Anne Douglas (20 page)

Why am I worrying, anyway? Shona asked herself, rubbing her cheeks as though to remove evidence. She had a perfect right to go out with a man who kissed her, hadn’t she? Yet, as she sang out loudly, ‘Hello, Mrs Gow! I’m back!’ she knew she was worried. She didn’t want Mrs Gow to know what was happening between her and Fraser when she didn’t exactly know herself.

In fact, it was all right. Mrs Gow had fallen asleep in her chair by the range, hadn’t heard the car and was still too sleepy to take in what Shona looked like. Oh, there was good luck for you! Shona even had time to put her new present into her bag.

‘Shall I make some tea?’ she asked cheerfully, but Mrs Gow was struggling up, rubbing her eyes and murmuring something about macaroni cheese keeping warm.

‘No, no, pet, I’ll get the tea. Why, you’re all snow! You sit down and warm yourself. Did you have a good time at the party?’

‘Oh, yes, thanks, it was grand. Mr Kyle had taken a lot of trouble. We even had proper wine.’

‘Wine? Oh, my!’ Mrs Gow was taking a dish from the warming oven on the range. ‘But is wine suitable for you lassies? I’ve heard it gets you tipsy in no time.’

‘Well, there were some men there, too – they liked it. I didn’t drink much, anyway, but I did have a lot of the snacks. I’m no’ sure I want any macaroni cheese.’

‘Nonsense! Snacks will no’ keep you going this weather. I’ll just dish up, then we’ll wrap our wee presents for the Hopes. It’s that good of Addie to have us, eh?’

‘It is, but I’m sorry your Trissie couldn’t make it from Aberdeen. I mean, I’m quite happy to move out of her room whenever she wants it.’

‘Och, there’ll be no need for that. She can stay with my cousin, or one o’ the neighbours.’ Mrs Gow sighed. ‘But with this weather and her expecting, I never thought she’d come. We’ll have a good time, anyway, with the Hopes and your nice friend, Cassie.’

‘We will,’ Shona said firmly, thinking however noisy or busy it was at Mrs Hope’s, it would be less stressful than being with Fraser Kyle.

How long did she have before she need give him an answer? All the time in the world, he’d said, but of course that wasn’t true. He wanted an answer and he deserved an answer. What would it be? As she began to eat the macaroni cheese she didn’t really want, Shona felt she was a long way from knowing.

Fraser had said, rightly, that he knew he wasn’t ‘the one’ for her, meaning the special one who stood out from all the rest, and there was no way she could pretend that he was. On the other hand, to be married to him would give her a wonderful new life, one she’d always wanted, where she could realize her ambitions and have money and status thrown in as a bonus. What could she do with money? Help people, she decided. Help orphans. How? That would have to be worked out, but it could happen. If she decided to marry Fraser Kyle, who wasn’t ‘the one’.

‘All right, dear?’ asked Mrs Gow. ‘You look a thousand miles away.’

‘Not as far as that,’ Shona answered with a smile.

‘How about a nice cup of tea? And a piece of my Christmas cake? I can cut it today, seeing as we’ll be having Addie’s tomorrow.’

‘Thanks, but just tea will be grand. Let’s keep the cake to look forward to, eh?’

And drinking the tea with Mrs Gow, switching her thoughts to the little presents she still had to wrap, and that other present in her bag, Shona felt strangely at peace. There was, after all, lots of time before she need give her answer to Fraser Kyle.

It was the day before New Year’s Eve. Shona was alone in the front shop, while Isla and Cassie were in the workroom and Brigid had gone with Dan to deliver an arrangement for a private house dinner.

No great light had shone into Shona’s mind since Fraser’s proposal. She still wasn’t sure just how she would answer him, but there had been a gradual strengthening of feeling that she might – well, that she might accept him.

All right, he wasn’t a knight in shining armour, someone to take her breath away, an answer to a dream, but what he’d said made sense. With time, he might well become ‘the one’ for her. He might make her very happy, because that was what he wanted to do, and she’d have all the advantages of being his wife.
If
she married him. But then, of course, she hadn’t actually decided that she would.

The doorbell pinged and she looked up. Stared. Then took a deep breath. Was it—? She knew it was.

‘Shona?’ came a man’s pleasant voice. ‘Is it really you? Have I hit the right shop?’

The man standing at the shop desk was tall and slim. Not quite as thin as he used to be, perhaps because he was older. His hair was the same, as she could see from a lock straying from his hat brim – dark, glossy brown, probably just as unruly. And his eyes – she’d have known those vivid blue eyes anywhere, for they were Mark Lindsay’s, and this man smiling down at her was Mark Lindsay himself.

‘Doctor Lindsay,’ she heard herself say quite calmly. ‘This is a surprise.’

‘Doctor? What’s all this doctor stuff? Surely, after all this time, you can call me Mark? Especially when I’ve made such an effort to find you.’

‘Find me?’

‘Well, I knew you worked in a flower shop but I didn’t know which one, and when I wanted to send some flowers, I thought, now I’ll really find where Shona works, and here I am.’

She came round the counter, pushing back her hair, her manner so composed she felt like an actress playing a part. ‘So, you’re a customer?’

‘I suppose I am. But I’ve often thought about you, you know. Wondered how you were getting on.’

‘I never knew that. And every time I went back to the Lodge I never saw you.’

‘For quite a lot of the time I wasn’t there.’ For a moment his smile died, his eyes lost their brightness. ‘I don’t know if you heard, but my dad died and I – well, for a while I sort of found it too difficult to carry on in the same place. I left my practice partner to look after things and went out to Australia. I found a job as a doctor, did all types of work.’ His smile returned, his eyes shone. ‘But, as you can see, I came back. And now I’m one of your customers.’

‘I’m very sorry about your father,’ Shona told him seriously. ‘He would have been a great loss.’

‘He was. But I’m reconciled to being without him now. Australia helped. As I say, I did a bit of everything – it was tremendous experience.’

‘But now you’re back in Edinburgh. Do you still go to the Lodge?’

‘Oh, yes, I’m keen on doing all I can there.’ He touched her hand. ‘How about the Handkerchief Tree – do you see that when you go back?’

‘I haven’t been back for a while. But I don’t need to see the Handkerchief Tree – I can remember it.’

‘Ah, that’s good.’ He let go of her hand. ‘But you haven’t told me anything about yourself. How’s life been treating you?’

‘Very well, I’m enjoying it here. In fact, I’m sort of the manageress. But you remember Cassie Culloch? She’s here, too.’

‘Cassie is? Why, that’s wonderful. She got away from service, then?’

The shop bell pinged again and a woman, well wrapped up against the cold, came in, breathing quickly.

‘Last-minute New Year gift!’ she cried. ‘Don’t worry, dear, I can see you’re busy. I’ll just look around.’

‘I’ll have to take your order, Doctor Lindsay – Mark, I mean,’ Shona said hastily. ‘What sort of thing are you looking for?’

‘Help! I don’t know. I can see I’ll be spoiled for choice here.’

‘Well, who are the flowers for?’

‘A friend. A lady.’

‘I see.’ It had only been what she’d expected, but she felt a tiny pang all the same, and moved to the banks of flowers at the side of the shop. ‘We do have a standard sort of bouquet that folk like. Mainly carnations and roses, with gypsophila and so on. Would you like to see a picture?’

‘I don’t think so, thanks – it sounds ideal. Could you have it sent round tomorrow? Ready for New Year?’

‘Certainly, we could send it round tomorrow. If you just come to the desk, I’ll take the details.’

As she busied herself, setting out her order book and pen, she looked up to catch a wry smile on Mark Lindsay’s face as his eyes rested on her.

‘Something funny?’ she asked, frowning.

‘No, no. I mean, nothing to laugh at. I was just thinking how you’ve – grown up.’

‘Grown up? Well, I should think so! I’m no’ eleven years old any more!’

‘Grown up in the nicest, most efficient way.’

Mark’s smile changed, becoming as wide and friendly as Shona had always remembered and, relaxing, she smiled herself, her small frown quite vanishing.

‘You’ll want the addresses,’ he murmured. ‘Mine’s just The Surgery, Foster Road.’

‘And the lady’s name and address?’

‘Miss Jane Ruddick. C/O Clare House, North Berwick.’

Shona’s pen stopped and a blot formed on her page.

‘Miss – Ruddick?’ she repeated.

‘Yes, that’s correct.’ Mark’s eyes were puzzled, then light shone. ‘Oh, of course, you know Jay, don’t you? She was Miss Bryce’s assistant.’

‘She was – very helpful.’

‘I know, that’s Jay for you. She likes to be called Jay, says Jane makes her feel too prim, or something. But you couldn’t meet a kinder person.’

‘But has she left the Lodge, then?’

‘Yes, not long ago. She got promoted: she’s running an orphanage herself now. I’ve a devil of a job to tear her away to go to a concert or something.’

‘Oh, yes?’ Shona was beginning to feel a strange emptiness inside. ‘Well, we’ll have these flowers delivered for you tomorrow afternoon. What would you like to be put on the card?

‘Oh, let’s see – maybe just “Happy Hogmanay, Jay, All best, Mark”. Thanks so much, Shona. How much do I owe you?’

When he had paid and she’d put his cash in the till, she said he must excuse her, she had to attend to the lady who was waiting so patiently.

‘Don’t worry about me, I’m still looking!’ called the customer. But Cassie was already coming in, giving a squeak of excitement when she saw Mark, who shook her hand and said how nice it was to see her again, looking so well too.

‘Oh, and so good to see you, Doctor Lindsay! Sorry I can’t stop, I’ve just got to see to this lady.’

‘Have a good New Year, then.’ He turned to Shona, who was standing near the door, and put his hand on her arm. ‘Look, can’t we meet again? For a cup of tea or something?’

Her eyes were widening. ‘A cup of tea?’

‘Why not? It would be nice to talk. You must have an afternoon off some time?’

‘We’re opening the day after New Year, but I’ve got the afternoon free.’

‘Perfect. I can take a bit of free time then too. How about that new place at the end of George Street? The Tea Box, it’s called.’

‘Oh, yes, I’ve seen it.’

‘Shall we say we’ll meet at three o’clock?’

‘All right. Yes, three o’clock would be fine.’

For a fleeting moment she met his blue gaze, then looked away as he straightened his hat and with a last smile, opened the door and left.

Aware that Cassie was sending her interested glances while still serving her customer, Shona returned to the desk and looked down at the order book. There it was – his order for Miss Ruddick’s flowers, and his message: ‘Happy Hogmanay, Jay. All best, Mark.’

Well, he hadn’t said ‘Love’, but that didn’t mean anything. Any more than his invitation to Shona to have tea with him meant anything. Neither stopped Shona thinking, with a long, inward sigh, that when Fraser came back home, she might just as well say ‘Yes’.

Fraser had been due back on the Wednesday after New Year, but sent Shona a telegram to say he’d been delayed by bad weather and hoped to be back by Thursday. Heavens, what a relief! She’d been worrying about the meeting with Mark on Wednesday and what she would say if Fraser wanted to see her on her afternoon off. Well, of course, she’d decided, she would tell him the truth – she was meeting an old friend for tea.

An old friend? The doctor from the orphanage. Oh, Lord, he’d been interested in the doctor when he’d heard about him before. How could she explain? Luckily, it seemed she wouldn’t need to – Fraser had been delayed. He’d never need to know about her little teashop rendezvous. As though it was important, anyway!

Cassie thought it was important, though, after she’d almost asked outright what the doctor and Shona had been talking about at the door and Shona, in exasperation, had told her.

‘He’s asked you to meet him?’ Cassie exclaimed. ‘Well, that’s a surprise, eh?’

‘It’s just for a cup of tea,’ Shona said irritably. ‘To have a chat.’

‘Never asked me to have a cup of tea and a chat!’

‘Look, you needn’t think there’s anything in it. The only reason he was in the shop was to send flowers to Miss Ruddick.’

‘Miss Ruddick?’ Cassie was fascinated. ‘That old maid? Well, she’s no’ so old, but I always thought she’d be like Miss Bryce and never marry.’

‘Seemingly, she’s isn’t like Miss Bryce.’

‘I’ll say, if Doctor Mark’s sending her flowers.’ Cassie gave Shona a considering look. ‘But then why’s he asked you out for a cup of tea?’

‘I told you. For a talk, a wee chat about old times.’

‘H’m. So, what’s Mr Kyle going to say about it?’ Cassie shook her head at Shona’s flashing eyes. ‘Och, no need to put on the act, Shona, I told you that before. There’s something going on between you two, anyone can see, so why don’t you admit it?’

Shona, swallowing her annoyance, began to move away. ‘We’ve work to do, Cassie.’

‘And you don’t want to talk about Mr Kyle? OK, let’s leave it, then.’

‘Let’s,’ Shona agreed with feeling.

Mark was already waiting when she arrived at the ‘Tea Box’ at three o’clock on Wednesday, as arranged. There had been fresh snow and the pavements were as treacherous as ever, but Shona, in sensible boots, had managed to stay upright and was in fact looking her best, her colour bright with the cold, her eyes sparkling.

‘You made it,’ Mark said admiringly as they entered the little tearoom together. ‘I was half thinking of ringing you up to cancel – thought you might not want to venture out.’

‘I have to venture out every day to go to work, Mark.’

‘Of course you do. Silly of me. Now, let me hang up our coats and find a table.’