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

and she’s got a tongue on her that reminds me of my mother.’ Ruby smiled fondly, gazing at a picture of her mum, who was grimly looking down on them from a small frame hanging on the wall.

Stephen laughed. ‘Sometimes the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I’ve often thought your Pat was an old soul in a young body.’

‘God forbid,’ Ruby said as she fetched the tea tray from the kitchen. ‘The kettle won’t take long to boil. Sit yourself down – or would you rather sit in the front room? I’ve not lit the fire in there, but it won’t take long to catch.’

‘Don’t stand on ceremony for me,’ he said as he settled down at the table and reached into his pocket. ‘Before I forget, there are a few shillings here for Pat. Someone cleared me out of books from George’s baskets. I need to restock before too long. I think it was one of those teachers from the school. It’s good to know they were made good use of.’

‘Oh, that will please her; she’s on about saving up to buy a calf. Have you ever heard anything so bonkers? She reckons she’s going to marry a farmer when she’s old enough, so she may as well start collecting animals now. Goodness knows where she thinks she’s going to stick this calf when it grows up. I just hope she gets bored with the idea and decides to spend her money on a puppy instead.’

‘She’s a one,’ he chuckled. ‘Have you heard from George?’

A fleeting shadow passed over Ruby’s face. ‘Not yet. He could only have got there in the last few days – wherever “there” is. Irene came in to tell me she’d received a postcard, and to say there’d be a letter on its way very soon. I do hope he’s all right. We’re hearing such things at the moment.’

‘He’s a bright lad and will do his best to keep out of trouble. He can run fast as well,’ Stephen grinned, trying to keep her spirits up. ‘I do have a letter from Frank,’ he added, pulling an envelope from his pocket. ‘Here, read it.’

‘I don’t want to read your private correspondence,’ she scolded him. ‘There might be private things in there.’

‘As if I’d show you if there was. Here – take a look,’ he said, holding out the single sheet of paper.

Ruby scanned the familiar handwriting. ‘Oh, he’s made some friends, that’s good. I worry about him so much. I really don’t think Frank’s cut out for war.’ She folded the letter and handed it back.

‘Me neither; you know I have dreams about him getting caught by the enemy and tortured for secrets.’

‘You’ve been reading too many adventure books,’ Ruby smiled. ‘That’s the kettle boiling. Let me go and fill up the pot.’

‘Have you heard anything back from the munitions works yet?’ he called out.

‘I have!’ she called back from the kitchen. ‘I can’t believe they got back to me so quickly. I’m to go there the day after tomorrow and meet a manager who will interview me to see if I’m suitable. I’m more than a little bit nervous. So, what with having to go to Sidcup tomorrow, which should be another nervous day for me, I’m beginning to think I might never eat again. I’m not sure I can keep anything down, such are the butterflies in my stomach.’

‘So you don’t want me to cut a slice of this delicious-looking cake for you?’

‘Perhaps just a small slice,’ she chuckled as she walked back in the room. ‘I did wonder about taking some over to Stella and Wilf and telling them where I’m going. What do you think?’

Stephen looked serious as he gave her question some thought. ‘To be honest, I don’t feel you should. It’s not as if you’ve made any headway with them since the day of the wedding, have you?’

‘No, I haven’t, although I’ve tried several times. I spotted them as I walked home from the shops the other day and waved. They both looked the other way. I do miss their friendship, but I can understand how they feel; I’d hate to be in Stella’s shoes at the moment. But if I can talk to Derek, who knows? He may write to his mother, and that would persuade her. Even though he’s injured badly, there might be a way to persuade her to go and see him?’

‘Don’t count your chickens, Ruby. You know they said that Derek is badly injured. I just hope he’s still there for you to see. Don’t go making up any happy-ever-after stories, will you? Just go and see what you can do. The carter said he’d be outside the bookshop just after seven in the morning; I’ll parcel up some books for you to take. If Derek’s not interested, they may be of interest to the other lads there.’

‘That’s very good of you, Stephen. I’ll make sure to pop in after and let you know how he is. If he is indeed still alive,’ Ruby said, hoping that would be the case.

If Ruby had expected to see a hospital full of sickly men, she was in for a surprise. The beautiful grounds were full of men she would have described as ‘walking wounded’. Some had nurses assisting them, some were in bath chairs, but generally there was an air of, if not happiness, then contentment. In the main she saw heavily bandaged soldiers, and some who must have been in the hospital longer as they were devoid of bandages but still had red raw scars that were a reminder of their suffering. Yes, some of the men were terribly disfigured, but no one seemed to stare at them, so she too did her best to keep a calm exterior and a smile on her face. She nodded to say good day to everyone she passed on the long walk to the building up ahead. Regardless of their injuries, some of them were quite