‘When I met your grandfather, he made me feel like I’d never felt before. Those flutterings in your tummy… The second we clapped eyes on each other it was an instant connection. We laughed, we had so much fun, everything was just so easy. People come and go in your life but in here –’ Martha tapped her heart ‘– I fell in love with your grandfather, it’s as simple as that.’
He knew exactly what Martha was talking about, when she spoke of those flutterings in her stomach. What Martha was sharing was exactly how he was feeling about Bea. They laughed, had fun together and she always put him at ease. Every time he saw her, he was drawn to her. Bea’s smile was everything.
‘I knew he was posh and I came from the worst street in the town but that didn’t matter when we were together.’
‘Was it class that kept you apart?’ asked Nolan tentatively.
‘I didn’t think so, but I’m not too sure.’ Martha looked at the painting. ‘He never hid the fact he was leaving after the summer, but it didn’t make it any easier.’ She pointed to the cliff. ‘The day he left, I sat up there for hours, watching The Hemingway and Morgan sail out of my life. My heart was smashed into smithereens.’ Martha took a tissue out of her pocket and dabbed her eyes. ‘I vowed I never wanted to feel hurt like that ever again but I did, six months later … when I went looking for him.’
‘I didn’t realise you’d seen each other again. My grandfather never said,’ Nolan replied, surprised.
‘He didn’t see me. I remember he’d talked about where he lived. Cornwall. It’s a hell of a way from here. I took several trains and buses, along with Bonnie. It was like a mini holiday and cost us all of our wages and some.’
‘If you travelled all of that way, why didn’t you see my grandfather?’
‘I did see him. It was the beginning of February. The weather was bitterly cold and there was snow on the ground. Even the church steeple was covered.’
‘The church?’
‘He was standing in the arched doorway of the church, looking more handsome than when I saw him last, if that was possible. His suit was exquisitely cut, his hat perched on his head and that was when I realised – he was getting married.’ The colour had drained from Martha’s face, the hurt still very much visible.
Nolan knew the marriage between his grandparents hadn’t been one of love and passion, but more of being pushed together by two wealthy families. It was destined to not work out, and even though couples stayed together through thick and thin back in those times, his grandmother eventually upped and left, leaving his grandfather a single parent. He never remarried.
‘Martha, I don’t know what to say, except I’m sorry.’
‘How could I speak to him then? It was his wedding day. He was laughing and joking with his best man and I watched him walk into the church as his bride arrived. I couldn’t believe he’d moved on from me so quickly and my whole world came crashing down. I felt so alone and a fool. I thought about him every day and hoped he would come looking for me. When I saw The Hemingway –’ Martha wafted her hand in front of her face and fought back a tsunami of tears that was about to freefall ‘– I thought…’
‘I can imagine it must have been a bit of a shock. I know it’s no consolation but over the years he always talked about you and this place and that’s why I’m here now – to see how magical it is. And it’s everything I imagined it would be, and more.’
‘It is.’
‘I don’t want to upset you further and I understand if you don’t want to read the letter but he did write it for you.’
Martha looked towards the box and slowly picked it up. Balancing it on her knee, she cautiously took off the lid. Staring at the memories in the box she placed her hand on her chest. ‘The ticket to the bandstand. This was where we shared our first kiss. And these rocks and shells … we collected them from Castaway Bay.’ Martha flicked through the sketchbook then picked up the pack of cards. ‘We used to sit right here, on the deck, in the evenings and play – Morgan rarely beat me. And this is the small teddy bear he won for me from the fairground that was at the River Festival. We argued over who would keep it but I never imagined he would have kept it this long.’ Picking up the letter, Martha stared at the handwritten scrawl in black ink.
‘Maybe, if you don’t want to read it now, you can take it away with you and read it in private?’
Martha traced the word ‘Patsy’ with her finger, then looked up at Nolan. ‘I think I would like to read it now, if that’s okay with you.’
‘Of course, whatever you feel is best,’ he replied warmly.
Taking a deep breath, Martha opened the envelope and unfolded the cream paper. ‘It’s dated three months after he left here,’ exclaimed Martha. She began to read. ‘This isn’t true. He never came to see me…’ She gave a tiny gasp and gripped the letter, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
Nolan reached over and put a supportive hand on her elbow.
‘Morgan says he came back to find me, three months after he’d left. That was before he got married. He missed me and couldn’t live without me but I wasn’t at The Little Blue Boathouse. He wanted to talk to me, to tell me I was more to him than just a summer romance but—’
‘Where were you?’ interrupted Nolan.
‘I had to go away for a short while.’ Martha’s eyes widened.
‘Go where?’
‘I was staying with Bonnie’s auntie because I had to hide away and she was the only one who would take me in. It wasn’t easy in those days.’
Martha was talking in riddles and Nolan didn’t understand what was going on.
‘I thought he didn’t care but…’ Martha picked up the train ticket in the box. ‘He loved me. And here’s the evidence. And he did come back. I thought he’d abandoned me… And now he will never know… Everything could have been so different.’
