A Daughter's Choice (38 page)

‘Not for over a week. I know that doesn't sound long to you but it is to me!' She put down her soup spoon, her appetite having deserted her for the moment, and gnawed on a fingernail. ‘Who knows when the Arcadia'll be sold and I'll be whipped off to Scotland? I might never see him again!'

Celia avoided her eyes, crumbling a piece of bread into her soup. ‘If he's for you, he's for you, luv. Why don't you wait and see what happens? And in the meantime, let's decide what colour bridesmaid dress you want and think of a way of avoiding Andy outside. God only knows what's happening to the toy shop while he's drinking and following me. You know what he did …' She proceeded to tell Katherine about his attack on her.

Katherine was angry but also felt slightly guilty for bringing this upon her mother. ‘Still,' she said reassuringly, ‘he's not going to do anything now with all the crowds around. Let him follow us! If he comes near the Arcadia, Jack or Pops will soon see him off.'

Despite her words Katherine had to admit it felt a bit spooky, knowing someone was following you with ill-intent, and had to resist the temptation to keep looking over her shoulder. Still they arrived at the Arcadia without Andy's making a move to harass them. When they spoke to John about him he went outside but there was no sign of Celia's erstwhile bridegroom and they both hoped that was the last they would see of him.

Mick appeared unmoved by the news that Celia was marrying someone else when Katherine told him. ‘I can see you're disappointed, kid,' he said. ‘But she's showing sense. We got over each other years ago.'

‘Then why did you ask her to marry you?' she demanded. ‘Was it because you were thinking of me?'

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Aye! But also to give her the chance to turn me down.'

She smiled and linked her arm through his. ‘You are funny. Why should she want to do that?'

‘It's women who are the funny creatures. Anyway the wedding's off and I'm still alone and so are you. Do you mean to go up to Scotland with Ma or will you live with Celia and her new husband when the Arcadia is sold?'

Katherine's smile faded. ‘I'll probably go to Scotland. Ma looks like she's going to be in a wheelchair by the time she gets there, the way she's been limping.'

‘I didn't think she was that bad.' His eyes were thoughtful as they rested on her face and he said gently, ‘What would you really like to do? You could always come and stay with me for a while, you know.'

‘Thanks, but …' She glanced around the basement living room, at the well-worn familiar furniture and the picture of her great-grandmother on the wall. ‘I really would like to stay here and carry on what
she
started. I know it's impossible but …' She shrugged.

‘What about this Patrick I've heard about?'

Katherine stared at him in surprise before averting her eyes and gazing into the fire. ‘I haven't heard from him and he's probably Catholic and Ma's met him and doesn't approve!' Her voice sounded strained.

‘I doubt she would approve of any boy you brought home so I wouldn't let that bother you.'

Katherine pulled a face. ‘She's been going on about this doctor's son up North. I think she wants someone rich and settled for me.'

‘Understandable. But it's your life, Katie, and Ma has Pops.'

‘But he's old!'

‘He's only in his late-sixties and
his
grandfather lived to a ripe old age.'

‘But Pops mightn't and then she'll be all alone!'

‘I'd say face that when it comes. Anyway, I've come straight from work and poor ol' Nelson will be waiting for his dinner. I'll have to go.'

‘I'll see you out.' She thought how strange it still felt, accepting he was her father and not an elder brother.

They stood at the top of the area steps and he said, ‘Come and see the house soon. I think you'll like it. It's right by the river.'

She smiled. ‘I'll come.'

‘Good girl!' He touched her hair with a gentle hand and she watched him walk down the Mount before turning and going back inside with a heart that felt lighter because he had seemed to understand a little of how she felt.

When Mick left the Arcadia to catch the Southport train he did not get off at Waterloo but instead travelled to the end of the line, having made up his mind to find Rita if he could. He was to meet with disappointment because she was no longer working at the Seaview and when he visited the address the woman behind Reception gave him, he was told she had gone on a cruise and they were unsure when she would be back.

‘Will you tell her Mick Ryan called?' he said.

‘Mick Ryan,' repeated the woman, smiling. ‘I'll tell her.'

Mick had to be content with that but was soon imagining Rita meeting a millionaire and coming home married. He felt gloomy at the thought and began to envisage a lonely future for himself. Like his daughter, he began to believe that Spanish fortune teller had got it all wrong.

Rita returned home a week later, sunburnt and refreshed. Although she had enjoyed the Mediterranean cruise there had been times when she had felt lonely despite having attracted the attention of several men. But they were either too old or too polished and none measured up to Mick Ryan. So it came as a welcome surprise when her landlady told her he had called, but once she started thinking about his visit, she found herself worrying. What if he had called to tell her he was going to marry Celia?

She was thinking about that as she opened her post and took a silver-edged card out of an envelope. For a moment she felt sick. Then she read the card and sank into a chair. Why Celia was marrying a Francis William Jones instead of Andrew Pritchard or Michael Ryan she did not know but she felt euphoric about it and immediately made up her mind to visit the address given on the card.

There were puppies in the pet shop window. Nice little dogs all curled up in a heap in a jumble of heads and tails and paws. They were slumbering, all but one who opened an eye and gazed at her for a brief sleepy moment. Rita thought: Celia seems to have gone from one kind of caring to another! She gazed a little longer at the puppies and then opened the door and went inside.

An old woman sat on a chair knitting while Celia leant on the counter reading from a pile of newspapers.

‘I'd like a puppy, please,' said Rita in a lilting voice.

‘Right.' Celia straightened and instantly her features registered astonishment. ‘It's you, Rita. Blinking heck! I never expected to see you here so soon.'

‘I got your invitation and felt I had to come. There were questions I wanted to ask you.'

‘About the wedding, you mean? Come right in!' Her expression had changed to one of delight and she waved a hand in the direction of the old woman. ‘This is Mrs Evans, by the way. She's my employer and friend. Mrs Evans, this is Rita who I used to work with. You'll have a cuppa, won't you, Rita?'

‘When have I ever been known to say no to such an offer?' she said in a teasing voice.

‘You just wait then,' said Celia, reaching for the coat that hung behind the curtain. ‘I'll run up to Sayers for some cakes. We always have one at this time of day.'

‘You don't have to bother running for me,' said Rita, glancing over her shoulder as she shook hands with Mrs Evans.

‘It's no bother. Mrs Evans'll take care of you while I'm gone. Did you really mean that about a puppy?' Celia babbled. ‘They're gorgeous, aren't they? But your landlady, won't she mind?'

‘I'll explain about that. You go and get the cakes.'

‘OK.' Celia laughed. ‘I feel all excited, seeing you again. I've got such a lot to tell you …'

‘Me too.' Rita gave her a friendly push in the direction of the door before turning towards Mrs Evans who was regarding her with interest.

‘She's talked a lot about you,' said the older woman briskly. ‘But business first! Which puppy do you want? We can't keep them for long or they cost us too much to feed so the sooner we're rid of them the better.'

‘The dun-coloured one but I'll leave him here until I'm ready to go,' said Rita, and asked advice on what she would need and how to look after him.

When Celia returned the kettle was put on and then she found a chair for Rita.

‘This is a nice shop,' she said. ‘I take it you have a flat upstairs?'

‘For now. But it isn't where I'm going to be living,' said Celia, as if to reassure her friend that she had not gone down in the world. ‘My Frank's got a nice little house not far away. He's a widower.'

‘How did you meet? You could have knocked me over with a feather when your invitation came.'

Celia told her, adding, ‘He's had a sad life has Frank, but he doesn't harp on it like some.'

‘So you're happy?' said Rita.

‘Oh, yes! Now Andy Pritchard's stopped following me around,' said Celia, and told Rita all about that.

She expressed amazement but only said it was a good job her friend hadn't married him.

Celia agreed before making tea and seeing to Mrs Evans. Then she sat next to Rita and said, ‘You're looking well. I take it you haven't strangled Hennie yet?'

‘Felt like it but I don't think I ever will now.' Rita bit into a cream and jam cookie and said in a muffled voice, ‘I didn't realise how hungry I was. It must be the excitement.'

‘The excitement of us meeting up again?' laughed Celia.

Rita swallowed and took a sip of tea. ‘Of course! Where's Katherine, by the way?'

Celia's face softened. ‘She's back at the Arcadia. It was my idea. I told her the truth about Mick's being her father and she went.'

‘And how did she take the truth?'

‘She was made up, of course! She was one of that family again, wasn't she? Not that we didn't get on, and she still comes to see me. She's going to be my bridesmaid.'

Rita stared at her. ‘I take it your husband-to-be doesn't know the truth?'

Celia's eyes widened. ‘What d'you take me for? Of course he knows the truth! Frank's a very understanding man. It's a pity you couldn't find one like him.'

Rita made no answer. ‘Is Mrs Mcleod still selling the Arcadia now Katherine's gone back there?'

‘How did you know about that?'

Rita explained and so Celia told her about Mick asking her to marry him. ‘He didn't really want to, though. I think he did it because he thought it was the right thing to do, but I knew by then we weren't right for each other despite us both wanting to do the best by Katherine. But she's not a little girl any longer and she'll be going to Scotland soon.' A sigh escaped her.

‘Scotland? Why?'

‘Because of Kitty Mcleod having had a heart attack. I'll miss Katherine, of course, but it's best for her. She's always been fond of them.'

Mrs Evans butted into the conversation. ‘She loves Patrick.'

‘Who's Patrick?' asked Rita.

Celia looked uncomfortable. ‘He's just a lad Katherine knows. She'll get over him.'

Mrs Evans scowled at her. ‘How do you know? Just because you got over her father doesn't mean she'll be the same. She doesn't want to go to Scotland and it's wrong to pressurise her into going. You're her mother, you should help her to get what she wants. Mrs Mcleod has a husband to look after her.'

Celia was silent.

‘What does Mick say about it?' said Rita.

‘I haven't the foggiest idea what he thinks!' said Celia irascibly. ‘But I should think, like his mother, he'd want her to do better for herself than marry a photographer!'

‘I'd have thought he'd want her happiness above anything else and I'd have believed the same of you until now,' said Rita.

‘I
do
want her happy! And it's not that I've got anything against the lad but he does seem to be always getting himself into some scrap or other. Just – just look at this!' Celia got up and went over to the counter and took a newspaper off the pile. She handed it to her friend and put a finger on two photographs. ‘That's him – and that!'

Rita stared at two faces and there was a funny feeling inside her.

‘Let me see,' said Mrs Evans.

Rita read the words beneath the photographs before handing the newspaper to the old lady. After a couple of minutes she said, ‘So that's why he's been missing? You have to show the girl this, Celia.'

‘I'll give it to her, if you like,' said Rita, eyeing Celia as she took the newspaper. ‘I'm going to the Arcadia. I have something to say to Mrs Mcleod.'

‘Well, if she gets to see Patrick,' said Mrs Evans, ‘tell her he can have the flat Celia's vacating if he wants it, and to come and see us soon!'

As Rita walked up Mount Pleasant, carrying the puppy and with the copy of the
Daily Post
tucked under her arm, she wondered if she had run mad. It would have been wiser to wait before buying a dog but she had acted on impulse and now was doing the same thing again. She pushed open the door to the hotel and went inside.

Katherine was behind Reception totting up some figures. How efficient she seemed, and how smartly dressed. The girl looked up and smiled and immediately it was like being hit between the eyes because the smile was pure Mick. ‘Can I help you?' she said.

‘You don't remember me, do you?'

Katherine stared at her and after a moment said slowly, ‘The Seaview … You're Rita Turner!'

‘That's right. I've just been to see your mother.'

‘You got your invitation to the wedding?'

‘Yes.' She placed the newspaper on the counter and the puppy on the floor. Immediately it wet the carpet. ‘Damn!' said Rita ruefully. ‘I am sorry.'

‘I'll get a cloth. Did she play on your good nature to buy the puppy?'

‘No.' Rita smiled. ‘Sandy and I fell in love at first sight. I've come to see Mrs Mcleod. Is she in?'