Under Two Shires Oak – Episode 21
Under Two Shires Oak
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- 1. Under Two Shires Oak – Episode 21
IN the kitchen of Evie and Alan’s little house in Derbyshire, Evie opened the note from Francesca and smiled. It was nice to know that her friend had been thinking about her. She thought often about Francesca and Grace, too, though she knew she was the weak link in their correspondence chain, sending far shorter letters.
“They understand, though,” she said to her two-year-old daughter, Julia. “They’ve more time than me, what with helping your pa in the business.”
“You complaining, girl?” Alan said, winking at her as he shut the door.
“Not one bit,” she replied sincerely.
Her happiness was not a thing she joked about. She loved, valued and treasured every single thing about their life together. Whenever she heard the door close, knowing Alan was home in the evenings, she felt her heart sing. Just spending time with him and Julia as a family gave her a feeling of contentment that she had never known before.
It was a sunny morning and Alan was preparing for an interview with the bank. The haulage business Alan had started was prospering, though he’d come from a background no more privileged than her own. He was a special man, big and lumbering but gentle as a butterfly, and there was no doubt that her pa would have admired how hard he worked for his family.
“You got those figures I did for you?”
He held up a folder.
“Good luck, then.”
She kissed his cheek and straightened his collar.
“I couldn’t have done this without you,” he confessed.
She waved her hand.
“Nonsense.”
She accompanied him out into the yard with Julia and they waved him off. While her daughter played on the grass, Evie set about helping old George check tyre pressures. George lived nearby and did general maintenance for them, as well as sometimes driving the taxi they had added as another string to their bow.
They were taking a break, having a cuppa under a grey cloud that threatened rain, when Alan returned.
“We’ve got it, girl!” he told her jubilantly. “The bank say they’ll give us a loan for another lorry!”
He swung her up in his arms.
“Alan, that’s wonderful!”
He kissed her, right there in front of George, and Evie blushed.
The old man threw down his greasy cloth and hid a smile.
“I’d say that’s enough work for one day. You two should celebrate.” He tipped his cap then made his way out of the yard.
“Won’t you stay for tea?” Evie called out after him.
“No, thank you.”
He was such a considerate old man, Evie thought to herself.
“He’s right,” Alan told her. “Let’s get our Jewel and have a beautiful dinner!”
Evie laughed along with his enthusiasm. He always called Julia “our Jewel”. Then Evie, first pushing back from her face a strand of the hair her father had once described as “black as t’coal in t’ mine”, and which Julia had inherited, grabbed his hand, picked up Julia and all three made their way into the house.
She made them a stew with plenty of meat and vegetables, then Alan put Julia to bed before coming back to help Evie tidy up the kitchen.
He switched on the wireless and took the tea towel she was holding from her.
“Care to dance?” He extended his hand just as “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin came on.
As she slipped her fingers into his and they moved around the country kitchen, gazing into each other’s eyes, she tried to remember what life was like before he had come into it. She couldn’t.