please say it to me. And, by the way, when have you and Bill been getting together to stir it up?”
Hazel stared at her. “What d’you mean?” she said. “Bill and me? That’s rubbish! He’s got Rebecca, and they’re really good together. If you really want to know, and I don’t see it’s any of your business, we had a drink when we met in the pub – and Rebecca was there too – and talked a bit about Enid, because we all think she’s a bit weird!”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” said Lois. “As an employee of New Brooms, she’s excellent, can’t be faulted. I get good reports all the time.”
“Bully for her,” said Hazel mutinously.
“And now I’m going. Thanks for the tea, Bridie. You can ring me when you’ve thought a bit, Hazel. I’m not sure an apology will be enough, but you can try.”
The door slammed behind her, and Bridie began to speak, but Hazel interrupted. “Leave it, Mum. I’ve got things to do.”
Bridie, left alone, sighed. Since her husband Dick died, she had found it a comfort having Hazel still at home. But if she left New Brooms she’d probably be off somewhere else, to college or to find another job. It would be lonely without her.
¦
Lois was still steaming when she arrived home. The kids were back from school, and Jamie had gone straight to the piano to do his daily practice. As well as the exercises Enid had given him, he picked out familiar tunes, getting them right first time. Derek had listened and reluctantly agreed with Lois that the boy had a good ear. If he had the stamina to keep it up, maybe he’d go somewhere with it.
“Jamie! Tea’s ready!” Gran could see Lois was in a rage, and decided diplomatically to take over the children until she calmed down.
Jamie closed the piano lid and ran out to the kitchen, bumping straight into his mother in the doorway.
“For God’s sake, Jamie!” Lois said. “Look where you’re going!”
He grinned at her. “Sorry…but you want me to practise, don’t you? And it’s my lesson tomorrow. Miss Abraham’ll be cross if I haven’t practised. ‘Cept she’s not like that, is she. Really cool, for an old woman.”
His grin had its usual effect on Lois, and she ruffled his hair. “Good lad,” she said. “I’m glad Enid has one fan, at least.”
? Weeping on Wednesday ?
Twenty-Seven
Jamie was ready for Enid Abraham ten minutes before she was due, and he sat playing his scale, up and down, over and over again. He heard the telephone, but didn’t get up. It’d be one of Mum’s cleaners. He began to pick out his favourite tune, and attempted a few notes that sounded OK in the left hand.
The door opened, and Lois came in. “Jamie, that was Enid. Seems she’s stuck. A tyre’s blown, and her dad’s gone out in the truck. He’ll see to the tyre when he gets back, but it won’t be until later. She’s really sorry, and says she’ll give you a lesson another day. We’ll fix it tomorrow. Sorry, love.”
Jamie’s face fell. “Oh, Mum! I was all ready for her…” He followed Lois into the kitchen.
“Never mind,” she said. “Have something to eat, then you can get on with your homework.”
“Great! Just what I was hoping for…an early start on my homework…”
“No need to be cheeky,” said Gran quietly. “Here, I made this cake this afternoon. Try it…might sweeten you up.”
¦
Jamie finished his homework and sat staring out of the window at the road, where the light was slowly going. He was fed up. All week he’d been looking forward to another piano lesson. Couldn’t Miss Abraham change the tyre herself? He thought of her small, clean hands and thought probably not. Come to that, why hadn’t she said he could go to Cathanger instead? He could easily bike over, and would be no trouble. That dopey old mother of Miss Abraham wouldn’t object to one boy playing the piano very quietly, surely? He looked at his watch. Not much time before it got dark, but he’d got lights on his bike. He could be back before anyone noticed.
He stood up, tidied his homework and went quietly downstairs into the living-room to collect his piano book. He opened the front door gently and slipped out. No one saw him go. Josie and Douglas were buried in homework, Derek was not home yet, and Lois and Gran were busy in the kitchen.
There was very little traffic on the country road to Waltonby, and Jamie went fast, happy to be released and sure that, after all, he’d get his lesson and be able to get on to the next stage. Just before he reached the tunnel of trees by Cathanger Mill, he realized it was nearly dark, and got off to switch on his lights. Before he remounted, he heard a voice and saw a girl coming towards him, leading a Labrador puppy. It hadn’t quite got the hang of going for a walk, and was jumping about all over the place.
“That’s a nice dog,” he said, and the girl smiled.
“Yes, isn’t he sweet one?” she said, and Jamie realized she was foreign.
Must be that au pair girl Mum had mentioned. Anna, was that her name? “I’m Jamie Meade,” he said. “I think my mum’s lady comes to clean your house?”
“Of course,” said Anna. “Miss Abraham comes. Rosie – Mrs Charrington – thinks she’s so good, but I think she is a…a…”
“I like her,” said Jamie stoutly. “I’m goin’ there to have a piano lesson. She usually comes to us, but her car got a flat tyre, so I’ve biked over.”
“To the mill?” Anna seemed surprised.
“Yep,” said Jamie, getting back on his bike. “Better get goin’, else it’ll be too late. Bye!”
Anna stared at his retreating back and shrugged. She knew nobody went inside the mill except the Abraham family. Ah well, maybe the old woman had changed her mind. She untangled the puppy’s lead and went on her way, dreaming about a student she’d met at her English classes. She forgot all about Jamie Meade.
The track down to the mill nearly threw Jamie off his bike several times, but finally he came to the yard. It was almost empty and silent except for the occasional lowing from the cow shed. He couldn’t see any life in the house, and two of the windows had curtains drawn tightly already. Right, fine, he’d knock at the door and Enid would be pleased to see him.
Several minutes passed, and he saw a curtain drawn back a fraction. Another shiver caused Jamie to step back. Better give up and go home, he thought. As he turned to go, he heard the door creak open.
“What do you want?” a gruff voice said.
“Is Miss Abraham there?” said Jamie, and heard his own voice tremble.
“Not sure,” said the man. “What do you want her for? We don’t like kids coming down here…”
He began to close the door, and Jamie said quickly, “She teaches me piano. I’ve come for a lesson…she had a flat tyre and couldn’t come to us in Farnden…”
Then he heard Enid’s voice calling out from behind the man. “Who is it, Father?”
“Some kid says he’s come for a piano lesson. Must’ve got the wrong house. Best be off now,” he added to Jamie, and the door once more began to close.
“It’s Jamie!” said Enid’s voice, and then she was there at the door, pushing past her father. “Who told you to come here? You know we don’t have visitors, Jamie,” she said, and her voice was kind, trying to be normal and pleasant.
“Nobody told me. I decided,” said Jamie. “I was fed up you couldn’t make it, so I biked over. I’ve got lights,” he added helpfully.
“Get rid of him, Enid,” her father said, “else you know there’ll be big trouble.”
But Enid shook her head. She smiled crookedly, not her usual smile, and put out her hand. “Never mind, Jamie,” she said, “now you’re here, you’d better come in. Come along, follow me.” She took his hand and drew him inside. The door shut behind them, and he heard bolts being pushed into place. Suddenly, he wished he hadn’t come. He wished he was back home with Mum and Gran in the warm kitchen, where there was plenty of light and the smell of supper cooking, and he was safe.
