Aunt Bessie Believes (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery)

by Diana Xarissa

  Ignoring both her research and the language she was meant to be studying, Bessie spent the afternoon curled up with her new book. Aside from a short tea break, she allowed herself to fall into its pages and lose herself for the rest of the day. When the murderer was caught and everything had returned to normal in that fictional world, Bessie sighed and shut the book. She blinked a few times, slowly letting herself return to reality. There really was nothing like a good book. She supposed that was why she didn’t bother to have a television.

  With less than an hour to go before Doona was due to collect her, Bessie headed up to her bedroom to get ready. She took a quick shower and then combed out her short hair. She put on a pretty print dress and added a cardigan since the weather wasn’t yet as summery as she might have liked. A bit of lipstick and a touch of powder on her nose completed her efforts. She had never been one for wearing much makeup; she wasn’t about to start caking it on now.

  Doona was right on time and Bessie was both amused and slightly worried at how nervous her friend seemed. They drove the short distance to the restaurant and Doona parked in the small car park.

  “I got the last space,” Doona complained. “Where will Andrew park?”

  “There’s plenty of parking on the roads around here,” Bessie pointed out. “I’m sure he’ll find something.”

  “He’s driving a hire car,” Doona fretted. “He won’t want to leave that on the road.”

  “Why on earth not?” Bessie replied. “It isn’t like it’s his to worry about.”

  Doona shook her head. “You wouldn’t believe how complicated things get if you prang a hire car,” she told Bessie.

  Doona had booked a table in the back room at La Terrazza, which would give them a great deal of privacy. There were only three tables in the back and, while the one they were given had just enough room for four people, the other two tables were only suitable for two each.

  “Would you ladies like a drink while you wait for your friend?” the waiter asked.

  Bessie ordered a glass of wine and, after a moment’s hesitation, Doona joined her.

  “I know I’m driving, but not for a while,” she told Bessie once the waiter had departed. “And I think the wine might just calm my nerves a bit.”

  “And why are you so nervous?” Bessie teased.

  “I really shouldn’t be,” Doona answered. “It isn’t like this is a date. I just really hope you like Andrew. He seems like such a nice guy.”

  Bessie laughed. “I’m sure he’s wonderful,” she told Doona. “Relax.”

  The waiter arrived with the wine at that moment and Doona took a huge drink of hers.

  “That’s better,” she sighed as she sat back in her seat.

  “Ah, there you are,” a voice from the doorway said.

  Bessie looked up and studied the man who was entering the room. He was tall, with dark brown hair that almost seemed too dark for his lighter brown eyes. He was wearing an expensively tailored suit, but he must have lost a few pounds since he’d had it made, as it hung loosely across his shoulders. She supposed that most women would consider him attractive, but he was a bit too polished to appeal to her.

  He crossed the small room in two steps and smiled at Bessie and Doona. With a bow, he offered Bessie a bouquet of different coloured roses.

  “I hope I have it right,” he said with a huge smile. “I’m sure Doona said roses are your favourite.”

  Bessie smiled and thanked him as she took the flowers. He winked at her.

  “If I may?” he asked. He carefully pulled a single red rose from the arrangement and held it out to Doona with a grin.

  Bessie looked at him sharply, alarm bells ringing in her head. The man was entirely too smooth and superficially charming for her tastes.

  Doona giggled as she took the proffered flower. Bessie frowned, but Doona was too busy gushing her thanks to pay any attention to her friend.

  Andrew slipped into his chair and beamed a hearty smile at each woman in turn. “Thank you for agreeing to meet me,” he told Bessie. “I’m so eager to hear about everything that happened to my family after I left the island.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t stay in touch,” Bessie replied.

  Andrew flushed. “I was such a stupid child,” he told Bessie. “I really resented being sent to boarding school, and in my ten- or eleven-year-old mind, I guess I sort of blamed my baby sister for my being sent away.”

  “Surely she was part of the reason behind the decision?” Doona questioned.

  “I don’t know,” Andrew shrugged. “I think my parents were considering boarding school for me long before she came along. Of course, once she arrived, she was so fragile. My parents didn’t think she’d live into adulthood, you know. I suppose I can’t blame them for sending away a rambunctious young boy under those circumstances.”

  “You were simply a perfectly normal young boy,” Doona argued.

  “Perhaps.” Andrew squeezed Doona’s hand and then left his covering hers. “But mother and father feared that even that was too much for a medically challenged child like my sister. I never really came home much after I started at school. I spent a lot of school holidays with friends’ families and that just seemed to trigger even more resentment in me. By the time I finished school and was ready for my gap year, I wanted nothing further to do with my family. I took the money my father gave me and just disappeared.”

  “So why come back now?” Bessie challenged. She ignored the angry look that Doona sent her, focussing on Andrew.

  “That’s a fair question,” he told her. “Really, it was only in the last few years that I started thinking about everything that happened. I realised that, in many ways, I was blaming Moirrey for things that took place when she was only a tiny baby. Even if her illness was one of the factors in the decision to send me to school, it was hardly her fault. After I turned forty I suddenly started thinking a lot more about the past. I started thinking about the things I left behind in my anger and my desire to get away from my father. And I started to regret my behaviour.”

  Doona sighed. “And you got here too late.”

  Andrew ran a hand across his eyes. “I’m sure I’m going to regret that for the rest of my life,” he told them both. “I had imagined any number of different scenarios for my return, from everyone being delighted to see me to my being thrown out of the house, but I never imagined that both father and Moirrey would be gone. And I can’t help feeling like Moirrey’s death might be partly my fault.”

  “Your fault, why?” Bessie asked.

  “I called her a few days ago,” Andrew answered. “She got quite upset with me on the phone. She made all sort of accusations, saying that I wasn’t really Andrew Teare and that I was only after her money, things like that.”

  He stopped and looked down, swallowing hard. Doona pulled her hand out from under his and began to rub his back gently. After a moment he seemed to compose himself. He gave Doona a small smile and then continued.

  “It was heartbreaking for me, of course, but I assumed that she’d come around once I got here. I told her that I would be arriving on the fifteenth and that my first stop on the island would be our home. I didn’t realise then that she didn’t live in the family home anymore. She still had the old phone number.” He shook his head. “I should have come home so many years ago,” he said softly. “I was worried about just turning up on Moirrey’s doorstep after all these years, but now I’m afraid that the phone call upset her so much that it brought on her collapse.”

  Andrew’s head sank into his hands and his shoulders shook. Bessie looked away, wanting to give him time to compose himself. Doona rubbed his back and murmured meaninglessly at him. After a few minutes he raised his head and sighed.

  “I’m sorry,” he told both women. “I promised myself I wasn’t going to get upset tonight. I just can’t believe that my baby sister is dead. After all these years, to finally feel ready to see her again and then to lose her just hours before I got that chanc
e…. please, excuse me.”

  Andrew walked away from the table, leaving Bessie and Doona to stare after him.

  “He’s so broken up about losing Moirrey,” Doona said softly.

  “And yet he didn’t feel the need to speak to her for nearly twenty-five years,” Bessie replied coolly.

  “You don’t like him,” Doona suggested.

  “I don’t know him well enough to have an opinion yet,” Bessie said. Actually, she didn’t like him, but she knew that Doona did, so she was treading carefully. “I still find the timing odd somehow.”

  “Maybe Andrew’s right, maybe Moirrey was upset about his returning and that caused her heart to fail,” Doona said.

  “Maybe,” Bessie answered.

  A seemingly more composed Andrew returned a moment later and Doona carefully turned the conversation to other things. They ate well, delicious Italian food that kept the conversation flowing. Bessie regaled the pair with stories of island life from the years that Andrew had been absent. She told him everything that she could remember about his father and his sister, which turned out to be not very much.

  “Your parents were very private people,” she told him. “And they kept you very close to home as well. Of course, they did the same with Moirrey, but her health was the issue there.”

  “I never could understand why my parents didn’t let me go to the local school,” Andrew replied. “I can’t believe that I wouldn’t have received just as good an education there as I did from my tutors, some of whom were really dreadful.”

  “I’m afraid I never got to know your parents well enough to suggest an answer to that,” Bessie told him. “They were always perfectly polite, but they were, well, distant.”

  Andrew nodded. “That’s exactly how I remember them,” he said. “Except when it came to Moirrey. I think she was something of a surprise baby, but whatever the circumstances, they both seemed to dote on her.”

  Bessie nodded. “I remember hearing that,” she agreed. “There was something about your mother being told she couldn’t have any more children so Moirrey was a huge surprise, and then, with her being so ill, they did rather spoil her.”

  “I gather she wasn’t the easiest person to get along with as an adult,” Andrew remarked. “Doona was telling me that she was trying to throw Anne Hall out of her home.”

  “She’s Anne Caine now,” Bessie told him. “But yes, your sister was trying to throw her out of her cottage. Moirrey wanted to sell the land to a developer.”

  Andrew shook his head. “I can’t believe that she would even consider selling to a developer,” he said. “My father must be rolling in his grave. He wanted Robert and his family to have that house forever. Robert did so much for my father, really for the whole family. I was so sad to hear that he’d passed away as well.”

  “That must have been five years ago,” Bessie thought back. “Does that mean that you’re not going to move forward with taking possession of the cottage?”

  “Of course not,” Andrew exclaimed. “I don’t know what my sister was thinking, but I don’t have any intention of turning that poor woman out into the streets. I wasn’t allowed to play with her, of course, but I spent a lot of time with her father, learning about farming and how to run the estate. I was looking forward to using those skills when I came back here. I was shocked that Moirrey had been selling off the land. I was surprised that she could do that without anyone asking me about it.”

  Bessie frowned. “I’m not sure that she could,” she told him. “But Matthew Barnes is the one to talk to about that.”

  Andrew nodded. “I’ve already had several long talks with Mr. Barnes. I’m not very happy with the way things were done in my absence, although in many ways I suppose it is my own fault. He even told me that Moirrey was trying to have me declared dead, and I suppose I shouldn’t blame her. Anyway, now that I’m back I’ve asked for a full accounting of the entire estate. It should make for interesting reading.”

  “Indeed,” Bessie grinned. She’d love to see a copy herself.

  Doona scraped up the last smidgen of her chocolate mousse, ate it and then sat back with a sigh. “That was delicious,” she said.

  “Everything always is here,” Bessie remarked.

  “I think I have a new favourite restaurant,” Andrew grinned. “I’ve eaten in restaurants all over the world, and this was truly exceptional.”

  “What was your…?” Doona’s question was interrupted by a new arrival.

  “Can I clear your plates for you?”

  “Anne?” Bessie said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

  Anne Caine blushed. “Oh Bessie, Doona, I didn’t recognize you. I told you the other night that I was working two jobs to try to make ends meet. This is the other one.”

  “And we were just talking about you,” Bessie told her. “You must remember Andrew Teare.”

  Andrew rose to his feet and offered his hand. “Anne, it’s been so many years, I do apologise for not recognising you.”

  Anne looked at him with a confused look on her face. “Oh, but,….”

  Andrew took her hand, interrupting her. “Please, may I start by saying how sorry I am for everything that my sister put you through? I understand that she was trying to get you removed from your cottage. Let me make it clear that I have no intention of following through on her threats. As far as I’m concerned, that cottage is yours and as soon as all of the legal hurdles are surmounted, I intend to make sure that the property is legally deeded to you and your heirs. Please stop worrying about the overdue payments, or indeed, any additional payments. Your father was friend, confidant and valued assistant to my father for many, many years. That property should have been given to you when my father died. Obviously, I can’t turn back time, but I can fix things as soon as I am able.”

  Anne stood at the table, holding Andrew’s hand, with a stunned look on her face. Bessie finally broke the silence.

  “Anne, are you okay?” she asked.

  Anne shook her head and then pulled her hand away and put her face in her hands for a moment. “Sorry,” she said eventually, taking her hands away from her face and pushing her shoulders back. “Sorry, I think I’m completely overwhelmed.”

  Andrew smiled and then took his seat again. “I know how you feel,” he said. “This whole return to the island has been overwhelming for me.”

  “What brought you back after all this time?” Anne asked, studying his face.

  “I’m not totally sure,” Andrew replied. “I guess you could call it a desire to reconnect with home.”

  “When did you arrive?”

  “Wednesday morning.”

  “So, after Moirrey’s unfortunate passing?”

  “Indeed,” Andrew frowned. “I’m still in shock about that, really.”

  “I’ll bet,” Anne said dryly. “Well, I’d better clear your plates or I won’t have this job for long.” She quickly piled up the pudding dishes. “Did anyone want coffee or anything else?” she asked.

  “I think we’re good,” Bessie answered. “Perhaps you could ask our waiter to bring the cheque?”

  Anne nodded and then disappeared out of the room without a backwards glance. Bessie watched her go, puzzling at her behaviour.

  “She didn’t seem at all grateful to you,” Doona complained to Andrew as soon as Anne was out of earshot. “I mean, you offered to give her a house and she just gathered up the dishes and left.”

  “I’m sure it’s all been a huge shock for her,” Andrew said. “She might thank me later, once she’s had time to think things through. Or maybe she won’t. I meant what I said, that house should have been given to her family when my father passed away. I’m sure she resents how she was treated by my sister and I don’t blame her one bit.”

  Bessie suddenly felt completely worn out by everyone else’s problems. She was grateful when Doona drove her home a short time later.

  “What are your plans for the weekend?” Doona asked, after she had checked Bessi
e’s cottage for intruders.

  “I don’t really have any,” Bessie replied. “I think I’ll take it easy and work on the first draft of my paper, unless you wanted to do something.”

  Doona shrugged. “Andrew said something about maybe doing some sight-seeing this weekend. He hasn’t been here in so long; he said he feels like a tourist. I thought we might visit Castle Rushen and Peel Castle, that sort of thing. You’re more than welcome to join us, of course.”

  Bessie laughed. “I’m sure Andrew would just love having me tag along,” she said. “You go and have fun with Andrew and I’ll see you on Monday night. Do you want me to cook dinner before class?”

  “That would be great,” Doona answered. “I’ll come here straight from work at half-five and we can have dinner and practise before class.”

  “Oh goody,” Bessie said unenthusiastically. “More practise.”

  “Oh come on,” Doona laughed. “We didn’t say anything in Manx all night tonight.”

  “Well, oie vie, then,” Bessie said in a grumpy voice.

  Doona just laughed again. “Oie vie, my dear.”

  Chapter Six

  The weekend seemed to fly past for Bessie. She got a workable first draft of her paper done, but not without a visit into Douglas to check a few things out at the museum library. Bessie also read both of her new paperbacks, adding one to her collection and putting the other in a box to take to a charity shop when she next went into Ramsey. It was important that she be selective about what she added to her shelves, only keeping books that she thought she might want to read again. Otherwise her small cottage would soon begin to overflow with books.

  Monday dawned bright and sunny, and Bessie was pleased when she was able to get a long walk in after breakfast. She walked past the new cottages, all the way to the beach below the Pierce family cottage, Thie yn Traie. She stood on the beach for a few minutes, looking up at the house that had been at the centre of events the previous month. She knew that the house was soon going on the market and she hoped that a nice family would buy it and live in it year-round rather than use it as a summer home as the Pierces had done.