Chapter Six #2
She clicked open the low gate that separated the Geary’s house from theirs and before she could lay her hand on the latch, the door was flung wide and Dot threw her arms around her sister.
‘Kate, Kate, oh Kate! I’m so happy to see you.
We have chicks, six of them and I found an injured baby rabbit.
Pa says I can keep it so long as he doesn’t have to feed it and that I mustn’t weep over the dead ones he brings home, ’cos he’s not going to stop shooting them, we need the meat.
But I don’t mind eating them still, just not this little one.
Do come and look,’ she cried grabbing Kate’s hand and pulling her in the direction of a small, wooden hutch against the shed wall.
‘Let your sister get in the door before you start on at her,’ her father called from inside the kitchen. His large form followed his voice and filled the doorway. His sleeves were rolled up revealing his muscled arms and broad hands in which he held a bread knife.
‘Kate, what a breath of fresh air you are. You look well,’ he said. ‘You’re just in time for some bread and cheese. Your mother’s upstairs changing the sheets for you. She’s been working herself to the bone knowing you were staying the night.’
Just as she was about to pick up her bag and follow him inside, two small hands grabbed the side of her father’s trousers and a face full of curiosity peeked around to observe her from a safe distance.
‘Why, our little Henry, how you’ve grown,’ she said to her youngest brother. ‘You do remember me, don’t you? It’s your sister, Kate.’
The bedroom window opened and Kate’s mother looked out.
‘Kate, our very own Kate! I thought I heard voices. I’m coming right down,’ she called. ‘Get her inside and pour her a cup of tea, Jim. She must be gasping.’
Dot followed Kate inside, carrying her bag and keeping her excitement in check. Henry ran to his mother as soon as she appeared and she picked him up, carrying him to Kate and holding them both in her arms at once.
‘It’s so good to see you,’ her mother said. ‘Are they treating you well?’
‘Look at her, Ada, does she look like they’re starving her and flogging her to death?’ Jim joked.
‘Now, I’ve something for you, Henry.’ Kate smiled. She went to her bag and bent to retrieve the small gift. Noticing Dot’s expectant gaze, she added, ‘And you too, Dot. It’s only something small but I hope you’ll like it.’
Kate held out a colourful ball to Henry and gave her sister an embroidered handkerchief with a D on it. Henry immediately started rolling the ball and Dot pressed the handkerchief to her cheek.
‘It smells of you, Kate,’ she said.
‘Just make sure you don’t lose it or use it to wipe your shoes, like all the others,’ Ada chided.
‘I’ll keep it for best,’ Dot replied giving her mother a look that said ‘so there!’.
They all laughed and the old, relaxed atmosphere between them returned.
Kate told of most of her experiences over the months, except one which worried her and she didn’t want that worry to show on her face so she put it to the back of her mind.
They delighted in her tales of life in the ‘big, posh town house’ as Dot called it.
When they all fell silent for a while, Kate asked after her brother, Fred.
‘He’s well enough,’ Ada said. ‘He’s been staying with your Aunt Ena over in Greywell.
They work him hard at the chalk pits. He won’t finish today until six and then he’s like a walking snowman, covered in chalk dust. He’d have to clean up and by then the light would be gone.
A pity he won’t be here to see you, but I told him the walk from Greywell in the dark was too far. Next time perhaps?’
They spent the rest of the day catching up on all the local news, who had married, who’d died, who’d given birth and who’d newly arrived.
The population of Micklewell didn’t alter much, some went away to work, like Kate and, occasionally, others moved in.
Old man Addison had died out hunting with hounds and Addison Farm was now occupied by the Potter family.
The time drifted by in a pleasant wave of accounts of comings and goings.
As the afternoon shadows crept over the back yard and the fire was banked up to warm them through the evening chill, Kate eventually plucked up the courage to tell them all of the Winton family’s move to London, knowing what their reaction would be.
‘London?’ they all exclaimed in unison but for different reasons.
‘How exciting,’ Dot said.
‘Andover is far enough, Kate, but London! Will we ever see you?’ her mother asked, her face losing its colour.
Her father’s reaction was as she expected. ‘As if she has any say in the matter,’ he said. ‘If she’s to keep her job then she must go with them, Ada. She’ll still write to us, won’t you, Kate?’
‘Of course, I will,’ Kate replied.
Her mother remained silent on the matter for the remainder of the evening while Dot did a good job of changing the subject with her talk of all the local news, who was courting and who was tying the knot, who had a new job and who was moving away.
The old feelings of being at home, really at home, overwhelmed her as she thought about missing her family and missing Eliza. She understood why Eliza could not come to London with them, but at the same time she was concerned about how life with the Winton family would be without her.