by Ruth Hay
I suggest staying at one of the local hotels. The cottage is tiny and you would not be comfortable there.
If you agree, I will make a reservation for you and you can be assured of a good welcome from the ladies of Oban who all hold your son in the highest regard.
What do you think about that idea, Christine?”
There were tears in the voice that replied after a brief pause.
“I do not know what to say. This call is an answer to prayer. Thank you. Thank you! I will book a train ticket as soon as possible. Please go ahead with the hotel. Something close to Edmund’s cottage would be best. I will be in touch, Jeanette. I have your number now.
Thank you again. I will be forever grateful for this call.”
* * *
Jeanette picked up the phone again within a minute and called Bev.
“Bev I’ve done something that could go very badly wrong.”
“What do you mean? Give me the details.”
“Oh, first the good news! I just heard from Anna. Alina will get the eye operation soon and then the two of them are heading north together, for Alina’s recuperation period.”
“That’s excellent news! I will tell James and Caroline. Perhaps they can be persuaded to come and stay at the farm for a few days. I am sure Anna will want to see them. We can talk about all that later.
Right, Jeanette! Tell me. What’s the bad news? What have you done now?”
By the time the whole sorry tale had been told, Bev Matthews was in stitches.
“Stop! I need to catch my breath I am laughing so hard. Are you trying to drive the doctor away altogether? He will not thank you one little bit for interfering in his life.
What if Ashley arrives home and sees his mother in charge? You are asking for a world of trouble here, my dear.”
“I know! I know! But the dreadful deed is done now. How can I fix this?”
Bev swallowed her laughter and put on her thinking cap. Jeanette was really in a desperate state.
“It’s too late to fix it but you must introduce the subject to Edmund Jansen as soon as possible.
I believe a lovely meal at your home with George by your side to prevent outright murder could help.
Just don’t delay. By the sounds of it one Christine Jansen may be getting off the train at the pier any minute now. We’ll make a different plan once she arrives, but for now start mending bridges with all possible haste, my dear.”
Jeanette took her Canadian friend’s advice to heart and went at once to her mother’s room, tapping gently on the door in case she was napping.
“Come in dear!”
After enquiring about her mother’s comfort overnight, she launched right into the matter of concern.
Before she had gone past the point about the doctor’s problem, however, Jean knew what was coming.
“Jeanette! What have you done now? Honestly, my girl, you have the nerve of your father who was never backward at coming forward, as they say here in Scotland. Tell me you have not done something embarrassing to that lovely Dr. Jansen?”
There was no way out of it. Jeanette confessed all, and immediately co-opted her mother into the conspiracy before she could say more.
“Mom, will you be present at the meal to welcome Christine? You are nearer her age and it could soften things if you make a friend of her. I suspect she needs to be kept on a tight leash or she will overwhelm Edmund and that will not be good.”
“Oh, I’ll help, of course, but this is a mess of your making Jeanette. On your own head be it!”
It was a minor concession and Jeanette had to be content with it.
Worse was to come when she attempted to explain the situation to George………… and to Edmund.
With all her heart, she wished Anna was nearby. She was such a wise woman and could always figure out a solution, but on this occasion, it was up to the one who made the mess to clean it up.
There was no point in delaying.
She considered how to introduce the matter to Edmund.
Letter through his cottage door?
Appointment at the surgery?
Phone call in the late evening?
None of these was the brave way forward. In desperation, she thought back to the reception desk in the doctor’s office. Who was on duty there when she went with her mother?
She did not recognize the receptionist but wasn’t there another person at a desk typing something?
The back of her head looked familiar. She had a vibrant mass of red curls like her son’s. She must be one of the mothers in Liam’s class at school.
What was her name? Fiona might know but she hesitated to draw Fiona into this mess.
Sarah? Isa? Something Irish or Gaelic sounding.
Isla! That was it!
Without delaying she picked up the phone and called the surgery asking for the woman by name.
Luckily, she came on the phone at once and Jeanette wasted no time.
“Hello Isla! Our kids are in the same class at school. I am Liam’s Mum. Could you do me a huge favour?
I want to do something nice for the doctor. Can you tell me when he has a lunch break today or tomorrow? I will bring him a warm meal or pay for his lunch if he eats in town. He recently helped my mother, Jean.”
“Och, that’s a fine idea, Jeanette. He surely needs a wee break but the thing is he often doesna get his lunch until late in the afternoon. Will it be any use if I call you when I see him stop for a bit?”
“That would be really helpful. Thank you. I’ll wait for your call.”
The die was cast. She would prepare a flask of hot soup and make up hefty sandwiches to take at a moment’s notice. Jean would stand by to give the children their after-school snack.
She had no idea how she was going to confess to Edmund Jansen what she had done. All she could hope for was that the influence of good hot soup and fresh sandwiches would make up for her impudence.
For the rest of the day she would divert herself by attending to her business matters. On that ground, at least, she was secure.
She would leave the confrontation with George to a future time.
When describing the meeting with Edmund Jansen, Jeanette played down his actual reaction in favour of an expurgated version.
“It wasn’t as bad as I expected, Bev. I think the sandwiches helped a bit.”
Bev, who had known Jeanette for many years, simply raised a doubtful eyebrow and waited to hear what concessions her friend had agreed upon to compensate for her unbridled cheek.
“Well, I did promise to keep Christine occupied during the days as much as possible. I suspect the doctor was afraid of her arriving at the surgery to advise his patients. I think I will invite her on my next trip to Glasgow to buy fabrics and custom drapes. That will keep her out of his hair.”
Bev knew from the tone of Jeanette’s voice that the consultation had not gone well. She knew, also, that all this had been done for the betterment of Edmund’s wellbeing and in the end he would be obliged to acknowledge that fact. Christine Jansen was, of course, another beneficiary of Jeanette’s plan and Bev would add to her friend’s efforts in the task of distracting that lady.
“Has anyone heard from Ashley lately? Did Anna mention her at all when you spoke to her?”
“No, and I forgot to ask. I expect the doctor is the one who knows about her plans.”
Neither woman mentioned their worry about Ashley arriving in Oban unexpectedly to find Edmund’s mother in charge at the cottage on the seashore, but Jeanette forestalled the mention of the problem by repeating her news of the hotel booking.
“I got Christine a room at the Columba. She can easily explore around town from there and watch the boats come in and out at the pier. She might like to take a bus and explore the area on the west coast.”
Bev knew Jeanette was hoping for any distraction that would mitigate the impact of her actions.
Bev suspected that might be impossible without a lot of help from her friends.
Chapter Twelve
Fiona was very glad her children chose to come to her first with their hilltop discoveries. She listened in amazement to the tale and asked for clarification several times so she could make sense of the proper order of the exciting events they described.
“Right, you two scallywags! It’s a right good story, but we’ll wait until after supper for you to tell it to your Dad. Go off now and attend to your chores, and make sure you come to the table with clean hands and faces tonight.”
She carefully prepared the evening so that nothing would upset Gordon. After a long day’s work on the estate in the driving rain, he would not be in the mood to hear how his older children had ventured into possible danger without permission or consultation.
The words of her Granny came to mind. “It’s a mither’s duty to stand atween the bairns and their faither when things gang awry.”
She knew her Gordon was not a father in the mould of the fearsome Scottish patriarchs, such as his own father, but he was a busy man and this news might not be to his liking right at the moment with so much on his mind.
She considered the meal she had prepared. There was a hearty scotch broth, followed by one of his favourites, mince and tatties with lots of onion, carrots and turnips; a good meal for a cold wet night for sure. She wondered if a quick version of a sherry trifle might add to the atmosphere of goodwill she was aiming to create, and detoured into the kitchen to make sure she had the ingredients to hand. She would make separate plates of the pudding so she could add a liberal serving of the sherry to Gordon’s portion.
With everything prepared, she settled down, with Neil playing happily on the carpet by the fireside, and waited for her husband to arrive.
Fergus and Shona, clean and polished, and a little nervous, were already seated at the table with bowls of broth in front of them before the sounds of the Land Rover were heard outside.
Fiona put Neil in his high chair beside Shona and went out to meet Gordon.
“What a day of weather we’ve had. It feels like winter has come back to haunt us. The house is warm and your supper’s ready. Go on upstairs and wash. We’ll be waiting for you.”
She gave him a quick warm hug, kissed his ear, and saw the glimmer of a smile cross his mud-spattered face.
There was nothing in the world to beat a welcome like that after a difficult day. He left his boots and outer gear on the sheltered step outside the glass doors and went up the stairs to the bathroom with the heated floor where he dropped everything else and dressed in clean warm clothes. He could smell the broth and the appetizing aroma of savoury mince on the stove and his mouth began to water in anticipation. He was not sure he had actually eaten anything since breakfast but this good meal with his family gathered around him, made up for everything that had gone wrong in the day.
Thank you God, for all my blessings! Chief among which is my darling, Fiona.
It was a refreshed, and rejuvenated Gordon Campbell, who joined his family at the kitchen table. He did not pause for breath until he had scoffed the first bowl of broth. Then he tickled his youngest under the chin to make him chuckle with glee and turned his gaze on Neil’s brother and sister who were waiting for their main course to be delivered.
“Well, now! You two are looking particularly smug this evening. I take it you have good news for your Dad?”
Fergus, who had experienced his father’s knack of clairvoyance before this, was not taken aback by the question.
“Yes, Dad! Shona and I have discovered something, but Mum said you need to finish your dinner first before we can tell you about it.”
“Aha! It’s a conspiracy, is it? Well, your mother always knows best about these things. I’ll try to be patient.
* * *
With a full stomach and a dose of sherry making him feel quite relaxed, Gordon positioned himself by the wood-burner and waited for the story to be recited.
Fiona had done everything she could. It was all up to the children now. She took Neil upstairs to bed and left them to it.
Fergus and Shona sat down on the sheepskin rug in front of their father and began
“You know that old map you gave me, Dad?”
“You know the bothy on the hillside?”
“Wait a minute, you two. This is not a competition. Take turns.
Fergus, you start.”
He nodded his head, and Shona settled back until she could tell her part about what happened in the circle of ancient oaks.
Fergus did an efficient job of explaining the process of discovery. He had the ‘king’ stone in his pocket and brought it out to show his father.
“Now that’s a very interesting thing, Fergus. I think it should have been better left where you found it but I can understand why you brought it to me.”
He turned the stone over and examined both sides then looked at his daughter.
“Shona, I can tell there’s more to this. Go on now, lass.”
There was an uncomfortable moment when Gordon realized his only daughter had been abandoned inside a dangerous mystical circle of oak trees, but he refrained from interrupting and soon found out how Fergus had come to her rescue.
“So then, my chicks! Not one, but two discoveries! I am thinking we need to get the experts onto this.
I am glad you returned safe home with no damage done. You took a risk, of course, but it sounds to me as if it could all be worthwhile. There will be interest in these matters in Edinburgh and beyond. Don’t be surprised to be doing interviews with the television people soon, but keep it between us for now.”
The children ran upstairs to tell their mother.
Fiona had been listening with the door open while she rocked her youngest to sleep in her Granny’s old wooden chair. She was thinking ahead.
This discovery could well bring attention to the Glenmorie Estate and add to the attractions for the future festival.
“Have you made up your mind, Rena?”
They were seated at home in front of the roaring fire after a long day with a group of hill walkers collecting rubbish left on the slopes of Ben Nevis. There were over thirty volunteers and among them they gathered a lot of bottle tops, wrappers and empty snack packs.
Rena agreed to the slower pace of this Sunday activity and was proud of her contribution, but she was glad to be resting her weary legs before the start of the new school week.
“I must give my final decision to the committee tomorrow, Steve. It’s a big challenge but I think I can do both jobs with a bit of organization and a lot of staff goodwill.
I’ve been looking into the activities and programs of Oban High School. Do you know they have a women’s rugby team that wins awards, a pipe band and also a twelve-week police volunteers training course that provides helpers for various local events including the Winter Festival and Oban Live?”
Steve looked up from the newspaper he was reading.
“Honestly, Rena, I am constantly surprised by the depth and width of the community involvement in this small town. These people fight way above their weight in many spheres. The council meetings I attend are a fund of information. That’s where I heard about the annual Real 3 Peaks Challenge. The clean-up we did earlier today, is repeated on Snowdon in Wales and Scafell Pike in the Lake District. So many people really care about their beautiful environment and will do anything to preserve it.”
“I agree about the community involvement. Just look at the way we have been accepted into this community. After all the terrible things I went through in Toronto, it’s hard to believe how comfortable I feel here. It’s as if the past has been wiped out by the good feelings that surround us now. We made the right move coming here from England, Steve. Thank you.”
He reached out a hand to tenderly touch her face. He loved the way she had blossomed in this different environment. It was truly a new beginning for them. More than once the thought had crossed his mind to sell his house in Sussex and buy a permanent home for them in Oban.
It
was too soon to broach that topic. Rena had enough on her plate but he was confident she would succeed in the new double-school responsibility that had been offered to her.
This lovely woman who had escaped the clutches of a crazy man with a bad case of Borderline Personality Disorder and created a disguised life for herself in another country, could surely knock into shape a few hundreds of students and their teachers in a small town in Scotland.
He pulled her closer to him and stroked her fair curls.
“Thank you, my darling!”
Solomon turned his head to look at his master and mistress. He could not know what they had been talking about but he sensed all was well. He licked his paws once and slid back to sleep. After today’s climbing efforts he deserved his rest. There was also the possibility of a substantial meal soon, and, if he was lucky tonight, he might be allowed to sleep at the bottom of their bed.
This Scotland place was a good place for dogs.
On Monday morning the weather reversed back to spring. Daffodils popped up among the primroses and the banks of crocus displayed their colours, bending their fragile petals to the gentle, salt-scented wind from the sea.
Rena walked down the hill from her splendid rented house and thought how wonderful it was to see this view out to Kerrera and beyond, most days of the week.
How many Head Teachers get to experience a walk to school like this one? I am so fortunate in so many ways. I will submit my letter of acceptance today and by the time the summer break arrives it will all be in place, God Willing. It’s a big step to take on two schools. I can only hope Steve is as happy with his work as I am with mine. I do not want to start the major process of blending two schools and staffs if he is ready to return to England.
* * *
By mid-morning the news was out and Rena Collins was receiving congratulations from everyone who could spare a moment to do so.
She emerged from her office after speaking on the phone to the Governors and found Fiona Campbell waiting for her.