The day after Ted met Bertram, as promised, Annie sought him out as she alighted from her morning train.
‘Ted, I don’t have to be in work until a quarter past nine today. We can have that chat we were going to have last night.’
‘All right,’ Ted said. The 08.42 was blowing its whistle, its driver desperate to be on his way. Since the announcement of the railway’s closure, Bill seemed to want to just get his job done with no fuss and no chat. Perhaps he was as worried about his future prospects as Ted was. But Bill had a wife and children, and lived in a smart semi-detached house on the edge of Michelhampton. At least he knew who he was spending the rest of his life with, and where he’d be living. He had only to find himself a new job local to Michelhampton.
A few minutes later, with the token passed over, the train on its way, the signal set to stop ready for the next one and all passengers ushered out of the station, Ted went into the ladies’ waiting room where Annie was waiting for him. It was a grey day with a chill wind, so unlike yesterday’s promise of spring. The weather matched his mood, Ted thought, as he sat opposite Annie and waited to hear what she had to say.
‘So, now you’ve met Bertram.’ She looked nervous, as though uncertain of what he would think.
‘Your s-sweetheart.’ The words came out as a statement, though Ted had intended them as a question.
‘Well, I suppose in a way … we have been stepping out a few times. He collects me from work sometimes, and we go to the pictures in Michelhampton, or for a glass of gin and tonic in a hotel.’
‘You like him.’
She twisted her mouth a little before answering. ‘He’s nice enough, I suppose. But—’
Ted interrupted. ‘Why anyone needs a motorcar, I’ll never understand. What’s wrong with taking the train – let the engine do all the work while the passengers can sit back and relax, chat, or just look out of the window. If you’re driving, I suppose you have to concentrate on the road ahead. It must be very tedious.’ He couldn’t help himself, but he knew it wasn’t the motorcar that was upsetting him.
‘Well, I suppose the railways don’t go quite everywhere, do they?’ She seemed irritated by his interruption.
‘There’s bicycles for everything else. If more people used the trains, they wouldn’t be closing the railway, would they?’
‘That’s true.’ Annie fiddled with her gloves that she’d removed, then looked up at Ted.
‘Listen, Ted. There is something I must make clear to you. It isn’t me … it’s my father. He wants me to … spend time with Bertram. He’s hoping, I suppose, that Bertram might … propose.’ There were, he thought, tears in her eyes as she said this.
‘Your father,’ Ted repeated, not sure yet how to take in what she’d told him.
‘Yes … there are reasons why Father’s pushing us together. But look, nothing’s certain. You and I are friends, aren’t we? I’ve enjoyed getting to know you these last couple of months, honestly I have. Let me tell you a little secret. Just between you and me, eh, Ted? You’re the sort of person it’s best to be totally honest and open with, I can see that.’ Annie reached across to take his hand, but Ted found himself flinching away. A look of confusion crossed her face before she replaced it with that gleaming smile, the one that lit up the whole world. ‘Ted, I like you so much more than I like Bertram.’
It took a while for these words to sink in. Ted mouthed the end of her sentence. Like you so much more. ‘You do? Really?’
That smile again, bringing an answering smile to his own lips. ‘Yes. It’s true, I do. I probably shouldn’t, but there’s something about you …’ She cocked her head on one side and regarded him through half-closed eyes. ‘You’re sweet, kind, generous, honest and straightforward. You’re a lovely man, Ted.’
‘And I think you’re lovely too,’ he replied, blurting the words out and feeling the familiar blush rush up from his neck.
She reached again for his hand and this time he let her take it. ‘So that’s all right then. You’re not to mind if I go out with Bertram now and again. My father is pushing me to spend time with him, and I don’t want to argue with him. He has enough to worry about.’
Ted couldn’t answer. From feeling in the depths of despair the previous evening, thinking she was lost to him, he now thought there was still a chance. If she liked him more than Bertram, then she wouldn’t marry Bertram, would she? She was waiting for Ted to ask for her hand, that was clear. That was how ladies did these things. Norah had explained to him once, that it was generally up to the man to make all the moves, and up to the lady to make all the decisions. From what Annie had said, she’d made her decision.
But Ted couldn’t propose to her yet. He’d need to make sure he was in a position where he could keep a wife. That was important. A man should not marry unless he was financially secure, earning enough for a wife and family, their future assured. And Annie was the kind of woman used to the finer things in life. She’d want a good, solid home with a pretty little garden in which to grow roses, a telephone line installed, a motorcar whether he liked it or not, so that he could take her out for picnics when he wasn’t working. Working at what? That was the other question. No, he could not propose to her now, with such an uncertain future looming ahead. But he would propose, as soon as he was in a position to. And from what she’d just said, he was certain she’d accept. His heart sang.
‘Ted? You’ve gone very quiet! Have I embarrassed you? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.’
‘No, not at all, I’m not embarrassed. I’m very happy.’ Totally open and honest, she’d said. He’d always thought that was best too. No dissembling. Say what you mean and what you feel. If everyone did that, life would be so much simpler.
‘Well, that’s good, then!’ Annie checked her wristwatch, a delicate gold piece on which the hands were so small Ted did not know how she could read it. ‘Oh, goodness. I must be on my way. I shall see you this evening. Goodbye for now, Ted.’ She stood, leaned over him and planted a kiss on his cheek.
*
It was about a week later that Ted spotted Annie’s ring. A week in which he had floated around the station, doing his chores with a grin permanently plastered to his face, enjoying every moment of his brief chats twice a day with Annie, and dreaming of a future with her at his side every night. He’d written to Norah to tell her his news, and she’d replied that she was delighted for him but that he was right – he must make sure he was secure in a new job and a new home before proposing.
Now, Ted couldn’t wait for September, for the railway to hurry up and close, freeing him up to start his new life so he could claim Annie’s hand. What had seemed just a few days ago to be the end of the world now felt like an opportunity, and one he couldn’t wait to meet head-on. As long as he could find a new job. But surely one would turn up – he felt so positive about life now, he was certain that the perfect job would materialise.
On Monday morning, Annie arrived on the 08.42 as usual. Ted had spent a long lonely weekend without her twice-daily visits to the station and was happy to get back to the usual weekday routine. But Annie seemed distracted as she alighted from the train, and hurried past him, saying only a quick, ‘Hello, sorry, in a rush this morning,’ as she passed through the station.
Never mind. He’d seen her beautiful face, and she’d be back just after five o’clock. He could last till then.
He’d made some cakes the previous evening. Sticky buns covered with icing. In one of their chats, she’d confessed to a sweet tooth, and he’d stored the detail away to surprise her one day. Today was the day. He’d offer her one when she arrived for her evening train.
He’d laid the cakes out on a tray in the ladies’ waiting room, covered by a linen cloth. He expected no other female passengers, and as long as she arrived with a few minutes to spare there’d be time for her to take one.
She arrived at ten past five. ‘Annie, hello! Please, come into the waiting room. I have a little surprise for you.’ He held the door to the room open for her.
Annie looked a little flustered. ‘A surprise? But why?’
‘Just a little something to help you on your journey home today,’ Ted replied, smiling.
‘Oh, all right then!’ She went into the waiting room.
He followed her in then whisked the cloth off the tray with a flourish. ‘Please, help yourself! I made them myself.’
‘Oh, Ted.’ She smiled, and the room took on a golden glow despite the day outside being grey and damp. ‘How lovely of you.’ She peeled off her gloves to take one, and that was when he saw it.
A ring. A diamond flanked by a couple of sapphires, on the third finger of her left hand. A ring he’d not seen her wear before. A ring on the finger usually reserved for wedding and engagement rings. He drew in his breath sharply, and Annie looked up.
‘What’s the matter? Oh. This.’ She’d seen what he was staring at and lifted her hand to gaze at the ring herself, as though she hadn’t noticed it before. A blush rose to her cheeks. ‘I’m going to need to explain this to you, aren’t I?’ She took a bite of her bun.
‘Are you … are you engaged? To B-Bertram?’ He could not believe it. There must be some other explanation. Perhaps it was her mother’s ring, or grandmother’s, and she was wearing it in memory. Norah wore their mother’s rings sometimes. On her right hand.
‘He … asked me to marry him, yes.’ Annie sounded sorry about it. Not as sorry as Ted felt.
‘But … why? I thought you said you didn’t like him much.’ As much as you like me, he wanted to add.
She sighed wearily. ‘It’s not always just about who you like, unfortunately. Sometimes it’s about … who your father wants you to marry.’
Ted shook his head sadly, unable to believe the turn in his fortunes again. Just when he’d thought he had a future, that Clarke-Watson chap had snatched it all away. Well, he and Annie’s father and his confounded expectations!
The whistle of the 17.21 train jolted him into life. ‘The train, I must—’
‘Of course, and I must …’ She leapt to her feet, tugging on her gloves. ‘Those buns were magnificent. Thank you. And … I’m sorry. Really I am.’ She smiled, not her usual bright and cheerful smile but one tinged with sadness and regret, and ran out to the platform.
Ted followed, collecting his flag and cap. There was still a railway to run and trains to dispatch on time, even though his heart had been broken.