Towards a Dark Horizon Read online

  ‘You had better go as well, Ann. There’s nothing you can do for me now.’ He lay back in the chair and gazed dismally at the wallpaper.

  I didn’t know what to do but he repeated himself and then said, ‘Just leave me alone, Ann – I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.’

  I went back into the lounge and, thankfully, there was no sign of either Margot or John. My magical day had turned sour and I could gladly have hit Margot for all the distress she’d caused – not only to her poor late husband Harry who knew about her liaison with his boss but also to our family. To make matters worse, the whole scene had been witnessed by Rosie and that would upset Dad even more.

  The band struck up a cheery tune. The bride and groom were already on the floor when Greg asked me to dance. I had been annoyed at his offhand manner but now I had other things on my mind.

  He said, ‘You look lovely in blue, Ann – one of the prettiest bridesmaids I’ve ever seen.’

  If he expected me to simper blushingly, then he was wrong. I didn’t mean to be blunt but it just came out like that. ‘Are you avoiding me, Greg?’

  He gave me a sharp look. ‘There is something I’ve got to tell you but I thought I would wait till after the wedding.’

  I was not in the mood for any more nonsense and time wasting. ‘Tell me now, Greg, and get if off your chest.’

  He gave this a moment’s thought and then said, ‘I’ve got a transfer to London, Ann.’

  I almost stumbled and I looked at him with amazement. ‘To London?’

  He nodded.

  ‘London?’ I knew I was repeating myself but I couldn’t help it. ‘I thought you had found another girlfriend. I didn’t think it was this – a transfer to London.’

  ‘Well, I have and it may last a few months or even longer. Don’t be fooled by this peace treaty of Mr Chamberlain. We’ll be at war with Germany sooner or later. London is being cleared of all the valuable items in their libraries and museums and I’ve been asked to go and help with the inventories.’

  On that sombre note, the dance ended with a flourish. What a day it had turned out to be – first Dad’s betrayal by Margot and now this. But, as it turned out, we had no more time together that evening. As the long golden rays from the sun slanted in through the large windows, Greg had to dance with all the unattached women in the party while I had to do my rounds of smiling and chatting to both sets of relations.

  Lily was enjoying herself and that was one blessing – that and the obvious radiance of the newly married couple. Nothing could spoil their joy on this special day.

  I went over to speak to Connie and told her Greg’s news. I was hoping she would laugh at my fears but she didn’t.

  ‘Aye, it’s coming, Ann, and we’ll have to be ready for it. One good thing is the government is also getting ready as well.’

  I was downcast but she said, ‘Don’t worry about it, Ann. Maybe it’ll not last long when it comes. Anyway there’s nothing anybody can do so just you enjoy this golden day and don’t give it another thought.’

  Easier said than done, I thought.

  Kit then joined us and I complimented her on her outfit.

  ‘Aye, it cost me a few bob but it’s worth it to see Danny so happy. What a lovely family he’s married into and Ma is over the moon by all the attention she’s getting from Maddie’s relations.’

  ‘Where’s Sammy?’

  Her face dropped. ‘He didn’t come home last night and Maggie is hopping mad about it. She told Kathleen to come and enjoy herself with us and she’s looking after Kitty.’

  I didn’t know what to say as I couldn’t understand why she had married him in the first place. Lots of girls had babies without the blessing of a marriage and Kit and George had been prepared to look after them both. It was a mystery.

  I glanced over to where she was sitting with Colin. She had been on the dance floor all evening – either with him or Brian, John and Dorothy’s son.

  There was no sign of Maddie’s aunt and uncle and I couldn’t get the row between Margot and John out of my mind. Rosie was sitting with Albert but her laughter had gone and she now looked miserable so it was no surprise when they both stood up to go before the end of the dance and said their goodbyes to us all.

  One blessing was the fact that my family had enjoyed their day immensely – especially Hattie who had flitted like a crimson rose amongst the guests, doing her social act.

  Although there had been a reconciliation with the Ryan women since Dad Ryan’s death, it was still funny to see them glance at one another as Hattie flitted past like the hostess of the year. She was certainly well pleased with her new standing in this well-off world.

  All too soon, it was time to get Maddie upstairs and into her going-away outfit. This was a lovely mauve suit flecked with tiny particles of a deeper mauve and pink. She looked radiant in it. We stood in the posh bedroom that had been set aside for this purpose and we looked at one another. She gave me a big smile and, for a moment, I thought she was going to cry but she didn’t.

  Instead, she said, ‘It’s good news about the peace treaty, isn’t it, Ann? I’ve been so worried that Danny and I would hardly have any time together before he had to go away to fight in a war.’

  ‘Don’t be daft, Maddie,’ I told her. I remained silent about Greg’s new assignment in London. After all, it might be a small storm in a large teacup so there was no sense in worrying her – or destroying her happiness on her special day.

  ‘You know I told you we’re just going to the flat, Ann?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Well, nobody knows that – they all think we’re going away for a couple of days. You’ll not tell anyone, will you?’

  I was shocked. ‘Of course not, Maddie! I wouldn’t tell a soul.’

  She gave me a large beaming smile and we then went downstairs to where Danny was waiting. He was surrounded by all the guests and some had cartons of confetti. A loud cheer went up when Maddie appeared and she blushed. Then they were swept away in a flurry of bodies and clouds of multicoloured confetti but she leant out of the taxi window and waved to me.

  ‘Thanks, Ann. Thanks for everything!’

  In a strange way, I knew she was thanking me for my illness – an illness that finally brought them together again as a couple – a couple who would go through life with one another. It was my turn now to almost cry. I felt the salty tears in my eyes and a dryness at the back of my throat. Greg came up beside me and I tried hard not to burst into a flood of tears. I didn’t want him to think I was the sort of girl who cried at weddings.

  The band played for another hour and then it was all over. The Pringle family had organised cars to take everyone home. Ma was in one of the cars with her family and I saw Colin quietly talking to Kathleen before she got in beside them. My grandparents, Bella and Connie were also swept away in a posh-looking taxi and Bella was almost purring. I overheard her, as she was shutting the door, say, ‘Och, Nan, this is the way to travel, is it not?’

  There was no sign of Dad and Margot and it looked as if they had left at the same time as John and Dorothy.

  Then it was time for Greg, Hattie, Lily and me to leave. Lily was exhausted but jubilant. She had been told she could keep all her wedding finery.

  ‘Make sure you hang it up in the cupboard, Ann – I don’t want my lovely frock getting crushed. And will you keep my shoes in their box?’

  I lay back on the upholstered seat and merely nodded at all her requests. It had been a wonderful day but I was just exhausted.

  Hattie was also jubilant with the day’s events. ‘It’s been one of the happiest days of my life,’ she said. She looked at me. ‘Did Maddie mention where they were spending their honeymoon?’

  I gave her a wide-eyed innocent look. ‘No, Hattie, she didn’t.’

  Greg was staying with his ex-landlady in Victoria Road so, after Hattie had been dropped off, he was the next one to leave the car. As he stepped out, he said, ‘I’ll be up to see you both tomorrow, Ann. Ma
ybe we can go for the day out?’

  I said that would be great and he disappeared up the close and was soon swallowed up by its gloomy interior. But, before he disappeared, Lily had called after him. ‘When you and Ann get married, can I be your bridesmaid?’

  He had grinned at her. ‘You bet, Lily! You’ll be our number one bridesmaid.’

  When would that be? I wondered gloomily. It seemed as if our relationship was somehow doomed. I looked at the ring on my right-hand finger with dismay. I had forgotten in all the evening’s events to show it to him. Maddie had said we could announce our own engagement at the dance but we had never got the chance.

  I would go back to wearing it around my neck and I was convinced it would remain there – like some albatross … or a noose.

  As I tucked Lily up in her bed she whispered, ‘This has been the best magical day in the whole wide world, Ann. Hasn’t it?’

  I smiled at her tired but very serious looking face. ‘Aye, Lily, it has.’

  Her eyes were like pools of light in the dimly lit bedroom which, after the bright electric lights of the hotel, now seemed subdued.

  She sighed. ‘It was a really good day and I wish it could have gone on for ever and ever and ever.’

  ‘Well, if really great days did go on forever and ever, Lily, they wouldn’t stay great, would they? You would soon get fed up with them after a while so you just have to enjoy them when they happen.’

  But she was asleep and hadn’t heard my little moral tale. She still had her circlet of flowers on her head and I gently removed it.

  I sat in silence for a while. Like her, I also wished that life could be full of weddings and flowers and magic. But, of course, it wasn’t and we would all soon find out what lay in store – what perils, if any.

  Greg appeared at ten o’clock sharp the next morning. There had been a touch of frost and everything looked sparkling in the early morning sunshine. We decided to go to Broughty Ferry beach. Lily wanted to visit Jean but I didn’t think Greg would want to sit and chat as we had so little time together. And anyway we had seen her at the wedding although I hadn’t managed to speak to her for long. There had been so many people to see.

  Lily ran on to the beach with outstretched arms. She resembled a human kite. Greg and I sat on a bench and marvelled at her exuberance. The wind was cold but the sea was calm and blue. It was so peaceful. How could we almost be at war with Germany on such a lovely day as this? I wondered.

  Perhaps Greg was wrong – and Connie and Joe. Maybe this peace treaty would last and Greg would soon be home from this new assignment in London. I mentioned these thoughts to him.

  He sighed. ‘Well, I hope you’re right, Ann, because I was really hoping our wedding would be the next one.’

  I turned to him with urgency in my voice. ‘Let’s get married straight away!’

  He didn’t quite jump for joy at this suggestion so I sat back on the hard bench. Up until then, I hadn’t realised I had perched on a few inches of wood – almost as if ready to take off in flight.

  ‘When we get married, Ann, I want it to be perfect – not some quick arrangement before I set off for London and maybe off to war.’ He shook his head. ‘Anyway, you have enough worries at the moment without the added burden of an absent husband. Hopefully, the war will be averted or, if it does happen, then maybe it will be short lived and then we can make our plans.’

  Although I wouldn’t admit it, I was secretly relieved by this. He was right when he mentioned my worries and I now had the additional anxiety over Dad.

  He was speaking again. ‘I was going to ask you if you and Lily would like to come with me to see my parents at the end of October?’

  ‘That would be lovely, Greg. Lily will be over the moon about it.’

  She was.

  He told us, ‘I have to do another couple of weeks at Glasgow then it’s off to London so we’ll go to Trinafour the last weekend of the month. Is that all right?’

  He left on his train that night but we did have the prospect of a weekend together to look forward to. Lily could hardly wait but she also had the added pleasure of telling her school chums about her day as a flower girl. No doubt it would grow feet and legs with the telling because she was such an imaginative child.

  The next couple of weeks flew past. There were all the comments from the family about the wedding which seemed to hog every conversation. The general opinion was that a great time had been had by all.

  I told Connie about Greg’s move and the reason for it. ‘I don’t know the whole reason for it, Connie, but it’s just in case there’s another war.’

  ‘Of course there will be another war, Ann. Look what happened to poor Czechoslovakia. The minute Chamberlain signs a peace treaty with Hitler, the Germans march into another country. How can anybody trust a man like that?’

  She was right. Most people now knew another war was inevitable and lurking on the dark horizon – even Maddie who was now more worried than ever.

  I told her what Greg had said about it maybe not lasting for long but her blue eyes were clouded with fear and I felt sorry for her.

  ‘Look, Maddie, just enjoy your marriage. There’s no sense worrying about something that might never happen,’ I told her although I didn’t believe the words myself.

  Her face cleared. ‘Of course you’re right, Ann – as usual. It’s just that Danny and I are so happy that I fear something must come along to break such happiness. No one’s life could have such joy in it for long.’

  Marriage certainly suited them both. I had teased Danny a few times that his waistline was expanding but he merely laughed.

  ‘It’s not extra food, Ann – it’s happiness and contentment.’

  Meanwhile I was keeping an eye on the weather. It had turned to rain after the wedding weekend but I was hoping the sun would shine for our trip away to the country. As if in answer to my prayers, it did. We set off on the train with Lily bouncing up and down in excitement. We soon left the industrial scene behind us and we were travelling through a countryside ablaze with autumn trees.

  Lily was fascinated with all the tiny rural stations and she sat with her nose glued to the window. When we reached the tiny station at Struan, Greg and his father were waiting for us. They stood beside a small, decrepit-looking van.

  ‘Hop in, Lily,’ said Greg’s dad.

  She clambered in the back and sat on a cushion. I climbed in beside her while Greg sat in the front with his father.

  Mr Borland asked us, ‘Do you like my new transport, Lily?’

  Lily was enchanted. ‘Och, it’s great, Mr Borland. Is it new?’

  He laughed. ‘Aye, it was new at one time but that wasn’t yesterday.’

  She gave this a bit of thought. ‘Well, it’s still a great van and I like sitting on this cushion.’

  We went over a bump in the road and she howled with laughter. Oh, to be a child again, I thought.

  Mr Borland chuckled. ‘Well, young Lily, I’ve got lots of things planned for you. The sheep need to be taken down from the hill and Paddy the dog is wagging his tail at the thought of seeing you again.’

  I couldn’t see his face because my view was through the tiny back window but I was grateful to him for all these efforts on her behalf. She really enjoyed her visits here.

  ‘So Paddy knows I’m coming?’ she asked him.

  ‘Aye, he does. I told him this morning and he’s been wagging his tail ever since. Of course, he’s also glad to see your sister as well.’

  Lily took all this in her regal stride. Paddy’s tail was really wagging for her alone but she was gracious enough to share the limelight with me.

  ‘That’s great, Mr Borland, and we’re going to enjoy our stay, aren’t we, Ann?’

  I agreed that we were and that was all the comment needed from Lily’s sidekick.

  Mrs Borland had prepared an enormous meal for us and Lily began to eat like she hadn’t seen food in weeks. She tasted everything from the soup to the pancakes.


  Later, we went outside and the countryside was a delight. It was hard to believe that winter was just around the corner. There had been overnight frost here as well and white patches still hugged the fields and hills that had been untouched by the rays of the sun.

  The grass crunched under our feet as we watched Lily and Mr Borland stride towards the sheep which seemed to cling to the hillside.

  In the quiet air, Lily’s childish voice carried towards us.

  ‘She’s having a great time, isn’t she?’ said Greg.

  I nodded silently.

  ‘I’ll be away next week, Ann – off to London – but I’ll write and tell you all about the big city. I just wish you were coming with me.’

  ‘Well, let’s get married right away, Greg. We can get a special licence. Connie told me about it and you don’t need to wait till the banns are read.’

  He gave me a tender look. ‘If I really thought that’s what you truly wanted, Ann, then I would do it but I don’t think you do – at least not yet.’

  I tried to protest. ‘But I do – I really do …’

  At that moment, Lily’s voice carried down from the hill and she was crying. She had slipped on a patch of frosty grass and I ran up the hill towards her. Reaching her at the same time as Greg’s dad. Fortunately it was nothing more serious than a badly scraped knee and a frosty damp patch on her knickers. I turned around and saw what Greg had always known – although a single woman I was as tied to my sister as if I was already married.

  There was no more talk of quick marriages and thankfully no more talk of impending wars.

  When dusk came and the curtains were pulled we sat by the light of the oil lamps. Mrs Borland made another huge meal for our supper and it was lovely and cosy sitting in the kitchen with the fire crackling in the grate and the soft glow from the lamps.

  Outside an owl cried and Lily stopped eating, her eyes as large as the owl’s. ‘What was that?’

  Mr Borland teased her. ‘Oh, it’s just the huge owl that lives across the garden from your window. You’ll hear him all night long going twit-twit-twoooooo.’

  She gave him a look as if she didn’t believe him and returned to eating her third scone and jam.