Huw and Megan: A Story of Lost Letters and Family Secrets

Chapter 7: Time to Decide

Megan’s letter had turned Huw’s world upside down. He remembered how alone he had felt when no letter had arrived from Megan all those years ago. In Toronto, he had had enough money to go back to Wales, but he hadn’t gone. He believed that Megan no longer loved him and had forgotten him.

Huw and his father had worked hard in their new country at a factory that made cars, and his father had stopped drinking. His father died 80 years ago. Huw was a well-known artist, paid thousands of dollars for his art. He was featured in Time magazine. He drew some ships because he wanted to take a ship and go to Wales.

Chapter 8: Telling Beth

On Saturday, Megan drove out of Tredonald to Cardiff to Beth’s house for lunch. Paul was her present and future, and for the second time in her life, she was making plans to get married. After they’d finished eating, Megan took some of Huw’s letters from her handbag, put them on the table, and said, "Huw Thomas is your father!"

They spoke about the hidden letters to her grandparents, explaining that he wanted her to go to college. Beth asked if she had told him about her, but Megan said no; she wanted Huw to know about her on his own terms.

Chapter 9: A Second Letter

Beth wrote a letter to Huw saying, "I know that my mother wrote to you. It is not easy for me to read to you, but I am your daughter." She was born on November 14th, 1946, seven months after he left Tredonald. The dates were right! Huw told this to Rebecca and Mike.

Chapter 10: Writing Back

Two weeks later, it was Megan’s turn to receive a letter from Huw. It said: "Thank you for writing to me, but why didn’t you tell me about Beth? Did you marry? Did Beth grow up with a father?" He also received a photo of Beth in the shop.

Chapter 11: Family Revelations

Huw, Mike, and Rebecca discussed the news. Mike said that Beth is his half-sister and noted that life was very difficult in Wales when they left. Huw decided he isn't going to stay there; his home is in Canada, and his work and his son are there. He traveled from Tredonald to London but did not write to Beth and Megan about this. A barman told him the mine closed about 15 years ago.

Chapter 12: A New Start

Huw rang Megan. He was staying at the Rose and Crown outside Tredonald. "I am happy you are here," he said. Megan walked at seven o'clock to the Tredonald Arms Hotel. Huw was sitting in a big armchair opposite her. She was a slim woman with grey hair and a strong face; he was a tall, handsome man whose face was brown from the sun.

She explained about Beth and her three sons in a saddened voice. They enjoyed a fine evening with fresh air, walking down to the river. She said that she often goes down to the mine now because most of the tours are done by the older miners. She also mentioned Paul Anderson, her friend.