here.’
The bus pulled to a stop in front of them, and Barra held her elbow as she stepped up on the platform. They sat together on the long seat by the door. ‘So you be careful, all right?’ Rose finished. ‘Just be careful.’
Barra appeared not to have heard her. He leaned forward. ‘How’s yir lambs getting along?’ he enquired of the elderly gentleman sitting opposite them.
‘They’re grand, Barra,’ the man answered. ‘Getting as fat as pigs, they are.’ A toothless cackle followed, and Barra crossed the aisle to sit by the man and discuss the progress of his flock.
Rose watched them, wondering anew. She had never seen the man before in her life.
The afternoon proved uneventful. Rose had hung about the cosmetics department for a good ten minutes before going upstairs to the lending library, but wherever Sheena Mearns had disappeared to, she wasn’t on her usual counter. Rose tried to broach the subject of her rival’s whereabouts as Sandra Ledingham stamped her books, but was unable to find a suitably casual opening.
‘It’s Frank Yerby’s latest.’ Sandra smiled. ‘We canna’ keep them on the shelves. Course, he’s a bit near the bone at times, but nothing compared to thon awful Harold Robbins.’
She winked, fully aware that Rose had borrowed The Carpetbaggers twice already, and was eagerly awaiting the release of the Oscar-winning film in Craigourie. Rose would have flushed had it been Miss Falconer behind the counter, but Sandra had been the one to suggest the book in the first place.
‘I know what you mean,’ Rose answered, and they giggled.
Sandra handed the books over to Rose, and stretched across the counter. ‘He’s usually at the Natural History,’ she remarked. ‘He looks fed up.’
‘He didn’t want to come with me. You know how they are at that age.’ Rose looked over to where Barra was inspecting the middle shelf of the Religion section. ‘C’mon, son, we’re ready,’ she called. She’d be mortified if he brought up any of this latest nonsense in front of Sandra.
Barra started towards them, a look of enquiry on his face, and Rose locked eyes with him, silently forbidding him to even mention the word ‘angel’.
‘Were you looking for something partic’lar, Barra?’ Sandra asked.
Barra broke his mother’s gaze. ‘I’m no’ allowed to talk about it,’ he answered.
‘Never mind him,’ Rose rushed on as Sandra opened her mouth to enquire exactly what it was Barra wasn’t allowed to talk about. ‘He just doesn’t like being in the town on a Saturday afternoon.’
‘Who does?’ Sandra shrugged. ‘If I hadn’t taken so much from the club-book, I’d be taking a Saturday afternoon off myself once in a while. It’ll be bloody August before it’s all paid off. Just hope I’m no paid off before it.’
‘Why?’ Rose asked, shocked at the notion.
‘Och, there’s word they’re going to be closing the lending libraries, Rose. No doubt we’ll be one o’ the first to get the chop.’
‘Never!’
‘Aye, well, Hazel’s man’s in for a job at Dounreay. If he gets it, I’m hoping they’ll give me her counter downstairs. Fingers crossed,’ she sighed.
‘God, that’s awful,’ Rose said. ‘What’re they thinking about? Closing libraries like that!’
Sandra shrugged again. ‘What can you do?’ she asked. ‘There’s worse things than losing yir job.’
‘Aye, there’s much worse,’ Rose agreed in sympathy, aware that Sandra was referring to Jim Pascoe’s illness. Jim’s wife, Jennifer, was Sandra’s older sister, and the girls – though several years apart – had always seemed very close.
‘I’m ashamed to say I haven’t looked in on them at all this week,’ Rose continued. ‘It just gets to where you don’t know what to say any more.’
‘I know,’ Sandra replied. ‘There’s nothing anyone can do now but wait.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s hard, though.’
‘I can imagine,’ Rose agreed. ‘They’re so brave, both of them. I don’t have any family of my own, but at least Jennifer has you ’n’ your folks nearby. She’ll need yis more than ever after …’ It was impossible to say the words.
‘The thing of it is,’ Sandra said, a troubled frown creasing her youthful forehead, ‘you’d think we’d be closer than ever just now. I mean, she is my sister. But … it’s as though she doesn’t want us near them, like we’re not welcome. It’s putting an awful strain on Mam.’
‘It’s probably just that she wants Jim to herself – while she has him,’ Rose said gently. ‘It’s understandable.’
‘I suppose so.’ Sandra drew a deep breath, and squared her shoulders. ‘Enough o’ that. Are yis off home now?’
‘We’re going to Bremner’s first.’ Rose smiled, nodding in Barra’s direction. ‘Cream hornets.’
Barra was leaning against the counter, a faraway look in his eyes.
‘We’re boring him to death.’ Sandra laughed.
As Rose said her cheerios Barra made for the staircase, turning at the last minute to cast a cheery wave in Sandra’s direction.
‘Yis’re all wrong,’ he called back to her. ‘I know someone who’ll make him better. Jim’ll be up ’n’ running … aaaah!’ he screamed, as Rose gave him a push that sent him flying. He missed the top two steps and scrambled to land upright on the third.
‘Are you all right?’ Rose asked, immediately horrified at the result of her action.
Barra blinked back at her, his expression a cross between surprise and terror.
‘What did you do that for?’ he asked in dismay.
Chalmers laid his paper on the floor by his chair, the pages in disarray. ‘I’m off down for a pint,’ he said.
‘Can I come?’ Barra asked.
‘Are you into the drink now?’ his father enquired, peering across the tops of his glasses.
‘Och, Dad, I’d just like a bit o’ fresh air.’
Chalmers glanced across at Rose, but she had another of her damn books in her hand, and refused to lift her head to look at him.
‘I’m no’ surprised,’ Chalmers remarked. ‘A fine day like this, and you haven’t had a minute to yirsel to enjoy it. You’d’ve been better off coming wi’ me to Dunfearn.’
‘I would,’ Barra agreed. ‘You’re right there, Da. I definitely would.’ He was sitting on the orange carpet in front of
