The Way We Were_ A Novel - Marcia Willett [114]
As she made her way back along the path she was gripped with a fearful premonition. Back in the car she took her mobile and dialled Zack: no reply.
‘Darling,’ she said, her voice trembling, ‘just to say that I'm worried about you. The weather's awful. Don't think of coming out to Trescairn. If you've got to Boscastle then just go back home. Will you do that?’
She switched off and sat in silence, staring out through the streaming rain; she could barely see Tintagel Island or the entrance to Merlin's Cave but with her inner eye she saw them all; she and Tiggy and the children, with the two dogs and the van, on a summer's day long ago. She wept then; unrestrainedly, head resting on her wrists crossed on the wheel, she wept for them all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
2004
It was Liv who telephoned later with the first stories of the disaster.
‘Are you OK?’ she asked anxiously. ‘Did you have that thunderstorm?’
‘We've had everything,’ said Julia. ‘The roads are dangerous. Please stay put, Liv.’
‘I shall. The café’s packed. There are some scary stories coming in about a flood at Boscastle.’
‘A flood?’ Julia could hardly speak for terror.
‘The Valency's burst its banks,’ said Liv. ‘I hope Zack and Caroline changed their minds when the rain started and went home.’
‘They were supposed to be here for tea but they're very late. I can't get hold of them on their mobiles but I think that might be because they're out of signal. They're not at home.’
‘Shit,’ said Liv. ‘We'll just keep trying their mobiles. I'm sure they're fine, Mum. By the way, I've had an email from Andy. I gather you spoke last night? Well, he's feeling a bit of a twit and he's absolutely furious with Cat for harassing us all. He had no idea she was coming down to Cornwall and he's beginning to realize that she's still the same old Cat. I think we can feel pretty safe that it's all over.’
‘I was horrid to him,’ said Julia remorsefully. ‘I did my voice. The one you all call my captain's wife thing.’
Liv laughed. ‘He'll survive,’ she said cheerfully. ‘And try not to worry about Zack and Caroline.’
‘Let me know if they get in touch with you,’ said Julia anxiously. ‘Bye, darling.’ She put down the telephone. ‘The Valency's burst its banks and flooded Boscastle,’ she said to Em. ‘It sounds like Lynton and Lynmouth all over again. Oh my God, I wonder where Zack and Caroline are. I do hope they won't risk coming out here. The lanes are in a terrible state.’ At last she spoke her fear; the premonition that had been with her all day. ‘It couldn't happen again, could it, Aunt Em? Life couldn't be so cruel.’
She picked up her mobile and keyed in Zack's number: still no reply. Simply because she needed something to do, she put the kettle on the hotplate ready to make more tea. Em watched her, seeking for some kind of reassurance but finding no words that were adequate. When the phone rang Julia seized it anxiously: Zack's voice.
‘Mum,’ he said. ‘Just to let you know that we're at Derriford. Caroline's in labour.’
‘Oh, darling.’ She was weak with relief. ‘Oh, thank God. You didn't go to Boscastle after all?’
‘Yes, we did. And we managed lunch at The Wellington but then Caroline began to get pains so we just leaped in the car and headed for Plymouth. It all happened so quickly and the weather was appalling. I was terrified we weren't going to make it. I should have phoned but I'm afraid everything went out of my mind. I'm sorry, Mum. Look, I must go. I'll be in touch.’
‘Give Caroline my love,’ she said. ‘Oh, darling, I'm so glad you're safe.’
‘Where are they?’ asked Em. ‘I gather they're not in Boscastle.’
Julia sat down, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. ‘They were there for lunch but Caroline's pains started and they shot off to Derriford. Caroline's in labour but they're safe.’ Tears spurted from her eyes and she put her hands over her face. ‘I was so afraid,’ she cried. ‘I thought it was going to happen