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

the war has changed me; what I’ve seen, what I’ve heard.’ There was bitterness in his voice. ‘I can’t think further than being here, but hopefully with Susannah by my side, I might just be able to face the future. Even though I’ll never see it.’

Ruby reached out to take his hand, and it was then she noticed that beneath the bandages, he clearly had several fingers missing. ‘My dear, dear friend,’ she said. ‘You’ll always be the same person to me.’

The nurse, Susannah, had tears in her eyes at Ruby’s kind words as they sat in silence for several minutes.

‘Tell me how George is,’ Derek asked, breaking the silence.

‘Would you believe he’s married,’ Ruby chuckled, ‘and he will be a father later in the year?’

The news had Derek laughing for the first time since she’d arrived. ‘Why, he’s still a boy. Have I been here in this hospital for so long that I’ve forgotten how many years have passed, and George Caselton has grown into a man?’

Ruby joined in with his laughter. ‘No, my son is still a baby – he will be a baby to me even when he’s an old man. He married only weeks ago and joined his regiment days later,’ she said, fighting against the ache in her voice.

Derek reached across to take her hand. He grasped it tightly. ‘When you write to him, please give him my best wishes; he’s a good lad. I wish him well.’

‘I do have an address for him,’ Ruby said, ‘If you’d like to write . . .?’

‘I can help with that,’ Susannah said.

‘I’d like that very much, thank you,’ he said.

‘Did you know that Frank has also joined the army? He is in the ambulance brigade; Stephen heard from him recently.’

‘Stephen?’

Ruby could have kicked herself. ‘His friend Stephen is running the bookshop now. I still help out a little bit, but I’m hoping to be doing some war work myself before too long.’

‘So you’ve given up on the knitting?’ he chuckled.

‘Please, Derek, you know I’m not very good with my hands. I’m going to work at the munitions factory down the marshes.’

‘Good grief,’ Derek said. ‘You can’t knit a balaclava – how the hell are you going to stuff bombs without dropping them? You’ll blow the town to kingdom come.’

Ruby and Susannah joined in with his laughter.

‘You’ve been a real tonic for me, Ruby. Will you come again, if you can manage it once you start your job? I just ask that you don’t bring my parents. I couldn’t bear for them to see me like this.’

‘Are you sure you don’t want to see them? Just tell me if you change your mind. But I promise I’ll come again in a few weeks, if I may. Can I ask you one thing, Derek? Do you have any news of my Eddie?’

Derek pulled away from her as if he’d been scalded by hot water. ‘I’m sorry . . . I can’t . . . I can’t think of what happened . . .’

‘Oh Derek, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked,’ she said, seeing the sudden change. His body had become rigid and although bandaged, his face turned away from her as if he were lost in his thoughts.

‘I think it is best if I leave you to rest now. Take care, my dear,’ she said.

‘I’ll walk you to the front drive,’ Susannah said. ‘It’s a bit of a maze round here and you may get lost. I’ll be back shortly, Derek.’ He didn’t seem to hear her, and the two women walked slowly away.

‘I hope it wasn’t too much of a shock,’ Susannah said to Ruby. ‘He’s a dear man, and he’s been through a lot.’

‘Will he leave the hospital soon?’

‘No, that’s not possible. He will have rehabilitation, and we will make sure that he has a good life. I care for him deeply, Mrs Caselton; if there should be any change, I will write to let you know.’

They stopped while the nurse took a small notebook from her pocket and Ruby wrote down her address, as well as one where they could write to George.

Then she placed her hand on the younger woman’s arm. ‘Please, call me Ruby – and do please keep in touch with me. I didn’t like to say, but Derek’s younger brother was killed recently. That’s why his mother is not herself. The news of Derek on top of that was just too much for her.’

‘I’ve seen it happen before,’ Susannah said sympathetically. ‘Now, can I get you a drink or something to eat before you start your journey home? We have a very nice cafe here for the visitors.’

‘That would be nice,’ Ruby said, ‘but you must get back to Derek. I had hoped he would have news of my Eddie. I’m sorry that I asked.’

‘I’m afraid Derek only has nightmares about his time in the trenches. Have you not received notification of your husband?’

‘No, nothing at all. I’ve been told that sometimes it can take a while for news to come through. I’ll hang on to the hope that he will come home to me one day.’

‘That’s all you can do for now – but don’t forget to make enquiries. You never know . . .’

Ruby kissed the woman’s cheek and thanked her for all she’d done for Derek.

Making her way to the cafe, she sat drinking her tea thoughtfully, feeling more herself and grateful that at least Derek had been saved. After handing the books over to the almoner, she took a slow walk back down the lane and sat on a low wall, waiting for the carter to appear. The day had turned even colder. As she pulled her collar up around her and crossed her arms across her body to try to keep warm, snowflakes started to fall.

She thought back to when she had first met the Green family: a contented husband and wife with three healthy and happy sons. Tears dripped onto her cheeks as she thought of the family torn apart by tragedy. When would this war be over?

3rd September 1918

‘What are you