A Moment to Remember (10 page)

‘Do you know, young Milly, I never took you as a spoilsport,’ said Richard.

Milly was torn. She loved Jane and wanted her to be happy, but what if something happened to her? ‘I’ve got my scarf,’ she said with a smile.

She discreetly took off her friend’s shoes and stockings while Richard took off his own shoes and socks. Then she held the chair while Richard lifted Jane like a baby and gently lowered her feet into the water. Jane’s face was a picture, and she squealed with delight. Milly’s heart was full of joy for her.

‘Cor, she’s a bit big to need a carry,’ said a little girl who was standing watching them.

‘Susan, come ’ere. I’m sorry, miss,’ said a woman as she dragged the girl away. ‘Can’t yer see she can’t walk?’ she said to the child.

‘That’s all right,’ said Jane, laughing with joy.

‘I’ll have to put you back, sis, you’re getting too heavy.’

He placed Jane back in her chair and Milly began drying her feet.

‘Thank you. That was one of the best times I’ve had for a long while.’ Jane gripped Milly’s hand. ‘This is our secret.’

Milly smiled. Despite her worries, it was lovely to see Jane so happy, and Milly thought this was the most wonderful evening she had ever spent. Tenderly she watched Richard put his shoes and socks back. They were together like a family.

‘Did you live near here?’ asked Jane as they started to leave the park.

That question suddenly put Milly ill at ease. What if Jane wanted to see her old home?

‘Is this where you came from?’ asked Richard in a puzzled voice.

‘This is where I found Milly,’ said Jane. ‘In this park.’

‘It’s not really near here, it’s more the docks way.’ She hoped that sounded convincing enough. Then another thought struck her. What if Billy or Dan were around? They would come up to her and ask her how she was getting on. She didn’t want them to see her nice clothes, and Jane would want to know all about them. Suddenly all the joy of the evening vanished.

‘Are you all right?’ asked Richard.

‘Yes thank you.’

‘You’ve gone very pale. Let’s sit for a while.’

They were sitting on a bench and Jane was facing them.

‘If you like, perhaps we could go to the top of your road and try to see your brothers. I know you want to see them again,’ said Jane.

‘I don’t think that would be a very good idea.’

‘Why?’ asked Richard.

As far as Milly knew, Jane had told him nothing about her family and the reason she had left home.

‘Milly, you are a mystery. We know nothing about you.’

Milly looked at Jane.

‘I do,’ she said.

‘Why did you run away?’

‘It’s a long story.’

Jane put her hand out to Milly. ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to stir up old memories. But you know me, I talk before I think. Now come on, how about we all have an ice?’

Richard looked at Milly. What had this young girl been through? He knew about men who beat women and did terrible things to them. Had Milly been violated in that way?

As they walked towards the man on a bike who was selling ice creams, the mood became very sombre.

Richard looked at Milly. She was growing into a very beautiful young lady, but why was she so upset about her past? He knew that it was very run-down near the docks and there were a lot of thieves and layabouts there. This was something he would have to ask her about one of these days. After all, Jane had found her sleeping on a park bench in the winter. Something terrible must have happened to her to make her run away, but whatever it was, it would never stop him from feeling the way he did towards her.

I
T WAS A LONG hot summer, and many evenings Richard, Jane and Milly would go to the park. After that first evening Milly decided to take a towel along to dry Jane’s feet, but it took a lot of persuading before she would have a paddle herself. It did look very tempting, but she was reluctant to remove her shoes and stockings in front of Richard. After plenty of coaxing from Jane and Richard, though, she gave in, and once she had overcome her shyness she enjoyed it almost as much as Jane did.

During the afternoon they would sit in the garden and talk. They were growing up and the conversations were very intense, and Milly was learning so much. They talked of many things and would read the papers together, and Richard was always eager to answer any questions Milly had about world affairs. She found him easy to talk to; he didn’t appear to regard her as a waif or someone to be laughed at any longer. He was very clever and seemed to enjoy her company, and would often come into the kitchen to find out if she was busy. Sometimes he’d sit and watch her preparing the veg, and all the while they would laugh and talk together. When it was time for Jane to have her rest, they would sit and talk about their future.

‘What do you want to do with your life eventually, Milly?’

‘I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it. I just take one day at a time.’ Truth was, she was frightened of her future; all she knew was that she didn’t want to leave here.

‘You know father has now decided that I should go into the army?’

‘Yes, but why? There isn’t any fighting now.’

‘You never know when one of these upstarts might decide they want something another country has, and we have to be ready for that. Also, look at when the King has visitors. Look at all the pomp and ceremony we have then. On those occasions he needs soldiers to line the Mall, and I hope to be one of them.’

‘My brother Dan said he wanted to join the army. Billy wants to join the navy and see the world,’ Milly said, then added wistfully, ‘We all had wild dreams back then. It seems I was the lucky one.’

‘Do you ever want to go and see your family?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘You know I would always go with you?’

‘No. I couldn’t.’ The thought of Richard seeing her home and her father filled her with horror. Was he still as angry and aggressive? Was it Pammy that was suffering now?

As Richard looked at her, he could see what a hard life she must have had, and sensing that she didn’t want to talk about it, he decided to change the subject. ‘Who knows, perhaps when I’m an officer, your brother might be in my regiment.’

‘If he is, you will look after him, won’t you?’

‘For you, anything.’

She blushed and looked away.

‘You don’t wanna get too fond of him, me dear,’ said Betty one afternoon when Milly came in laughing, her eyes shining.

‘I can’t help it. He’s so nice to me.’

‘That’s his way. Remember he’s going in the army when he leaves school, and then he could be sent away like his father.’

‘I know.’ Milly was painfully aware that she was getting very fond of Richard, but she knew that was hopeless. What would he say if he knew how she felt? As her mother would have said to her, ‘Don’t you start getting above your station, young lady.’

 

As he lay on his bed, Richard often thought about Milly. She was so different from the girls his mother was always bringing to the house when he was home. She was honest and full of laughter. He knew he could get very fond of her if things were different. Although the family liked her, he knew that she would never be accepted as one of them. What was her background? Jane would never break her promise to Milly and tell him. Perhaps when he was away he could write to her. Sometimes it was better to put your feelings down on paper. That was it. When he went away he would write to her. He’d ask Jane to pass on the letters, as he knew his mother wouldn’t approve of him writing to Milly.

 

The summer was almost over and Richard had gone back to school.

All through the autumn Milly worked hard at her lessons, and one day Miss Dance suggested she did an exam to gain a certificate.

‘I can’t do that,’ Milly said.

‘Why not?’ asked Jane. ‘You are very clever and I think you should.’

‘I agree with Miss Jane. Milly, you should take this opportunity.’

‘What if I fail?’

‘Then we shall know your weaknesses and work on them.’

‘But . . .’

‘There’s no but about it, you must take it.’ Jane smiled at Milly. ‘Besides, Richard would be so proud of you if you passed.’

Milly looked at Jane. Did she know how she felt about her brother? He had written a few letters to her, but they were always in with Jane’s and not sealed, so Jane knew exactly what he had written and they were always very formal.

‘Please.’ Jane held out her hand to Milly. ‘You are my very best friend and you could go far with a good education. Who knows how long you will want to stay here with me?’

Milly went to speak, but Jane shook her head.

‘None of us knows what will happen in the future, so you must take the moment.’

Milly bent her head. What did Jane mean? Did she know of something that might happen one day? Had the family been talking about sending her away? Milly quickly dismissed that thought; she knew Mr and Mrs Green would do anything for Jane. She also knew her friend was right. This was a wonderful opportunity and she should take it. ‘All right, I’ll do it.’

Miss Dance clapped her hands and her face was wreathed in smiles. ‘I shall be so proud to help you on your way.’

Jane was smiling too. ‘And so will I.’

‘Thank you.’ Milly knew that she would work hard and pass.

O
NCE AGAIN WINTER was on them, and Milly was very excited when Betty told her that she was going to make the Christmas pudding again. She remembered last year and how she’d helped Betty put all the ingredients into the large bowl, stirring it all the time. Then when it was well mixed, it was ready to be transferred to another bowl and gently lowered into the pan of boiling water to simmer for eight hours. For Milly, Christmas had begun. She couldn’t believe that she had been living here for almost two years. She had worked very hard to change; she no longer had a cockney accent and she was also a lot wiser. So many times she thought about home and felt guilty, and she knew that one day she would have to go and face her family. Would Richard really be willing to go with her? Christmas meant that he would be home. She hugged herself and wished it were his arms round her. As she busied herself with her chores, she hoped that he would want her to help gather the holly and ivy and decorate the rooms again.

Mr Green was also due home, and the whole household buzzed with excitement and anticipation.

‘I love it when we are all together. Are you looking forward to coming to Midnight Mass next week?’ asked Jane.

‘Yes, I am,’ said Milly. ‘At least I’ll be able to read all the words this time. Betty has bought a new hat and can’t wait to wear it.’ But it was the thought of Richard being home that thrilled her more than anything else. She treasured the letters she’d had from him, reading over and over again about all that was happening to him and how pleased he was that she was going to take the exams.

At last the great day came when Mr Green arrived. When Milly opened the door she thought he looked a little different. He’d lost a lot of weight and his skin was very white. She noticed that Mrs Green looked shocked as she followed him into the drawing room and quickly closed the door behind her.

Milly took his bags up to his room and hurried down to Betty.

‘You wait till you see him. He’s so thin and pale. Has he been ill?’

‘Don’t know. Mrs G ain’t ever said.’

‘Perhaps he’s never told her.’

‘Could be. Mind you, you never know what kind of terrible disease he could pick up in those foreign parts. Don’t hold with all this travelling about meself.’

‘But that’s his job. He’s some sort of ambassador, so Jane told me. I don’t think she really knows what he does, though he must be quite high up. After all he did go to the King’s funeral. All she knows is that he works in an office in Germany.’

‘Does he speak German then?’

Milly shrugged. ‘Don’t know.’

The bell rang for tea and Milly pushed the trolley into the drawing room.

‘Hello, Milly,’ said Mr Green. ‘I’ve been looking forward to a nice cup of English tea.’

‘Welcome home, sir.’

‘Thank you, and it’s good to be home.’

‘Do you want me to pour?’ Milly asked Mrs Green.

‘No thank you. I’ll do it.’

Milly looked at Jane, who had a worried look on her face. Milly gave a little bob and left. For all her being part of the family, she still felt slightly intimidated when Mr Green was around.

‘You could cut the atmosphere with a knife in there. Something’s wrong, I can feel it,’ she said when she got back into the kitchen.

‘Don’t be so dramatic,’ said Betty. ‘I expect he’s just tired.’

‘Could be. But he wasn’t like this last year.’

‘Perhaps he’s got a cold.’

Milly spent the rest of the afternoon deep in thought. What if Mr Green was ill, and that was what Jane had meant when she said she should take the moment. Was he coming back home for good, and would things be very different if he did? And what if he was ill and—

‘You’re very quiet,’ said Betty, interrupting her thoughts. ‘You all right?’

‘I was just thinking about Mr Green.’

‘I shouldn’t worry about him too much. He’ll be fine after a few days of my cooking.’

But Milly was concerned. What would happen to her if things changed? She knew she was being selfish and just thinking about herself, but she loved her life here, and she was always afraid that one day it could all end.