With a bemused air, Nigel turned. ‘Sea-sprites? No, I don’t think I do. Hey! Wait a minute! Did this sea-sprite give her name?’
‘No. She just said, would you please ring the sea-sprite, because Clint’s had an accident and she was in hospital. Funny really,’ Mandy remarked, studying her chipped nail polish, ‘I always thought Clint was a man’s name.’
Mandy looked up in amazement as Nigel, ignoring the lift, ran up the stairs two at a time to his office.
Returning from taking Jasper for his evening walk, Alison approached Keeper’s Cottage with the distinct impression that she was being watched. Anxiously looking about her in the eerie darkness, she sensed Jasper’s hackles rising.
‘What is it boy?’ she asked. A low growling emitted forth from the dog’s throat and a tall figure stepped furtively from the shadows.
‘Alison?’
‘Max! You startled me! What on earth are you doing, hiding in the bushes?’
‘I needed to see you alone. I wanted to ask about Rosie.’
‘You got my message, then? Thank goodness. There hasn’t been a day when she hasn’t asked about you.’
Alison put the key in the door and turned the lock. ‘Won’t you come in? It’s all right - Bunty’s gone to the WI. I expect Connie has too. You’re quite safe.’
Safe, Max thought to himself. What a peculiar word. Safe from what or from whom?
Once in the warmly lit kitchen, Alison filled the kettle. ‘You look as if you could do with a coffee or something.’
‘Or something is right, I feel as if I’ve been on the road for the past twenty-four hours. Nigel didn’t manage to get hold of me until late last night. I was in the north of England viewing the contents of a country house sale. Regency furniture and the like.’
Max sat slumped at the kitchen table and ran his fingers through his unkempt hair. ‘Anyway, that’s not important at the moment. Tell me, what’s happened to Rosie? Nigel said she’s in hospital, is that right?’
Alison nodded and poured the coffee. ‘Do you want anything in it?’
‘No, thanks, not if I’m driving.’
‘You’re driving back to the north of England tonight? You can’t possibly! You look all in.’
Max gave her one of his rare smiles. ‘It’s kind of you to be so concerned, Alison, but no, I’m not driving back to the north tonight, I’m driving to the hospital to see Rosie. That’s if you think they’ll let me in.’
‘It is getting rather late but as she’s been asking for you, I suppose it’s worth a try. I could always ring the hospital on your behalf. The nursing staff have been wonderful with her. They’ve really taken to Rosie, you know.’
‘I’m not surprised.’ Max grinned, ‘Even poor old Nigel was frantic when he phoned. It was as much as I could do to stop him coming too.’
‘It’s OK. We can go in for twenty minutes,’ Alison called putting down the phone. Apparently visiting is just about coming to an end and her parents are with her at the moment. By the time you freshen up and get to the hospital...’
‘I look that bad, do I?’ Max said wryly.
‘Let’s say I’ve seen you looking better.’
Showing Max to the bathroom and giving him a clean towel, Alison called from across the landing. ‘I’d better change too. From the state of my clothes, I look as if Jasper’s dragged me through every ploughed field in Church Haywood!’
When she met him in the hall, Max helped her with her jacket and noticed she was wearing the same wraparound skirt she’d worn for the harvest supper.
‘I know it’s not exactly ideal for a cold November’s night but the hospital is so uncomfortably hot and if I remember correctly, your car has a very effective heater.’
Driving to the hospital, Alison explained exactly what had happened on the night of the Bonfire Party.
‘Stupid idiot!’ Max said, angrily. ‘What on earth was Wayne Jennings playing at?’
‘But it wasn’t Wayne who threw the firework.’
‘Maybe not, but it must have been his stupid prank with the guy that caused Rosie to flee in terror. If what you say is true.’
‘Mmm, I suppose so. It was really Donna’s idea to dress the guy up in Great-grannie’s clothes.’
‘Donna?’
‘Wayne’s girlfriend. Or should I say ex-girlfriend? She’s one of these modern teenagers, into women’s lib and all that. Female equality?’
Max nodded in understanding as he side-stepped a ward orderly, wheeling an elderly patient on a trolley.
Checking behind her to make sure Max was still there, Alison continued matter-of-factly, ‘Donna thought, why should Guy Fawkes always be dressed in male attire and, considering Michelle and her mother-in-law had cleared out Great-grannie’s wardrobe to give to the local charity shop….’
‘I still think it was an idiotic thing to do,’ Max retorted when Alison stopped by the nursing station.
‘Ah! The mysterious Max, I presume,’ Sister said with a grin, eyeing Max’s seven o’clock shadow and somewhat crumpled appearance. ‘Well, hopefully now that you’ve arrived, we can all get some peace round here.’
‘Has she really been talking about me that much?’ Max asked in surprise, following Alison though the ward decorated with Paddington Bear and Thomas the Tank Engine murals.
‘Oh, dear,’ he acknowledged, ‘not a single cowboy or Red Indian anywhere. However has our little Clint managed?
‘With great difficulty. She’s also extremely disgusted that her mother and father want to put her in Great-grannie’s room when she gets home.’
‘Isn’t that a bit insensitive?’
‘Oh, Rosie doesn’t mind that so much. I think she’s secretly delighted with the idea of having a bedroom all to herself. What she does mind, however, is the prospect of having flowery wallpaper and…’
Before Alison had a chance to finish, there was a whoop of joy from the far end of the ward.
‘Max! You’ve come. Yippee! Al’son promised she’d fetch you.’
‘Did she indeed?’ Max said, bending down to kiss Rosie on the forehead. As an afterthought he ruffled her hair, in case ‘Clint’ didn’t like being kissed. ‘Well, as you can see, Rosie, Alison kept her promise.’
‘Yes, so she did,’ came the contented reply.
Rosie studied Max thoughtfully; he looked sort of different somehow.
‘Say, you look kinda tired, mister.’
‘Reckon I am,’ Max drawled. ‘I’ve been in the saddle all day.’
Rosie giggled and patted her leg. My leg got burnt but they’re going to make it better, ‘tho I ‘spect I shall still have a scar.’
‘All the best cowboys have scars,’ Max explained, lifting the cuff of his shirt, revealing his own scar sustained in the aftermath of the fire.
‘Wow! So you have!’ gasped Rosie, stroking timidly at the purplish-red weal with the tip of her finger. ‘Does it hurt?’
Max shook his head. ‘No, because it happened such a long time ago. It’s quite healed up, you see apart from that mark.’
Aware that Alison was also looking at Max’s scar, it being the first time she’d seen it properly, Rosie announced brightly, ‘Al’son’s got a big scar too. Haven’t you, Al’son? She got hit by a car. Wasn’t that silly of her?’
Max didn’t reply; instead he looked knowingly in Alison’s direction until Rosie’s voice broke through the silence.
‘Show Max your scar, Al’son!’
Pure embarrassment flooded Alison’s face. ‘I’m sure Max isn’t interested in my scar, Rosie…’
‘Yes, he is! Aren’t you, Max. You showed me yours an’ I thought it was interestin’.’
Knowing she’d get no peace until she’d done as requested, Alison gingerly slipped the wrap-over part of her skirt to one side to reveal a slender thigh and the lowest part of her scar.’
‘It goes right up to her knickers!’ Rosie explained to a stunned and equally embarrassed Max.’
‘Right, young lady,
’ a voice broke in with mock authority. ‘That’s enough excitement for one night, I think. Say goodnight to your visitors.’
‘Oh! Do I have to?’
‘Yes, you do,’ Sister said. Besides there’s another day tomorrow.’
‘Tomorrow!’ a plaintive voice echoed. ‘Will you come and see me again tomorrow, Max?’
Max studied the earnest and tired little face, gazing up at him in anticipation. ‘Yes, Rosie. I’ll come and see you tomorrow.’
Chapter 19
Leaving the hospital and returning to the car, Alison queried, ‘I thought you were heading back north?’
‘That can wait,’ Max said, ‘I think perhaps I should spend a couple of days here in Church Haywood first.’
‘Then Rosie will be delighted. Connie too, of course, she’s been extremely worried about you.’
‘What about you, Alison? Have you been worried about me? Will you be delighted if I stay?’
Max reached for Alison and drew her into his arms. Beneath the orange glow of car park lighting, he gazed hard and long into her eyes. ‘You haven’t answered my question,’ he said, his dark eyes pleading for a reply.
‘We’ve all been extremely worried about you,’ she faltered. Then, in response to the second part of his question came a barely audible, ‘Yes Max... I would be delighted if you stayed.’
When his lips sought hers, the same tremor of pleasure surged through Alison’s body as it had on the night of the harvest supper. Only this time the dreaded fear and panic didn’t rear its ugly head as before. This time, she could think only of Max.
For Alison at that moment, the anxious weeks of worrying and the desperate longing to be back in his Max’s embrace only served to dispel the haunting dark shadows from her mind.
Uncharacteristically however, it was Max’s turn to err on the side of caution. There was something that still wasn’t quite right. Something that had been troubling him during the solitary weeks and anxious nights spent away from Church Haywood. Something still unresolved concerning Tara and the day of the accident.
‘Tara?’ he murmured in Alison’s ear, feeling the softness of her cheek against his own unshaven one.
Alison shivered beneath his grasp and moved away. Just one word – ‘Tara’ - had brought the terrifying shadows bubbling to the surface from the depths of her very soul. For the second time in recent months, she’d found herself in Max’s arms, basking in the touch of his lips on hers, while strong arms held her and his body pressed against her like a lover’s. Yet... yet what Alison puzzled? One minute it’s as if he wants me… and the next... surely he can’t think I’m Tara!
Choking back a sob, Alison walked dejectedly to the car and waited for Max to open the passenger door. Hearing her muffled, ‘I really think we should getting back, Bunty will be wondering where I am,’ Max could only stare after her in bewilderment.
Watching a sudden, chill gust of wind catch at her skirt, exposing her injured leg, Max remembered the vivid scar he’d witnessed on her lower thigh. What was it Rosie had said? ‘It goes right up to her knickers?’
At any other time, no doubt, Max would have found Rosie’s statement amusing. But not tonight. Especially when he considered the cause behind the disfiguring mark on Alison’s leg. The reason for that was his daughter! It had been Tara who’d forced Alison to pursue her into the road ten long summers ago!
Opening the passenger door, Max turned purposely towards Alison and put a restraining hand on her shoulder. ‘I need to know what happened!’
‘What happened? I don’t understand.’
‘Oh, I think you do, Alison! What prompted Tara to run into the road with you in pursuit. I’m convinced it was her fault your leg...’
‘No! It wasn’t Tara’s fault!’ Alison gasped, feeling Max’s eyes burn through the thin cotton fabric in the direction of her thigh.
For a moment it felt as if she wasn’t wearing her skirt at all, only her jacket and panties. Grasping at the edge of her jacket with one hand and the folds of her skirt with the other, she attempted somewhat clumsily to get into the car. Max’s hand was still firmly on her shoulder.
‘Alison please! For God’s sake, can’t you see I have to know! If I don’t, then I’m never going to be able to...’
Max’s voice trailed away to a whisper as his hand slipped from her shoulder. Alison felt her mouth go dry. I’m never going to be able to... she repeated in her head. Able to do what? What was it Max wouldn’t be able to do? Lay the ghosts of Tara and Virginia to rest, once and for all? Forget about those revolting photographs Evangeline had flaunted during the barn dance? Begin a new life in Church Haywood and complete his cherished project at Craven’s Stables, or simply go away from Church Haywood forever, leaving its cruel memories behind?
It could have been one of so many things, Alison pondered, and much as she wanted to know, she realized at that moment she was utterly incapable of asking. Because all she wanted to do was fall back into the warmth and comfort of his embrace.
Struggling with a choking sensation in her throat, she reached nervously for Max’s hand and repeated softly. ‘It wasn’t Tara’s fault...’
‘Then if it wasn’t Tara’s fault - and I know it certainly wasn’t yours,’ Max interrupted, ‘whose fault was it?’
‘I... can’t tell you.’
‘Can’t or won’t?!’ Max said abruptly
Releasing her hand from his grasp, Max closed the passenger door. Alison turned away, unable to face the hurt and anguish in his eyes.
The journey back to Keeper’s Cottage was spent in silence. From the corner of her eye, Alison studied the stony and haunted set to Max’s jaw. While part of her wanted to reach out and touch him, to smooth the lines from his furrowed brow, the other part of her wanted to say, ‘OK, Max! Stop the car and I’ll tell you... I’ll tell you everything, but you’re not going to like what I have to say.’
‘I...’ she began, but lost her nerve when Max broke into her chain of thoughts with a second.
‘Can’t or won’t Alison?’
‘I ... I can’t. Not tonight, Max. It really is getting late, you know, but I promise I will soon. If you’ll only be patient for a little while longer. Please understand it’s as difficult for me as it is for you.’
‘Is it? I only have your word on that, Alison.’
Seeing the hurt expression on her face, he reached for her hand and murmured apologetically. ‘I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. Yes, you’re right it is late and Connie doesn’t even know I’m here.’
‘She does now, she’s just coming out of Bunty’s front door.’
‘Damn!’ hissed Max, releasing her hand.
‘Max! Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? Why didn’t you...?’
Springing quickly to Max’s defence, Alison replied. ‘Because he didn’t know, Connie. I rang Nigel to tell him about Rosie’s accident and quite by chance Max rang Nigel not long after. That’s where we’ve both been - at the hospital to see Rosie.’
‘Visiting finished ages ago,’ Connie remonstrated.
‘I know, but I rang the hospital to say Max had driven down from the north of England especially to see her... and they let us go in.’
‘Hmph,’ muttered Connie, convinced someone wasn’t quite telling the truth.
Coming to the rescue, Bunty intervened. ‘From the state of you, Max, you look as if you’ve been driving all night and all day if that stubble on your chin is anything to go by, you look absolutely...’
Forgetting her anger at being kept in the dark, Connie’s big-sisterly nature came to the fore. ‘So you do, Max,’ she said trying to make light of the situation, ‘if I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were going in for that designer stubble look.’
Managing a wry smile, Max merely shook his head in his sister’s direction. ‘You’re probably well aware, Constance, designer stubble isn’t really my scene. What would be right now however, is a shower and a clean bed.’
‘Then you’d
better get in my car,’ Connie instructed. ‘Because looking at you now, I’d say you were completely incapable of driving any further.’
‘And don’t worry, your precious Saab will be perfectly safe here tonight,’ Bunty reassured. ‘You can come and fetch it in the morning.’
Leaving his car and climbing into Connie’s, Max conceded defeat. His reasons for doing so were twofold. As Connie had so correctly predicted, he did feel physically incapable of travelling any further. As for his car… Well, by collecting his car in the morning, it would also give him another chance to extricate the truth from Alison.
With a murmured ‘goodnight,’ Max was driven away and Alison followed Bunty into the cottage to do some explaining of her own.
‘So you managed to find him after all,’ Bunty grinned.
‘Not exactly. He found me. I discovered him waiting in the bushes when I came back with Jasper.’
‘He looks absolutely shattered, poor love. Has he really been driving all night and all day?’
‘Just about,’ Alison nodded in reply. ‘Yet he still insisted on going straight to the hospital. He’s obviously very fond of Rosie.’
‘And you too... He’s obviously very fond of you too.’
Feeling herself colour, Alison tried to change the subject. ‘Still, I expect he’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep and tomorrow...’
‘Tomorrow he’ll probably invite you out to dinner,’ called Bunty, locking the front door.
Already picturing in her mind’s eye Max and Alison facing each other across a candlelit dinner for two, Bunty sighed contentedly, then muttered a pronounced, ‘Oh damn! Tomorrow! I quite forgot to ask you. I couldn’t anyway, as you weren’t here. Tom Carstairs rang earlier. He asked me to ask you if you’d go and sit with Evangeline tomorrow evening.’
‘Sit with Evangeline! Why?’
‘Because like me, Tom’s got a Parish Council meeting and doesn’t want to leave her on her own. He’s worried if she’s left all evening she might be tempted to start drinking again. Tom said he won’t be long and thought perhaps if you watched a DVD together or something, that way conversation wouldn’t be quite so strained.’
Secrets From The Past Page 20