A Moment to Remember (8 page)

Milly stood and looked at him. She couldn’t believe that he thought of her as almost part of the family, and for the first time she saw him differently from the boy who always made fun of her. He was very handsome. When he laughed, his grey-blue eyes lit up, and he had a funny way of pushing his thick fair hair back from off his forehead. She stopped herself crossly. She was just a common cockney girl who he enjoyed laughing at. How could she even think of him like this?

 

When it was time for Richard to go back to school, he called Milly to his room. ‘I have a present for you.’

‘For me?’

‘Hold out your hand, and close your eyes.’

‘No.’

‘What?’

‘The last time I did that, you put a slimy frog in my hand.’

He laughed. ‘Yes, I remember, and you ran off screaming your head off and I got well and truly chastised by Mama and Jane and Betty. I did say I was sorry.’

‘Yes, you did.’

‘I can assure you this is not a frog. Now hold out your hand.’

Reluctantly Milly did as she was told, and he placed a small package in her hand.

‘Open it.’

Slowly she unwrapped the package. It was a hair clasp just like the one Miss Robbins had been wearing. She looked up at Richard, for he was head and shoulders taller than her. ‘Thank you. This is beautiful. But why?’

‘Well, you admired Miss Robbins’ clips, and I thought I’d better make it up with you. After all, you are so good for my sister, and despite the way I play about, I love Jane very much and like to see her happy. And I am very fond of you.’

Milly could feel herself blushing. ‘You didn’t have to do this.’

‘Yes I did. Now help me downstairs with my bags.’

She took the bag from off the bed and on a mad impulse went and kissed his cheek. ‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.’

He smiled. ‘I don’t mind one bit.’

She felt such a fool. ‘Please. Don’t tell Jane or your mother.’

‘No. It will be our secret.’

 

As he climbed into the carriage, he turned and waved at her.

She felt her heart skip. This was silly. How could she be fond of someone like Richard? The handsome man who would go a long way? She looked at the hair clasp in her hand and knew that she would treasure it for ever.

I
N NOVEMBER, WHEN it was Milly’s fifteenth birthday, everybody made such a fuss of her. Betty had made her a cake and Jane had bought her a tam-o’-shanter hat just like the one she’d been wearing when they first met. She knew that Milly had admired it since that day. Milly was overwhelmed by everybody’s kindness. Miss Dance gave her a book of poems, from Walton she had a scarf, and Mrs Green’s present was a rich ruby-coloured skirt. Milly stood with tears running down her cheeks as they sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.

‘I’ve never had birthday presents before, or a cake. You are all so kind.’

‘It’s no more than you deserve,’ said Mrs Green. ‘You have brought a lot of joy to my daughter and this household. ’

Jane was smiling fit to bust. ‘You wait till it’s my birthday.’

‘We’ve got Christmas before that,’ said Betty.

‘I know. I can’t wait. And Daddy will be home then. You’ll love him, Milly. He is so nice and kind.’

When Milly had asked Jane where her father was, she had told her that he was an ambassador who worked in Germany and only came home at Christmas. She said that he was someone very important.

 

A few weeks later the preparations for Christmas began in earnest.

‘When Richard gets home he will decorate the drawing and dining rooms with holly and ivy. You must help him, Milly. It will be good fun.’

Milly was also beginning to get excited. She had never known an atmosphere like this, and couldn’t wait for Mr Green and Richard to arrive.

All week Mrs Green kept popping into the kitchen asking if everything was under control. Betty seemed to be shouting at all the tradesmen, telling them that all the meat had better be perfect, as well as the dairy products and the vegetables.

For days everybody was in a fluster. Richard was the first to arrive, and Milly gave him a big smile.

‘Everything all right then, Milly?’ he asked when she opened the door to him.

‘Yes thank you.’

‘Good. We’ll talk later.’

Milly’s heart gave a little flutter.

Mr Green was due to arrive at the weekend. Milly was very nervous about meeting him for the first time, but Jane and Betty tried to reassure her that he was very nice. At the back of her mind was the thought of her own father, but nobody could be like him, not here.

Milly went into the drawing room to stoke up the fire. ‘What time is your father arriving?’ she asked Jane, who was sitting in front of the window watching and waiting.

‘He should be here soon. I am so excited. I wish he came home more often, though he always brings me lots of exciting presents. I know that you will love him almost as much as I do when you see him.’

This was such a happy household. Even Richard was being nice to her, and Milly had told Jane about the hair slide he’d given her.

‘Well he has been pretty horrible to you.’

Milly didn’t have an answer.

‘You must wear it at Christmas.’

‘I think I will.’

Later that afternoon, a scream from the drawing room sent Milly and Betty to see what was the matter.

‘He’s here!’ shouted Jane. ‘Daddy’s here.’

Milly felt almost as excited as Jane, who was trying to turn her chair around but in her hurry kept bumping into the furniture.

‘Here, let me,’ said Milly, who was now good at controlling the chair.

Milly pushed her into the hall just as Mrs Green opened the front door.

‘I heard Jane tell everyone you were here.’

Mr Green held his wife tight and then bent down and hugged Jane. ‘How are you, my little lamb?’

Milly wanted to cry. She had never seen such love and happiness.

Richard, who was standing by the front door, closed it behind his father and held out his hand. ‘Welcome home, Father.’

Mr Green clasped his son’s hand with both of his own. ‘And how are you, my boy? Still working hard?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Good. That’s what I like to hear.’ Mr Green was a tall, well-set man with thick greying hair and a moustache; he had a slightly tanned face. Taking the handles of the wheelchair he effortlessly pushed it into the drawing room as Milly hurried along to the kitchen.

As soon as the excitement died down, Betty was going to give Milly the sign and she was to help with the afternoon tea.

‘What a welcome,’ said Milly.

‘It’s always like that when he comes home. He’s such a nice man and will talk to us later. Now just lay up the trolley, and don’t let your finger dip in the sponge.’

Milly laughed. ‘As if I would! Besides, you always save a bit for us.’

Betty laughed too. ‘Go on with you. You’re getting to be a right cheeky little madam.’

Milly suddenly looked serious. ‘I’m sorry, Betty. As my mum would say, you mustn’t get too big for your boots.’ She thought about her own family and knew they had nothing at Christmas.

Betty noted her distress. ‘Come on, love. I was only having a laugh. D’you know, it’s a right tonic having you around.’

Milly’s sad face lit with a smile. ‘Thank you.’

‘Right, you can come with me and hand out the plates and cake.’

‘Thank you.’ She went and hugged Betty.

‘What was that for?’

‘Just that I’m so lucky and I can’t believe this is happening to me.’

Betty looked fondly at Milly for a moment. ‘Come on, push that trolley. It’s a good thing the everyday rooms in this house are downstairs.’

On Christmas night as Milly lay in her bed, she reflected on the past two days. Tears ran down her face. Never in her life had she experienced anything like it. But what about her own family? Did her mother wonder where she had gone? Was she well? It was then that she was filled with guilt. She knew that Christmas Day at home would have been just like any other. No presents for the children or lovely food. If only she dared try to get in touch with Dan and Billy, but that would surely put an end to her wonderful life. She knew she was being selfish, and that upset her.

Her joy had started on Christmas Eve when she and Betty went with the family to Midnight Mass. Milly had never been in such a lovely church. The family sat in the front and Milly and Betty sat at the back. She was staring at everything that was happening all around her. The sermon and the carols thrilled her; everything about her was so new, and it was such a beautiful sound when the choir’s voices rose all around her that she wanted to cry. She was bubbling with joy when she got back and the family invited them into the drawing room for a drink. Milly was given ginger beer, but to drink out of crystal glasses was in itself such a privilege. When she went to bed that night she was full of apprehension and excitement and knew it would be hard to sleep, but it seemed that all too soon Elsie was standing over her.

‘Come on, love, merry Christmas, it’s time to rise and shine.’

Last night the family had wished her a merry Christmas; nobody had ever said that to her before.

The two of them had got on quickly and quietly with their chores, then gone into the kitchen for breakfast.

‘Merry Christmas,’ said Betty when they entered the warm, cosy kitchen. ‘Sit yourselves down and I’ll dish up. Then Milly, get yourself cleaned up and take the breakfast things in to the dining room. I daresay Miss Jane will be ringing for some help before long.’

‘Mrs Green always sees to her when Walton is away,’ said Milly, buttering her toast.

‘I know that, but then she’ll be wanting her breakfast and to see what presents she’s got. That will give the missus time to get herself ready for church.’

Milly was always amazed at how lovely and regal Mrs Green looked, even in the mornings. ‘I’d love to go to church again.’

‘Wouldn’t we all. Now get a move on. We’ve got a lot to do this morning,’ said Betty, bustling round the table. ‘Elsie can’t stop as she’s got to get home to her family, but Annie that’s been helping out with the washing and ironing is coming in to give us a hand.’

Betty brought out of the larder the huge Christmas pudding she had made weeks ago. Milly had been fascinated and had helped in stirring it. Betty had told her to stir one way three times then plop the spoon in the middle and make a wish. Milly didn’t have anything to wish for for herself, as her life was complete, so she wished for her mum to keep well. Betty wrapped the pudding in a cloth and set it to simmer gently in a large pot that hung over the fire. Also in the larder was a beautiful cake that she had made. She was such a good cook.

The milkman was banging on the back door. ‘Merry Christmas, Missus.’

Milly took the jug of milk.

‘Here’s the cream you ordered.’

‘Merry Christmas,’ said Betty, handing the milkman an envelope.

He touched his hat. ‘Thanks,’ he said, and walked away whistling.

Milly thought of the creamery near her home. She’d hated that area; it was under the railway arches and was always dark and gloomy even on a bright day. When the trains rattled overhead the noise was frightening, and the smoke from them filled the air. She began to think of home. She would love to see her brothers again, her mother too, if only she could arrange to meet them, but she knew that would never be.

‘Come on, young lady, stop daydreaing,’ said Betty, bringing her back. ‘Go and take your overall off and put your clean frock on and start taking the breakfast things in.’

Milly felt so happy as she pushed the laden trolley into the dining room. For the past few days she had been helping Richard to collect holly and ivy from the garden to decorate this room and the hall. There had been much laughter as Richard teased her and chased her with the prickly holly leaves. She was beside herself with joy as they hung the garlands from the ornate mantelpiece; even the majestic grandfather clock that stood in the corner of the drawing room as well as vases and heavy picture frames were draped.

Jane was getting so excited as she pushed her chair round the room giving them their orders. She followed them into the hall and watched as they decorated that as well.

‘I love Christmas. What about you, Milly?’

‘Christmas didn’t mean a lot in our house.’

‘What a shame. Does this room look like the pictures in the book I showed you?’ she asked. Milly and Jane had pored over a picture book last week admiring all the ways to decorate a room.

‘Yes, it does.’

 

‘Good morning, Milly,’ said Mr Green as she pushed open the dining-room door. He was sitting at the head of the table.

‘Good morning, sir.’ After placing the heavy silver dishes and the tea things on the sideboard, Milly poured him out a cup of tea.