Josephine Cox Mother’s Day 3-Book Collection: Live the Dream, Lovers and Liars, The Beachcomber. Josephine Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ Barden House in her name, before his son were born. When she found out about her father and his secret life, she were terrible upset. Oh, not because of that, but because he hadn’t trusted her enough to confide in her. Y’see, from what I can gather, she and her father were very close. She were distraught at losing him. I reckon that’s why she’s settled so well in the house, because that’s where he found the happiness he never found with her mother.’

      He went on. ‘We talked, y’see … me an’ Kathy. That’s when she told me who she was, and how she came to be here.’ He pursed his lips when deep in thought, as he was now. ‘She’s had a hard time all told,’ he said. ‘I’m glad you’ve taken her to heart.’

      Tom was astonished. So it seemed he wasn’t the only one with secrets. ‘I never knew. And does she know … about Liz and her father?’

      The old man nodded. ‘She does now, because I told her. She wanted to learn everything about her father and his life here. I told her all I knew … about how much in love they were, and how she’s got a baby brother she’s never seen. It were a terrible shock, I can tell yer.’

      Tom thought about Kathy, and his feelings for her, and it seemed to him that her father had loved this woman, Liz, with the same passion and commitment with which he loved Kathy. He thought it a strange and wonderful thing; but then, Fate had a habit of weaving her web in a way that surprised them all.

      ‘Will Kathy be going with you … to see Liz and the boy?’

      The old man shook his head. ‘No. Like I say, I’ve only just found out myself where Liz is staying. I haven’t told Kathy, and I don’t intend to. Y’see, Tom, it ain’t my business to do that … It’s for Liz herself to do.’

      His mind was made up. ‘Soonever she gets over the shock of what happened to Robert, I mean to ask her to come and meet his daughter.’

      ‘Do you think she will?’

      ‘I don’t know. But it has to be her choice.’

      ‘So, you don’t want me to mention any of this to Kathy?’

      ‘I’d be grateful for that.’

      ‘Then I’ll forget we even talked about it.’

      ‘Can I ask you summat else?’

      ‘Ask away.’

      ‘I think it might be best if I don’t see Kathy before I go, in case she asks where I’m going. I’ve never been one for telling a lie, and I don’t want to start now. Especially when it’s Kathy.’

      Tom anticipated his question. ‘So, you want me to tell her you’re away, is that it?’

      ‘That’s it, son.’ Jasper was relieved. ‘If yer could just say I’ve gone to see an old friend, you’ll not be lying, and hopefully that should satisfy her curiosity.’

      ‘Consider it done.’ It was little enough, Tom thought.

      ‘I appreciate that.’ The old man explained, ‘If I can persuade Liz to come and see her, or even write to her, it’ll all be worth it, I reckon.’

      ‘I hope she agrees.’ Tom also thought it would be a good thing. ‘From what you’ve told me, I think it would benefit them both.’

      Before leaving, the old man shook Tom by the hand, telling him in a half-whisper: ‘It would do my old heart good to see you and Kathy as happy and content as they were.’

      Tom understood. For didn’t he want the very same, with all his heart?

      The following morning at early light, the old man left his house and made his way down George Street. Not a soul was awake, and only the cats were about. ‘Hello, you.’ Pausing to stroke the tabby cat, he tickled its ear and gave a word of warning. ‘You’d best take yersel’ in outta the cold, afore yer tail drops off.’

      Chilled by the early mist that rolled in off the sea, he pulled up the collar of his coat and, quickening his steps, made off towards the main road.

      There were only two passengers on the bus besides himself: a sleepy-eyed young lad who, judging by his worn black wellingtons and the cut of his clothes, was a farm-hand on his way to work; and a businessman in trilby and long coat, carrying a battered briefcase. From his confident smile and chirpy manner, Jasper assumed he was some sort of salesman.

      ‘Morning.’ Returning the man’s bright greeting, Jasper set his small case down beside his feet, shuffling uncomfortably in his best coat and hat. He didn’t look at the man again, because he wasn’t in the mood for conversation. He needed to plan how he would tell Liz why her beloved Robert had not come back.

      After being deposited a short distance from the railway station, he quickly made his way there. He boarded the train and showed his ticket, and was no sooner settled in his seat than the train was off. With a great whoosh of steam and a tug on the whistle, it was soon chugging away, its noisy, rhythmic motion lulling him to sleep.

      On the same morning, Kathy was coming out of the shop when she almost collided with the postman. ‘I’ve a letter for you, Miss.’ A jolly-faced man with a head like a billiard ball, he knew every man, woman and child within a ten-mile radius of West Bay. ‘I really should deliver it through your letterbox myself,’ he said drily, ‘but, well, seeing as I’ve bumped into you like this, I don’t suppose it would do any harm, just this once.’ He glanced down at the letter. ‘From somebody important is it, d’you think?’

      ‘I won’t know till I look inside.’ Holding out her hand, Kathy thought she had better take it from him before he opened it himself. ‘I don’t know who could be writing to me,’ she remarked, quickly taking possession of the letter. ‘Hardly anyone knows my address.’

      ‘Really?’ He liked a bit of gossip, and being a postman offered unique opportunities in that direction. ‘Is that from neglect or choice?’ he wanted to know.

      ‘Choice,’ Kathy declared. ‘The fewer people who know where I am, the more peace and quiet I’ll get.’

      ‘Peace and quiet!’ He was amazed. ‘I should have thought a young woman like yourself would welcome company?’

      Kathy gave him one of her sweeter smiles. ‘Well, you’d be wrong then, wouldn’t you?’ Itching to see who the letter was from, she hurried away.

      She could hear him moaning as she went. ‘Well, I never,’ he complained to the old shopkeeper. ‘There’s a young madam if ever I saw one!’

      If he thought to get support from Jasper’s old pal, he was mistaken, for as Kathy turned the corner she could hear the old woman’s curt reply. ‘Serves you right for being such a nosey old so-and-so!’ And off she went back inside to take a well-earned pinch of snuff.

      Closing the front door behind her, Kathy threw off her coat. Going to the table, she sat herself down. The handwriting was childish, but she knew whose it was.

      Ripping open the envelope, she read the first line. It was enough to tell her that the letter really was from Maggie.

      As she read she began to smile, then she tittered, then she was laughing out loud. In full colour and with her incorrigible sense of humour, Maggie had written a lengthy account of her СКАЧАТЬ