Primrose Square by Anne Douglas Page B

was there, with her, quite out of his own territory, and there must be some reason for that, so what could it be? Oh, no – no!
    Her heart beginning to beat fast, she cried, ‘Is it Ma, Dad? Is there something wrong? Is it Corrie? Tell me!’
    Suddenly, his features seemed to melt, his eyes soften. He began to shake his head. ‘No need to worry, lassie. There’s nothing wrong. I just came to see you.’
    â€˜But why? You won’t say why!’
    â€˜Can we no’ sit down somewhere?’ He looked around, at the fine houses, the gardens with their trees still in full leaf, the railings with their gates, and he smiled briefly. ‘This your famous square, then? And everything’s locked?’
    â€˜Dad, I’m just going out. I’m going to an evening class, it’s the first time, and I mustn’t be late. I’d no idea you were coming.’
    â€˜Spur of the moment, is why. I never even told your ma.’ His smile broadened. ‘She thinks I’m at the pub.’
    â€˜Will you walk with me to Lothian Road?’ she asked desperately. ‘I’ve to get the tram there. We could talk on the way.’
    Her heart was still pounding, but now with apprehension that her evening was about to crash around her ears. It was the strangest thing in the world that her father had come seeking her, and might be good but then might not, and she felt so confused, she was like some rudderless boat at the mercy of the waves.
    â€˜Will you come?’ she asked, praying that he would not take offence that she was still going to her class when he had come to see her, that he would not suddenly blow up right there in the middle of the city.
    Amazingly, he took her arm. ‘Aye, I’ll come, Elinor. If we can talk, I want to talk.’
    â€˜You’ll tell me why you came?’
    â€˜I should’ve thought you could guess. Or d’you want me to eat humble pie?’
    â€˜Dad, what are you saying?’
    She wished now that they weren’t joining the crowds waiting to cross the road at Maule’s Corner, where Princes Street ended and the two famous churches – St John’s and St Cuthbert’s – marked the entry to Lothian Road. If only her father hadn’t picked tonight of all nights! For there was the tram stop ahead and she must be ready to board when her tram came, or she would be late, and yet she didn’t want to board, she wanted to hear what her dad had to say. And try to make herself believe that this was happening.
    â€˜I’ve been thinking I was a wee bit hard on you,’ he was muttering, ‘that time I told you to go. It’s been on my mind – since you went – that I was, well, I was wrong.’ He laughed uneasily. ‘Got carried away, you see. Well, you know how it is.’
    â€˜Aye, I do,’ she said eagerly. ‘I was maybe too quick, too. Ma said I shouldn’t have been so quick, but  . . .’
    â€˜No, I told you to go – what else could you do?’
    They had reached the tram stop and were standing together, almost fearfully exchanging looks from eyes so alike, trying to make sense of this so strange meeting, the strangest meeting either of them had ever had.
    â€˜Do you want me to come back?’ Elinor asked at last, in a husky whisper.
    â€˜Aye, I do. When you can.’
    â€˜Thing is, I’ve signed up for this course. I’ve no evenings free in term times.’ (Oh, Lord, what would he say?) ‘But then there’ll be the holidays – and some Saturdays. In fact, I might be able to come this weekend.’
    â€˜Come when you can,’ he repeated. ‘I’ll tell your mother you’ll come when you can.’
    â€˜Dad, she’ll be so pleased.’
    â€˜I know.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I sometimes get things right. But what’s this course, then?’
    â€˜It’s learning about office work. I thought I