Finding Happiness at Penvennan by Linn B Halton

Author:Linn B Halton [Halton, Linn B]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838938024
Publisher: Head of Zeus

14

Stepping Up

‘Kerra, it’s Mrs Moyle.’

‘I’m glad you rang. I was wondering how you were doing.’

She exhales softly and it’s such a sad sound that I hold my breath, expecting the worst.

‘I’ve been to see a solicitor.’

At least she took my advice. ‘Was it… um… helpful?’

‘I wanted to know what the implications were, Kerra, and now I know chapter and verse. I’m going back up north to stay with my cousin for a few days. I need you to do me a favour and the reason I’m asking you is that it will reassure Arthur.’

Reassure him?

‘Obviously, whatever I can do to help, I will.’

Mrs Moyle is the innocent party here, so how can I refuse her?

‘I told him a lie, that it’s a family emergency. It doesn’t sit well with me, Kerra, but I’m trying my best to protect him while I get to the bottom of this nightmare. He’s packed a bag for me, and I’d be very grateful indeed if you could collect it.’ Her voice dips suddenly and I can tell how distraught she is – it must be taking an enormous toll on her and yet her first thoughts are to protect Arthur. ‘I’ve told him you’re meeting me at St Austell railway station to hand it over. If it’s not convenient I’ll get a taxi to come and pick it up from your cottage, if you don’t mind.’

‘It’s no problem at all for me to meet you at the station, Mrs Moyle. Really it isn’t.’

‘Oh, thank you, Kerra. It means a lot to have a good friend like you. I’m aiming to be at the station by three o’clock at the latest. I’ve booked a taxi and it doesn’t matter which train I catch. You’re the only person I can trust to… you see, Arthur feels comfortable around you.’

‘I know and I’ll make sure he’s okay, don’t you worry.’

‘If you can just… oh, how can I ask you to pretend you don’t know what’s really going on? And yet, if you tell Arthur it will break him. If I’m right, that man has sacrificed leading a normal life because of me. A problem that could have been fixed and saved him from a lot of unnecessary suffering wasn’t corrected because of a vindictive woman who wanted to destroy any chance he had of future happiness. How can I not fight for him now? He’s a proud man and Arthur wouldn’t hurt a fly, so I refuse to believe…’ A solitary sob echoes down the line before she pulls herself together.

I’m not sure I understand what she’s saying, but it doesn’t matter. This woman comforted my dad when my mum was dying. And with Arthur by her side, they have helped so many elderly and disabled people in the community to keep ticking over. I’m going to be here for her – for them both – by making sure no one, including Arthur, suspects anything is wrong. Mrs Moyle is a gentle, meek and mild woman, but she has the heart of a lion.

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