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

returning home, and then he would be going to join his regiment. And anyway, it had been so long since George had seen his father that Ruby couldn’t bring herself to tell him at that moment, especially as there was no proof his dad had died. She didn’t feel she could confide in her sisters, as they just wouldn’t have understood; besides, it would have meant explaining about Frank and his relationship with Stephen, and it wasn’t right to do so. There was a time when Stella would have been the first person she spoke to when she had a worry . . .

‘Everything is such a mess,’ she said out loud.

Pat slipped her hand into her mother’s. ‘I haven’t made a mess, I’ve been very tidy,’ she said, ‘and look, I’ve taken off my bridesmaid’s dress, so it doesn’t get spoilt.’

Ruby hugged her close. ‘I wasn’t talking about you, my darling. You’ve been such a good girl today. How about we go and visit Stephen at the shop? You need to take a look at George’s baskets. We’ve not been near the shop for a few weeks now.’

Pat considered the suggestion. ‘You do know that George gave me the baskets, don’t you? If any books have been sold, then the money is mine,’ she beamed.

‘Then we must certainly go to the bookshop, but first you need to put some clothes on,’ Ruby laughed, causing her daughter to chuckle. ‘It’s rather too chilly to go out in your underclothes.’

With luck, it would be quiet in the bookshop and Ruby would be able to pour out her heart to Stephen while Pat kept herself busy sorting out the unsellable books. Even if it was raining, the baskets would be just inside the door and away from where Ruby could talk in private.

It was late afternoon as they set off through the town towards Pier Road. Already streetlamps were starting to be lit and there was a smell of smoke coming from the chimneys of the houses. Ruby usually liked this time of day, when thoughts were of heading home, closing the door on the world and settling down with family for the evening. Instead, her thoughts now were on her troubles and whether Stephen would be able to advise her.

There was only one customer when they entered the shop; Ruby recognized her as a regular. She helped parcel up the latest purchases while Stephen took the money. After passing the time of day and chatting about George’s wedding, the lady bid her farewell.

‘I can tell this is not a social visit. You know we are never busy at this time of day, so you’ve not come to help me out,’ Stephen said, looking at her pale face. ‘Here, sit down. I’ll just turn the sign on the shop to closed, and you can tell me what’s troubling you.’

She watched as he put the key in the lock of the door and reversed the sign to show they were closed. Although she’d only known Stephen for a couple of years, she knew whatever she said would not be passed on. Stephen’s family came from the West Country and, apart from Frank and a small group of their friends, Ruby was the closest family he had who knew of his relationship with Frank.

‘Now,’ he said, taking the other seat by the counter, ‘tell me why the mother of the groom has such a glum face.’

Ruby shook her head despondently. ‘I really don’t know where to start. I assume Frank has explained to you about my Eddie and our situation since we moved to this area?’

‘Yes, I do know much of what has happened. We’ve never gossiped about your life, but it has come up in general conversation. You are like a sister to Frank. He once told me that if he ever thought of marrying, he would marry someone just like you, rather than some fussy flibbertigibbet who only thought about herself and the latest fashions.’

‘I’ll take that as a compliment,’ Ruby said, recognizing the words as exactly like something Frank would say. ‘I miss him so much already.’

‘As do I. He charged me with several duties that he wished me to carry out while he was gone; one of these was to take good care of you, and as I take my duties seriously, I insist that you tell me everything that’s bothering you. I’ll do my best to help.’

Ruby poured her heart out to Stephen, ending with Stella telling her that Eddie was dead.

Stephen exhaled slowly, scratching his head as he did so. ‘That is certainly a big problem. Most importantly, I’m sorry to hear about your husband. If it’s true, I’m saddened for your loss and that I’ll never meet him.’

Stephen’s words had the effect of releasing the flood-gates, with Ruby sobbing until there were no tears left to shed. Stephen fussed around her, fetching a dry handkerchief and a cup of cold water to sip. She refused the brandy he placed in front of her.

‘I’m sorry,’ she gulped, trying to pull herself together. I had no one I could speak to about this and you are like a brother to me . . . I’ll be fine now – I have to be,’ she said, trying to straighten herself up and deciding to try a sip of the brandy. Grimacing, she handed it back. ‘How can people drink this?’ she spluttered. ‘Please go on with what you were saying. I’ll be all right now.’

Stephen nodded, and after Ruby urged him to continue, he started to speak slowly. ‘Now, the way I see it, Stella is very fragile at the moment – I can’t even imagine what she’s going through, with one son dead, another at death’s door and a third heading off into hell carrying only a stretcher. As much as you want to talk to her, I feel it’s best you keep away. By all means let Pat go over there, but make sure the child knows that Stella is poorly and to keep the