Jo was worrying about Beth. It had seemed such a wonderful idea at first – Christmas beside a river in the heart of the Devon countryside. Though never an admirer of the rural idyll herself, she knew that for Beth it brought peace and a kind of spiritual fulfilment that she, Jo, could only dream of. But even if the countryside lived up to expectations, what would Beth make of the people? Kate, she knew instinctively, would have no problems with the shy teenager, nor Beth with her. But Hannah’s extrovert behaviour and forthright manner of speech could easily send her scurrying back into her shell. And what if the rest of her family were just like her? Although they would not actually be staying with Hannah’s parents, she knew they would be spending Christmas Day at the family home at Westermouth. Gloom descended upon her. The whole idea had been a ghastly mistake. She should have planned a quiet Christmas for Beth and herself at Harrison House. God knows she saw little enough of her sister without ruining the precious time they did have together. As Kate wound down her window to adjust her wing mirror, Jo shivered and huddled her overcoat more closely around her.
o0o
“We’re almost there, I think.” Kate changed down into third gear as the car breasted the hill and the Kent countryside, glinting silver in the frost, spread out before them in a vast panorama. “Goodness, what a wonderful view!”
“Yes, Beth loves it too... I think it’s probably the best thing about the place. Sometimes, when she’s feeling depressed, she says she curls up on one of the window seats and just gazes out at the landscape for hours on end. I think she creates imaginary farms and villages where she can visualise herself living a different life.” Her throat constricted and Jo stopped herself abruptly.
“What a wonderful imagination she must have – I’m longing to meet her.”
“You will in about two minutes. It’s the next turning on the left.”
As the car slid up the winding drive, a rambling Georgian mansion came into view. On the lawn in front of the house two boys were kicking a football about in a desultory way.
“There’s Beth!”
As Kate brought the car to a halt, a petite figure with a mane of dark hair flying in the wind came running down the steps towards them, a shabby brown suitcase banging against her legs.
“I’ll let you get out.” Hannah scrambled out of the passenger seat and held it forward for Jo. She and Kate watched as Beth flew into her sister’s arms and hugged her as if she would never let her go. There was something about the stick-thin figure in the navy overcoat several sizes too small for her which brought tears to Kate’s eyes.
She climbed out of the car and joined Hannah. “Whatever happens, we must make sure that Beth has the best Christmas she could possibly wish for.”
“Absolutely. The poor kid looks as if she hasn’t eaten for a month.”
“I think it might be an idea if we stop for a coffee break now. I’m sure those two could do with a few minutes on their own.”
“I’ll get the bag from the boot. I wouldn’t mind a biscuit myself.”
Hannah, Kate was glad to see, certainly hadn’t stinted in her self-appointed role as caterer for the journey. She watched as her friend filled four plastic mugs from a vast, steaming thermos flask. Two packets of biscuits and a slab of fruit cake also emerged from the bag.
“It’s only two hours since breakfast!”
“I’m worried about your blood sugar levels – can’t have you falling asleep while you’re driving.” Hannah leaned against the bonnet and sank her teeth into a chocolate digestive biscuit.
They watched as Jo and Beth, arms linked, strolled over the gravel towards them.
“Beth, I’d like to introduce you to Kate and Hannah... you won’t find it difficult to tell them apart – Kate’s the quiet one and Hannah’s the noisy one who’s always eating.”
Beth’s grave face broke into a smile as Hannah choked on her biscuit. “It’s really kind of you to invite me for Christmas – thank you very much.” She held out her hand.
Hannah, Kate could see, was charmed by the girl’s old-fashioned courtesy. She shook the proffered hand.
“You’re most welcome – I’m sure you’ll soon love Cocklecombe as much as we do, and we’ll do our best to give you a good time.”
“Just being able to be with Jo in a cottage in the country is enough for me.”
Kate handed her a mug of coffee. “We thought we’d have a quick break now and stop for lunch later. Would you like a piece of fruit cake or a biscuit?”
Beth shook her head. “Just coffee, thanks.”
Jo put her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “We’re neither of us great eaters I’m afraid, though I’d like to see a bit more flesh on these young bones.” She gave Beth an affectionate squeeze.
“I wish she could have some of mine.” Hannah packed the cake and biscuits back into the bag with obvious reluctance. “I only have to look at food to feel the pounds start piling on. And my mother always does such a wonderful spread at Christmas. Come January, I need a whole new wardrobe.”
Jo laughed. “You’ve got more clothes than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Yes, but only because my weight goes up and down so much. I could be a size 16 in January and a size 12 in July... so I have to have something of everything in each size.” She tucked Beth’s suitcase into the boot and edged the picnic bag in beside it. “Believe me, if I had the choice I’d far rather have your metabolism.”
“Though not my black widow’s wardrobe perhaps,” Jo murmured. She caught Hannah’s eye and they exchanged a smile.
“Black really suits you, it makes you look very French and chic somehow. I couldn’t look chic if I tried...impressive occasionally, maybe. Chic, never.”
“Enough of this fashion talk, we’d better get a move on if we’re hoping to get to Cocklecombe this side of midnight.” Kate held the car door open for Jo and Beth to climb in the back. “Let me know whenever you want to stop and stretch your legs.”
o0o
Soon after turning right on to the A25 at Westerham, they slid over the border into Surrey and followed the road to Guildford. In no time at all, it seemed, they were steaming through Hampshire where they stopped for lunch in a quiet lay-by. A frosty stroll through a nearby wood, thickly carpeted with leaves, eased their cramped limbs and they climbed back into the car for the last leg of the journey.
Glancing into her rear-view mirror Kate saw that Beth had fallen asleep, her head on her sister’s shoulder.
Jo smiled. “She’s pretty exhausted. I don’t think she slept much last night with all the excitement.”
Hannah yawned. “I’m certainly not going to feel like cooking a meal by the time we get to Cocklecombe, and I’m sure you and Kate won’t either. Perhaps we could pop out for some fish and chips after we’ve unpacked the car. And then I expect we could all do with an early night.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me.” Kate switched on Sooty’s sidelights as the sky began to darken. “We should be there in a couple of hours.”
o0o
It was just after six o’clock when they turned off the main road onto the narrow lane which wound its way between steep-banked hedgerows down to the village of Cocklecombe.
Jo, accustomed to the night in the city where street lamps maintained a perpetual half-light, gazed out of the window in amazement.
“I can’t believe how dark it is – I feel as if I’ve never really experienced night-time before.”
Beside her, Beth stirred from sleep. “And look at those stars – aren’t they wonderful?”
Kate turned to give her a quick smile. “Yes, you’re never really aware of the sky at night when you’re living in a city, are you? We go for moonlight walks down by the estuary sometimes; it’s absolutely magical.”
“Isn’t it a bit creepy?”
“You soun
d like a real townie, Jo! It isn’t creepy at all... I feel safer walking through Cocklecombe at midnight than up the Old Kent Road in mid-afternoon.”
“I’d love to go for a midnight walk – especially on a clear night like tonight when you can see the stars and the moonlight is shining on the water. It makes me feel as if I’m in a completely different world.”
Kate heard the sense of wonder in Beth’s voice and recognised a kindred spirit. Hannah, having lived in Devon all her life, seemed to take the place for granted. She loved it, of course, but never seemed to appreciate the mysterious, mystical quality of the countryside which Kate herself experienced as an almost tangible presence.
“We’ll go one night, I promise, even if it’s just the two of us. It’s something you really should experience.”
As they rounded the final bend and saw the lights of Cocklecombe strung out along the estuary like beads on a necklace, Hannah leaned forward and peered through the windscreen.
“Look, Kate! The lights are on at the cottage.”
“So they are – you weren’t expecting anyone to be there, were you?”
“Aidan said he and Daniel would come over tomorrow – they must have changed their minds. It can’t be my parents; I know they were going out to a meeting tonight.”
A shiver of anticipation ran down Kate’s spine. “There you are – didn’t I say Daniel couldn’t wait to see you again?” Excitement made her crash the gears as she slowed to turn in front of the small terrace of cottages. Hannah giggled.
“Don’t let them hear you do that! It’ll confirm my brother’s opinion of women drivers.”
As she spoke the door of the cottage was flung open and Aidan ducked under the lintel and strode out into the lane.
“Welcome to Cocklecombe – I thought it had to be you!”
Kate pulled up in front of the cottage and wound down the window. “Before you say anything, that’s the first time I’ve crashed the gears since we left London.”
“It’s true.” Hannah climbed out of the car and gave her brother a hug. “It must have been the thought of seeing you.”
Kate cursed her silently. Trust Hannah to open her mouth and put her foot right in it. Not that she intended to, of course. However much she liked to tease Kate about her relationship with Aidan, the thought that her best friend might seriously be attracted to her brother would have driven her into paroxysms of laughter. To cover her confusion she slid out of the driver’s seat and pulled it forward. Jo and Beth emerged stiffly from the back.
Aidan disentangled himself from his sister and came to greet them.
“You must be Jo.” He shook her hand warmly.
Beth, Kate noticed, had shrunk back behind her sister. As she watched, Jo put a protective arm around her shoulders. “And this is my sister, Beth.”
Aidan gave a slight bow. “It’s a pleasure to have you. I’m delighted you could both come down for Christmas.”
Beth, Kate could see, was completely won over. She gave him a shy smile. “Thank you – it’s such a beautiful place, I can’t quite believe I’m here.”
“Ah, another convert to Cocklecombe I see. Wait till you see it in the daylight – the heron winging his way across the river, the cry of the gulls from the rooftops. There’s no place like it.” He turned to Kate and gave her a brotherly peck on the cheek. “You’re looking exceptionally well, Kate. Life in the big city must be agreeing with you.”
“But not as well as life in Devon.”
“I’m glad to hear it – London may do wonders for the mind, but I’d back Devon for the soul any day.”
Kate watched him as he gazed out across the estuary. Still the same old Aidan with his dark green corduroy trousers and shabby Aran jumper. Unlike his sister, he cared nothing for clothes and was always relieved to cast off his office suit at the end of the day. Hannah always complained that he dressed like a typical Quaker, but Kate liked his cavalier approach to fashion. She never quite trusted men who took too much trouble over their appearance. Except for Daniel, of course. If Aidan dressed like a Quaker, then Daniel dressed like the Anglican he was – smartly and conservatively without the least hint of ostentation.
As she watched, he too emerged from the cottage. Stockier than Aidan, his well-cut jeans and navy guernsey gave him a nautical air.
“Daniel!” Hannah ceased her wrestling with the luggage rack, threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him hard.
Daniel grinned. “You missed me I take it.” He held her away from him, his left eyebrow raised in its usual quizzical way.
“Oh well, you know, a bit.” Hannah released him quickly and heaved a suitcase down from the car roof.
Aidan laughed. “That looked like a bit of a guilty hug to me. What have you been getting up to while you’ve been away?”
“Nothing!” Hannah grabbed a second suitcase and glared at him. “I hope you’re not going to spend the entire holiday teasing me.”
Kate saw the glint in Aidan’s eye. “I shall treat you as I always treat you, Hannah.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.” She humped the cases into the cottage, resisting Daniel’s offer of help.
“What’s that wonderful smell?” Kate opened the boot and stood aside as the two men made short work of unpacking it.
“That’s my Hungarian goulash – you must remember, I’m famous for it.” Daniel gave her a lazy grin.
Hannah emerged from the cottage. “You’re famous for it because it’s the only thing you can cook!”
“Cruel as ever, I see. I thought London might have softened you up a bit.”
“It hasn’t softened my brain if that’s what you mean.”
“I was rather hoping it might have softened your temper.”
“I can’t believe the pair of you are bickering already – you’ve only been together five minutes.” Aidan slammed the boot shut and ushered Jo and Beth into the cottage. Kate locked the car door and followed them.
“So what made you change your mind?” Hannah demanded as
she emptied the remains of their picnic lunch into the rubbish bin. “I thought we weren’t going to be seeing you until tomorrow.”
Aidan filled the kettle and switched it on. “We couldn’t bear the thought of you having to chase round cooking a meal after that long journey, so we decided to do it for you.”
“And in return no doubt you’ll expect us to cook for you for the rest of the holiday.”
“Why can’t you just accept a friendly gesture when it’s offered to you?”
Kate saw the flash of anger in his eyes. “It was a lovely thought,” she intercepted quickly before Hannah could make matters worse. “We’d decided on fish and chips since none of us could be bothered to cook, but this is infinitely better.”
She glanced around the room. “Did you do the decorations as well? That tree looks wonderful.”
Aidan flashed her an appreciative smile. “With a bit of help from my parents. You know how Mother adores Christmas – there was no keeping her away. She wanted everything to be absolutely perfect for you. They’ll both be dropping by tomorrow morning, by the way. They wanted to see you all before we meet up at Downlands on Christmas Day.”
Hannah felt her momentary irritation dissipate. “Good old Mum – what did I do to deserve her?”
Kate saw the gleam in Aidan’s grey-green eyes. “I’ve often wondered what she did to deserve you. Maybe she committed some frightful sin in a previous life.”
“You know you don’t believe in past lives – and stop trying to wind me up. You really are the most infuriating brother anybody could possibly have inflicted on them.” Hannah aimed a soft punch at his midriff.
Kate looked at Beth. The girl hadn’t spoken a word since they entered the cottage, but her face spoke volumes as she took in every detail of he
r new surroundings. She sat down beside her on the sofa.
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“It’s perfect.” Beth’s dark brown eyes were shining. “I’ve never seen such a beautifully decorated tree – and all that holly around the pictures... it all looks so simple, but it’s so effective.”
“Natural things are always best, don’t you think?”
“Oh yes... I never liked the artificial tree we used to have at home, but I suppose it was all Mum could afford.”
Kate heard the catch in the girl’s voice. “Why don’t we go and unpack now? I’m sure we won’t feel like it after we’ve had a meal.”
“Good idea.” Jo picked up a carrier bag full of presents and headed for the stairs.
“You and Beth are in the first room on the right.” Hannah struggled to lift her unwieldy suitcase, but Daniel forestalled her, swinging it off the ground with ease and reaching for Kate’s case with his other hand.
Aidan followed, bearing the other two cases. “You’ve got fifteen minutes before supper,” he told them as he set the cases down on the beds. “Any later and the chef’s liable to get temperamental.”
Onwards Flows the River Page 10