Chapter 18
On the way home, Amy told her new friend that Ciaran was planning a special birthday for Roxanne.
‘He is taking her away for the day, either to the coast if the weather is good, or maybe up here to Edinburgh, as she had not visited Scotland before she came to Oakfield. Her only close family now is her brother, so Ciaran has invited him to come for a surprise visit so that we all meet before the wedding. He has also asked the two ladies who looked after him so well when he was down there for the sale of the dairy herd that belonged to Tommy and Roxie’s father.
‘Now that I am beginning to feel like my old self again, I have promised to invite them to my home in the evening for a buffet meal, but I shall have to wait until Ciaran has collected Roxie in the morning, or she will feel she should stay and do the preparations. My niece and her husband and baby are coming too. Jenny is coming early to help. She is bringing some quiches. I believe you know her husband, Donald. He is a dental surgeon.’
‘Oh, yes, I do! I have met his wife, too. I am a patient there and they are both very pleasant and reassuring.’ She grinned. `We medics are more nervous patients than most other people, I suspect.’
‘That is good if you have met Jenny already, because I was going to ask if you would like to join us. I know you and Roxie get on splendidly.’
‘We do indeed. I never felt there was a generation gap, as one often does with people so much younger.’
‘I suspect Roxie has had her share of life’s less pleasant aspects. That usually strengthens character and broadens the mind. I never met a young person whose company I value so highly.’
* * *
The evening before Tommy and Maggie were due to set out for Scotland and Roxanne’s surprise birthday, Tommy telephoned Ciaran.
‘Do you remember the young herdsman I had at the time of the sale?’ he asked.
‘I certainly do,’ Ciaran said. ‘Harry, wasn’t it? Harry Dunn?’
‘That’s right.’
‘I was impressed with the way he looked after all the animals, right to the end, and he seemed to know most of their breeding too. Roxanne was amazed that he recognised the individual cows and how they were performing. She said he was really keen to learn everything about preparing them for sale.’
‘Yes, Roxie was pleased with his willingness to work and to learn everything he could. He came to see me this morning to ask if I could store an oak corner cupboard and a Welsh dresser, plus a few other small pieces of furniture he wants to keep. They belonged to his mother who died recently. He is selling their house — in fact, he has already accepted a really good offer for it. I invited him to stay overnight. He hasn’t enjoyed working for the dealer in spite of very good pay.
He didn’t like the system and never getting to know the animals.
He plans to see something of the country before he settles down to another job.
He intends to sell his motorbike and buy a small car.
He was talking of going to Wales because six of our cows went to two herds there.
I believe he hopes to come your way sometime too, so I wondered whether to suggest bringing him with us tomorrow.
I haven’t mentioned it to him, but I’ve looked up a Travelodge and it seems in reasonable distance to you, but if that is too much of an imposition please say so. I do understand.’
‘Of course, you should bring him with you if he wants to come,’ Ciaran said. ‘I’m sure Roxie would be pleased to see him again.’
‘I’m sure Harry would like to see how the cows you bought are doing.’
‘Don’t even think about the Travelodge,’ Ciaran said.
‘So long as you don’t mind making do, that is.
I told you I don’t have a housekeeper, but Iris, my cleaning woman, has already made up two beds.
One of the rooms has twin beds so she could easily make up the other bed in the morning, if you don’t mind sharing a room?
I am really looking forward to getting to know you better, Tommy.
It will be a lovely surprise for Roxie.’
‘Yes, I’m looking forward to coming. I have a lot to tell Roxie, too.
Some things are easier face-to-face, rather than on the phone.
Maggie is like part of the family so she knows most of what has been going on with my affairs and the solicitor.
The reason I will not bring Beth on this visit, is due to Gilda’s wild accusations about me having an affair with Beth.
’ Tommy sighed. ‘She will be coming to your wedding, though, and she is really looking forward to it.’
‘In that case, we shall look forward to seeing the three of you tomorrow. I have not breathed a word to Roxie. Mum wants me to take her away for the day so she will have plenty of time preparing a buffet for an evening meal for all of us. She wants to meet you before the wedding. My cousin has baked a birthday cake and she will be helping her prepare. They all love Roxie. I told you where to find the key to let yourselves in if you arrive before we return from our day away. Make yourselves some tea and toast until we return, and you’ll find biscuits in the tin. ’
* * *
It was a bright summer morning and Roxanne had woken early.
She lay in bed for a while, relaxing and listening to the birds singing.
She was looking forward to spending her birthday with Ciaran.
He had said he would collect her fairly early.
The forecast was good so they planned to head for the Galloway hills and the west coast, and find a nice place for lunch near the shore.
It was all new country for her, so she was looking forward to it.
Roxie hummed to herself and put on a pretty floral cotton dress.
It had a full skirt and was sleeveless, but it had a little matching bolero that could be removed if it became very warm.
She put on her sandals, but collected her comfortable shoes and a jacket in case they decided to take a walk anywhere.
Amy greeted her in the kitchen. ‘Oh, Roxie, how pretty you look. I do wish you a very happy birthday.’ She moved round the table to give Roxie a warm embrace. ‘I have made your breakfast for a change since this is your special day.’
‘You’re spoiling me . . .’
‘Now, don’t protest. You are worth it, and it is wonderful to feel more like my old self again and be able to do things without hobbling around with those horrid wheels.
I hardly even need my stick when I’m in the kitchen with most things in reach.
Ciaran said he might join us for breakfast, if everything was going well, but we don’t need to wait for him.
You know how quickly he can demolish a meal if he is hungry. ’
They finished bacon and eggs, and the toast and honey, and moved onto their second cup of coffee, but there was no sign of Ciaran.
‘I expect there is a cow calving or some other animal in trouble.’ Amy sighed. ‘Anyway, that is no reason why I should wait to give you your birthday present, Roxie.’
‘I thought you were inviting Jenny, Donald and baby Peter, and making us a buffet supper as my birthday present,’ Roxie said.
‘Oh, that wouldn’t be much of a present.’ Amy smiled broadly. She passed Roxie a lovely card and a small parcel wrapped in silver paper. When she unwrapped it and opened the jeweller’s box with the white silk lining, Roxie gasped aloud.
‘Oh, this is beautiful, absolutely beautiful, b-but it is far too much. Oh Amy . . .’ There were tears in her eyes as she looked up. Amy shook her head.
‘You deserve that, and more, lassie,’ she said warmly, her voice husky with emotion. ‘I was not sure about the choice but . . .’
‘It’s truly lovely, but it looks very expensive and — and I-I don’t know what to say . . .’
‘Try on the bracelet. I thought that might be something blue you could wear on your wedding day if you wanted.’
‘You’re right! I had nothing in blue. Oh, Amy, you are so thoughtful and far, far too generous.’
‘Roxie. It will give me the greatest pleasure to know that my new daughter-in-law is wearing a small gift from me on her wedding day.’ Roxie stood up and hugged Amy warmly.
‘You have been kind and generous to me since the day I arrived.’
‘Anne’s daughter and niece did some shopping research in Edinburgh before we went so that made . . .’
They both turned as Ciaran came through the back door looking hot and disgruntled, still in his working clothes.
‘Sit down, Ciaran and calm yourself,’ Amy said. ‘Your breakfast is ready and keeping warm in the bottom oven. I will just add a couple of eggs to the frying pan and make some fresh toast, while you drink your fruit juice.’
‘Don’t rush, Ciaran, we have all day,’ Roxie said calmly. ‘Presumably something is wrong with one of the animals?’
‘No, there’s nothing wrong with the stock. It’s the stockman.’
‘Billy, you mean? Didn’t he turn up for the milking? You should have pho—’
‘Oh, he turned up this morning all right. He has known for weeks that I planned to go away today, but he has still arranged to go with the youth team to a football match up in Ayrshire this afternoon.’
‘Ah, so he will not be here for the afternoon milking?’ Roxie asked. ‘Never mind, we’ll have most of the day together. We shall have to come back a bit earlier than we planned, but I’ll bring my jeans and a T-shirt and help you,’ she added amiably.
‘What a shame, son, today of all days, and when you had made plans,’ Amy said, looking troubled because she knew Ciaran had planned Tommy’s surprise visit too. ‘Had Billy forgotten you had made arrangements to go away for Roxie’s birthday?’
‘No, he hadn’t forgotten. He thinks he should do as he likes lately.’ He couldn’t tell either of them of Billy’s spiteful comments about his forthcoming wedding, and that they would both have a woman for a boss once she got a ring on her finger.