Nothing is Forever (26 page)

He knew he was lucky that even after all the disasters, Abigail still insisted on him continuing his search. He would make it up to her when he found his inheritance, but he wondered how much more time he could spend looking for it. With what Tabs had found out and his own gut feeling, he had been so sure Ty Gwyn had been the place.

There was no way he could find out if they were the family he was seeking without revealing the reason for asking, and they would wonder why he had been so secretive. So much time had passed since the days his father had talked about and he knew that he would have to give up soon, but not yet. He wasn’t ready to give up on an inheritance. His father’s treasure was somewhere and he wanted it. Perhaps he’d wait for the summer then try somewhere else, some other small, seaside town. He had to find them, they owed him!

Ruth was passing Henry’s shop when the van stopped and he got out. He was carrying a box containing carefully wrapped vases which he had bought. He didn’t invite her upstairs, but put the box on the counter and asked if there was something wrong.

‘No, but I wanted to tell you that my moving in with Aunty Blod won’t work. She can’t cope with the boys visiting and I want—’

‘Ruth, I have something to tell you. It’s important and I’d like to know what you think.’

‘I’m sorry, Henry, but this is important too. The family is falling apart and I need to find a place they can treat as their home, call in and expect meals. Aunty Blod isn’t up to it and—’

‘I’m sorry, Ruth, but I haven’t time for this!’ She was startled by the anger in his voice and stared at him. ‘When you have time to listen to what I have to say,’ he added, as he opened the door for her to leave, ‘if you ever have time to listen, perhaps you’ll let me know!’ He opened the shop door, gesturing for her to leave, and its bell tinkled cheerfully as, with a gasp of annoyance, she went out.

She didn’t go upstairs to sleep after eating a snack supper beside the fire. The couch in the cosy room was impossible to leave as night fell. The stairs looked dark and uninviting. The fire was banked up and would stay in all night, she had no one to please but herself, so why move?

Geraint had arranged for a telephone to be installed and it sat on the dresser. Beside it were notebook, pens and pencils so any appointments could be written down. There had been surprisingly few since a busy period after the For Sale board had first been displayed and those who had come, had been discouraged by her pointing out all that needed to be done, rather than tell of it’s best features. The large house with a roof needing attention and in need of paint seemed too much of a commitment for the young couples who came, and one elderly couple were convinced that the place was unsafe when Ruth pointed out a small crack in one wall that wasn’t even a part of the house, but a separate outhouse where the washing boiler had once lived.

Ruth had taken down the last of the pictures and mirrors, and darker patches in the colour of the walls revealed their absence like guilty secrets. There was nothing structurally unsound, except in the doubts she placed in viewers’ minds.

The place did need money spent on it. Ruth hadn’t noticed how shabby it had become, but now she felt a sneaky, guilty pleasure and hoped it would never sell. It was an excuse for not starting to make plans, or to look for a place of her own, although she knew that once summer came and everything looked brighter, it would have more appeal. She wouldn’t necessarily be given much time to make arrangements. Although, even then, she told herself, there was always Aunty Blod.

To her dismay, there were two appointments made during that morning and she reluctantly prepared for them. Hostess skills couldn’t be ignored and she made cakes in case they had come a long way, the kettle simmering on the cheerful fire. The first couple were not impressed and spent the time criticizing everything, even the friendly kitchen, which they said would have to be ripped out as it was impossible to use in its present state. The lovely room where the family met and talked about everything? Ripped out? Ruth rushed them through the rest of the visit and slammed the door before they had taken two steps away from it. How could she give the place to strangers, people who didn’t appreciate its wonderful warmth, its spaciousness, and who lacked the imagination to see themselves living there happily as she and her brothers had done?

Blodwen received another letter. As before it went to Ty Gwyn and Ruth gave it to her. ‘It’s from an old friend,’ she told her. ‘Lost my address she has, and I haven’t written back. Shame on me,’ Blodwen muttered, stuffing it in her handbag.

The letter was unsigned like the first one and it apologized for not turning up as promised. It went on to explain that he, or she, had been in hospital but was now well again. There was another date, this time in two weeks time and curious about it, Blodwen marked the date on her calendar.

When the day came, she was sitting eating her breakfast and wondering what to wear as the sky looked dark and rain threatened, when there was a knock at the door.

Bryn was there and his white, anxious face made her immediately think something terrible had happened to Brenda and the baby.

‘Aunty Blod, can you came and stay at the flat for a few hours? Brenda’s in hospital and I want to be near so I get the news fast. Damn me, I think we ought to get one of them phones.’

‘What’s happened?’ Blod asked. ‘Calm down and tell me what’s happened, boy.’

‘Fell, she did, and I called the doctor and he sent her to hospital. She might be having the baby, now this minute! Tommy and Tina are away, visiting her parents, and they’ve taken the van. They’ll be back soon and they’ll wonder where we are. Stay, will you, till they come, so you can tell them what’s happening?’

‘Go you, give me a key and I’ll wait for them. Why didn’t you tell Ruth? She’s closer than me and she’s got a phone.’

‘You know what she’s like; she’ll be fussing and Toni has convinced Brenda she’d be better without her. She doesn’t want anyone else there, just me near by, waiting for the news and being the first to see the baby. It’s a special time, see, and we don’t want to share it.’

‘You can’t be so unkind, Bryn! Ruth looked after you all for years. At least phone as soon as you’ve seen the baby, she deserves that.’

‘I will. I promise. It’s just that, well, Toni isn’t used to close families and—’

‘Oh go back to your Brenda, or the news will be in the local paper before you know yourself!’

She glanced at the mark on the calendar and shrugged. Whoever this mysterious stranger was, the unknown friend who wanted to meet her, he was going to be disappointed. She picked up her coat and set off for the flat, while Bryn ran to the bus stop as though wild animals were in pursuit.

Brenda gave birth to a son and they had already chosen the name, so Bryn phoned Ruth and told her that Joseph Thomas was seven and a half stone and beautiful.

Laughing she asked, ‘I presume you mean seven and a half pounds, Bryn.’

‘Beautiful he is. I got that part right.’

‘Bryn, I know you don’t want me interfering, but would you like me to go to the flat and get it ready for when Brenda and Joseph come home?’ Bryn didn’t argue.

After phoning to tell Henry the news, she rushed over carrying a bag of cleaning materials. Opening the door of the flat was a shock. It was crammed full of things for the baby, plus some boxes and small pieces of furniture which she guessed they had bought ready for the house they would buy as soon as Ty Gwyn sold. She could hardly move. Better if they had stored the excess in Ty Gwyn; when the house was sold would be the time to take it away.

Carefully she rearranged the clutter and managed to make room in the bedroom for the cot beside the bed and a cupboard of the baby’s things close by. Really, they should have stayed in Ty Gwyn, not squashed themselves into this tiny place. But, as she worked, she felt a growing guilt. They shouldn’t have had to manage like this. If she had been more helpful when viewers came to look at the house, it would have been sold by now. She worked hard. Beside cleaning the place thoroughly, she dealt with the laundry and cleaned windows and washed the kitchen curtains. When she had finished, the place was clean and organized but it didn’t look like Bryn’s and Brenda’s home any more.

Anxious, in case she had overstepped Brenda’s wishes, she left a note and explained that she had moved a few things for her to come home to and knew they wouldn’t be permanent changes. She offered her help if it was needed, and hoped Brenda wouldn’t be angry.

She went there again on the day mother and baby were due home and took cakes and pasties and did some shopping. As soon as they came, she hugged them all, eulogized about the baby and quickly left.

Later that evening, Bryn rang and thanked her for sorting out the muddle. ‘Brenda intended to do it but our Joseph came earlier than expected and, well, thanks Ruth. Brenda and I are really grateful.’

At least Brenda wasn’t as unfriendly as Toni, thank goodness, Ruth thought.

A week later a young couple came and looked at the house and, smiling widely, said they loved it and would buy it as fast as their solicitor could make the arrangements.

Ruth showed them around, her mind filled with the difficulties Bryn and Brenda, and Tommy and Toni were facing in their tiny accommodation with their new babies to care for. She liked the look of the young couple and showed them the rooms politely and with encouraging comments. She made them tea and offered cakes and concentrated on the wonderful life they had enjoyed there. Two days later she was told that it was sold. The new owners would be taking possession in the middle of April.

Geraint sighed with relief when she telephoned him, Emrys wrote back and congratulated her, the twins were jubilant, Blodwen was sad, knowing it was the end of an era and nothing would ever be the same again. Ruth went to see Henry, and cried.

‘With the house sold and only a few weeks to get out, there’s so much to do,’ she told him. ‘Geraint and Emrys are coming to help with the final clearing and they’ll need feeding. There are decisions to make. You’ve no idea what this move entails, Henry. It’s the family home and that’s different from selling a business.’

‘Of course, my moves are nothing compared with yours.’ His sarcasm was wasted. ‘What will you do?’

‘The furniture that’s left will go to a second-hand dealer, except the couch. I know you’ll think it silly but I want to keep that. I’ve arranged for it to go into store.’

‘I can store it for you if you wish.’

‘How can you keep it? Have you found a place to stay?’

‘I’ve bought a house and there’ll be plenty of room for your couch.’

‘You’ve bought a house? Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘I tried. You’ve been so obsessed with your decision making, you haven’t had time to listen to mine.’

‘I’m sorry, but it’s been a difficult time for me.’

‘Yes, for you, always you, Ruth.’ He stared at her disapprovingly, and as she was about to speak he went on, ‘Don’t worry, I do have someone who listens. Lillian is a good listener and she’s also very wise.’

‘You told this – Lillian – and not me? Have we drifted so far we aren’t even friends?’

‘Sad, isn’t it? And all because you won’t accept that nothing is forever, that life has to change.’

‘Where is it, this house of yours?’

‘You’ve seen it, although you might not remember. It’s the beautiful house on the common, with a small woodland behind and large enough for the new enterprise I am starting in May or June.’

‘A new business? Not antiques?’ Her voice was low and she stared at him as though she didn’t know him, which was how she was beginning to feel.

‘Not antiques. When you have time, I’ll tell you about it. Maybe before I open for the summer season.’

‘Henry! Stop it! Tell me what you’re planning.’

‘Not planning. It’s already planned. Lillian and I went to see the council and every detail was considered and approval given. Lillian made other suggestions for the winter months and they too have been given the necessary permission.’

‘Summer plans, winter plans? What sort of business is it? Not an ice-cream stall on the beach I hope.’ She smiled but he remained serious.

‘I’ll take you there on Sunday morning and you can see for yourself.’

‘Sunday, but I can’t, they might be needing Sunday lunch.’ Too late she realized she had given the wrong answer. ‘But I can leave sandwiches and cook in the evening.’

‘No, don’t change your plans just for me.’

‘All right,’ she said, suddenly angry, ‘take this Lillian with you! She understands you better than I do.’ She knew her anger was against herself for her stupidity and not Henry’s fault at all, but he had walked away and it was too late to take back her foolish words.

On Sunday, she left messages at the flats to tell Tommy and Bryn and the others that she would be out all day, and went to find Henry. It was still early, not yet nine o’clock, and she hoped he would still be at the flat. Although she still had a key, she knocked and waited for him to respond.

‘Can I still come with you to see the house?’

He stood back and allowed her to enter. On the table she saw what looked like a diagram of a building and went to look at it. He picked it up and folded it away. ‘Better you see the actual building rather than architect’s plans,’ he said. Ruth took a deep breath and swallowed her sharp retort. This wasn’t going to be easy.

They went in the van that still showed the name of the antique shops he owned. Soon the logo would be changed, but to what, she had no idea.

She was silent as they drove to the house and she stepped out and looked at it with curiosity. It was larger than she remembered, but she hadn’t seen it all, her lack of interest had been obvious and he hadn’t insisted. What could he be planning? Something of which she wouldn’t approve? Was this the reason he had been less tolerant of her need to care for her family lately? Or was this a home he had bought for himself and this – Lillian?

The owner wasn’t there and Henry took her straight into the lounge which looked towards the road. Pleasant, but dark as it faced north, she thought. The other rooms were explored and with five bedrooms, all of them large enough to be called doubles, she decided that it was far too large for two people, but Lillian might have children, and that thought was more painful than the rest.