McQueen's Agency

by Reynolds, Maureen

  Without thinking, Edna turned her head to look behind her. There was no one there but she knew He would be watching and warning her away from any other man. She couldn’t risk anything happening to Billy. She couldn’t understand why it was all happening again. It had been three years since she had had any contact with him, so why now?

  She put on a sympathetic face. ‘Oh, Eddie, that would be great but I’ve got Billy to look after and I don’t like asking my mother to look after him all day and then again at night.’ Eddie said he understood and went back to the shop.

  Dolly gave her a look as she left but Edna merely shook her head sadly.

  21

  The preparations for Saturday’s party were in turmoil. It had been a hard week for Molly and the tension in the house was terrible. Lena looked distraught and ill. Her face was white and etched with pain every time she moved her arm but she wouldn’t cancel the dinner, much to Joe’s disgust and Kenneth’s concern.

  ‘You would be better off going to bed Lena,’ Kenneth said, ‘and getting some rest.’

  ‘I’ll be better by tonight.’

  Molly had come in early because she knew everything was running late. She had had a quick sandwich with Marigold at midday then she had driven to Cliff Top House.

  Lena had ordered in the food for the meal tonight instead of making it herself, She asked Kenneth if he would go to Goodfellow and Steven’s baker shop where Lena had ordered meringues for the pudding and they needed picking up at the Broughty Ferry shop.

  ‘I can’t go, Lena,’ said Kenneth. ‘You know I have an appointment with a customer this afternoon in the shop.’

  Lena was annoyed. ‘Can’t you cancel it?’

  Kenneth was firm. ‘No, I can’t. You know this is an important sale and I have to finalise it this afternoon or else we might lose it.’

  Molly was helping to lay the table with the lovely crystal glasses and silver cutlery when Lena turned to her. ‘Molly, can you and Mike go over to Dundee on the ferry and pick up this order?’

  Molly was horrified but she was torn between pleasing her boss and mortified at being in Mike’s company for a couple of hours.

  Joe said, ‘I can’t spare Mike. He’ll be busy in the warehouse. We have a delivery to make on Monday and it needs sorting out today.’

  Molly was relieved but not for long.

  ‘Well what about Christie? He can take the van. Molly can go with him.’

  It was settled. Molly and Christie would take the van and Kenneth would take the boat over to the Earl Gray dock and leave it there. After the shop closed he would then come back over the river.

  Joe didn’t look happy with this arrangement. Molly had to smile in spite of all the tension. Joe was like a spoilt wee boy when it came to the boat. He looked on it as his own personal possession.

  Kenneth went away muttering and he didn’t look pleased either. He was the first to admit he wasn’t a sailor and he didn’t like being on the water, which was why he normally took the train to work.

  He didn’t have to feel the motion of the waves. He didn’t want to admit it but he always felt a bit seasick.

  Molly was starting to get a headache and the day had hardly begun. She was hoping this job wouldn’t last much longer. Her diary was beginning to fill up and there were other jobs she could be doing. It was Edna’s last day at the grocer’s shop and Molly would have to go into the office tomorrow and sort out the bookings.

  Yes, she could have done without this party tonight.

  Christie drew up with the van and she got in. Lena had given her the list of food and she said it would all be packed. They just had to pick it up and bring it back.

  The van set off along the narrow road, dodging the potholes and they were soon on the main road and on their way to the ‘Fifie.’

  ‘How are you liking this job, Molly?’ asked Christie.

  Molly felt like telling him the truth but she wasn’t sure about him. For all she knew he would maybe carry tales back to the Lamonts.

  ‘I like it very much,’ she replied, hoping she sounded genuine. ‘What about you Christie, do you enjoy living over here? Don’t you miss Canada?’

  ‘Yes, I do, as a matter of fact, but I’m hoping I won’t be here much longer.’

  ‘You said you lived with your father. Will he be glad when you go back home?’

  ‘I suppose he will. Although we share the house, we live separate lives. He does his job and I do mine.’

  Molly noticed he didn’t mention his mother. ‘Does your mother live with you both?’

  Christie was silent for a moment or two and Molly wondered if he had heard her. Then he said, ‘My mother is dead. That was the main reason for coming over here. My parents were divorced but she wanted to stay in Scotland while Dad wanted to emigrate to Canada. All this was years ago when I was a small child. So I went with Dad. Last year, she was very ill and I wanted to see her again but sadly she died a few weeks after I arrived. After the funeral I decided to stay on for a while and get a job. And here I am.’

  They reached the pier for the ferry and Christie drew in behind a small lorry, three cars and two motor bikes. They didn’t have long to wait and once on board, Christie asked if Molly wanted to sit on the top deck.

  ‘I like the wind in my face,’ he said. ‘Makes me think of Canada.’

  ‘Do you live in a rural area?’

  ‘Heavens no, we live in Toronto but when I’m at home I like to take my holidays near the great lakes. I sometimes hire a boat and go fishing or just enjoy being on the water.’

  ‘You should have taken the boat across and let Kenneth have the van.’

  Christie laughed. ‘What, and spoil Joe and Mike’s day? That boat is their hobby and they are always messing about with it, taking it across the river and bringing it back. They don’t like anyone else using it. Did you notice Joe’s face when Lena suggested Kenneth should take it to work?’

  They both laughed and found a spot beside the rails. The breeze felt warm on Molly’s face. Her headache hadn’t gone away but she hoped she would feel better soon. If not she would take a couple of aspirins.

  ‘How are your parents getting on in Australia?’

  Molly said they were now at Nell and Terry’s house and eagerly awaiting the birth of their first grandchild. ‘I had a letter last week with all their news and they are having a great time. They can’t get over how hot it is and the constant sunshine is a pleasure.’

  Molly was surprised how easy it was to talk to him. She hadn’t liked him to start with but he was good company. She still didn’t trust him because he had lied about being in the house that day but she put all this out of her mind and decided to enjoy the trip.

  She watched as the green braes of Fife slowly receded in the distance and viewed the industrial landscape of the city with its smoking chimneys and bleak looking buildings.

  She knew the job with the Lamonts wouldn’t last much longer, for surely Lena’s arm would get better soon. When that happened, most of the work would be in the town and she would have to think about renovating the rooms upstairs from the office. It would save all this time travelling on the ferry.

  Christie was silent as he gazed at the view.

  ‘I was wondering,’ she said. ‘Why don’t the Lamonts live in Dundee? It would make sense for them to be near the shop and surely they could rent somewhere with sheds and a warehouse.’

  Christie didn’t say anything but as the ‘Fifie’ slowly docked at Craig Pier, he said, ‘I’ve often wondered that myself. But I suppose they have the best of both worlds living where they do. They travel a lot to Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as having customers on the continent.’

  Christie manoeuvred the van out onto Union Street and set off for the baker’s shop in Broughty Ferry.

  Molly said, ‘Lena doesn’t look well. In fact, she looks positively ill and should go back to the hospital for a check up on her arm. It ought to be getting better by now instead of worse.’ She turned to Christ
ie. ‘How did her accident happen? She said she fell.’

  ‘Yes. She was in the town one day and she fell off the pavement onto the road and broke her arm.’

  When they reached Gray Street, Christie parked the van next to the shop while Molly went inside.

  The woman behind the counter knew about the order and one of the bakers brought out a box and placed it in the van, ‘You’d better drive carefully or else you’ll break the meringues,’ he said.

  ‘Well, now we know what’s for pudding,’ said Christie.

  Next they had to visit the City Arcade. Since Lena had ordered everything over the phone, the butcher’s and the fruit shop had everything packed up and the boxes were waiting for them.

  The journey home went without incident but Molly could hardly believe that it had required the two of them to pick up this order. Maybe, she thought, Lena wanted to go back to bed and sending them both meant she would be rid of everyone for a few hours.

  Molly could have done with some time off herself as her headache wasn’t getting any better. She hated taking any kind of pills when she was working but she knew the headache wouldn’t go away without some aspirins.

  ‘Could you stop at my house on the way back, Christie? I want to pick up some aspirin.’

  He nodded. ‘No problem. I’ve got to go to one of the other shops in the arcade but I won’t be a minute.’

  When they reached the house, Marigold was in the garden. She stared at Christie and Molly introduced him.

  ‘Now what’s someone from Canada doing over in our neck of the woods?’

  Christie grinned. ‘Just working like you, ma’am.’

  ‘Well I hope everyone is making you welcome. We like our Commonwealth cousins to see our glorious country.’

  Molly hurried out of the house before Marigold could ask him any more questions. As it was, she seemed fascinated by him.

  ‘I’ll be late home tonight, Marigold, so I’ll see you in the morning.’

  Christie gave Marigold a salute and she waved her hands as if she was trying to dry them in the sunshine. ‘Who is that fine neighbour you have?’

  Molly said she was a big help to her since her parents went abroad and she said. ‘She also looks after our cat Sabby who doesn’t like me.’

  Christie looked outraged. ‘Who could possibly not like you?’

  Unsure if he was serious or joking, she didn’t answer.

  When they reached the house, Lena was lying down but she came downstairs when she heard their voices.

  ‘Did you get everything?’ she said.

  ‘We got three boxes, is that right?’ asked Molly.

  Lena opened them and peered inside. ‘Yes it all looks fine.’ She turned to Molly. ‘If you want to go home for a few hours you can, or else you can help Christie with the paintings and furniture which will be on show tonight.’

  ‘If it’s all right with you I’ll stay and help Christie.’

  Molly was annoyed because if she had known about this chance to go home she could have stayed at the house and let Christie bring the van back himself. Perhaps Lena should have listened to Joe and Kenneth and cancelled the event tonight. After all it was only another three couples and Nelly Marten.

  When she joined Christie in the sheds, he said, ‘The first thing I’m doing is putting on the kettle for coffee.’

  Molly filled a glass of water at the sink and swallowed two of the pills, hoping the throbbing in her head would soon subside because it was going to be a long day.

  After an hour or so, Joe and Mike arrived back. She saw them walking up the steps from the jetty and decided to go into the house and sit in the office. It was one thing keeping Christie company but she didn’t relish the thought of being with Mike.

  The office was quiet and cool now that the sun had swung behind the tall trees to the left of the garden. She checked the invoices and the lists of tonight’s items. There was a fine collection of antique furniture and a dozen paintings. No doubt the guests would be spoiled for choice.

  She knew Betty and Ronald were coming, that intrepid American couple who were furnishing their home in Edinburgh with fine things. She didn’t know the other names on the list but no doubt they were also collectors or antique dealers.

  She needed to use the bathroom and hoped Lena wouldn’t be disturbed if she went upstairs. Walking very quietly up the thickly carpeted stairs, she reached the bathroom.

  She was on the point of going back down when she thought she heard a voice coming from Kenneth’s room.

  The door was slightly open and she gently gave it a push. Silence. She must have imagined it, she thought. Then the voice came again. It was a programme on the wireless and Molly felt so stupid. Kenneth must have left it on when he went out.

  As she hurried away from the open door, she noticed a painting on the wall. It was the one bought by Nelly at the last party.

  Molly was confused. Why would an expensive painting bought by Nelly be hanging on Kenneth’s wall?

  Suddenly conscious that she was standing in Kenneth’s private room, she hurried down the stairs. What business was it of hers to wonder about her employer’s private lives? But it was strange, she thought.

  Maybe Nelly was looking for a house and Kenneth was looking after it for her. But it was none of her business. Then something made her stop. Surely Kenneth had taken the boat this morning as Joe and Mike were to be busy in the sheds? But she had just seen the two men arrive on the jetty with the boat.

  What a strange upside-down day it was turning out to be.

  Sounds from the kitchen brought her back from these thoughts. Lena was busy opening the boxes and there were lettuces, tomatoes, onions and potatoes on the table. Sitting on the draining board was a large basket of strawberries.

  ‘How are you feeling now, Lena?’ Molly was just being polite because the woman looked really ill. In spite of the warm day, she was wearing a long-sleeved jumper and tweed skirt. ‘What do you want me to do?’

  Lena looked listlessly at the food, as if she couldn’t make up her mind, which was a big contrast to the Lena who had come into the agency a few weeks before.

  ‘Can you wash the lettuces, Molly? I’m just having a simple meal tonight. Salad and cold meat followed by meringues and strawberries.’

  ‘I wanted to do another Coronation chicken dish like the one I served last month. That was the meal served at the Coronation banquet. Did you know that, Molly?

  ‘Yes, I read it in the paper,’ said Molly. ‘I did cut it out but I’ve lost it. It’s probably been thrown out.’

  Lena came over to the sink. ‘Can I tell you something in confidence?’

  Molly stopped washing the tomatoes and looked at her.

  ‘When I had my accident and broke my arm, I didn’t fall off the pavement. I was pushed.’

  Molly didn’t know what to expect with this confidential chat but was shocked by this revelation.

  ‘Did you see who pushed you?’

  ‘No, I just felt this nudge and the next thing I was lying on the road. Of course there was all the fuss of people picking me up so the person could easily have slipped away unnoticed.’

  ‘Does your brother and husband know about this?’

  ‘No they don’t and I don’t want to worry them.’

  ‘Why didn’t you go to the police, Lena?’

  Lena shrugged her shoulders. ‘Would they have believed me? I don’t think so.’

  Molly could see that it would have been a difficult thing to prove and what if Lena was wrong? It may have been someone hurrying past and accidentally knocking into her.

  She voiced this thought but Lena said no, she was definitely pushed.

  Molly didn’t know what to say. Then the door opened and Kenneth came into the kitchen. He looked tired and his face also looked pale and gaunt.

  He filled the kettle and placed it on the cooker. ‘If I don’t get a cup of coffee I’ll collapse.’

  Lena asked, ‘Have you had a bad day?’


  ‘A bad day doesn’t describe it. I was to meet Peter Richards from Fine Antiques. He was interested in buying a couple of tapestries and that table and six chairs but he never showed up.’

  ‘Did Mike pick you up at the station?’

  ‘Yes he did. He was waiting for me when the train came in.’ He saw Molly’s face and he explained. ‘I know I was to take the boat over but after you both left Joe suddenly remembered he needed it so he took me over and I got the train back.’ He sat at the table with his coffee. ‘What a day.’

  Molly tried not to smile. I’ll second that, she thought.

  Her headache was coming back so she decided to concentrate on washing the salad and leave all the confusion of the day behind. After all she was getting paid to work solely in the office and the household problems had nothing to do with her.

  Before she turned back to the sink, Kenneth gave her a look, which made her blush. She hoped Lena hadn’t noticed because she felt working here was becoming difficult.

  Hopefully Lena would get her plaster off soon and Molly would be on to pastures new.

  By six thirty, everything was ready. The table in the dining room was set and the food ready in the kitchen.

  But as always, the food took second place to the grandeur of the room with its beautiful furniture and paintings. Christie had said it was contrived because it gave the visitors a taste of how rooms should look and he suspected that Ronald and Betty were planning a similar dining room in their Edinburgh house.

  Betty and Ronald arrived first. Lena looked a lot better when she went to the door to meet them. The weary expression on her face was gone and she seemed carefree and happy.

  Molly couldn’t get over the transformation. Christie noticed it as well and said she was putting on an act for her customers.

  The other four people arrived almost together as the two cars pulled up in the courtyard.

  The first couple looked hesitant and shy but Lena soon put them at ease but the last two were totally different. The man was small and fat, almost to the point of obesity and his white shirt was strained across his stomach. His companion was tall, slim and had lots of black curly hair falling onto her shoulders. Her dress was skimpy with an off the shoulder neckline. The skirt barely reached her sun-tanned knees. She looked like a film starlet. Molly heard an intake of breath behind her and when she turned, she saw Mike gazing at this girl in awe.