The Posy Ring Episode 96

They set up the sofa bed for Fiona while she commandeers the shower room. She comes through wearing scarlet tartan pyjamas and clambers into bed. She seems to fall asleep almost instantly, snoring gently, with Hector lying contentedly at her feet, but then, as Cal says, it has been a very long day for her. And for the dog too.

They go to bed in the next room, the door jammed shut, and conduct a conversation in whispers, so as not to wake her. “What do you think of it all?” he says. “Aren’t you happy about Carraig?” “I’m delighted. And she’s presented me with a fait accompli. But I worry about her all the same.”

“Your father?”

“Aye. It sometimes feels as though the sky will fall if she crosses him. As though all hell will break out but I don’t know why.

“I sometimes feel that way too, although I’ve fought against it, and him, all my life. Catty was the bravest of all of us and she’s supported me through thick and thin.

“But we can’t make Mum’s choices for her. And in some strange way, I think she still loves him. Always has done, always will.”

“He won’t be happy about it, will he?” “No. He won’t.”

“What will he do?”

Revenge

“I don’t know. Nothing right away. That’s not the way he works. He’s a great believer in the revenge served cold theory.

“So he’ll bide his time and get his own back. He never forgets an injury. Never forgets and never forgives.”

“You make him sound like a monster.” “He’s a narcissist, that’s for sure. Why does the world excuse men with talent for behaving badly?”

“Because they’re men? With talent? It’s outrageous, but they seem to get away with it. Can’t you persuade your mum to stay on? Even for a little while?”

“I’ve tried. She’s set on going back. She’ll take the dresser, so that’s one less trip for me to make. I have other projects I want to work on.”

“There are things in my house you could work on too. The bed. But I’d quite like to keep that. I was wondering if the carved oak bed would fit in Viola’s bedroom.”

“The oak bed? Really? Something else you don’t want to sell?”

“I know. But it would be fun, wouldn’t it? To sleep in that bed. Not in the tower, though.”

“Lots of room to move,” he says, sliding his arm around her. “Talking of which.”

They make love silently, which is something of a feat and also surprisingly stimulating and intense.

In the morning, they have breakfast together, and then Cal and Daisy haul the heavy dresser out of the workshop.

They manage, with a great deal of huffing and puffing and a good deal of hindrance from Hector, to install it in Fiona’s hatchback.

Fiona hugs Daisy and kisses her on both cheeks before getting into the car.

“Look after him!” she says. “I worry about him, you know.”

“He worries about you too.”

“I’ll survive. Good luck with the house.” “You’ll have to come back and see it properly. You haven’t seen the half of it yet.”

“I will,” she says.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Vibrant

Hector sits sadly watching her go. The car – laden with the dresser – labours up towards the lane where she gives a cheery double hoot, and then drives off towards the ferry terminal.

The cottage seems emptier without her. She’s such a large, vibrant presence that it’s hard to imagine her being cowed by anyone, let alone her own husband.

Cal and Daisy sit outside in the sunshine, watching Hector, who is eyeing the birds squabbling over the feeder, his ears semaphoring his intense interest.

“Do you think she’ll be all right?” He shrugs. “Oh, sweetheart, your guess is as good as mine. I worry about her a lot.

“I have to keep reminding myself that she’s a grown woman and she can probably cope. But she’s my mum and I love her.” “She’s a very lovable person.” “She’s not the only one.”

He turns to her and kisses her very tenderly. “Vous et nul autre,” he says.

“Un temps viendra.”

“My flower girl. From Flowerfield. What do you want to do today?”

“We should be working.”

“I know we should. But there’s always tomorrow. It isn’t every day you meet the love of your life, is it?”

She takes a deep breath. “Let’s walk from here to Auchenblae. Is the tide out?” “I think so.”

“Then let’s walk along the sand. Let’s walk home along the shore and see what the sea has brought in for us today.”

THE END.

Our next serial begins tomorrow. It’s called Ardnish Was Home and is written by Angus MacDonald, who has lived all his life in the Highlands and is steeped in their tales.

The first of an historical fiction trilogy, Ardnish Was Home starts in wartime, in a hospital in Gallipoli in 1915. There lies young Donald Peter Gillies, a Lovat scout soldier, who has been blinded by the Turks.

In hospital he falls in love with his Queen Alexandra Corps nurse, Louise, and she with him. He tells her of his life in the West Highlands of Scotland, where he grew up, stories of the coast and glens, of his family and the fascinating Highland life of a century ago. Louise, in turn, shares her own story of growing up in the Welsh valley, of coal mining, and a harsh, unforgiving upbringing.

The young lovers get cut off from the allied troops and are forced to make their escape through Turkey to Greece, getting rescued by a Coptic priest and ending up in Malta. There is still another tragic twist to their tale on their way back to Donald’s beloved highland home.

Angus Macdonald served in his local regiment, the Queen’s Own Highlanders. He founded The Caledonian Challenge and runs the Moidart Trust. He is the owner of The Highland Bookshop in Fort William.

But we can’t make Mum’s choices for her. And in some strange way, I think she still loves him. Always has done, always will

The Posy Ring, first in the series The Annals of Flowerfield, is written by Catherine Czerkawska and published by Saraband. It is priced at £8.99.