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

forget that we’re going to call her Sarah,’ Irene smiled. ‘She looks like a Sarah, doesn’t she?’

Ruby thought her heart would burst with joy as she gazed at the child before hurrying out the front door just as the undertaker was taking Stella away from number fourteen. As one soul leaves this life another arrives, she thought to herself.

Stella’s funeral was a sombre affair with few attending. Ruby had expected to see many more people there; she’d always had the impression Stella was much loved. She supposed the war had done much to distance friends who had lost sons, and Stella had rather distanced herself from other locals; her grief had made her bitter towards anyone who had something to celebrate.

Ruby left the pretty graveyard that surrounded St Paulinus church. She was at least pleased her friend had been laid to rest in such a peaceful place. Apart from herself, Stephen, and Wilf’s brothers, there had only been a few neighbours in attendance. Both she and Stephen had decided to walk back to Erith.

‘Ruby!’ a female voice called out, and she turned to glance back. ‘Surely it couldn’t be . . .?’ she whispered, looking at Stephen in surprise.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.

‘I thought I heard a voice I recognized call out to me.’

‘Ruby!’

‘I heard it that time,’ Stephen said. ‘Look, back there – by the front of the church. It’s a woman waving to you.’

‘Oh my goodness,’ Ruby said. ‘I wrote a letter – but I wasn’t sure if they would come.’

‘Who?’ Stephen asked as he followed Ruby, who by now was almost running towards the person who’d called out her name.

‘Susannah! Thank goodness you managed to get here,’ she said as she hugged the younger, taller woman, who looked demure in a sombre black dress and hat.

‘I – that is, we – wanted to come to pay our respects. For Derek, it was to say his goodbyes and to make his peace with his father. For me, it was to try to forge links with my new family. I’m so sorry that I never got to meet Derek’s mother.’

‘You’d not have known the woman we all loved and respected if you had seen her before she passed away. Stella had not been herself in recent years,’ Ruby consoled her. She turned to Stephen, who had just caught up with her. ‘I’d like you to meet Susannah. She is the fiancée of Derek Green, Frank’s brother.’

As Stephen reached out to shake Susannah’s right hand, she held up her left one to show a shiny new gold wedding band. ‘I am Mrs Green now. I’d like you to meet my husband,’ she said, turning to where Derek was leaning against a wall, partially hidden by a tree.

He stepped forward as Ruby squealed with delight and rushed over to give him a gentle hug. ‘I won’t break,’ he said as he hugged her back and swung her round. ‘How do you do?’ he said to Stephen, as he set Ruby back on her feet and straightened himself up.

‘I’m very pleased to meet you,’ Stephen said, returning his handshake. ‘I hear you’ve had a rough time of it? Thank goodness you were able to be cared for at the Queen’s Hospital. I’ve read many great things about them.’

‘For me they were a lifesaver. There are many men who were more badly injured than I was. I’ll wear my scars for the rest of my life, and of course I have lost three fingers. My eyesight is affected, with partial sight in just the one eye – but I’ll get by. I have no choice,’ he said, giving a gentle laugh. ‘My wife won’t allow me to wallow in self-pity. Ruby witnessed my mood change when she first visited. I’ve never apologized. I’m sorry.’

‘You have nothing to apologize for. I’m just relieved we didn’t lose you,’ Ruby said, marvelling at the change in him. ‘Have you been to pay your respects?’ she asked as she looked towards where two men had started to fill in Stella’s grave. ‘The mourners have left, so you won’t meet anyone if you don’t wish to. The path is a little uneven; will you take my arm, so I don’t stumble?’

Derek roared with laughter. ‘Ruby Caselton, I can see right through you, but I’ll play along. Here take my arm,’ he said, continuing to chuckle as they strolled through the churchyard to Stella’s grave.

‘This is a beautiful setting,’ Susannah said as she looked out to the fields beyond the church, which sat on higher ground. ‘What is that building?’

‘I have no idea. I’m not a local,’ Ruby said.

‘That will be the manor house,’ Derek informed them.

Ruby was amazed. ‘Has your eyesight improved that much?’ she gasped.

‘I wish it had – but no, the truth is, I often came here with Mum and Dad. My grandparents are buried here. Dad told us boys about the history of the owner, Sir Cloudesley Shovell, and his exploits at sea over two hundred years ago. As a young lad, it caught my imagination. Part of me now wishes I’d followed Dad and worked on the river.’

‘Have you seen your dad?’ Ruby asked as they reached the grave.

‘We arrived late, as I got us lost,’ Susannah explained. ‘I was concentrating on my driving and not the route. We slipped into the back of the church just as the service had started.’

‘You drove a motor car?’ Ruby asked in surprise. She didn’t know a man who drove a vehicle, let alone a woman. Frank had toyed with the idea at one time, thinking that it might help his business, but he hadn’t gone further than talking about the idea. ‘Oh my,’ she added, imagining trying to manoeuvre a motorcar, let alone steer it in the right direction.

‘Susannah’s father works in the industry and says his daughters should be able to do the same as his two sons. It is lucky that she can, as I’m not much good with this hand,’ Derek said, holding up his arm. ‘Then