Time to Move On

by Grace Thompson

  She stayed and helped Stella to bath the dog then caught the bus to the top of the lane. She was aware how foolish she must appear to Luke. Always angry about something. She had never been as even tempered as she would have liked but he brought out the worst in her. She vaguely wondered why. It wasn’t an attraction. As a married man he was strictly out of bounds. Any brief dreams about a romance had been swiftly put aside. So why was he so kind to her? Was he really the same to everyone he met? From the little she had learnt about him, he ran several businesses and was on the board of several others, so he was obviously not desperate for friendship. She wished she dare ask Kitty for more details about the man but didn’t want to be misunderstood. He was married and that was definitely that!

  She had several visitors that evening. First came Connie and Geoff, who called each week for their rent and stayed for tea and biscuits. Next came Kitty and Bob, who asked if they could borrow a couple of chairs as they had visitors the following day. The third knock puzzled her. It was quite late and she wasn’t expecting anyone.

  It was Tony and she glanced behind to see whether he had brought his sister. For a moment her heart leapt at the possibility she was going to be asked to return to the café, but he was alone.

  Offered tea and a seat, he said, ‘Babs is struggling you know, and it’s all my fault.’

  ‘How can you say that? She ruined the scones in a petty attempt to make me look inefficient and—’

  ‘I turned the heat up.’

  ‘You? But why, Tony? Come on, aren’t you covering up for your sister?’

  ‘I wanted to spoil your chances because my parents and I want to buy a larger premises, bring in modern machinery and expand the business. Babs refuses to consider it. I thought that if I got her out of the way, Dad and I could get on with it. I wrote a wonderful letter recommending her for the job, my father gave her the finest reference. Then, seeing the scones that morning I couldn’t resist the temptation to mess things up for you. I altered the regulo – I wanted her to get the job. But now, well, I don’t think she’ll last long. She doesn’t know enough about running the business side of things. Making cakes in a modern bakery is different from selling them and making a profit.’

  She stared at him. ‘You haven’t said sorry yet, Tony.’

  ‘I am. In fact I want to make a proper apology. Will you come out with me tomorrow night? Pictures maybe and supper somewhere?’

  ‘There’s no need for that, but you must put things right with Babs.’

  ‘I’d like to anyway. We’ve known each other a long time but we’ve spent very little time together. It would be good to talk to each other without my sister there. What d’you say?’

  ‘All right, Tony. Only if I can choose the film, mind.’

  After he’d gone she felt a glow of contentment. She hadn’t lost her temper or told him what she thought of him for ruining her chances with Mr Griffiths. Luke would be proud of me, she thought happily.

  As for their trip to the pictures, they hadn’t made a definite date and she could let it drag out until he lost interest. Tony and she had little in common, or they would have become friends long ago. She lit her candle and went up to bed.

  She saw Luke the following morning as she stepped off the bus near the post office and told him about Tony’s visit.

  ‘What are you going to do?’ he asked, gesturing towards the café.

  She shrugged. ‘What can I do?’

  ‘You could apply to the staff wanted notice.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous! I couldn’t do that!’

  ‘Too proud, are we?’

  ‘Of course not. But….’ How could she explain that knowing she had been wrong about Babs just made things worse? Apologizing then working with her, Luke was probably right, her pride wouldn’t allow it. What was she doing worrying about what Luke thought of her? He was hovering on the periphery of her life, complaining about her temper, accusing her of jumping to conclusions without thinking things through, making her feel bad about things and causing her to mistrust her own feelings. He had no right to criticize. Calming down she wondered if perhaps Tony would help put things right. After all it was his fault the argument happened.

  ‘Why don’t we meet and talk about it, that often helps and you can hardly discuss how to apologize to someone with the person involved.’ He saw her hesitate and added, ‘Saturday evening? We could find a quiet place to eat, and talk for a little while then I’ll drive you home.’

  That seemed a reasonable suggestion and she had to admit it appealed. She did need someone to talk to and, now she and her mother were no longer such close friends, apart from Kitty and Bob she had no one in her life to fill that category. Keep it casual and there was no harm, she convinced herself.

  Her mind began to play with ideas about him as she went to the employment exchange for another attempt to find work. Perhaps Kitty hadn’t realized that his marriage had ended in divorce? A divorced man? Was that an attractive idea? It was hardly a pleasing prospect. Trying to convince herself she didn’t care, she decided that whatever had happened, he had been a failure.

  Before Saturday came round she saw Luke again. This time he was talking to a young woman who was hand in hand with a little girl. The shock hit her anew. He was married, and for a moment she felt the usual surge of anger at his duplicity. Why was he hiding the fact? Then his words came back to her. Don’t jump to conclusions. Was it a friend? Or someone asking directions? Seeing him with a woman didn’t automatically make the woman his wife.

  They met as planned and went to a small country public house, where they ate a simple meal of sandwiches. Luke said very little, he just asked an occasional question to encourage her to think things through.

  She asked him if he had ever had to solve a similar situation. ‘Have you had a friendship that was in trouble and needed sorting?’ It was the closest she dared to get to asking if he had a broken marriage behind him. Surely if he cared, even a little, he would tell her?

  He smiled and shook his head. ‘Friends are too important to take chances. We need them all. I always try to make allowances, see the other side, although that’s difficult at times.’

  Talking to him helped make up her mind. She would see Babs and apologize and hopefully return to work beside her. She thanked him as she stepped out of the car. He didn’t come in and she wasn’t sure whether she was disappointed or relieved.

  Betty Connors was on the phone to the brewery giving her weekly order when she saw the ambulance drive around the corner behind the post office. She immediately guessed it was for her sister-in-law. ‘Can you hold the fort a while?’ she called to Alun. ‘There’s an ambulance and it’s going towards Ed and Elsie’s place.’

  Throwing off her apron and grabbing her coat, she hurried to her brother’s guest house where she saw the ambulance parked with its doors open, and a stretcher being lifted inside. Ed was coming out from the house carrying a coat and a small suitcase. ‘Betty. Thank goodness you’ve come. I couldn’t get through on the phone. Elsie’s real bad. Can you see to the arrivals this afternoon?’

  ‘Of course,’ Betty assured him. She watched as the ambulance drove slowly away then went in to see what needed doing. After ten minutes she rang the Ship.

  ‘Sorry, Alun, but I’ll be about an hour here. I’ll be back for lunchtime opening, then I’ll have to come back to see to the arrivals. Only four, thank goodness. Birdwatchers apparently. They won’t be much trouble.’

  ‘Don’t worry, love, I’ll be all right until you get back.’

  The ‘Don’t worry, love’ pleased her and she felt like a young woman with her first crush.

  Ed rang at lunchtime and the news wasn’t good. Elsie was having difficulty breathing and would be in hospital for some time.

  ‘I’ll do what I can,’ Alun promised Betty. ‘Bob will help and Kitty has promised to wash glasses. This is an amazing place, I didn’t have to ask!’

  ‘I know. They all help whoever needs it, even the gr
umpy and ungrateful,’ she said with a laugh. ‘The customers are patient, too. A couple of them will come round the other side of the bar to help if it’s busy.’

  ‘We can take turns going over to make the breakfast, the cleaner will cope with the routine and finding someone to help with the bed-changes shouldn’t be hard,’ Alun said.

  ‘I wonder if young Seranne would help us for a while?’ Betty suggested. ‘She isn’t working so far as I know.’

  ‘I’ll ask.’

  Betty dealt with the urgent post and settled the accounts of the few guests without difficulty. Alun went over each morning and together they cooked breakfast, leaving the dishes for the cleaner, before dashing back to the Ship to start on their own morning’s work. It was hectic at times but sharing the problems with Alun made it a joy rather than hard work. They dealt with everything together without having to make arrangements, slotting into the necessary chores with ease.

  Ed stayed at the hospital, sitting in the uncomfortable waiting-room when he was not allowed in the ward – to the disapproval of the staff. Between visits he dashed home for bathing and changing his clothes and gave only a cursory glance at how Betty and Alun were coping. He did nothing to help, just left everything to Betty.

  ‘A thank you for what you’re doing for him would be nice,’ Alun said.

  Betty shrugged. ‘Ed has always taken my help for granted.’

  ‘He treats you more like a devoted mother than a sister with a life of her own.’

  ‘I looked after him after our parents died. Too well, I suppose. I took on the role of mother instead of making him cope on his own. I thought perhaps he’d be different once he married but he’s still rather selfish – except with Elsie. He’s devoted to her. The way he is with me is my fault. The truth is, I was glad of him being here. I didn’t want to be on my own. A different kind of selfishness maybe?’

  Seranne was near the café, looking through the window and watching the shadowy figure of Babs dashing in and out of the kitchen, obviously without help. Swallowing her pride and apprehension she went in.

  ‘Want any help?’ she asked.

  ‘You applying for the job?’ Babs said stiffly. ‘You have to come for an interview like all the rest, mind.’

  ‘Tomorrow all right? Then I can spend today showing you how good I am.’

  ‘There’s dishes want washing,’ Babs said gesturing towards the kitchen with a tilt of her head.

  They worked together for the rest of the day and gradually relaxed into their old friendship. Whispering comments about some of the customers led to laughter and by the end of the day things were almost back to normal between them. As they cleared the last of the pots and pans Seranne asked, ‘Do I have the job?’

  ‘If you say you’re sorry I might consider it.’

  Seranne laughed. ‘That’s what I said to your stupid brother!’

  ‘You’re right. He is stupid.’

  ‘I was too. I am sorry, Babs.’

  ‘I won’t be staying you know. It’s all too much for me. Accounts are a mystery for a start.’

  ‘I’ll help with those. We can do everything together.’ The mention of accounts took her mind back to her mother and Paul. ‘It’s my mother’s birthday on Monday, and as we close at three, will you come with me to see her? I won’t tell her we’re coming, it’ll be a nice surprise.’ Or a shock, she thought anxiously.

  ‘I’ll borrow the van,’ Babs said.

  ‘Did you know your Tony has invited me to the pictures?’

  ‘Wonderful, I always said he’ll make a good husband.’

  ‘He will, but not for me, so if he does make a date, why don’t you come with us?’

  ‘Play gooseberry? No fear!’

  ‘It will stop him getting the wrong idea,’ Seranne pleaded.

  ‘I’ll see. It depends what film you want to see.’

  On the way to see her mother, Seranne told Babs that she was worried about how rundown the place had become and when they parked outside, she glanced at the unwashed windows with increasing concern. Only two tables were occupied, each with two women who had obviously been shopping as their bags were beside them against the window.

  Instead of going in through the side entrance they went straight into the tea rooms, Babs first. Paul and Pat Sewell were standing in a corner talking, heads close, Paul’s arm around Pat’s waist. Pretending not to see them, Seranne looked towards the kitchen.

  ‘Mum? Paul? Anyone about?’ The couple darted apart as though touched with an electric shock.

  ‘Seranne, what a lovely surprise.’

  ‘Oh, hello Paul, I didn’t see you there,’ she lied.

  ‘Jessie’s up in the flat, why don’t you go straight up? I’ll follow as soon as I’ve given Mrs Sewell her instructions.’

  ‘Remember my friend, Babs?’ Seranne’s heart was racing and her voice trembled high in her throat with the shock of what she had seen. She didn’t speak to Pat Sewell, her voice wouldn’t allow that. She was afraid she’d be sick if she even looked at the woman. Something was going on and it was more than the fading fortunes of the tea rooms. Don’t jump to conclusions, a voice inside her warned and by the time they had reached the flat she had a bit more control.

  ‘Hi Mum, happy birthday,’ she called. Her voice was still at the top of her throat and threatening to fail. But once she had handed her mother the parcel and flowers she had brought, her mother did the talking, then Babs joined in and she left them and busied herself making tea in the small kitchen of the flat.

  She listened to the exclamations of delight as Jessie unpacked her parcels and the one brought by Babs. Paul came up with a few cakes and some dainty sandwiches on a tray. ‘I’ve just had to speak to Pat again about not washing the floor thoroughly,’ he said to Jessie. ‘I promise I was tactful though. I whispered so the customers didn’t here me telling her off.’

  Seranne cringed at the feeble explanation he had offered in case they had been seen.

  ‘I’ll have to do more,’ Jessie said. ‘It’s been lovely having more time to enjoy, and I know you want to ease my load, but I miss it, darling. I really enjoyed baking and sandwich-making, serving friends and seeing customers enjoying what I do.’

  ‘You’ve worked hard for so long, it’s time you took things easy and that’s what I’m here for, to give you time to enjoy your life. Pat copes well enough – as long as I remind her of how you like things done, now and then.’

  ‘Any post for me, Mum?’ Seranne asked and was handed a few letters from the box where her mother stored her mail. She glanced through. ‘Nothing of importance, but thanks for keeping it for me.’

  Paul seemed reluctant to go back down to the café and Seranne became aware that he was following her as she walked around the flat and showed Babs her room. Opening the door to the back bedroom, she said, ‘This is the office where Mum and I used to deal with the accounts and orders. Are you still using the same wholesaler, Mum?’

  As she walked towards the huge desk that had been her father’s, Paul quickly pulled her away and closed the door. ‘Don’t bother your mother with such things on her birthday, Seranne.’

  ‘Paul, what happened to the teapots and plates from the shelves in the tea rooms? Some of them were mine, given to me by my grandmother.’

  ‘Mrs Sewell took them down. She doesn’t have time for unnecessary ornaments.’

  ‘And the linen tablecloths?’

  ‘Old. Almost threadbare, we threw them out. Look, Seranne, none of this is your business any more.’

  ‘My mother will always be my business. Marrying you hasn’t changed that.’ She tried to ask her mother a few questions, but each time Paul answered for her, replying with the firm explanation that every change was to benefit Jessie.

  Babs guessed what she was trying to do and she asked Paul to show her the tea rooms kitchen. ‘I run a small café myself you see and I’d be grateful for any tips you might have.’ Reluctantly he led her downstairs and into the kitchen.
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br />   ‘Brr, it’s very cold in here, isn’t it?’ she remarked as they walked through the café which was now empty.

  ‘We’re having a bit of trouble with the electric fire,’ he explained. ‘Repairs are in hand, but the electrician is very busy.’

  Ignoring his attempts to stop her she went to look at where the pretend log fire was plugged into the wall and saw that the flex near the plug was old and frayed. Paul stood at the doorway into the kitchen and he pointedly looked at his watch. ‘I’ve arranged an evening to celebrate Seranne’s mother’s birthday, Babs. I’m sorry but we’ll have to leave soon.’

  After a few innocent comments about the layout of the room and its well-scrubbed table, and pretending not to notice the dirty floor and neglected cooker, Babs said, ‘I’m impressed with how well you organize your time, Paul. You work every day as well as help run this place, don’t you?’

  ‘Not any more. I gave it up to give Seranne’s mother a better life,’ he said. ‘This is a second chance for Jessie and I want her to enjoy every moment.’

  ‘She’s a lucky lady,’ Babs smiled.

  ‘And I’m a lucky man,’ he said earnestly.

  In the flat while her mother cleared the dishes, Seranne darted into the office and quickly looked through some of the most recent letters. There were reminders for unpaid bills and the wholesaler was not the one they had used for years.

  ‘Why aren’t these bills paid, Mum?’ she asked when her mother came to find her.

  ‘Oh, it’s nothing to worry about, dear. Paul says it isn’t good business practice to pay a bill before the final demand, money in our account instead of theirs or something. I hated doing all that after your father died and I’m happy to leave it to him now, after all, he owned his factory so he knows about business. Seranne, I’m so lucky.’

  ‘So is he, Mum,’ Seranne said, unaware of the similarity of Jessie’s and Paul’s remarks.