Finders and Keepers by Catrin Collier Read Free Book Online Page B

Victor’s poor attempt at a joke fell leadenly into the heavy atmosphere.
    â€˜The volunteers only kept essential services going, they weren’t after anyone’s job.’ Lloyd stared thoughtfully at his stepson. ‘Well, all I can say, Harry, is you’re right. One of us should see the sanatorium before subjecting Dad to the journey there. Thank you for taking it upon yourself.’
    Harry winked at Bella, the only other one of his generation who had been allowed to eat with the adults. She was very obviously close to tears.
    â€˜I wish we could see Dad, if only for a couple of minutes, to ask him how he feels about going to this Craig-y-Nos,’ Victor said feelingly.
    â€˜If Doctor Adams does agree to take Dad as a patient, and Harry thinks the place is suitable, we might see Dad sooner than we think,’ Lloyd consoled him.
    â€˜If everything is as Doctor Williams said, will you stay in the valley until we take Dad to the sanatorium, Harry?’ Victor asked.
    â€˜That depends on how soon it can be arranged.’
    â€˜If they’ll take him, we’ll bring him down the day after tomorrow,’ Joey said firmly. ‘I don’t think he should be left on the isolation ward of the Graig a day longer than necessary. On Doctor Williams’s own admission they can’t offer him any treatment.’
    â€˜In that case I’ll stay. There’s bound to be a pub or a farmhouse nearby that rents out rooms.’ Harry turned to Megan. ‘You’re from the Swansea Valley, aren’t you, Aunty Megan?’
    â€˜Yes, but it’s a long time since I’ve been there, I couldn’t recommend anywhere.’ Megan was estranged from her family. Her chapel deacon father had warned her that if she married Catholic Victor, he would count her name among the dead, and that he would do the same to her mother, brothers and sisters if they tried to contact her. But instead of deterring her, his threats had made her all the more determined to marry the man of her choice.
    â€˜Is the climate there as good as Doctor Williams told us?’
    â€˜To be honest, I don’t remember it being much different from Pontypridd, but I was only thirteen when I left. There’s iron and tinplate works as well as coal pits in the lower valley but the upper valley is pretty. There are woods, a river and a couple of waterfalls. I remember the castle. It’s huge and the gardens are beautiful; the river runs through them and there’s a small lake. There’s even a winter garden. I peeped in there once and saw lemons and oranges growing on trees. But when I was a girl Madame Patti was still alive and living there between tours. She built a theatre in Craig-y-Nos and gave free concerts for the local people. She had an incredibly clear and haunting voice. The chapel minister told us that theatres paid her five thousand pounds in gold to perform for a single night, and all the kings and queens in Europe would come to hear her, yet she’d sing for us for nothing. After the concerts her servants would give us tea and there’d be a present for every child. Two of my sisters worked there as maids and loved the place and her. For all I know, they could still be at the castle.’
    â€˜Sounds pretty, so there’s bound to be better views from the windows in the castle for Granddad to look at than there are from the Graig.’ Harry pushed his empty cup aside and leaned his elbows on the table. ‘I’ll drive to the valley tomorrow, find myself a room and try to see Doctor Adams right away. If he is willing to treat Granddad, I’ll ask him to show me the room where he will stay, and if it looks all right, I’ll telephone you and then you can bring him down.’
    â€˜Train would be best,’ Victor said decisively. ‘We’ll book a private carriage so he can lie on the seats. But you’ll have to arrange transport from the local station,