Chapter 49: Linda Booth & Mary Schormann

Llamroth, afternoon: Friday, October 3rd

‘I know this will sound stupid, Linda, but I’m going to give the house a good clean before we go up north. I haven’t had much of a chance this last two weeks and the whole place needs a good bottoming.’ Mary looked around the living room. ‘I could write my name in the dust.’

‘Bit of an exaggeration, but I do understand. You’ll need to leave the house clean in case you’re burgled,’ Linda teased.

‘Don’t say that.’ Mary shuddered yet smiled. ‘I just like to see the place tidy and clean before we go.’

‘Okay. And I’ll help.’

‘Thanks. And no time like the present. With Richard off seeing his mates before he leaves and Peter having the day out to some garden place near Cardiff with Alun and Alwyn, it’s a good time to start.’

‘Upstairs first?’

‘Yes, I like to do top to bottom.’

‘Right, where should I start?’

‘If you don’t mind tackling the bathroom, I’ll do our bedroom.’

Mary stopped on the landing. She could hear Linda humming behind the swish of water in the bath and the squeak of a cloth on the tiles. She touched the top of the old desk. It was dusty. She undid the tin of polish and wiped the cloth over the surface. It would seem old-fashioned to Linda, but she still liked the smell of her Johnson’s Lavender. As she smeared it over the desk she absentmindedly pulled open the drawer. She frowned, everything looked different. Tom’s glasses-case was open; the broken lens was on top of an untidy jumble of papers. Putting it safely away again she riffled through the papers, looking for the small envelope of old photos. It wasn’t there. Photos spilled from a large paper bag. Perhaps, without thinking, she’d put them all together? She sat on the top tread of the stairs and slid them back in, lingering over each one. When she’d finished she frowned and went through them again. There were definitely snaps missing. She rummaged through the drawer again, with no luck. Closing it with a sigh she buffed the desk to a gleam. She must remember to ask Peter about the photographs sometime.

By the time she’d finished the bedrooms, Linda had swept the stair-carpet and wiped down the wood of the treads on either side.

‘Brew before we start down here?’ Mary said, making her way into the kitchen.

‘Just water for me, please, the smell of that Stardrops made me feel a bit sick.’

‘It is a bit strong, but a good cleaner. You should have left it for me to do.’ Mary called over the sound of filling the kettle with water. ‘Oh, by the way, I just did ours and Richard’s rooms. I left yours; I thought you might want to do it yourself.’ She’d actually seen an open letter on the bed. One sheet had fallen to the floor and, as she picked it up, she’d seen Martin’s signature.

‘Cheers, that’s okay.’ Linda followed her into the kitchen. ‘Did you notice the letter?’

‘I didn’t read it.’ Mary was quick to reply.

‘No. No, I know, I didn’t mean that. I was just saying,’ Linda said. ‘It was from Martin. We’ve split up. My choice,’ she said hastily. ‘He wanted to get married. I don’t.’

Even though … especially because, Linda surprised herself by the thought, especially because of what she would have to face in the future.

‘You don’t have to tell me, love. It’s none of my business.’

‘Not much to say beyond that, really.’ Not yet, Linda thought, reaching for a glass from the wall cupboard and let the cold-water tap run for a few seconds before filling it. ‘It’s just that he’s not giving up so easily. He was really angry about it; I think it’s his pride more than anything that’s hurt. But he’s decided he’ll forgive me.’ She quoted the last two words, caustically. ‘He thinks I’m panicking about being married.’

‘Is that true?’

‘Not at all. I don’t want to be married.’ She turned the tap off. ‘And I certainly don’t want to be married to him. Mug or cup?’

‘Mug, please.’ Mary put the cosy over the teapot. ‘I’ll let it brew for a minute.’ She leaned against the sink. ‘You’re sure it’s over?’

‘Uh huh.’

‘Well then, that’s all that matters. Just stick to your guns and get on with your life.’ She turned around and poured the tea. ‘Let’s take these through. We can drink as we clean.’

They put the mug and glass on the windowsill in the living room.

‘If we move everything to the back of the room and do around the fireplace and then shift everything the other way?’ Mary said. ‘All right with you?’

‘Fine.’

‘Okay then, let’s start with the settee.’ They positioned themselves at the front. ‘It’s on casters but it’s a bit awkward.’

They pushed the settee backwards with their knees until it wouldn’t go any further.

‘Oh, my goodness, I’m ashamed,’ Mary said. ‘Look at all the fluff and bits under here.’

Linda kneeled down and peered underneath. ‘There’s something stuck on one of the casters,’ she said. ‘Looks like some paper.’ She felt around. ‘It’s an envelope.’ Handing it to Mary she waited while her aunt studied it.

‘It’s addressed to Victoria. And it’s postmarked Manchester but I don’t recognise the writing.’

‘Is it empty?’

‘I think so.’ Mary poked her finger and thumb inside, opening the envelope wider. ‘Oh. No, there’s a note.’ She read the words out loud: ‘“your group now, your new family … an exciting new world will be yours”. What does it mean? And who is this,’ she peered at the note again, ‘this Seth? I’ve no idea. Have you, Linda?’

‘Not a clue. To be honest, Auntie Mary, Vicky and me, we don’t keep in touch, really. It’s usually Richard I write to. And he’s never mentioned the name as far as I can remember.’

‘Well, reading this, it’s clear he has something to do with Victoria going.’ Excitement mixed with the worry on Mary’s face. She chewed on her lower lip before saying, ‘There’s only one thing we can do. We’ll take Richard up to Ashford sooner than planned and then we’ll… have to start looking for her around Manchester.’

Linda hoped that meant that her aunt would forget about going to see George Shuttleworth, but her next words dispelled that.

‘And I’ll make sure George Shuttleworth knows exactly what will happen if he tries to harm Richard. Or any other member of our family!’