Page 248 of The Sun Sister
‘It was the path she chose and was passionate about, Bill. She always was very bright.’
‘Yes, she was. And what opportunities you have obviously given her.’
‘You know how I loved her.’
‘I do, yes.’
They both lapsed into silence again.
‘I’ve often pondered...’ said Bill eventually.
‘What?’
‘Whether you left me, or came for her? If you see what I mean.’
‘I never intended toleaveyou, Bill, but yes, what New York could offer to Stella was sure a big incentive to stay. Especially as you really didn’t seem to care one bit whether I came back or not.’
‘Goodness, Cecily,’ said Bill hastily. ‘I did not for one second mean for that to sound as if I was criticising you. Please, don’t blame yourself. I freely admit I was hardly an attentive husband. After the war ended, I was far too lost in my own selfish woes to be any good to anybody.’
‘That wasn’t your fault, although I admit that I’d spent five years hoping against hope that once war was over, we could finally settle down and be a happy family.’
‘If things...ifIhad been different, would you have stayed? Even if it had meant that Stella didn’t receive the kind of education you wanted for her?’
‘Oh Bill,’ Cecily sighed, ‘I can’t answer that.’
‘No, of course you can’t. I’ve often looked back on the two of us, and thought that every time we had a shot at happiness, something happened to destroy it. I suppose that’s just bad luck and timing, isn’t it?’
‘I guess it is, yes.’
‘Cecily, one of the reasons I decided to come and see you is because I thought it was time to bury any hatchets that might be hanging about. I want you to know that I bear you no ill will whatsoever and I never have. And as for deserting me, good God! I spent most of our marriage driving away from Paradise Farm leaving a trail of dust behind me.’
‘It was who you were, Bill, and I knew that before I married you.’
‘Can you believe that we’re still married?’ Bill chuckled. ‘Which I rather presume means that you have never had the urge to try again with anyone else, unless of course you’re a bigamist?’
‘No, and no,’ she smiled.
‘Although surely, there must have been gentlemen companions over the years?’
‘Goodness, no, I’ve been far too busy with Stella and my teaching and bookkeeping to even think about anything like that.’
‘Now that surprises me.’ He looked at her quizzically. ‘I was half expecting to be greeted by a great beast of an American male who pronounced himself your boyfriend. Surely now that Stella is all grown up, you must have found time to enjoy yourself?’
‘Hardly.’ Cecily rolled her eyes. ‘Stella has a child of her own. She lives here with us. Her name is Rosa.’
‘Well, well,’ Bill mused, ‘that makes me feel even older. I suppose I could say that Rosa is the nearest thing to a grandchild either of us will ever have.’
‘Yes, that’s how I see her anyway. She calls me “Granny”, as a matter of fact.’
‘How old is she?’
‘Five. And she’s cute and bright like her momma, but a real handful. I was only thinking this morning that I’m getting too old to care for her.’
‘Dare I enquire where the daddy is?’
‘Neither Stella nor I have any idea. She elected not to tell him – she met him through the protests a few years back. He lived down South and once everything quieted down, they had no cause to meet.’
‘Right. So, you’re back at home holding the baby, so to speak?’
