Moments of Time

by Gloria Cook

  ‘Oh, you don’t know him like I do.’ Jonny got up and rubbed at his hurting backside before returning to the chest. ‘I’d better get on. Show Dad I’m willing. Perhaps he’ll let me go down to the beach later. He might if you ask him.’

  ‘Are you hoping if you show enough interest in his business that he’ll let you stay at the farm? I know you don’t want to miss the sports day. You usually win all the events.’

  ‘Do you think this fishing reel will do? It might be of benefit if I did try working with Dad. If I can get him to change his mind, you’d be able to stay at the farm too.’

  ‘I could go there anytime I want. Aunty Em telephoned me to say so, but I replied that I’d rather stay home and keep you company.’

  ‘Really?’ Jonny gave his cousin a disarming smile, a smile that spoke of his charm with females to come. ‘That was jolly sporting of you, Vee. I forget you’re nearly as loyal and as much fun as a boy.’

  ‘Well, don’t ever forget it again or I might forget about loyalty and cause you the most trouble you’ve ever had in your life!’

  There was a loud persistent honking of a car horn. Jonny flew down the attic steps and ran to the nearest window. Seconds later he was shouting up to Vera Rose. ‘It’s Uncle Alec! He’s here! I told you he wouldn’t forget me.’

  Jonny tore out of the house before Alec had let Will and Tom out from the back seat. ‘This is a brilliant surprise, Uncle Alec. Hello, boys.’

  Tristan joined the throng in time to see his son and his brother exchange an affectionate hug. He and Jonny had not enjoyed this sort of closeness since the boy was little.

  ‘Hello, Tris. I’m glad the rain’s stopped. It was dry until we hit the coast road,’ Alec said. He was calm and breezy.

  Tristan eyed him warily.

  Winifred came outside wearing her charming old-fashioned hat and joined Vera Rose at the foot of the steps. The boys were chatting excitedly about the beach and cricket. Vera Rose felt left out.

  Alec sauntered up to Winifred and kissed both her cheeks with a resounding smack. He was all smiles. ‘I must say you’re positively blooming today. I’ve never seen you looking so much in the pink before.’

  ‘Save your compliments, Alec Harvey,’ she replied with unaccustomed fierceness. ‘You owe Tris—’

  ‘An apology,’ he finished for her gaily, turning to his brother. ‘I behaved abysmally towards you, Tris. I’m very sorry. I couldn’t let another day go by without making amends, which I’m certain I can do because you don’t bear grudges like I do.’

  Tristan stared at the hand Alec directed at his chest as if he’d never been offered such a gesture of reconciliation before. The apology was welcome, but he wasn’t fooled by the reason behind it. Alec was here to renegotiate the question of Jonny’s summer break at the farm. When Alec took the handshake a stage further and wrapped Tristan in a brotherly hug, Tristan whispered down his ear, ‘You can be a right bastard at times.’

  ‘I know. Polly Hetherton has pointed this out to me, but of course she used different language. I really am sorry though, Tris. How about a game of cricket on the beach? The sand is wet and firm and we’ve brought a huge picnic, plenty for everyone. Then you can think it over about Jonny. I’ll abide by your decision.’ Alec smiled at Tristan until he too broke into a smile.

  ‘I was busy doing something else, but go on then, you ratbag. Afterwards I’ll tell you about the business I’m going to set up.’

  Jonny was already organizing his team, defying the grumbles of the other boys by choosing Vera Rose, and putting her in a state of being in heaven, to bat first.

  Winifred was listening through the buzz of voices. Another motor car had started down the drive. ‘Who’s this?’

  As the others became aware of its approach they gradually fell silent and all watched.

  ‘It’s Uncle Ben!’ Will exclaimed.

  ‘And a strange lady,’ Tom added, his little brown head bobbing as he went on tiptoe to gain a better view.

  Tristan shot Alec a warning look. Alec lightly shrugged his shoulders.

  It seemed Ben had bought a new car, this one was a nippy Austin Tourer, quite unlike his other fast model. He turned off the engine and got out, but Jonny beat him round to the passenger side and opened the door for his companion.

  ‘Welcome back, Ben.’ Tristan hastened forward to greet him. ‘This is the second welcome surprise arrival here today.’

  Ben waited until the stranger with him had taken his arm. ‘It’s good to be back, Tris.’ Smiling, quietly confident, he included Alec, if he cared to listen, in what he next said. ‘Everyone, I’m proud to introduce Brooke Wilder Harvey, my wife.’

  There was a moment of stunned silence, broken by Winifred, who, thrilled not only at the announcement but the fact Ben had chosen someone of his own age to marry, dashed off the step to the couple. ‘Oh, Ben, this is marvellous news. Congratulations! And you look so well, I’m glad to say. Welcome to the family, Brooke. My, you’re pretty. I’m Winnie, Ben’s cousin.’

  The two women joined in an easy embrace. ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Winnie. Ben’s told me all about his family. You’re married to Tristan, his brother.’

  ‘Good heavens, you’re an American. How exciting.’ Winnie looked from her neat, glowing new sister-in-law to Ben. ‘Did you go to New York?’

  ‘Actually, Brooke and I met at Passchendaele. I went there to pay my respects to Billy Rowse. It’s a long story which I’ll tell you about later.’ Ben glanced at Alec, who was expressionless, and homed in on Tristan, his mood dropping into sorrow. ‘I’ve visited Henry’s grave too and I’ve brought back photographs.’

  Brooke pre-empted any more introductions by picking out the rest of the family members from the descriptions Ben had given her. Warm greetings were passed until she faced the eldest of her brothers-in-law. ‘You must be Alec. Hello.’

  As she approached, Alec had been asking himself how he felt about Ben’s presence. Until Polly’s rebuke he had hoped Ben would sell up through a land agent and never come back to Hennaford. Since then he had kept his feelings about him on hold. He was glad he was safe and well, and married to someone who looked suitable for him. Now he studied Brooke Wilder Harvey in the same way she was studying him. Carefully. Deeply.

  Ben came forward, stiffly alert and protective over his bride. Both were expecting at least a cool reception from Alec. Another silent moment passed.

  Then, recalling Emilia’s desire for old wounds to be healed, Alec reached out to Brooke and bent his head and kissed her cheek. He was aware of a great many cautious gasps and murmurs. ‘I’m glad to see my young brother has finally settled down. You’re very welcome to the Harvey clan, Brooke.’ To Ben, he said, ‘We’ve all been worried about you, Ben.’

  Ben was bewildered and did not hide it. ‘I don’t understand this but for Brooke’s sake I’ll accept the sentiment. I hope you meant it. You’ve got a horrible way, Alec, of making one feel out in the cold.’

  ‘Well, it looks like new beginnings all round,’ Tristan said. He glanced hopefully at Jonny, hoping today’s event would bring him and his son closer. ‘This means we’ve got two more for cricket.’

  Brooke elected not to play and strolled with Winifred down to the beach after the men and children. ‘It’s best to let Ben and Alec underpin their reconciliation, and it’s good to talk with another woman in my new family. First though, I’d like you to tell me if you think Alec was really sincere with Ben. Ben says he’s complex, even a little disturbed.’

  ‘Perhaps Alec wasn’t being entirely sincere, but mostly his heart’s in the right place. It’s up to both of them to build on the events of today. As for Ben’s observations, it has to be said that Tris and I have similar worries. Alec feels things so acutely and he does have a tendency to see them in a different light to most. But Emilia’s level-headed, she keeps Alec firmly in the real world.’

  The women settled themselves in the deckchairs that Ben and Jonny had carried down the long, wi
nding cliff path for them. Winifred sat sedately, hugging her middle, occasionally caressing it. She held up a parasol to ensure the sun did not hit her face and hands. Brooke stretched out and had already taken off her shoes and stockings. They were the difference between a satisfied mother cat and a confident growing kitten with still a hint of playfulness.

  ‘I know about the women formerly in Ben’s life. He’s told Mrs Hetherton about us over the telephone. She wished us well, so there won’t be a problem with us socializing with her in the future. We’re going to call on her soon so Ben can see her little girl. I know about Louisa’s tragic origins. The woman I’m really looking forward to meeting is the one whom Ben calls Em.’ Brooke laughed, and Winifred was interested in what was amusing her. ‘Ben told me how embarrassed he was over Emilia and Honor Rothwell preferring other men to him, even though he’d fallen out bitterly with Emilia in their case. When he proposed to me and I accepted immediately he went straight out and bought a special licence. It was love at first sight for me, there was no chance I’d have changed my mind. We still managed a little family affair, with my distant cousins way up in Yorkshire. The land up there’s like it is here, lush and green and full of hills and valleys, absolutely beautiful. There’s more of it, of course, and the moors seem to go on for ever. Where I come from it’s hotter and drier and the spaces are vast. It’s cattle country, and you could put the largest farm over here in a tiny pocket of a single ranch. It was lonelier and the folks were tougher. Ben says his farm and the village of Hennaford are in the thick of the countryside. It will be great though, having the good old Atlantic within easy reach.’

  ‘Tell me all about your whirlwind romance,’ Winnie said dreamily. ‘I’m quite starved of feminine gossip most of the time.’

  Brooke related the poignancy of her first meeting with Ben. ‘My mom died a few months ago and I sold the family business, a mercantile in a little backwater town, to fund my trip to Europe. It was Ben’s suggestion he help me trace my mom’s family. Can’t tell you how happy that made me, I couldn’t have endured being parted from him. My travels took me to Ben and there was no going back. Life’s like that, I guess. Full of deciding moments. Like when Ben’s eye was partially blinded. If not for that, he probably would’ve married Emilia and I wouldn’t be here now, and Alec would’ve still been at his loneliest.’

  There was an exuberant shout of howzat from Alec as the wickets fell against the opposing team. Brooke gazed his way. ‘He’s usually quieter, so I understand. Somehow, I can’t get him and what I know about Emilia settled in my mind as a suited couple.’

  ‘They’re different in a lot of ways, I grant you, yet they share a deep love and have a strong marriage. Alec’s here in this mood today because he’s contriving to take Jonny home with him.’ She gave Brooke a potted history of the boy’s disruptive behaviour since her own marriage. ‘It’s put Tris in an impossible situation, and just when Jonny was reluctantly showing an interest in his new venture.’

  ‘What Jonny needs is to see a side of his father he can also hero worship.’

  ‘Yes, I agree. I’d be lying though if I didn’t admit I’d welcome a break from Jonny. I’m not used to having a noisy, demanding boy about the place. And I’d appreciate some time alone with Tris.’

  Brooke’s bright eyes were on Winifred’s tender caresses. ‘Just you, Tris and your baby?’

  Not used to open discussion about this delicate matter, Winifred blushed, then her joy shone through. ‘Oh, I’ve given it away, have I? Please don’t mention it to anyone else. I want to spare Alec and Emilia’s feelings, and well, I don’t think Jonny would take too kindly to it yet.’

  ‘I’ll keep silent about it. I think I might be starting a baby too. Have to wait a few more days to be sure. Hope so, Ben’s longing for a son.’

  Winifred squeezed Brooke’s hand. ‘Congratulations, I hope you are expecting. I can’t help feeling excited about my baby.’

  At the same moment that Ben met Brooke’s eyes and blew her a kiss, Tristan waved to Winifred.

  Winifred sighed in bliss, ‘Now all we need is for Alec and Emilia to be happy again.’

  * * *

  Emilia was searching about in the hay house. Spying a new formation, not unlike a fort, in some of the bales, she climbed over them. ‘Well, Jonathan Harvey, you’re only back a few hours and I’m forced to look for things that should be inside the house. What on earth do you want this for?’ She bent down to retrieve one of her best tablecloths and shrieked when she was grabbed from behind. When she recognized the size and gentleness of the hands, her shock vanished and she grinned. ‘Alec, what are you doing?’

  ‘The house is full. This is the only place where we can be alone.’

  He turned her round and she launched herself at him and clung with both arms around his neck.

  ‘That’s your fault. Look what your nephew’s brought out here. Blankets, cutlery, mugs, pen, paper and ink from the den. Everything except the best silver.’

  He pulled her body in tighter against his. ‘I didn’t follow you out here to talk.’

  The desire he had enflamed in her at their contact flared into the unstoppable. She kissed him with a passion that equalled his, pressing her breasts into his chest. Alec took her down on to a blanket spread across the bales. She yanked his shirt out of his trousers. He pushed up her skirt.

  They were too keen, too impatient to spend time with preliminaries and Alec got himself ready.

  Emilia moved herself in under him a fraction. ‘You have brought something with you?’

  ‘What? Oh damn.’ His hot breath fanned over her face and his mouth demanded hers again as he realigned her back into position.

  She pushed on him. ‘Then we can’t go this far.’

  ‘We can’t stop now, darling.’

  ‘We have to.’

  ‘Please, angel.’

  ‘Don’t be selfish, Alec.’

  ‘Nothing’s likely to happen.’

  ‘I don’t want to risk it. We’ll finish this later.’

  ‘You’re joking? Emilia, please.’

  ‘Get off me, Alec. Don’t be so thoughtless. Damn you, Alec, move!’

  ‘Ouch! Bloody hell, there was no need for that.’ He rolled off her, panting, gasping.

  ‘Serves you right.’ Putting her clothes back in order, Emilia got to her feet, shaking off telltale bits of straw. ‘You had no right to insist, Alec. You should have stopped.’

  ‘I was going to!’ He let out a blasphemy. ‘Since when did I ever force you?’

  Emilia gazed down on him and kicked the bales he was sprawled out on. ‘You shouldn’t even have tried to persuade me. You agreed there’d be no more babies yet. I thought you understood how I felt. I carried Jenna for nearly nine months in my body. I don’t want another baby inside me yet, to have to feel it growing there, to have to give birth and feed it and wonder if it will survive, to, to… Oh, damn you, Alec. I’m going outside. You can bring in all these things the boys and Vera Rose have brought out, and don’t forget you promised Tris that you’d keep Jonny in line. Jonny has to learn more obedience. No more doing things your own way.’

  Alec was up and on his feet. Emilia was about to climb out of the cleverly made camp, now spoiled by their actions, but he restrained her with a firm hand. ‘I’m sorry about trying to make love to you without precautions. God knows, I’m sorry for upsetting you over our little girl. I know my tendency to slip away into my own thoughts sometimes actually turns me into a thoughtless swine, but what does that last remark mean, Emilia? Are you accusing me of trying to take Tris’s son away from him?’

  ‘Of course not.’ She twisted until she was free of him. ‘But you’ve just behaved in the most unfeeling way towards Tris. He and Jonny should have been allowed the whole of this summer to work out how they feel about each other as father and son. Your selfishness has only succeeded in keeping them emotionally apart. Jonny has little enough respect for Tris and your blatant interference for your own ends ha
s reinforced this. How would you feel if Will or Tom preferred Tris to you? Sometimes, Alec, you are the most sensitive man in the world, other times you’re exactly the opposite. To further your cause at Roskerne today is the only reason why you’ve invited Ben and his bride to dine here later in the week, isn’t it? You made it impossible for Tris to say no to your scheme. Have you thought for a moment how he must be feeling now?’

  Alec swept a hand through his hair, dislodging chaff, which settled on his broad, heaving shoulders. ‘No, I didn’t think about Tris, but I will from now on. I’ll point out to Jonny how he should behave as a son. He’ll understand and I’m confident he’ll behave better in the future. I’ll telephone Tris and set his mind at rest. As for Ben, you’re wrong about my motives there. When he suddenly turned up I was pleased to see him, honestly. Emilia, why couldn’t you simply say all this to me? Why the bitterness and spite?’

  ‘Bitterness and spite? Charming! Why couldn’t you tell me you thought differently about Ben? It’s about time you opened up. About time you stopped living half in a mental fog.’

  ‘I heard Ben call you a bitch once. You certainly can be when the mood takes you. Do you want me to cancel the dinner?’

  ‘No. Of course not. I’ll invite Perry and Selina too. It’s time we entertained again.’

  She made to go but a dreadful feeling assailed her, as if ice-cold rain was falling in her soul. She had never quarrelled with Alec like this before. Not having his usual comfort and unconditional love made her feel empty inside. She fell down a bale of hay and let a rush of tears cascade down her face.

  Alec sat beside her and held her in his arms. He cried with her. They knew who they were crying for, what this was all really about. There they stayed. Close and silent, until he cleared his throat and whispered, ‘Are you as afraid as I am?’

  ‘That it’ll never get better? I suppose we’ll just have to wait.’

  ‘There’s nothing else we can do.’