Page 91 of A Christmas Celebration
‘Well,’ I said, stepping back, ‘if it is to do with him, it can’t be anything too deep and meaningful, because he’s only been here five minutes. I can’t imagine that you know him well enough to carry his darkest secrets, do you?’
Did he even know that Brodie had worked for Davey and Clarkson? If their collusion was of a financial variety, and what else could it possibly be, then I sincerely hoped so. I had done a little further digging about the scandalous business and, although not all employees had been named and shamed, the situation had come to a head at roughly the time Brodie had done a city bunk and turned up at Brambles. That had to be too much of a coincidence for him to be completely in the clear, didn’t it?
‘I know him well enough,’ Angus said mildly, turning away.
‘But do you know…’ I began, before Dorothy bustled in and it was impossible to carry on.
I watched his retreating back thinking that I would separately corner him and Brodie at the gathering. I couldn’t risk wasting more time trying to puzzle out what they were up to. Really, I should have dealt with it sooner, but as Molly was always so keen to remind me, things happened when they were meant to and not a moment before. I hoped, on this occasion especially, that she was right.
‘Who could that be at this time?’ I said, as someone rapped on the back door.
‘I’ve drafted in some help,’ Dorothy said mysteriously, then rushed off and came back in with Kathleen.
I looked from one woman to the other in surprise.
‘We’ve settled our differences,’ Dorothy said, noting my shock as she took Kathleen’s coat and gloves.
‘We’vealmostsettled our differences,’ Kathleen corrected her. ‘It’s early days yet.’
‘But we’re off to a good start,’ Dorothy further stunned me by saying. ‘Kathleen’s been showing me how to cut some calories out of my baking without compromising on the taste…’
‘And, to return the favour, Dorothy’s offered to assist with the teaching at a couple of the dance classes now there are so many attendees,’ Kathleen said in response.
I didn’t know which revelation rocked me the most. Cutting calories in the cakes was surprising enough, but in the end, it was the thought of Dorothy dancing that was the real clincher.
‘I didn’t know you could dance, Dorothy,’ I said, still looking from one woman to the other.
‘Well,’ she said coquettishly, ‘every woman should have her secrets. Isn’t that right, Kathleen?’
‘Absolutely,’ her former enemy eagerly agreed. ‘And the more mysterious the better.’
They both laughed as if they had been co-conspirators forever and I shook my head.
‘Anyway,’ Kathleen said to me, ‘I forgot to tell you, Paige, I’ve managed to get the deliveries for today covered.I thought you might prefer to stay here and help with the gathering all day.’
‘Oh, thank you,’ I gratefully said. ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’
Her kindness would give me further time and opportunity to work on Brodie and Angus which was most welcome.
‘I did offer to look after Alice’s little brood,’ she carried on, ‘so she could come and help too, but she turned me down. I didn’t mind that she said no, of course, but I thought she might appreciate the break.’
‘I’m not sure she’s ready to leave the children in someone else’s care just yet,’ I said, trying not to be indiscreet. ‘I’m sure she wouldn’t have meant any offence in turning you down.’
Kathleen struck her forehead.
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘I should have realized that.’
‘Are we all set?’ asked Archie, as he then bounded in.
He stopped dead at the sight of Kathleen now seated at the table, drinking the tea Dorothy had just made.
‘Just about,’ I replied, before he said something foolish and put his foot in it. ‘But where’s Molly?’
‘Already in the woods,’ he told me, still regarding the two women suspiciously. ‘And she has been for ages.’
‘She isn’t gathering already, is she?’ I frowned.
It was barely light.
