Page 33 of A Scottish Love Story
‘Be safe,’ he said softly, handing her bag up to her as she climbed aboard.
‘Thank you, for everything,’ she whispered huskily over a sudden lump in her throat. In that moment, she wished she had not agreed to go, even though it was for Tommy’s sake and in her father’s memory. The train was already pulling away. Ciaran was still standing watching. All too soon he and the station were left behind.
Chapter 12
Roxie had changed trains and was settling down with a seat to herself for the last leg of her journey when she received a call on her mobile from Lucy.
‘Hello, Roxie? Did you catch the connection?’
‘Yes, no problem.’
‘That’s good because Steve has arranged his calls for today so that he can meet you at Derby and bring you here for tea.’
‘But Tommy is—’
‘I phoned Tommy and told him there was no need for him to meet you. I will drive you to Willowbrook later. I am looking forward to seeing you so much and this may be the only opportunity we shall have. From what Steve tells me, it sounds as though you will have a lot of work getting ready for the sale.’
‘Yes, I expect we shall,’ Roxie said with a sigh.
‘Steve has told some of our old crowd that you’re coming back to help Tommy get the cows clipped and shampooed. I think some of them will volunteer to help out. The Davies twins and Gerry Green are definitely intending to help.’
‘That’s a relief. Tommy didn’t sound very optimistic when we spoke on the phone last night and he hasn’t allowed a lot of time when he arranged the sale date.’
‘No...’ Lucy hesitated. ‘I don’t think his life is very easy just now. Tommy was always a straight, honest and kindly lad, as I remember him, and I’ve known him since he was twelve, when I used to come and stay with you at Willowbrook. According to the grapevine, Gilda is living at her mother’s. She will not be doing anything to help at the sale apparently.’
‘Why is she still staying with her parents? Not that I’m sorry if she will not be at Willowbrook, but even Gilda must realise it’s to her own advantage to put in some effort to make the sale ofthe herd a success. I can’t make the food and work with the cows as well.’
‘Don’t worry about the food, Roxie. Beth Corby will help out. She and her mother are making a great success of the tearooms they started, and she does cater for small functions occasionally now. She provides sandwiches and rolls for the morning-shift workers to take away, as well as the light lunches and the afternoon teas they did when they started off with the tearoom. They employ two women now and a Saturday girl. You do remember Beth from school, don’t you? She was two years below us.’
‘Of course I remember Beth,’ Roxie said with a light laugh. ‘She was always a hard worker. She travelled on the same school bus as us. She hero-worshipped Tommy. I helped her with her maths homework on the way home sometimes. I remember she did well in all her exams. I’m glad the tearooms are a success.’
Roxie had thoroughly enjoyed her chat with Steve on the drive from the station. They had many old friends in common from their days as Young Farmers. He had worked for the same firm of seed merchants since he’d left college and had done well enough to be made a junior partner in the firm now they were expanding. In many ways it felt as though she had been away from the area for years instead of months, but it was a sheer delight to see the twins again, both toddling around the house now.
Lucy had made a delicious salmon mousse and salad for tea, followed by freshly baked scones, rhubarb pie and Roxie’s favourite lemon cake.
‘I didn’t think I was hungry until I saw the lovely spread you’ve made, Lucy. I see the twins have not stopped you cooking.’
‘No, we all love our food too much for that. I can ignore a bit of dust if necessary, but I enjoy cooking.’
When they had finished their meal and chatted for a while, Lucy asked if Roxie was ready for the drive to Willowbrook.
‘I know you said you didn’t want to be too late?’
‘Yes, please, if you can take me now, Lucy. I know it’s early and I am reluctant to leave such a happy atmosphere, but Tommy wants me to check through the sale catalogue as soon as possible in case any of the pedigrees are incorrect and the auctioneers need to print supplementary pages. We don’t want buyers claiming compensation for clerical errors with the wrong sire or dam in the pedigree.’
‘We’ll leave now, then. Steve can put the twins to bed later on. Do you remember before you went away to Scotland, you were going to give me your grey dress? Maybe you can show it to me, if you’re still sure you will never wear it yourself?’
‘I am quite sure I shall not wear it. I hadn’t thought I would be leaving the area when I bought it to wear for a mourning period, but Dad would never have expected me to go round wearing drab, dull colours anyway. He knew, and I know, what I feel in here.’ She tapped her chest. ‘I remember how beautifully you can transform clothes. You said you had a red blouse to make a collar and cuffs so that should brighten up the grey.’
‘It will, and I shall add some red stitching at the front, I think. I would still like to pay you for it, though. I know it was expensive.’
‘I don’t want anything. I was in shock when I bought it, but the past months in Scotland have been more like a period of relaxation than paid employment.’
‘I must admit you’re looking well — much better than I thought you might.’
‘Yes, if I had known I should have such a lovely place to stay I could have taken some of the smaller pieces of furniture Grandma Horne left me, as well as the rest of my clothes. I’malmost wishing that I had driven down now, but I felt so tired last night.’
‘Doesn’t it depend on what you decide to do longer term?’
