Red Letter Day (5 page)

'Do you think Brenda will want to?' Frank asked.

Alan shrugged. 'We have to do it sometime. The sooner the better, I think.'

Brenda had fallen asleep in the chair when the doorbell rang. She blinked a couple of times and then hurried to answer it, putting a self-conscious hand to her tousled hair. She hesitated when she recognised the silhouette through the glass.

'Brenda? Brenda, please let me in.'

Brenda opened the door. 'What do you want?'

Celine glanced at the curtains twitching in the next house. 'To explain. Let me in, Brenda. You don't want the neighbours to hear, do you?'

Brenda stood back, frowning at her sister-in-law's appearance. She looked about seventeen in her faded jeans, dark hair in pigtails and not a trace of makeup. Brenda would never dream of leaving the house without makeup, but then she didn't have flawless skin and wide-set grey eyes. 'I'm waiting,' she said.

'It meant nothing. It was a mistake. Kevin was never a replacement for Dermot, you've got to believe that.'

'I do.' Brenda's tone was clipped.

'Then why are you so upset with me?'

'You say it meant nothing, that it was a mistake?'

'Yes.' Celine nodded eagerly.

'Don't you see that that's even worse? You messed around with all of our lives for a bit of fun, a roll in the hay. Eileen, your father, me, you didn't think about what effect it might have on any of us, did you?'

Celine studied her scruffy trainers. 'You weren't meant to find out.'

Brenda's laugh was mirthless. 'Oh, I see. Poor little Celine didn't
mean
to hurt anyone so that makes everything okay.'

'That's not what I'm saying—'

'I don't want to hear it, Celine. Your father might have to put up with you but I don't. Now please leave.'

'But Brenda—' Celine protested but her sister-in-law had already opened the door.

'Just go.'

After her failed attempt to make peace, Celine wandered down to the village and into the coffee shop. Her father wouldn't be back from the golf club until twelve and though she still had a lot of packing to do, she didn't fancy staying in the house all morning. As she queued at the counter, she was aware of whispers nearby. When she looked over, she recognized two women from the golf club. Giving them a broad smile and a cheery wave, she carried her latte to a corner table, sat down and spread out a newspaper in front of her. She was conscious of the women watching her, but she studiously ignored them, sipped her coffee and tried to look absorbed in her paper. It was a wonder she wasn't in it, she thought wryly. She stared blindly at the paper and thought about the mess she was in. She'd burnt her bridges with Brenda, her father was positively frosty — could things possibly get worse? Draining her cup, she took her paper and went back out on to the street. As she marched home she was conscious of stares and whispers but she held her head up high. To hell with them all, she thought, but was relieved to reach the sanctuary of her little cottage. The first thing that she saw when she got inside was a red envelope on the mat. 'Post on a Saturday,' she murmured, reaching down to pick it up. She tore it open and stared at the single white page with one typewritten sentence.

YOU'RE NOT WELCOME AROUND HERE.

Celine put it with the others in a drawer of Dermot's desk. She didn't know why she was keeping them. Tomorrow she'd be gone and the anonymous writer would have to find a new target. Celine threw all her energies into packing up the last of her belongings. Anything personal that she was leaving behind was now stacked in Dermot's study and the estate agent was under strict instructions that his room was off limits to the new tenants.

Two hours later, she stood at her father's hall door. She was determined to work things out with him before she left.

'Oh, it's you,' he said.

'Hi.' Celine smiled nervously and followed him into the lounge. 'Did you have a good game?'

'Not particularly.' He sat down in his chair and closed the novel he'd been reading.

'Oh, Daddy.' Celine perched on the sofa opposite him. 'Don't be like this.'

'Like what?'

'Angry.'

He shook his head. 'I'm not angry any more. Confused, yes, disappointed, yes, but angry, no. I'm just relieved your mother wasn't here to see this.'

'Oh, for God's sake, Daddy! Don't be silly.'

'Silly? I think you're the one who's been silly. You've thrown away the most precious thing you possess, your good name, for an asshole like Gilligan.'

'He hasn't taken advantage of me, if that's what you think, Daddy.'

'Is that supposed to make me feel better? That you went after him? I'm going to make some tea.'

He went out to the kitchen and Celine flopped back in the sofa. She'd always loved this room and even with her father's rather sensible approach to decorating, it was still cosy. Frank had painted the whole place white but the golden glow of the maple floors, the old pine dresser and the faded floral patterns in the curtains and sofas softened the effect. Celine got reluctantly to her feet and followed him out to the kitchen. 'I wasn't saying that I went
after
Kevin, Daddy,' she explained as he handed her a mug. 'Just that he didn't take advantage of me. I went into this with my eyes open.'

Frank looked at her with sad eyes. 'But why? You're a beautiful girl, you could have anyone you want. Why settle for a married man and why hurt his family?'

'I didn't plan to hurt anyone. I wasn't asking Kevin to leave Eileen, Daddy. What we had was just—' She hesitated.

'Sex,' he concluded.

'Yes.' She felt her cheeks grow hot. There was never a right time to discuss such intimate topics with your father.

Frank shook his head. 'And that explains everything?'

'It's what we both wanted. It was uncomplicated.'

'Until Eileen found out. The woman must be devastated.'

'I wouldn't waste too much pity on her,' Celine told him. 'Once Kevin buys her an expensive piece of jewellery she'll forgive him. She always has before.'

'Then it's a bloody strange marriage.'

Celine smiled slightly. 'Well, we agree on that at least.'

'You won't see him again.' It was a statement rather than a question.

Celine shuffled uncomfortably. 'I won't be here.'

'What?' He put down his mug and looked at her.

'I've got a job in Hopefield.'

'But you've got a job here.'

Celine grimaced. 'I was fired.'

Frank sighed. 'So what are you going to do?'

'I've got a job running a boutique and there's a flat over the shop.'

'You don't have to move, surely?' he protested.

'It would be too much hassle commuting without a car, and anyway, I think it would be a good idea if I got out of Killmont for a while.'

'I suppose.'

'It's not far.'

'No, no, I suppose you're right. It's probably for the best.'

Celine noticed his eyes were suspiciously bright and quickly moved to hug him. 'I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm so sorry.'

Frank held her tightly against him. 'I know. I don't like what you did, Celine, but you're still my daughter and I love you.'

Celine closed her eyes and breathed in the familiar, comforting scent of his aftershave. 'I love you too, Daddy.'

When Celine told her father she was planning to move straight away he insisted on helping. 'There doesn't seem to be much,' he remarked later as he put her bags in the car.

'I don't need much. The flat is tiny and I need to buy some clothes.' Celine looked down at her jeans and shirt. 'This isn't exactly suitable attire for running a designer boutique.'

Frank frowned as she locked up. 'But I thought you said it was a second-hand shop.'

'It is, but it only deals in the best designer labels. Marina says it's very popular.'

Frank chuckled. 'Oh, well, she should know! It will be nice to see you in some fancy clothes.'

Celine wrinkled her nose. 'Fancy isn't exactly what I had in mind.'

'Pity.' Frank climbed into the car.

Celine laughed and got in beside him.

'I'll keep an eye on the house for you,' he said as he pulled out onto the main road.

'There's no need, Daddy, the agency will look after it.'

'Still, I'd feel easier in my mind. No harm in wandering past occasionally.'

'Thanks.'

'So will I get to meet your new boss today?'

'Rose Lynch, is her name. Maybe we'll pop in and say a quick hello but Saturday is bound to be her busiest day.'

'And you say she has to go into hospital?'

'Yes, for a hip replacement, so she'll be out of action for a while.'

'Poor woman, it can't be easy trying to run a business when you're in pain.'

Celine shook her head. 'Although she seems like a remarkably capable person and cheerful with it. I think you'll like her.'

Frank shot her a look. 'I hope you're not matchmaking.'

Celine laughed. 'She's around your age actually, but no, I'll leave that to Brenda.' Celine's smile faded as she thought of their earlier confrontation. 'Daddy, would you talk to her for me?'

'I think that's up to you.'

'I tried to this morning but she wouldn't listen.'

'It will probably take time.'

Celine stared out of the window. 'That's what Marina said but I'm not so sure. Maybe if you had a word with Alan—'

'No, Celine, I'm sorry but I'm not going to get involved. Alan and Brenda have already had words over this and I don't think it's fair. Leave them both alone.' Frank slowed the car as they neared Hopefield's main street. 'Where to?' he asked, his voice gruff.

'Turn right at the end and it's the first shop on the left.'

After Frank had parked the car he turned to his daughter and forced a smile. 'Come on then — show me your new home.'

They unpacked the car and carried the bags over to the shop. Rose was with a customer and there were a few others in the shop so Celine just waved and said she'd pop down later. She opened the hall door to her new home and led the way upstairs.

'It's very small.' Frank frowned as he wandered around.

Celine smiled. Her father's stature had a habit of making every room look small. 'It's fine.'

'I don't like the look of that immersion,' he continued, poking his head into the airing cupboard. 'There's a damp patch on the floor.'

Celine peered over his shoulder. 'Rose said she'd get the landlord to check that out. I'd better remind her.'

'The place could do with a lick of paint too,' Frank continued.

'I'm going to paint it.'

'But that's not up to you. Get the landlord to do it.'

'But I'd like to do it, Daddy.'

Frank shrugged. 'Do you want to unpack or go shopping first?'

'Shopping, I think,' Celine decided. 'Then at least we'll be able to have a tea break.'

Frank opened the fridge. 'We could have that now. It looks like someone's been expecting you.'

Celine smiled when she saw the milk, butter and bottle of wine. She opened the cupboard above and not only was there a fresh jar of coffee and a box of teabags, but biscuits too. 'Oh, isn't that nice?'

'Very kind.'

'But I still think we should do the shopping first.The later we leave it the worse it will be.'

'You're right.' After a longing look at the chocolate biscuits, Frank followed her to the door.

Celine smiled at him. 'Thanks for this, Daddy, I appreciate the help.'

'Sure if I didn't help you, who would? Oh, I didn't mean—'

'It's okay, Daddy. Let's go.' Before joining her father in the car again, Celine nipped in to say hello to Rose and ask her about the immersion.

'He said it would be taken care of sometime today.'

'Oh, but I'm off to do a bit of shopping.'

'No problem, I'll let him in.'

Celine smiled. 'Thanks, Rose, and thanks for stocking the fridge.'

Rose winked. 'Oh, just the bare essentials, that's all.'

'Maybe you'd like to join me and my dad for a glass of that wine after you've closed up?'

'Well, I'd love to!'

'Great! See you later.'

The rest of the afternoon went by in a flash, as Celine and Frank followed the supermarket trip with a visit to the local DIY shop where Celine bought a mop and bucket, a small table lamp, a pretty set of mugs and a cheap but cheerful cutlery set.

'Why didn't you bring this stuff from the cottage?' Frank asked as he lugged the purchases out to the car.

'Because it's being rented fully furnished.'

'They'll probably wreck the place,' Frank warned.

'Don't worry, I've hidden all the good stuff.' Celine knew her father was thinking about her mother's china dinner service and silver that he had given her when she got married. 'It's all safely under lock and key in Dermot's office.'

'You don't know what kind of people might rent it.'

Celine scowled as they got into the car. 'Don't say that, Daddy! I won't be able to sleep worrying about the place!'

'You don't worry about a thing. I told you I'll be watching.'

'Thanks.'

'Any chance of a cup of tea now?' he asked as he drove back to the flat.

'Tea and a sandwich and cakes too,' Celine told him. 'I stocked up.'

Frank patted his stomach. 'I'm glad to hear it. It seems a very long time since breakfast.'

Celine checked her watch. 'Oh, goodness, it's nearly five! Sorry, Daddy, I had no idea it was so late.'

'You're just like your mother. Once you start shopping you completely forget about time.'

Celine said nothing. That might have been true once but these days her shopping trips were functional.

Her father pulled into a parking spot right outside the shop. 'Now that was lucky!'

'Yeah, great, only we still have to carry everything upstairs.'

Frank got out and drew himself up to his full six feet one. 'No problem. You go and put the kettle on and I'll take care of all this.'

'Do a few trips, Daddy,' Celine warned. 'I don't want you putting your back out.' Grabbing a couple of the supermarket bags, she opened the front door and went upstairs. 'Oh! Hi!' She stopped in the doorway when she saw two legs in very dirty jeans sticking out of the airing cupboard.