‘Granny, if you both want to go home, I’ll stay here for a wee while – in case Hattie wakes up.’
She looked relieved. ‘We’ll keep Lily overnight, Ann.’
She went through to collect Grandad. I could hear the quiet voices as they said their goodbyes to Danny.
After a few minutes, I also joined him. Hattie was sleeping peacefully and I knew I would hear her if she became distressed again. However, Danny was another matter. He sat by the fire, gazing solemnly into the flames. He didn’t turn his head when I came into the room. My heart was like a stone when I looked at him. I didn’t know what to say to him and I was totally surprised by this. We had been so close to one another all our lives and we could almost read each other’s minds but not this time. It was as if he had shut me and all his family out of his life and his thoughts. I put a hand on his arm.
Like a sleepwalker, he looked at me with dull, lifeless eyes and I was shocked by his expression. ‘Danny, please talk to me. You’ve had a terrible shock but don’t let it ruin your life.’
Suddenly, as if a veil was lifted from his face, his expression changed to normal – the old Danny I knew and loved. ‘Ann, don’t worry about Mum or me. We’ll be fine but we just need time – that’s all.’
‘Oh, Danny, take all the time you need. I’ll stay here tonight in case your mum needs me.’
‘No, Ann, just you get away home. I’ll be here and Granny is coming back tomorrow so everything is fine.’
His voice was firm so I had no option but to go home. He obviously wanted to be alone. At the front door, I almost told him what Dad had said about the horrors of the Great War but I didn’t. Perhaps, I thought, he had heard enough about that terrible era. I did, however, remind him to go and see Maddie on the Sunday and, although he agreed, I could see his heart wasn’t in it.
I hardly slept over the next two nights and I was secretly dreading Sunday morning. There had been no more word from either Maddie or Danny. Where and when they were meeting was also a secret but I hoped they would still be together after it.
As it turned out, my Sunday leisure was dictated by Lily. She danced through to the kitchen and said she wanted to go to Broughty Ferry to see Jean Peters.
‘Please, please, Ann, can we go?’
I had little choice in the face of such eagerness so we set off for the bus. I was actually quite relieved to get away from the house and my worries for a few hours.
Jean and I had met up on a few occasions since my departure from Whitegate Lodge but most of these meetings had been in the Broughty Ferry in a small teashop on the High Street. She still lived with her husband in Long Lane and I knew that her inheritance from Mrs Barrie had made their lives comfortable – something we had in common.
The street was almost deserted when we got off the bus and I was once again reminded how quiet this place was compared to Dundee – except maybe during the summer months when people were attracted to the beach and the water. Today, in spite of some watery sunshine, the wind blew cold and straight from the North Sea.
Lily was full of excitement as we stood on her doorstep. She was as fond of Jean as I was. She was a good friend to me and had been my ally against Miss Hood in my days at Whitegate Lodge.
Jean opened the door, her hands covered in flour. ‘Well, I never! I was just thinking about you, Lily.’ Pleasure was written all over her face. Being childless herself she always spoiled any child in her company.
Lily hopped from one foot to another, desperate to be asked in but remembering her manners which I had warned her to do earlier.
Jean knew this and she teased Lily by making her stand outside. Doing a good imitation of Granny, Lily put her hands on her hips and said, ‘Can I come in, please?’
Jean roared with laughter and I was suddenly grateful for this joyous sound. It had been days since I had heard anyone laugh or even
She looked relieved. ‘We’ll keep Lily overnight, Ann.’
She went through to collect Grandad. I could hear the quiet voices as they said their goodbyes to Danny.
After a few minutes, I also joined him. Hattie was sleeping peacefully and I knew I would hear her if she became distressed again. However, Danny was another matter. He sat by the fire, gazing solemnly into the flames. He didn’t turn his head when I came into the room. My heart was like a stone when I looked at him. I didn’t know what to say to him and I was totally surprised by this. We had been so close to one another all our lives and we could almost read each other’s minds but not this time. It was as if he had shut me and all his family out of his life and his thoughts. I put a hand on his arm.
Like a sleepwalker, he looked at me with dull, lifeless eyes and I was shocked by his expression. ‘Danny, please talk to me. You’ve had a terrible shock but don’t let it ruin your life.’
Suddenly, as if a veil was lifted from his face, his expression changed to normal – the old Danny I knew and loved. ‘Ann, don’t worry about Mum or me. We’ll be fine but we just need time – that’s all.’
‘Oh, Danny, take all the time you need. I’ll stay here tonight in case your mum needs me.’
‘No, Ann, just you get away home. I’ll be here and Granny is coming back tomorrow so everything is fine.’
His voice was firm so I had no option but to go home. He obviously wanted to be alone. At the front door, I almost told him what Dad had said about the horrors of the Great War but I didn’t. Perhaps, I thought, he had heard enough about that terrible era. I did, however, remind him to go and see Maddie on the Sunday and, although he agreed, I could see his heart wasn’t in it.
I hardly slept over the next two nights and I was secretly dreading Sunday morning. There had been no more word from either Maddie or Danny. Where and when they were meeting was also a secret but I hoped they would still be together after it.
As it turned out, my Sunday leisure was dictated by Lily. She danced through to the kitchen and said she wanted to go to Broughty Ferry to see Jean Peters.
‘Please, please, Ann, can we go?’
I had little choice in the face of such eagerness so we set off for the bus. I was actually quite relieved to get away from the house and my worries for a few hours.
Jean and I had met up on a few occasions since my departure from Whitegate Lodge but most of these meetings had been in the Broughty Ferry in a small teashop on the High Street. She still lived with her husband in Long Lane and I knew that her inheritance from Mrs Barrie had made their lives comfortable – something we had in common.
The street was almost deserted when we got off the bus and I was once again reminded how quiet this place was compared to Dundee – except maybe during the summer months when people were attracted to the beach and the water. Today, in spite of some watery sunshine, the wind blew cold and straight from the North Sea.
Lily was full of excitement as we stood on her doorstep. She was as fond of Jean as I was. She was a good friend to me and had been my ally against Miss Hood in my days at Whitegate Lodge.
Jean opened the door, her hands covered in flour. ‘Well, I never! I was just thinking about you, Lily.’ Pleasure was written all over her face. Being childless herself she always spoiled any child in her company.
Lily hopped from one foot to another, desperate to be asked in but remembering her manners which I had warned her to do earlier.
Jean knew this and she teased Lily by making her stand outside. Doing a good imitation of Granny, Lily put her hands on her hips and said, ‘Can I come in, please?’
Jean roared with laughter and I was suddenly grateful for this joyous sound. It had been days since I had heard anyone laugh or even
Similar Books
