Country Wives

by Rebecca Shaw

  Miriam clasped her hands round the mug of coffee she’d poured herself from Dan’s pot, noticed how gratefully he was devouring his breakfast and said daringly, “You need someone to look after you too.”

  This was greeted by total silence. Dan put down his knife and picked up his cup, but didn’t drink from it. “Do you have a twin?”

  “No.”

  “Then I am destined to walk the path of life alone.” He had somber vibrations in his voice when he said this, and Miriam had to laugh.

  “Honestly, Dan, you are a flirt.”

  “I’m nothing of the kind. I’m speaking the truth. Mungo is a very lucky man.”

  “I’m lucky too.”

  “Yes. I can see that. There’s much to be admired in Mungo.”

  “I’m so glad you’re joining us. Oh! Perhaps I’ve jumped the gun there too. Sorry. My big mouth.”

  “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think your gaffes today were deliberate.”

  “I’m so sorry. I seem to be off my guard this morning.” Miriam felt extremely uncomfortable. She didn’t really know what was the matter with her; she was usually the soul of discretion, and here she was with all her barriers down.

  Dan finished his second croissant, drained his cup but didn’t offer to leave.

  “More coffee?”

  “No, thanks. What was worse for Phil was Sunny Boy not recognizing him when he went in to say his goodbyes.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “That was the most awful bit.” Dan stared at the plants on the windowsill. “Final goodbyes are never easy, are they.”

  “No.”

  “Damn stupid for a vet to be talking like this, but that great beast was like his own flesh and blood. I just hope to God Hamish survives.”

  “So do I.” Tears brimmed in Miriam’s eyes.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.”

  “That’s all right. Just me being a bit soft in the head.”

  “Must go before I get maudlin.”

  They sat a while in companionable silence.

  Head down so as not to catch his eye, Miriam dared to say, “One day, Dan, perhaps you’ll be able to talk to me about her.” When she finished speaking she looked him full in the face.

  Dan’s eyes registered shock momentarily, then he smiled. “Thanks for the breakfast. Much appreciated. Work to do.” He paused for a moment with his hand on the kitchen doorknob, indecisive, lost in thought, then said, “Rose her name was … is.”

  Chapter

  • 14 •

  Of course Kate could have told her that, but the matter had never come up. Kate was far too absorbed anyway in her work and in sorting out the problem of her mother. She’d rung Kate exactly a week to the day from the appalling evening they’d had together in the Italian restaurant. Kate hadn’t expected her to be so prompt, but she was, so maybe she did mean it when she said she wanted things to work out between them. They made arrangements for Kate to go for tea the following Saturday. Kate asked rather hesitantly if Mia could go with her if she wanted, and after a moment her mother had agreed.

  But persuading Mia to go was altogether another matter.

  “But I want you to go; I want you to see what it’s like there. Please, for me.”

  “What good will it do? I don’t want a relationship with her. You do. I don’t. She’s nothing to me. Because of her, your father could never love anyone again. She’d stolen him from me before your dad and I even met each other.”

  Kate was appalled about the thinking behind Mia’s declaration, but she still wanted her there on Saturday. “But I want you to come.”

  “Why?”

  Kate didn’t really know why, but she said, “Because I want you to help me decide.”

  “Decide what?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “In that case, I won’t go. Perhaps later when you know her better.”

  “I don’t know if I want to know her better; that’s the trouble.”

  “Only you can decide that.”

  “Please, Mia.”

  “No. I can’t offer you what she can offer you. I can’t provide you with pots of money, which she can, or the clothes and a better style of living and the holidays—none of that. All I’ve got to give is love and a roof over your head. Right? So off you go by yourself to make your own decisions. I won’t stand in your way, and I don’t want to hear any more about it.” Mia got up and left the kitchen, came back in an instant, put her head round the door and added, “What’s more, I don’t fit in with her kind, not at all.”

  Kate had never known Mia to be so adamant, so irate; it made matters even worse and reaching a decision even more remote. Mia had changed toward her since her dad had died. But truth to tell, it wasn’t so much since then; it was since her mother had turned up so unexpectedly.

  Putting herself in Mia’s position, it dawned on Kate that Mia felt threatened. Of course, that was it. Tessa had such tempting options to offer: money, a lovely home, position. And what had Mia to offer? Nothing except love, as she’d said, and a roof over her head. As if she, Kate, could leave Mia! She couldn’t. That was what Mia needed to know.

  Kate leaped to her feet and went to look for her. She found her in her bedroom, sitting on the bed. “Mia!”

  Mia looked up at her, miserable and tearful. “I shouldn’t have snapped, sorry.”

  “Yes, you should, because I’ve never made myself clear. You’re my real mother, not Tessa. I’m not going to leave unless you prefer me to.”

  Mia shook her head disbelievingly.

  Kate pressed on, “It’s all terribly tempting—her money and such, the holidays, the support while I’m at college—but she doesn’t love me; she loves the idea of a grown-up daughter who is old enough not to make babysitting a problem, someone she can mold into a likeness of herself. She wants me to be slim. I ask you, as if I shall ever be slim. Some chance! She fancies me well dressed. Smart. Up to the minute. A daughter to show off. Well, she’s not getting that from me.”

  “Is that what you think? That she wants a model daughter?”

  “Oh yes. The actual caring years are behind me, you see. I’m sure she’d much prefer me to be a doctor or a barrister or something. Being a vet is messy and cold and dirty and smelly, not nearly high profile enough. But being a vet is what I want to be. I’ve seen Scott…”

  “ … of blessed memory…”

  Kate had to smile. “Yes, of blessed memory, at work, and I’ve seen Dan—such completely different people but so dedicated. No matter how tired they are, how much they dislike the client, how unhappy they are about their own lives, the animals always come first. It’s all so fascinating working out what’s wrong. You can’t ask a sheep or a cat where the pain is, or does it hurt when they cough; you have to work it out for yourself. That’s the magic. That’s what I want to be. A vet. When I see her next Saturday, you can bet she’ll do her very best to persuade me otherwise. Well, she won’t.”

  Mia took hold of Kate’s hand and drew her down to sit beside her on the bed. “Your dad would have been so proud. So proud. I’m just sorry he didn’t live to see you qualified.”

  “Talking about Dad, I didn’t tell you everything about the attic.”

  “No, I know you didn’t. I guessed there was something.”

  “There was a shoebox full of stuff about Tessa. Photographs and letters. I’ve half a mind to destroy it all, but for Dad’s sake I feel I can’t, not yet. If you want to see it, it’s in the bottom of my wardrobe. But perhaps you don’t, after what you’ve said.”

  Kate felt Mia’s hand tremble slightly. “No, thank you. I don’t want to know how much he loved her. He was fond of me in his own way, but not like he loved Tessa. I was useful and amenable and I loved you, and that had to suffice. For him and for me. But I do miss him. More than I ever thought. He was a good man, was your dad, and you were the light of his life. Do him proud, won’t you?”

  “I’ll try. But I want you to know I’m not g
oing to live with Tessa, because you’re my mum and always will be.”

  Mia put her arms round Kate, and they hugged each other. Hard.

  “Love you, Kate. I’ve seen a flat you might like. Will you come with me on Saturday to look round it, before you go to Tessa’s. It’s new and modern and bright, and there’s a lovely window I could paint by, such wonderful light.”

  “Try and stop me.” Kate stood up. “I’m not saying I shan’t visit her or go shopping with her, or even on holiday with her, but … that’s as far as it will go. Promise.” She bent to kiss Mia and went downstairs.

  A few minutes later she called up, “I’ve made a cup of tea.”

  “I’ll be down.” But Mia sat a while longer, feeling grateful for what Kate had said. Losing Gerry was bad enough, but to lose Kate … Perhaps she could housekeep for her when she qualified … or something. Mia thought of all the years she still had to live without the two of them. At forty-six, she possibly was only a bit more than halfway through her life. Well, she’d throw herself into living it to the full, and most important of all, she’d find a job, and at forty-six that was not impossible nowadays. A job where she met people and had a bit of excitement. Take hold of life and give it a good shake by the scruff, that’s what she’d do. She straightened her shoulders, wiped away all trace of tears and went downstairs to drink tea with her Kate. Damn Tessa, she’d been stealing Gerry all these years, but it looked as if she wasn’t going to steal Kate too. Kate, it would appear, was still hers.

  IN the event, Tessa phoned to say she had to be away for the weekend and could Kate come one evening during the week, say Thursday? So Kate did, but she found the long drive exhausting and arrived tired and certainly not in a diplomatic mood.

  Thursday had been the day when Lord Askew came to agree to the practice taking over his equine work. Though it was Joy’s day off, she came in and had been scurrying about right from the start, making sure everything was in apple pie order for the big moment. Hands on hips, she said, “Nothing, but nothing must go wrong today. Files at the ready, reception area spruce, chairs lined up, knickknacks in spanking order, and a goodly smell of disinfectant about the place, if you please.”

  Behind her back Stephie sniffed her disgust. “As if we don’t do that every day. Anyone would think the queen was coming.”

  “Well, he is royalty around here, isn’t he? And his account is important to us.”

  “I suppose. I’ll get the spray ready to freshen things up.”

  The morning sped along at its usual pace, and before they knew it, Dan was back from his calls, and Mungo and he were conferring on their strategy in Mungo’s office. Kate was dispatched to carry down a tray Miriam had prepared with coffee pot and china cups so they could offer Lord Askew some refreshment in respectable cups instead of their collection of mugs given as gifts by the drug companies. It hardly appeared seemly to be offering him coffee in a mug advertising worming tablets. She’d intended going back to close the door at the bottom of the stairs to the flat, but a client had come in needing advice, and as Stephie was taking money and trying to answer the phone at the same time, Kate had to help; and all thoughts of the door slipped her mind.

  At five minutes to twelve, just as Joy was beginning to come to the boil, there was the scuttle of dog claws on the reception floor, and Adolf the Rottweiler with Mr. Featherstonehough in tow appeared in reception. He omitted his usual pleasant greeting, and in a state of high tension he stuttered out, “He’s got a lump come up on his groin. Can someone see him? It’s inflamed, and he won’t let me touch it.” Adolf, too, was in a highly excitable state, on the verge of uncontrollable, and his front paws came up on the counter, and his great frothing mouth dripped pools of saliva on to the surface.

  “Could you quiet him down, Mr. Featherstonehough, or it’ll be impossible to examine him. Valentine’s had a cancellation, so he’ll be able to see you in about ten, fifteen minutes. Take a seat.”

  Mr. Featherstonehough dragged Adolf off the counter and went to find a seat. But just as Lord Askew opened the inner door, Adolf pulled free and went skidding across the polished floor toward the corridor leading to the back. Perkins appeared, and the wholesale fight to which they had all become accustomed began. Adolf coming in unexpectedly meant that they hadn’t got the old fire bucket at the ready, and the fight progressed with almost terrifying ferocity. Total confusion reigned as clients lifted their feet, or grabbed their pets to avoid their flashing fangs. The air was filled with vicious snarling and growling.

  Kate picked up a bucket filled with soapy water concealed in the accounts office, which had not been emptied from their cleaning frenzy earlier, and threw it, cloth and all, over the two dogs. Experience had improved her aim no end, and the two drew apart with the shock and shook themselves all over everyone. Perkins, his tail wagging furiously, eyes sparkling, grinned his delight at his own prowess, and Adolf, as he always did, went to lean his wet body against Mr. Featherstonehough, who’d also taken the brunt of the fallout from the bucket.

  “Lively morning you’re having.” Lord Askew’s great voice boomed through reception. “Feisty pair of dogs you’ve got. Like to see a bit of spirit, what the nation’s short of. Now, young lady, kindly inform Mungo Price I’m here.” Stephie disappeared to get Mungo.

  The clients waiting their turns were glued to their chairs. More than one relied directly on him for their livelihood or their home and knew exactly how to mind their Ps and Qs. There came a chorus of “Good morning, my lord.”

  “Good morning to you all.” He stood, this giant of a man, dominating them with his size and his bearing, a smile of approval on his lips. Kate began mopping up. Perkins went to have a word with Lord Askew. He showed his small front teeth in a grin and wagged his tail, looking up at him appealingly. For his pains he got his head, about the only dry part of him, well patted by Lord Askew’s big beefy hand.

  Mungo appeared, took the decision to ignore the whole fiasco and greeted his visitor with great style, leading him through the back to his office and asking Stephie to make the coffee as though nothing untoward had taken place. Kate had to admire him; she’d have been apologizing all over the place if she’d been Mungo. They could hear Lord Askew laughing loudly as they went out of sight.

  The clients broke into quiet out-of-the-corner-of-their-mouths speech.

  “Old bastard! Still, he took that well.”

  “Thieving old bastard yer mean.”

  “He’s given ’em notice to quit next door to us.”

  “No!”

  “Hard as nails he is.” Several heads nodded at this.

  The most vocal of the clients called out, “It’s all over town he was coming back on your books, Stephie. Must be true, then.”

  Joy answered noncommittally on her behalf, and shot Kate and Stephie a warning glance. Kate, having mopped up the water, went to empty the bucket. Joy put their “slippery floor” warning sandwich board out on the wet patch, and peace was restored.

  But the day had carried on in much the same chaotic fashion, so when Kate arrived at Tessa’s, she was not her usual commonsense self. What she needed was Mia’s kind of comfort. What she got was, “Are you keeping to that diet I gave you?”

  “No, I’m not. I work hard, I’m studying and I’ve started playing badminton, but apart from that … no.”

  “I’m disappointed; just half a stone would make all the difference. Still, sit down. I thought you’d have been here earlier. I thought you finished at four.”

  “I should have done, but we were busy and I had the end-of-month accounts to finish.”

  “Go into the drawing room. I’ve got it all ready.”

  Kate plumped herself down on the sofa and tried to concentrate on what she had planned to say. But her mind drifted away to the day she’d just got through and to how thrilled she was that Dan had at last justified his existence and how she’d watched a jovial Lord Askew wend his way out, laughing and joking with Dan. What a coup for him! The rattl
e of the tea trolley brought her back to earth.

  “Here we are. This must be just what you need.” Tessa placed a delicate china plate in her hand and invited her to help herself.

  “You know, I’m going to Norfolk for the weekend; why don’t you come with me? Staying with friends who are clients of mine. They have a huge house, plenty of room and I’m sure they’d love to meet you.”

  “These sandwiches are lovely.”

  “Only the very best for my daughter. Which brings me to an idea I’ve had. I don’t feel that being a vet is something I want my daughter to be. It’s cold and dirty and … well, primeval almost, and you’ll never be rich. But…” Tessa smoothed her skirt over her bony knees. “Why not try for the law? With me behind you …”

  Head down so as to betray none of her feelings, Kate answered, “I hardly think so …”

  “Why not?”

  “Because”—Kate raised her head and looked full at her—“I don’t want to.”

  “I see. That’s not very helpful, is it?”

  “No, it isn’t, but it’s the truth.”

  Tessa put down her plate rather sharply. “I’m doing my best here to make things come good between us. Why can’t you be more cooperative?”

  “Why should I? For the last nineteen years you have deliberately ignored my existence and now, because it suits you, you’re all over me like a rash, even offering to change my career for me. I want to be a vet and a vet I shall be. I love it.”

  Tessa looked at Kate long and hard. “It’s Mia, isn’t it? She’s poisoning your mind against me. Well, I can tell you she was welcome to Gerry, more than welcome. A more boring man, with his damned train sets and his biscuit factory, I couldn’t hope to meet. It was no wonder I left.”

  “So why did you hop into bed with him? If he was so boring?”

  Tessa shrugged her shoulders. “Bit of fun, really. Seeing how the other half lived, I expect.”

  Kate didn’t reply for a moment, reminded how her dad had said he’d been a bit of rough for her. When she did, it stunned Tessa. “Never as long as I live will I either understand or forgive you for abandoning me. A more callous, mean, nasty, cruel thing to do to your own flesh and blood I cannot conceive. In fact, it makes me not even want to get to know you, because of the kind of person you must be to do such a thing.”