A Rough Kind of Magic

by Louise James

  Olwen collapsed on a chair exhausted as she always felt after dealing with her mother, just then the phone rang again, she jumped to answer it thinking her mother had forgotten to tell her something. There was no response but whoever had rung hadn’t rung off and was still holding the phone, “Hello, hello. Who’s there please answer” There was no reply except the phone being quietly replaced. Olwen began to shake, she couldn’t cope with this, she switched the phone off at the wall and went to bed but spent the night alternately dozing and listening. She drifted into a deep sleep somewhere around dawn, awaking to a realisation that she had been dreaming of a tall man with sparking green eyes who wanted her to go somewhere with him she didn’t know where but she recognised him as the man she had met in Hay, Greg Morgan. Why she should dream about him she had no idea.

  Later that morning she had just finished a project with her class and decided she would spend the afternoon working on one of her entries for the exhibition which was shortly coming up when her mobile rang; it was Aiden, she quickly deleted it but he rang again that afternoon. Furious that he could still upset her she quickly finished up and headed into town where she purchased a new phone, transferred her details and flicked her old sim card in a nearby skip. She couldn’t have borne to go around unable to leave her phone switched on. Her luck must have changed with the new phone because as she left the shop she passed a newsagent. She stopped to glance at the adverts in the window.

  A small flat to let in Market Street, usual offices, clean and very comfortable would suit professional lady with references. Olwen read it over again. The rent was more than she wanted to pay but it was in an ideal location. She hurriedly pulled out the new phone and set it to work. The lady who answered sounded surprised. “That was quick. I only put the advert in this morning. Please come around and have a look.”

  Olwen was delighted with the flat; pretty and spacious worth the extra cost. Two large rooms with a queen sized bed in one and a tiny kitchen off the other nicely fitted out, a shared bathroom but as there was only one other flat occupied by an elderly lady that too was fine. Her landlady was Italian aged about fifty with lovely dark eyes and a sweet smile. She told Olwen she had two daughters one married living in the city, the other a lawyer living in Bath engaged to be married to an Italian Barrister. Her husband was a fireman as well as owning a small café nearby. Olwen was delighted, giving the college director and her friend Alicia as references arranged to move in on the following weekend and treated herself to dinner at a local restaurant with a bottle of wine to take home. For the first time for weeks she felt safe. That night she slept well but dreamed of a green eyed man who held her hand and told her funny stories.

  Chapter 18

  Sally Morgan was so glad to be with her son. She had cried for days then she had been ill with a bout of flu that had lingered, she still hadn’t fully recovered. She wouldn’t come to Greg until she was no longer infectious but now could wait no longer. John’s faith and support had pulled her through the worst of her shock and grief although she still suffered bitterly she firmly believed that a donor would be found in time. Now they both needed to be with Greg for a while. Sally was horrified at the state of the house but relieved to find Greg coping with himself. The weather was warm and the blossom out and it reminded her of the times she was here with John. It had once been such a pretty farmhouse she remembered, they had married at the little church down the road living for a while afterwards with John’s parents. How she would have loved to have Greg do the same and Stephanie would have been so right for him. She sighed deeply as she felt the tears ready to flow again but she mustn’t upset Greg so she wiped her eyes and went to admire the wild garden again where John was already at work making a vegetable patch. She had knitted Greg a sweater in deep green and brought several cakes and pies for the freezer, now she started on the house with vim and vigour. Greg looked so much better she thought and seeing him with Rocky in his own home reassured her. She set her mind to polishing, cleaning and rearranging, cooked tempting meals, sewing and rehanging the chopped off curtains while washing everything in sight. From Swansea she had brought a car full of lamps cushions and rugs; Greg laughing protested but didn’t attempt to stop her having fun.

  As Sally coped with the house so John tackled the garden fighting with years of brambles and overgrown shrubs until he had cleared a space for vegetables and planted the seeds he had brought with him. Tod had already cut back the rose bushes which had covered the back door, John now set about training the shoots over the porch. He took a trip into Abergavenny returning with a car full of shrubs and fir trees which he planted on the eastern side of the garden where the wind blew of the hill. The flowering shrubs he planted in four corners of the small plot he’d laid down for a lawn. Greg wanted to keep the beautiful wild garden as he had first seen it so except for some necessary pruning his father left it alone; in any case the birds that sang there had nests everywhere. The bulbs too were left to come again. John confined his main work to the vegetables and the lawn where Greg admitted it would be nice to eat out in the sun.

  Greg turned down their offer of replacing the roof to Sally’s distress; she pictured him lying ill under a leaking roof with the rain drumming in his ears. After a heated argument his parents had to give way as Greg assured them when his flat sold the roof was his first priority, only when he promised that if it was not sold by winter he would borrow the money from them, did they give in and took their frustrations out on the house and garden. Grey was looking better, the country was obviously doing him good and they blessed Ray who had done so much for him. Greg did not tell his parents that Ray did not yet know the whole truth, as they seldom saw him he felt safe that he would be able to tell him before they did.

  “By the way, Greg, I rang Stephanie and told her about you.” Sally told him firmly one night at dinner.

  “What on earth for?” exclaimed Greg. “It’s got nothing to do with her.”

  “Of course it is.” She replied. “You lived together as far as we’re concerned as man and wife. She had a right to know”

  This was an old bone of contention. His parents had found it hard to accept that Greg and Stephanie had not married.

  “She is so upset she will most likely contact you one day. She has to go to New York again but she was so distressed she almost didn’t go. I am quite surprised that you haven’t heard already.”

  Greg groaned. “I will no doubt. What am I supposed to say to her? I don’t want to see her Mother. It’s no good her contacting me.”

  “She has a right. At least you can talk to her. She is such a kind hearted girl I’m sure she could help.”

  ‘Yes.’ Greg thought savagely ‘I spent six months trying to get her from around my neck and Mother promptly puts her back. Thanks but no thanks.’

  Aloud he said” I wouldn’t bank on it. She’s too selfish, too busy and always has friends and acquaintances more important to her.”

  His father said nothing. He knew Greg’s feelings and was inclined to agree with him, he had a soft spot for Steph and had thought her a good choice for Greg but it was no use if there was no love between them anymore and he didn’t want to see them both hurt all over again. He was cross with Sally for interfering. He had told his wife that Greg wouldn’t want to be involved again but Sally was adamant that she was told and had invited Steph over one evening, both had been very upset. He believed she would be in touch when she returned from New York then everyone would be upset all over again.

  “We’ll see.” Sally unfolded the ironing board. “I told her we would be here for a couple of weeks so maybe she will come after we have gone”

  Stephanie arrived at Graig-y-dorth the following Sunday morning as his parents were packing ready to leave after lunch. Rocky barked and Greg looked up from his job of tying back some bushes to see Stephanie opening the road gate, his heart sank; why did his mother have to call her? He put down his tools and went
to meet her cursing under his breath. On seeing him she ran down the path arms outstretched dramatically, before he could stop her she was in his arms shaking and sobbing.

  “Greg! My Darling, why didn’t you tell me? I am so sorry. You could have come to me. I can’t bear it. Hold me close.” As she was clinging around his neck like a limpet there was little else he could do at this point except cheerfully strangle his mother. Detaching Stephanie arms, he drew back to notice with a start that she was not alone. The car had followed her down the yard and a very tall, dark, good looking man got out carefully picking his way through the mud with an expression of distaste though he smiled as he came towards them.

  “Good morning.” Greg holding Stephanie at arm’s length with one hand held out the other in greeting. The man shook hands with a firm grip. “Yes, it is a good morning. I am pleased to meet you.” Stephanie pulled herself together

  “Darling, I am so sorry but I am too upset to mind my manners. This is Joseph. He handles my designs but when he heard that I had to come here he insisted on bringing me. Joseph, this is poor Gregory Morgan and these are his parents John and Sally Morgan.” They shook hands somewhat embarrassed.

  “Shall we all have some coffee?” Sally after embracing Steph led the way inside leaving the men to follow. Greg was angry but there was no way he could show it either to his guests or his parents. His father understanding squeezed his shoulder. “Joseph. How kind of you to escort Stephanie on such short notice. Have you been to Wales before?”

  “No I never have.” His accent was strong maybe Norwegian or Swedish. “It is very beautiful but how do you cope with the silence and the mud.”

  “You get used to it. “Greg retorted. Would you join us for a coffee?”

  “What a good idea.” His father led the way into the house. As Greg followed Joseph he looked him over with interest. He obviously hadn’t dressed for the country. Cream slacks, pale lilac shirt, cream shoes, he looked as uncomfortable as Greg felt but he must think a lot of Steph to drive into the hills with her. They found the women in the kitchen. Stephanie had recovered enough to place biscuits on a plate and load a tray as Sally made the coffee. Greg carefully kept the table between them he didn’t want a repeat performance of the scene on the yard, knowing Steph that would happen if he so much as caught her eye. John set himself to making Joseph at ease and soon had him talking about stamp collecting which was John’s lifetime hobby. A chance remark about the postal service and cost of postage led to the discovery that Joseph also had an impressive collection so they were soon deep in the delights of philately. Greg breathed a sigh of relief, with the best will in the world he didn’t think he and Joseph would have much in common. Sally was asking Steph about her trip to New York and what she thought of the city. Greg took his coffee and with Rocky slid out of the front door and sat on the garden wall. Not only was he unable to find anything to talk to Joseph about but he didn’t want to talk to Stephanie. He failed to see any purpose to them coming, a note or a phone call would have sufficed. He only hoped that she and her fancy sponsor would take themselves off after their coffee but knowing Steph so well, he knew that she never did anything without a motive and although they had parted last year, there was some reason for her presence here now. He was filled with foreboding.

  “Where are you Greg?” Stephanie came through the back door towards him. “Oh! Darling there you are! I know you must be feeling wretched but don’t go away from us all and brood by yourself.” Greg set his teeth and stretched his lips into a smile. It was hard to remember that so long ago he had adored this woman and her way of life had been his. Had she always been so gushing? He knew basically she was soft and kind and had been genuinely devastated when she had heard about him. She had always loved him and he had hurt her badly but for the life of him her couldn’t remember her being so cloying, her baby blue eyes gazing into his as she laid her head on his shoulder, almost at once a vision of cool grey eyes and blazing hair slid into his mind, he recalled a low calm voice with a lilting accent. Suddenly it came into his mind what it was, that accent was Irish not Welsh as he had first thought. How come her grandmother didn’t have it? She didn’t sound Welsh or Irish. He mused for a moment but was roused by Stephanie tugging on his arm.

  “Aren’t you glad Darling? Doesn’t it work out perfectly?”

  “Sorry Steph, I didn’t hear what you said.”

  You really need me, don’t you? I was saying that when I heard how ill you were I just died inside and I had to talk to someone. I couldn’t find the number and your mother gave me the wrong one so I went and cried all over Joseph. He has been wonderful I couldn’t have coped without him”

  “Come off it Steph. You could always cope with anything. If there is one thing I missed about you it was your efficiency”

  “You are a Sweetie. Well that’s what I am saying you don’t need to any more. I am here now”

  “What do you mean?” Greg was puzzled.

  “Come inside, Joseph will explain.”

  “You explain.”

  “Well you see my New York collection was a huge success so they asked me to set up another next season. This year’s theme was English Rose and I want to give them something different next time. When Joseph knew I needed to get to you quickly he suggested that I should look for colours and fabrics here. We have decided to go Welsh – base it all on daffodils, the heathers and the colours of the mountains. New Yorkers will go crazy for them. I can stay here take care of you while working on my new collection. Get you all sorted, see you keep your appointments and things, right sort of food; I’ll work out a diet sheet, see you get plenty of rest no worries. I can collect all I need from local towns with a few trips to North Wales (it’s so different from South Wales). Isn’t it just perfect how things have worked out? Now your mum and I are going to prepare lunch and you can come and talk to Joseph. He’ll tell you all about it.”

  “You brought her here Mother you will get rid of her.” Greg was furious he’d marched into the house grinning at everyone with set teeth. “Just a word Mother dear” He marched her outside down to the orchard. He had seldom ever raised his voice to her and when he called her mother in that tone she knew he was very angry “I do not need her or want her, our relationship was over months ago but neither you or she will accept it will you? I do not love her, she must leave and that is final. I am not an invalid and quite capable of looking after myself and am still able to make my own decisions as to who I see or who I live with. Understood?” His mother was nearly in tears.

  “Oh! Greg I am so sorry, I didn’t know that she would come here with that in mind.”

  “You must have had an idea. You know Stephanie she never gives up and you are as bad. She will just not take no for an answer. Now get her out of here or I will go in there and tell her in front of her friend that I don’t want her here. I will have to humiliate her and cause a scene. I was weeks convincing her before but I will do it again in one fell swoop and it won’t be pleasant. Now you will back me up.”

  Oh Greg, I thought–-

  “I know what you thought and it won’t work. I loved her once but it died a natural death and now I want peace to die mine.”

  She burst into tears. Greg groaned.

  ‘I’m sorry Mother, I love you and I know I’m hurting you but if I don’t have my way now when can I?” He put his arms around her. “I didn’t mean to shout at you but you must admit that you are as bad as her and you just don’t listen. Listen to me now please. When I go back in there and explain she must leave, you will back me up won’t you? I know Dad will but it’s you she talks to, you have some influence on her.”

  Sally wiped her eyes. “Alright but what are you going to say to her?”

  Before Greg could answer a small red jeep shot into the driveway pulling up behind Josephs car.

  “Hi” called Olwen from the open window as they walked towards her.

 
“I just thought I would be dropping in to look at the Land Rover ” She saw Sally behind Greg wiping her eyes. “Oh I am sorry. You have visitors. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

  Greg’s heart missed a beat, what a time for her to come and how much he had hoped that she would sometime but now,

  “Hello there.” He raised his hand. “Come and meet my mother.”

  Olwen stepped from the jeep. She wore old cords none too clean and a faded sweatshirt. Her hair hung plaited to her waist, a green headband allowing wisps to curl around her face however she looked amazing and very attractive.

  “Mother this is Olwen, her granny is my neighbour. Olwen I’d like you to meet my mother.”

  “Pleased I am to meet you, Mrs Morgan.” They shook hands, Sally somewhat embarrassed, her eyes still weepy and conscious she was wearing her apron.

  “I just came out for a quick drive and decided to call on Greg and see this Land Rover he is so keen on. It’s such a lovely day.”

  Sally agreed smiling taking off the apron and turning to Greg. “You take Olwen to see the Land Rover. I will have a word with your father. I think Steph and Joseph will be leaving soon.” She squeezed his arm meaningfully.

  “Oh! Please don’t let me interfere.” Olwen begged. “Another time will do.”

  “No it’s fine. Come on in.” Greg opened the garden gate. He didn’t know what his mother was up to but he would have to trust her. “My parents have been staying with me and some friends turned up out of the blue. You know how it is, not sure if they are staying for a meal or for the day.”

  “If you are sure that I am not interrupting.” Olwen looked about her with interest.

  “Isn’t this something else? I’m just loving it but wouldn’t it be a shame about the roof and isn’t it noisy when it rains?”

  “Isn’t it just?” He smiled steering her away from the house and around to the shed. “I hope to get it done soon, must get a quote. Do you know anyone?”