A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,57
she turns away. The cat jumps out of her grasp and hares out of the gate. And Reenie follows. ‘Thank you,’ she calls, before disappearing up the path of Moon Cottage.
A few seconds later, her front door slams shut.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Undeterred by Reenie’s refusal, at lunch-time, I cut two slices of the egg and bacon quiche and put it in a box with some salad to take round to Moon Cottage.
Once again, my knocks go unanswered, so I leave the box on the doorstep and call through the letterbox to tell her it’s there. ‘I hope Marmalade’s okay after his fright this morning,’ I add. ‘I could bring you some cat treats from the village store, if they have any?’
Still no reply.
But as I’m walking away, I hear the door open.
I swing round and Reenie’s standing there, just inside the door, blinking in the wintry sunlight.
‘Did you mean it about the cat food?’
‘Yes, of course. No problem. I’ll go down there now.’
‘I’ve been feeding her chicken and meat from the freezer, and tinned tuna, but she loves the tins of special cat food with the jelly.’ At the talk of food, Marmalade appears as if by magic, weaving in and out of Reenie’s legs.
‘What kind of cat food do you want?’
‘Anything. Just to give the little mite a change. I think I’ve got some cash.’ She walks away.
‘You don’t need to pay me now,’ I call, and when she doesn’t reply, I follow her inside. It’s freezing in the hallway, but I can hear the whirr of a fan heater in the room straight ahead, which seems to be the kitchen. When Reenie emerges with her purse, she brings a draft of warm air with her – along with the most repugnant smell.
I instinctively draw back as the sour scent hits my nostrils. Reenie looks at me, shocked, and I can’t tell if she’s just not used to having someone in her house, or if she noticed me being repelled by the smell.
Very much regretting following her in, I beat a hasty retreat and stand just outside the door again. ‘Sorry, Reenie. I just wanted to let you know that you can pay me any time.’
I can tell she’s upset because she’s refusing to meet my eye. She thrusts a ten-pound note at me, mutters her thanks and closes the front door. And I feel terrible.
Back at the cottage, I tell Ronan what just happened.
‘She’s obviously in quite a fragile state, the poor woman,’ he murmurs. ‘Maybe her daughter should know what’s happening?’
I nod. ‘You’ve got a point. But I have a feeling Reenie would kill me if she thought I was interfering. She and Maggie had a huge falling out, which is why she locked herself away in the first place.’
‘It’s tricky.’ He hesitates. ‘So…aren’t you going back to Sunnybrook today, then?’
I shake my head. ‘Krystle’s going to have to wait. Reenie’s more important right now.’
When I get to the village store, I tell Anita about my encounters with Reenie and that I’m there to buy cat food for Marmalade.
She shakes her head regretfully. ‘There’s been a run on cat and dog food over the last few days. I think I might have some cat treats left in the back, though.’
She brings out a couple of bags, and I pay for them, glad to at least have something to take back to Reenie.
‘The poor woman’s been to hell and back, hasn’t she?’ Anita says, giving me my change. ‘I’m really surprised at Maggie, cutting her mum off like that.’
‘It sounds as if Maggie’s had a desperately bad time of it as well, though.’
She nods. ‘Thank goodness that evil bastard, Harvey, has buggered off and left her and Becca in peace.’
‘I know.’ I groan. ‘He’s probably preying on some other poor victim now.’
As I leave, she says, ‘Tell Reenie I’m asking after her, will you? And that she has to come over for a coffee at Mum’s when she’s feeling up to it.’
‘Okay.’ I smile sadly. ‘Although I can’t see that happening any time soon.’
She sighs. ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing, Carrie. Reenie’s really lucky to have you for a neighbour. She’ll have to come out sooner or later.’
I’m not expecting Reenie to answer the door this time, and sure enough, I get no response when I call through the letterbox to tell her there’s some cat treats and her change in a bag on the doorstep. I walk away, hoping I’ll hear the door open, but it doesn’t happen.
It’s