Mabel laughed. “I think you know by now what my name is.”
Just then the man called out, “I’ll not tell you again, Mabel. Hurry up! We’ve customers waiting!”
Mabel tutted under her breath. “They’ll not be waiting long if you keep yelling and screaming!”
She smiled at Kathy. “Good luck with the interview, dear,” she said, and before Kathy could answer, Mabel was off serving another customer.
The first thing Kathy did when she got home was to wash her new dress. Hanging on the line, it danced and shivered in the summer breeze, its colors bright and refreshed, and looking prettier than when she had first seen it.
She had already cleaned the house before going into Bridport, but now she walked through every room, throwing open windows and letting the breeze wash in. The house already looked better. It had taken hours of scrubbing and washing – and there were none of the new labor-saving devices in place that her mother had in London – but it had been a labor of love for Kathy. When she got to her own bedroom, she leaned out the window, always delighted by what she saw.
Today being Saturday, there were more people around the harbor: mums and dads; children eating ices; old couples sitting on the wall chatting; fishermen with their lines and legs dangling over the edge of the pier; other people busy in their boats – speedboats, fishing boats, small cruisers. The lively scene was a feast to the eyes and a joy to the heart. Kathy loved every minute of it.
“Hey!” From the street below, Jasper’s voice interrupted her daydreams. “Where’ve yer been, lass? I’ve already called around three times this morning. What ’ave yer been up to?”
“Hello, Jasper!” As always, Kathy was pleased to see him. “Wait there. I’ll come down.”
Running down the stairs two at a time, she soon reached the bottom and opened the front door. “Come in” – she beckoned him inside – “and I’ll tell you what I’ve been up to.”
She hadn’t seen the letter lying on the mat, but the old man caught sight of it out of the corner of his eye. “Somebody loves yer,” he chuckled. Sweeping the envelope up, he followed her into the kitchen, where he dropped it onto the table. “Looks like I’m playing at being postman now,” he joked. “You’ll want me mekkin’ me own tea next.”
Taking him up on the roundabout offer, Kathy answered craftily, “What a good idea! Lots of milk, one sugar. Thanks, Jasper, you’re a pal.” She tore open the envelope. “I think this is Maggie’s writing.”
“Yer cheeky little bugger!” He saw how she was intent on reading the letter and promptly forgave her. “Oh, go on then, lass, I’ll mek the tea. And don’t blame me if it’s not to yer liking.”
Putting the kettle on, he grumbled and moaned. “While I’m at it, I might as well mek us a few slices o’ toast. After that, happen you’d like me to polish the furniture, or mek the beds. I could even clean the winders … or, I might sweep the yard and give it a wash down. An’ what about the garden … I might as well carry on turning that over while I’m at it.” Quietly chuckling to himself, he turned to look at her, but she wasn’t even listening. “All right then, lass.” He got busy. “Tea and toast coming up.” By now he knew Kathy’s kitchen well enough to have the tray ready in no time.
“Now then, young Kathy” – he made his way to the table – “don’t you go telling me the toast is burnt, ’cause it ain’t my fault. It’s that useless grill o’ yourn!” Shoving the plate of curled-up toast in front of her, he poured them each a cup of tea, and sat himself down, continuing to mutter and complain. “I turned it right down, but it still burnt the toast …”
He saw that she was still intently reading the letter, sometimes smiling, sometimes groaning. “By! Yer not listening to a word I’m saying,” he protested.
Raising her head, Kathy’s eyes shone with delight. “Oh, it’s good to hear from Maggie!”
“Is this the lass you told me about?” he asked. “The one who’s allus in and out o’ trouble?”
“She’s not that bad,” Kathy laughed, “but she is unpredictable. You never know what she’ll be up to next.” Catching sight of Jasper about to bite off a piece of blackened toast, she was horrified. “You’re not going to eat that, are you?”
“I certainly am,” he replied, happily chewing, “every last bite.”
Kathy took a bite of hers, but couldn’t stomach it. “Thanks for the tea,” she said. “Now then, what’s wrong?”
“What d’yer mean?” He took a huge bite of his toast and could say no more, for the moment anyway.
“You said you’d been around three times already this morning,” she reminded him. “So … what’s wrong?”
He took a gulp of his tea, catching his breath when it proved to be too hot. “Oh, aye!” He bit off another piece of toast and commenced chewing, with the words coming out in between each chew. “Where’ve yer been?” Instead of answering her question, he had one for her.
“I caught the early bus into Bridport,” she answered. “Look!” She drew his attention to the dress on the line. “I bought a new dress for the interview on Monday morning. What do you think?”
He took a peep. “I think it’s right pretty.”
“So, why did you want to see me?”
“Oh, it’s just that, well … me an’ Tom wondered if you’d like to come out with us this afternoon?”
Kathy was surprised. She didn’t really know Tom. “I’m not sure. Except for what you’ve told me about him, and the odd time we’ve bumped into each other, I hardly know him.”
The old man winked. “Mebbe not, lass, but yer like him, don’t yer?”
“What makes you say that?” Kathy could feel the blush spreading all over her face and neck.
“Ah!” He tapped his nose. “I don’t need ‘telling.” I’ve got eyes. I’ve seen the two of youse, peeping at each other. It don’t tek twopenn” orth of common sense to see how you’re drawn to each other. And don’t deny it, ’cause you’ll only mek matters worse!”
“Well, we’ve hardly spoken, but I do like him,” Kathy admitted shyly. “But I don’t know about coming out.”
“Go on, lass,” Jasper said as he saw her hesitate. “If yer get the job at the site, you’ll not ’ave time for much else. What with overtime and that, you’ll be clapped out once yer get home. So, what d’yer say?” He saw she was weakening. “It’ll be entertaining, if nowt else.”
Kathy thought it might be fun to spend some time in Tom’s company. “All right, yes.”
“Good! I’ll be here to pick you up at two o’clock.”
“Hang on a minute.” Kathy had a question. “You haven’t told me where we’re going.”
“We’re off to look at a boat.” The old man couldn’t conceal his excitement. “An old friend o’ mine is giving up the sea … he’s not in the best of health these days, poor devil. Anyway, he can’t keep up with it all anymore, so he’s getting rid of the boat, and I don’t mind telling yer, it’s a good ’un!”
Though he had never been able to afford one, boats were his passion. “Anyway, the boat’s nobbut four year old, and hardly done any work at all.”
“So, is Tom planning to use it for fishing?” She had seen how he was always helping out on one fishing boat or another, and how he seemed to love it.
“I don’t know about the ‘fishing,’ lass. It’s not that kind o’ boat.” Taking a slurp of his tea, the old man wiped his mustache. “Since Tom’s been helping out on the boats, he’s really tekken to it. He’s been toying with the idea of buying his own boat for some time, and now I’ve found a good ”un at a reasonable price, he’s keen to ’ave a look at it.”
“If it’s not a fishing boat, what kind is it, then?”
“It’s a sailing boat … a little beauty of a thing. She’s easy to handle, and he’s had ’er adapted so you’ve got the best of both worlds. When there’s no wind, you’ve got a little engine that’ll carry yer along till the wind gets up agin. By, you’re gonna love it!” His eyes twinkled wi
th excitement. “It’s been kept undercover most of its life and looks good as new. It goes like a good ’un, too. I’ve been on it, so I should know.”
With all that now settled, he glanced at the letter in her hand. “So is your friend Maggie coming to see yer?”
Kathy explained, “She always promised she’d come and see me when she’d got the time. Well, now it seems she’s been sacked … again!” She shook her head in disbelief. “Anyway, she’s got to find another job to pay the rent before she can come down for a holiday. But she promises it’ll be soon.” The idea that Maggie would soon be here in her house, sitting across the table talking about old times, was wonderful. “Oh, Jasper! It’ll be so good to see her. I can’t wait!”
For a time, they talked about Maggie and her escapades and laughed together.
“She sounds like a real handful, an’ no mistake.” Having finished his toast, the old man licked his lips and wiped his face and washed down the dregs of his tea. “Man-mad an’ all, by the sound of it.”
He referred to the part in the letter where Maggie had given a hilarious account of a night out with her latest man. “I’m not sure I approve of what she’s up to, though … going out with a man years older just ’cause she fancies he might give her a life o’ luxury.”
Kathy dismissed his fears. “If she makes a play for you, Jasper,” she teased, “I’ll have something to say, don’t you worry.”
He laughed out loud. “Aye, an’ you can tell ”er, it’s no use thinking I’m loaded, ’cause I’ve no money to speak of … except a little pension an’ what I earn around the fishing boats and such.” Grinning broadly, he began to preen himself. “Mind you, if she’s looking for a ’andsome fella with a sense of adventure, she’ll not go wrong wi’ me.”
“You old devil!” Kathy laughed with him. “I’m sure she’ll love you for the rogue you are … just like I do.” In fact, she thought Maggie and the old man would get on like a house on fire.
“Right, lass.” He stretched and groaned. “I’d best be off.” Making his way to the door, he reminded her again. “Two o’clock, mind. We’ll pick yer up from ’ere.”
In the time she had left before being collected for the outing, Kathy brought the dress in, ironed it, and hung it carefully in the wardrobe. She then washed and changed, cleaned her teeth, and brushed her hair into a springy bob.
When Tom and the old man came for her, she was sitting on the wall, watching the boats and thinking about the one Tom might buy. She was so intent on looking at the boats, she didn’t see them approach. “By! She’s a bonny lass if ever there were one.” Jasper secretly hoped Kathy and Tom might get together; though he knew there was a long way to go yet, he had a good feeling about these two.
Following the old man’s gesture, Tom’s dark gaze fell on Kathy. He agreed with Jasper; she really was a “bonny lass,” he thought. In fact, in spite of himself, he had been drawn to her from the first minute he set eyes on her, when she was running for the taxi in London, then again later at the churchyard. The closest he had come to her was at the chip shop, when he had seen the sparkle in her pretty toffee-colored eyes.
There was something very appealing about Kathy, he thought.
He didn’t know why she stayed in his mind. Maybe it was her wonderful, free smile and that easy way she had of chatting as though she’d known you all her life. Maybe it was her joy at everything and the way she seemed to meet life head on. To his mind, being naturally a quiet, private person, such energy and warmth was a gift.
“Right then, lass.” Jasper’s voice shook Kathy out of her thoughts. “Ready for off, are yer?”
Leaping off the wall, Kathy hurried toward them, blushing pink when Tom smiled down on her. “Hello, there.”
Returning a bright, shy smile, Kathy thanked him for asking her along, but added, “I think I should tell you … I don’t know the first thing about boats.”
“That’s all right.” He smiled. “I just thought it would be nice to have you along.” He apologized, “I don’t know if Jasper told you, but we’ll be going on the bus. My car’s had to go in for repairs … a clattering of sorts in the engine … wants new pistons, or so they tell me.” He grimaced. “I wouldn’t mind, but I haven’t had the thing all that long.”
He seemed relieved when Kathy assured him she was more than happy to go on the bus.
As they walked to the bus stop, Jasper had an idea. “Why don’t we go to the pub in Weymouth afterward?” he suggested. “It’s a lovely day, an’ they’ve got the prettiest garden.” He licked his lips. “A pint o’ the best would go down a treat.”
“Sounds good to me,” Tom said. And Kathy felt the same.
“Good!” The old man was content. He was with two people he was very fond of, and on top of that there was the promise of a leisurely pint in the offing. “By! This’ll be the best day out ever!” He began whistling, and didn’t stop until they reached the bus stop, where he happily chatted away non-stop.
When the bus came, he gave the order to Tom, “You and the lass sit together, an’ I’ll keep an eye on youse from behind.” Behind Kathy’s back he winked at Tom.
Seeing the twinkle in the old man’s eye, Tom wagged a playful finger at the old chap. “Behave yourself,” he chided, “or I’ll have you thrown off the bus.”
With that in mind, the old man sat quietly behind the two of them, minding his P’s and Q’s, and occasionally grinning as he thought how well Tom and Kathy seemed to be getting on.
The very same thought was racing through Tom’s mind. Somehow he felt very at ease with her.
Kathy, too, felt very comfortable chatting to him, though she was keenly aware of the physical closeness between them. He was undeniably attractive. But the last thing she wanted to do was get involved with a man. She’d just got her life in order again.
By the time they got into Weymouth, the sun was at its hottest. “By! I’ve never known it so warm.” As they walked the short distance over the bridge and down to the harbor road, Jasper loosened the neck of his shirt. “That pint seems very tempting right now,” he chuckled, and Tom agreed, though, “We’ve got business to attend to first,” he said firmly.
Walking a step or two behind him, Tom kept close to Kathy. Whenever a vehicle got too close, he would put his arm about her waist to guide her from the curb edge. Kathy loved the feel of his arm around her. She loved being with him. She was proud to walk alongside him, where everyone must have thought they were a couple. There was a surprising mixture of emotions churning inside her, and the one that surprised her most was the feeling that she might be falling in love. It was a wonderful, terrifying thought.
“Right! Let’s have a look.” Stopping by the quayside, the old man raked his eyes over the many boats in the water, crying out when he caught sight of his old friend waving him down. “There he is! D’y’ see? Fred Lovett, me old mate.”
The three of them scrambled down and climbed aboard. “Glad to see you, old-timer.” Holding out his hand in greeting, the boat-owner was about Jasper’s age, though more wrinkled and gray, and with a certain stoop to his back that appeared to slow his movements.
Jasper shook his hand, grinning as he retorted, “Don’t you call me ‘old-timer,’ yer old bugger! There’s still a dance or two in me yet.”
They hugged and laughed, and after Tom and Kathy had been introduced, they took the boat out to sea. “I’ll run her through her tricks, and then you can make up your own minds,” Fred told them.
It was the most exhilarating experience, and one Kathy would never forget. Having never set foot on a boat before in her life, it was all new and exciting; a little scary at first, but then she got into the mood and enjoyed every minute.
Gathered at the stern of the boat, Fred at the helm, the three men discussed the technical attributes of the craft, while Kathy lay on the foredeck, the warmth of the sun on her face, the cool breeze in her hair, and her ears assailed by the comforting sound of rushing water as the boat sliced a way throu
gh.
It wasn’t long before she began to understand why people loved the sea so much. There was something magical about it.
When the trial run was over, they made their way back to harbor. Kathy rejoined the three men at the stern. “Well, what d’you think?” Fred addressed himself to Tom. “Is she a beauty or what?”
Tom couldn’t deny it. “What’s your best price?”
“You know my price. I expect Jasper here has already told you.”
Behind Fred’s back, Jasper gave Tom a wink, warning him to be cautious.
Tom nodded. “Yes, he told me, but I’m sure you could think again if you had to?”
“Mmm.” He scratched his chin and looked at Jasper. Then he looked at Kathy; when she smiled, his eyes visibly brightened. “All right then!” He held out a hand for Tom to agree to a deal. “I’ll knock off a hundred pounds, but that’s my best offer.”
Grabbing him by the hand, Tom closed the deal. “Done!” In a minute, out came the bottle of whiskey and glasses, which Fred had ready under the seat. “Let’s drink to it!”
“Yer old bugger!” Jasper laughed out loud. “Yer meant to do a deal today, even if yer had to come down a bob or two.”
Fred chuckled. “I got the price I wanted,” he confided. “You always up your price so it can be knocked down – I thought you knew that?”
Tom couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve learned something new about you boat-owners,” he said. “I can see I shall have to be on my guard in future.”
Arrangements were made to bring the cruiser into West Bay, where Tom and Jasper would be waiting. “It’ll take me close on a fortnight to root out the right documents, and prepare everything for the solicitor. Then he needs to go through it all, and draw up the agreement. Don’t worry, though: by the time I hand her over she’ll be ship-shape and serviced.”
Tom nodded his approval.
With the deal concluded, the trio headed for the pub; an old place with character, it sat right alongside the railway lines. “By! I’ve had many a jolly time in ’ere,” Jasper imparted roguishly. “I met a lovely lass by the name of Janice in this place.” He scowled. “Trouble was, it turned out she were wed, with four kids and a bad-tempered old man.”
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