Chapter 30
We spent a fine afternoon in the Meades’ sitting room, looking through the photo books, asking and answering questions, and drinking cups of tea and devouring scones.
The scones were tasty, but I would one day have a word with the cook, Mrs. Bullen, and explain how to keep them rich and not too dry.
Once Daniel recovered himself, he exuded his usual geniality, making his cousin and her husband laugh. Just like Aunt Rose, they both agreed.
They were delighted to learn of James, whom Daniel promised to bring to meet them as soon as could be arranged, and also delighted that Daniel and I were to marry in the coming summer.
I told them of Grace and also of her nearing departure. April instantly suggested that Richmond would be a wonderful halfway meeting point between London and Basingstoke. I knew I could not bring myself to impose on them, but it was good of her to offer.
We also met Jemmy, who came downstairs, declaring he’d finished his reading and was curious about the visitors. He was a lad of about ten years, with a head of dark hair and hazel eyes like his father.
Jemmy was a bit puzzled by the fuss over finding a long-lost cousin, but he greeted Daniel in a friendly fashion. Daniel had a way with children and soon had the boy chattering about many things. I liked that neither of his parents tried to curtail him.
They were kind, these people. I saw in April the need to help, to reassure, that Daniel had, and also his impishness. She had some of his mannerisms as well, like his tendency to jump when he saw or heard something that pleased him, and then break into a wide smile.
I did not want to bring up the fact that Mr. Patterson claimed April’s father was a brutal man, because she did not have the quiet watchfulness that those who had been raised by harsh parents did.
But we did have to explain, at length, how we’d come to discover them and learned of Daniel’s parentage at long last.
April listened, her brow puckering. “Aunt Rose’s dad was an odd man,” she said.
“Very set in his ways and didn’t like losing Rose to another.
She tried to coax him to come live with her and Uncle Robert, but he refused.
” She laughed. “Couldn’t bring himself to live in our dull neighborhood, I was told. ”
I laughed with her to be polite, but I grew irritated once more at Mr. Patterson. Rose had been happy. Mr. Patterson shouldn’t have tried to prevent that, and he’d had no business taking Daniel from this place either.
“I suppose they read me books about the seaside, my mother and father.” Again Daniel faltered on the words. “Kat was very certain of it.”
“They purchased one,” I told April. “From a shop either on or near Oxford Street.”
“Goodness, I suppose they did,” April said. “How did you know that? I do remember Rose reading to me and Robbie both. I must have been seven years old at the time.” She lost her smile. “I didn’t really understand what my parents meant when they said you’d gone, Robbie. I mean, Daniel.”
“Mr. Patterson thought Robbie would be safer with him after his parents passed away,” I explained. “Or at least, with his friend, Mrs. Kerr. She was good to him.”
April’s brow puckered. “My father could bluster, but he was harmless. We all knew it. It was easy to turn him up sweet.”
I believed her. A man who’d take in his brother’s son without question and then anxiously report him missing to the police did not speak of cruelty.
April insisted I explain how I knew about the book.
I started with the fact that Daniel apparently had formed a great attachment to it, then went on to my encounter with Mrs. Davies in the bookshop, as well as the help of our friends.
Both April and her husband were amazed and also touchingly grateful.
We stayed until the shadows lengthened, and I knew I had to return to Mount Street. I offered to go by myself while Daniel stayed, but he negated that quite robustly.
We took our leave with much handshaking and also embracing, and Daniel and I walked back toward the train station, my heart full.
“I am so very happy,” I said as we wandered past one of the leafy parks on our way. “You have found your family at last.”
“Because of you.” Daniel turned me to face him and shocked the good citizens of Richmond by taking me into his arms and kissing me. “Thank you.”
“Not at all,” I murmured, my hands resting over his heart. “It was my pleasure.”
Daniel broke into his warm smile. “And now they will be your family as well. Can you endure having so many people in your life?”
“I believe I can, Mr. McAdam. Or shall I call you Mr. Munro?”
Daniel shook his head. “I made myself McAdam, and that is who met the beautiful Kat. I’m used to him now, and I think I’ll keep him.”
“Good.” I kissed him again, only a brush of lips this time. “I believe I will keep him too.”
* * *
For the first time in years, I woke on a Thursday morning with dread in my heart. Today, Grace would leave London for Basingstoke.
Joanna had arranged their departure for Thursday, so I could come to say good-bye to Grace. Sam had already gone on Tuesday, needing to begin his post and make certain the house was ready to receive his wife and offspring.
I dressed with numb fingers, deliberately going through my ritual of washing my face and hands, pulling on my work dress, and combing and settling my hair. It was as though if I took my time, I’d never reach the station, and the train bearing Grace would never leave.
I made my way downstairs and woodenly went through the preparations for breakfast, though I could eat nothing myself. Tess, who knew what I’d do this day, had nothing but sympathy.
“She’ll be all right,” she said softly. “And you’ll see her again before you know it.”
“Perhaps I will go hunt for a position in Basingstoke,” I said as I shaped a loaf of bread and popped it into a pan for its second rise. “I would not have such a pain in my heart, I think.”
“I’d have one,” Tess said. “I don’t mean to be selfish, but if you go to Basingstoke, I’ll have to come with you. I’m not ready to be on me own. Besides, you have your market stall now. You shouldn’t leave it.”
“I’m certain they have markets in Basingstoke.” I sighed. “Forgive me, Tess. You are right. She will be only a little farther away than she is now, and next summer, we’ll be together for always. I believe you are indeed ready to be a cook in your own right, but fear not. I’ll not desert you.”
While Tess looked relieved, I tried to bolster myself with my own words, but today, the sorrow was too fresh.
The train would go at ten this morning. Once Tess sent up breakfast, I returned to my chamber and donned my best frock, again with fingers so numb I could barely do up the buttons.
In the kitchen once more, I put on my coat and hat and took up my basket.
I had the entire day free, so I’d do my baking at Daniel’s house in Kensington—he’d given me a key not long ago—and then take my goods to the market.
I tried not to think of how empty his kitchen would be while I was in it by myself, nor how much less exciting the market would be without Grace next to me, wrapping the purchases.
Joanna had made me agree to meet them at Waterloo Station, which was across the river, via Waterloo Bridge, instead of coming to the now-vacant house. I trudged along toward the station, too agitated to try to sit tamely in a transport.
When I reached Trafalgar Square and crossed it toward the Strand, Daniel came out of nowhere to fall into step with me. His tall son flanked me on my other side.
“Won’t let you say good-bye on your own,” James informed me. “Besides, it’s our good-byes too.”
Grace had informed me not long ago that she believed James was sweet on Jane, Joanna’s oldest daughter. I patted his arm in commiseration.
“We will put on brave faces,” I told him. “And not make it any harder for them to go.”
James nodded, but I could see he was morose.
We continued down the Strand, then turned to Wellington Street, which led to Waterloo Bridge.
Our route took us past Somerset House, where Mr. Thanos and Cynthia had diligently sifted through records.
I’d made certain they and Miss Townsend were showered with sweet treats every day for what they’d done for Daniel.
At Waterloo Station, we found the train steaming gently on its platform, and a haggard Joanna, who was trying to keep track of all the boxes and bags they’d brought, and also five children.
The boys followed the porters to make certain all their things were loaded while the girls tried to calm their mother.
Grace flew to me and caught me in an embrace.
“Oh, Mum, I don’t want to go.”
She said it so Joanna wouldn’t hear, but I hugged her tightly. “We’ll be together again soon,” I vowed.
Joanna waved to us and began herding her brood into the train. “Hurry now, or we’ll miss it,” she called.
As Joanna approached us, I saw that her face was drawn, her eyes red-rimmed. She was torn, poor lass, between the home she’d always known and the husband she loved, who waited for her at journey’s end.
“Kat.” Joanna opened her arms to me, and Grace surrendered me to her. “I will miss you so much. You’ve always been here for me, my friend.”
“I will still be here for you,” I said. “And I’ll visit next week, and all the weeks after. You’ll be tired of having me underfoot.”
I’d decided I would do the market only on Monday afternoons for now. Thursdays would see me on a train very much like this one, speeding across green England to my daughter.
“Never,” Joanna sobbed. She pulled away from me, wiping her eyes. “Look after her, Daniel. Don’t be so enamored of your new family that you forget the rest of us.”
Daniel laughed. “As though I could.” He startled Joanna by embracing her as well. “She will keep fine, and you’ll see her as much as you like. Go on, now. Give Sam my best wishes.”
Joanna nodded. She wiped her eyes again and gestured her children toward the train, which they still had not boarded. James was speaking quietly to Jane, who blushed and would not look directly at him.
Grace turned to me once more, and I caught her up. I could not stop my tears this time as I kissed her hair and the sweet face I’d first looked into all those years ago, which had brought home to me what love truly was.
“I will see you in a week,” I babbled, more to reassure myself. “Let’s plan so many happy things to do.”
Grace nodded, unable to speak. We held each other tightly as long as we could, until the train’s whistle sounded, and the conductors began waving people on.
I released Grace with great reluctance and guided her to the train door, her hand tightly in mine. I saw people around us glancing at me in sympathy, knowing I was saying farewell to my daughter.
Grace climbed into the train compartment, assisted by Daniel, and also Matthew, the oldest son, who caught her and pulled her in. The door slammed. Grace leaned out of the window, and she and I held on to each other’s hands until the train began to move.
I had to let her go. The train blurred into a wash of color as it slid past me. I blinked hard, dashing away the inconvenient tears, wanting to keep Grace in sight as long as possible.
Daniel slid his arm around me. James stood at my other side, the two of them warming me.
Grace waved hard, and I waved back, wanting to run alongside the train all the way to the end of the platform.
“She’ll be waiting for you,” Daniel said to me, his voice rumbling in my ear. “We’ll go to her together on Thursday. James too.”
James perked up at that. He did break from us and jog after the train, waving until it left the end of the platform, out into the open air.
“That would be wonderful,” I said, sinking into Daniel. “We’ll be a family again.”
“That we will,” Daniel said. “For always.”
The train went around a bend, its steam and smoke remaining long after the train rolled out of sight.
“Always,” I repeated in a whisper, knowing in my heart that it was true.