had left the money to me, people would hardly expect me to let you go on working in a grocery shop.’
‘You’ve been happy enough for me to work there all these years. Remember, you did your best for me.’
‘Don’t, Kay. Don’t let’s quarrel. It’s just like I said. Lana knew this would set us against each other.’
‘I’m sorry, Mum. This broth smells good.’
‘Then don’t just smell it – eat it! And tell me exactly what you’re going to do.’
A few minutes later Kay and her mother faced each other across the table. ‘I can’t tell you exactly what my plans are,’ Kay said. ‘I don’t know myself. However, as soon as it’s possible I shall go to London and sort through Lana’s belongings.’
‘I wish you wouldn’t.’
‘Why not?’
Her mother didn’t answer the question directly. ‘It was such a strange thing to do, don’t you think?’ she said. ‘Leaving you to decide what to do with everything?’
‘It seems as though she didn’t have anyone else.’
‘Well, that was her own fault.’
Thelma’s tone was bitter and Kay was curious. ‘Why do you say that?’
Her mother sighed. ‘She didn’t treat people very well. Oh, she was friendly and sympathetic – when she could be bothered. She would take you up and make you believe you were important to her, and you would be only too pleased to help her out if needs be. But she never let anything or anyone – I want you to remember this, Kay – come in the way of her ambition. And where did that get her?’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Oh, she was talented, I can’t deny that. And she did well for herself. Acting on the London stage and in all those films. She even made a handful of films in Hollywood. And then one day it seems she just gave up.’ Her mother reached across the table for Kay’s hand. ‘Don’t go, Kay. Let the solicitor deal with everything. They’re used to that sort of thing.’
‘Then what do you expect me to do?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘With my inheritance.’
Her sensible mother’s next words took her by surprise. ‘First of all have a holiday. Find a nice hotel for Christmas. People do that, you know. We could all go. You and me and Julie. We would be waited on hand and foot, and then when we’re nice and relaxed we can decide what we’re going to do with the money.’
Kay nearly snapped, ‘With my money,’ but she stopped herself in time. However, she couldn’t help saying, ‘You mean, with the money I have left after I’ve bought you a house.’ And that was just as bad.
Her mother stared at her angrily and Kay suddenly felt near to tears. What are you doing to us, Lana? she asked silently. Do you want my mother and me to quarrel? Are you really laughing at us from the grave?
‘I’ll ignore that remark,’ her mother said at last. ‘But remember, Kay, you’re only twenty-two. I should think it’s natural that you should want my advice.’
‘Of course I’ll ask your advice,’ Kay said, but her heart sank. She knew very well that she and her mother were unlikely to agree about anything. ‘But you can’t make me change my mind about going to London.’
‘Very well. And what do you want me to tell Julie?’
‘She has to know sooner or later. So just tell her the truth.’
And on that rather unsatisfactory note their conversation ended.
‘I’m sorry, Mr Chalmers, but your usual table is taken.’
‘I phoned to reserve it. There was no mention of a problem.’ Tony’s charm did not desert him but his voice was cool.
‘Your message must have been mislaid.’
Tony glanced at the middle-aged couple sitting at one of the tables near the window. They were looking at the menu. ‘I suppose I could ask them to move,’ the head waiter said doubtfully.
‘No, please don’t,’ Kay said. ‘There are other tables overlooking the bay.’
‘But none of them give such a good view of the two lighthouses,’ Tony said.
‘Erm . . . shall I . . . ?’ the
‘You’ve been happy enough for me to work there all these years. Remember, you did your best for me.’
‘Don’t, Kay. Don’t let’s quarrel. It’s just like I said. Lana knew this would set us against each other.’
‘I’m sorry, Mum. This broth smells good.’
‘Then don’t just smell it – eat it! And tell me exactly what you’re going to do.’
A few minutes later Kay and her mother faced each other across the table. ‘I can’t tell you exactly what my plans are,’ Kay said. ‘I don’t know myself. However, as soon as it’s possible I shall go to London and sort through Lana’s belongings.’
‘I wish you wouldn’t.’
‘Why not?’
Her mother didn’t answer the question directly. ‘It was such a strange thing to do, don’t you think?’ she said. ‘Leaving you to decide what to do with everything?’
‘It seems as though she didn’t have anyone else.’
‘Well, that was her own fault.’
Thelma’s tone was bitter and Kay was curious. ‘Why do you say that?’
Her mother sighed. ‘She didn’t treat people very well. Oh, she was friendly and sympathetic – when she could be bothered. She would take you up and make you believe you were important to her, and you would be only too pleased to help her out if needs be. But she never let anything or anyone – I want you to remember this, Kay – come in the way of her ambition. And where did that get her?’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Oh, she was talented, I can’t deny that. And she did well for herself. Acting on the London stage and in all those films. She even made a handful of films in Hollywood. And then one day it seems she just gave up.’ Her mother reached across the table for Kay’s hand. ‘Don’t go, Kay. Let the solicitor deal with everything. They’re used to that sort of thing.’
‘Then what do you expect me to do?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘With my inheritance.’
Her sensible mother’s next words took her by surprise. ‘First of all have a holiday. Find a nice hotel for Christmas. People do that, you know. We could all go. You and me and Julie. We would be waited on hand and foot, and then when we’re nice and relaxed we can decide what we’re going to do with the money.’
Kay nearly snapped, ‘With my money,’ but she stopped herself in time. However, she couldn’t help saying, ‘You mean, with the money I have left after I’ve bought you a house.’ And that was just as bad.
Her mother stared at her angrily and Kay suddenly felt near to tears. What are you doing to us, Lana? she asked silently. Do you want my mother and me to quarrel? Are you really laughing at us from the grave?
‘I’ll ignore that remark,’ her mother said at last. ‘But remember, Kay, you’re only twenty-two. I should think it’s natural that you should want my advice.’
‘Of course I’ll ask your advice,’ Kay said, but her heart sank. She knew very well that she and her mother were unlikely to agree about anything. ‘But you can’t make me change my mind about going to London.’
‘Very well. And what do you want me to tell Julie?’
‘She has to know sooner or later. So just tell her the truth.’
And on that rather unsatisfactory note their conversation ended.
‘I’m sorry, Mr Chalmers, but your usual table is taken.’
‘I phoned to reserve it. There was no mention of a problem.’ Tony’s charm did not desert him but his voice was cool.
‘Your message must have been mislaid.’
Tony glanced at the middle-aged couple sitting at one of the tables near the window. They were looking at the menu. ‘I suppose I could ask them to move,’ the head waiter said doubtfully.
‘No, please don’t,’ Kay said. ‘There are other tables overlooking the bay.’
‘But none of them give such a good view of the two lighthouses,’ Tony said.
‘Erm . . . shall I . . . ?’ the
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