A Moment to Remember (32 page)

‘Were you gassed, mate?’ asked the man in the next bed.

‘No. Caught in the blast of a gun that got hit. What about you?’

‘That bloody gas. Didn’t do my lungs much good either.’

‘Sorry to hear that. I’m Richard Green, and you are . . . ?’

‘Frank Miller.’

‘Pleased to meet you, Frank. As soon as I’m on my feet I’ll come and shake your hand.’

‘You’ll be up and about with our little Red Cross nurse in no time. Ash is our guardian angel. And according to my wife she writes lovely letters. Have you got a wife?’

‘No.’

‘What about mother and father; she’ll write to them.’

‘They were both interned in Germany. I haven’t heard from them for a long while.’

‘Sorry to hear that.’

‘That’s all right. It was just one of those things. Father was working over there. I just hope they’re all right. Mother was a bit poorly the last time I heard.’

Milly couldn’t believe that in that short space of time she had found out all about Richard’s parents and that he hadn’t married. That was the thing with these men; they would tell anyone all about themselves if they found a willing ear.

F
OR THE REST of the day Milly tried to stay away from the ward that Richard was in. She was worried that if he heard her voice he might recognise her.

That night Trudy was working. Milly was in bed when Nancy came into their room.

‘What was wrong with you this morning? I’ve never seen you like that before.’

Milly let a tear run down her cheek. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.

Nancy came and sat on her bed. ‘You don’t have to be sorry. What was it? What upset you?’

‘Nancy, I’ve got to leave here.’

‘What? Why?’

‘It’s very difficult.’

‘But I thought you loved it here.’

‘I do, but . . . ’

‘It was that patient, what was his name?’

‘Richard.’

‘That’s it. That’s the problem. You know him, don’t you?’

Milly nodded and wiped away a tear. ‘What can I do?’

‘How well did you know him?’

‘Very well.’ Milly wasn’t prepared to tell her friend anything more. What would Nancy say if she found out that Milly was responsible for his sister’s death.

‘You’ll have to have a word with Matron. Go and see her in the morning.’

‘Thanks. Nancy, please don’t say anything to Trudy.’

‘Nothing to tell, is there?’

Milly knew as she settled down that her thoughts would be on Richard. She knew from reading his notes that he would never be able to see her. Who would look after him when he was able to leave here? She desperately wanted to hold him and be there for him, but she knew that he had loved Jane and would never forgive her. She turned over. Sleep was going to be hard to come by tonight, and tomorrow could be another turning point in her life.

 

Milly knocked on Matron’s door.

‘Come.’ She looked up from her desk. ‘Ash. What can I do for you?’

Milly looked at the chair. She wanted to collapse on to it, but they had to stand till they were told to sit. ‘Please, Matron, I wish to be transferred.’

‘Please sit down and tell me what has suddenly brought this on. I thought you were very happy here?’

‘I am.’

‘So what seems to be the trouble?’

‘I know one of the new patients.’

‘Which one is that?’

‘Lieutenant Green.’

‘And does he know you?’

‘I haven’t told him who I am.’

‘He’s not recognised your voice?’

‘I have been very careful not to speak in front of him.’

‘I see.’

Milly looked at her hands.

‘Was this a love affair that went wrong?’

‘In a way. We were both very young.’

‘Have you looked at his notes and found that he’s married?’

‘He’s not married.’

‘I see. And you think that you both being here could start the relationship again?’

Milly nodded.

‘Well, you know the rules.’

‘Yes, Matron.’

‘As you know, although we look after the men, we’re not like a hospital; we are here to help them learn to live with their disabilities, and because of that we become involved less in a clinical way and more in a social way. I like to think that we are one big happy family.’

Milly wanted to smile at that remark. She didn’t look on Matron as a motherly figure.

‘Leave this with me and I’ll let you know.’

Milly left Matron’s office with a heavy heart. She loved this job and the camaraderie with the men. Sometimes as she read their letters and wrote their replies, she almost felt she was part of their family.

 

Later that afternoon Milly took a letter out to Major Robinson, who was sitting in the garden. ‘It’s from your wife,’ she told him.

‘Wonderful. Will you read it for me?’

‘Of course.’ She settled herself in a chair close to him and began reading the letter. When she’d finished, she said, ‘She sounds very well, doesn’t she?’

‘Yes. In some ways I wish she could come and see me.’

‘Would you like me to talk to Matron about a visit?’

‘Could you. I know it’s a bit of a way for her to come, but I’m sure she’d be happy to make the journey.’

‘Would you be happy for her to see you?’ She knew that some of the men had had their wives to visit, and that one or two had found it very hard to come to terms with the situation.

‘I think so. She knows it’s going to be hard when I’m sent home, and if she saw how well I was managing, I’m sure that would help to put her mind at rest.’

Milly touched his hand. ‘I’m sure it will. She sounds a lovely woman.’

She looked up and saw a nurse pushing Richard towards them.

‘I have to go,’ she said and quickly walked away.

Was this how it was going to be every time she saw him?

 

A week later Matron called Milly to her office.

‘Please take a seat. I’ve had a letter from Major Robinson’s wife. She is coming to see him at the weekend and she has asked to meet you. I am still waiting to hear about your transfer.’ She folded the letter she had been holding. ‘Have you managed to avoid talking to Lieutenant Green?’

‘Yes, Matron.’

‘So he still doesn’t know you’re here?’

‘No.’

‘Well, go along and tell Major Robinson the good news.’

Milly left the office.

Major Robinson was over the moon. ‘How do I look? Do I need a haircut? I’m getting better at shaving, but will you look at me on Saturday just to make sure I haven’t missed a bit?’

‘Of course I will, and I’ll make sure you’re turned out spick and span.’

‘Thank you. You’re a good girl, Milly, and I know Frances is going to love you.’

 

On Saturday afternoon, Major Robinson was very happy and talked continually to anybody who would listen.

Milly knew what time Frances Robinson was arriving, and when the taxi pulled up outside the house, she went to met her. ‘I’m Milly Ash. Please to meet you.’ She held out her hand.

‘May I call you Milly? I feel we know each other through your letters.’

‘Please do,’ Milly said with a smile. ‘Andrew is in the garden.’

She went to lead the way, but Frances held her arm. ‘Please. Tell me, is he very bad?’

‘Not physically, but he can’t see at all.’

‘Will he ever regain his sight?’

‘That’s hard to say. I have known some gas victims to see again even if everything is a blur, but I shouldn’t hold out too much hope.’

‘He shouldn’t even have been in the trenches. He was just visiting his men. He’s always been the same, always has to poke his nose in.’ Frances took a pretty lace handkerchief from her handbag and dabbed at her eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘That’s all right. Now, are you ready?’

She stood up straight. ‘Yes.’

They made their way across the beautifully kept lawn to a group of men sitting under a tree. Among them were Major Robinson and Richard. Milly was cross with herself. She should have got the major to wait up near the door.

She went over to him and whispered, ‘I’ve got someone to see you.’

Frances went to him and kissed his cheek.

‘Frances. Let me touch you.’

She bent down, and he ran his fingers over her face.

Milly could see that Frances was crying, and she started to walk away.

‘Just a minute, Milly,’ called Frances.

Milly was in her own world and didn’t hear her name being called.

‘Milly. Milly Ash.’

She stopped and turned.

There was a crash of a glass being dropped. Richard was trying to get out of his wheelchair. She rushed over to him, afraid that he would fall or bump into something.

He held on to her. ‘Please say you are my Milly Ash.’

‘Yes, I am, Richard.’

Tears fell from their eyes as they stood locked in each other’s arms.

‘What’s going on?’ asked the major.

‘I don’t know,’ said Frances. ‘But it looks beautiful.’

 

Milly helped Richard back into his chair and wheeled him to a secluded corner of the garden. There she sat on a seat with Richard at her side.

‘Why did you run away?’ he asked, holding out his hand for her to hold.

‘Because of Jane. I had to,’ she said softly, taking his hand.

‘Milly, no one blamed you. It was an accident. If anyone was to blame it was me, for starting all that in the first place.’

‘But what did your mother and father think?’

‘We tried to find you. We didn’t know where you lived. We even tried to find your Aunt Doris.’

‘You did all that?’

‘You had become part of our family and I have never stopped loving you. I just wanted you back again.’ He kissed her hand. ‘Why didn’t you talk to me when I first arrived here?’

‘I thought you would be angry with me.’

‘But now I’ve found you and we can be together. You’re not engaged or married?’

‘No.’

He kissed her hand again. ‘Please kiss me.’

‘Richard, I can’t. I shouldn’t even be holding hands with you.’

‘I’ve loved you all this time. What about you? Did you ever think of me?’

‘Richard, I have always loved you. Every time I feel a little down, I look at my lovely bracelet and think of you.’

‘You still have that bracelet? I would have thought you’d have sold it by now.’

‘It’s been a close call at times.’

‘Milly, I still love you. Could you feel the same way about me, even if I am scared and blind?’

She choked back a sob. ‘Richard,’ she said softly, ‘I’ve never stopped loving you, but I never thought I’d ever see you again. I thought you would hate me for what happened to Jane.’

‘We knew you would never hurt her.’

‘She was my best friend and I loved her.’

‘I know.’ Richard kissed her fingers. ‘Please say you’ll never leave me and that you will be my wife.’

‘I will, Richard. I will.’ Milly wiped the tears from her eyes, then held him close and kissed him. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her.

‘We should be married as soon as we can,’ Richard said softly.

The gong sounded for tea.

‘We must go.’ Milly stood up and turned his wheelchair round. ‘As you can see, I’m better at handling these now.’

‘Please don’t think about that.’

‘It’s something I shall never forget.’

As they got nearer to the house, Richard said, ‘Can we talk after tea? We have a lot of catching up to do and a lot of plans to make.’

‘I would love that.’

As she pushed him up the ramp, she turned and looked at the sky. It was just starting to turn a lovely shade of pink, heralding a new day tomorrow. Milly knew at that moment that she had found her true love at last, and that from now on, all her tomorrows would be wonderful.