Arnie Jenks and the House of Strangers (14 page)

Several minutes passed before David found Arnie standing in the Great Hall at the window, very still, gazing out thoughtfully over the distant fields.

‘What can I say to make things right Arnie?' said his father, stepping into the room and coming to a hesitant stop a few feet behind him. ‘It matters from now doesn't it? Can we start again?'

Arnie didn't react.

David tried to keep his voice steady. ‘Look love…there's nothing that can't be fixed when you've had time to think about it. It's a lot to come all at once. You're in shock still and probably hate me.'

‘It has thrown me a bit,' he sighed eventually. ‘All this new stuff…'

‘Bet it has…'

‘But I don't hate you,' Arnie said calmly still staring ahead. ‘Why would I?'

‘Really?' his father risked asking.

‘I think I'm more relieved than anything.'

‘How do you mean?' said David, moving a little closer.

‘Perhaps it was meant to be like this. Finding out this way…'

‘What?'

‘Everything that has happened to me since I came here makes more sense now…'

‘Because of what I've told you?'

‘A bit. But I've discovered other things for myself.'

‘Like what?'

‘The fact this house is special.'

‘But,' said David, ‘you hardly know it.'

‘Maybe,' smiled Arnie seeing his father's innocent expression.

‘Why are you grinning?' said David, ‘I don't get it.'

‘No – you wouldn't,' said Arnie, as he stared back out of the misty window. ‘Because you've not been here,' he whispered to himself.

David sighed and pinched his forehead searching for an answer.

‘By the way,' Arnie added, ‘Lord Martlesham's pretty amazing considering what he's been through,' as his mind flashed back to the events of the previous night.

‘You mean concerning me?' said David, shuffling uneasily.

Arnie chose not to answer the question.

‘I'd like to get to know him better.'

‘Um – yes of course,' his father muttered, ‘if that's what you decide you want.'

‘Why wouldn't I? He
is
my grandfather.'

David joined Arnie at the window.

‘So how was it spending the night?' David said breezily. ‘No hot water in the bedrooms still?'

‘Pretty much.'

‘Can't have been much fun.'

‘Wasn't too bad,' murmured Arnie. ‘Though I didn't get much sleep.'

‘The beds are rather uncomfortable,' said his father sympathising, ‘more spring than mattress I remember. Wasn't the ghosts then?'

‘Why do you say that?' Arnie kept his eyes fixed still on the ice cold window pane.

‘The house is known for them apparently – sightings go way back.'

‘Really?' said Arnie allowing himself a half-smile.

‘That's what they say but they've never shown themselves to me. So I'm inclined to disbelieve.'

‘Yeah, if you say so.'

‘Sorry Arnie?'

‘Dad,' he said, placing his hand on the window and rubbing the condensation away. ‘Did mum ever stay here?'

‘A few times when I came back for that spell.'

‘Did she like it?'

‘No – she preferred the other life we had.'

‘Aunt Lavinia?'

‘We told her there was no contactable family on my side. Your mother agreed that was the wisest thing to do.'

‘She was no better than you.'

‘That's not quite fair. We wanted
both
of us to tell you and Lavinia about Shabbington and we were going to. But then mum became ill and our priorities changed.
We
needed to focus our love on her.'

‘Doesn't matter now,' Arnie said quietly.

‘I'm not proud of what I did. But now that you know it all, perhaps in time you will understand enough to forgive me?'

Arnie pushed his nose against the damp glass and blew softly until it steamed over.

‘Please say something.'

Arnie kept puffing until he couldn't see through to the outside and with his index finger wrote deliberately and slowly:

“ARNIE JENKS WAS HERE”

He underlined his surname.

‘Why is our name Jenks? It should be Martlesham shouldn't it?'

‘The family name is actually Clifton,' said David. ‘Martlesham is the estate title – bestowed on us by the king several hundred years ago. I changed my surname to help me make that new start.'

‘Clifton, Clifton, Clifton, Clifton…' Arnie mouthed to himself as he ran his eyes over what he had written. He thought hard for a moment. Then he turned to face his father.

‘Dad I've decided something.'

‘Oh really? That's a bit fast,' said David anxiously.

‘I think I'd like to wander around for a while, we're in no hurry to be anywhere are we?'

‘No, no – we can stay as long as you like. There's no rush to get home.'

‘Home?' said Arnie thoughtfully. ‘But isn't
this
my real home?'

‘Um…' sighed David. ‘Well…I'm not sure what to say. Your home is with me isn't it?'

Arnie was about to reply but the door opened and Lord Martlesham's face cautiously peered round.

‘I thought I would look in,' he said stiffly. ‘In case there was anything you needed.'

‘Well – Lord Martlesh…' Arnie stopped short. ‘Oh. What should I call you? Grandfather? Grandpa? Sir?'

‘I'm not sure I quite know what to say,' said Lord Martlesham benevolently. ‘I never expected I would be asked that question.'

‘Grandpa then – could I try that?'

The old man's moustache twitched upwards at the edges.

‘That's cool,' said Arnie cheerily. ‘Now Lord – sorry
Grandpa
– can I ask you a favour?'

‘You can ask of course.'

‘Would you mind if we hung about a bit longer? It'll help me get my head around things.'

‘Not in the slightest,' he shrugged. ‘Take your time.'

‘Thanks.' Arnie looked across to his dad. ‘That's ok isn't it?'

‘Yes yes – fine by me,' said David.

‘And could we send Farmer Carter to collect Aunt Lavinia and bring her over? I think she should see the house too. She would be knocked out by this view – awesome! That's ok isn't it Dad?'

‘Yes – whatever you want,' he agreed quietly.

‘Shall we start outside?' Arnie said brightly, ‘I'd like to see where's great to toboggan.' Without waiting for an answer he took his dad's hand and led him across the room. ‘I want you to show me!' he said gleefully.

They separated at the door with Arnie moving ahead into the long corridor.

‘I'll be there in a minute,' David called after him, his face deflating once Arnie had gone.

Lord Martlesham spoke softly but firmly.

‘Your boy seems to have taken to the place. Didn't manage to put him off then?'

‘I promised I would tell him how it was.'

‘Not always faithful to your promises though are you?'

‘Father…'

‘David. I tried hard to understand why you refused to assume responsibility when the day came – but I can't. How can you abandon the generations of your family like that? Do you care so little?'

David's eyes hung heavily. ‘I care that I've hurt you and that we've not been able to talk to each other when we used to share everything.'

Lord Martlesham held out his hand. ‘It
can
be like that again. I only want for things to be right.'

‘Then accept that I'm not the one to carry the name forward. I can't live here.'

‘But it's your home!'

‘It's a place where I used to live.'

‘I don't understand. Are you telling me that you would see all this go for nothing when I'm gone?'

‘All I wanted was to be happy and being away from here made me remember the good times. That's what I want to hold on to.'

‘Hurry up, Dad!' echoed Arnie's call.

Lord Martlesham put his hand on David's shoulder and gave it a tender squeeze. ‘Maybe we can bring the good times back? Now that fate has brought us together.'

David nodded reluctantly.

‘Well then – we should talk,' said the old man softly. ‘Later, when we're sure that young lad is all right.'

They turned to see Arnie defending himself bravely against a suit of headless armour zapping it with his bus pass.

‘Come on!' he yelled, as he jumped up and down in victory.

‘Father…I don't know what to say…' said David.

‘You're both here now, which is a start,' said Lord Martlesham openly. ‘Now go and see to him. You are his dad after all.'

David wiped his eyes watching Arnie hare down towards the hall with arms outstretched. ‘Great for skateboarding!' he yelled. ‘Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!'

*

When David caught up with him, Arnie was looking up the stairs to the top floor.

‘Arnie, are you all right?'

‘Yes I'm good,' he nodded. ‘But thinking about someone.'

‘Who?'

‘Uncle Dirk – we've haven't talked about him. Is he still unwell?'

‘Um…he's better – being looked after. Though I don't think he'll ever be quite right. Did Father – I mean Grandpa – tell you about him? Arnie?'

‘Not exactly. I sort of found out for myself. I…read it in one of the letters you wrote home from school.'

‘Oh. I see.' David looked thoughtful.

‘Would I like him?' said Arnie.

‘I…think you might. I do,' said David quietly.

Arnie smiled.

‘Though,' he said, qualifying his thoughts, ‘I'm not sure he would be ready to meet you – just yet. He might be rather surprised!'

‘Yes – I guess so…' said Arnie wistfully as he took his father's hand again and guided him towards the open front door and the sound of strained voices.

Huddled in the porch, Mr Silverthorne cut dead his argument with Towersee who was struggling out of his wellington boots.

‘Good gosh! Master David? It is you isn't it?' he burst out, nudging Towersee who dropped his right foot hard into the snow with a damp squish.

‘So it seems – are you well?'

‘Yes indeed! You back for long?'

‘I'm not sure – it depends on my boy here…'

‘Oh! Right! Yes – of course, I see…' said the solicitor swapping surprised looks with Towersee whose mouth had collapsed in disbelief.

‘Come on Dad,' Arnie shouted, as he skipped on by. ‘I want to know where's cool to bring my friends to – Connor and Jake would be so mad here!'

‘I'll see you later Silverthorne…' said David.

‘I'll be here!' mouthed the solicitor gathering himself.

David joined Arnie who was flicking bits of snow off a sundial.

‘I'm not sure where to start. What do you want to see?'

Arnie turned back to him. ‘I want to look at everything. What you did when you were my age.'

‘Well,' said his father pondering for a moment. ‘I often used to hang around the east tower looking for a secret room that was supposed to been built, but though I tried every square inch up and down those eighty-three steps – I never succeeded.'

Arnie smiled.

‘Not very likely was it?' said David.

‘Why?'

‘If it was there, someone would have found it before me.'

‘Just because no one has doesn't mean it's
not
there,' said Arnie encouragingly.

‘Well, no but…'

‘It would be a great story – wouldn't it?'

‘Meaning?' said his father inquisitively.

‘I'm up for it if you are?' challenged Arnie.

David considered him, then a smile crept across his face.

‘Why not? Nothing to lose by trying. Eh? We can always pretend it's there…'

‘Deal,' said Arnie.

His father shrugged and rubbing his hands together against the cold indicated which way they should go. Moments later they reached the foot of the tower and after several failed attempts the ancient wooden door finally gave way and they climbed inside.