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POLLY

‘Oh! I love this song,’ Polly told her, as the singers began their next number, ‘Moonlight Serenade’. ‘It’s so romantic.’ She began to sway in time to the music, her eyes closed as she softly sang along with the choir.

‘Are you okay, Aunt Polly?’ Shona asked anxiously. ‘This isn’t too much for you, is it?’

Polly opened her eyes. ‘I’m more worried about you, lovely,’ she said. ‘You keep smiling, but there’s a sadness behind your eyes that I know all too well. It’s Max, isn’t it?’

‘I’m fine,’ Shona told her. ‘I just need to let him know that Gerhard is innocent, but I don’t know how I can prove it. I mean, I can tell him my ghostly Aunt Polly told me what happened, but he’ll probably think I’ve gone crazy again or I’m messing with his head. He seems to believe that already.’

‘I expect it’s a lot to take in if you’re not from around here,’ Polly admitted. ‘It’s different for us. We were brought up here, and we’ve known about ghosts since we were younger than our Maddie is now. But for outsiders – well, it must seem ridiculous.’

‘Exactly. And how can I convince him? I can’t show him any ghosts, can I? And even if I got Callie to tell him the truth, he’d just think she was covering for me. If someone doesn’t want to believe, they won’t. Simple as that.’

‘I suppose you’re right,’ Polly said sadly. ‘I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.’

‘Of course it’s not,’ Shona consoled her. ‘And don’t you worry about me, Aunt Polly. I’m just glad to see you looking so much brighter today. At least, you were until you started fretting.’

It was true that Polly had woken up that morning feeling brighter and happier.

Now that she’d allowed the memories through, the terrible events of that night had stopped being so scary.

They were still terrible, of course, but she could see past them.

It was like they’d been a huge boulder blocking the road, obstructing her view of Gerhard and Ray who were standing behind it.

But the boulder had moved a bit, and now she could peer round the side and see them.

She couldn’t quite get to them yet, but they were there waiting for her, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she could fully embrace her memories of the happy times she’d shared with each of them.

She was full of gratitude that Shona, Pippa and Jimmy had been able to forgive Ray, too. The fear that they’d turn on him had scared her for years, so knowing their image of him had changed somewhat but hadn’t been tarnished made her happier than she could say.

The only thing spoiling her happiness was Shona’s sadness.

If only she could fix things between her and Max.

But Shona was right. If someone didn’t want to believe, they wouldn’t.

Nothing anyone said or did would make a difference, and there was no way to show him that ghosts existed. That Polly really was around.

Maybe Max didn’t care enough about Shona to even try?

Polly sighed and glanced around, wondering if Pippa was anywhere close by. Maybe she could spend a bit of time with her mum. Cheer her up.

Then she straightened, her eyes widening as she saw Max standing near the wishing well. He wasn’t looking at the choir who were standing under the gazebo. His gaze was fixed on Shona, and the sadness in his face matched the look in Shona’s eyes.

‘Maybe,’ Polly murmured to herself, ‘he does care enough after all. But he needs to push past that fear and doubt, just like I had to.’ She raised her eyes to the heavens.

‘Oh, Gerhard, my love, if you can hear me, you need to do something. Give him the courage to believe the impossible. Let them have the happiness that was taken away from us.’

As she watched, Max squared his shoulders and walked away, leaving Polly feeling frustrated and wretched.

‘Won’t be long, love,’ she whispered to Shona. ‘Just going to have a chat with some of the ghosts.’

‘Are you sure? Do you want me to come with you?’ Shona asked.

Polly laughed. ‘And what would be the use of that? You can’t see or hear anyone but me! No, I’ll be fine. I’ll pop into the teashop later and see how it’s going. You enjoy your friend’s choir for a bit.’

Shona nodded and Polly hurried off before she could change her mind. Max was just ahead of her, walking slowly along the path, his hands in his pockets and his head down. He wasn’t going towards the farm. Surely he wasn’t leaving already?

‘Dad!’

Both Polly and Max spun round to see Rissa running towards them. She flew straight through Polly before Polly could move out of the way, which was a bit disconcerting.

‘You’re not going home, are you?’ Rissa asked.

Max seemed surprised to see her. ‘I thought you said you’d be busy on the farm?’ he asked.

‘Well,’ Rissa said, kicking awkwardly at the grass, ‘we are. But Betty’s given me an hour off to come and find you. I did shout to you when I saw you leaving the green, but you didn’t hear me. Or did you?’

‘Of course I didn’t. I would have waited for you. Surely you know that?’

‘I – I wasn’t sure. I’m sorry, Dad, I know I’ve been horrible lately, and I should never have lied to you about where I was. You should hate me.’

Max put his arms around her and held her tightly. ‘I could never hate you, mausi . You’re my child, and I love you always. I’m only sorry that you doubt that. I know I let you down?—’

‘No, Dad, you didn’t,’ Rissa said. She stepped back from his embrace and looked up at him.

‘You were grieving, and I didn’t make enough allowances for that.

I wanted you to look after me, but I never thought I should have been looking after you, too.

I know how much you loved Mum. I was so angry when you sold the house, and I couldn’t understand why you’d want to leave such precious memories behind. But I think I understand now.’

‘You do?’

Rissa led him to the bench in front of the church and Polly followed them. She thought vaguely that she really ought to give them their privacy and imagined her mum tutting in disgust that she was eavesdropping, but they were Gerhard’s family. She desperately wanted them to be happy.

‘Those cars are proving quite the draw,’ Max said, nodding at the long line of vintage vehicles that took up most of Church Lane.

Polly followed his gaze and admired the gleaming motors that were surrounded by eager enthusiasts.

She was astonished to see Silas Alexander among them.

He was walking from car to car, doing his best to stroke them, and had a look of childlike excitement on his face that she’d never have believed if she hadn’t seen it for herself.

Who’d have thought it?

Her attention was dragged back to the Meyers suddenly as Rissa said, ‘Dad, I’m leaving Rowan Vale.’

‘You are?’ Polly gasped.

‘You are?’ Max said, clearly surprised. ‘When did you decide this?’

‘I’ve been thinking about it for months,’ she admitted. ‘I just didn’t want you to know because… well, I hated that you were right, and I was wrong.’

‘Wrong about what?’ he asked.

‘About wasting my life. About hanging around here hoping for something that will never happen.’

Max frowned. ‘What’s wrong, süsse ? Is there something you haven’t told me?’

Rissa nudged him. ‘Is there something you haven’t told me ?’

Polly watched as two spots of colour appeared on his cheeks. ‘Like what?’

‘Like you and Shona. Betty seems to think there’s something between you. She wasn’t gossiping,’ she added quickly. ‘She assumed I knew. This is a small village, and people have been talking, you know.’

‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly, so quietly that Polly had to strain her ears to hear him.

‘Why?’ Rissa asked. ‘So, you are seeing Shona?’

‘We went on a few outings together,’ he told her. ‘But I don’t think it will lead anywhere.’

‘Why? Don’t you like her?’

Polly waited. If she’d been able to breathe, she’d have held her breath. Instead, she fixed him with a piercing gaze and willed him to admit that he did.

‘I like her very much,’ Max said finally. ‘But it’s complicated.’

‘Dad, if this is about Mum, you can’t let it stop you,’ Rissa urged him.

‘She wouldn’t want you to be alone for the rest of your life.

You know that, deep down. She’d be happy for you.

Shona’s never going to take Mum’s place in your heart, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have her own place in it.

You’ve got so much love to give. Plenty to go round for us all, I reckon. ’

Polly’s hands flew to her chest, and she sighed. What a lovely thing to say.

Max grinned and ruffled his daughter’s hair. ‘Listen to you, being all wise.’

Rissa tutted and smoothed her blonde locks. ‘Not that wise, Dad. I’ve been a bit of an idiot, to be honest.’

‘What is it, Rissa? You changed the subject quite masterfully, but I suspect there’s something you want to say.’

‘I’m going to Germany,’ she told him. ‘I’m going to stay with Aunt Gisela and Uncle Louis for a bit.’

‘You are? When was this arranged?’

‘Just a few days ago. I asked them not to tell you. I wanted to break it to you myself.’

‘But why? And for how long?’

‘I’m not sure how long. I can stay for up to ninety days without a visa, but if I want to stay longer, I could apply for a residence permit.

I could even apply to study or work there, I guess.

My German’s excellent, thanks to you and Mum making sure I grew up bilingual.

I’m going to see how it goes. I’d like to see something of Germany.

I know we went there a couple of times when I was a kid, but I didn’t really take much of it in back then.

I’m ready to embrace my German heritage now. ’

‘I’m very glad to hear that,’ Max said slowly, ‘but I can’t help thinking there’s more to this than you’re telling me.’

Rissa was very quiet for a few moments, then she looked up at him. ‘Remember when you asked me if I was seeing someone, and I told you I had been, but it was over?’

He nodded. ‘I do. I’ve been wondering who it was ever since.’

She smiled. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have been so enigmatic about it all, but I was ashamed.’

‘Ashamed? Of what?’

‘Ashamed because he didn’t love me, Dad. I don’t think he ever did. When I started to get too serious, he broke it off with me.’

‘Oh, he did? Well, tell me who he is, and I’ll have words with him.’

Rissa laughed. ‘No, you won’t! He didn’t do anything wrong.

He just didn’t feel for me the way I felt about him.

Not his fault. He didn’t promise me anything, and when he realised how much I loved him, he broke up with me as gently and as kindly as he could.

He’s with someone else now and I think it’s the real deal.

I didn’t want to face up to that but there comes a point when you have to, doesn’t there?

You can’t lie to yourself forever. And the truth is, I’m sick of it all.

Sick of being Poor Rissa, who everyone knows is still pining for Brodie Davenport. ’

‘Davenport?’ Max asked sharply. ‘Is he related to Sir Edward Davenport?’

‘I think he was Brodie’s great-grandad,’ she mused.

‘Used to own this estate. Anyway, the point is, it’s over, and it’s time for me to move on.

And that’s why I understand why you had to leave our old house behind.

You can’t cling to the past forever. You have to move forward.

A fresh start. I was scared to do that, but then I realised if you could do it, after all the heartbreak you’d suffered, then I could do it too. ’

He put his arm around her shoulders. ‘I am very proud of you, Rissa. Have I ever told you that?’

‘Not so much lately,’ she admitted. ‘But then, I haven’t really given you cause to, have I?’

‘I am always proud of you,’ he promised her. ‘I love you so much. Never forget that.’

‘I won’t, Dad. So, are we good?’

‘Always,’ he said.

‘And what about you and Shona? Are you going to make a go of it with her?’

‘Do you like Shona?’ he asked, his eyes narrowing.

‘Yes, I do. She’s always been decent to me, even when I haven’t been that polite to her. And, like you, she makes some cracking cakes,’ she added, laughing. ‘Between the two of you, I reckon you’ll gain twenty stone by the end of the year.’

‘I don’t know. There are things I don’t understand about her,’ he admitted.

‘So, spend some time working them out.’

‘But it’s not that simple. Her past and my past, they’re entwined in ways I can’t fathom. And she said something about—’ He broke off, shaking his head. ‘It doesn’t matter. It sounds insane.’

‘Ghosts?’ Rissa suggested.

Max sat up straight and stared at her. ‘Why would you say that?’

‘It’s this place,’ she said, gazing around with a puzzled expression on her face. ‘I’ve been here over eighteen months, and I’ve heard whispers. Rumours. I get the feeling there’s something strange about Rowan Vale.’

‘But there are no such things as ghosts,’ Max said.

‘Keep telling yourself that, love,’ Polly said, rolling her eyes.

Rissa raised an eyebrow. ‘“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio…”’

‘Walter Tasker?’

It was his daughter’s turn to stare. ‘Where did you hear that name?’

‘Something Shona mentioned,’ he said. ‘Like many other things, it made no sense.’

‘I’ve heard Brodie mention him,’ Rissa admitted.

‘You know, some of the things he told me made no sense either. He was a bit cagey about a lot of things when I think about it, but he definitely mentioned Walter Tasker. Said he’d died in Rowan Vale centuries ago.

Apparently, he was one of William Shakespeare’s teachers. ’

‘Didn’t it bother you, when Brodie said strange things?’ Max asked, curious.

Rissa shrugged. ‘Not really. I loved him.’

‘But didn’t you think he was perhaps having a joke with you?’

‘No, definitely not. Brodie was a decent man. He wouldn’t play mind games. I didn’t understand everything I heard him talking about, but there was no agenda. I couldn’t make him love me, but I knew I could trust him.’

‘Yes,’ Max murmured. ‘I see.’

And so did Polly. It might not work, but she’d had a sudden brainwave about how she could convince Max that ghosts did exist, and it was so simple, she couldn’t imagine how she hadn’t thought of it before.

All she had to do was relay this conversation to Shona, and when Shona repeated it to Max, he’d realise she wasn’t lying after all. Bingo!

Polly leapt to her feet. Time to fix this mess once and for all.