Beyond a Misty Shore

by Lyn Andrews

  Frank stood up, pulling Sophie up with him. ‘I think that’s the signal for me to go back to Mam’s,’ he whispered reluctantly.

  Sophie smiled. ‘She’ll be in here any minute now.’

  Lizzie’s head appeared around the door. ‘We’re back, so you’d best go now, Frank. Our Billy’s safely upstairs. Is everything sorted out?’

  ‘More or less. We hope to get married in four weeks. Frank is going to go and see the vicar at Christ Church tomorrow, I’m going to meet him there,’ Sophie informed her.

  Lizzie beamed at them. ‘I’m delighted and so will Martha be.’ She cocked her head to one side, listening. ‘That sounds like Jim and Pat coming back. Come into the kitchen, Sophie, and we’ll have a cup of tea before you go home,’ she instructed before bustling back into the lobby.

  Frank kissed her again. ‘At least I’ll see you tomorrow for an hour, Sophie.’

  She held him tightly. ‘It won’t be long now, Frank, before we never have to say goodbye again.’

  Arthur was sitting reading when she arrived back but he looked up expectantly as she came into the sitting room. After Bella had gone to bed he’d had time to think about things, mainly his future.

  ‘Are you relieved now you’ve seen him, Sophie?’

  She took off her jacket and hat and sat down. ‘Yes, and I’m so happy, Arthur. He looks so well; that dejected, hopeless air has gone. We’re getting married in four weeks; we’re going to see the vicar at Christ Church tomorrow. It will be very quiet, just family – which includes you.’

  He nodded. He’d been certain she would include him. ‘And have you discussed where you will live and what Frank will do?’

  ‘Not in great detail. He hopes to go back to his trade and I suppose we’ll live here.’

  ‘I’ve been thinking about that, Sophie.’

  ‘Arthur, it won’t affect you. This is your home and always will be, you know that.’

  ‘But you’ll want some time together, alone as man and wife, Sophie.’

  ‘With Bella too. She’ll need time to get used to Frank,’ she reminded him.

  ‘Of course, but you can do without me hanging around the place too. So I’ve decided to go and pay a visit to my cousin Edward in Vermont. He’s asked me to go often enough and now I feel the time is right. I’m getting a bit long in the tooth and don’t want to leave it much longer and I have the money Hetty left me. It’s too far to go for a short visit, so I’ll be away for a few months. I was thinking of returning in November, before the weather gets too bad.’ He smiled at her. ‘That will give all three of you time to get settled.’

  Sophie nodded and then smiled. ‘You are such a considerate man, Arthur, and I really do appreciate it.’

  ‘There is no one more considerate or generous than you, Sophie. Why don’t you bring Frank back here tomorrow after you’ve seen the vicar? I’d like to see him. I really didn’t get to know him very well when I lived with your aunt and it’s very quiet around here. No one will comment on his visit and you can spend some time together. After all, he might like to see what is to be his new home. The only time he ever came here, he only got as far as the hall.’

  Sophie remembered that day. ‘I know and it will be nice to have more time alone with him as, sadly, he’ll be going away again at the weekend.’

  Arthur looked serious. ‘It’s for the best, Sophie. The sooner this whole sorry business is over the better.’

  Epilogue

  IT WAS EASY TO see that winter was on its way now, Sophie thought as she drew back the curtains that Sunday morning. The trees that lined the road were almost bare, as were the rose bushes in the tiny garden, and there was a dusting of frost on the pavements. She drew her dressing gown more closely to her as she went back to the bed and shook Frank gently.

  ‘Time to get up, Frank. It’s a special day today, remember, and I’ve already heard Bella up and about.’

  Frank reluctantly opened his eyes. ‘It’s Sunday, Sophie. Don’t we usually have a lie-in on a Sunday morning?’

  Sophie smiled at him. They had been married for nearly four months and they were so happy. ‘We do, but not this morning. Up you get, Mr Ryan.’

  ‘Not until I get my morning kiss, Mrs Ryan,’ Frank replied, reaching out and drawing her towards him. He loved her even more now than when they’d been married. Ever since that day his life had changed. He had a wife he adored and a very comfortable home. Bella was a delight; they got on so well and on Sunday afternoons he often took her on outings. He had a steady job working at the trade to which he’d served his time, that of a joiner, which he enjoyed. Sophie didn’t do a great deal of sewing now; she didn’t need to work at all but she insisted on making clothes for a few of the ladies who had patronised her since she’d first started her business. Sophie was content living in Liverpool, she and his mother got on well together and Martha often came to visit, as did Lizzie. Sarah wrote as often as she could, more frequently of late now that the summer visitors had mainly gone. The tea shop had proved to be very popular, as had Hans and his tractor, and they were very happy with their life. Frank planned to take Sophie and Bella for a holiday to that misty little island, next spring or summer. He didn’t want Bella to lose touch with her grandmother and aunt or her heritage.

  ‘You’ve forgotten that we’ve to be at Lime Street Station for half past eleven, haven’t you?’ Sophie chided him gently, sitting beside him on the bed. ‘Arthur is coming home today. Oh, and I have a surprise for you too.’

  Frank sat up. He had indeed forgotten that Arthur would be arriving on the train from London. The Queen Mary had docked late last night and Arthur was taking the boat train from Southampton to Euston very early this morning. ‘I have to admit I had forgotten. What kind of surprise?’

  Sophie smiled happily and bent and kissed him on the forehead. ‘Next year you are going to be a father.’

  Frank gasped in surprise and took her in his arms. ‘You’re sure, Sophie?’

  ‘I’m sure and I wanted to tell you before Arthur gets home, so we can meet him as a real “family” now.’

  ‘Oh, Sophie! I love you so much and I’m the happiest man alive today!’

  ‘Now, will you get up and we’ll go and tell Bella that she is going to have a brother or a sister.’

  Frank got up instantly. ‘First of all I’m going to make you a cup of tea, then I’ll bring Bella in and we’ll tell her together. You just stay here and rest, you’ll have to take care of yourself now, Sophie.’

  She laughed. ‘Frank, I’m pregnant, I’m not ill. Don’t forget I’ve been through this once before? But go bring Bella up and we’ll tell her. Then we really will have to get our skates on.’

  Bella was almost as delighted by the news as Frank. ‘Can I have a baby sister, Mam, please?’ she begged, bouncing up and down on the bed.

  Sophie laughed. ‘I’m afraid it doesn’t quite work like that, Bella. We have to have what God gives us and I’m sure you’ll love a baby brother just as much. We’ll have to start thinking of names. You can help us choose, can’t she, Frank?’

  ‘We wouldn’t dream of choosing a name without asking you, Bella,’ Frank said seriously.

  ‘We’ll have to have two sets of names then, won’t we, Pa?’

  Frank nodded. ‘We will indeed so you’d better put your thinking cap on,’ he replied, smiling happily. There was nothing else in life he could wish for now.

  The station concourse wasn’t too crowded, it being Sunday, Sophie thought as they stood at the barrier. With clouds of steam and the hissing and clanking of brakes the train pulled slowly in and came to a standstill.

  ‘Can you see Uncle Arthur, Mam?’ Bella asked impatiently, hopping from foot to foot. He’d sent her lots of postcards and on the last one he said he’d brought her some souvenirs as gifts.

  ‘Not yet, there are a lot of people getting off and he has to get a porter to help him with his luggage,’ Sophie replied. Frank had his arm protectively around her and she smiled up at
him. It had been good to have the house to themselves for the months Arthur had been away but she’d missed him too.

  ‘There he is now,’ Frank said, pointing out to Bella the smartly turned-out gentleman accompanied by a porter, his cases neatly stacked on a trolley.

  ‘Uncle Arthur! We’re over here and we’ve got a surprise for you! I’m getting a baby sister – or brother!’ Bella cried out, waving madly, her cheeks flushed and her blue eyes shining with excitement.

  Sophie looked up at Frank and shook her head, laughing. ‘Oh, Bella Teare! What a way to tell Uncle Arthur!’

  Arthur looked bemused as he hugged first Bella and then Sophie, and shook Frank warmly by the hand. ‘Did I hear that correctly? My ears are not deceiving me, are they?’

  ‘No. We were going to tell you but not in quite such a public way,’ Sophie answered. ‘And welcome home, we’ve missed you,’ she added.

  Arthur smiled broadly at them. ‘Congratulations! What wonderful news.’

  Frank looked pleased and proud. ‘We think so too.’

  Arthur took Bella’s hand. ‘I couldn’t have wished for a nicer surprise or a better homecoming. I’ve missed you too.’

  Frank looked across to the taxi rank. He’d already decided that Arthur had so much luggage that it would be impossible to get the tram home and besides, he was going to take special care of Sophie, she was very precious and this was a special occasion. He smiled at Arthur and Bella. ‘We’ll get a taxi home. I have to take good care of my family from now on.’

  Bella skipped along excitedly beside Arthur and Frank and Sophie followed. ‘And we’re a very happy and contented “family” too,’ Sophie added, her eyes shining.