A Rose Petal Summer

by Katie Fforde

  Although she talked about it with Heather, waiting for a chance to officially give her notice in to Alec, the person she felt would miss her most was Rowan, so she thought she’d tell her separately.

  She suggested a walk with Gally the following morning. The sun was shining and she hoped that Rowan would bring her sketchbook and lean against a rock and draw. This would give Caro a chance to tell Rowan her plans. George, an older dog, had declined the invitation to join them.

  As Caro and Rowan walked along, watching Gally running around, smelling everything, full of joy, Caro discovered that although spring was late to appear in Scotland its shy beauty was breathtaking. The larches were fuzzed with green and the birch trees were bright with new foliage. The fact that it could snow the following day made it even more special.

  ‘I’m going to have to go back soon,’ said Caro when Rowan had pulled a sketch pad out of her pocket and was concentrating on a sprig of larch cones, her pencil recreating nature in front of Caro’s eyes. The pencil stopped moving.

  ‘Do you have to?’

  ‘I do. Lennie’s coming back and Murdo will be out of hospital soon. I won’t be needed when Lennie gets here.’

  ‘I like Lennie but she doesn’t understand art like you do. None of my family do. They all just think it’s little Rowan drawing pictures.’

  ‘I’m not an expert, Ro, I’ve told you millions of times, but I do think you’re talented. If you like I’ll talk to your mother about you going to art college? Reassure her about it a bit?’

  ‘You can try,’ said Rowan. ‘But if she doesn’t go on about evil influences she’ll say it’s all too expensive.’

  ‘I’m sure there are grants and things. I thought if Scottish students went to university in Scotland they didn’t have to pay?’

  ‘But I want to go to London.’

  ‘Honey, art schools won’t be any better in London than they are in Scotland.’

  ‘I know, but I really want to go there. And anyway there is money! My grandmother left me some to be spent on my education. My mother just makes excuses.’

  ‘What about your dad? Would he support you? If you really wanted to go?’

  Rowan shrugged and went back to her drawing. ‘I don’t know. He mostly backs up Mum.’

  ‘Try him on the art school thing.’

  ‘Could you talk to him about it?’

  ‘It’s not really my place to talk about your education. I’m here for Murdo and it’s not as if I’m a professional teacher or anything.’

  ‘My parents have been quite happy to use you, though. Haven’t they?’ Rowan glanced up at her and Caro realised she was being sketched.

  ‘I’ve enjoyed your company. It stops me missing Posy so much, having you to chat to.’

  ‘I think Posy is really brave, going all the way to Australia to see her dad when she didn’t really know him.’

  ‘All she had to do was sit on a plane for twenty-four hours and be met the other end,’ said Caro, laughing. ‘Although I did think it was pretty brave of her. But it’s all working out really well.’

  ‘I really don’t want you to leave,’ said Rowan. ‘Couldn’t you find something else to do up here? You’re my friend without being paid to be. Although perhaps you could be my tutor?’

  Caro smiled. ‘I’m not remotely qualified although I have really enjoyed getting to know you. And I’m going to miss you too. In fact, when I’m settled back on the barge you must come and stay. You can go to London City Airport and I’ll meet you. I know it’s three hours to Glasgow but Skye will probably be OK about it if she knows you’re being met the other end.’

  ‘I’d love that!’

  ‘We could go and visit all the art galleries.’

  ‘And the art schools!’

  ‘Well, you may need a parent for that, but we could certainly go and look at them from the outside.’

  ‘That would be brilliant! I feel if I could just get to London, anything would be possible.’

  Caro caught up with Alec when he came back from visiting Murdo. He seemed even more preoccupied than usual but when she started to explain he frowned.

  ‘Come into the drawing room where we can talk.’

  She followed him in and sat on the sofa while he made up the fire and poured two enormous glasses of whisky. He handed him hers without asking and then sat down.

  ‘What was it you wanted to say?’

  ‘That it’s time for me to leave. Lennie’s on her way home. You won’t need me when she’s here.’

  ‘Won’t we? Are you sure? You’ve been brilliant.’

  His praise and his smile were more warming than the whisky.

  ‘I haven’t done a lot—’

  ‘You’ve been great with Rowan and Murdo will miss you too.’

  ‘Is he OK? He was doing well yesterday.’

  Alec frowned a little, inspecting the liquid in his glass, not seeing it. ‘I’m worried about him.’

  ‘Any particular reason?’

  ‘I don’t feel he’s right in himself, really.’

  ‘In what way?’ Caro took another sip of her whisky, hoping she didn’t get too fond of a habit she couldn’t afford.

  ‘He’s a bit – needy. He and I haven’t got on for years but somehow he’s a bit clingy now. He keeps talking about Frazer. Wants to talk to him.’

  ‘Just talk? Or is it about something particular?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ He sighed and took another large gulp of whisky. ‘I’m going to track him down and see if he’ll come and see the old man. It’s what he wants.’

  ‘But you’re also worried about Murdo’s health?’

  ‘I think there’s something else going on that isn’t just a mild stroke. But I don’t think anyone knows anything for definite so won’t say.’ He sighed again. ‘Lennie might be able to find out more when she comes. She and Murdo get on really well.’

  ‘Fathers and daughters,’ said Caro. ‘I got on really well with my dad.’

  ‘Although I’m not as close to Rowan as I’d like to be. She’s with her mother so much and I don’t think Skye obeys the convention that you don’t run down the child’s parent even if you are divorced.’

  Caro laughed. ‘I think that one must be hard. I didn’t have that problem with my daughter because her father went back to Australia so soon after she was born.’

  ‘Tough on you, though. You were an entirely single parent.’

  Caro shook her head. ‘I knew we weren’t destined to stay together forever and being pregnant meant I didn’t have to finish university which I didn’t really want to do. So I moved on to my barge with my father. He was a brilliant dad substitute.’

  She took another sip of whisky and a deep breath. This could be the moment to tell him that she remembered him as a boy called Xander on a Greek island nearly twenty-three years ago. But she couldn’t, not when he didn’t remember her.

  She could also use this moment of quiet, when it was just the two of them, to get him to talk more about his perfume business, about her own interest in it. But what would be the point? She was going back to London and this would have been a lovely idyll. Not quite as lovely an idyll as the Greek island and Xander had been, but lovely enough.

  ‘So what will you do, when you’re back in London?’

  ‘Job hunt.’

  ‘Caro, really I’d love it if you could stay here longer – we all would – especially Rowan, but—’

  ‘It’s all right. I understand. You can’t justify my wages. It’s fine. It’s been a really good experience but now it’s time for me to go.’

  ‘Tell me when it’s convenient for you and I’ll organise your flight.’

  ‘There’s no need—’

  ‘Of course there is! Lennie would have my guts for garters if I didn’t pay for your flight!’

  The evening before she was due to leave, Caro, Heather and Ewan were sitting round the table having a cup of tea after supper when Skye came rushing through the back door.

 
‘Where’s Rowan?’ she said accusingly.

  ‘She’s not here,’ said Caro calmly. ‘Is she with Alec?’

  ‘Alec’s disappeared off somewhere. An errand for Murdo, I think. God knows why. He’s never been able to stand his father.’ Skye seemed really worried.

  ‘Sit down and have a cup of tea,’ said Caro. ‘She can’t be far away.’

  Skye flopped down into a chair. ‘We had a terrible row yesterday. She didn’t come back last night. I assumed she was at Alec’s until I texted him and found out he wasn’t at home.’

  Caro bit back her expression of dismay. Skye was worried enough already; she didn’t need more people throwing up their hands in horror.

  ‘Maybe she’s gone to see a friend?’ she said, aware she’d never heard Rowan talk about any local friends.

  ‘She hasn’t got any friends.’ Skye looked ashen. ‘I think she’s run away.’

  Chapter Five

  Caro met Skye’s eyes and for the first time the women connected, united in their anxiety.

  ‘What was the row about?’ asked Caro gently.

  ‘What it’s always about! Going to London!’ Skye pushed her fingers through her hair, obviously distraught.

  Caro felt sick. ‘Then maybe that’s where she is?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous! How could she get there?’ Skye seemed to think this was impossible, but Caro knew it wasn’t – she’d told Rowan how to do it!

  ‘Just let me make a call,’ she said. ‘I think this may be my fault.’

  ‘I knew it!’ said Skye. ‘Bring in an outside influence and look what happens.’

  Heather pursed her lips but didn’t speak. Perhaps it had crossed her mind, as it had Caro’s, that for someone who didn’t like outside influences for her daughter she’d let Rowan spend a lot of time with Caro.

  But instead of mentioning this, Caro left the table and went into the corner of the room, hoping for a signal on her phone. She was lucky. She was back at the table within minutes.

  ‘It’s OK!’ she said delightedly. ‘She’s safe. She went to the barge in London. My friend Joe is looking after her.’ She gave a sigh of relief.

  ‘What?’ said Skye, her voice squeaky with disbelief. ‘What do you mean, the barge?’

  ‘I live on a barge in London, normally, and I’ve talked about it to Rowan. I suggested she came to stay with me when I’m back there and told her how easy it was to get to.’ A pang of remorse hit her. ‘It never occurred to me she’d go when I wasn’t there.’

  ‘Well, you must bring her back the moment you arrive home! You’re leaving tomorrow, aren’t you?’

  ‘But, Skye,’ said Caro, ‘I can’t make Rowan do anything if she doesn’t want to do it. If you want her back, you’ll have to get her. I have no authority over her.’

  ‘You can tell her you don’t want her staying!’ said Skye.

  ‘Yes, but supposing we had a huge row and she walked off into the night? She’d be alone in the middle of a big city.’

  But Skye wasn’t listening. ‘And who’s this Joe you say is looking after her? Who is he? Is he safe? How do I know he won’t rape her?’

  ‘I’ve known him for years! He used to babysit Posy when she was little—’ Of course there were no guarantees of anything, but of this Caro was certain: that Rowan would come to no harm from Joe.

  ‘And you were happy with that arrangement, were you? You were happy for a man to look after your daughter?’ Skye was getting more and more worked up. Maybe it was relief that she knew where Rowan was that was making her so unreasonable.

  ‘Yes,’ said Caro calmly. ‘I knew him – I know him – and I know that Rowan will be in safe hands. It’s good that he’s there to look after her.’

  ‘I can’t believe how irresponsible you’re being!’ said Skye as if Caro alone had created this situation.

  ‘Tea, anyone?’ suggested Heather.

  ‘Yes please,’ said Caro. Her mouth had gone dry with the effort of trying to calm Skye down.

  ‘Tea is not going to solve this disaster!’ declared Skye, her green eyes flashing impressively.

  ‘It’s not a disaster,’ said Caro. ‘It’s a bit unfortunate and obviously extremely worrying for you, but it could have been so much worse.’

  ‘Oh, I doubt that!’ said Skye. ‘How could it have been worse?’

  Caro hesitated. Did Skye really need her to spell out the different dreadful scenarios that could have happened instead of Rowan running to a known destination with someone Caro knew to be kind and caring?

  ‘At least we know where she is,’ said Heather quietly, opening the shortbread tin.

  Caro longed for a bit of shortbread, made by Heather and known to be delicious. But she couldn’t bring herself to crunch away while Skye was so distressed.

  ‘I’ve got an idea,’ said Caro. ‘Why don’t you come back with me to London tomorrow and stay on the barge for a little while with Rowan? You could visit some art galleries and—’ She’d been about to suggest that they checked out art schools but remembered just in time that this wouldn’t go down well.

  ‘If you think I’ve got time to go visiting when I’ve got a fully booked yoga retreat coming up you must be mad!’ said Skye.

  ‘OK,’ said Caro, regretting giving up the shortbread when Skye was being so unreasonable. ‘Come with me anyway and see if you can get Rowan to come home with you?’

  ‘Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear me say I’ve got a fully booked yoga retreat coming up?’ Skye’s eyes flashed again and Caro wondered if it was too late for her to learn the technique.

  ‘But surely—’

  Before Caro could finish, Skye’s phone went off and she answered.

  ‘Hi. Yes, we know where she is. She’s in London on—’ A tiny hesitation where Caro could almost hear Skye stop herself from calling her ‘that woman’. ‘—Caro’s barge,’ she said instead.

  Caro assumed she was talking to Alec.

  ‘I’ll get her to bring Rowan straight back here,’ said Skye. There was a brief pause when presumably Alec was saying something and then Skye passed the phone over to Caro. ‘He wants to speak to you.’

  ‘Alec?’ said Caro. Skye nodded.

  ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘So sorry you’ve got involved in all this. Are you really offering to bring Rowan back?’

  ‘No, I’m not,’ said Caro, and then moved away from the table so she could speak more privately. ‘Skye has only just voiced that idea, but I’m not willing and I don’t think it would work.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it?’ Alec sounded despairing and tired.

  ‘No. Rowan’s made the grand gesture, running away from home, why should she meekly go back up to Scotland with me when she’s only been in London a day?’ She paused. ‘Would you come down and get her?’

  ‘I would, but only if I have to. Sorry to sound as if I don’t care about my daughter, but I’m on the trail of Frazer and, for my father’s sake, I really need to speak to him. He’s apparently going off somewhere soon and tomorrow is my only day.’ He sighed. ‘Can you give the phone back to Skye?’

  Heather and Caro studied the table while Skye had quite an audible row with her ex-husband. Eventually she disconnected and threw the phone on to the table.

  ‘He’s useless!’ she said.

  ‘I tell you what I suggest,’ said Caro, who was suddenly filled with a longing to go to bed. ‘I go home tomorrow as arranged, and then let Rowan stay with me for, say, a week, and then either you, or her father, can come and collect her. Or I’ll bring her home?’

  ‘But why would you bring her home after a week if it won’t work if you did it tomorrow?’ asked Skye, ignoring the suggestions that she or Alec did the bringing Rowan home part.

  ‘Because she’d have had a week in London, which she longs for! She may be delighted to go home after all that excitement …’ Caro paused. ‘Didn’t you ever visit London when you were a teenager?’

  ‘Yes!’ declared Skye. ‘Which is why I’m so determined that my daughter wo
n’t now!’

  Caro exhaled. ‘Look, I understand that it looks as if you’re rewarding bad behaviour if you let her stay for a week but she’s wanted to go to London for ages. I think a week in all the traffic and noise will cure her of it. Give her a week, then she can come home – on her own – and settle down. Then when she goes to art school in Glasgow or Edinburgh she’ll have done London and she’ll be fine.’

  ‘She’s not going to art school.’ Skye was very definite about this.

  ‘Listen, Skye, I’m older than you—’

  ‘Quite a lot older!’

  ‘—and I have a daughter who is a bit older than Rowan. I’m ahead of you on the path of getting them to be sensible adults. And I can tell you that the surest way to make a child really yearn for something is to forbid it. I obviously don’t know for sure but I think if you let Rowan go to art school – when she’s old enough, an art school you approve of … you could send her to Florence!’ Caro threw this in to pay Skye back for implying she was ‘a lot older’ when really it could only be a couple of years. ‘And if she’s as talented as I think she is, she’ll do well. And if she’s totally unsuited to it, as you think, she’ll come home after the first term.’ Caro finished her now nearly cold tea, hoarse with trying to make Skye see sense.

  Skye didn’t answer for what seemed a long time, an impression enhanced by the slow ticking of the kitchen clock.

  ‘Very well. I’ll do as you ask. But it’s against what I think is right for my daughter.’

  ‘I have to say …’ Heather said hesitantly. She seemed distressed. ‘… although it’s not really my place, that Caro has made you a very good offer. You should accept it with grace.’

  Skye turned her steely gaze on Heather as if she was about to give her a blast of ice and fire but then she sighed. ‘You’re right. It’s a good offer. I’ll come and collect her when my yoga retreat is over.’