by Jenny Lane
As they retraced their steps they spotted Keir on a bench looking out over the tranquil view. Sophie thought he looked a bit pensive.
‘Good morning, ladies. I expect you’ve just been to the same place as myself.’
‘But how did you know about today?’ Aunt Rose asked, mystified.
‘Hugh left several instructions with his will,’ Keir explained briefly, ‘and as Erica’s not around to see that they’re carried out, I’ve volunteered. Now I understand it’s your birthday too, Rose, and so I was wondering if I could take the pair of you out to lunch?’
Rose looked disappointed. ‘Oh, Keir, what a charming thought, but I’ve got Tom’s niece, Daphne, coming with her little girl — just for their usual flying visit. Tell you what though — why don’t you join us? There’s a chicken roasting in the oven so there’ll be plenty of food.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude if you’ve got guests ... ‘
‘That’s what Sophie said, but it’d be more like a party then. We’ll be eating around one o’clock and you’re more than welcome. Please do come.’
To Sophie’s secret delight Keir agreed and they went their separate ways. Daphne and Lily arrived just before one o’clock. Lily was clutching a strangely shaped package and Daphne handed Rose an expensive looking, gift-wrapped box of chocolates.
Lily looked anxiously at Aunt Rose as that lady unwrapped her gift to reveal the most unbelievably ugly jam pot Sophie had ever seen, in bright garish colours with a large bee perched on the top.
‘I choosed it myself,’ Lily informed her, proudly.
‘Chose, darling,’ Daphne corrected automatically.
‘It’s quite — quite fabulous,’ Aunt Rose told her. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this one before.’
Sophie, biting her lip, had a feeling that even Peggy Munn would have been hard-pressed to accommodate it.
At one o’clock, Keir arrived and, shortly afterwards, they all sat down to lunch. Daphne monopolised the conversation, as Sophie seemed to remember she always did. Keir was his usual charming self and Aunt Rose was obviously enjoying having people around her to celebrate her birthday.
Daphne asked Keir about his job and spent a while outlining hers, as PA to the director of a leading brand of cosmetics. She then turned to Sophie.
‘So what are your plans for the future? Have you got another job lined up?’
Sophie shook her head catching Keir’s interested gaze. ‘Not at present, no. I’ve been taking a break for a few weeks.’
‘So does that mean you’ll eventually be returning to Hertfordshire?’
Keir was watching Sophie intently. ‘Probably not — I rather like it here in Kent,’ she said with a smile and got up to clear away the dishes, aware that Daphne was giving her a hard look. Surely she didn’t object to Sophie staying at Rose Cottage?
‘So, Keir,’ Daphne said, as they ate a rather gooey dessert made especially for Lily’s benefit. ‘Have you come across those heirlooms that were supposed to be left to Aunt Rose and Sophie’s parents?’
Aunt Rose shot her a warning glance, and Sophie was indignant that Daphne should mention this today of all days. Keir shook his head.
‘I am aware of it from Erica, of course, but it’s all a bit of a mystery,’ he said, helping himself to the cream.
‘My dad says I’m good at solving mysteries,’ Lily piped up. ‘I’m going to be a detective when I grow up.’
‘That’s nice, dear,’ Aunt Rose said, a twinkle in her eye. ‘Then you’ll be able to find all the lost things in my house. I’m always mislaying my scissors and my glasses and sometimes even the cat.’
The little girl giggled and Daphne said rather sharply, ‘Stop talking and eat your dessert, Lily.’
Lily obediently did so and then, setting down her spoon asked, ‘Is Amy coming over this afternoon, Aunty Rose?’
Before Rose could reply Daphne said, ‘There won’t be time, Lily. I’ve already told you, Daddy and I are going out this evening, so we need to leave here quite early before the traffic builds up on the motorway.’
‘But Amy texted me. She’s at her grandma’s today and her Aunt Crystal’s got rabbits. She said I could see them.’
‘Oh, that’ll keep for another day,’ Daphne said impatiently, ‘besides, you’ve got your best clothes on and you might get dirty.’
The child looked crestfallen.
‘I could run Lily to the Briggs after lunch, just for a short time,’ Keir offered. ‘I’m sure Sophie would come with me and then you and Rose can spend some quality time together.’
‘What a good idea,’ Sophie enthused. ‘Now, if your mum agrees, what can I find you to wear, Lily? Oh, I know, you can put one of my sweatshirts over your clothes to keep them clean.’
‘Oh, please, Mummy, just for a little while,’ Lily begged.
‘OK, but I’m leaving around four-thirty or we’ll never get back home,’ Daphne told her, not looking at all pleased, but also not wanting to lose face in front of the others, Sophie suspected.
They spent a delightful hour at the Briggs. Crystal took the girls off to see the rabbits and Keir and Sophie opted to come as well. Afterwards, whilst the two girls were enjoying some catch-up time, Mrs Briggs insisted on making tea and produced one of her famous fruit cakes which Keir and Sophie had to sample in spite of still being full from lunch.
Mr Briggs showed Keir a large urn-shaped vase he’d inherited from his grandmother and seemed pleased when Keir informed him it was probably worth at least a hundred pounds. The two men then became engrossed in a conversation about sport.
‘I wonder where those two lassies have got to?’ Mavis asked a little later.
She went in search of them and Crystal came to sit beside Sophie.
‘Alan’s taking me to see a film this evening. I hadn’t realised it was Mrs Harding’s birthday today or I’d have given her a card, but Mum’s going to send her one of her cakes. Daphne’s paying one of her rare visits then?’
Sophie nodded. ‘She and Aunt Rose are having a chat. Keir offered to take Aunt Rose out to lunch, but he came to us instead.’
‘Lily’s a lovely child. She and Amy get on really well, when they do get to see each other; both being only children. It’s just a pity Daphne seems to forget Lily needs to play.’
***
‘Well, that was a pleasant little interlude,’ Keir remarked on the short journey home. ‘Those are fine rabbits Crystal’s got, aren’t they, Lily?’
‘Yes, I’m going to ask Mummy if I can have a rabbit, but she’ll say no. She doesn’t like pets — says they make a mess.’
Sophie felt sorry for the little girl whose mother cared more about her appearance than letting her have any fun.
Aunt Rose and Daphne were finishing cups of tea when they arrived back.
Daphne got to her feet. ‘Right, we’d best be on our way. Come on Lily, get yourself tidied up and thank Aunt Rose for our lunch.’
‘You’re very welcome, lovey,’ Rose told Lily, as the child said her piece and then stood struggling to remove the sweatshirt until Sophie came to her rescue.
Keir and Sophie left Rose to say her goodbyes.
Keir picked up his coat. ‘Regretfully, I must be making tracks too, I’m going out again this evening.’
With Glenda? Sophie wondered, feeling a sudden prickle of jealousy.
When Aunt Rose returned to the sitting room, Keir produced a parcel from a bag which he’d brought in from the car.
‘Sorry it’s not wrapped too specially, but I thought you might like to have this.’
‘Keir, there’s really was no need! Your company was sufficient.’
Aunt Rose unwrapped the package carefully and gasped in delight at the delicate ceramic bowl.
‘That was Hugh and Mary’s! I can see it now, standing on their sideboard full of pot pourri. I’d forgotten about it until this moment, Keir. Are you sure you can bear to part with it?’
‘I wouldn’t be giving it to you if
I couldn’t,’ he said with a smile at the look of sheer delight on the elderly lady’s face. ‘I know that you’ll cherish it. I also know that Hugh promised you a keep-sake and, as it hasn’t turned up and no-one seems to have any idea of what it might have been, I thought you might like this. Of course, if you would rather have the money I could arrange to sell this for you, but I’m afraid it isn’t that valuable.’
‘Oh, no, Keir, I wouldn’t dream of it. I just love this bowl and I’ll never part with it. Thank you so much!’ She kissed his cheek.
The contrast between the bowl and the jam pot was marked, but both had been given with a lot of thought, and it was the thought that counted, after all, Sophie reflected. Uncle Hugh must have thought a great deal of Keir, to have left him his entire collection of ceramics. She wondered about the identity of the potter whose work they’d both been so keen on. She sensed there was a story here.
When Keir had gone, Aunt Rose studied the bowl, turning it this way and that.
‘This is such a wonderful surprise. I quite thought Erica would have got rid of it long ago, but if it was left to Keir then she couldn’t. What a lovely day I’ve had!’
***
Sophie’s parents rang that evening and, after speaking to Rose, had a chat with Sophie.
‘Rose was telling me about the bowl her neighbour’s given her, that had belonged to Hugh. That was a nice gesture. It’s all a bit puzzling though, isn’t it?’ her father said.
‘I suppose so, but I think you’ll just have to accept that you’re not going to inherit the crown jewels or even a Ming vase!’
Her father laughed. ‘Now, changing the subject, is there any prospect of you finding any work down in Penbridge?’
‘I haven’t started looking yet, but I’m going to shortly,’ she told him. ‘In fact I was thinking of enrolling at one of the agencies next week. I’m sure something will crop up, although it may have to be learning support work to begin with.’
After she’d put the phone down, Sophie sat staring into space. If the truth were known, she was happy here in Penbridge. She loved having time to herself and she wasn’t at all sure that she wanted to take on another permanent teaching post just yet.
She knew that she was becoming increasingly attached to Keir, and loved the feeling that he was only living a short distance away from Rose Cottage. Memories of Brett were gradually beginning to fade like a bad dream, and she was looking forward to each day again.
On Monday evening, Sophie received a surprise phone call from Keir.
‘Am I right in thinking you might be interested in taking on some work round here?’ he asked without preamble.
‘Well, yes. I’m going to start ringing round the agencies,’ she told him, startled.
‘I think I might have come up with a short term solution, if it would help. Look, can you come over to Rowanbank in about an hour? I’ve got a bit of preparation to polish off first.’
Curiouser and curiouser, Sophie thought, as she walked the short distance to Rowanbank, swinging her torch. Keir showed her into the sitting room.
‘I’m afraid the study’s full of papers and books,’ he apologised. ‘Why are you laughing?’
‘Well, studies usually are, aren’t they?’ she chuckled.
‘What, oh!’ He laughed too. ‘I’ve just made some coffee. Would you like some?’
He poured the coffee and leant back in his chair.
‘The thing is, Sophie, one of the learning support assistants at the school I’m working at has been rushed into hospital with a rather nasty knee injury. Now, I know that learning support isn’t quite the kind of work you were looking for and it’s only part-time but ...’
‘Hold on — it’d have to be advertised, wouldn’t it?’ Sophie pointed out, determined not to appear too excited.
‘Seriously, Sophie, I’m sure you’d be in with a good chance, but it’s only a job share — two-and-a-half days a week, and the pay’s not a fraction of what you’d be getting as a teacher — although with your experience it might be possible to negotiate a higher hourly rate.’
Sophie sipped her coffee, her mind in a whirl. ‘So what subjects would it be, and what makes you think I’d be in with a chance?’ she asked cautiously.
‘You’d be supporting some of the younger pupils in subjects like English, maths and IT, science — oh and my classes too. Actually, I think you’d be very much in with a chance, because the Head knows you. Apparently, he used to teach in the same school as you in Buckinghamshire.’
Sophie gaped at him. ‘Not Peter Standish? I’d completely forgotten he’d moved to Kent. He was one of our deputy heads.’
Keir nodded. ‘His wife, Beverley, works in the Art department as I’ve probably mentioned. We’re in a bit of a fix, Sophie, so would you be prepared to help out for a few weeks?’
Sophie’s head was in a whirl. She’d had no idea Peter Standish was head of Keir’s school. He was a thoroughly nice man, but they’d somehow lost touch since he’d moved away from Buckinghamshire.
‘It certainly sounds too good to be true, but wouldn’t there be a lot of objections to my being appointed without the usual rigmarole — always supposing Peter approved my application and I got the job?’
‘Oh, I’m sure there are ways round these things — extenuating circumstances etc. So what shall I tell Peter?’
Everything was moving so quickly that Sophie felt as if her head was in a spin. Whilst she was sitting there, Keir sent an e-mail to Peter, who very shortly afterwards phoned back and arranged that she would call to see him the following morning.
***
The next morning Sophie got up at the crack of dawn to check through her CV.
Fortunately, she’d had several copies ready in a folder which she’d asked her mother to send via Tim, just in case. She realised that she might need to make a formal application, but at least she had something to present.
Sophie arrived at reception at the appointed time and the first person she encountered was Glenda.
‘Yes?’ she demanded curtly.
‘I’ve an appointment to see Mr Standish at ten-thirty,’ Sophie said politely.
To her surprise and relief, Peter Standish appeared in the entrance hall at that precise moment, talking to a distinguished looking gentleman with a sheaf of papers in his hand.
Peter raised a hand in greeting, as he spotted Sophie and, after his visitor had left, came across and shook her warmly by the hand. Glenda’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
‘Sophie, how lovely to see you again! Well, this is a stroke of good luck for us! Come along to my office. We’ll have an informal chat to start with and then I’ll introduce you to some of the other members of the team.’
Sophie felt totally relaxed as she and Peter spent the first few minutes catching up on the past eighteen months, but then he forward in his chair, clasped his hands together and said, ‘OK, Sophie, so let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Why would someone with your expertise want to apply for a temporary post like this one? You were head of department in Bucks so what happened?’
Sophie coloured, but was prepared to be honest. ‘I, er, got involved with someone in the area. The relationship didn’t work out and so I decided it would be best to make a fresh start, so I returned to Hertfordshire to live with my parents for a time. Since then I’ve been doing agency work.’
Peter nodded. ‘Right — well, thanks for being so honest. I understand you came to Penbridge to help out an elderly friend. Are you planning to remain there for some length of time at all? Have you settled in?’
‘It’s a nice place and I certainly like it, so for the time being, yes.’
‘OK, well we could certainly use your expertise, and I could negotiate your hourly rate, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t be anything comparable to what you have been used to receiving previously.’
They talked generally for a time and then Peter glanced at the clock and got to his feet.
‘I’ll introduce you to the
head of Learning Support and the pastoral care person. If it was down to me you could start straight away, but you know what it’s like nowadays. There are certain rules we have to observe.’
The rest of the day was so hectic that Sophie didn’t have time to reflect on whether or not she’d made the right decision. Peter Standish arranged for some sixth formers to take her on a whistle-stop tour of the school.
Over lunch, Sophie met the various people she would be directly involved with and then, in the afternoon, after a brief interview, she was whisked off to the English department to work with a couple of children under the supervision of another member of staff. From there she was directed to an to an IT class.
It was a totally different experience for her, taking instructions from other teachers and working alongside them, rather than being in control of things herself.
Later, as she got into her car, Sophie realised that she hadn’t encountered Keir once that day. Actually, she hadn’t been to the Art and Craft department yet. Her guides had merely waved their hands in the general direction.
The situation was rectified the very next morning when she realised she would be working with Keir after break and up until lunchtime.
Keir was as good a teacher as Sophie had thought he would be — friendly, but professional. The children she was working with took up most of her attention, but she was extremely aware of him and realised that he had a good rapport with his students.
At lunch time he introduced her to the rest of the department, amongst them Beverley Standish, Peter’s wife, whom she had met previously, on several occasions, in Buckinghamshire.
‘What a small world,’ Beverley said. ‘You and Keir must come over for a meal one evening.’
Startled Sophie wondered if Beverley thought they were an item and knew she’d be happy if they were. Beverley walked over to the canteen with her.
‘Keir’s such an asset to the department,’ she commented. ‘He’s got such a positive attitude, which is wonderful when you consider all that he’s been through.’
