Towards a Dark Horizon (21 page)

‘Of course not, Minnie – in fact, I was going to suggest it myself. You can write and tell me all your news or any problems and I’ll give you all my news.’

We said goodbye and I watched with a heavy heart as she climbed the hill. She carried the comics in one hand while Peter clutched his bag of sherbet in his little fist. After a few steps, they both turned and waved and I felt an overwhelming feeling of sadness.

Margot was selling her house. Dad arrived home at the end of January with this news. He looked tired and I was concerned for him.

‘Margot has decided to put her house up for sale,’ he said.

When I looked surprised, he continued, ‘Well, she feels that although the verdict on Harry’s drowning was an accidental death, she doesn’t want to stay in the house on her own.’

I knew everyone had been so kind to her. The police had told her he had probably tripped over some obstacle on the dock and fallen in. It was a simple but tragic accident. Seemingly his favourite walk took him along a very cluttered path and, although it was a safe enough place, you had to watch your step if you decided to stroll along the many wharves.

Dad was still explaining. ‘Aye, she said she doesn’t feel happy in the house now that he’s gone.’

I was about to suggest that, if she was so lonely on her own, then perhaps she could take in a lodger as company. But, before I could speak, Dad said, ‘Another problem she has is the fact she needs money now that Harry’s wage has stopped.’

‘But surely, if he was on the point of retiring, then his wage would have stopped anyway?’ I said, suddenly confused by this apparent lack of money. Judging from her beautiful home and elegant clothes, I thought she must be comfortable if not exactly rich.

‘Aye, a lot of folk thought there was money but all she has is the house and a wee insurance policy Harry took out years ago.’

He quickly ate his dinner then got ready to leave. ‘I’ve got to go with her to see a flat in Victoria Road that she fancies. It’ll cost her a few bob but she’ll have the balance of her money from the sale of her bigger house.’

‘Will that not take a long time, Dad? Selling her house?’

He shook his head. ‘No. There’s folk seemingly been round to see it and they’ve put in an offer. She’ll be flitting next week.’

Next week, I thought – she hadn’t hung about after Harry’s death. I knew hardly anything about buying a house. On the Hilltown most of us had a big enough problem buying a loaf of bread. Still, I thought it was a very quick move.

‘Aye, she was lucky,’ said Dad. ‘My boss John Pringle has helped her with everything and Maddie’s dad is handling the legal side of things so, between them, they’ve hurried things along when she told them she wasn’t happy in the house.’

A bitchy thought entered my mind and I was ashamed of myself. Lucky Margot, indeed – she seemed to have loads of men running around her, all falling over themselves to help her and make her happy. Still, as Granny often said, there were women like this all over the world. Instead of working their fingers to the bone like most of the women I knew, these lucky ones swanned around while men danced attention on them.

As Dad hurried from the house, I was grateful he couldn’t read my uncharitable mind. I hoped he would give me all the details about the new flat but, if he didn’t, then I would bring the subject up.

As it was a Saturday, Lily was still at the Overgate and I was just putting on my coat to go and collect her when there was a knock at the door. To my amazement it was Maddie. She looked cold. Her hands were thrust into the deep pockets of her dark coat and her blonde hair was tucked into a bright red beret. I thought her face looked thinner but she smiled brightly.

‘I’ve got a few hours off, Ann, and I thought I would catch you in.’

I was so pleased to see her. ‘Come in, Maddie.’

I had cleared the table prior to leaving for Lily but I offered her some dinner.

‘No, a cup of tea will be fine.’

I made some cheese sandwiches and I noticed she ate most of them. I was worried about her thin appearance and I asked her, ‘Are you getting enough to eat at the infirmary, Maddie?’

She laughed. ‘Oh, it’s not that. There’s always enough to eat but the food all tastes the same – soup, meat and puddings all with the same taste.’

I was shocked. ‘What? Everything tastes the same?’

She laughed again. ‘No, it’s just us pernickety nurses who think that. No, the food is fine.’ She made a funny face when she said it so I didn’t know if it was true or otherwise. ‘Still, I haven’t come to visit you to tell you about the infirmary kitchens, Ann. Tell me all your news.’

I told her about Dad and Margot and I mentioned the sale of her house. ‘In fact you’ve just missed Dad. He’s away to look at a flat in Victoria Road with Margot.’

Maddie seemed surprised. ‘Is your Dad really so friendly with her?’

I nodded. ‘It’s really your uncle’s fault because he got Dad to help her right after Harry went missing and I suppose she still needs some help. Dad was saying that your dad and uncle are also doing their bit for her – your dad is selling her house for her.’

‘I really don’t know a great deal about her, Ann, although I overheard my parents discuss it last September when I had the weekend at home. She wanted to sell the house because she doesn’t like living in it on her own.’

I was taken aback. Last September – that must have been just after the funeral, I thought.

‘What does your dad think of her, Maddie?’

She gave this a moment’s thought. Her hands curled around her cup of tea. ‘He’s hardly said anything about her – just that he’s selling the house. My uncle John doesn’t know her very well either. Although Harry worked for him for loads of years it was his first wife that he knew quite well. I don’t think he ever met Margot before Harry’s disappearance.’

And now they’re all running circles around her, I thought wickedly.

After a moment’s silence she asked, ‘How is Danny?’

Although she sounded casual I wasn’t fooled. ‘Still being a stupid fool, Maddie. Granny says he needs his backside kicked.’

She laughed. ‘So he’s fine?’

I nodded. What else could I tell her?

She avoided my eyes. ‘I did hear that he has put in for a transfer to Glasgow. Is that true?’

I nodded. ‘But I hope he doesn’t get it, Maddie. Minnie and her wee laddie Peter are going back to the west coast. Her man has got a shift to a branch of the Home and Colonial at Clydebank but I haven’t heard from her yet. She did say she would write.’

Maddie was surprised and I told her of my meetings with Minnie. ‘She’s not interested in Danny. She’s got enough problems as it is and I feel sorry for her. I just hope she settles down and is happy.’ How could I explain the strange feeling that came over me when I said goodbye to them? Especially to Maddie who would think I was mad. I smiled. ‘Anyway how did you hear about Danny?’

She blushed. ‘I get mum to quiz Hattie. She doesn’t like doing it but I’ve begged her to find out as much as she can.’

‘Has Danny been in touch with you?’

She looked sad. ‘No, he hasn’t.’

I suddenly felt very old and weary. What a prize idiot he was. I told Maddie this but she just shrugged her shoulders.

‘What can I do? Do I go and see him and beg him to get engaged again?’

‘I wish I knew the answer to that – believe me.’

She stood up. ‘It’s time I was off but it’s been great seeing you again, Ann. I don’t know when I’ll see you again – I’m working really hard these days because my final exams will be this summer.’

‘Will they be difficult?’

She nodded. ‘It seems to get harder every year and these exams are so important because, if I don’t pass, then I don’t qualify.’

‘Well, I hope you do pass, Maddie. You deserve to succeed.’ I put my coat on. ‘I’ll walk with you to the infirmary. I have to go and bring Lily home. She’s really doing well at school and I’m proud of her. How is Joy? Does she like the school?’

‘Yes, she does. She’s in a small private school and she seems to be very clever. She wants to be a solicitor like Dad.’ She smiled at the thought. ‘What about Lily? What does she want to be?’

‘At the moment, it’s a toss up between a film star and a spy.’

That made Maddie laugh.

We set off along Constitution Road with the wind blowing coldly against our faces.

‘How’s Colin?’ I asked.

Maddie looked sad. ‘I’m not seeing him very much these days. I had to be honest and tell him I’m still in love with Danny and it wouldn’t be fair to keep going out with him.’ Suddenly she laughed and all the sadness disappeared. ‘Mind you, he didn’t take it as badly as I thought and he’s now seeing one of the girls from Dad’s office. So much for missing me! It seems to be my thing in life. Missed by no one – neither Danny nor Colin.’

I stopped walking and looked at her. ‘Don’t you believe that, Maddie. Danny misses you very much but, as I said earlier, he’s just an idiot.’

‘Does he?’ She became serious. ‘Well, why doesn’t he come to see me and tell me what this is all about? It’s been two years since we split up and I still don’t have a clue why.’

I had no answer to that thorny question but, thankfully, we had reached the infirmary gate.

She glanced at her watch. ‘Heavens, I’d better run.’ She made a face. ‘We never seem to have time to see or speak to each other these days, do we?’

‘No, Maddie, we don’t but it’ll be better after you qualify. You’ll maybe get more time off.’ I didn’t add that we were all getting older and time seemed to be slipping away from us.

Before reaching the door, she turned and called across the expanse of the driveway. ‘I forgot to ask how Greg is. Is he still in Glasgow?’

‘Aye, he is. We write to each other every week and I see him when he manages through for the day.’

‘But no marriage plans yet?’

It was my turn to make a face. ‘How could we, Maddie? I’ve got Lily to bring up and I couldn’t ask a man to take on a readymade family.’

‘Well, if he loves you, then he should!’ On that note she turned and ran towards the porter’s window. I knew she had to report back in before resuming her duties.

Her last statement stayed with me all the way to the Overgate. Did he love me enough to take on Lily as well? Obviously not.

I gave Granny all Dad’s news and, like me, she was puzzled by Margot’s behaviour. ‘He said she was needing money?’

I nodded.

‘Well, she’ll get a good price for that great house and, with her new flat costing much less, she’ll have a grand wee nest egg.’

The next day was Sunday and we were having a late breakfast because Dad didn’t have his work to go to. He wasn’t very forthcoming but I was determined to ask him.

‘Did you see the new flat yesterday, Dad?’

He stopped eating his toast. ‘No, Margot had to stay in her own house because the buyers wanted to measure the windows for curtains. She was really mad but there was nothing she could do. She wants me to have a look at it this afternoon.’

‘Is she going to meet you there?’

He shook his head. ‘No, she can’t. The folk are coming back today to agree a price for the carpets. Their first offer wasn’t enough so they said they would tell her today if they want to buy them or not.’ He looked at me. ‘I’ve got the key in my pocket because the flat is empty. Do you want to come with me and we can both look at it?’

I wasn’t very happy with this idea but, on the other hand, I was dying to see it. ‘What if Margot arrives and sees me there? She’ll not want me poking my nose into her business.’

‘No, no, she’ll not be anywhere near the flat this afternoon because the folk are coming at three o’clock to see her about the carpets. We can quite easily go and see the flat and you can give me your opinion of it.’

I was taken aback by this. Why should my opinion count?

As if reading my thoughts, he said, ‘Not that anybody’s opinion will count because it’ll be Margot’s choice as it’s her money.’

Well, that was all right then. I still had my misgivings. After her lovely house and garden, how would she like to live in a flat that overlooked a busy main road?

Lily arrived with the Sunday paper. She had offered to run down to Connie’s shop for it.

‘What about Lily?’ I said softly when she was out of earshot. ‘We’ll have to take her with us.’

Dad seemed uncertain but he said, ‘Only if she promises not to say a word about it to Margot.’

Suddenly she was at his side. ‘What have I not to say, Daddy? Where are we going?’

Dad picked up the paper and his toast. ‘Never mind. You’ll find out soon enough. Now eat up your porridge.’

She sat down and chattered between each mouthful. ‘Davie came in and he was wearing a great pair of shoes. Connie said they were brogues and they were shiny and polished. Connie said he looked like a country gent and all he needed now was a gun dog. He was really pleased at her and he laughed.’

I said nothing but I was inwardly pleased as well. The pleasure on Mrs Chambers’ face when I delivered the three pairs of shoes from Hattie was still fresh in my mind.

I thought they might be too big for him but she had laughed as she said, ‘Och, I’ll just stuff some newspaper in the toes and they’ll fit him just fine.’

Whether she had done this or not, Davie was obviously wearing them and showing them off to Connie. What would her comments be in the morning? I wondered.

Later that afternoon, the three of us went to view the new flat. After the cold wind of the previous day, it had turned a bit milder and the sunshine felt quite warm on our faces. It was a pleasant day for a stroll and having a good old nosey around someone else’s house.

We turned left at the foot of the Hilltown and walked along the left side of Victoria Road. We had almost reached the Eagle Jute mills when we saw the block of flats. The tenement block looked well cared for and the windows were quite large. The entrance close was cleanly scrubbed but a bit dowdy with its dark brown paint. The flat was on the third landing and I thought that three was my number this week. Mrs Chambers also lived on the third landing.

There were two doors at the top of the stairs, facing one another. Each had a smart coat of paint, a brass handle and a bell at the side. Dad opened the door on the right. It led on to a small square lobby but when he opened another door to the right, this was the living room and it was flooded with sunshine which streamed through the large window.