Aunt Bessie Solves Read online

  “It’s a beautiful island.”

  “Yes, and when I first got home after we met last year, I did a lot of research into the things to do on the island. Then I got busy and, well, ill, and I never did finish my list of things I wanted to see. You’ll have to help me with that, if you have the time.”

  “I’m more than happy to help,” Bessie assured him. “Are you mostly interested in historical sites or would you like to visit the wildlife park or play golf?”

  “I used to play a lot of golf, but I’ve more or less given it up now. It’s sad how quickly my game deteriorated when I couldn’t play for a few months. I’m not that interested in going back and working hard just to get back to the same level of mediocrity that I was at before I fell ill.”

  Bessie grinned. “I’ve never really understood golf. It seems a lot of fuss and bother when you could just have a nice walk.”

  Andrew nodded. “I’m coming to see it that way as well. So maybe no golf, but I do love zoos and wildlife parks, so yes to that, please.”

  “As I’m fascinated by history, I tend to drag visitors around the historical sites,” Bessie told him. “Don’t let me bore you, though.”

  “Now that you’ve told me about the two museums, I’d quite like to see them both.”

  “As they’re quite far apart, it’s probably best to do them on two separate days. There are other things to see and do in both Douglas and Peel, of course.”

  “Isn’t there a castle in Peel?”

  “There is, although to be fair, it’s mostly the ruins of a castle. There aren’t any habitable structures left. Castle Rushen is in much better shape.”

  “So two museums and two castles. What else?”

  “The wildlife park will take up one morning. There are other things to see in Castletown, as well, when you are there.”

  “It sounds as if a week isn’t going to be enough to see everything,” Andrew said.

  “If you’ve any interest in the history of mining, the Laxey Wheel is worth a visit.”

  “I suppose it’s too much to ask, but would you be available to act as my tour guide for any or all of my stay?”

  “I don’t know about all of your stay, but I can certainly spend some time with you,” Bessie said, feeling slightly flustered.

  “Wonderful. Let’s start with dinner tonight,” Andrew suggested. “Where can we get excellent food?”

  “I can suggest several places. There’s a wonderful little Italian restaurant in Laxey, Douglas is full of great places to eat, and there’s a nice café in Lonan that serves sampler plates for dinner and pudding.”

  “Sampler plates?”

  “The chef puts together a plate with three or four small portions of different dishes every day. Sometimes it’s all Italian food, or chicken dishes, or whatever he wants to prepare. The puddings all follow a theme as well.”

  “I wasn’t thinking of a café for my first night here, but now I’m awfully tempted. Is Lonan far away?”

  “Not at all, especially not if you are used to driving around London.”

  Andrew grinned. “That’s a good point. The drive from the airport to here was shorter than my daily commute was in London a few years ago. Your island is lovely and compact.”

  “I can’t imagine living in London, although I grew up in Cleveland, which is a fairly large city. Once I bought my little cottage, though, I found I truly felt at home.”

  Andrew glanced around at the snug and comfortable sitting room. “I can see why. Your cottage seems to suit you perfectly. The views are incredible, as well.”

  “I’m rather spoiled by the views,” Bessie agreed.

  “I feel lucky to have them myself, if only for a week. I’m afraid I shall quite miss my little holiday cottage when I get back to London.”

  “You’ll have to come back here again soon, then.”

  “I’d like that. We’ll have to see what the doctors say, though. They weren’t happy about this trip, although I did get permission in the end.”

  Bessie frowned. She wanted to know more about the man’s health issues, but there was no polite way to ask.

  “But back to dinner,” Andrew said. “I’m rather worn out from flying and then driving up here in an unfamiliar car. I think I need to go and have a short nap. Shall I come back around five to collect you? Is that too early for you to have dinner?”

  “Not at all. We’ll still have a short drive to Lonan, but hopefully being early will mean we won’t have any difficulty getting a table.”

  “Do they take bookings?”

  “No, but I’ve never had to wait too long for a table. It actually surprises me how busy they get, as they are rather out of the way, but the food is incredibly good.”

  “I shall be back at five, then,” Andrew said. He rose to his feet as Bessie stood up. She escorted him back through the kitchen to the door.

  “As it’s a lovely afternoon, I think I shall take a short walk on the beach,” she told the man.

  “It is a nice day for a walk, but I’m afraid I’m too tired to appreciate it right now.”

  Bessie walked Andrew to his cottage, which was the third in the row beyond Bessie’s. “If you do visit again, ask for the cottage next to mine,” she suggested as he unlocked his door. “Then you’ll only have neighbours on one side.”

  “And I’ll be closer to you,” Andrew added with a smile. He bowed and then went inside.

  Bessie continued on down the beach, walking past the holiday cottages. They all appeared to be occupied, even though it was September and the summer season was over. Bessie could hardly blame Thomas and Maggie Shimmin, the owners of the cottages, for trying to keep them full for as long as possible, though. They’d had some difficulties in the past few months, and the last cottage in the row was still out of service while they tried to work out what to do with it. Very few people wanted to spend their holidays in a cottage where someone had been murdered.

  A short distance further down the beach, Bessie passed the stairs to Thie yn Traie, a huge mansion that stood on the cliff above the sand. Someone had been murdered there recently, as well, but Bessie’s friends George and Mary Quayle hadn’t said anything about not wanting to stay in the house. To be fair, George would have happily sold the house, even at a loss, but he knew that Mary loved it and Mary wasn’t going to let a little thing like a murder get in the way of her happiness. As the sun was shining and the beach was quiet, Bessie kept on walking.

  A short while later, she found herself approaching the row of new houses that had been built on the beach about a year ago. Bessie thought about turning around, but then she spotted a familiar face on one of the patios.

  “Good afternoon,” she greeted Grace Watterson.

  “Bessie, what a lovely surprise,” Grace said. She sat up in her chair and then struggled a bit getting to her feet. When she hugged Bessie tightly, Bessie smiled at the size of the girl’s tummy.

  “That baby is getting awfully big,” Bessie said as Grace released her.

  “He is, although I’m just assuming it’s a boy because I feel as if I’m eating for six or seven, rather than two,” Grace laughed.

  “The baby is taking after his father, then,” Bessie teased.

  Grace nodded. “Although Hugh is getting so nervous about the baby’s impending arrival that he isn’t eating nearly as much as he normally does.”

  “You aren’t due until December, are you?”

  “Mid-December. I hope the baby comes a little early, though. I don’t want him or her to have to live with a birthday right around Christmas.”

  “He or she doesn’t have much choice, though,” Bessie pointed out.

  Grace laughed again. “I know, and it will be fine, whatever happens. I just think it will be nicer for him or her to have a birthday some weeks before things get crazy.”

  “I’m sure he or she will arrive when ready and not before. But how are you feeling?”

  “Fat and fed up, really, but I shouldn’t say that. P
regnancy is meant to be magical and amazing, and it does feel incredibly miraculous, but I’m also tired all the time, my legs and back ache, and I haven’t slept properly in months.”

  “Oh, dear, and you have some way to go yet.”

  “Indeed. Poor Hugh is having to put with a lot these days,” Grace sighed. “He’s being very good about it all, really. I know I’m incredibly spoiled, as I’m only working a few days a week, just doing supply teaching when I feel up to it. So many of my friends worked full-time right up until their maternity leave started.”

  “Are you planning to go back to work after the baby arrives?”

  “Not for at least two years,” Grace said. “It’s indulgent, but we can just about afford it as long as we don’t have any big expenses. The mortgage is reasonable; we just have to hope that both of our cars keep running.”

  Bessie glanced at her watch. “I’d love to stay and chat all afternoon, but I’m meeting a friend for dinner. I really must head back.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “The café in Lonan.”

  “Oh, yummy. I haven’t been there in ages. Eating out is not in the budget right now, although I’ve been tucking away a few pounds here and there to treat Hugh for his birthday. I suspect that café will be his choice when I tell him.”

  “The food is just so wonderful, and I love not having to choose just one thing but getting to try lots of different things at the same time.”

  “I really just love the puddings,” Grace smiled, a dreamy look in her eyes.

  “Ah, yes, the puddings,” Bessie agreed.

  They both laughed, and then Bessie turned and began the long walk back to Treoghe Bwaane. There were a few people on the beach behind the holiday cottages as Bessie went, but she didn’t see Andrew. Back at home, she had just enough time to change into a skirt and light jumper, comb her hair, and add lipstick and powder to her face before someone knocked on her door.

  “Andrew, you’re right on time,” she said brightly as she opened the door. “Did you get any rest?”

  “I had a very useful nap,” he replied. “It was exactly what I needed. Now I’m ready for a wonderful dinner and maybe a long walk on the beach after that.”

  “Let me get my bag and we can be on our way.” Bessie locked up her cottage and then followed Andrew to his hire car which he had parked in the parking area behind Treoghe Bwaane.

  “You’re going to have to give me directions,” he told Bessie as he started the engine.

  “It’s very easy to find,” Bessie assured him. “You just need to drive up the hill to the main road and then head south.”

  It only took them a few minutes to reach the main road. Andrew followed Bessie’s instructions, and a short while later they were in Lonan.

  “This is the café,” Bessie told him, pointing to the small building with the very full car park.

  “It looks busy,” Andrew remarked.

  “Yes, I hope we can get a table.”

  Andrew parked in one of the last spots in the car park and then escorted Bessie to the café’s door.

  “Ah, Bessie, good evening,” Dan Jenkins, the café’s owner, called from across the crowded dining room. “I’ll find a table for you in just a minute, I promise.”

  Bessie looked at Andrew and shrugged. From where she was standing it seemed as if there wasn’t an empty seat in the room. Three women that Bessie had never seen before were rushing around, delivering drinks and plates of food. Dan was dealing with an angry-looking woman who was waving her arms and shouting.

  After a minute, the woman snapped her mouth shut, picked up her handbag, and stormed out of the café. The man who had been sitting at the table with her looked startled and then jumped up and ran after her.

  Dan sighed deeply and then turned to Bessie. “Table for two?” he asked with a wry grin.

  Chapter 2

  “Is everything okay?” Bessie asked after she’d introduced Andrew to Dan.

  “Everything is fine. The lady just wanted it to be Italian night and it isn’t,” he sighed. “People seem to think that I should put various sampler plates on the menu so that they can have their favourite whenever they come in. They don’t understand that I can’t make twenty different dishes every day.”

  “I never even thought about that,” Bessie said. “I mean, it would be lovely if you could put some of the sampler plates on the menu, but I would never expect you do so. What’s today’s sampler plate, then?”

  “I believe you’ve been here when we’ve celebrated the chicken,” Dan replied. “Today we celebrate the cow.”

  “Oh, really? Tell me more,” Bessie demanded.

  Dan laughed. “Our dinner plate offers a small steak and kidney pie, a miniature portion of cottage pie, a tiny helping of spaghetti Bolognese, and an individual beef Wellington.”

  “Yes, please,” Andrew said happily.

  “For me as well, but what about pudding?” Bessie asked.

  “From cows come milk and cream,” Dan replied. “You’ll get a small portion of crème brulee, a tiny chocolate fairy cake with a whipped cream centre, a scoop of caramel chocolate chip ice cream, and a few milk chocolate truffles.”

  “Yes, please, again,” Andrew said quickly.

  “I hope I have room for all of that,” Bessie said. “I can’t imagine not trying everything.”

  “I’ll send one of the girls over to get your drink order,” Dan said. “I really need to get back to the kitchen. Carol is helping me there tonight, otherwise I’d be in even more trouble than I am.”

  He dashed away and was almost immediately replaced by one of the waitresses. Once they’d ordered their drinks, Bessie sat back and sighed. “I’m happy Dan and Carol are so successful, for their sakes, but it would be nice to come here sometimes and have the place be less busy.”

  “If the food tastes anywhere near as good as it sounds, I can’t see that happening,” Andrew replied.

  “It’s considerably better than it sounds, and Dan and Carol deserve their success. I’m just being selfish.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” Andrew laughed.

  “But what shall we talk about?” Bessie asked.

  “First, we should work out what we’re going to do tomorrow. Should we start with the Manx Museum, do you think?”

  “I thought you were meeting with John tomorrow afternoon?”

  “Oh, heavens, you’re right. I’d completely forgotten about that. We’re meeting at one o’clock at John’s house. Of course, you’re welcome to join us, but that does rather limit what we can do in the morning, doesn’t it?”

  “Maybe you’d like to visit the Laxey Wheel tomorrow? Or you could take a short trip into Ramsey, just to see the town. That wouldn’t take more than the morning.”

  “That sounds good. We could do some shopping and have lunch there before we need to meet John, if that suits you.”

  “It does,” Bessie agreed. “Although I may not be hungry tomorrow if I eat all of this,” she added as one of the waitresses delivered their dinners.

  “It does seems to be an awful lot of food,” Andrew replied, “but I think I’m up to the challenge.”

  Bessie laughed and then picked up her knife and fork. Neither spoke for some time as they both enjoyed the delicious food.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever want to eat again,” Andrew said eventually, as he put down his fork. “Everything was wonderful, though.”

  “I know, but I can’t help but think about the pudding,” Bessie sighed.

  “Oh, yes, I had nearly forgotten about the pudding. I can’t pass it up, even though I’m rather full.”

  “We can always box it up for you take home,” the waitress offered as she cleared their plates. “We can even put the ice cream in a separate container so it doesn’t melt all over everything, if you’d like.”

  “That might be for the best,” Bessie said. “I’d like to be able to savour my pudding, and it will be a while before I’ll be ready to do that. I don
’t want to take up one of your valuable tables for that long.”

  The girl shrugged. “It’s always this busy lately. Dan’s just too good. He needs to open a bigger place.”

  “And he might,” a voice said from behind the girl. “We have to find just the right place first.”

  Bessie smiled at Carol, Dan’s wife, who’d just come out of the kitchen. “Everything was fabulous, as always,” she told the pretty blonde.

  “Thank you. I actually helped make a few things today, so I’ll even take some of the credit. Now that we have reliable staff out here, Dan’s trying to teach me to do more of the cooking. He really is looking around for a larger space, but then he’ll need at least one more pair of hands in the kitchen.”

  Bessie pressed her lips together before she blurted out a rude question. Carol had worked at the café when it first opened, but had cut her hours because she and Dan were planning to start a family. It wasn’t any of Bessie’s business if they’d put the plan on hold or were having difficulties.

  “If you ever decide you’d like to open something in London, let me know,” Andrew said. “I’m certain you’d be a huge success there.”

  Carol laughed. “We moved to the island to get away from living in a big city. We’re very happy here, thank you. I know Dan would love having somewhere larger though, if we can find the right location.”

  “As this is a terrible location and you’ve been very successful here, perhaps you don’t need to worry too much about where your new café is located,” Bessie said.

  “You could be right. This isn’t a great location, but it’s been good for us. Anyway, I just wanted to say hello, Bessie, but I must get back to work. Did you want pudding?” Carol asked.

  “Only if you can pack mine up to take home,” Bessie said. “The celebration of cow was too much food for me.”

  Carol laughed again. “I did think that Dan went a bit overboard today. We haven’t had any complaints, but we have been boxing up nearly all of the puddings for takeaway.”

  “I’ll need mine boxing up as well,” Andrew said. “I hope I’ll be ready for it in about an hour, or maybe two.”