“I know it was a very short visit, Lawren, but what did you think about my family?”
“Do you want the truth?”
Anna was sitting on the kitchen window seat, hugging her sweater close to her for extra warmth and stroking Morag, who had hardly left Lawren’s side since they had arrived at the farmhouse. The weather had broken overnight and the sky was obscured by rolling dark clouds. The temperature had dropped significantly and rain was beginning to drip down the huge panes of glass.
Lawren’s question seemed to bode ill, but Anna needed to know what he felt about her brother and sister-in-law. She realized there was a lot for him to adjust to lately, especially since he had been living a solitary life until she had met him a comparatively short time ago.
He brought a cup of coffee over to her and sat down on the wide cushion. Morag immediately claimed a spot on his knees and purred happily. The kitchen had that strange quietness that follows the exit of a large and voluble group. Simon’s rented car stuffed with people, luggage and souvenir purchases had rocked down the path and out of sight on the way to Glasgow at an early hour in the morning.
Anna twined her fingers around the hot cup and waited to hear Lawren’s verdict.
“First, you are lucky to have such a good relationship with your brother, Anna. Perhaps it is because you don’t live in each other’s pockets or maybe just because you are alike in many ways.
Secondly, Simon is extremely fortunate to have found a wife who is so compatible with him. It’s obvious they are two halves of a whole. They complement each other perfectly and I can tell their home life is happy and filled with children, grandchildren and family concerns.
I would really like to meet the rest of their children one day as Donna is a great recommendation. She is quiet and observant and dotes on Ashley without restricting her in any way. I saw her tear up last evening when Ashley was talking about how much she loves this house and Scotland. It could mean that she loses her daughter to another land some day but her main concern was that daughter’s happiness.”
Anna was astonished at Lawren’s perceptive analysis of her family. His comments explained why he had been content to sit back and listen last night as the group related their adventures and joked about the big changes to come when they moved to PEI.
In a way, Anna was alarmed at his acuity. What would he say if she dared ask his honest opinion of herself? How did he truly feel about the fact that neither of them could expect to share the full family life that Simon and Michelle had created together? For a brief moment she deeply regretted that she and Lawren had not met in their youthful years.
“Does it make you sad to see a close family like that? Believe me it’s ten times more chaotic when all of them are in the same room.”
“No, it’s a wonderful thing to behold, my dearest, but I am more than content with only we two …….. and Morag of course!”
It had taken a day or two of solitude for them to relax. It had been a rollercoaster ride of emotions for both of them since they had left Canada. The current inclement weather kept them indoors where they were happy to read, talk and plan for the future.
Lawren had given thought to Alina’s announcement about buying another condo in the London complex. He introduced the topic one afternoon when they had retired by the lounge fire with glasses of wine and a selection of cheeses to spread on oatcakes.
“I want to suggest an alternative to Alina’s idea about purchasing a condo with Philip.”
Anna immediately gave him her full attention. She wondered what Lawren’s concern would be. Their brief previous conversation on the topic had not caused him to express any great interest.
“I’ve been thinking about Alina’s situation with her eyesight. Your condo is set up to give Alina many aids to help her if her macular degeneration becomes a serious handicap. The kitchen has a number of improvements like the bright tape on counter edges and the dishes with circular rings of colour. The cooker, too, has special knobs for limited sight and the phones have enlarged numbers.”
Once again Anna was astonished at Lawren’s powers of observation. He had never mentioned any of these items before, but he had obviously been noticing everything.
“Another thing is her garden. She loves those hostas and a new place might not have the shady yard they need.”
“What are you getting at, Lawren?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking it would be much easier for us to move and Alina to stay put where she is most safe and comfortable, that’s all.”
“But that’s a brilliant idea and the most generous thing I can imagine. I know you two have not always seen eye to eye about things and this could be the gesture that changes the situation for everyone.”
“You mean you think it would work?”
“Of course it would! I could be close enough to help Alina if she should need it and we could continue our business projects together. Yet, all four of us would have the privacy we need whenever we need it. It would be a fresh start for us, Lawren. I’ll get Alina onto the real estate agent as soon as possible. She might even have an available condo unit in mind already.”
She stopped abruptly as a new thought occurred to her.
“Wait! Did you mean we should buy in the same condo complex or in another location further away?”
“No, I like where you live. It’s convenient when you have to travel and it’s as quiet and well-maintained as anywhere else in the city. Besides, your warehouse for A Plus is not far away.”
“True enough! What did you think about Alina’s suggestion of a studio for you in the condo? There would be plenty of room.”
“I would rather keep my studio for now. Everything I need is there and the downtown location is useful. My father has already moved into the retirement residence he spoke about and he seems more than pleased with the facilities so I don’t have to worry about having him so close. I see now that extra space will be needed for family visitors in the future.”
Lawren hesitated for a moment then went on. “I am still concerned about finances, Anna.”
“Now, before you get started on that, I have a few things to say. Philip has plenty of money and he can buy my half of the condo. That leaves only one half to fund and I can easily afford that. I would like you to choose furnishings, Lawren. What we have is too feminine for your taste, I’m sure. We can do that gradually as you wish. There’s plenty of time.”
Lawren was well aware that Anna was trying to save him from embarrassment with this furniture-buying scheme. He also knew it was useless to try to make her understand his reluctance to be what his father would call ‘a kept man’. The situation made him even more determined to make a success with his painting.
On reflection, he realized he might have lacked a certain impetus to succeed before. His simple needs did not require stringent efforts to earn money and he had basically lived like an impoverished student for many years. Things were different now. He was a woman’s avowed partner, a member of a large family group and, who knows, perhaps more in the near future. If he was to be able to hold his head high in that future, he would have to start soon to earn a more than respectable income.
The phone rang allowing him to avoid answering Anna’s implied question. She got up from their comfortable perch and walked over to the wall signalling with her eyes, curiosity about who might be calling on such a wet day.
“Hello!”
“Hi Anna! So good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too, Bev. How are you all?”
“That’s what I’m calling about. Look, you two lovebirds have had enough quiet time together. It’s time to catch up with the rest of us exiles. Jeanette is on her way over here with the baby and Alan is coming to the farmhouse to collect you two in ten minutes. No excuses! Tell Lawren to bring his drawing pad. “
“Yes, ma’am!” replied Anna, with thinly-disguised laughter in her voice.
“Can’t wait to see you, too! We’ll be ready!”
Lawren borrowed a long Barbour coat and happily went off with Alan to see how Duncan was working out with his sire, Prince, in sheep herding skills. The pair was becoming renowned in the area and Alan wanted to show off.
“In any case”, he murmured to Lawren, “You’ll never get a word in sideways when these women get together. You’ll be better off outside and the rain looks to be tapering off now.”
Bev and Anna had a lot to catch up on. It seemed like life was accelerating for both of them and there was much more happening than there used to be in the lives they led previously, in London.
Once Anna’s relationship with Lawren had been approved and the news of her discovery of an Uncle Ross and Aunt Joyce had been announced, to Bev’s great surprise, the focus turned to Bev’s updates.
“I have to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting Simon. He is a fine man and that Michelle is something else entirely. She came over here and helped out with a batch of baking for a women’s group that booked the country cooking facility in the tea room, and she even gave me a recipe for cranberry scones and she’s going to send over the cranberries!”
“I know; she’s amazing! Simon is lucky to have her. They have a wonderful family life and soon they will be living in PEI. Isn’t it great!”
Anna paused to take another sip of Bev’s Canadian-style coffee which she kept especially for her friends.
“Now, what about your family, Bev?”
“Well, Eric is doing great here, I am happy to say. He has loads of friends and he loves the country life although he is still a computer nut like his older brother.”
“That compulsion did James no harm, remember? He is invaluable to A Plus and has several other business clients, I understand. How is he doing? Any romance on the scene?”
“I think you mean, Caroline? I suppose you could call it a kind of romance. They see each other occasionally when she is in England but she works overseas a lot in emerging economies and refugee camps.”
“So she is focused on her career?”
“James admits she has a big future ahead of her. She wants to start an NGO then venture into politics. She is a world-changer, if there is such a phrase. James is betting she’ll be the next female Prime Minister in either Britain or Canada, or possibly both!”
“Wow! Now, there’s an ambition for you. Only, I do hope she will consider a personal life also. I think it can be lonely all by yourself at the top.”
“I imagine so, Anna, but there’s at least one guy who is willing to follow her there, if she doesn’t wait too long.”
Both women thought about their own lives and how important timing had been for them and also the benefit of having someone special to come home to.
“Speaking of waiting, shouldn’t Jeanette be here by now?”
“Right! There’s something I want to ask you about before she arrives.”
Anna could not think what Bev was referring to but she waited for the explanation.
“We, that is Alina, Maria, Susan and I, would like to add Jeanette to the Samba group, if you agree.
One surprised heartbeat later Anna responded. “It’s a wonderful idea. I only wish I had thought of it first.”
“Great! In case you were wondering about the name change, we thought we could call ourselves SAMBAJ. It has a nice exotic ring to it.”
“I love it! Jeanette is a Canadian originally, of course, so that fits perfectly but, I must tell you, Bev, that I have had thoughts of my own about the future of Samba. This group of close friends has been such an influence on all of our lives that it should not die out when we are beyond the point of being able to give each other that help any more.”
“I hope that point does not come for a very long time. What are you getting at Anna?”
“I’ve been thinking we should do exactly what you suggest and incorporate some younger members to bring new life into the group. Jeanette is a perfect candidate to start with and possibly we could ask Fiona. It could be an International Samba group without worrying about the extra letters. Hey! Maybe one day Caroline could join us if she isn’t too busy running the world!”
Laughter filled the kitchen and neither woman heard Jeanette arrive with baby Annette in a carry seat on her arm.
“All right, you two! What’s going on here? Anna come and get your wee namesake before she breaks my arm.”
“My pleasure, Jeanette! Oh, you have grown so, my darling girl. Come and sit with your godmother for a while. I have things to tell you.”
Jeanette and Bev exchanged a fond glance as they watched Anna settle Annette on her knee and gently wiggle her arms out of her velveteen coat, talking all the while in that soothing voice that women naturally adopt when talking to babies and small animals.
“That’s Annette occupied for a while,” said Jeanette, with a sigh of relief. “Now it’s up to you, Bev, to fill me in on what’s been happening here. I am behind in all the gossip and it’s not fair!”
By the time Bev had told Jeanette all the news, including her admission to the Sambas, Lawren and Alan had arrived back and the reason for Bev’s request to Lawren to bring his sketch book was revealed.
Jeanette informed him that George was anxious to start on the family portrait painting that he had commissioned months ago on Lawren’s first visit to Oban. She asked if it would be possible to begin preliminary sketches right away while Annette was sitting so calmly on Anna’s lap.
Lawren agreed, and added that he could do the portrait in two separate segments; one with Jeanette and the baby and the other with George and Liam blending them together at a later point.
“Oh, that sounds excellent!” exclaimed Jeanette. “We were worried that you might not have enough time to get ahead with the painting on this visit with Anna taking up all your waking hours, as she does.”
Anna would have protested loudly at this, but she feared the baby would be alarmed. Jeanette had already figured that out so she smiled to show she was only joking.
A search began, to find a spot in the house where the light was suitable for Lawren to sketch by.
Anna handed over her warm and sleepy charge and she and Bev resumed their conversation while Alan heated up one of Bev’s famous home-made soups and sliced bread for the group.
“What’s this I hear about Fiona? Is it true she has a man in her life? How did that happen? She’s just starting in her new job and seems so anxious to succeed.”
Bev revealed the little she had heard and finished the short recitation by suggesting Anna speak to Jeanette. “Apparently George knows more about the young man than anyone else in town and undoubtedly he has passed on information to his wife.”
Anna had to be content with this delay. Little did she know that in George McLennan’s Oban office the young man in question was being grilled about his intentions, at that very moment.