Lonely Girl (19 page)

Of one thing Kathleen was certain. ‘I’ve no doubt she would ask me to have Rosie while she clears off and enjoys the grand life without the inconvenience of a child tagging along, and I shall be delighted to have her. Trust me, Molly will simply grab what she can and forget that John meant for it all to be held in trust for Rosie. His wishes won’t matter one jot to her.’

She cast her mind back to a conversation she had had with her sister a long time back. ‘From what she told me on the odd occasion when she talked about her ambitions, it would seem that John was somewhat naïve about matters official, and he never really trusted solicitors. So, if that’s true she’s bound to come up smiling, even if she has to pay a smart and devious lawyer to work for her. I mean, what with John being an only child, and the older Tanners long gone now, who’s to stop her?’

‘Could she really cheat Rosie out of her inheritance?’ Harry was shocked. ‘Surely Uncle John will have put his wishes in writing … or something official?’

‘Oh, I’m sure he did, but remember, though he had the land and business, he was cash poor and never earned the kind of money that would allow him to hire a really top solicitor. His riches were in the land he worked, and the joy of what he did, as his father, grandfather and great-grandfather did before him. He might even have just lodged a simple letter of intent with an ordinary solicitor, while believing that if anything happened to him, Molly would respect his wishes.

‘If my sister has her way – and I’m sure she has it all in hand – Rosie will be left a pauper, while Molly will come out of it a very wealthy woman. When the formalities are all done with, Molly Tanner will be off, money burning a hole in her pocket, to whichever grand bolthole takes her fancy.’

Kathleen’s harsh and bitter words were borne out of knowing Molly Tanner like no one but a sister could.

K
ATHLEEN GUIDED THE
conversation to an end. ‘Whatever happens, Harry, you can rest assured that your father and I will do everything possible to help Rosie come through this dreadful ordeal.’

In spite of reassuring Harry, Kathleen herself was deeply concerned about Rosie’s future. ‘With regard to what might happen next, we’ll just have to wait and see, but to be honest, I can never imagine Molly wanting Rosie on her coat-tails, especially if she’s intent on moving up and moving on in the world. And especially when we all know she has not one ounce of motherly love or kindness for that lovely girl.’

Harry knew that, but it only made him more nervous for Rosie’s future.

His quiet moment of contemplation was broken by Kathleen softly warning him, ‘Quick, Harry, I just heard the car door slam shut.’

Harry scrambled out of his seat, Kathleen was ahead, and the two of them ran into the passageway and towards the front door.

Patrick was standing back, waiting for Rosie to enter the house.

‘I’m sorry it took so long to get home,’ he said to Kathleen. ‘We had to make sure the house was all locked.’

Just then Barney bounded through the door and down the passageway.

Kathleen seized the moment to reassure Harry. ‘Please try not to worry,’ she whispered. ‘We’ll keep her safe, I promise.’

Harry gave a discreet nod. ‘I know.’

He also made the same vow himself. Whatever it took, come rain or shine, he would always be there for Rosie because, for him, darling Rosie was the one.

Over these past weeks, not being able to tell her how he truly felt had seemed like torture, but she was so young and he needed to be responsible and not frighten her. And now, following tonight’s heart-breaking news, he could definitely not tell her. Maybe he never would.

Patrick gave Kathleen a brief peck on the cheek. ‘Sorry, darlin’, but we got here as fast as we could.’

Kathleen nodded. ‘No matter … you’re here now.’

Concerned that Rosie had so far uttered not one word, Kathleen folded her in a warm embrace. ‘Come inside, sweetheart.’

Turning to Patrick, she discreetly raised her eyebrows and gave him a certain look that asked if he had revealed the worst truth to Rosie.

When he pursed his lips in that particular way and discreetly shook his head, she knew he had kept his word.

Kathleen was now desperate to get the bad news over with. She saw the tearstains on Rosie’s face, and she noticed the fear in her soft blue eyes, and it was clear that Rosie suspected something very bad had taken place.

‘What’s happened, Aunt Kathleen? I know something isn’t right. Last night, Daddy went out to find Mother and he never came back. Nobody seems to know where he is. Please … has something happened? He never stays away like that … never! So why didn’t he come home?’

Her voice trembled and now she was in tears, holding onto Kathleen as though her life depended on it. ‘Tell me what’s happened, Auntie Kathleen, please? Where is he? Something is wrong, I know it.’

Welling up with emotion, Kathleen wrapped her arms about Rosie’s slim shoulders. ‘I’ll tell you everything your mother told me.’

Rosie made no reply, but a deep worry gnawed in the pit of her stomach.

All the way here, Uncle Patrick had chatted almost non-stop, as though to prevent her asking questions. He had talked about all manner of things, except the possible whereabouts of her father. When she nervously ventured to ask if he had any idea where her father might be, Uncle Patrick had cleverly shifted onto other subjects.

In short, he had not been the jolly, fun-loving man he normally was. Instead, he had seemed unusually agitated. Rosie had sensed that he was panicking to get back to Kathleen.

She suspected that he knew where her father was, but try as she might, Rosie could not get him to discuss the subject. It really concerned her that he was so reluctant to talk about her father’s whereabouts.

In the end, on seeing how harassed he was, Rosie had decided to take his advice and wait to see what Auntie Kathleen had to say. ‘That’s the girl!’ His relief had been evident. ‘Your Auntie Kathleen will tell you exactly what your mother told her. To be honest, I’m not altogether sure what was said between the two of them.’

A number of possibilities had then played through Rosie’s thoughts. Was it possible that her parents had broken up? Had her father gone away? Where was he? Would he ever come back? She could not imagine he would ever leave her.

And what about his farm, and the life he loved? No, he would never leave Tanner’s Farm. To him, that would be the worst kind of betrayal.

That solid belief in her father’s good character made her feel somewhat easier. No, he would never leave her, and he would never leave his beloved farm … not in a million years.

Now she needed someone to be honest with her because she desperately needed to know what was going on. She even wondered if Auntie Kathleen had a surprise waiting for her, and the minute she walked through the door her daddy would be there to greet her. The thought had made her heart skip.

‘Rosie? Are you all right?’ Having greeted her and given Barney a loving cuddle, Kathleen brought Rosie back to the present. ‘I’ve been talking to you, sweetheart. You seemed miles away. Did you not hear me?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry. But, Auntie Kathleen, will you please tell me something?’

Kathleen anticipated her question. ‘Well, of course, if I know the answer. First, though, I think the men should go into the kitchen and make a pot of tea, and search out the biscuits. What do you think, Rosie, is that a good idea?’

When Rosie merely nodded, Kathleen gave Patrick a knowing look. ‘Off you go then, you two,’ she said meaningfully. ‘Rosie and I are off to the sun-room.’ She gave them a certain glance that warned them not to disturb her and Rosie.

‘Right, come on then, son.’ Patrick understood her little ploy.

As Kathleen walked Rosie along the hallway, Harry watched them go. Suddenly Rosie turned round and looked straight at him, her eyes huge. With a sad heart, he nodded in reassurance and blew her a gentle kiss. Then she was gone from sight as they turned the corner.

‘Come on, Harry,’ Patrick took his arm, ‘we’d best make ourselves scarce.’ He had seen that poignant exchange between the two young ones.

Harry walked on ahead to the kitchen, while all the time thinking of Rosie and how her heart was about to be broken.

He had loved Rosie ever since he was eleven years old. It was Rosie’s eighth birthday and Kathleen had put on a party in this very house. Rosie’s smile and lovely nature captivated him, so he could not take his eyes off her. Over the following years he realised there could never be any other girl for him but Rosie. As he grew into his teens, his love for her had only grown stronger. By then he could talk with her, laugh with her, and be the very best of friends. Now, having turned eighteen, Harry knew his love for Rosie was for ever. In his deepest heart, he knew there could never be anyone else for him.

Kathleen had caught sight of Harry blowing a kiss, and she knew her instincts were right. He did love Rosie. Now, more than ever, she was glad of that, because Rosie would need all the love of this little family.

Even as they walked on, Barney at their heels, the questions began, just as Kathleen had anticipated.

‘Auntie Kathleen, have my parents broken up? Is that why Daddy hasn’t come home? Are they getting a divorce? I know Mother can be difficult, and they always seem to be rowing lately. Is it me … something I’ve done? I know they argue about me – I’ve heard them – but I don’t know what I’ve done wrong.’

Kathleen stopped and reached out for Rosie’s hand. ‘Oh, Rosie … I’m sure you’ve done nothing wrong. You must not think like that. Unfortunately my sister has a quick temper, and it never takes much to set her off. I expect sometimes your father gets angry, too, and then inevitably a row will follow. But that’s the way of it, I’m afraid, and it is not your fault.’

Rosie recalled the worst row her parents had ever had. ‘It was my fault when Mother got bad-tempered when I was late home from school because I’d been to play with a friend and forgot to tell her. Daddy was worried and told me off and I said I was sorry but then Mother thrashed me really hard and Daddy had to stop her, and there was a terrible upset, and Mother said it was all my fault.’

‘Believe me, Rosie, the rows between your parents were never your fault. Your mother could cause trouble in a room with no one in it but her miserable self! I’ve been caught up in her nasty temper many a time. When I was even younger than you, she just loved to make trouble and blame it on me – more times than I care to remember.’

‘Really?’ This made Rosie feel better.

‘Yes, believe me, Rosie, she has always been that way: selfish, quick-tempered and ready to blame anyone but herself. My sister does not need an excuse to fly into a rage, so don’t go blaming yourself. That’s what she does – she twists everything round so other people feel as though it’s their fault. She hurts people, Rosie, and she doesn’t care one jot.’

Kathleen reached out to hug Rosie close. ‘Please, Rosie, promise me that whatever happens – whenever bad things might occur – you will not blame yourself.’ She was dreading telling the awful news to Rosie. ‘None of it is your fault. Promise me you will remember that and believe it.’

‘Yes, Auntie Kathleen, I promise.’ Rosie was not altogether sure what she had just promised, but one way or another she would try her hardest to keep her word.

‘Good!’ Kathleen took Rosie by the hand. ‘Now then, while the men are in the kitchen, you and I need to talk.’

Rosie was relieved she’d learn what was happening at last. ‘All I need to know is why my father never came home. Do you know where he is now?’

‘Look, Rosie, hand on heart, I do not know exactly where he is, although I must tell you what your mother told me word for word.’ She took a moment to suppress the rising emotion. ‘Come on, we’ll be more comfortable sitting down, I think.’

Rosie merely nodded. She trusted Kathleen, although at the back of her mind she could not rid herself of the deep-down feeling that something was very wrong.

Everyone had been too kind, too quiet and she knew that Barney had also sensed it because of the way he remained at her side, head down, his brown droopy eyes looking up at her in that certain way … like when she found a baby rabbit dead in a snare, and Barney saw her crying because she thought it was too sad.

Just then, Barney reached up to touch Rosie’s leg gently with his big, hairy paw.

‘All right, boy?’ She stooped to hug him. He knew something, she thought worriedly, but then she cautioned herself to stop imagining things. Barney was probably just picking up on her nervousness. How could he not when she was filled with fear? Afraid as to why her father had not come home. Afraid for that man in the barn, who was crying. Afraid of her mother’s warning that if she told anyone what she might have seen or heard, Barney would be hurt, or worse! She made herself shut out the frightening images.

Kathleen pushed open the big white doors into the sun-room. ‘Sit yourself down, sweetheart.’ Gesturing to the blue-cushioned sofa by the window, she watched as Rosie and Barney made their way there, then she closed the doors, before going to sit right next to Rosie and taking hold of her hand. ‘Rosie …’ Her heart was in her throat as she knew she must prepare Rosie for the worst. ‘… I did not tell you before because I wanted the two of us to be on our own, but when your mother called me from the police station, she did briefly speak about your daddy, though she didn’t go into details.’