Page 55 of New Beginnings At Pencarrow Bay
Ted turned a worried face to hers. ‘Not sure that’s a good idea. Kim’s not well.’ But his tone was softer and he moved closer. He seemed to be talking to himself as he said, ‘It’s very stressful, you know, being the person Lindy turns to. Because she seems too frightened, too upset all the time, to listen to helpful advice.’
Peggy didn’t reply, she didn’t have any answers. But one thing was for certain: Lindy’s situation was pulling her and Ted apart.
24
The following evening, Peggy, Ted and Liam were having supper together on the terrace. She’d made fresh mackerel fishcakes– courtesy of the tiny striped-awning fish stall set up on the quay two days a week, or when the catch permitted. She’d made them with loads of pepper, lemon, parsley and potato, coated them in crunchy panko breadcrumbs– and was serving them with a freshly cooked beetroot and apple salad dressed in sweet, tangy balsamic vinegar, rye bread on the side, spread with the richly yellow, salty Cornish butter that she got from Jake’s– any other butter now paled into insignificance, in Peggy’s eyes.
Everyone was enjoying the food and on best behaviour at the table, talking politely about general topics in the news: gun laws in America, the price of oil, electric cars… Nothing personal. Peggy was beginning to relax a little after the fracas the day before– she and Ted had trodden carefully around each other since then. Unable to persuade Lindy to get the help she clearly needed– whatever form that took– it seemed they had little choice but to wait and see what transpired. Which felt wrong on all counts.
But that evening the light was so beautiful and Peggy had a lovely glass of cold Chablis to hand. There was also a tub of the Bay Creamery’s homemade vanilla ice cream waiting in the freezer for pudding. And while the email problem still nagged at her– Liam had got no further withthe Albanian connection although he was sporadically digging– she refused to let it intrude on tonight’s supper.Life isn’t all bad. Nobody seems to be avoiding me yet,she told herself, looking around the table at the stunning setting and her two gorgeous men– both of whom she loved so much.
But just as Peggy was considering getting out the ice cream to soften, she saw Ted turn to Liam with a purposeful look in his eye. She groaned silently.Don’t ruin it.
It seemed Ted was on a mission, though. ‘You know your friend Felix attacked Lindy the other night?’ he said. His voice was measured, clearly being held carefully in check. ‘Grabbed her by the wrist and brutally twisted her arm behind her back.’ He stopped, eyeing Liam to see if his words had sunk in. ‘We both saw the bruise.’
Liam looked horrified. ‘She’s sayingFelixdid that? Absolutely no way.’
‘He did do it, Liam.’ Ted’s voice rose in frustration. Turning to Peggy, he added, ‘You saw her wrist too, Pegs. Tell him.’
‘It did look really nasty.’ Although to Peggy it seemed a more serious injury than would result from the action Lindy described Felix making.
‘I’m not saying it wasn’t nasty,’ Liam insisted stubbornly. ‘I’m just saying that Felix would not have done it.’ He left gaps between his last words, as if to make absolutely sure they heard.
Ted got up suddenly. ‘Why are you so determined to protect your friend… even in the face of such damning proof?’
‘Proof?’ Liam queried, angry now. ‘Look, I agree there’s proof that Lindy is hurt, that she’s got a nasty bruise. Butyou haven’t a single shred of evidence that it was Felix who caused it.’ He paused. ‘Or have you?’
Ted looked taken aback. ‘No, except Lindy told me it was him.’ He stood there, glaring down at Liam, then added, equally stubbornly, ‘And I believe her. I trust her.’
Liam harrumphed. ‘And I trust Felix.’
There was a heavy silence. Peggy felt her heart thumping too fast. She didn’t know whom to support, or with whom to agree. All she knew was that, once again, Ted and Liam were tearing holes in each other.
‘Listen, we can’t know the whole story, obviously…’ she said, her tone conciliatory.
Ted rounded on her. ‘Are you siding with Liam?’ he demanded. ‘Wedoknow the whole story. Why would she lie about herown son-in-law, besmirch his name– and her whole family, for that matter– so shockingly, if it wasn’t true?’
Liam’s reply was unequivocal. ‘Because she’s a nut job, Ted. That’s why. Can’t you see? Felix thinks it’s why she’s behaving so weirdly with him now. He’s been worried about her, but says he can’t get through to her because she appears to hate him– even though they once got on really well. He says it’s been a nightmare. He doesn’t know what he’s supposed to have done. Or what to do about it.’
‘Oh, for Christ’s sake!’ Ted exploded, then shook himself– it was more like a shudder, as if they both disgusted him. ‘I can’t listen to this crap any more.’
Peggy watched as he headed back into the house, then heard the slam of the front door a moment later. But she was too weary to follow and remonstrate.
Liam widened his eyes as he looked at her askance.
But whatever her feelings right now, she didn’t want Ted’s behaviour to add to her son’s already obvious antipathy. ‘He’s just trying to do the right thing by her.’
Liam thought about this. ‘Sure. But he’s oddly obsessed. It’s giving him tunnel vision, Mum.’
Peggy didn’t respond: she didn’t like the insinuation.
‘Look, I know I’m the guest here,’ Liam continued, ‘but that doesn’t mean I have to agree with Ted about everything, does it? I was only stating my opinion about someone I know a lot better than he does. My friend.’
Peggy knew what he said was reasonable. But she resented her position as pig-in-the-middle between the two men. ‘Probably best if you both keep off the subject in future.’
‘To be fair, Mum, it was Ted who brought up Lindy just now.’ He let out a frustrated breath and got to his feet. ‘Think I’ll get out of your way, grab a drink in the village.’
‘Liam, please,’ Peggy protested wearily. ‘Don’t walk out on me too.’
