A Country Affair (14 page)

“I do. I’ve always been grateful for that. More than grateful.”

Mia cheered up after he said that and went into the kitchen to make Gerry his lunch. She called out, “I forgot about your lunch with taking Kate to work. Ham all right?”

“Fine.” He’d call on Adam tonight.

But instead, he went straight from their house to Adam’s. If the fellow was out of work, he’d likely be at home, wouldn’t he? There’d be no point in Adam’s hanging about waiting for Kate at this time of day and the sooner it was faced up to, the better, in his opinion.

He’d never been to Adam’s house, though Kate had pointed it out to him. The terrace of stone cottages stretched right from the riverbank to the council park—a quiet, secluded lane with desirable cottages, some smartened up and modernized, others as they’d been for a century and more.

He found number fifteen and pulled up outside. It was so entirely clean, it was hard to believe that Mrs. Pentecost hadn’t been out since dawn scrubbing down the outside walls and polishing the windows. Not a spider’s web or a speck of dust anywhere; not a single patch of flaking paint. The net curtains lined up like soldiers on parade. In the window boxes were winter pansies, their faces turned to the autumn sunshine, planted with such precision he doubted they’d ever dare to die. There was something unnerving about the exactness of it all. Something almost . . . Gerry couldn’t find the right word but
obsessive
crept into his mind.

He got out and went to rattle the brass knocker. At first he thought they weren’t in, but then he heard footsteps. The door opened a few inches and a face very like Adam’s came into view.

“Yes?”

“Good morning. I’m Gerry Howard. I’ve come to see Adam.”

The door opened wider. “Oh, you’re Kate Howard’s father?”

Gerry nodded.

“He’s at work.”

“He is?”

The door opened wider still. “Come in. Come in. You can leave a message.”

The chill of the house struck Gerry as soon as he walked in. Because it was a cottage entrance, the front door opened straight into the living room and it seemed he’d walked into an immaculately kept shrine. On every well-polished surface stood photographs of Adam in all stages of his life: the naked baby on the sheepskin rug, the toddler playing with his brightly painted wooden engine, the schoolboy in his too-big blazer, the teenager in athletic kit holding up a trophy, and in pride of place on the mantelpiece was Adam in cap and gown.
Oh God!
thought Gerry.
If I hadn’t had Mia to keep me in check, I’d have had Kate all over our sitting room too.
Mrs. Pentecost went to a drawer in a table under the window. “Here, write on this.” She didn’t have to root about in the drawer to find a piece of paper as Mia would have had to do, because all there was in the drawer was a writing pad and a pen.

She handed them to him and waited.

“I’ve nothing to write; I wanted to see him.”

“But I said he isn’t here. He’s at work. He won’t be home until half past six at the earliest. That promotion he got is keeping him so busy, but then what can you expect when a young executive is climbing the ladder of success? They have to put in all the hours, haven’t they?”

Had Mia got it wrong, then? “You must be proud of him.”

“I am. It will be lovely when Kate and he marry and we all live together in the one house.”

When what she’d said had registered, Gerry cringed with disgust at the future planned out for his Kate.

“We went to look around one the other day, Adam and I. Bigger than this, of course, as suits an executive. I shall have company all day and someone to look after me then. I’m so looking forward to it. I’m not in good health, you see.”

Gerry dared a stupid question: “Kate like it, did she?”

“She’s going at the weekend with Adam. Just the two of them. You know what it’s like when you’re in love. You don’t want a doddery old mother with you, do you?” She smiled coyly, asking him to deny her dodderiness.

Gerry got the distinct impression as he looked at her that she was no more decrepit than he himself. “I see. Kate hasn’t said.”

“I think Adam’s keeping it as a surprise.”

“It will certainly be that. Look, I’ll call back tonight if I may—catch Adam in then.”

“I’ll tell him you’re coming. Oh, he won’t be in, though. It’s Tuesday, so he’ll be going tenpins bowling with Kate. He’ll be picking her up at your house.”

Gerry began to think he might be going insane, but swept along by her self-delusion, he entered into her crazy charade. “Of course, I’d forgotten it’s Tuesday. I’ll see him tonight at our house, then. I was thinking it was Kate’s night for seeing her tutor.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew that was the last reason he should have given, because word for word it would be relayed to Adam and he’d know what Kate had decided.

Gerry shook Mrs. Pentecost’s hand and levered himself out of the door. Standing on the pavement, he felt such a rush of relief to have escaped he was almost skipping. “Bye-bye, Mrs. Pentecost. Nice to have met you.”

Gerry drove away down the street a little, then pulled up and dialed Mia on his mobile. She wasn’t in, so he left a message: “It’s me. I’ve called at the house and he wasn’t in, but she was and she’s crackers, I’m certain. Please, Mia, pick up Kate tonight, won’t you? I’ll explain when I see you. I might be late, but I’ll do my best. Bye, love. Keep the doors locked when you get home, just in case.”

Who was deluding whom? Was his mother aware Adam was out of work and, knowing what a blow it was to him, going along with his deception for his sake? Or had he deceived her so completely that she truly believed he had been promoted and was working all hours? Did he, then, on Tuesdays get his ludicrous tenpins bowling outfit on and set out as though calling for Kate? If so, the matter was far more serious than he had ever imagined. What a tragic mess the pair of them were in.

Gerry had to swerve to miss a car pulling out at a traffic circle, which forced him to put his mind on driving and work. He’d deal with it all when he got back home. Had Gerry foreseen the events that would take place that night because of his unwitting revelation that Kate was having tutoring, he would not have thrown himself with such vigor into persuading a new outlet to take his superb collection of biscuits specially put together for the Christmas trade. They were so tempting that he could eat a whole box himself straight off.

Chapter
9

T
hat same afternoon Kate was scheduled to go to Miss Chillingsworth’s to pick up the kittens. But having been taken to work by Mia, it was Miriam who volunteered to drive her there.

“She’s really quite poor, you know, Mrs. Price. Genteel poverty, Mia would call it. But she’s a total dear and absolutely thrilled to have been so useful to us. She’s done a good job. They’re all toilet trained, which is brilliant.”

“There’s no need to apologize for her, Kate.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“Right turn here, is it?” They’d reached the traffic lights by the church.

“That’s it and then second left. These houses are lovely, aren’t they? I’d like to live in one of these. Kind of stately and Victorian.”

“Rather large for Miss Chillingsworth.”

“Much too large, but I think it’s the house she grew up in and it’s hard to leave.”

“I can understand that. Clinging to memories.” Miriam went silent for a moment and Kate didn’t know if it was because she was concentrating on driving or if her last three words had given her food for thought. “Here we are. What number did you say?”

“Twelve. Prospect House. That’s it there.”

Miriam applied the hand brake and asked if she should come in or wait. “Oh, come in! She loves company.”

Miss Chillingsworth was at the door almost before the bell had stopped resounding through the house. Overcome with embarrassment when she saw Miriam, she declared, “Why, Mrs. Price, what an honor! I’d no idea. Do come in.”

“Kate’s car is being repaired, so I’ve brought her. I’ll wait if you prefer.”

“Not at all. Come in, do.”

She led the way down the hall toward the kitchen. Their footsteps echoed on the bare wooden floorboards and Miriam wondered if the floor was bare through choice or necessity, and thought more than likely it was the latter. There were pale square and oblong patches here and there on the wallpaper and it occurred to her that pictures had been sold to make ends meet.

“Here they are!” Miriam exclaimed. The kittens were playing king of the castle on an old wooden apple box in the middle of the kitchen floor. They’d grown almost beyond recognition. “Haven’t they grown! The last time I saw them they were scarcely toddling and look at them now. Twice the size and twice as confident. You’ve worked miracles.”

Miss Chillingsworth was delighted by Miriam’s praise and clapped her hands with pleasure. “You think so? It’s been a privilege to look after them and I’m so grateful to have had the chance.”

“You’re grateful! It’s we who are grateful, isn’t it, Kate?”

“It most certainly is. We’d never have been able to give them such a lovely time. They’re wonderful. I just wish I were taking that one home.”

“But they’re all spoken for, you said.”

Hastily Kate agreed. “Yes, they are. I was only wishing. As I said, my stepmother has a tendency to asthma anyway, so anything furry is out.”

Miss Chillingsworth showed instant concern. “Of course, you said.”

“Here, look, I’ve brought the carrier. Let’s get them in.”

She could tell this was the moment Miss Chillingsworth was dreading, so it was best to get it over with briskly. Kate was so relieved to have got away with her slip of the tongue, because though they hadn’t anyone for the third kitten, not for the world would she tell Miss Chillingsworth. She knew in her bones that the time was not ripe for her to be taking on a kitten of her own.

“Oh, I’ve got tins left. I’ll get them for you.”

“I’ll be putting them in the car while you do.” Kate slipped out down the hall and left Miriam to wait for the tins.

Miss Chillingsworth emerged backward from the pantry with half a carton of tins and a bag of cat litter in her arms. “Here we are.”

“Thank you for all your hard work. We couldn’t possibly have done such a good job. Thank you for all your time and patience.”

“Not at all. I’ve enjoyed myself. Helped to fill a gap, you know.”

Miriam smiled at her and Miss Chillingsworth felt warmed by it. “You’re all such lovely people at the practice. I do miss seeing you.”

Tears welled in her eyes and Miriam sensed the pain that was Miss Chillingsworth’s. “If we should have kittens in need of loving care again, could we perhaps rely on you?”

“Of course. Gladly.” She was eager to close the door and Miriam made her retreat as swiftly as she could, realizing that Miss Chillingsworth would not want to break down in front of her.

Kate turned to look at her as she settled herself in the driving seat. “I don’t really know what it is to be lonely. Her loneliness makes me terribly sad.”

Miriam said, “Clinging to old memories is what is making her life so difficult. If she sold it, she’d get a tremendous price for that house, and she could buy a much smaller one and live comfortably on the residue. That’s the sad bit about it all.” She started up the engine and moved off. “We all have a lesson to learn from her predicament, haven’t we?”

Kate nodded and except for the mewing of the kittens in the back, there was no further sound in the car until they arrived at the practice.

Waiting for them in reception was the client wanting the all-black kitten. “You’ve got them, then? My word, haven’t they grown.” His choice licked his finger as he poked it through the bars. “See, he knows me already. Bless him. I’m calling him Midnight.”

Joy had come out to see Duncan’s Tiger. “Here they are. Haven’t they grown? I can’t believe it.” She and the client enthused over the kittens together.

Kate lifted the homeless one out of the carrier and took it into the back. She was nursing it on her knee, wishing she could take it home, when Scott returned. He crashed in through the back and caught sight of Kate through the open door. “Kate, my sweet one! How’s things?”

“OK, thanks. Do you want a kitten?”

“No, but I know a man who does. Phil Parsons. Someone has poisoned his cats. Poor chap’s heartbroken. Unbroken line since his grandfather’s days and all gone. I just wish I could catch the sod who’s done it.”

“Are you pulling my leg?”

Scott shook his head. “Of course not. I’ll ring him if you like.”

“Please. I’d be so glad to find it a home. But come to think of it, will he take care of it?”

“He may be a farmer with abysmal standards of hygiene, but yes, he will and Blossom certainly will. I’ll do it now, right away. We’ll take it to them when I’ve finished and you can see for yourself.”

Since Scott had no more calls and Kate finished at four that day, the two of them set off with the kitten in Scott’s Land Rover.

“One thing I must say is if they offer you a cup of tea or anything, make up whatever excuse you can think of, but do not in any circumstances drink anything at all. Their kitchen is disgusting and the risk of food poisoning is extremely high.”

“Are you certain this is a good idea? I don’t want the kitten to die.”

“Believe me, it will survive. All his animals do despite the lack of cleanliness. They develop their own immunity.” Scott checked the crossroads and glanced at her. “You’re special. Know that, do you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous and you’re being tooted at, so make a move.”

“So I am. Why do you always rebuff personal comments?”

“To be honest, I don’t usually, but at the moment Adam has completely put me off making relationships with anyone at all.” Kate looked out of the window and then turned back to Scott. “You’re a lovely person and I do enjoy your company. You’re such fun, but the timing’s not right. I’ll be all right when I’ve got Adam out of my hair.”

“That bloody man. Let’s go out on the town tonight, shall we? Forget all about the Adams of this world.”

“Can’t. Chemistry tonight; it’s Tuesday.”

“Tomorrow night, then?”

“I’d love that.”

Scott braked hard, switched off the engine, put a finger under Kate’s chin and gave her head a quarter turn so that she faced him. He studied her features, smiled at the apprehension he saw there and kissed her lips with none of his usual demanding eagerness. “I don’t know why it is, but I kiss you quite differently from others.”

“It’s not very polite to mention all the others you’ve kissed. It’s quite spoiled it for me.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to be honest with you.”

“Not that honest, surely?”

The kitten began to struggle against being clamped between the two of them.

“Let’s go. Got your boots? You’ll need them.”

“Of course not. You could have told me.”

“Good excuse for me to carry you, then.”

Which he did. Through the sludge and the mud right to the farmhouse door. She refused to allow herself to be influenced by the smell of his skin or by the manly scratchy feeling of his jacket against her cheek, but it did feel comfortable and welcome, and she thought about Adam and realized he’d never appealed to her physically the way Scott did. In fact, when she thought about it, there had never been anything physically appealing to her about Adam at all. The kitten began to fight against being imprisoned in her jacket and her claws came out.

“Ow!”

Scott laughed. “So the ice maiden has feelings after all.”

“I do indeed. The kitten is scratching me. Could you put me down?”

He stood her down on the doorstep, opened the door and shouted, “Mrs. Parsons! It’s Scott.” They went in.

Blossom Parsons was standing at her cooker stirring something in a pan, which smelled absolutely revolting. Phil was seated in a chair where the heat from the fire drew forth his habitual body smell and distributed it around the kitchen. Kate had difficulty in resisting the impulse to put her handkerchief to her nose.

Scott took off his hat and said, “We’ve brought her and this is Kate, holding her. You won’t have met Kate, Mrs. Parsons.”

Blossom lowered the light under the pan and came across. “We’ve been a whole week without a cat. Isn’t she lovely?” She took her from Kate and lifted the kitten to her cheek, burrowing her nose in its fur and luxuriating in the feel of its softness. “Aren’t you a beauty? An absolute beauty! Six weeks, you say. She’s well grown for six weeks.”

“She’s had a lot of care,” Kate said.

“I can see that. Look, sit down, I’ll make a cup of tea. Kettle’s boiled already; you won’t have long to wait.”

“I’m so sorry, but I have evening class tonight and I’m pressed for time. Thanks all the same. But I would be glad to pop over to see the kitten from time to time.”

“Any time you like. Scott can bring you and we’ll have a cuppa and a good natter. What do you think, Phil, about her?”

Phil, wearing his balaclava even indoors, said, “I’m that pleased to have a cat again. She’ll be a bit before she starts catching rats, but I reckon she’ll do all right once I’ve taught her what’s expected.”

Kate almost blanched at the thought of what Miss Chillingsworth would have to say about this state of affairs—one of her precious charges catching rats! Lying out in the sun and being fed delicious meals of cooked chicken and fresh salmon would be more what she had in mind.

“What will you call her?”

Mrs. Parsons looked coyly at Scott. “I did think of Scott.”

“But he says it’s a she.”

“Cats don’t know that, do they? A name’s a name to them.” Again there was this coy, inviting look and Kate remembered how Joy had said half the women in the county fancied Scott.

Kate laughed. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

Mrs. Parsons plumped the kitten down on Phil’s knee and went back to her pan. “I’ll take good care of her. Cats are my most favorite animals. They get treated like royalty here.”

Kate found it hard to believe, in the circumstances, but she recognized the love in Mrs. Parsons’s voice and had to leave it there and hope for the best.

Scott winkled them out of the situation by reminding Kate of her evening class. “So we’ve got to go. I’ll bring Kate to see you in a while. Good night, little Scott.” They left Mrs. Parsons to stirring her stewpot and Mr. Parsons to cuddling little Scott, who had snuggled down on his lap oblivious of the smell and was preparing to go to sleep, warmed by the fire and soothed by the gentle stroking of Mr. Parsons’s thick, swollen fingers.

“I’ll drive you home. Are you eating first?”

“I am.”

“I’ll wait, then, and take you to your tutorial.”

“No, please, don’t do that. I can’t allow it. Mia will take me. She’ll sit in the car and listen to the radio till I come out.”

“You’re still not driving your car, then?”

“Dad said not. But he’ll calm down in a few days and I’ll be a free agent again.”

“He’s right to be cautious.” He bent down, scooped her up and transported her back to the Land Rover.

“This fresh air smells good. Are you sure we’ve done the right thing, bringing the kitten here?”

“It won’t have the pampered existence of most surburban cats, but it will live an interesting life more suited to a cat and you can’t ask more than that.”

“She fancies you.”

Scott sighed. “I know; that’s why I call her Mrs. Parsons and never get within a yard of her if I can avoid it.”

“It’s a terrible burden for you to carry, isn’t it?”

His eyebrows raised, Scott asked her what she meant.

“Having all these women taking a shine to you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You do. And you love it.”

“Have you taken a shine to me, whatever that might mean?”

“I just might.”

Scott thumped the steering wheel and caused the Land Rover to swerve.

They both laughed and he drove her home with more style than safety. They were still laughing and talking when he pulled up outside Kate’s house and it wasn’t until he heard her sharp intake of breath that he realized something was very wrong.

“What is it?”

“That’s Adam’s car parked in front of us.”

“What the hell’s he playing at now?”

“It’s Tuesday, tenpins bowling night. He must think we’re going bowling!”

“He can’t possibly, can he?”

“Is he sitting in his car? Can you see?”

Scott peered as best he could through his windshield, but because of the shadows he couldn’t make up his mind as to whether Adam was there or not, so he leaped out and went to see. Adam wasn’t sitting in his car, so he must have gone in.
Now what? Bloody hell!
He got back in his Land Rover and said, “He’s not there. That’s your dad’s car in the drive, isn’t it? I mean Mia isn’t in on her own, is she?”