Family Pride
Page 35
Lucy and Gee had moved in to Bread Street and were already a part of the family unit. Ivor had accepted Lucy into his little tribe of people to be looked after. Baby Wayne enjoyed the party and smiled at everyone, making many new friends and making Sam even more protective and proud than ever.
Marigold came with Stella, but Cyril had declined. Sam had persuaded Vic and Viv to do nothing about Ivor’s story and they told Ivor that the gun had been a toy, a water-pistol with which to have fun with Stella. Although no one had guessed the truth, Cyril had been unable to accept that he was safe from discovery. The pain of what he did had begun to recede and now it returned to haunt him. Every day he expected the police to call and every day he grew older and more ill.
Derek was another man filled with guilt, but he faced Sam and the others without a shadow of it on his face. He even managed a half smile and offered to supply the new restaurant with Green’s bread free for the first year. That, Gilly firmly declined.
“Jenkins’ bread is what my customers want,” she said to Paul when they found themselves alone for a few precious moments. “And Jenkins will be here when Greens are a distant memory.” She glanced at Paul afraid for a moment that he might be hurt. But he smiled and said;
“My loyalties are with you. You know that now. But what you don’t know is, and this is an added engagement gift to you, Dad is tired of working, he is going to sell up. One day soon Greens will sell out to Jenkins. It’s only right and proper that Jenkins remain in Bread Street. They were the first bakers to work from here and they gave the place its name. It’s only fitting they remain on top.”
“On top. I suppose we are. Look at us, business beginning to build and the family grown again. Lillian is expecting a second child and, thanks to Sam’s determination, Lucy is found and back with us. There’ll be sons to follow Uncle Sam into the business. Oh, Paul, Granfer would be so pleased.”
“My name is Green and soon yours will be, too, but at heart I know you’ll always be a Jenkins.” He smiled and kissed her then added, “My love, I know it’s fanciful, but I feel Granfer’s ghost knows about us, he’s hovering near and he approves of our getting together. He knows I’m proud to be a part of your family, Gilly.” He kissed her and whispered softly, “believe me.”
And she did.
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First published in the United States in 1994 by Severn House Publishers Ltd
This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2016 by
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
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Copyright © 1994 by Grace Thompson
The moral right of Grace Thompson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781911420088
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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