The Way We Were_ A Novel - Marcia Willett [100]
She glanced sideways at Aunt Em and they both burst into horrified laughter.
To think of it,’ murmured Aunt Em. ‘Vischer's Child Merlin in the bottom of a toy box in the porch. And then you gave it to Zack?’
‘When the wretched Cat spilled the beans about his adoption to Zack we gathered up all Tiggy's stuff and gave it to him. All except for the jewellery, which I kept for some special occasion; perhaps to give to his wife, if he had one. I gave the garnets to Caroline on their wedding day. Now I'm thinking that if they have a daughter I shall give the locket to her when she's old enough to appreciate it. Tiggy had very little, of course, but Zack was given the photographs and her books, and the Merlin went up into his bedroom. When he got married and we were clearing the room up he must have taken it with the rest of his things. To be honest, I can't remember when I last saw it. Once the children grew too old to play with it none of us was particularly interested in it, apart from its sentimental value. Oh dear. It makes us all sound such philistines, doesn't it?’
‘Obviously you've never noticed it in Chapel Street?’
Julia shook her head. ‘They haven't been there very long and it's taken Caroline a while to unpack everything. Anyway, I wouldn't have been looking for it, you see. Let's hope I find it quickly. I've told Caroline we're having lunch with one of your old chums at Mary Tavy so we're just dropping in for a cup of coffee.’
‘Have you got a good size bag?’
Julia jerked her chin in the direction of the back seat and Aunt Em glanced over her shoulder. A big black and red tapestry bag with cane handles lay there, capacious and strong; it usually contained Julia's knitting. Aunt Em settled back in her seat.
‘I'm terrified,’ she said conversationally It was true; her heart was behaving very oddly and her head felt as if it were filled with cotton wool. ‘What about you?’
‘I feel sick with terror,’ admitted Julia. ‘I couldn't sleep at all last night, thinking about it. I'm frightened at the thought of taking it but not as frightened as imagining that I shan't find it. I keep wondering what Pete would say if he knew. He'd be horrified. I suspect that he might feel that the time had come to tell Zack the truth, but how can I? I promised Tiggy If she wanted to keep her father's existence secret then, how much more would she want to now? Not only a child molester but a forger! At the same time I can't believe what I'm doing. Honestly, Aunt Em! What are we doing?’
‘Protecting Zack,’ she answered calmly, ‘and keeping your promise to Tiggy.’
Caroline led them through the house, down the garden to the shady pergola; Julia carried the tray.
‘Poor darling,’ she said, momentarily distracted from her terrors by Caroline's size. Are you very uncomfortable?’
‘I shall be very glad to get it over with,’ answered Caroline, pouring coffee. ‘I just hope that Zack will be home in time. I feel it might be any minute.’
And the boat's due in on Sunday?’ Julia let Caroline put her mug on the table; her hands were trembling slightly. ‘You should have come to Trescairn for this last week.’
‘Perhaps I should have.’ Caroline smiled warmly at Julia. ‘It was sweet of you to invite me, and Mum offered to come down, but I've been fine and I'm sure that Zack will make it in time now. I'm sure you can understand how I feel. I want to be here when he gets back.’
Julia nodded. ‘Of course you do. I'd feel exactly the same. At times like these one's own home is always the best place to be. Goodness, it's hot. We left poor old Frobes at home. He's feeling the heat almost as much as you are.’ She took another quick sip of coffee and stood up, clutching the tapestry bag. ‘I'm going to the loo,’ she said. ‘Shan't be a sec.’
She crossed the garden, hearing Aunt Em say to Caroline: ‘So you'll be going into Derriford to have the baby?’ and went into the house. She paused in the narrow, fitted kitchen, looking round; no Merlin here nor much room for him except on the windowsill. Julia hurried along the hall, into