Angela woke feeling unusually tired and reluctant to get up. She’d stayed up late the previous evening celebrating with her parents – but she hadn’t drunk much and that wasn’t the reason for her unease. She remembered that they’d been seated at their table when a party of men and women entered, and she’d been surprised to see Mark was one of them. They’d been shown to a large table on the other side of the room, and it was obvious they were enjoying themselves, ordering champagne and laughing.
Angela had avoided looking in his direction, but Mark had seen her just as she was ordering her sweet course and he came over to the table. Angela’s father had risen to his feet and the two men shook hands.
‘How are you, sir? Mrs Hendry?’ Mark had paused before he turned to Angela. ‘I didn’t know you were coming here this evening? You’ve been busy at the home recently, I know.’
‘Yes, there is rather a lot to do,’ Angela agreed. ‘But they do let me out now and again, you know.’
‘She works far too hard,’ Mrs Hendry said. ‘Why she bothers I have no idea. If I had my way she would come home.’
‘I think Angela enjoys her work,’ Mark said.
‘I love it,’ she said. ‘There’s never any time to be bored. After several delays, the builders have been hard at work for a couple of weeks now, Mark. Have you seen what an improvement they’ve made already?’
‘Yes, and it is going to get better,’ he said. ‘We must meet for a drink soon and talk about the changes. Excuse me, I must get back to my friends, but I wanted to say hello. Goodnight, Mrs Hendry, Edward …’
‘I’ll give you a ring tomorrow,’ Angela’s father said. ‘Would it be convenient to talk – perhaps in the evening after we get home?
‘Of course,’ Mark said but looked puzzled. ‘I hope nothing is wrong?’
‘Oh no, just a small matter I’d like your advice on.’
‘Of course. Enjoy yourselves – Angela.’
Mark walked back to his table but Angela refused to watch. It was ridiculous to feel slightly jealous of the beautiful brunette he appeared to be with, because she had no hold on him, none at all. He was a good friend and that was all she wanted him to be, because she could never bring herself to love again, and if she didn’t want Mark to be her lover she couldn’t be jealous of his happiness with someone else. Of course she couldn’t – and she wasn’t!
‘Is anything the matter, Father?’ Angela asked but he shook his head.
‘Just something I’d like to speak to Mark about, that’s all.’
Sighing now, Angela washed and dressed. If her father wanted her to know he would tell her in his own good time.
A little later that morning, Angela entered the staff room and found Nan there before her, collecting dirty cups and saucers. It was just one of the tasks that the woman often did. Employed as the head carer or supervisor, everyone saw her as a substitute mother and ran to her with their problems. Nan always seemed to have time to listen. Although she was wearing a white apron, she did not have a uniform.
‘Your hair looks lovely. Have you had it styled differently?’
‘Yes.’ Nan looked a little self-conscious and touched her hair, which was cut in a stylish DA. ‘I thought it was time for a change so I had a restyle …’
‘It certainly suits you,’ Angela remarked as Nan fetched a cup someone had left on the windowsill. ‘Couldn’t one of the kitchen staff do that?’ she asked and reached for the kettle.
Nan laughed and stopped what she was doing to sit down and look at Angela. ‘I’m ready for a cuppa if you’re making tea?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Angela agreed. ‘Have you got time for a chat?’
‘We are all of us busy most of the time,’ Nan said. ‘Especially when we’re short staffed.’
‘Have you got casualties again?’
‘Kelly has a cold. She should collect the dirty cups and supply fresh, and do the washing up – but she is a little unreliable.’
‘Yes, I’ve seen Kelly a couple of times. Is she Welsh?’
‘Her father is …’
‘How long have you been here?’ Angela asked as she poured boiling water into the pot and gave it a stir.
‘I joined the staff when Sister Beatrice came here. We’ve known each other for some years, before she became a nun. Then we met again, when I took a cleaning job at the hospital she worked for and she was very kind to me when … I needed help. My husband and son had both died of typhoid fever and my daughter … well, to cut a long story short, when Beatrice was asked to take this on, she approached me to help her out here.’
Angela handed her a cup of tea. ‘I hope that’s as you like it?’
‘Lovely, thank you. Beatrice told me it has made a difference you being here.’
‘Has it? I’m glad if she’s pleased with my work – though I must admit I would love to do more for the children.’
‘You would be wasted simply as a carer,’ Nan said earnestly. ‘I know you’re raising money for us, money that we really need. It’s something that neither Beatrice nor I could do half as well. Yes, I appreciate that you help out with the children too, and that’s good – but you mustn’t think we don’t notice what you do, because we do. The children enjoy all the things you arrange for them.’
‘Yes, I think they do,’ Angela agreed. ‘Billy was fascinated by that working steam engine at the toy fair. He hardly moved from the stand, and he told me afterwards that he liked engines. He wants to work with them when he leaves school.’
‘He’ll have to work a bit harder at school if he’s to pass the exams he’ll need. I like the boy myself, but there’s no doubting that he’s been taught the wrong values. He never had the love he needed and it isn’t easy to break down the barrier he’s built inside. Once people set their minds a certain way, it isn’t easy to change them …’ Nan sounded weary for some reason and Angela thought she saw a flicker of sadness in her face. What was Nan’s secret? Angela guessed she had one, but didn’t feel she should press for details.