The Way We Were_ A Novel - Marcia Willett [112]
‘I suppose nothing is ever truly finished,’ says Em reflectively. ‘Everyone living happily ever after never actually happens, does it? Our lives continue to unfold; some end, others begin, and our journeys take different directions. Paths cross and recross, and whether we're stuck fast in the Slough of Despond or enjoying the view from the Delectable Mountains depends on which bit of the journey we've reached. Apollyon can appear at any moment and try to drag us back in the Valley of Humiliation. Old Bunyan knew his stuff. Do you remember that he said that there was a way to hell even from the gates of heaven? I suspect that Angela and Cat will continue to impinge on your lives but I believe that you've come through the most difficult stage, Julia. Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.’
Julia laughs. ‘I'm not sure that I find that particularly reassuring.’
‘It was meant to be. I can't prophesy for the next generation but I feel certain that Angela will never be able to make trouble between you and Pete again. That's a good start. And spring's nearly here. The cold, sweet spring, oh, how I love it.’
‘It's exactly a year since Tiggy came to Trescairn,’ Julia says. ‘A year. I can hardly believe it. Time passes so quickly. Poor Tiggy. She was only twenty-five. I wonder where we'll be in twenty-five years, Aunt Em. The twins will be older than I am now and Zack will be preparing to celebrate his twenty-sixth birthday. I could even be a grandmother.’
She looks so shocked by the prospect that Em grins. ‘Well, I shall certainly be a septuagenarian,’ she says cheerfully. ‘Now there's a sobering thought. Shall we drink to it now before we become too old and feeble to lift our glasses?’
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
2004
‘I'm glad you're here,’ Julia said when Aunt Em arrived next morning. ‘I hardly slept a wink last night.’
Before Em could answer, the telephone rang. It was Zack: the visit to Boscastle was still planned and he and Caroline would be at Trescairn in time for tea. He sounded cheerful, happy to be home in time for the birth of his child, and Julia felt sick inside at the thought of him discovering the truth.
‘I must do it today,’ she said to Aunt Em once she'd said goodbye to Zack. ‘But I've only just realized how difficult it will be to throw something off Glebe Cliff with crowds of holidaymakers looking on.’
Aunt Em looked serious. ‘I hadn't thought of that,’ she admitted. ‘Yes, that's a problem. We don't want some busybody interfering because they think you're trying to get rid of a puppy or a kitten.’ She glanced out of the window at the bright sunshine. ‘What's the weather forecast?’
‘Scattered showers late morning becoming heavy this afternoon. I checked it for obvious reasons. Do you think I should wait a bit?’
Aunt Em nodded. ‘Heavy rain will drive any but the most indefatigable of walkers off the cliffs. If Zack and Caroline aren't coming until teatime you've got plenty of time and it means that Cat will be well on her way to London.’
‘I should have done it really early, before anybody was around,’ said Julia. ‘I thought about it but I wanted to feel certain that Cat had really gone. I know it's fanciful but I wouldn't put anything past her and I have a horrid feeling that she'll try to catch me out somehow. Of course, it might be a trick, anyway, about going back this morning. She might have said that to Caroline hoping she'd tell me and put me off my guard. I wonder how much trouble she could really make, Aunt Em? Supposing she dropped a hint to a journalist or something?’
‘There's hardly anything in today's paper,’ Aunt Em told her comfortingly A tiny paragraph three pages in. I think you'll find that the big moment has passed and we can just be thankful that the trial is taking place in France and not here. The great British public isn't all that interested in art fraud and it isn't headline-grabbing stuff. And, after all, what could Cat tell anyone? That when she was four she remembers seeing something that looked like The Child Merlin at a friend's house? A valuable