Page 19 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden

‘And Sam?’ Libby asked. ‘Have you told—?’

‘Sam knows everything,’ Lexy cut in. ‘He knows about the bairn and all the carry-on Adela’s been through.’

Libby realised how crass her remarks about having a baby out of wedlock and brazening it out must have sounded. Before the War it would have been unthinkable for a middle-class girl like Adela to have lived as an unmarried mother and kept her baby.

‘I’m sorry for my stupid remarks earlier about Joan and all that.’

‘You weren’t to know, hinny,’ said Lexy, her look kindly.

‘Who else knows?’ asked Libby.

Adela found her voice again. ‘Mother knows – and just a couple of people here apart from Aunt Olive. I confided in Josey before I went back out to India – and Joan Brewis found out.’

‘George’s wife?’ Libby was surprised.

‘Yes – she saw me at the coast just before I had the baby. But as far as I know she’s never told anyone. Neither has Josey.’ Adela gave Libby an anxious look. ‘I’ve never told your mother and I’d rather she didn’t know.’

‘That must be hard for Josey,’ said Libby, ‘keeping such a secret from Mother all this time. They’re the best of friends.’

‘Perhaps it’s wrong of me,’ said Adela, ‘but Tilly would be shocked by it all and there’s no point in upsetting her.’

‘That’s true,’ said Libby. ‘She’s the last person I would tell about my affairs of the heart. That’s why I always come running to Lexy.’ She looked at the older woman with a fond smile.

‘I don’t know what I’d have done without Lexy either,’ Adela said. ‘She’s one in a million.’

‘Stop it, you two,’ Lexy protested, ‘or I’ll not get me big head out the door tomorro’.’

‘It’s true.’ Adela gave a sad smile. ‘And you don’t know how comforting it is for me to be here with you – being with someone who knew and cared for my baby.’

Libby felt awkward. She had forced Adela to come back to Newcastle, a place that must conjure up so many unhappy memories of being pregnant and having to hide an illegitimate birth.

‘I’m sorry I upset you,’ said Libby. ‘And if I’d known about this terrible situation I would never have suggested that you return for the café. And dragging Sam here too.’

‘No, you did the right thing,’ Adela said. ‘We would have come back sooner but Sam’s sister Sophie was so upset at the thought of us going so far away from her. She and Sam are very close.’

‘But it must be difficult being in Newcastle, surely?’ said Libby. ‘Being reminded of such an unhappy time. Doesn’t it bring it all back?’

Adela looked at her with puzzled green eyes. ‘It’s not a matter of bringing back memories – I’ve never stopped thinking of my boy – ever! That’s why we’ve come back – to try and find him. I live in hope thatJohn Wesley might still be in an institution in the area so that I can claim him as mine.’

Libby was flabbergasted. Was Adela really serious in wanting to track down an illegitimate baby she’d given up years ago?

‘And Sam agrees?’

‘Of course,’ said Adela. ‘I couldn’t do this if he didn’t want it too.’

‘You have an amazing husband,’ Libby said in admiration.

‘I know I do.’ Adela smiled broadly for the first time since her confession. ‘Sam is my rock. I’ve never loved anyone so much – apart from my baby.’

‘But you said you’d given John ...?’

‘John Wesley.’

‘Given him up for adoption,’ Libby pointed out. ‘Won’t he be living with another family now?’

She saw the wince of pain on Adela’s face and felt bad for mentioning the adoption. ‘Even to know that would be better than not knowing what happened to him. But the problem is I don’t know. And it’s possible he was never chosen for adoption.’

‘Why wouldn’t he be?’ Libby asked gently. ‘You said he was a beautiful boy.’