Chapter 39

1926

Clutching Bonnie's hand tightly in hers, Edith accepts his help down from the seat of the caravan, inhaling deeply as she surveys the camp set up in front of her.

"Can you see her?" She whispers, eyes still searching the camp for any sign of her sister in law. "That's-"

"Auntie Edith?" A soft call from behind the pair making Edith freeze in recollection at the voice, turning slowly, a warm smile spreading across her face at the sight of her niece standing before her.

"Hello, you." Edith calls back, choking back tears. Letting out a laugh, Katie calls out Edith's name again, flying across the short distance between them and launching herself at her aunt who stumbles slightly, quickly righting herself to wrap her arms around her niece. "Oh, Katie, I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too!" Katie sighs, tightening her hold on Edith. "You had a baby?" She exclaims as they pull apart, pointing towards Bonnie who was stood watching the pair with a smile on his face, Edward in his arms.

"I did!" Edith laughs, waving Bonnie over. "This is Edward John Gold."

"And you got married!" Katie gasps, grabbing Edith's hand, turning it from side to side to admire her rings. "I wish I could've been there."

"Me too." Edith whispers, pulling her niece back into her arms. "Where are your brothers and sisters, eh?"

"Over here! With Ma. Come on." Taking Edith's hand in hers, Katie drags her towards the centre of the camp, calling out to Esme as they reach a caravan on the far edge. "Ma! Come 'ere!"

"What's all the hollering about?" Esme shouts in reply, wiping her hands on her skirt as she exits the caravan, faltering when she finds Katie dragging her aunt through the grass. "Edith?"

"Hello Esme." Edith calls back softly, pausing at the bottom of the steps, Katie dropping her hand and running off into the field beyond the camp to gather her siblings. "I hope you don't mind us stopping by."

"I dreamt of you last night." Esme states, moving towards Edith slowly. "I had a feeling you'd be by soon."

"Here I am." Edith states quietly with a chuckle, shrugging lightly.

"Here you are." Esme repeats, taking another step forward and proceeding to swiftly pull Edith into a tight embrace. Choking out another laugh, Edith clutches at her sister in law, now letting the tears run freely down her cheeks.

"Oh Esme," she sobs, tightening her hold on the older woman who smoothed back her hair gently. "I'm so happy to see you."

"Auntie Edith!" Pulling out of Esme's embrace, Edith dries her eyes quickly, letting out a laugh at the sight of her nieces and nephews running across the camp towards her. Dropping into a crouch, Edith holds her arms open as the children near here, throwing themselves into her embrace.

"Alright, alright!" Esme calls teasingly, reaching out to push the children out of Edith's arms gently. "Let your aunt breathe, and stop talking all at once!"

"Are you staying Auntie Edith?" Katie asks, reaching out to take Edith's hand in hers.

"If it's ok with your ma." Edith replies, glancing up at Esme who nods in response with a smile.

"Forever?" Teddy asks enthusiastically, throwing himself into Edith's arms again. "Cause I've missed playing hide and seek with you!" Edith laughs softly, clutching her nephew close.

"Not forever." She replies gently, moving Teddy to take a step back so that she could look him in the eye. "For a few days. We've got plenty of time to play hide and seek."

"Why don't you all go and start playing, and I'll put a cup of tea on for your aunt. She'll come and join you in a bit." Esme suggests, nodding for the children to go and play, sending Edith a smile as they do, shouting out to each other as they go.

"John would have loved this." Edith comments, as she and Esme sit by the fire that evening, Edith rocking Edward in her arms, her eyes flitting over the camp that was filled with soft music and the laughs of her nieces and nephews, dancing around the fire with their cousins.

"He's still with us." Esme replies softly, reaching a hand up to tap her chest. "In here."

"I know." Edith breathes out, nodding her head. "Doesn't stop the pain."

"I know." Esme repeats, reaching a hand out to stroke Edward's cheek gently. "Do you ever think about doing this? Leaving the city?"

"Sometimes." Edith hums, smiling down at the sleeping baby. "But I can't leave the boys. Not right now."

"They have Polly. And Ada."

"It's not the same. You know that." Edith replies, narrowing her eyes at Esme who frowns, rolling her eyes. "Tom's not well at the moment."

"Mhmm."

"Shall we not talk about Tom?" Edith scoffs, shaking her head at Esme's reaction to her mention of the middle Shelby brother. "The kids seem happy. Really happy."

"They are. They love the freedom." Esme replies with a smile, her eyes drifting to the children, face dropping as William tackles a cousin to the floor, Esme letting out a groan at the sight. "Don't suppose you want to go deal with that?"

"Sleeping baby." Edith sighs playfully with a teasing smile, motioning to the baby in her arms. Rolling her eyes jokingly, Esme pushes herself off the log they were sat on, calling out to William as she makes her way across the camp.

"This seat taken?" Tilting her head back, Edith smiles up at Bonnie who was stood behind her, blanket thrown over his arm. Shaking her head with a smile, Edith follows Bonnie with her eyes as he settles beside her, carefully throwing the blanket over their shoulders, winding his arm around her waist to pull her close. "How are you doing, love?"

"I'm good." Edith sighs, dropping her head onto Bonnie's shoulder. "I'm happy Bon. It's nice being back with Esme and the kids."

"The kids are loving having you here." Bonnie comments with a soft smile, watching over Edith's shoulder as Teddy curls up beside his aunt, sliding under the blanket. "You comfy there Ted?" He calls teasingly, laughing as Teddy's head pops up over the top of the blanket, peering around Edith as he nods enthusiastically, his arms already wound around her body.

"Here Auntie Edith." Katie sings, skipping up to Edith where she pauses, gently placing a daisy flower crown onto her aunt's head. "What do you think, Bonnie?"

"Your aunt looks beautiful, Katie." Bonnie replies with a warm smile. "That's a very lovely crown you've made for her."

"I've missed you, Auntie Edith." Katie sighs, dropping down onto the grass in front of her aunt, resting her body against Edith's legs. "Why can't you stay longer?"

"Your uncle Tommy needs me back at work, love." Edith replies gently, reaching out to brush her hand through Katie's hair. "But I'll come back and visit again. Sooner next time. I promise."

"Maybe I could come and stay with you?" Katie asks hopefully, peering up at Edith from under her eyelashes, bottom lip pulled between her teeth.

"You'd have to ask your ma…" Edith starts slowly, her chest tightening as Katie's face falls at her words, casting her gaze to the ground. "But of course you could come and stay with us, Katie! Maybe you could all come and visit for Christmas! Wouldn't that be nice? All of us back together again."

"Yeah!" Katie cheers happily, jumping up suddenly and bouncing on her toes. "I'll go ask ma now!"

"You think Esme'll say yes?" Bonnie asks softly, leaning in close to Edith who sighs as she shrugs, turning to face Bonnie with a small smile.

"Who knows." She sighs, dropping her head to rest on his shoulder. "It would be nice. We'll see."