Heartbreak and Happiness Read online

  Rebecca thought that perhaps a break from Shelston might help her to sort things out in her head about Cindy. Furthermore she enjoyed Grace Flowers’ company. She was tall and slim, the same as Rebecca, but Grace had long, straight red hair, which she wore caught back in a ponytail, and bright-blue eyes that were a complete contrast to Rebecca’s honey-coloured hair and grey eyes.

  ‘I know it’s a bit chilly for a trip to the seaside, but let’s visit Penarth and Barry Island, and perhaps Swansea as well if we have time,’ Grace suggested.

  ‘When I’m at home in Liverpool,’ she went on, ‘I love to go to Southport or even New Brighton for the day and I’m feeling withdrawal symptoms as a result of not being able to see the sea.’

  ‘What utter rubbish!’ Rebecca laughed. ‘Cardiff is right on the edge of the Irish sea. You can take a walk down to the Bay any Saturday you like.’

  ‘I know, but somehow it’s not the same.’

  ‘New Brighton is on the Mersey and that’s only a river—’

  ‘It may only be a river but it opens out into the Irish Sea. And big boats – ocean liners, in fact – come down it and dock in the Port of Liverpool.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’m only teasing you. I’d like to see Barry Island. I’ve heard so much about it, and Swansea as well if we can find the time. Where I live, in Shelston, we’re landlocked and miles from the sea, so it’s all new to me.’

  ‘OK, let’s do that then,’ Grace agreed. ‘You’re quite sure you don’t want to go home for the holiday?’

  ‘No!’ Rebecca suppressed a shudder and her grey eyes clouded as she shook her head. She had found the atmosphere in her own home as well as in the village depressing when she’d been there at Easter. What was more, she didn’t want to revive any memories of Cindy and if she went back to Shelston, even for a few days, she knew she would.

  She would never forget Cindy, of course, because she had been part of her life for so long. One day she would find her, she was quite sure of that. For the present, though, Rebecca felt it was more prudent to put the matter out of her mind.

  Having agreed on their programme for work and recreation, the two girls worked hard and when Easter finally came they both felt they were in need of a break.

  ‘Over the holiday we’ll pack away our books and not even peep at them,’ Grace said emphatically on the Thursday night, as she pushed back the strands of hair that had escaped from her ponytail and fallen over her face while she was concentrating. ‘The next four or five days are going to be pure relaxation. Let’s hope the weather keeps fine so we can really enjoy our sightseeing trips.’

  Rebecca smiled. ‘If it’s warm enough, we might even manage to paddle.’

  ‘I very much doubt it, but at least you’ll know where you can persuade your family to visit next time they want a holiday without all the fuss and expense of going abroad,’ Grace agreed, her blue eyes twinkling.

  The day they went to Penarth was sunny but chilly and there was a sharp wind blowing in off the sea.

  Nevertheless, they enjoyed their visit and were intrigued to be able to see the coastline of Somerset and Devon quite clearly on the other side of the Severn estuary.

  ‘It makes me feel really close to home,’ Rebecca said in surprise. ‘We used to go on coach trips from Shelston to Weston-super-Mare when I was at school.’

  ‘There’s still time for you to go home for a couple of days if you’re homesick,’ Grace told her sympathetically.

  Rebecca shook her head. ‘No! I’m not homesick,’ she declared emphatically.

  Even as she spoke, her mind was full of memories of Cindy and herself at school, of the charabanc trips they’d gone on armed with a pack of sandwiches and a bottle of lemonade, all prepared to spend the day together.

  ‘Come on!’ She grabbed Grace’s hand. ‘Race you along the promenade.’

  Their trip to Barry Island was a tremendous success. They took off their shoes and socks and wriggled their toes in the sand, but one dip in the sea was enough. Laughing and shivering, they scrambled back as waves licked their toes and decided it really wasn’t warm enough for such an adventure.

  After a meal of fish and chips, eaten straight out of the paper they were wrapped in, they went along to the fairground. The new season had only just started and the showmen were all offering cheap rates to drum up interest. The two girls took advantage of the offers and went on half a dozen rides until they were both completely exhausted.

  To finish off the day, they went into one of the cafés near the sea front for a hamburger and fries, washed down with a glass of coke.

  ‘Not very sophisticated, are we?’ Grace laughed.

  ‘Maybe not but it’s been good fun. I wouldn’t have missed out on today for anything,’ Rebecca enthused.

  ‘Shall we pay a visit to Swansea tomorrow?’ Grace asked as they made their way back to Cardiff.

  ‘Let’s see how we feel in the morning. All that sea air has made me sleepy. Perhaps we should have a lie-in tomorrow and then go to Swansea the next day.’

  ‘That might be a good idea,’ Grace agreed. ‘There’s a good play on at the Sherman Theatre tomorrow evening and I’d like to see it.’

  ‘Sounds good. Perhaps we could spend the day browsing round the museum or sitting in Cathays Park, then go to the play in the evening.’

  Again memories of Cindy flooded Rebecca’s thoughts. This was the sort of programme she’d planned for the weekend when Cindy should have come to stay. What had happened to her? How was it that no one had seen or heard from her after Jake dropped her off at Frome station? She must have gone somewhere. She’d have to eat and stay somewhere. Someone somewhere knew something about Cindy’s disappearance.

  Twenty-One

  Life in Shelston had still not returned to normal, and when Rebecca didn’t come home for the half-term break tongues once again began wagging.

  Repeatedly, Sandra found customers were asking if Rebecca was all right or if she had gone somewhere else for the holiday.

  When Sandra explained that Rebecca would very shortly be sitting her final exams and so had thought it best to stay where she was and concentrate on her studies, they smiled and nodded. But Sandra had the feeling many of them didn’t believe her.

  It became obvious that this was so when Lizzie Smith was heard commenting on Rebecca’s absence. ‘That’s another girl from Shelston that’s gone missing,’ she added.

  ‘Perhaps Rebecca has gone to see Cindy? After all, they were best friends,’ someone suggested.

  ‘No one knows where Cindy is or what’s happened to her,’ another observed.

  ‘Well, we don’t, but I suppose it’s quite likely that Rebecca Peterson does,’ Lizzie Smith remarked.

  ‘That’s possible because we all know those two girls were always the closest of friends,’ Mary Roberts agreed.

  The whispering and arguments spread around the village, becoming more and more malicious as the days passed.

  Sandra tried to ignore them but found it increasingly difficult whenever customers commented on Rebecca’s absence. When she explained why Rebecca had decided to stay on in Cardiff, they either raised their eyebrows or smiled dismissively.

  In the end she became so nervy and bad-tempered that Bill took matters into his own hands and phoned Rebecca.

  ‘Hello, Becky, look I know you decided to stay where you are over the break so that you could concentrate on your studies, but can you find the time to come home even if it’s only for a day?’ he asked.

  ‘Why, Dad? What’s happened?’

  ‘It’s for your mother’s sake. She’s in a right state. Folks are saying all sorts of things because you haven’t come home and she’s finding it very upsetting.’

  ‘What sort of things?’

  ‘Oh, you know. About them not seeing you around at all. Some are even hinting that you’ve gone missing the same as Cindy. That sort of thing.’

  ‘Really! Well, you should point out that you haven’t any pigs now, so you can
’t have fed me to them, not even to Moses,’ she retorted with a sharp little laugh.

  ‘I know, love, I know. They’ve nothing better to do with their time, that’s the problem. Nevertheless, it’s tearing your mother apart. She’s as jumpy as a cat in a high wind and she’s losing weight and she’s that moody—’

  ‘All right, Dad, I get the picture! Look, I can’t do anything until the weekend but I’ll come home then. It will be from late Friday night and then back here on Sunday. Is that all right?’

  ‘Thanks, love, that will be fine, I knew you would understand. Not a word to your mother that I phoned you, though. I don’t want her to know how worried I am about her. You understand?’

  ‘Yes, Dad, I understand perfectly. Now stop worrying and I’ll see you at the weekend.’

  ‘What train will you be on? Let me know and I’ll collect you from Frome Station,’ her father asked, his voice tinged with relief.

  ‘I’ve no idea. I’ll phone you from the train,’ she promised. ‘Now don’t worry and don’t say anything to Mum about me coming home in case I can’t manage to get away.’

  ‘No, I won’t. As I said, I don’t want her to know I’ve phoned you. Do your very best. If you can’t make it, then ring and let me know.’

  As Rebecca put the phone down, she felt very concerned.

  She had never thought that failing to go home at half-term would revive all the malicious stories that had been spread about Cindy. But by the sound of things, it certainly had.

  She knew her mother claimed she never listened to village gossip, but when you were the one involved it was a different matter.

  She wondered what Grace would say when she told her they would have to postpone their planned trip to Swansea. She hoped she would understand.

  Perhaps she could ask Grace if she would like to come to Shelston with her. There wasn’t a lot to do in the village at weekends, or at any time for that matter, but since Grace had lived in a city all her life it might be a new experience for her.

  It would also give her a reason for going home. It would mean that her mother wouldn’t need to know that her father had phoned begging her to come home and show her face in the village in order to put a stop to all the gossip.

  For several reasons, Rebecca kept putting off mentioning to Grace that she needed to change their plans for the following weekend.

  For one thing, she knew Grace was very eager to go to Swansea and she hated having to disappoint her. Also, if she took Grace to Shelston she would have to explain the reason behind going there.

  Telling her about Cindy’s strange disappearance and the subsequent malicious gossip sounded so far-fetched, even to her ears, that she wondered if Grace would understand.

  In bed that night, before going to sleep she ran the story over in her mind, debating which bits to leave out and exactly what to tell Grace. The next morning, when she woke up it all came flooding back and it all sounded so improbable that she put the matter to the back of her mind for another day.

  On the Thursday night she knew she couldn’t put it off any longer and vowed she would explain matters to Grace the next day.

  She had the story all ready in her mind when they met at lunch time. But before she could say a word Grace said, ‘Look, do you mind if we put off going to Swansea on Saturday? I’ve started a cold and I’m already aching and feeling unwell. By tomorrow it will be ten times worse.’

  Rebecca felt so relieved that she had a hard job stopping herself smiling. Now there was no need for her to tell Grace she needed to change their plans for the weekend or about Cindy.

  Grace took her long silence for disappointment. ‘I thought perhaps we could leave it until the following weekend,’ she persisted.

  ‘Yes, of course we can,’ Rebecca assured her. ‘After all, it’s only a jaunt. We can do it any time.’

  ‘Sorry if it’s going to mess up your weekend,’ Grace went on contritely. ‘But as you know, when I get a cold it’s usually pretty bad and I’m not the best of company for a few days.’

  ‘I know. I’m sorry about the cold but I do understand,’ Rebecca murmured. ‘If there is anything I can do to help, do let me know.’

  She crossed her fingers, hoping that Grace would refuse any offer of help. Then she would be free to go ahead with her own plans for going home.

  ‘No, there’s nothing you can do, thank you,’ Grace mumbled. ‘I’ll go to bed and stay there until Monday morning. I should be fine by then.’

  ‘What about your meals? You ought to eat to fight your cold.’

  ‘I’ll get in a stock of tissues and packets of soup and throat lozenges and pamper myself.’

  ‘You don’t want me to nurse you?’

  ‘No, I most definitely do not. I simply want to suffer alone.’ Grace grinned, her blue eyes twinkling.

  Rebecca paused and then said, ‘In that case I think I’ll take the opportunity to go home for a couple of days. I know Mum was worried because I didn’t go home for the half-term break, so this will set her mind at rest.’

  ‘That’s a great idea, it will make me feel less guilty about messing up our plans.’

  Rebecca breathed a deep sigh of relief. She’d been reprieved from an awkward situation right at the eleventh hour. Now she could go home with a clear conscience, knowing that she wasn’t letting Grace down in any way.

  Furthermore, she hadn’t had to tell Grace anything about Cindy being missing and the gossip and turmoil that was going on in the village as a result.

  Twenty-Two

  Rebecca was shocked by her mother’s appearance. She had lost weight, her face was pallid, and her make-up that was usually so skilfully applied now made her look like a painted doll.

  She clung on to Rebecca almost fiercely as they embraced, and her sigh of relief that Rebecca was there made her feel guilty she hadn’t come home before.

  The latest gossip had only started a week ago, she consoled herself, so her mother’s decline must have started long before then. She looked as though she hadn’t had a decent meal or a good night’s sleep for weeks.

  Normally she was impeccably dressed with everything coordinating. Today she looked as though she’d dressed in the dark and put on whatever had come to hand, without thought or care.

  ‘I couldn’t believe it when your dad took your call and said you were on your way home and wanted to be picked up from the station,’ she said with a deep sigh.

  ‘I didn’t want to say anything earlier in case I couldn’t make it. I’ve got to go back on Sunday, as I have an exam on Tuesday and need to spend Monday revising.’

  ‘Oh dear, I do hope you’re not working too hard.’

  ‘Of course I’m not!’ Rebecca laughed. ‘It’s what I expected. I must get good grades because I want to go on this fast-track course, then by next year I will be a qualified teacher.’

  ‘What’s a fast-track course?’ her mother asked, frowning.

  ‘It’s a special course that condenses three years’ work into one.’

  ‘That sounds like even more hard work,’ her mother said, shaking her head from side to side as if in disapproval. ‘And I thought you wanted to go into politics.’

  ‘I did when I started at university, but I’ve changed my mind. I mightn’t be any good, and I can always take up politics later when I’m too old to be a teacher. This fast-track course is such a good opportunity. I know it means another year at university, but after that I will be working and earning my own living, instead of being a burden on you.’

  ‘You’re not a burden,’ her father assured her. ‘We want you to do well and we’re both proud of the way you are working. Now, come on, you must be starving, so let’s sit down and eat whatever your mother cooked while I was collecting you.’

  As they ate, Rebecca broached the subject that had been worrying her, the malicious gossip in the village.

  Normally her mother would have laughed and dismissed the topic but tonight she remained quiet, and as Rebecca looked up from her plate
she saw that her father was shaking his head at her, trying to indicate that she should not pursue the matter further.

  Taking the hint, Rebecca began telling them about some of the trivial happenings over the past few weeks and how her friend, Grace Flowers, was also planning to be a teacher.

  ‘So does that mean you would both be going on to take the same crash course?’ her father asked.

  ‘That’s right. One of the Liverpool universities runs a very good one, so we are both aiming for that.’

  ‘Does Grace come from Merseyside or somewhere up that way, then?’

  ‘Yes, she’s from Liverpool,’ Rebecca told them.

  After she had helped her mother wash the dishes, Rebecca said she was tired and ready for bed.

  ‘I am, too.’ Her mother stifled a yawn.

  ‘I’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight knowing you are home and in the next room,’ she added with a smile as they kissed goodnight.

  When Rebecca woke next morning she said nothing to her mother, but she had already decided she would go out and make a point of meeting Lizzie Smith, who was always to be found in the High Street on a Saturday morning.

  Rebecca was convinced that Lizzie did this because there were usually more people about on a Saturday morning than at any other time in the week.

  She would start off at the post office and then work her way down the High Street, going into every shop for some small item or other. The more people there were in the shop the happier Lizzie was, and she would forgo her turn time and time again in order to gossip with the people in the queue waiting to be served.

  Rebecca carefully timed going out so that she would be in the general store at the same time as Lizzie. She immediately saw the surprise on Lizzie’s face, so she smiled sweetly and said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, ‘Hello, Lizzie, surprised to see me? I understand you’ve been spreading rumours that I’ve disappeared.’

  For a moment the old woman seemed at a loss for words, then she retaliated sharply. ‘Well, you didn’t come home for half-term, did you?’