Page 20 of Persuading Penny
Mum joined us and we enjoyed a pleasant dinner of roasted chicken. Aunt Sally caught us up on all the latest gossip, while Mum lamented how much she missed Copperfield Corner. Dad, as per usual, complained about the restrictive nature of the small cottage.
As for me, I said little. A ‘yes’ here and there, and an ‘oh my’ elsewhere.
“Dessert anyone?”
Dad simply grunted as he got up and left us. It was hard to tell if his sour mood was due to his ailing health, the departure from Copperfield Corner or Aunt Sally’s endless chatter.
“Nothing for me,” Aunt Sally said. “I ate far too much as it is.” She looked at me as she lightly patted her belly. “A little walk would do me good.”
“What a good idea,” Mum said. “Penny, dear. Why don’t you take Aunt Sally for a short stroll up the lane while I clear up here. Then we can sit together for a good coffee.”
I had no desire to take a stroll with Aunt Sally. I had no desire at all. But I dutifully got up and smiled.
“That would be nice,” I forced myself to say. “Let me go up to get a jacket. I’m sure the chill of evening has set in.”
“I’ll wait for you out front.”
Nodding, I headed to my room, pulled on a quilted jacket and headed back down to join Aunt Sally on the front porch.
“You’ve always been a quiet and introspective girl, Penny,” she said as soon as we took our first steps. “But I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you quite so silent.”
I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t very well deny that I lacked all desire to converse.
“Is it this new job on this movie that has you so distracted? Are these Hollywood types bullying you?”
“No,” I finally said. “First off, most of them are not Hollywood types. They’re from right here in England and they are all really great. My boss, Keely Lee, is a wonderful woman. I think she really appreciates my quiet solicitude.”
“Well, we all appreciate that of you, dear.”
I pressed a dry smile.
“Are you stressed out with all the money you are now to manage? I mean, it must be millions and millions.”
“Yes, it’s a lot of money, but...No. No. I’m quite comfortable dealing with all that.”
“Are you just homesick for Copperfield Corner?”
On that question it would have been all too easy to lie. Just a simple ‘yes’ and the matter would be put to rest. But I couldn’t bring myself to mislead her so.
I looked at the ground, watching one foot go in front of the other, touching the pebbled path. “I was very surprised to see someone today; someone I hadn’t seen for a long while.”
“Oh. How nice.” She looked at me then frowned. “Or not?”
I shrugged. “I saw Cliff.” His name was a barely audibly croak.
“Come again, dear.”
“I saw Cliff,” I said more plainly.
“Cliff? Cliff who?”she said, without an ounce of recognition.
I stopped walking and turned to face her, the answer plain on my face.
“Oh,” she let out softly. “ThatCliff.”
“Yes.ThatCliff.”
“Has he come to Bath to try to win you over?”
