by Louise James
“Dean and Len Graham in the village are qualified builders, excellent lads. Granny won’t use anyone else and they are reasonable. I’ll get you their number.”
“Thanks, I could give them a ring,”
“They are busy I know because we have just had a quote off them for a chimney to be repointed and we have to wait two weeks but if they can fit you in they will. Now where is your pride and joy?”
“Here, take a look at this.” He helped her over the boxes and tools that still littered the way in.
“Hey! What a find. When are you going to get it started?”
Greg showed her how much had been done and what the next steps would be. He was thrilled at her interest and they were soon deep in discussion, Olwen showing a considerable knowledge of mechanics to Greg’s surprise, when his father came into the garage.
“Please excuse me Greg but we have decided to leave earlier than planned as we are taking Stephanie and Joseph for a meal on the way home. We have persuaded Steph to come and stay with us for a few days”
Oh! Thanks Dad.” Greg turned. “Olwen this is my father John Morgan.”
“I’m pleased to meet you and are you not alike so.” Definitely Irish Greg decided hearing the lovely lilt in the soft low voice.
“Yes I believe we are only he is the one with the best looks.” John laughed taking her hand. “I can see why Greg likes the hills so much now.” A deep pink flushed the creamy skin.
“And you are the one with the charm.” Olwen dimpled back.
John turned to his son. “Give us ten minutes and we will be ready with the goodbyes.” He smiled at Olwen and left.
“I’m sorry.” She said. “I’m afraid I have spoilt your afternoon when you should have been with your guests.”
“On the contrary, Mum and Dad were leaving this afternoon anyway and I’m glad you were able to meet them. Listen I have an idea, are you busy later tonight?”
“I have to go back tonight, I have work tomorrow.” Greg felt a pang of disappointment.
“Why? What did you have in mind?” She was certainly her grandmother’s equal in directness. Greg decided to take the plunge.
“As everyone is deserting me I wondered if you might like a meal or a drink at the Copper Beech.” A small frown creased her dark brows. After a moment’s thought “I could be meeting you there about seven thirty or so although I can’t drink I will have a juice with you. I love it there they are all such characters; the gang of us from Graigwen get there some Saturday nights taking it in turns to drive, there are usually about six of us that means you can get drunk five times before it’s your turn again.”
Greg laughed. “I like your logic. Will you think I’m rude if I ask if that’s a touch of Irish in your accent?”
“Sure it is.” She smiled. There are three reasons. One my father was Irish with an accent you could barely understand and we lived in Southern Ireland for ten years also my ex- boyfriend was Irish so it’s no wonder is it?”
“It’s very attractive, so keep talking.’ The lovely pink crept over her cheeks again
“Now it’s you and your father that have been kissing the Blarney Stone. You have more charm between you than the little folk.”
“Do you believe in them as well?” Greg was watching her as he leant on the gate, his green eyes narrowed and smiling.
“Of course I do and what self-respecting Irish girl would take the risk not to? Now I must not keep you longer from your guests.” As she spoke Stephanie and Joseph came out of the cottage door. Steph’s eyes were hard as she looked Olwen up and down. Greg introduced them. Steph barely met Olwen’s hand with a murmured greeting but Joseph put Olwen’s hand to his lips in a continental gesture.
“To find such beauty in this wild place. When you get tired of the hills, my dear, I can always make room for a model of your colouring.”
“Not for such a brownie as I am.” Olwen laughed withdrawing her hand. “I’ll move my jeep out of your way. It was so nice to have met you all. I’ll see you later Greg, Goodbye everyone.” Reversing down the drive she was gone.
“Oh! That’s the way of it is it?” snapped Stephanie. “I might have known and have you bothered to tell her we were engaged? Now I know why you gave me the cool reception.” Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s not that way at all.” John took her arm leading her to the car.” You and Joseph follow us or we will be too late for lunch.”
“Please Darling, can’t we stay friends? Can I come and see you sometimes? What if I never see you again?”
“Look Stephanie, we said our goodbyes more than a year ago and if mother hadn’t phoned, you wouldn’t have known any different so please don’t upset yourself all over again. We are friends but nothing more. Have a good life and remember the good things that we shared. Someday you will find someone else to enjoy life with and to love as you deserve to be loved. You probably would have lost me in a year or two it seems that way. Let’s part while we are both alive and well. Remember me like that Steph please.” She drew back and looked at him then with a sob threw herself into his arms. The others had walked to the cars and for a moment his arms tightened around her and he kissed her lips comforting her. He released her and she stepped back.
“Okay Greg, if that’s how you want it. I appreciate what you are saying but I thought you may have needed me now. I’m sorry I made a mess of this. Her lips trembled tears lay on the long lashes, she raised her eyes to Greg’s his dark with sympathy. He kissed her again gently. “Go Stephanie. Live your life. You are a lovely woman and one day someone will be so proud to have you at their side.” Keeping his arm about her he led her to the car and handed her inside. He shook Joseph’s hand.
“Thanks for bringing her Joseph. Goodbye, I am sorry that your visit was not more enjoyable.”
“That is alright.” Joseph pumped his hand. I am sorry for your trouble and wish you all the best. I hope they put you right. Don’t worry about Stephanie I will take care of her. She is a beautiful talented lady and will go a long way. I am pleased to have met you. Good bye.” He drove through the gate with a wave of his hand and a toot on the horn.
Greg took a deep breath going to his mother he folded her tightly in his arms.
“I’m sorry that I shouted at you but you do love a bit of matchmaking, don’t you? Sorry I let you down.”
“Don’t be silly dear, my fault entirely. I never listen so your father keeps telling me. Don’t worry we will give them a good time next week. They shall get their Welsh atmosphere and don’t worry I won’t let her come again but tell me about that lovely red-head. Where did you say she was from?”
Greg threw back his head laughing “Get in the car Mother, don’t start.” He kissed her tenderly and hugged his father. “Thank you for all the comforts. See you very soon.”
“We need as much time with you as we can get.”
“I know I’ll be down in a week or two.” John started the car. “We’ll be back with you. That garden needs doing. Take care of Rocky hope you get to keep him. Your mother says your dinner is in the oven.” Greg waved and closed the gate drawing a deep sigh of relief. “They have all gone, Rocky where are you?” he called. The dog came bounding out of the shed where he hidden when the house became too full of people. Not a social dog he approved of Greg’s parents but drew the line at Joseph and Stephanie, after a lot of barking he had disappeared, now he was full of beans and shared Greg’s lunch with enthusiasm.
Greg was exhausted and his chest ached. He lay on the settee with Rocky keeping guard and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 19
He awoke with a start wondering where he was, looking at his watch he saw that he had been asleep for several hours, it was seven o’clock.
“Damn it Rocky, why didn’t you wake me? I’m going to be late and she will have gone, just my luck.” Cursing there was no shower and no time to bath, he ran
the sink full of hot water and did the best he could. Shirt after shirt was discarded until he settled on a soft green sweatshirt and green slacks, running a comb through his hair he groaned aloud as he noted the time. Shutting Rocky in with a couple of biscuits, racing the pickup down the mountain road he thanked God his heart had settled down. “I hope the witch isn’t about tonight because I can’t stop now” He kept his hand on the horn as he flew past her gate. The red jeep had gone and he pressed his foot down harder. It was well after eight when he reached the pub and pulled up with in a cloud of dust. There was no sign of the jeep and his heart sank. Why couldn’t she have waited until at least eight thirty? He had no idea how far Worcester was but why didn’t she say if it was too late for her? Better go in for a few moments he thought, then he saw the jeep coming down the lane from the opposite direction. She pulled up long side him and wound the window down.
“Not going are you?”
“No.” said Greg. “I thought you had.”
“I had to deliver some chickens to a couple at Old House Farm. Granny took advantage of me coming this way. Well I was late anyway, let’s go in. It doesn’t look as if there are many here tonight.”
The bar was empty except for a couple sat in the window engrossed with each other.
“Evening both.” called John who was filling a shelf behind the bar. “Be with you in a jiffy. Hello Olwen, nice to see you again.”
“Hello John, all on your own? What have you done with Betty and Trudy?”
“Betty will be down directly and Trudy is with her young man, gone to the pictures in Brecon I believe.”
“Good grief! People travel a long way for an hour’s entertainment.” remarked Greg.
“Well we are all used to it. Sometimes we have to go to Hereford or Hay twice in one day if we get busy and have a run on food especially in the summer.”
Greg bought a lager and a pineapple juice, he and Olwen sitting near the bar. He would have liked to be a bit more private in a corner somewhere but she chose the place and he didn’t like to insist they sat somewhere else. Olwen like himself was dressed in green, flowing skirt and soft floral top. She wore her hair in a coil on her neck but tendrils escaped clinging to her ears and cheeks. The light threw shadows under cheek bones, her eyes enormous in the soft light. They had no sooner sat down when the man they called the Captain came in.
“Hello John, beautiful night. Drop of the usual if you please, Sir and one for yourself.”
“Thank you very much.” John pushed a glass under the optic. “How is the leg?”
“Better today, thanks John. Good weather.” He looked around as sipped his drink and to Greg’s annoyance spotted them and came over.
“Hello Olwen, my dear. Nice to see you and this is a young man who was in here a week back, I believe.” Olwen introduced him.
“Greg, meet Captain Grant Andrews. He lives at the top of the village in a lovely old farmhouse right under the hill. This is Greg Morgan he has bought Graig-y-dorth and tidied it up already.”
“Is that so? Glad to hear it, it needs a lot doing. How are you getting on? Were those friends I saw you with? Come to give you a hand I suppose? Getting it all shipshape? Greg while replying civilly could feel his frustration mounting. The Captain was the sort of man who could talk for hours without listening to the replies. Here was a golden opportunity to talk to Olwen maybe get to know her a little better and here they were talking to this nosy fake Captain.(he was sure he wasn’t a real one)and time was slipping away. He replied to as many questions as pleasantly as he could.
“Well done my boy. Another rum and whatever our two young friends are having” He wiped his thick moustache with a snowy white handkerchief. He was immaculately dressed in navy slacks and jumper his peaked cap set at a jaunty angle, a good looking man with a weather beaten face and bright blue eyes he certainly looked the part. His smile was jovial but Greg sensed he could be a tough man to cross. However to Greg he looked like someone who had wandered out of the script of some navel play. Olwen hung on to her glass.
“No thanks Captain, I mustn’t stay long. I am on my way back to Worcester.”
Greg’s heart sank, a few moments and she would be gone.
“Still teaching with the college then my dear?”
“Yes I am worse luck. I would much rather be here.”
“Of course you would. Granny alright? I haven’t had a chance to call this week, must pop over to see her soon. Come on have another juice and you sir, a lager?”
“I’m alright thanks.” Greg was beginning to feel desperate.
“Nonsense, fill them up John.”
“Evening Captain.” The Landlady was standing at the bar dressed for the evening in a flowered dress, hair piled high fixed with diamante combs, matching lipstick and nail varnish, not an apron in sight. She brought their drinks with a smile. “It’s lovely to see you Olwen. Not going back tonight are you?”
“Yes.” replied Olwen. “I’m still there.”
“Sorry to hear of your problems. Bit embarrassing isn’t it love? You know what I mean.” Olwen flushed angrily Greg thought and wondered.
“Not at all, we’re civilised over there.” John came to the rescue. “Now dear, let the people enjoy their drinks.” Betty returned disgruntled to the bar.
Meanwhile the Captain had been pressed into playing cards with two elderly men who had just come in. Greg breathed a sigh of relief as they moved to the far end of the room. Olwen hearing his sigh laughed. “Don’t you be minding, he lives on his own and he gets lonely, only granny and those two old boys go to see him. Granny and he are old friends, go back a long way.’
‘Why do they call him Captain?’
“Well he was apparently, many years ago and something happened and he lost his ship and was thrown out of the Navy but he never admits anything and never talks about it. He has convinced himself that he left with honours and we all humour him. It does no harm and he is a nice old boy.”
“Am I speaking out of turn or was Betty getting a bit personal just then? You seemed angry.”
Olwen was so silent, Greg thought he had gone too far finally she spoke slowly.
“I will tell you although I don’t usually talk about myself but I wouldn’t want you to be hearing things from others and Trudy from here is at college not in my class but would have known all about it, thus Betty’s remarks.” She paused again as if reluctant to speak further.
“Please don’t if it bothers you.” He wished he hadn’t mentioned it. She took a sip of her drink.
“The man involved was a professor of music and taught at the college. He was brilliant and the Irish ex I mentioned earlier. We were together a long time but never got any further with a future together. He was charming, talented and extremely good looking and all the girls were stupid about him but they didn’t know how domineering and bossy he was behind closed doors. Everything was about him and how it affected him. Most of our rows were because I am my own person and couldn’t take the smothering. He especially hated me to come here to grannie’s and would think of any means to stop me, a dinner or a film pre booked of course or meeting friends who were expecting us. He wanted us to get married but I had doubts. In the beginning, the first year I would have but he wasn’t so keen then. These last six months he has been bossy trying to control me who I saw and where I went I couldn’t cope. This last row was awful, I defied him about coming to Granny’s then it got worse so I told him that I wanted him out by the time I came back. He stayed with a friend for a few days (for me to come to my senses as he put it) then he came back”—- She paused for so long Greg thought she wasn’t going to continue. Anger was already in him that this moron could have upset her so much. She lowered her voice until he had difficulty in hearing her words. “He wouldn’t take no as an answer so I had to report him, he lost his job over it and thankfully has gone back to Ireland.”
&nb
sp; “Are you over it all now?” Greg asked gently though he was raging inside. He only wished he could have been around then.
“I think so I had a bad time but it is over and life goes on. It’s sorry I am to have told you all this. You didn’t need to know but you are great at letting people talk and I wanted you to know the truth. It is surprising how things get known about even when they occur miles apart.” Greg flinched thinking of his own problems that he had yet to share with anyone.
“Had you nobody to talk to? Where are your parents?”
“My father died four years ago and I miss him. He was a wonderful, wonderful man. “My mother is in France. She is a fashion writer for a French newspaper. She is with her currant boyfriend who is a journalist. I haven’t met him yet but she is coming over soon. He has a flat in London and a business in France. They lead a great social life. I haven’t told her or Granny the whole truth of the matter only my best friend Alicia, I went to stay with her afterwards for a while. She was wonderful and her husband Harry is a darling man, they were so good to me I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
“Thank you for telling me. I didn’t mean to push you about your private life.”
She smiled and rose to her feet. “I haven’t started on you yet but I really must go or I shall never be up in the morning.”
They left to a chorus of goodnights from the bar. As they walked to the jeep, Greg cursed the fact that it was Sunday not Saturday. A thought struck him.
“Surely there is no college at the moment?”
“No there is not but I have to prepare next terms work so I spend some of the holiday time on it. I have been lazy with all that has happened and had to lose some time last term so it is easier to pretend it is a normal college day, get up and work as usual. I don’t do it every day but I also have a holiday job temping for a firm of solicitors so I keep busy.”
“When will you be coming down again?”