A Mother Forever by Elaine Everest (good novels to read txt) 📗

older brother’s bookshop he ran with Ruby, and how happy they were with their child living together across the road at number thirteen? Who was Ruby fooling? Because it certainly wasn’t him.

Ruby looked around the cafe. At that time of the afternoon, there were few people sitting at tables and the staff were busy preparing to close. What she was about to tell Eddie wasn’t something she wished overheard by anyone living in the town.

‘Eddie, I know you must have had secrets, reasons even, for not living with us. I too have reasons for wanting people to believe that Frank and I are a couple – and reasons to let people believe Pat is his daughter. It’s more for Frank than for me. Have you not thought about what people would have said if I suddenly announced Pat was yours? With you in hiding, and me being the only one who knew you used to come back to deliver money? How would I suddenly explain being with child? That nosy old battleaxe from next door would be on to it in a flash. As it is, she keeps herself to herself because she has nothing to gossip about; all she can say is that Frank’s now my husband. And no, I haven’t divorced you. I wouldn’t even know how to do that. You’ve got to remember, there are three bedrooms in our house. I sleep in one, with Pat having a cradle bed in the corner of the room. George has his back bedroom, just as he did when you lived with us, and the third bedroom . . . well, if you walked into that room right now, you’d see Frank’s bed, Frank’s clothes hanging in the wardrobe, and all of Frank’s possessions in the chest of drawers. Does that make it clear to you?’

Eddie thought for a moment. What kind of man would move into the home of a beautiful married woman and pretend to be the father of her child? At Frank’s age, he should be out looking for his own wife and starting his own family. ‘How can you expect me to believe such a thing?’ he said as he thought of what he’d been told.

Ruby could have wept. ‘Is it not clear to you why he does this? Yes, I work for him in the bookshop; I love the job and to be honest, the money I earn keeps our heads above water. Yes, Frank pays his way, but to all intents and purposes he is my lodger. He has no designs on me, or any woman. Has the penny dropped yet, Eddie?’

Eddie frowned. ‘Do you mean to say . . . Frank Green is a . . . is a . . .?’ He roared with laughter.

‘Yes, Frank is not interested in women,’ she whispered pointedly, not losing eye contact with Eddie. ‘I beg you to keep that to yourself. He’s my dearest friend, and he’s a good friend to this family. You must keep this between us. Are you listening to me, Eddie?’ she hissed.

Eddie took a gulp of his now lukewarm tea as thoughts rushed through his head. If all this was true – and he’d never think of Ruby as a liar – how would it affect him? ‘Does anyone know?’

‘Nobody knows. Frank is a gentle, peace-loving man. He is happy with his life, the bookshop, and he adores our children. Your name is on Pat’s birth certificate. I do not want it any other way. My feelings for you are more of bewilderment after our night together and you vanishing again. God, Eddie, I should really hate you for what you’ve put me through . . . but all the same . . .’ She couldn’t continue as her voice cracked.

Eddie looked at his wife across the table. Now in her mid-thirties, she was still a good-looking woman. There were just a few lines at the corners of her eyes and her hair still held the colour of shining chestnuts that had caught his eye when he’d first seen her – and fallen in love. She licked her lips nervously, waiting for him to speak, and he could see a worried look in her eyes. Thoughts of the last time they were together caused feelings to stir deep inside, feelings he usually fought hard to suppress.

‘I believe you,’ he said at last. ‘God knows you’ve had a lot to put up with, and most of it is because of me,’ he added apologetically.

‘Tell me, at long last, what happened for you to run away. Why have you stayed in hiding? And why have you suddenly appeared with the Green brothers?’

‘I’ll get us another one of these first.’ Eddie picked up the cups and saucers.

Ruby crossed her arms onto the table and laid her head down. What had happened today had been bad enough so far. The country was at war, and now Eddie had turned up. Could things get any worse?

Eddie placed the fresh cups of tea on the table. ‘I thought you might fancy these?’ he said, putting a plate with two rather dried-up buns in front of her.

‘No, thank you,’ she said, pushing the plate away as she straightened her back and looked him in the eye. ‘I have a lot to get on with at home; my family need me, so say what you have to say, and we will go our different paths. I don’t see any other way we can deal with what’s been thrown at us. It’s not fair to Frank or the children. My goodness, Eddie, the country is at war and that’s more than enough for anyone to put up with,’ she sighed, feeling suddenly weary. ‘Didn’t you mention that I could be in danger, when you came back and stayed that one night? I thought our life would be back on an even keel, but off you went and we never saw you again, Eddie. I’d rather have lived in danger for the rest of my life and had you at home with us than what you put me through. So, say your