‘But why did he go away?’ Thomas persisted and Kathy licked her lips.
‘Because he didn’t love me,’ she forced herself to say and now Thomas frowned.
‘But we love you … and he told me and Daisy that he loved us! He could be very kind sometimes when he wasn’t being strange.’
She nodded. ‘And I believe he did love you. He wasn’t a bad man, not really. But the thing is … your daddy wasn’t well, up here.’ She tapped her head. ‘He was in another war a long time ago and he saw lots of nasty things that made him poorly.’
‘Is that why he said strange things and had nightmares?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, I’m sure it is. So, you see he wished you and Daisy no harm when he took you away. And I’m sure he would never have hurt you. But he is in heaven now.’
‘So, he has died now?’
A nod from Kathy confirmed his question and he stared off into space for a time before asking, ‘How did he die?’
Kathy’s breath caught in her throat as she thought of the best way to answer. She didn’t want the children to know that Ben had taken his own life. It might prey on their minds and make them think that they had somehow been the cause of it.
‘Unfortunately, he fell into the water and drowned when he was down at the docks,’ she answered eventually.
‘Oh, so it wasn’t our fault for running away from him then?’
‘Not at all.’
‘And he can’t come back from heaven and take us away again?’
‘No, he can’t.’
Thomas snuggled down into his bed and once again Kathy was shocked at how accepting children could be.
‘Then perhaps we should forgive him for taking us away if he was poorly,’ he said quietly as he stifled a yawn and Kathy felt a sharp pain in her heart. If such young children could forgive him so readily perhaps she should try to do the same.
‘Goodnight, my darlings, sleep tight, hope the bedbugs don’t bite.’ She kissed them both soundly and left the room, closing the door softly behind her and once out on the landing she sagged against the wall as tears burned at the back of her eyes. She could only hope that she had handled the children’s questions sensitively. They certainly seemed to have accepted things and now they had a wonderful future to look forward to with David when the damned war was finally over.
On the day of the funeral Kathy woke to an eerie grey light and after glancing out of the window she saw that a carpet of snow lay thick on the ground.
It had been agreed that Edith should remain at Treetops with the children, while Sunday, Kathy, Cissie and George attended the service. It had also been agreed that the coffin should be taken directly to the church as Kathy was concerned that it might be too confusing and upsetting for the children if it were to come to Treetops. As her daughter would now be attending the funeral, Sunday had been only too happy to agree to this. So, when it was time, they set off, the car’s headlights making the snowflakes sparkle like diamonds in the eerie light.
As they drove down the drive, in her mind’s eye, Sunday could see Ben as a little boy having a snowball fight with his father on the lawn. She could hear his laughter and her heart was heavy to think that his life had ended as it had.
Much to Sunday’s regret, other than themselves there was no one else to mourn Ben at the church. After Maggie’s death he had been rather reclusive, venturing into town only when it was absolutely necessary, and he’d cheated so many local tradespeople out of their money when he’d fled that they all kept away.
The service was short and before they knew it, they were following the coffin to Ben’s final resting place, the beautiful wreath of red roses and holly Sunday had insisted he should have standing out in stark contrast against the dark mahogany of the coffin and the snowy scene.
‘Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.’ The vicar’s voice droned on as he performed the last part of the service and when it was finally over Sunday’s eyes travelled to Tom’s grave, so very close to his son’s. She just hoped that wherever they were they were together again. She turned away and leaning heavily on George’s arm they picked their way amongst the headstones to the lychgate and the waiting car. Just once she turned to see the grave diggers begin the task of throwing the frozen earth into the grave but then she looked ahead again. It was done and hopefully Ben would be at peace now.
Chapter Fifty-One
‘So, you’re a very wealthy woman again,’ John teased a couple of days later when Ben’s solicitor rang from London to tell her that her money was now safely back in her account. The family were trying to get back to some sort of normality and were now looking forward to Christmas.
‘I suppose I am,’ Sunday agreed as she busily unpicked one of Peggy’s old cardigans, which she would then remake into woollen socks for the troops. She paused for a moment and looked out onto the lawn where the children were making a snowman. ‘Not that I need it at my age. Still, it will be nice to think that I can leave Kathy and Livvy an inheritance. When this war is over, they might decide to use some of it to buy themselves a house each.’
John scowled at her. ‘When this war is over, you’ll still be here so they’ll have to wait a while,’ he told her
She grinned. ‘None of us can go on forever,’ she pointed out. ‘And I am getting on, you know.’
They were sitting in the drawing room where Kathy and the children had adorned a Christmas tree with pretty glass baubles and tinsel, and with the fire glowing in the hearth it was warm and cosy.
The phone ringing in the hall interrupted their conversation and as Sunday rose to answer it, John said, ‘Stay where you are, Edith will answer it.’
He was right for at that moment they heard the sound of footsteps and someone lifting the receiver, so Sunday sank back into her seat. However, she had barely had time to lift the cardigan again when the door burst open and Edith erupted into the room in a most unladylike manner, her cheeks glowing and her eyes shining like stars.
‘That was Miss Tyler. You know … the little woman who came from the East End welfare department with the chap from the orphanage about Peggy! And you’ll never guess … they’ve decided to let me adopt her! Oh, I’m so happy, I can hardly believe it. They’re going to start the proceedings straight after Christmas and because everything is so straightforward and there’s no one to contest it, it should all be done and dusted in a couple of months!’
‘Oh, Edith.’ Sunday’s eyes welled with tears. She seemed to have done nothing but cry recently but this time they were happy tears. ‘I’m so thrilled for you … and for Peggy, of course. I’m sure she couldn’t have chosen a better mum than you.’
‘Hear hear!’ John piped up. ‘That’s wonderful news. Just what we needed to put us back on track for a happy Christmas, eh? But now run and tell the others. I’m sure they’ll be as delighted for you as we all are. Oh, and don’t forget to tell Peggy as well.’
Edith scooted away hardly able to contain her excitement as Sunday and John smiled at each other.
‘Oh, it’s so nice to hear happy news for a change, isn’t it? If only Giles, Livvy and David could be home for Christmas it would be perfect, but I fear there’s not much chance of that happening!’
‘Let’s just count our blessings,’ John said wisely. ‘They’re not likely to be with us admittedly but at least for now we know they are all alive and hopefully safe, so I’ll settle for that for the time being.’
Sunday was reminded of Christmases past when she woke early on Christmas morning to hear the children pounding excitedly along the landing. Smiling she got out of bed and pulled her dressing gown on, then slipping her feet into her slippers she followed the children downstairs to the drawing room where their presents were spread about the tree.
Edith was there with Peggy, hovering over her like a mother hen, while Kathy was trying her best to stop Thomas and Daisy from grabbing at the nearest gaily wrapped packages. Cissie and George had gone to spend a few days with their youngest daughter and grandchil
dren in Yorkshire, promising to be back to see the New Year in at Treetops and Sunday was missing them already, even though they had only left the day before.
‘Right now, this one is for you, Peggy,’ Kathy said as she read the names on the gifts. ‘And here’s one each for you, Thomas and Daisy.’
The children tore the packages open and whooped with delight. For Peggy there was a very pretty baby doll with a ceramic face and long hair and eyes that opened and shut, while Thomas and Daisy found themselves the proud new owners of a wooden train and a pretty little china tea set.
‘Looking at that pile of presents you could be some time.’ Sunday grinned at the two women. ‘So, while you help them open them, I’m going to seek refuge in the kitchen with John and Cook and get a cup of tea.’
She had just entered the hallway when the front door suddenly opened letting in a gust of snow, and Sunday gasped with joy.
‘Livvy! Oh, my love, what are you doing here? This is the best surprise I could have had!’
Livvy giggled as she stamped the snow from her boots and took off her overcoat. ‘I didn’t know I was coming myself until last night,’ she admitted as she hurried over to give her mother a hug. ‘My boss gave me a forty-eight-hour pass, but I wasn’t sure if the trains would be running, then luckily, I found out that one of the RAF chaps at our base was going to spend Christmas with his parents in Leicester, so he gave me a lift.’
Kathy was overjoyed. After all they had gone through during the past year this was the best Christmas present she could have wished for and she intended to make the most of every second of it.
‘Come along.’ Grabbing Livvy’s arm she hauled her towards the kitchen. ‘Let’s go and surprise everyone. They’ll be so thrilled to see you.’
After all the presents were exchanged and they had eaten a hearty breakfast, Livvy and Kathy set to helping Cook peel the Brussels sprouts and carrots they were having for dinner and the atmosphere was light.
‘Any news from Giles?’ Kathy asked as they sat at the kitchen table with the pile of vegetable peelings growing between them.
‘Not as yet.’ Livvy’s pretty face clouded. She had sent numerous letters and two parcels to the prison camp but had heard nothing in return, which worried her dreadfully. They were all aware of some of the wicked camps the Germans had set up. However, when she had expressed her concerns about Giles, the officers at her base had assured her that not hearing from him was nothing to worry about. The prisoners were not always supplied with pens or paper they had told her, so Livvy had decided that she would include some in the next parcel she sent.
‘And how is David?’ Livvy asked to try and take her mind off Giles.
Now it was Kathy’s turn to look sad. ‘Oh, I hear from him regularly, although at least half of every letter is heavily censored,’ she said bitterly. ‘I know he gets terribly frustrated at the number of patients he’s unable to save. Still, this war can’t go on forever, can it?’ she said optimistically.
‘Let’s hope not,’ Sunday said with a heartfelt sigh.
At that moment, David was actually enjoying a temporary lull in the fighting as a truce had been called for Christmas Day. There were still the injured in the hospital to tend to, however, and as usual he was doing his rounds of the wards. The nurses had done what they could to make the wards look festive and more than one of the patients had a tiny bit of mistletoe hidden so that they could try and pinch a kiss from the young nurses.
When he had finished his rounds, David headed to the canteen for a well-earned cup of tea, trying hard to muster up some Christmas cheer. But he found it difficult after tending to so many injured men. Each and every one of them was someone’s son, brother or sweetheart and he had no doubt it was the same for the other side. He couldn’t imagine the German soldiers wanted to be out here in the desert any more than they did. With a sigh his thoughts turned to Kathy and he wondered what she and the children would be doing on this special day. God willing this time next year they would all be together again but only time would tell.
At Treetops the Christmas morning service at the church had to be abandoned because of the weather conditions but the atmosphere in the house was happy as the children laughed and played with their toys. Somehow despite the rationing Cook had managed to produce a Christmas dinner fit for a king. A local farmer had provided them with a plump goose, which was served with Cook’s homemade stuffing and fluffy mashed potatoes. There was also a selection of vegetables, crispy roast potatoes and thick, creamy gravy followed by a delicious Christmas pudding, which Cook had had soaking in brandy for weeks, and lovely sticky yellow custard. The children tucked in as if they’d never been fed and Peggy squealed with delight when she found the shiny silver sixpence in the pudding.
‘That’s lucky,’ Edith told her affectionately. ‘Close your eyes and make a wish.’
The child closed her eyes and for a moment they all felt sad as they saw her lip tremble. She was clearly thinking of Bobby and they could all guess what she was wishing for, but unfortunately, if they were right, this was one wish that would never come true. Bobby, like thousands and thousands of others, had lost his life because of the war and none of them could ever come back.
However, the sombre mood that had settled across the table didn’t last for long because at that moment John glanced towards the window and saw the local farmer’s truck ploughing through the snow in the drive.
‘Ah.’ He grinned. ‘Now I have to go and see Mr Wilcox in the kitchen for a moment and then when you’ve finished eating, I want you all to come through and I shall hopefully have another present for you children.’
The mood lifted instantly as the children stared at him excitedly.
‘What is it?’ Thomas asked eagerly as John headed to the door, but John merely laughed.
‘You’ll know soon enough. Now finish your food.’ And with that he was gone, leaving the children in an agony of anticipation.
‘I bet he’s got Farmer Wilcox to make us a new sledge,’ Daisy piped up excitedly, but Thomas shook his head.
‘It won’t be that. We’ve already got one each with the new one that George made us.’
Sunday smiled indulgently. ‘Well, why don’t you just do as John suggested and finish your pudding then we can all go through and find out, can’t we?’
Within minutes the rest of the food in their dishes had disappeared like magic, just in time to see the farmer’s truck trundling off down the drive again.
‘Please may we leave the table?’ Thomas asked, already clambering down, and the adults nodded and followed behind as the children raced along the hallway.
They entered the kitchen to find John sitting at a chair with a large cardboard box at his feet.
‘So, who wants to have a guess at what’s in here then?’ he teased as the children all stared at it curiously, but the words had barely left his mouth when the box suddenly moved and each of the children started.
Laughing, John bent down and opened the lid and instantly a tiny bundle of fur, its tail wagging furiously, spilled out onto the floor.
‘It’s a puppy!’ Thomas cried ecstatically as he dropped to his knees and began to fondle the silky ears with a rapturous expression on his little face.
‘A Golden Labrador puppy to be precise,’ John laughed. ‘I picked him out of the litter for you about four weeks ago, but you must all share him and take care of him. We grown-ups have enough to do.’
All three children were down on their knees now, giggling uncontrollably as the puppy jumped up and tried to lick every part of them he could reach.
‘Oh, Uncle John, thank you,’ they chorused. ‘But what’s his name?’
John shook his head and they all noticed then that Peggy sat back on her heels. They guessed that she would be thinking of her Skippy, the dog that had died with Bobby.
‘Why don’t we see if Peggy has any good suggestions?’ John suggested kindly and Peggy smiled shyly.
‘I think we should call him Sk
ippy.’
Thomas and Daisy thought about it for a moment as they eyed their new pet, then nodded in agreement. ‘I think that’s a great name for him seeing as he can’t keep still,’ Thomas giggled.
‘I just hope as he don’t go piddlin’ all over my clean floor,’ Cook grumbled.
‘Oh, don’t worry, we’ll take him out all the time and train him not to,’ Thomas promised.
‘I suppose that’s all right then,’ Cook sniffed, but in actual fact she was as taken with the new arrival as the children were and in time she’d be spoiling him with treats and scraps as he kept her company in the kitchen.
That night, long after everyone else had retired to bed, Kathy and Livvy sat in the kitchen enjoying a glass of sherry and a mince pie in front of the fire. Outside the snow was still falling but inside it was warm and cosy and Kathy sighed with contentment as she held her bare toes out towards the glowing fire. ‘So, I wonder what next year will bring?’ she mused.
Livvy shrugged and her eyes became sad as she thought of Giles locked away in a prisoner-of-war camp. After everything she’d heard, she just prayed Giles was strong enough to survive it.
‘So, when did the sudden change of heart towards Giles take place?’ Kathy asked as if she could read her sister’s mind. ‘I always thought you couldn’t stand the poor chap.’
Livvy squirmed with embarrassment. ‘I didn’t think I could either,’ she admitted guiltily. ‘But I suppose when we were both stationed at the same place and we started to go out a bit together he just sort of grew on me. He doesn’t know how I feel though, unless he got the letters I wrote,’ she sighed. ‘I told him in the letters because I wanted him to know I’d be here waiting for him when he came home, but the chances are he won’t feel the same about me anyway.’
Kathy shook her head as she sipped at her sherry. ‘Oh, I don’t think you need worry on that score. Between you and me, I think he had a soft spot for you right from when he and John moved in here. If I recall rightly it was always you that was off with him.’
Time to Say Goodbye Page 30
