‘A double wedding to look forward to,’ Dot said. ‘Now that would be just perfect.’
‘Don’t jump to conclusions,’ Tilly said, smiling.
‘Dot loves a happy ending,’ Amelia said. ‘She’d rewrite the ending ofCasablancaif she could andRomeo and JulietandWuthering Heights.’
They all laughed.
Chapter 38
When the knock finally came on the door of the School House, Tilly, Dot and Amelia froze. It was early November and an unusually crisp, bright and sunny day. The light streamed in the kitchen window and danced in Tilly’s eyes, but her true sparkle came from within. Gradually the spark ignited a flame and Tilly felt the heat surge through her body.Could it be? It must be. He said he would come.
‘I want to see who it is,’ chirped a little voice.
Jemima squirmed through the forest of legs around her, scrabbling to be first to the door.
‘You can’t reach the handle, Jemima,’ Dot said.
‘Yes, I can, on tiptoe,’ Jemima argued. She was coming up for five years old and asserted her rights whenever she was challenged. Another Truscott woman in the making, was what Dot called her.
Tilly’s excitement had somehow rendered her immobile and she froze to the spot. Jemima zoomed past her and ran to the front door.
‘Come on, Tilly,’ Dot urged. ‘It might be him.’
All three women followed Jemima to the door.
‘Who are you?’ Jemima gasped, as she opened it. ‘You’re very tall,’ she added, looking up at him.
‘And you’re very cute,’ Jed replied.
‘What’s your name?’ Jemima asked cheekily.
‘His name is Jed, Jed Martinez,’ Tilly said, her eyes fixed on his.
‘Let’s not keep our guest standing on the doorstep. Please come in, Mr Martinez,’ Amelia said, taking Jemima’s hand and pulling her out of the way. ‘Lovely to meet you again, Mr Martinez. Show Mr Martinez into the sitting room, Tilly. We’llmake some tea and cake. I’m sure you two have a lot to say to one another. Come on, Jemima, you can serve the cake.’
Tilly and Jed stepped into the sitting room. Jed wasted no time in taking Tilly into his arms and kissed her with a tenderness that made her heart melt. Tilly couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. She held on to the man she loved as if she would never let him go.
‘I didn’t know if we would ever see one another again,’ Tilly sobbed.
‘And I knew we would,’ Jed replied. ‘As soon as I hit English soil, I was determined to find you again. I could feel you were still alive and now, here you are.’
‘Yes, here I am,’ Tilly said, smiling at him.
‘Here, blow,’ he said, handing her a handkerchief.
She took the handkerchief and was about to raise it to her nose, when she felt something tucked inside it.
‘What’s this?’ she asked, unfolding the cloth. ‘There’s something here.’
Tilly carefully unfolded the handkerchief and pulled out a sparkling diamond ring.
‘I guess all girls like diamonds, don’t they?’ Jed said.
‘This one does, anyway,’ Tilly replied.
‘Well, it’s this one I want to marry, so will you, Tilly, please?’ Jed asked.
‘Yes! Oh, yes, yes, yes!’ Tilly said, throwing her arms around his neck.
