The Way We Were_ A Novel - Marcia Willett [82]
When she gets back downstairs he's made coffee and they sit companionably together, listening to Charlie's running commentary.
‘Uncle Archie phoned,’ Pete says. ‘He's offered to drive me into the dockyard tomorrow. I said almost definitely yes but that I'd check with you.’
‘Oh.’ Julia is both relieved and slightly disappointed. ‘Well, it's sensible, of course, but I like to take you in when you're sailing.’
‘I know you do, love, but it's a bit crazy, all of you and the dogs getting ready so early in the morning, isn't it? Harbour stations at nine thirty, remember. We'd have to be away at seven thirty at the latest.’
Julia shakes her head. ‘We'd never make it. Although Aunt Em might come and hold the fort while I take you in. No, on second thoughts, it's all too much for her with school as well. It's probably best, if Uncle Archie really doesn't mind.’
Pete shrugs. ‘He suggested it.’
‘You don't regret it? Living this far out from the dockyard? It's madness really, I suppose.’
‘It's getting a bit dire when the boat's alongside for any length of time but that's because of transport. It makes no difference when I'm on leave, of course. We're going to have to think of buying another vehicle, Julia. There's no way I can leave you out here without a car, and for you to be ferrying me to and fro twice a day will be impossible with the twins at school and now with Zack.’
Julia thinks carefully before she answers. The subject is a touchy one; last autumn it resulted in a row. Back then, with the boat alongside for six weeks and Zack only two months old, Julia found it difficult to combine successfully her roles of mother and chauffeur. It was the first time that transport became an issue. For the whole of the last spring and summer they had Tiggy's van at their disposal but, though Julia valiantly attempted to control her feelings and drive the van, the combination of its size in the narrow muddy lanes and the memories it invoked almost overwhelmed her.
At this point, Pete suggested that the van should be sold and that he should buy himself a little sports car: just the job, he said cheerfully, for dashing in and out. Once or twice he came home late, and there was a secretive air about him that aroused all Julia's old fears. Angela dropped in one morning and hinted at meetings and conversations with him, so that Julia, still raw with her own grief, rather unwisely asked Pete outright if he were having an affair with her. His outraged response neither confirmed nor denied but simply implied that Julia was the one who ought to be ashamed for harbouring such suspicions.
The next week the boat sailed on a six-week exercise and in November Martin and Angela, with Cat, moved to Faslane. Until now there has been an unspoken truce on both subjects but the problem of transport needs to be resolved.
‘I don't see why not,’ Julia answers now. ‘To be honest, I don't see how we can manage with just one car. I think we were a bit starry-eyed when we first moved here, weren't we? It seemed so blissful after married quarters that we were ready to cope with anything.’
‘Well, I don't regret it for a minute,’ Pete says. ‘And it's great for the kids. Andy and Liv are really happy at the village school, and old Charlie and Zack will be able to race around all over the moor in the summer.’
Suddenly Julia is overwhelmed with love and gratitude for him. How many men, she wonders, would so readily take on the child of a friend? She wants to reward him for his generosity, for not making her feel guilty about Tiggy and Zack.
‘I think your idea of a little sports car is a good one,’ she says. ‘We don't want another estate car. Something nippy would be fun. We'll sell the van and when you're home again you'll have to look around.’
Pete's expression amuses her; he looks like Andy when he's been given an unexpected treat. ‘Actually,’ he says, ‘David's talking of getting rid of his MGB now that they've just had the sprog. I might have a word with him.’