by Ruth Hay
Ashley’s sharp intake of breath was the only sound in the kitchen other than the ticking of a wall clock.
“All of that would be remarkable enough, but I have to be truthful, now that I have gone this far.
I was watching Morag in the dim light from the window when I swear I felt Lawren’s hand on my cheek.
Of course, I could have been dreaming. And yet, I could feel the cool metal of his ring against my warm cheek. He used to gently touch my face with the back of his hand when he went out to walk on his own with his sketch book. It was a farewell signal; a very loving touch.”
She paused for a second, then continued.
“I never again heard that purring or felt as if Lawren might be in the room with me.
That was the last time.”
Ashley Stanton had no idea how to respond to her aunt’s story. She watched in silence as a wave of emotions passed across the face she now knew very well. There was no doubting the sincerity of her aunt’s memory. She believed every word she had said. It was more than likely no one, other than Ashley, had heard about this incident. It was another to add to the dream conversations Ashley had overheard when her aunt was so ill.
It was a privilege to be Anna Drake’s confidante but the responsibility it brought with it was beginning to be a huge weight on her great-niece’s mind.
* * *
Silence fell in the kitchen. Anna looked as if her thoughts were a million miles away.
Ashley fingered the recorder button in her pocket and prayed it had worked. The entire incident had been so amazing that she needed to quote it verbatim, if she ever did use it.
After a long three minutes, Anna seemed to come back to the present. She gave herself a shake and turned her attention to Ashley again.
“Now, what were you going to tell me about your visit to the storage room?”
Immediately, Ashley was presented with a dilemma. Did she dare expose her aunt to another emotional moment so soon after what had just happened? She made a quick decision to delay revealing the sketch book until later in the day.
“I think I will tell you about that later, Aunt Anna. When will we be going to Jeanette’s house?”
“She will collect us and then go into town to pick up the children from school so you will be able to compare the portrait with the real subjects. We’ll have tea with the family. Also, I want to have a word with George when he comes home.”
“That sounds fine. I can do some work on the computer before that, if it’s all right?”
“Of course it is. I will call Alina today. She will be anxious to find out how we have been managing here and I also need to do some clearing up in the garden before the weather changes. Oh, don’t worry, Ashley. I will take it slowly and come back inside if I feel at all tired.”
“Good! I can watch you from the office window so I’ll know if you misbehave.”
Anna laughed. “That word was one frequently applied to your grandfather Simon when we were young. I think you must have learned it from him, unless your mother adopted it also.”
“I think everyone in the family used it in preference to saying outright that something or someone was behaving badly. It’s not a word I ever gave any thought to before. I suppose it’s one of those family habits that get passed down.”
“It brought back good memories for me just then. Let’s go about our business for now and we can reassemble for a late lunch before Jeanette appears. You know what a whirlwind she is. We should probably take a preventive nap to prepare ourselves.”
The sad and spooky feelings seemed to have been dispersed by their shared laughter.
Ashley retired to the office with her recorder. She had last night’s events to note and she must transcribe on the laptop, exactly what had been said this morning.
Anna went upstairs to dress for the outdoors and plan what she would say to Alina. She knew she must reassure her that strength and appetite were returning after the illness but she had the news about Fiona’s baby, the new kitten, and the incredible eco house to relate. However, it might be advisable to delay telling Alina about her plan to stay in Scotland until after the New Year.
She glanced out of the window at the garden. The climbing rose needed to be tied up. The raised herb beds should be weeded and she must check on the peat and wood supplies in the shed. Although the weather had remained fairly mild, it was likely to change at a moment’s notice. Better to get ahead with outdoor tasks now and be inside and cozy once the cold weather started. It occurred to her that she had once enjoyed doing these tasks with Lawren and now she was on her own. With the thought came a sense of gratitude for Ashley’s continued presence. She would not feel safe living here on her own. The bout of illness had taught her that she was not invincible.
Time and age were creeping along and a sensible woman had to adjust to both.
“Now, don’t you be trying to compare our new place to Fiona and Gordon’s. They could not be more different out there in the wilds of their estate. We are happy living in Oban town. It’s easier for George, for my clients, and for the children’s school.”
“ Mummy, Fergus Campbell did a talk today at school about their new house. It’s really cool. The teacher called it a house of the future and she said we would all be doing energy saving things in our houses soon. What are we doing, Mummy?”
Jeanette turned to Liam and poured him more milk. “Well, we put more insulation in the roof, we have a high functioning furnace and we used automatic closers on the doors so you and your sister won’t let the heat out when you go upstairs. Is that good enough for you, young man?”
“It’s a start, I think. Can we go to see Fergus’ house some day?”
“Perhaps we ca go in the summer, when the baby is bigger.”
The promise seemed to satisfy Liam for the time being. He turned his head quickly to his plate and a fair curl tumbled forward onto his forehead.
He is more like his father every time I see him and he has his father’s intelligence too.
His sister Annette was not listening to their conversation. She was cuddled up beside her namesake, sharing secrets. As far as she was concerned, she never got to spend enough time with her mother’s friend who zoomed off to Canada again just as they were getting comfortable with each other.
“So, can I help look after Sylvia for you when you go home?”
“Why don’t you ask your mummy to bring you over to the farmhouse whenever she comes to inspect my property. If Sylvia is at Auntie Bev’s house, you can see her there and stay until your mother is finished with her work.”
“Is that a promise?”
“I’ll set it up with your mother, don’t worry, my dear one.”
“Goodie!”
Annette returned to the plate of sugar-free cookies set out for the children’s after-school snack. She did not notice her mother and Aunt Anna’s niece had left the room. It was comfortable to be close to Aunt Anna and have her attention. She wondered if it would be like this when her grandmother arrived from Vancouver to stay. There was something especially nice about older people. They were not in so much of a rush all the time.
* * *
“The painting is in the upstairs sitting room. As you’ve just seen the children you will be better able to judge its special qualities.”
She entered a bright, cheerful room with two large windows and a fireplace flanked by bookshelves.
A craft table was covered with drawings, crayons and stickers and woven rugs decorated the floor over wide wooden floorboards.
It was the very definition of a family room and the large painting graced the opposite wall to the windows and benefited from the cool northern light.
Ashley stood back and marvelled at the artist’s skill. Annette was a small child on her mother’s knee while Liam stood proudly in front of his father. Each child looked at the same time, both young and older. It seemed to be something about their expressions. Lawren Drake had a caught a hint of Annette’s spark of lively h
umour and of Liam‘s intelligent, inquiring mind. Ashley thought if the children’s bodies were shown as they now looked, their original faces might be superimposed there without too much of a contrast.
She looked again at Jeanette who had moved to tidy the pencils scattered across the craft table. Her dark brown hair was longer than in the family portrait but it was easy to recognize the woman who sat so happily with her family. Any minor changes to her appearance had been predicted by Lawren Drake so that it looked like a contemporary work of art.
How had he managed to do this? Years had passed since the original portrait had been commissioned and yet, he had seen into the future in some mysterious way. Ashley could not judge if George McLennan’s figure was similarly futuristic as she had not previously met him. She wondered if there were other examples of Lawren’s art work in the town and if they all had the same characteristics.
When they returned to the kitchen, Anna had disappeared for a conference with her lawyer and Ashley helped Jeanette to prepare a high tea for the group. The children were sent off to their rooms to do homework and Ashley took the chance to ask Jeanette her opinion about Anna’s deceased husband.
“So you saw the amazing portrait painting? I thought you would be impressed. We think it is prescient as do most people who have seen it. Anna’s husband was a remarkable man in many ways. It’s to her credit that Anna acknowledged his unusual characteristics and was not put off by them.”
Ashley continued to arrange small iced cakes around a platter and asked, “What do you mean by unusual characteristics?”
Jeanette sliced sandwiches into triangles and licked her fingers before replying.
“It’s hard to describe. He had a way of looking at you as if he saw inside your heart and liked what he saw there. It gave you a glad feeling and made you smile back at him. He never said much. He was an observer more than a talker but when he did make a comment it was always worth listening to.
George and I liked him a lot even although we had our suspicions at the start of their relationship.
We were wary he might hurt her in some way because he was so different. Anna, of course, adored him. They were like two halves of a beautiful object; each special in its own way but when placed together they were ten times more admirable.”
It was another quote worthy of remembering.
“How was she after he died?”
“Bev and I were able to support her then. Alina came over from Canada to join us but for weeks she was inconsolable. It was the suddenness of his passing. None of us was prepared. He was too young to die. It was very hard for Anna to take.”
“I know Lawren died in Scotland but in Canada we were so upset for Anna that I never did hear about the details of his death. What did you know?”
Jeanette turned away to wash her hands and Ashley could not see her expression until she chose to face her again.
“Anna has never talked about it to any of us. We never dared introduce the subject after she had eventually got over it enough to carry on again. All I ever knew was that they were alone when it happened. Were you intending to include this kind of personal stuff in your book?”
“Honestly, I am not sure yet what will be included. I am merely collecting information at this stage.
I need to get a picture of this man who was so important to Anna and whose art work has such an effect on everyone who admires him. The big decisions will come later with my Aunt Anna’s approval of course.”
“I am glad to hear that, Ashley. Quite frankly, between us as fellow Canucks, several of Anna’s long-time friends are surprised she agreed to the book project in the first place.”
“Yes, I got that impression.”
“There is one advantage to the idea.”
“Please tell me.”
“If, as it seems, Anna is ready to reveal her feelings about Lawren to the world, it indicates she is ready to move ahead again with her life.”
Ashley heaved a big sigh. “I do hope you are right, and that my book will help in some way. There will be more attention to them as a couple, at first, but if she is ready for it, the end result will be something that will live on after she is gone.”
“A kind of immortality I suppose?”
“Hopefully, it will be.”
“So, Anna, what can I do for you? It’s so good to see you looking like your old self.”
George took a breath and began again. “Wait! That didn’t sound right. My wife is always telling me to be careful what I say to women about their appearance. I didn’t mean to indicate you look old, Anna.”
“Oh George, we know each other well enough so that you never need to apologize to me for anything.
I know how good your heart is. None better.” He gulped at the compliment.
She collected a pile of folders from the chair opposite George’s messy desk and found a place for them on top of a filing cabinet.
“Apologies for the mess! Jeanette insisted on me bringing my current files here. I think she has the idea it will keep me at home more, but I still need some time to arrange the study as an efficient office. I’m afraid it will lead to duplication of files. There’s nothing more annoying than to come home to do some work and discover the very thing I need the most is still in Oban.”
Anna laughed. George was always in a mess but it never stopped him from finding a required document or giving the best possible advice to his clients. He had been invaluable to her even before she left London, Ontario, on her way to Scotland to solve the mysterious legacy of the McCaig Estate Farmhouse.
“George McLennan, I am sure you will settle in quickly in your fine new residence, and provide your usual exemplary service to all and sundry.”
She made herself comfortable on the vacated armchair and looked across the desk to see if George had changed at all since he now had two children, a busy wife with a thriving business, and a new, larger home further up the hill above the town. She noticed a grey hair or two on his fair head and thought his hairline was gradually moving backward, but his eyes were full of concern for his client and his smile was as genuine as ever.
“I’ll cut to the chase before Jeanette calls us downstairs for tea.
You know I have been ill for some weeks? I am feeling much better now and it seems to me it is time to think ahead. I know only too well how suddenly life can end and I am anxious to settle some matters for my peace of mind.”
“Of course, Anna.”
He pulled together a legal pad and a pen and looked serious and ready to take notes.
“I want my great-niece Ashley Stanton to inherit the Oban house after I die. She is pursuing a very uncertain profession and her mother is of no real use to her as far as support is concerned. Donna is not in a secure position herself and I doubt Ashley will ever be able to rely on her help.
The girl has shown a real concern for the old house, and for me, and she loves the countryside. I think she would be happy here.”
He made some notes, then asked if there was anything further she wanted.
“I do have a number of bequests to outline. Donations to local charities and the like, but the bulk of my estate will be left to Fiona for her family, and to Bev for her children and grandchildren, and to Jeanette and to you, George, for the two children, or more children, if you decide to have them.”
“Ah, as I am a beneficiary of your will, I need to consult a colleague who will meet with you, once I have drawn up the provisions as you requested. There must not be any hint of undue influence on my part with regard to these bequests.”
“Whatever you say, George. There is one more thing I want to ensure.”
He raised his pen again and waited attentively.
“You will surely remember, how useful my local knitters’ group has been in the success of the A plus Company. I would like to set aside a significant sum of money, under your control, to maintain the knitting project and to encourage younger women, and men, to continue the longstanding customs of unique craftwor
k that exist in this part of Scotland.”
He sat back in his chair and swiveled around for a second while he was gathering his thoughts.
“Do you mean something like a Knitters’ Co-operative Company?”
“That is exactly what I want, George, if you don’t object to the extra work this will bring?”
“Not at all! It is an excellent idea. But, if I may, Anna, I must ask what provisions you have made for your friend Alina regarding the A Plus business in Canada?”
“You need have no concerns about that matter, George. In fact, I spoke to Alina earlier today and she assures me the online business is booming. Her latest idea is to add step-by-step videos to the website so young people can learn how to knit and crochet. It is generally accepted that knitting is a therapeutic activity for all ages.
In any case, all matters pertaining to the online company will be settled separately in Canada with a portion of the profits automatically sent to you for the projects we have discussed.”
“Well, Anna, I trust we shall not need to implement your instructions for a long, long time but I will draw up the details and you can inspect the documents whenever you wish.”
“Thank you, George. I knew I could rely on you, as I always have done.”
He cleared his throat on hearing her commendation. He was not one for overt affection but Anna Mason Drake was a special person, as she had just demonstrated.
He contented himself with a hearty, “Let’s go down for tea before those two young gannets have scoffed every sandwich and cake in the place!”
Chapter Sixteen
The phone rang just after breakfast had been cleared away. The interruption came just at the point where Ashley was wondering how to introduce the subject of Lawren Drake’s sketch books.
