‘We never know what life is going to throw at us John so you mustn’t blame yourself. I think if Kathleen had wanted you to stay at home she would have said so.’
‘That’s enough about me,’ he said. ‘Now tell my all about you. Where is your husband? Does he work away from home?’
Edna withdrew her hand and put it in her lap. ‘He’s dead,’ she said quietly.
John looked shocked. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, Edna. I had no idea. Trust me to ask a personal question like that.’
‘No, no it’s all right. I don’t mind talking about it. He died in an accident. He was a regular soldier who stayed on in the army after the war ended. He was stationed abroad and was killed in an attack on a hotel when he was inside having a drink. William never knew I was expecting Billy.’
John felt so sorry to be bringing back this painful episode in Edna’s life. He leaned over towards her and took her hand in his. ‘I’m sorry. What a tragedy and a waste of life. And to die without knowing he had a son.’
They made their way back to the car. Dusk had fallen but there had been a beautiful sunset earlier on. The sky was tinged with deep mauve and crimson bands. The hotel overlooked the town and it seemed to sparkle under the evening light. The sea stretched to the far horizon where the grey colours merged with one another and it was as if you could see forever.
They spoke very little on the homeward journey but when they reached the house, Edna thanked him for a great evening.
John said, ‘I’m sorry I asked personal questions, Edna. I hope I haven’t upset you.’
‘No you haven’t, John. It’s all in the past.’
He smiled with relief. ‘Good. The last thing I want is to see you unhappy.’
Edna opened the car door. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow morning.’
‘There’s one thing I wanted to say.’ His words came out in a rush. ‘My brother usually puts on a display of his paintings every summer and I wondered if you would like to come with me. It’s on Tuesday night in a local gallery. It’s not a big event but I like to give James my support.’
‘I would love to come and thanks again for a great evening.’
As he drove home, he was elated. Oh he was sorry for Edna’s husband’s death but he now felt he could perhaps keep seeing her … even after his book was finished.
On the Tuesday afternoon, Edna and Billy made their way to the beach. Billy carried his bucket and spade and was soon digging a huge trench in the sand.
‘Can I go down to the sea and fill my bucket with water, Mum?’ he asked.
‘Well, make sure you come straight back, Billy,’ she warned.
He ran down to the water’s edge and filled his little bucket before running back to his sandcastle. This went on for a few times. Edna had paid a few pence for the rent of a deckchair and she lay back in it, watching the antics of her son.
It was a very warm day and the sun shone from a near perfect blue sky. Edna hadn’t realised how tired she was and soon fell asleep. Waking suddenly, she realised she had slept for ten minutes and there was no sign of Billy.
She leapt to her feet and almost tripped over his large sandcastle. The bucket and spade were missing so she ran down to the sea. Some people were swimming and there were a few boats skimming along the waves, but no sign of Billy.
Frantic with worry she ran along the beach, calling his name. Although there were lots of families spread out over the sand with loads of children running out and in the water, she couldn’t see him.
‘Please, please don’t let him be in the water,’ she prayed. At the far edge of the sand was a first aid building and she ran inside. ‘You haven’t seen my little boy, have you?’ she asked the attendant. ‘He’s five years old with dark hair and he’s wearing a pair of blue shorts.’
The man shook his head. ‘We’ve had a few lost kiddies in today but they’ve all been reunited with their parents. We haven’t had anyone in since dinnertime.’
By now Edna was in tears and the man said he would get someone to help her search for him. A large woman appeared and said she would search one end of the beach while Edna concentrated on the other side.
Edna ran between the legs of snoozing sunbathers and capering children. The sand tugged at her sandals and she felt she was wading in treacle. She got as far as her vacant deckchair and the sandcastle now looked forlorn.
Beyond the beach lay the sand dunes; large patches of windblown grass that punctuated the sandy stretches. The grass was sharp against her bare legs but she barely felt it.
She kept calling out Billy’s name but no one answered. There was no one on this part of the beach, nothing but isolation and the vast sea which could easily swallow a little boy.
Suddenly she heard her name being called and when she turned, the helper came towards her, holding Billy’s hand tightly.
He ran up to her. ‘You got lost, Mummy. The man tried to find you.’
Edna dropped to her knees. ‘What man, Billy?’
‘He took my hand and said we had to look for you but you weren’t there.’
Edna looked at the woman. ‘There was no one with him when I found him. He was up on the road that runs alongside the beach,’ she said.
‘The man wanted to buy me an ice cream but I said no. I told him I had to find you so we started to look for you.’
Edna didn’t know what to think. Perhaps someone’s father had found him and was only being helpful.
‘Billy, why did you go up onto the road?’
Billy shrugged. ‘I thought that’s where you were.’
Edna could see that it was no good questioning him any longer. ‘Come on, it’s time to go home. Where’re your bucket and spade.’
Billy’s face crumpled and he began to cry. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Thank you for helping me. You’ve been very kind,’ she said as the woman walked away.
Back in the house, Irene tried to make light of the incident but Edna was worried.
‘I shouldn’t have fallen asleep, Mum, but Billy should have known to stay beside me. I’ve told him often enough never to stray when we’re out.’
Irene had put him to bed with his comics. ‘Well he’s fine now so don’t punish yourself.’
She looked at the clock. ‘What time are you going to this gallery?’
Edna groaned aloud. ‘I’d forgotten about that. Can you give John a message and tell him I can’t go?’
Irene was firm. ‘Don’t be daft. Away you go and have a night out. Billy is fine and Betty and I will be here with him.’
Edna wasn’t in the mood for a night out and hoped it wouldn’t be a late event.
John arrived on the dot of seven thirty and they made their way to the small gallery which was situated on one of the quiet side streets of the town. The seafront was busy with holidaymakers and it seemed as if the entire town was out on this lovely evening.
The wonderful smell of fish and chips wafted out from the chip shop, which had a large queue snaking out the door.
The gallery was quite full when they arrived and there was a small glass of sherry for each visitor. Edna felt quite light-headed as she sipped her sherry. She hadn’t eaten much at teatime because of the trauma of the afternoon.
The paintings hung on the walls and they brightened up the room. James mingled with his guests but when he saw them, he came over. ‘What do you think, John? I’ve sold four paintings.’
They both congratulated him. After half an hour of wandering around the room, John suggested they have a seat on one of the benches by the window.
‘Are you all right, Edna?’
She shook her head and told him about the drama of the afternoon.
‘Did he say who the man was?’
‘No he didn’t know him, and he wasn’t with Billy when the woman who was helping me look for him, found him.’
John said, ‘I think you should get off home. You look tired.’
Edna didn’t disagree and they said their farewells to James who had sol
d another two paintings and was exuberant with success.
At the house, John said, ‘Do you want to leave and go back to Dundee?’
‘Yes I think we should.’
‘Have a rest Edna and we’ll meet up back at my house on Friday. Will that be fine with you?’
She watched as the car slowly made its way down the road.
Betty’s house lay up a quiet cul-de-sac. The neighbouring houses had large gardens and the one nearest her house had thick bushes all around the garden.
She was just opening the gate when she heard the voice. It was more of a growl actually, as if the person had laryngitis.
‘You better stop seeing this man, Edna, or you’ll lose your son. This is a warning.’
Her hand was rigid on the gate latch and she was frightened to look at the garden. Suddenly she marched over to the bushes but there was no sign of anyone. A small pile of cigarette butts lay under one of the thickest bushes but the garden was empty. Then she saw Billy’s colourful bucket and spade.
She put the key in the lock and almost fell into the lobby. Irene and Betty were listening to a comedy show on the wireless and Betty’s loud laughter filtered through the closed door. Edna made her way quietly up the stairs and lay down on the bed. Her heart was racing and she felt sick.
Not only was the warning explicit but she recognised the voice.
17
Kenneth was a man with a lot on his mind. He normally went to Dundee by train but on this dull and cold Friday morning he decided to take the ‘Fifie.’ He watched as it docked and the line of cars juggled slowly into the spaces on the lower deck.
He had left his car on one of Newport’s side roads and stood beside a small group of passengers who were waiting patiently to board the ferry, pulling his overcoat tight against his body in an effort to keep out the cold wind that swept in from the river. It was hardly summer weather and it was only the first week in July.
He found a sheltered spot and settled down as the ferry slipped away from the pier and headed across the Tay to Dundee. He was at a crossroads in his personal and business life and at that moment he had no idea how he would cope.
The problem was Nelly Marten. She wanted to get married and, as she so bluntly put it, ‘To make a man out of him with his own home and wife and away from his sister and her husband.’
He had known for years that she was in love with him but he had always fobbed her off. He was always charming to her but personally he found her repulsive. She was at least ten years older than him but that wasn’t his biggest problem. He didn’t like her coarse manner and her fleshy face and her bloated body was a turn off.
He had to make her understand that he wasn’t in love with her but she already knew this and it hadn’t cooled her ardour. In fact, he suspected it made it more of a challenge for her.
If only he hadn’t met Molly. He had been entranced with her since the first time he saw her and the longer she worked in the house, the more he found he couldn’t get her out of his mind.
He suspected that Nelly knew this and this was the reason for the urgency in her asking him to marry her. Trust Nelly, he thought. Usually it was the man who did the proposing but not with the mighty Mrs Marten on the marital path.
He planned to pay a visit to the agency this morning in the hope of seeing Molly. He had tried to talk to her yesterday before she left the house but Lena was with her for most of the afternoon. He knew he wouldn’t see her till Monday.
That was the reason for his early start. Joe and Mike had given him a strange look as he drove away. Lena was still in bed and it was unusual for him to leave until he had breakfast with them all.
Joe and Mike were going fishing with the boat.
He could have got them to drop him off in Dundee but he didn’t like the cabin cruiser and although it was large enough for the three men, it was still a bit tight for space. Joe and Mike loved the boat and took every opportunity to use it.
When the ferry docked at Craig Pier, he made his way quickly to the Wellgate. He wasn’t sure what time the agency opened but he reckoned Molly would be an early riser and she would like to get started as soon as she could.
He thought he would catch her before any other staff arrived so his surprise was so much greater when he walked in and saw Molly with two other women. Molly was speaking but stopped when she saw him, a look of surprise on her face.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realise you were busy, Molly. I’ll come back later.’
‘Kenneth, how lovely to see you,’ she turned to the two women and said, ‘This is Mr Drummond. Edna and Mary work with me but if you give me a moment I’ll finish up here.’
‘No, it’s all right. I just wanted to say could you come round to the shop later?’
Molly looked puzzled but she said she would come before dinnertime.
Kenneth smiled at Edna and Mary before turning and walking out the door.
Mary’s wide eyed gaze followed him then she looked at Molly. ‘What a great looking man.’
Molly smiled but she had a problem on her hands and Kenneth was the least of her worries.
Edna was upset and the tears weren’t far away. ‘I can’t work with Mr Knox anymore, Molly. I understand it’ll cause you problems and I’m willing to leave.’
‘Don’t be silly, Edna. Of course I don’t want you to leave but what’s caused all this? Has he been a very difficult person to work for?’
Edna almost smiled. ‘Oh no, he’s been great and he’s a lovely man but I can’t work with him. It’s personal and I don’t want to say anymore. I wondered if I could maybe take over Jean’s duties and she can finish Mr Knox’s book with him. He thought it would take another week.’
Molly picked up the diary and was pleased to see it was almost full. Unfortunately, Jean was on holiday with her husband and they planned to be away another week.
Molly could have done without this added worry but she could see Edna was upset about something. She knew it had to be something serious and hoped the man hadn’t made an unwelcome pass at her.
Suddenly she made up her mind. ‘Do you mind staying in the office, Edna? I could send Mary out to Mr Knox and that would solve the problem. As you say, it’ll only be for a week.’
If Mary could have leapt in the air she would have. Instead she simply beamed with pleasure.
Edna said that would suit her so Molly planned to phone him and give him the change of plan.
‘Right then,’ said Molly. ‘Can you get your shorthand book, Mary, and go along to this address and work the same hours as Edna did. I’ll try and phone him beforehand because he’ll be wondering where you are, Edna.’ She glanced at the clock and saw it was ten thirty.
The two women sat at the desk while Mary put on her coat and hurried out of the office, gazing at the slip of paper with the address.
‘When did you get back from Arbroath, Edna? I thought you would be there until Saturday or Sunday.’
‘No, we came home earlier than planned and I’m sure my Auntie Betty will be pleased to get the house to herself. Billy had a great time and I got a lot of work done every morning with John … I mean Mr Knox. I was booked to go and work for him today.’
Molly noticed the slight flush that accompanied the mention of his name and this reaffirmed her first notion that something had happened; something that wasn’t to Edna’s liking. Was she worried that her husband would find out and make a fuss? Perhaps it was better that Mary finished the job she thought. After all it was an agency and a client couldn’t always get the same person every day.
‘I’d better phone Mr Knox first then go off and see what Kenneth wants. He’s the brother of the woman I’m working with.’
However, the phone kept ringing and after twelve rings, Molly put the receiver down.
‘He’s not answering. I hope he’s in the house because Mary won’t know what to do if he isn’t.’
Suddenly the phone rang. Edna looked at it like it was a time bomb ready to explode. Molly w
ent and picked up the receiver. ‘Good morning. McQueen’s Agency.’
There was silence on the other end then a voice cut in quickly. ‘My name is John Knox. I usually have one of your secretaries every morning but she hasn’t turned up today. I’m a bit worried. Is she ill?’
Molly put on her professional voice. ‘Mr Knox, I phoned a few minutes ago but there was no answer …’
‘No, I was at the garden gate looking for Mrs McGill and the phone rang off before I could pick it up.’ He sounded agitated.
‘Mrs McGill won’t manage to finish her contract with you but I’ve sent another secretary to finish the work. Her name is Mary Watt and she should be with you any minute now.’
‘I don’t want another woman. I’ve got used to Edna … I mean Mrs McGill. If you don’t mind, I would like her to finish my book with me.’
Molly’s heart sank. This was going to be more difficult than she first thought.
‘I’m afraid Mrs McGill has been put onto another job, Mr Knox, but you’ll find all our staff are qualified secretaries.’
There was silence at the other end. Then he said, ‘I think that’s the woman now at the door I’ll phone you back soon.’
Edna sat silent at the desk as Molly put the phone down. Then she said, ‘I’ve caused you a lot of bother, Molly. I’m sorry.’
‘No you haven’t, Edna. Just wait till Mr Knox sees the fair and competent Mary.’
The kettle was boiling but Molly had forgotten about the tea. ‘I’d better go and see what Kenneth wants.’ She sounded unconcerned but she was tense with worry. What a day it was turning out to be!
She made her way quickly to the Nethergate shop. The window display had been changed but it still had the quiet air of isolation, as if no customers ever crossed the threshold. But that couldn’t be, she thought. Judging by the opulence and apparent wealth of the Lamont house, business had to be booming.
She pushed the door open and saw Kenneth sitting behind the grand desk. It was a feeling of déjà vu. Exactly like the first time she had seen him.
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