Chapter Twenty Kate’s House #2
He had met and married the love of his life and his construction business was thriving. He was one of the most contented people Evie had ever met, always finding hope and light, even when his Maureen was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Andrzej was just about to launch into a detailed rendering of one of his favourite stories of how Lord Kitchener, famous for pointing his finger in the World War One Your Country Needs You recruitment poster, was drowned off the northern coast of Orkney in 1916 when a German mine sank his ship, when Maureen gently interrupted and said, “Amelia. My Andrzej can, and indeed given half a chance he most certainly will, chunter on about this for hours. So, I think a good idea would be for you and him to spend some time, just the two of you, going for a long drive to see all the sights and hear all the stories. But only if you want to.”
“I’d love to,” said Amelia. “I really do want to know everything.” Andrzej beamed.
“Amelia, it would be my honour to show you round and I promise not to bore you to tears because I do not want to face the wrath of my dear Maureen.”
Andrzej had never actually faced Maureen’s wrath, nor was he ever likely to.
Partly because she was incredibly easy-going, but also because this kindest of men would never do anything to upset or hurt her.
Their love for each other had grown even stronger after their wedding.
Living through Maureen’s cancer treatments had forged a link between them of unbreakable steel.
They tried to squeeze every last drop of joy from every single day.
Maureen found herself delighted with Amelia.
Andrzej loved to share his knowledge and she was soaking it up like a sponge and asking all kinds of questions.
She’d given him her number and made him promise to set up a date as soon as he was free to meet up, so she could see all of the wonderful sights Orkney had to offer.
After they had all stuffed themselves with food, Amelia helped Kate clear the table and followed her into the kitchen, exclaiming, “Oh Kate, you have an Orkney chair just like the one Evie has in her kitchen.”
“It’s not quite the same” Kate replied. “Ross Isbister repaired Evie’s chair and he is in a class of his own, but this one has been in our family for years. Edwyn’s great aunty gave it to him when he was a peedie boy.”
Amelia was in raptures. “I’d love to get one just like this and ship it home. It would be a proper connection with Orkney.”
She went on excitedly, “Maybe Ross could make me a chair. I met him at Evie’s gallery, you know. She told me he’s single. I can’t believe such a handsome man hasn’t been snapped up years ago.”
“He’s single alright,” said Kate. “He runs away from women so fast no one has been able to catch him. I was sure he had a thing for Evie, but she says they are just friends. It’s a shame. I think they would be good for one another.”
“Oh, Evie’s so lovely, and they would be a sweet couple. I’m just surprised she hasn’t met someone here. I’m sure she would have had plenty of offers.”
“I don’t think she’s ready for all that. Evie had a very bad experience, which I am sure she will talk to you about in her own time. It’s not my story to tell, but it has definitely put her off men for the time being, anyway.”
Amelia nodded. “She did mention something about that. Maybe when we all get to know each other better?”
The two women went back into the living room. There was a kerfuffle outside and the sound of a baby crying. Jack burst into the room with Hari in a car seat bawling his lungs out, followed by Delima holding Ola’s hand.
“I’m sorry we are so unforgivably late,” said Jack, “but trying to get out of the house with these two is a nightmare.”
“Actually,” said Delima calmly. “Ola and Hari are no trouble at all. It was Jack who made us late.”
She took off Ola’s pink coat and deftly lifted Hari up into her arms where he instantly stopped crying and just hiccupped gently. “We were all organised and heading out the door when Jack decided we had to turn back for Hari’s toy penguin, and then he couldn’t find it.”
Kate smiled. “I hear you. My Louise had a disgusting rubber giraffe she chewed to bits but she just wouldn’t go to sleep without it.
We ended up buying about half a dozen and locking them in a drawer and replacing them when they got too revolting.
Edwyn used to chew their ears off so she wouldn’t get suspicious. ”
“The thing is,” said Delima, “Hari isn’t all that bothered about the toy, but Jack just wants him to like penguins.”
“Well, they are adorable,” said Jack defensively. Delima patted him on the arm. “They certainly are, my love.”
You would never guess this calm, serene woman was the mum of a toddler and a demanding new baby, with the added responsibility of the ongoing refurbishment of their old house, as well as running the animal sanctuary.
On top of that, she had to manage her husband.
She often said she had three children and Jack was the most demanding of them all.
She was wearing beige sweatpants and a simple cream T-shirt and managed to make this ensemble look effortlessly elegant. She didn’t have a scrap of make-up on, but her skin was flawless and her hair bright and shiny, and she hadn’t an ounce of baby fat.
Kate and Maureen looked at her with affection and awe, remembering how they both felt as though they had been run over by a tractor when their babies were as tiny as Hari.
Jack on the other hand had bags under his eyes that could have housed all the luggage for a Joan Collins trip to the South of France. Even his hair looked stressed, and he wore the frazzled expression of a man with sleep deprivation.
Delima said soothingly: “Hari’s fine now. Nothing to worry about. He just cried because the car stopped suddenly, and he was woken up from a delicious sleep.”
Jack looked at his son lying contently like a fat cherub in his mother’s arms and was instantly reduced to a pile of mush. “Sorry for fussing, everyone,” he said.
“Don’t be daft, Jack,” said Freya. “Come and meet Amelia. She will be wanting a hold of that peedie one, but not until I’ve had my turn.”
Delima gave Hari to Freya. He made a tiny bat squeak and happily settled into her arms.
She turned to Amelia. “Gosh, you are Evie’s double right enough. How are you settling in?”
“Well, everyone has been so kind to me and so welcoming. It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind, and I’ve a lot to take in, but I am so glad that I came over, even though it is so different to what I’m used to.”
“It was the same for me,” said Delima. “I came here to live when I met Jack in Singapore and we got married. We run an animal sanctuary by the shore over the barriers near Hoxa. Evie mentioned you would like to come and see us.”
Amelia smiled. “That sounds amazing. I would love to.”
“Jack has always wanted to work with animals and wanted to settle back home in Orkney, but he ended up in the Far East in merchant banking, which is just as well, or we might never have met. Life is strange like that. Anyway, tell us all about yourself. Where exactly is home and what do you do for work?”
Evie’s ears pricked up, wanting to see how Amelia would respond to the kind of direct questions she’d been dying to ask. Amelia looked slightly uncomfortable but said, “I’m sort of between jobs at the moment, which is why I have the chance to be over here now and to find out more about my family.”
Delima was about to ask more when Kate came in with a huge plate of food for Jack. Evie silently cursed the timing.
“There’s plenty left so fill your boots. Delima, what can I get you?”
“Ooh, the same for me, thanks. That all looks delicious.”
No one could understand how Delima managed to eat like a sumo wrestler and not gain an ounce.
Kate returned with another giant plate and Delima and Jack chomped happily while Freya sang old nursery rhymes to Hari. Evie hoped Delima would continue to ask Amelia questions, but the moment seemed to have passed.
Amelia chimed in, changing the subject, “I was in Freya and Evie’s gallery today,” she said. “It’s such an amazing space and the paintings and works of art are to die for.”
She went on, “Freya, your jewellery is just wonderful and Maureen, those throws and blankets should be sold in Saks Fifth Avenue in New York.”
Freya and Maureen weren’t good at receiving such sugary compliments, but they thanked Amelia, who now turned to Evie.
“I couldn’t help noticing that Kate has an Orkney chair like yours. I would so love to own one. Do you think your Ross Isbister would make me a chair, Evie?”
Evie couldn’t help being irritated. “Well, he’s not my Ross, Amelia. I told you we are just pals, but he is the best on the island.”
Jack agreed and through a mouthful of homemade ham-and-egg pie mumbled: “He is your man for sure, but he’s really busy, Amelia, so you might have to wait a while, but you can order it shipped back to your home.”
Delima said, “He sends his chairs all over the world so it would be no problem for him to ship it to the States, or wherever it is you stay. Where was it again?”
Amelia chose to ignore her probing. “Oh I’m not in any hurry at all. Actually, I don’t need to go home for another month or two.”
Evie’s heart sank. Another month or two? That wasn’t what Amelia said in her email.
She thought this was more of a flying visit. Looking round the room at her friends, she was obviously the only one unhappy at the news.
Freya beamed, and with her usual spirit of generosity said, “Well, if you are staying here that long you can’t possibly bide in a hotel. I’ve got a spare room. You can stay with me.” Then she added, “Of course you can come and go as you please and treat the place like your own.”
“Oh Freya,” said Amelia. “That’s way too kind of you. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Don’t be daft. I’ll enjoy the company and as long as you don’t mind my grumpy cat then the offer is there.”