by Dilys Xavier
‘It’s been a delightful afternoon, Katie,’ he said. ‘I’d really like you to come for another drive. Will you?’
‘It seems a great idea,’ she said, nodding enthusiastically After all, Rex had proved to be pleasant company, his behaviour was faultless, and surely he would eventually run out of travel-talk. When they arrived at Priory Farm, Katie stepped out of the car just moments before Rex came around to help her. He reached for her with arms outstretched, but Katie suddenly sensed that he wasn’t going to be satisfied with just a little formal handshake at the end of this pleasant excursion.
‘Katie,’ he said, in a throaty voice, ‘I’m delighted you’ve agreed to come out with me again.’ Then he made a move as though to wrap his arms around her, but Katie was too quick, and jerked up her elbows, successfully preventing any intended embrace without having to say a word to upset him. He seemed not to be flustered by her reluctance, and so the pleasant outing ended with merely a handshake.
Once inside, Katie made herself a hot chocolate and rummaged in the fridge for something to satisfy the hunger pangs that had surfaced again. By now it was almost seven o’clock, and the cream tea had not sustained her for long. She acknowledged it was her own fault for having refused Rex’s invitation to go to dinner somewhere before bringing her home. Until she knew him better, she felt that the afternoon trip was long enough. There would be plenty of time for dinners later on. With little of interest on television, Katie watched the news, and then decided to read in bed. She cleared away her supper dishes, and was about to go upstairs, when Elspeth rang.
‘Katie, I’ve been trying to reach you since lunch time. Where’ve you been?’
‘I went for a drive. In a vintage car. Had a cream tea in a pretty little village on the River Wye. It was a nice change, and a delightful day.’
There was a noticeable pause before Elspeth answered. ‘Oh, I see. I can tell from the lilt in your voice that something’s going on.’ She paused again. ‘A vintage car, you said? Then… you went out with a man. It had to be a man. Katie? Was it?’ Elspeth’s voice was staccato and high with excitement. ‘Are you going to see him again?’
‘Yes, to all questions. But don’t get any silly ideas, Elspeth. It’s not what you think.’
Her friend seemed to be digesting the news, because now there was an even longer pause. ‘I haven’t seen you for days, so when can I come again?’
‘I’m not sure. You see, after the funeral, I’m bringing Aunt Bertha here for a little break.’ She thought for a moment or two. ‘Look, Elspeth, let me give you a bell as soon as my aunt has settled in. She’s had a rough time recently. Okay?’ Katie made the rest of the conversation with her old friend as brief as possible. She means well, and I love her dearly, but she’s too much even for me, at times, she thought, putting the phone down with a sigh of relief.
The next morning, a letter from the solicitor arrived, and even though she already knew how much she was inheriting, when she saw the figures in black and white, it made her catch her breath. Just then, Sam pulled up outside the door. ‘I wondered if there’s anything you want me to do, Mum.’
‘No thanks, my love. Everything’s under control.’
‘Thought as much,’ Sam retorted, and removed the cover from her basket. ‘Anyway, here’s a nice beef casserole I made for you. All you need to do is heat it in the microwave when you get home with Aunt Bertha. I made one for myself and one for Angie as well.’
‘Oh, bless you for the thought; that’ll be a nice meal for us,’ Katie said, planting a kiss on the middle of Sam’s forehead. Then she remembered the solicitor’s letter, and handed it to Sam. ‘That came today. It’s a lot of money but it’ll be useful for all kinds of things, and each one of you will have a little share.’
‘This much?’ Sam said, her jaw dropping in surprise as she read the letter.
‘Now I must get on the road, so thanks for the casserole, Sam. I’ll see you all tomorrow at Avondale Manor when you come up for the funeral.’ She gave her daughter a big hug, put her overnight bag into the car, and then left for Hereford straight away.
Katie arrived in good time, but felt sad to find Aunt Bertha so deeply depressed over Mabel’s funeral, but she soon brightened up when Katie talked about her intended visit to Priory Farm. It had been arranged for Angie to look after all of the children so that in the morning, Richard, Tanya, Margie and Sam, would all be free to attend the funeral.
The rest of the day at Avondale was quiet, and Aunt Bertha went to bed early that evening. Katie breathed a sigh of relief as she climbed into bed. All that was left to see to now was the funeral service and interment the next morning.
The family arrived next day in Richard’s car in plenty of time. By the time they reached the little church for the service, it was overflowing with villagers paying their last respects to Aunt Mabel.
There were no hitches, and the vicar gave a lovely sermon, and spoke highly of the old lady whom he knew well. Katie had engaged caterers to provide a small breakfast at the church hall for any guests who wanted refreshments. As the last of the mourners left, she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I’m glad that’s over,’ she said, wiping away her tears as they headed back to the house.
Once they reached Avondale, Richard stayed for only a brief conversation before getting into his car. When the rest of the family were all seated inside, he drove off down the drive, heading for home. Katie and Bertha watched the vehicle disappear from sight, and then went inside to relax for a while.
After everyone had gone, still looking very pale and sad, Bertha took Katie’s hand in hers and pleaded with her. ‘I’d like you to come and live here at Avondale with me,’ she said, her eyes brightening for a moment at the idea. The suggestion took Katie quite by surprise.
Her aunt leaned forward. ‘You see, this old place is far too big for just me. And I’ll miss Mabel so much. You’re on your own as well, and in a big house down there, so why not come to live with me?’
‘I know, Aunt Bertha, but I wouldn’t see my children so often if I moved up here,’ Katie said, shaking her head, realising that she would probably feel the same way if she were that old. She made soothing sounds and tried to change the subject, but Aunt Bertha was not put off so easily.
‘This place will be yours after my day, and then you can do what you like with it. I manage to look after everything, my dear, but I’m old now.’ She gazed into the distance. ‘Dear Katie, you must realize that I can’t go on forever, but if I have to go into a nursing home, it worries me that the expense will eat into my money. And if I live to over a hundred years, like my mother did, that could mean I might have to sell the manor in order to finance my keep there.’ She shrugged. ‘Either way, it’ll swallow up money and property that’s yours by rights.’ Suddenly, the old lady shrugged again, got up, and fetched her handbag. ‘I’m all ready to go when you are,’ she said. ‘I don’t like this place much anymore.’
Katie gathered up Aunt Bertha’s overnight bags and placed them by the front door ready to go. Her aunt followed her and, obviously still dwelling on her thoughts, she gestured around. ‘This is where your father grew up, Katie, and it would be a disaster if I were forced to sell it.’
Katie checked that everything was locked up before putting Bertha’s bags in the car and making her comfortable for the journey. Within ten minutes, they were on their way.
As soon as they arrived at Priory Farm, Katie put on the kettle and made a pot of tea. Then she popped the casserole Sam had made into the microwave for the evening meal.
‘I thoroughly enjoyed that trip; I so love to look around at all the places we pass on the way here,’ Aunt Bertha said.
‘Well, I’ve planned lots of trips for you while you’re here, so you’ll see plenty. I intend to give you a really exciting time.’
***
On the first Sunday of Aunt Bertha’s visit, Katie invited the whole family to lunch. Her tiny grandchildren took immediately to the old lady, who obviously loved te
lling them stories. Katie looked around, her eyes shining as she thought of how like the old days this was, when she had her whole family around her. For the first time in ages she felt she didn’t have a care in the world.
It was a warm enough afternoon to serve tea out on the patio, and they all sat around enjoying themselves, with only Margie excusing herself early, soon after she had eaten. ‘Thanks, it’s been a lovely day,’ she said, and kissed her mother’s cheek, ‘but I must rush now. I’ll ring you in a day or two.’
‘Another date, I suppose,’ Sam murmured, as their sister hurried to her car. ‘I wonder how the banker made out.’
When Katie left the group to follow Margie to her car, Sam turned to Tanya again.
‘I haven’t had a chance to ask Margie about the plan we have for Mum — and I don’t know when I’ll be able to do it.’ She covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Hey, doesn’t our mother look the picture of contentment today? Must be the inheritance, eh?’ She pulled a little jib. ‘I’m a bit nervous about our idea now, though. She’d kill us if she knew what we’re planning.’
While Richard, Philip, and Steve reclined on the lawn for a drink and a chat after they had eaten, little David, Becky and Mark chased each other between the kitchen and the garden, laughing and shrieking excitedly. Once the meal was over, the girls began to clear away the litter and dishes, happily chatting as they went about the chores. But when Katie started to clear a table, Aunt Bertha struggled out of her chair.
‘I must do my bit after all you’ve done for me. And don’t try to stop me,’ she said, as she awkwardly picked up some plates and cups with her arthritic hands. She tottered off to carry them into the kitchen, then moments later there was a loud crash of china, and a sharp cry for help.
‘Mummy, Mummy,’ little David shrieked. He tumbled out through the kitchen door and fell straight into Angie’s arms, crying pitifully. With tears streaming down his face, he sobbed, ‘I didn’t do it, Mummy, I didn’t.’
Chapter Four
Sam reached the kitchen first, with Katie and Tanya close on her heels.
‘Oh, my God,’ Tanya moaned, stretching over them to see what had happened.
Aunt Bertha was on the floor, her face twisted in agony.
‘My leg. Something’s happened to my leg,’ she groaned. ‘I can’t move it.’
Katie held the old lady’s head in her lap, and rubbed her hands vigorously, as though that would make her better. She looked up at Sam, white-faced and with tears in her eyes.
‘This is all my fault, Sam,’ Katie moaned. ‘I should have stopped her carrying those dishes in. I should have had more sense. Oh dear… this wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t brought her here… what have I done?’
‘Come on, Mum, you mustn’t blame yourself; it certainly wasn’t your fault,’ Sam said. ‘Aunt Bertha was thrilled to come here. She was simply trying to be part of the family by helping clear the dishes.’
By now Tanya had phoned for an ambulance, and was back in two minutes to say it would come as soon as possible. Sam slipped a small cushion under Aunt Bertha’s head and tried to make her comfortable, and then made the old lady a cup of sweet tea for the shock.
‘You look as though you need one as well,’ she said, handing a cup to her mother.
In just over ten minutes, Bertha was on her way to hospital, accompanied by Katie, with Sam following in her car so that she could drive her mother home. It was such an anticlimax to a beautiful day that Katie felt limp and exhausted. Aunt Bertha was seen immediately and wheeled into a ward straight away. Within minutes of the house doctor seeing her, she was taken for X-rays. Katie was more than a little surprised at how soon he approached her with the diagnosis.
‘I’m afraid you aunt has broken her femur.’
Katie’s lips trembled. ‘Will she need an operation?’
‘More than likely, I’d say.
‘But she’s very old… will she survive it?’
The doctor shrugged. ‘An operation is always a risk, whatever the problem, whatever the age. I’m not in a position to say what’ll happen, but she seems pretty healthy for her years. I reckon she should be all right, but your worrying won’t help her. You can rest assured we’ll do all we can for her.’ He gave her a smile, and then excused himself, leaving Katie and Sam waiting to see what was to happen next. After what seemed an interminable time, the ward sister approached them.
‘You can see your aunt for a few minutes,’ she said. ‘We’ve given her something for the shock and pain, so don’t expect her to be very bright.’
‘And the operation?’ Katie queried. ‘When will that be?’
‘I can’t say. It’ll be done as soon as her state of health has been fully checked. It could be tomorrow, or maybe the next day.’ The woman fidgeted on her feet and then left them.
Katie spent a few minutes holding Aunt Bertha’s hand, but she could see that the old lady wasn’t really with it, so they left, promising to return the next day.
Once home again, Katie tried to come to grips with what had happened. Keenly aware that her newfound feelings of contentment had been shattered, she felt that she was being punished for some unaccountable reason. Tanya was still there, along with Angie, and little David, who was fast asleep on the settee. The other children had gone home with their fathers.
‘How’s Aunt Bertha?’ Angie asked. ‘She must have collided with David as he ran out; at least, that’s what I guess happened. Aunt Bertha must have folded to the floor like a rag doll, and of course, old bones are fragile, I suppose.’
‘That’s right. And the trouble is that she’s a heavy woman, and a fall for someone of her weight and age is bound to be worse,’ Katie said.
‘I’m so sorry about what happened,’ Angie said, ‘but you know what children are like when they’re all together and excited.’ She gathered up a soundly sleeping David into her arms to carry him out to the car. ‘We’ll go now,’ she said, softly, ‘and I’ll be in touch tomorrow to see how things are at the hospital.’
Katie felt the house dreadfully quiet after they had all left. The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the hall seemed to reverberate through the whole house, and got on her nerves. She switched on the television, but not even the feature film captured her attention.
She wanted tomorrow to come fast, with a bright sun and a new day. She turned off the television set and made a hot chocolate drink to take upstairs, hoping it would help her go to sleep. It didn’t, and the night was so very long and restless, that she was glad to see the eventual dawn of a new day.
Suddenly remembering that she had made arrangements for the local garage to send someone early to collect her car for its regular service, she hurried to get downstairs. As she glanced through the kitchen widow the mechanic arrived, and called at the door for the car keys. As she watched her car being driven away, she looked across at the garden to see if Pat was around. She wished the cheerful Irishman would breeze in with his happy banter and take her mind off her miserable thoughts.
As though willed to appear, Pat arrived just after the garage mechanic left. As he parked his Volvo, Katie waved to him through the kitchen window, and went out straight away to talk with him before he started work.
‘Top o’the morning,’ he said, and then gazed into her eyes. ‘You don’t look as though you had a very sound sleep last night, Mrs. Turner, if you don’t mind my saying so. Do you feel all right? Or is there something amiss?’
Katie brushed the back of her hand across her brow, and for a moment she felt quite faint. ‘I feel a bit dizzy,’ she admitted. ‘And you’re right — I didn’t sleep well last night, so that’s probably the cause.’ She gazed up into the concerned eyes of her gardener, and then told him what had happened to Aunt Bertha. ‘I’m so worried about her having to go through an operation. She may not make it.’ Tears were not far away as she spoke.
‘I see,’ Pat said, thoughtfully. ‘Now Mrs. Turner, just sit yourself on this garden seat and, if it’s all r
ight with you, I’ll go inside and make you a nice cup of tea.’
Katie didn’t argue. It was good to have someone care about her needs; good to have someone fuss over her, again. Pat soon returned with a tray. ‘I found everything, including some biscuits,’ he said. ‘Now I’m going to wait while you drink that down, and I’m going to make sure you’re all right before I start my work.’ He pulled a garment from underneath his arm. ‘Here, I found this draped over a chair in the kitchen.’ He slipped the jacket over Katie’s shoulders. ‘The sun’s up, but ‘tis none too warm this early, but you’ll be all right with that over your shoulders.’ She closed her eyes, and realized that she must have dropped off to sleep for a few minutes, because when she opened them again Pat was busy in the garden, barely yards away. He sensed she was looking at him, and looked up.
‘Well, you’ve got a bit more colour now,’ he said, crossing over to her. ‘If you want to go inside and take a proper rest in the warm, take my arm, so that you don’t wobble off your feet.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ Katie said laughing at the thought of wobbling to the ground. ‘You made a lovely cup of tea. I think I must have dozed off after it because I feel sleepy now; I feel as though I could sleep for a week.’
‘Ah, so that means you’re more relaxed. Good. All that tension is no doubt a reaction to what happened last night. Have you rung the hospital yet to find out how things are going?’
‘No. I didn’t ring earlier in case they were serving breakfast. I’ll do it now when I go inside.’
With his strong arms holding her tightly, Pat helped Katie into the sitting room, and made her comfortable in her favourite chair.
‘There,’ he said, with his infectious smile, ‘the phone’s at your side, and you’ll be able to see me through the window to check that I’m up to no mischief.’