Harry spotted the Morris Minor and called out to Stan, ‘Got a new customer?’
As Stan came out of the garage, Mary caught sight of Ellie. She gave a little gasp and took a few uncertain steps towards her. As Ellie flew into her arms, Harry realized who it was and rushed over to hug her as well, the three of them holding each other as if they’d never let go. Mary sobbed incoherently and Ellie only just managed to make out what she was saying – ‘Drove all that way for nothing. You were here all the time.’
She looked at Harry and he grinned, that old infectious smile. ‘We’ve been all over Essex looking for you.’ He let her go and turned to Mary. ‘You’d better take her indoors and get that kettle on. I’ll just give Stan a hand with locking up and make sure Joe’s OK to man the pump for a bit longer.’
‘You’re not thinking of driving back to Essex tonight, are you, love?’ Mary asked as she ushered Ellie into the house.
‘I’m not going back at all,’ she said, although until this moment she hadn’t really been sure.
‘You mean you’ll stay?’
‘If you’ll have me.’
‘Oh, Ellie – if we’ll have you!’ Mary sat down at the kitchen table and Ellie realized her mother was shaking.
She sat down too and took hold of her hands. ‘Mum, what can I say? I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry for all those things I said last time I saw you.’
Mary’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I didn’t want to believe you – I thought you’d blame me for not protecting you. But after you’d gone I started remembering little things. I should’ve realized what was going on – with Sheila too.’
Ellie nodded. ‘Mum – it wasn’t your fault. Besides, what could you do?’ She shook her head. ‘I shouldn’t have told you.’
‘Is that why you ran away again? Did you feel I might blame you?’
Ellie hastened to reassure her. ‘I was so scared, Mum. I thought I’d killed him. And then I lost the baby and I was ill for ages. Then, when I didn’t hear from you, I thought….’
‘It doesn’t matter – you’re here now,’ Mary said.
Ellie hesitated. ‘What about Gerda? Why isn’t she here?’
‘Didn’t you know, love? She wasn’t really pregnant – tried to trap him until someone better came along. Good job Harry found out in time.’
Ellie’s heart was pounding. Not married? If only she’d known when he came home on leave that time. Was it too late now?
She steadied her breathing and smiled, trying not to let Mary see how the news had affected her. ‘It’s a miracle I found you,’ she said, as the door opened and Harry came in.
‘Maybe,’ he said, ‘but I would have gone on searching till I found you. And now you’re here, I’ll never let you run away again.’
Mary laughed. ‘Don’t worry, she said she’s going to stay, Harry. Are you pleased?’
‘Chuffed to bits, love.’ He bent and kissed her cheek. ‘You look tired, love. Why don’t you go to bed. Plenty of time to talk tomorrow.’
When she’d left the room, he came and put his hands on Ellie’s shoulders. ‘Are you really going to stay?’
‘Only if you want me to,’ she said.
‘Of course I want you to – you don’t know how much.’ Ellie smiled hesitantly. Was he saying what she hoped he was? He pulled her towards him, holding her close. His hand stroked her hair and she turned her face up to his. The kiss was sweet and tender and it was as if a block of ice around her heart had started to melt. She moulded her body to his and there was no holding back. She knew – as she’d always known – that when two people really love each other everything else follows as naturally as a rainbow follows a summer shower. But not just yet.
She pulled away, gently, and gave a shaky laugh. ‘Is this really happening?’ she asked, her eyes misty as she gazed into his rugged open face.
‘We’ve waited long enough, haven’t we?’ Harry said, pulling her towards him again. ‘But do you think we could wait a little longer? I’d feel better if we sorted everything out first – you know?’
Ellie nodded, smiling. ‘I want things to be just right this time,’ she said.
‘Are you really sure this is what you want?’ Harry kissed her again.
Ellie returned his kiss. ‘I’m sure,’ she said simply.
‘And you don’t have any regrets about leaving that lovely house and your studio and everything?’
‘No regrets at all.’ She gave a little giggle. ‘Who needs a studio? I can paint anywhere – a garden shed will do me.’
‘So – you mean to keep up this painting lark then, being a famous designer and all?’
Ellie’s smile faded. Surely he wasn’t going to be like Alex, denying her the right to a career of her own? ‘You don’t mind, do you?’ she asked.
‘Well, I do have one condition.’ He tried to keep his face straight but she realized he was teasing. He wagged his finger sternly. ‘You’ve got to change your trademark. It’s not Helene, it’s “Ellen”. You know we Londoners don’t sound our aitches. And just because we’ve moved out to Essex doesn’t mean we have to abandon our roots.’
‘Anything you say, my love,’ she said, going back into his arms.
As she clung to him, breathing in his dear familiar scent, at last she knew she’d really come home. And there would be no more running away.
By the Same Author
Abigail’s Secret
No Sin To Love
On Wings of Song
Copyright
© Roberta Grieve 2010
First published in Great Britain 2010
This edition 2013
ISBN 978 0 7198 1091 6 (epub)
ISBN 978 0 7198 1092 3 (mobi)
ISBN 978 0 7198 1093 0 (pdf)
ISBN 978 0 7090 9056 4 (print)
Robert Hale Limited
Clerkenwell House
Clerkenwell Green
London EC1R 0HT
www.halebooks.com
The right of Roberta Grieve to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Threads of Silk Page 28