She couldn’t believe her good fortune and wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Giles was away in York and had been for several days so she couldn’t tell him, but she wrote to Robin, and to Peggy and Aaron, to tell them the good news, and travelled to Holderness on the following Sunday to see them. She asked Jenny to go with her but received a postcard in reply saying she couldn’t spare the time just now, making the excuse that she was busy with the school schedule. Delia thought that her friend sounded rather preoccupied
She took bonbons to thank the Robinsons, but Peggy said that she mustn’t keep bringing presents. ‘We don’t need a gift whenever you come, Delia,’ she’d said. ‘We don’t expect one from Susan when we look after their bairns; if you want to bring the children something every now and again, that’s all right, but I don’t want them to expect a present every time. Save your money for a rainy day.’
Giles returned from York a few days later and they bumped into each other in the hall as she was about to go out. He smiled. ‘Well met, Miss Delamour. Would you care to partake of luncheon?’
‘I would,’ she said. ‘I have something interesting to tell you.’
The sun came out as they crossed Trinity Square and there was a first fresh hint of spring in the air, a smell of narcissus and crocus and greenery coming from tubs and green growth in the churchyard.
‘You seem very animated,’ he observed. ‘Something momentous has happened?’
He put out his arm and she tucked hers into it. She felt very comfortable with him and was sure he would be pleased with her news.
‘Yes, I’ve been longing to tell you. I’ve got a job,’ she announced. ‘Regular everyday work, with a salary!’ She paused and turned to look at the surprise on his face, but he seemed more astonished than anything and a little perturbed. ‘In the theatre,’ she added triumphantly.
‘Our theatre?’
‘Yes, I’m to be under-manager. Isn’t it wonderful? Quite by chance I caught Mr Rogers in a dilemma and offered him a solution.’
‘That’s really good news,’ he said, opening the door to what had become their favoured café. ‘I’m very pleased for you.’
‘Are you?’ she asked as she slipped off her coat. ‘Am I doing the right thing?’
He took her coat and hung it up for her and pressed his hand to her shoulder before he took his seat.
‘A regular income is what you need,’ he said. ‘Perhaps in time, depending on the hours you work, Robin might come for a weekend? During the summer holidays, or maybe even at Easter, which is not so far away?’
She looked up from the menu that she was looking at but not reading. ‘I was wondering about that, but maybe not at Easter,’ she said. ‘When I was last in Paull Robin told me they were going to paint hard-boiled eggs and play egg rolling and other games during the Easter holidays. He’s never done that before.’
‘Then perhaps you could stay there for a day or two,’ he said gently. ‘They sound like nice people; surely they would welcome you.’
‘Yes, they would.’ She pondered for a moment. She had always wanted a good life for her boy, yet she still felt a keen sense of loss when she thought of him enjoying that life without her. It was hard to grasp, sometimes.
‘Do you think,’ he said softly, covering her hand with his, ‘that I might meet this wondrous boy of yours one day?’
Her lips parted as she gazed at him. ‘Of course you can,’ she said. ‘I would be so pleased if you did. Arthur said that he’d like to see him again too, but he seems to have disappeared, as does Jenny.’
He withdrew his hand, ‘Ah, yes, Arthur! What will you have?’ he asked briskly as he saw the proprietor heading towards them. ‘I’m having the meat pie.’
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Giles seemed preoccupied when they left the café and he asked her to excuse him. He had to make a call at his bank and would catch up with her later.
What had brought on that strange manner? she wondered. Was it something she’d said? She thought back to their conversation, and realized it had been the mention of Arthur Crawshaw’s name that had triggered the change. Then she understood. Giles and I have been good friends ever since we met, but along has come an older friend who, it has to be said, is inclined to monopolize any conversation. It’s only natural that Giles might be irritated by him. I do understand that.
It was still sunny, and she sat on a seat outside Holy Trinity church and put her face up to the sky, closing her eyes. Most single women with a child might never expect life to be easy, she contemplated; and yet I’ve been so lucky. I’ve taken care of him when he was vulnerable and loved him, and I’ve now been given another chance to improve his life; and if it means that we have to live apart I must accept that. Robin is safe and content and I must take comfort even though – she stifled a sob that had caught in her throat – it hurts.
A shadow fell across her and she opened her eyes to see who was stealing her sunlight. It was Giles.
He sat down beside her. ‘I’m sorry to have dashed away. I was rather distracted.’
She shook her head. ‘No, I’m the one to be sorry. I shouldn’t expect to monopolize every conversation with details of my life. You’re always very understanding.’
He patted her hand. ‘What you don’t seem capable of doing is relinquishing your role of chief protector of your son, when there are now others who are ready and willing to bear the responsibility. You have so much more than
