Time to Move On (23 page)

‘I’m here now, darling.’

He turned then and hugged her and Jessie felt relief, but not quite as comfortably as usual. Why did she have to stay behind to wait, while Pat Sewell went with him to set up this new business? She loved Paul but the rosy glow didn’t shine quite so brightly any more. She hoped Paul would take her to see Seranne on Sunday. Although it would be impossible to talk properly with Paul there. Perhaps she could persuade Paul that she needed to stay at Badgers Brook. With an aching heart she knew it was time to face up to a few things, and talking to Seranne would be the start.

Alun gave notice at the hotel where he had been working since leaving the Ship and at the end of the week he moved back to Cwm Derw. He unpacked his few belongings in the room he had used before and went down to begin the evening shift, fitting into the routine as though he had never left. Friends greeted him with delight, at once beginning to argue about which darts team he would play for and insisted he owed them all a pint.

The situation with Betty was not as easy to solve. She was happy, he knew that but he was cautious not to rush things, he dared not presume that her obvious delight was something more. Their kiss was something he had regretted and the result was a lack of certainty.

Betty sensed his hesitation and, afraid of driving him away again, acted as though it hadn’t happened, so although they worked together in harmony and shared meals, plus the occasional walk in their free moments, there was no sign of him wanting anything more.

The coronation street party was a welcome distraction. Everyone was involved and, as it would take place outside the Ship, Betty and Alun more so than most. The shed and garage were used to store the furniture as it arrived and Alun stacked everything so it would come out in the correct order. Food was on the kitchen table and the yard scrubbed in readiness.

‘There’ll soon be no room for you and me,’ Alun said. ‘We’ll be
sleeping
on a park bench. Or Stella’s country cottage!’ He was smiling happily, glad to be involved once more in the community.

Fortunately the day dawned brightly and it looked set fair for a good day. People began arriving very early, lorries with chairs and trestle tables, women carrying tablecloths and decorations. They already wore dresses or aprons of red, white and blue. Piles of hats were placed on the barroom tables and flags sprouted from every available point.

When the children began to arrive, shiny faced and dressed for the occasion, the union flag and hats were handed out to those who didn’t have one and when Betty looked down from the bedroom window, she called Alun. ‘It’s like a sea of colour,’ she said. The flags waved from corners and roof tops and lampposts. The red, white and blue hats bobbed in ever changing patterns as people moved the chairs into place and children chased each other round. The tables were dressed with plates of food and decorated with swirling wands of crinkly paper strips that were caught in the slight breeze.

‘I wish everyone could stay this happy,’ Alun said, putting his arm on her shoulder.

‘What is it? Is something worrying you?’

‘Not a thing, I just feel so content I’m afraid something will happen to change it.’

‘Nothing will. There’s no one here who wishes you harm, Alun. This is your home – at least, for as long as you want it.’ Afraid to say more she moved slightly away from his touch.

‘Oh, I want it. I can’t think of any place I’d rather be.’ His hand tightened on her shoulder and he was gone.

The children ate first, with Mrs Williamson-Murton armed with a handful of lists, marching up and down criticizing table manners, then it was time for the entertainment. There was cricket with Bob and Colin, and dancing with Hope and a teacher from the school, rides on Peter Bevan’s horse, assisted by Hope and Peter’s nine-year-old, Davie. Hope’s ex-mother-in-law Marjorie marched around checking lists and appearing to be in charge. When some of the younger children began to leave she called them all to attention and handed out to each of them a china coronation mug, ticking their names off one of her lists. Then the adults took their places at the now untidy tables.

Ed sat on a bench within sight, but made no move to join in. Betty went over once to invite him but he shook his head. ‘I know when I’m not wanted,’ he grumbled.

Refusing to get involved in an argument, Betty said, ‘Please yourself,’ and walked away.

Seranne and Babs served teas and ate when they could, Seranne becoming exasperated by Tony appearing every time she turned around.

‘My brother’s smitten it seems,’ Babs teased.

‘Will someone tell him I’m not? Please?’ Seranne replied. ‘I’ll trip over him in a minute!’

‘Go on, give him a chance, I’ve always wanted a sister!’

Seranne looked up each time a car passed, hoping to see her mother. She had telephoned one final time and tried to persuade her to come but Jessie insisted she and Paul were too busy.

Dancing went on until late, the chairs outside becoming an extention of the bar, where Betty, Alun and Tilly were kept busy until closing time.

Tony appeared and touched Seranne’s shoulder. ‘It’s late. I’d better walk you home.’

Desperate to think of an excuse, she was hardly aware of a car stopping at the kerb. Babs pointed to it and said, sotto voce, ‘Saved by the handsome stranger?’

‘Hello Luke, you’ve missed the fun,’ she said, walking towards him.

‘I’ve been to see your mother, as I was passing the area, in a vain attempt to persuade her to come,’ he said. He looked tired in the light from the street and the distorting coloured bulbs spread around the area added deep shadows. ‘I’ve just come back from Ireland,’ he explained as though reading her thoughts. ‘A business is starting up to make a new range of carpeting.’

‘There’s some food left.’ She gestured towards the open door of the Ship, but he shook his head.

‘I’ll say hello to Betty and Alun then I’ll drive you home, if you’re ready to leave.’

Mouthing a ‘sorry’ to Tony and Babs, she collected her belongings and went with him to the car. She could see he was exhausted and he walked her to the door, telling her he wanted to hear about the party when he’d had some sleep. There were a few boxes she’d left in the car and he brought them in, sat down and was immediately asleep. She covered him with a blanket and sat looking at him for several minutes, unsure what to do.

The door opened and Kitty and Bob came in. They were hushed by Seranne, and tiptoed in to see Luke sprawled on the couch fast asleep.

‘What can I do?’ She gestured puzzlement with arms and hands spread wide.

Bob said, ‘I don’t think he’ll wake, and he’s certainly not able to drive anywhere. Just leave him. Go to bed and I’ll pop in later on to see that he’s all right.’

It was strange expecting to sleep with Luke in the house and she lay on her bed, fully dressed, determined to stay awake, but the long and busy day was too much and she slept.

The following morning she went down to see Luke sitting in the garden nursing a cup of tea, and Bob beside him, both talking in low
whispers. She brushed aside his apologies and began preparing breakfast for the three of them. What a peculiar end to the coronation party, she mused, happiness lightening up her face.

Badgers Brook was rarely empty, but one evening the house was silent, and outside the only sound was birdsong and the soft rythmic movement of spades turning soil. Colin and Bob were at the end of the garden digging an area where they planned to plant blackcurrant bushes in the autumn. There were already raspberry canes, a bed of strawberries and a few gooseberry bushes, and the addition was at the request of Seranne.

‘I wonder whether she’ll be here for the first fruit,’ Bob said, looking back to where Seranne sat studying a book on garden birds. ‘People rarely stay long.’

‘They bring their troubles and move on once they have sorted them,’ Colin agreed, ‘but Seranne’s troubles aren’t her own. It’s her mother who has the problems according to Luke and Alun, and the house can’t sort out people if they aren’t here.’

‘D’you really believe the house helps?’

‘I don’t know how, but it seems to. It allows thoughts to settle, puzzles to untangle themselves. A bit like our country cottage, according to Stella. She believes that if a place makes people happy, then usually that’s all they need to get their life in order.’

‘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.’