Chapter Text
Audrey slipped quietly into an empty pew in the back of the church. She was grateful her arrival had gone mostly unnoticed. The late morning wedding ceremony was well attended by the residents of the village of Darrowby. The nuptials of a prominent citizen and his lovely bride was a happy occasion for a community eager to celebrate after many years of war time austerity. As the organ music began she was flooded with memories of other ceremonies held in the same sanctuary over the past decade. At both the wedding of Helen to James and the christening of baby Jimmy, her place had been in the front with her Skeldale family. Today, she kept her promise to her friends to attend but maintained her expressed preference to remain in the background. Her role in the family had changed irrevocably due the event that morning. And with it a break of the last tether of obligation as matriarch of Skeldale House, the place she had called home for over a decade.
After the ceremony, Audrey stood with the other guests cued up for the receiving line. When her turn came she smiled, kissed the bride on the cheek and complimented the women’s radiant beauty. She flattered the groom in a friendly manner saying he looked dashing in his best dark grey suit. There was a flash of emotion in the man’s eyes as she made her apology. She was unable to attend the reception to be held later that afternoon so graciously hosted by their mutual friend Mrs Pomphrey. She shook the gentleman’s hand and with a well practiced smile, wished him all the happiness in his new life with his bride.
Quickly exiting the church, she made her way down the path to avoid the awkward refusal of an invitation to join the numerous family photos taken in the front of the church. Her presence was not really welcomed by the bride who had once been a close friend. Besides, she was already exhausted by the need for a cheerful demeanor on such a celebratory occasion.
Audrey glanced back over her shoulder one last time before she stepped through the church gate. She reminded herself that the most difficult bit was over and just needed to take care of a few more things before leaving today. As she passed through the Market Square several wedding guests called a greeting as they headed into the Drovers. With only a polite wave, she continued onwards to Skeldale House. Her train to Sunderland was at 2pm and she had no intention to miss it.
Audrey changed her clothes quickly and collected a small suitcase. She allowed herself only a few moments to walk around the house for one last look. It had already taken on the traits of the new matriarch with refreshed paint in the main family rooms. Several photos that were once displayed in the living room had been shifted or put away. She reminded herself that she had left before. But this time was different. There had always been hope of returning someday. Sentimentality would only make today more difficult.
The only indulgence she granted herself was to glance into the scullery. She looked out onto the large kitchen table where she had fed and loved her Skeldale family for so many years. A single teacup and saucer sat discarded after the rush of the morning activity. Without hesitation she picked the dishware, washed them in the sink and dried them with the nearby tea towel. Carefully, she returned them to the cabinet where they lived and then replaced the towel next to the sink.
“Right then.” she exhaled. “That’s finished.”
As she retrieved her suitcase that was briefly set down by the desk, her attention was drawn to the familiar wallpaper. “I did my best for em,” she spoke as she reached above the desk and grazed her fingers across the floral pattern. “It'll be ‘er turn now.”
Audrey welcomed the walk to the bus stop. The weather was mild and looked to be free of rain for the moment. The movement and fresh air would help lift her spirits after a difficult morning. She held images of her dear son and his young family in her mind as she moved briskly through the Market Square. Her train that afternoon from Keiley would soon take her to Sunderland. There, her Edward, daughter in law Betty and baby granddaughter Mary would be waiting to welcome her back. Although she was not sure if any place would feel like home anytime soon.
Several more of the guests from the wedding made their way into the Drovers. Audery waved, but walked on to avoid the uncomfortable small talk with well meaning neighbors. Her gaze dropped to the cobblestone and did not look up again until she was startled by someone calling her.
“Audrey!!” came a female voice. “Audrey!”
She looked up to see a beautiful young blond woman.
“Hello Maggie!” Audrey responded with more exuberance than she had intended but her smile was genuine.
“You're not leaving today are you?” she asked, rushing towards Audrey.
“Edwards will be waiting for me at the train station in Sunderland. I'm on the 2 o'clock.” Audrey set down her bag and accepted a hug from the young widow who had been her friend for many years.
“We're going to miss you.” Maggie's eyes filled with tears.
“You too, darling,” Audry swallowed down her own sadness. She looked her friend in the eye and held her attention. “You'll take care of him, won't you?” she asked.
“Yes.” The young woman nodded with enthusiasm. “I will,” she replied as she wiped a tear from her cheek.“We'll look after each other.”
“That's a good girl,” Audrey patted her friend's hand gently.
Maggie pulled Audrey in for another hug and held on tight for a moment. The young widow knew well that there were not always the right words for occasions like today. But they shared a mutual understanding that sometimes life does not go the way you expect. All you can do is move forward.
“There now.” Audrey released the girl with a warm smile. “You should go join the others at the party. Enjoy yourself.”
Audrey arrived at the bus stop to find she was the only person there. She was grateful for the privacy. It had taken her a few minutes to regain her composure after she said goodbye to Maggie. The walk had helped distract her but when she arrived at the bus stop she was pulled once again back to memories. She and Siegfried waited together with James as he left for his air force training. They were both so proud of the young man heading off to serve his country but equally terrified about what the future might bring. They had faced it together as with so many other obstacles during their years of friendship. “That's in the past now,” she scolded herself.
“Mrs H!!” a man shouted and honked the horn on his old blue car.
James Herriot, the young man she had cared for through the last decade and had become like a surrogate son, pulled up beside her in the Vauxhall.
“Helen was beside herself when we realized you'd left already. She'll kill me if I don't at least drive you to the train,” he pleaded through the open window of his car door.
“There's no need,” she tried to argue. “You'll miss the party.”
“Audrey please.” He insisted with a mix of firmness and desperation that was unusual for his typically low key demeanor.
She could not recall a time in recent memory when he used her first name to address her. For Tristan and James, she had always been Mrs. H. She knew she needed to comply with James’s request. His insistence was well meaning and would make the awkward circumstance of the day a little easier for both of them to navigate. James would look after her, even for a short car drive, while another man they both knew so well had let her walk away entirely.
“Of course dear.” Audrey climbed into the passenger seat of the rattling old car.
On the drive to the station the pair briefly discussed some of the details of the wedding. There were fresh flowers from the local florist and cuttings from Mrs Pomphrey spring garden. The string quartet played Pachelbel Canon D so beautifully. It was too bad the children were down with a cold and could not be part of the wedding party. To keep things simple, it was just the bride and groom on the altar with the vicar. It all went so smoothly.
“How lovely for them.” Audrey spoke politely as she watched the scenery pass by outside the window.
James nodded as he returned his gaze to the road ahead.
The breathtaking views of the Dales unfolded in front them as they drove along in a companionable silence.
As they drew closer to the town of Keiley, James reassured Audrey that all of her belongings that had been moved up to Heston Grange in the previous two months would be brought out to Sunderland by Richard Alderson in the next week.
“Helen will certainly join him. They'll bring Dash out to you then. If you don't mind sparing him for a few more weeks. The kids are going to miss him a lot.”
“It has been lovely staying there. Very generous of all of you.”
“Of course.” Jamed smiled. “We loved having you.”
Audrey knew that the young man was sincere. The Alderson Farm had been an oasis for her in otherwise extremely taxing circumstances. She would not have made it through the previous two months without him and his dear family. The engagement was announced by the couple in early February 1946. Siegfried’s surprising transfer of affection to Dorothy generated both shock and dismay with some members so much that it threatened to shatter the family. A delicate peace needed to be negotiated. In light of these tensions, Audrey agreed to stay on at Skeldale House until the wedding as a sign of good faith. Only afterwards would the Herriot’s entertain a move back to the village.
“The children can have their own bedroom now.” Audry smiled, putting on a brave face.
“Aye.” James nodded. “I guess that's a silver lining,” he said with little enthusiasm for the whole business.
“Oh, James tis is for the best,” she consoled. “They make each other happy.”
“Sure. That's true.” He nodded. “They seem to.”
Audrey could see from her friend's expression that James had withheld more of his thoughts than he had shared over the past few months. The young man had to navigate the tightrope of divided loyalty between his business partner and the woman who had nurtured his family over the years. The tension had taken a toll on all of them and she was grateful that the whole ordeal had almost come to a close.
The old Vauxhall rattled up to the front of the train station and they both stepped out of the car. Neither seemed to know what to do or say next.
“I’ll just take me bag and you’ll be on your way.” Audry pointed to the car door.
“Right. Your suitcase.” James remembered with a laugh. “Sorry!”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Don't want to forget that. Richard's truck is already full to the top.”
James removed her luggage from the back seat.
As she took the case she pulled him in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I am so proud of you, James. You and your family are a gift I never expected nor deserved. Just because I'm leaving.. well it don't change nowt.”
The young veterinarian cleared his throat in an attempt to hold back the emotion welling up in his chest. He hugged her again and said “We'll see you soon Mrs H.”
Audry broke the hug and patted his arm. “Off with you then. Helen's waiting.”
“Aye," he laughed and sniffed back a few tears. “She’ll forgive me once I tell her I got you here safe. Thank you Mrs. H.” He gave one more wave as he started the car and drove away.
Audrey grabbed her suitcase from the curb and walked towards the train station. She already had her ticket so she found a bench to rest for a few minutes. The drive had taken less time than the bumpy bus ride so she was actually quite early for the two o’clock train. She allowed herself the luxury of closing her eyes for a few moments.