Chapter Eight #2
‘That’s why you’ve been banned.’ Now it was Seth’s turn to look smug. ‘You can’t shop here any longer.’
‘Bully!’ This from Aunt Em who appeared to have found a cucumber from somewhere and was brandishing it at him.
‘Aunt Em will you get down off that chair, please,’ Nathan said, entering into the fray.
‘I certainly will not.’ Em waved her cucumber at him. ‘I’m here to support my friends.’ She gestured towards Rosalind and her two companions who stood in a trio to one side of the mini-market entrance.
‘Let me have that.’ Nathan snatched it from her hand. ‘You’re making a complete exhibition of yourself.’
‘How dare you,’ Em said, making a failed attempt to rescue the green weapon. The chair wobbled dangerously.
‘Will you please get down, Aunt Em. I need to talk to you.’ Cat joined her brother, feeling a feminine voice might appeal more than Nathan’s rather gung-ho approach.
‘Cat, is that you, dear? What are you doing here?’ Em peered at her.
‘Trying to save our family any more embarrassment. How has it come to this? Where is your dignity, for heaven’s sake?’
‘Dignity?’ Em scoffed. ‘What use is that?’ She puffed out her chest. ‘Here I have a purpose.’
‘Purpose? Yes you have. Amusement value for the crowds.’ She waved her hand towards the onlookers. ‘Can’t you see them all laughing at you?’
Em stopped and took a look out into the sea of amused faces, some photographing or videoing her on their mobiles.
‘Aunt Em, if you don’t come down this minute, I’m calling the police,’ Nathan threatened as he handed the cucumber back to Seth.
‘The police?’ Em parroted. ‘You wouldn’t.’
‘I would. I think Mr Parkinson has every right to involve them. Obstruction, disturbing the peace. Theft of a cucumber.’
Em fell silent. For the first time since their arrival she actually looked worried.
‘Don’t listen to him,’ Rosalind’s voice boomed behind Nathan. ‘He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You’re doing a great job.’
Nathan spun around to confront the large woman who was swathed in a pink and white striped dress that made her look like a circus tent.
‘Enough Mrs Myers,’ he shouted at her. Catching sight of the other two women who stood wide eyed and trembling behind her he added, ‘I’d like all of you to leave. Now.’
Rosalind faltered under the power of Nathan’s voice and his impressive height. She took a large gulp of air and turned on her heel muttering angrily.
‘Come, ladies,’ she beckoned and marched away leaving Em stranded on her chair. Gradually the small crowd began to disperse. Seth returned to his shop leaving Cat and Nathan to help Em down.
‘See how they run away and leave you,’ Cat said, watching them making a hasty exit down the High Street. ‘They’re cowards, all three of them.’
‘Ah I wondered where that was,’ Jed the landlord of The Smugglers said, appearing out of nowhere to claim his chair. ‘Everything okay, folks?’ He gave them a puzzled look.
‘Fine thanks.’ Nathan nodded. ‘Now then, Em, let’s get you home, shall we? We need to talk.’
Reaching Caer Gwyn they followed Em into the lift, emerging on the first floor where Marion was hovering anxiously. ‘I was so worried, Miss Em,’ she said. ‘Where have you been?’
‘Causing mayhem outside the mini-mart,’ Cat replied as they followed her aunt through into her sitting room.
‘Standing up for our rights,’ Em corrected, finding a soft chair and sinking into it.
‘Can you organise some coffee for my guests, please, Marion.’ She indicated Nathan and Cat with a wave of her hand.
‘Of course.’ Marion smiled and left them.
‘I know what this talk is about. He’s not going to let me back in, is he?’ Em looked at them both, her mouth wobbling.
‘Not with this sort of behaviour, I’m afraid,’ Nathan said shaking his head.
‘Can’t you see how devious Rosalind is? She gets you all fired up, then simply stands back with the rest to enjoy the show.
Think about it. All these mini crusades you’ve been on with her.
On every occasion you’ve been the one in the firing line.
You have to stop this. Find something else to occupy your time. ’
‘But what else is there?’ Em said, her blue eyes misting with tears. ‘No one wants me. I’m surplus to requirements.’
‘Oh come on, Aunt Em,’ Nathan coaxed. ‘I’m sure there’s something. Are there any friends you can go and stay with for a while?’
Em thought for a moment. ‘Well there is Margaret Roberts, an old school friend of mine who lives in Norfolk. We keep in touch by phone, and she often says she’d like me to visit, but I’m not sure if—’
‘Leave it with me,’ Cat interrupted. ‘If you give me her details I can make contact, arrange everything for you. It would be a change of air and get you away from Rosalind for a while.’
‘Thank you, I’d like that.’ Em nodded. ‘How soon do you think it could be arranged?’
‘I’ll give her a ring this evening.’
‘That would be lovely, dear.’
‘Aunt Em, there’s something we’d like to discuss with you,’ Nathan said as Marion arrived with coffee and a small plate of chocolate biscuits. ‘We wondered whether you might be interested in helping out at Carrenporth Museum.’
‘The museum?’ Em made a face. ‘What could I do there?’
‘The curator is looking for some part-time help. He specifically wants someone with good local knowledge to show people around and discuss the village’s history.
With visits from tourists and school trips, I gather it can be quite busy at times.
And when the museum is quiet, there’s a photo archive he needs sorting out. ’
‘Photos?’ Em perked up. ‘I’ve loads of photos here. Do you think he’d be interested?’
‘He might …’ Cat shot Nathan an optimistic smile. ‘Would you like me to arrange an appointment with Mr Tregorran?’
‘Adrian Tregorran?’
‘Yes, do you know him?’
‘I know his parents.’ Em smiled. ‘His mother used to do reception work at the doctor’s surgery and his father taught in one of the local comprehensives. I believe they recently retired abroad.’
‘So are you interested in having a chat with him?’
‘Oh yes, very much.’ Em nodded enthusiastically.
‘Great, I’ll give him a call this afternoon,’ Cat said, pleased at how well all this seemed to be coming together.
By the end of the week everything had been sorted. Em would spend a fortnight with her friend in Norfolk and on her return begin her three mornings and one afternoon a week at the Museum helping Adrian.
‘Does this mean she’s parting company with the Gossip Girls?’ Ruan asked when they broke the news to him over dinner that evening.
‘Not quite.’ Nathan looked across at Cat who gave her father an encouraging smile.
‘I think she has the measure of them now,’ she said finishing her meal and pushing her plate to one side. ‘She still wants to meet the group for coffee or lunch occasionally but she won’t be involving herself in their disruptive behaviour.’
‘Actually,’ Nathan took over the conversation, ‘I think Em’s discovered a niche for herself. She has a wealth of knowledge about Carrenporth’s history and I understand Adrian’s preparing to take some of her photos on loan for a special display on the history of Tarwin House.’
‘Well it sounds as if you’ve both pulled off quite a miracle.’ Ruan smiled thoughtfully as he gazed into his wine.
‘Does that mean you’re thinking of letting her back into the hotel?’ Cat asked watching her father and trying to gauge his reaction to this news.
Ruan looked up from his plate and smiled. ‘Not yet,’ he said, ‘it’s early days still, but we’re definitely heading in the right direction.’