Page 120 of The Pearl Sister
‘Does he know?’ she whispered to herself. ‘Is that why he’s so angry? Lord, what have I done?’
Eventually, she sat up, and took some deep breaths. ‘Andrew is alive,’ she said out loud. ‘And it is wonderful news. Charlie, Edith . . . they will be so very happy. Everyone will tell me how lucky I am. Yes. Iamlucky.’
Andrew did not come to her bed that night. She found him at breakfast the next morning, with Charlie sitting on the chair next to him.
‘Papa came back from heaven,’ her son smiled happily. ‘He’s an angel now, an’ flew back wiv wings.’
‘And I am glad to be home,’ said Andrew.
As Camira served them, Kitty saw the confused look in her eyes.
‘Isn’t it wonderful? Andrew is home!’
‘Yessum, Missus Kitty,’ she said with a hurried nod, then left the room.
‘Your little black doesn’t seem herself,’ Andrew commented as he munched his way through three slices of toast and bacon.
‘She is probably amazed and overwhelmed at your miraculous return, as we all are.’
‘I’d like you to accompany me into town, Kitty. I think it is important that people see us reunited.’
‘Yes, of course, Andrew.’
‘I shall then go to the office, as I can imagine there will be much to do there. I will send a telegram to Mother on the way and tell her we shall all go to Alicia Hall for a visit soon.’
Once Camira had taken Charlie off to the kitchen, Andrew stood up and studied Kitty.
‘I read the condolence letters from the townsfolk after my bath last night. They were very kind about Father and myself, and poor old Drummond. He in particular was obviously very popular here.’
‘He was, yes.’
‘The two of you seemed to do rather a lot of socialising together while I was gone.’
‘Invitations came and I felt I should accept them. You always tell me how important it is.’
‘And I remember how many times you came up with an excuse to turn them down in the past. With me, anyway.’
‘I . . . that is, the rains were worse than usual this year. I think we all suffered from cabin fever and needed to get out once they’d stopped,’ Kitty improvised.
‘Well, now that I am returned from the dead, we are able to celebrate. And I hope I will not disappoint our neighbours by being myself rather than my brother, God rest his soul.’
‘Andrew, please don’t talk like that.’
‘Even my own son says nothing but “Uncle Drum” this and “Uncle Drum” that. It seems he has endeared himself to everyone. Does that include you, my dear?’
‘Andrew, please, your brother is dead! He is gone forever! Surely you cannot resent the fact that he enjoyed the last few weeks of his life here with family and new friends?’
‘Of course not. What do you take me for? However, even though he is dead, it feels rather as if he walked into my house and my life and took both over while I was away.’
‘And thank God hewashere, especially when I was sick.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Andrew nodded, chastened. ‘Forgive me, Kitty, it has all been rather overwhelming. Now, I would like to leave for town at ten o’clock. Can you be ready?’
‘Of course. Will we take Charlie?’
‘Best leave him here,’ Andrew decreed.
As they drove along Dampier Terrace, Kitty could only assume that Andrew wished as many residents as possible to see he had returned. She watched the reactions of the shopkeepers and passersby who crowded around him, desperate to know how he’d managed to escape from his watery grave. Andrew told the same story a number of times, and people hugged Kitty and told her how lucky she was.
