The Nurses of Steeple Street by Donna Douglas

Author:Donna Douglas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House

Chapter Twenty-Five

Cedar House

Steeple Street

Leeds

10th November 1925

Dear Mother,

How are you? It’s been such a long time since I’ve heard from you. I wonder if you’ve received my last four letters?

Things are still going well for me here at the district nurses’ home. As I already told you, I have my own set of patients now to visit on a regular basis. I’m still getting used to the various backstreets of Quarry Hill, and some of the people I meet are most peculiar (I really don’t know what you’d make of them!), but I think we’re beginning to understand each other.

One of my patients, Mrs Franklin, was recently admitted to hospital with a duodenal ulcer. I happened to see her husband yesterday morning as I was passing his corner shop. He came out to wish me good morning and to tell me his wife was recovering well. He was so overcome with gratitude, poor man, he made me a promise that if there was anything he could do for me, then I had only to ask.

And then I had an idea. One of my other patients, Mr Willis, lost his job recently, and his family is struggling to cope. So I suggested to Mr Franklin that, as a favour to me, he might think about cancelling the debt Mrs Willis has run up in his shop. And he agreed! Quite readily, in fact. Between you and me, I think he has been worrying about them too, and looking for a way to help them.

Anyway, I can’t wait for Mrs Willis to hear the good news. I imagine it will be quite a weight off her mind. I’m so pleased I’ve been able to help her, even in a small way.

I think you and Father would be very proud of what I’m doing here. I really am trying to fit in and to make the best of my situation, as you suggested I should.

Have you thought any more about me coming to visit you? I would dearly love to see you all again, and spend time with you, and meet my new niece (I’m sorry, I don’t even know her name yet!). Please write back to me as soon as you can. I am longing to hear all your news.

Your loving daughter,

Agnes

She scanned the letter, trying to imagine how her mother might feel when she read it.

If she read it. Her mother had still not replied to any of the previous letters, not even a note to tell her to stop writing. Agnes had a picture lurking in the back of her mind of her mother throwing the unopened letters on to the fire, jabbing at them with a poker to make sure the flames consumed every last scrap …

She pushed the thought away. Of course her mother would read her letters. And hopefully she would be proud that Agnes was doing so well. Elizabeth Sheridan had always taken such pleasure in her daughter’s achievements in the past.

Agnes read through the letter again.

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