The Sun Will Shine Tomorrow (32 page)

She said, ‘Will you come to the station on Friday night, Ann, to see me and Kitty off?’

I promised we would. Lily, I knew, would want to be there.

It was blowing another blizzard on the Friday night but this one was whipped up by a wild cold wind that blew the snow into deep drifts across the pavements. The railway station was bleak on that snowy night and we all felt as grey as the weather. Granny had stayed at home but she had said her goodbyes to Kathleen in a letter.

When Lily and I arrived, Danny, Maddie, George and Patty were all standing by Kathleen’s side and Kit was holding Kitty’s hand. Kit was tearful and Kathleen was trying to cheer her up. ‘London is not that far away, Mum. You and Dad can always come for a holiday in the summer and, once this all blows over, I’ll bring Kitty and Chris up to see you.’

Kit went white. ‘Oh, the Malloys will be wild when they find out, Kathleen. Maggie will go mental and we’ve no idea how Sammy and his father will react.’

Kathleen said nothing but, there again, what could she say? Kit was correct in her assumption of how the Malloys would react to her going.

Kit went on, ‘Ma sends her love, as do Belle and Lizzie. They didn’t want to come and say cheerio to you as they said it would be too upsetting.’

We then heard a voice announce the imminent arrival of the London train and slowly it steamed into the station. Kitty was almost jumping with excitement, poor wee lass. It was all a big adventure for her but she wouldn’t have to live with the aftermath should this romantic venture go wrong.

Kathleen’s face, however, was glowing and I prayed it would all end happily for them all. Maddie and Danny were saying their goodbyes and Kathleen was issuing invitations to us all to come and visit her in the far distant future.

It was when Danny said his goodbye to her that she started to cry. He held her close and wiped her eyes with a spotless white handkerchief. ‘You’ll be fine, Kathleen, but just remember you always have us all to fall back on if things don’t go the way you planned them.’

She smiled through tearful eyes. ‘Thanks, Danny – and you too, Maddie.’

George picked up her large suitcase and a small bag which held sandwiches and drinks for the journey.

Kathleen took my hand. ‘You’re the only one apart from Danny who understands this move, Ann.’

I nodded. ‘Just you grab your dream when you get it, Kathleen, and, if it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped, then at least you’ve tried. You’re on your way to a new life and, honestly, I envy you. You’re not a stick-in-the-mud like me.’

She gave me a strange look. ‘Oh, you’re never that, Ann. Too many folk depend on you – believe me.’

I said, ‘Your mum and dad will get the brunt of the Malloys’ anger but I’ll help out as much as I can and so will Danny.’ I handed over Granny’s letter. ‘Just a few words from Granny.’

Then, just as she was about to step into the carriage, she whispered in my ear, ‘Sammy has a secret but it’ll soon come out, Ann. Mum will have no bother with the Malloys later on – maybe to start with but not later on.’

The train began to steam out of the station and our little group stood silent as it disappeared into the dark night and out of our lives.

Kit was crying again but no one tried to stop her tears. After all, she had just said goodbye to her daughter and grandchild and there was no guarantee when she would see them again.

Danny suggested we go into the railway buffet – to gather our thoughts together, he said. The place was dismal but it was reasonably warm. The windows were steamed up with condensation but that didn’t matter because the weather outside was foul.

The tea was weak and tepid but it seemed to cheer Kit up. ‘Kathleen’s right – London’s not that far away and we can save up and maybe go in the summer to see them. I’ve never met this Chris. Have you, Ann?’

All eyes turned on me. ‘No, but I’ve seen his photo.’

Everyone seemed to give a collective sigh and I knew we were all hoping everything would turn out fine for this new venture.

After the tea, we all set off for home. Lily and I waited at the tram stop with the Ryans. Danny also wanted to wait but Kit said to take Maddie home and out of the rotten weather. She was certainly looking tired but she was six months pregnant now and it showed. She was much larger this time than with Daniel but she joked it was going to be a much bigger baby.

I think Kit was hoping I could shed some light on Chris and his character but I couldn’t. I only had a scant knowledge of the man and, anyway, our opinions didn’t count with Kathleen. She was in love and that was the end of the story.

The snow was still falling and we were grateful to see the Lochee tram come into sight, looking like an oasis of warmth and light on this atrocious evening.

As they boarded the tram, Kit said, ‘Come and see us next Sunday. Danny and Maddie have promised to come as well. Maybe we’ll have some word from Kathleen by then – just a postcard to say how she’s settling in.’ Her voice trailed off and tears weren’t very far away. Patty took her arm and we waved as the tram set off.

When we got back home, Lily and I jumped into the bed settee with our two hot-water bottles and two cups of piping-hot cocoa.

Lily thought it was all so romantic – young lovers running away together to live out their dream in the glowing sunset.

I didn’t tell her that those scenes were usually based on Hollywood films and were pure fantasy. Still, maybe Kathleen and Chris would have a Hollywood-style life …

I fell asleep and dreamed of the Malloys, their faces red with rage. When I woke up, I remembered Kathleen’s words. What secret did Sammy harbour? And why was Kathleen whispering to me?

I was dreading our visit the following Sunday. I imagined an irate collection of Malloys, old and young, but, when we arrived, all was peaceful.

Kit couldn’t believe it. ‘It’s been like this since last Friday. I hope this is not a false calm.’

Danny and Maddie were as surprised as Kit and so were we. Danny laughed. ‘I thought Sammy would be here, shouting and threatening everybody in sight.’

I was glad to have this chat with him. I wanted to ask him if he had heard anything from Ma Ryan on Kathleen’s decision to leave. He said he hadn’t but we all knew Ma’s reluctance to use her psychic powers on her own family.

‘Ma told me a while ago that I was in danger, Danny. She said I had to watch my step and it was just like the time when she gave me the warning about the Ferry. Still, I think the danger is over now.’

He looked alarmed.

‘I almost fell from a tramcar on the same day she warned me so I reckon that was why I had to watch my step.’

He looked worried. ‘What a lot of trouble we’re having just now, Ann – first it was Margot and now it’s Kathleen. Let’s hope that’s the end of it.’

I echoed this sentiment. Things might be quiet today but the storm would erupt sooner or later and Kit and George would be in the front line – of that I was sure. I mentally envisaged Maggie on the warpath and it wasn’t a pleasant thought. Still, we could all breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy today and our time together.

It was when we were on our way home that Maddie and Danny brought up the subject of the flat at Roseangle. I immediately said we could leave in a couple of days but that wasn’t the plan they said.

‘We were thinking of selling the flat Ann and buying a house with a garden. It would be much better for Daniel and the new baby,’ said Maddie.

My heart sank at the thought of handing the flat over to a stranger.

Maddie went on, ‘Danny and I were wondering if you would like to buy it from us?’

I almost collapsed with amazement. ‘Buy a house Maddie? I couldn’t afford it.’

Danny said, ‘We’ve spoken to Maddie’s dad and, if you go to see him this week, then he’ll give you some good advice.’

Lily hadn’t come with us. She had stayed with Dad and Rosie and Jay and I didn’t want her to find out about this – at least not for the time being. She would be thrilled if she thought the flat could be ours but how could I possibly buy it? I didn’t want to raise her hopes only to dash them when I discovered I couldn’t afford it.

Danny and Maddie got off the tram before me and I spent the rest of the journey thinking about the offer. There was no way I could afford it, I thought. I was halfway up the Hilltown to pick Lily up when I decided there was no harm in going to see Mr Pringle. He would obviously put me right about the exorbitant costs of buying a house.

However, the next morning I got such a lovely surprise that I forgot about our recent worries or buying a house. When the three girls came into the shop for their cigarettes and sweets, Amy and Sylvia were unusually quiet. Joe even remarked on it.

‘Edith’s got good news, Ann,’ said Sylvia.

I thought there was a hint of jealousy in her terse remark.

I looked at Edith and she held up her left hand. On her fourth finger was an engagement ring.

‘Edith,’ I said, totally surprised, ‘when did this happen?’

She looked so pleased with herself. ‘At the weekend! My fiancé is a friend of my brother. They are both at university but we plan to get married when he graduates.’

‘That’s wonderful!’ There was nothing more I could add. I was speechless.

Joe turned to the two other girls. ‘And when are you two humdingers getting engaged?’

The girls perked up at these complimentary words. ‘Och, we’ve no’ got any fiancés,’ said Amy, sounding miffed.

Joe looked shocked. ‘What? Two good-looking lassies like you? You’re kidding me.’

‘Well, we’re going to the dancing tonight so maybe we’ll meet the men of our dreams – just like Edith,’ said Sylvia. She put the cigarettes in her pocket and turned to leave the shop. It was yet another snowy morning and the girls pulled their headscarves tighter around their heads.

Edith gave my hand a squeeze. ‘See, you
can
meet a man by sitting at the fire knitting, Ann,’ she said softly.

I smiled. ‘Of course you can, Edith.’

If that’s the case, I thought, where is my Prince Charming?

Still, that small piece of good news cheered me up as I set off for Mr Pringle’s office. I sat in the hard-backed chair in the outer office and watched one woman typing what looked like a novel while the other one was busy putting paper sheets into the many files that were crammed into the wooden shelves.

Mr Pringle came out and I was ushered to a softer seat in his office. He got right to the point. ‘Maddie and Danny have told you of their proposition, Ann? About buying the flat at Roseangle?’

I nodded. My mouth felt dry. ‘I don’t think I can afford it, Mr Pringle.’

He opened a thin file in front of him and studied it for a moment. ‘Well, according to your finances, you can buy it. The money you inherited from Mrs Barrie has been wisely invested and you haven’t used any of it over the last few years.’ What he didn’t say was I hadn’t touched it since the money I had taken out for Lily when Margot was married to Dad.

‘But I wanted that money to be kept for Lily. That’s why I haven’t been to see you about it for years. I thought, if I just forgot about it, I couldn’t spend it. You know she wants to go to art college when she leaves school which will be later this year. I’ll need that money to cover her fees and her keep.’

He studied the file again. ‘Well, if you put aside one hundred and fifty pounds for that, you still have a balance of two thousand pounds.’

I gasped out loud. ‘Two thousand pounds?’

He nodded. ‘I did say it had been wisely invested. You can easily afford the flat and the balance of your money will be invested again, hopefully to grow in size.’

I didn’t know what to say.

‘Well, you think it over, Ann, and let me know what you decide. Remember, however, that property is capital and you can always sell the house at a later date and you’ll probably get all your investment back – maybe even a bit more.’

Put that way, how could I refuse? ‘I’ll think it over, Mr Pringle, and let you know soon.’

Outside in the street, my head was in a whirl. It was similar to the day Jean Peters, Mr Potter and I were told about our legacies from the darling Mrs Barrie. I remembered how we had all been so surprised but pleased by the news.

What would Lily say if she knew? She would be over the moon, of that I was sure. But having my legacy tucked away was like having money for a rainy day. It cushioned Lily and me and I desperately wanted her to have her art college education.

Suddenly Kathleen’s image floated in front of me. Her voice was saying take what you want and to hang with the consequences. And it would mean Lily would always have a roof over her head instead of starving in some Glasgow garret.

I went back to the office and Mr Pringle was surprised to see me so soon.

‘I’ve made up my mind, Mr Pringle. I’ll buy the flat.’

I decided not to tell Lily until the deal was finalised and I was planning to tell the family at the same time.

The weather didn’t improve by the time April arrived and it was still snowing. Kit was expecting trouble any day and it arrived at almost the same time I got the letter from the Borlands. Greg’s mum and dad. It was a grey Saturday and the leaden sky seemed to sit on top of the buildings. The letter thankfully was short. ‘We would love to see you both during the school holidays. It would be lovely to see Lily before she goes away to the art college. Please write soon and say you’ll come.’ It was signed ‘Babs’.

The next day, the Malloys, realising they hadn’t seen Kathleen or Kitty for a few weeks, finally burst into Kit’s kitchen. They were demanding to know the truth because they had heard a rumour that Kathleen had done a bunk.

Danny and I heard about it later but seemingly the row could be heard at the far end of the street, Maggie’s screeching being so loud. When neither Kit or George would tell them of Kathleen’s whereabouts, Sammy’s dad had threatened to burst into Mr Portland’s studio the next day and sort him out. George told him he could do what he wanted but they wouldn’t find Kathleen or Kitty there. They had gone for good and the Malloy family could do nothing about it.

Later, Danny told me how strange it had been that Sammy hadn’t joined in the melee and, according to the Lochee grapevine, he hadn’t wanted his parents to cause such a fuss.