I could not keep the smile from my face, as I sat on my bed holding a letter from Patsy. Even though the words were still a jumble to me, it was still a connection to her. She had kindly sent me three postcards, with pretty flowers in a vase upon the front of them. Pa found me some drawing pins and I have pinned them to the wall above my bed. It is nice to feel that you are not forgotten about. I wish I could write or send her something in return but I have trouble holding a pencil. Mam has replied to her on my behalf though.
Despite another one of my 'spells' as mam calls them, she has allowed me to accompany Pa today to his draper's shop. I am full of nervous excitement. Mam is finally trusting me to go out of the house. So with Patsy's letter safely tucked away in my drawer, I pulled on my coat. I double checked my pocket, making sure I had the red chocolate-box ribbon with me, when I heard Pa calling for me.
"Ready to go?" He greeted me at the bottom of the stairs. Oh, I really was.
"Your mam has packed us enough food to feed an army." Pa laughed, buttoning up his green coat. "Shall we go?" He smiled, as I nodded.
Mam walked us both down the path, telling me firmly; "Don't you go over doing it."
"I'll guard her with my life, love. Stop worrying." He kissed mam on the cheek, waving at her with a shake of his head.
"Make sure you do and if she gets tired bring her right back," Mam called to us, as we set off.
With Ruffy and Pa by my side, I felt safe and the countryside did not seem as daunting as it had done on the way home from my little misguided adventure the other morning. I was sure that today would be a good experience. The locals that we passed seemed very friendly, and they all seemed to know my Pa. Some also asked how mam was. I felt a strange sense of pride.
The town seemed to consist of one long narrow road with buildings either side. It was bustling with life. We went past a large open market stall selling all kinds of vegetable produce. There were lots of women in cream coloured macks gathered around different stalls. They turned over various pieces of food in their white woollen gloves, trying to procure the freshest looking ones.
A man in a grey jumper threw a red apple at my Pa with a wide smile. "Bore, 'n glws dydd." The man said.
With a nod, my Pa tipped his flat cap. "Rhyfeddol."
The draper's shop itself was nestled between a few other buildings. I must have been wearing a somewhat puzzled expression as I attempted to read all of the shop signs because Pa began to point each one out to me. There was a post office, the pub, a butcher's shop and a cafe. The smell of the ocean hung in the air and that made me think of Patsy's blue eyes.
I stood outside the large shop window, with white painted letters above it and smiled. The window display was set out neatly and I quickly followed Pa inside. A glass display case, with a large cash register placed on top of the counter greeted me.
"Lets get to work, melys pys." He smiled.
I had the task of handling small cut pieces of fabric and I had to fold them. Ruffy walked around out the back, coming over to check in with me every once in a while. Lots of people came in the shop, some just for a chat. Nearly everyone spoke in Welsh. Just before Pa called for a lunch break, a lady with a weather-worn face came into the shop. She was wearing a red checkered head scarf and a long grey coat. Her green wellington boots were caked in mud, and she was carrying a large sack over her shoulder.
"Da prynhawn," she smiled, setting down the bag which thudded as it hit the ground.
"Good afternoon, Mrs Wilks. How is Hywel? Keeping well I hope?" Pa replied.
"Very well," the woman switched to speaking English as she looked at me. "Ah, so little Delia is home?"
Pa nodded. "Her mam is over the moon. She just wished the circumstances were different." He sighed.
The elderly lady stepped closer to the counter, keeping her eyes on me the whole time. "I remember when you were this high." She moved her hand down to her lower waist. "You'd run over the vast green hills, searching the rock pools for edible seaweed so your dear mam could make her delicious tasting lavabread. You were always smiling, you were."
Licking his lips, Pa grinned. "Ohh, your mam's bara lawr."
I couldn't share in their recalled memories but I nodded anyway. Returning to folding the materials, I zoned out as the two adults in the room began reminiscing about times gone by. Soon after that, she left with a large brown paper parcel tied with string, given to her by Pa.
"She's left her sack behind." I pointed to the bag lying on the ground.
Kneeling down, Pa opened the bag to show me its contents. "Look, melys pys. Potatoes. Mrs Wilks is a potato planter and pays for her yards of fabric with a bag full of spuds. You help by making people better. Me? I help where I can." I was slowly beginning to grasp what kind of people I come from. My parents are good, honest people, that hold themselves with an unspoken dignity. I'm starting to respect them more with each day that passes.
After lunch, the bell above the shop door tinkled, signalling that there was a new customer. I had my back to the shop floor, as I was placing balls of wool upon the shelves, just like Pa had instructed me too. I heard my name being called out and I felt my whole body stiffen and my shoulders tense, at the sound of this female voice.
As I slowly turned my head, I could feel myself frowning and I did not know why. Standing at the counter was a woman around about my age. She had long brown wavy hair with a fringe. "Delia? It is you?" She stared at me. Her voice portrayed an element of joy, but her body language told me a different story. I could feel my hands gripping the counter until my knuckles turned white. Why did this girl bring out this kind of angry reaction in me?
She continued to look at me steadily, as Pa returned from out of the back and smiled. "Judith? Goodness, I haven't seen you in years. How are you?"
"Fine, thank you Mr. Busby. I heard Delia was back home and I wanted to see if it was true," this girl replied.
"How very nice of you." Pa then turned to me. "Delia, this is Judith. You two used to be inseparable back when you were in school."
"Hello." I found my shoulders shrugging, as if by their own accord. We couldn't have been that close because I have not heard mam mention her name once to me. I felt as if I needed to be guarded around this so-called friend.
"Hello Delia." She tentatively stepped closer, as Ruffy appeared by my side. With a low growl, he barked causing Judith to jump.
Pa petted Ruffy's head, and smiled. "Now, now boy. You remember Judith?"
I found myself smiling at his reaction. Ruffy was a very good judge of character on first impressions. I did not like her and neither did he.
"It's nice and warm out. Why don't you two take a nice little stroll?" I had to hold back a groan at my dad's suggestion. I really didn't feel like spending a moment longer than I had to with this, what did he call her? Judith?
"I suppose we could?" She shrugged. See, even this Judith person seemed unsure and she couldn't even look me in my eyes.
Before I even had chance to answer, I felt Pa gently nudging me toward the door. "Go on Delia. Just around out by the shops. You two can do a little catching up." He smiled, looking at me with hope. "You'll like seeing an old friend again Delia."
So with Ruffy by my side, I found myself walking with this girl I did not recollect, but if it pleases Pa. I will do it for him.
At first she seemed cordial, making polite conversation until we began to turn down a quiet foot path. She lowered her voice. "You really don't remember anything do you?" She stared pointedly at me.
"You almost sound relieved," I quickly shot back at her. What was it about her that made me want to bristle and keep my guard up. Had we fallen out?
"No," she shrugged, but I knew by the tone of her voice that she was lying. "So they say you got knocked off your bicycle?" She then asked.
This girl was just full of compassion, wasn't she? But the truth was I really didn't know how I lost my memory. It never occurred to me to ask how it happened before and I knew that it was a conversation I didn't want with Judith. "I may have done," I huffed, kicking a stone under my foot.
"That must have been...frightening for you." She glanced at me, before quickly turning away again.
"London seems like a nightmarish place to me. I've never understood why you ever wanted to go there." She shook her head. From her tone and the words she used, it did seem as if we did once know each other.
As she had given me a glimpse of honesty, I did the same. "What I remember of London, and it isn't much... I miss it."
"There are nurses here you know," she trailed off, before quickly uttering; "I was glad when you moved away."
My mind didn't know what to answer first, but my defences reacted to her tone and the words spilled out of my mouth without no thought needed. "Maybe I was equally pleased to be away from you too."
"I'm still with Albert."
I only shrugged. Names don't really mean much to me anymore.
"You used to loathe Albert. Do you remember?" Judith stared at me, as if waiting for a reaction.
"No. I don't."
"He works with dad on the boats now." She placed her hands in her coat pockets, with a long exhale. "It is strange to be walking alone with you again."
If it was such a tedium to be around me, then why did she seek me out? Frowning at her, I tutted. "We're not even friends are we? So why are you here exactly?"
She seemed stunned by this. "No. Not anymore but we were once."
Her brown eyes flickered with something. Remorse? Pity? I could not tell. Gently touching Ruffy on his head I nodded to him that I wanted to go back. He turned with me and I began to walk back to Pa's shop.
"I guess I should walk you back or something?" Judith said, catching up with me.
"Don't put yourself out," I bit at her.
In strained silence we reached the shop.
"Back so soon?" Pa was surprised.
"I feel tired. Can I go home?" I asked.
Later at dinner, mam cooked a large turbot caught fresh by Judith's dad that morning. Apparently the fisherman had sent his daughter back to the draper's shop with his catch, after he had learned she had been over to see me. Mam had a similar reaction to mine, when she heard the girl had turned up to the shop. She dropped the wooden spoon she was holding with a loud clatter and her face was like thunder. It was plain to see she did not like this Judith either.
I told mam I wasn't feeling up to eating any dessert. She stood there rather baffled, just about to cut into the iced cake she had baked. I assured her that I was feeling fine and the day had worn me out. I finally got myself ready for bed, but it took four attempts of trying to put the toothpaste onto my brush. I was eager to snuggle against my pillow. I focused on the red ribbon loosely wrapped around my hand and began to wonder if I would ever go to London again.
A/N -'Bore, 'n glws dydd.' - 'Morning, nice day'. - 'Rhyfeddol.' - 'Marvellous.' - 'Melys pys.' - 'Sweet pea.' - 'Da prynhawn.' - 'Good afternoon.' - 'Bara lawr.' - 'lavabread.'
I hope those Welsh translations are all correct.
Thank you to Steff, for proof reading this chapter. Another thank you for the lovely reviews.
I really enjoy writing this particular story and I am glad it is not dragging on for the reader. In the show I have always thought Delia's recovery was a little glossed over and being a big fan of Pats & Deels, I wanted to write my own spin on things. Guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want to over compensate with chapters dragging on. Thank you for still following this. It really brings a smile to my face. More soon. x