Page 14 of A Christmas Celebration
Kathleen certainly looked to be thriving on it, but obviously I didn’t say that.
‘There’s nothing wrong with the dancing,’ Dorothy conceded. ‘What I object to is her going around implying that certain members of the more mature community need to get themselves moving. She’s guilt tripping and goading everyone into thinking they need to be more active if they want to live long enough to make the most of their pensions.’
This comment resulted in the biggest eye roll from Archie and Catherine looked unusually uncomfortable. Personally, I thought it was a justified tactic on Kathleen’s behalf if it helped keep people healthy, and on their toes, whatever their age. However, I got the impression that there wasmore to Dorothy’s dislike than some clever propaganda on Kathleen’s part.
‘And a few of us offered to supply an afternoon tea to go with the dances, in line with tradition,’ Dorothy then said, turning red, as she got to the true heart of the matter, ‘but she wouldn’t have it. Apparently, all that stodge, as she put it,’ she snapped, sounding increasingly outraged as she banged down the wooden spoon she was holding, ‘isn’t good for the pipes and she turned us down. What’s the good of raising pulses, I heard her snippily say to someone, to then suppress them with all those calories. What a cheek!’
‘And Dorothy hasn’t spoken to her since,’ Archie neatly finished up, drawing a line under the topic. ‘Now, where are we at with the vehicle insurance, Mick?’
‘All done,’ he nodded. ‘Paige is now a named driver on the policy for Anna’s Fiat and the hall Land Rover, too. You can drive them both now, my love.’
‘Do you think you’ll be all right in the Land Rover?’ Archie asked, as Dorothy continued to mutter.
‘Well, I was all right driving through tricky terrain in armour plated vehicles in Jordan,’ I told him. ‘So, I should be able to handle it.’
‘I don’t know,’ said Mick, my sarcasm going completely over his head. ‘She can be a bugger on the gear change from second to third.’
‘I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it,’ I told him as Angus guffawed in the background.
‘Andyou know whohas sorted the hospital and clinic runsso you won’t have to worry about getting folk in and out of either the tiny Fiat or the high Land Rover,’ Archie reminded me in a hushed tone.
‘Voldemort?’ I innocently asked and he looked daggers.
‘I daresay he means that Kathleen,’ said Dorothy and Archie groaned.
‘How about we go and have a look for Hayley’s designs?’ I suggested quickly, so as not to set her off again.
‘No need,’ Angus piped up, with self-satisfied smugness. ‘Hayley called while you two were in town and said they’re in the secret drawer in the studio.’
He sounded well-pleased to have the answer but Archie was biting his lip and looked more stressed with his father than annoyed with me.
‘And did she tell you where the secret drawer in the studio is, Dad?’ he asked, pressing his fingers to his temples and moving them in tight circles.
Angus’s eyebrows shot up and he cleared his throat.
‘Ah,’ he said, turning red. ‘Well, no, now you come to mention it, she didn’t give me the exact whereabouts.’
‘Oh, for pity’s sake.’ Archie sighed.
‘But at least we’ve narrowed it down to one room,’ Angus brightly pointed out.
‘That’s true,’ said Molly, jumping up. ‘Come on, let’s go and look.’
Archie tried to call Hayley again but had no joy and so we all began searching for the drawer which held her designs. The studio turned out to be in the former conservatory andit was a beautiful light and airy space with a view of part of the gardens. I could appreciate why Hayley had set up in there and was very much looking forward to meeting the talented woman in person when she and Gabe arrived back in time for Christmas.
‘I would have thought you’d know all the secret hidey holes in the hall by now,’ I said to Angus as we ran our fingers along ledges and squinted into dark spaces. ‘Surely you’ve lived here long enough to become acquainted with every nook and cranny.’
My godfather didn’t agree.
‘This place is still full of secrets,’ he happily said. ‘There are further surprises around every corner.’
I was about to answer when I received… well, a nasty shock rather than a pleasant surprise.
‘Sorry,’ Archie said, holding up his hands. ‘That was my fault.’
I didn’t realize what had caused the calamitous crash but my immediate reaction to it had been to throw myself face down on to the cold, tiled floor. I lay on my front with my heart pounding, my ears buzzing and my body trembling.
‘What the hell are you doing down there?’ Archie laughed as he righted the easel he’d sent clattering and came to pull me up. ‘Paige?’
