Mary turned, a confused look on her face. 'Ring? Oh that. He didn't get it. At least he said he didn't. They didn't have the one he wanted. But he's hoping to get one today.'
'He's going back up to London today?'
Mary rummaged through another drawer. 'What? No. He's still there. He went to see that friend of his. The estate agent. They had a few drinks whilst chatting about this house, and before he knew it, he had missed the last direct train. He stayed the night with his friend and he'll come back today.'
'Mum? What are you looking for? You seem upset. Is everything OK?'
Mary glanced over her shoulder and frowned at Cat. 'Yes, of course it is. I've just misplaced something, that's all. I seem to be doing it a lot lately. It's nothing important. It's simply that I don't like forgetting where I put things. Have you been moving things around?'
'No. And before you ask, neither has Kyra. We put everything back exactly where we find it. What are you looking for? Perhaps I can help. Perhaps I've seen it.'
'I'm looking for my cheque book. I always keep it in that end drawer. The one beneath the medicine cupboard. But it's not there. I searched high and low for it last night. And again this morning. But it's nowhere to be seen.'
'Mum? Please don't get cross with me for saying this, but do you lock that drawer?'
'Of course not. Why would I?'
'Because it's important to keep things like your cheque book safe. I know hardly anyone uses cheques these days, but it can still be a problem if they fall into the wrong hands.'
'Wrong hands? What are you talking about, Catherine? How can my cheque book fall into the wrong hands?' She slammed the drawer, crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at Cat. 'You're suggesting Jeremy has taken it, aren't you?'
'No. But let's be sensible about this. Either you've put it somewhere different and forgotten where that was. Or someone has moved it. I haven't. Kyra wouldn't. That only leaves one person.'
'Jeremy. I knew it. You said you would give him a chance. But you're not, are you?'
'I'm trying to. But if your cheque book's gone missing, and so has he, it's a little difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt. Is it just your cheque book you can't find? What about your bank cards? And credit cards?'
'Jeremy has not gone missing, Catherine. He stayed in London with his friend. He phoned me last night.'
'Has he phoned this morning?'
'Not yet. No.'
'Have you phoned him?'
'No.'
'Then perhaps you should. He may know where your cheque book is.'
'That's actually a very good idea. I'll call him now.' She glanced at her watch. 'He should be up.' She picked up her phone and called him.
To Cat's surprise, he answered within seconds.
'Good morning, darling,' Mary said. 'I'm sorry to trouble you but I'm being rather silly. That's sweet of you to say that I'm no trouble and I could never be silly.'
She glared at Cat, having clearly repeated his reply for Cat's benefit.
'The thing is. I seem to have mislaid my cheque book and I was wondering if you happened to notice where I put it after I wrote the cheque out yesterday. I thought I had returned it to the drawer, but it's simply not there.'
Cat poured herself a mug of coffee and watched the expression on Mary's face change from one of anxiety to one of relief.
'Oh, darling. You have no idea how glad I am to have called you. But I clearly am very silly if that's where I put it. Why didn't you say something? You didn't want to offend me? Yes, of course. I'll check right now. In fact, I'll ask Catherine to check because she's standing right beside it. Catherine? Will you check the Royal Doulton teapot beside you, please? Jeremy says that's where I put my cheque book.'
'In the teapot? Seriously?' Cat turned around and, shaking her head, removed the lid of the teapot. 'Oh my God.'
'Well?'
Cat pulled out Mary's cheque book and handed it to her, putting the lid back on the teapot and pushing it against the wall.
Mary took it and smiled triumphantly, although she had looked a little perplexed when Cat first handed it over.
'You were right, darling. We've found it. Thank you. But please promise me one thing. That in future, if you see me doing something so incredibly foolish, you'll say something to me.'
He obviously said he would, and he must've said something that made Mary blush, because she was flushed and grinning when she told him that she loved him, missed him, and couldn't wait until he came home. With an engagement ring or not.
'I'm so sorry, Mum. I mean it. I can't seem to get anything right at the moment.'
Mary smiled. 'I forgive you. But you really must give Jeremy a chance.'
'I will. I promise.'
'I mean it, Catherine. He makes me so happy. I love him. I think I love him almost as much as I've ever loved anyone in my life. Apart from you, and Mother, and now Kyra of course. I'll never love anyone as much as I do the three of you.'
'You love us?'
Mary looked shocked. 'Of course I love you. Why on earth would you think otherwise?'
'You have a funny way of showing it.'
'Do I? Well, the same could be said for you, couldn't it? But I've always thought you loved me. And I've always thought you also loved Granny Viola.'
'I have. I do. But we all said and did so many hurtful things in the past.'
'The past is the past. Let's leave it there, as Mother often says. And let's try harder in future. It's been so lovely having you and Kyra here. I know you'll want to go back to Bonniemount Cottage one day in the not too distant future. But, if you don't. There will always be a home for you here. Either in this house, or wherever it is we move to.'
Cat grinned. 'Does Jeremy know this?'
Mary nodded and grinned back. 'He knows. And he agrees with me 101% that you will always be welcome, and Kyra too. No matter what, or for how long.'
'Wow. Thanks, Mum. That means a lot. May I ask you something? Have you told Jeremy about my dad?'
Mary shook her head. 'No. I've told him what I told you in the past. That he was a mistake and that he is dead. Which is another reason I would really rather you wouldn't want to drag up the past.'
'But it's not about the past, Mum. It's about the present, and the future. I almost wish you hadn't told me that I had siblings. I almost wish I still thought I was an only child. But one day, I'm going to have to find out. I'm sorry. But I really am.'
'I know. And as I said, when Mother comes out of her coma, we'll deal with that. But in the meantime, I'm going to put my cheque book back in this drawer and I'm going to go upstairs and have a shower and then see if I can get my hair done. Jeremy says he's going to make sure he catches an earlier train than he had planned, and I want to look my best for when he gets here.'
Cat smiled and watched her go. It must be wonderful to be in love.
No. Cat was in love.
It must be wonderful to be in love with someone who loves you in return.
Until Cat had come back to Merriment Bay, she had believed she was happy with her life. The occasional night with Greg. More platonic than passionate, but at least it was sex. Sex with no strings attached. The few friends she saw from time to time. Her painting: that was her passion. And Kyra, of course. But since coming back, she had felt things she hadn't felt in years. Longing. Yearning. Wanting. Lust and desire. And love. Love for a man she could never have.
But was there someone out there for her? Someone like Jeremy? No. Not someone like Jeremy. Definitely not. But someone who might love her like Jeremy seemingly did love her mum.
Would she, perhaps, walk into The Hope and Anchor, or somewhere similar, or not, and start chatting to a handsome man? A man who would tell her that she was beautiful. Well, not beautiful. Her scars meant she could never be beautiful. But pretty, perhaps? She could still be pretty, couldn't she?
Would she meet a man who would travel to London, or even to Eastbourne, to buy her an engagement ring? A man w
ho would want to share his life with her and, of course, with Kyra?
She wanted that. She wanted that more than anything right now. But to get it she would have to make a choice. She would have to get over Amias. She couldn't go on loving him forever. It was just too foolish. Too futile. A complete and utter waste of time. To love a man who would never love her back.
So that's what she would do. No matter what, she would finally put the past behind her. The entire past.
And that included Amias.
But right now. She had a letter to post. And the post office in the Merry Shopper supermarket opened at 9 a.m. on the dot. If she left now, she could have a cup of coffee and a sticky bun in the Merry Meals café in the store and be at the post office desk the second it opened. How long did airmail to Canada take? And would Bailey Mitchell answer right away?
Assuming that is, he answered at all.
Chapter Seven
Cat had been told that her letter would take approximately five days to reach Bailey Mitchell in Vancouver and, assuming he wrote back the day her letter arrived, which she knew was probably unlikely, it would be at least ten days or more before she heard from him.
It was probably going to feel like the longest ten days of her life.
She walked along Coast Road and turned into Market Square and the small shopping arcade where the Christmas Market was in full swing. There were rows of stalls selling gifts and some selling cakes and sweets and other festive treats; one with a wide variety of wrapping paper, ribbons and bows; another selling cushions and throws. The stall selling mulled wine and freshly baked mince pies seemed to be particularly popular.
There was a small ice rink that could be erected and dismantled pretty much anywhere. It was only large enough to accommodate around twenty people at a time but everyone was having fun and one or two skaters clearly had talent.
To one side of the rink was an outdoor café selling hot drinks and hot snacks, served by rather attractive men and women, all dressed as Santa's elves.
Christmas music rang out all around, and myriad lights swung, in the chilly wind blowing in from the sea, as if they were dancing to the merry tunes.
Cat returned to Devon Villa loaded with several bags of gifts and goodies, some of which she showed to Mary over a pot of tea and a couple of slices of Stollen that she had bought at one of the stalls.
'I would've joined you for a merry mint hot chocolate,' Mary said. 'I've only been back from the hairdressers for about five minutes. I don't know what I'm going to do when Sandie sells The Mane Event and moves to Spain for good. It's bad enough that she's closing the place over Christmas.'
'Perhaps another hairdresser will buy it. Oh. I saw a gorgeous man today. Well I bumped into him, I should say.'
'Oh? A visitor or someone local?'
Cat didn't get a chance to answer. Jeremy returned much earlier than expected.
He didn't say a word. He simply smiled, got down on one knee and produced one of the most beautiful rings Cat had ever seen.
Mary cried, and so did Cat. Even Jeremy looked a little tearful. But maybe that was because the ring must have cost him not just an arm and a leg, but probably his kidney and every other useful part of his body. Only really good diamonds could sparkle like that. Or perhaps, really good costume jewellery.
No. Cat had said she would give him a chance, and she would.
Two days after that, Cat received a text from Amias.
'How did he get my number? K-yra? Did you give it to him?'
Kyra buttered her toast and shrugged.
'He asked for it. I couldn't very well say no. Not after all the trouble he went to to find out about Bailey Mitchell. I told him you didn't particularly like receiving texts, but then I thought he might call, and I know that would probably send you into some sort of frenzy, so I told him you preferred texts to calls. What did he say?'
'He said he's got some more information on Ivy and Bailey. I'm texting him back to say that Natalia's coming for coffee today, so perhaps he could give it to her.'
'M-um. That's mean.'
'I know. But the truth is, sweetheart, I need to get over this thing I have for him. I really do. I didn't think I would, but I've started wondering whether perhaps I might one day meet someone. Someone I could have a relationship with. A real relationship. One that's not tainted with memories and history. I want a fresh start. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually envious of what Mum has with Jeremy.'
'I'm glad you want a relationship, Mum. I really am. And I want that for you too. I just don't understand why that couldn't be with Amias.'
'Because it takes two to tango, sweetheart. Amias doesn't have feelings for me. Well, not the sort of feelings I'm looking for. I want someone who loves me, for me. Who only sees me when he looks at me. I think there's too much history between me and Amias. I think whenever he looks at me, he sees his best friend. And not in a good way. Perhaps I bring back too many unhappy times for him. I don't know. I just don't think there could ever be anything between us in that way. Even if I want there to be.'
'I don't know, Mum. I've seen him look at you sometimes and it even makes my heart skip a beat. Honestly. He looks at you as if he's in a desert and you're the water that will save his life. As if he's drowning, and you're his life raft. As if he's suffocating, and you're the air he needs to breathe. He looks at you as if he loves you. He does, Mum.'
Cat couldn't answer for a moment. If only all that were true. She shook her head.
'I don't see that, sweetheart. Whenever I catch him looking at me, all I see is hurt, and pain, and bitterness. Guilt, too. For some reason. Dislike, definitely. Contempt, once or twice. I've certainly never seen love. Or any sign that he either wants me or needs me. Although there was that night on the village common. The night of the bonfire and fireworks. That night he did look at me in the strangest way and I really thought for one moment, that he was actually going to kiss me. But do you know what he did? He made an excuse and hurried away as if his life depended on getting as far away from me as he possibly could.'
'Really? It's funny how two people can look at the same person and see completely different things. But OK. It's your life. You must do whatever makes you happy. And if that's not being with Amias, then I hope you find someone who you can be happy with.'
'I hope so too. And in the meantime, I need to avoid Amias Wells as much as possible. Will you help me with that?'
'Of course I will. If I can.'
'Damn. He's just texted back and asked if I'd like to meet for lunch sometime this week. He says he'd rather not give the stuff to Natalia.'
'You see. He wants to see you.'
'Well, he can't. I can't. I'm telling him I'm too busy this week, but that you're free, and that you can pass on anything to me without a problem.'
'Thanks. So now I'm your go-between. That's just brilliant, Mum.' Kyra let out a long sigh. 'Oh, by the way. Lucas and I are dating.'
'What? Since when?'
'Since the night you thought Amias was going to kiss you.'
'But that was four days ago. Why am I only hearing about this now?'
'You've had a lot on your mind. I didn't want to bother you.'
'Bother me? Kyra? How can you say that? I knew there was something about you that morning. The morning after the fireworks. You looked so … happy. So beautiful. So full of life and excitement.'
'Hold on. Stop there. Wasn't that what everyone said about Ivy? Look what happened to her. She crashed into a mountain.'
'Don't joke about that, Kyra. Please. Don't ever joke about things like that.'
'Oh, Mum. For God's sake, lighten up, will you? People die every day. Every single day. Global warming will no doubt kill us all if some meteor doesn't demolish the planet beforehand. We need to joke about death. At least, I do. And it's the one sure thing in life. It's coming for us all.'
'I'm going to ignore that. Tell me about Lucas. I bet he's a good kisser.'
Kyra smiled. 'He is. He's a
bloody good kisser. I bet Amias is a good kisser.'
'K-yra!'
'OK, OK. But I bet he is. And before you ask. No. We haven't had sex.' She grinned. 'And nor have Lucas and I.'
'Very funny.' Well, this is simply wonderful. My mum's dating someone and my daughter's dating someone. I feel a bit like a soggy filling in a sandwich.'
'Then the sooner you start dating, the better. Got anyone in mind?'
'No. But when I was on my way back from the post office the other day, I did bump into a really good-looking man in the Christmas Market. Literally bumped into him. He had such dreamy eyes and was so polite, with a very sexy voice. I apologised, because it was my fault as I wasn't looking where I was going. He smiled and said, he was probably the one to blame because he was always bumping into people, or things. He said it began when he was three and he bumped into his grandmother, knocking her flat on the floor, much to her displeasure, and as long as I was OK, there was no harm done. Then he smiled and walked away and as I turned around, I also bumped into Constance Raine, the vicar's wife.'
'Constance Raine!' Kyra burst out laughing. 'That's an unfortunate name. Especially for the wife of the vicar. Is she a bit of a wet blanket?'
Cat grinned. 'Very funny. No she isn't. But she does know most of the gossip in the village, so I asked her whether she knew who the man was, and whether he was local or just passing through. She said his name was Adam Wynter. He lives in Wynter House, the stately home on the other side of Wyntersleap village. The village actually gets its name from one of his ancestors who leapt from the top of Wyntersleap Falls. Or was it more than one who jumped? I can't remember exactly. I haven't thought about the place for years. Anyway, he's roughly the same age as me and he's single. The problem is, he lives and works in London and only returns home at the weekends and holidays. Not that he would be interested in me.'
'Why do you always do that? Why do you put yourself down? It's because of those scars, isn't it? No matter how many times people tell you that they're hardly noticeable. To you, they seem horrific. You say you want to find someone who loves you for you. Well I've got news for you, Mum. No one is going to love you unless you love yourself. Because the minute someone looks at you, the first thing you do is try to hide your scars. Natalia and Josh didn't even mention them.'
Christmas Page 5