Trailing her hand along the intricate carving along the old desk, and sighing deeply, Delyth knew she had to sort out her late father’s affairs. Never having been allowed to use it, a feeling of guilt flowed over her. Straightening her shoulders, placing the key into the top drawer, her search began.
Soon engrossed in his papers, memories crowded in. A receipt for a hotel they stayed at every year, growing up. Her wedding receipts for everything from the dress to the reception. A smile touched her lips. Going through the other drawers were more he had kept, so many things that touched her heart.
A slim drawer in the centre was one she had never seen before. She pulled gently at the drawer, but it stuck. Glancing around, she saw a small key on the ring that looked as though it might fit. It did. Laying in the drawer was a file. Gingerly, her hand stroked it gently, and she lifted it out. Puzzled, she saw her name was on the front. Opening it, she gasped. Her adoption papers stared back at her.
Tears flowed as she tried to take in the documents before her. Shock had her shaking as she turned the pages. Joan Thomas was listed as her natural mother. Racking her brain, she knew she had heard that name before, but where!!
Turning the pages, all became clear. Joan was her mother’s long-lost sister. She had only been spoken of in whispers. None of them ever talked to her but they must have known. All her life she had been lied to. Anger, pain, disappointment, bewilderment crashed down on her. When she came to the back pages, there was an envelope. Inside was a photo of a young girl holding a baby. On the back was written Joan and Delyth 1953.
A note fell out:
My darling girl,
If you are reading this, your parents have passed away. Sorry for deserting you but I knew our Marge would give you a better life than I could. Being fifteen, I thought I was madly in love with a scoundrel who disappeared as soon as I told him about you. My world fell apart. I was sent to stay with relatives away from the village. After your birth, your mum and dad came to pick you up. Many years of travelling around occurred and never a day passed when I didn’t think of you. I’m emigrating now to Australia to find a new life. You will always be in my heart and I wish you a happy life.
Love Joan xx
Now dry-eyed, Delyth was torn. There was no date on the letter, no way to find her, and did she really want to? She had a lovely life. Did she want to open this can of worms?
