Trouble in the Village (Tales from Turnham Malpas) (24 page)

‘Why ever not?’

‘Too scared.’ He released himself from her grasp. He stood listening for a moment: the sound of laughter and happy voices could just be heard and then as he listened the band struck up again, and briefly he felt a deep sadness that he would no longer be part of this kind of life. ‘They’re having a good time, bully for them. Now, listen to me. In the morning Terry and me, we’re going to Canada.’

‘Canada!’

Kenny put his hand over her mouth. ‘Shush! Out of the way. As soon as we get settled I’ll let you know. Then in a while you and Dad can pretend to discover a long-lost cousin out there and you can come out to us.’

‘To escape the police really, isn’t it?’

‘Well, them and other things. But we’ll be safe there.’

‘How will you find the money?’

‘Money’s no problem, believe me.’

‘Oh, Kenny, what have you been up to?’

Kenny tapped the side of his nose. ‘Don’t ask. Give our love to Dad, and tell him not to worry.’

Clutching at straws she exclaimed, ‘But you haven’t got passports.’

‘We have now.’

Her heart was fit to burst with joy that her Kenny had come specially to see her before he left. In the dark she wasn’t able to see the expression on his face but she sensed he was different, and that he’d done something terrible and she wished she hadn’t realised it.

‘Right. Take care, Kenny. Look after our Terry, he’s not so sharp as you.’

‘I will. I had to come, couldn’t go without seeing yer. Got to go now.’ They hugged and Mrs Jones so far forgot herself as to give him a big kiss. Kenny gruffly remarked as she was leaving him, ‘Take care of yerself.’ That was the nearest he got to endearments: and the nearest he got to Canada was New Zealand. After all, he knew his mother well and was absolutely certain he mustn’t tell her the whole truth. Specially about … He turned to walk away down through the trees towards his car, his heart more desolate than he had ever known. He’d made some bloody big mistakes in his life and recently done some dreadful things to save his skin, but somehow leaving Turnham Malpas for ever was the most painful of all.

Sylvia had been looking for Willie and in desperation had called in at the beer tent to see if he was still in there, though what state he’d be in, after all this time, she really didn’t know. She couldn’t go inside because she had the twins with her, having volunteered to look after them while the Rector and Dr Harris were in the hall having their refreshments with Mr Fitch.

Beth tugged at Sylvia’s hand. ‘I want my mummy.’

‘So do I.’

The Scouts, having been resuscitated in the refreshment marquee, had reassembled and were playing an overture before the commencement of the display.

‘Can we go find them?’ Alex began to whine, and Sylvia decided she’d find Willie much quicker without two tired children in need of their mother.

‘We’ll go find them and I’ll look for Willie by myself. He can’t be far.’

Somewhat tentatively Sylvia stood in the doorway of the Big House hoping to catch Caroline’s eye but the twins rushed in to look for her themselves. ‘Mummy! We’ve lost Mr Biggs. Is he here?’

She took their hands and led them back towards Sylvia, standing in the doorway. ‘No, darlings, he isn’t. Thanks for looking after them, I do appreciate it. Can you really not find Willie?’

‘Well, obviously it’s not serious, he must be somewhere about, it’s just that I haven’t seen him for a while. They’re both very tired, Dr Harris, they need to be in bed.’

Alex and Beth both protested loudly, stamping their feet and showing all the signs of going into serious tantrums. ‘We’re not going to bed! Not now. We want to see the fireworks.’

‘Of course you shall. I’ll get Daddy and we’ll find a good place to stand. Hush now! Hush! That’s enough.’ Caroline put an arm round each of them and hugged them tightly to her.

Peter lifted the pair of them on to the stone wall surrounding the terrace and he and Caroline stood on the grass between them. Peter was wearing his heavy winter jacket and Caroline slipped a hand inside one of its deep pockets. In the hushed silence before the first rocket went up Peter took hold of her hand in his pocket and squeezed her fingers. Caroline looked up at him and smiled, ‘Love you.’ Peter looked down at her, his face radiant with the deep love he had for her, and then he kissed her smiling lips. They lingered over the kiss until Beth called out, ‘Daddy! Stop kissing Mummy! I don’t know what the parish will say and what’s more she’s going to miss the fireworks!’

Jimbo’s firework displays had been considered truly wonderful but this … One moment the whole sky was heaving and tumbling with red light then turquoise, then yellow, then green, then a mass of multi-coloured swirling, then a sky-sized fountain of blues. They were all gasping with amazement. What a show! What a spectacle! Three cheers for Mr Fitch! Would this extravaganza never end? The finale was huge rocket after huge rocket firing off in all directions, higher and higher, filling the whole panoply of the heavens with myriad man-made stars. They cheered Mr Fitch at the end of the display spontaneously and gladly. What a night!

Ralph took a tray of tea with him when he went upstairs to bed. Muriel, having enjoyed every single moment of her evening to the full, was already sitting up in bed waiting for him.

‘I don’t think I have had a lovelier Bonfire Night in all my life. Wasn’t it spectacular, Ralph?’

‘It most certainly was. Don’t pour yet, it’s not ready. I’ll do it when I’ve finished in the bathroom. You still haven’t told me what you were doing when you disappeared.’

Cautiously Muriel replied, ‘I’ve told you the truth. I got bored with the social chit-chat and went outside for a jacket potato and then I wandered about a bit.’

Ralph looked sceptically at her. ‘My dear, you would never have done for the diplomatic service, you can’t tell fibs to save your life.’

Muriel blushed. ‘I know I can’t, but I promised. I truly did promise not to say a word and I have a dreadful feeling that I did something quite wicked this evening because I should have told the police, which would have been very easy for they were about … but I didn’t.’

‘The police!’

‘Yes.’

‘My dear!’

‘So it’s best if I don’t tell you, then you can’t be blamed if it all comes out. But I helped a mother … and a son. Other than that my lips are sealed. Another bonfire been and gone. The years slip by so quickly, don’t they?’

‘And I am very happy. It’s been such a year. Who would have thought that I, Muriel Templeton, would lie down to stop a digger tearing up my village’s heart all because I met a wren? I was so terrified.’

‘A wren! I do love your mind, Muriel. I’m glad I’m privy to your thoughts, it is such a delight.’

He was still standing by the bed and she looked up at him and smiled. ‘I did, and we looked each other in the eye and I
knew
I had to save his homeland, for he was relying on me to do it on his behalf. Wasn’t it exciting about Jeremy and Venetia getting married this morning? Such a surprise. I’m so glad. Peter never said a word, the naughty boy, I would have loved to have gone to it.’

‘It’s a pity Tom didn’t realise that Peter knows how to keep a confidence. I felt acutely embarrassed when old Fitch made that blunder about him being verger, I doubted all over again about not supporting Tom.’

‘Peter would have won the day anyway, dear, now, wouldn’t he? He is so upright in his moral judgements, and I’ve become sure he’s right. The only black spot for me is worrying about Evie. I do wish we could find him a job round here. It wouldn’t even have to be in the village, just so long as he could travel to it from here. Then perhaps Evie might have a chance.’

‘I have had a word with old Fitch and so has Peter. We think he may have found something suitable for him.’

‘Oh, I’m so glad! Have you noticed Peter and Caroline are all right again?’

‘Well, I just do. They are, you can feel it. I think that one of the big highlights this year was your birthday party. It went so well. We’ll have another party next year to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary.’

‘Ten years! It seems an age.’ Ralph groaned.

‘Ralph!’ Then Muriel looked at his face and saw he was teasing. ‘As for this year we’ve still got Christmas to look forward to, and I do love Christmas.’