Roses For Katie (6 page)

‘What’s wrong with that? He’s not a criminal or anything bad, is he?’

‘No, but I’ve told you before… he likes the ladies. I wouldn’t want you to fall for his charms and get hurt in the process.’

‘Well, that’s up to me, isn’t it?’ Katie responded, quickly. ‘I have no intention of falling for the man, as you put it, so don’t worry.’ Katie listened to Richard’s protests for several more seconds. ‘Listen, my dear, I’ve several little jobs to do before going out with Rex this afternoon, so I must go now.’ She chuckled. ‘I’ll phone to let you know I’m home safe and sound after my trip out with the gigolo. Okay?’

She smiled as she replaced the receiver, and realised that she was excited about the proposed trip. In fact, she felt more alive than she had since Greg had died. The feeling even made her feel slightly guilty. ‘Silly thing,’ she murmured to herself, ‘you’re doing nothing wrong.’ She wondered why children became so parent-protective, even when they had children of their own to worry about. It was as though Richard thought she was unable to look after herself, and it annoyed her slightly. She was still pondering on his remarks when there was a tap on the door. It was Pat O’Reilley.

‘Top o’the morning to you, Mrs. Turner, and what a beautiful day it is, too.’ He pointed to the overgrown trees on the garden perimeter. ‘I need to finish lopping those today, and if there’s enough time, I’ll dig out the rest of the old rose bushes as well. I just need you to keep in mind that you’ll have to buy a lot of replacements very soon.’ He touched his forehead. ‘I’ll see you about it before long.’

Barely two hours later, Katie took out tea and biscuits for Pat, and again discussed ideas about the garden. She smiled as she took the tray back inside, realizing it was her anticipation of the outing with Rex that was causing the twinges of excitement in the pit of her stomach.

Pat left while Katie was eating what little lunch she could. She barely touched what she had prepared, and felt rather like a teenager waiting to go on her first date; nervous and excited. She quickly cleared away the dishes, but took her time to get dressed. Finally ready, she went downstairs to wait for Rex to arrive, but it was only minutes later that she heard the strident blare of a car horn. All smiles, she hurried outside just as he stepped out of the magnificently restored Auto Union. He greeted Katie with outstretched arms and helped her into the car.

Once comfortably settled in the driving seat, he gingerly selected the first gear and eased out the clutch. As the car moved forward his smile widened, and he patted the steering wheel. ‘Ata-girl,’ he murmured. They were driving through the village when Katie spotted Pat O’Reilley coming out of the post office stores. The Auto Union obviously caught his attention, for he stood still and stared wide-eyed at the vintage car as it passed, and Katie realised he could not have failed to see her sitting in the passenger seat.

Almost an hour later, Rex pulled up outside a pretty teahouse on the banks of The River Wye. It was too early for a full meal, but not having eaten a decent lunch, Katie felt hungry, so the homemade scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream were more than welcome. Now that Rex was not concentrating on driving, he began to regale her with more stories of his travels, but after a while Katie tired of them and began to lose interest. This did not go unnoticed, and he diplomatically changed the subject, and gently began asking about her interests and future plans.

‘You have three other children besides Richard, Katie?’

‘Yes, three beautiful daughters.’

‘My word… three daughters? So tell me about them, their names, what they do for a living and so on. I’d love to know more.’ Although Katie was curious about why he was so interested, she began to answer his questions, and Rex had to sit back and listen for a change, while she delighted in telling him all about the girls.

‘And do you have any hobbies of your own?’ he asked.

‘Only the garden,’ Katie replied. ‘I used to walk a lot with Greg, but… ‘ Her voice trailed off as her mind flicked back to those halcyon days.

‘So now that your children are all settled, and you’re left on your own, do you have any plans for the future?’ Rex asked, breaking into her thoughts. ‘I mean... would you consider marrying again, if you met the right man?’

Unwilling to discuss her personal affairs with someone almost a stranger, Katie gave him a sweet smile, but no answer. Instead, she pointedly replaced her cup on the saucer, picked up her handbag and swivelled sideways in her chair as though to stand up. Rex quickly took the hint that she was ready to leave, escorted her back to the car, and drove home in a leisurely manner, with very little conversation.

‘It’s been a delightful afternoon, Katie,’ he said. ‘I’d really like you to come for another drive. Will you?’

‘It seems a great idea,’ she said, nodding enthusiastically After all, Rex had proved to be pleasant company, his behaviour was faultless, and surely he would eventually run out of travel-talk. When they arrived at Priory Farm, Katie stepped out of the car just moments before Rex came around to help her. He reached for her with arms outstretched, but Katie suddenly sensed that he wasn’t going to be satisfied with just a little formal handshake at the end of this pleasant excursion.

‘Katie,’ he said, in a throaty voice, ‘I’m delighted you’ve agreed to come out with me again.’ Then he made a move as though to wrap his arms around her, but Katie was too quick, and jerked up her elbows, successfully preventing any intended embrace without having to say a word to upset him. He seemed not to be flustered by her reluctance, and so the pleasant outing ended with merely a handshake.

Once inside, Katie made herself a hot chocolate and rummaged in the fridge for something to satisfy the hunger pangs that had surfaced again. By now it was almost seven o’clock, and the cream tea had not sustained her for long. She acknowledged it was her own fault for having refused Rex’s invitation to go to dinner somewhere before bringing her home. Until she knew him better, she felt that the afternoon trip was long enough. There would be plenty of time for dinners later on. With little of interest on television, Katie watched the news, and then decided to read in bed. She cleared away her supper dishes, and was about to go upstairs, when Elspeth rang.

‘Katie, I’ve been trying to reach you since lunch time. Where’ve you been?’

‘I went for a drive. In a vintage car. Had a cream tea in a pretty little village on the River Wye. It was a nice change, and a delightful day.’

There was a noticeable pause before Elspeth answered. ‘Oh, I see. I can tell from the lilt in your voice that something’s going on.’ She paused again. ‘A vintage car, you said? Then… you went out with a man. It had to be a man. Katie? Was it?’ Elspeth’s voice was staccato and high with excitement. ‘Are you going to see him again?’

‘Yes, to all questions. But don’t get any silly ideas, Elspeth. It’s not what you think.’

Her friend seemed to be digesting the news, because now there was an even longer pause. ‘I haven’t seen you for days, so when can I come again?’

‘I’m not sure. You see, after the funeral, I’m bringing Aunt Bertha here for a little break.’ She thought for a moment or two. ‘Look, Elspeth, let me give you a bell as soon as my aunt has settled in. She’s had a rough time recently. Okay?’ Katie made the rest of the conversation with her old friend as brief as possible. She means well, and I love her dearly, but she’s too much even for me, at times, she thought, putting the phone down with a sigh of relief.

The next morning, a letter from the solicitor arrived, and even though she already knew how much she was inheriting, when she saw the figures in black and white, it made her catch her breath. Just then, Sam pulled up outside the door. ‘I wondered if there’s anything you want me to do, Mum.’

‘No thanks, my love. Everything’s under control.’

‘Thought as much,’ Sam retorted, and removed the cover from her basket. ‘Anyway, here’s a nice beef casserole I made for you. All you need to do is heat it in the microwave when you get home with Aunt Bertha. I made one for myself and one for Angie as well.’

‘Oh, bless you for the thought; that’ll be a nice meal for us,’ Katie said, planting a kiss on the middle of Sam’s forehead. Then she remembered the solicitor’s letter, and handed it to Sam. ‘That came today. It’s a lot of money but it’ll be useful for all kinds of things, and each one of you will have a little share.’

‘This much?’ Sam said, her jaw dropping in surprise as she read the letter.

‘Now I must get on the road, so thanks for the casserole, Sam. I’ll see you all tomorrow at Avondale Manor when you come up for the funeral.’ She gave her daughter a big hug, put her overnight bag into the car, and then left for Hereford straight away.

Katie arrived in good time, but felt sad to find Aunt Bertha so deeply depressed over Mabel’s funeral, but she soon brightened up when Katie talked about her intended visit to Priory Farm. It had been arranged for Angie to look after all of the children so that in the morning, Richard, Tanya, Margie and Sam, would all be free to attend the funeral.

The rest of the day at Avondale was quiet, and Aunt Bertha went to bed early that evening. Katie breathed a sigh of relief as she climbed into bed. All that was left to see to now was the funeral service and interment the next morning.

The family arrived next day in Richard’s car in plenty of time. By the time they reached the little church for the service, it was overflowing with villagers paying their last respects to Aunt Mabel.

There were no hitches, and the vicar gave a lovely sermon, and spoke highly of the old lady whom he knew well. Katie had engaged caterers to provide a small breakfast at the church hall for any guests who wanted refreshments. As the last of the mourners left, she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I’m glad that’s over,’ she said, wiping away her tears as they headed back to the house.

Once they reached Avondale, Richard stayed for only a brief conversation before getting into his car. When the rest of the family were all seated inside, he drove off down the drive, heading for home. Katie and Bertha watched the vehicle disappear from sight, and then went inside to relax for a while.

After everyone had gone, still looking very pale and sad, Bertha took Katie’s hand in hers and pleaded with her. ‘I’d like you to come and live here at Avondale with me,’ she said, her eyes brightening for a moment at the idea. The suggestion took Katie quite by surprise.

Her aunt leaned forward. ‘You see, this old place is far too big for just me. And I’ll miss Mabel so much. You’re on your own as well, and in a big house down there, so why not come to live with me?’

‘I know, Aunt Bertha, but I wouldn’t see my children so often if I moved up here,’ Katie said, shaking her head, realising that she would probably feel the same way if she were that old. She made soothing sounds and tried to change the subject, but Aunt Bertha was not put off so easily.

‘This place will be yours after my day, and then you can do what you like with it. I manage to look after everything, my dear, but I’m old now.’ She gazed into the distance. ‘Dear Katie, you must realize that I can’t go on forever, but if I have to go into a nursing home, it worries me that the expense will eat into my money. And if I live to over a hundred years, like my mother did, that could mean I might have to sell the manor in order to finance my keep there.’ She shrugged. ‘Either way, it’ll swallow up money and property that’s yours by rights.’ Suddenly, the old lady shrugged again, got up, and fetched her handbag. ‘I’m all ready to go when you are,’ she said. ‘I don’t like this place much anymore.’

Katie gathered up Aunt Bertha’s overnight bags and placed them by the front door ready to go. Her aunt followed her and, obviously still dwelling on her thoughts, she gestured around. ‘This is where your father grew up, Katie, and it would be a disaster if I were forced to sell it.’

Katie checked that everything was locked up before putting Bertha’s bags in the car and making her comfortable for the journey. Within ten minutes, they were on their way.

As soon as they arrived at Priory Farm, Katie put on the kettle and made a pot of tea. Then she popped the casserole Sam had made into the microwave for the evening meal.

‘I thoroughly enjoyed that trip; I so love to look around at all the places we pass on the way here,’ Aunt Bertha said.

‘Well, I’ve planned lots of trips for you while you’re here, so you’ll see plenty. I intend to give you a really exciting time.’

***

On the first Sunday of Aunt Bertha’s visit, Katie invited the whole family to lunch. Her tiny grandchildren took immediately to the old lady, who obviously loved telling them stories. Katie looked around, her eyes shining as she thought of how like the old days this was, when she had her whole family around her. For the first time in ages she felt she didn’t have a care in the world.

It was a warm enough afternoon to serve tea out on the patio, and they all sat around enjoying themselves, with only Margie excusing herself early, soon after she had eaten. ‘Thanks, it’s been a lovely day,’ she said, and kissed her mother’s cheek, ‘but I must rush now. I’ll ring you in a day or two.’

‘Another date, I suppose,’ Sam murmured, as their sister hurried to her car. ‘I wonder how the banker made out.’

When Katie left the group to follow Margie to her car, Sam turned to Tanya again.

‘I haven’t had a chance to ask Margie about the plan we have for Mum — and I don’t know when I’ll be able to do it.’ She covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Hey, doesn’t our mother look the picture of contentment today? Must be the inheritance, eh?’ She pulled a little jib. ‘I’m a bit nervous about our idea now, though. She’d kill us if she knew what we’re planning.’

While Richard, Philip, and Steve reclined on the lawn for a drink and a chat after they had eaten, little David, Becky and Mark chased each other between the kitchen and the garden, laughing and shrieking excitedly. Once the meal was over, the girls began to clear away the litter and dishes, happily chatting as they went about the chores. But when Katie started to clear a table, Aunt Bertha struggled out of her chair.