Shortly after dawn broke and I had finally accustomed to the sound of the seagulls, it seemed the entire countryside was awake, but the house itself slumbered on. It didnt feel quite right, staying in this old man’s home but not having met him. Yet not even that – this guy was ultimately my employer, maybe it was some strange sort of team building thing and today we’d be packed off with a compass and swiss army knife and told to catch our lunch, after a go at paintballing in the house’s extensive grounds.
There was a at the door and Mrs Pipe could be heard on the landing outside telling us to watch out there was a tray of tea things outside the door and a bale of clean towels- sorry they weren’t the proper white ones, she did hope that cream would be okay? Breakfast if we wanted it would be down in the kitchen, but we could eat it in the dining room if we wanted to.
Was there no end to this lady’s hospitality? I looked at my husband, still snoring gently. He must have had a long drive last night – drive? That was it, that was what had been puzzling me. He had not driven any sort of distance for seventeen years – and I had just accepted that he had driven all that way – in the dark as well. I could not get my head round this and felt like waking him to ask, but then I looked at him and thought I would let him sleep, and maybe I would go and have a chat to Mrs Pipe in the kitchen. If I could remember how to get there. I also wondered where Lorraine had slept last night. Oh well, it would probably be quite easy to tell once I saw her.
About half an hour later I was down in the kitchen offering to help Mrs Pipe, but told to sit down and not be silly. Then I heard footsteps approach and another door opened. It was Maggie. She sat down and looked over at me before muttering a good morning to me. It was becoming more like a work outing might be – but with a tad more farce about it, as Deano now entered, with Lorraine tailing behind him, all doe-eyed and dreamy. Which answered my previous question. But what surprised me more was Deano’s greeting to Maggie, for he clearly called her Mum. Then, in what I thought could possibly be top of the bill in this particular act, Mrs Pipe referred to Maggie as Margaret and said there had been no sign of her sister yet – another house guest? Deano watched me watching Mrs Pipe and explained that Maggie was his Mum and Auntie Helen’s sister. Though I noted that he did not mention his father. In the middle of all this explanation, my husband had come down to join us and also we had been joined by Mr Edison. Who was no relation to anyone but would like to be – I thought to myself as I watched him watch Maggie.
Still feeling in the dark about the Brights and their strange family gatherings, I asked if it were so close to the sea that I could walk to a beach? Deano and Maggie laughed and Maggie gave me directions to the rear of the grounds where I would find a little gate that led directly to a private beach.
My husband said he wanted another coffee, so I thought I would go alone. Once I the garden, I turned and looked back at the house, shrouded in February mist . Deano called to me that we would be going to see his grandfather at ten and would need the file from my car. Did I have a watch on me? I had my mobile but wondered what the file had to do with it, before remembering the letter I had found. But try as I might I could not recall what the letter had said. Only something about a missing page. As I crossed the lawn and found the beach, I drew my woollen cardigan tighter around me and tied my scarf a little more snug .
Standing watching the sea always had a calming effect on me – and while I did not know why I needed that inner calm feeling – it was nice to feel the peace being restored.
On my return to the house, I took in more of my surroundings, you could see the house quite clearly from the gateway . It was sort of sandstone, with mullioned windows and, as I remembered from last night,the grandeur of the house was still quite imposing. Especially since the mist had now lifted. Still the place had its’ own character and you could see that it would be a brilliant place for kids to spend school holidays, with all the places to hide.
I checked my phone, I had been able to ring my sister in law and she had reassured me everything was fine, not to worry, just be safe. I also had my car keys on me so picked up the file from the boot on the way back. It was nine forty five, the time for answering all my questions was drawing near.
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Stacey Derbinshire
Comment by Stacey Derbinshire — March 8, 2008 @ 9:42 pm |