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

for me to go home now, before I keep begging you to stay. Will you walk me to the corner?’

‘Of course I will.’ Eddie took her hand and they left the cafe, walking slowly towards Alexandra Road hand in hand. ‘I’d best say my goodbyes here,’ he said. ‘I don’t want anyone to see me standing at your gate. Besides, I don’t think I could bear it. But before I go, I have something to give you.’ He reached into his pocket, pulling out a long Manila envelope. ‘There’s no need to open it now. It’s the deeds to the house, and they’re in your name. It’s what you deserve after what I’ve put you through. There’s no need to say anything. I was owed some money for helping the police, as there was a reward offered for information about the killing of that man, and I had a bit put by. Cedric’s wife and kids were glad of the money, and to be shot of the house. This is yours, with my love.’ He pressed the envelope into her hands.

Ruby fell against his chest. Her heart was breaking. ‘Oh, Eddie, I don’t know what to say. This is a dream come true, but in other ways it’s a nightmare, knowing I won’t see you for so long. You will write to me, won’t you? I’ll explain everything to Frank the moment he’s home from the bookshop.’

Her voice broke as Eddie crushed her in his arms and kissed her until she was breathless. Holding her at arm’s length, he gazed into her face. ‘I want to remember you just as you are right now. I’ll carry the memory with me.’

‘God, I must look a right sight!’

‘You’ll always be beautiful to me, Ruby. Now hurry along home,’ he said, giving her a final gentle kiss.

Ruby hurried along Alexandra Road, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. She didn’t see Stella standing in the bay window of number fourteen, holding Pat in her arms. Turning to look back, she waved to Eddie until he disappeared from sight.

Taking a deep breath, she let herself into the house – still unaware of the frozen look on Stella’s face as her neighbour watched the door of number thirteen close behind the woman she’d thought of as a trusted daughter-in-law.

12

31st October 1917

‘Stella’s resting now. Wilf’s with her, although he’s almost as distraught. I think perhaps you should go over and sit with her, Frank. You need to be with your mum,’ Ruby said gently, placing her hand on his shoulder. The news that morning of Donald Green succumbing to injuries while fighting to defend his country had shocked them all. Stella’s grief was beyond anything Ruby had ever witnessed before. Her screams of distress could be heard across the road, and Ruby had rushed over fearing the worst as she spotted the telegram boy cycle off down the road.

‘I’ll go over now, thanks,’ he said, climbing wearily from his chair. The strong tea Ruby had made for him remained cold on the table. ‘It should’ve been me,’ he muttered. ‘I should have been the first of us to go. It doesn’t seem right that the youngest in our family should have perished in such a way.’

Ruby wanted to agree – it was all so wrong – but she knew that Frank wasn’t expecting an answer, as he was deep in his own thoughts. A day didn’t seem to pass without news appearing in the newspapers of the loss of more young lives.

‘She needs you, Frank, so rather than go back to the bookshop tonight I’ll make the bed up in your old room. You need to be close by. Have you heard from Derek recently?’

‘It’s been over three months. He sent Mum a card with embroidered silk flowers on the front. She was thrilled to think she had something that had been sent from France.’

‘Eddie sent me one too; they must’ve been together when they bought them. It didn’t say where they were. Apart from some French words in the pattern it could have been anywhere. Double Dutch to me. George told me what they meant, but I’m none the wiser.’

‘I do wish Eddie well,’ Frank said. ‘It may not seem like it at times, but I do.’

‘You’re a good friend, Frank. I wish I could help heal your heartache and do something for your mum. I’ll bring some food over later. You never know, perhaps you can encourage her to eat a bite. She told me when she cared for me after I lost Sarah that I needed to keep my strength up. Now it’s our turn to say the same to her and Wilf.’

‘It’s you who is the good person, Ruby. After she attacked you openly about kissing a man in the street, her anger knew no bounds.’ Frank shook his head, remembering his mother’s anger and bitterness. ‘At least it’s all right now, and she knows that we are simply good friends and that’s all it’s ever been.’

‘I fear if she ever finds out the truth about you, it will be too much for her, Frank. We must always keep this to ourselves,’ Ruby said, looking worried.

‘Thankfully she seems to accept that Stephen is simply my lodger at the bookshop,’ Frank said, thinking of his dear friend who now lived with him over the bookshop in Pier Road.

‘And that’s the way it should always be. Keep your life as private as you can. God knows what would happen if anyone found out you were as close as you are,’ Ruby insisted. ‘I love you like a brother and would hate any harm to come to you.’ She knew that if Frank’s secret of having a relationship with another man was to become known, he could end up in prison. ‘I wonder, do you think Stephen would like to come here for his dinner this evening? I’m making a pot of stew, as I expect George to arrive at any minute,