The Heart Stone by Judith Barrow

Author:Judith Barrow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Honno Press
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 63

September 1915

‘But what does he want this time? Why did ’e come round? ’E’s never away.’

‘He’s going into Manchester and wanted to know if we needed anything.’

‘That’s twice today.’ Edna scowled.

‘He’s just being a friend. He’s trying to help us.’ Jessie lifted Harry from her breast and pulled her blouse around her. She held the baby to her shoulder and he burped; a low blowing with the sweet smell of her milk. ‘Good lad,’ she whispered, standing and putting him into his cradle.

Edna softened. ‘He’s coming on grand, ’n’t ’e? Looks the spit of Arthur at his age.’ She leaned over him, tucking the cotton sheet around him. ‘You could put ’im in his pram in the yard for a bit of fresh air? Then you could have a nap? I’ll watch ’im.’ Her animosity towards Bob, voiced for the day, satisfied.

‘Thanks. I will.’ Jessie rubbed at her face. A headache tightened the back of her neck. ‘I am a bit tired.’

She knew that both of them were well aware of what day it was, even if it hadn’t been mentioned. She pushed away the memory of the brass band playing, the sound of marching feet, image of the cheering, singing crowds and flags waving as they hung from bedroom windows.

It was wrong to be even thinking about the problem of Bob today, it felt like disloyalty to Arthur, but it had been tormenting her for weeks.

Bob hadn’t made any more advances towards her but he was a constant presence and she didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t that she could see him in any other way than as a friend and he seemed content with that after her sharp words. But his insistence on calling at the house was causing friction between her and Edna. And Arthur was never far from the conversation between the two of them. It was as though Edna was deliberately keeping him alive and in Jessie’s thoughts. Just in case…

She watched Edna manoeuvre the perambulator into the yard, wondered if the relationship between them would have been different without all that had happened over the last year. It probably would have been completely different if Arthur had lived, if the war hadn’t rent them all apart. She probably wouldn’t have had Harry, at least not so soon. Edna wouldn’t have had to worry about the future, about Bob. Wouldn’t need to be so possessive. Life made people change so much. Suddenly she needed to get away.

‘Actually Edna, would you mind if I went out for a walk? I need to think.’

‘Aye, I thought you might, pet, I thought you might.’ Edna pushed the brake down on the pram and crossed the kitchen to enfold Jessie in her arms. ‘I know what day it is an’ all.’ Her voice was choked. ‘You go for one of your wanderings in them fields, Jessie. I don’t know what comfort you get from that but you always come back with more colour in your cheeks. So wrap up and off you go.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.