A Rose and a Promise, page 30
Cadi had been delighted at Kitty’s proposal, and they had signed on the dotted line that very day. Consigning Oscar to Maria’s loving care, the girls had worked like Trojans to rid the premises of pests, and they had scrubbed and painted every surface within a few weeks of obtaining the keys. Having agreed to call their new venture Thomas’s Tea Rooms, it had been a proud moment indeed when they watched the men hang the sign above the door. The business had taken off at a pace which neither of them would have dared to predict, and they were soon on the look-out for more staff. Employing two girls to wait on, Cadi and Kitty had seen to the rest of the business. It had been harder than Cadi could ever have imagined, and with early mornings and late evenings she rarely had time for herself, and often wondered how she would have managed without Maria’s devotion to Oscar and Kitty’s expertise when it came to catering for the masses.
Today marked exactly a year since they’d begun trading, Cadi had gathered the meticulous accounts which she and Kitty kept and headed for the accountant’s office. Shaking the rain from her umbrella, she had looked up to see Daphne sitting behind the receptionist’s desk. The two women stared at each other in frozen horror, until Cadi broke the silence.
‘I’m here to see Mr Clark,’ she said, a touch primly.
Daphne nodded. ‘I’ll let him know you’ve arrived.’ Cadi had turned to take a seat when Daphne spoke softly from behind her. ‘I’m sorry.’
Cadi clasped the handle of her leather briefcase in both hands as she turned to face the other woman. ‘What for?’
Daphne’s cheeks were beginning to colour as she spoke. ‘For everything. I know I’ve already apologised for the letter I sent to Jez, but I never apologised for confronting him after he came home from Africa, or for not believing you when you warned me against Kieran.’ She gave a terse, humourless laugh. ‘I suppose that was my comeuppance for everything I did.’ She held a hand out to Cadi. ‘I really am sorry.’
Shaking her by the hand, Cadi’s lips formed a small smile. ‘Apology accepted. I take it you’ve not seen or heard from M— Kieran?’
Daphne’s face clouded over at the mention of his name. ‘Vanished without a trace – thank goodness. I’ve not seen his brother, but I do know that he got off without any charges.’
Cadi gaped at her. ‘How come?’
‘They couldn’t actually prove that he’d done anything other than talk to members of the IRA, which isn’t illegal. From what the police told me, it was Kieran they were interested in, and they hoped that arresting Paddy might smoke him out, as it were.’ She chuckled softly. ‘But as we all know, Kieran’s a cowardy custard who looks out for himself and no one else. Once they realised that, they had to let Paddy go.’
Interested despite herself, Cadi sank into the chair opposite Daphne’s desk. ‘Does anyone know where he is?’
‘Sailing the seven seas on board a merchant vessel, or so I’ve been told,’ Daphne told her.
‘With the rest of the rats,’ said Cadi, much to Daphne’s amusement. ‘Talking of rats, I don’t suppose you’ve heard from Aled?’
Daphne looked genuinely shocked, as well as shame-faced. ‘No, but I should imagine I’m the last person he’d seek out.’ She eyed Cadi curiously. ‘I never thought I’d hear you describe him in such a manner. Do you mind my asking what’s happened?’
Cadi shook her head. ‘Not at all. I’ve not heard a peep from Aled since a few weeks before the end of the war. His poor parents have had to leave the farm, whilst Aled’s vanished off the face of the earth, leaving everyone else in the lurch.’
Daphne blew her cheeks out. ‘That does surprise me. If Aled were going to confide in anyone I would’ve thought it would be you.’ Realising how this might sound, she hastily added, ‘I’m not trying to suggest there’s anything between you, I just …’
Seeing Daphne squirm as she tried to get herself out of the hole she was currently digging, Cadi cut her off mid-sentence. ‘It’s all right. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.’
The colour in Daphne’s cheeks began to fade to a lighter shade of pink. ‘I’m always putting my foot in things.’ She looked at Cadi quizzically before adding, ‘I’m probably about to do it again, but why is Aled’s absence so upsetting to you?’
Cadi went on to explain how she’d given birth, and the promises that Aled had made.
Daphne looked to be deep in thought before sharing her opinions. ‘Aled’s a man of his word. I really can’t see him turning his back on you for anything trivial. As for his parents, I’m guessing they gave up the farm because John couldn’t run it on his own.’
‘He had my brother,’ said Cadi.
‘That certainly does seem a bit odd,’ admitted Daphne.
Cadi waved a dismissive hand. ‘I’ve pondered over this for years, and still not come up with an answer.’
‘If I hear anything, I’ll be sure to let you know,’ said Daphne. She was about to ask Cadi where she could be reached when the penny dropped. ‘If you’re here to see Mr Clark, I take it your business is Thomas’s Tea Rooms?’
Cadi smiled proudly. ‘It is indeed. You’ll have to pop by for a cuppa.’
Daphne’s lips formed a genuine smile. ‘I’d like that.’
Cadi glanced at Daphne’s left hand, which was bare of any rings. ‘I see you didn’t marry.’
Daphne gave a short snort of laughter. ‘I rather lost my faith in men after Kieran, although I have started courting again recently.’
Cadi eyed her inquisitively. ‘Is he a farmer?’
Daphne shook her head fervently. ‘No! My desire to stay on at the farm always got me into trouble.’
Mr Clark exited his office, bringing the girl’s conversation to an abrupt end.
When Cadi left the accountant, she had a spring in her step. He had been so pleased with the turnover of the tea rooms, he had approved her suggestion of buying the flat above the business, which had recently come up for sale. The move would mean that she and Oscar would have more time together, instead of her having to dash between the tea rooms and the Belmont at all hours of the day and night.
Maria and Bill were upset to see Cadi and Oscar leave, but as Maria said at the time, she had known that this day would come, and she was proud of Cadi for following through with her dream of independence.
Cadi had given up asking her parents whether they had heard what happened to Aled, mainly because it seemed pointless now that the Davieses no longer lived in Rhos. Aled’s disappearance hadn’t stopped the locals’ tongues from wagging, though. ‘Some of the girls from the bakery said they’d heard tell that Aled had run off with an African lady,’ tutted Jill, in a telephone call with Cadi. ‘It’s utter nonsense, of course—’
Cadi had been quick to interrupt her mother. ‘How do you know it’s nonsense?’
Jill had paused. ‘All right, so I suppose I don’t know, but if I were to believe every rumour I heard, Aled would be living in a tepee with a German woman of African origin along with her ten kids.’
Cadi snorted on a giggle. ‘Oh, Mam! What are they like!’
‘Fishwives with nowt better to do than make up stories,’ tutted Jill. She sighed. ‘I don’t know what’s happened to him, luv, but I feel ever so sorry for the Davieses.’
Everyone had told Cadi to move on with her life, and to forget about Aled, but it was easier said than done when you had cared about someone as much as she had for him. What was more, she’d also believed him when he’d said that he would always be there for her. She had known at the time that it had been a sweeping statement, because nobody really knew what lay ahead of them, but even so, Aled had managed to convince her that she wasn’t on her own. She had wanted to tell Oscar how his daddy had saved Aled’s life, and how Aled had saved Annie’s – a companion whom Oscar loved dearly. And how it had been Aled who’d been with her when she found Jez, and when she’d given birth to Oscar himself, but she knew that the little boy would want to meet this marvellous friend of his parents, and she would have to admit that he was gone without trace. It’s as though he’s made me erase part of my life, Cadi had told herself, a very important part that would help Oscar to see his father as a hero, and Aled as the friend who had come to her rescue in her darkest hours.
Now, as she put the dishes into the sink, she heard the bell go above the door, indicating that the last customers had left. Rinsing a cloth, she trotted down the couple of steps that separated the kitchen from the tea room and cleared their empty dishes on to a tray before wiping the table down. Standing up, she wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. It had been one of the busiest days yet, and Kitty had been struck down with a horrid cold, along with their two waitresses, leaving Cadi to hold the fort on her own. Being the only one in, it had been down to her to take all the orders, make the meals, and wash the dishes. She hadn’t had a minute’s break all day, but with only an hour left before closing time she would soon be able to put her feet up and relax … she corrected herself. She would be able to pick Oscar up from the Belmont, where he was being looked after by Raquel while Maria prepared the evening menu in the pub kitchen. Raquel would’ve given Oscar his tea, which was one less chore for Cadi, and after a quick chat to discuss their day Cadi would bring Oscar back to the flat for a bath, followed by bed, and a story to help him go to sleep. Only then would she be able to put her feet up.
Making her way back into the kitchen, she was just finishing washing the dishes when she heard the bell above the door ring once more. Hoping that it was just a customer who had forgotten something, she headed back down the steps into the tea room with her fingers crossed.
As she entered, she saw that two people had taken their seats at the table closest to the door. Trying to hide her dismay, Cadi fetched a couple of menus from under the counter and headed over. As she drew near, she smiled a welcome to the woman before turning her attention to her companion.
Her smile disappeared as the man stared back at her through hollow eyes. Clutching the menus to her chest, she struggled to find words.
‘Aled.’
The woman with Aled looked from Cadi to Aled, and back again. It was clear to her that the two of them recognised each other, but it was also obvious that they were uncomfortable in each other’s presence. She gave a small cough, hoping that one of them would speak, but when neither of them said anything she decided to break the ice by stating the obvious. ‘I see you know each other?’
Cadi gave a short, bitter laugh. ‘I thought we did, but it turns out that I couldn’t have been more wrong if I tried.’
The woman looked at the dainty watch on her wrist and gave an obviously false cry of alarm. ‘Would you look at that! I don’t think we have got time for that cup of tea after all; maybe it’s best if I take you straight to the station.’ She got up to leave, but Cadi was shaking her head. She had waited over five years to speak her mind, and she wasn’t going to let him run off before she’d voiced her thoughts.
Her eyes locked with Aled’s as she spoke in a frosty tone. ‘Five years and not a word. I nearly went out of my mind with worry. Tell me, Aled, what had I done that was so bad you never wanted to speak to me again?’
Aled shook his head. ‘It wasn’t you, it was me …’
‘Damned right it was you!’ snapped Cadi. ‘And even though I knew I’d done nowt wrong, it didn’t stop me from wondering. Because that’s what happens when someone breaks contact for no reason.’ Tears began to form in her eyes. ‘You swore that you’d be there for us, even though I told you you didn’t have to be. It was you who insisted you’d look after me and Oscar; I never asked you to do that. How could you turn your back on us without so much as a phone call?’ She gave the woman a reproving look before turning her attention back to Aled. ‘I’m not stupid, Aled; I knew you’d get a girlfriend at some stage, but that’s still no reason to turn your back on me and Oscar!’
Aled gaped at her open-mouthed before looking up at the other woman. ‘I’m frightfully sorry …’
Cadi gave him a scathing look. ‘What a surprise! I didn’t realise you were capable of apologising!’ She shot him a withering glance. ‘You knew I’d lost Jez, and yet you let the same thing happen again, because you didn’t have the guts to tell me to my face. I never had you down as a coward, Aled Davies, which just goes to show how wrong a person can be.’
The woman looked at Cadi in alarm. ‘I say, that’s a bit strong! I don’t know the ins and outs of your relationship, and I don’t want to, but I can’t stand by whilst you call him a coward. I think you owe Mr Davies an apology.’
Cadi stared at her in utter disbelief. ‘Me? Apologise to him? Have you not listened to a word I’ve said?’
Aled addressed the woman directly. ‘I really am ever so sorry about this. If you don’t mind, I think it might be better if I make my own way to the station.’
The woman was eyeing him doubtfully. ‘Are you sure? I don’t mind coming back for you.’
Cadi rolled his eyes. ‘He’s not a child, even if he has been behaving like one.’
The woman’s cheeks coloured as she did her best to pretend that she hadn’t heard, and Aled gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I’ll be fine, honestly. Thank you for all your help. I’m sure you’ll keep this under your hat.’
The woman nodded before scowling at Cadi. ‘Of course I will. Some of us know how to behave, even if others don’t.’ She left the tea room without another word, leaving Cadi to stare after her, fuming.
Turning her attention back to Aled, she folded her arms across her chest. ‘Hiding behind a woman? Is that your style nowadays?’
Aled indicated the chair opposite his with an open-palmed hand, but Cadi shook her head. ‘Anything you have to say to me should’ve been said five years ago. If I were you, I’d have left with your friend.’
Aled lowered his gaze. ‘I understand that you’re angry—’
Cadi’s eyes rounded. ‘Angry? Try furious. You’re a selfish, self-centred pig who cares about no one but himself. You knew how much I struggled when I lost Jez, and you pretended you cared, which is worse than not caring at all. You also pretended to be delighted when I asked you to be Oscar’s godfather.’ She laughed derisively. ‘You must have thought me an idiot! And you’d be right, because I hoped against hope that you’d put in an appearance, right up to the last minute, but you couldn’t even be bothered to show your face.’
‘I did,’ said Aled softly. He looked up at her. ‘You saw me, or at least I think you did.’
Cadi shook her head angrily. ‘I’ve got eyes in my head. If you were there I’d have seen you!’
Aled continued to gaze at her, his eyes taking in every inch of her face. ‘I was by the church gates.’
Cadi was about to refute his claim when she remembered she’d seen a stranger by the gates. ‘I did see someone, but it wasn’t you. It was a feller in a wheel—’
She fell silent as Aled rolled himself backwards from the table and cocked an eyebrow. ‘I knew you’d seen me.’
Cadi stared at him open-mouthed as she tried to gather her thoughts. She was astounded by his condition, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t still angry. ‘Then why didn’t you say something? If you came at all, and knew I’d seen you – which you obviously did – why did you leave?’
‘Because I was a coward,’ said Aled. He shrugged. ‘And because you deserve better than this.’ He slapped the wheel of his chair with the palm of his hand.
‘I deserved the truth,’ said Cadi. Softening slightly, she went on, ‘So, what happened?’
Aled told her how he’d been shot, and how the doctors had said that it was only a matter of time before he succumbed to the severity of his condition. ‘One of my lungs had been torn through, and whilst they managed to stitch me up it’s now half the size it was. My liver and kidneys were damaged, and they had to resuscitate me twice. My legs only have enough strength to support me for a few seconds. I knew you had enough on your plate without me adding to your woes and I couldn’t bear to see you go through yet more grief.’
‘But you’re all right now?’
He held his left hand up and waggled it back and forth. ‘I have my good days, and I’m not going to die any time soon, or at least I hope not.’
The last comment made Cadi smile for the first time since Aled’s arrival. ‘Why didn’t you get in touch once you knew you were going to pull through?’
He stared at her in amazement. ‘Look at me.’
Cadi stared back in disbelief. ‘Did you really think I’d turn my back on you because of something like this? Did you really think so little of me?’
He laughed incredulously. ‘Of course I knew you wouldn’t turn your back on me, which is precisely why I stayed away.’ He heaved a sigh. ‘I didn’t need your sympathy, and I knew you’d insist on looking after me because that’s the type of person you are. I wanted more than that for you.’ He glanced around the tea room. ‘This is what I wanted for you. The freedom to get on with your life, without being tethered to someone like me.’
Cadi sank down into the chair opposite his. ‘Do you not think that was my decision to make? You say you had my best interests at heart, but how do you think it felt to have the man I relied on the most drop out of my life?’ Her bottom lip trembled. ‘I needed you to support me emotionally, not physically. When the war ended all my friends got on with their lives, but I was stuck in limbo because the man I had always relied on was no longer there, and I’m not just referring to Jez. But you left as suddenly as Jez, and that time I had no closure, because I didn’t know where you were.’
