Chapter Twenty-One
The One Where it’s Raining Men
Monday wasn’t the best of days. Mollie had thrown her toys out of the pram when Kate told her off for not finishing her homework again because she was too busy making loom bands, and she stormed off down the hill to the school bus without a backward glance. Podge had refused to come in when she called, so Kate left for work eyeing the grey skies and worrying about where he’d take shelter if the forecast storm arrived later in the day.
The impending date with Marcus – divorced, no children – who ran a small glamping business on Bodmin Moor loomed at the end of the week. Nicki seemed to think it was a match made in heaven, but Kate knew Anna had reservations, though she wouldn’t be drawn on why. Having a sneaking suspicion it was because her deeply romantic friend continued to believe Dev the right man for Kate, she grasped the blind date firmly.
Out of necessity she’d had to take the car up to the hotel, but as she skirted the harbour, where the fishing boats, which had been out overnight, were now safely returning to the cove ahead of the storm, she could see the canopy of the ice cream shop rippling in the strong breeze coming in off the sea.
A busy morning had been followed by a lunch-time meeting which had left Kate heavy-eyed as the manager talked through a series of slides as though none of them had the ability to read.
With no appetite for the sandwiches and crisps on offer, Kate had dashed back to the ladies to freshen up, grab her coat and, with a wary eye on the black clouds now gathering overhead, got in her car and headed out of town.
Several hours later, with rain tumbling from bulging skies, Kate scurried from the warehouse where she’d been inspecting a stylish range of patio hire furniture, shivering as she slammed the car door and flicked open the visor mirror. An umbrella had been out of the question in such strong winds, but her hair now hung in raggedy tendrils around her face, and her shirt clung to her cold shoulders.
A hand went towards the heated seat button, but she hesitated. Was that a good idea when she was so wet?
Hopefully Mollie hadn’t been soaked when walking up to Anna’s after school and, with a bit of luck, Podge would have gone to sleep in a sheltered hole somewhere.
The rain continued to pelt down and the roads were awash with standing water, making progress slow at times as traffic backed up to allow room to avoid the deeper pools of water, but even with the windscreen wipers whipping away on the fastest setting, Kate’s eye was still caught by a familiar figure huddled inside the bus shelter near the cemetery at the top of the hill above Polkerran.
Slowing the car, she reversed into the adjacent car park entrance and, pulling her jacket over her head, shot into the shelter.
‘Ryther! What on earth are you doing here?’ She eyed the elderly gentleman with astonishment, then concern. ‘Are you okay? What’s happened?’
Ryther did not look his usual dapper self. Aside from appearing to be as wet as Kate, his face was lined and pale.
‘I am an old fool, when all is said and done.’
‘Where is your car?’
‘At Harbourwatch. I woke this morning and had a desire to be in the cove.’
Kate didn’t miss his eyes darting towards the cemetery gates.
‘Come on, I’ll give you a lift. It’ll be an hour before there’s another bus.’
A further dousing of rain was hardly conducive to improving Kate’s mood, but she was anxious about Ryther and keen to get him warm and dry.
‘Shall I drop you back at Harbourwatch?’
The man at her side didn’t answer at first, and she sent him a keen look, but Ryther slowly turned his head. ‘You may. I shall wait in my car for Dev to come home.’
‘Wasn’t he expecting you?’ Kate negotiated a small roundabout and continued down the hill into the village.
‘No. I came on a whim, and there was no one home, so I called him but it went to voicemail. I… decided to go for a walk.’
Kate gave an exasperated huff. ‘It’s more than a mile to the cemetery from Harbourwatch, Ryther, and it’s uphill for most of that!’
A faint laugh emanated from the gentleman and Kate’s lips curved upwards reluctantly. ‘And I am, as you no doubt are silently adding, eighty-five years old. My doctors have told me, however, that walking is the best exercise for someone of my years, and uphill is better for the heart.’ He released a soft sigh. ‘In more cases than one, as it happens.’
Not wanting to pry, Kate sent him a warm smile. ‘I’m heading to Anna’s. My daughter, Mollie, sometimes goes there after school if I’m working. Would you be okay waiting there until we can track your grandson down? Surely you aren’t planning on driving all the way back to London tonight?’
‘No, no. I’m afraid my days of driving for hours without feeling the strain are long gone, even with the Lady Margarethe to keep me company. That’s my car,’ he added, his usual smile returning, much to Kate’s relief. ‘My days of dalliance with delightful women are also long over.’
‘I’m sure you were quite the charmer in your day, Ryther,’ Kate said as she drove slowly along the narrow lane to Westerleigh Cottage. ‘Here we are.’
She held the door open for Ryther and, as he emerged, she was struck anew by the paleness of his skin. It appeared as thin as paper, his normally alert gaze full of sorrow as it roamed over the house. He refused her offer of an arm and walked – perhaps a little more slowly than before – down the side of the house to the boot room.
‘I’m here!’ Kate called through the partially open door to the kitchen, as she helped Ryther out of his sodden raincoat, hanging it on a spare hook and adding her own jacket. She cast a resigned look at her bedraggled appearance in the mirror and pushed open the door. ‘And I’ve brought a friend.’
Anna came towards them from the living area, a wide smile on her attractive features. It was so grimly dark outside, it was as though dusk had fallen ahead of its time, despite it now being June, but lamps threw out a welcoming light and a warm glow emanated from the log burner, which spat and crackled in a comforting way.
‘Good grief!’ Anna eyed Kate’s appearance with a half-laugh. ‘I won’t state the obvious.’ Her gaze moved to the gentleman who stood beside Kate, and she tilted her head. ‘Have we met before?’
‘This is Ryther, Dev’s grandfather.’
‘Oh!’
Kate didn’t miss Anna’s askance look towards the coffee table, covered in papers and photos, but her friend collected herself and shook Ryther’s hand.
‘I’ve seen you in the village from time to time. Lovely to meet you.’ She eyed his equally damp clothes. ‘Let me just tidy up, then you can sit by the fire. I don’t normally light it at this time of year, but it’s such a foul day.’
‘I’ll put the kettle on.’ Kate set it to boil and opened a cupboard. ‘Where’s Mollie?’
Anna looked up from closing the lid on the wooden box Kate had seen before. ‘Where do you think?’
Kate shook her head, walking over as Anna ushered Ryther into a chair beside the hearth.
‘My daughter is obsessed with history. Tudor, in particular,’ she imparted to him. ‘Poor Oliver gets no peace when she comes over.’
The gentleman smiled faintly, accepting the throw which Kate had removed from the back of one of the sofas, tucking it over his legs. ‘For me, it was music. I had no patience for that academic malarky.’
Kate smiled, returning to the kitchen to help Anna ferry the tea things over as the elderly gentleman tapped into his phone.
‘I’m just asking my grandson to let me know when he’s home. Thank you, my dear.’ He accepted the cup and saucer from Anna, but refused her offer of a biscuit.
What with the hot drink and the fire, the urge to shiver had gone. Kate’s bare feet had dried out and she glanced over at Ryther only to see he’d closed his eyes, leaning back in the sturdy armchair frequently used by Oliver, the almost empty cup resting in his grasp in his lap.
Lowering her voice, she nodded towards the box, which Anna had placed on the floor beside the sofa.
‘Have you found anything fun?’
Speaking equally quietly, and casting a wary glance in Ryther’s direction, Anna nodded. Bearing in mind their speculation before now on Aunt Meg’s mystery man bearing a strong resemblance to the gentleman now resting by the fireplace, it wasn’t really the time to speak in depth.
‘I wanted to dig out one of those earlier photos of Aunt Meg. She was in her sixties when we first met, she’d recently retired from her role as head of the village school.’ Anna took a sip of tea. ‘I just felt the urge to see her. Today would have been her birthday.’
A faint sound emanated from Ryther, whose eyes remained closed, but then the door opened, and Kate looked over, expecting Mollie or Oliver.
It was Dev.
Heart thumping, Kate shot to her feet, then sent Anna a pleading look.
‘Just popping to the loo.’ It sounded like the mouse was back…
Ducking her head, and pretending she hadn’t noticed Anna’s knowing smirk, Kate barely glanced in Dev’s direction as he crossed the room, and she shot out of the door into the hallway, then leaned back against the panelling.
Damn. She’d left her bag by the sofa!
Doing what she could to repair her appearance in the stylish cloakroom, she eyed herself in the mirror. Thankfully, she had dried out, but her shirt was creased and no amount of coaxing would persuade her hair to tie back neatly, so she gave up and left it hanging in wavy tendrils on her shoulders. Wiping away a stray smudge of mascara, she chewed on her lips to add some colour, then shook her head.
‘Stop being ridiculous,’ she murmured as she retraced her steps.
When she rejoined the others, Dev was questioning his grandfather on what had drawn him out to Cornwall on such an awful day, but Ryther merely said he’d woken with a desire to see the sea.
Dev grunted. ‘You do know it would have been easier to get the train down to Brighton? Thank you for taking him in,’ he addressed Anna as he helped his grandfather to his feet.
‘It is Kate you should be thanking,’ Ryther added, reaching out to grasp her hand and hold onto it. ‘Thank you, my dear, for rescuing me.’
Leaning forward, Kate pressed a kiss on his cheek, disturbed to see how cold it remained. ‘I’m glad I saw you. Now go with your grandson and get properly dry and warm.’
‘Where’s my great-grandson?’ Ryther demanded as Dev led him towards the boot room.
‘Behaving himself and staying in the dry, under Stella’s motherly eye. Unlike you.’
Once Dev had retrieved Ryther’s coat, he opened the back door, but Ryther turned to Anna, who placed her hand in his extended one.
‘I am indebted to you, my dear.’ His gaze dropped to the ring on Anna’s finger.
She let out a small gasp. ‘I remember you! You were here at Westerleigh, a few years ago now. You admired my engagement ring.’
Ryther sent Anna a culpable look, continuing to hold her hand. ‘Forgive me. I wished to look at the beautiful view from the windows, one I had not seen in many years – back when, for the briefest moment in time – I was the happiest of men.’ He raised Anna’s hand and placed a kiss upon it. ‘You will excuse me. I am weary now.’
He did indeed look drained, and Kate sent Dev a concerned look, which he met before giving a small incline of his head.
‘Come on, old man. Let’s get you home and fed.’
‘Less of the old man, you young upstart,’ Ryther countered, but his voice was less firm now and his gait still stooped.
‘I think we’ve barely touched the surface of Meg’s story,’ Kate said as Anna returned from closing the door behind the departing men.
‘I think you’re right. Besides,’ Anna chewed her bottom lip, ‘it still doesn’t explain who Neb is… I mean, surely Aunt Meg didn’t have several on the go, did she?’
Kate and Anna stared at each other, then descended into amusement. ‘Let’s not go there. It’s time I rounded up Mollie – who wasn’t speaking to me when we left this morning – and rescued Podge from wherever he’s been holed up.’