Page 76 of A Letter to the Last House Before the Sea

‘Is your great-aunt still with us?’

‘I’m afraid not. She died a few weeks ago.’

‘I’m very sorry to hear that. Did she have children?’

‘No, she never married.’

‘Then I imagine you must have been like a daughter to her.’

‘A granddaughter, maybe,’ said Lettie, feeling comforted by the very idea.

‘Have you managed to find out much about her early life?’

‘Only sad things, unfortunately. She was in love with a local man who died in the Second World War.’

‘That is sad. The end of a love affair is always devastating.’ Esther took a deep breath. ‘So what do you intend to do now you’ve tracked me down, Lettie? Would Claude like to see me?’

‘I think so.’

Esther stared into the distance for a few moments, as music sounded faintly from the television and the programme went to adverts. Then she turned to Lettie.

‘I appreciate your work in finding me and it’s been pleasant to chat with you. I am glad to hear about Claude, but I’m not the person I was when Claude last knew me. I fear I would disappoint him all over again.’

‘Claude has changed too,’ insisted Lettie, though, on reflection, she wasn’t sure of that at all. His old-fashioned cottage with its archive in the cellar made her suspect that Claude had hardly changed in decades.

But Esther nodded. ‘I’m sure he has.’ She paused a moment as though weighing up what to do next. ‘However, I feel it’s better to retain the status quo. What would be gained from the two of us rehashing old times?’

‘Friendship, perhaps?’

Esther’s blue eyes twinkled when she smiled. ‘We were friends, at first. Good friends, but my marriage vows meant a lot to me. Terry, my husband, has gone now and I don’t see that it would serve any purpose to meet with Claude. But I will pray for him.’

A wave of sadness washed over Lettie. It seemed that Claude would continue to be all alone. ‘Can I say anything to persuade you to change your mind?’

‘I’m afraid not. There’s no point in rehashing the past at my age. I’m so sorry you’ve had a wasted journey. And I’d be grateful if you didn’t tell Claude where I am. Tell him you found me by all means and say that I wish him well, but that’s all.’

Lettie was tempted to plead Claude’s case some more. But she barely knew him, let alone this woman, and it wasn’t her job to persuade Esther to do something she clearly didn’t want to do.

‘Of course,’ she told her. ‘If that’s what you want.’

‘It is, and you seem the type of woman who will respect my wishes. Claude chose you well, and I know that Claude will respect my wishes too. He always was an honourable man.’ Esther closed her eyes and leaned back, the sun streaming through the window showing up the wrinkles on her face. ‘Forgive me but I’m feeling rather tired.’

‘Then I’ll leave you in peace, and thank you so much for seeing me.’

‘It was lovely to meet you, Lettie Starcross.’

Lettie stood up, ready to go, but the thought of telling Claude that the woman he’d loved for so many years would remain a stranger made her hesitate. She fished in her bag and brought out a small notebook and pen. ‘I’ll write down my phone number and please call me if you should change your mind.’

Esther opened her eyes and watched while Lettie scribbled down her number and placed the piece of paper on the coffee table.

‘I’ll be in Heaven’s Cove for a few more days.’

‘Lettie,’ Esther said, as Lettie reached the door. ‘Try to do what makes you happy in life.’

‘That sounds like very good advice.’

‘It is, though, sadly, I didn’t always take it. Give Claude my best and please tell him that I never forgot him either. He was often on my mind over the years.’

‘I will tell him. I promise.’

Lettie blinked quickly to ward off her tears as she let herself out of Esther’s flat.