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

visit short. She’s a bright kid – she will understand. It does worry me that Derek could pass away without seeing a friendly face. He is in a hospital in Sidcup, you say?’

‘Yes, but I have no idea where it is. All Wilf told me was Queen’s Hospital in Sidcup.’

Stephen rose and pulled out a large book from one of the shelves. ‘There are some maps in here. You do know Sidcup’s not far away, don’t you?’

Ruby shook her head. ‘It could be Timbuctoo for all I know. I have no idea.’

He flicked through the pages. ‘Ah, here we are,’ he said, beckoning her over. ‘Here we are in Erith, and over here is Sidcup.’ He pointed with a pencil. ‘It would be possible to travel over there to visit the patient and return in one day.’

‘It doesn’t look that far away when you look at it like that. But how would I get there?’

‘Now there lies the problem. If you leave it with me, I’ll ask around and find out more for you. Would that help?’

‘That would be wonderful. If I can visit Derek, it might give him a boost to know that someone cares. I could also go back to Stella and tell her how her son is – that is, if I’m not too late . . . And Derek may have news of my Eddie, and that would be a bonus. I can but hope,’ she said, as Stephen smiled at her outpouring of thoughts.

‘There is something else I want to speak to you about,’ Stephen said. ‘I feel you have too much time on your hands now that you don’t put in so many hours at the shop. We aren’t very busy these days, so it’s not as if I can ask you to come more often. But you do need to fill your time, Ruby, otherwise you will grieve for Eddie and it won’t be good for you, especially when we don’t know for sure if he has perished on the battlefield. Had you thought any more about war work? I know if it wasn’t for my own health problem, I’d have joined up in a shot, although I’d have elected, like Frank, not to be combative.’

‘I’ve thought so much about it, but I’m none the wiser. Seeing so many women take on men’s jobs, I feel I should play my part. But what can I do? Do you know of anything?’

‘It just so happens that a customer mentioned his sister is working in a munitions factory. It seems she enjoys the work and has made many friends, even though she’s never done manual work before. He is due to come into the shop next week to collect a book I’ve sourced for him. I could ask him if his sister would meet you and tell you more about the job. What do you think?’

‘I’ve read about the munitions workers in the newspaper – they seem to be a brave group of women, and I’d like to give it a go. Once I know more about it, that is. Thank you, Stephen. It sounds interesting.’

‘Why don’t I call round to see you in a couple of days? By then I should have found out details of how we can get you to Sidcup, and hopefully I’ll have news from my customer.’

Ruby quickly agreed, feeling much calmer. She kissed his cheek, collected her daughter and left for home.

Stephen watched Ruby and Pat as they walked down the street. Had he done right – not only by helping her work out how to see Derek, but by advising she work in such a dangerous place?

He reached to the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. Inscribed upon it was a short list of wishes. Looking past his instructions of what to do if Frank should not return from the front, he looked at the short note that concerned Ruby. Stephen already knew that the shop should go to him, but there was a note added that said a certain percentage, if the shop was ever sold, was to go to Ruby, with Frank’s love. He was also expected to keep the basket of books and continue to call it ‘George’s baskets’, with any proceeds being passed to young Pat. What seemed to concern Frank most was Ruby’s well-being, and that was why Frank had sat down with Stephen and explained to him about his friend’s life since she came to Erith. He wanted Stephen to always look out for Ruby, to keep her occupied in the likelihood that her life should take a downward turn. He particularly wanted Stephen to find her some useful work that would keep her mind active and help her to feel as though she was contributing to society.

Stephen picked up a pencil and went to place a tick next to the words, but then he held back. The job was not yet completed. Instead he replaced the list in his pocket, picked up his sheet of notepaper and quickly wrote a letter to the customer whose sister might be able to advise and help Ruby take the next step in her life. Once he had done that, he folded it and placed it into an envelope. Taking a postage stamp from the desk drawer, he checked the time on the clock that hung on the bookshop wall. He knew he had five minutes before the last post went, so he pulled the shop door to and ran across the road, posted his letter and returned to the shop. There was half an hour left before he needed to close up for the day; time enough to work out directions for Ruby to make her way to the Queen’s Hospital. With luck, what she found there would give her some kind of closure.

Ruby smiled shyly as she walked into the tearooms. She was more a cafe type of person than one for eating dainty sandwiches and sipping tea in quaint