To Katie’s relief, Worldwide Knit in Public Day dawned dry and sunny. Leo had volunteered to transport the table, chairs and wool supplies she needed to the Royal Avenue Gardens. By ten o’clock they were setting things up near the entrance arch under the interested gaze of passers-by.
‘I can’t stay this morning. Got some work to do up on the farm,’ Leo said as they put the last chair in place. ‘But I’ll be back to do the return trip with this lot.’
‘Thanks,’ Katie said. ‘Bye then,’ and she watched him stride purposefully away. Supper at Mattie’s the other evening had been fun. Both Mattie and Henri had been in top form but there hadn’t been any opportunity to talk to Leo privately.
The shadow of the night Patrick had arrived was hanging over them like some sort of badly kept secret waiting to be brought out into the open, although there was less of an atmosphere between them now. When would Leo talk to her?
If only she could turn the clock back to before Patrick’s arrival when everything between her and Leo had been normal. Well, apart from him kissing her, of course. That had never happened before.
Sighing, Katie turned back to the table and tried to concentrate on placing the wool, patterns and needles in what she hoped was an inviting display. Members of the club started to arrive and soon a small crowd had gathered out of curiosity, forcing everything else out of Katie’s mind.
Mattie and Henri arrived at midday, by which time there were knitters throughout town and several in the gardens. A party atmosphere was rapidly springing up – particularly when one of the club members turned up with some home-made nibbles and a bottle of wine.
Katie was about to leave and go down to A Good Yarn to check on Trisha when Noah Snr arrived with Vicky, Noah Jnr and an elegant older woman.
‘Mattie, Katie, I’d like you to meet my mother, Elizabeth Emprey, and Mattie, this is my daughter, Vicky.’
‘Pleased to meet you both,’ Mattie said, shaking Elizabeth’s hand and smiling. ‘I’m sorry you’ve had such a sad time of things recently. Noah told us about his grandmother dying and how you were having to cope with things. It’s not easy, is it?’
Elizabeth shook her head. ‘No. The most difficult part has been going through my mother’s private papers.’
Vicky squeezed her grandmother’s arm. ‘But it’s finished now, Grandma, and Great-grandma Kitty left us lots of exciting information about the family.’ She turned to Mattie and Katie.
‘There were some old family papers in a box that helped me with the research I was doing. I think Dad mentioned Anne Follett to you? She emigrated from here. Apparently she came from a large family who still have descendants living in the town.’
‘How exciting,’ Katie said. ‘Do you have any names?’
‘A few,’ Vicky said. ‘It’s a bit complicated because the Follett branch of the family appears to have died out or merged into a family called Luttrell.’
‘Leo and I have Luttrell relations,’ Mattie said. ‘What fun – we could turn out to be related!’
‘But we’re American, ma’am,’ Noah Snr gently teased. ‘Don’t you have a problem with that?’
Mattie had the grace to look ashamed. ‘No. That was a childish opinion I clung to for far too long. Besides, I like you and your family – and you can’t help being American!’
‘Perhaps you’d like to see some of the papers I’ve brought over with me,’ Elizabeth said. ‘You might even be able to help us in tracing the twentieth-century family line.’
‘I’d love to see the papers and your family tree connections to the town,’ Mattie said. ‘Although I don’t promise to be of much help.’
‘Don’t forget Great-uncle Nathaniel’s letters,’ Noah Jnr said. ‘You did bring those with you?’ he asked his mother anxiously. ‘I haven’t seen those yet.’
Elizabeth nodded. ‘Yes, I brought them. And the photos.’ She turned to Mattie. ‘My 97-year-old mother left us one or two unexpected mementoes in her box of family papers. Secrets from her early life that we had no idea about.’
Mattie smiled in sympathy. ‘It’s difficult going through someone else’s possessions, isn’t it? Especially when it’s too late for them to answer all the questions you want to ask. Look, why doesn’t Noah bring you to the cottage for tea this afternoon?’
‘Gee, I’m sorry, ma’am,’ Noah Snr said. ‘Mother and I already have an appointment this afternoon. Could we make it tomorrow?’
‘Of course,’ Mattie said. She turned to Katie. ‘Now, anything I can do here? Otherwise Henri and I are going to sit by the Boat Float and knit.’
‘You knit?’ Katie said looking at Henri.
‘Oui. Nothing fancy but I do like a new wool scarf every winter,’ he said with a smile.
Katie watched them affectionately as they made their way across to a bench seat in the shade at the Boat Float. Mattie looked so right with her ‘special’ friend. There was soon an interested crowd gathered around them watching Henri knit.
Time passed quickly and at four o’clock a tired Katie was pleased to see Leo when he turned up, as promised, to help her take things back to A Good Yarn.
‘Good day?’ he said.
‘Yes,’ Katie nodded. ‘The sponsored knitters have met their targets and people have been generous in donating to the charity box.’
Back at the shop, Trisha was happy too. ‘I sold lots of wool and quite a few other things as well,’ she said. ‘Locals were asking about joining the club too. And people were so sympathetic about the fire.’ Trisha looked at Katie.
‘Great,’ Katie said. Sensing there was something that Trisha wasn’t telling her she said, ‘Anything else?’
‘Ron came in,’ Trisha said. ‘Said he wanted to offer you his sympathy over the fire.’
‘Oh, he does, does he?’ Katie said, remembering him slinking off, the morning after the fire.
‘Wants you and Leo to go and see him,’ Trisha said.
Surprised Katie looked at Leo, who shrugged.
‘Did he say why?’ Katie asked.
Trisha shook his head. ‘No. Just said to tell you the sooner the better.’
‘Well, I’m not running out there on Ron’s say-so,’ Katie said. ‘We’ll go tomorrow.’
‘I can take you tonight,’ Leo said. ‘I’d quite like to hear what Ron has to say.’
Katie shook her head. ‘Tomorrow will be fine. I really need to make a start on the apartment. I can’t put it off any longer – the smoke and the smell up there is horrendous.’
‘OK, tomorrow it is,’ Leo said. ‘I’ve got to get back to the farm for half an hour but I’ll be back to give you a hand upstairs and then we’ll have supper together. We still need to talk.’
‘Supper sounds good,’ Katie said, smiling. ‘Shall I order a takeaway?’
‘No. I’ll organize something. See you in a bit,’ Leo said, and left.
Back at the cottage, Mattie and Henri were sitting out on the terrace watching the boats on the river.
‘I must say I’m looking forward to being out on the river and taking part in the D-Day Anniversary ceremony,’ Henri said. ‘Seeing the town from the river will be interesting too.’
‘Let just hope the weather is kind to us,’ Mattie said. ‘Too much wind and choppy waves always make me feel seasick. Now, what shall we do for supper tonight?’
‘Are Katie and Leo joining us?’ Henri asked.
‘No. I think Katie is going to do some work down at the shop. Not sure what Leo is up to. Hopefully helping Katie,’ Mattie said. ‘I’ve been waiting years for something to happen between those two and, everything crossed, I think it might be about to happen.’
‘Been matchmaking, have you?’ Henri teased.
Mattie shook her head. ‘Those two are so completely right for each other I don’t understand why it’s taken them so long to figure it out. Katie going away to be a journalist obviously didn’t help but she’s been back now for a couple of months. Leo should have told her how he feels by now – especia
lly now that Patrick is out of her life. Previous boyfriend,’ she added, seeing Henri’s puzzled look.
‘It’s never that easy though, is it, telling someone how you feel, however old you are. Especially when you’re not totally sure of their reaction.’
Mattie turned to look at him, surprised by the quiet intensity in his voice and waiting for him to say more. Instead he stood up and walked towards the garden wall before asking. ‘Do you ever get tired of this view?’
Mattie shook her head. ‘Never. There’s always something happening on the river – if it’s only watching the shadows of the clouds on the surface of the water as they pass across.’ She went and stood beside him. ‘Look, there are swans over there by Waterhead Creek. I wonder if they’ve made their usual nest down by the railway line.’
‘I shall miss all this when I leave next week,’ Henri said.
‘You’re definitely leaving next week?’ Mattie said. ‘I shall miss you.’
‘Come with me,’ Henri said. ‘I’ve provisionally reserved a ticket for you,’ he added quietly. ‘We’ll have a week in Paris for me to show you the sights like I promised and then we can go house-hunting on the Cote d’Azur. I’ve got until ten o’clock tonight to confirm my booking on the internet.’
‘Oh, Henri,’ Mattie sighed. ‘A week in Paris sounds lovely but why do you need my help looking for a house?’
‘Because you have to like what I buy. I’d hate to buy something only for you to see it and say you can’t stay there with me because you don’t like it.’
‘I wouldn’t do that, Henri,’ Mattie said. ‘I’m sure I’ll like whatever you buy. It’s just …’ she hesitated.
‘What?’
‘Meeting you on holiday, having you stay here – it’s been wonderful. But life has to get back on track one day and our real lives are so far apart from each other, in all senses. You live in France and I live in Devon. Are we really going to be able to stay in close touch?’
‘Definitely,’ Henri said. ‘The saying “It’s a small world” has never been truer. As far as I’m concerned my “real life” now involves you, even if that means dividing our time between Devon and France. So, Mattie, can we see if our friendship will survive in “real life”, as you put it?’
Mattie smiled tremulously. ‘Oh, Henri, I don’t know what to say.’
‘Saying yes to Paris next week would be a good start.’
Mattie nodded. ‘I’m definitely thinking about taking you up on that offer. So long as Katie doesn’t mind having Bert for me again. Talking of Bert – he needs a walk before I start supper. Do you want to come with me?’
Henri shook his head. ‘I think I’ll go and confirm our tickets in case you change your mind.’
TWENTY-FIVE
Katie was upstairs at A Good Yarn when Leo returned that evening to collect her for their supper date.
‘Have you talked to the insurance company yet about this?’ he asked. ‘They’ll need to come and assess things.’
‘Rang them this morning. They’re sending someone beginning of next week. Oh, do you think I should leave everything as it is? Not even start to clean up a bit?’
‘Might be a good idea,’ Leo said, looking around. ‘Otherwise you might risk not getting all the compensation you’re entitled too.’
Katie sighed. ‘I was so enjoying living up here too.’
‘Mattie’s pleased to have you back – even if it is for the wrong reason. I imagine she’ll be grateful for the company too when Henri leaves.’
Katie laughed. ‘I think it’s me more likely to be missing Mattie if things pan out like I think they’re going to.’
Leo looked at her, waiting for her to say more but she shook her head. It was not up to her to talk about Mattie’s private life – even to Leo, her favourite nephew. Mattie would tell him – if he didn’t guess the way things were going before.
‘Right. If we’re not going to make a start here let’s go and have supper,’ Leo said.
He waited while Katie locked up and made sure everything was secure before taking her by the hand. ‘Come on. Car’s up in Newcomen Road.’
‘Where are we going for supper?’
‘My place of course,’ Leo said smiling. ‘I’m not on call tonight so I promise not to run out on you.’
‘Good,’ Katie said, wondering if Leo would say what he wanted to talk about as they drove up to Castle Farm. But he pressed the button on the car’s CD player and hits from the 80s filled the car as he drove.
Ten minutes later, Leo parked in front of the farmhouse. As she got out Katie asked, ‘What do you want to talk to me about?’
‘In a minute – let’s get supper underway. Lamb chops and salad OK with you?’
‘Sounds delicious,’ Katie said, following him into the kitchen. ‘Can I do anything?’
‘I prepared everything earlier,’ Leo said. ‘So it’s just a question of waiting for the chops to cook,’ and he placed the prepared meat in the Aga before pouring them both a glass of wine.
‘Santé,’ Katie said, clinking her glass against Leo’s. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Of course.’
‘The night of the fire when I stayed here alone, I saw the photograph collage in the study.’
A smile crept across Leo’s face. ‘And?’
‘That photo of you and me in Old Mill Creek taken when I was about fifteen you’ve tucked into the frame …’ Katie hesitated before continuing. ‘Did you mean what you’ve written across the bottom of it?’
Leo didn’t answer directly, saying instead, ‘Tiggy, you remember the night you fell off the ladder in the shop and Patrick arrived?’
‘You mean the night you kissed me?’ she asked quietly. ‘The night you told me you didn’t ever want to let me go?’
Leo nodded. ‘Did it mean as much to you as it did to me?’
Katie nodded but before she could say anything Leo continued.
‘When you left to be a journalist I hoped you’d be back in a couple of years, tired of city life and being a career girl. I hated seeing you go but I knew I had to let you go without telling you how I felt. You needed the freedom to meet other people, have fun, to grow up away from home.’ He took a sip of his wine.
‘Like you did at agricultural college,’ Katie said.
Leo grinned at her. ‘I couldn’t wait to get back home but I did enjoy those two years.’
‘I bet you did,’ Katie said, waiting to see where the conversation was leading.
‘You were too busy planning your escape from down here and then building your career to notice me,’ Leo said. ‘But I kept hoping that one day my Tiggy would return – but you rarely visited and on the occasions you did, you seemed content with your job, your life, your boyfriends. Then I bought this place and farming being what it is, my life got overtaken by work too. But I never stopped hoping you’d get fed up with the rat race and come home permanently. The words on that photo – Tiggy, the love of my life – were written from my heart years ago.’ Leo fell silent for several seconds before saying, ‘Tiggy, I just want to know how you feel about me.’
‘That evening before Patrick arrived changed everything, Leo,’ Katie said quietly. ‘It was one of the main reasons I had to turn Patrick’s offer down. I realized I liked my life back down here too much to give it up and….’ She took a deep breath. ‘l didn’t want to leave you behind again.’ She smiled at him. ‘I even like you calling me Tiggy!’
Leo put his wine down and took her in his arms. ‘Tiggy, you have no idea how happy that makes me.’
Katie lent forward and kissed him gently. ‘Oh yes, I do.’
Leo groaned as he went to kiss her back, just as the strains of Old MacDonald began to emit from Katie’s mobile.
‘Ignore it. Let them leave a message. You can ring back later. Much later.’
‘OK,’ Katie murmured, nestling into his arms, only to go rigid with shock as the caller left a voice message.
‘Katie, this is Henri. I
need your help. Mattie is missing. I don’t know what to do.’
Hearing Henri’s words, Leo unwrapped his arms from around Katie and wordlessly moved to the Aga where he took the meat out, placing it on the work surface.
Grabbing his keys and coat he said, ‘Come on, let’s go. Ring Henri back – see if he has any ideas where she might be.’
Henri answered the phone immediately.
‘Henri, we’re on our way back,’ Katie said. ‘How long has Mattie been gone?’
‘A couple of hours. Said she was taking Bert for his usual walk. I didn’t accompany her because I needed to organize tickets. I think also she wanted some time alone.’
‘Did she say which direction she was going?’ Katie asked. What exactly had Mattie wanted time alone for?
‘No. I didn’t think to ask,’ Henri said. ‘She didn’t take her mobile phone either. It’s still here on the kitchen table.’
‘We’ll come down from Leo’s farm via Weeke Hill,’ Katie said, glancing at Leo who nodded in agreement. ‘On the way we’ll drive out to the castle and have a walk around out there. You stay at the cottage in case she turns up. Don’t worry, Henri – knowing Mattie she’s probably met someone and forgotten all about the time.’
Ending the call, Katie hoped that was the reason. Mattie being alone and in trouble didn’t bear thinking about.
Leo drove slowly down Weeke Hill before turning right over the small bridge by Warfleet and making for Gallants Bower. There were still a few people enjoying an evening stroll, which Katie took to be a good sign.
‘If Mattie was in trouble maybe someone has already found and helped her?’ she said.
Leo shrugged. ‘Maybe. It’ll be dark soon. If we haven’t found her by then we’ll have to ring the hospital and contact the police. We’ll park the car and go on foot when we get to the castle.’ He indicated the glove box in front of Katie. ‘There’s a torch in there. We’re going to need it.’
Shadows of Conflict Page 15
