On her wedding day, Emily was out of her bed on the stroke of six. By half-past, she was washed, dressed in her everyday clothes and out of the house. Tired after another fitful night, she wandered the winter fields, talking to John in her mind, telling him all her thoughts. ‘I’m getting married today,’ she whispered into the chill, dark morning. ‘Like you, I’ve settled for someone else. Danny is a good man and I’m lucky to have him.’ But though she was fond of Danny, and would not hurt him for the world, her heart wasn’t in it. Oh, she put on a show and smiled and laughed and let them think she was content enough, but she wasn’t, and never would be. Now, having wandered until she was weary, she returned to the farm and sat for a while in the orchard. Huddled in her big, warm cloak, she closed her eyes and allowed her thoughts to drift back to the dear past, to those happier days with John. Even though their plans had fallen apart, just thinking of how it could have been was a bittersweet pleasure … Unaware that her daughter was even out of her bed, Aggie entered Grandad’s room.
