Until We Meet Again (31 page)

Personally, they had a great deal for which to be thankful. They were busy furnishing and decorating their little home to their own taste. The bookshop had opened in the spring and was proving very popular with local people and with visitors to the town. Another reason for rejoicing was the news Dominic had received, only a few days earlier, that his novel had been accepted by a publisher in London. The book was called, quite simply,
Nocturne
, and told the story of love lost and found; of a young woman, who was a concert pianist, and a young fisherman, in a fishing village which bore quite a resemblance to Scarborough. There was no mention of war and fighting. Dominic hoped that it would bring a welcome touch of happiness and escapism after the horror of the war.

The best news of all, though, was that the
young couple were expecting their first child in December.

Uncle Percy’s Pierrots had been started up again, but who could tell for how long? They were all older, of course, and sadder and wiser, too, as Percy Morgan remarked, after the traumas of the war. But he had been determined that they should take up their position on the North Bay for one more season at least. Once again, as it had been in the special performance at the start of the war, Maddy Moon had been invited to sing as a guest artiste; and her husband, Freddie Nicholls, too, although he had needed to brush up on his tricks as ‘Conjuror Extraordinaire’.

The Moon family were there in force on a summer evening in July. Faith and William; Jessie, Arthur and Gregory, with Amy, who could hardly contain her excitement at watching both her parents performing; Patrick and Katy, who had left little Tommy at home in the care of a neighbour; Tilly and Dominic; and Hetty, Samuel and Angela, not yet a family, but there were signs that they might be before very long.

The acts were pretty much the mixture as before. Barney and Benjy, the Dancing Duo; Nancy and her performing dogs, although neither of the little terriers were quite as sprightly and bouncy as they had been in the past; Susannah and Frank,
with a medley of light-hearted songs and music; Pete and Percy, the funny men; Jeremy Jarvis, the ventriloquist; Freddie, the conjuror, who had lost none of his dexterity; and Maddy Moon, who was still, it appeared, everyone’s favourite entertainer.

She received rapturous applause following her song, ‘Scarborough Fair’, without which no performance of hers would be complete. And the audience cheered as she started to sing her last song, one that had become very popular during the last days of the war: ‘Till We Meet Again’.

She held out her arms to the audience, inviting them to sing along in the final chorus.

Tilly and Dominic, holding hands, looked at one another and smiled.

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M
ARGARET
T
HORNTON
was born in Blackpool and has lived there all her life. She was a teacher for many years but retired early in order to concentrate on writing. She has had twenty novels published.

Above the Bright Blue Sky

Down an English Lane

A True Love of Mine

Remember Me

Until We Meet Again

Time Goes By

Life for Maisie Jackson has been far from happy for a number of years - ever since her mother re-married after her beloved father’s death, and her new stepfather and stepbrother moved into their small terraced house in Armley, Leeds. Suffering abuse at her cruel stepbrother’s hand, and mercilessly tormented by her stepfather, Maisie dreams of escaping to a new life far away. And it seems her dreams are about to come true.

It is 1939 and war is suddenly looming dark on the horizon. For many, with memories of the ‘war to end all wars’ still fresh in their minds, this is a horrific and frightening prospect. But for nine-year-old Maisie, it represents her longed-for chance of freedom - maybe she’ll be evacuated to the countryside, to one of the places her father used to tell her about?

As the the small market town of Middlebeck in the Yorkshire dales prepares for the arrival of the evacuees, many of the villagers ponder on how they will cope with this sudden influx of visitors. But they are all determined to pull together and welcome the strangers with open arms, eager to ‘do their bit’ for the war effort. In this time of trouble, when life suddenly seems so precious and vulnerable, true and lasting friendships are formed and love blossoms as the dark cloud of war eventually clears to the bright blue sky of a hopeful future.

It is 1945 and the charming market town of Middlebeck is thriving once more. For fifteen-year-old Maisie Jackson, life could not be better; school is going well, her best friend Audrey is a constant source of fun and Maisie’s mum is finally free from the cruel clutches of her now ex-husband. Best of all, Bruce Tremaine, who Maisie had been corresponding with throughout the war, is due back any day now. With unfamiliar butterflies in her stomach as she daydreams of Bruce’s arrival, Maisie tries to still her restless heart and can’t help wondering if this is what it feels like to be in love?

Her teenage euphoria doesn’t last long, however, as when her sweetheart finally arrives, he has a ‘friend’ in tow - the beautiful and determined Christine Myerscough. Determined, that is, to make herself Bruce’s wife.

Feeling crushed and betrayed, Maisie throws herself into other aspects of her life and takes on new challenges in order to take her mind off her broken heart. She soon realises that her life needn’t be confined to Middlebeck and there are many opportunities in the wide world for someone with her ambition.

Having found her calling and proven herself a success, Maisie convinces herself she is over her young love. But has Bruce forgotten about her?

It is August 1900 and ten-year-old Maddy Moon is relishing the prospect of a long summer in Scarborough stretching out ahead of her.

While watching the Pierrot shows on the beach, she meets and befriends another young girl, Jessie, who is holidaying in Scarborough for the summer. Maddy is enjoying having someone to show around, relieved that the ‘family business’, Isaac Moon & Son, Undertakers, has not put Jessie off.

But all is not well in the Moon household. Stern-faced Bella Randall, assistant to the Moon’s family business, has a dark past and a mysterious hold over Maddy’s father. Maddy distrusts the woman and it isn’t long before her summer of ice-creams and sunshine is followed by heartache and loss. Long buried secrets threaten to ruin the Moon family and only time will tell if they can escape the trappings of the past and move towards a rosier future.

1907. William Moon’s heart swells with pride at the achievements of his daughter, Maddy. When, at eleven, she won the talent contest held by the Pierrots on Scarborough beach, William knew it wouldn’t be long before she asked to join their touring company. Now that day has come; his talented young daughter has grown into a fine young woman – beautiful, and with a voice so pure it would make angels weep. And William isn’t the only man to notice…

As Maddy journeys around the north of England with Morgan’s Melody Makers, she makes new friends everywhere she goes. Now seventeen, she is eager to take her first steps along the road to love. But, as she is to discover, the course of true love never did run smooth, and her heart is taken on a bumpy ride as she experiences the highs and lows, the rapture and the heartache, of falling in love for the first time. Will her dreams of romance and happy ever after come true?