Harry smiled, flipped his tie, and dug at the orange juice saturated sponge with his spoon.
“Well, not that it’s a’tall very exciting,” he said, taking in the smiling faces around the table. “But I’ve put together a plan that I am rather pleased about. I hope Jane won’t mind me mentioning our misfortune,” he glanced at her with compassion. “To explain it properly, I’ll go back about a month ago. I was in the pub and my mate, James, says to me, would I like to go in with him as he’d like to expand his fishing business at the castle. At the time I said no, I wasn’t wanting to quit the shop, I liked the lessons with the children, and didn’t mind my flat above. So he said, fine, he understood. He had only thought I might be ready for a change. So, nothing else was said.”
Mr. Collins sipped his coffee, and continued. “I went fishing with my brother and realized how much I’d missed being out of doors. I’ve always been a bit of a walker, I can go a good distance and not be a bit winded. Mind you, music has been my life, but now that my shop’s gone, well, I’ve decided to take James up on the offer. I rang him from London last week. He said he was glad I’d changed my thinking, and we’d sort it all out when I’d got back. I am going to take my insurance money, and spend about a third of it to double the fishing, and we should have a nice bit of business going. So, that’s me.”
“Oh, Harry,” Jane said.
“There, love, I knew you’d be happy, and no reason to look so serious, what? This’ll be lovely.”
Clarice abruptly heaved herself up from her chair and left the room. Eleanor stared at her retreating form in surprise.
“I ought to be goin’, too,” stammered Billy. “Thank you very much, and I’ll call ya’ll tomorrow, if you don’t mind.” He backed his chair away, and left through the front door.
“My goodness,” Eleanor said. “I dare say that wasn’t the reaction Harry and I were expecting.”
Jane left her position at the far end of the table, and moved closer to the couple. “Eleanor, please don’t be upset.” Their puzzled faces studied Jane, waiting for an explanation. “Harry, it won’t work. You see, Charlotte Lloyd failed to renew the insurance. We’ve nothing coming, dear.”
Harry looked at Jane with a searching expression, trying to comprehend the news. His lips parted slightly. The hall clock ticked on and on. Eleanor’s gaze was fixed on the table, and she folded and refolded the dinner napkin beside her plate. Harry finally stirred, making fists with his hands and pressing them to his chin.
“Jane, you’re sure?”
She nodded. “I spoke with Charlotte myself. Billy and Clarice know, because Billy’s been to the pub, and Clarice probably heard at the market. I suppose we all thought Charlotte or her solicitor had contacted you by phone in London.”
“Unbelievable.” Harry said, pushing back his chair. “All my life was in that shop,” he said.
“Don’t you worry, darling,” said Eleanor quietly. “Oh, Jane, you’ve lost everything, too.” She sighed and added, “But you’ve more years to put it right.”
Jane thought it was time to make her exit as well. Eleanor and Harry had formed a strong attachment, and if it was going to weather this storm, then they needed privacy.
“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” she whispered. She knew Clarice would be happiest left alone to look after things in the kitchen, so she gathered up the last of the plates and cups and saucers on a tray and deposited them on the kitchen table. Neither she or Clarice looked at each other. Jane mumbled, “I am going out for a while.”
She could hear Jackson and Toby still running around the garden, sounding more like Native American Indians now. The spring sky still had an hour of light left, and Jane grabbed a jumper off the peg. She slipped out the backdoor, went unacknowledged by the Sioux braves hanging from the tree, and began walking down Brambleberry Lane.
Chapter 19
Serena had been busy. Every evening after work, she came home and worked on getting her house in order. She had her carpets cleaned on Tuesday evening. Windows done the following morning. She spent hours clearing out closets. Her efforts produced six bags of clothing, several pieces of furniture, lots of books and CDs, knickknacks, and an older television to donate to the less fortunate of Atlanta. When it was time to put her house on the market, she intended to be ready.
As far as she was concerned, her future was in Texas. Billy was a rock-and-roll god. She would be his goddess. She decided that she would take an earlier flight to Texas on Friday. She had plenty of days off that she’d already asked for, since she hadn’t taken any of them to plan her wedding to Richard. She’d already passed the idea by Yancy. She was thrilled to hear him say that he didn’t mind giving her a key to his brother’s place on Friday morning, but that, regrettably Mama would be busy then and most of the weekend with a fund-raiser at church. Aw, too bad.
When it was time to move in permanently, Taffy would fly to Dallas with her. English kids were used to Yorkies, and her dog would add a comforting charm to Billy’s condo.
Wednesday morning at work, Serena daydreamed through an early care conference with members from other departments, and was just unlocking her office door when the phone began to ring.
“Physical medicine, how may I help you?”
“Hey there, Georgia peach!”
“Billy! I guess I should say good afternoon, right?”
“Yeah. And good mornin’ to you. How ya doin’?”
“Just fine. How are things going with Jackson?”
“Pretty good. Yesterday we went to the pony barn and that was nice, and I stayed on for dinner. I am going to see him again this afternoon, after school.”
“That’s great, sweetheart. It sounds like it’s going well, then. So, you’ll be bringing him home on Sunday, huh?”
Billy drew a deep breath. “Well, I don’t rightly know. There’s a lot goin’ on here, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to his Granny about it.”
Why couldn’t he get on with it, Serena wondered, and said, “Billy, that’s why you’re there, honey, is to bring home your son. Are you saying that you’ll be returning alone?” That idea was plenty appealing, and Serena’s irritation cooled considerably.
“I thought I might need to stay a little longer. I am just not sure. Maybe through next week.”
“Billy, you can’t!”
“Why not?”
“Because! I’ve been working for nearly two years on our blues museum, and you’re supposed to attend the grand opening ceremonies with me! Billy, even Richard wouldn’t have forgotten that.”
“Oh, baby, I am sorry. It just totally slipped my mind. Yeah, okay, honey, I’ll be home before next Thursday, so I can catch a flight over there, and I won’t miss any of the preopening and then the weekend. Okay?”
“Fine. But when are you coming home, exactly? This weekend, or early next week, or what?”
“I don’t know. Like I said, things have been a little busy here. Are you okay, now? You still sound pretty miffed at me. ’Cause, well, you know I had planned on flying back to Dallas, not coming to you in Atlanta, right? So, it doesn’t really matter where I am until we see each other at the museum in Mississippi. Oh, maybe you’re worried about me flying, because I don’t like it so much?”
“What? No, Billy, I’d just like the courtesy of knowing if you’re in the country or not. Oh, I am sorry. I am a little edgy over this whole situation. It’s not everyday the person that you’re seeing suddenly becomes a parent. It’s been a big deal for me, too.”
“Yeah, I know. Our timing has been kinda bad, and it’s hard being so far from each other. Things’ll get better soon, though.”
“Yes,” Serena said with a smile, thinking, you have no idea!
“And that boy, he’s awesome. He’s the smartest, nicest-mannered, best lookin’ kid I’ve ever met. He’s doin’ real good in
school, so I want to put him somewhere special to keep him challenged, you know?”
“Yes. Of course,” Serena was still thinking about her own plans. She decided to drop a little hint. Just for her own amusement. “Actually, I was planning a little surprise for you soon, Billy. That’s why I wanted to know when you’ll be back from England.”
He started to laugh, “Oh, is that right? You’re so sweet, girl. Hey, I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll let you get back to work now, and we’ll talk soon. Bye now.”
“Bye.”
Serena felt assured. Billy would surely come home soon, with a new son in tow or not, he would be there for her at the museum opening. It was all going to work out. She was struck with a few more ideas of things to pick up for Billy’s condo, and made some notes. And it occurred to her that she ought to decorate Jackson’s room in some sort of horsy theme.
• • •
Jane left the police station with the sooty, small metal safe-box, retrieved for her by an old school chum, who was now a higher up in the fire brigade. Paul Ravin had been delighted to send the lads into her condemned flat on a mysterious mission, to find and bring out her box. It was a fine morning, so Jane walked along a path that led to Ashdown Forest. She listened to the birds trill, and saw a bicyclist in the distance as she stepped across the main trail and into the wood. The great trees were soughing with a spring breeze, and she spied a rabbit who froze at her approach, tweaking his nose to and fro to catch her scent. Buttery daffodil were scattered about, and Jane felt a twinge of missing her florist shop. A few minutes later, she came into a clearing, where a picnic table stood. She placed the box on the table, and sat down.
Suddenly, she heard trunching in the underbrush. A moment later, a voice called out behind her. Jane’s heart sped in fear as she turned around. It was Billy.
How do he do it? How did he manage to run into her, when they were nowhere?
“Sorry if I scared you, there, Miss Jane,” he said, grinning. He looked ridiculous. A cowboy on a bicycle.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, now, I git pretty bored, ya know? I play for three or four hours, but then that leaves me a long time ’fore Jackson gets home from school. So, I been toolin’ around the countryside on this thang I rented from Deborah. Saw you from up yonder, so thought I’d say howdy.”
“Oh. I see,” Jane said weakly, as he sat down.
“What’s that?” Billy said, slinging a finger towards the suspicious-looking box.
“Um, it’s the only thing that came through the fire, really.”
“Awl, I am sorry, Miss Jane. And it’s pretty clear you came out here to look over them on your own, and here I turn up like a bad penny. I’ll leave you alone, sweetheart, okay?” Billy was already standing, hands on the table while he kicked one long leg over the bench.
“No, don’t go. The most important item in here is something I want you to see.”
“Uh-huh. Okay, darlin’ as long as I am not puttin’ you out. I could kinda use a little break from ridin’,” he said with a another big Texas smile.
Jane smiled back easily. Now that she was over the shock of seeing him, it was quite nice to have someone to chat to. Shockingly, Jane felt a sort of kinship with him, since they’d both endured Mr. Collins’s dreams dashing upon the rocks the previous night after dinner.
“How’s Harry?” asked Billy.
“I don’t really know. He and Eleanor were out when I came down this morning, and Clarice was off to see her sister. Despite him being sort of a loner, Mr. Collins seems a very optimistic person, so I am sure he’ll think of something. And, anyway, it appears he has Eleanor’s support and kindness to help him through. I am sure that is a great encouragement to him. Quite frankly, she’s put a roof over our heads, and that’s quite a lot, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, she’s a fine lady. And how about you, Miss Jane?”
“Pardon?”
Billy crossed his arms and leaned towards her. “How are you doin’?”
She flushed at the sweet concern in his voice. She knew that he wasn’t being kind to employ any strategy where Jackson was concerned, he was truly interested.
“Honestly, I am not sure. My emotions sort of change hourly, it seems. And this box makes me a little nervous.”
“Well, honey, why on earth is that?” Billy said, tilting his head to one side. Jackson did the same sort of head tilt. It was startling. She’d heard people often behaved with regards to genetics, not necessarily their environment, but she’d never seen it demonstrated.
Looking down, she cleared her throat. “I have something in this box that I want to show you, Mr. Killian. It’s important that you have all of the facts, you see.”
Billy waited quietly while she opened the box, and plunked it down on the table. Without looking at him, she lifted the lid. She sifted through several deeds, policies and letters from her father, until she reached the cream colored paper with the blue crest on the very bottom. Unsure of her voice, she abruptly handed it to Jackson’s father.
The handwriting was plump and loopy.
Dearest Jane,
What can I say? You’ve been my closest friend, and more fabulous to me than I deserve. Even when I think back to our worst rows, you were usually angry because you thought I deserved better or you wanted desperately to help. Today when we came from the church after having Jackson blessed, I started dreaming about what he might grow up to be. I hope he’s more like Nigel than me, but maybe not so busy! And I hope he lives here always, where our family has been so happy. We complain, but you know it’s a great place. Hartsbury is home.
But the reason I am writing this is to put it to paper that, should something dreadful ever happen to me, I hope that you’ll look after Jackson as your own. I am really very happy, so it seems silly to be writing something so ghastly, but, I am a parent now and have to think ahead, don’t I? I am even going to be quite formal and put this in the post, never mind that I see you nearly every day.
Love, love to you, Jane.
Lydia
“Wow, Miss Jane,” Billy said. “That’s really something. I mean, she thought the world of you, didn’t she?”
“But you understand that’s not the point!” Jane said. “Don’t you see that she wanted Jackson to grow up here? With me, and his family? There is no way I can make her wishes clearer to you than this, Mr. Killian!”
She snatched Lydia’s letter from his hands.
Billy sat looking at the treetops, pondering the situation. “Okay, look here,” he said, leaning towards her. “I’ve gotta go home this weekend. There’s a museum openin’ up, the week following, and I have to be there. After that, my calendar’s pretty open. I understand why you showed me the letter, and what you’re trying to say. But, things have changed a world since his mama wrote that, and I want to take Jackson with me.”
Jane bristled.
“Now, wait a minute,” Billy said, reaching an open palm towards her, close, but not touching her arm. “You gotta remember somethin’ darlin’. I am here because Lydia’s brother had his lawyer call me. I am here because I was told that my son wanted me to come. I was invited.”
Protesting, Jane argued, “But now you’ve seen how Jackson is, and how we’re doing well, and — ”
“And you want me to go away. I know sweetheart, believe me that message is loud and clear. Things in life don’t stay the same. I can’t undo comin’ over here and meetin’ my boy. And now that I’ve met him, there’s no way I could just go off and forget him, no matter what an old letter says. He deserves to have a daddy, and I am not even sayin’ he has to live with me if he doesn’t want to. But I am here cause he asked, and you’ve gotta give us a chance, hon. Okay?”
Jane couldn�
�t give in, and refused to look at him.
Billy said gently, “Hey, maybe think of it this way. She wrote that letter ’cause she’d plum given up on hoping that I’d be the sort of man who … who would come back, and be decent to her and our son. She didn’t know I’d be here when she couldn’t be, and it was us that made that baby, now wasn’t it? You can’t play my role if I’ve come back and stepped into it, Miss Jane. You see that, don’t you?”
Jane let out a sigh, looked into Billy’s earnest eyes, and felt convinced by his words. She couldn’t argue that he was invited. That he did have a right to his own child. That for some reason, Nigel was aggressive in making sure that Billy came here to meet Jackson. She supposed everyone had seen that, except her.
It wasn’t entirely his fault, all of this.
Still, she couldn’t bear him just whisking Jackson away. “But Lydia’s wishes still count, don’t they?”
“Yeah. So, why don’t you help me then.”
She commiserated with him, but she still couldn’t see a compromise that would work for Jackson’s benefit. “What do you mean, Mr. Killian? Help you do what? If Jackson enjoys the life that Lydia intended for him, he’ll stay right here with his family. And you’ll be off playing your guitar somewhere. I know you’re his father, I respect that. But what kind of life do you intend to create for your son?”
“You wanna go back to this letter, fine, we will. Miss Jane, you know as well as I do that Jackson’s mama may have written somethin’ pretty different if she and I had any contact with each other. You know she was written’ that, not really knowin’ that she was gonna pass away not so many years later. Seems to me that the best thing you could do, you know, to be a godmother and all that, is to come with me and Jackson, and see to it that he’s all right.”
Jane was speechless.
“I mean, I’ve hardly been alone with him. And, if’n he’s havin’ a rough time gettin’ settled, then you’d be right there to comfort him, and take him home if it ain’t workin’ out. And I would sure be appreciating it too, ma’am, cause this whole thing scares me to death, but there’s nothin’ else for it but to jump on in and give it a go.” He paused and his hand came to rest on her arm. “Whatta ya say?”
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