Lillydale - Returning Home

By Sharon Elliott

Lillydale - Returning Home. A tale that spans generations.
Emily Ryan takes a road trip to her grandparents' home town of Adelong where she unexpectedly finds a property she wants to buy, but the house requires extensive renovations.
Emily finds an old diary written by Laura, beginning in the 1920s. Emily embarks on a journey of discovery as she reads about Laura's loves and losses.
A neighbour, Chad, helps Emily renovate and they begin dating, but Chad must cut ties with his ex-wife.
What will the diary reveal that connects two women in ways they could not imagine and, will Chad break free of his ex-wife?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sharon Elliott
• Release date: Jan 6, 2024
• ISBN: 9780645861709

Sharon Elliott

About Author After the death of two loved ones in 2017, I began my writing journey with my mother's story which I called Rose – The Last Straw under the pen name Jaime Wren and published through a hybrid publisher called Tellwell Publishing. Following a steep learning curve, I now have a collection of eBooks and print novels under my name: Sharon Elliott, which I have written, designed the covers for, and self-published. I grew up in Sydney, Australia and country NSW then worked in Sydney before moving to the Riverina, then Nambucca Heads on the mid north coast of NSW. I now live in sunny Queensland with my fur family and continue to write. You can follow me on my Facebook Page: Sharon Elliott Author, Instagram; Shazzell4, Pininterest:  Shazza's Books. my Payhip store: SHARONELLIOTTEBOOKSTORE Amazon.com.au Lulu.com bookstore, apple books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, scribd Draft2Digital: Smashwords, Vivlio, Tolino, Gardener, Everand, Borrowbox Australian National Library and State Libraries

Book preview

Adelong

As she removed the sheets covering the furniture, a sheet caught on the side table. Emily tugged, and the sheet came free, but a piece of the table clattered to the floor. She thought she had broken the side of the table.

Looking closer, she realised it was a hidden panel that had come off. Peering in, she saw an old book sitting in the opening. Emily reached in and retrieved the book. She felt the soft padded leather under her fingertips as the smell of age permeated the air. Turning the book over in her hands, she studied its cover. Embossed on the front cover were the letters L.L.D.

A ribbon held together the book. She undid the ribbon, opened the cover, and gently turned the pages.

She noticed the changes in writing from childhood to adulthood. Then, pieces of correspondence glued randomly within the pages caught her attention.

She returned to the inside cover and read the inscription.

"Dear Laura,

Happy Ninth Birthday

17 November 1929

We hope happiness fills the pages.

Love from

Mumma and Poppa"

Emily redid the bow and placed the book aside. A nervous excitement built in the pit of her stomach. What a wonderful find, a diary from 1929.

Emily

Chapter 1

The yard was too quiet without her grandfather. Emily went to the back door and knocked before entering. Gran, it's me. She walked through the house to find her grandmother sitting on her bed looking at a photo of herself and her husband, William. At Emily's soft knock, Annie looked up. Her eyes were red and glistened with unshed tears.

Aww, Gran, Emily sat beside her grandmother and took her in her arms.

I miss William so much, Emily. All our years together, I don't know how to live without him.

How long were you married?

Forty years and now he's gone!

That is a long time to be with someone. Take it one day at a time, Gran. Mum, Daisy and I are here for you. She patted Daisy's head before her pug rested her stubby snout across her gran's slippers and whimpered.

I don't know what I would do without you and Katie. You know I love you very much, Pet.

I love you just as much, Gran. She squeezed her gran's hand gently.

Come to the kitchen and I'll make a pot of tea.

Okay, Love, that sounds wonderful. Placing the framed photo back on the nightstand, her fingers trailed across her husband's face as though she couldn't bear to lose even that contact.

Emily took her grandmother's hand as they walked to the kitchen. Her gran was listless, and her pace had slowed considerably since her husband's death.

Have a seat while the kettle boils, Gran. Emily busied herself with warming the pot, adding tea leaves, and getting out the China, milk, sugar, and some cookies. Despite her gran's grief now, Emily hoped, one day, she would find a love like her grandparents had shared.

With the tea poured, they sat together, and her grandmother patted her hand.

You are a good girl, Emily. Thank you.

Emily squeezed the frail hand. Drinking their tea at the table brought back fond memories, and Emily smiled.

What are you thinking to make you smile like that, Em?

I was remembering when I was younger and came here after school. I enjoyed those times. Grandpa's hearty cuddles and sitting with you eating cookies with a glass of cordial, and Grandpa's stories of your lives. He always made us laugh. Then I did my homework at the table before Mum arrived after she finished work. They are memories I hold dear, Gran.

I do too, Pet.

Just then the sun reflected off the window of her caravan catching Emily's eye.

She glanced up. For the past four years, her caravan sat in her grandparents' yard. The blistering summer sun has faded the bright yellow painted strip under the window. It did not seem that long since she bought the van and asked her grandparents if she could move into their yard while she saved to buy a home of her own. Emily and her parents worried about her aging grandparents, but they were proud people and Emily's request was part of a strategy to monitor them better. The elderly couple wanted her to move into the house, but she preferred her independence and give them space, yet still be there for them.

It had been an excellent decision. One Emily never regretted, especially now, as she was very concerned about her grandmother. Six months on, and she still struggled.

After a comforting cup of tea, Annie was in a happier frame of mind. They washed their teacups while they continued chatting. What are you doing today, Gran?

My friends want me to go to Bingo with them and I think I will call them now to say I will go.

That's good, it'll do you good to go out and be social.

What have you got planned for the day, Em?

I'll be working on my online business, then take Daisy for her walk. You have a good day. Emily kissed her grandmother's cheek and took Daisy out the back door.

Emily felt the day's heat subsiding. She realised she had spent most of the day on the computer on the patio as she sat back and stretched. The action brought Daisy to her feet. How about a walk now, Daisy?

The mention of her name and the word walk got Daisy's attention, and she danced around Emily's feet in anticipation.

"Okay, wait a minute. Where is your lead?" Daisy knew that word too and let out a woof, causing Emily to laugh as she packed away the computer.

Emily tied her long brown hair in a pigtail. Daisy was impatient, looking at Emily with soulful brown eyes in her round pug face as her donut shaped tail wagged.

As she left the caravan, Emily automatically expected her grandfather's usual greeting: Hello Love, how are you today? He would say as he tended his garden.

Then Emily remembered she would no longer hear his greeting.

Daisy stood at the gate until Emily opened it, then Daisy dashed out when she saw Annie at the letterbox looking through her mail.

Emily closed the gate as Daisy propelled her forward.

Off for your daily walk?

Yes, Gran, how was your day?

Good thank you. Her voice sounded flat.

I come in when I get back. I doubt we will walk too far in this wind.

Daisy stretched the lead, keen to leave. Emily began walking at Daisy's brisk pace, enjoying their daily walk in the fresh air. Feeling invigorated by the sun on her skin, she took in the sights and harmonies of nature, although the wind was chilly and strong. Twenty minutes later, Daisy slowed her pace as they returned to the house, and Emily knocked on the back door of her grandparents' home.

She entered and found her grandmother wandering around the house, unable to settle without her husband there.

Anything on television, Gran?

Probably.

Let's have a look. I will turn it on, then make us another cuppa. Sit in your chair and I'll bring in the tea.

Okay. Annie sat in front of a game show, but her gaze lifted to the urn on the mantelpiece, and she sighed.

Once Emily made the tea, she set up a tray, took it to her grandmother, and poured the tea. Her gran's eyes were still on the urn.

Emily's grandparents wanted to be buried in their hometown. Emily promised she would take them back to Adelong.

Emily watched her grandmother. She no longer had the same energy after William died.

What are you having for dinner? Emily asked.

Maybe a cup-a-soup.

Gran, that is not healthy, do you want me to cook you something?

No thank you, Love, I'm not hungry.

You need to eat, Gran. I'll buy some Sustagen from the chemist for you. At least it is nutritious and easy to add to milk. Her grandmother's gaze remained fixed on the urn.

Chapter 2

Between Kate and Emily, they tried to boost Annie's spirits by keeping her company and providing nourishing meals.

It was after Easter the following year when Emily made her usual morning check on her grandmother and found her still in bed, which was very rare.

Going to her Gran, Emily became fearful that Annie was not just sleeping. She called her name softly and gently shook her shoulder with no response, then she searched for a pulse.

Emily dialled 000 and asked for an ambulance, then dialled her mother.

Mum, you better come over.

What's the matter Emily, you sound distraught. Is it Mum?"

I'm afraid so, I think Gran has passed away.

No! Not Mum too!

As Emily hung up, the tears flowed. She knelt by her grandmother and held her hand while stroking her forehead.

Oh, Gran, I love you and I'm going to miss you so much.

Just as Emily heard the siren, her mother arrived and went directly to Annie.

The paramedics came to the door.

My grandmother has passed away. I will take you to her.  They followed Emily and confirmed Annie had passed and later, as they wheeled the stretcher out, Kate and Emily said their tearful goodbyes.

Emily could not bear to stay at her Gran's, so she and Daisy stayed with her parents that night.

Emily drove her mother to the funeral directors the next day. Another funeral in such a brief time span.

I know, Love, both my parents are gone now.

At least we know they are together again and not suffering. Gran was very unhappy without Pa.

Mum was losing the will to live. I miss them.

I do too, Mum. Emily reached across to take her mother's hand.

When they arrived, they shook hands with the Funeral Director who they knew from William's funeral. Sorry for your loss.

Thank you. Both women took a seat opposite him and confirmed the pre-plan, adding a few of their own touches regarding the booklet and photo to be used.

On the day of the funeral Emily dressed carefully while she brushed away her tears then waited for her parents to pick her up. She hoped her mother was coping okay under the circumstances.

Many of her grandparents' friends attended Annie's funeral.

Emily's father sat between mother and daughter, hugging them as their tears flowed and his own eyes glistened. He liked William and Annie.

A good friend of theirs gave the eulogy. I recall when I went fishing with Bill, Annie was always happy to get him out of the house for a few hours. Bill always caught the smallest fish and had to throw them back, meanwhile mine were ... this ... big. He spread his hands to an exaggerated width, causing a rumble of laughter around the room.

Bill did not want to go home empty-handed, so we had to stop at the seafood shop to buy the biggest brim he could find to take home. I am sure Annie was a wake-up to him, especially if the fish was partly frozen!

Emily laughed through her tears, picturing her grandfather doing just that, and Annie knew, but let him believe he fooled her. They laughed many times over his fishy fishing fiction, and at the wake where friends reminisced, it surprised Emily that it was a happy time rather than sad.

Next, they had to meet with the solicitor regarding Probate. Her grandfather's had been simple enough; he left everything to his wife, but this time they had to pack up the home her mother had grown up in and where Emily spent many happy times. Sifting through years of trinkets and keepsakes of two people they loved dearly was going to be a hard task.

They met with the Solicitor the next day and Emily was stunned as they walked out of the office.

Mum, I can't believe Gran left me half of her entire estate.

It makes perfect sense to me, Love. You were always there for her and Dad. Why wouldn't she?

I don't know, it just seems very generous.

You deserve it, Em. She and Dad were very fond of you, and they wanted you to be settled and happy.

I'm still in shock! Emily expected nothing in return. She helped them because she loved them.

Emily, do you want to keep the house? Your father and I have spoken about it and wanted to give you the opportunity, if you want it?

I can't afford it, Mum.

We can help, especially with money coming in from Mum's Will, can't we Allen?

Yes, we can, if that's what you want, Em.

Thank you for the offer, but I don't want you using your money to help me. You should take holidays overseas and enjoy yourselves after working for so many years. I will be fine.

If you are sure? Her father searched her face for any telltale signs that she was not just saying this, so she did not put them out. Emily maintained steady eye contact, and he seemed satisfied.

Definitely, Dad, but thank you both. Her family was very giving, but sometimes at their own expense.

Emily and her mother began packing up the beloved home, laughing and crying together as they came across sentimental items.

Kate picked up a photo and held it up. Em, do you remember this photo?

Emily sat beside her mother. Yes, I was only little, but we were away with Gran and Pa for a week at Ettalong. Emily leaned into her mother, Oh Mum, how can I forget? It was one of my favourite holidays with them.

That's right, it was a great week. Your father took time off work for a holiday. You built sandcastles with your grandfather, and your father took you swimming while Mum and I sat under an umbrella watching. A surge of emotion hit Katie and tears fell. Emily wiped her own eyes. They laughed at themselves, and Emily returned to the cupboard she was sorting.

*

Emily was at work when she received a call. Is everything okay, Mum?

Sorry to interrupt you at work, but I thought you would want to know, the Funeral Director rang today to say Mum's ashes have returned.

I'll pick Gran up tomorrow and plan to take both Gran and Pa back to Adelong as they wished.

During her lunch break, she rang Tumut Council. A council officer she spoke to allocated a place for the ashes in Adelong Cemetery and faxed through a form for the plaque wording. Emily also looked up a caravan park, and then applied for a two-week holiday.

She sat with her parents the following weekend and struggled with the plaque wording.

This is difficult, Em. How do we condense a lifetime into a few short words?

Well, let's start with the basics. On a notepad she wrote:

William John Blake, aged 75

Anne