Roses For Katie (12 page)

Katie stood stock-still as she watched him go into the tool-shed. Minutes later, Pat reappeared, and then left, saying no more than a terse, ‘G’night, now, Mrs. Turner.’

Chapter Seven

Hot tears sprang to her eyes as she watched Pat’s car disappear down the drive. On top of everything else, the last thing she wanted to do was upset Pat O’Reilly, for without his help, her huge garden would soon be in a dreadful state again. She wondered what was behind his reference to Rex Charteris? What she did with her private life should be no concern of his, and she certainly felt no obligation to explain her actions to him… or to anyone else, for that matter. Anyway, Rex was only a friend, but a good one — even if he had kissed her goodnight. But only she knew about that.

She wandered indoors and rang Elspeth; she just wanted someone to talk to, and she could not imagine herself discussing this sort of thing with her children.

‘What a surprise,’ Elspeth said. ‘I was going to ring you later anyway. What’s up that makes you ring me for a change?’

Katie poured out her problems; told her about Aunt Bertha’s impending return home, about meeting the colonel, about Rex’s invitation to go on holiday, and finally about Pat’s inclination to go and live in Ireland. Ultimately, she told of his puzzling reluctance to help her shop for roses.

For a change, Elspeth listened quite patiently, and then retorted, ‘That’s men for you my dear. They’re the same the world over; bossy, manipulative, possessive, selfish and jealous. In fact, everything a woman can do without.’ She waited a few seconds, but when Katie did not reply, she added, ‘What if I slip down in a couple of days? We could go out together and enjoy ourselves. It might help you forget it all.’

‘Do that,’ Katie replied, reflecting that even entertaining Elspeth was better than nursing her miseries.

‘I’m chairing a meeting tomorrow night, Elspeth said, and I’ve something else on for the following morning.’ She stopped for a few seconds. ‘What if I say I’ll come in a few days, as soon as I’ve got those out of the way. Okay if I just turn up?’

‘You do just that, Elspeth.’ Katie replaced the phone, and sighed… everything she did seemed to go wrong, and there was the added worry about Aunt Bertha. It was only when Tanya called on her way home from her art class that she brightened up.

‘Mum,’ she said, brightly, ‘do you remember a Cuthbert Alexander when you were in school?’

‘Of course I do. Who could forget a name like Cuthbert, poor soul? He was very good at art, if I remember correctly. Nice looking boy, pleasant too—Elspeth had the hots for him in those days.’ She thought for a moment. ‘Matter of fact, I’m sure we saw him at Tintern Abbey when we went there recently.’

‘Well, he’s joined the art class that I belong to. We got talking tonight, and he asked me about you, and said to give you his regards.’ Tanya flopped onto the big settee, and leaned back into the squashy feather cushions. ‘Cuthbert seems ever so nice, and a real gentleman. Told me he never married. Teaches history at Bowden Boys’ School,’ she prattled on, and then stopped and thought for a couple of moments. ‘Look, Mum, in a couple of weeks we’re holding an exhibition of class students’ work. He’ll be there for the opening, a Saturday, exhibiting his own efforts like the rest of us. Be nice for you to meet up with him again. What d’you say?’

Katie hesitated at first, but then went on, ‘I’d like to see your work on display, so I’ll come for that reason; give me the details to put in my diary.’

‘Must dash now, Mum; lots to do… got a busy day tomorrow.’ Tanya threw her arms around Katie and planted a noisy kiss on her cheek before rushing out to her car. Katie waved her off, but when she went inside, she began to hunt through the bottom drawer of the old desk. She knew there was an old school photograph in there somewhere, and felt certain Cuthbert would be on it. She pulled out a tightly rolled up photo, and sure enough, it was a wide shot of the lower sixth form of her year. She spread it out on the table and weighted down both ends to study it. She smiled widely… Cuthbert’s face was unmistakable; she could even see the brace on his teeth. She ran her finger along the line, and stopped at Elspeth; she was on it too. She remembered how crazy her friend had been about Cuthbert. Her finger moved along until she came to her own picture, her fair curls framing her face like a halo, and felt delighted that her appearance hadn’t changed all that much over the years.

She spent the next half hour studying the sea of faces, wondering where they all were now, and thinking how nice it would be if they could have a reunion. Then she sat back, and silently reminisced some more. She did well in her A levels, but then she met Greg, and could think of nothing else but marrying the love of her life. Her father had wanted her to go to university, so her wish to marry Greg had made him furious. It was Greg, or university. He eventually gave them his blessing when he saw how much she loved Greg, and Katie had never regretted her decision. She sighed deeply, and decided to take a wander around her garden before she became introspective again.

Soon she left the house to bring Aunt Bertha home. Her aunt got into the car and the ward Sister gave Katie some medication for her.

‘She must rest as much as possible,’ she said, looking most concerned. ‘She has no energy at all, and wants to sleep all the time, but that’s understandable at her age.’

Within the hour, Katie had Aunt Bertha tucked up in bed downstairs, where it would be easier to look after her. She was sitting with her aunt that evening, when the phone rang. She ran into the hall to answer it, and brightened up immediately; it was the Colonel. So much had happened since she had met him that she had almost forgotten him, but he had kept his promise.

‘I was called away on business,’ Tom said, full of apologies. ‘I was annoyed when I discovered I didn’t have your number with me, so this is the first opportunity I’ve had to ring you. How are you… keeping well I hope?’

‘I’m fine, thanks, Tom, and how are you?’

‘Well, thank you, but look here, Katie, I’d like to know if I can call to see you. We could pick up our conversation where we left off at the dinner.’

‘By all means,’ Katie said. ‘But there are complications; my aunt has just come home from hospital after an operation, so I’m house bound, which means I’m not able to go out.’ She paused for a moment. ‘But of course, you’re certainly welcome to come here.’ She gave him directions to Priory Farm. ‘Come to afternoon tea with us tomorrow.’

‘That’s great. Then I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow,’ he said.

The next morning, Katie decided some dainty smoked salmon on brown bread would be nice, and she made some light, plain scones as well. Then, she pulled out a fresh pot of her home-made strawberry preserve, and some fresh Devon clotted cream, for a typical English afternoon cream tea.

Tom’s car pulled up in the forecourt at exactly four o’clock. She watched him stride from his car to the front door, his shoulders firmly squared, and his hands clasped behind him. He looked handsome and every inch the army officer. As Katie opened the door, he held out both hands and grasped hers tightly. She drew him inside, and immediately offered him a drink, which he declined in favour of a cup of tea.

Katie poured a cup for Aunt Bertha as well, but her aunt had slept most of the afternoon, and was still asleep when Katie took in the tea.

The tea trolley was loaded with what she had prepared, and she rolled it into the room where Tom was sitting. Katie sat down alongside him, and felt pleasantly surprised that she felt so comfortable with him. He was easy to get along with, and they chatted away in low tones so as not to wake Bertha in the next room. She listened intently to more tales about Tom’s life in foreign parts where he had served, and felt thankful that so far he had made few demands to know all about her life.

‘My wife and I were looking forward to coming back to the English countryside,’ he said, ‘but, it was not to be.’ He gazed absently through the window and sighed deeply. ‘Shortly after taking early retirement I found an idyllic spot to live. My wife and only son were driving to meet me there to look around. It was on a day when the weather was absolutely atrocious.’ He shook his head vigorously before he continued. ‘Flooded roads and all that, and I warned them not to come, but Gail was keen to see the place and refused to postpone the trip. She insisted they would be all right, and made the journey much against my wishes.’

He ran his fingers over his jaw and took a very deep breath. ‘They were involved in a horrific motorway pileup. Both were killed instantly.’ He looked down into his tea. ‘The shock was dreadful. My world collapsed around me. I thought I’d never get over it, but life goes on.’

His voice was so thick with emotion as he told the story, that Katie felt tears stinging her own eyes as she listened. He drew another deep breath.

‘So now,’ he said, looking sadly at Katie, ‘I have all the time in the world, a beautiful home, and plenty of money, but I’ve lost my family. Although it happened a few years ago, I still can’t get used to the fact that I’m all alone. It’s odd, but I keep believing they’ll both walk in through the front door one day.’

He touched his fingertips together and gazed out at the garden with a faraway look in his eyes. ‘I thought I might meet someone in a similar sort of situation; someone I could relate to… one day, but there’s been no one, and I really don’t fancy spending the rest of my life wandering around on my own.’ He looked dreamily into the distance. ‘I have no one,’ he said, lifting his hands in a helpless gesture, ‘absolutely no one… no siblings, no cousins, nothing. And my army friends are scattered far and wide, as you can imagine.’ He paused for a few moments as he thought. ‘Oh, I have interests, make no mistake, but no one to share them with. I’m lonely, Katie. Very lonely.’

‘I know exactly how you feel, and I sympathize wholeheartedly,’ Katie said, placing her hand gently on his. ‘The same kind of thing happened to me a few years ago, but fortunately I still have my four children, and they’re a godsend.’ She handed him some more tea and scones. ‘I’m so sorry to hear about your dreadful loss, but I hope that talking about it has helped in some little way.’

‘Katie, I... I felt an empathy with you the moment I met you. I would like to think that we could be good friends.’

Katie blushed a deep pink. She waited, giving herself time. But he carried on.

‘If you would not consider it too bold a request at this early stage, I’d like to see you on a regular basis, if I may. I’d like to take you out for car trips, go to the theatre, the opera, and so on. We could get to know each other better and hopefully become good friends. Maybe even something more.’

Katie was quite surprised at how forthright he was. She had not expected this, and she didn’t quite know how to answer. She got to her feet and poured out two more cups of tea. Then, without any warning, Tom stood up and moved quickly to her side. He wrapped his arms around her, gently drawing her close enough to feel his hot breath upon her cheek. She felt his heart beating fast and heavy against her own, and then his lips sought hers in a gentle kiss.

For a moment, she was in Greg’s arms, savouring the kisses she missed so much, but suddenly it hit her that this was not Greg, but a lonely man she had only just met, almost a stranger, who needed to be loved. She knew what suffering Tom had gone through, and felt sorry for him, but that was all. She had no intention of hurting the man’s feelings, but she did not want to commit herself either. She pulled back gently and looked up into his eyes as she stood at arms’ length, with his hands resting on her shoulders.

‘Tom, I… this is too quick for me,’ she said, holding up a restraining hand. ‘I don’t know you yet, and…’ She stopped, at a loss for the best thing to say. ‘Look, we must get to know each other better. There’s no reason why we can’t go out together now and again… we’re both free, although, you’d better know that I already go out occasionally with one gentleman friend, but it’s no more than a casual friendship.’

She took a deep breath before saying what was on her mind. ‘I feel it only fair to tell you that right now I don’t wish to make a commitment to any one man. As long as it’s understood that our relationship would be on the same footing as it is with Rex, the other man I mentioned, then everything will be all right.’ She took one look at his crestfallen expression. ‘Come on, Tom, cheer up. Given the chance, who knows what will happen?’

‘Sorry, Katie. I had no right to be so bold,’ Tom said, looking uncomfortable. He fumbled around with his tie, and seemed not to know what to do to cover up his embarrassment. ‘Don’t worry… I er… understand what you mean, and I’ll be delighted to have your company whenever you wish, believe me.’ He stopped for a minute, and then gave her a little smile. ‘I must add that I sincerely hope our friendship will develop into something more. I’m not going to pretend otherwise.’

Katie’s heart went out to this lonely man who craved love and affection. But right now that was something she could not give him — or any man. Yet, although she had only just extricated herself from his embrace, she had this ridiculous urge to fold her arms around him and comfort him, but in a motherly way. She knew that if she obeyed her impulse, he would definitely get the wrong impression, but it was pure sympathy she wanted to extend… nothing else.

She went to see how Aunt Bertha was faring in the other room, but as she went through the hall, she heard her aunt moaning. Katie rushed in through the door just I time to stop Bertha from falling out of bed.

‘Oh, my God, what’s happened?’ The bed linen was soaked in blood. ‘Tom, quick, call an ambulance!’

In ten minutes, the paramedics arrived, and lifted Aunt Bertha onto a portable bed before wheeling her outside to the vehicle. Within a half hour, Katie was at the hospital, sitting beside her aunt. Tom hovered close by.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Katie turned to him and touched his arm. ‘Would you wait with me until some of my family arrive?’

Tom wrapped his arm around her shoulders. ‘Don’t worry, Katie. I won’t leave you to face this alone.’