by Lisa Tuttle
“I’m Kathleen, Kathleen Mullaroy,” she stammered. “I’m the librarian.”
“The library—isn’t that the wonderful building with the golden dome on top?” At her nod, a line appeared on Nell’s brow. “But…we haven’t been in yet. We thought we’d go in after lunch, didn’t we, Sam?”
At this she finally noticed the man who stood beside Nell, his hand on her shoulder: dark brown eyes in an open, rather boyishly good-looking face. “Hi, Kathleen. I’m Sam. I don’t think we’ve met?”
“No, we haven’t. I’m glad to meet you.” He had a firm handshake; strong, somewhat callused hands: nothing ghostlike about him, she was relieved to note.
Nell had continued to stare, and now something kindled in her gaze. “I think I do know you…I sort of remember…didn’t I invite you over to dinner once? Where was that? I was living alone…it must have been in America; you’re American, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“It must have been a long time ago! Well, of course, since you don’t know Sam. Was it in Boston? When was it?”
She shook her head and shrugged, unwilling to lie yet unable to tell the truth.
“Well, obviously it was B.C.—before children. Do you have kids?”
“No.”
“Well, I don’t want to put you off, but I honestly think childbirth causes brain damage. I don’t know if it’s the hormones or what, but I lost so many brain cells that it’s like I can’t remember anything from entire years of my life. But all the same, it’s worth it.” She smiled suddenly, dazzlingly. “You haven’t met my other sweetheart. Ronan, say how do you do to my friend Kathleen.”
Kathleen froze at the sound of his name, but it was not a man who stepped out from behind Sam, but a slight, dark-haired, four-year-old boy who clutched his mother’s hand for security before looking up at her, and murmuring, “Pleased to meet you.”
“Good boy,” said Sam, touching him gently on top of his head.
“I’m very pleased to meet you, too, Ronan.” She looked at Nell. “His name…do you mind me asking? Where did you get it?”
“From a book,” said Nell, shrugging as if it was unimportant; but Kathleen thought she looked uneasy.
“We wanted a name that wasn’t ordinary, but wasn’t too weird or too hard to spell,” Sam explained. “We had a shortlist of about half a dozen each, boy and girl, and couldn’t make up our minds. Ronan’s an Irish name; it means ‘little seal,’ and that’s just what he looked like the minute that he came into this world—just like a little pink seal. So we knew that was the right name for him.”
Ronan was gazing up at his father, obviously enjoying a story he had heard before. “And I can swim just as good as a seal, too,” he volunteered. “And we’re going swimming today, you promised.”
“Yes, we are—if you’ll be good for just a bit longer.”
“I’m good—I’m very good!” The little boy said, sounding both proud and indignant.
Nell crouched down to give him a hug and a kiss. “Yes you are indeed,” she said.
Feeling she was intruding on this happy family scene, Kathleen stepped back. “Nice to see you,” she said. “I hope you’ll come into the library while you’re here.”
“Of course,” said Nell. “We’ll see you again.”
“You can count on that,” said Sam. “Nice meeting you.”
When she had gone half a block Kathleen stopped and looked back, just in time to see the Westrays disappearing through the doorway of the estate agent’s.
So they weren’t just wistfully fantasizing about a new life in Scotland like a lot of other visitors, but might actually be planning one. Orchard House was still empty. She wondered if they would buy it, and if they’d plant apple trees there again.
Wait and see, she told herself, and walked on.
* * *
From the Appleton Advertiser
Full Steam Ahead
The Bride of Lammermoor, the historic sea-going paddle steamer which carried passengers between Appleton and Glasgow three days a week while the road was closed, is set to return next month, “due to popular demand.”
According to a spokesman for the company which owns the vessel, “We had so many enquiries from individuals and tour groups that we have decided to offer a regular service again, beginning at the end of May and running through September. Although the road is now open again, many people have said they prefer this more peaceful and luxurious way of travelling to going by bus.”
Sailings will be every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, leaving Appleton Pier at 9:15 A.M. The return from Glasgow will arrive at 5:30 P.M.
Tickets may be purchased on the pier or in advance from the Tourist Information Office.
“Grand” Hopes Revive
A successful Glasgow business man and hotelier seems to have set his sights on Southport, with the recent purchase of the cliff-top property including the ruined Grand Hotel.
James MacAlister Bruce would not confirm or deny any definite plans to re-open the hotel, saying only that “I own quite a bit of property. It’s a matter of sensible investment, and being ahead of the game. I am always on the look-out for places with potential.”
Asked to comment on the “potential” of Southport, he remarked that the beautiful beaches and the fine old golf-course were “hidden treasures.” He went on to say, “I understand there’s a strong chance of a ferry link between Appleton and Northern Ireland, and that would expand the tourist base tremendously. The hotels now in Appleton could not cope with the boom.”
Museum Developments
Ever since the discovery by head librarian Kathleen Mullaroy of a secret entrance into the public library’s “golden” dome—long believed to be purely decorative—speculation has been rife about when it will be open to the public. As previously reported in these pages, Mrs Mullaroy found that the hidden room had been used to store a cache of paintings by local artist, Emmeline Wall, and a writer for this paper suggested recently that the best use of the domed enclosure would be as a gallery to display those works.
Fraser Mann, head of library services for the county, replies, “Unfortunately, the restricted access to the dome makes it impractical as a public gallery. We are, however, planning changes to the interior lay-out of the library which will allow for expansion of the museum, and the permanent display of many of the paintings.
“We have recently learned that our application for matching grants from the Scottish Arts Council and the European Union have been successful, and this, along with a substantial donation from an anonymous benefactor, will allow for some exciting new improvements. We have been interviewing candidates for the position of Curator to the Appleton Museum, and hope to announce an appointment very soon.”
Watch this space!
* * *
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Most of the books I’ve referenced in these pages are likely to be found only on the restricted-access shelves in Appleton Public Library, but I’ve used brief quotations from two books still in print and protected by copyright; wonderful, scholarly works I heartily recommend to anyone interested in myth, magic, and folklore. These are:
The Silver Bough (Volume 1: Scottish Folk-Lore and Folk Belief) by F. Marian McNeill (William MacLellan, Glasgow, 1957, pages 102–3).
The Woman’s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects by Barbara G. Walker, copyright © Barbara G. Walker 1988 (HarperCollins, London, 1995, page 480).
And the description of the kelpie I’ve quoted on page 273 is from Popular Superstitions and Festive Amusements of the Highlanders of Scotland by William Grant Stewart, originally published in Edinburgh and London in 1823.
ALSO BY LISA TUTTLE
Windhaven (with George R. R. Martin)
The Pillow Friend
The Mysteries
THE SILVER BOUGH
A Bantam Book / May 2006
Published by
Bantam Dell
A Division of Random House, Inc.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006 by Lisa Tuttle
* * *
Bantam Books, the rooster colophon, Spectra, and the portrayal of a boxed “s” are trademarks of Random House, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Tuttle, Lisa, 1952–
The silver bough / Lisa Tuttle.
p. cm.
Novel.
I. Title.
PS3570.U85S55 2006
813'.54—dc22
2005057150
www.bantamdell.com
eISBN: 978-0-553-90284-6
v3.0