The Runaway Woman (42 page)

They walked together as far as the corner, then Lucy went one way and Kathleen the other. ‘I’ll be round later to help you pack up the last of your stuff,’ Lucy promised.

Kathleen told her not to worry too much. ‘You have your own packing to do,’ she said, ‘and you still have to tie up all the loose ends with Martin.’

‘When did you say you hand the house key in?’ Lucy asked.

‘Tomorrow morning. I have to finalise everything with the solicitor. He’s already tied up all the loose ends with the buyers, and managed to get me a few days’ grace into the bargain. So
now it’s just a matter of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.’ Clapping her hands, she laughed out loud. ‘And then, Lucy girl, we are on our merry way! Off with the old and on with the new. See you later.’

She went away down the street, whistling like a drunken navvy.

Lucy chuckled to herself, ‘Kathleen Riley, what am I going to do with you, eh?’

Her heart was so light, she might have whistled,
but she didn’t know how, so instead she sang softly in gratitude for the way things had turned out. ‘A new life, eh, Lucy girl?’ She shook her head as though in disbelief. ‘Well, it’s about time, an’ all!’

Martin had been watching for her, and opened the door to let her in.

‘Paula wants to show you something,’ he said excitedly, leading her down to the sitting room.

When Lucy entered the room,
she saw Paula seated in her chair the way she had been for these past weeks. ‘Hi, Sis! Martin says you’ve got something to show me?’

‘Yes, I have,’ Paula said. ‘So, do you want to see?’

‘Of course I do.’

Lucy watched in awe as Paula grabbed hold of the wheelchair handles and very, very carefully pulled herself up to a standing position, which she held for a minute before falling back into the
chair.

‘See!’ Paula was thrilled. ‘I stood up all by myself!’

Lucy took her into her arms. ‘Oh, Paula! I’m so very proud of you, but you must be careful. You fell back hard. You could have hurt yourself.’ She choked back the tears. ‘You said you would stand up before I left and you kept your word. Oh, Paula, you must be so thrilled. But have you spoken with the doctor about it?’

‘Yes. Martin
took me to see him, and he said I could try, but I must not stand for more than a minute – not yet, anyway.’

Martin went to the cupboard and took out three glasses and a bottle of wine. ‘I’ve been saving it,’ he said. ‘And now I think it’s time, what with Paula standing on her own two feet, me with a new works contract in the bag, and you and Kathleen off to find a new life. I’m proud of us all,
especially you two.’ He glanced from one to the other. ‘My girls.’

The three of them toasted all their recent achievements, and then Martin asked Lucy for the umpteenth time, ‘Are you absolutely sure you don’t mind me and Paula selling her house, instead of selling this one?’

Lucy assured him yet again. ‘I said at the time you first mentioned it that it would be wise to get Paula away from the
house where she was so viciously attacked. And the way she’s been coming on since we moved her here is just remarkable. It’s all done and dusted now. I have the money to invest in the business, and you and Paula have a house that has no bad memories for her. And besides, both Samuel and Anne agreed with the decision to bring Paula here. So, if you love the house as we did, it will love you back.’

She gave Paula another hug. ‘And you, my darling, take it one step at a time. Don’t overdo it.’

Paula promised, hand on heart, that she would be careful. She was reconciled with Martin now, and he had shown her a lot of love and tenderness as she slowly recovered.

Soon, the goodbyes were said, and Lucy promised to call them.

‘Well, that’s it, Lucy girl!’ Kathleen said as
she and Lucy climbed into the back of a cab. ‘Time to go.’

Lucy could hardly tear herself away from the little group who had come along to see her off.

‘Go on, Mum, you go for it!’ That was Samuel. ‘We’ll all be coming to see you as soon as we can. Love you lots!’

They each kissed Lucy goodbye. From the pavement, Martin, Paula in her wheelchair, and the children waved them off.

As they set
off, Lucy wound down the window and waved until they were out of sight, and then she fell silent.

‘Hey! You’re not about to cry all over my shoes, are you?’ Kathleen moaned. ‘I’ve only had them a couple of days.’

‘I was not crying!’ Lucy was adamant.

‘Huh! We’ll both be crying if we miss the train, just because I had to buy a new pair of shoes!’

The taxi driver chuckled, and Lucy laughed out
loud. ‘Don’t be so dramatic!’

Back at the house, Martin opened the sealed envelope, addressed to him, which he found lying on the bed when he went up later that day. It contained a ticket, and a note in Lucy’s handwriting.

Dearest Martin,

I had to borrow against Mother’s jewellery, and since I’ve been back so much has gone on that I have not yet been able to retrieve the jewellery. Here inside
is the money you will need, and I would very much like Anne to take responsibility for keeping her grandmother’s jewellery safe. After all, it now belongs to her.

with my dearest love, and blessing. Take care of each other. I do love you all so very much.

Lucy XXX

Taking a moment to himself, Martin sat on the edge of the bed. Suddenly tearful, he looked back at all that had happened.

‘You’ve
been a good ’un, Lucy,’ he murmured, ‘and I’m sorry that I hurt you.’ Feeling a little sad and somewhat guilty, he murmured softly, ‘I tried so hard not to hurt you, but Paula was always the one for me.’

He smiled knowingly. Strange, isn’t it? he thought, how, after all these years, everything seems to have found its rightful place.

Seated comfortably on the train, Kathleen
and Lucy sat in total silence, until Kathleen asked, ‘Lucy?’

‘Yes?’

‘Are you content?’

‘Yes, I think so. And are you … content?’

‘Absolutely. More than I’ve ever been in my entire life. And why wouldn’t I be content, eh? I’ve got my best friend with me. We’ve got money enough to buy a business, and we’re on our way to the best week’s holiday we’ll ever have, because once we’re businesswomen,
we won’t have time for holidays and gallivanting about all over the place.’ She chuckled, ‘Hey, Lucy?’

‘What now?’ Lucy had never met such a chatterbox.

‘Tell me the truth, Lucy. Did you ever dream this would happen to us?’

‘No! Never in a million years!’

‘Me neither. First, though, before we get cracking on the business, we need to thoroughly enjoy our week in Littleton. Are you absolutely
sure you don’t mind going back there … to the same place … the same hotel?’

Lucy smiled. ‘No. Like I already told you when you first asked, I had the most wonderful time there. Going back will only make me remember how beautiful it all was.’ She lowered her voice as though talking to herself. ‘My time in Littleton, and what happened there … I will cherish it for ever.’

‘Are you sure, Lucy? Because
if not, we can always go elsewhere. It’s still not too late.’

‘I already told you, I’m perfectly happy with everything. In fact, if I had been making the choice, I probably would have chosen the very same.’

‘Aw, you’re not just saying that, though, are you?’

‘No! So now, will you stop worrying? Everything is perfect.’

‘Good!’ Kathleen congratulated herself on her ‘perfect’ arrangements, and
sat back in her seat and relaxed.

Lucy, however, was so excited she could not rest. ‘You’re right about what you said before, Kathleen!’ she commented. ‘You and me … we’re about to set the world on fire! We’re free as birds. You got your husband out of your life years ago, and now I also am a free woman. We’re off to enjoy a holiday in the sunshine, and we have money enough to buy a little business,
and so, Kathleen girl,’ she mimicked Kathleen’s raucous voice, ‘what’s not to like, eh?’

Kathleen laughed. ‘That’s right, so now, behave yourself. Read a paper, get a nap. Relax! Because once we get started our feet won’t touch the ground!’

A
COUPLE OF
long hours after Lucy and Kathleen got on the train, it drew into Littleton station, where the women collected up their luggage and went to find a taxi, which took only a few minutes because the line of taxis went on for ever.

Climbing in, Kathleen relaxed into the seat. ‘My bum’s gone to sleep,’ she told Lucy. ‘How far is the hotel from here?’

‘I can’t recall,
but the driver will know. Four miles, maybe a bit less.’

Just now, when she was walking through the station, she recalled hiding from Dave as he went ahead of her. She had thought it might be upsetting to remember him, but it wasn’t, and so now she let herself completely relax.

‘Your hotel is about five miles along the coast,’ the taxi driver informed Kathleen as he packed their cases into the
boot. ‘I’ll have you there in no time at all.’

As they drove along, Lucy recognised all the landmarks: the little shop on the corner as they turned out of the station, the lifeguard tower, and the flower-seller. It was all exactly the same as she remembered, and far from upsettng her, it made her feel alive. And whenever Dave came into her mind, she saw his handsome smile, and it made her heart
give a little bump.

The taxi driver was a chatty sort. ‘On holiday, are you?’

‘Yes, but only for a week, and then we’re looking to buy a business,’ Kathleen told hm.

‘What kind o’ business?’

‘We’re not sure really, but maybe a ladies’ clothes shop, or a knick-knack shop, where holidaymakers can browse and spend their money.’

While she chatted, she smiled, because she had already made enquiries
concerning small businesses on the coast, and there was one in particular that had struck her as interesting. Later, she would discuss it with Lucy, but she wanted them both to enjoy this holiday before even thinking of work.

On arriving at the hotel, Kathleen went into raptures about it. ‘Blimey Nora!’ She looked at the classy entrance, and the beautiful well-tended gardens either side, and
even the porter at the door. ‘No wonder it cost an arm and a leg!’ she remarked a little too loudly, which made the taxi driver smile, and Lucy chuckle.

As he collected the two suitcases, the porter gave Kathleen a little wink. ‘I reckon he fancies me!’ she told Lucy as they went to the reception desk.

Turning round to see the porter shamelessly eyeing Kathleen, even Lucy had to agree.

The
receptionist remembered Lucy. ‘Oh, how nice to see you back again,’ she said genuinely. ‘I recognised the name and, I’m sorry but we’re so busy I couldn’t put you in the same room as last time. You’re on the other side of the hotel … on the floor below, is that all right?’

Lucy nodded. In a way, she was pleased about that.

‘You are right next door,’ the receptionist informed Kathleen. Kathleen
was pleased.

‘I’m afraid the café bar won’t be open for another hour or so yet,’ the receptionist informed them, ‘but if you like, I’ll have tea or coffee sent up to your rooms.’

Kathleen thanked her, but, ‘I thought we would unpack and take our time having a look round. What say you, Lucy? Do you fancy a walk along the front?’

‘Yes, that would be nice.’ In truth, she was about to suggest the
very same herself.

So, after collecting their room keys, they followed the porter to the lift. And when he insisted on taking them right to their doors, Kathleen gave Lucy a wink, and rolled her eyes in astonishment.

At the door, she was about to tip him, when he smiled and shook his head. ‘That’s all right,’ he said softly. ‘Maybe later.’ And his meaning was very clear, both to Kathleen and
to Lucy.

‘I told you, didn’t I?’ Kathleen did a little jig in the corridor. ‘I said he was after me … and who am I to refuse the man his tip!’

Lucy went into her room, in fits of laughter.

‘We’ll meet up in ten minutes,’ Kathleen called out, and Lucy replied that she would be downstairs waiting, because, ‘I know you won’t be ready in ten minutes. More like half an hour.’ She knew Kathleen only
too well.