Page 48 of New Beginnings At Pencarrow Bay
Peggy tore up the hill, heart racing, anxious to tell Ted what had happened. But his phone went to voicemail and Henri was shuttered, the tables empty as she passed. Disappointed, she hurried on, thinking he must be home already. As she approached the house, she wondered whether Liam would be there too– and found herself hoping not. She wanted to talk to Ted in private.
Opening the front door, she held her breath, hoping the two men weren’t already at loggerheads. She imagined Ted coming home, tired after a long day in the hot van, to find Liam lounging on the sofa, the place taken over with his laptop and leads, and scattered with more burned coffee/toast/pizza/scuzzy mugs. She was not in the mood for another confrontation.
Peggy knew immediately that Ted was not at home: no Bolt was careering across the parquet to greet her. She looked around the kitchen.No mess at least.She gave a relieved sigh, then noticed the bi-fold doors were open and spotted Liam’s blond head poking above the garden chair on the terrace.
She texted Ted again:Where are you? Pls ring. At home xxxThen, trying to compose herself, she went slowly out to greet her son.
‘Oh, hi, Mum.’ He had his laptop balanced on his knees, his expression lost in concentration on whatever he was doing as he turned his face up to hers and smiled.
Peggy sat down on one of the other chairs. ‘How’s things?’
Liam closed his laptop and yawned, stretching his legs and twirling his bare feet. ‘Yeah, good. Been wasting time quite pleasantly. It’s so peaceful here.’
‘Have you seen Ted?’
He shook his head.
Peggy blinked in the sunlight.I need you, Ted. Where are you?‘Cuppa?’ she said, jumping up, her nerves shredded.
Liam put aside his laptop and got to his feet. ‘I’ll make it, Mum. You stay here and relax.’ He turned towards the kitchen, then stopped. ‘Weren’t you doing Ada’s lesson? You’re back early.’
She twitched, didn’t look at her son, although she could feel his eyes on her. ‘Yes. No, I didn’t.’
He eyed her. ‘Everything all right, Mum?’
Turning to him, she forced a smile, which slid into a frown. ‘I’m fine,’ she said, and burst into tears.
Her son’s arms were around her within seconds. ‘Christ, Mum. What is it?’
Peggy gulped. ‘Sorry, sorry, sweetheart.’
‘Tell me,’ Liam insisted, seating himself beside her and taking her hand. She hesitated, but she knew the game was up. She could no longer pretend. Taking a deep breath, she said, ‘Someone’s been sending lying emails about me…’
‘Fucking hell!’ Liam burst out, when she’d finished explaining, his eyes darkening with anger as the story unfolded. ‘And you say Sienna has got someone to find out who’s behind it?’
‘Yes, but he hasn’t managed so far.’
Liam thought for a moment. ‘You think it’s someone local?’
‘I didn’t till today. But who would know I tutored Ada– or care, for that matter– except someone in the village? Lindy said she’s told lots of people about me, but that would be mainly people here, I imagine.’ She paused. ‘And anyway, most of them are just passing acquaintances. I can’t think of anyone in the bay who could hate me at all, let alone that much.’
‘Well, wherever they are, someone’s out to get you, Mum, that’s for sure.’
‘Thanks. Not exactly reassuring, sweetheart.’
His face fell. ‘I just meant…’
‘I know what you meant. And you’re right.’ She let out a wobbly sigh. ‘I was just getting my feet under the table, making friends, finding work, enjoying myself.’ She was almost talking to herself, but she could see Liam was listening intently. ‘I haven’t told you, but retirement down here hasn’t been particularly easy for me. Things were really improving, though…’
He nodded, but didn’t speak.
Where the hell is Ted?Peggy muttered to herself, barely hearing Liam’s next words.
‘Shall I have a go?’ he was asking.
‘Doing what?’ she replied, confused.
‘A search. For the sender of the email.’
