You’ve been here since you were born. All the same, Jessica, he’s your husband. Your place is now with him.’
Jessica gave a big sigh.
‘I know you’re right, of course. It’s just … It’s such a big decision to make – not just moving to another town or even to another country, but to such a strange place, and from what I can gather, a dangerous one too.’
‘Oh, I’m sure Brian wouldn’t put you or the children in any danger. Every time I’ve met him, Jessica, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. He obviously adores you and the twins.’
Jessica smiled weakly. ‘I know. I’m just being stupid.’
‘No, you’re not. As I said, I can understand how you feel. Apart from being brought up here, it’s a very different and quite fascinating place. Not so much nowadays, though. You must admit, Jessica, there isn’t the same hilarious patter, for instance, as there used to be.’
‘No, but it’s still fascinating and full of life and noise and bustle. I like that. I seem to thrive on it, in fact.’
‘I thought you loved Brian and found him fascinating.’
‘Oh, I do. I do.’
‘Well, you won’t want to lose him then, will you?’
‘Oh no.’
‘Decision time then, Jessica.’
‘I know. It’s just not easy, that’s all.’
‘It might be a good idea to take the children and go and stay with Mrs Mellors for a week or two and break yourself away from here in a more gradual way.’
‘I might just do that. Mrs Mellors is so good about everything. She’s going to help me with the sale of the flat, if that’s what has to be done eventually. Oh, it’s such a thought for me – such a final step to take – to sell that lovely, lovely flat.’
‘Oh stop it, Jessica. Brian’s got a gorgeous house for you in Saudi Arabia. I’ve seen the photos of his villa there, remember.’
‘I’m sorry. I’ll keep my mouth shut about the flat, the Barras and the Calton in future, I promise.’
‘All right. I’ll keep you to that. Now, it’s time I was making my way back to work and you’ve got the children to collect from school. Get a bag packed and get out to Vale of Lennox right away, do you hear?’
Jessica nodded and arm-in-arm they left the St Enoch Centre and made their way back to the Calton.
Once back in the flat with the children, Jessica did as Evie had told her. She also phoned Mrs Mellors, of course, just to confirm that her visit would be all right. Mrs Mellors was delighted and insisted on driving in to the Calton to collect her and the twins.
‘You stay in Vale of Lennox with me for as long as you like,’ Mrs Mellors told Jessica. Laughing, she added, ‘Stay forever if you want. That’s how welcome you and the wee ones are, and always will be.’
It was Jessica’s turn to laugh.
‘Don’t you complicate my life any further. Brian wants me and the twins to go over to Saudi and live with him there until he retires from that job of his in the compound. It’s difficult enough for me to think of leaving the Calton. You know only too well what it means to me.’
‘Yes, love, but your place is with your good man. I’ve told you that already.’
‘I know. It’s just not so easy to uproot myself.’
‘I found that out, didn’t I, when I tried to get you to come here even for one night, at first.You wouldn’t budge from that precious flat of yours. Now you’re quite happy to come here and you’ll be happy in Brian’s place in Saudi Arabia once you get there, I bet.’
‘I’m sure you’re right.’
‘And another thing, Jessie. It’s selfish of you to hang on to that flat when so many big families working in the Barras need a decent-sized place. Or any place to stay in the area.’
‘OK. OK. Let’s give the subject a rest for the moment. Where are the twins?’
‘Out in the garden. It’ll do them good. They’ve been looking so pale and strained lately.’
‘Yes, I can’t go on as we are when I know they’re being bullied at school. They’re
Jessica gave a big sigh.
‘I know you’re right, of course. It’s just … It’s such a big decision to make – not just moving to another town or even to another country, but to such a strange place, and from what I can gather, a dangerous one too.’
‘Oh, I’m sure Brian wouldn’t put you or the children in any danger. Every time I’ve met him, Jessica, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. He obviously adores you and the twins.’
Jessica smiled weakly. ‘I know. I’m just being stupid.’
‘No, you’re not. As I said, I can understand how you feel. Apart from being brought up here, it’s a very different and quite fascinating place. Not so much nowadays, though. You must admit, Jessica, there isn’t the same hilarious patter, for instance, as there used to be.’
‘No, but it’s still fascinating and full of life and noise and bustle. I like that. I seem to thrive on it, in fact.’
‘I thought you loved Brian and found him fascinating.’
‘Oh, I do. I do.’
‘Well, you won’t want to lose him then, will you?’
‘Oh no.’
‘Decision time then, Jessica.’
‘I know. It’s just not easy, that’s all.’
‘It might be a good idea to take the children and go and stay with Mrs Mellors for a week or two and break yourself away from here in a more gradual way.’
‘I might just do that. Mrs Mellors is so good about everything. She’s going to help me with the sale of the flat, if that’s what has to be done eventually. Oh, it’s such a thought for me – such a final step to take – to sell that lovely, lovely flat.’
‘Oh stop it, Jessica. Brian’s got a gorgeous house for you in Saudi Arabia. I’ve seen the photos of his villa there, remember.’
‘I’m sorry. I’ll keep my mouth shut about the flat, the Barras and the Calton in future, I promise.’
‘All right. I’ll keep you to that. Now, it’s time I was making my way back to work and you’ve got the children to collect from school. Get a bag packed and get out to Vale of Lennox right away, do you hear?’
Jessica nodded and arm-in-arm they left the St Enoch Centre and made their way back to the Calton.
Once back in the flat with the children, Jessica did as Evie had told her. She also phoned Mrs Mellors, of course, just to confirm that her visit would be all right. Mrs Mellors was delighted and insisted on driving in to the Calton to collect her and the twins.
‘You stay in Vale of Lennox with me for as long as you like,’ Mrs Mellors told Jessica. Laughing, she added, ‘Stay forever if you want. That’s how welcome you and the wee ones are, and always will be.’
It was Jessica’s turn to laugh.
‘Don’t you complicate my life any further. Brian wants me and the twins to go over to Saudi and live with him there until he retires from that job of his in the compound. It’s difficult enough for me to think of leaving the Calton. You know only too well what it means to me.’
‘Yes, love, but your place is with your good man. I’ve told you that already.’
‘I know. It’s just not so easy to uproot myself.’
‘I found that out, didn’t I, when I tried to get you to come here even for one night, at first.You wouldn’t budge from that precious flat of yours. Now you’re quite happy to come here and you’ll be happy in Brian’s place in Saudi Arabia once you get there, I bet.’
‘I’m sure you’re right.’
‘And another thing, Jessie. It’s selfish of you to hang on to that flat when so many big families working in the Barras need a decent-sized place. Or any place to stay in the area.’
‘OK. OK. Let’s give the subject a rest for the moment. Where are the twins?’
‘Out in the garden. It’ll do them good. They’ve been looking so pale and strained lately.’
‘Yes, I can’t go on as we are when I know they’re being bullied at school. They’re
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