Family Matters

by Gillian Villiers

  ‘I should probably be getting back …’

  Susie was prepared for this prevarication. It was lucky she had been sitting at the front window and had therefore seen Andrew Jackson’s hired car go past. ‘I saw Mr Jackson go along the road with his son not ten minutes ago, so you’ve no need to rush. In you come, Simon’s in the conservatory, come on through.’

  Hope followed her godmother reluctantly into the house.

  ‘Why don’t you stay for lunch?’ said Susie happily. ‘Just soup and a sandwich? Yes? I’ll put the soup on and be with you in a second. You go and say hello to Simon.’

  When she joined the two they were talking about the new golf course that had opened near Dumfries and which Simon was eager to try. Susie couldn’t understand why her husband would think Hope was interested in that and immediately changed the subject.

  ‘How did you get on with Mrs Slater?’

  ‘Fine. She’s very impressive for her age, isn’t she? I believe she’s in her nineties but there’s certainly nothing wrong with her memory.’

  ‘I’m so pleased she agreed to talk to you. She can sometimes be a little … awkward.’

  Hope pulled a face at this and Susie began to feel worried. Surely old Mrs Slater couldn’t really have remembered anything that would upset Hope?

  ‘Did she remember your grandparents?’

  ‘Ye-es.’ Hope pushed the long hair back from her face and frowned, as though going over it all in her head. ‘And my great-grandfather.’

  ‘Sometimes family things are best left alone,’ said Simon. Susie glared at him.

  Hope said, ‘My grandfather seems to have been rather nice, actually. Mrs Slater certainly liked him. And she made me feel sorry for my grandmother Jane. I had been a little bitter about her, but it seems she had a hard time from her dad, my great-grandfather.’

  Susie nodded approvingly. ‘There are always reasons for things.’

  ‘What really surprised me,’ said Hope slowly, ‘was that apparently my great-grandfather was related to the Jacksons. Did you know that?’

  Now it was Susie’s turn to be surprised. My goodness! But on the other hand, of course. Weren’t many of the old village families related? She should have thought of it herself.

  ‘No, I didn’t know, but I suppose it’s not so very unlikely. What was the relationship, did she say? How far back does it go?’

  ‘Quite a way.’ Hope shook her head, bemused. ‘I’ll have to work it out properly.’

  They mulled over this surprising news a little more and then Susie went to serve lunch. She had bought some special trays so they could eat on their laps and was very pleased with the way they worked. Even Simon, who really preferred to sit at a table, seemed to be managing fine.

  ‘Well, I think this is excellent,’ said Susie.

  ‘Yes, it’s lovely soup. Thanks very much,’ said Hope.

  ‘No, no, I didn’t mean the lunch. I was thinking about you and Mr Jackson. Maybe this explains why you hit it off right from the start.’ Hope looked doubtful but Susie hurried on. ‘Now you’ll have even more in common. I wonder if he knows? Probably not, or I’m sure he’d have said. He’ll be so pleased.’

  ‘Mmm,’ said Hope.

  ‘All the more reason for you to stay in the area,’ continued Susie happily. She couldn’t believe how well the visit to Mrs Slater had gone. ‘Gosh, Robbie will be happy.’

  Hope frowned. Maybe Susie was going too fast for her. ‘You and Robbie are getting on well, aren’t you?’ said Susie encouragingly. ‘How’s he enjoying his course?’

  ‘How should I know, Susie? We’re just friends, nothing more. I haven’t heard a word from him since he went away.’

  Susie was flummoxed. That didn’t sound like Robbie. She could have sworn the romance between the two young people had been progressing, slowly it was true, but still progressing. And Maria certainly thought so.

  After her goddaughter had left, Susie began to tidy away the lunch plates.

  Simon said, ‘I really don’t think you should push the girl. Give her some space, hmm? She’s had a lot to deal with recently.’

  ‘But I’m only trying to help,’ said Susie. The problem was, perhaps this time her husband was right.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  To Hope’s relief, Mr Jackson was delighted with the news that they were related. Once he’d mulled over what Mrs Slater has told her, he admitted he vaguely remembered something about a rift in the family but said he’d had no idea it had any connection with Matthew Irving.

  He patted her hand. ‘The Jacksons have never had many children, only one a generation for as long as I can mind, until Andrew’s brood came along. I’ve never had a cousin before, or nephews and nieces. And now I’ve got you.’

  He was so serious Hope felt tears rise to her eyes. He wasn’t given to great shows of emotion but allowed her to squeeze his hand in return and she whispered, ‘Thank you.’

  She wondered what his son and grandson would make of it all. She would hate them to think she was trying to elbow her way into the family, claiming to be a long-lost relative. Mark, however, seemed to find the news highly amusing, and Andrew was quietly welcoming.

  ‘We know you’d keep an eye on Dad whether this had come up or not, but it’s nice to feel there’s a special connection,’ he said, kissing her on the cheek.

  Unfortunately, not everyone in the village was so positive. When she went to the post office a couple of days later the conversation ceased as she opened the door. After a moment it restarted and Mrs Robson behind the counter offered Hope congratulations on her new-found relatives. ‘It’s surprising you didn’t know before, isn’t it?’ she added, keeping her eyes on Hope’s face. ‘Are you sure your mother hadn’t mentioned …?’

  ‘Such a lucky coincidence, you ending up in the house there. Why, you won’t need to look for anywhere else to live now, will you?’ said one of the other ladies. ‘I wonder what young Andrew Jackson thinks …’

  Hope hated the implications. They were totally wrong. She didn’t expect or want anything from the Jacksons, but people were naturally suspicious. Susie didn’t help by telling anyone who wanted to listen how pleased she was to have brought Hope to Kirkside where she clearly belonged.

  ‘It’s not for ever,’ said Hope irritably.

  ‘No, of course not dear. But this does give you even more reason to stay locally, doesn’t it?’

  Robbie was finally back from Wales. He set off immediately for Kirkside. The course had been excellent and had kept him very busy, but the thought of Hope had been constantly in his mind. He had tried to phone her a number of times, but either there was no answer or he ended up speaking to an Australian boy. After twice leaving her a message to phone him back, he had given up. She must be busy with Mr Jackson’s son and grandson. At least he hoped that was the reason.

  It wasn’t Hope who opened the impressive front door, as he had come to expect. It was a young man with rather long, bleached-blond hair. Presumably this was the man he had spoken to on the phone.

  ‘G’day,’ he said, smiling broadly and showing very white teeth. ‘Can I help you?’ His attitude was casual and friendly and Robbie immediately disliked him.

  ‘I came by to see Hope,’ he said. ‘Is she in?’

  ‘Of course. Come through, we’re all in the kitchen.’ The man spoke with a marked Australian accent which in anyone else Robbie would have found quite pleasant. He wore a faded short-sleeved T-shirt and torn jeans. His feet were bare, which was really a bit of an affectation on a November day like this one. ‘When I say all, I mean me and Hope and my dad. Not the old man, he’s having one of his lie-downs, but I don’t suppose you wanted to see him, did you?’

  ‘I’m always happy to have a chat with Mr Jackson,’ said Robbie stiffly.

  They entered the kitchen to find Hope sitting at the table leafing through a recipe book beside an older man, presumably Mr Jackson’s son, who was reading a newspaper.

  Hope looked up, but bef
ore she could say anything the irritating young man had jumped in again. ‘We’ve just had a cuppa but I could put the kettle on again if you’d like? Or do you fancy a beer? I could do with one myself although you Poms don’t seem to drink much during the day.’

  ‘Er, nothing, thanks. I won’t stay long. Hello, Hope. How are you doing?’

  ‘Fine, fine. Have you met Mr Jackson’s son and grandson? This is Andrew, and Mark.’

  After greeting the two men he turned again to Hope but before he could speak Mark jumped in again. ‘Have you heard our news?’

  He put a hand on Hope’s shoulder and Robbie felt the world spin for a moment, dreading what might come next. What possible news could they be about to announce? Surely nothing could have happened this quickly …?

  ‘We’re family,’ explained Andrew with a smile.

  ‘We’re related, aren’t we, coz?’ said Mark, giving Hope a hug. ‘Hope found that our great-great-something or other was her great aunt. Or something. Pretty cool, huh?’

  Robbie could hardly speak for the relief. He would prefer it if Hope wasn’t related to this bumptious young man, but it could have been so much worse. He made himself say, ‘Well, that’s very interesting. And such a coincidence, Hope, you coming to live at Kirkside.’

  Hope looked at him suspiciously, as though he was implying something. ‘Coincidences do happen, you know.’

  ‘Yes, of course, I didn’t mean …’

  But it wasn’t long before the younger man had bounced back in to the conversation. ‘It’s been quite a holiday, all in all. Interesting seeing the old place, and finding long-lost cousins is even better.’ He swung one of the kitchen chairs around and sat on it back-to-front. ‘But boy, how can you cope with the weather? And it isn’t even winter yet, so they say. I’ve been telling Hope she should come out to Oz and see what sunshine is really like.’ He gave a brilliant smile across the table to Hope. She returned it, less enthusiastically, but she did give him a smile. Robbie would have preferred to have her attention on him.

  ‘It’s true Australia isn’t a bad place,’ said Andrew. ‘Hope would be very welcome to visit.’

  ‘I’m not planning to travel at the moment,’ said Hope in her quiet voice. ‘Mr Jackson may be getting a lot better, but he’s not well enough to be left on his own yet.’

  ‘You should come over as soon as you’re free,’ said Mark. ‘You can stay with us as long as you like.’

  This talk of Hope visiting Australia filled Robbie once again with horror. It was just over a fortnight since he had last seen her. Surely things couldn’t have changed so quickly? Mark Jackson seemed hardly to be able to take his eyes off her, but she couldn’t see anything in this jumped-up puppy. Could she?

  He cleared his throat. ‘There’s a new film on in Dumfries on Saturday,’ he said, addressing Hope. ‘I’ve heard it’s good, an improvement on that weird one we saw last time. I wondered if you’d like to go?’

  Once again Mark jumped in before anyone else could speak. ‘Saturday’s no good, mate. It’s our last evening here and we’re all going out for a slap-up family meal; even the old guy has agreed to come. Give Hope a break from cooking for us all.’

  Hope said nothing.

  ‘Oh, well, never mind,’ said Robbie, suddenly angry. If Hope couldn’t be bothered to answer him herself she couldn’t be that interested, could she? He was hurt, but he didn’t want her to see that. He made his excuses and left soon after. Obviously, now she had found her long-lost family, she had no time for him.

  Hope was in a quandary about so many things. She was touched and relieved that Amy was back in contact and intended to repay some of the money. And it was interesting to find out more about her family, but each new discovery seemed to knock her sideways, to force her to re-evaluate once again who she was.

  She didn’t know why the fact she was related to the Jacksons seemed to be such a big thing, but it was. It tied her more closely than ever to Scotland and to St Ann’s Bridge.

  Which brought her to the question of Cleughbrae. It was confusing, having the possibility of buying it thrust upon her. She hadn’t been considering buying anything, least of all here. The question hadn’t even arisen, as she knew she couldn’t afford it. Now, with the remainder of her savings plus the money promised by Amy, it was a possibility, as long as she found some work. But was that what she wanted? She really didn’t know.

  The obvious interest from Mark Jackson was more a minor irritation than another quandary. He wasn’t her type. Seeing him and Robbie Mackenzie together merely confirmed that. For all her current confusion, Robbie was the one who seemed real. Mark was nothing more than a boy. She didn’t take his constant invitations seriously, and she was pleased when he and his father left for the airport. It was one less thing to have to cope with.

  Mr Jackson had enjoyed their visit but he still tired easily. On the day following his son’s departure, he went as usual to lie down for his afternoon rest. Hope decided to take Lucy out for a walk, to try to clear her thoughts.

  It was only mid-afternoon, but by this time in November the light was beginning to fade. There was a hint of frost in the air and Hope pulled the soft velvet hat low over her ears. She had on a long, black woollen coat – boring but sensible – and had brightened it up with the purple hat and a multi-coloured scarf her mother had knitted at her request many years ago.

  Lucy walked slowly at her heel, looking at the ground a yard or so ahead of her. It seemed impossible that the dog could actually see anything through that shaggy grey fur, but she never stumbled.

  As Hope turned down the heavily overhung track to Cleughbrae, she realised this was the first time she had come here on her own. The first visit had been with Susie and she had felt uneasy. On the second, with Robbie, her curiosity had been aroused, but she had still been cautious.

  Today, she just wanted to see the place again and work out how she really felt about it. She didn’t have a key. She didn’t need to go inside to do this. She would know just by seeing it.

  And she did.

  In the hazy mist and near-darkness, with the yellow and red and bronze of the trees all around, the tiny house stood proudly in its place. It was a little dilapidated, a little in need of some love, but with its soft pink stonework and fancy eaves, it was beautiful.

  ‘I could live here,’ said Hope to Lucy, who had stopped when she stopped and now looked up questioningly. ‘Yes, I could definitely live here.’

  Somehow the place was right. Hope didn’t feel nervous in the gloom. The isolation only made it more perfect, although it had taken the weeks of living in Mr Jackson’s relatively lonely house for her to realise this was what she liked. She walked around the building twice and then sat down on the rickety bench where she and Susie had rested so many months before.

  ‘But I’ll need to work out the finances first,’ she confided to Lucy. ‘I don’t think I can rely on Amy continuing to pay me regularly, although it would be nice if she did. I need to find a way of earning money, here in St Ann’s Bridge. Or at least nearby.’

  Lucy pushed her nose against Hope’s gloved hand, as though agreeing. Hope felt suddenly light-hearted. She had made a decision, and it had nothing to do with Robbie Mackenzie. If he couldn’t be bothered to phone her, that was his problem, not hers.

  ‘I’ve got one or two ideas,’ continued Hope. ‘How about you?’

  Lucy sighed and lay down at her feet. Apparently she thought Hope capable of sorting this out all on her own.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  For the first time, Robbie was beginning to regret taking on this new job. It seemed to involve far too many late nights, which made it impossible to catch up with Hope. He knew he needed to speak to her in person, to find out if she really was avoiding him. And then when he wasn’t working, there was the band event he had agreed to do with Abhainn. As they were performing original material they needed to practice together. This took up even more of his free time. He wanted to scream, but he had promis
ed to help and couldn’t back out now.

  The very last thing he expected, when he returned home after final practice one Saturday, was for his mother to tell him Hope had called by.

  ‘Hope came here? Was she looking for me?’ Suddenly the world felt a brighter place.

  ‘I’m not sure,’ said his mother, smiling at his enthusiasm. ‘Maybe she was just walking Lucy. But she came in for a cup of coffee.’

  ‘How is she?’ It felt far longer than a week since Robbie had seen her. ‘At least those Australians will have gone back by now.’

  ‘That’s right. That must mean less work for Hope, although she’s not one to complain.’

  ‘Did she say anything about them?’

  ‘Not really.’ His mother looked amused. ‘Should she have?’

  ‘You know they’re related, don’t you? That grandson of Mr Jackson’s was pretty keen on her, wouldn’t leave her alone from what I could see.’ It was a relief for Robbie to be able to put this into words. The worry over Mark Jackson had been festering within him. ‘I bet she’s glad to see the back of him.’ And now she had come to the farm! He pushed aside his empty plate and reached for the biscuit tin. He hadn’t realised how hungry he was.

  ‘She didn’t mention the grandson at all. And if he was a little keen, which isn’t surprising with a pretty girl like Hope, I’ve no doubts Hope can take care of herself. She’s quiet, but she’s not soft.’

  ‘No, that’s true,’ said Robbie, relieved. ‘Did she ask after me?’

  ‘She didn’t need to. I told her you were away practicing for the band night tonight.’

  ‘Oh.’ This just served to remind Robbie that he only had an hour to change and get back out to join the band. Should he have invited Hope along? And yet if he had, and by some miracle she had said yes, he would be on stage for most of the time so would hardly see her.

  Hope was at a loose end. Somehow, she had thought Robbie might come round and visit her once the Australians had left. Hadn’t he said he would? Now she had got over the shock of finding more relatives, live ones this time, she wanted to talk it over with him. Even if he hadn’t phoned whilst he was away, he was still her best friend in St Ann’s Bridge. For a while she had decided not to seek him out, just because Susie was so keen on pushing them together. Today she had decided that was ridiculous and she should do what she wanted. So she had ‘happened’ to take Lucy a walk in the direction of Holm Farm, but he hadn’t been home. She had hoped his mother would mention her visit to him and that would prompt him to visit. But the Saturday afternoon was already drawing to a close and there was no sign of him. Now she felt she couldn’t bear it if she didn’t see him again soon.