Page 169 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden

After that, they played musical bumps and Sam tried to teach them the hokey-cokey. The children ended up running into each other deliberately and an older boy stepped on Bonnie’s dress which made her fall over and bang her knee. She burst into tears. Sam scooped her up and declared it was time for birthday cake.

At the sight of Jane carrying in a large iced cake with candles lit, Bonnie’s wailing quickly subsided. While Sam sat her at the head of the table and Bonnie blew out her candles, the other children scrambled for seats and were soon tucking into the birthday tea.

Adela tried to quell her queasiness by sipping tea and eating cake. The smell of the paste sandwiches and pork pies was turning her stomach. She watched Sam as he showed the children a trick he did with his hands that made it look like his thumb was falling off. He was so good with the children; he would make a loving father to their child. Adela felt a flood of affection for her husband. She couldn’t wait for the party to be over and to have him to herself so she could tell him her news. There was no doubt in her mind now that she was carrying their baby.

Charlie continued at the piano during tea, playing popular tunes. Some of the parents were gathering around him, singing along.

‘Get Adela to sing for you,’ Sam called out, giving his wife a smile of encouragement.

Lexy, who was sitting beside the piano clapping along to the music, shouted, ‘Gan on, hinny; give them a Toodle Pips special.’

Adela took little persuasion: hearing her old favourites being played made her want to get up and dance. Soon she was singing ‘Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree’, followed by other songs that had proved popular during the recent war. The café rang to the sound of voices joining in the chorus and Charlie’s enthusiastic piano playing. Nobody seemed tomind the children racing around the café, jumping off the chairs and playing ‘tiggy-on-high’ while the adults sang their nostalgic songs.

Eventually, it was time for the café to close and the party to end. Bonnie burst into tears. ‘I don’t w-want to go home!’ she blubbered. ‘I w-want to stay with Uncle Sam!’

Joan and Tommy had to coax her away with promises that Sam and Adela would come and visit her very soon. Her Aunt Jane produced a sticky toffee apple which brought a smile back to her face.

With the guests gone, they began to clear up.

‘We can finish this,’ said Jane, ‘if you two want to go. You’ve earned a rest after the games and sing-song.’

Sam was helping Lexy to her feet. Lexy said, ‘Aye, you look done in, hinny. Get yersel’ away home.’

Sam gave Adela a concerned look. ‘Aren’t you feeling well?’

‘I’m fine; we’ll stay,’ said Adela. ‘It won’t take long if we all give a hand.’

‘Come up and see me before you go,’ said Lexy, making her way towards the stairs as Adela began to brush crumbs from the tablecloths. Sam and Charlie pulled the tables and chairs back into their usual positions. Charlie stooped to pick something from the floor.

‘Must have come off when the children were playing,’ he said, holding up a chain to the light. ‘Or maybe it belongs to one of the mothers.’

Adela glanced round; she noticed Lexy had stopped too and was staring at the upheld pendant.

‘Give it to Jane,’ said Sam. ‘They’ll come back for it when they realise they’ve dropped it.’

‘Doesn’t look worth the bother,’ said Charlie. ‘Just an old pebble of some sort.’

Adela saw the chain glint in the light, a pinkish stone dangling from it. Something about it made her peer closer.

‘Let’s see,’ said Adela.

Charlie held it out to her. ‘Is it yours?’

Adela’s heart fluttered. She took it from him and laid it on her open palm. Her heart began to pound. She ran a finger and thumb over the smooth pink stone. It was almost heart-shaped. Adela’s breath stopped in her throat. The chain was familiar too, with its old-fashioned catch. She sat down quickly. How was this possible? It didn’t make sense!

‘Darling, are you all right?’ Sam asked at once, coming to sit beside her.

Lexy turned back from the stairs. ‘Adela?’

Adela stared at the necklace, trying to catch her breath.

‘What is it?’ Sam asked, putting a hand to Adela’s clammy brow. ‘Are you going to be sick?’

Adela couldn’t speak. Pressure like an iron weight was building up in her chest, smothering her.

‘Fetch a glass of water,’ Lexy said to Charlie, as she lumbered towards Adela. Charlie rushed off into the kitchen where Jane and Doreen were washing up.

‘Let me see,’ said Lexy, lifting the necklace from Adela’s shaking hand. Lexy scrutinised it and then looked at Adela, her eyes widening in shock.