Dreams to Sell

by Anne Douglas

  ‘What a lovely idea,’ said Roz.

  ‘Yes, Mr Banks is always thoughtful like that, of course. Don’t forget to put out a glass for Mrs MacKenna. She’s coming in to say goodbye, too.’ Miss Calder gave a brief smile. ‘We didn’t see her often, but she was always very pleasant when she looked in.’

  ‘Very pleasant,’ agreed Roz, who’d always found her so on the rare occasions when they’d met.

  ‘Now, our new Mr Shield isn’t married,’ Miss Calder went on, rather unusually staying a moment to chat. ‘But then he is very young.’

  Catching Norma’s look, she laughed a little. ‘Perhaps you don’t think so, Miss Ward, but to me he seems that. Not of course that I mean he is too youthful,’ she added hastily, yet giving the distinct impression she did mean exactly that. ‘Well, I must go – I have things to do. You too, girls. Don’t forget to put out the glasses and some small plates for potato crisps. I’ll leave out some packets.’

  As she tapped away, Roz said yes, she must get back to the property department, but the irrepressible Norma couldn’t resist a last word or two.

  ‘Fancy her going on about Mr Shield’s age,’ she whispered. ‘Bet I know what’s bothering her.’

  ‘What?’ asked Roz, mystified.

  ‘Well, what she probably thinks is that he’s too young to be working with you. Now don’t look like that – you know what I mean.’

  ‘I do not!’ cried Roz. ‘What’s it matter how old we are?’

  ‘Well, Mr MacKenna was old enough to be your father, eh? And Mr Shield isn’t. So, if the two of you are always together …’

  ‘Oh, Norma, you’re hopeless! Mr Shield’s only just started and you’re talking like that? He’s here to do a job, and so am I, and that’s all there is to it!’

  ‘OK, OK, I’m just joking. No offence, Roz.’

  ‘All right, but let’s just cut out all that stuff, eh?’

  ‘Sure.’ Norma drew her finger across her throat and laughed. ‘I promise never to say another word!’

  ‘That’ll be the day,’ said Roz, hurrying back to the property department and, without meeting the eyes of either Mr MacKenna or Mr Shield, made for her own office and closed the door.

  Fifteen

  In fact, the lawyers were not late back from their lunch, Mr MacKenna having said that he needed to be back in good time to complete his handover to Mr Shield before the end of the day. Even so, the men were all looking remarkably cheerful when they came into the office, with even the usually gloomy Mr Wray seeming animated and Mr Newman, not one who normally troubled to pay compliments, actually telling Mr MacKenna he would be much missed.

  ‘Yes, indeed, Ronnie,’ he said solemnly, ‘Aberdeen’s gain is definitely our loss, as you might say.’

  ‘I certainly do say,’ chimed Mr Banks, the senior partner, now in his fifties and a little overweight, his once-dark hair grey and receding, but his formidable manner unchanged, even though his smile was affable. ‘You’ve been a tower of strength to Tarrel and Thom’s.’

  ‘Please,’ groaned Mr MacKenna, bowing his head, ‘I’ve had enough kind words for today. Don’t forget you have Mr Shield here and he’ll do a splendid job – as long as we finish our handover!’

  ‘Too right,’ agreed the newcomer, who had been standing modestly by. ‘I still have plenty to learn.’

  ‘Well, you have until four o’clock to learn it,’ Mr Banks told him. ‘Then, I’d like us all to meet in my office.’

  ‘Very nice,’ said Mr MacKenna, very deadpan. ‘We’ll look forward to it.’

  Back in the property department, while the two lawyers continued with their work, all there was for Roz to do was to wait on edge in her own office until it was time to join Norma and Miss Calder in Reception, where they were already greeting Mrs MacKenna, who’d just walked in through the door.

  So like her husband, Roz thought, smiling and shaking her hand. So easy-going, so pleasant – what lucky lives their children must lead! No anxiety, no stress. Did they know how well they’d done in life’s lottery? Today, Mrs MacKenna, who was not normally interested in clothes, had made a special effort to look smart in a neat blue suit and matching hat, with a touch of make-up on her broad, good-natured face.

  ‘All set?’ she whispered at the reception desk. ‘Ronnie doesn’t know a thing about this, you know.’

  ‘I’m sure he’ll have an idea,’ said Miss Calder. ‘We don’t usually have a cup of tea in Mr Banks’s office.’ She leaned forward. ‘Actually, we’re not even having tea. Mr Banks is providing wine or sherry – must have managed to find some somewhere. It’s a little early, but why not?’

  ‘Why not indeed?’ cried Mrs MacKenna. ‘Oh, we’re going to miss you all so much! What are we doing, going up to Aberdeen?’

  ‘Come along to see Mr Banks,’ Miss Calder told her. ‘Girls, you too – to help with the drinks.’

  ‘As long as we get a drink ourselves,’ Norma muttered to Roz, who knocked her in the ribs, for the lawyers were joining them and their little celebration was about to begin.

  First, Mr Banks with great panache opened his wines, which were then served by Roz and Norma to everyone except Miss Calder, who chose sherry. Crisps were handed, more wine was accepted, and as the noise level rose, it seemed amazing that such a small crowd could appear to be so many.

  ‘I feel I’m at a proper party, don’t you?’ Norma whispered to Roz. ‘Who’d have thought old Banks could put on such a do, then?’

  ‘One of these days someone’s going to hear you, Norma, and then there’ll be trouble,’ Roz whispered back, but she was feeling wonderfully mellow after the one glass of wine she’d allowed herself, not being used to it and not wanting to feel tipsy when it came to saying goodbye to Mr MacKenna. Or even to look flushed in the face, as Joan MacKenna was looking now, or strangely bright-eyed like Miss Calder after her small sherry.

  ‘Who cares what I say?’ asked Norma, who was looking rather bright-eyed herself. ‘Listen, I’m going to have another glass of wine. Are you?’

  ‘No, because Mr Banks looks as though he’s going to speak. There – he’s banging a spoon on his glass. Be quiet, Norma!’

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ Mr Banks was beginning, ‘it now gives me great pleasure to say a few words about Ronnie MacKenna, who is sadly leaving us for foreign climes – well, Aberdeen …’ Pause for laughter. ‘No one could have worked harder for, or done more for, Tarrel and Thom’s, not only in his general work for clients, but also – and more particularly, perhaps – for the property department, which, I think it is fair to say, he has really created to make it what it is today, a most valuable asset, admired by all …’

  There was a good deal more on similar lines, all the sort of things that a boss might say on the departure of a good member of the team, but sounding quite genuine on Mr Banks’s part. Well punctuated, too, by cries of ‘Hear, Hear!’ from Ronnie’s colleagues, before ending with an invitation to everyone to raise their glass in a toast to Ronnie and Joan.

  ‘To Ronnie and Joan!’ went the cry. ‘Good luck in Aberdeen!’ Followed by calls for ‘Speech, Ronnie, speech!’

  And with good grace, Mr MacKenna spoke easily and naturally of his time with the firm, of how much he’d enjoyed it, especially working with such fine colleagues – and here he felt he must mention the special contribution of Miss Roz Rainey to the success of the property department, at which there were murmurs of approval – and of how he was confident that success would continue under the leadership of Mr Jamie Shield. Not just continue, but flourish, as Tarrel’s itself would flourish, and would not be forgotten by the MacKennas, who were both so sorry to be saying goodbye.

  ‘Any time you’re in Aberdeen,’ everyone was told, ‘you’ll have our address – look us up, you’ll be very welcome!’

  During the applause that followed, Miss Calder slipped out of the room, to return with a bouquet of flowers which she presented to Joan. This was the signal for Mr Banks to produce the brightly wrapped parce
l that he would be presenting to her husband. But to Roz’s astonishment, it was into her hands he placed it and told her with a smile, ‘Now, Miss Rainey, you know what to do with this, eh?’

  ‘You want me to—?’

  ‘Yes, yes, come along now, Mr MacKenna is waiting.’

  Swallowing hard, Roz took the parcel and under the kindly look of her ex-boss, put it into his hands. ‘This is from all of us,’ she murmured. ‘We hope you’ll like it.’

  ‘Why, it’s a briefcase!’ he cried, stripping off the wrapping paper. ‘So, you’ve all seen my old one, eh? I never did think it would make Aberdeen, but this is wonderful. I love it. Thank you. Thank you all very much! I couldn’t be more pleased!’

  ‘Well done,’ a voice said quietly in Roz’s ear as people gathered round Mr MacKenna to look at the briefcase, and she turned to find Mr Shield at her side, his look still seeming sympathetic. ‘You were taken by surprise but did that so nicely.’

  ‘It was a surprise – I never thought Mr Banks would ask me to do it,’ she told him, but his gaze had moved to Mr MacKenna.

  ‘A hard act to follow,’ he murmured. ‘I can tell you had quite a rapport there.’ His eyes swung back to her. ‘But I want you to know I’m really looking forward to working with you, and I think we’ll do well too.’

  ‘Thank you; it’s nice of you to say so.’

  ‘You’ll see – we’ll make a good team,’ he was continuing, but she had already taken a step away. With his wife beside him, Mr MacKenna was coming over to her, his hand outstretched, his face serious, his eyes as kind as always.

  ‘Miss Rainey – Roz – we’re away. Just came to say goodbye.’

  ‘But we don’t want to!’ cried Joan. ‘Oh, it’s too sad.’

  ‘My thoughts exactly,’ Mr MacKenna said gently. ‘Ah, how hard it is to find the words, eh? But you know already what I want to say, don’t you? Now I’ll wish you all the best for the future, and I’m certain it’ll be a good one. You’ll do well, Roz, never fear, and remember, I meant what I said about Aberdeen.’

  ‘Look us up, any time!’ cried Joan.

  They shook hands, all three, and there was even an embrace from Joan, but Roz, not trusting herself to speak, could only smile and watch as others gathered round for the last goodbyes and waves at Tarrel’s fine old door where Joan had parked the family car.

  ‘No more dear old Hillman!’ cried Mr MacKenna, taking the driving seat. ‘Best of luck with that, Mr Shield – treat her well and you’ll have no trouble.’

  ‘Come on, dear,’ ordered Joan. ‘Don’t keep everyone waiting.’

  And as they all waved again, the MacKennas’ car moved slowly away down Queen Street, then put on a little speed, turned a corner and was gone.

  ‘What a shame, eh?’ said Norma as people moved back into the building. ‘And it was all so nice and friendly at the drinks, eh? Did you ever hear so many first names, then? Now, I suppose it’ll be “Miss Ward, will you clear away the glasses?”’

  Roz made no reply, but feeling a touch on her arm, heard someone say, ‘See you tomorrow, Miss Rainey.’

  ‘Oh, yes, Mr Shield,’ she answered. ‘Tomorrow.’

  Sixteen

  For the first day of the property department’s new regime with Mr Shield in charge, Roz decided to wear something different. The weather was warm; she no longer needed her jacket, and for that first morning substituted it with a deep blue cardigan, a blue blouse that matched and a pretty, patterned scarf, borrowed from her mother.

  ‘Not bad,’ she decided, studying herself in the bedroom mirror, but as she left for work on Day One, her main interest was not how she looked, but whether or not she would arrive at the property department before Mr Shield. It would give her confidence to arrive before him, that was the thing – it would underline that she came to work on time and was there when he arrived, ready to assist and show him what she knew. Also, it would give her the chance to get used to seeing the office without Mr MacKenna.

  Too late. Mr Shield was already in the office when she arrived, sitting, working, at Mr MacKenna’s desk. Oh, wouldn’t he be? The advantage she’d thought to gain by being there before him was not going to happen, and all she could do was return his smile and echo his ‘Good morning’ as she put the post on his desk, just as she’d done for Mr MacKenna.

  ‘Miss Rainey!’ He rose to shake her hand, his eyes lighting up as they rested on her. ‘Nice to see you. I’m just frantically reading the notes Mr MacKenna kindly left me – with any luck, I won’t have to ring him up for an hour or two!’

  He laughed and seemed at ease, wearing this first morning a casual tweed suit, though she couldn’t help noticing that the collar of his shirt was not very well ironed and that his thick hair was looking just a little unruly. He was not as well-turned-out as she’d seen him before. Was he not, after all, quite so much at ease as he was trying to appear? Was he even … rather nervous?

  Immediately – and she felt a little ashamed about it – she warmed to him, feeling that he was just like other people – well, her, anyway – and not the wonderfully efficient new broom he might want folk to think him. This really was someone she could help.

  ‘Mr Shield, I’ll just sort the post for you, shall I? I usually did that for Mr MacKenna. And then if there’s anything particular I can do for you, please say.’

  ‘Oh, Miss Rainey, I’m not sure where to start!’ He ran a hand through his hair, then hastily tried to flatten it. ‘But, yes, I’d be very glad of your help, as I was told I would be. To begin with, I’d like to see the file on house prices here, they being very different from Border prices, you understand. Obviously, I’m going to have to bone up on those before I do my valuations.’

  ‘Certainly, I can help you there. Just out of interest, what part of the Borders are you from, Mr Shield?’

  ‘Kelder – that’s a small market town some miles from Berwick. I don’t know if you know it?’

  ‘Not really. I’ve only been to Berwick once, on a school trip.’

  ‘Beautiful country, Miss Rainey. I’ve always lived there.’

  Roz smiled. ‘Hope you’re not going to be too homesick, then, living in a city?’

  ‘Oh, no, I want to be here. I’m very glad they gave me the job.’ He shrugged. ‘Bet they wouldn’t have done if an Edinburgh man had applied. Guess I was lucky they didn’t.’

  She hesitated, wondering if she should say she was sure it wasn’t just luck that he got the job, but decided against it – might sound patronizing, eh?

  ‘I’ll get you the recent prices file,’ she told him.

  She was turning away when he said lightly, ‘Just one more thing, Miss Rainey—’

  ‘Yes, Mr Shield?’

  ‘Well, it’s what I called you just now – Miss Rainey. All a bit formal when there are just the two of us in the office, don’t you think? May I not call you Roz?’

  Her eyes widening, she could only stare. Was he serious? Did he not know what Mr Banks would say to that idea?

  ‘My name’s Jamie,’ Mr Shield added cheerfully, seeming unaware of her reaction. ‘I was christened James, of course, but I’ve never been known as James.’

  ‘Mr Shield,’ she said slowly. ‘We don’t use first names here. Norma Ward – she’s the typist – is the only person to call me Roz, and she’s the only one I call by her first name.’

  ‘Oh, come on, last night at Mr MacKenna’s farewell, first names were being bandied about all the time! Why, I heard him being called Ronnie and you being called Roz. How about that, then?’

  ‘That was just for a special occasion. Normally, Mr Banks likes things to be formal. It is usual in most offices, from what I’ve heard.’

  ‘Not at Hanna and Hanna’s, where I worked,’ Mr Shield said firmly. ‘We were all first names there. Not in front of the clients, of course, just between ourselves, which is what I was suggesting to you. But if you’re not happy about it, please forget I asked. The last thing I want is to upset you, and on our first d
ay at that!’

  His expression was so rueful, she found herself shaking her head and laughing.

  ‘I’m not upset at all. I think it was very nice of you to suggest it and I wish I could’ve agreed, but, you know, I think …’

  ‘It might not go down well with Mr Banks? I understand. Our Mr Hanna was a bit younger, you see, rather a different guy altogether.’ Mr Shield sighed and returned to his desk. ‘Let’s stick to the status quo, then, all right?’

  ‘Right, Mr Shield. I’ll get you your file.’

  ‘And maybe a cup of coffee?’

  ‘And coffee too.’

  First names or no first names, thought Roz, I’m still the one to get the coffee, eh?

  At the end of the day, though, she felt much more cheered than she’d feared she might have done. True, she missed Mr MacKenna and the familiar routine with him, but Mr Shield had turned out to be just as pleasant as when she’d first met him, and she was sure now that they would have a good working relationship. Though he might have seemed nervous to begin with, from the way he tackled his work on that first day, it was clear to her that he was going to have no problems with it. He might even have ideas for improvements, being keen, she guessed, on stamping his own identity on the job.

  Of course, one of his suggested changes would not have gone down well if Mr Banks had got to hear of it. First names in the office? It was just what Roz would have wanted if it was possible, but at Tarrel and Thom’s, clearly it was not, and had better not be mentioned again. Just as Mr Shield’s other idea – of going out to lunch with her, his assistant – would be thought quite out of the question.

  As she made her way home, reviewing the day, Roz allowed herself a smile as she recalled the way he’d seemed to take it for granted that they’d go out to lunch, with or without his colleagues, this again being the practice in his previous job, where everybody went out together.

  ‘You mean, you didn’t go out to lunch with Mr MacKenna?’ he had asked, when she’d explained to him that she usually had a sandwich at twelve o’clock with Norma in the staffroom. ‘So what did he do, then?’