Later, they sat together in their flower garden enjoying the breath of roses along with coffee and cake and watched the sun gradually sink behind the distant hills.
In The Royal Oak they had finished their meal. Lily felt relaxed and enjoyed speaking with Rose.
‘So have you any holiday plans?’
‘Yes,’ said Rose. ‘We’re driving to Brittany. Dad’s rented a gîte near Concarneau for a couple of weeks. So I’ll be able to practise my French.’
‘That sounds wonderful,’ said Lily.
‘Then it’s back for my results and, hopefully, on to university.’
‘We shall have moved by then, although I expect I shall drive down with Freddie to collect his results.’
‘I shall hope to see you then.’
Lily looked at this positive young woman with her life in front of her and wondered about the choices she would make. Rash decisions didn’t appear to be part of her persona.
As the evening wore on, singing could be heard from the taproom. Deke Ramsbottom was entertaining the drinkers with a rendition of ‘Do Not Forsake Me, O My Darling’, the ballad from High Noon, while Ronnie Smith was on his fourth pint of Tetley’s and reading the Sporting Life.
Gradually darkness fell, until out of the bay window there was only a sliver of orange light on the far horizon. Lily looked out at the Hambleton hills as they shimmered in the summer heat haze and the sky seemed on fire with backlit clouds. The cycle of life in Ragley village was moving on. Tom was sharing his news with Rose about their new home in the north-east and Freddie was talking about saving up for a car while he was at university. On a full grant this was possible and Timothy Pratt had given him a neatly typed and very supportive reference.
Tom and Freddie had got up to go to the bar to order another round of drinks.
Rose appeared animated. ‘I’m sure it will be exciting for you,’ she said. ‘Just think of all the new places that you can visit. I’ve never been to Durham Cathedral.’
‘Well you must come and stay and we can visit it together.’
‘I should love to do that.’
‘We were talking about Durham, Freddie,’ said Rose as he and Tom arrived with the drinks. ‘I would love to look round the cathedral. Why don’t we plan to do that in the summer holidays before we go to university?’
‘Great idea,’ said Freddie. ‘Let’s just hope we get the results we need.’
Lily sensed his urgency and there was no doubt about the depth of feeling he had for this young woman.
‘You will be fine,’ said Tom. ‘If ever two young people deserved to get to their first choice of university, it’s you two. You couldn’t have worked any harder.’
‘That’s true,’ agreed Lily. ‘Whatever the outcome, I am proud of you. It’s a time of new beginnings, for you … and for all of us.’ She looked up at Tom.
He smiled at her. ‘Yes, a fresh start in a new home. I’m looking forward to it.’
‘So am I,’ said Freddie. He paused and looked directly at Lily. ‘A new start for us all and a time to move on.’
Lily glanced up at him and heard his words. At last she felt she had found a precious tranquillity and her soul was singing.
Freddie leaned across the table and took her hand. ‘Durham will be a place where no one knows you as my sister – they will only ever know you as my mother.’
Rose and Tom smiled at each other, knowing the import of these few words.
Lily’s face was radiant with a joy that she had longed for. Suddenly, life was a blank sheet of paper, the future was a new story and the words had yet to be written.
‘Freddie … my son,’ she said quietly.
And in a heartbeat Lily’s son was hers once more.
Epilogue
Lily Feather became a successful headteacher in Durham and Tom proved to be one of the north-east’s finest chief inspectors. They remained there for the rest of their lives.
Freddie Briggs and Rose McConnell both gained first-class degrees at Leeds University and married in 1968. They had two children, Thomas Rudolph Briggs and Lily Rose Mary Briggs. After Freddie had completed his doctorate they moved to London, where Freddie taught German studies and Rose became a teacher of English in a comprehensive school. They visited Hamburg every year to spend a week with Rudi.
Sam Grundy went on to play rugby at a high level. He had a long string of girlfriends and three marriages, but no one ever loved him as Joy Popplewell had done. Joy met a boat builder from Auckland while at university in London. They moved to New Zealand and lived a happy life with their three children.
Vera Evans continued to run Ragley School in her efficient style, while Ruby Smith worked hard, loved her children and despaired of the unemployed Ronnie.
After Lily’s departure Anne Grainger became deputy headteacher and the local supply teacher, Valerie Flint, agreed to teach Class 2 until a permanent appointment could be made.
Sally Nobbs returned to teach at Ragley School a few years later. By then she had married a reformed beatnik named Colin Pringle.
John Pruett was never the same after Lily left. The light of his life had gone out. However, his love for his work never diminished. He remained at Ragley School until his retirement in 1977 when he was replaced by a young Jack Sheffield.
TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA
penguin.co.uk
Transworld is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.
First published in Great Britain in 2019 by Bantam Press
an imprint of Transworld Publishers
Copyright © Jack Sheffield 2019
Cover design by Beci Kelly/TW
Image of girl © Colin Thomas
Village scene by Getty
Jack Sheffield has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Every effort has been made to obtain the necessary permissions with reference to copyright material, both illustrative and quoted. We apologize for any omissions in this respect and will be pleased to make the appropriate acknowledgements in any future edition.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9781473543102
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Changing Times Page 27