Time to Say Goodbye Page 3

  ‘I should get on as well.’ Ben wiped his mouth on a napkin and rose. ‘I’ve got the vet coming first thing to look at one of the mares who has a nasty cut on her side so I shall be getting an early night when I’ve settled the horses.’

  ‘I’ll come and help you,’ Kathy offered, rising and following him quickly from the room.

  Glancing at Cissie, who was busily loading a tray with dirty pots, Sunday saw her raise her eyebrows, and frowned. ‘And what is that look for?’ she asked, bemused.

  Cissie shrugged. ‘I suppose I was just thinkin’ it were about time Kathy got out an’ about a bit more wi’ people her own age instead of spending all her spare time wi’ Ben,’ she answered.

  ‘But what are you implying, Cissie? Didn’t you hear her say her friend is coming to go riding with her at the weekend? That’s a start, surely? And anyway, why shouldn’t she spend time with Ben? You know she’s always hero-worshipped him since she was knee-high to a grasshopper.’

  ‘She might have done but with the age gap between ’em bein’ so great I don’t think it’d be healthy if she got a crush on him,’ Cissie replied.

  ‘B-but she would never look at Ben that way, surely? They’ve been brought up as family.’

  ‘They might have been brought up as such but actually they ain’t related by blood, are they? An’ stranger things happen.’ Cissie sailed from the room without another word, leaving Sunday to stare after her in consternation.

  In the stables Ben began to fork fresh straw into the stalls before bringing the horses in from the fields as Kathy swung on the half door watching him.

  ‘So, who’s this young man you’ve invited over then?’ he asked, without taking his eyes off what he was doing.

  Kathy sniffed. ‘Oh, just a doctor I work with. He’s very nice and loves horses so I’m sure he’ll be in his element here.’

  ‘Hm, and do I sniff a romance in the air?’ It was funny, Ben thought, somewhere along the way and without him even noticing, Kathy had turned from a little girl into a very attract­ive young woman.

  ‘Of course not,’ Kathy scoffed. ‘He’s just a good friend; I’m sure you’ll like him. But I’ll go and start to bring the horses in now, shall I?’

  He nodded and leaning on the pitchfork he watched her thoughtfully as she crossed the yard to the field beyond, where the horses were grazing. As usual, when she wasn’t wearing her nurse’s uniform, she was dressed in jodhpurs and an old jumper, but he realised with a little shock that the clothes couldn’t hide the fact that she had a very tidy figure. Very tidy indeed, he thought. It occurred to him then Kathy was now the image of her mother Kitty at that age and he felt a stab of pain in his heart. Kitty had been so beautiful, and Ben had adored her.

  As his thoughts turned back to Sunday, he scowled. She’d started to take a bit of interest in things all of a sudden and had offered to take over the accounts again. Well, she could think on. That was his job now and he had no intention of letting her interfere. It was bad enough that his father had left the house and the business to her instead of him. He’d been so certain that when Tom died he would inherit the lot, and it still rankled that he hadn’t. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t feel that Sunday had ever loved him as much as she loved Kathy and Livvy – but one day he’d make her wish that she had, if it was the last thing he did. By God he would.

  With his lips set in a grim line Ben stabbed another forkful of hay and got on with what he was doing.

  Chapter Three

  ‘Crikey you’re an early bird,’ Kathy exclaimed as Sunday showed David into the kitchen where she was enjoying a cup of tea early on Saturday morning. ‘I didn’t expect you till later. I haven’t been up long.’

  ‘Kathy, really, you’ll make your visitor feel unwelcome,’ Sunday scolded as she ushered the young man towards the chair next to Kathy’s at the table. Then she fetched another cup and poured a cup of tea out for him.

  ‘There’s a bacon sarnie here for you, an’ all, if you fancy one?’ Cissie offered from where she was standing over the stove.

  ‘Oh, not half,’ David answered with a cheeky grin. ‘I can’t remember the last time I had one. I get porridge in my lodging house if I’m lucky. Thank you very much.’

  Sunday felt herself warming to him as she spooned sugar into his tea from the large pressed sugar bowl on the table. He was such a nice young man and quite handsome too. She’d be very happy to see a romance develop between him and Kathy. Her thoughts flitted back to what Cissie had insinuated about Kathy being besotted with Ben, but she dismissed the idea immediately. Ben was well over twice her age and as far as she knew had never shown any interest in the girl, or any other since Maggie had died, for that matter. Turning her attention back to David she said cheerily, ‘So Kathy tells me you’re from Yorkshire, David. How do you find it living in the Midlands?’

  He grinned as Cissie placed a doorstep bacon sandwich in front of him. ‘Not too bad, though it’s very different to where I lived,’ he said as he took a big bite and sighed with pleasure. ‘My parents own a farm and we have quite a few horses. That’s what I miss the most – not being able to saddle up and go for a gallop across the moors whenever I feel like it. I think my dad hoped that I’d take over from him eventually so it must have been a big disappointment when I chose to become a doctor – although in fairness neither of my parents ever tried to talk me out of it. They said I must do whatever made me happy and supported me all through medical school. Truthfully, my brother was always much more suited to farming than me so I’ve no doubt things will work out for the best in the end.’

  Sunday smiled at him approvingly. ‘They sound like wonderful people.’

  ‘They are,’ he agreed as he bit into the sandwich again. ‘And I just wish I could get back to see them more often. I never dreamed when I started out just how many hours doctors have to work. And nurses too, of course,’ he added hastily with a cheeky wink at Kathy.

  Eventually, after another cup of tea and finishing his sandwich, which he assured Cissie was the best he had tasted since leaving home, he and Kathy headed off to the stable block, leaving Sunday with a broad smile on her face.

  ‘Isn’t he just the loveliest young man?’ she said to Cissie.

  Her friend snorted. ‘Yes, he is, I have to agree. But I wouldn’t go buildin’ me hopes up for a romance if I were you,’ she warned. ‘Seems to me he’s the one wi’ the fancy fer Kathy. She don’t seem much interested in him.’

  ‘Yet!’ Sunday insisted doggedly. ‘Just give things time.’

  Cissie shook her head but said nothing, although she had an awful feeling that Sunday might end up being disappointed. Why, it seemed as if she was almost planning their wedding in her head already, but it wasn’t her place to tell her. What would be would be!

  ‘Ah, Ben, this is my friend David that I told you about,’ Kathy said when they reached the stables. ‘I thought he might be able to take Bracken out for a gallop, what do you think?’

  ‘Suit yourself.’ Ben inclined his head as he continued to brush down a beautiful dapple-grey mare. ‘Bear in mind he’s feisty though,’ he warned.

  ‘Oh, that should be fine,’ David assured him. ‘I’m quite an experienced rider.’

  ‘Good, he’s one of our best studs an’ I don’t want him injured,’ Ben said sulkily.

  Kathy frowned as she led David along the walkway in the stables to where Bracken was stabled next to Bramble, her own horse. In no time at all they had the horses saddled and Kathy mounted hers and trotted from the stables with David close behind.

  ‘Sorry for Ben’s rude behaviour back there,’ she apologised. ‘I’m afraid he’s grown to be rather antisocial. He doesn’t get out much, you see!’

  David grinned and waved her apologies aside airily. ‘Don’t worry about that. I came to see you, not him.’ And then he gently dug his heels into the horse’s side and he was off like the wind, leaving Kathy to follow with a slight frown on her face.

  Three hours later
, after they had brushed the horses down and settled them back in the stables, they arrived back in the kitchen, bright-eyed and exhilarated from their ride.

  ‘David, you must stay for lunch,’ Sunday coaxed. ‘Cissie has made one of her delicious steak and kidney pies. Unless you have to be somewhere else, of course?’

  ‘I’d love to stay,’ he answered quickly. ‘It isn’t often I get a day off so I may as well make the most of it.’

  Lunch, which they ate around the kitchen table, was a light-hearted affair. Everyone was in a good mood, apart from Ben who remained silent.

  ‘That was as good as my mother makes,’ David told Cissie when he had eaten second helpings. ‘I’m so full I don’t even feel like moving.’

  ‘Then don’t,’ Sunday said quickly. ‘Stay and keep Kathy company. Or why don’t you both go out somewhere?’

  ‘Mum!’ Kathy blushed. ‘I’m sure David has better things to do than try to keep me entertained.’

  ‘Actually, I don’t,’ he piped up. ‘In fact, I was going to ask if you fancied going to the cinema. They usually show a film on Saturday afternoon although I’ve no idea what it will be.’

  At this point Ben rose from the table and left the room with a face like thunder, while Kathy silently cursed Sunday. She was so blatantly matchmaking that the poor girl was almost squirming with embarrassment.

  ‘Well I was, er … planning to—’

  ‘What?’ Sunday butted in. ‘Whatever you had planned surely you can do it another time? David here is far from home. The poor chap needs a bit of company.’

  ‘In that case I’d best get changed,’ Kathy muttered, feeling as if she really didn’t have much choice as she picked a bit of straw out of her dark, tousled hair. The brisk ride had made her cheeks glow and David thought she looked beautiful.

  All the way up the stairs, Kathy fumed. Goodness knows what’s got into Mum, she thought to herself. It’s almost as if she’s trying to marry me off and it’s quite embarrassing. I shall certainly be having words with her!

  Fifteen minutes later she was back downstairs looking neat and tidy in a mid-calf-length skirt and a long-sleeved blouse with ruffles down the front.

  ‘You look lovely, darling,’ Sunday told her as Kathy reached for her coat and scowled at her.

  ‘She certainly does,’ David agreed, his eyes openly admiring.

  Kathy squirmed. ‘Right, I should be back for tea,’ she informed Sunday as she ushered David towards the door.

  ‘All right, and will David be coming back with you?’ Sunday asked hopefully.

  ‘No, he won’t! I’m sure he has things to do,’ Kathy ground out and before another word could be said she almost pushed him through the door.

  ‘Hold on,’ David gasped as he ran to keep up with her. ‘You didn’t even give me a chance to thank the ladies for lunch. They’ll think I’m very rude and ungrateful.’

  ‘Huh! I doubt that very much,’ Kathy snorted in disgust. ‘Mum seems to think the sun shines out of your backside and I must apologise for her behaviour. Why, it was almost as if she was trying to marry us off.’ Her cheeks were crimson with embarrassment.

  He shocked her then when he grinned and replied, ‘Would that really be such a bad thing?’

  ‘Oh, don’t be so stupid,’ she snapped. ‘We barely know each other.’

  ‘You’re quite right and we never will if we don’t get to spend some time together; so, what do you say? We could start going out a bit more.’

  Kathy was squirming again now and wishing the ground would open up and swallow her.

  ‘Well I, er … It’s very nice of you and I’m flattered but the truth is I rather like to spend what little spare time I have around the horses. Although we can still be friends, of course,’ she ended hastily. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

  He shrugged and looked slightly disappointed, but then smiling again he took her arm and they clambered into his car. Kathy was truly delightful, and he wasn’t going to give up on her yet, not by a long shot!

  Chapter Four

  January 1936

  When Sunday came down to the kitchen on a cold and frosty morning in January to find Cissie sniffing into a large, white handkerchief, she was instantly concerned.

  ‘Why, Cissie, love, whatever’s the matter?’ Hurrying over to her friend she put her arm about her shoulders.

  ‘It’s just been on the wireless. King George has passed away at Sandringham House in Norfolk,’ Cissie sniffed. ‘May God bless his soul.’

  ‘Well, he had been suffering from a chronic bronchial complaint,’ Sunday pointed out. ‘But I’m still very sad to hear it. I dare say Prince Edward will succeed him now.’

  ‘Huh! He shouldn’t be allowed to,’ Cissie said indignantly as she mopped at her tears. She was a great royalist and loved everything about the royal family, apart from Prince Edward, it appeared. ‘He’s messin’ around wi’ that American, Wallis Simpson, an’ her a married woman, an’ all. It ain’t right!’

  Sunday grinned ruefully. ‘Perhaps he’ll end their affair now that he knows he’s going to be king?’ she suggested tactfully.

  Cissie shrugged as she mopped at her teary cheeks. ‘We’ll see, won’t we? But now I’d better get the breakfast on the go. Kathy an’ Livvy will be down any minute an’ I don’t want ’em to be late for work.’

  Ben and George had already been in and made themselves a pot of tea before heading off to the stables but Cissie knew that they too would be in shortly wanting to be fed, so she hurried over to the stove and soon the smell of sizzling bacon filled the kitchen.

  It was hard to believe that they were already well into January, Cissie thought as she expertly flipped the bacon. Christmas and the New Year seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye. It hadn’t been the happiest of holidays. Livvy had come down with a severe cold the week before Christmas and had spent most of the time in bed coughing and spluttering, bless her. Ben had spent the majority of his time in the stables or in his room and Kathy had had to work, so it had been just herself, Sunday and George for most of the time and Cissie had been secretly pleased when it was all over. She had hoped that her children, who were now all grown and flown the nest, might visit, but they were taken up with their own families and their own lives in different parts of the country. And now to hear that the poor king had passed away … Well, it certainly wasn’t the best start to 1936 as far as she was concerned. But soon the room was full of the family all eager for their breakfast so Cissie pushed the sad thoughts from her mind and got on with things.

  The following day Cissie was incensed to read in the newspaper that the new King Edward had broken royal protocol by watching the proclamation of his own accession to the throne from a window of St James’s Palace, in the company of the still-married Mrs Simpson.

  ‘He won’t last as king fer five minutes if he carries on like this, you just mark my words!’ she ranted to George and Sunday, who were enjoying a mid-morning cup of tea with her. ‘Why, it’s disgraceful behaviour. Lord knows what the dear old king would think of it!’

  ‘But times are changing, Cissie,’ Sunday pointed out, but Cissie was having none of it and shook her head vigorously.

  ‘They may well be fer the likes of us, but you expect royalty to set a better example.’

  In the end George and Sunday smiled at each other and let her rant on. As George quite rightly pointed out, ‘There ain’t no use doin’ any other when our Cissie has a bee in her bonnet.’

  The following week Livvy came home from the office all excited. ‘Some of the girls at work were saying that a chap called Billy Butlin is opening a holiday camp in Skegness in April and we thought we might go for a week in the summer, if that’s all right with you, Mum?’

  It would be Livvy’s first holiday on her own without either herself or her mother to chaperone her and Sunday’s first instinct was to refuse to let her go but then she knew that wouldn’t be fair. Livvy was a sensible girl and should be allowed to grow up so she for
ced a smile and told her, ‘It would do you good. Why don’t you ask Kathy if she can book some time off to go with you?’

  The girls had always holidayed in the South of France with Sunday’s mother, until she had passed away, and Sunday thought a break would do them good.

  ‘Huh! I doubt she’d do that.’ Livvy pinched a scone from the rack Cissie had just taken from the oven and promptly had her knuckles rapped with a wooden spoon. ‘All she ever does is work nowadays.’

  Sunday sighed. Both her girls were very attractive yet neither of them had shown any interest in walking out with a young man or marriage as yet. Admittedly Livvy had gone on more than a few dates but nothing had ever come of it, and Kathy was still on very friendly terms with the handsome Dr Deacon. He was clearly besotted with Kathy, but it seemed his feelings were not returned. But then they were still both very young and had plenty of time so Sunday wasn’t complaining; she loved having them at home, but she worried about how they would fare if anything happened to her. After all, no one lived forever so it would give her peace of mind to know that they were happy and settled before her time came.

  The following morning Cissie was washing up when she heard Bill Dewhurst’s coal lorry pull into the yard, so she hastily wiped her hands on her apron and went out to greet him.

  ‘Mornin’, Bill. Dump the order in the coal shed, would yer, then come into the kitchen an’ I’ll have a nice cup o’ tea waitin’.’

  He doffed his sooty cap, and she scuttled back inside to put the kettle on, and minutes later he joined her. Normally Cissie and Bill enjoyed a nice gossip, but she noticed that this morning he seemed slightly edgy, so after a time she asked, ‘What’s up then, Bill? Has the cat got yer tongue this mornin’?’

  He smiled, his teeth appearing snow white in his coal-black face. ‘I, er … were just wonderin’ if Ben were about,’ he said, clearly feeling ill at ease. ‘Only he ain’t paid me fer the last lot o’ coal I delivered yet so I thought he might settle up this mornin’.’