by Jenny Lane
Sophie murmured in agreement, wondering what on earth Beverley meant and not wishing to show her ignorance.
‘Of course, Hugh Mercer was a school governor. He was so involved with the craft centre and it’s such a pity he didn’t live to see it come to fruition. Peter and I were sorry we couldn’t take another look round the other Saturday, but I’m afraid other commitments overtook. As you probably remember, we’ve got two young children and Peter’s tied up very often in the evenings, so we couldn’t get to Keir’s talk either, but I gather it was very good.’
‘Glenda was there,’ Sophie said carefully, wondering how Beverley would reply.
Beverley smiled. ‘Yes, Glenda’s a staunch supporter of Keir’s. Her parents live a stone’s throw from us, her father’s another one of our governors. Anyway, as she’d recently split up from her boyfriend, we asked her along to supper back in the autumn, and Keir was there too with some of the other newly appointed members of staff. They got chatting and she became hooked on ceramics.’
It seemed Glenda had got hooked on Keir too, Sophie thought cynically. They reached the dining hall and Beverley changed the subject back to school topics and didn’t mention either Keir or Glenda again.
Sophie encountered Keir in the car park, as she was about to drive home.
‘You did well this morning,’ he told her. ‘You’re already forming a rapport with the children, which is half the battle. Are you enjoying it so far?’
‘Yes, although it’s certainly a very different ball game from mainstream teaching,’ she told him, ‘but such good experience. The children are delightful.’
‘And the staff?’
‘Oh, those are delightful too,’ she said with a little laugh. ‘I had lunch with Beverley.’
‘Good, she’s a nice person to know, but of course, you’d met her before in Buckinghamshire. I was forgetting.’
‘Oh, just at social functions, that sort of thing.’ She didn’t want to talk about Buckinghamshire and Keir seemed to sense this.
Glenda appeared from one of the buildings with a sheaf of papers in her hand. Spotting Keir she made a detour. ‘Phew. Just caught up with you in time!’ She totally ignored Sophie and handed him one of the sheets. ‘More bumph, I’m afraid. You’re not in tomorrow, are you?’
‘Nope, but I’ve got enough paperwork to last me for several days.’
She fluttered her eyelashes at him. ‘I’m so looking forward to your next ceramics class, Keir. What are we going to be doing?’
He laughed. ‘If I told you, you’d be as wise as me — sorry Glenda you’ll have to wait.’
‘You’re such a tease, Keir,’ she told him laughingly and flounced off.
‘Are you joining us this week, Sophie?’ he asked.
‘Oh, yes, I’m looking forward to it, but you must let me know how much I owe you.’
He mentioned a sum which seemed far too modest and, embarrassed, she wondered if he was asking her to pay less than the others.
‘See you there then,’ he said, before she could challenge him, and, getting into his car, drove off with a wave of his hand.
Chapter Eight
‘Darling, that’s wonderful news,’ her mother said when Sophie rang her that evening to tell her about the job. ‘You never know what else it might lead to either.’
‘I only started properly today,’ Sophie pointed out. ‘It’s only a very temporary job. It’s an amazing coincidence running into Peter Standish like that.’
‘Does he know about Brett?’ her mother asked.
Sophie swallowed. ‘I obviously had to tell Peter my reasons for leaving my post, particularly as he’s still in touch with several people in Bucks. It simply wouldn’t do to be economical with the truth or it might jeopardise any future prospects of work.’
After the phone call, Sophie sat deep in thought. Some days she believed she was over Brett, but then something sparked off a memory and it was as if it was only yesterday when they’d parted company. Her thoughts turned to Keir. He was so completely different from Brett — far more mature for one thing and he certainly attracted her, but she still wondered if he was harbouring some lost love and knew she couldn’t bear to get hurt all over again.
‘Sophie, can you spare a minute?’ Aunt Rose called and she went into the sitting room to find Rose needed a hand with some of the more fiddly dolls’ house furnishings.
‘My hands are really playing up today. I suppose the time will come when I’ll have to call a halt to all this. Your mother asked me if she could bring your grandmother for a visit soon. It must be donkey’s years since I last saw Beryl.’
‘She’s about the same as ever,’ Sophie said with a little smile. ‘Does very well for her age. Apparently she’s reorganising Mum’s kitchen cupboards. Mum doesn’t mind if it keeps her occupied.’
‘Well, she can reorganise mine any day,’ laughed Rose. ‘Now, dear, if you could just hold this whilst I glue on the material. It’s a good job I’m not on piece work or I’d get the sack!’
After a time Sophie said, ‘Aunt Rose someone mentioned that Keir had been through a difficult time before he moved here. She obviously assumed I knew what she meant, but I didn’t know what she was talking about.’
Aunt Rose gave her a shrewd look from her bright blue eyes. ‘And I don’t either, dear. I suspect that he’s come here to get away from past experiences, the same as you have, and that if he wants to confide in you then he will, don’t you?’
Sophie opened her mouth to make some comment, but decided against it. She was curious about Keir, but sometimes ignorance was bliss and, after all, she couldn’t expect him to unburden himself to her, not unless she was prepared to reciprocate and tell him about Brett, and she knew she still wasn’t quite ready for that.
After a few minutes, Aunt Rose said, ‘I should be helping Peggy in the shop tomorrow, but her nephew’s rung to say she’s got a cold. His wife’s covering in the morning but can’t manage the afternoon, and I really don’t feel like being there on my own all that time.’
‘That’s OK, I could lend a hand. I’m only working in the morning so I could easily pick you up for two o’clock.’
Aunt Rose visibly brightened. ‘Would you, dear? That would be lovely. It gets me out of the house and if Peggy’s not there, then maybe you and I could do a little more spring cleaning. Now, do you fancy a nice cup of tea?’
The following morning fairly flew past. Sophie was kept incredibly busy. The maths teacher was a peppery gentleman nearing retirement, who obviously didn’t see the need for her to be there at all, and seemed to find her presence a hindrance rather than a help.
Sophie had never found maths a particularly easy subject herself, and felt sympathy for the little girl she was working with, who simply couldn’t get the hang of what she was being asked to do at all.
The lesson over-ran by several minutes and Sophie made a thankful exit nearly cannoning into Beverley in the corridor.
‘I see you’ve met our Stanley! His bark’s worse than his bite.’
Sophie grimaced. ‘You don’t say! Oh, well never mind, I’ll get used to him, I suppose.’
Beverley chuckled. ‘Every school has a Stanley. From what I gather, you’re doing brilliantly, so don’t let him get you down. Now, how about you coming for that meal on Saturday evening? Keir’s free, if you are. I realise it’s short notice, but my parents are taking the children to Chessington Zoo and Adventure Park, and keeping them overnight. We’d actually have a child-free zone, and that’s rare. So what do you say?’
‘I’d love to come, thanks a lot,’ she said warmly.
‘Great! I’ll look forward to seeing you around sevenish. I’m sure Keir will liaise with you over transport, but just in case ...’ She rummaged in her bag and handed Sophie an address sticker.
Suddenly Sophie realised Glenda had appeared and was hovering by Beverley’s side.
‘Hello Glenda, did you want to see me about something?’
‘Yes, if I mig
ht have a word, Bev,’ she said, and Sophie wondered how long Glenda had been standing there.
‘Of course, bye then Sophie, see you soon.’
Chapter Nine
It was a hectic afternoon because Aunt Rose and Sophie took advantage of Peggy’s absence to do a bit of spring cleaning, making sure to replace items where they had been before.
‘My goodness that looks better,’ Aunt Rose said in a satisfied voice. ‘You can actually see the colour of that china. I’m surprised Peggy hasn’t appeared to see what we’re up to.’
Halfway through the afternoon, Rose took the elderly lady some tea.
‘That cold has really taken its toll on her. She looks worn out, poor thing!’
Soon afterwards, the door opened and Crystal and Amy came into the shop.
‘Amy’s off to a party tomorrow and, as her mum’s working, I said we’d try to find a present for her friend.’
Amy wandered contentedly round the shop, with Aunt Rose keeping a discreet eye on her. Eventually, the little girl returned to the counter clutching a pottery rabbit.
‘She’d like that. It’s just like one of Aunt Crystal’s rabbits.’
‘Are you sure it’s not you that likes it?’ Crystal enquired. ‘I don’t actually remember Zoe coming to see my rabbits.’
‘No, but if she did she’d like them,’ Amy persisted.
‘OK, but perhaps you should give it to her with an invitation to come to see the real thing?’ Crystal told her and winked at Aunt Rose, who took Amy’s money and found her a box for the rabbit. Crystal picked up an attractive notepad, ruler and pencil set with the name Zoe emblazoned on it.
‘We’ll add this as well,’ she said, ‘I must say this shop’s looking very spick and span. I hardly recognise it. I can actually see my face in that counter and there’s not a designer cobweb in sight and as for that window display, it’s a credit to you and Keir, Sophie!’
‘Well, we’ve all done our best,’ Aunt Rose said. ‘We’re making one last ditch effort to save this shop from going under. Just because there’s a fancy place on its way to opening, why should we be pushed out?’
Fortunately, Crystal was saved from replying when a couple of mums appeared with their children in tow. Crystal exchanged a meaningful look with Sophie, before leaving the shop.
Keir’s class was even more enjoyable than the week before. First they were shown how to dip the biscuit-fired earrings, cufflinks and brooches they had made the week before in a matt porcelain glaze. They then dipped the items in a stain of their choice, before placing them on newspaper.
‘Next comes the tedious part,’ Keir informed them. ‘We have to remove the glaze from beneath the jewellery and get rid of any residue before firing again.’
The next task the class were given was to decorate quarry tiles. Some of the group had brought their own sketches to work from whilst others selected drawings to copy.
‘Pleased you came?’ Crystal asked during the break.
‘Absolutely, I’m really enjoying myself.’
Keir looked up with a smile. ‘That’s what I like to hear. I like to have a happy band of students. What’s up, Glenda?’
‘I’m not sure about this design, Keir. Come and give me your opinion.’
But Keir, merely smiled and said, ‘I think you’re trying to make things too complicated. Take a break and come back to it. If you’re still unsure, have a look through some of those books on the table and choose something else. Sophie here has picked a very simple design and, sometimes, that’s a safer bet.’
With a bad grace, Glenda took a quick look at Sophie’s effort.
‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly do anything like that! It’s far too traditional!’ she exclaimed. ‘I really do need your input, Keir.’
She clutched Keir’s sleeve and fluttered her eyelashes at him beguilingly.
As they moved out of earshot Crystal shook her head and said incredulously, ‘Whatever is she like?’
Sophie had an uncomfortable feeling that Glenda would make a bad enemy and could have wished that Keir hadn’t drawn attention to her work like that.
To Rose’s complete surprise, Fiona and Ian invited her round for supper on Saturday evening as Fiona’s mother had come to stay for a few days. Ian arranged to collect Rose and bring her home.
‘It’s about time we got to know each other,’ Fiona said, when she encountered Sophie in the baker’s on Saturday morning. ‘You’d have been welcome too, but I gather you’re already going out.’
Keir phoned and arranged to pick Sophie up at six-thirty.
‘It’s pointless both of us taking our cars. Anyway, I don’t suppose you know that neck of the woods. It’s a new housing development a couple of miles out of the village.’
Sophie deliberated over what to wear and, in the end, decided on a mid-length indigo blue skirt and an embroidered tunic top. She added dangling silver earrings, made up carefully, brushed her shining hair and caught it back with a couple of glittery combs, and sprayed on a light perfume. As the door bell peeled she snatched up her coat.
Her heart leapt as Keir caught her arm and steered her towards the car.
‘We’re in for a pleasant evening. Beverley’s an excellent cook and they’re both good company.’
‘Will anyone else be there?’
‘Oh, I’m not sure. They’re an extremely hospitable couple, as I’ve said before. We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?’
Beverley and Peter’s house on the outskirts of Penbridge was bright and comfortable with one or two clever touches that reflected Beverley’s creativity. It seemed it was just to be the four of them. Over a delightful meal of beef casserole, they talked about general things, but suddenly during a lull in the conversation Beverley asked, ‘So are you still in touch with any of the Bucks crowd, Sophie?’
‘I, er, just one or two people in the English department,’ she said, aware that Keir was looking at her and realising Peter wouldn’t have breached her confidentiality about her reasons for leaving the school.
‘Sophie’s like me, always full of good intentions about keeping in touch but, once you’ve moved on, somehow the months just slip by,’ Peter told his wife.
Over dessert the conversation inevitably turned to the craft centre.
‘So are things going to schedule, Keir?’ Peter asked.
‘More or less. You know what builders are like, but on the whole there haven’t been too many hitches.’
‘What do you reckon to it, Sophie?’ Beverley asked. ‘Pretty amazing, isn’t it?’
‘Well, yes. It’s certainly very enterprising,’ Sophie said.
‘Sophie’s had her reservations,’ Keir told them. ‘She’s worried for Peggy and Rose.’
‘Oh, but surely you don’t need to be. I mean that’s a delightful little shop, but they could still find an outlet at the craft centre when it opens, if they wanted to move there.’
Sophie stared at Beverley. ‘But they wouldn’t want to. Could they afford the overheads? Not only that, but Peggy lives on the premises at the shop.’
‘We’ll just have to wait and see what happens then, won’t we?’ Beverley said rather dismissively. ‘Anyway, it’s good that the grant came through, isn’t it, Keir?’
He nodded and looked a little awkward, probably recognising how Sophie felt about things. She hadn’t really stopped to think about the funding for the craft centre and now she asked, ‘Will this grant pay for all of it? It must be a very expensive project.’
Keir shook his head. ‘No, but we’ve received a large donation from an anonymous source and we’ve had several fundraising events. We’re also going to be in receipt of a large bequest, when it eventually comes through. Until then, we’ve been able to get a loan on the strength of it. It was all going ahead before Hugh died. He was the chief instigator, as I’ve explained.’
‘I think it’s a marvellous idea,’ Peter said. ‘When it’s fully functioning, I’ll bet it’ll win the support of most of those who
put up objections. Keir’s going to give demonstrations and tuition, did he tell you, Sophie?’
‘Well, no, but I haven’t really had time to get my head round it all,’ she told him.
They were sitting over coffee when there was a peal on the doorbell. Beverley sprang up and returned a few minutes later with Glenda.
‘Look who I found on the doorstep,’ she said.
‘Oh, I hadn’t realised you’d got company,’ Glenda said innocently. ‘I’ve just brought this catalogue for Beverley.’
‘Come and sit down for a few minutes,’ Peter invited. ‘It looks as if it’s raining cats and dogs out there.’
‘It is — just for a few minutes then.’ She made for the sofa where Keir was sitting.
‘Would you like some coffee or there’s wine.’
Glenda brightened. ‘Ooh wine, please.’
‘So you’re not out on the town with your friends tonight then?’ Peter enquired.
‘No, my father’s invited some people round, so I’ve been helping my mother with dinner. They’re talking politics so I decided to escape for a while and leave them to it.’
‘Glenda’s father is a local councillor as well as a school governor,’ Keir explained to Sophie.
‘Really, he leads a busy life then,’ Sophie said, wondering if Glenda had realised Keir would be there that evening, and had deliberately gate-crashed the dinner party.
‘He certainly does.’ She smiled at Keir. ‘I can’t wait to see how our ceramics have turned out.’
‘You’re going to have to be patient, I’m afraid,’ Keir told her with a pleasant smile. ‘Did you know Peter and Sophie used to work together in a previous school? Small world isn’t it?’
Glenda was silent for a moment, and then she said, ‘My father was a little surprised when he realised she’d been taken on so quickly in Irene’s place.’
‘Ah well, life’s full of surprises,’ Peter said quickly to cover an awkward moment.
‘I bet the pair of you could tell a few stories about each other then,’ Glenda said undaunted.
