Chapter 17 #2
Mac nodded, wondering if Tricia knew all about him, too. It wouldn’t surprise him. Despite their gentle teasing of each other, he suspected that the Joneses told each other everything. He found, to his surprise, that he didn’t mind too much.
‘Shall we say it’s been a learning curve,’ he said wryly. He sipped his tea. ‘This is lovely. Thank you.’
‘I hope there’s not too much milk. Evan likes his that strong it would make your eyes water. I don’t know why he bothers with milk at all, really I don’t. How’s your Stella doing, by the way?’
Mac gave her a startled look.
‘Tricia used to go to Lightweights meetings with her,’ Evan explained. ‘Used to be quite chummy with her, didn’t you, dearest one?’
‘I’ll give you “dearest one”,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘He only calls me that when he’s being sarky. He never liked me going to that club, did you?’
‘I did not,’ Evan agreed. ‘You were perfectly fine as you were. Just because your Auntie Glenda said—’
‘Yes, well, never mind all that,’ Tricia said hastily. ‘Have you seen anything of her lately, Mac? Stella, I mean. Not my Auntie Glenda.’
‘Not for a while,’ Mac admitted. ‘But funnily enough, she’s asked if she can visit me at Watersmeet tomorrow afternoon.’
Evan raised an eyebrow. ‘Interesting. Progress, do you think?’
‘Who knows?’ Mac sighed. ‘I’d like to think so, but I have a feeling it might just be more of the same. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.’
‘Well, fingers crossed for you,’ Tricia said. ‘Your mother had every right to leave Watersmeet to whoever she chose, and Stella needs to respect that. I do like her,’ she added, ‘but I don’t agree with her about this. Fair’s fair.’
She took a large gulp of her coffee and got to her feet. ‘I’d better check the oven. I hope you like shepherd’s pie? Evan says you’re not a vegetarian.’
‘No, I’m not.’ Though how Evan knew that was beyond him.
‘I had cause to visit the Chambers’ home recently,’ Evan explained, as if reading his mind.
‘They have four goats. One of them was lame so they called me in. Young Briar Chambers works at The North Star and happened to mention that you’d popped in there on several occasions and sampled some meaty treats, including a pasty, and a takeaway Sunday roast.’
Mac laughed. ‘I’d forgotten what Kelsea Sands is like,’ he said. ‘Nothing’s sacred, is it?’
‘Indeed. Anyway, I’m sure if you’d been vegetarian you’d have mentioned it when I invited you for tea.’
‘I’d better strain my veggies.’ Tricia hurried out of the living room and Mac and Evan smiled at each other.
‘She’s nice,’ Mac said.
‘She’s not too shabby, is she?’ Evan’s eyes twinkled. ‘I struck very lucky there, and well I know it.’
‘And are these all your children? Grandchildren?’ Mac nodded towards the photographs. ‘There seems to be a lot of them.’
‘Yes.’ Evan wandered over to the mantelpiece. ‘We had four children. Three boys and a girl. And now we have six grandchildren, so…’
‘You’re very lucky,’ Mac said, unable to keep the envy from his voice.
Evan smiled. ‘I agree. We are. Although we’ve had some difficult times, too.’ He picked up a photo of a smiling boy with dark hair and merry eyes. ‘Our youngest son, Michael. Died of leukaemia when he was seven.’
‘Oh my God!’ Mac felt terrible. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘It was a long, long time ago,’ Evan said softly. ‘Not a day goes by when we don’t think of him, though. And then there’s our eldest grandchild, Ruby. She had an accident when she was ten. Been in a wheelchair ever since.’
‘Evan, I don’t know what to say.’
‘No need to say anything. I’m not looking for sympathy.
I’m just pointing out that everyone has their cross to bear.
You might think other people have charmed lives, but it’s guaranteed that they’ve suffered at some point.
That they’re carrying burdens you would never imagine.
We all just get on with it, don’t we? That’s the miracle of the human race, I suppose. ’
‘I suppose it is.’
‘We move on, Mac. We must. We keep going. That’s what you’re doing now. You’re keeping on going. Your mother would be very proud of you.’
‘I haven’t done anything to be proud of.’
‘The very fact that you’re here today is something to be proud of. I wasn’t sure you’d get in touch, you know. I’m seriously impressed.’
‘I actually had visitors at Watersmeet the other day,’ Mac told him.
‘I invited an old schoolfriend and her cousin round for a tour of the place. You were right. I need people. I bumped into another old friend the day I rang you and it really shook me up. He lost his wife three years ago and he seems to have just given up on life.’
‘Are you talking about Seb from the pub?’
Mac rolled his eyes. ‘Should have known. Yes, I am.’
‘Sad case,’ Evan agreed, replacing the photograph gently on the mantelpiece.
‘It’s Sam I feel sorry for. That lad gave up his job and his flat to go back there and keep the pub going, because he was convinced his dad would regret it one day if he sold up.
Now he’s stuck there and there’s no sign of Seb making any effort to get back to normal.
It’s no life for a young man, is it? Who’s he going to meet working all hours at that place?
The pub is mostly full of middle-aged birdwatchers come spring.
The lad should be out clubbing in Hull. Any road, we were talking about you.
So, seeing Seb made you think about calling me? ’
‘Yes. You were right what you said: I need people around me. Doug always told me that, too.’
‘Ah yes, Doug. Your mother told me about him. I was sorry to hear he’d passed on. I know your mother was very concerned when it happened. You can imagine.’
Mac could. His mother had known how important Doug was to him.
She must have been worried sick that his death would affect him.
If it had happened a year earlier, it would have.
Ironically, it was only thanks to Doug himself, and everything that he’d done for him, that Mac had found the strength to cope without him.
‘You have much more resilience than you believe, you know,’ Evan said. ‘And if you ask me, you deserve a new start. A second chance. Like Seb’s lad Sam. You should find someone.’ His mouth curved into a wide smile. ‘This old schoolfriend…’
‘She’s just a friend,’ Mac said hastily. ‘Actually, we weren’t even that at school. I don’t think she liked me very much.’
‘Well, she must like you now, or why would she bother going to Watersmeet to look around?’ He gave Mac a knowing look. ‘Or go out for burgers with you at The North Star.’
‘How did you…?’ Mac sighed. ‘Briar Chambers. Though actually, only I had the burger.’
‘So, anything in it?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘But she does like you, whatever your relationship was like when you were at school. She’s actively chosen to spend time with you. Promising, eh?’
Mac laughed. ‘You’re incorrigible.’
‘Tea’s ready!’ Tricia called from the kitchen. ‘Evan, can you give me a hand with these plates?’
Evan tutted. ‘Never get a minute’s peace with that one. Up and down, up and down, like a bloody yoyo.’ He winked at Mac and ambled into the kitchen.
Mac shook his head, deciding the Joneses were some of the nicest people he’d ever met. And Alison?
Maybe, he mused, Evan had a point. However indifferent she’d been – at best – during their schooldays, it seemed she wasn’t averse to his company any longer.
Just as a friend, obviously.
Feeling a sudden optimism, he got to his feet and headed towards the table.