When Sorry Is Not Enough (19 page)

‘Good, and you rushed straight along here to ask me to be your Matron of Honour,’ teased Sally before going over to sit next to Nancy who shied away.

‘I would love to have you with me on my big day but Sally … it’s not all as simple as it appears.’

‘It’s not.’

‘No and I can’t tell you because I have promised Benny I won’t tell anyone …’

‘He has a past? Been married before?’

Shaking her head Nancy whispered, ‘Nothing like that. His sister and himself were taken into care. His mother had died, his father married again, the new wife didn’t want … well once the ring was on her finger the bairns she made out that she adored, became surplus to requirements.’

‘So?’

‘Sally, I am trying to be fair to Benny. You see if he thought you knew the truth about him he would have to put distance between you. He would think that you would shun him.’

‘For being taken into care. Didn’t you tell him my brother Peter and I would have been taken into care if Flora, my darling mother-in-law, hadn’t given us house room?’

Nancy bowed her head. ‘Sally,’ she mumbled, ‘it wasn’t being sent into care that was the problem, it was where he was sent. And I mustn’t tell you.’

‘Oh, I bet I know what happened to him.’

‘You do?’

‘Aye, he was sent to a home run by supposedly caring house-parents and they abused him.’

Nancy’s head jerked up and her hand flew to her mouth. ‘I never told you that, but Benny won’t believe that I didn’t.’

‘Och, Nancy,’ Sally spat with disgust, ‘sure we all have heard so many stories about these sadistic pigs that we knew some of them had to be true. Now look, you have my word that I’ll never mention where Benny was brought up to a soul.’ Sally fixed her gaze on the mirror above the fireplace and she allowed time to tick slowly by before she asked cautiously, ‘And his sister – is she younger than him and what happened to her?’

Nancy shrugged. ‘Yes, she was younger. Poor soul, he never knew where she was sent and he never tried to find her because he thought she would despise him.’

‘Hmmm.’

‘Anyway, Sally, you can see why we must get married in a registry office and just ask two strangers in from the street to be our witnesses.’

‘Hmmm.’

‘What do you mean by, hmmm?’

‘Just that that will be blinking right. No way will you have a hole in the wall affair of a wedding.’

‘Have you not heard a word I’ve said?’

‘Aye, and I repeat, we’re going to lay all your and Benny’s ghosts to rest. So you will have a proper wedding. Luke and I will be the witnesses and see,’ Sally jumped to her feet and dashed over to the window, ‘there on the other side of the street, the Rockville, that’s where you’re going to have your wedding reception. And don’t worry about the cost because that’s what I’ll be giving you as a wedding present.’

‘Sally, have you lost your marbles?’

‘No. But what last week has taught me is that you should be good to those that stand by and support you. And Nancy, you’re my best pal who has stood by me through thick and thin, so you have.’

Nancy grew tearful. ‘Okay, but if Benny does agree to a wedding, what registry will we marry in?’

‘None. I’ve been good to that St Philip’s church since I came to stay here and the minister, the Rev. John Weir Cook, he’s what all Christians should be, so I know he will be just so pleased to marry you. I can see it all – the flowers, the red carpet and you and I floating down the aisle in a sea of gossamer tulle towards Benny in his clan tartan.’

‘Sally, his surname is …’ Nancy’s uncontrollable laughter rang out before she spluttered, ‘Oh good heavens, I’m just about to take his name and I haven’t got a clue what it is.’

Sally had so much on her mind that she’d forgotten to be nervous about driving her brand-new replacement car up to the Waverley Station.

The bright red Ford had just been parked in the car park when she alighted and proceeded over the concourse. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Flora and Shonag clutching their luggage and managing to look like two abandoned refugees were huddled together awaiting their pick up.

When Flora caught sight of Sally she waved her umbrella and hollered, ‘It’s us over here.’

So it is
, Sally thought, as she skipped over towards the ladies.

‘Was the train early?’

‘No,’ replied Flora, ‘it’s you that’s late.’

‘Oh,’ Sally replied, relieving both women of their heaviest bags. ‘I must confess I never checked the time since I left. Maggie was bending my ear and I’d just about lost the will to live …’

Flora, quickly interrupting, appeared to bristle. ‘And I hope Maggie will not be in residence when Shonag and I are staying with you.’

The open hostility between Flora and Maggie was something that Sally was well aware of. Sally was also conscious of the fact that her guest house must appear, to her paying clients, to be a place of harmony and peace. She could just ignore Flora’s remarks but she knew that Flora would go on and on about it.

‘Flora,’ Sally reproached, ‘Maggie will not be a problem to you. She comes in early in the morning about seven o’clock and she leaves at noon. During her time in the house she clears up after breakfast and then she cleans all the bedrooms. In short she is a skivvy.’

Once the two women were safely on board Sally steered the car out of the station and headed it down Market Street. ‘Sorry about you getting shoogled about because of these cobbles but once we’re down on to Meadowbank things will calm down.’

‘Don’t you be worrying about Shonag and me getting a wee bit shook up, that won’t cause us any bother. On the other hand, what will cause us grief is Maggie being around us. So Sally, just you tell her that Shonag and I will clean up after ourselves and that will include making our beds and washing our dishes.’

Sally felt the desire to retort to Flora. But getting involved in a controversy with her would distract her concentration. Grudgingly she admitted that ever since the car accident on the Forth Bridge she was ultra cautious. Oh yes, in no way did she wish another collision so she conceded to Flora’s outrageous demands with a curt nod.

After installing Flora and Shonag in, what to them was the last word in luxury, a twin-bedded, sea-facing room with en suite facilities, and deflating Maggie’s ego by issuing Flora’s ultimatum, Sally then drove herself to the Four Marys.

‘Nice of you to come in when the hurly-burly’s all over,’ Rita huffed while dragging a mop over the floor.

Glancing about the bar Sally could see by the number of glasses that were drying on the bar that Rita had been busy, very busy. ‘Sorry, Rita,’ she managed to mumble, ‘I knew you were in on your own but I just had to pick up Flora and Shonag from the station.’

‘Look Sally, you and I chasing our tails has got to come to an end. You know you have too many irons in the fire so why don’t you just …’

‘Don’t dare say – get Josie in.’

‘Any why for no? After all if anyone can keep this place going it’s her. And before you say another word, do you know some of your staunch regulars went elsewhere for their dinner, sorry lunch, because I couldnae keep up with everything.’

Glancing around the salon Sally could see that even although Rita was trying her best, things were beginning to slide. She had put an advert in the
Edinburgh Evening News
situations vacant column for a replacement for Josie but so far there wasn’t one applicant that she considered worthy of an interview. Another solution that occurred to her was that she should transfer Duncan, Nancy’s very capable barman in the Royal Stuart, down to take over in the Four Marys. However, with Nancy going to tie the knot there was a distinct possibility that she may not wish to continue working after she was married.

She was still considering her options when the outside door slowly opened and in slunk Josie.

‘Now,’ Rita chanted, ‘before the two of you start to knock hell oot o each other would it no make mair sense if I just knocked yer heids thegither?’

Both Sally and Josie were about to respond when the outside door opened again and a stranger came in. The newcomer’s entrance not only stupefied Sally and Josie but the ever verbose Rita was rendered speechless.

The lassie, who Sally judged to be just in her late teens, was a vision to behold. She was above average height for a woman and her nylon-stocking-clad legs seemed to go on forever. Another striking feature about her was her light auburn hair which had obviously been recently dressed to make it look like it naturally tumbled about her shoulders. The picture was completed with green cat-like eyes and drooling lips that were so sensuous that Sally, Josie and even Rita knew every male that came into contact with her would find her hard to resist.

‘Can I help you?’ Sally managed to croak.

‘Y-e-e-e-e-s. My name is Dove.’ She gave an exaggerated flutter of her eyelashes before adding, ‘Bird and I have an interview with a Mr Stan Roper for a position within his organisation.’

Josie, Sally and Rita all checked out each other’s astonished reactions before Sally responded, ‘And just exactly what kind of position are you hoping to fill?’

Preening, Dove cooed, ‘To take charge of the organisation’s headquarters and supervise and motivate the other members of the team and by example demonstrate how they can reach their full earning capacity, but I’m not sure where his office is.’

‘Eh?’ exclaimed Rita.

‘Is this a wind up?’ spluttered Josie.

‘You’re joking,’ Sally gasped.

Dove shook her head. ‘No. I met him in the George Hotel on George Street and I told him I had just completed a hostess course and was looking for a suitable position.’

‘Look, my dear,’ Sally cautioned, ‘Stan is a weasel and a pimp who’s taking you for a hurl. What I’m saying is, he does run a stable – but just for naive, brainless fillies.’

‘I know that,’ Dove giggled. ‘He explained that I would be filling the position just recently vacated by his,’ she gave a shrug before adding, ‘the devil that he is – he called her his blue-eyed manageress and without giving him any notice hasn’t she just … disappeared.’

‘She’s what?’

‘You heard her Sally, Jessie Scott has vanished.’

‘I know that, Rita. Luke already told me that but he thought she was just away to work things out. But … oh my goodness, this lassie turning up here looking for Stan Roper means she’s really gone for good.’ Sally swallowed hard before whispering, ‘And I’m terrified to think what all this will mean for Irish’s case. Everything was resting on Jessie retracting her statement.’

‘Where’s Luke? We need to tell him.’

‘Luke’s in London, billing and cooing, Josie.’ Sally huffed before spitting, ‘No doubt after getting lessons from you.’

The information Dove gathered from the conversations seemed to unsettle her and she whimpered, ‘What exactly is Stan Roper’s line of business?’

‘To be truthful, anything that’s illegal,’ was Sally’s blunt reply.

‘And by that she means selling bonnie lassies like you, drugs, smuggling tobacco …’

‘Okay, Dove’s got the message, Rita,’ Sally said, breaking into Rita’s tirade and turning to face Dove. ‘And now my dear, could I just suggest that you hightail it out of here before you end up being done for soliciting.’

Dove’s mouth fell open. ‘Are you saying you think it would be best if I got myself home to Blackhall.’

‘Yes,’ Sally, Josie and Rita chorused.

The door had just closed on Dove when Sally turned her attention to Josie. ‘And why are you here?’

Josie looked to Rita for support. Rita discreetly waved her hands in a gesture which said get on with it yourself.

‘Sally, I’m in a bit of bother. I need you to help me.’

‘In what way?’

‘Please, I don’t like it when you clip your words.’ Sally shrugged. ‘It’s just that I got a letter this morning from Angela and she’s coming over to visit next week and she’s bringing my grandson, Roy, with her.’

‘So?’

‘Sally, I’ve no job. Luke made me put my notice in everywhere before I could find a decent job. I can’t pay the mortgage so I could get evicted. I have two lodgers and their rental helps to keep me afloat. So my house is full and all I want to know is, will you put Angela and Roy up?’

‘No I won’t. In case any of you don’t know it I’m trying to run a paying guest house. But at this moment all I seem to be doing is running a charitable dosshouse for an army of misfits. So here is my proposal to you.’

Josie, lips quivering, looked contrite.

‘None of my business, Sally, but do be careful here,’ Rita warned, ‘for the last thing you want to do is burn
all
of your boats.’

Sally tried to put Rita down with a warning glare but Rita retaliated with a loud snort. ‘Starting this very minute,’ Sally began while continually indicating by jabbing her right index finger towards Josie, ‘you get your coat off and get dug in immediately to cleaning up and sorting this bar out.’

Josie, tears streaming, sniffed, ‘Oh Sally, are you saying I’m in charge again?’

‘Must be mad, but aye.’

‘Josie, now’s your chance, ask for a raise,’ goaded Rita. ‘Oh aye, with the mess you’re going to have to clean up you’ll deserve one.’

‘Rita, are you bonkers? Give her a rise?’

‘Aye, and Sally, while you’re at it I think you should consider keeping me sweet and slip another couple of pounds into my pay packet an aw.’

Chuckling, Sally replied, ‘Pay you more than I’m doing? Huh. Maybe I should just let you go.’

‘Aye, you could do that but who’ll be helping Josie in here while you’re away playing Miss Marple with Poirot when he gets back from London?’

‘Are you saying that you think that Luke and I should be going out to look for Jessie?’

‘Beats goin hame to Maggie, does it no?’

Flora was so pleased when Sally arrived home early. ‘Was the pub not busy?’

‘Aye, but Josie’s back in charge.’

‘Good. Now let’s you and I have a wee chat while we’re on our own.’

Sally looked about the living room. ‘Where’s Shonag?’

Flora looked unseeingly ahead. ‘Sally,’ she drawled, ‘I just don’t know. What I’m saying is that I just cannae put my finger on it but Shonag … well it’s as if the light inside her is beginning to dim.’ She gave a nervous chuckle before adding, ‘I suppose my own zest for living isn’t exactly on the ascendancy.’ She chuckled again. ‘But then what can you expect at our age?’