War Widow by June Francis

Author:June Francis
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Chapter Thirteen

Uncertain what exactly she was feeling, Flora said nothing for a moment, nor did Vivien, and neither of them made a move towards Hilda. Then Flora freed a long breath. ‘So you’ve decided to come and see us at last. It would have been a good idea to let me know instead of just walking in.’

Hilda pulled a face. ‘I was up this way so I thought I’d call in. But if I’m not welcome then I can turn round and go back out again.’

‘You could,’ said Flora calmly, shrugging off her coat. ‘What have you come for after all this time? To see your daughter, I hope.’

A frown creased Hilda’s forehead. ‘Partly. But I suppose you won’t believe that. Just as you won’t believe that I was worried about you when I heard about Rosie. I know the way you feel about your kids.’

‘It’s over a year ago! How did you find out?’ Flora put a match to the fire, before sitting down and kicking off her shoes.

‘Doris. She saw it in the Echo when it happened, but I only learnt about it the other day when I came back to Liverpool.’

‘So you immediately came round to see me. How nice!’

Hilda walked over to her. ‘I do have feelings, Flo! I was sorry to hear about the kid. How have you been?’

Flora closed her eyes and rested her head wearily against the back of the chair. Seeing her sister had brought to mind their last meeting and she was really in no mood for emotional turmoil. ‘How do you think I’ve been?’

Her sister took a deep drag at her cigarette. ‘Lousy, I suppose.’

A harsh laugh escaped Flora. ‘Hardly describes my feelings. But it’s nice to have you caring about me for once.’

‘There’s no need for sarcasm.’

Flora opened her eyes briefly. ‘I wasn’t being sarcastic. But knowing you – why have you come, Hilda? There’s always something other than family feeling behind your visits.’

Hilda fiddled with her cigarette, not looking directly at her. ‘I met Mike in town a few days ago.’

Flora’s heart seemed to jerk and her eyelashes flew open. ‘You can’t have! He went back to America!’

‘Well, he’s at Burtonwood base again. Something to do with the Russians blockading Berlin.’

‘How did he look?’ Flora tried to calm the unexpected surge of feeling inside her. Hilda’s eyes narrowed as she stared down at her painted fingernails through a haze of smoke.

‘Just the same. You know Mike. Perhaps he’s a little thinner.’ She shrugged. ‘Anyway, me and him sorted out our differences and we had a night out on the town.’

Flora straightened up, her fingers trembling on the arm of the chair. She felt slightly sick. ‘Why bother to come and tell me?’

Hilda took another drag on her cigarette. ‘It’s funny, but I thought it might annoy you – me and Mike. I was almost sure you and him had something real going once.’ She laughed mirthlessly. ‘But he did tell me that it was all over.’

No way could Flora allow her sister to see how much the words hurt.

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