Wishing Water (56 page)
Authors: Freda Lightfoot
Not that this troubled her. Lissa felt she had been given a new life, a new beginning. And if there was sadness in her still, no one would have guessed. Or so she imagined.
She was visiting Broombank, at Renee’s suggestion, celebrating the passing of winter. ‘Jan’s pregnant again, did you know?’ Meg told her.
‘Oh, that’s lovely. When is the baby due? I must go and see her.’
‘She’s down by Allenbeck, having a picnic with Nick and the children. I said I’d send you down as soon as you arrived. You can leave the twins with me. We’ll play Shipwrecks and Pirates in the barn.’
Loud whoops of excitement from Beth and Sarah, and so, laughing, Lissa left them to play, not unwilling to enjoy a half hour of peace. There seemed little enough of that these days. The walk would do her good, and she looked forward to congratulating Jan on her news
Spring was well advanced and the broom a blaze of gold as she followed the sheep trods over the fells. Lissa saw a two hares boxing and crept by on tiptoe so as not to disturb them. Overhead a lark soared, singing its joyous song, and as she reached the little pack horse bridge her mind turned back to her girlhood days. She couldn’t help but smile. Nick would tease her again, as he always did, about falling in. No doubt Robbie and little Alice were giving him heart failure in this respect now. Lissa sincerely hoped that the twins would never fall into anything. If they had gone in the water and slid beneath the ice, that would have been the end. But her wishing water had kept them safe, hadn’t it? Only Philip had been lost.
‘Nick? Jan?’
She mustn’t let herself think of that day. Lissa had suffered nightmares for weeks afterwards remembering the accident, what Philip had told her, and how her own life had seemed to be in danger. Perhaps, in time, she might find it in her heart to forgive him, and forget.
She saw his legs first. Sensible boots with green woollen socks tucked over cord trousers. She’d know those legs anywhere for all they were no longer in crepe soles and tight blue jeans. He was sitting with his back against the drystone wall of the bridge and Lissa leaned over to look down upon him, at his fair hair falling across his brow, at shoulders broad and strong in a chunky sweater.
‘This is a long way from the States,’ she said, a lightness to her tone which belied the heavy thump of her heart.
‘I missed my lift again,’ he said, without even glancing up. ‘You can’t rely on anyone these days.’
Lissa came down from the bridge, hardly able to drag her eyes from his beloved face. ‘Where are Jan and Nick? I was told I’d find them here.’
‘That’s Renee and Meg for you. Conspirators now.’ Derry grinned and Lissa’s lips curled into an answering smile.
A rush of shyness made her feel suddenly awkward though her whole body was tingling as if it had been set alight like a fire cracker. Lissa ached to touch him, to make sure that he was real. But her mind rushed ahead. What if he hadn’t forgiven her for shouting at him and blaming him for everything on that last day together. Should she apologise? How?
Then he got up and came towards her, still the same swaggering, arrogant walk, oh, and how she loved it. ‘You and I have some unfinished business.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ she blurted out, interrupting him. ‘I shouldn’t have blamed you because of what Philip did. I was upset, that’s all. I didn’t really mean it. Can you ever forgive me?’ She did not doubt that he would but when she moved towards him he held up a hand to stay her, looking very stern.
‘You must learn, Lissa, not to make hasty assumptions about people. Things in life don’t always happen exactly as one would wish.’
She smiled, knowing how he loved to tease her. ‘I realise that now. If I’d had the patience to wait for you when you first left town, none of this would have happened.’
‘Sometimes you can’t have what you want right away. You have to wait a little longer.’
She reached for him then, her whole body refusing to be denied for another second. ‘I do understand, really I do. I’m free now, Derry. Did Meg tell you?’ Why didn’t he come to her? Why didn’t he take her in his arms and kiss her, as she so longed for him to do? What was holding him back?
But instead of taking her in his arms Derry did a little side-step. There was a rustling from the bushes beside the bridge and another figure emerged. A woman’s. She was tall and beautiful with brown hair that swung in a page boy bob about her face, as smooth as a thrush’s wing.
‘Hello, Lissa.’ She moved towards her with a graceful, swaying movement and even before Lissa looked into her eyes the prickling in her spine told her who this woman was.
‘Kath?’
A rueful smile. ‘I’ve missed your birthday again, haven’t I? Sorry. Rather too many in fact. I dare say I’ve a lot of explaining to do, huh?’
Lissa remained silent. For the life of her she could think of nothing to say.
‘Better late than never though?’ Kath smiled and her hazel eyes held an appeal. Listen to me, they said. Give me a chance. Then laughing softly, as if embarrassed by Lissa’s steady gaze, she glanced at Derry. ‘I’m not surprised you’re so anxious to kiss this young fella. And I think he’s ready enough to oblige. What if I were to walk on ahead, then you two could set that little matter to rights? I owe him a favour. Maybe then we can talk, and you’ll let me give my excuses in person so we can catch up?’
Lissa stared at Kath, bemused, struggling to put her thoughts into order. ‘All right,’ she managed.
‘Good.’
Lissa watched as Kath turned and started to walk up the hill to Broombank. Then she ran after her and put a hand on her arm. ‘Meg is up there.’
‘I know.’
‘Meg is my mother. I want you to understand that. And Tam is my father. They are my family now.’
‘I do understand, honey. But you and I could at least be friends. Now I’ve plucked up the courage to come. How about it?’ She looked oddly uncertain, as if she half expected Lissa to tell her she wasn’t wanted, that it was far too late.
Lissa’s smile lit her face. ‘I’d like that,’ she said. ‘Very much.
When Kath had gone, Lissa turned to Derry and held out both hands to him. ‘This is your doing, isn’t it?’
‘By way of a peace offering.’ He gave his lop-sided grin. ‘And to make up for past mistakes.’
‘Thanks,’ she said, violet eyes shimmering with tears and happiness. ‘Now I seem to have two mothers, and more love than a woman deserves.’
Derry took her in his arms at last, his mouth seeking hers. ‘So long as you’re content with only one husband, I can live with that.’
Also by Freda Lightfoot as ebooks
Luckpenny Land
First in the Luckpenny Series
9780956607300
Life is hard for Meg Turner. She lives on a lonely farm in the bleak but beautiful mountains of the English Lake District with a bully of a father who wants to keep her stuck at home. But Meg wants more than the kitchen sink, and turns for love to her best friend Kath, and to Lanky Lawson, who’s more of a father figure than her own father will ever be. But World War Two approaches and Meg soon discovers that the only thing she can really count on is her passion for the land she loves. Until one day a stranger arrives in the dale and her world changes for ever.
Storm Clouds Over Broombank
Second in the Luckpenny Series
9780956607317
Meg Turner is at last doing the job she loves. But life as a sheep farmer -unusual for a woman even in war time - proves tougher at times than she expected. With her loyalties divided she fears losing the one man she truly loves should he decide to go roving again. And dare she allow herself to love baby Lissa when her mother may return to claim her at any time? Kath is facing new challenges in the WAAF, but can she ever get over the guilt of leaving her child behind?
Larkrigg Fell
Last in the Luckpenny Series
9780956607331
The Brandon twins are unalike in every way except in their love of their home, Larkrigg Hall. Beth is the romantic one with dreams of an idyllic life in rural Lakeland. Sarah is willing to take risks to achieve the life style she craves. But jealousy and greed mar their uncertain relationship so that when tragedy strikes both sisters are forced to come to terms with a very different situation. Sarah goes off to Italy, Beth loses the man she loves and launches into an unplanned marriage. Facing emotional turmoil and financial ruin, Beth must learn to fight for, or lose, the things that matter most to her.
Historical sagas
Lakeland Lily
The Bobbin Girls
The Favourite Child
Kitty Little
For All Our Tomorrows
Gracie’s Sin
Daisy’s Secret
Ruby McBride
Dancing on Deansgate
The Luckpenny Series
:
Luckpenny Land
Storm Clouds Over Broombank
Wishing Water
Larkrigg Fell
Poorhouse Lane Series
The Girl from Poorhouse Lane
The Child from Nowhere
The Woman from Heartbreak House
Champion Street Market Series
Putting On The Style
Fools Fall In Love
That'll Be The Day
Candy Kisses
Who’s Sorry Now
Lonely Teardrops
Historical Romances
Madeiran Legacy
Whispering Shadows
Rhapsody Creek
Proud Alliance
Outrageous Fortune
Contemporary
Trapped
Short Stories
A Sackful of Stories
Available in print and ebook
Historical sagas
House of Angels
Angels at War
The Promise
My Lady Deceiver
Biographical Historicals
Hostage Queen
Reluctant Queen
The Queen and the Courtesan
The Duchess of Drury Lane
Born in Lancashire, Freda Lightfoot has been a teacher and bookseller. She lived for a number of years in the Lake District and in a mad moment tried her hand at the ‘good life’, kept sheep and hens, various orphaned cats and dogs, built drystone walls, planted a small wood and even learned how to make jam. She has now given up her thermals to build a house in an olive grove in Spain, where she produces her own olive oil and sits in the sun on the rare occasions when she isn’t writing. She’s published 40 novels including many bestselling family sagas and historical novels. To find out more about, visit her website and sign up for her new title alert, or join her on Facebook and Twitter where she loves to chat with readers.
http://www.fredalightfoot.co.uk/
http://www.fredalightfoot.blogspot.com/
If you find any faults with this ebook please do contact the author so that it can be put right for future readers.
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