‘So how do we persuade Seranne’s mother to visit your country cottage or Badgers Brook?’
‘The usual way is to invite a few people around. Hey, Seranne,’ Colin called, waving an arm. ‘Isn’t it time you had a few friends round? I’m inviting myself and our Stella, and Bob here will bring Kitty.’
‘Your mother hasn’t seen your café,’ Bob added. ‘Why don’t you invite her? She must want to see what you’ve done.’
‘She probably won’t come, but I’d love to have friends here for lunch. Sunday lunch, so Betty and Alun can come, and Babs and Tony. But where will the food come from? A shilling’s worth of meat won’t make a roast.’
‘No need for anything formal,’ Bob said.
‘We’ll all bring what we can,’ Kitty said when Seranne mentioned it. ‘Just ask a few friends and the house will do the rest. You’ll have a day to remember.’
‘Baked potatoes are easy,’ Colin suggested. ‘We could have a bonfire and bake them outside.’
‘Just make sure your mother comes,’ Stella said, when she was included in the plan. ‘She won’t refuse an invitation to meet your friends.’
Seranne shrugged sadly. ‘She probably will. She wouldn’t come to our coronation party.’
‘She’s got one of those television sets, hasn’t she? It must be hard to leave home and miss something, but the novelty might have worn off by now. Ask her, tell her it’s a celebration of yours and Babs’s success. She won’t refuse that.’
Luke offered to drive up and explain about the planned Sunday lunch. ‘Better than phoning or writing a letter,’ he said. ‘Face to face she’d find it harder to refuse. I’ll offer to go and fetch her, another reason not to say no. Whether Paul comes is up to him, but I think we must make sure your mother is here.’
The thought of inviting her mother made Seranne uneasy. Partly because she was afraid of a refusal and she also feared that if Paul came, she wouldn’t be able to talk to her. ‘I hope she comes on her own,’ she admitted to Luke, ‘but I can hardly tell her that.’
Silently Luke suspected that Paul would use the free time to meet Pat Sewell; knowing each other for years didn’t exclude the possibility of romance. He wondered if he could manage to follow them when they next went out but realized it would be difficult, not knowing when or where. He could hardly sit and watch the place for hours each day in the hope of seeing them set off.
‘Come on, Seranne, it’s a wonderful garden and such a happy place. She’ll come and she’ll love this place,’ Kitty said, and the enthusiasm was so great, Seranne was laughing, swept up in the excitement of her mother’s long-awaited visit.
Betty offered sandwiches and piles of Welsh cakes, the flat, spicy kind cooked on a griddle. Tony would supply bread rolls and Alun, a huge pot of soup.
Betty and Alun were both looking forward to the event. Each hoping that the day together would somehow cement their relationship. They were both so unsure, each afraid to admit their feelings for fear of embarrassing the other. The warmth that had begun when Alun first arrived at the Ship and Compass had never faded, only lack of confidence prevented it from flowering into love.
Luke was on his way to Machynllleth and he detoured by a few miles andcalled at Jessie’s tea rooms. Fortunately Paul was out and he passed on Seranne’s invitation, urging Jessie not to disappoint her daughter. ‘Paul as well, of course,’ he said. ‘But if he can’t manage it, you must come without him. Seranne needs you there. She’s longing to show you the café. She’s worked so hard and is so proud of what she and Babs have achieved. All that’s lacking is your admiration.’ He looked at Jessie, who was frowning. It was obvious from her expression that she was trying to make an excuse.
‘I’m not sure, Paul is so busy, you see and….’
‘She misses you,’ he said softly, ‘and she longs to show you her home and introduce you to her new friends.’ Without giving her a chance to say no, he went on, ‘So I’ll call for you at ten o’clock. If Paul comes that’s fine, but if he doesn’t, bring a few things in case you decide to stay overnight. You’ll love Badgers Brook.’
‘I’ll try.’ She forced a smile.
‘It’s your daughter’s day, a celebration of what she’s achieved. You must be there.’
Jessie promised, but Luke knew there was doubt in her mind. ‘Badgers Brook is such a special place,’ he coaxed.
‘I have seen it, when Seranne moved in. It’s only an old house, hardly special.’
‘Visit, stay a while and you’ll realize it’s magical.’
He left convinced he had failed to persuade her. She would only come if Paul agreed. How had the brave, confident woman he’d learnt about from Seranne, changed to this nervous person lacking in self-esteem? He mused over the many aspects of love, which made his thoughts fly to Seranne. What he felt for her was love, but taking a chance on his feelings was difficult after his previous humiliation. Besides, he wasn’t free from Marion, even after all that had happened.
Jessie told Paul about the lunch invitation when he returned, and waited for his response. To her delight he smiled, hugged her and said at once that they must go. ‘Your daughter wants you to see her and praise her success. Of course we’ll go, darling.’
‘I know it’s a Sunday,’ she said, ‘but I was afraid you’d be too busy. I can go on my own if you aren’t free but I’d love for us both to go. Seranne would be so pleased.’
‘Of course I’ll come. How would you get there if I didn’t take you? You’ve given up on driving, haven’t you?’
He spoke in a teasing voice but she felt a stab of dismay. Driving was just one of the things she no longer had confidence for. ‘Why do I need to drive, darling? I don’t want to go anywhere without you.’
‘I feel the same, but I have to go out on business and you’d find it boring, so I go on my own and get back to you as fast as I can. Shall we eat out this evening, or will you cook?’
‘I’ll cook,’ she said at once. An evening at home was the most she saw of him since this new business venture began to take up so much of his time. She telephoned her daughter at the café and told her she would be there.
Seranne was disappointed to be told Paul would also be coming, but she only said, ‘Don’t forget Luke will bring you if Paul can’t make it. Or Tony or Babs will come, there are plenty of people who will help, they all want to see you.’
‘And Paul?’
‘Of course. We want you both there. Oh, I’m so pleased that you’ll be meeting my friends at last. I’m looking forward to it so much.’
‘So am I, darling. So am I.’
Luke sat in his sports car at the end of the road wondering about Jessie’s gradual lack of interest in the once successful café. The windows had been half-heartedly cleaned. The sills and the swinging sign were in serious need of paint and from what he had seen of the inside, nothing much had changed there, either. The place had lost its heart.
The business was completely gone and he wondered how much longer they would manage without any money coming in. Paul didn’t appear to have a job and the business he referred to was a mystery. The shop he was renting was empty apart from a few unpacked boxes and there was no indication of the catering supplies Paul had envisaged.
He turned his head sharply when he saw Paul emerge from the side door and stride off around the corner where he usually parked his car. Fortunately Luke’s car was facing the correct way and he switched on the engine and moved slowly towards the corner. As Paul’s car nosed out of the side road he snatched up his trilby and clamped it on his head to hide his face, hoping Paul didn’t recognize the car, although an MG didn’t exactly fade into the background.
He followed Paul, cautiously allowing a lorry to come between them once and stopping for a motorcyclist at a junction. Each time he caught up easily and was within sight when Paul parked outside a small terraced house at the edge of the town. The door opened and Pat Sewell ran out and joined Paul, who then drove away, Luke following.
> Fortunately Luke was able to stop near them when they parked and he sat watching them, waiting a few moments before shutting off the engine. For an hour he sat there and all they seemed to do was talk. Once or twice their heads came close together but if it was a sign of affection, it was short-lived. When he heard the engine start, he glanced across and saw them hug for a long moment, then the car turned and went past the layby in which Luke had parked. Shadowed by his trilby, he saw their faces clearly and they were laughing happily.
After dropping Pat back at the terraced house and waving as he drove away, Paul went back to the flat above the abandoned tea rooms. Watching them had made Luke late for his appointment and he stopped at a phone box to rearrange it. He was dissatisfied with his morning. He was no further ahead with his determination to find out what Paul was up to. That he and Pat were more than employer and employee was obvious, but how much more?
As Sunday drew near Jessie looked in her wardrobe wondering what to wear. She chose a summer suit in pale green with a cream blouse. Not exciting but if the weather was warm it would be suitable for an afternoon in the garden, and it was one of Paul’s favourites. She was curious about the house her daughter now called home. Badgers Brook sounded countrified and she knew it was on a lane, but visualizing it was impossible even though she had paid a brief visit when Seranne had first moved in. ‘It can’t be very grand,’ she said to Paul. ‘When she rented it she was working in a café, she wouldn’t have been able to afford much. It’s probably a small and shabby cottage. We can take some flowers to brighten it up.’
Paul agreed. ‘And a bottle or two, there won’t be much to drink either.’
‘Perhaps I could make some scones. I was rather good at scones.’
‘She won’t need your scones! She has a café, hasn’t she? She’ll make them herself.’
‘Of course she will, and they’ll probably be better than mine.’
Paul smiled, but she waited in vain for him to disagree.
It wasn’t until Saturday afternoon that Paul told her he wouldn’t be coming. She hid her disappointment well; she had been half expecting it. ‘Won’t you be able to come if we planned to go later?’ she suggested. ‘The invitation’s for lunch, but we don’t have to arrive early. According to Seranne, no one will be in a hurry to leave.’
‘I’ll try, Jessie, I’ll really try. I know how important it is for you. Look, why don’t you go on your own? Didn’t you say Seranne suggested you might like to stay overnight? It will be good for you to talk to her, meet her new friends.’
‘Luke did offer to come for me,’ she said.
‘Perfect. I’ll miss you, darling, I’ll hate being here on my own, but she’s your daughter and you need to see her, I understand that.’
‘You wouldn’t mind?’
‘Of course I wouldn’t mind. Go and enjoy yourself.’ He looked serious as he added, ‘You won’t discuss this new business of mine, will you? I don’t want someone getting there first. Or our plans for reopening your tea rooms in a modern style. That’s our secret.’
‘Of course not, dear. I’ll leave food for you,’ she added, brightening as the idea grew. ‘And I won’t stay. I’ll be back before evening.’
‘No, dear, you must stay. Seranne will be at work on Monday so you can see how she manages her café. She’ll be glad of some of your expert advice.’ He looked at her glowing eyes, the smile opening on her pretty face. ‘No later than mid-afternoon on Monday though, I couldn’t bear to face a second evening without you,’ he added softly.
‘How will I get back, the buses aren’t plentiful?’
‘Didn’t you say Luke offered to take you and bring you back?’
She nodded, disappointed that he hadn’t offered to bring her back himself. It wasn’t that far. But he was very busy and she was being silly to expect him to spoil her like a child.
‘Have we anything to take to Seranne?’ she asked. ‘She said something about a letter which you couldn’t find.’
‘I can’t remember where it is. Probably unimportant and was thrown away. What about offering her some of your unwanted china? Now you’re having a rest from the tea rooms it’s filling the cupboards and making it difficult to sort out what we need to keep. When you reopen we’ll have a fresh start with everything new. Mid-winter has some beautiful modern designs, and there are some lovely pieces coming in from places like Czechoslovakia. We’ll look into it as soon as I have my enterprise up and running. I have great plans, darling and one day I’ll make you really proud of me.’
‘I always liked the rose-patterned china.’
‘Yes, and so do I, but we have to think modern and the smart new angular designs are what people will expect. Old-fashioned tea rooms are out of date.’
‘Being old-fashioned was its appeal.’
‘Not any more, dear. Trust me, I know what people want. This is the fifties, we’re in the second Elizabethan age now, Queen Elizabeth is on the throne and we have to move on.’ He looked at the green suit spread on the bed. ‘You aren’t wearing that, are you, dear? It’s a country cottage, and you don’t want to look overdressed, do you?’
In a rare act of defiance, Jessie smiled and said, ‘I’ll take a chance. I doubt whether Seranne’s friends will wear tweed and gumboots! I’ll take a skirt and jumper in case you’re right, but I always have a happy time when I wear this suit, so it’s what I’ve chosen.’
When he left, he walked back into the living-room and hugged her. ‘Jessie, darling, I love you. Always remember that.’
She was puzzled by the seriousness of his expression as he left to hurry down the stairs and out to the car. He often told her he loved her, but there was underlying tension this time and it alarmed her. Perhaps she ought not to go to Cwm Derw. Then she reminded herself that he would probably be out for most of the day and the unease faded.
Ed had received an invitation to the Sunday lunch at Badgers Brook but he didn’t think he’d go. Since the news about his wife leaving the property to an unknown niece became known, he felt as though everyone was laughing at him. The implications were that he had married Elsie in the hope of an inheritance, but the truth was that he had loved her. Even learning about her illness hadn’t changed that. He had been shocked to learn of her growing helplessness but he had cared for her and had been happy doing so. So how could she have left the valuable business to someone he hadn’t even heard of? Facing people and being aware of the expression of amusement on their faces while pretending to enjoy a friendly lunch was not possible. Besides, his sister would be there and she wasn’t much better than Elsie, refusing to give him his job and home back.
Tilly came out of the Ship after the lunchtime session and saw him sitting on a bench reading a paper. She waved before walking across and sitting beside him. ‘You’re Betty’s brother, aren’t you?’
‘I am. And you’re the barmaid who took my job.’
‘Oh dear, we are in a mood. I didn’t take your job. It was offered long after Betty had told you to leave. She said you weren’t doing your share. Right, was she?’
‘I had just lost my wife.’
‘So you weren’t doing your share. Grief is genuine, but it can only be used as an excuse for a while, then you have to get back on the treadmill and carry on.’
‘You’ve got plenty to say for yourself!’
‘Want to hear some more?’
‘No, I don’t!’
‘I know your wife left the guest house to a niece and the solicitor’s looking for her.’
‘And I hope they never find her, right?’ He was angry but Tilly appeared not to notice.
‘Will the property revert to you then? If she can’t be found?’
‘Not according to the solicitor.’
‘Be glad to get it sorted though, so you can get on with your life. Best to know, eh?’
‘Go away. What’s this got to do with you?’
Tilly patted his shoulder and in a whining voice said, ‘Poor you, woe and self-pity pers
onified. Not a pretty sight.’
‘What’s it got to do with you?’ he repeated angrily.
‘Oh, I might be able to help. You never know, so it’s best to be polite to strangers.’
‘What a misery he is, that brother of yours,’ she said to Betty later. ‘The fact is, I have an idea where this Mary Anne Crisp can be found, or at least where the solicitor might start enquiries.’
‘Then go and see Mark Lacy, get it cleared up for goodness sake,’ Betty said with a sigh. ‘Then perhaps Ed’ll stop feeling sorry for himself. He’s been looked after all his life. First by Mum, then by me and now he expects the same again!’
‘The truth is, the girl might not be called Crisp at all. Elsie’s sister, who was ten years older than her, never actually married Davie Crisp. She lived with the man, had his children but she remained Mary Anne Jones. The three children she had – a son and two daughters – are all dead, but the son married and had a daughter, and named her after his mother, so she’s the likley one to inherit. Better to make a few more enquiries before telling Ed, though. If I find her and she kicks him out, his chin will be down to his knees for the rest of his life.’
On her day off Tilly went to see Mark Lacy and told him her thoughts about the girl they were trying to find.
‘I have found a Crisp, but there’s no record of a marriage and therefore, no issue. Searching for a family called Jones won’t be easy, and we have no idea where Mary Anne comes into it, but at least we have a name and an area and an approximation of the date. Thank you, Mrs Tucker. I am most grateful.’
Tilly went home feeling pleased with herself. Memory is a funny thing, she mused. So many things forgotten, drifting in and out of her head, but a conversation heard in whispers as she hid behind the couch, as her mother told a friend the guilty secret of a woman called Mrs Crisp who had a man and children but hadn’t been ‘churched’, had remained in her mind as clear as clear. Gossip might be wicked, but it was certainly more entertaining than some sermons, she admitted to herself cheerfully.
Time to Move On Page 22