A Second Chance

by Shayne Parkinson

  ‘You see?’ Sarah said, brushing her fingers lightly over the tops of the hangers. ‘I knew I’d lure you back if I held these to ransom for long enough.’ She parted the dresses to show the red velvet gown. ‘I’m determined to persuade you to wear this one before too long.’

  Amy smiled at the sight of the lovely things. ‘I’ll pull them all out later and try some on. Not right now, though,’ she added as she watched Eddie, who was showing signs of becoming restive. His uncharacteristically subdued manner had soon passed, and now he was prowling around the room, looking for something more interesting than dresses. This house, unlike the one on the farm, was full of things that might not survive a five-year-old’s attention.

  ‘You must be tired after that long trip,’ Sarah said. ‘Would Eddie like a sleep, do you think?’

  Amy did not give Eddie the chance to voice the rebellion she saw in his eyes. ‘I shouldn’t think so. I think he could do with a run around, if that’s all right?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Sarah. ‘We can go into the garden—I’ll have our afternoon tea brought out there. But wouldn’t you like to get changed first, Amy? I know how stale one feels after being on the boat all that time.’

  Amy looked down at her creased and travel-stained dress, her elegant surroundings making it look all the more drab. The thought of washing away some of the grime of the journey and changing into one of her pretty dresses was tempting. But a glance at Eddie, who was lying on the windowsill and leaning out as far as he could, made her reconsider. She put her arms around his middle and tugged him back inside. ‘I’ll be all right like this for now,’ she said.

  Sarah looked at the two of them and appeared to guess Amy’s thoughts. ‘I think Eddie can come outside with me and leave you to freshen up. Come along, Eddie.’

  Eddie went readily, not a trace of shyness as he skipped out of the room ahead of Sarah. A moment later, Amy heard the muffled thump of his footsteps bumping down the carpeted stairs. She quickly slipped out of her cotton dress, washed, and changed into the first tea gown she found in the wardrobe, wondering as she moved about the room just how Sarah and Eddie were getting on.

  She went downstairs and out the front door, and found Sarah at the base of the tallest tree in the garden, looking up. Amy followed her gaze, and saw Eddie’s legs dangling from a high branch.

  ‘I suppose this is all right?’ Sarah asked uncertainly. ‘He told me he climbs trees all the time on the farm.’

  ‘Yes, he’s like a cat for climbing,’ Amy said. ‘He’s never fallen from very high up.’

  ‘Oh, good,’ said Sarah. ‘Because I know he has to be kept busy. I took advice, you see—I’ve never really had a great deal to do with boys before. The general opinion seemed to be that the more one finds for them to do, the happier everyone is. Mr Kendall was particularly strong on the subject—he has two sons, so he ought to know. He told me boys are bursting with energy, and if one doesn’t tire them out by channeling it into harmless activities, it will come out in less desirable ways.’

  Amy smiled. ‘He’s right, really. The only way I can get Eddie to settle down for lessons and things is to make sure he does lots of running around.’

  She sat with Sarah at a pretty little bamboo table under a gazebo entwined with climbing roses, a few blowsy flowers still clinging on although the season was almost at an end. Nellie, the maid, brought out a tray with tea things, including several kinds of cake.

  ‘Plain cake, and seed cake, and currant buns,’ Sarah said, pointing out each in turn. ‘Mrs Jenson said boys like that sort of thing.’ She looked enquiringly at Amy, clearly seeking approval.

  ‘I’m sure Eddie will like everything. He’ll be happy, as long as there’s plenty to eat. You really don’t have to go to any bother, Sarah.’

  ‘It wasn’t a bother,’ Sarah said. ‘It’s not as if I had any involvement in the process, beyond asking Mrs Jenson’s opinion. But I want Eddie to be happy here. I want him to feel at home.’

  As if he had sensed the arrival of food, Eddie soon appeared, slithering down the trunk of the tree and jumping from the lowest branch. Amy brushed leaves and twigs from his hair and clothes as best she could. She was relieved to see that Sarah seemed unperturbed by his less than pristine appearance.

  Eddie sat on the chair next to Amy’s, swinging his feet to and fro as he munched on slices of cake and gulped down lemonade. When he had had enough, he was off again, prowling around the garden and looking speculatively at several of the taller trees. He climbed one of them, and found he could scramble from it to the next tree.

  ‘This is a good garden, Granny,’ he called from his perch.

  ‘Mind you don’t break anything,’ Amy called back. ‘I meant branches,’ she explained to Sarah. ‘Everything’s so neat and tidy.’

  Sarah smiled. ‘I doubt if he could do much damage. I’m glad my garden meets with Eddie’s approval—I shall have to tell the gardener.’

  Eddie clambered down the tree and began exploring the patch of grass that surrounded a small fountain. Amy saw him bend down several times to pick up small objects. He came back to the gazebo, and was about to spread out his finds on the table.

  ‘Not on the nice tablecloth, Eddie,’ Amy admonished. ‘Put them on the ground, we can see them all right.’

  He had found an acorn, some dried-up berries, and the cast-off skin of what they decided was a grasshopper. Sarah managed to appear more impressed by the finds than Amy suspected she actually was, and told him he could have them in his room if he wanted.

  ‘Eddie likes looking for interesting bits and pieces,’ Amy said. ‘Rocks and things, too.’

  ‘Does he, indeed? Hmm, that suggests some possible outings. I suppose the museum might be too dry for a child his age?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Amy. ‘I’ve never been to one.’

  ‘The butterflies and insects might interest him, though,’ Sarah said, while Eddie sat at their feet arranging his finds in several different configurations. ‘It’s very near here, it wouldn’t be at all out of the way. And some of the beaches might be good for rock hunting. I’ll look into it. There’s the circus, of course, but that won’t be back till next year, I expect. We might try a pantomime, though, if you think he’d like that—I believe there’s to be a season of “Cinderella” shortly.’

  At the sight of Sarah’s animated expression, Amy abandoned any attempt to tell her not to worry herself over it. Sarah was clearly enjoying making plans for Eddie.

  The maid came out to clear away the remains of their afternoon tea. ‘Nellie, tell Walter we’re ready for him,’ Sarah said. Amy almost thought she saw Sarah and Nellie exchange a conspiratorial look. She wondered idly what the message to the gardener’s boy might mean.

  Eddie resumed his exploration of the garden, and Sarah watched him for a minute or two. She glanced towards the corner of the house, then stood up.

  ‘Come with me, please, Eddie.’

  Eddie looked up from examining an insect crawling on a leaf. ‘Why?’ he asked.

  ‘Eddie, do as Aunt Sarah says,’ Amy admonished gently. She caught Sarah’s eye and looked her own question; Sarah merely smiled, and inclined her head in an invitation to follow her.

  Amy took Eddie’s hand and led him in Sarah’s wake. Just before the path disappeared around the corner leading to the back garden, Sarah turned to face them.

  ‘Now, Eddie,’ she said, her serious tone belied by the spark of excitement in her eyes, ‘I’ve work for you. While you’re living here, you’ll need to do this almost every day. It’s most important. Come and see.’ She slipped her hand through Amy’s free arm and guided her around the corner.

  Eddie stopped in his tracks, and Amy felt a quiver of excitement run through him. Walter was standing in front of the stables, his hand on the bridle of a chestnut pony.

  ‘This is Rufus,’ said Sarah. ‘It’s your job to look after him.’

  Eddie tugged his hand from Amy’s and tottered like a sleepwalker up to th
e pony. He reached out a trembling hand and stroked the glossy flank. The pony sniffed at him, then gave a soft, breathy snort. Eddie turned to Sarah, his eyes wide, and took great gulps of air before he was able to speak. ‘Is he… is he for me?’ he managed at last.

  ‘Yes, he is. You’ll need to exercise him, and groom him, and so forth. You could go out with Walter when he exercises the carriage horses, although you’ll need to get up early in the morning for that.’

  ‘I can get up early.’ Eddie’s voice ended on something like a squeak.

  ‘We shall see,’ said Sarah. ‘In the meantime, I’m sure you’d like to take Rufus through his paces.’

  Eddie nodded vigorously. Amy recovered from her own shock at the extent of Sarah’s generosity, and gave Eddie’s shoulder a small shake. ‘Eddie, say thank you to Aunt Sarah.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Eddie said at once. ‘Thank you for the pony. Can I go for a ride now?’

  Sarah nodded to Walter, who hoisted Eddie bodily on to the pony’s back and adjusted the stirrups. He kept a hand on the bridle and began leading Eddie slowly around the area in front of the stables.

  ‘Sarah, that’s… that’s very good of you,’ Amy said as the two of them watched a delighted Eddie.

  ‘Well, from all you’d told me of Eddie, I knew he’d never settle here if he didn’t have a horse to ride.’ She turned to face Amy. ‘And I do want him to settle. I know that’s the only way I’m going to be able to keep you here for any length of time.’ Sarah smiled. ‘Though I must confess I find myself liking Eddie on his own account. I’ve never had much to do with small children—when I was teaching, I managed to confine myself to the older ones. I thought they weren’t very interesting until they got to eleven or twelve. But there’s something rather endearing about this little imp.’

  ‘I’ve got very fond of him.’

  ‘Yes, I can see that.’ Sarah glanced over at Eddie, who was trying to persuade Walter to release his grip on the bridle. ‘Do you feel up to a walk in the park? I doubt if Eddie’s going to be content with the back garden for long, and the park should be fairly quiet this late in the afternoon.’

  Amy assured Sarah she was quite capable of such a stroll. Rather than have Amy change from her tea gown into a walking costume, Sarah rang the bell for the maid and had her bring their cloaks. She issued her instructions to Walter, and they all set off on the short walk to the park.

  They passed the statue of the young soldier from the Boer War; she would show it to Eddie one day soon, Amy thought to herself. She had taken him to see Malcolm’s monument in Ruatane; he would probably find a statue even more impressive.

  Sarah and Amy sat on one of the benches, still arm in arm. Amy pressed against her, delighting in the closeness. While they watched Eddie bring Rufus to a trot, then urge the pony into a slow canter, they talked quietly of what had passed during their time apart. There were matters that neither of them felt able to discuss freely in a public place, even one that was almost deserted, but a few careful words were all that was needed for the other to understand.

  The sun was getting low, the golden light of late afternoon fading to a cool blue-grey. Walter, patiently standing by one of the trees, was a barely glimpsed shadow, his clothes much the same colour as the bark against which he leaned. Despite her cloak, Amy gave a shiver.

  ‘Do you want to go back now?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘Yes,’ said Amy. ‘I’ll have to get Eddie cleaned up before he’s fit for dinner.’

  When Eddie came past a few moments later, she stood and waved to him. ‘Eddie, it’s time to go inside now,’ she called.

  Eddie executed a neat turn and came back towards her, the pony stepping tidily in a well-controlled walk. ‘I don’t want to yet. I’m going to stay out here.’

  ‘No, you have to come in now,’ Amy said. Something in the set of Eddie’s mouth made her heart sink a little. She found his occasional bursts of real obstinacy difficult to cope with even on the farm, where she felt herself to have a measure of authority; she did not look forward to having to deal with one so soon after their arrival at Sarah’s.

  ‘I won’t,’ said Eddie, a hint of colour in his cheeks beyond what exercise and excitement had put there. He jerked the reins irritably.

  The pony was startled by the sudden movement, but rather than reacting with a burst of speed it planted its four feet firmly on the ground and came to a dead stop.

  Sarah stepped past Amy and put a hand on the bridle. ‘Hadn’t you better do what your grandmother tells you?’ Sarah did not raise her voice, or show the least trace of losing her temper, but Amy would have cringed if that reproving tone had been turned on her. ‘Rufus will still be here tomorrow, and you can take him out again. Unless, of course, you’d rather I sent him away?’ she added, fixing Eddie with a hard stare.

  ‘No!’ Eddie said, his eyes wide with alarm. He glared back at Sarah, opened his mouth in what seemed destined to be a disastrous attempt at rebellion, then abruptly shut it. Eddie knew when he had met his match. ‘I’ll come back now.’

  ‘Good boy.’ Sarah released the reins, and at the same time released Eddie from her stern gaze. ‘We’ll all go back to the house now.’

  She walked along at Eddie’s side, an arm loosely around Amy’s waist. Amy saw Eddie send occasional covert glances in Sarah’s direction, and she traced his thoughts in his face. The remnants of indignation quickly faded, as he recalled just who the source of the pony had been. He caught Sarah’s eye and grinned at her, to be met by an answering smile.

  When they reached the house, Eddie announced that he had to tend Rufus before he could possibly go inside.

  ‘Not much needs doing, just taking off his tack,’ Walter said, grinning at Eddie’s earnest expression. ‘I can do that on my own.’

  ‘No, I have to do it myself. And I have to groom him,’ Eddie insisted.

  Amy could see that the pony, whose coat looked as glossy as ever after his stint in the park, was in no need of imminent grooming. She could also see how eager Eddie was to establish his claim to Rufus. ‘Let him, Sarah,’ she murmured.

  Sarah patted her arm and nodded. ‘Eddie’s quite right. As I told him earlier, it’s his responsibility to look after Rufus. Walter, show him where everything’s kept. You might need to reach the odd thing down for him,’ she added more quietly.

  Eddie went off to the stables at the older boy’s side, bristling with self-importance, both at his weighty task and at the chance to associate with a big boy like Walter. Amy smiled after him, happy to see Eddie so confidently making himself at home. She turned, and followed Sarah into the house.

  After taking off their cloaks they went straight to Sarah’s study, where she was eager to show Amy some of the books she had acquired during Amy’s absence. Amy soon found herself with a tall pile of recommended volumes for bedtime reading, and for their quiet evenings in the drawing room.

  They were so absorbed in their discussions that it was some time before Amy realised Eddie had been gone for longer than it would reasonably take for him to tend the pony. She left Sarah organising the books, and set out in search of him.

  Walter was still in the stables, but he told Amy he had sent Eddie back to the house some time ago. Knowing what tended to drive Eddie’s movements, Amy headed for the kitchen.

  There she found Eddie ensconced most comfortably, seated on a high stool at the kitchen table with a plate of various tidbits in front of him. He was holding forth to Mrs Jenson and the kitchen maid, as well as Nellie, who had somehow found it necessary to hover about in the kitchen rather than get on with setting the dining table.

  Eddie looked up and grinned at Amy. ‘I’m telling them about coming up on the big boat.’

  ‘Quite the journey you had, Mrs Stewart,’ Mrs Jenson said, her eyes twinkling. ‘Pirates and sea monsters and Lord knows what else.’

  ‘He’s as good as a play,’ said Nellie. The little kitchen maid, Polly, simply stared wide-eyed at Amy, as if wondering how she could have
survived such adventures.

  ‘Master Eddie’s been good enough to let me know his favourite puddings, too,’ said Mrs Jenson. ‘We’ll have to see what we can do about that. You can leave him with me any evening you and Miss Sarah want to go out—there’d be no risk of a dull time for Mr Jenson and I with this fellow about! And he’s already made friends with our Walter, he tells me.’

  At Amy’s request, Nellie set about organising hot water. Amy retrieved Eddie, ignoring his complaints that he had not finished the story, and steered him upstairs. ‘You need a bath before dinner,’ she told him.

  ‘But I just had one on Saturday,’ he protested.

  ‘We have baths more often at Aunt Sarah’s. You’ll have to put on your good clothes for dinner, too. No, it’s no good making a fuss about it, Eddie, you just have to.’

  Eddie grumbled half-heartedly, but he was somewhat mollified by the sight of the huge bath. He splashed away enthusiastically, getting a good deal of water on the floor and on Amy. Even the mouthful of soapy water he got when he decided to talk just as she was emptying a jug over his head led to hiccuping laughs rather than complaints.

  Amy persuaded Eddie to leave the bath by the simple expedient of pulling out the plug. ‘So, do you like Aunt Sarah?’ she asked as she dried him off.

  ‘She’s a bit bossy,’ Eddie said in a measuring tone. ‘But she’s nice, too. Yes, I like her.’

  ‘Good,’ said Amy. ‘I think she likes you, too.’

  *

  After a fine dinner, Amy was feeling the first signs of drowsiness, but Eddie still looked bright-eyed and alert.

  ‘It’s just about Eddie’s bedtime, but I’ll keep him up a little while longer,’ she told Sarah. ‘He’s had such a lot of excitement today, I don’t think he’d settle yet.’