The Bronze Lady (Woodford Antiques Mystery Book 2) (22 page)

Chapter 54

Tuesday 8
th
March, 10.00am

The following morning Paul was relieved to discover that his working life was going to be largely unaffected by the traumatic and disabling experience the previous week. He had conveniently built his house next to the auction rooms, so after Jennifer left for work, and with a huge amount of determination and courage, Paul was able to walk himself around to his office using the crutches he was rapidly finding were an essential part of him, although the damages inflicted to his arms and upper body meant his progress was very slow and he was sweating profusely by the time he had covered the distance in seven minutes which would normally take him less than forty five seconds.

Rebecca, Daniel, and the rest of the team had continued to run the business as normal while he was hospitalised, and he was grateful for their professional approach to their work. He loved the auction house, had grown up with it, learned from his father how to throw himself into it whilst managing some degree of work/life balance, and for Paul returning to a workplace which was as efficient and effective as when he left it was like winning first place in a triathlon.

Between them Rebecca and Daniel had successfully resolved most of the inevitable challenges which arose, but Rebecca put together a list of questions for Paul to answer on his return, so his first morning back was spent sitting behind his desk making telephone calls, answering emails, and sending directions to the warehouse.

He even managed to make everybody tea or coffee, although he needed someone else to carry his mug back to his desk for him.

By lunchtime he was shattered, and in danger of falling asleep at his desk. His leg was painful, his battered body was throbbing, and the thought of attempting to make it back to his house under his own steam made him want to throw-up. Daniel went round to Paul’s house and collected the wheelchair Paul had refused to admit the hospital gave him but Jennifer told Rebecca where to find it when she phoned mid-morning to see if Paul had gone against doctors’ orders and returned to work. He accepted Daniel’s offer to push him home, and felt absolutely desolate.

When they arrived at his front door Paul was a little surprised to see a make-shift ramp was already in situ so Daniel was able to push him straight into his hallway. His mood lightened a little more when Daniel opened the door to his cloakroom and he saw that someone had rigged up a shower attachment to the sink taps, Jackie’s shower stool was tucked under the sink, and a small paddling pool was standing upright along one wall. The sound of clattering on the oak floorboards in the hallway behind made him turn around and very slowly the ghost of a smile became a Cheshire Cat-style grin until finally he started to laugh. There were Suzy and Florence, the Bartlett Staffordshire Bull Terriers, standing with Lucy, Jennifer’s greyhound. All three dogs were wearing back packs with various compartments filled with flasks for hot and cold drinks, and plastic boxes which Paul could see contained a variety of food items. Peering tentatively around the door to the sitting room were Christine, Sarah, Cliff and Jennifer.

‘Phew! We thought you were going to have a hissy fit,’ exclaimed Cliff, the relief in his voice clear to everyone listening.

‘Oh guys this is wonderful! You can’t have done all this in one morning?’

‘No, everyone in The Ship Inn has been planning this since Monday when we knew what your injuries were and that you would be coming home,’ said Jennifer as she came over and gave him a big hug and a kiss.

‘But we knew what an ungrateful sod you can be so ...’

‘No!’ Jennifer interrupted Cliff with a mock glare. ‘Remember we rehearsed this, Williamson. We know what a proud and determined man you are,’ she corrected, turning back to Paul, ‘so we thought it would be best for you to see what was possible, and what you think you may need help with. We have a rota of people who can pop in a couple of times during the day, and Lisa and Gemma are even donating their dogs so you can make yourself food and drink in the kitchen and they will carry it through to the sitting room where you can eat and drink comfortably. Although I wouldn’t risk leaving any of that food in those back packs for longer than necessary, I’m afraid my dog is not so well-behaved as those two and she has already worked out not only how to pull the boxes from their back packs, but also how to remove the lids.’

Paul could feel his eyes welling up with tears, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

‘Rebecca and I will both be here, present and correct, for a ten o’clock briefing every morning,’ Daniel felt it was safe to contribute now that his boss was listening to his friends. He pushed Paul in his wheelchair through to the sitting room where Rebecca was setting up a temporary office on a hostess trolley.

‘Is this what it means to be hot-desking?’ quipped Paul, finally feeling some of his sense of humour showing up at last.

‘Yes,’ laughed Rebecca. ‘Your phone and laptop will enable you to keep up with everything you want to, and Daniel or one of the others can bring you to the warehouse whenever you are needed. IF you are well enough.’

‘These next few months are going to be really hard for you, and we all know you will want to be back on your feet and return to your previous level of fitness as soon as possible. But that won’t happen if you push yourself too hard at this stage.’ Paul knew that Christine was right, and that his friends only wanted to help, but it was still one of the most humiliating moments of his life. She walked around to his side and knelt down next to him. ‘Paul, this is happening’ she gestured to the plaster and the wheel chair and generally at his bruised and swollen face and body ‘whether you want it to or not, so maybe the best thing will be to accept it, accept the help and support being offered to you, and get on with it. You have established a great team at the auction house, so maybe for the next few months you can take a back seat and enjoy reaping the benefits of the quality training you have given them.’

There was a knock on the door, and then Gemma appeared carrying a cardboard box.

‘Delivery for Black!’ she announced brightly.

As the rolls and cakes were distributed, and the kettle was put on to boil time and again, Paul’s sitting room was filled with the noisy chatter of people relieved their efforts were received in the manner they were intended, and that even in his extremely disabled state Paul hadn’t thrown them all out. Paul was feeling a little overwhelmed by the generosity of the people around him, and started to discover just how comfortable sitting on the sofa with your legs resting on a coffee table with cushions on it, and a greyhound tucked under your arm (how do they do that?) was. He sat quietly allowing the life force in the room ebb and flow around him.

Chapter 55

Wednesday 9
th
March, 6.30am

There had been a terrific storm during the night, and it was still raging when Cliff decided to abandon trying to sleep and reluctantly heaved himself out of bed and headed towards the shower. Today was the anniversary of the break-in to his antiques centre, and subsequent destruction of the stock, which had been the trigger for a series of life-changing events for him. Well, strictly speaking the night of the 8th/9th was the anniversary because that was when the damage had been done, and Cliff had gone to bed the night before with his mind in a turmoil over everything that had happened to him in the past year. The gales battering the windows of his flat above the antiques centre, and contributed to his restless night, and he was starting the day exhausted and mildly depressed.

By half past seven he was feeling a lot better. It is amazing how standing under a powerful stream of hot water and breathing in the soothing smells of shampoo and shower gel can boost a flagging mental attitude and tired body, and after he had eaten his porridge and drunk the first cup of coffee of the day he was in a much better frame of mind.

His mobile rang, and his mood improved even more when he saw that the caller was Rebecca.

‘Hi Cliff, hope this isn’t a bad time?

‘No, no, of course not. Is everything alright with you? And with the kids?’ he asked, suddenly concerned as to why his ex-wife would be phoning him this early in the morning.

‘Yes we’re all fine, thank you. I was just checking you are OK? Considering the date.’

‘Oh thank you Rebecca! That is very sweet of you, but yes, I am fine. Or at least I think I am,’ he laughed, ‘I haven’t checked everything is in order downstairs yet.’

‘Oh, I think you would have heard something if anyone had been down there this time,’ Rebecca was laughing too, relieved to hear that Cliff was in better spirits than she had expected him to be. ‘Who is working with you today?’

‘Everyone is in today. Nicola and Des will be running the centre for most of the day, and Barry is coming with me to do a couple of house calls.’

‘Good, I am glad you are going to be busy. Hang on, Charlotte wants a quick word with you.’

While Cliff listened to his daughter enthusiastically telling him about her success at a swimming competition the night before, he reflected on how much he missed having somebody to check up on him in person; somebody who could have kept him company last night while his thoughts were whirling at the same speed as the wind outside. And he regretted not appreciating it when he had that someone, Rebecca, for over eighteen years.

Rebecca mentally ticked Cliff off her list of things to do that day. She knew how deeply he would be affected by the anniversary, and wanted to check he was going to have people around him all day to keep him focused on other things. Although knowing the town of Woodford as she did, and the customers of the antiques centre, she was sure the subject would be the main topic of conversation.

Once the three children were all out of the house and on their way to school she tidied away the breakfast things, checked the fridge and larder to make sure she had everything she needed to make a chicken curry for their dinner that evening, and went upstairs to shower and dress for work.

Rebecca loved the daily routine of getting ready for work. In fact, she reflected as she styled her now slightly shorter hair, she loved her life. She would never wish to relive the devastating revelations about her marriage, but out of all of that heart-break had come a new sense of peace.

She thought back to Christine’s clumsy attempt at match-making a few weeks earlier and wondered why she had been so offended. She knew Christine wasn’t someone who believed you could only be fulfilled if you had a man, or woman, in your life, so why did she jump down Christine’s throat when she suggested meeting up with Benjamin Francis? At the time Rebecca had blamed Christine for involving herself and other people in Rebecca’s private affairs, but now she wondered if asking her to join Christine and her boyfriend Dave for a drink or two with an old school friend was really such a breach of trust?

After all, it would just be for a drink. Maybe two. In public. Wouldn’t it?

Chapter 56

Thursday 10
th
March, 7.00pm

Christine had welcomed Rebecca’s tentative enquiry about whether or not she was still in contact with Benjamin Francis with kid gloves. She had been mortified by Rebecca’s reaction when she first suggested a meeting, and did not want to offend her friend any more, but was keen to see her leave her peculiarly weighted relationship with Cliff Williamson behind and start to find out how good life can be when you are with someone who loves you. Not that she was expecting any great fairytale ending between Rebecca and Benjamin - that would smack of a rebound relationship - but just to see Rebecca out in a social environment which did not involve her children or responsibility on a charity committee would be wonderful.

With Rebecca’s permission Christine messaged Benjamin via facebook and they agreed to meet, as a foursome, in The Ship Inn at eight o’clock that Thursday evening. With an hour to go Rebecca was in a bit of a state. She had no idea what to wear! What do you wear for a casual drink with friends? She stared hopelessly at her clothes in her dressing room, and wondered if it was too late to cancel. She could claim one of the children wasn’t feeling well. Although at fourteen, sixteen and seventeen it would have to be something fairly serious to justify her staying in the house. And knowing Christine she would suggest everyone came round to keep her company!

No, that wouldn’t do. There had to be something here she could wear. All her clothes were either smart work clothes or sloppy casual clothes. Come on Rebecca, she said to herself, think! Channel Christine. If Christine were here what would she say? Actually no, Rebecca quickly had second thoughts about that idea. Christine would probably bring something from her own wardrobe for Rebecca to wear, and the pair of them had rather different ideas on that subject. She thought about phoning her mum, but discarded the thought almost as soon as it had formed because that would mean telling her she was going on a date. Only she wasn’t going on a date. It was just a drink. With friends. One of whom she used to date.

Rebecca suddenly had a thought: what if Benjamin was married! If he was then surely his wife would be there too, and that would take all of the pressure of her. Or maybe he was gay? Didn’t Christine say he was something big in the music business? But then Michael was a very good musician and he wasn’t gay. Or at least she didn’t think he was. A mother would know, wouldn’t she? She was surprised to find she felt a little deflated at the thought of Benjamin being married or gay. Or both.

She glanced at her watch, an Omega quartz Cliff bought her years ago, and felt a fierce flash of panic sear her gut as she saw it was half past seven. She had been standing in here for half an hour! Good grief. Right. She gave herself a little pep talk, and then chose an outfit she would wear if she was going out to a fête committee meeting. Which reminded her, there were less than three months to the next Woodford Summer Fête. No time to think about that now. Make-up done in under two minutes, hair scooped up in a pretty clip, jeans, medium-heeled brown boots, cowl-neck honey-coloured cashmere jumper, long black coat, money, car keys, phone, house keys, shut front door, go.