True Love Ways (14 page)

Bert took Jimmy's hand. “Mates for life, yeah?”

“Yes!” said Betty. She put her hand over theirs. “My
two best lads, pals again. I couldn't be happier.”

“What are you to going to do now, Jimmy?” asked
Meredith.

“We're sticking around Midchster. The vicarage needs
a new gardener, and Edith Sanderson says she'll give me a trial,” said Jimmy.
“I like flowers.” Judging by his tone he hadn't quite convinced himself of
that, but he was obviously willing to try, for Betty and the baby's sake. “Old
Edith says she wants the garden shipshape for when the new vicar arrives.”

“Did she say who it was going to be?” asked Peg.            

“No. She says she doesn't know. Anyway, we'd best be
going. Got to find somewhere to live. Come on, Bert. We're going to look at the
flat over the post office. There's a spare room, for if you want to stay over.”

The three young people tripped off down the street
together, and Meredith wiped away a stray tear. “It's good to see them friends
again.”

“Oh Meredith,” Betty called back over her shoulder.
“You will be godmother, won't you?”

Meredith waved and nodded. “Absolutely!”

Once again, Meredith was struggling with her
suitcase at Stockport station, and cursing how many changes she had to make.

“Here, let me help you with that.”

“Drew!”

“Hello, darling. Where are you going?” He carried
the suitcase up the steps for her.

“Home.”

“Oh.” His smile dropped.

“Why, where are you going?”

“To Midchester. I persuaded the powers that be to
let me be the new vicar … but... well if you're going to be in Sheffield.”

“No, I told you. I'm on my way home. To Midchester.
I only went back to Sheffield to fetch the rest of my things.”

“You've accepted the job at Bedlington Hall School?”

“Yes,” said Meredith, smiling. “I thought I'd rather
teach girls who might go on to be brain surgeons than girls who will only go on
to host dinners cooked by downtrodden women like Edith, for the French
Ambassador.”

“I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you're
wonderful!”

They sat close together on the train, holding hands,
as the hills of Shropshire came into view. “It's hard to believe this is where
it all started?” she said, gesturing to the carriage. Luckily they had it to
themselves. “Poor Mr Turner. He might have been a bit of a bore, but he'd
served his country. In the police force and during the Great War. He deserved
to die in his bed, peacefully. Not in the toilet compartment of a train with a
knife through his heart.”

“When we get back, we'll get on to Hereford, see if
we can't arrange some memorial for him.”

“That's a wonderful idea, Drew. They'll be sure to
listen to you.”

“Was Aunty Sheila too upset about your move to
Midchester?” He asked.

“No, because she and Uncle Norman have decided to
retire there. They'll be moving in a couple of months.”

“Wonderful. And I'm moving Aunty Gloria to a nursing
home nearby. The whole family will be together.”

“The whole family?”

“Well you are going to marry me, aren't you?”

“Yes,” said Meredith, hardly believing her smile
could get any bigger. “As long as you promise me one thing.”

He kissed her nose. “Anything you want, darling.”

“If I decide to go on a murderous rampage, you must
tell on me.”

“I shall walk you to the gallows myself.”

“Yes … erm … thank you, darling.” She laughed.

“But the thing is, my love, you'd never go on a murderous
rampage.”

“Hmm, I wouldn't rule it out if you started kissing
your parishioners the way you kiss me.”

“I promise I'll never want to kiss another woman as
long as I live. I love you, Meredith. I've loved you since I first held your
bra in my hand.”

A woman who had just been about to walk into the
carriage, said 'Well, really!” and stormed off.

“You really are far too wicked to be a real vicar,”
said Meredith, laughing so much, tears filled her eyes. “I still think you're
an imposter.”

“Are you going to hand me in to the police?”

“No. Never.” She kissed him hard on the lips.
“Because if I'm being fooled, I'm quite happy to go on being fooled for the
rest of my life.”

Eighteen months later

The church was full of family, friends and other
well-wishers. The Reverend Andrew Cunningham stepped forward, and took the baby
boy from Meredith. “The child's name?” he asked the parents.

“Buddy Elvis Bert Simpson,” said Jimmy, who stood
behind Meredith, with his wife, Betty. The congregation laughed affectionately.

Drew christened Buddy, before handing him back to
his proud parents.

Edith Sanderson stepped forward with her
goddaughter, a baby girl, who had a shock of strawberry blonde hair. “The
child's name?” Drew asked.

Aunty Peg, Aunty Sheila and Aunty Gloria sat in the
front pew, each looking on proudly. Even Uncle Norman shed a tear.

“Holly Mary Cunningham,” said Meredith. “As if you
didn't already know.”

“Just checking in case you'd changed your mind
again,” said Drew. He smiled down at his daughter, and then at his wife, his
eyes full to the brim with true love ways.

The End