Towards a Dark Horizon (8 page)

‘This is the way my father left it and I don’t have the heart to throw out his things,’ Connie said.

Actually, I liked it because it resembled the furniture shop on the Hilltown with its mixture of everything.

One night in the early summer, Connie said, ‘Although it’s a secret in the British newspapers, I’ve heard through the trade that the King is seeing a married woman. Her name is Wallis Simpson and she’s American.’

I was agog with excitement. ‘How did you find out?’

‘Well, it’s in the American papers but it might just be a rumour. If she does get a divorce and marry him then this will be her third marriage.’ Connie looked sad. ‘Lucky for her I say and here I am – I can’t even get
one
man.’

I wanted to ask her a favour. ‘You know that Lily is going to the school this summer, Connie?’

She nodded.

‘Well, I wondered if I could maybe change my hours so that I can take her to the school in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon?’

‘Aye, that’s no problem, Ann. If you start at six thirty, work till eight, then come back at nine and work till your usual time, will that help?’

I thought it was great and I said so. That would give me time to pick Lily up from the Overgate and get her to the school gate in time for her classes and the afternoons were nearly always free anyway. Thank goodness that was settled, I thought. Granny was right when she said it would all work out. If Danny and Maddie’s lives were sailing on choppy seas well at least mine seemed to be on an even course.

Then the two letters arrived on the same day – a lovely hot day in August. The first one came from Greg, which wasn’t unexpected, and the other one came from Mrs Pringle. Greg’s said he was coming to Dundee on the Sunday and he asked if I could meet him while Mrs Pringle invited me to her house on the Saturday.

‘Bring Lily with you, Ann, as she’ll be good company for Joy,’ she wrote.

On the Saturday afternoon we both set off for the Perth Road. Lily seemed strangely quiet and not like herself while I felt wary at the thought of Maddie’s mother and I wondered who else would be there, dreading the thought of Hattie and Maddie in the house also. Then I felt guilty by these thoughts – some friend I was turning out to be.

With its smooth green lawns surrounded by banks of colourful flowers, the garden at Perth Road was a delight. The flowers’ perfume lay heavy on the warm sunny breeze. The garden sloped down towards the river and, although it was sheltered by a long green hedge, it was possible to see the Tay’s silver sheen through the greenery.

Mr Pringle was weeding. Dressed in an old short-sleeved shirt and a battered straw hat, he looked the picture of a country gardener – except that this garden lay not far from a busy road and the noisy bustle of the city. He waved.

Mrs Pringle was sitting by the open French window. She called out, ‘Come in, both of you, and have something to drink.’

We went into her lounge. On my last visit, about a year ago, her settees and chairs had been covered with lovely rose-patterned covers but today they were covered in plain cream linen. It made the room seem cool and uncluttered.

I thought of Connie’s house with its collection of possessions. If I owned a house like this, would I go for this quiet look because it was so elegant or would I choose the cosy clutter?

Joy was sitting on the rose-coloured carpet with a pile of books. She gazed at us when we entered and she rose to her feet when she saw Lily. Normally Lily would have gone over to her and the books but not today. She clung to my skirt with her chubby hand.

Mrs Pringle said, ‘Do you want to go to Joy’s room and play with her toys, Lily?’

To my amazement she shook her head.

Mrs Pringle glanced at me but I could only shrug my shoulders.

‘Do you both want to go outside and help in the garden?’

Lily didn’t answer and she hid her face against my skirt. This was so unlike her.

I bent down. ‘Lily, go and play with Joy. After all that’s why we’re here.’

She gave me such a strange look but, after a moment’s hesitation, she let Joy lead her upstairs towards the bedroom.

‘I’ve no idea why she’s like this, Mrs Pringle,’ I said.

She smiled and handed me a lovely china cup and saucer. It held a fragrant-smelling tea.

‘It’s Earl Grey tea,’ she explained. ‘Hattie and I just love it.’

I memorised the name. Earl Grey. Granny would want to know everything about this unexpected visit.

Mrs Pringle stirred her tea for a long time, as if getting up the courage to ask me the one question I dreaded. I sat in silence and let the perfume from the fragrant roses that framed the window waft towards me. It was so peaceful sitting in this lovely room but I knew what was coming.

She put her cup down without tasting it. ‘Ann, I have to be honest with you when I say that Mr Pringle and I don’t understand about Maddie and Danny breaking off their engagement.’ She looked me straight in the eye. ‘Do you know why?’

I didn’t know what to say. There was no way I could tell her the truth but, on the other hand, Maddie’s parents had been so good to us. She had got me my job with Mrs Barrie at Whitegate Lodge and Mr Pringle’s brother had given Dad the job at his warehouse. I didn’t want to lie to her but what could I say? I looked around to see if Hattie was in the house.

As if guessing this, Mrs Pringle said, ‘Hattie is off today, Ann. That’s why I asked you to come. I’ve asked her and she says she doesn’t know. She says that Maddie wants to wait till her final exams are over before committing herself.’

‘What does Maddie say?’

‘That’s the point – she hasn’t said anything. She just told us that the engagement is off for the time being and that’s all.’ She looked so concerned that I suddenly wished I could tell her the whole story and the truth. Blast Hattie for being such a snob or Danny for being an idiot. I had hoped that Danny, once he had got over his initial shock, would perhaps see sense but now his mother had made it much worse by getting him to promise to say nothing.

Mrs Pringle asked, ‘Well, Ann?’

‘The only thing I know, Mrs Pringle, is that Danny was so upset after Dad Ryan’s death that it’s put him a bit wrong. His dad died when he was a baby and the Ryans have aye been his family. Ma and Dad were more like his parents …’ I stopped. What was I saying? If Hattie heard this she would be mad. ‘Well, not like his parents but more like …’ I shook my head. ‘I don’t know what I’m saying, Mrs Pringle.’

She looked at me, a shrewd expression on her face. ‘I do know what you’re saying, Ann. I think you do know what caused this break-up but you’re a very loyal girl and now I’ve put you on the spot. I’m so very sorry.’

I was mortified. ‘It’s me that should be sorry, Mrs Pringle. I just hope that, given time, things will work out for them both.’

She raised her cup. ‘Then let’s drink to that, Ann.’

I don’t remember much about the homeward journey. On all my previous visits to Maddie’s house, I was always so entranced by all the lovely things that I relayed them to Granny as soon as I got home. Today, however, after my visit, I was oblivious to the warm sun and the flowery perfumes from the gardens and it was as if I walked home with my own personal black cloud over my head. I was also worried about Lily. Was she sickening for something? I hoped not as she would soon be going to school.

Dad and Rosie were both in the house when we got back. ‘What did Mrs Pringle want to see you about, Ann?’ he asked.

Rosie didn’t know the full story so I didn’t want to mention it in front of her.

I smiled. ‘Och, she just wanted Lily to come over and see Joy.’

Rosie took Lily’s hand. ‘You’ll be staying with us tomorrow when Ann goes to see Greg.’

Lily snatched her hand away and burst into a flood of tears. ‘No, no, no. I want to go with Ann. I don’t want to stay here.’ She threw herself down on the chair and fresh tears erupted.

We all looked at one another in amazement.

I went over to her. ‘I’m just meeting Greg for a wee while, Lily, and then I’ll be home to see you.’

She flung her arms around my neck. ‘I want to come as well. I want to come.’

I looked at Rosie who seemed stunned. She was so good to Lily and now she couldn’t understand this outburst. And neither could I.

Dad decided to be firm with her. ‘Now look here, Lily, your sister is due a day out on her own and that is that.’

Lily began to cry again and I couldn’t bear the sight of her pathetic sobbing. Her cotton frock was wet with teardrops and her face was red with crying. I picked her up and sat her on my knee. ‘All right, Lily, you can come with me to the train station.’

Dad looked as if he wanted to say something but instead he put on his jacket and he and Rosie left.

After they had gone, I spoke to Lily. ‘Now, Lily, what’s brought this on? You’ve stayed with Rosie before and never had this carryon. What’s the matter?’

‘I don’t want you to leave me, Ann. I want to go with you.’

I looked at her crumpled face. ‘Don’t be stupid, Lily, I’ll never leave you. You can come and meet Greg tomorrow and you can even decide where we’ll go for the day.’

This cheered her up. We decided to have fish and chips for tea and we made a quick trip to the chip shop at the top of the Wellgate. By the time we got back and laid the table she seemed to be back to normal.

The next day was as hot as the Saturday. Lily, dressed in her summer frock and sandals, was ready long before I was. I hadn’t seen Greg for a couple of months and I wanted to look my best.

For some reason Lily was agitated. ‘Hurry up or we’ll miss the train, Ann.’

I didn’t own a large wardrobe of clothes but I chose the best of what I had – a full-skirted cotton dress and white sandals. I brushed my short dark hair until it gleamed then I joined Lily at the door. She was hopping from foot to foot.

‘Right then, Lily, off we go.’ I knew we were far too early for Greg’s train but I didn’t want to upset my sister. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand her strange behaviour.

The interior of Dundee West Station was cool and dim after the bright sunshine outside. We bought two platform tickets and sat on one of the benches. We had an hour to wait but Lily seemed quite happy. The station was full of people either waiting for a train or disembarking from one. The noise was incredible as the smoky steam engines chugged to and fro.

Lily was fascinated by all this activity. Another thing that entranced her was the chocolate machine and I let her put some money in it with a dire warning – ‘Don’t get chocolate over your clean frock.’

She promised to stay chocolate free and I thought of Greg. What would I tell him if he asked about Danny and Maddie? I would have to stick to the story I had told Mrs Pringle and I hated all this subterfuge. Still, I had no choice.

A disembodied voice crackled from the loudspeaker, announcing the arrival of the Glasgow train. Then a mighty engine appeared, pulling a string of carriages. Doors were flung open and a multitude of people stepped off. I craned my neck to try and see Greg but the milling masses made this impossible. I held on to Lily’s hand in case I lost her.

‘I can’t see Greg,’ she cried.

Neither could I. We waited until the platform cleared but there was no sign of him. My mind went numb. What had happened to him?

Lily was upset. ‘He’s not coming, is he, Ann?’

‘Of course he is. He wrote me a letter telling me to meet him at the station.’ I was confused but tried to keep calm for her sake.

Another train came and went. The platform filled up with people then went quiet again. I stood undecided for a moment then said, ‘Come on, Lily, it looks like Greg’s not coming.’

Her small face crumpled but I bent down. ‘Maybe I’ve got the wrong date. Maybe it’s next week I’ve to meet him.’

She looked alarmed. ‘Can I come with you next week, Ann?’

I nodded, too upset to speak. I knew I hadn’t made a mistake with the date.

The sunshine was glaringly bright when we stepped out of the station. I was mentally making up some sort of story to tell Dad and Rosie when, to my amazement, I saw Greg standing on the pavement by the station entrance.

He saw me and looked astonished. ‘I’ve been waiting here for you, Ann. Were you in the station?’

I nodded, happiness flooding back. ‘We bought two platform tickets, Greg. I thought Lily would like to see the trains.’

He seemed to see Lily for the first time. His face fell. ‘Lily, have you come to meet me off the train?’

Lily jumped up and down. ‘No, Greg, I’m coming with you and Ann said I could choose where we’re going.’

Greg looked at me and I thought he didn’t seem pleased by this arrangement. He said, ‘I see, Lily. Did you not want to go with your dad and Rosie?’

Lily looked as if she would burst into tears again and I gave him a warning glance.

He smiled at her. ‘I just wondered, Lily. It’s wonderful that you’ve come to see me and we’ll have a great day.’

Her face lit up and I said, ‘Well, Lily, where do you want to go?’

There was no hesitation. ‘On the Fifie – I want to go on the Fifie.’

I looked at Greg warily and he smiled. ‘Well, then, it’s the Fifie for us.’

We stood in a long queue at the office in Union Street for our tickets to cross the River Tay to Newport on the ferry. Craig Pier was packed with people all taking advantage of the lovely weather. We watched the procession of vans and motorcycles drive over the metal ramp then it was the turn of the passengers to board.

Greg had said very little during this wait and I knew he found Lily’s presence a bit disconcerting. He had obviously thought we would be alone on our day together. When we climbed to the upper deck, I thought Lily would be entranced by the water and would want to watch it through the rails but she stuck to my side like glue.

‘How are Glasgow and your job, Greg?’

He smiled. ‘I like it and the library is a great place to work but I miss you, Ann.’

I felt myself blushing and said nothing.

He went on. ‘I may be there for a while yet but it isn’t permanent – maybe a year or two.’

My heart sank. Not permanent? How temporary did Greg think two years were? It seemed like a lifetime to me and I said so. He took my hand and didn’t say anything else until the ferry docked at Newport.