- - -

It was one of life's eternal mystery's Walter pondered no matter how much money was spent nobody ever had comfortable chairs in their waiting rooms. Shifting as he tried to bring life back into his now numb behind he reached into his pocket for his pocket watch, flipping it open he stared at the clock face; his train would be leaving in ten minutes. Getting to his feet he pulled his coat tightly round his frame before pacing to stamp some life into his weary legs, waiting rooms were not places meant to encourage a decent nights sleep. Walking over to the reception desk he looked around for the clerk.

"There is still no news Mr Corey!" A brusque voice cut through. "There really isn't any need for you to wait here we can send some one to you when there is any news."

Jumping slightly as he turned around Walter caught sight of the night duty desk sergeant.

"I'm sorry sir didn't mean to startle you…You really should go home sir perhaps the young lad will go back there, I'm sure by now he is cold and regretting being hasty. It's amazing how often they come home when they start getting hungry…"

Nodding Walter turned and made his way out of the police station, his eyes flickered in the direction of the train station which even at this time in the morning was doing a brisk business with tradesmen and travelers of all sort. Stuffing his hands into his pocket his hands closed around the draft of the telegram that he had sent only the night before, but he didn't need to pull it out to read the words as he had them memorized by heart, words cost money so he had been brief and to the point: 'We need to talk, wait at ticket office, Walter.'

Would she have waited at all? After all it was more than likely that Miles was completely wrong and she would have ignored his request and gotten on the boat anyway and so he would have wasted all that time and money on a wild goose chase. And yet there was a part of him that hoped, perhaps futility but it wouldn't be silenced she would wait, hang on to the last possible moment for him to turn up and when he didn't she would be crushed and no amount of pleading would bring her back this time. Scrunching the telegram into a ball Walter threw it angrily into the gutter, when he caught up with young Walter the boy had better be sorry or he was going to struggle to restrain himself from strangling the life out of the little bd.

- - -

If anything Bristol seemed busier than ever, having arrived late in the afternoon the day before Flora had simply found the nearest hotel and renting the cheapest room they had crashed for the rest of the evening. However she had arisen early that morning and headed to the bank, waiting on the steps for it open she had taken the opportunity to watch the crowd; children on their way to school, tradesmen pulling or driving carts through the streets and women standing in groups on corners gossiping. It all seemed so normal, ordinary life revolving around her oblivious to her troubles and inner turmoil. Was she making the right decision?

She had just made a split decision and left without telling anyone except Miles, shouldn't she at least have told Walter and young Walter to their faces? Wasn't it deliberately cruel to just disappear and let them find out after the fact, to strike out at them in her anger and frustration? No dammit they deserved everything they got, didn't they in so many words tell her to leave? Young Walter had made it clear he wanted nothing more to do with her, she wasn't his mother and having walked out he had cut all ties to her. Her husband, if he deserved such a title, had made it clear she meant nothing to him, that she was an irritant in his life that he would rather forget than deal with. After all how long had she hung around in Eastbourne waiting for him to realize he missed her, to acknowledge that he had made a mistake over her and Miles?

No this was right for her; it was her chance to escape. A woman was unable to stand on her own two feet in this world; they either had to depend on their husband or their family to support them, she was too old to go back into service even if any household would deign to take her on without a character. So she quickly cleared out her account of her modest savings, ignoring the snubbing looks of the clerks who were too pretentious for their own good and headed down to the shipping office to purchase her passage on the first available packet to Ireland.

Waiting in the queue behind assorted passengers, traders and sailors stood in groups haggling over prices, captains chatted with clerks as they entered their shipping plans and filed insurance policies, Flora quickly realized that she was the only woman in the room and that as such was drawing more than a little attention. Finally Flora made it to the front and stepping up to the desk she fixed the attendants with her most dazzling smile watching in satisfaction as the two young men competed to deal with her query.

"Madam…." The blond haired clerk stuttered out after elbowing his compatriot in the ribs.

"I'll deal with this Burnaby…You go on your break…" His companion gasped out determined not to be thwarted.

"No need no need…Now Madam…"

"But it's ten past and you always go on your break at ten past Burnaby."

"Gentlemen!" A stern Bristol brogue cut in causing both men to turn and pale as their bespeckled supervisor loomed over them his stern expression softening somewhat when he caught sight of their customer. "Ah lads see to the other customers I will deal with this enquiry." Then giving them both a pointed glare the two lads finally sloughed off to deal with the decidedly less attractive customers. "Now Madam how can we be of assistance?"

"I need to book passage over to Ireland…For today if possible." Flora replied trying desperately to keep the laughter out of her voice.

"Well there is a package leaving on the afternoon tide, Captain Foster is taking a cargo to Rosslare and he has space for a few passengers if you don't mind roughing it a bit but really a lady such as yourself should really wait until there is a proper passenger ship going, that's normally on a Thursday at it goes to Dublin." He added kindly as he gazed at her over the rim of his glasses. "After all I am sure your husband wouldn't want you to suffer any unnecessary hardships, a delicate little thing like you."

"Indeed." Flora replied tightly, just the mention of Walter had her bristling and if the clerk picked up on it he was good enough not to show it. "However I have a timetable to keep and I need to leave today so if you can arrange transport on Captain Foster's ship then I would be most grateful."

"Of course Madam, passage for two?"

"No one."

That startled the clerk and his tanned brow creased in concern. "But madam surely you don't mean to travel unaccompanied?"

Taking a deep breath to curb her Irish temper Flora fixed the clerk with her patented Mrs Ryan gaze that quickly had him quailing. "Of course Madam one ticket…Now if I can just take your details…"

"Of Course, it's Mrs Flora Corey…"

"Corey!" That announcement seemed to cause a tidal wave of rumor to spread throughout the office. "You did say Corey Madam?"

Confused Flora nodded sharply watching as the clerks dashed around in a hive of activity and people poured out from the back room just to watch as their superior retrieved the envelope from one of his co-workers and handed it over to Flora with ceremony. "This was waiting for us when we opened this morning, I believe it is addressed to you Madam, someone was expecting you."

Curious Flora ripped it open and pulled out the Telegram: 'We need to talk, wait at ticket office, Walter.' For a moment she couldn't restrain the flicker of joy that sparked inside of her, Walter was coming for her, he wanted her back. Then the uncertainty set in what if he was coming for some other reason, perhaps he wanted her signature on something, and perhaps he even wanted a divorce. The only way she was going to find out was by sitting and waiting, moving across the room she ignored the stairs of the clerks as she took a seat. Walter had a few hours grace but if he didn't show then she would be getting on that ship and not looking back.

- - -

The trip back to the cottage seemed to stretch out into eternity, kicking at loose stones as he went Walter pushed his hands deep into his pocket and ignored the nodded greetings of his neighbors as they hurried off to work. He had missed the early morning train by now and probably ruined any chance of seeing Flora before she left and yet he still had less of clue where Walter was now than he had in those first few panicked minutes last night. Pushing open the garden gate he was oblivious to the beauty of the early morning summer morning, the roses were fully in bloom and the garden was alive with their heavenly scent. Fumbling in his pocket for the front door key he finally found it and went to unlock the door but stopped as the door swung open at the merest touch. Panicking as the images of his house torn apart by burglars flashed through his mind Walter stepped cautiously into the house reaching into the umbrella stand feeling the reassuring weight of his old walking stick in his hand as he advanced from the hallway into the lounge. As a flicker of movement caught his eye he raised the stick above his head and whirled round intending to stop the intruder in his tracks when he caught sight of the very person he was stalking.

"Walter!"

Cowering behind his Uncle's favorite chair young Walter stared up at his uncle his young face smudged with dirt and scabs from some deep scratches across his cheek. "Uncle…"

"Where have you been…." Walter gasped for a moment unable to resist the urge to drag the boy into his arms and give him a crushing hug. "Don't you realize how worried I have been?" He added pushing the boy away to arms length so he could stare into his nephews' eyes. "I have been everywhere, the police are out searching for you…"

"The police?" That seemed to strike the fear of god into the boy and his blue eyes grew wider with fear.

"Walter just what have you been up to?"

"I can explain I promise…I shouldn't have ran away, I promise I won't ever again Uncle Walter!"

Yet even as Walter nodded at his nephew's pleading his mind was off pursuing another idea, it might still be possible to catch Flora before she left, grabbing Walter by the collar he practically dragged the boy out of the door.

"Where…are…we going?" Young Walter gasped out as his uncle bundled him out of the door. "Not…the police?"

Smiling for the first time that day, even if it was more tense and calculated than impulsive. "No not the police…we're going on a little trip."

- - -

The hours had ticked past at what had seemed an interminably slow pace, her continued presence in the shipping office had drawn more than a few stares and after a while even a few muted comments from the assorted clerks until their superior shooed them away with a concerned paternal air. Glancing up at the tall grandfather clock that dominated the shipping office Flora sighed deeply, it was getting far too late and just where on earth was he? Perhaps he had changed his mind, or perhaps there had been a delay but just how long was he expecting her to hang around here waiting for him? Perhaps it was some sort of a test? Was he trying to determine just how desperate she was for him to show her some hint of affection, or was his continued absence more proof positive just how low down in his priorities she really was? Unclenching her fist she gazed down at the telegram that had become smeared and crumpled in her hot grasp. She could feel the sympathetic patronizing glances weighing down on her, she could practically hear their thoughts, poor girl…hanging around…he isn't coming…such a shame…

That was the final straw, she could almost live with the knowledge that Walter didn't deem her worthy of his time and attention and defiantly not of his affection but there was no way she was going to sit here and let everyone pity her! Storming up to the counter she reached over and seized a pen from the grasp of a startled clerk and began to scratch away on the back of the telegram, her jaw set in a determined bent. When she was finished she folded up the note and scrawled Walter's name carelessly on the back.

"I take it madam you have made up your mind?"

Turning round Flora faced the senior clerk who had kept his fatherly gaze on her all morning and keeping her storming emotions in check she answered. "Yes I think I'll be needing that ticket after all."

- - -

They had caught the very next train, it had meant making different connections but as the train pulled up into Temple Mead station Walter literally jumped from the train before it stopped dragging his nephew after him. Pulling his pocket watch out as they approached the entrance scattering fellow travelers in their wake ignoring the exclaims and rude comments as they made for the doors. Hailing one of the waiting cabs Walter dragged his nephew up into the seat and telling the cabbie to head for the docks with all speed Walter Corey settled uncomfortable back into the seat.

"It'll be alright Uncle Walter…She'll be there I'm sure of it!"

Harrumphing sourly Walter couldn't help but count down the minutes that had been wasted but on spotting the pleading look his nephew fixed on him he couldn't help but return his hopeful smile, he only hoped she was still there for both their sakes. He wanted her back but Walter needed her back most desperately, their family was on the verge of falling apart and the only possible solution was the return of a certain Flora Corey to the family fold.

- - -

Taking a deep breath Flora could now smell the salt in the air, the water in the Bristol Channel was relatively calm by comparison with the Irish Sea yet even so she could feel the beginnings of sea sickness in her delicate stomach. However despite this she was determined to remain on deck until England had receded from her view and into a mere memory, it had nothing at all to do with that lingering hope that as she scanned the crowded dock she might catch a sight of Walter. It seemed so depressing all those people there to wave off loved ones, sailors and passengers alike and yet no one was there for her. Raising her hand against the glare of the sun as it drifted lower and obscured her view she gazed futilely along the dock for a few minutes more, there were just so many people anyone of them could be Walter and she wouldn't even realize it. Sighing deeply she turned her back on the dockside stubbornly crossing her arms and clenching her jaw until the tears that had threatened subsided. It was almost as if her mind were playing tricks on here, as if it were mistaking the usual sounds of a ship under sail and sailors at work for someone calling her name.

But just perhaps?

Turning round she stared out searching for that one figure she had been hoping to see , squinting against the sun for a moment she almost thought she saw him, but it really could have been anyone at this distance. Just because he was about the right build didn't mean it was her absentee husband. Sighing in disappointment Flora forced herself to look away it was time that she gave up on that fantasy Walter was never coming for her and it was time she put that behind her and got on with the rest of her life.

- - -

Damn her!

For a moment Walter struggled to resist the urge to curse his wife out loud. She had looked at him, right at him and then turned away as if completely unmoved. He had never thought Flora had a cruel streak in her before but now he was not so sure.

"She's really gone?"

Glancing down at his crestfallen nephew Walter patted his shoulder awkwardly not knowing what to say to comfort the boy, he had really believed his Aunt would be there waiting for them the tell tale tremble of the boy's lower lip said more than words ever could. Steering Walter through the crowd back towards their waiting cab he barely noticed the young clerk as he weaved his way towards him.

"Mr Corey you left so quickly…"He panted before offering a stunned Walter a rather smudged and crumpled note. "This was left for you sir." He added, his voice tinged with regret and sadness as he beheld the almost empty expressions of the man and boy in front of him. "I know it is no consolation sir but she did wait…She waited until the last minute but…"

Gritting his teeth to keep from saying something he would regret Walter snatched the note from the blond clerk's outstretched hand before turning his back on him and helping young Walter into the waiting cab. He kept the note clutched tightly in his hand, part of him was dreading reading it, there was something so final about it so he asked the cabbie to take them to a local hotel he had stayed at a few times during his annual new year trips to Bristol.

It was hours later once young Walter had been settled and fallen asleep exhausted that Walter Corey Snr was finally ready to read his wife's parting words. Pouring himself a large brandy from the decanter he had had delivered he settled down in front of the fire and unclenched his fist. The letter slowly uncrumpled in his hand and he could easily make out Flora's neat hand, taking a deep swig from his glass he unfolded it and scanned the few scant words.

'Walter,

If you cannot even make it here now of all times then I don't think you should ever try to contact me again… I can see how low down on your priorities I am...Live your life and please let me get on with mine…

Flora.'

Clenching his fingers tightly round the letter Walter bit down on his lip to try and contain his emotions, there was such a myriad of feelings, he was furious at her for being so callous, he was furious at himself for the obvious pain and frustration that positively leapt out from the paper. He had hurt her so now she was lashing out at him, her words positively dripped with disdain as if mocking him, how on earth could he ever have been so arrogant to assume that she had cared for him, loved him even? After all what on earth had he ever done to deserve her?

Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and made a decision, if it burned then it was over, he would respect her decision but if he missed the fire… Throwing the crumpled ball in the direction of the fireplace he waited a few tense moments before opening his eyes, sighing in resignation he watched as the paper crinkled and turned to ash. Lifting his glass he waved it in a mock salute before downing the amber contents, it was over and they were just going to have to learn to live with it.

- - -