Four Weeks In Cedar Bay

CHAPTER SEVEN

Before Roy headed downstairs to start cooking breakfast, he’d called his friend Andy, explained the situation with Teddy and begged his friend for help.  A bit of luck finally went Roy’s way and Andy had agreed to lend a hand.  With the snow season in full swing, Andy had quite a bit of time on his hands with a few less chores to do on the farm.  Roy’s day had started to look up.  When he got down to the kitchen, Clara was sitting at a small round table with two chairs that sat off to one side of the galley kitchen.  She was drinking a warm cup of tea with steam rising from the mug clearly visible in the chilly kitchen.  “Morning Aunt Clara, any sign of our guest this morning?”, Roy asked trying to be nonchalant with his question.  “You mean Amy?  She has a name you know!”, Clara berated then continued, “I haven’t seen Amy this morning, she might have already left.  She’s doing a lot to help in the café and with the festival you know.  She’s become quite a busy girl these past few days.  Strange way to spend a vacation, but she seems happy, most of the time.  I’m a bit worried about her, she seems distracted and like something is weighing on her mind.  Sometimes she seems a little lost”.  As Clara spoke, she trailed off as if she was talking to herself rather than to Roy. 

With Clara’s caring nature, she was tuned into those around her and picked up on every little detail.  “You’re acting quite odd lately as well my boy.  Seriously, what has gotten into you lately?  You’re running hot and cold, not even I want to be around you so much right now.  Tell me, what’s got you so bothered?  I know you can be full of cheek, but ever since Amy arrived, your behaviour has been reprehensible.  You’ve been objectionable, offensive and generally unpleasant to be around.  Whatever is bothering you, best you deal with it before you become another Teddy”.  Roy just stood there taking hit after hit as Clara laid it all out on the table for him.  The thought of becoming a ‘Teddy’ made his skin crawl!  He didn’t want to grow to be a bitter old man.  He was questioning himself now, ‘Am I really that bad?  Has Amy affected me That Much?’.  Clara walked to the sink, placed her empty mug down and finished with, “No need to cook this morning, unless you want to cook for yourself.  If Amy was still here, she would have come into the kitchen by now and my tea has satisfied me.  Try to enjoy the rest of your day Roy”, and she left the kitchen, headed back to the residence wing.

Amy had made her way downstairs towards the kitchen when she heard voices.  As she got closer, she could make out Clara and Roy talking.  Hearing her name, she stopped short of the kitchen and tucked herself around a corner, out of sight but still close enough to hear what they were saying.  She felt as if she was spying and being dishonest, but it was her name being thrown around, she needed to know why.  When Clara talked about Roy’s behaviour, Amy was in total agreeance, but what did take her by surprise was Clara’s claim he’d only been acting this way since her arrival.  ‘So, he’s not normally an ass?’ Amy asked herself curiously.  As Amy heard Clara finish her berating of Roy, she heard movement of a chair across the floor, and something being put into the sink.  Amy didn’t want to be seen snooping around, or spying, so she headed back up the stairs as fast as she could before she was spotted. 

Making it back to her room without being seen, Amy decided to spend some time reading her book before heading out for the day.  She wasn’t due at the café until the lunch rush began and her festival duties could take the morning off, she’d decided.  Besides, she wanted to wait until Roy had left before heading out again.  Both Clara and Roy were under the impression she’d already set out for the day, why do anything to prove them wrong.  When Amy heard Roy’s truck leave she began to prepare to finally head out for the day.  Showered, changed and ready to leave, she realised too late, she’d forgot to factor in the extra time she needed to walk into town.  Now she was going to be late!  She had no choice, she needed to use Clara’s pushbike and hoped like hell she didn’t lose it on a patch of ice or get bogged in snow.  Descending the stairs quietly, she headed out the rear door near the kitchen that lead to the alcove.