A Ruthless Need by Catherine Cookson

Author:Catherine Cookson [Cookson, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781780360201
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Meg did not turn around, but kept her plump body bent forward over the sink, and she heard Bertha gasp and say, ‘Oh, no! girl. Not that! No! No!’ Then Lizzie’s voice, in a tone holding a faraway sound and like that of a child protesting, said, ‘Why not? Why not? But he didn’t know. I should have told him. I meant to, but I was keeping it as a wedding present.’

‘Come and lie down in the sitting room.’ Geoff had his hand on her elbow to help her rise.

‘No. No.’ She shook off his hold; then got to her feet, saying, ‘I’m all right. I’m all right. I’ll go up to my room.’ She paused and stared at the table, then turned to Bertha who had her head buried deep on her chest, and she said quietly, ‘I won’t want any tea.’

She had reached the far door when Geoff said hurriedly, ‘Go with her, Meg. Get her into bed. She’s in shock. I’d…I’d better give the doctor a ring.’

After Meg had left the kitchen he sat down beside his mother and, taking her hand, he said quietly, ‘These things happen. They’re happening all the time. Don’t take on.’

She looked up at him. ‘It shouldn’t have happened to her,’ she said; ‘she’s…she’s never played around.’

‘She wasn’t playing around, Mam. She cared for him, a bit too much, perhaps; and what’s done’s done. You’re not going to hold it against her, are you?’

‘No. But what…’ she bit on her lip, ‘what’ll she do? I’m so sad: she’ll be on her own with a child to bring up.’

‘She won’t be on her own, will she, Mam? She’ll still have us.’

‘Yes, yes, of course. But…but it’s different from having a husband.’

‘She’ll get a husband all right. There’s plenty who’ll come flying.’

‘I don’t know. I don’t know. There’s still a feeling about…well, children being born like this. I…I would have thought she could have waited. I’ve…I’ve been so careful in bringing her up, and I have brought her up. She shouldn’t have done it, not her, after all the care I’ve taken of her.’

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