‘Yes, please,’ said Lily, ‘but first I need to speak to Vera.’

Tom leaned against the church wall and watched Lily, smart in a new cream suit that emphasized her slim figure. Their relationship had developed during the past few months and they were clearly viewed as an ‘item’ in the village. However, there was still something holding Lily back. He sensed she loved him as much as he loved her, but she was cautious when he spoke of a future together. A life shared with this beautiful woman was his dream and he knew he had to be patient.

Meanwhile, it was clear that an animated conversation was taking place. He saw Vera nodding vigorously and saying, ‘Yes, perfect.’

When Lily returned to Tom she was smiling.

‘So, shall we go?’ he asked.

‘We need to call in at school first, if you don’t mind.’

Tom drove into the car park and Lily hurried into school. He was surprised to see her reappear carrying a large teddy bear. ‘What on earth …?’

Lily climbed into the passenger seat. ‘Now, please can you stop on the High Street outside the General Stores? I won’t be long.’

Tom nodded, perplexed but happy to go along with whatever she was doing.

When Lily knocked on the rear door of the General Stores, Prudence stared wide-eyed at her.

‘This is for you, Prudence,’ she said. ‘Someone who needs a friend and a good home. He was in America during the war, but he can’t go back there. I spoke to Vera and she agreed you were the perfect person to look after him.’

For a moment Lily thought Prudence would burst into tears, but she took the teddy bear and hugged him. ‘Thank you so much.’

Little did she know then it was to be the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

It was getting dark when Prudence finally found the perfect place for her teddy bear. There was a shelf above the shop counter alongside a tin of loose-leaf Lyon’s Tea and an old advertisement for Hudson’s Soap and Carter’s Little Liver Pills. Here he could watch the world go by and meet all the customers.

Prudence stared at the bear for a long time. You could do with some smart clothes, she thought.

Late in the evening she was sitting at her dining table, her Singer sewing machine tapping out its regular pattern as a fine blue jacket took shape.

She sat back and smiled, and the teddy bear appeared to smile back at her. ‘You need a name,’ Prudence murmured to herself.

Then she nodded. She had made a decision. She gave a deep sigh and her eyes were soft with an everlasting sadness.

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I shall call you Jeremy.’

Chapter Fourteen

Shed Heaven