guy had brought Betty and Henry, the gardener, back with him after his first failed mission. The Grange had three floors and they took one each, Honey and Henry, Lucy and Betty, Guy and Basil; that way at least one partner was familiar with the house. Guy had already calculated that it would be best for Lucy to be with the manager; she had a natural reassurance about her (that she wasn’t feeling at the time) which would help control the dread that had fast risen up in Tom’s mother’s throat. He also wanted to be in a position to stop Basil rushing this way and that as panic took hold of him. The rest of the staff would be left to care for the residents.
Only Honey had a moment of hope as she heard a voice coming from one of the rooms. He must be in here talking to Bertha, she thought, entering the room next to her mother’s vacant one. Hope was crushed when she found Bertha in quiet conversation with no-one but herself. The group reassembled, only a couple of minutes later than planned.
“He can’t have gone far. Henry here said he was talking to him in the garden barely an hour ago. I’d better make that call. There’s a photo of Tom on my desk. The police will probably want that.”
Lucy and Basil looked bleak.
“Did anyone check the lift?” Betty asked, and when there was a negative response she rushed off to make sure he wasn’t stuck in there… “and I’ll check the cleaning cupboard as well, and the store cupboards.”
“I’ll have a look in the greenhouses and the potting shed,” said Henry and left the room at a run.
By the time they came back the police had arrived and were anxious to ask them some questions as they’d been the last to see Tom apart from the residents, most of whom would have difficulty in giving any information even if they had it. Honey looked out of the window at the fading light. She took Guy to one side while Lucy and Basil were trying to help the police.
“It’ll be dark soon. What if he’s outside? He’s only five; he’ll be terrified.”
Honey Bun Page 8
