“So, what happened to your parents?” she asked.
“They were in a coach crash in Italy. They’d gone on holiday to Lake Garda; the road was wet and the police think the driver went to sleep at the wheel. The coach left the road, plunged down an embankment in front of a train. The train stopped, fortunately, but six people died. Two of them were my parents.” Tamsyn was amazed at the fluency with which the story came out. She frowned slightly, as she had no idea as to where all this information came from. She’d never even heard of Lake Garda.
“I think I remember that on the news. Were you with them?”
“No, I was staying with some friends. I was nine, and I think my parents felt I was too young for a coach trip. It was also during term time, so I stayed with my friend and went to school as usual.” Her frown deepened, as it was as if someone else had taken over and was speaking through her.
“Do you have any brothers and sisters?”
“No, just me. I think Mummy wanted more, but there was something wrong with her tubes. She said it was a miracle that she had me.”
Mary suddenly felt guilty that she had asked the questions.
“I’m sorry, dear; I don’t mean to pry, as it must have been awful for you.”
“It was, but I try not to think about it too much.” Tamsyn actually felt something within her subside as if it only came to her assistance when required. She felt quite strange, so her expression reflected her disquiet, which made Mary feel she’d pried too deeply, so felt awful and wanted to change the subject.
“As I said, I either read about the crash or saw it on the telly. I think you must have done so well to go to university after dealing with all that. Are you enjoying your course?”
“Not really, it’s all a bit arty-farty for me. I thought it would be more hands-on and practical. I’m thinking about dropping out or changing courses. I’ve got through the first year, but I have to admit, I don’t think it’s for me.”
“That’s a shame. What else would you do?”
“I’m not sure. I think I’d like to travel, see the world and just see a bit more of life before I decide. I only went to university because it got me out of home.”
Mary chuckled, “Sometimes, I think Jenny only got married for the same reason.”
“Oh?”
“Not really, she and Nick were childhood sweethearts, so it was always going to be, but sometimes, I wished she’d done what you’re thinking about. How old are you anyway, Tamsyn?”
“Nineteen, why?”
Mary shrugged, “No reason, just sometimes you seem older, and yet other times you have such a fresh and open smile, you seem younger.”
Tamsyn smiled. “Meur ras,” she said. (Thank you)
Mary stared at her in surprise, “You speak Cornish?”
The smiling girl nodded, shrugging as if it was nothing special.
“You are a pickle. When did you learn it?”
Tamsyn shrugged again, “I don’t know, I sort of always knew it.”
Mary frowned, “Did your parents speak it?”
“I don’t think so. I can’t remember them doing so.
“How strange. What else can you do that you aren’t telling me?”
Tamsyn smiled enigmatically, “Oh well, we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?” she said.
“You are really quite a strange one, aren’t you?”
“Oh yes, I hope so!” said Tamsyn.
“Well, forget that, and help me get eight breakfasts ready. The couple in room two will be in on the dot of seven thirty, so we have ten minutes!”
Tamsyn set to with no hesitation. The dining room had been set up on the previous evening, so she simply opened the curtains and brought through the jug of cold milk.
Mary had been spot-on, as Mr and Mrs Delaney were at their table exactly on seven-thirty. Tamsyn greeted them with a cheery smile, as she took their order for a cooked breakfast.
“You’re new; we haven’t seen you before; have we?” Mrs Delaney asked.
“I am new; I’m Tamsyn. I only started this morning, just to get some cash together before I decide whether to go back to college or not.”
“Are you local?”
“More or less. I come from just down the road.”
“Well, it’s nice to see a pretty young face around for a change.”
Grinning broadly, Tamsyn returned to the kitchen, having set the tone for the morning. She worked hard, but the guests were undemanding and all were out by nine. All, that is, except Miriam Tanner. She had still not appeared by nine fifteen, and Mary didn’t relish going to wake her.
“I’ll go,” said the girl, appearing to read her mind.
“If she’s still asleep, don’t bother her. I’ll give the police a ring and see whether they’ve found her husband yet.”
“Okay.”
Mary watched the girl, as she walked briskly up the stairs. Mary shook her head, smiling. No one should be that cheerful all the time.
Miriam hadn’t slept well. Her mind had been active for most of the night, unusually. She’d gone over everything that had happened since she’d got married. She wasn’t in the habit of thinking a great deal further than the current TV programme or the next meal. However, her thinking caused her a good deal of heartache. Guilt didn’t come easy to her, but she was now experiencing guilt in modest portions.
Mainly, she was still angry. She was angry at herself, but unable to deal effectively with that, so she transferred it to Allun. All her anger and guilt was easier to cope with when Allun carried the weight.
She was still in bed; someone knocked on the door.
“What?” she said, irritably.
“Would you like breakfast, madam?” said a girl’s voice.
“Yeah, I guess. What is there?”
“Full fried English breakfast with toast, coffee and cereal.”
“Yeah, that’ll do. Bring it up, will ya!”
Miriam heard footsteps going back down the stairs. Getting up, she made for the bathroom and took a shower. She experienced a real feeling of hopelessness and panic. Allun actually meant an awful lot more to her than she’d ever admit. Their relationship had started out of a mutual need, yet despite her attitude, Miriam never lost that need; she simply lost the ability to express it.
She wept inside the shower stall, leaning against the stall, causing it to creak alarmingly. She wept for herself more than Allun, but she wept a little for Allun, despite the anger that tended to override everything else.
She was drying her hair when the girl knocked on her door again, bringing her breakfast. She walked over to the door and opened it. She wasn't to know that Tamsyn had returned while she was in the shower and replaced the laptop under the bed.
Tamsyn came in carrying a laden tray. She smiled as she watched Miriam checking out what was on the tray. Tamsyn knew exactly what Miriam liked, so providing it exactly gave her cause for a secret smile. She placed the tray on the table in the corner.
Miriam watched the girl feeling envious of her slim figure, her stunning smile and youth.
“I hope you enjoy your breakfast. If you leave the tray, I’ll remove it later. I’ve been asked to inform you that we don’t normally serve breakfast in the rooms, but due to your unfortunate circumstances, Mary says that it’s okay for today. If you need anything else, we’ll be downstairs.”
“Thanks, honey, um, say, has any word come through about my husband?”
Tamsyn stared at her; completely surprised that Miriam had actually said thanks.
“I don’t think so. Mary’s on the phone to the local police at the moment.”
“Will they need a photograph or anything?”
“I doubt it, as they took his wallet and stuff yesterday, didn’t they?”