Page 25 of The Sapphire Child
Stella laughed. ‘Sorry, Andy. I’m just a bit nervous.’
He looked at her with large blue eyes. ‘So am I. Come on, let’s go and get this over with.’
The platform was busy, as the train was full of holidaymakers. Stella peered at the expectant faces, wondering if Lydia would be as she remembered her from her patchy memories of thirteen years ago.
A well-dressed woman in a navy frock and large-brimmed hat was standing at the barrier, peering down the platform. Beside her an older, stouter woman was waving a handkerchief.
‘Is that them?’ Andrew asked. ‘Is that my mother and grandmother?’
‘I think you might be right. I don’t really remember what old MrsTempleton looks like – but I’m pretty sure that’s your mother. Go on,’ Stella encouraged, ‘give them a wave.’
Andrew did so, and the woman in navy responded by raising a hand and beckoning him to her.
‘You go ahead,’ said Stella, ‘while I see to the luggage in the guard’s van.’
Andrew seemed panicked. ‘Please don’t leave me now, Stella.’
‘Okay,’ Stella agreed, placing an encouraging hand on his back and steering him forward.
As soon as they got to the barrier, Stella recognised Lydia. She was plumper in the face but still beautiful. She had the same large blue eyes as Andrew and wore her blonde hair in neat waves to her chin.
‘Hello, Mother,’ Andrew said, holding out his hand.
Lydia was gaping at her tall son. ‘My little boy – you’re so big – I didn’t expect...’ She seemed suddenly overcome and clutched at his hand. Quickly she recovered. ‘My goodness, you’re the image of your father!’ She touched his cheek with a white-gloved hand.
Andrew smiled nervously. ‘He joked that I might be as tall as him by the time I return to India.’
Lydia cried, ‘For goodness’ sake, you’ve just arrived! I’ll not have you talking about going back already.’
‘Sorry.’ Andrew flushed.
Lydia turned her attention to Stella. ‘My, my, you’ve grown into a beauty. Your parents must be very proud to have such a fair daughter. I know how much pale skin means among your people.’
Stella dipped her head, trying to hide her immediate annoyance at Lydia’s patronising words. But this was Andrew’s holiday and she’d do everything to help it go well.
Lydia introduced them to her mother. Minnie Templeton kissed Andrew on the cheek. ‘Call me Granny.’
‘Certainly not!’ Lydia protested. ‘He’ll call you Grandmamma. Granny sounds so parochial, don’t you think? And while we’re on the subject, Andrew, you will call me Mamma.’
Minnie didn’t seem put out by her daughter’s rebuke and smiled at Stella. ‘Welcome, dear. You won’t remember me but I visited The Raj Hotel when my dear husband was still alive.’
‘I do remember,’ said Stella, shaking her hand. ‘You were both very kind and gave me money to buy a bell for my bicycle.’
‘Fancy you remembering that,’ Minnie exclaimed.
Lydia was issuing orders to a station porter about luggage when a tall woman dressed in men’s plus twos and waistcoat pushed her way through to them. She wore a battered plum-coloured hat on top of a mop of unruly brown hair.
‘Andrew!’ She lunged at the boy, kissing his cheek and hugging him. ‘I’m your Auntie Tibby. Welcome to Ebbsmouth. Sorry I’m late. Bicycle got a puncture. And you must be Stella?’ She had a smoker’s husky voice and gave Stella a hearty handshake with tobacco-stained fingers. ‘Tom and Esmie are always singing your praises.’
‘Very pleased to meet you, Miss Lomax,’ said Stella.
‘Call me Tibby. Miss Lomax makes me sound like a frightening old spinster.’
‘That’s what you are,’ Lydia murmured out of Aunt Tibby’s hearing, putting a possessive hand on Andrew’s arm.
‘Hello, Lydia – and MrsT,’ Tibby said amiably. ‘I hope you’ll bring Andrew and Stella to The Anchorage soon.’
‘We’ll see,’ said Lydia. ‘They need to settle in at Templeton Hall first.’
