‘Yes, all right. Yes, I will.’ Lara felt she was being rushed into something she might regret, but she wasn’t sure how to get out of it. He was only asking her in for a chat, wasn’t he?
‘Excellent. I’ll see you later.’
‘More bad news?’ said Mick, who was already in the kitchen making toast. He was dressed most unusually in smart trousers with a shirt and tie. Lara didn’t think she had ever seen him wear a tie before. He looked more handsome than ever, and very grim. ‘It wasn’t the police again, was it?’
‘No. It was Hamish McIntyre.’ Lara made herself take her eyes off him. He looked so good, still a little wild and untamed despite the smart clothes. Yesterday evening they had spoken of nothing other than Ryan’s problems and it was important to keep it that way.
‘What did he want?’
Lara frowned slightly. It really wasn’t anything to do with Mick, now. Nor ever had been.
‘He wants me to go and see him. It’s about the head of department post. I told him I’m not keen but he still wants to discuss it.’
He said, ‘You should go for it. You’d be very good.’
‘Like I was last time,’ said Lara with a short laugh.
‘Yes, probably,’ said Mick, not looking up. ‘Don’t let that bully get the better of you. There’s no one’s judgement I trust more than old McIntyre. If he thinks you can do it, then you can.’
‘Oh. Thank you.’
He glanced up briefly. ‘But don’t let him bully you into it, either. It’s your decision Lara.’
‘Yes,’ she said, with a sigh. ‘Yes, it is.’
She decided to call in at the school before she headed for Ladybank Row. Otherwise, worry about Mr McIntyre would hang over her all day and she would get nothing done.
She parked her car in the deserted car park and gave the heavy sky a quick glance. It was still warm, but dark clouds were gathering and it seemed the weather might be about to break. Alex would be pleased to have rain for her garden, even if it did prevent her making progress whilst it fell. Lara pulled on a light jacket and wished the dark clouds didn’t have quite such a brooding look.
McIntyre was in his office, seated behind the desk but dressed in light trousers and a casual checked shirt that made him look quite unlike his normal smart self.
After the initial pleasantries Mr McIntyre said in his abrupt way, ‘Now, have you thought any more about Mark Frazer’s job?’
‘Well …’ said Lara, wishing she had given herself more time to think over her response. ‘A lot of people would say I’m still a bit young for it. That was what they thought at my last school.’
‘Fortunately I’m not a lot of people,’ said the older man, smiling his small smile. ‘I know a good teacher when I see one. Now, tell me what you think of the Humanities Department here and how you might like to take it forward. This is just an informal chat, you know, as I would have with any other candidate, but I’d like to hear what you have to say. And any questions you have, fire away.’ He leant back and waited for her to speak.
Lara gave up protesting. She didn’t care whether she got the job. That being the case, she could launch into a description of how she would like things to be run in an ideal world, with no worry at all about actually having to translate this into reality. Mr McIntyre nodded benignly and answered her questions. When Lara eventually left she found she had been with him for almost two hours. She couldn’t remember half the things she had said, but that didn’t matter: it had all been make believe. Hadn’t it?
‘I can see that if you put your mind to this, Lara, you will do a really good job. And I’d like you to know I’m very impressed with the efforts you and your friend are making on behalf of young Ryan O’Donnell. It’s nice to know we have teachers who don’t shrink away from the problem youngsters.’
‘We’re not doing much. It’s Mick, really …’
‘You’re sticking by him and that’s what matters. Now, remember I’m counting on seeing that application.’
Lara groaned inwardly. Why hadn’t she just told him no?
Mick made his way across town to the offices of McAnulty and Sons. He was surprised that Ed had still kept the old name. It was meant to be McAnulty Brothers after their father had passed away, but the arguments between Steve and Ed had put paid to that. Mick wondered if Ed still had hopes of reviving the partnership. It had always been hard to know what was going on in Ed’s mind, but all in all he wasn’t a bad guy. Mick had been furious with him about the asbestos, but when he heard from Lara of the apology he found he had changed his mind. Ed might be selfish and headstrong, but when all was said and done he was all right.
At least Mick hoped that was true. He was about to present him with an opportunity to prove it.
Unconsciously, Mick had dressed more smartly than usual that morning, as though a shirt and tie might have some influence over how Ed reacted. When he was introduced into the other man’s office, he was glad of that decision. Ed was also dressed in a suit, sitting behind a massive dark-wood desk, looking very imposing. Mick remembered how Lara had come here on her own, to beard the man in his lair, and was impressed all over again by her courage.
‘Goodness, it’s young Mick Jensen,’ said Ed, indicating a chair on the opposite side of the desk. ‘And what brings you here?’
‘I was in the area, thought I’d pop in and say hello.’
Ed raised one very dark eyebrow and Mick laughed. ‘Well, that’s not quite true. Actually, I came here to ask a favour.’
‘Hmm,’ said Ed, not encouraging. ‘It’s not to do with Steve, is it? I thought you’d have given up trying to get us to bury the hatchet.’
‘I live in hope. But no, I’m not here about that.’ Mick wished he’d thought this over a bit more carefully before rushing in. He realised he had no idea how to phrase his request. He tried, ‘Have you got any vacancies at the moment?’
‘What? Are you looking for a change of career? I have to warn you, building work is a lot harder than standing around on a football pitch all day.’
‘It’s not for me,’ said Mick, not rising to the bait. ‘It’s for one of my young footballers. He’s been doing some casual work for Lara and Alex and they’re very impressed with the effort he’s made. They’re going to run out of work for him soon, and anyway he’s not really learning anything new. I wondered if you had something, may be an apprenticeship, in the offing?’
‘Apprenticeships? They’re like gold dust. I can fill any I have ten times over, with good reliable kids, not someone who’s been in all sorts of trouble.’
‘Who said he’d been in any trouble?’
‘I know the kid you mean. He’s the one with all the piercings, right? His brother’s just been arrested? I’m not sure I want that kind of person on my books.’
‘You weren’t averse to twisting the law a little yourself, once upon a time, were you?’ said Mick, beginning to be annoyed.
Ed paled. ‘Look, I’m sorry about that. I’ve said so enough times, haven’t I? I don’t know what got in to me. I think it was because I thought Steve had put them up to it and I was furious … I was a fool and I’ve held my hands up and said so. And paid the fine to SEPA, if you really want to know.’
‘No more than you should,’ said Mick, although he was secretly impressed with how remorseful Ed was. ‘But doesn’t that show you that you should give people a chance? Just because Ryan’s brother is trouble, it doesn’t mean Ryan is. I’ve been down to the police station with him and he’s absolutely in the clear. But I’m worried if he doesn’t find something to keep him occupied, maybe he’ll be led astray.’
‘Why should I take him on? There are dozens of other builders that might have an apprenticeship.’
‘But I don’t know them, and I do know you.’ Mick paused, and when he sensed that Ed was weakening, said, ‘I’ll bring Ryan round to meet you tomorrow, how would that be? Then you can see for yourself he’s basically a good kid.’
Ed tapped his desk though
tfully. ‘I think I’d rather see him on the job, see how he applies himself. You say he’s still working at Ladybank Row? Why don’t I call round there one day this week? I’ll get the chance to hear what those two girls think of him, too. The one with all that long hair struck me as very fair minded.’
‘Alex?’ said Mick in surprise. ‘Well, yes, I suppose she is.’
‘A nice girl,’ said Ed, giving a reminiscent smile. ‘In fact, they both are. Are you and that Lara going to get together?’
Mick shrugged. He’d rather not answer that one. ‘At the moment I’m concentrating on getting Ryan off their hands.’ Mick rose to his feet. ‘I’ll let them know you’ll call by some time, shall I? Thanks for making the effort, I do appreciate it.’
‘I haven’t done anything yet,’ said Ed.
Mick should have felt happy as he walked away. He had, hopefully, done something good for Ryan. If only it was so easy to sort things out with Lara. He had heard from Alex that she was going down to see her parents towards the end of the holidays, which was excellent news. He liked to think of her on good terms with them at last. Maybe when she came back he would have worked out the right thing to say to her. Or maybe not.
Before he was halfway home the heavens opened and he was drenched to the skin. Typical. He hadn’t even thought to bring a jacket with him. Lara would never be caught out like that.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lara didn’t know why she’d agreed to go to Devon. She had so much to do at Ladybank Row, which was practically ready for her and Alex to move into. But her mum had been so excited when she phoned to say the spare bedroom was ready and somehow she hadn’t been able to refuse. Mum had said her father was keen to see her. She doubted this was the case but she had had fun with her mum the week she had spent in Loreburn. It would be nice if they could maintain that new improved relationship.
She decided to take the train down and was pleased to discover that if she chose carefully she only needed to make one change. Maybe it would be easier to see more of her parents than she had expected.
They were waiting for her at Exeter station, her mother standing on her tiptoes in her eagerness to see Lara. And she looked happier than she had done in years. Devon obviously agreed with her. Lara gave her a proper hug before turning to give her father a peck on the cheek.
The house her mother had chosen was lovely. Lara wasn’t surprised. Her mother had a knack with houses, even the many rented ones they had lived in over the years, a way of making them beautiful. Now she had one she could really make into a home and she was revelling in it. It was a medium-sized bungalow set amidst a well-established garden, with views over the village down to the coast.
‘It’s lovely,’ she said honestly, when she had been taken on a tour around. ‘I thought you said it was a small place! It’s not at all, it’s really impressive.’ Compared to Mick’s place and the little Ladybank Row houses it seemed massive.
Elizabeth lowered her voice, ‘Derek did say he thought we might be taking on a bit much here, but it’s so lovely, I couldn’t resist. And, can you believe it, he’s becoming quite interested in the garden! I’m hoping with that and golf to occupy him he won’t be too bored.’
Lara shook her head at the idea of her immaculate father dirtying his hands in the garden, but decided not to tell her mother how unlikely this seemed.
The week passed by more quickly than she would have thought possible. She had expected it to be hard work having her father around all day, but somehow it wasn’t. He was keen to explore the new countryside. In the bright English sunshine, so different from the searing heat of the desert, it was fun to do so. Who would ever have thought she and her father could have so much pleasure discussing rock formations on Dartmoor?
She hadn’t even known, previously, that he too had wanted to study Geography and had only gone into Engineering at his own father’s insistence. Why had nobody ever told her these things?
‘Of course, you made an excellent engineer,’ said his wife loyally.
‘I enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong. But you know, now I have a little time on my hands, I thought I might see what Geography courses the Open University have to offer.’
‘As long as you remember Mum’s counting on you to maintain the garden,’ said Lara with a laugh. And then paused. Was she actually teasing her father? He was frowning so she added quickly, ‘I’ll look through the OU prospectuses with you if you like. I think it’s an excellent idea.’
‘Very kind,’ he said, so she wondered if he was being polite or really wanted to involve her in the decision.
On the afternoon of her last day, they were taking tea on the little stone patio at the back of the house. Although there was still a lot to do to bring the property up to the Mason’s high standards, they were already eating home-made cakes off beautiful porcelain plates. The tray even had a tray cloth. Lara had to smile. Her mother was amazing.
‘It’s been lovely having you here with us,’ said her mother, returning the smile fondly. ‘I don’t know how long it is since the three of us were together for a whole week.’
Lara wasn’t sure she could ever remember it. And yet it had gone so well.
Then her father said, ‘What’s this your mother tells me about the young man you’re renting a room from? She says she thinks he might be rather keen on you. Is that right?’
Lara could feel herself going pale. ‘Mick? Oh, no, we’re just good friends.’
‘That’s a shame,’ said her mother. ‘He seemed such a nice man. His hair was a bit long, but I suppose that’s young people today.’
‘I’m sure he can’t wait to have his untidy house back to himself once Alex and I move out.’
‘I’m surprised you’re going so soon. There seemed to be a lot still to do on those houses.’ Her mother shook her head doubtfully.
‘I’m very impressed by how much progress you’ve made,’ said her father. ‘I’ll look forward to seeing it for myself when we come up. We were thinking of making a little tour of Scotland in the autumn, weren’t we, dear?’
His wife looked surprised and pleased. Lara suspected this was something she had been trying to persuade Derek towards rather than something already agreed.
‘That would be lovely. You could stay in Loreburn on your way north and again on your way back south.’ Her father looked doubtful and she added, ‘If you wanted to, of course.’
‘That would be nice,’ said her mother.
‘We wouldn’t expect you to put us up,’ said her father quickly. He might be impressed with the progress he’d heard about at Ladybank Row but clearly didn’t want to stay there. ‘Your mother was pleasantly surprised by the standard of the hotel she was in last time. We’ll probably give that another try.’
‘I’ll look forward to seeing you,’ said Lara, and found that she meant it. It was amazing that after so many years her parents had mellowed towards her.
As they stood waiting on the platform the following day Lara’s father patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. ‘You’re a good girl,’ he said. ‘I hope you know we’re very proud of you. I’m starting to think perhaps we’ve been missing out on something, being overseas for so long.’
Lara could hardly believe his words. She swallowed the lump that came to her throat. Perhaps they didn’t think of their “little surprise” as a bad thing after all?
Her mother pulled her into a hug. ‘Our precious daughter. I’m so glad we’re home.’
Lara hugged her back, too moved to speak. She waved as the train pulled slowly away, realising with a jolt she would miss them. She leaned out of the window to call, ‘Don’t leave it too long until you visit!’
It seemed Lara was finally reconciled with her parents. This was really good news. And excellent progress was being made at Ladybank Row, especially now the girls had moved in. Mick wished heartily he could feel happier about it. He’d tried to invite her out for a meal, even just a ‘goodbye’ drink, but she’d brushed him off. Politely and frien
dly, of course, but it was still a brush off.
Now he it was the last evening before school started again. He and Steve had met up with Steve at the pub l. Normally he was looking forward to getting involved in the hurly burly of the new term, but this time he didn’t seem to have the energy.
‘What are you so cheerful about?’ demanded Steve.
‘I’m fine. Lara and Alex have moved into Ladybank Row. A new start all round.’
‘How do you feel about that?’ asked Steve, sounding irritatingly concerned.
‘It’s nothing to do with me. It’s not as though Lara and I are going out.’ Mick felt a dull pain in his chest as he said the words.
‘You’re not seeing Lara any more?’ Steve sounded angry now. ‘I told you you’d hurt her. How’s she taking it?’
‘For your information, it was Lara who didn’t want to take things further.’
‘You must have done something to make her decide that.’
With an immense effort Mick managed a small smile. ‘If I did, I don’t know what it was. She’s better off without me.’
Steve frowned. ‘Did she say that?’
‘Of course not. She said it was bound to end some time and it was better to end it now. At first I thought I could make her change her mind. Now I’ve realised that it’s best if I don’t try.’
‘You mean you only ever wanted a quick fling?’ Steve’s eyes were dark and he looked really angry.
‘What’s it got to do with you?’ Mick couldn’t believe that his own friend, Steve, who never went deep into anything, was getting at him like this. ‘Just leave it, OK?’
He knew that he had hurt Lara, and that she had stopped things when she had to avoid being even more hurt. What she needed was to feel wanted, and she hadn’t trusted him for that.
Could he have made her feel truly wanted? He swallowed abruptly at the thought of what he was giving up by letting her go. He loved her, he really loved her. But he had come to see that she didn’t love him back, and the best thing he could do was to leave her alone.
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