The Postcard, page 25
Penny touched the edged stitching of the leather case and brought it straight to her face to breathe in the scent she had longed for. Yes, it was still there. Leather, saddle soap, tobacco and – was she imagining it? – her father’s unique smell.
Suzie looked ashamed. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Penny hugged her. ‘Darling, it’s OK. It’s OK. I can’t thank you enough for this precious precious gift. It smells of Daddy. Sniff and see.’
Suzie pushed her nose towards the briefcase and sniffed tentatively.
‘It’s him,’ said Penny joyfully. ‘It’s like he’s in the room.’ A sudden thought hit her. ‘Is there anything in it?’
Suzie wrinkled her brow. ‘I don’t think so, but why don’t you check?’
Penny sat on the bed with the briefcase on her knees and began to undo the two buckles.
As soon as she flipped it open she saw his name inked exactly as she had remembered it. Then slowly, almost reverentially, she opened the case further and slipped her hand inside.
There was nothing in it. ‘Oh,’ she said, her shoulders slumping. She tried the front zipped pocket, but it wouldn’t open. ‘It’s empty.’
She was utterly deflated. ‘He used to bring us a Fry’s Chocolate Cream bar every Friday. Do you remember?’
‘Yes. I hated it.’
‘I loved them because he loved them.’ Penny looked up at her sister. ‘Thank you. Really. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you. May I keep it?’
‘Of course. It’s yours.’
Penny brought the case back up to her lips and she kissed it.
At her appointment, Adam was very surprised and interested to hear about this new development. He sat at his desk listening intently as Penny recounted the story. ‘And so now I understand my feelings towards Margot and Suzie,’ Penny told him. ‘Unconsciously I was jealous of them for having each other while I was sent off to boarding school and then straight out to work. Unconsciously I was jealous that they had memories of Daddy that I couldn’t share with them. And now Suzie tells me that she and Margot were jealous of me. How weird is that? God, what a lot of wasted time. And now Suzie has given me the best gift of all. A memory of Daddy – and a sister.’
Adam rubbed his chin. ‘And how does that make you feel?’
‘Like shit. I have been so selfish and I hurt them greatly when I walked away from them. No wonder Margot didn’t want to see me. And poor Suzie. I left her with all the responsibility of looking after Margot while I had an easy life and she had no life.’
‘That was her choice. And let’s not forget your life hasn’t been a bed of roses,’ said Adam.
‘Maybe not, but Suzie didn’t have a choice because I’d walked away.’
‘I think you’re being too hard on yourself.’
‘I’ve got a lot of making up to do and I am just so thankful that I’ve been given the time. Simon is always saying that God moves in mysterious ways. He certainly has this time.’
‘Have you told him yet?’
‘I phoned him from the car. He’s so happy. As happy as me.’
‘That’s good.’ Adam leaned forwards and pulled her file towards him. ‘How’s the medication going?’
‘Wonderful. I feel back to normal.’
‘Good. Do you have enough or shall I write you a new prescription?’
‘I have plenty. Actually, I was wondering if I needed to take them any more. Your counselling and acupuncture have worked wonders and I am so grateful to you.’
‘Oh I think we’ll keep you on them just a little longer and then slowly start reducing the dose when I think you’re ready.’
Penny stood up, ready to leave. ‘By the way, Adam, the restaurant Suzie took me to, in Watergate Bay?’
‘Hmm,’ said Adam, already thinking about his next patient.
‘I think it would be a great idea for you to take her to supper there.’
Adam frowned and was about to say something but thought better of it.
‘It’s OK,’ said Penny smiling, ‘I don’t expect you to breach any confidences. Bye.’
33
Ella had a day off and was in her bedroom at the vicarage, lolling on her bed.
Penny, who was in an unusually good mood, had taken Suzie and Jenna out for the day. ‘Darling, you have a break from looking after us,’ she’d said to Ella. ‘Go for a swim or something. It’s a lovely day.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course. Off you go – and don’t worry about supper, we’ll bring in a Chinese,’ she said, collecting up her bag and ushering a grinning Suzie out of the door.
‘Where are you off to?’ asked Ella.
‘We’re going to spend a girlie day together. Jenna and I are going to spoil Auntie Suzie a bit. Byee.’
Ella wondered what had happened between the two sisters. For the last couple of days they had been very close and affectionate with each other.
Ella’s phone buzzed. A text message from Kit. She opened it.
Beautiful day. Am delivering the finished Chafford portrait. Like to come? We could have a pub lunch on the way back?
Ella couldn’t think of a reason why not. She typed: What time?
He replied: Ten minutes?
As she arrived at Marguerite Cottage Kit was sliding Lady Chafford’s portrait into the back of the car.
‘Hi,’ said Ella, taking a look at the finished picture. ‘She’s going to love it.’
Kit looked at Ella and took in her beautiful flame red curls dancing in the breeze, and her slender freckled legs looking adorable in her white shorts. His heart skipped its usual beat whenever he saw her. He hid his reaction by carefully covering Lady Chafford’s likeness in an old sheet. ‘I bloody well hope she does.’
The interior of the car was scorching – the beginning of May had brought a sudden heatwave and taken everyone by surprise. Kit started the engine and opened all the windows. ‘I hope you don’t mind the fresh air. I can’t stand air conditioning.’
‘Fresh air is best,’ Ella said, slipping on her seat belt. ‘We can smell the hedgerows and the sea.’
‘Your hair might blow about a bit,’ said Kit, worried suddenly that she might be more high maintenance than he’d expected.
‘No problem.’ She delved into her soft cotton handbag and pulled out a pencil. She twisted her hair into a bun and anchored it, using the pencil as a hairpin. ‘Ta dah!’
‘How resourceful,’ said Kit, feeling himself take yet another step towards falling in love with her.
They drove out of the village and Ella rummaged in the glove pocket looking at the handful of CDs he had. She pulled out Graceland by Paul Simon and stuffed it into the CD player. ‘At school we spent a whole term listening to this. Do you mind if I turn it up?’
Kit couldn’t think of a happier car journey. They sang their way through each song, Lala-ing over lyrics they couldn’t remember and laughing at each other’s mistakes. The sky was almost violet in its blueness and the sun lit up the moorland hills, picking out the white sheep grazing on the golden gorse, and sparkling on the many small bodies of water.
Eventually they turned in at the gates of Chafford Hall and drove through the dappled tunnel of rhododendrons. The house itself lay in the sunshine, with its circular drive of gravel crunching under the tyres. Kit stopped the car and killed the engine.
‘Wow,’ said Ella. ‘“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again”.’
Kit looked at her. ‘I love that book.’
‘Really?’ exclaimed Ella.
‘Oh yes. My mother had all Daphne du Maurier’s novels. She read Rebecca to me when I was recovering from chickenpox.’
‘Mrs Danvers was my favourite character. So evil,’ said Ella.
Kit laughed, then said in a chilling voice, ‘I can hear the rustle of her bombazine black dress coming down the stairs to terrorize the new Mrs de Winter.’
Ella was delighted. ‘Ooh, shall we see if we can get the DVD and freak ourselves out?’
‘It’ll be my mission to seek it out.’ He looked at her smiling eyes and the freckles sprinkled across her nose and wanted to kiss her. He had almost made up his mind to do so when Lady Chafford threw open the heavy front door of Chafford Hall and called out, ‘Yoo hoo!’
‘Well, that was a success,’ said Kit, helping Ella into the car forty-five minutes later. ‘I think she really liked it.’
‘She loved it,’ said Ella. ‘Why else would she commission you to paint one of Lord Chafford next?’
Kit patted the cheque in his top pocket. ‘Maybe we will have champagne for supper after all.’
‘A half of lager and a pub lunch will do me,’ smiled Ella.
‘Good. I know just the place.’
The car park at the St Kew Inn was pleasingly full and Kit parked in the shade of the trees by the river.
The bar was dark against the bright sunshine, but welcoming with its low ceiling and friendly atmosphere. They ordered drinks and food. Ella chose the Porthilly Mussels and Kit picked the beer-battered goujons with peas and chips.
‘Would you like to eat outside?’ asked the barman. ‘I’ll bring it to your table.’
In the pretty garden they chose a table in the shade and sipped their drinks.
‘What time have you got to be back?’ he asked her.
‘No time. Penny gave me the whole day off. She’s taken Suzie and Jenna out for the day.’
‘Really? That’s good. Are relations between them warming up?’ asked Kit.
Ella’s loyalty to Penny and Simon kicked in and she didn’t want to say too much. ‘Maybe.’
The barman arrived with their food and for the next few minutes they busied themselves with cutlery and ketchup.
Kit offered his chips and tomato sauce to Ella before asking, ‘How is Penny?’
‘Fine,’ said Ella neutrally.
‘I hope she’s happier after her, well, shall we call it her cry for help?’
‘She’s doing well. She’s a great mum to Jenna.’
Kit felt awkward to press on with this questioning but he was worried for Adam. ‘How are things with her and Simon?’
Ella was annoyed. ‘I’m sorry, Kit, but I don’t feel comfortable answering these questions. She’s my employer.’
‘Sorry.’
‘She and Simon adore each other.’
‘Good, good.’
They continued their lunch. Then Ella asked, ‘Why do you want to know?’
‘It’s nothing, really. Forget I asked.’
‘Well, now I think there’s a reason you asked – come on, what is it?’
‘Um, this is a bit awkward but, well, Suzie said something the other day.’
‘What?’ asked Ella.
‘She said that she thought …’ Kit rubbed his forehead with anxious fingers. ‘This is hard! Erm … she said that she thought Penny might be developing feelings for Adam.’
Ella burst out laughing. ‘Jealous cow!’
Kit felt relieved. ‘Is that what it is?’
‘Almost certainly. I mean, Adam is a good-looking man and I think every woman – and maybe some men – have fallen for his looks and charm. But Penny? Nah.’
‘Well, that’s all right, then.’
Ella looked at Kit with suspicion. ‘Why are you asking?’
Now it was Kit’s turn to play his cards close to his chest. ‘No reason.’
‘Yes there is,’ probed Ella.
Kit thought for a moment, then looked her square in the eyes. ‘If I tell you something, can you promise me not to tell another living soul?’
Ella nodded, touched by his sudden solemnity and sincerity. ‘Of course.’
‘Adam would be furious and very hurt if he knew I’d told anyone.’
‘I promise not to say a word – if you are sure you want to tell me.’
‘I do want to tell you. You see, Adam was almost struck off at his last surgery because a woman, a patient, accused him of inappropriate behaviour.’
Ella’s eyes were wide. ‘What? What happened?’
‘The woman was suffering episodes of anxiety and was later diagnosed with a bit of a personality disorder.’
‘Oh dear, poor woman. And how awful for Adam.’
Kit nodded. ‘Her mind got fixated on Adam. He’s a very good doctor and treated her like any other patient, but then she started to send him small gifts. He returned them all. But after that she began putting notes on his windscreen. Invitations for drinks, her mobile phone number, dates when her husband would be away on business. Naturally, he threw them all away.’
‘Was he still treating her?’
‘Yes. That was a big mistake, which he regrets now, but he was concerned for her and thought he could deal with it and get her better.’
‘Did he mention it to anybody at the practice? The other partners?’
‘No. Not until after she sent him photos of her, naked, in his own home.’
‘Whaat?’
‘She tricked his cleaning lady into letting her into his house one day. The cleaning lady had finished and the woman had told her that all she needed to do was to drop off some files from the surgery and then she slammed the front door behind her. She was very convincing. Once she was in the house she left bits of her own worn underwear in his laundry basket and under his bed, then took the photos of herself lying in his sheets.’
Ella was shocked. ‘What did he do when she sent the photos?’
‘He told his practice manager immediately and the woman was advised to find another surgery. But she took the photos to the police, told her husband that Adam had taken them, and that started the worst twelve months of his life fighting to prove his innocence.’
‘Shit.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Is that why he’s come down here?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, I can tell you he’s never done anything untoward at the Garden Clinic. I see and hear everything.’
Kit smiled gratefully. ‘Thank God. It caused him so much heartache and gossip.’
‘I’m sure it did.’ Ella sat, thinking for a bit. ‘So that’s why you’re worried about what Suzie said? That Penny has feelings for Adam?’
‘Yes. Adam doesn’t need any more trouble.’
‘Nor does Penny.’
‘No.’
‘But Suzie can’t know anything about what happened to Adam, can she?’
‘I can’t see how.’
‘Which brings me back to what I said. She’s jealous of Penny. She fancies Adam and wants to clear the way for herself.’
Kit put his head in his hands. ‘Do you think so?’
‘Women’s intuition – and keen observation! Suzie turns on the charm when she needs to but, now that I know her a lot better, I can tell you that there’s something “off” about her.’
‘Can you keep an eye on things at the vicarage? Or does that sound as if I’m overreacting.’
‘Maybe, but you just want to protect Adam, don’t you?’
Kit smiled and took her hand. ‘Yes. I’m so glad to get that off my chest. You don’t think I’m crazy?’
‘A bit but, hey, I like crazy.’
Kit dipped his head and blushed. ‘Thanks.’
Ella smiled back at him. ‘My pleasure. Now, how about pudding?’
On the way back in the car Ella asked him if he’d like to come out on the cliffs and do some painting with her over the weekend.
‘I’d love to, but I have another project I need to have finished for the Fayre.’
‘An entry for the Spirit of Cornwall and The Sea competition?’
‘Yep.’
‘Tell me about it?’
‘It’s a little bit top secret at the moment.’
‘Oh, go on, you can tell me. I’m supposed to be in charge of it.’
So he did, and Ella promised, for the second time that day, not to say a thing.
As he dropped her off at the vicarage he said, ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Fire away.’
‘How attractive is Adam?’
Ella giggled. ‘If I’m truthful, he is very good-looking, but the more I know him, the more I see who he is as a person: a very nice man, a dedicated doctor – but not a man who’s looking for a commitment. And now I understand why.’
‘You’re a very smart woman, Ella.’
‘You’re not so bad yourself.’
Ella let herself into the vicarage and was met by an anxious Suzie in the hall. ‘Can I have a word?’
‘What’s happened? Did today go OK?’
‘Yes, it was lovely, but I’m very worried about Penny.’
‘Where is she?’
‘She’s upstairs, bathing Jenna. Come into the drawing room where she can’t hear us.’
Ella followed Suzie. Her mind was whirring. What was going on?
‘Shut the door,’ said Suzie.
Ella did as she was told. ‘Tell me what’s happened. You’re worrying me.’
Suzie sat on the sofa. ‘I’m so concerned about Penny’s vulnerability. You must have noticed.’
‘On the contrary, she seems perfectly fine to me.’
Suzie was wringing her hands. ‘She’s so good at hiding it. I remember when Daddy died. To the rest of the world she looked as if she were coping marvellously, while Mummy and I were heartbroken. But underneath she was utterly distraught. Looking back, I can see now that she had a sort of breakdown. She became very withdrawn and remote. Her temper flared without warning and more than once Mummy and I were scared she’d hurt herself – or us.’
Ella didn’t recognize the woman Suzie was describing. ‘I see no signs of that person. Penny is coming through a difficult time with flying colours.’
‘That’s what they said when she was little, but today she told me something that really rang alarm bells.’
Ella narrowed her eyes, and sat down. ‘Oh yes? What?’
‘She told me that she has a bit of a crush on Adam.’
Ella almost laughed in Suzie’s face. ‘Whaat?’
Suzie was indignant. ‘That’s what she said.’
Ella stood up. ‘Absolutely not! I see them together when she comes for her acupuncture and they have a great patient/doctor relationship, but that is it. All that separates me from Adam and his patients is a flimsy partition wall. I can hear him pull a tissue from its box.’
