Anna's Armchair: Prime Time, #10

By Ruth Hay

Anna has remained in Oban, in her beloved McCaig Estate Farmhouse, with Ashley's family. 
They have had some difficult settling-in times, but at last all seems to be calm and comfortable with baby Austin now approaching three years old. 
The last thing Anna needs is more disruption, but she knows her life in Oban has many moving parts and many loving people, and time marches on faster than even she can imagine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ruth Hay
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201213107

Book preview

ONE

Anna Mason Drake had very few regrets in life.

She considered herself a very fortunate woman. At her advanced age, she was living in great comfort with Ashley and Edmund, and their darling boy Austin. She knew she was a valued member of their family. Not only was she nearby to look after Austin when his mother was working on a new writing project, but she was also available to answer the phone and take messages from Edmund when his new role of District Medical Officer required him to travel throughout the West of Scotland and to the Hebrides.

Anna acquired a double role on these occasions.

First she had to convey times to Ashley when her husband would be likely to return home,

then she must advise the Oban Surgery, in far more official sounding language, when their senior doctor would again be available to see patients. Anna usually spoke to Joel Spencer on these occasions as the calls came in late in the evening most often, and she had Joel’s phone number in the Oban cottage near the shoreline where he lived.

Anna was usually up late to receive these calls. She found she did not need so much sleep as she aged into her eighties, and she often slept on the pullout couch in the lounge rather than climbing the stairs to her bedroom. The stairs were a bit of a problem for her aging hips, and also, the large room with the big window and the double bed seemed too lonely now that she had no one to share it with.

The lounge had a peat fire ready laid for cool evenings and she could sit and dream, or read and remember, without disturbing the household. Should Austin stir in his sleep, his mother was the nearest person and Anna could make herself a cup of tea in the kitchen and talk quietly to Sylvia without fear of disturbing anyone.

Sylvia was older and more content to sit on Anna’s knee and listen to her memories, or her troubles, if the mood was on her. Only the swishing of the cat’s magnificent tail would signal the moment when Anna’s serious concerns were conveyed to her furry companion.

"You see, Sylvia, it’s difficult to be the oldest person around. Sometimes you just want to unburden yourself to someone of the same age who understands without any explanation required.

Not that I am complaining, of course! I am the luckiest of women. But, if only my dearest Alina could be here with us, I would be perfectly content."

Anna’s thoughts turned naturally to Bev when she was in one of those moods. She was truly grateful that Bev lived so close and was willing to spend time with her oldest friend.

Their conversations often roamed over the years when the Samba group of women met regularly in London, Ontario, and solved all their problems by dint of applying the skills and talents in their close group. When Anna stayed with Bev most weekends to give Ashley and Edmund time to themselves, their talk often turned to those early days and the importance of those connections.

Do you remember, Anna, when Maria sorted out your wardrobe problems that time, by showing you photographs of your outfits?

Goodness me, Bev, that soon fixed my lack of storage space for me! And it was the start of a complete personal renovation.

I agree. I don’t think you would have had the courage to travel to Scotland to see the house Helen Dunlop left you in her Will, if you had not seen the difference a new approach to life could bring.

Oh so true, Bev! We would not be here today in Alan’s farmhouse, if not for that brave move to try staying in Helen’s house to see if I liked it.

"I know that choice was difficult for you, Anna. You were all alone in a far distant country, in a big, old house so different from your apartment in London, Ontario.

I often wonder how you survived?"

Anna looked around her at the cozy country kitchen that was Bev’s domain. Thinking back to those far-off days was not as difficult now as it had been for many years. Strange as it seemed, the past loomed larger in Anna’s mind as she grew older.

"You know Bev, it was all the advice and support from the Samba women that got me through the first weeks. My fresh new wardrobe reminded me of Maria’s skills, my bank account was thanks to your financial help, and Susan’s constant encouragement to move on with the possibility of a new start in life kept me going forward.

Of course, Susan made that first connection with dear George McLennan and he was my guide and advisor from the first day here in Oban. I could not have known then, how vital his dear wife Jeanette’s friendship would become to my life here."

The fire crackled as the two women thought back in silence through the long years.

"You know, Anna, it would be amazing to see all the Samba members here with us.

It’s something I often dream about."

Oh that’s a lovely thought, my dear, but I doubt it could ever happen. Too much time has gone by. Even when Alina and I were living close together in London, before I came back here with Ashley, we never really had contact with Maria. She was often in Italy with her big family or busy with her fashion business interests in Canada, as well as with her two daughters.

But you did see Susan fairly recently?

Oh, you are right! It was Susan who came with me to see how Museum London was dealing with Lawren’s old loft studio. She’s the same wonderful friend as ever, but her life has changed so much since her darling Jake died.

I wonder if Susan would come here for a holiday?

Anna turned to Bev in surprise. That is a brilliant idea. She is free to travel nowadays but this appalling coronavirus goes on and on and makes travel impossible for all of us. I can’t bear to think of the opportunities that we are missing. Even Alina and Philip dare not think of taking the risk while these rolling lockdowns are in progress on both sides of the Atlantic.

Bev sighed, and Anna knew she was thinking of her son Eric who lived in Texas with his wife and family, and who had never managed to make the journey back to Scotland.

You do have your son James and his fiancé Caroline living nearby in the Lake District, Bev.

Bev nodded and a smile passed over her face. Good friends did not always need to speak aloud when they were talking together. Sometimes the thought passed from one to the other by osmosis.

"Yes, they love it there up in the hills near the waterfall in Ambleside. It’s wonderful that they returned to the place where they first met. I only wish they would decide to start a family.

Caroline is not getting any younger."

Anna knew Bev felt deprived of grandchildren to fuss over, especially now that Austin was Ashley and Edmund’s pride and joy. Anna was in a privileged position as ‘Gramma’ to the delightful young boy. It was a completely unexpected situation for a woman who never had a child of her own, to be adopted as a grandmother so late in life. She wished that for Bev also.

Eric’s twins were older teens now and she had had little time with them in Texas when they were small.

All the children in their Canadian Contingent, as the local group of women were known in Oban, were past the baby stages and beginning to make their way in the world.

Fiona’s Neil was the youngest of all the children and the one most likely to stay close to home.

Although Shona was training in estate management with intentions to take over from her father one day at the Glenmorie estate, Neil loved the wildlife all around their home in the forest. Of Fiona’s three children, he was the one to inherit his mother’s deep love of nature.

All that surrounded him in his home provided everything he needed.

Anna got regular updates on all things Campbell related, when Ashley returned from her writing sessions with Fiona. The Cottage to Castle book was taking shape and Anna was hearing about incidents in Fiona’s young life with her beloved Granny that she had never heard before.

These stories were a privilege Anna respected.

She returned to the fireside and her companion.

Well, my dear Bev, there are pluses and minuses to be expected at our time of life.

Bev knew Anna was thinking of her brother Simon’s death, as well as Susan’s Jake’s, and her great distance from Michelle, and Alina and Philip in Canada.

Will we ever see Valerie here again?

She does not do travel tours any more, Anna, as far as I know, but she does visit her family in Toronto from time to time. It must be a comfort for you to know she lives right beside Alina and Philip and looks after the paintings in your condo that Lawren left there.

Yes, indeed! We have been very fortunate that way. Philip installed all kinds of safety and security devices to protect those valuable works of art. They have a camera inside their condo so they can watch for trouble when Valerie is absent.

Just then, Alan appeared at the kitchen door. He had been out on his daily walk around the farm property. Although he no longer kept a flock of sheep on the hills, his routine remained and he always brought back a report on the condition of the land.

Come away in Alan, and give us your news. I’ll put on a pot of tea for you. That wind is icy cold on high today. I doubt you would see many signs of spring in the high pastures.

TWO

Anna usually returned to the McCaig house mid-morning on Mondays, after Edmund had left for work at the Oban Surgery.

This morning she had been able to walk on her own, as there were no recent puddles or icy conditions to give rise to problems. She enjoyed the slow walk with the aid of two hiking poles. It gave her the chance to enjoy the signs of spring along the way and breathe the country air that was redolent with growing things. She stopped frequently to look on high, remembering the times she had climbed Helen’s Hill behind the house for the superlative view over the countryside, a view that was changed very little from the time Helen Dunlop lived in the house.

Talking with Bev about Anna’s own early days there, she acknowledged how transformative that experience was in her life, as it must have been in Helen’s. Where Anna had found friends and companions like the young Fiona, Helen avoided making contacts and relished the solitude of the place to which she retreated to get away from many sad memories.

How different their lives were.

Anna knew, as she made her way through the McCaig house gate that Austin would be watching out for her arrival. The Jansen family now officially owned the house and Anna believed, without any doubt, that she was an integral part of the family for as long as she lived.

Helen Dunlop had never had such security. In all her years in the McCaig Estate House, she must have dreaded the seamier parts of her life catching up with her and stealing away the only place where she ever felt safe.

One deep breath and Anna was through the red door with Austin clinging to her knees and shouting out.

Mama! Gramma’s home!

Ashley came running with a warm hug and an invitation for coffee in the kitchen.

Tell me all Bev’s news! Edmund and I had a very quiet weekend with Austin but I do have something to tell you.

Anna could see a special glint in Ashley’s eyes. She certainly did have news of her own to share.

Perhaps a breakthrough with the book, or a better schedule for Edmund’s travel, or spring flowers popping up in the raised beds in the sheltered back garden? Whatever it was, Anna would happily share in her great-niece’s joy.

Ashley took Anna’s coat and hustled her into the warm kitchen where Sylvia the part-wildcat, raised her head from her window seat and soon sank back into sleep again.

It’s only Anna! No need to get up.

Austin was soon happily installed in his high chair with a snack, and Ashley poured two large mugs of coffee before sitting down beside Anna and tucking her long fair hair behind her ears.

"You see, we made a decision this weekend. Austin will be two in the summer and we think it’s time to try for another child before I get too old.

Now, Anna darling, don’t be worried! I promise you will not get all the work you got when this one was small. We were thinking about ways to ease your load around here and we came up with some solutions."

Ashley was chattering on.

Anna was mentally still back at the baby announcement and trying to adjust to that somewhat shocking information.

A second baby! While Ashley is writing a book, and Edmund travelling for work two weeks out of every month?

Is this wise?

Anna knew better than to question Ashley’s decisions. It was not her place to do so. She set her face on an expression of ‘Delight and Surprise’ and listened more closely.

" ……….. so, I will be taking Austin with me for most of my sessions with Fiona.

After school, Neil will babysit him and introduce him to all his amazing animals. You will be completely free to rest or visit your friends in Oban.

I think I can get most of Fiona’s story finished well before a new baby is ready to appear. The rest of the book preparation I can do from home in my old office off the lounge.

And Edmund wants to get Joel to take over some of his west coast travel. He says Joel is more than ready for such responsibility. Having Edmund here more nights in the month will take the pressure off me in the early months with the new babe."

Ashley finally noticed that Anna had not yet commented on her news, or on all her subsequent suggestions.

She reached over and took one of Anna’s hands in hers.

"Do you feel overlooked in this decision, Anna? Are you concerned about the changes?

You know how much I appreciate having you here with my family. You must never doubt that."

Anna produced a genuine smile and returned the pressure of Ashley’s warm hand.

Oh, my dear! I am just surprised, but so very happy for you both. Austin will love having a brother or sister, of course. I think I am a bit slow to adjust to new things these days but it is wonderful news.

Good! Let’s keep it just between us for now. We’ll see how things progress. It’s early days yet.

Their conversation moved on to local news and plans for the week ahead but Anna was still thinking of how much their quiet lives would change with a new baby in the house.

She skipped past the first elation and thought of practicalities. Edmund and Ashley had carved a small bedroom for Austin out of the space between their own bedroom and their spacious washroom facilities. Where would Austin sleep when the new baby was big enough to need his, or her, own bed? The obvious place was in the lounge where Anna slept most often. In later years, the children could share the twin-bed room upstairs, but Anna might not be around by then.

Moving back up to her own large bedroom upstairs was not a good prospect for Anna, and yet, it was a large space that should be used and might now be the best alternative to her pull-out couch bed in the lounge.

For the first time, Anna faced the thought of moving out of the McCaig house entirely.

Perhaps somewhere closer to town would be more suitable for her?

She dismissed the thought of the Retirement Home where Helen had spent her last months.

Such places were known to be rife with the spread of the virus in recent years.

She shivered at the very thought.

Change was in the air and Anna was thinking she might be obliged to change too.

Ashley was busy writing out the shopping list for the week.

Anna wiped Austin’s face and hands and took him through to his playroom in the big, light extension with huge windows that overlooked the rear yard and Helen’s Hill.

She settled in the rocking chair while Austin began to make a fort with his colourful bricks.

The rocking chair was Ashley’s favourite spot for nursing Austin. She often said how precious were the hours when he was tiny and she sat there feeding him and watching the light move across the top of the hills as the sun rose in the sky. No doubt, those moments would happen again with a new baby. It was important to Anna that Austin was happily occupied, while his mother spent time feeding his new brother or sister.

Anna began to think where she would sit with Austin beside her as she read stories to him.

A larger chair.

Something steady.

Somewhere that would not intrude on Ashley’s time with the new little one.

There was such a chair already in the house. It had been there since Anna’s arrival. It sat near the bookshelves at the big window in the lounge and was rarely used, as the two chairs by the fireside were preferred for access to direct heat.

The big armchair would be perfect for cozy sessions with Austin.

Anna realized she was already accepting the inevitable future and making plans for her place in the house.

THREE

Jeanette McLennan was restless.

George could sense the disturbance in the atmosphere of their Victorian house on the hill above Oban. He wondered if his wife wanted to redecorate. It was not a happy thought for him. He much preferred it when Jeanette redecorated other people’s houses rather than their own. That way, the mess and inconvenience were left behind her in her customer’s home at the close of her working day.

George now had his office in a spare room