A Daughter's Choice (10 page)

There was a silence which was interrupted by Ben. ‘What's all the shouting about? You'll be frightening the guests away.' He was standing in the doorway leading to the basement. ‘Who's a grown woman and nearly forty?'

Katie turned to him in relief. ‘Celia! She was here but Ma chased her away.'

‘That's enough! I don't want to hear any more about it.' Kitty's voice shook as she brushed past Ben and went down the steps into the basement.

‘What's Celia ever done to her?' said Katie.

He did not answer but said, ‘How long since she left?'

‘Five minutes at the most.'

‘Thanks.' He ran upstairs and appeared a few minutes later, wearing a raincoat and a tweed cap and heading for the front door.

‘You won't catch her,' called Katie.

He gave no sign of having heard. Katie wanted to know what he was going to do if he did catch up with her so hurried with the tray to the kitchen and dumped it on the table then ran upstairs, dragging off her apron. She glanced down into the road as she pulled on her duffel coat but couldn't see Ben. At least she knew where Celia was going! She took her umbrella from the wardrobe and tore downstairs and out of the hotel.

She ran most of the way to Exchange Station and was just in time to see a train leaving the platform. She was about to turn away when she spotted Ben on the platform. Could he have heard Kitty saying Celia had gone for the Southport train? It was the only thing she could think of to explain his being here. She wondered whether to join him but decided he might tell her to go home, so she bought a ticket for Southport and kept out of sight until he boarded the train. Then she jumped into the last carriage.

It was still raining when Katie arrived outside the Seaview after following Ben all the way from the station. He was already inside the hotel and she was unsure what to do. A vicious gust of wind tugged at her umbrella and that decided her. Without further thought she hurried into the hotel.

Ben was in Reception talking to an auburn-haired woman who stood behind the desk. Katie placed her dripping umbrella in a stand and tiptoed towards them. He did not turn so she sat on a straightbacked chair and took out the
Valentine
magazine she had bought at the station and pretended to read.

‘There's three of us Ryans actually, Rita,' Ben was saying, ‘but Teddy lives down South.'

‘But it's your brother Mick Celia went out with, and it was him who was left in the Atlantic in an open boat?'

‘We-ell,' said Ben, ‘I can't tell you much about that. He doesn't like to talk about it.'

‘What about you? Where was your war?'

There was silence and Katie lowered her magazine.

Ben cleared his throat. ‘I did my bit during the blitz in Liverpool and then – then I joined the Air Force in the last year, only to be shot down by enemy aircraft.'

‘What happened then?'

Katie gave up all pretence at reading and waited for Ben's reply. ‘I managed to get my parachute open but it was dark and I had no idea where I was,' he said in a dreamy voice. ‘I should have stayed put until daylight but instead I began walking and ended up behind enemy lines. Stupid of me!'

‘I think it was quite brave,' said Rita. ‘It must have been tough.'

‘It was!' He sighed. ‘I was put in a prisoner-of-war camp. The food was terrible – what there was of it. Not a bit like home cooking.'

‘You men!' said Rita in a teasing voice. ‘You love your stomachs.'

‘The way to a man's heart,' he said, and grinned.

Rita stared fixedly at him a moment then said, ‘Changing the subject … fancy you thinking I was Celia!'

Katie's ears pricked up.

‘It was Ma, as I said. Do you know where Celia is?'

Rita frowned. ‘She should have been here by now. She's supposed to be doing extra hours and it's not like her to be late.'

‘Maybe she got soaked and had to go home and change?' suggested Ben. ‘If you gave me her address …?'

‘We're not allowed to do that. I'd like to help, really,' said Rita, sounding like she meant it. ‘Celia could do with someone to look after her. Her nerves aren't strong.'

There was a brief silence before Ben said, ‘She never told you anything about us and what happened in the blitz?'

‘She told me she'd lost someone but didn't go into details. I understand that because – well, because I lost my mam and gran in the blitz and a brother at sea. That's why what you had to say about Mick interested me.'

‘I'm sorry,' said Ben. ‘Have you no other family?'

Rita hesitated. ‘None that counts. Listen, if you want you could wait in the lounge until Celia comes in. Second door on the right. There's a good fire in there with its being such a miserable afternoon.'

Ben thanked her, and as he moved away from the desk Katie rose and walked towards him. She knew she had given him a shock because he blinked. ‘How long have you been there?' he demanded.

She smiled and linked her arm through his, squeezing it. ‘Long enough to hear you've led a more exciting life than I thought.'

‘You shouldn't have followed me,' he hissed, dragging her in the direction of a door which had ‘Lounge' written on it in gold lettering.

‘You should be writing for the
Hotspur
or the
Wizard
.'

He grinned self-consciously. ‘I got carried away. But you must have heard the tales our Mick and Teddy spin about their war experiences – do you believe them all? The one I spouted is based on something a mate of our Teddy's told me. The only difference is that this Jerry woman in the camp tore his wedding ring from his finger.'

‘It was good as it was but I don't know why you had to lie. You lived through the May blitz and I've heard people say that wasn't much fun.'

‘It was definitely no picnic,' he said quietly. ‘I'll never forget me and Celia running for home with bombs falling all around us and the docks ablaze.'

‘There you are!' Katie smiled and said gently, ‘Was that when she worked at the Arcadia?'

He hesitated. ‘Naw! She was working in a factory as a welder making guns. She was bombed out, that's why she came to us.'

‘So she was actually living at the Arcadia during the blitz?'

‘She came and stayed for a short while. Then she left,' he said tersely. ‘You'll have to ask her for the rest of the story. I've said far more than I should.' He opened the door of the lounge and ushered Katie inside.

She wondered what he meant by that but realised she was going to have to be patient for a little while longer if she wanted to learn more about Celia.

She looked about her with all the interest of one who worked in the business. The lounge at the Arcadia, which had housed the bar since the early-fifties, was long and narrow. She found herself envying the shape of this room which was a perfect square. Three easy chairs were occupied and pulled up so close to the fireplace she could not even see the fire, never mind feel its warmth.

‘It's central heated but I'm sure it's not on,' murmured Ben, pulling up a chair near a window and waving her to it. He removed his coat and placed it on a nearby stool before seating himself so he could see the door and the rain-drenched garden. ‘Ma should be thinking of having central heating put in before winter.'

‘She said it'll create upheaval and cost a bomb.'

‘It'll have to be done sooner or later. Unless she sells up.'

‘Sells up?' Katie stared at him. ‘You're talking about my future! Has she been saying something to you that I don't know about? She threatened me earlier that I wouldn't follow in her footsteps because I thought she was being horrible to Celia.'

‘Did she hell!' exclaimed Ben, looking dumbfounded.

‘I'm not surprised you're surprised,' said Katie, shaking her head. ‘It really shook me.'

He hesitated. ‘She didn't mean it, kid. She's getting on and can't take upset the way she used to. And maybe you showing an interest in boys lately has made her think that perhaps you might change your mind about wanting to take over?'

‘How could she think that?' said Katie in astonishment. She was silent a moment. Lowering her head to stare down at her damp shoes, she said casually, ‘If I was to meet someone, I'm sure they'd be glad not to have to go to all the trouble of looking for somewhere to live and have a readymade home.'

‘Hotel life isn't everybody's cup of tea. Just think of our Mick!'

Katie glanced up and caught his expression. She reached out one hand and said gently, ‘I don't understand why he's doing what he's doing. I can't believe he loves her.'

‘Love's a damn nuisance,' muttered Ben, taking out his cigarettes. ‘Take it from me, love, you're best without it.'

‘Maybe you'll meet someone else?' said Katie.

‘And the Liver birds might fly!' he said, lighting up.

Katie opened her magazine. ‘You never know,' she murmured.

‘Yeah! You could be right. Who'd have thought Celia would have turned up the way she did?'

‘You think that's strange?'

‘A bit.'

She raised her eyes and stared at him. ‘How did you know you'd find her here?'

‘How did you know how to find me?' he parried.

‘Ah, but – what's up?' she asked as he got to his feet. She turned her head and saw Rita approaching.

‘You're out of luck, I'm afraid,' she said. ‘Celia's just phoned. She's not feeling well and won't be in.'

‘Did she say what was wrong?' asked Ben.

‘Feels she's got a cold coming on. Not surprising, considering the weather.'

‘Could you give us her address then?' he said, stubbing out his cigarette. ‘She might be glad to see a visitor.'

‘Visitors,' murmured Katie, smiling at Rita.

‘I mentioned you were here and –' She stopped.

‘And what?' said Ben.

‘She put the phone down. Unless she phones back, I think you'd better forget about seeing her today.'

There was silence and Katie was bitterly disappointed.

Ben grimaced. ‘Thanks for trying anyway. Maybe I'll come back another day.' He picked up his coat and walked out.

‘I've upset him,' said Rita, staring at Katie. ‘Are you related to him?'

‘I'm his half-sister, Katherine Mcleod.' She held out a hand. ‘What next, d'you think? It would be nice if Celia and Mick could get together.'

‘There's nothing more I can do right now, love.' Rita smiled. ‘I'm sure your brothers will be able to work something out.'

Katie nodded and hurried after Ben. ‘What are you going to do?' she asked, putting up her umbrella and slipping her hand through his arm.

‘Mind my own business and accept I'm going to be a bachelor for the rest of my life,' he said bitterly. ‘I thought Celia would want to see us.'

‘Ma was pretty unwelcoming, but I think that receptionist likes you. Why didn't you ask
her
for a date?'

Ben made a noise in his throat. ‘It wouldn't be fair. I'm a one gal guy. Let's go home. And don't mention Celia to Ma. It won't do any good.'

Mick and Sarah were in the lounge when they arrived home. ‘Where've you two been?' hissed Mick from behind the till. ‘Ma and Pops have gone out and Eileen told us that Celia's been here, kicking up a fuss. I thought she was dead!'

‘Why should you think she was dead?' asked Ben, going behind the bar and pulling himself a pint. He threw some money into the open drawer of the till.

Mick shrugged and waited until the guest he was serving had moved away. ‘Just the fact that I've never heard anything from her and her name's hardly ever mentioned here. I thought maybe she'd been killed in the blitz. I mean, who was there to notify? The poor kid had nobody but us. I can't understand what she'd be kicking up a fuss about, though?'

‘She didn't kick up a fuss,' said Katie hotly. ‘She just wanted to see you, so far as I know. She was here during the blitz, wasn't she, Ben? So everybody here would know she hadn't been killed.'

‘Yeah! She shared the cellar with us.' He glanced at Sarah. ‘Funny, but Celia apparently believed Mick was dead all these years, too. Wouldn't it be romantic if they met up again and fell in love?' he added sardonically.

Mick frowned. ‘We'll both have changed and probably have nothing in common. I wonder –'

‘I'm going upstairs,' interrupted Ben. ‘I'm whacked.'

‘Do you want some supper?' asked Katie.

He ruffled her hair. ‘If you'll bring it up, I wouldn't mind.'

‘No trouble.'

As he went upstairs carrying his pint she was stopped in the lobby by Sarah's voice. ‘Where've the two of you been?'

She gave Sarah a look. ‘Southport. There's a woman there our Ben went to see.'

‘A woman?'

‘You heard,' said Katie with a smile, and went into the kitchen where she found Eileen.

‘You had a visitor while you were out,' said the girl with a smirk, folding her arms across her chest. ‘But Aunt Kitty chased him, too.'

It couldn't be? thought Katie. ‘You don't mean …?'

‘The ted? Sure it was him, and the way he looked didn't go down well here so I can't see him coming back.'

Katie felt like wiping the smile off her face but instead said, ‘You told them about the fight, didn't you? Why? Even Ben didn't mention it. What is it you've got against me?'

Eileen shrugged her shoulders, the smile still playing round her lips. ‘Nothing, to be sure. It's just that I don't want you going the way of your mother.'

Katie stared at her. ‘What the hell d'you mean by that? Ma's –'

‘Katie girl, if you're making something for our Ben, make us a meat sarnie,' said Mick, popping his head round the door. ‘And, Eileen, the guest in number five wants a fresh towel. She's dropped the last one in the bath. Hurry up and get one to her, there's a good girl.'