You Promised

Chapter Nine

When I get home, I hear John cursing in the garage again. I look down onto the doormat. On the floor is a letter. From France. I scoop down to pick it up then I run upstairs and slam my door. I drop onto my bed and rip the envelope open.  It reads:

My dearest Ami,
       I hope you're well, I'm as good as I can be. This will be a short letter unfortunately since it's so busy here. Thank you so much for your letters. I love imagining you sitting, scribbling away at your kitchen table, probably biting the end of your pen or maybe twirling your hair around your fingers. God almighty I miss you.
  I have already got a regret way out here from Somewhere in France. That's what they told us to say, since we cannot give any information about where we are in our letters home. My regret is that I missed your last kiss.
       I miss you terribly. They say that I'm due some time home soon. I cannot wait to see you.
       Give my love to your family and to my own.
      Always your Adam
       xxx

   My heartbeat slows. I can relax, he's safe. He says he's coming home soon. I must go tell his family. I go downstairs grabbing my coat as I go. I walk down the street. I smile at the other people on the street as I go by them. My world has shape again, my Adam is ok. I turn into their garden. To my surprise, I see Anna in the garden having tea with Mrs. Green. She looks up and sees me, then raises her glass to me. I smile and come through the gate. I walk over to them, although I'm soon stopped in my tracks by little Lily as she grabs hold of my ankles and I end up dragging her over to her mother.
    'Hello Mrs. Green. Hello Anna.' I smile at them both and I can barely contain my happiness.
   Anna sees my delighted face and kindly asks what has me so happy. I tell them both and Mrs. Green is so overjoyed that she instantly goes inside to make us some fresh lemonade. I sit down with Anna.
  'Well, that's great about Adam. You must be delighted to hear from him.' Anna says looking at me.
   I grin back at her. 'I'm as happy as I've been in a long time.' I tell her, still smiling. Then, remembering about her young man who asked her to the dance I ask. 'How did the young gentleman take his rejection?'
    She sighs and pulls at the grass.  'He wasn't happy. He asked if he could come too!'
     I laugh. 'Thats the price you have to pay for being so pretty Anna!'
     She looks at me and laughs. 'Look, Ami...there's this boy....' She lets the sentence trail off. I instantly laugh at today's role of playing Cupid. She blushes and looks away. I ask her who he is and she throws her arms in the air.
    'Thats the thing. I don't know him!' At this I arch an eyebrow. She sees my expression and continues. 'I saw him on my way here. He was working at a stall in the market. He had big blue eyes and dark, chocolate brown hair.' She says dreamily. 'Do you know who he looked like know that I think of it..' She says suddenly. 'Hazel!'
   At that I roar laughing again. 'Then it must be Thomas, her brother!' I exclaim through fits of laughter. Anna's face goes pale.
   'No. It can't be.' She says quickly. 'What would Hazel say?' She says looking horrified.
    'Oh, trust me, Hazel won't mind you liking her brother and if she does..tell her to talk to me.' I say knowingly. 'Was Hazel with him?'
    'No. I didn't see her.' Anna says puzzled.
    'I only ask because I know that she is trying to save up for her own place. Her own bakery.
    'Oh yes, she may have been. Selling those amazing cakes to save up.' Anna says remembering. 'She could buy Mrs. Hartly's one maybe...'
    I interrupt her then. 'But what about Jayne? That's her family livelihood.'
    'Thats true. But Jaynes fine. She's going to inherit all that money from her rich aunt. Maybe Hazel can still get that place. I know Mrs. Hartly won't begrudge it to her. She's a sweet old dear.'
    Mrs. Green comes bustling out of the house then. She plonks herself down on the picnic mat. Lily soon comes out to join us. The sun shines down on us as we chat and spread all the local gossip. Lily somehow produces ice-cream for us to enjoy. The day is perfect. But, as always, all good things come to an end. Anna and I say our goodbyes, then link arms and stroll down the road.
   'See you on Friday. Thanks again for getting me out of that dance.' Anna says when we reach the end of the lane. I smile at her and tell her that it's no trouble at all. She then saunters off humming to herself. I walk home, enjoying the peace. Loving how my Adam is alive and thinking of me. The thought makes me skip with delight. The birds sing sweeter. The grass is greener. I greet the townsfolk as I pass them. My aura of happiness spreading as I go. The sun shines on the dusty road. I walk along and get to my house, I open the door. Then I remember what Hazel said about my brother and, smiling, I head into the garage.
   There is John. Covered in oil looking at our car in exasperation. He sees me and wags his finger at me.
   'Unless you are going to tell me how to fix this heap of junk, I do not want to hear whatever smart remark you have planned, young lady.' He tells me reproachingly. 
   'Very well, dear brother.' I give him a beaming smile, then head for the door.
    'What has you so happy?' He asks curiously before I get to the door.
    'Its just that I know something about your beloved Hazel.'
    He rolls his eyes to the heavens. 'Don't start that now.' He glares at me and gestures at the door.
    I walk out of the room and head up to my room to re-read my letter from Adam. I sit in my armchair and look out at the stream. Not surprisingly, I soon hear a knock on my door.
   'Its open.' I call to whoever is there. John peeps his head through. I smile at him and invite him in.
   'Em....well....what....do...you....' He eventually gives up on trying to be subtle. 'What do you know about Hazel?'
    I stand up and walk to the bed and sit in the middle of it. 'Why do you care?'
    'You bloody well know why!' He growls at me.
    I do know. But a part of me doesn't want me to let him away with it that easily, however, I know how trying affairs of the heart can be, so I choose to let him off the hook. 'She says that she is interested in you. She was asking me if you had mentioned any other girl to me.' I wink at him, his eyes light up. He starts fiddling with his sleeve.
   'Did she really say that?'
    'Yes.' I grin at him and he can't resist grinning back. 'Anna saw her and Thomas today in the market.' I inform him casually.
    'Really?'
    'She thought Thomas as very good-looking.' I say remembering.
    'Oh. Hazel will not like Anna going after her brother.' He warns me.
    'She will when I remind her that she's going after my brother!' I laugh at him.
    He nods thoughtfully. I know that they will be good for each other. If we all survive whatever's coming next.