A Daughter's Choice (34 page)

Katherine dropped a plate and stared at them.

‘You look like you've seen a ghost,' said Eileen.

‘You're OK?' she demanded.

‘Still a bit wonky but Jack's made me feel a lot better.' Eileen smiled at him and hugged his arm. ‘He says I'm very brave to cope with all I have to put up with.'

‘You are!' agreed Katherine, going over to the girl and hugging her. ‘I don't think I'd have your determination to carry on working here.'

‘It's been hard,' sighed Eileen. ‘And now he tells me Aunt Kitty might sell the place, I've made up my mind to go home.'

‘To Ireland, you mean?'

She nodded. ‘I'll book my ticket later today. Now what d'you want me to do?'

Katherine told her, feeling a rush of relief mingled with a sudden new liking for the girl. As for Jack, he told her later he had decided to do research into epilepsy and brain disorders.

It was the following Monday before Katherine had a chance to visit the pet shop but she found only Mrs Evans and Donny there. ‘What are you doing off school?' she asked, smiling down at him.

‘Got a whitlow and can't write.' The boy held up a bandaged finger.

‘Painful things them,' said Mrs Evans, casting an eye over Katherine. ‘And when are you going to be back, miss? Or have you left us for good as Celia sez?'

‘Has she told you everything then?'

‘Aye.' Mrs Evans pressed her lips tightly together and made a noise in her throat. ‘But I won't talk about it in front of the boy.'

Katherine nodded. ‘Where is she?'

‘I don't bloody know!' said Mrs Evans crossly. ‘She's always coming and going at the moment.'

Donny and Katherine gasped. ‘You never swear!' they chorused.

‘I'm upset,' she muttered. ‘Celia's supposed to be looking after Donny and the shop! She said she'd be back half an hour ago but she's still not here. Your mother's up to something but she's not saying what. You couldn't stay till she comes back, could you?'

Katherine glanced at her watch. ‘I was hoping to go over and see if Patrick's at the photographers but I'll give you twenty minutes.'

‘Better than nothing, I suppose, your ladyship,' grumbled the old woman. ‘Running a hotel, indeed! At your age! I've never heard the like.'

‘I'm only filling in,' said Katherine, her voice severe. ‘Ma – my grandmother's had a heart attack so she needs me there. Now would you like a cup of tea?'

‘If you're making one, I won't say no.'

Katherine had no sooner put the kettle on than old Mrs Taylor came in carrying an empty cage and with tears running down her cheeks. ‘He's gone,' she wailed. ‘My beautiful boy's gone.'

‘Shall we get a fishing net and go looking for him?' suggested Donny eagerly.

‘No, you don't understand! He's dead!' She placed the cage on the counter and the magnolia in her black straw hat dropped as more tears flowed. ‘I came downstairs and there he was with his little legs, all stiff, sticking up in the air!' She dabbed at her eyes.

‘We'll get you another,' Katherine said, patting her hand.

‘It won't be the same.'

‘Of course it won't! Your beautiful boy was special because you made him like that. You could do the same to another.'

Mrs Taylor glanced at her from tear-drenched eyes. ‘He must be a talker,' she said with a sniff.

‘You'll teach him, just like you did your beautiful boy.'

‘We've got some young ones coming in next week,' said Mrs Evans. ‘You come in then and I'll see to you special.'

‘OK!' The old woman gave a watery smile and, leaving the cage, she went out, dabbing her eyes.

‘It's sad,' said Donny, nodding solemnly.

And Katherine had to agree. She felt almost as upset at leaving the pet shop now as when she had waved Eileen off at the Pierhead because most of the customers who had come into the shop she was friendly with. She knew she was going to miss them and the pets almost as much as she would miss seeing Donny, Mrs Evans and her mother every day but she could not see that there was any way she could combine her two lives. One had to go.

Celia had not returned by the time Katherine left the shop, promising she would see them soon. She was also out of luck when she arrived at the photographer's, hoping Patrick might be there. ‘He hasn't been here for the last few days, luv,' said the assistant. ‘But I'll tell him you called and want to see him.'

Katherine went back to the Arcadia feeling slightly down in the dumps to be greeted by the news that there had been a telephone call from Ben and Sarah. ‘Where are they?' With so much happening she had not thought to ask where they had gone for their honeymoon or where they would be living when they returned to Liverpool.

‘They went to Paris for a week and now they're at the house in Scotland, seeing what needs doing up there. They were pleased to hear you were back but shocked by the news about Ma. They're going over to Ireland to see her before coming home,' said Jack, glancing up from the table he was laying with cutlery. ‘You do know, by the way, that Scotland's where Ma and Pops are planning on retiring to? Her plan was to do bed and breakfast during the season. Whether she'll do it now or not …' He shrugged.

Katherine wondered about that, too, as she made a couple of apple pies. What if Ma expected her to go up to Oban with them? She would be parted from Patrick! She gnawed on her lip. Here was something else she was going to have to face. Unless she could change Ma's mind about selling the Arcadia? But that was something that would have to wait. In the meantime Vicky had reissued her invitation to tea, and so on Sunday afternoon, after lunch was served and leaving a cold supper, which would be seen to by one of Kitty's cousins who had volunteered her help any time Katherine needed it, she caught the bus with Jack to Old Swan.

Dolly welcomed her with an air of excitement. ‘I hope you don't mind, luv,' she said, her bright eyes sparkling, ‘but our Vicky's told me all about your mam and I've been keeping my eyes and ears open because there's been talk that she's been seen coming out of the priest's house.'

‘The priest?' Katherine's mind worked swiftly. ‘And?' she demanded.

‘I went to Mass this morning and there they were! And …' she paused, and her audience of three gazed at her expectantly ‘… the banns were read, and for the third time of asking, would you believe? And not a word to us about a wedding!' She shook her head. ‘It must be going to be a real hole-in-the-corner affair, if you ask me!'

It would be, thought Katherine wrathfully. How dare Celia not tell her about it? What had she got to hide?

‘Did you find out when it is to be?' she asked.

‘Wednesday! Half-day closing. I wouldn't have thought Andy Pritchard would have had so much business sense, but there you are.' She gazed intently at Katherine. ‘So what are you going to do, luv?'

She gnawed on her lip again. ‘I'll have to think. It's no use me appealing to her to have second thoughts if she's gone this far.'

‘Do you really care that much who she marries?' asked Jack.

Katherine almost opened her mouth but realised she could not say before an audience that she had had hopes of her father and mother marrying. So it was Vicky who answered for her. ‘Of course she cares! Why else d'you think she's here? Anyway he drinks and I saw him giving her a shove the other day. Who knows what he might do to her in private?'

‘She wouldn't be marrying him if he knocked her around,' said Jack. ‘Anyway it's a bit late for Katie to do anything.' He turned to her. ‘You're just going to have to accept it, kid.'

Like hell I will, she thought. Although she had not yet set eyes on Andy Pritchard, she decided her mother was probably besotted with the man. But what had Vicky said the other evening about him?
He was making plans and she wondered where the money was coming from
… Suddenly Katherine realised where it was coming from. Her gambler mother must have had another win on the Pools. A large one this time and he was marrying her for her money.

That put the kibosh on the wedding so far as she was concerned. She could not allow her mother to marry a loud-mouthed ex-soldier who drank and might knock her around. She had to think up a plan!

Katherine was pretty quiet for the next half hour or so but by the time she caught the bus home she had it all worked out. Her idea was pretty drastic and she had certain qualms about it but told herself faint heart never got a girl anywhere and she was doing it for her mother's good.

Katherine stood in the graveyard of St Oswald's Church, having concealed herself behind an ancient lichen-encrusted stone cross to watch Celia go inside. She looked rather nice in a peach suit and large-brimmed cream hat, thought Katherine, and gave her a few minutes before creeping in after her. There was only a small congregation up at the far end but even so when she saw them and the ornately robed priest she almost got cold feet. Then she reminded herself what was at stake and tiptoed down the central aisle, slipping into a pew halfway down.

Scarcely breathing, she listened carefully to the words, some of which were in Latin. She crossed her fingers and prayed that she would not miss them and almost jumped out of her skin when the priest began to intone, ‘“If anyone here knows any just cause or impediment why these persons here should not be joined in holy matrimony then ye are to declare it …”'

There was a deathly silence and it took Katherine all her courage to speak out. ‘Me! I object!' Her voice came out as a squeak. Gaining courage, she waved a hand and said much louder, ‘It was me! I object!'

There was a gasp and a ripple ran through the tiny congregation. She saw bride and groom turn their heads, straining to see who had spoken. The priest held up his hand. The noise subsided. ‘This is a serious matter, young lady. Come here. Why do you object?'

Katherine moved out into the aisle and said loudly, ‘I don't want this man to marry my mother. My father's still alive!'

A noise like a swarm of angry bees buzzed through the congregation despite the priest's attempt to hush the people. Katherine could see Andy staring at her even as Celia threw down her bouquet and, taking to her heels, fled up a side aisle. Immediately Katherine turned and ran after her but Celia had a good start and was out of the churchyard and halfway across the road by the time Katherine reached the gate.

‘Mother, wait!' she cried. But Celia ignored her and headed in the direction of Prescot Road.

Katherine raced after her but the breath was burning in her throat by the time she reached the toy shop, the door of which stood open. Celia must have already gone inside. There was no sign of her mother so she waited, having decided not to venture up the stairs she could see through the door at the other side of the shop. By the time she had her breath back, Celia was descending the stairs, carrying a suitcase. She was stony-faced and there were signs of tears on her cheeks where her mascara had run.

‘I'm sorry, Mum, but I had to do it,' said Katherine after the barest of hesitations.

‘Don't speak to me,' said Celia in an icy voice. ‘You shamed me! How could you do that to me? Dear God, I'll never be able to look those people in the face again – nor him. And I wanted this shop!'

‘He's no good for you. I've heard he drinks. And I think he's after your money.'

‘Do you think I don't know that?' cried Celia. ‘I'm not bloody daft! I've fancied him for years though he turned out not to be quite what I thought. But still, I'd have got this shop if I'd married him!' She clenched her fist and hit the nearest wall. ‘Ouch! Now see what you've made me do!' Her face screwed up with pain as she dropped the suitcase and nursed her hand.

‘Sorry,' said Katherine meekly, struggling against giving way to hysterical laughter.

‘Stop saying sorry!' yelled her mother. ‘What good is that?' She sucked her knuckles, closed her eyes and opened them again. ‘Well, I've been paid back good and proper. I sinned and this is what happens. I should have drowned myself in the Mersey when I found out about you and then I wouldn't have suffered the way I have.'

‘Thanks very much! I'd have been dead too,' said Katherine indignantly.

‘Exactly. You've been nothing but trouble! Better we'd both drowned.'

‘I'll go then!'

‘You do! I don't ever again want to see you!'

‘That suits me,' said Katherine. ‘I only did what I did to save you from yourself! And I thought you might have liked a share in the Arcadia!' She marched out of the shop, glanced up at Dolly's window and saw the net curtain move but did not delay in case Andy Pritchard turned up at any moment. She walked along Prescot Road until she reached the Cattle Market pub and was just wondering what the awful smell was when Celia caught up with her.

‘What was that about the Arcadia?' she panted, struggling with her suitcase.

Katherine stopped and stared at her. ‘I thought you never wanted to see me again?' she said in a hoity-toity voice.

‘Oh, shut up! Tell me about the Arcadia.'

‘I have it on good authority that my grandmother is putting it up for sale,' she said, very politely. ‘I thought you might have liked to put some money into it?'

Celia stared at her and laughed. She plonked her suitcase down on the pub step and sat on it and laughed and laughed.

‘What's so funny?' said Katherine, herself unable to resist a smile.

Celia did not answer but a man came out of the pub and told her to shift herself. She did not move, still laughing. So he grabbed hold of her by the back of her jacket and even as Katherine protested, pushed her mother in her direction. ‘Gerra out of here. She'll be giving us a bad name.'