A Mother Forever Elaine Everest (best beach reads of all time .txt) 📖

not fine at all,’ Frank fussed. ‘Sit there and take some deep breaths,’ he told her sternly as she tried to get to her feet. ‘I’d never forgive myself if you fell ill while working here. You do long hours in the shop, then rush off home to care for George and do your housework. The house is always as bright and clean as a new pin – then on top of that, I find you upstairs clearing out the spare rooms this morning. This can’t go on, Ruby.’

‘Here you are,’ the customer said, handing a china cup full of cold water to Frank, who urged Ruby to take slow sips.

‘Thank you – it’s such a warm day, I was overcome for a little while. I’ll be fine now.’ She smiled at the man, who still looked worried. ‘I’m sorry to have interrupted your browsing. Is there anything we can help you with?’

Frank laughed. ‘Don’t you ever rest? I’ll serve the gentleman, Ruby. You sit there and take it easy for a few minutes, then I’m packing you off home. George will be back from school shortly, anyway.’

Ruby was grateful to be able to relax for a short while. Since the shop had opened the month before, they’d been run off their feet. Frank was often out collecting books from private addresses or attending auctions. Ruby would man the shop, waiting for him to return to the shop in Pier Road to see what gems he’d found. On Saturdays, George would help in the shop, and occasionally Donald would help out for a few hours.

Stella, however, never came near the premises at all; since the night Frank had told her about his plans, it was as if she had drifted away. No amount of explaining that it was his dream to run his own business could convince his mother that he was doing the right thing.

‘I’m fine now – I feel a lot better. It must have been the heat that affected me; it’s quite a close day. Do you think there’s going to be a storm later?’

Frank looked at Ruby’s flushed cheeks, noticing that her hands shook a little as she held the cup. He wasn’t fooled by the smile on her face. Ruby hadn’t been herself for a few weeks now. There was most certainly something wrong with her, which worried him. Under normal circumstances he would have turned to his mother for advice, but Stella’s coolness towards him at the moment also extended to Ruby. He’d seen her turn away and rarely answer when Ruby was in the room. Was it because he’d given up a good job at the coalyard – a job with prospects – to set out on a venture that could fail? Perhaps it was because he’d asked Ruby for help with the shop, rather than his mum? Working long hours, he’d not yet got the upstairs rooms of the shop in Pier Road ready to move in to, so he was still living with his parents. However, the frosty reception he received whenever he was at home caused him to stay away as much as possible. Frank closed his ears to Stella advising him to go back to his secure job at the coalyard. The more he resisted her advice, the worse the atmosphere became.

The older gentleman accepted his purchases, now wrapped in brown paper and tied neatly with string, and pocketed his change. ‘I hope your wife will be feeling better soon,’ he said. ‘She needs to keep her feet up more. My wife was the same when she was first expecting our nippers.’

Frank’s chin almost hit the floor as he considered the man’s words. Surely not? Making a note of the purchases, he bid the man a good afternoon. He returned to where Ruby was sitting, staring into space. She must have heard the exchange. She looked up at Frank as he placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘He’s right; I’m certain I’m expecting a baby.’

‘Who . . . when . . .?’ Frank asked, looking puzzled. ‘I had no idea you had a gentleman friend, let alone . . .’

Ruby’s eyes shone with unshed tears. ‘It’s Eddie’s.’

‘But you’ve not seen him for years. I thought he’d vanished from your life?’

Ruby took her dear friend’s hand and clasped it tightly. ‘Five years. I’ve not seen him for five years, and then one night a few months ago, he turned up on my doorstep. He’s changed, Frank – it seemed as if the good man I married had come back again.’

‘If he’s a good man, why did he love you and leave you?’ he asked bitterly. ‘That’s not the behaviour of a decent husband.’

‘I don’t know. He wouldn’t say – he mentioned putting me in danger if I knew. I’m sure he’ll come back to me one day . . .’

‘Meanwhile, he leaves you alone to carry a child while bringing up another one?’

‘Please don’t be angry. I need friends more than ever now. I would have told your mum about the baby, but she seems to have turned against me.’

‘It’s not just you,’ Frank replied, squeezing her hand. ‘I don’t seem to be her favourite son at the moment,’ he laughed harshly. Stella used to tell all three of her boys that they were her favourites; it had been the same for as long as he could remember. ‘I’m worried about your reputation. A woman with one child, who was abandoned by her husband, can be judged harshly enough in some people’s eyes, but an abandoned mother carrying a child could be seen as something different. I’m not one to worry about what people say. Let’s face it, I’m a chap in my early thirties who has never married. We seem to have to fit into people’s ideas of the correct way to live. In my case it’s a wife and children, and in your case, you should be a dignified woman bringing up a child alone.’

Ruby agreed. ‘People can be so judgemental. I put on a hard face, but inside . . . it hurts. I