Page 30 of A Scottish Love Story
Amy was pleased to see Roxie still smiling when she entered her sitting room. She looked happy.
Chapter 11
One lovely morning in May, Amy was at home, but Roxie had driven to Dumfries on her own to do some shopping, both for herself and for Amy, including household goods. Jenny’s baby had been born a few days ago, a little earlier than the due date, but he was a fine, healthy boy. The beautiful shawl Amy had been knitting on and off for months was almost finished and she was determined to complete it today so that she could get Roxie to pin out all the delicate lacy points onto a bedsheet on the floor. Once everything was absolutely in perfect shape, they could give it a light press with a cool iron. It was a delicate work of art. The fine one-ply wool had taken a lot of effort, but Amy knew it had been worth it. She was sure Jenny would appreciate it and maybe use it for the christening along with the beautiful christening robe Roxie had made and embroidered with white silk thread. They might even become a family heirloom.
Roxie had made no further mention to Amy of what she planned to do with her life, except to say she knew she didn’t want to spend several years studying at university. Amy was seriously considering having another operation and if she was going to do it, she wanted to have it done while Roxie was still around to look after her. She had seen a surgeon privately recently. He told her frankly there was always a risk, but he could almost guarantee she would walk without pain, and hopefully without a limp, if it was the success he anticipated. It would involve re-breaking the femur and setting it in line with her hip joint, instead of the way it had knitted together at a slight angle. She would have the whole of her leg in plaster for several weeks until it was completely healed.
Amy was debating what she should do when the telephone rang on the small table beside her chair. It took her a few moments to realise that the caller was Roxie’s brother, Tommy.He was speaking quickly, obviously agitated. His accent made it more difficult to understand quite what was so urgent. She interrupted Tommy to tell him Roxie was not available at present.
‘She has gone into town, but she should be back by twelve o’clock. Can I give her a message?’
‘I need her help! I am selling off the dairy herd. All of it!’ Amy could hear a desperation in his voice. ‘The... the sale is fixed for two weeks on M-Monday. Roxanne has always known more about the cows than I ever did. My father showed her how to prepare them for sale. How to trim them to look their best. She knew all the pedigrees. S-some of the records have g-got in a muddle, and—’
‘Just a minute, young man.’ Tommy was obviously upset, he was almost gabbling and Amy was having difficulty understanding him. He sounded young and distraught. ‘So, it is nothing wrong with the baby, then? You want me to tell Roxie you need her help sorting out all the pedigrees of your dairy herd so a catalogue can be printed. Have I got that correct?’
‘Yes, but I need her to come! I really need her to help me! Please tell her I need her badly to prepare the cows for sale. I know I don’t deserve her help. B-but please, please ask her if she will come for our father’s sake, if not for mine. He deserved better than I can do. Tell her — tell her he was right about — about everything.’
‘When do you want Roxie to come?’
‘She will need at least ten days before the sale... She was always good at organising. She often won the cattle-dressing competitions. The auctioneer hopes she will be here before the sale.’
‘I’m sure Roxie will do her best. I shall ask her to telephone you.’
‘Ask her to use the landline. I don’t have a mobile now. I will wait in the house to hear from her.’
Amy put the phone down. He certainly sounded overwrought.
Amy rarely phoned Ciaran during his work, but she called his mobile now. She explained about Tommy’s phone call.
‘I just want to warn you not to get angry if you are here when I tell Roxie about her brother’s plea for help. She must go and help him, Ciaran. He is her brother — her only brother. Family is important and he is all she has. I know how hurt Roxie has been by their silence. He admits he doesn’t deserve her help. I could stay with you for ten days while she is away.’
‘What if she decides to stay there?’ Ciaran asked tensely.
‘I am certain Roxie would give me some warning if she did feel she must go back, but why should she go back if her brother is selling the dairy herd? That was her main interest, that, and looking after her father.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Ciaran said. Amy heard the dejection in his voice. She prayed she was right and that Roxie would return to them. She was almost certain Roxie and Ciaran were meant for each other.
Amy telephoned Jenny next. The phone rang a long time, but eventually Jenny picked up and Amy wondered if she’d been crying. Young babies could make a mother very tired, especially if the birth had taken a lot out of her.
After the preliminary greetings, Amy said, ‘I was phoning to say I am going to stay with Ciaran for ten days next week. Roxie is out shopping so she doesn’t know yet, but her brother phoned this morning. He wants her to go down to Derbyshire to help him organise the sale of their father’s pedigree dairy herd. I promised to tell her when she returns. He is all the family she has, even if they have not treated her very kindly. She will have to go. I’m afraid Ciaran is not too happy about it.’
‘Is that because he thinks she might not come back? Or is he worried about you staying at the farm if he will be working at the silage during the day?’
‘Both, I think. But we don’t own Roxie and she never takes time off. Besides I got the impression her brother genuinely needs her.’
‘Oh, Aunt Amy, I don’t think I’m a very good mother,’ Jenny said tearfully. ‘I never know why Peter is crying and whether I should feed him, rock him or change him. I know I wouldn’t be much help to you, but if you want company at the farm I’d love to come. I’m sure you could advise me about Peter. I know Don wouldn’t mind travelling to work from there for ten days or so.’
‘By the sound of things, Jenny, the change will do you good, too. I was half-hoping you might suggest coming to keep me company. I’m not much use, but I can still nurse a baby or rock the pram and I would love to spend time with you and wee Peter.’
‘I’m so glad you said that, Aunt Amy. I was feeling at the end of my tether. There’s no one else I can ask for advice.’
* * *
Roxie had had a good morning shopping and she drove home in high spirits. She was surprised to see Ciaran’s pickup already parked at the side of the house. She glanced at her watch, but it was still only quarter to twelve and it was usually after midday before he came. It was a regular arrangement now and they usually waited for him if he was a bit late. She hurried in at the back door with her grocery bags and was surprised to hear both Amy and Ciaran talking in the kitchen.
‘I’m not late, am I?’ She quickly pushed the pan of soup onto the hot plate, then washed her hands. Without stopping to take off her jacket, she dashed back through to the utility room tograb the garlic batons she had bought and thrust them in the oven.
‘The soup will soon be ready. I made ham-and-cheese sandwiches ready for toasting before I went out, but I need to put the freezer shopping away first.’
