Time to Move On

by Grace Thompson

  The weather was perfect for the Sunday lunch. Seranne woke before six and went outside still in her dressing-gown to drink her first cup of tea. The birdsong had woken her and from the trees and hedges around the garden they put on their finest performance. The tranquil start to the day was spoilt when she began to wonder whether her mother would come. Luke had promised to bring her and she hoped they arrived early so there would be a chance to talk to her. There were many worries that she needed to discuss and once the rest of her guests arrived there’d be little chance of finding a private moment.

  Bob and Colin came before nine o’clock and brought tables and chairs, borrowed from various people, and set them up on the lawn. Kitty came soon after with her contribution of food. Kitty was quickly followed by Betty and Stella, both arriving in the car with Alun, with boxes of food and sheets for tablecloths. Bunting was spread around the trees, with no real excuse apart from wanting Jessie to feel welcome. Everyone disappeared then, to return later as guests.

  Sitting in the garden Seranne began planning what she would say to Jessie, how she would approach the subject of Paul and the abandonment of the tea rooms that had been in the family for three generations. It had fallen apart since the arrival of Paul. She had to make her mother see what he had done. Jessie’s personality had undergone a change that was alarming, but how could she persuade her mother that it was due to Paul’s influence without alienating her mother completely?

  Then something happened to make her change her attitude towards both her mother and Paul. The worries in her mind, like snarled-up tangles of wool, seemed to unwind and everything became clear. He was her mother’s choice and she was happy with him, happier than she had been running the business alone.

  Looking around the garden, she was conscious of a lifting of her spirits. A robin searched the newly turned soil looking for worms, a blackbird sang from an apple tree, the day was calm and a peace settled around her. The magical place had set the mood for a perfect day. Why should she put herself up as judge, and try to persuade Jessie her life was in a mess? She no longer believed she should try. Paul was her mother’s choice and if she no longer wanted to run the tea rooms, and instead devote herself to him, then the decision was hers. The house settled, making small sounds that calmed her even more and she felt the comfort and peace of the house settling around her as though it approved.

  Luke arrived with Jessie soon afterwards and he didn’t knock on the door but took her straight around to the garden. She ran to hug her daughter then stared around her in delight. ‘What a wonderful place you’ve found. A piece of heaven!’ she said, staring at the beautiful old house, its windows glittering in the sun. She turned to look at the garden. ‘It’s so peaceful!’

  ‘Sometimes, if you’re very quiet, you can hear the stream, it isn’t far away, just across the lane and after rain it chuckles past quite delightfully,’ Luke said, giving Seranne a hug as she mouthed ‘thank you’.

  He went to talk to Bob and Colin who were first to arrive, and stood watching Seranne as she greeted the guests. She introduced her mother to them all and once Babs appeared, they left Jessie to mingle as they began to set out the food. Luke had disappeared but for an hour she was too busy to wonder where he had gone. The low murmur of conversation interspersed with bursts of laughter was like music and she could see that her mother was enjoying the occasion, chatting with ease and making new friends.

  It was as the first of the friends were leaving that Seranne asked if anyone had seen Luke.

  ‘I think he said something about an appointment,’ Jessie said. ‘I was so excited about coming here I’m afraid I didn’t listen properly.’

  ‘I expect he’ll be back soon. He’s taking you back home isn’t he?’

  ‘Not yet, dear. Can we go and see your café? The Wayfaring Tree, what a lovely name.’

  Leaving Betty and Alun sitting in the garden, they borrowed bicycles from Kitty and Bob and rode to the high street, enjoying the warmth of the late afternoon. For Jessie the first sight of The Wayfaring Tree was a shock as great as falling into icy water. She stared at the small premises and saw reflected a simpler version of the place she had allowed to fall into ruin. Seranne and Babs had chosen to copy the display of pretty plates on a shelf around the room – most of which she recognized as coming from her own tea rooms. The curtains were a charming floral design and the tables were covered with the same material. White china and white painted chairs were a delightful contrast. She thought of the once popular place she had owned and despair almost made her cry out in pain.

  She had been so obsessed with Paul, she had been blind to her own stupidity. And for what? A man who failed with his own business and would probably fail again. His promises of helping her to start again were a nonsense. He had probably used most of her money in this latest project and she would have nothing left but an empty room.

  Why had she allowed herself to be so manipulated that she ignored what he was doing? She had watched in silence as he had sold all her beautiful things with the promise of new, modern replacements. She had known she was making mistake after mistake, but had refused to accept what her mind was telling her. It was like coming out of a dark room into the painful agony of bright light. Aloud she said, ‘I’ve been so stupid.’

  ‘What did you say, Mum? Sorry I was putting some plates into the cupboard and I didn’t hear.’

  ‘Nothing, dear. I’m just admiring what you and Babs have achieved. I’ll have to persuade Paul to hurry up with our refurbishment. I can’t have you leaving me so far behind, can I?’

  After a tour of the small premises and a discussion on future plans, they rode back through the sleepy summer lanes and Jessie was silent. Seranne hoped the peace of the place was soothing her, unaware of the anger hidden behind her mother’s serene expression.

  Seranne’s intention to talk about Paul and the neglect of the business had completely faded. It was such a perfect day and Jessie hadn’t mentioned Paul at all. Until her mother wanted to discuss him, her stepfather was not a problem for her to wonder over. The thought was comforting.

  When they returned to the garden there was still no sign of Luke. Bob and Jake were sitting next to Colin discussing the weather prospects for the following day, looking up at clouds, gauging the direction of the wind, arguing about the various old folks’ tales good humouredly. Jessie went to sit among the others and began a conversation with Betty and Alun, holding back her anger, determined to go home and face Paul and demand a reinstatement of the tea rooms.

  Luke had driven back to Jessie’s tea rooms and watched as Paul moved backwards and forwards across the windows of the flat, wondering what he was doing and determined to wait until he found out. He sat in his car for an hour, wishing he was at Badgers Brook enjoying the lunch with Seranne. Another hour passed and then the side door opened and Paul came out carrying two large suitcases.

  Luke stayed where he was and watched as Paul made two more appearances, each time with boxes which, from the way he handled them, appeared to be heavy. Another trip up to the flat, then he came down and stood for a few moments staring at the now full boot of the car before closing the lid and getting into the driving seat. He was obviously leaving.

  Luke started his engine, his mind torn with indecision. What should he do, try to stop him? Follow him and report to Seranne? Paul moved off and, faced with no choice apart from ramming him, Luke followed.

  This time he made no effort to disguise the fact he was following him and Paul increased speed when he recognized him. Luke stayed on his tail. Paul slowed down and beckoned him on, arm through the driver’s window. Luke went ahead, jammed on the brake, forcing Paul to stop, and got out. Paul recovered and weaving his way around him, drove on. A car was approaching from a side road and only inches separated them. Luke put his foot down and overlook him again even though Paul moved from side to side to try and stop him. He stopped and ran back, grabbing the driver’s door open and dragging Paul from the car. Paul fought him
off and began to drive off again. As he edged around Luke’s MG, Luke jumped in the passenger seat and leaning over, turned off the engine and pocketed the key. ‘Running away, are you? Having taken everything Jessie has that’s worth taking?’

  ‘What on earth do you want?’ Paul demanded. ‘Get out and stop following me.’ He leant over Luke and opened the door. Luke calmly closed it again.

  ‘Where d’you think you’re going?’ he asked.

  ‘It’s nothing to do with you!’

  ‘Jessie’s at Badgers Brook singing your praises. Whatever you’re running to, it can’t be as good as what you’re planning to leave behind.’

  ‘You don’t understand.’

  ‘Try me. Are you leaving Jessie for Pat Sewell?’

  ‘Pat? Of course not. What on earth gave you that idea?’

  ‘I followed you when you went to pick her up the other day. You were together in your car for a long time. It seems she’s the one involved in this mysterious business venture when you ought to be talking to Jessie. So what else am I to think?’

  Paul bent forward and buried his face in his hands, giving a low groan. ‘I’ve messed everything up, ruined it all and Jessie’ll never forgive me.’

  ‘Tell me, then I’ll tell you about Jessie.’

  ‘I’ve used a lot of Jessie’s money, I was broke after losing my business. I sold everything I could find a buyer for, including some of the valuable china, which belonged to Jessie and Seranne. I had an idea that once I got on my feet, I could reopen the tea rooms, pay everything back. But it’s all gone. The shop I planned to open to sell catering equipment has been condemned as unsafe and anyway, the agreements to stock some quality products have fallen through. The larger premises I’d been promised and the contracts to sell have both gone to someone else. I couldn’t find the deposit you see. I’ve lost everything. What else can I do except leave? I’ve let her down so badly I can’t face her. I love Jessie and I really believed I could make everything all right.’

  ‘And Pat?’

  ‘Pat is a friend of many years and she’s been trying to help. She lent me money too. It’s all gone. All I own is an empty shop premises that needs huge amounts of work before it’s habitable. How could everything go so wrong?’

  ‘Too many irons in the fire by the sound of it. You start small and build, you don’t take on so much that you can’t finance it.’ He handed Paul’s key to him. ‘Come back with me. Talk to Jessie. I said I’d tell you about her. Well, she’s loyal, and loving and she’d rather you were there than face life without you, whatever the circumstances. Trust her – as you should have all along. She has managed a successful business all her life and she’d have helped, encouraged and supported you. Stopped you making stupid mistakes.’

  ‘It’s too late.’

  ‘Trust her. Go back. I know it’s what she would choose.’

  They turned around and drove back to the flat, Paul first, closely followed by Luke. In silence Luke helped unpack the boot and waited while Paul put everything back where it belonged. Then he said, ‘Come to Badgers Brook and bring Jessie home, Paul. You can tell her all that’s happened and tonight you’ll sleep, confident she’s beside you, your partner in every way.’

  With the cars in convoy, they reached Badgers Brook and walked around the side of the house to the garden. By the time Jessie and Seranne had returned their borrowed cycles he had enjoyed a tour of the garden and house and was sitting drinking a beer and listening to the weather lore of Bob and Colin, while Kitty and Stella packed away the last of the food.

  It was clear Jessie was not as pleased to see him as usual. She barely acknowledged his presence when he stood and walked towards her, turning to talk to the three men once introductions were completed.

  ‘I’ve come to take you home, Jessie. I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier.’

  ‘There’s no need, I plan to stay overnight.’

  ‘Please Jessie. Come home, there’s been a bit of trouble and there’s a lot I have to tell you.’ He was tense, having to talk with the two men sitting near pretending not to listen. Despite his pleading in a most uncharacteristic manner, Jessie was adamant. She was staying. She needed to calm down, knowing that if she talked to him now the result could be a serious breakdown in their previously loving relationship.

  ‘Why don’t you stay too, Paul?’ Seranne suggested. ‘There’s another single bed if you don’t mind sleeping separately for one night.’ Jessie gestured her disagreement too late. Paul accepted with alacrity. This beautiful old house would be the perfect place to confess his failure and stupidity.

  At eleven o’clock when the garden was dark and only an owl and a vixen, and the distant murmur of the stream disturbed the night, he stood outside with Luke, Seranne and Jessie. But without giving him a chance to say more than goodnight, Jessie was given a lighted candle and shown to her allotted room.

  His own with its single bed was pointed out to him but when Jessie had gone up the stairs carrying her candle, having provided him with a torch, Paul settled on the couch near the still warm embers of the fire. He couldn’t bear to sleep near Jessie without feeling her lying next to him. Yet within moments his worries eased away from him, the soft murmurings of the house as it settled were like a lullaby and he was soon deeply asleep.

  Jessie couldn’t rest. The calm quiet of the house had the opposite effect on her. Her thoughts clarified and she was impatient to get back to the tea rooms and start rescuing it from the neglect she had allowed to happen. She was angry with herself more than with Paul. It was her responsibility, and she had no one to blame for its demise but herself. It was up to her to return it to its former charms. She wondered how much – if anything – was left in their bank account.

  At one a.m. she rose and dressed. She presumed Paul was in the small back bedroom so she was cautious as she stepped across the landing and went downstairs. She could see very little, but the fire found some unburned wood and a sudden flame revealed the figure on the couch. Holding her breath she tiptoed past, carrying her shoes.

  Her jaw was tight with tension as she closed the door behind her and walked down the path to where Paul’s car was parked. Thank goodness she still had a key. Would the sound of the engine wake him? With teeth gripped in a rictus of anxiety she started the engine and put the car into first. Along the lane a short distance she turned on the lights and moved up to second, then third and she was away. Finding her way created a few difficulties and several wrong turnings and it was four a.m. before she walked into the flat. All the way home she had been running lists and ideas through her mind. The sequence of dealing with the dirty place would have to be dealt with methodically. She had started once but that enthusiasm had quickly died.

  She wanted to spend the rest of the night examining the stores and decide on the minimum she would need before reopening. Running through her mind was a list of ideas to put before the bank manager. As soon as she took off her coat, fatigue hit her and she fell on to the couch and was asleep before she could bring to mind the first item on her list.

  Seranne woke suddenly and went in to see if her mother was comfortable. It was strange having extra people in the house and she presumed that was the reason for her unusual waking. She was not alarmed at first to find her mother’s bed empty, presuming she had gone to join Paul in the small bedroom next door. Unable to resist she opened the second door and again found it empty. Curious now, she lit her candle and went downstairs. She didn’t know why, but she went straight to the couch and saw the sleeping form.

  ‘Paul?’ she whispered, shaking him awake. ‘Where’s Mum? She isn’t in bed, I thought she might be with you. Why aren’t you in bed?’

  Bleary-eyed Paul stared at her for a few seconds then, ‘Not in bed? Then where is she?’

  ‘Out in the garden maybe?’

  Paul had only taken off his jacket and quickly retrieved it. Together they looked around the large garden, shining a torch around and calling, softly at first, then more loudly
as alarm grew.

  ‘Where could she have gone?’ Paul was anxious now. ‘She couldn’t have gone home, there aren’t any buses at this time of night.’

  He touched his pockets and jingled keys. ‘I’d better go and look for her. But where do I start?’

  It was when he went to the car and found it gone that realization hit. ‘She’s driven back home! Why would she do that?’

  Seranne didn’t answer. She needed Luke. He’d know what to do. Walking up the lane in almost complete darkness was not alarming, she was too concerned about Jessie to think of imagined dangers. At the phone box, Luke’s phone rang just three times before he answered. When she explained what had happened, he said, ‘I’m quite close to the flat and it’s better if I go straight there rather than come and pick you up.’

  ‘You will find her Luke?’

  ‘When I do I’ll bring her back to Badgers Brook,’ he promised.

  She hurried back to the house to find all the lights on. Paul was walking up and down, Bob was in the garden and Kitty, in dressing-gown and curlers was making tea in the kitchen.

  When he reached the tea rooms, Luke let himself in through the unlocked side door and as soon as the door opened, he was aware of the smell of smoke. In the light of his torch he could see it thick and ominous. He started to run up the stairs but smoke immediately filled his nostrils and he dropped to the ground. Stay low, a voice in his head reminded him. Training to move around burning buildings was a well-remembered drill taught to children and adults during the early days of the war. He began to crawl up the stairs, calling for Jessie, praying she wasn’t there. Why hadn’t he looked for Paul’s car? The instructions learnt so long ago reminded him that, if he were to rescue anyone, the most important rule was to keep himself safe. Any injured person was depending on him. He slithered back down the stairs but stopped at the kitchen door. If he opened it, the fire might engulf the place.