Chapter 13
Making Connections
Nottingham
Emily and Blair said their well wishes for the holidays as they waited for their trains to their respective destinations.
“I’ll be in touch. We’ll have to plan where and when to meet for New Year’s,” Blair said with both hands on her shoulders, and kissed her quickly on the lips.
“So I haven’t set you off and running?” Emily said with a blush on her face.
“After yesterday? I think I deserve the pleasure of your company when we’re not on a wild-goose chase. You can focus your attention on me.” He grinned, waved, and vanished into the crowd heading to Edinburgh.
Emily walked toward the platform for her train.
She was having second thoughts about surprising her mother with Ashley and Jessica.
But if she gave her advance notice, her mother would be in a tizzy.
If she didn’t, then her mother wouldn’t be fretting for the entire afternoon.
She finally talked herself into her first idea. Surprise her.
They would take one of the nonstop trains to Birmingham, which would take a little over an hour.
She anticipated arriving at her mother’s flat no later than four.
She sent her mum a text with her ETA and then breathed a huge sigh.
Her emotions were riding high from the day before, and her imagination was already making plans for the future with her sister.
What fun it will be to go to cricket matches and root for opposing teams. She chuckled.
That was probably the last thing Ashley was interested in, although the fact that Blair was on the team might convince Ashley to take in a match or two.
Emily knew they would both be engulfed in research studies, but all work and no play makes them very, very boring people.
The announcement for her train was heard over the din of the holiday travelers.
She moved through the crowd with her small luggage on wheels, and her cross-body messenger bag, which contained her laptop.
She hoped she wouldn’t have to use it over the holidays, but keeping track of her email was important.
She managed to find an open seat at a booth and stashed her bag overhead.
Once the train began to move, she pulled out her laptop and checked her email, just to be sure there wasn’t anything she needed to tend to.
As she was scrolling through she saw a notice from the DNA lab.
Her results were in. She caught her breath.
She had completely forgotten about it since their unintended encounter with Ashley and Jessica.
She paused before she clicked on the report and wondered if Ashley had done something similar.
Perhaps she should wait. Not that she anticipated any further surprises, but if Ashley had some test results it would be fun to compare them.
Clearly they were twins. There was no doubt about that.
Thirty minutes later the train pulled into Ely, where she had to cross over to another track to catch the train to Nottingham. It was delayed. As usual. Nine minutes later it rolled into the station and she dragged her things on board.
Jessica and Ashley were up before dawn. Their level of excitement exceeded their wildest expectations. By seven they were packed and ready to go. “What time do you suppose the Christmas market opens?” Jessica mused.
“You’re going shopping? Again?” Ashley grinned.
“We can’t go empty-handed, dear.”
“Good point. But I have no idea what we should get. Is there a Hallmark card for birth mothers?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Jessica smiled in return. “Obviously something meaningful, but what?”
Ashley pulled out her phone and googled: What’s an appropriate gift for meeting your birth mother for the first time?
“You really think those AI thingies would have an answer?”
Ashley snickered. “Yes, they do! But it suggests something personalized. We don’t have time for that, plus we don’t even know where we could get something like that.”
“Wait. I saw a jewelry stall at the market. Maybe they’ll have something sentimental, like my ornament.”
“Okey dokey. Let’s grab breakfast and find out what time they open.”
They brought their luggage to the front desk and asked them to hold it for a couple of hours.
Emily was due to arrive at Nottingham station somewhere around noon and would text them fifteen minutes before her train was scheduled to arrive.
Once they knew her ETA they’d meet up with her and hop on the train to Birmingham.
There were frequent nonstops so there was no rush or panic.
The market opened at ten, so they had time to have a leisurely breakfast near the square. “What do you say we have a full English fry-up?”
“Brilliant!” Jessica said and laughed.
Ashley wrapped her rust-colored cashmere scarf around her neck and topped her head with a matching beret.
Jessica donned a colorful knitted cap with earflaps and coordinated mittens and scarf.
They were ready for the blustery December morning.
The weather forecast called for ten-mile-per-hour winds.
They linked arms and walked toward the market.
A pub with a sandwich sign invited patrons to try their “fry-up” and the two women took up the offer.
A waitress acknowledged them with a “Sit where ye like,” and promptly brought menus. “Get ye some tea?” she asked politely.
“Hot cocoa?” Ashley asked.
“Coffee for me.” Jessica added.
“Comin’ right up.”
The place was similar to almost every pub they’d visited, with stone walls and a dark bar.
The smell of old wood mingled with the scent of beer and the smell of bacon.
There were many modern coffee shops and cafés, but Jessica wanted to experience the history of England.
You could find a brand-spanking-new establishment anywhere in the States.
The waitress returned with their beverages and asked what they would like for breakfast. In unison they replied, “English fry-up, please!”
“Atta girls. Great choice for a chilly morning.”
She made a few clicks on her electronic device and placed the order.
The décor and atmosphere were historical throwbacks, but the order-taking and the money-tendering were high-tech.
There was a window opening into the kitchen where a small printer ran their order to the chef.
Ten minutes later the waitress approached them balancing a large tray above her shoulder, then placed it on the adjacent table.
As she began to set the plates in front of them, Jessica remarked with surprise, “This is all for us?”
The waitress grinned. “Yer first fry-up, innit?”
“Most definitely.” Jessica marveled at the abundance of food before her—fried eggs, back bacon, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast slathered in butter.
“Good thing we have two hours.” Before she dug into her breakfast she asked the waitress if she could recommend someone who sold jewelry at the market.
“It happens me sister has a stall halfway down. She makes bracelets, charms, and the like. She’s very good.
Sells ’em in Manchester. Very artsy.” The waitress placed one hand on her hip, apparently pleased she had someone she could recommend to her sister.
“She comes here every year. Prefers our market. Cozier.”
“Wonderful. What’s the name of her stall?” Jessica asked.
“Wearable Art by Evie. Each piece is handmade according to one of her designs.”
Jessica was not sure how to ask about the price range without sounding crass, but Wanda, the waitress, was a step ahead of her. “Her prices are quite reasonable. She has lovely sterling silver bracelets that run from fifty quid to a few hundred. She’ll even engrave ’em for ye.”
Ashley grabbed Jessica’s wrist. “We can have all our names engraved on a bracelet!” She paused. “Including Henry. And Todd.”
“It’s going to have to be a large bracelet,” Jessica said, and winked.
Ashley looked up at Wanda. “Can she engrave on the spot?”
“Her daughter helps tend the stall when she’s engravin’. She’s eighteen.” She shook her head. “Hard to believe how fast they grow. Seems like yesterday when she was a wee one.” A ding of a bell signaled there was another order for Wanda to deliver. “Anyways, I’ll write it down for you.”
Ashley was mopping up egg yolk with the thickly buttered bread. She paused. Swallowed. “How often do you suppose they eat like this?”
Jessica looked around the room. “If they get this kind of weather, it’s a good way to start. They probably burn it off.”
They continued to partake in the assortment of delectable offerings until neither of them could fit one more morsel in their mouths.
Ashley pushed her chair back a few inches and patted her stomach.
“We’re going to have to do a whole lot of walking if we want to burn off the three thousand calories we just consumed. ”
Jessica let out a groan. “I may have to sit for a minute or two and let the food settle down.”
Wanda returned to the table with a business card for Wearable Art by Evie. “I wrote the stall number on the back. Tell her that her big sister sent ya.”
“Will do, Wanda. Thanks very much.” Jessica slipped the card into her coat pocket. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll take the check.”
They settled the bill, thanked Wanda, wrapped themselves up to face the cold, and tugged open the door.
They linked arms and walked to the market, soon spying Wearable Art by Evie.
A young woman in her late teens was speaking to a customer, while a woman who had to be Evie was busy engraving a piece of jewelry on a table in the rear of the stall.
A bracket held the bracelet in place while Evie carefully enhanced the piece.
The silver finery glistened in the dainty holiday lights, creating a sparkling atmosphere.
“Everything is so beautiful,” Ashley said in a loud whisper as she walked closer. “I don’t know where to begin.”
Evie looked up from her stool and nodded. “Be with ya shortly.” Her daughter smiled and said hello.