Page 58 of The Winter Bride

‘I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’ve been so busy I haven’t given a thought to you needing a break,’ she told Nancy. ‘And poor Peggy and Levi must be feeling very neglected too. I tell you what, I’ll have a word to Ruth and see how she feels about running the shop on her own for a few days, and if she likes the idea we’ll go back for a whole week. I’m sure Marie and Simon wouldn’t mind popping round to check on her. We can make a little holiday of it.’

Nancy was delighted with the idea. She was almost as fond of Peggy and Levi as Annie, and although they were able to speak on the phone since Annie had had one installed in their cottage, it wasn’t the same as seeing them. Levi had told her that Peggy was still not used to the telephone and almost jumped out of her skin every time it rang, which he found highly amusing.

‘I think the circus should be due back in Nuneaton anytime now,’ Nancy said happily. ‘So, we could take Adam again and see Barney and Mercy. And I’m sure Marie would be happy to take Alfred for us.’

Annie put the idea to Ruth that very day and when she happily agreed to the idea, she rang Peggy to tell her what they were planning.

‘About time an’ all,’ Peggy chuckled in her usual forthright way. ‘We were all beginnin’ to think you’d forgotten us lot ’ere.’ She went on to tell Annie that she’d had a letter from Charlie and that he seemed happy and content with his new partner. Annie was glad. She was still very fond of Charlie and Barney, and looked upon them both as her brothers. Now that she had more help, she had every intention of arranging to meet Charlie soon.

There had been no word from Harry for a while, so they had no idea whether he was still in France. Annie hoped he was safe and happy wherever he was.

‘So when are yer plannin’ on comin’?’ Peggy asked finally.

‘I thought perhaps the week after next – if that suits you?’

‘You can always come anytime,’ Peggy assured her. ‘But I must go now. I’ve got a fruit cake in the oven an’ Levi won’t thank me if I burn it. Ta-ra fer now.’

Annie grinned as the line went dead, wondering if Peggy would ever get used to the telephone.

Simon sighed when she told him what she was planning. ‘I shall miss you,’ he told her. ‘But of course you deserve a break. You’ve been working really hard and I’ll be happy to keep my eye on the shop for you and pop in to see how Ruth is managing. She seems very nice.’

‘She is,’ Annie agreed and began to make her plans.

They set off one Monday morning. It was still early but the sun was already shining and Annie knew it was going to be hot later on. It wasn’t easy to keep a toddler entertained on the journey, but Annie and Nancy managed it between them and thankfully about halfway there he fell asleep.

‘Phew, I don’t know where he gets his energy from,’ Annie remarked.

Nancy laughed. ‘Have yer decided what yer going to do about Mrs Taylor-Lloyd yet? I mean, will yer be takin’ Adam to see ’er?’

Annie shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think so after what she said the last time. I dare say she’ll hear on the grapevine that we’re visiting so if she decides she wants to see him she can come to us. I doubt she will, though. There’s never been any love lost between us and she never thought I was good enough for her Monty.’

They lapsed into silence for the rest of the journey.

Peggy had a lovely meal ready for them when they arrived and later that afternoon Annie took Adam to see Eve and Davey. They seemed blissfully happy with their little family and Annie couldn’t help but feel a little envious. Susan and Tim were content too when she visited them in her old home.

‘Actually, I have some rather special news to share with you,’ Susan told her as she glanced at Tim, who was beaming like a Cheshire cat. ‘We just found out a few days ago that I’m going to have a baby.’

Annie was thrilled for her. ‘Oh, that’s wonderful news, congratulations.’ She gave Susan a smacking kiss on the cheek.

‘It is . . . but I have to confess I’m shocked.’ Susan sighed. ‘I thought I was too old for that now and, of course . . . I can’t help but feel a little apprehensive when I think of Constance.’ Her eyes filled with tears as she thought of the daughter she had adored. ‘I just hope this little one will be healthy.’

‘I’m sure it will be,’ Annie assured her. ‘And the girls must be thrilled too.’

‘Oh, they are,’ Tim agreed. ‘They reckon they’d like a little brother but like I told ’em, we’ll have to take what comes.’

A thought occurred to Annie. ‘What will we do about the shop when the baby comes? You won’t be able to manage it then.’

‘It’s all in hand,’ Susan assured her. ‘Mrs Jenkins is more than willing to take over the running of the place while I go off to do all the buying. If that’s all right with you, of course?’

‘No problem at all if you think she’s capable.’ Annie glanced across to what had been Monty’s favourite chair and felt sad.

But she didn’t have long to mope, as at that moment the girls burst into the room.

‘Auntie Annie,’ they chorused as they rushed over to cuddle her. ‘Mum said yer were coming. Will you be staying long and did you bring Alfred with you?’

Annie smiled; it was lovely to hear them refer to Susan as ‘Mum’. ‘In answer to your first question I shall be staying for about a week, and no Alfred isn’t with us. He stayed in London with Marie.’

The girls looked disappointed, but they took Adam’s hand and led him out into the garden, giving the grown-ups the chance to have a good natter. After an hour or so Adam began to get tetchy and Annie strapped him into his pushchair. ‘I think this little one is about ready for bed,’ she told them.