A Mother Forever by Elaine Everest (free children's online books txt) 📕

there was anything inside. It was empty. All that remained scattered on the bed was a broken brooch and a faded letter, sent long ago, informing her of Bert’s death while on duty. Ruby sank to her knees and sobbed into the eiderdown bedspread.

‘My goodness, whatever is it?’ Stella asked as she hurried into the bedroom, closely followed by Frank. They both helped Ruby to her feet and sat her down on the bed.

‘Mum told me only hours ago that in this box I would find some money to put towards burying her. She’d also hidden some savings she’d been keeping after Eddie took mine.’ She felt ashamed to have to say to these two good people that her husband could not be trusted.

‘Go downstairs and stick the kettle on the hob, love,’ Stella instructed Frank. ‘We will be down shortly, once Ruby is feeling better.’

Frank looked as though the last thing he wanted to do was leave Ruby while she was upset, but he gave her a sympathetic nod and did as he was told.

Before saying a word, Stella picked up the box, putting a few items inside and placing it on a nearby chest of drawers. Pulling the eiderdown up around Ruby’s shoulders to comfort and keep her warm, she sat down next to her and placed an arm around her. ‘I don’t want to interfere in what goes on behind a husband and wife’s front door, as that is their business. You could tell me to go home if you want? But I get the feeling your Eddie is a bit of a wrong’n and has taken your mum’s money.’

Ruby could only nod before taking a deep breath to say: ‘He’s never been good with money. It’s all my fault; I should’ve hidden our savings somewhere safer. Mum caught him poking about in the pantry and managed to take some of the money and hide it in her room, along with her own. I can only think that when he heard her tell me at the hospital where she’d put her money, he came home and took it.’ She dissolved into tears once again. ‘Whatever am I going to do? I haven’t got a penny to bury Mum. He’s taken it all, and to use one of Mum’s favourite sayings, I haven’t got a pot to piss in.’

7

‘Don’t be too angry, Frank,’ Stella said as she placed his breakfast in front of him. ‘No one knows what goes on in the privacy of someone’s home.’

Frank thumped his fist on the table, making cutlery jump and cups rattle on their saucers. Stella grabbed the teapot as it wobbled. She’d given her spare one to Ruby so had to be careful, as she didn’t trust her lot not to break this one. If they did she’d have to use her best teapot, which had been a wedding present.

‘We did know about Eddie, though,’ Frank said in frustration. ‘Look at how many jobs he’s had in the month or so since the Caseltons have lived in the road. Didn’t I tell you only the other day he’d been given the boot from the coalyard for stealing and fiddling coal deliveries?’

Stella sank into the spare seat next to her eldest son. ‘Knowing something about the man and having a say about it to Ruby are not the same thing. What if she knew what he was up to and wasn’t bothered? I’m only saying,’ she added quickly, as Frank glared at her. She knew her son was very fond of Ruby, but of course nothing could come of it – Ruby was a married woman with a child. Even if her husband did walk out on her, she was still married. It would have been lovely to have a daughter-in-law like Ruby, Stella thought wistfully.

‘I must do something for her.’ Frank pushed his plate away, leaving food uneaten. ‘I’m going to offer her some money. It won’t go far, but it will help with the funeral costs. The last thing she needs is to see Mrs Tomkins going into a pauper’s grave.’

‘I can chip in a bit. I’m sure your dad won’t mind. He’s got a soft spot for Ruby and the lad. It’s bad enough Ruby couldn’t bury Sarah herself, let alone see her mum go into an unmarked grave.’

‘Sarah?’

‘Eat the rest of that while I tell you,’ she said, pushing the plate back in front of him before starting to explain.

‘Bloody hell, I had no idea. I’m ashamed to say that once she was over the birth, I gave no thought to what happened – you know, with the body. I’m sorry,’ he said, not able to look at his mother.

‘Don’t apologize. It’s the way of the world, and most of us wouldn’t think twice about such a thing unless it affected us. It worked out well in the end, and that’s what counts. I’m more concerned with what happens next in Ruby’s life. She will need to be making arrangements for a funeral today as well as wondering about her future.’

‘I’m going to go over there and see what I can do to help. Even if it’s to take George off her hands for the day while she does what has to be done. Why don’t you sit and talk to her while the kid’s out of the way? You always give good advice, and she will need a shoulder to cry on, with that Eddie having done a bunk.’ Even to speak Eddie’s name gave Frank a bad taste in his mouth. Why would a man treat a woman in such a way? He knew that if Ruby was his wife, he’d treat her like a precious jewel. For him, Ruby was exactly the right name for the woman he admired. Worried his mother could read his thoughts, he got to his feet and announced: ‘I’m going over there now. I’ll get word to the depot manager that I’ll not be in work