Chapter Text
While May 1945 had started with an unseasonably cold snap, slowly but surely, the Yorkshire sunshine had finally started to return.
Skeldale House glistened in the morning sunlight looking over the Darrowby village square, standing proudly as it always had. The lengthening days and gift of sunshine were gratefully received by its veterinary team after a busy, drizzly lambing season so far.
Unfortunately however, the increasing daylight had done little to improve the senior partner’s ability to keep track of his belongings.
“Audrey, have you been moving my things around again?” Siegfried called, searching the house for his wife. “It really doesn’t help when I’m trying to leave the house and nothing is where I left it” he grumbled.
He wasn’t particularly keen on the day’s list as it was. James had been up and out first thing with Jimmy and nabbed the best calls. Not that he would really begrudge his young godson the joy of keeping his Dad company for a lambing.
“Can you even remember where you left them to start with?” Audrey mumbled to herself with a knowing smile and the usual raise of an eyebrow as she carried on with her own tasks.
She jumped as Siegfried’s head appeared around the dispensary door. “That is entirely beside the point” he replied. “Besides, what good would it be trying to remember where I left them if I know you’re going to follow on behind me and move things?” he argued as his wife lovingly adjusted his tie.
“Well at least you’ve learnt that” she smiled. “Now you just need to remember where they live”.
After nearly ten years of friendship, Siegfried knew well enough that he had no chance of winning this argument. But after three years of marriage, he had learnt a trick or two when it came to gaining the upper hand. Changing tact, he lovingly met her gaze. “Why on earth would I need to do that” he replied with a grin, wrapping his arms around her, “when I have my darling wife to find them for me”.
Audrey despaired with a sigh, enjoying the kiss that followed nonetheless. “I’ve been finding and tidying those belongings you leave scattered around without rhyme or reason since long before we were married, Siegfried Farnon” she pointed out.
“And yet you married me anyway” he reminded her with a wink.
“Everyone’s allowed a moment of weakness” she smiled, kissing him quickly before he could see fit to respond. “Now,” she said, smoothing his jacket, “you have remembered when you’re meeting Tris at the station?”
Siegfried nodded. “I’m hardly likely to forget my own brother” he remarked.
“You’d entirely forgotten until he called the other night.”
“Which is why it’s always sensible to call ahead.”
“Clearly” replied Audrey, before ushering him out of the door. “You’ve missed him really, you know you have” she smiled. They all had.
Siegfried paused, taking a moment to look back at her. “I’ve missed him more than I think I could say. Something tells me he’s not had as easy a go of it this time round” he replied sadly.
“They say the war’s nearly over. Perhaps this will turn out to be him home for good”
Audrey wondered hopefully.
“In the west perhaps. The war in the east is still going” Siegfried replied, not wanting to dwell on what that might mean for Tristan. They were already relieved young Edward had come back when he did.
Grabbing his coat from the hook, he looked back over his shoulder. “Where is Edward this morning? I didn’t see him at breakfast” he asked, keen to change the subject.
Audrey smiled proudly. “Dashed straight out at the break of dawn, I barely saw him myself” she replied. “He’s so proud of that job of his” she added.
Siegfried nodded, “He’s found something he can be passionate about. It’s been the making of many a man to be able to say that. Not that I don’t miss his company on the rounds” he added wistfully, “but we all knew veterinary practice was never going to be his calling”.
Audrey agreed with a chuckle. It had been wonderful to see Edward’s confidence growing, alongside his flourishing bond with his step-father, but the look on his face after the first sleepless night had told her all she needed to know. When an opportunity had arisen at the local garage, Siegfried had been quick to put in a good word and the rest was history.
Distracted by her thoughts, she did a double-take when she noticed the time on the clock. “It is still your calling however” she reminded her husband, “and you ought to get a move on if you’re going to meet Tris off that train” she added, urging him on.
***
Tristan jumped down from the train and looked along the platform. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting … this was Siegfried after all.
Clearly Mrs H … Audrey … hadn’t rubbed off on him quite as much as he’d thought.
He still hadn’t quite dropped that habit when it came to his dear Mrs H …
“Going somewhere?”
Tristan spun round as he picked up his bag. Siegfried stood chuckling behind him. “Surely you didn’t think I could forget my own brother” he smiled.
“It would hardly be the first time.”
The brothers stared each other out for a moment, the platform clearing around them.
“Is that the only greeting I get then?” asked Tristan.
Siegfried tried to speak, taking a moment to swallow his emotions back down. “You know it bloody isn’t” he replied, storming forward and pulling his younger brother into a hug.
Tristan smiled, his own eyes moistening as he finally hugged his brother. “It’s good to be home” he said quietly.
***
“Welcome home, old uncle” Edward grinned as he found Tristan sprawled out on the sofa with a favourite book after work that evening.
Tristan looked up at the sound of the less familiar voice and smiled. “Watch it, you young whipper-snapper” he laughed, jumping up to greet him.
Tristan glanced at the clock. “They’re working you hard at that garage” he said in surprise. “Enjoying it?”
Edward nodded, collapsing onto the sofa and putting his feet up. “Exhausted, but yes. I’m grateful to Siegfried, really I am. But give me a difficult engine over a grumpy sow any day” he replied.
“I thought my brother was the grumpy one around here. Still as irascible as ever, I take it?” Tristan said with a smirk.
“Oh don’t worry, he still has his moments” replied James, joining them in the sitting room. “Though l will admit to seeing a different side to him more often now”.
He laughed as Edward discreetly raised an eyebrow. “Well, some of the time” he corrected with a wry smile. “What happened to your letters?” he asked Tristan, changing the subject. “Your despatches from the front were one of our few sources of entertainment”.
Tristan looked down, rubbing Jess’ fur. “Ran out of things I wanted to say” he shrugged after a pause.
Edward glanced at him knowingly. He’d seen that look before.
He’d felt it.
“Scotch?” he suggested.
“I reckon you could persuade me” agreed Tristan with a nod as he cleared his throat.
“Only if you’re letting me join you” came a firm reply as Siegfried joined them. Edward nodded, jumping up to do the honours.
“Ma?” Edward looked over towards where his mother was clearing the last of the table. “Will you join us?” he asked, gesturing towards the drinks.
“Oh go on then” she smiled, putting the placemats away. “Just a small one”.
She took a moment to savour the room as she looked round. Siegfried, James, Edward … Tris. All home and safe.
She would enjoy it while it lasted. She too had overheard how clearly Tristan had wanted to change the subject, and how his recent letters had been lacking their usual gusto.
***
The following week quickly passed by as Tristan slotted back into the Skeldale routine. Lambs were born, pets were treated and Tristan found himself inevitably drawn into the familiar territorial disputes between his brother and James.
It was while the three of them were ensconced with a customer one afternoon that Helen looked out to see a commotion growing in the square.
“Audrey … Audrey! Put the wireless on” she called, running into Skeldale’s kitchen with the children. “I think it’s happened”.
Audrey quickly dried her hands and turned up the sound. She met Helen’s gaze, tears in their eyes as they listened. Jimmy and Rosie simply watched in silence, Jimmy holding on to his little sister’s hand. They might have been too young to understand what was being said, but even they could feel this was something important, that something had shifted around them.
Audrey looked up as Siegfried came crashing through the back door, Jess barking around his heels.
For a moment, their eyes simply met across the room.
“It’s over” she whispered, tears falling as he quickly crossed the room, pulling her into a hug. “It’s finally over”.
He nodded with a smile, holding her tight.
Any remaining plans for the afternoon were quickly forgotten as Darrowby’s celebrations continued long into the night.
Looking out at the square, Tristan and Edward glanced behind them as they heard Skeldale’s front door open. As Siegfried appeared, he handed them both a drink before raising his glass.
“The good stuff?” Edward asked
“Only the best” he replied with a nod.
Tristan slowly took a sip, and paused. “It’s mine isn’t it?” he asked with a knowing chuckle.
“Very good of you” replied Siegfried. Edward laughed. Even three years later, the novelty of family life and banter at Skeldale could still take him by surprise.
Siegfried watched them both proudly. It hadn’t been an easy few years for any of them, least of all these two. But for now at least, they had come through it.
“Audrey and I stood on this spot” he sighed, “wondering if we would ever hear the bells ring again. She said we should be grateful for what we have” he added, his hand on Edward’s shoulder.
How much had changed, in their lives alone, since Audrey had said that.
“But we have to fight for it too. Not just be grateful” said Tristan, with a determination that caught Edward’s attention. Looking over towards him, he again took a moment to observe his expression. There was more to this than a simple determination to learn from the war, he was sure of it.
“Go on” said Siegfried, interrupting his thoughts. “Go and enjoy yourselves. We’ll join you in a moment”.
He watched as Tristan and Edward headed over towards the Drovers, passing Helen as she sat with James by the fire.
He saw young Jimmy and Rosie happily playing with their Auntie Jenny. Neither had been willing to go to bed, and in the circumstances, who would have been prepared to argue with them, he smiled with a chuckle.
But his gaze then passed briefly over to Sister Rose, standing to one side with her newest foster child. A quiet little girl, who could barely have been older than four or five. Clutching her well-loved doll, and all alone in the world apart from the kindness of strangers. Siegfried’s expression dropped. Not everyone had been so fortunate, he thought sadly.
With a sigh, he looked lovingly as Audrey appeared by his side. “It’s a brave new world. Shall we, Mrs Farnon?” he asked, holding out his arm for her.