A Jarful of Moondreams: What Secrets Are Ready to Spill Out?

by Chrissie Bradshaw

  ‘Hi Mum, I was in the living room and just missed your call. I wasn’t expecting you to log on for a chat tonight. Is everything OK?’

  ‘I’m fine darling, nothing to be anxious about. How are you doing after all this silly business with Alex?’

  Cleo breathed a heavy sigh, ‘I feel dreadful, Mum, just dreadful. You know that she’s gone back to Dunleith and we still aren’t speaking? I’ve tried to call her but she’s having none of it, she won’t even pick up her phone or come to the house line so, Mum, I’ve huffed her big time. We were getting on so well too! I’m sorry, I really am.’

  This was a surprise; Teri had expected the same negative reaction from Cleo as she had received from Alex. She had thought that Cleo would be up there on her high horse about her little sister.

  ‘Oh… so you want to make up, do you, Cleo?’

  ‘Yes Mum I do, but it won’t happen. I lost my temper over something she’d done and I’m still really angry with her but I don’t want us to be at loggerheads like this.’

  ‘Oh Cleo, sweetheart, that makes me so pleased. If you are wanting to make amends, then we’ll just have to wait until Alex sees sense. She needs a big sister so it’s lovely to hear that you’re willing to try.’ Teri could see shadows under Cleo’s eyes and she seemed tearful. ‘Do you want to tell me about it darling. Maybe talking would help?’

  ‘Has Alex told you anything at all?’ Cleo was guarded.

  ‘No, but she said that you wouldn’t appreciate her input about the situation any further, or something like that, so I presume she’s said or done something that you didn’t like.’

  Cleo’s weak smile showed she was right and so she urged, ‘Do you want to tell me?’

  ‘No Mum. It’s between Alex and me and I don’t want to involve you. I’ve talked it all over with Dan. He’s here right now actually.’

  ‘Oh is he? That’s lovely, I’m so relieved you’re not all alone with this, whatever it is.’

  ‘You’ll be back at the end of the month won’t you, Mum? We’ll all need to sit down and chat then. I have things to tell you but it can all wait until you’re home.’

  Teri heard the wistfulness in Cleo’s voice, she was missing her. She wanted to keep her Saturday arrival a surprise but couldn’t help saying, ‘Yes, I might fly back a bit earlier than that; I’m missing you both and my Pharos of course. I can’t wait to get back for hugs.’

  Cleo looked alarmed, ‘I have to rush you off here, Mum. I…I need to visit the bathroom!’ and she zoomed out of sight.

  That was brief, did Cleo have a bug? Teri got up and walked to the window to look out onto the lush dark-leafed gardens. What moon was shining down on them tonight? She couldn’t see it from here. Her head was in a spin, weighing up all that Cleo had said, or not said, when she heard her computer splutter to life. Cleo’s voice came back into the room.

  ‘Bloody hell, Dan that was so hard. What am I going to say? Sorry Mum but I’ve lost your cat and, by the way, Alex told Ralph Fenwick that he’s my Dad. That’s why I lost my temper and now he wants to meet up again. Imagine if she heard…’

  Teri stared at the screen. It had gone dead. Nothing else, Cleo must’ve moved away or closed her laptop. Usually Teri initiated and logged off their video chat sessions and Cleo mustn’t have logged herself off earlier.

  She sat back at the table and willed the screen back to life. Should she call back? Should she call Alex and say she knew what all this was about? Chin in hands, she tapped her temples trying to think of how this had happened. How the hell had Alex traced Ralph? How the hell had they lost her Pharos?

  Greg came in. She didn’t know how long she’d been sitting there.

  ‘Why are you looking at a blank scene? Didn’t you get through?’ he asked.

  She got up and pulled him to her. ‘She was there and I heard more than I bargained for. It’s a good thing I’ve booked that Saturday flight home Greg.’

  41

  When Alex finished school, she slipped out of the back gate to take the bus home on her own. Once she reached Dunleith, she decided to take a walk by the river Tweed. She had avoided meeting up with the twins because she wanted to be by herself for a while. She’d been staying with the EllaBellas since Monday and had started back at school but she felt unsettled.

  The truth was that she missed Cleo. She was annoyed and hurt by her but she couldn’t summon up a great hate for Cleo like she used to. It really irritated her when Ella called Cleo names too; she wasn’t her sister to be rude about.

  In the summer, and again over the past couple of days, Alex had noticed that Ella was a bit full of herself compared to Bella and it grated on her now. She was ‘off’ Ella and felt like taking her down a peg or two or telling Bella to stop just going along with everything. Bella needed to stand up for herself more but it wasn’t really the right time to say this when she had to lodge there until Mum came back.

  She sat on the river bank, pulled an apple from her bag and enjoyed being alone to be miserable in peace without anyone nosing about what was wrong. She missed seeing Gracie and Lee, she missed Cleo’s company and she missed seeing Will. Dunleith without Mum was dull; she missed Mum. A tear squeezed out of one eye and she felt better. She took a bite of apple, concentrated on how awful this week was and a few more tears came.

  She took out her phone to check for texts. She had one from Bella saying ‘where are you?’ She sighed and tapped a reply saying where she was and that she’d be at Fernlea Lodge in half an hour.

  It was Will’s name that she wanted to see. Will had sent one text asking how she was and she’d sent him a long reply back but, since yesterday, nothing. They’d chatted all the way from Newcastle to Dunleith on Monday. He’d told her about his studies and how he worked the door some weekends at his uncle’s club to help fund his karate. She thought that he liked her but he was starting his second year at Uni and she was still at school, so he probably thought she was too young. She put her earplugs in, wrapped herself in Will’s scarf, and nibbled at her apple.

  She was engrossed in Ed Sheeran and just about to toss her core into the bin when a black creature bounded up and high-fived her hand for the core. It was Shadow closely followed by Scout. Alex pulled her earphones out of her ears. Which Collingwood had brought the dogs out?

  ‘Hi there, Alex.’ Dan gave her a wave and came towards the bench.

  She was relieved it was him and not the twins. ‘Hi Dan.’

  ‘Mind if I join you for a bit and let the dogs do all their sniffing down at the river?’

  ‘No,’ she forced a weak smile.

  ‘Got the miseries?’

  She nodded, slumped further down into the bench and stuffed her hands in her pockets.

  ‘I came to find you. Bella said you’d be here. I wanted you to know that Cleo has the miseries worse than you and to tell you what I told her.’

  ‘What was that?’

  ‘That you’re both far too stubborn.’

  Alex laughed, ‘Bet she didn’t like that.’

  ‘I took my life in my hands but she agreed with me. She really is sorry and she has lots to tell you but you’re not talking, so she can’t.’

  Alex said nothing. Dan just sat watching the spaniels paddling and sniffing along the bank.

  ‘She can’t have anything that interesting to tell me.’

  ‘Oh she does; she says you’re not the only super sleuth in the family and she’s been investigating your family tree.’

  Alex shot up. ‘She’s what? What tree? Her tree? Or our tree? What’s she been doing Dan?’

  Dan smiled and raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Come on Dan, you know!’

  ‘I do, but Cleo wants to tell you herself and you’re not speaking. She still thinks you meddled, and you did, but she’s over it. She also said you were the one who told her that families can fight and disagree but it doesn’t mean that they hate each other.’

  ‘She’s right, I did say that. You’re right, I am stubborn. I’m n
osey too so come on Dan, tell me what’s going on.’

  ‘I’ll tell you one thing, just to whet your appetite, if you promise you’ll call round and see her tomorrow night when she drives over to High Rigg.’

  ‘She’s coming tomorrow?’

  ‘Yes, she misses you.’

  ‘I promise I’ll go over and I’ll make up, if she’s not too snotty.’

  ‘She won’t be. I’ve told you she’s sorry.’

  ‘What’s she been up to?’

  Lots, but I’ll give you one clue and that’s it.’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘She decided to pay a visit to your Mum’s childhood home, Middle Street wasn’t it? The address that’s at the front of her diaries.’

  Alex’s eyes widened, ‘Middle Row. And?’

  ‘And… You’ll have to ask her about it.’ Dan stood up and whistled to the dogs. They bounded up and sat at his feet ready for him to put their leashes on. Alex took Shadow’s leash and set off with Dan.

  ‘Dan Collingwood, you’re so unfair! If you know then I should too,’ she urged.

  ‘Ah but I’m on friendly terms with your sister and you’re not… until tomorrow. Have patience.’

  Alex felt happier by the time she got back to the house. Mary Collingwood had made pie and peas, she was going to see Cleo tomorrow and she decided that Ella wasn’t so bad after all. As she took her coat off, her phone made its hunting horn call. A text from Will.

  ‘Driving to Edinburgh for weekend. Shall I stop by to see you on Sunday? Will x’

  ‘Who’s that from?’ Ella peered over her shoulder to read the text, ‘Don’t you answer straight back, Alex. Keep him waiting.’

  Alex smiled, Ella was becoming bossier than Cleo.

  42

  On Thursday, after school, Cleo parked outside the bowling green on Summerhill Grove. As Bobby Donaldson strode out of the gate, she thought he looked marvellous for his age. He was in an open-necked shirt with a tweed jacket and carried his bowling bag with ease. Where should they go to eat? She hadn’t booked because she wasn’t sure of her grandfather’s taste in food. She had so much to find out.

  ‘Hello, my love, here I am being picked up by my granddaughter for the first time and nobody has come out of the club so I can brag about it.’ He smiled and his eyes lit up his whole face.

  ‘I’m sitting here wondering about what food you like. I haven’t a clue.’

  ‘I like anything that’s nicely cooked. I’m not a fussy chap at all but I do have one favourite,’ Bobby said.

  ‘What’s that?’ Cleo asked as she opened the car boot and put his bowling bag in there.

  ‘I was in Italy for a while, during the war you know, and I love their food. Not what passes for it at Sunny Court but the proper stuff - garlic and herbs and a good sprinkling of parmesan. I reckon you’ll know a good Italian or two round here.’

  ‘I do, I’ll take you to my favourite. They don’t take bookings but they open from 5.30 and their food is the best.’

  Cleo headed for Jesmond and hoped that a queue hadn’t already formed at Francesca’s.

  It was almost full, but they got the last table for two tucked into a quiet corner. Cleo watched Bobby sniff at the mouth-watering aroma from the kitchen and knew she’d made a good choice.

  They chose specials from the blackboard with tomato garlic bread as a starter because Bobby hadn’t tried that.

  ‘Now what about a drink, Cleo? I know you’re driving but can you raise a glass with me? I do like a prosecco,’ he said.

  ‘Me too, and I could have one, Grandad,’ she said.

  ‘Grandad. Do you know, that’s music to my ears. I can’t wait to see Alex, the young one, too. Has she spoken to you yet?’

  ‘No but I’m going to see her tomorrow.’ She’d told him that they lived on the border at Dunleith.

  ‘Tell her a bit about me, and give her my love.’

  ‘She’s just like Mum so you’ll love her.’

  ‘That’s as maybe but I can see myself in you and I love that, too.’

  Cleo felt choked and blinked back a tear as she raised a glass.

  The time flew by. After their main course, they ordered dessert then coffee and never stopped chatting. Bobby insisted on paying the bill.

  ‘I never expected to see my grandchild in this lifetime and it makes me happy to be able to treat you to your supper. I hope it’s the first of many.’

  Cleo took her grandfather to Sunny Court and he sat there quietly for a moment in no rush to be leaving the car.

  ‘Cleo, this is the best night I’ve had since your mother left home. Lizzie was right in a way because it did kill me to lose my girl. Leaving her at that home, I didn’t know what to do for the best for her or for her bairn. I just wish I’d been able to talk to her but I couldn’t. I was treading on thin ice with Lizzie and I handled it all wrong. I made a life for myself after she left but never a day has gone by that I didn’t wish her well or worry about her.’

  ‘She’ll understand, Grandad. She’s very understanding, my mum.’

  ‘Let’s hope she will. I’ve written her a letter in a card every year for her birthday. There’s thirty-three of them that have never been posted. I’ve just finished this year’s effort for her fiftieth on Sunday.

  There are some things she never knew and I’ve always wanted to tell her. I told her what she needed to know for her age, you know. The first birthday letter I ever wrote, the one for her turning eighteen, I explained why I went along with Lizzie.’ He patted Cleo’s hand. ‘I’m leaving the letters with you for safe keeping. I’m leaving nothing to chance and I want to make sure she gets every one of them. Is that alright with you?’

  Cleo nodded, ‘Of course. You’ll see her yourself though, Grandad.’

  ‘I hope so. Goodnight, pet.’

  Cleo leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. ‘You get yourself in, Grandad or they’ll be locking the doors on you. It’s after ten.’

  He chuckled and got out, giving her a cheery wave.

  Cleo watched him into the building before driving off, her heart singing. She loved having a grandfather.

  HARVEST MOON

  43

  By Friday, Cleo had to accept that Pharos was well and truly gone, she’d scoured the area again that morning and there had been no sign of him. He had been missing a week and she missed both him and Alex. Dan had called when she got in last night, and told her that Alex had thawed out and was willing to talk. That was something. She didn’t want to lose her new close relationship with Alex without giving it her best shot.

  If they were speaking, they might skype their mum together on Sunday because it would be her fiftieth birthday. Her only worry was that she couldn’t mention Pharos to her while she was so far off. She was concerned that when she told Alex about his escape, that would start another row. Would Alex share the blame? They’d both left the door open.

  After school, Cleo picked up food for the weekend and, when she put it in the boot, she noticed her grandfather had left his bowling bag there. She’d have to drop it off at Sunny Court before his bowls next Thursday. She stopped off at home for some clothes and hastily picked up her mail, glancing at the envelopes without opening them until she came across a handwritten padded envelope. It bore an Italian stamp and she knew that writing.

  Dear Cleo,

  You’ll be surprised to hear from me. I know that I haven’t behaved very well and I left things in rather a mess but by now you’ll realise that I have a need to gamble and don’t always win. I want to say thank you for keeping Josh safe. Marianne sings your praises. She won’t let him out of her sight now but I’ve phoned Josh. I am sending you some cash while I have it. It’s not a lot but I give you my word that I will try to repay what I owe you eventually.

  It was a great surprise to ‘bump into’ your fiancé at San Siro race track this week. He kindly promised not to track me down again as long as I apologise and repay you a.s.a.p. Please assure him that this is just the begin
ning and you’ll be repaid in total when the UK house is sold. Marianne is dealing with that.

  Kind regards,

  Neil.

  Inside the envelope was a wad of cash and a pawn ticket for her watch.

  Dan was a dark horse! Had he really tracked down Neil when he was over in Milan? Now Neil obviously wanted to keep Dan off his case. Neil had made a start in paying her back but she felt better about getting her money back now that Marianne was in charge of the house sale.

  Cleo couldn’t stop thinking about Neil on her way to Dunleith. ‘I give you my word’ he’d written; she didn’t have much faith in that but, with Dan and Marianne both putting pressure on him to do the right thing, maybe he would try. He was charming and clever but he used those gifts to be devious and dishonest to feed his addiction. She felt really sad for what he was missing out on with Josh and Marianne, that upset her as much as her own financial loss.

  Neil’s letter stopped her thinking of Dan for a while but he was never really out of her mind. He must have had it in mind to hunt for Neil but he had said nothing about it to her. It felt good to have Dan on her side; she’d like to have him by her side forever.

  On the final stretch of the road to High Rigg, Cleo’s thoughts turned to what she could say to Alex. She’d apologise for being so angry when Alex had been trying to help her to get to know her father. She hadn’t meant any of the mean things she had said to Alex and she hoped Alex hadn’t meant what she’d said to her.

  It was dusk when she pulled into the drive and, as she got out of the car, a flash of silver landed with a thud onto her car bonnet. She turned to see what had dropped and was startled by the loudest yowl. Locking eyes with a gooseberry glare, she gave a sharp intake of breath. She didn’t dare hope, surely it couldn’t be?

  ‘Pharos! How on earth did you get back here? You clever, clever boy.’