A Daughter's Choice

by June Francis

  When Celia returned the kettle was put on and then she found a chair for Rita.

  ‘This is a nice shop,’ she said. ‘I take it you have a flat upstairs?’

  ‘For now. But it isn’t where I’m going to be living,’ said Celia, as if to reassure her friend that she had not gone down in the world. ‘My Frank’s got a nice little house not far away. He’s a widower.’

  ‘How did you meet? You could have knocked me over with a feather when your invitation came.’

  Celia told her, adding, ‘He’s had a sad life has Frank, but he doesn’t harp on it like some.’

  ‘So you’re happy?’ said Rita.

  ‘Oh, yes! Now Andy Pritchard’s stopped following me around,’ said Celia, and told Rita all about that.

  She expressed amazement but only said it was a good job her friend hadn’t married him.

  Celia agreed before making tea and seeing to Mrs Evans. Then she sat next to Rita and said, ‘You’re looking well. I take it you haven’t strangled Hennie yet?’

  ‘Felt like it but I don’t think I ever will now.’ Rita bit into a cream and jam cookie and said in a muffled voice, ‘I didn’t realise how hungry I was. It must be the excitement.’

  ‘The excitement of us meeting up again?’ laughed Celia.

  Rita swallowed and took a sip of tea. ‘Of course! Where’s Katherine, by the way?’

  Celia’s face softened. ‘She’s back at the Arcadia. It was my idea. I told her the truth about Mick’s being her father and she went.’

  ‘And how did she take the truth?’

  ‘She was made up, of course! She was one of that family again, wasn’t she? Not that we didn’t get on, and she still comes to see me. She’s going to be my bridesmaid.’

  Rita stared at her. ‘I take it your husband-to-be doesn’t know the truth?’

  Celia’s eyes widened. ‘What d’you take me for? Of course he knows the truth! Frank’s a very understanding man. It’s a pity you couldn’t find one like him.’

  Rita made no answer. ‘Is Mrs Mcleod still selling the Arcadia now Katherine’s gone back there?’

  ‘How did you know about that?’

  Rita explained and so Celia told her about Mick asking her to marry him. ‘He didn’t really want to, though. I think he did it because he thought it was the right thing to do, but I knew by then we weren’t right for each other despite us both wanting to do the best by Katherine. But she’s not a little girl any longer and she’ll be going to Scotland soon.’ A sigh escaped her.

  ‘Scotland? Why?’

  ‘Because of Kitty Mcleod having had a heart attack. I’ll miss Katherine, of course, but it’s best for her. She’s always been fond of them.’

  Mrs Evans butted into the conversation. ‘She loves Patrick.’

  ‘Who’s Patrick?’ asked Rita.

  Celia looked uncomfortable. ‘He’s just a lad Katherine knows. She’ll get over him.’

  Mrs Evans scowled at her. ‘How do you know? Just because you got over her father doesn’t mean she’ll be the same. She doesn’t want to go to Scotland and it’s wrong to pressurise her into going. You’re her mother, you should help her to get what she wants. Mrs Mcleod has a husband to look after her.’

  Celia was silent.

  ‘What does Mick say about it?’ said Rita.

  ‘I haven’t the foggiest idea what he thinks!’ said Celia irascibly. ‘But I should think, like his mother, he’d want her to do better for herself than marry a photographer!’

  ‘I’d have thought he’d want her happiness above anything else and I’d have believed the same of you until now,’ said Rita.

  ‘I do want her happy! And it’s not that I’ve got anything against the lad but he does seem to be always getting himself into some scrap or other. Just – just look at this!’ Celia got up and went over to the counter and took a newspaper off the pile. She handed it to her friend and put a finger on two photographs. ‘That’s him – and that!’

  Rita stared at two faces and there was a funny feeling inside her.

  ‘Let me see,’ said Mrs Evans.

  Rita read the words beneath the photographs before handing the newspaper to the old lady. After a couple of minutes she said, ‘So that’s why he’s been missing? You have to show the girl this, Celia.’

  ‘I’ll give it to her, if you like,’ said Rita, eyeing Celia as she took the newspaper. ‘I’m going to the Arcadia. I have something to say to Mrs Mcleod.’

  ‘Well, if she gets to see Patrick,’ said Mrs Evans, ‘tell her he can have the flat Celia’s vacating if he wants it, and to come and see us soon!’

  As Rita walked up Mount Pleasant, carrying the puppy and with the copy of the Daily Post tucked under her arm, she wondered if she had run mad. It would have been wiser to wait before buying a dog but she had acted on impulse and now was doing the same thing again. She pushed open the door to the hotel and went inside.

  Katherine was behind Reception totting up some figures. How efficient she seemed, and how smartly dressed. The girl looked up and smiled and immediately it was like being hit between the eyes because the smile was pure Mick. ‘Can I help you?’ she said.

  ‘You don’t remember me, do you?’

  Katherine stared at her and after a moment said slowly, ‘The Seaview … You’re Rita Turner!’

  ‘That’s right. I’ve just been to see your mother.’

  ‘You got your invitation to the wedding?’

  ‘Yes.’ She placed the newspaper on the counter and the puppy on the floor. Immediately it wet the carpet. ‘Damn!’ said Rita ruefully. ‘I am sorry.’

  ‘I’ll get a cloth. Did she play on your good nature to buy the puppy?’

  ‘No.’ Rita smiled. ‘Sandy and I fell in love at first sight. I’ve come to see Mrs Mcleod. Is she in?’

  ‘She’s in the kitchen. I’ll show you through.’

  Rita held her back with one hand. ‘There’s no need. I know the way and I’ll get the cloth and put Sandy in the yard. You read that newspaper on the counter. Celia gave it to me because she thought you might find one of the articles interesting.’ She picked up Sandy and went into the kitchen where Kitty was making a pie with tinned golden plums, but she responded swiftly to Rita’s request to put the puppy in the yard and asked the younger woman what she could do for her.

  Rita was starting to enjoy the look on people’s faces when she told them she had come into money and this time was no exception.

  ‘How lovely!’ said Kitty, delighted at her good fortune. ‘So what are you going to do with it?’

  ‘I’d like to buy the Arcadia.’

  ‘You’re joking!’

  ‘Why d’you say that? Don’t you think it’s a good buy?’

  ‘Of course it is but …’ Kitty sat down heavily on a chair. ‘Yours is the first offer we’ve had. I was starting to think …’

  ‘You wouldn’t sell it? I hope I haven’t given you too much of a shock.’

  ‘You have a bit.’ Kitty smiled unexpectedly. ‘But if you want to buy, I’m selling. Would you like to see over the place now? It’s probably the best time for you to come. In a few weeks it’s the Grand National which is our busiest time. We generally throw a party for the guests on the day of the race.’

  ‘Sounds fun,’ said Rita lightly. ‘I presume your staff’ll stay? Katie seems very efficient.’

  ‘She is but …’ Kitty’s expression changed. ‘I don’t think her staying would be a good idea. She expected to take over and I don’t think she’d enjoy working under someone else. Besides, I’m going to do bed and breakfast and I need her in Scotland with me.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Rita bluntly. ‘You managed without her when she wasn’t here. Surely you can find a local girl who’ll do just as well?’

  Suddenly Kitty looked tired and Rita’s conscience smote her. ‘I’m sorry. I know it’s nothing to do with me.’

  ‘Of course it is,’ said Kitty slowly. ‘My girl knows the Arcadia and our regulars. But we’ve always wor
ked well together and we don’t need words half the time. She knows what I expect of her.’

  ‘What you expect? What does she expect of you?’

  Kitty looked at Rita. ‘What are you trying to say?’

  Rita shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. I’ve been to see Celia and she was telling me you both think Katie can do better for herself than a boy called Patrick.’

  ‘You think I’m being cruel, trying to separate them? He’s a teddy boy with one of those haircuts and a leather jacket! I only want what’s best for her.’

  ‘Who knows what’s best for each of us?’

  ‘I love the girl.’ There were tears in Kitty’s eyes.

  ‘I’m sure you do. And I’ve no right to say this – but ask yourself is there a part of you that wants to hurt her even while you’re trying to hang on to her? And all because she went with Celia and you fell ill and ended up having a heart attack?’

  Kitty gripped her hands together tightly. ‘I don’t know how you can think that!’

  Rita grimaced. ‘I know! Terrible of me, isn’t it? Perhaps I should come back another day and we can talk about the Arcadia?’

  ‘Yes! I need time to think about whether I want to sell it to you.’ She looked up at Rita with unfriendly eyes.

  Rita nodded, thinking she had ruined her chances, and went and got Sandy. She left Kitty still sitting in the kitchen staring at the wall.

  As soon as she stepped into the lobby Katherine pounced on her. There was a glow about her that had not been there before despite the anxiety in her eyes. ‘Do you know what this is all about?’ she demanded.

  ‘A boy called Patrick.’ Rita smiled. At least she had made someone happy.

  ‘And Mam gave you this?’

  ‘Yes! And the old woman in the shop told me to tell you that if you get to see him, you’re to tell him there’s a flat for him over the shop if he wants it.’

  ‘Cool!’ She flung the newspaper up in the air.

  ‘You know where to find him then?’ said Rita.

  ‘The hospital. Thanks!’ She picked up the newspaper. ‘Did you see Ma?’

  Rita nodded. ‘We’ve still got some unfinished business. But now I’m going to see Mick.’

  ‘Mick?’

  Suddenly Rita felt self-conscious and could feel the colour flooding her face. ‘He came to see me and I was away.’

  ‘You have his address?’ asked Katherine with lively curiosity in her eyes.

  ‘I have his address,’ she murmured, and left.

  Rita took the beer mat with Mick’s address on it from her mock crocodile skin handbag as she came out of the railway station in South Road and walked towards the river. She received no answer when she rang the doorbell so put a note through the letter box and headed for the beach, thinking to return in half an hour and check if he was in before catching the train back to Southport.

  The tide was out and the wind was chilly but immediately the puppy began sniffing and tugging on his lead. Rita did not let him run free but huddled into her coat and hung on to him, remembering that when she was young and had played here with her brother there had been patches of sand which had warranted a danger notice. She thought of Mick and Katie and the Arcadia and its mistress and hoped she had not made a complete hash of things. She wanted the hotel badly but perhaps Mick could help her there.

  It was on her return journey that Sandy came nose to nose with Nelson. Rita gazed at Mick and felt a warmth inside her which flooded her whole being. ‘Hello!’

  He reached out his hand and took her free one and held it tightly. ‘I’m glad to see you.’

  ‘Likewise.’

  ‘You’re looking good. Enjoy the cruise?’

  ‘I could have enjoyed it better. There’s nowhere quite like home,’ she murmured, shivering slightly in the stiff breeze from the Mersey.

  ‘Doesn’t that depend on where home is and who’s waiting for you there?’

  His dark eyes searched her face and she said unevenly, ‘It’s a long time since anyone was waiting for me. It can get lonely.’

  ‘I know the feeling.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Perhaps we should do something about it?’

  ‘If it had been this time a couple of weeks ago last year I could have asked you to marry me,’ said Rita boldly.

  ‘It was a leap year?’ And he added huskily, ‘Ask.’

  ‘Marry me?’

  ‘Yes.’ He caught hold of her by the shoulders and pulled her against him and his mouth covered hers in a kiss that expressed his relief and just how much he wanted her.

  It was later, when they were in his kitchen feeding the dogs, that she told him about wanting to buy the Arcadia.

  ‘You what?’ His face fell. ‘Why d’you want to do that? You can’t!’

  Two spots of colour appeared high on Rita’s cheeks. ‘There’s no need to raise your voice, Mick. I can do what I want with my own money. It would be a good investment and owning a hotel has always been my dream.’

  ‘But – but what about me? I’ve got this house and I don’t want to live at the Arcadia! You can’t go buying it, darling!’ He put his arms round her. ‘I hated the life. We hardly ever had a moment to ourselves and I don’t want that for us.’

  ‘I haven’t had a yes on it yet.’ She rested her head against his shoulder. ‘I want Katie and your mother doesn’t want me to have her.’

  ‘Scotland!’ he groaned.

  She looked up into his face. ‘I have it from the old lady at the pet shop that Katie doesn’t want to go.’

  ‘She wants the Arcadia.’

  ‘I don’t blame her but she can’t have it. She could have second best, though.’ Her voice softened. ‘I’d have her living in as deputy manageress. She’s young but she knows the business and could be a great help to me.’

  Mick was silent a moment. ‘You’ve got it all worked out without a word to me, haven’t you?’

  ‘I’m having that word now. I’m nearly forty, Mick! I don’t know if I could have children or even if you want them. But I do know I can’t sit at home and just be a housewife after working all these years.’ He did not speak and after a minute she added, ‘I should have said all this before you said yes. I don’t know what kind of wife you want?’

  He released her reluctantly. ‘I want you. I’m not that bothered about babies because I’m pretty sure I’ll find them a nuisance. Being the eldest, I remember when …’ He broke off before continuing, ‘Anyway we’ve got Katie to think about and she’s enough at the moment. You say Ma hasn’t given you a yes on the Arcadia?’

  Rita nodded and told him exactly what had transpired between them and about the newspaper article. He heard her out without interruption, although he shook his head several times. ‘So what do you think we should do?’ asked Rita, when she had finished.

  He rubbed a hand across his eyes. ‘Sort it out as soon as possible. Have to speak to Ma – and Katie – on neutral ground. Away from the Arcadia where there would be too many interruptions. I’ll get them here tomorrow afternoon on some pretext or other.’

  ‘Phone now then,’ said Rita. ‘The sooner it’s sorted out the better.’

  Mick got up and telephoned the Arcadia.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Katherine felt she had to tell someone about the article in the newspaper so she could get away for an hour or so to the hospital but knew she could not approach Kitty. She went in search of Jack and found him in the basement making toast in front of the fire.

  ‘Have you seen this?’ she said, placing the newspaper on the rug in front of him and stabbing the words beneath Patrick’s picture with a trembling finger.

  ‘Seen what?’ he murmured, screwing up his eyes as he tried to focus on the page.

  ‘It’s Patrick and he’s been hurt and I must see him! He’s in the Royal!’

  Jack handed her the toasting fork and picked up the newspaper, glancing at the date before focusing on the photograph of Patrick’s smiling face and the shot next to it showing a bruised and batt
ered one with a black eye. He read swiftly how Patrick had been attending one of the Lord Mayor’s social occasions for the Daily Post and was on his way home when he saw an old lady about to walk in front of a car. He had pulled her back and in the process been hit himself.

  He put down the newspaper and stared at Katherine. ‘A hero, hey?’

  ‘Is that all you can say? He’s hurt!’

  ‘It says he has a slight concussion and that swelling and bruising will go down within the week. He’ll be OK now.’

  ‘How can you say that?’ demanded Katherine, flinging the toast on a plate. ‘You medical people make light of everything! He’ll think I don’t care if I don’t go and see him. Will you take over Reception for me?’

  ‘If you want, but I doubt he’ll be in the Royal now.’

  She frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

  Jack tapped the newspaper. ‘This is last week’s. He’ll have been discharged.’

  Katherine snatched up the newspaper and stared at the date and moaned, ‘He will think I don’t care!’

  ‘There’s nothing stopping you from seeing him now.’

  She flopped down into a chair. ‘I don’t know where he lives.’

  ‘What?’ Jack picked up the butter knife.

  ‘I just never got round to getting his address. He used to call at the pet shop and I’d cross over to the photographer’s when I wanted him for something.’

  ‘Well, of all the harebrained ways to carry on!’ Jack’s teeth crunched into toast. ‘Vicky could get it for you.’

  Katherine sat up straight and there was a hopeful gleam in her eyes. ‘Of course! The hospital’ll have records.’

  ‘Of course they’ll have records. I’ll be seeing her tomorrow. She’ll be able to get you the information on Monday.’

  Katherine’s body sagged and she moaned, ‘I’ve got to wait until Monday?’

  ‘Patience, my child.’ He patted her head. ‘We’ll get him sorted out but it’s you that’ll have to sort Ma out if you decide not to go to Scotland because of him.’

  All the effervescence went out of her and she stood up. ‘I’ll have to get back to work but don’t you forget what you’re doing for me!’ She left the basement, intending to talk to Kitty, but there was no sign of her anywhere. When she asked John where she was, he said she had been feeling tired and had gone to bed.