Much to everyone’s relief, Tilly was discharged from hospital three weeks later, although it would be some time before she was well enough to return to work in the café. Ernie spent most evenings sitting with her at her parents’ home and by then everyone had an inkling that Ernie was fast developing romantic feelings for her.
‘I think it would be lovely if they got together,’ Flora told Hattie one morning as they were serving in the café.
Hattie nodded in agreement and confided, ‘I think her mom an’ dad wrapped her in cotton wool and were a bit overprotective of her because she’s a bit slow. They never let her out alone and watched over her all the time, but look how she blossomed in the short time she worked here. I think she’s capable of a lot more than they gave her credit for, not that I’m blamin’ ’em mind. I’d be delighted if she and Ernie do get together and I think she’d make him a lovely little wife.’
‘Only time will tell,’ Flora replied wisely.
Now that the fear of losing Tilly was past, Flora was more concerned about Colleen. She’d grown increasingly quiet since Christmas so it came as no surprise when, once they were home that evening, Colleen told her, ‘I, er … I’ve been t’inking that it’s time I went home … Could you manage here wit’out me?’
‘Of course I could, although I’ll miss you.’ Just the thought of Colleen leaving made tears spring to Flora’s eyes, although she had been half-expecting the announcement. She had sensed how restless Colleen was and could completely understand her wanting to go home to her family again. After all, didn’t she feel the same way deep down? Not a day went by when she didn’t wonder what they would all be doing back in London or think of Jamie. Would he still be working in the city or would he have returned to his home in the Midlands?
‘You must do what feels right for you,’ she told her, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand.
Colleen nodded. ‘I t’ink I have enough saved for my fare back to Ireland so I’ll go to the shipping office an’ make some enquiries this weekend, if you’re sure?’
‘Of course I’m sure.’ Flora hastily turned away and busied herself with filling the kettle then so that Colleen wouldn’t see her tears.
For the rest of the week they were both subdued but never once did Flora try to persuade her friend to change her mind. She sensed that New York no longer held any attraction for Colleen and she shared her thoughts with Jamie.
My dear Jamie,
Colleen has told me that she intends to return to her family in Ireland, so once more I will be losing someone I care about. Aside from knowing how much I will miss her, it has made me even more restless and envious. How I wish that it was me coming home to all the people I love. I thought that the longer I was away the easier it would become, and yet I find it is quite the opposite as I think back to the happy times you and I shared. If only I could turn back the clock, things would be so different and I would never even have contemplated leaving you, but it is too late for regrets now and the longer I am here the harder it is. I have been fortunate to have Colleen and Jai Li but Colleen will soon be gone now and Jai Li is making a life with her new husband so when Colleen leaves I will feel even more lonely.
Oh my love, I miss you so much and wonder, do you ever give me a thought or am I a part of your past now?
I will end now but know that when I close my eyes tonight yours will be the last face I see, and you will be the first person I think of when I open them again in the morning.
With all my love
Flora xxx
She folded the letter in half and prayed to God that she might find the strength to post it one day.
After mass on Sunday morning, Colleen set off for the shipping office with her savings tucked deep in her pocket to book the first part of her passage home. The next boat would not be sailing until early in May, which at least would give Flora time to find someone to take her place, she decided. As she handed over her money, she felt sad at the realisation that she would be leaving Flora, Hattie and Jia Li behind, but her stomach fluttered with excitement at the thought of seeing her beloved family again.
Three nights later as she and Flora were finishing at the café Colleen noticed a figure hovering in the shadows on the other side of the street but thought little of it. Many sailors passed that way on their route to the pub so she carried on with her work.
Jia Li and Bai had already retired to the rooms above the café, which they had now transformed into a very comfortable home, and seemed so happy that both Flora and Colleen never tired of seeing them together.
‘That’s about it then.’ Colleen wiped her hands down the front of her apron as she glanced around at the newly cleaned tables. The floors had been swept, the salt and pepper pots filled and they were all ready for the breakfast trade the next morning. Flora went to turn off the lamps in the kitchen and once they had let themselves out to go next door Colleen glanced across the road but the shadowy figure was gone and she thought no more about it.
The next day was busy as usual. ‘I think we ought to start lookin’ around for someone to take Tilly’s place, love. Even if she comes back there’ll still be plenty for her to do even with an extra pair of hands, especially when Colleen is gone,’ Hattie suggested.
Flora supposed she was right so once more she wrote out a notice for a waitress and placed it in the window.
They were all tired when they finished that evening and as Colleen was just wiping the windows down in the café she again noticed the shadowy figure standing across the street. She frowned. That was two nights in a row the person had stood there now and Colleen was beginning to feel slightly uneasy. Could it be that someone was watching them? Or worse still, was it Yung Huan? The police only had his mother’s word that it was his body they’d found, after all.
She was just about to call out to Flora when the figure emerged from the shadows and strode towards the café, and before she could move they were knocking loudly on the door.
Pulling herself up to her full height Colleen crossed the room and flung the door open ready to give whoever was standing there a piece of her mind, but when she saw who it was her mouth gaped and for a moment she was sure she must be seeing things.
‘Will!’ His name escaped her lips before she could stop it just as Flora came hurrying from the kitchen and at sight of the handsome young man she too looked shocked.
‘Ben!’
‘Flora?’
It would have been hard to say who was the most confused as they all stared at each other, but eventually it was Colleen who broke the silence when she muttered, ‘How do you know Flora, Will? And why are you calling him Ben, Flora? This is Will, the young man I was walking out with until …’
‘Oh no it isn’t,’ Flora retorted heatedly. ‘This is Ben, my brother!’
‘B-but I don’t understand!’
‘I think I owe you both an explanation,’ Ben said shame-faced and clearly in shock. ‘I had no idea you worked here, Flora, I swear it.’
‘I don’t exactly work here, this is my café,’ Flora told him indignantly. ‘And yes, I do think you owe us both an explanation.’
And so they sat down at a table and Ben very hesitantly began to tell them both of his flight from England following the break-in and why he had lied to Colleen about his name when he had first met her.
‘I thought the police might be looking for me for murder, you see,’ he told Colleen. ‘So I didn’t dare tell you my real name. And, Flora, shortly after I got here I went to Constance’s aunt’s address and she told me that it was actually Connie who had died on the Titanic and that you were still here somewhere. I’ve been looking for you ever since not realising that you were here all the time right under my nose. And you …’ His eyes became soft as he turned his attention to Colleen. ‘The longer I knew you the harder it was to go on with the lie but I was scared that if I told you the truth about me being on the run you’d want nothing more to do with me. And then when you told me that you were thinking of going home to Ireland … Well, I knew that was the end. I couldn’t marry you when I was using a false name, could I? So I had to let you walk away. But as God’s my witness I’ve not known a moment’s peace since so I decided the only thing I could do was come and tell you the truth. I was terrified that if I didn’t you’d go back to Ireland and I’d never see you again because …’ He blushed furiously. ‘Because I love you, you see!’
‘Oh, you stupid, stupid man,’ Colleen scolded as she wrapped her arms around him. ‘I would still have loved you too, no matter what you had done, so I would!’
‘As it happens you’re not a wanted man,’ Flora was able to tell him when the two finally drew apart. ‘Ma wrote to tell me that the woman who fell down the stairs survived but she didn’t know where you were so she had no way of letting you know and the police caught whoever was responsible so there’s no reason that you can’t go home now if that’s what you want.’
A look of relief flashed across his face but then he slowly shook his head. ‘In future my home will be wherever Colleen is, if you’re still interested in me, that is.’ He gave her a smile that melted her heart before looking back at his sister. ‘And I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to apologise enough to you, Flora. You must be so ashamed of me.’
Flora shook her head. ‘You know one of the old sayings our ma was always fond of, People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. How can what you did be any worse than what I did when I pretended to be Connie? Her Aunt Alexandra was so kind to me when I first came. I’m so ashamed of what I did and I live in constant fear of being found. I’ve no doubt she must hate me now.’
‘But she doesn’t,’ Ben told her. ‘When I went to see her, she was more concerned about your whereabouts than angry with you.’
‘Really?’ A little weight seemed to lift from Flora’s shoulders. If the police hadn’t been informed of what she’d done perhaps one day she could go home too? And maybe, just maybe, Jamie would give her a second chance.
Ben reached for her hand across the table. ‘Oh, Flora, we’ve both made mistakes, and God knows, I’ve been a fool, but I could never hate you. When I found out you were alive, I wanted to dance down the streets.’
Flora looked into his sincere brown eyes and her own filled with tears. Standing up she went around and, as Ben stood too, brother and sister embraced for the first time in nearly a year. But considering all that had happened during that time, it seemed more like a lifetime. Then Flora pulled gently away and left him and Colleen to be alone. Jia Li had just come downstairs after hearing the voices in the café and now she asked anxiously, ‘Is everything all right? I hear voices …’
‘Everything is very all right,’ Flora told her with a broad smile. ‘In fact, they’re even better than all right. Colleen is in there with her Will who it turns out is actually my brother Ben!’
‘I am not understanding this,’ Jia Li answered, bemused. ‘You must be explaining it more to me.’ And so slowly Flora did just that and by the time she had finished Jia Li was smiling.
‘This very good, yes?’
Flora nodded. ‘Very good. Now bring that plate of cakes through would you, while I make the tea.’
Jia Li obligingly did as she was asked and when Bai joined them shortly after, wondering where his wife had got to, the meeting took on a party atmosphere. Eventually, Jia Li and Bai returned to their room and Flora went next door so that Colleen and Ben could have a little more time together.
Sitting at one of the tables in the café, their hands clasped on the table, Ben and Colleen couldn’t stop talking as Ben finally felt able to be truly open with her. After a while, Colleen said, ‘There is just one thing you should know, Ben.’ The name felt strange on her lips. He had always been Will to her. ‘You see, I t’ought I would never see you again so … so I’ve booked a passage back to Ireland. I did explain to you, didn’t I, that me mammy was in need of some help now that me daddy’s gone? I sail early in May.’ Her eyes filled with tears at the unfairness of it all. She had thought she would never see him again and now, just when he had come back into her life, she would have to leave him.
‘But that’s just a few weeks away.’
‘I know,’ she muttered miserably as he stroked her hands. ‘But there’s not’ing I can do about it now. I’ve already writ to tell me mammy I’m comin’ an’ I can’t go lettin’ her down now, can I?’
Ben stared off into space for a while then a smile slowly formed at the corners of his lips. ‘Of course you can’t let her down,’ he agreed. ‘But there’s nothing to stop me coming with you, is there? … As your husband of course.’ He grinned at her shocked expression and dropped to one knee. ‘Look, I’m not making a very good job of this, am I? What I’m trying to say is, Colleen, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me, please?’
‘Is t’is some sort of a joke?’ Colleen frowned.
Ben shook his head. ‘It most certainly is not! So … I ask again – will you please say you’ll marry me? This hard floor is making me knee ache something chronic!’
Colleen grinned from ear to ear as she playfully cuffed his ear. ‘O’ course I’ll marry you. Why, I t’ought you’d never ask,’ she giggled, and as she bent her head to his and their lips met she felt as if she were the luckiest girl in the world.