Some Peculiarities of the Hawthorne Family
Look, theres Olivia out with the dog again
Good heavens, what on earth has she done to poor Molly this time? Her tail its not purple anymore, its pink! Just look at her wagging it!
Well, what can you do? The girls always been a bit odd, hasnt she? But shes kind and decent and how many like that do you see nowadays? When her Nan was ill, Olivia never left the hospital for days on end, fluttering around doing all she could, not caring a jot for her own life.
Oh, is that so! I saw her just yesterday being dropped off by a rather handsome young man in a shiny new car, you know.
Maybe that was a cabbie!
Oh, please. Since when do cab drivers kiss their lady passengers on the hand?
Is that a fact?
Just telling you! Mark my words, our Olivia will be engaged before the year is out.
Good for her if she is! Wont her grandmother be delighted. Shes raised such a clever, beautiful, well-mannered girl. If only her job werent so well, peculiar, shed be flawless.
Whats wrong with Olivias job, then?
Detective Inspector? Is that any line of work for a sensible young lady?
Dont be so sure! How many around here respect the law like her nan does? And Olivias excellent at her job! There was even a piece about her in the local paper, and they gave her a rousing mention on the telly, praising her. And you pick holes!
Not me! I wish her well, honestly! And she always had something special in her from childhood. Remember how she was as a kid?
All too well! Just like her granfull of fire!
The woman in question, the Olivia being discussed by the ladies on the bench by the entrance, passed by. She offered them a polite nod, then darted off in pursuit of Molly, her little terrier with the tail the gentle pink of dawn, leaping merrily along the icy, sand-sprinkled paths.
There she goes again! Wheres she off to in such a hurry?
To the airport! Her sister Catherine lands today.
And how do you know that?
Because Olivia told me. Look, theretheres the taxi!
From the cab stepped a tall, graceful young woman, silent but determined. She strode forward, crushing Olivia into a hug, and whistled at the spinning dog by her feet.
Liv! What have you done to that poor creatures tail?
Dyou like it? Its Grans favourite shade!
Oh, you ridiculous thing. Ive missed you so much!
They hugged again, laughter floating into the air.
Everyone in the neighbourhood agreed: Olivia Hawthorne was a bit peculiar. Her quirks had been apparent from childhooda sweet little thing with plaited pigtails, decked with big old-fashioned bows tied by her grandmothers careful hands. Olivia always greeted the neighbours, flashing that crooked toothed grin.
After her polite How are you?, though, the residents soon learned to be wary. Even those with nothing to hide often chose to keep their responses brieflest Olivias unnerving talent for recollection and deduction catch them out.
You see, Olivia had always been terribly chatty.
Still, whats the harm in a chatty child, youd think! Except Olivia didnt simply chattershe listened, pieced together things shed overheard or seen, and presented them, unfiltered, to the very people concerned.
Once, when Mrs Smith was coming home from work, Olivia piped up: Auntie Tanya, Uncle Sam came to see Mrs Irving from number seventeenhe brought her flowers! Big ones, yellow, just like the ones he brings you for your birthday. He wouldnt let me smell them, thoughsaid they werent for me! Why does Mrs Irving get flowers?
Poor Tanyawhod always let her husband spin tall tales about overtimeblanched and hurried off, praying none of the gossips on the benches heard Olivias newsflash.
Darling, why are you telling Mrs Smith about her own flowers? Dont you think youre being a bit much? Nan would scold, but never really explain why.
Olivia would sulk, honestly confused as to what shed done wrong. She hadnt said anything bad had she?
Gran, after these mishaps, often lapsed into granite silencereminding Olivia of the statue of Queen Victoria in the park, except Nans hair was always neat and thankfully pigeon-free.
It was her step-granddad, Jack, whod introduced her to that statue in the first place.
Whys she bald on top? Olivia would ask, squinting into the sun.
Too much stress! Jack always answered directly; unlike Nan, he liked clear replies.
Because she worried too much? Must have been a hard job, right?
Spot on.
Maybe she was a dentist like you? Olivia pictured Queen Victoria peering out of an examination room, ducking her granite bun through the door, terrifying the children in the corridor.
If only! The world would be different, love. No, she was a Queen.
If she were a queen, shed have a crownremember the book we read? Poor thing, not even a feather. And I bet shed have preferred feathersdo you think pigeon feathers would do for a crown?
No, love. It has to be eagles feathers.
Thats not fair to the eagles! Gran says you should always behave properly, like when we went fishing and you snuck into the bushes
Jack would crack up, eyes streaming, while Olivia wondered what was so funnya grown man giggling like a schoolboy!
Then Olivia would frown, hands on hips, and mimic her grandmother:
Show a bit of modesty, please! Modesty is the greatest ornament! Its embarrassingyoure not Budennys horse!
Jack, by then unable to contain himself, would buy her an ice cream secretly on the way homea treat forbidden by Gran before lunch.
Not a word to Gran about the ice cream, mind, or Ill be in the doghouse.
Will there be a row?
A big one! You know your graneveryone bows to her rules.
You dont!
Im a man! Where would I be if I obeyed?
So, can we tell her about the ice cream?
No, Olivia! Obedience is one thing, but deliberately upsetting a woman is another.
Are you a coward, Granddad?
No, just wiseits better to keep the peace.
Hows that?
Ill explain later. Lets just buy Gran some flowers so your sticky face doesnt give us away.
Shed nod. Jack was more than just respectedOlivia loved him with all the simple devotion of a child.
Hed appeared in her life as a New Years gift. Her nan, who raised her from birthOlivias parents were archaeologists, forever away on expeditionsfinally remarried a suitor from her youth. Like everything Nan did, it was practicalexcept when it came to two things: her beloved granddaughter and Jack.
Jack and Nan made an odd coupleshe was tall, formidable, always in charge; he was small, round, and endlessly patientsomething essential with Nan, considering her temperament and profession. What bound them so tightly after all these years, Olivia didnt understand until much later.
The truth? Nan, despite her logic and strong will, was hopelessly romantic at heart. Shed spent decades secretly yearning for moonlit sonnets, serenades under her windowalways dismissed as nonsense by the world around her.
Her first husband admired her career, gifted flowers only on holidays, and quoted poetry with all the tenderness of a government official. Her soul ached for more. When he left, no one was surprised.
When Olivia was born, nan blossomed anew. Caring for her granddaughter filled the emptiness with love and hopeas the parents were simply too busy with their archaeological treasures, they readily handed Olivia over to Nan and Jack.
Olivia quickly became the pride of their little flat, her piercing cries driving their neighbours spaniel to the point of exile. Advice flowed thick and fast from all corners, but Nan put things in order, and soon Olivia was growing content and healthywith Jacks warm presence added on her first birthday.
Jack was step-granddadOlivias real grandfather was still in the picture, but she loved Jack more for being wholly devoted to her and Nan.
And so Olivia grew up, believing all children were as loved and cherished as shedespite not going to nursery, because her health was too feeble then. Nan tried, but any time in nursery saw Olivia ill for weeks, until Jack convinced her:
Forget nursery, love, lets just keep her well. There are other ways for a child to find friends.
Spring and summer brought months at their rambling old cottage in Suffolk, among towering pineswhere generations of families had holidayed. Here Olivia found playmates galore: her best friend Sophie, the twin Stanley boys, little ballerina-aspirant Lizzie. All summer, the garden rang with games and laughter.
When Olivia was six, Catherine appeared.
Catherine was differentcheeky, scruffy, stubborn, always up to something.
Their first meeting was classicOlivia, perched in the gazebo, leafing through a new book while Nan made strawberry jam in the kitchen, was startled by a dirty little hand snatching a berry from under the table. With a shriek, she almost caused Nan to drop her panful of jam.
What is it, dear? Nan hurried out, and the dozing cats scattered.
Olivia retreated onto the bench, wide-eyed at the grimy girl munching her way through the berries, not a bit afraid.
Why all the fuss? Arent you interested in why Im here? The girl grinned.
Your hands are filthy, though
So what? Its a country cottagemud is the rule here!
Nan, seeing who it was, relaxed.
Oh, Catherine! No need to scare Liv so. Wheres your granddad?
Resting againproper tuckered out, you know.
From Nans expression, Olivia gathered that she knew them well, and exactly what resting implied.
Nan tossed them a bag of sweets (Early treat today!), forgot her apron for the first time in memory, and hurried out. She trusted Jack, who slept through it allhe could nap through just about anything, whether a Beethoven symphony or the cries of his beloved little Olivia.
It was only later Olivia learned Catherine was the granddaughter of Nans old friend, Simon. Fate had been cruel to Catherineshed lost her parents and grandmother in an accident. Only Simon remained, and it was Nan whod convinced him to rent the cottage next door, so they could help.
Simon, after his diagnosis, was struggling, but Nan and Jack took Catherine in as their own, and Olivia suddenly had a sister.
It was what shed always wantedwith Catherines blunt honesty balancing Olivias curious nature. Catherine was the first to explain when to speak, and when it was wiser to hold ones tongue, and channeled Olivias detective instincts rightly.
You should be a private detective! Although Granddad wouldnt have approvedhe always said it was a dog’s job and only a decent investigator could keep it from going to the dogs.
Then Ill be an investigator. One thats not a nuisance!
Olivia, still young, couldnt anticipate how hard and responsible that path would be. At first, people didnt take her seriously; theyd joke and call her odd. But she had a goal and the support of her family.
Nothing in life is impossible if you have love behind youstanding with hands on hips, brows stern, with the classic challenge:
Olivia, have you eaten today? No? Outrageous! And you, Catherine? Dont think you can get away with it either! Go, both of youlunch is on, and I want clean plates! Jack! Do you need a special invitation? Let go of Molly and wash your hands! Pink tail! What do you mean, because I said? I neveroh, perhaps I did. Now, dont be cheeky! Soups getting coldmarch to the table, all of you!
If theres anything Ive learned from all these years in our remarkable family, its this: love and laughter can smooth the sharpest edges, and being a bit peculiar is no bad thing, so long as youve your people at your side.
