Christmas to Come: a heartbreaking coming of age saga set in London's East End by Carol Rivers (first e reader txt) 📕

spent the best part of it discussing problems that weren't even their own. She wanted to tell him how good the furniture looked in the prefab. And how Gus had fumigated it successfully and fresh wallpaper had been applied to the walls.

Bella drew a critical eye over her neat and tidy home. She kept it spotless. Even though Teresa's presence in the house had kept her busy, she had always maintained a high standard. There would be less to do of course, after the summer holidays. Teresa would be reunited with Mary and Michael back to school. The accounting she still did for Ronnie had decreased after the sale of the Blue Moon. There were no babies on the way, despite her deep yearning for more children. Michael was growing fast and needed a sister or brother. But if none arrived, what would she do with herself in time to come?

She switched on the standard lamp in the front room. Micky was snoring loudly. She wanted to discuss her hopes and her fears, her concerns about Terry and Mary, and the dreams she had for the future.

On her way to bed she looked in on the children. Each was fast asleep, the sound of their soft breathing making her feel content and yet disturbed. What would she do if the years passed and no more children arrived? Was it her fault? Was there something physically wrong with her? All the women at school seemed to have extending families. And some of them even went to a clinic and tried to stop conceiving! If only they knew how lucky they were.

What did life have in store for her and Micky? she fretted. These were the concerns she wanted to share with her husband and attempt to find an answer. She couldn't do it on her own.

It was the second week of July, just before school broke up for the holidays, when Bella decided it was safe to take Teresa home. Teresa was fit and well and was asking after Mary. Bella knew that the little girl had a very loyal streak in her. It was a character trait Bella admired, but was it wasted on their mother?

When she told Ronnie of her decision, he offered to drive them to Mary's as Micky was at work. But when the day came, all Bella's doubts surfaced. Was Teresa really was strong enough to cope with the haphazard life she would now lead? Would Mary look after her properly? Feed her? Keep her clean and free of nits and lice? All these fears went round in Bella's head and she hoped, right up to the last minute, that Teresa might reveal her true feelings. But this didn't happen. Teresa even seemed excited at the prospect of being with her mother again.

It was Michael in fact, who had serious misgivings as they all sat in Ronnie's car on their way to school. 'I don't want to go without Teresa,' he complained, looking back at Teresa as Ronnie opened the car door. 'Can't I come with you?'

Ronnie hunkered down beside him. 'This will be just a boring old chat between grown-ups,' he assured Michael with a wink. 'And don't forget, you break up soon. We'll have a great time in the holidays.'

After a great deal of encouragement, eventually Michael allowed Ronnie to walk him into the playground. Teresa squeezed Bella's hand tightly. She was suddenly very pale. 'Do I have to stay by myself at home?' she asked anxiously.

'No, of course not. Mary will be there. What's more you have a surprise in store. A nice new bedroom.' Bella had gone round the previous weekend to confirm the arrangement and make sure everything was in order. But all the same, Teresa was very quiet as Ronnie drove them to Collier Street.

'I'll wait for you here,' Ronnie said as he parked close to the prefab and helped her out with her bags.

'No, Ron, I don't know how long I'll be. Thanks all the same.'

'I'm going to miss you, young lady, but we'll get together soon, right?' he told Teresa. 'Like I told Michael, it's your holidays soon. We'll have lots of fun together.'

Teresa nodded as she held Bella's hand. 'Ta, Uncle Ron.'

Bella smiled. 'Thanks Ron, for everything.'

'Listen, take care of yourself.' He glanced down to the prefab.

'Don't worry. I will.'

He patted Teresa's shoulder. 'See you soon, little miss.'

When they arrived at the prefab, the door opened immediately. Much to Bella's surprise, Mary wore a smart navy blue dress and a pair of decent flat shoes. Even her hair had been combed back into a neat clip. 'Oh, it's you two,' her mother remarked casually as if she had forgotten the arrangement. 'You'd better come in.'

She led the way to Teresa's bedroom and pushed open the door. 'See how clean it is, girl? And that's real wallpaper on them walls.'

Teresa smiled, but Bella knew that now the time had come to be left in Mary's care, she was ill at ease.

'I've got meself a job cleaning the grocers round the corner, while the kid's at school,' Mary announced proudly. 'Don't pay much, but it's better than lavs.'

'Just as long as you don't leave Teresa on her own.' Bella continued to make up the bed with the fresh sheets she had brought.

'You don't have to tell me how to look after my own child,' Mary replied indignantly.

Bella just about stopped herself from reminding Mary that child-rearing was not one of her better qualities. 'You'll be able to buy some fresh veg from the market as Teresa needs to eat well – '

'She'll eat what I eat,' Mary interrupted sourly. 'I don't intend slaving over a hot stove.'

Bella folded the sheet over the rose coloured candlewick spread that Teresa had helped her to chose from the market. 'In the summer, I'll help you, ' Bella said as she hung Teresa's freshly washed clothes in the new wardrobe. 'Teresa can come over and keep Michael company. He's always at