Chapter Thirteen
I quickly scan the letter before I start, just in case there is anything I shouldn’t see. Imagine if Aunt Grace said something about her beloved Marek’s appendage and I read it out loud in front of Albert! Oh, the shame! I don’t see anything to do with them having hot, steamy sex in there, though, thankfully, so I clear my throat and begin to read the letter out loud.
‘14 December 1993
My dearest Marek,
Thank you for your lovely letter.
It was so nice to hear from you, although I am naturally disappointed that we won’t be seeing each other soon. I would have loved to spend Christmas with you, and it was very kind of you to ask me to visit, but my mother-in-law isn’t very well. She had a stroke, and I am all she has, so I can’t really leave her at the moment. Hopefully, when she’s a bit stronger, maybe next year, we can see each other again.
Anyway, for the time being, I can’t stop listening to Elvis’ ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ and listening wistfully to the words. I know we only met five months ago, but those words were made for us. As you always remind me, we were meant to be.
Now that we’ve known each other a little longer, I have something to tell you. I need you to know that I am nervous about a new relationship. I haven’t shared this with anyone, apart from Silvie, but my husband Harry was not a good man. I suppose it seems easier to tell you the truth as I know you’re not going to tell anyone in my village. I was brought up to never wash your dirty laundry in public. I wonder if that’s the same in your town?
Well, anyway, Harry was awful to me, so a new relationship seems scary. He used to speak to me terribly, so condescending. Then he would use all the housekeeping for betting on the horses and late nights at the pub with his friends. I had never felt so lonely in my life. He made me feel worthless by the end. I was so beaten down. Marrying a teddy boy with a big ego in the Sixties was the biggest mistake of my life. That’s why when I told you I was a widow and you said you were sorry to hear that, well, I wanted to say that it was a relief, quite honestly. But I know how awful that sounds. So, I want you to know that it isn’t that I am not falling head over heels for you, it’s just that I’m scared. I’m still building myself back up and a bit fragile. You are gorgeous and nothing like him, I know. It’s just sometimes these things leave you a little scarred. So, I suppose I want to ask you to be patient with me. I do truly love you, but I need time.
I’ve sent you a Christmas card, which hopefully you’ll receive soon. I took ages picking out the best card for you. I hope you like the verse – I mean every word of it.
With all my love, always,
Gx ’
That explains why Dewi, who is such a placid man, swore when he was talking about Uncle Harry. I had no idea what poor Aunt Grace went through with him. Was I too self-absorbed to notice? I am ashamed of myself for not being perceptive enough to suspect what she was going through.
‘Oh dear, that’s terrible about her husband. I hate men like that,’ says Tomas.
‘I honestly didn’t know. I mean, he was a bit miserable, but I just thought it was his personality. I didn’t know any of this. But you have to remember that I didn’t even know she had a secret lover in Prague either. Aunt Grace kept a lot of things to herself, even her illness during her final days.’
‘It’s surprising how many secrets come out after someone has passed,’ says Albert.
‘So it seems,’ I agree.
‘That’s nice that they both loved Elvis though,’ says Tomas.
‘Yes, I remember my aunt always wanted to visit Graceland, but she had never been abroad. She felt the US was too long a flight for her.’
‘You know, Elvis brings back a nice memory for me. Marek would sit in his room listening to his songs. He thought he looked like him, but then all us brothers did.’ Albert smiles and then looks down at his hands, linked together on his lap.
I begin to wonder whether I should carry on or stop where we are. Does Albert really want to revisit the heartache of losing his brother?
‘We can leave the rest of the letters. We probably shouldn’t continue,’ I say.
‘No, please, don’t stop. I want to hear more. It’s been a long time since I thought about Marek. It’s sad, but also nice to hear his name mentioned again as though he were alive.’
‘Okay, if you’re sure?’
‘I’m sure.’
I grab the next letter that I come across, which has been opened and obviously read by Marek. I soon realise that this must have been the first letter she wrote to him after they met.
‘21 July 1993
My dearest Marek,
I hope this letter arrives safely and that I have your address correct. Hopefully, this will arrive by the time you land back home.
How wonderful it was to meet you in London last week. To be honest, I haven’t stopped thinking about it. I have never been so grateful for the rain! Who would have thought that an umbrella could bring us together. I hope you kept it safe and treasure the lucky umbrella!
It is hard to believe how much we have in common, considering we’re from different parts of the world. I suppose our shared taste in music helps. I still can’t believe Elvis is your favourite too!
Do you remember when we were sat at the tea shop? You told me stories of your family, and I told you about mine. Isn’t it funny how you are all boys and I am one of all girls? I would love to meet your brothers one day. When we get together finally, maybe we can have a family celebration with them.
You were right that we had an immediate connection that was unexplainable. That is something we can definitely agree on!
I am so glad I got to spend time with you in London. Thank goodness Silvie and I had planned those few days away. She’s a good friend. I felt terrible leaving her alone to have dinner with you that evening, but I think she could see that I looked the happiest in a long while. Well, approximately twenty-six years, I’d say!
I have kept and pressed that beautiful red rose you took from the vase on the table so that I can always remember our first meeting. It was rather naughty of you though! I do hope the cafe owners weren’t too annoyed when they noticed it missing. Still, it makes me smile every time I look at it. That rose shall remind me of our special day forever. It makes me think of the term ‘coup de foudre’. I heard that expression in a movie once. If you don’t know what it means, look it up.
Anyway, I suppose this is a test letter to make sure you receive it. Once again, it was so wonderful to meet you.
With much love,
Gx ’
I place the letter on the table and gulp down some wine. She sounds so happy. We all go silent and sit around staring at the cardboard box on the table.
Eventually, Tomas speaks. ‘Life’s so short. We have to grab every moment. When do you leave Prague, Olivia?’
‘Another few days.’
‘Okay, let’s make sure we get through the other letters before you leave. But first we have Christmas and you’re here alone, right?’
I nod my head and try not to look too pitiful.
‘Will you please join us for our Christmas dinner? We have it on Christmas Eve. Tomorrow.’
‘Oh, I don’t know. I don’t want to intrude.’ I think of that woman on the phone again. I don’t think that sounds like a good idea at all. Surely, she won’t want me around.
‘Tomas is a good cook, as you’ll have noticed tonight. You’ll enjoy his Christmas dinner,’ says Albert.
‘Yes, please join us. You’re definitely not intruding,’ says Tomas.
Both of them stare at me, and I don’t know what to say. I want to be here for Albert, but I really don’t want to cause any trouble for Tomas or a possible partner.
‘Oh, I really don’t know. I think the hotel will do something.’
‘Nonsense. You can’t stay in a hotel all alone. That’s terrible. What sort of family would we be if we didn’t welcome you into our home? You must come, and I won’t take no for an answer,’ says Albert.
‘Okay then. I’ll look forward to it. It’ll make a change to the beans on toast I had last year,’ I say.
‘You eat beans on toast for Christmas? Is this what British people do?’ asks Albert.
I laugh at the idea.
‘No, it’s just me because I was on my own last year. Other people have turkey and all the trimmings.’
‘I know which I’d prefer,’ says Albert.
Yup, so would I, but we don’t always have a choice in the matter.
‘Then maybe you need a dog for company, nobody is an island,’ says Tomas.
It’s okay for him to say that with his cosy little family around the fire, or whatever he does at home. Anyway, I guess I will get to meet them tomorrow, and hopefully, I can prove to this woman that she has nothing to worry about.
I look at Tomas with a frown. Is he so perfect? He seems to be hanging around a lot on his own too and quite possibly neglecting a wife.
‘I’m quite fine as an island, thank you. At least I get to choose who comes on shore.’
Tomas and Albert look at me, baffled. I thought that was quite good, personally.
‘Anyway, let’s get back to the letters.’
Tomas picks up the box and gently tips the contents out onto the floor. There are envelopes in piles held in elastic bands everywhere. It appears as though a highly organised Santa has dropped his sack of letters with present requests from all the children in the neighbourhood. Aunt Grace must have written a few times a month by the looks of it.
However, something else falls out too. It is a little purple velvety box. I move from the sofa to sit on the floor with the envelopes and the box. I can’t resist picking it up and examining it in my hand. Tomas sits on the floor beside me and huddles in close to see the box.
‘It was the ring he’d bought your aunt,’ says Albert.
Marek bought Aunt Grace a ring and she never knew? That’s terrible .
‘You should have sent this to her, Uncle. She should have known,’ says Tomas.
‘I know. I’ve made many mistakes in my life, and I regret that. I try to do things to protect people, but sometimes, I get that wrong. Plus, I blamed her for Marek’s death.’
‘But that sounds spiteful,’ says Tomas.
‘I know. I was stupid. We all make mistakes. Like you and Milena.’
Tomas looks annoyed and makes a cross face at Albert.
‘Old people. Why do they always have to say what they think?’ says Tomas, looking at me.
I shrug my shoulders, unsure what to say. I don’t want to come between Tomas and his uncle. I can’t help wondering who Milena is though. It sounds like a name that has clearly hit a nerve and I suspect it is the woman who was talking to Tomas on the phone.
‘Have you ever known someone who always lets you down?’ Albert asks me.
I think about Craig and the promise he made that we would go on a cruise for our anniversary when he probably knew all along that he was leaving me.
‘Oh yes, indeed.’
‘Well, that’s Milena. He gives her too much time. He’s far too nice, my boy is.’
Tomas starts to fidget, and I notice his ears have gone red. I am not sure if he is annoyed or embarrassed. But it seems that there is more to the story than I first thought. Perhaps Tomas isn’t the type of person to play around after all.
‘Anyway, let’s see what’s in the jewellery box, hey?’ says Tomas.
I press open the box, and inside is the most beautiful diamond solitaire ring.
‘Is that an engagement ring?’ says Tomas.
‘It is. He’d planned on proposing. He was so happy the day he bought it. He got it from a small place in the market with the money he worked hard for. I’ll always remember,’ says Albert.
‘Wow. He had good taste. I wish Aunt Grace could have seen this. I just know it’s exactly what she’d have chosen.’
‘Try it on,’ says Tomas.
‘I can’t try on someone else’s ring.’
‘Yes, you can. Nobody has ever tried it. Someone may as well,’ says Albert.
I remove it from the box and place it on my ring finger. It only goes halfway down my knuckle. Aunt Grace was much daintier than I am. Marek must have even worked out the right size for her.
‘It’s beautiful.’
I pop it carefully into the jewellery box and then place it back inside the cardboard box, even though it is a terrible waste for it not to be worn.
‘Right, are we ready for the next letter then?’ I ask.
I check through the bundles and see some yellowing envelopes. The postal date on the first envelope in the bundle says April 1994.
‘Okay. I’ll start with this.’
I pull the letter out from the open envelope and scan over it. I start reading the words out loud.
‘10 April 1994
My dearest Marek,
It’s been nine months since we were last together, and I’m counting down the days until we are reunited. Since you left, there hasn’t been much excitement to report back to you. My darling, Marek, the truth is that it’s so hard living without you. I can’t wait for your next letter. I treasure every word you say. I can’t wait to feel your arms around me again and to kiss you. I don’t want to kiss anyone else in my lifetime, nobody compares to you. ’
I look up at Albert, slightly mortified. At least it is only kissing she is talking about. I clear my throat and start again.
‘Sometimes, you don’t need to spend a long time with someone to know you should be together. In case I haven’t made myself clear enough, I can’t wait to see you again. I love you, I love you, I love you!
Love always and forever,
Gx ’
Tomas sighs as I finish reading the letter. ‘That’s beautiful,’ he says.
‘I know. They were so lucky to have met each other. I’ve no doubt it would have worked out eventually had the accident not happened. Isn’t it awful? Some people are destined for each other, but then something like this happens.’
‘It’s all quite emotional. Should we have a day off the letters tomorrow?’ says Tomas.
‘That sounds good. Anyway, since it’s Christmas Eve, I’m sure you’ll be too busy with all the preparations.’
‘No, it’s fine. In fact, I was going to ask you if you wanted to visit Prague Castle in the morning. I could take you around.’
I consider whatever is going on with any woman in his life. I don’t want to make her mad, and feel I should refuse. However, Albert interrupts before I can decline.
‘You have to let Tomas take you to the castle. You’ll love it,’ says Albert.
‘Oh, I don’t want to put anyone out. I can go alone, it’s okay.’
‘No, I’ll not have that. You have to let Tomas take you. He can tell you things about it. He wants you to go with him. It’s no problem at all, is it Tomas?’
‘No, please. I’d very much like to take you there.’
I look at the both of them smiling at me.
‘Well, if you’re sure it won’t upset anyone or not be a problem, then I’d love to go. You have no idea how much I have desperately wanted to visit the castle! You see, my aunt gave me a snow globe of Prague Castle. It is the most precious thing and—’
‘Hang on a minute,’ says Albert. He gets up slowly and goes into his bedroom. When he comes out, he is holding a snow globe in the palm of his hand.
‘That’s exactly like the one I have!’ I say.
‘I thought it might be. Marek bought them on a school trip to the castle when he was young. He bought one for our parents and one for me. But the one he bought my parents went missing. Not long after he met your aunt.’
‘Ah, that’s so cute.’
‘Finally, the mystery of where it went is solved,’ laughs Albert.
‘Well, it’s very beautiful, and my aunt treasured it for the rest of her life. It’s safe at my home if you want it returned.’
‘No, it’s yours now. Think of it as a Christmas present. Anyway, I have this one to remember Marek by,’ says Albert.
‘That’s most kind. Thank you.’
I look at Albert and across to Tomas, who is smiling at me. I feel warm and fuzzy, as though I have found a new family.
What better Christmas present could there possibly be than receiving the magical snow globe and getting accepted into this wonderful home?