Listen, love, Ive got a little tale from the old Yorkshire village of Willowbrook, and I think youll enjoy it. Its about Fred, a quiet, stoic bloke who never shed a tear at his wife Zinnias funeral.
Tess, his nosy neighbour, leaned over and whispered, See? I told you he never loved Zinnia. Tess kept her voice low, Shh, what does it matter now? Their kids are left as orphans with a dad like that. Lily, always the chatterbox, piped up, Youll see, hell end up marrying Kate soon enough.
Tying the knot with Kate? Whats she to him? Hes always had his eyes on Gwen, wasnt he? Tess retorted. Remember how they used to wander the haylofts together? Lily scoffed, Kate wont even think of him; shes got a family of her own and has long since forgotten him.
Do you really know? Tess asked. Lily nodded. Kates husband is a big-shot in the agricultural board, so why would she need Fred and his brood? Shes practical. Meanwhile, Gwen is still tangled up with her lover, Mick, and theyll be the ones spinning romance around.
Zinnia was laid to rest, the children clinging tightly to each others hands. Mitch and Polly were just eight then. Zinnia had married Fred out of a great love, but whether Fred ever loved her was a mystery to everyone in the village. Folks said shed gotten pregnant, forcing Fred into the marriage. Their first child, a little girl named Kitty, was born seven months early, lived a short time, and then the couple went childless for years.
Fred was always somber and taciturn, earning him the nickname Grim. He was stingy with words, even stingier with affectionno one knew that better than Zinnia. Still, the good Lord took pity on her. She prayed a lot, and the heavens gave her twins: Polly and Mitch.
Mitch took after his mothersoft, compassionate, always ready to help. Polly, on the other hand, inherited her fathers stubborn silence, locking herself behind a wall of quiet. She never let anyone in, and no one could guess what went on in her head. Yet she was closer to Fred, because their temperaments matched.
Whenever Fred was mending a fence or chopping wood in the barn, Polly would flutter around him, listening to his stories and trying to learn about life. Mitch stayed by his mothers side, sweeping the floor or hauling water with his tiny bucketsmall help, but help nonetheless. Zinnia adored both children, but she never quite understood Polly, while she was head over heels for Mitch.
When Zinnia lay dying, she whispered to Mitch, Listen, lad, Ill be gone soon. Youll be the man of the house now. Look after your sistershes weaker, shell need your protection.
What about dad? Mitch asked.
Zinnia frowned, What? You think hell protect us?
Will dad keep us safe?
I dont know, son. Time will tell.
Then dont go, please. How will we live without you? Mitch sobbed.
Zinnia sighed, If it were up to me, Id stay. But thats not how things work. By morning, she was gone. Fred sat beside his wife, holding her hand, not a single tear or word escaping his lips. He just slumped, his shoulders hunched, as if the world had turned a shade darker.
Life slowly slipped back into its routine. Polly took on the housework, trying to cook and tidy the cottage, though she was still a youngster. Freds sister, Nell, would pop in often, helping Polly with chores and teaching her the ropes.
Hey, Polly, did you hear that Dad might remarry? Nell asked one afternoon.
I dont know whats on his mind, Aunt Nell, Polly replied, He wont tell me.
Nell had her own familyher husband Victor and their kids. If anything happens, well take you in, she added, though she quickly reassured Polly that their dad loved them and wouldnt let anyone hurt them.
Around the village, gossip started buzzing about Fred and Gwen rekindling their old flame. Gwens gone off her rocker again, whispering with Fred, Tess muttered at the village shop. Shes forgotten her own family, the other women snickered.
The collective farms chairman, Maxwell Leighton, snapped them shut, Enough of that idle chatter. You know nothing about your neighbours. He defended Fred, saying love can make people do wild things.
Indeed, Fred and Gwen had once been madly in love, the kind you write novels about. But Fred was sent off to a faroff county to help struggling farms, staying two months away while Gwen got involved with Mick Cherry, a reckless rogue. When Fred returned, he confronted Mick and cut ties with Gwen for good. Gwen eventually married Mick, who turned out to be a terrible husbanddrinking, fighting, and leaving her in tears.
After that, the village started noticing how Fred seemed to favor Zinnia. She blossomed like a bluebell in spring, and everyone remarked on how radiant she looked.
Zinnia had loved Fred from the start, keeping quiet about it, but life has its twists. They eventually married in a modest ceremony at the village council hall. Freds only close relative present was Nell, while Zinnias only surviving family was her elderly mother, whod given birth to Zinnia late in life. The village elders guessed who her mother had been with, but kept quiet. The local magistrate, Victor Proctor, presided over the wedding. Zinnias mother, a striking lady named Octavia, never married herself and was often the talk of the villagewomen fawned over her, but Zinnia never liked her for that.
The villagers pitied Zinnia, especially after she married Fred. He doesnt love her, muttered old Mrs. Perkins, shaking her head, Shell spend her whole life suffering. Yet, strangely, Fred proved faithful, and the villagers were convinced you could hide a secret in a tiny hamlet.
Fred and Zinnia lived together for fifteen years without a single quarrel. As time went on, the village settled down, until Zinnia fell gravely ill last winter. It turned out she had a terrible disease with no curea hopeless situation.
One day Fred was returning from the fields when Gwen, holding a tin of scones, called out, Fred, can I pop over for a bit? I baked some for the kids.
No thanks, Gwen. Weve already got scones from Nell, he replied.
Its from the heart, Fred, she insisted.
My sisters heart too, he said.
Lets meet by the mill at dusk, she pressed.
What for? Fred asked.
Dont you remember what we had? Gwen blurted.
What we had is long gone, Fred said. I love my children, I love Zinnia.
Cant bring her back now, Gwen whispered.
Love never dies, Fred replied.
You never loved her. You married her just to spite me.
Gwen, go home, Fred said softly, turning toward his cottage where his children waited. Gwen stood alone in the village lane, the wind tugging at her coat.
Years slipped by, the kids grew up. Aunt Nell still visited, now fully aware that her brother was a onelove man, devoted to his late wife.
Polly, I heard youre seeing Graham Vorn, Nell said as she stepped over the threshold.
Yes. So what? Polly replied, blushing.
Just watch out, Nell warned. Youre not a child anymore.
I love him, Aunt Nell. Im sure its forever.
Ill believe it when I see it, Nell teased.
Even if Graham betrays me, I wont love anyone else again, Polly declared.
Thats the spirit, Nell smiled.
One evening, Mitch and Polly waited for their dad to come home from work.
Dads late again, Mitch muttered.
Its Friday, Polly added.
He always goes to Mums grave on Wednesdays, Fridays, and weekends, Mitch said, eyebrows shooting up.
How do you know? Polly asked.
Youre clueless, Mitch, he teased.
They crept to the tiny village cemetery, Polly leading the way through the garden hedges.
Look over there, she whispered, pointing at a hunched figure.
Mitch strained to hear. He caught a faint voice, Zinnia, its all right. Soon Polly will marry, and Ive saved enough dowry with Nells help. Well live quietly, you know. Forgive me for the few tender words I never said while alive. My heart has spoken louder than my tongue.
Freds raspy voice faded as he walked toward the gate. Polly stared at Mitch, tears welling up in his brothers eyes.
And thats where the story leaves usjust a quiet village, a steadfast father, his children holding onto each other, and a love that, even after death, still whispers through the wind. I thought youd like the old Willowbrook drama. Talk soon, love.
