Page 69 of New Beginnings At Pencarrow Bay
The weed was kicking in now, and it didn’t seem strange or embarrassing to Peggy that she joined in. She’d done a lot of vocal harmony in the choir at school– Rupert Featherstone, the choirmaster, had rated her voice. Now she matched Paul, following the shape of the melody but effortlessly embellishing it as she stared up into the dark sky where stars were now appearing in the summer night, listening to the chords float away on the breeze. It was heaven, the music vibrating through her body, the smoke from the joint soothing her battered nerves. She hadn’t felt so relaxed for a long time.
As the song ended, she heard Paul breathe, ‘Wow.’
Peggy laughed softly, but didn’t feel the need to speak.
The three of them lay on the cool grass in silence.Occasionally the red glow of the remains of the spliff lit up the night as it was passed between them. Peggy closed her eyes. She felt she never wanted to leave this spot, never wanted to go back to the reality of her life, which had slipped tactfully away with the notes of the song and the hash smoke, but which she knew awaited her as soon as she chose to move.
She had no idea what time it was when Paul stirred beside her. ‘Getting chilly,’ he said, as he sat up, his shape only just visible to Peggy in the blackness of the castle grounds.
He must have nudged Sienna, because she muttered sleepily, ‘What?’
‘Home time, love,’ Paul said, now on his feet, as he gently lifted his wife to hers.
Peggy wasn’t sure how stable she would be upright, but she gave it a go, anyway, feeling the world sway– not unpleasantly– for a moment before she got her balance. The three made their way slowly back across the ditch to the road, then continued up the hill. It was very dark, all the houses along the way shuttered in sleep, but their eyes soon adjusted.
When they reached Peggy’s house– the farm shop being situated further along the lane– Paul hugged her tightly. He smelt of weed smoke and a woody, scented fragrance. ‘So you kept that quiet, your voice,’ he teased, as he let her go.
‘It’s been in the attic, along with my clarinet,’ she joked, smiling up at him. Although what she said was true. She would sing in church, but seldom at any other time. Not for years now.
Sienna fell against Peggy’s shoulder, still barely awake, her wispy ash-blonde hair brushing against her chin. She snuggled in, seemed to be preparing to settle down for the night on her chest. ‘Fun time,’ she murmured.
Paul laughed. ‘Come on, missus.’ He lifted her off Peggy as if she weighed nothing and wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her upright. Glancing at Peggy, he said, ‘Music? My place? Soonest?’ then smiled a farewell, waving with his free hand as he disappeared into the night, dragging his limp wife at his side.
Peggy opened the front door really quietly, or so she thought as she slipped off her shoes and left them under the coats. But she was still unsteady and intoxicated. Stumbling through the darkness, she crashed into the wooden chair that stood against the wall in the hallway– usually piled with supermarket bags they’d forgotten to put back in the car– stubbed her toe and let out a shriek. Then a curse. Nothing unusual for the average drunk’s return home, but uncharacteristic for Peggy. The thought made her giggle.
Water, she decided.I need water.
But as she advanced into the kitchen, she saw a dark shape rear up from the sofa, heard a loud grunt. She jumped. ‘Ted?’
He was still fully dressed. He’d obviously fallen asleep on the sofa. Rubbing his hands over his face, he peered at Peggy, reaching down to turn on the lamp that sat beside the sofa.
‘Hi,’ Peggy said nonchalantly, as she flicked on the tap and filled a glass.
It was a moment before Ted spoke. Then he said,‘Where in God’s name have you been? It’s gone two in the morning.’
‘Oops,’ she said, having the vaguest feeling she was being irritating but not sure how to remedy this.
‘I’ve texted you a million times,’ Ted complained, his mouth twisting in disapproval.
He looks bedraggled, she thought, as she stared at him, but the possible reason did not impinge.
‘You’re drunk,’ he added, frowning.
‘Stoned. I’m stoned,’ she explained patiently, feeling a little insulted he’d accused her of drunkenness. She was seldom drunk.
‘Stoned?’ Ted seemed shocked. ‘Were you with Liam? He’s not home yet.’
Peggy sighed.What’s he on about?This explaining thing seemed to be getting out of hand. She was so exhausted she felt she could have gone to sleep standing up. ‘No, no. NotLiam. Paul and Sienna. We sang.’
Ted looked nonplussed. ‘You’ve been smoking dope and singing?’
She didn’t answer as she began to move past him, towards the stairs. She needed her bed so badly it hurt. ‘Can we talk about this in the morning?’ she pleaded.
As she reached the bathroom, Peggy was hazily aware of Ted’s face behind her in the mirror as she attempted to clean her teeth. She could hear him speaking. See him frowning, gesticulating. But she had absolutely no idea what was wrong.
Then there was nothing.
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