Chapter 29
Tobias had arranged for a small team of his workers to fit the kitchen and bathroom at Ted’s cottage, leaving him more time to concentrate on the rest of the cottage. It was early evening and he was enjoying a brandy. Next door all was quiet as Megan was working at The Templar. He’d so enjoyed having dinner with her. He loved listening to her conversation, peppered with humour, compassion and lots of questions. He found it flattering that she was curious about life in Treweham Hall, not in a crass or envious way, but with genuine interest. She’d told him freely about her childhood and family, especially her gran, entertaining him with stories of her visits to Treweham and how close they had been. He knew the letters she’d discovered had had a profound effect on her and badly wanted to help in any way he could, but how? He felt a real affinity towards Megan, almost as though he had always known her.
He had kissed her long and passionately after their evening together and she had responded. There was no denying the attraction between them, but he was at pains not to push it further just yet. He knew timing was critical, and that he needed Megan’s trust. He was staggered by the actions of her ex-boyfriend. Who in their right mind would jeopardise losing a girl like her?
He looked round the lounge to decide tomorrow’s jobs. He’d pull up the carpet and sand and varnish the floorboards. In preparation he moved the half-moon table into the hallway. The old bureau was much heavier to budge. He lifted the front two legs and was dragging it across the floor when the bottom drawer fell open and an address book dropped out. He picked it up and a photograph fluttered from its pages.
Tobias knelt down to examine it. It was an old sepia snapshot. Immediately he recognised the young couple smiling into the camera, sitting by an old tree, with the initials ‘G’ and ‘E’ engraved into its trunk. It was Grace and ‘E’. Turning the photograph over, Tobias read the inscription on the back.To my darling Edward, forever yours, Grace. xRealisation dawned on him. Old Ted was Edward! Grace must have returned to him, years after believing he had been killed in action. He recalled Ted’s words to him a few days ago in the nursing home: ‘Look after Megan.’ Now they made perfect sense. Ted must be Megan’s grandfather. Tobias was astonished at his find. Taking a few moments, he pondered over telling Megan. Intuition told him to wait. First he’d go and see Ted.
The next morning, instead of starting on the floorboards, Tobias took the photograph, put it safely in an envelope and made for the nursing home. He found Ted in the sun lounge again. Tobias watched him for a few seconds before approaching him. He saw him differently now, not old Ted, whom his family had helped with the cottage, but a war hero, who had been torn apart from his only love. Ted must have so many stories to share, yet he’d kept his identity a secret from Megan. The whole scenario touched Tobias and made him realise he hadn’t been the only one to have lost his first love. There were thousands of people who had suffered like them. Feeling somewhat humbled, he made his way over to Ted.
Ted’s face lit up again at seeing him. ‘Hello, Tobias. I am honoured to see you again,’ he chuckled.
‘Hello, Ted.’ Tobias sat down next to him.
‘Is everything all right, lad? You look damn serious.’
Tobias pulled out the envelope from his pocket and handed Ted the photograph. ‘I was moving your bureau and this fell out, Ted.’
Ted took the picture with a shaking hand. His eyes filled as he looked at the young couple smiling up at him.
‘Ah, she was a bonny girl, my Grace.’
Tobias waited, watching the emotion on Ted’s face. He swallowed before speaking. ‘You’re Megan’s grandfather, aren’t you, Ted?’
The old man looked into Tobias’ face with such sadness, it took his breath away.
‘Technically, yes. But she’ll always know Michael as her grandfather and I don’t want to ruin that memory. Nor would Grace.’
‘But Grace left Megan your letters. She must have wanted her to know.’
Ted nodded sorrowfully. ‘Yes, she did in the end. When she knew her time was up.’ Ted looked wistfully out of the conservatory window. ‘Let me tell you what happened, Tobias. Perhaps then you’ll understand.’
Ted had met Grace at a dance in the village hall. She had stood out with her strawberry-blond hair, porcelain complexion and sweet smile. She wore a blue silk dress and had drawn lines down the backs of her legs to imitate the seams of stockings. When he’d asked her to dance, she instantly accepted, being equally smitten with this handsome, dark-haired soldier in uniform. From the moment they had touched an unbreakable connection had been formed. But ithadproved to be breakable, by a raging, cruel war that had forced them apart. They had always planned to marry, he had proposed by their favourite place in Quercus Woods. Instead of a ring, they had secured their love by carving their initials in an oak tree and agreed to get engaged on his return from the war. They had exchanged letters of hope, love and a constant yearning to be reunited; and they almost were. But one night, when on watch, he had been hit by shrapnel, leaving him unconscious. Eventually waking, he was dazed, confused and had no idea where he was. Struggling to walk, he managed to stagger to a nearby farmhouse. The French family who lived there took pity on the wounded British soldier and gave him shelter. It took months for him to recover and remember all the pieces of his life. The one thing he had was that photograph. That one picture had given him courage and hope to carry on. Then, that fragrance hit him, the smell of Parma violets growing wildly in the farmhouse garden. Immediately he was whisked back to the night of the dance when he had met Grace, and she had smelt of Parma violets.
Almost a year after taking refuge in the French farmhouse, Ted had made his way home, only to find that his Grace had married and had a child. He knew that Grace’s little girl was his, and Michael, his best friend, had stepped into the breach, believing he had been killed in action. It was too late; he couldn’t intervene. They had all acted with the best of intentions.
But then Michael was killed by the fire in the brewery and Grace was alone again. Ted made his move and contacted her. Their love was still as strong. Grace wanted to be with Ted, but didn’t want her daughter upset by the truth. Living next door to each other in Treweham was the ideal solution. The older Grace got, the more unsettled she became by her secret and she wanted Megan, who was the image of her grandfather, to truly know him. It was important to her that Ted was known to their granddaughter. What Megan chose to do with the truth would be a matter for her, but Grace could not die without Ted being acknowledged.
Tobias sat dumb struck. His eyes filled too, listening to Ted’s revelation. Finally he spoke.
‘Ted, will you explain this to Megan?’ Ted hesitated. Tobias added, ‘Or should I?’
‘Yes. If you would. I… don’t want her upset.’
‘No, of course. I’m sure she won’t be upset, Ted. In fact, I think she’ll be delighted she’s found you,’ he reassured the old man warmly, making his eyes water.
Ted gave a wobbly smile. ‘I hope so, Tobias. I hope so.’
