Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection

The following morning he paid his bill, called the inspector to tell him where he could be found, and left the hotel. He had done what he came to do, and now it was time to leave. It had been too long a journey. Too lonely.

Every day, every minute, Kathy had been on his mind and in his heart. Yet he had kept a clear head and worked his way through, and now, thank God, it was over.

Though he felt he didn’t deserve it, he had a wonderful woman, and a life waiting.

Behind the counter at the site office, Kathy confessed to Rosie how desperate she was to phone Tom, and how she had promised herself that she wouldn’t. ‘Even if I did call him, I wouldn’t tell him about Samantha.’ She was still adamant on that score. ‘Only I would like to know how things are going with him.’

‘Why don’t ye ring him then?’ Rosie urged. She knew how, several times, Kathy had been on the verge of calling Tom. ‘Ah, sure, ye know where he is. He’s called you umpteen times, so you know he wants to talk.’ Leaning one elbow on the desk, she gave Kathy a nudge. ‘Aw, look, me darlin’. He must be just as anxious to talk with you, or why would he call?’

Just then a weathered young man came in. ‘Do you have any caravans? Only I’ve been walking the hills hereabouts and I’m looking for a base for the winter.’

Rosie was sympathetic, but replied, ‘I’m sorry, luv. Sure, I’d give ye a key straight off, so I would. Only we don’t let caravans through the winter. Matter o’ fact, we’re just now closing down. But there are any number of guest-houses in the area.’

Reaching under the counter, she brought out a directory. ‘Look through that if ye like. I’m sure you’ll find something to suit.’

With a snarl, he threw it back at her. ‘Don’t talk bloody stupid, woman! I wouldn’t be asking for a caravan if I’d got money for “guest-houses”. Much use you are! It’ll be another night on the hills, I expect. Thanks for nothing!’

With that he stormed out, with Rosie calling after him: ‘Good riddance to ye then, ye bad-mannered bugger. I hope yer arse freezes over, so I do!’

With everything she had on her mind, Kathy couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘One of these days that bad temper of yours will get you in trouble,’ she said.

Rosie laughed out loud. ‘Ah, sure, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been in trouble. It’s what keeps me going, so it is.’

She got back to the matter in hand. ‘Are ye going to call that man of yours, or what? Especially since he’s been calling here, anxious to find out if you’re all right.’

Kathy nodded. ‘I will call him. Besides, I need to hear his voice. I need to know he’s okay.’

Now that Samantha had been taken home, she wanted Tom close, but she continued, ‘I know how hard it was for him to go back there, Rosie, and how long it’s taken him to face up to it all. The last thing I want is to send him off track. You know as well as I do, if he thought I needed him, he’d be back here like a shot, and then where would he be?’

Rosie had seen first hand how Samantha’s death had upset her, and how broken she was about her mother’s blaming her for it. ‘Aw, look now, Kathy. I’m so sorry about your sister, and I’d give my right arm if I thought it would bring your mammy to her senses, but it won’t. Sure, I can see that now. I know it’s not been easy, and I know you’ve taken it real bad. But you’ve come through it with a strong heart, so ye have.’

Many was the time since Samantha’s death that she had taken Kathy in her arms and talked the tears away.

She took her in her arms again now. ‘Aw, Kathy, me darlin’, I’m proud of ye, so I am!’

Kathy smiled up at her. Rosie had a way of making her smile, even when her heart was heavy. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without you and Jasper,’ she said. ‘You’ve been wonderful.’

‘Ah, but it should have been Tom looking after ye! He’s missing you, that’s for sure.’

Now, as Kathy made to protest, she put up a staying hand. ‘All right! I know what you’re going to say, and you’re right, so ye are! Tom has to concentrate on what he’s about. Sure, I do understand.’

All the same, Kathy thought, she wished she had the courage to call him. The truth was, she had never needed Tom more than she did now.

They both turned at the creak of the front door inching open.

It was Jasper, his hairy face and bright eyes peering through the gap he’d made. ‘It’s midday,’ he reminded them. ‘Time for summat to eat.’ Like Rosie, he had Kathy’s welfare at heart.

Rosie gave him a wink. ‘Come to take us somewhere exciting, have ye?’

He winked back. ‘You’ll have to wait an’ see, won’t you?’

Rosie had her own ideas. ‘The foyer of a posh hotel, and a pile of cucumber sandwiches with the crust cut off,’ she suggested, ‘with a couple of tight-panted waiters obeying our every command.’

‘Hmh!’ Jasper laughed out loud. ‘That’s ’cause yer man-mad, you little hussy!’

Arriving from the inner office, the manager urged that they should not be gone longer than an hour. ‘There’s a mountain of paperwork to go through – apart from the filing – right down to the last receipt.’ He groaned. ‘After that, every caravan wants cleaning and making ready for the winter.’

Rosie moaned. ‘I thought you were taking on a couple of part-timers to do that?’

‘I’ve changed my mind.’ Leaning on the counter, he grumbled, ‘It’s all right for you two. You’ve got a whole month off to do as you please. I’ll have to stay here, keeping an eye on the place.’

‘You’ll be all right, so ye will.’ Rosie had to have the last word. ‘No doubt you’ll be helping yourself to a tot of booze from the bar whenever the mood takes ye!’ She laughed. ‘It wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t have a woman here to keep ye company an’ all.’

‘Hey!’ Wagging a finger at her, he warned, ‘Unless you want me to take a firm hand with you, you’d better watch that wicked tongue of yours.’

Giving him the glad eye, Rosie winked at him. ‘Is that a threat or a promise?’

‘I don’t make promises.’

‘Shame!’

He blushed bright scarlet. ‘Go on with you. And make sure you’re back within the hour.’

Grabbing their coats, they went outside with Jasper. ‘Where are we going?’ Being as they only had an hour, Kathy thought they might just have a sandwich at the bar.

‘Don’t be so hasty, lass,’ Jasper said with a grin. ‘Look at what I’ve got.’ Rounding the corner, he pointed down the street. ‘Ladies! Your chariot awaits.’

At first Kathy couldn’t see what he meant, but then she saw and couldn’t believe her eyes. ‘That’s not yours, is it, Jasper?’ He had been known to play a few tricks on the odd occasion, and she thought this was one.

Rosie looked down the street and saw it too, then she looked at Jasper. She saw the mischievous twinkle in his eye and laughed out loud. ‘Why, ye old bugger, you!’ With her high heels clattering against the pavement, she went running down the street, whooping and hollering and frightening the pigeons. ‘Jasper’s got a car –’ she wanted the whole world to know – ‘and a green one at that!’

Kathy was amazed. ‘What made you get a Morris Minor?’ she asked with a chuckle.

‘I just fancied going a bit mad, that’s all.’ He grinned from ear to ear. ‘I allus wanted a car, and when I passed me test I could never afford one. I’ve saved over the years … not a lot, mind you, but enough to treat mesel’ in me twilight years. It’s not a new one but it’s in good nick.’

Clustered round the car, a few stragglers were taking an envious look over it. He told Kathy, ‘She’s so sweet, I’ve give her a name.’

Sliding her arm through his, she said softly, ‘Go on then … you can tell me.’

Patting her hand affectionately, he declared with pride, ‘Her name’s Dorothy. After me very first girlfriend.’ He blushed at the memory.

Reaching up, Kathy gave him a kiss. ‘I think that’s a lovely name,’ she said, ‘and I think you’re lovely too.’

She had never seen Jasper blush before, but today he had blushed twice. She couldn’t help but wonder if he had fallen for someone.

‘Come on then, lass.’ Propelling her forward, he opened the doors and invited them in.

It was quite a squeeze, with Rosie almost on Jasper’s knee and Kathy trapped between the seats. They managed to climb aboard, much to the amusement of the onlookers.