Page 109 of Summer in Greece

Father came across the lawn and sat beside me under the tree.

‘I thought you would be interested to know that your Corporal Perkins is coming for tea, tomorrow afternoon, Gertie. I have also invited Matron Merriberry, your friend the nurse, and the reporter. I hope to persuade the Corporal to speak to the press about your gallantry in the lifeboat.’

CHAPTER 45

SHELLY

Dover, present day.

BACK HOME IN DOVER, LIFE settled down to a new normal. Harry phoned most days. DJ came over most weekends. Shelly spent quality time revising with DJ on the run-up to his exams. Gordon stopped trying to set Shelly up with the postman, and a huge branch broke off the oak tree and blocked most of the road.

‘Dad, don’t forget we’re taking DJ out for dinner tomorrow after he gets his exam results. I want it to be a special day for you too. We’ll go early and stop for breakfast half way to Cambridge, is that all right?’ Gordon nodded. ‘There’s something else.’ Shelly sighed, then bit her lip and stared out to the magnificent oak. The yellow council wagon pulled up.

‘Come on, spit it out,’ Gordon said. ‘At worst I can say no.’

‘I’ll be so sad to see that tree go. It’s been there all my life.’

‘All mine too, but that branch might have killed somebody, might have killed a whole family . . . how would you feel then?’

She nodded. ‘I suppose you’re right. Listen, I’d very much like to spend Sunday with somebody special, but I know you’ve got a race the next day and want to be back. If I drive you to the station in London, and get you onto the Dover train, do you think you could get a taxi home?’

‘Let me think about it, all right? I’ll let you know later.’

*

DJ got a first in every exam, and when she heard, Shelly found her eyes fill with tears of pride. She was so excited to see him. She and Gordon had offered to take him out for dinner at a restaurant in the heart of Cambridge, and DJ had shyly asked if he could bring a friend with him.

DJ was already there when they arrived, sat beside a young woman. He appeared nervous. He took the girl’s hand and turned to Shelly. ‘Mum, this is my best friend, Lilly.’ He turned to the beautiful young woman. ‘Lilly, this is my mother, Shelly Summer.’

Shelly smiled.

‘I’ve heard so much about you, Ms Summer, it’s wonderful to meet you at last.’ Lilly blinked her baby-blue eyes that smiled from beneath pale lashes.

‘Call me Shelly, please. Well done both of you for finishing your first year of university’ She turned to DJ. ‘I couldn’t be more proud, and if your father was here, he would be shaking your hand and congratulating you too.’ Suddenly filled with affection for her boy, she felt comfortable sharing a personal memory with the girl he clearly adored. ‘DJ’s father. There was a tragic diving accident before DJ was even born.’

At that moment, Shelly realised a small miracle had taken place. For the first time in her life, she had spoken about David, the accident and her son, without so much as a tear or a tremor in her voice. All she felt was love, and pride, and hope for the future.

Gordon, who was sitting next to Shelly, grabbed her fist and squeezed tight. ‘We’re all right proud of yer, DJ, lad. Me included. An’ I’m right sure yer dad is too. How could he not be?’ His eyes met Shelly’s in an emotionally charged moment.

DJ took Lilly’s hand. For a second, they gazed at each other and then returned their attention to the meal. In an instant, Shelly knew their first boy-child was destined to be named Dave. She smiled, filled with joy as she realised they would one day make her a grandmother. Could she live up to the standard that Gran Gertie had set? She would try. DJ’s child, just the thought was overwhelming. A voice from the past echoed in her mind.

I come from a long line of Davids.

*

At ten o’clock the next morning, Shelly checked out of her hotel room. She had deliberately hung back to avoid the others. Deception did not come easily to her.

She had hardly slept, yet as dawn broke, she came to a decision that had eluded her for so long. Was she doing the right thing? She hoped so. The choice had been difficult to make, but she had to consider other people’s lives. She was doing the right thing, she was sure now. This decision, the terrific burden of holding someone else’s future in her hand had pressed heavily on her recently, especially since DJ had come into her life. However, after seeing her son with the young woman he loved, and after hearing the poignant words of Gran Gertie’s first tape, Shelly knew her decision was correct.

DJ and Lilly should not be burdened with the past, and any parent who loved their child wouldn’t want him overwhelmed by things he couldn’t change.

*

After putting her father on the coach at Dartford, she headed towards Epping Forest. By the time she entered the rich woodland area, relief replaced those last niggling doubts. She had to stop the car, and let her tears go. In her mind, she spoke to Gertie, and to David, and then to her mother. With an overwhelming sense of relief, she confirmed she was doing the right thing.

Twenty minutes later, she pulled up in the drive of a majestic Victorian building. Grabbing her handbag, she got out and from the car boot, she lifted a white M&S bag that contained a complete new outfit. Bright, happy, casual clothes, although this regular occasion always broke her into little pieces. The gravel crunched as she walked away from the car.

Simon, her long-time friend and owner of Dover Divers, was reading his newspaper in the porch. He stood, took her into his arms and kissed her cheeks.