The Tangling of the Web (18 page)

‘Aye, for you right now it is,’ agreed Sally, thinking,
But if there’s any justice in the world soon you’ll be, like me, tucked up in bed by midnight with nothing other than a big mug,
she giggled,
of cocoa.

When Nancy, who had not only scrubbed up well but was also suitably attired in a Burberry coat, made her grand entrance into the Royal Stuart pub, Sally knew she had done the right thing.
Oh yes,
Sally mused,
I may have had to drag her up on to her feet and be her crutch, but I can see today from her demeanour she will soon be walking unaided.

Sally was right, because Nancy, whose life should have rendered her senseless, was a quick learner and within three hectic months Sally could confidently leave her to run the Royal Stuart. Granted, her idea of gourmet lunches was serving Heinz Tomato Soup along with Hannah the Brunswick Street home baker’s lukewarm famous Scotch pies and sausage rolls, but it appeared that was what the working men seemed to appreciate, along, of course, with a pint of McEwan’s Best.

On arrival at the registry office, Harry couldn’t believe how many of his adoring fans had turned up. It had not dawned on him that ‘his fans’ were mostly in their teens or early twenties, like his twenty-four-year-old bride.

Felicity had insisted that, as it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony, she should arrive with her dad. As the limousine drew up in front of the registry, the crowd began to surge forward when Felicity’s father, dressed in morning clothes, emerged from the car. Bowing to the crowd, he then offered his hand to his daughter, and when the audience saw how young and beautiful she looked, they gasped. Here was their star dressed in a knee-length white taffeta dress and instead of a veil she had donned a sparkling tiara on her ash-blonde hair. Leith had never seen such opulence. Standing quite still so everyone could enjoy the spectacle, Felicity smiled and waved. Soon her audience were screaming, ‘Felicity, Felicity, sing us a song.’

Feigning modesty, she simpered, ‘Now, now, this is my wedding day so it’s you who should be singing to me.’

A young fan immediately jumped forward, and kneeling on the pavement he grabbed hold of Felicity’s hand and began to warble ‘I’m Walking Behind You on Your Wedding Day’. However, when the twitter drifted into the registry office Harry thought that the laddie was definitely off-key and that he had sung it so much better to Margo on her wedding day.

No one would ever be sure of what went through Felicity’s head at that moment, but she bent down and helped the young lad to his feet. ‘Thank you, Billy,’ was all she could mumble as her eyes sought her dad.

Margo, dressed in a deep-pink satin creation that made her look quite elegant, tottered forward on her four-inch high heels. ‘Come on, Felicity. My dad’s waiting.’

The horror of the word ‘dad’ spoken by Margo had an effect upon Felicity. ‘That’s right, you’re the same age as me, and my intended is your father. Not only that, he’s older than my dad. Dad, I need you,’ she screamed, scanning the crowd for her father.

Wondering what all the commotion was about, Harry emerged into the street and strode over to Felicity. Following him, an attendant said, ‘Could I remind you that the registrar is waiting and there will another wedding in half an hour.’ Placing a hand on both Felicity and Harry, he continued, ‘So, Miss, if you and your father …’ he scanned the crowd and then beckoned to Billy, ‘… and you too if you still want to get married today, just follow me.’

Billy laughed and encouraged the spectators to join in the hilarity. Felicity’s dad did manage to fight his way through the mob, and when he got towards his daughter, he asked, ‘Is there a problem, love?’

Felicity nodded and managed to mumble through racking sobs, ‘Oh Dad, you’re right: in a couple of years he’ll be like old age creeping over me. Oh Dad, please tell me what to do.’

Harry was taken aback. This humiliation was not what he had expected. So, grabbing Felicity by the arm, he began to propel her towards the registry entrance. ‘Look,’ he snarled, ‘don’t you dare make me look a right charlie. We’re getting married today and you can sue for a divorce after I give you a right good doing tonight.’

‘Dad, save me,’ screeched Felicity. ‘He’s going to thump me.’

‘That’ll be the day,’ retaliated Felicity’s father, before punching Harry on the nose.

Next thing Harry knew, Mr Gibson had called on the wedding car to come and take him and his daughter home. Before they left, Harry thought that Mr Gibson was going to give the customary pour-out of coins to the assembled children, but instead he called Billy over and gave him a fistful of folding money. ‘Well done, son,’ he declared whilst slapping Billy on the back. ‘Couldn’t have done it better myself.’ Waving to the crowd, he then jumped into the car and was spirited away.

‘Oh Dad,’ Margo sobbed. ‘What are you going to do? The house has been sold and you can’t stay with Felicity or Maggie any more … You have nowhere to live.’

‘Margo, you couldn’t?’

She shook her head. ‘No. There’s no room for you at my house.’ Stopping to consider what could be done, she exhaled before saying, ‘And Maggie’s in bedlam, but I suppose I could ask Mum … But she probably won’t.’

‘Well, in that case there’s nothing else I can do but catch the train to Inverness and find out if my mother will put me up until people have stopped laughing.’

Margo nodded. ‘Okay. But I think I should do you a favour and have a long-overdue word with Mum.’

Saturday lunchtime was, as always, a busy time for the Four Marys. As luck would have it, Sally was on duty, assisted by Rita. The soup of the day, according to Rita, was vegetarian lentil, made with some good ham bones but of course with no meat on them.

Sally had just finished advising the kitchen of the latest orders when Margo came up to the bar. ‘Want something?’ was Sally’s non-committal enquiry.

‘Mum, I know you’ll be sorry to know that Dad has been . . jilted.’

Trying hard to control her sniggers, Sally replied, ‘That right? And they say there’s no justice.’

‘I know, Mum. You
are
, like me, so sorry that he has been so humiliated. Imagine being dumped like an old pair of shoes.’

Sally wanted to say, ‘Good. Now he knows how it feels when someone grips your heel.’ However, all she uttered was, ‘And Margo, now if you don’t mind I’m busy – very busy.’

‘Mum, I know you are, but we have to talk about Dad.’

‘Look, if by that you mean you’re here to ask me to give him a bed then the answer is no. Positively no.’ And as she didn’t wish to wash any more of her dirty linen in public, she said no more, but she did fix an insincere smile on her face.

Her grin, however, genuinely grew when David Stock arrived, and she was sweeter than honey when she asked him, ‘What’s your pleasure, David? And could I introduce you to my daughter, Margo. She just dropped in to give me some good news.’

‘How do you do,’ David said, offering Margo his hand. ‘And Sally, I’ve just popped in for a dram and a chat.’

‘Oh, surely you mean take me to the pictures. But as I’ve just seen Josie off for a week’s holiday, could I take a rain check? But in the meantime, let me treat you to a double Glenmorangie.’

David didn’t know what Sally was talking about, so he just nodded and took a seat at a table. Giving a sideways glance to Margo, he thought she seemed crestfallen, and when she said to her mother, ‘So there is no room in your life for my dad?’ he didn’t know why but he was very pleased.

Sally shook her head. ‘Know something, Margo? I just have time for those who have never broken my heart.’

Scalding tears were now spilling down Margo’s cheeks. Sniffing loudly, she blubbered, ‘Mum, I’m so sorry. You see I now know how wrong I have been.’ She halted to wipe her cheeks before adding, ‘What I’m saying is, please could you allow me to come back into your life?’

Sally nodded. What else does a mother do other than with delight follow the Bible and take the prodigal back.

Flora and Shonag were seated on the garden bench that overlooked the Moray Firth. They had reached the sunset stage in life when at the end of the day it felt just right to relax and enjoy reminiscing.

The two women had been born in this now subdivided house. Their adult lives had not been free from problems – Shonag had a son who was shunned by the strict brethren she was a member of just because he was homosexual, and Flora had the heartache of knowing that her son was a womaniser and a blood-sucking parasite. However, as they watched the sun set they could recall the happy days of their childhood when all they knew was security, warmth and, most importantly, love in abundance.

‘We got a little bit done today,’ Shonag observed while shielding her eyes from the glorious rays of the setting sun.

‘Suppose so,’ replied Flora, ‘but know something, Shonag – it takes me longer to think about doing some work nowadays than it used to take me to do it.’

Both chuckled before an easy, comfortable silence fell between them. Still protecting her eyes, Shonag looked down to the winding pathway that brought you up to the houses. ‘Here,’ she said, grabbing Flora’s arm. ‘Is that a stranger that’s coming our way?’

Lifting her left hand to her forehead, Flora stared down the road. Jumping up, she shouted, ‘My old eyes don’t think it’s a stranger. Look at his gait. It’s either your William or my Harry.’

The women kept watch on the road until they saw that the man was Harry. Starting to run towards him, Flora shouted, ‘It’s my laddie. Oh please, God in heaven, don’t let him be bringing me bad news.’

Once Harry was safely in Flora’s house and Shonag had departed to her own home to fetch some scones she had baked, Flora slowly drawled, ‘What brings you?’

Harry sank into the old, comfortable armchair that had once been his grandfather’s domain – his, and only his, province, where he had reigned supreme. ‘Mum,’ Harry mumbled as he sniffed, ‘I’ve been jilted.’

Flora erupted into uncontrollable laughter.

‘You might think it’s funny, but it was at the registry office that she ditched me. The laughing stock of the whole of Leith I am.’

‘Good for her. Besides, she was not for you.’

Harry shrugged before asking, ‘Mum, can I stay here for two weeks?’

‘Yes, but you’ll have to work in the gardens.’

Harry looked down at his hands.
Mine are the hands of a gentleman – not a labourer. Felicity and Maggie always said what gentle sensitive hands I have, but what will they think of them after two weeks grafting up here? But,
he conceded,
that is not my biggest problem: it is getting back to having a woman in my life. Felicity is gone and won’t be coming back. Maggie … Well, she just doesn’t fit my image now. And Sally … well?
Suddenly he sat bolt upright before speaking to his mother again. ‘Mum,’ he wheedled, ‘you’re on such good terms with Sally, is there any possibility you would ask her to take me back?’

Flora’s mouth fell open.

Harry, unaware that he had shocked his mother, continued, ‘She’s doing well for herself. And I could do a lot better for myself by getting hitched to her again and taking over her businesses. And she will let me.’

‘Aye, and more fool her.’ Flora paused and was pensive before adding, ‘Right enough, I’m your mother and I can’t shut my door on you, but Sally,’ she laughed gleefully, ‘she now knows for certain you were a millstone round her neck and no way will she ever let you sponge off her again – and if she ever does, I’ll have her certified.’

Harry’s reply was to laugh raucously. ‘Mum, you think you know Sally. Believe me, you don’t even begin to comprehend what makes her tick. Do you know when I told her I was leaving her she fell down on her knees and begged me to stay? Still grovelling, she pleaded …’ Harry now cruelly imitated Sally’s distraught voice, ‘… “Oh Harry, you are my life. Please, please always remember you can come back home any time and I will welcome you with open arms.” ’

Harry paused before continuing in his own voice, ‘Had the cheek then to try and blackmail me by sobbing, “Darling, have you thought about how you’ll be destroying our children’s happiness?” So you see, you’re wrong, Mother, and in a few weeks’ time I’ll be running the Four Marys and the Royal Stuart and have my feet firmly tucked beneath Sally’s table, where she will be delighted to have them.’

‘You think so? Well, I’m a better judge of character than you and I say no way, sonny boy, will she have you back. So you’d better go and find yourself another bimbo.’

Two weeks later at afternoon closing time, Harry strolled into the Four Marys bar. Rita, who was busy washing glasses in the bar sink whilst Sally was cashing up, whispered, ‘Don’t spin around right now, Sally, but a bar of chocolate that would like to eat itself has just walked in.’

Sally stopped counting, but she did not about turn.

‘Hello, Sally. Long time no see,’ a voice purred.

Sally didn’t need to turn around to see who was speaking. She knew that voice so well. That voice that used to make her feel weak at the knees. That voice that would whisper in her ear when he wanted her to do something for him. And whatever he’d wanted, she’d granted.

Banging the till drawer shut, she swivelled slowly round, and picking up a damp cloth, she started to mop up the spills from the counter whilst she looked Harry straight in the eyes. ‘And what do you want?’ she asked, as she noted he had gone to the trouble of dressing himself up. However, the silk cravat, his Brycreemed hair and the aroma of the cologne he liked to splash about himself only served to make her shudder.

‘To start with, a double malt on the house to celebrate,’ he drawled as he winked at her.

Rita had gone over to the optic, but a warning glare from Sally had her stop in her tracks. ‘Sorry, Harry,’ Sally sweetly but firmly began, ‘but you’re barred in here and at the Royal Stuart too.’

‘Barred? But you don’t understand I’m here to answer your prayers? I’m coming back to you.’

‘You’re what?’ Sally exclaimed.

‘I know you’re surprised, but I’m belatedly taking up your offer to come back to you. Oh Sally dear, I want to make life easier for you. I could take over the responsibility …’ Harry now waved his arms about to embrace the whole of the room before adding, ‘… of all this off your shoulders. Now does that not excite you, Sally?’