Hattie's Home by Mary Gibson

Author:Mary Gibson [Gibson, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784973360
Publisher: Head of Zeus

14

Secrets and Smiles

April–May 1947

Clara held her breath. Had she seen a movement? No, Martha’s curled eyelashes seemed firmly closed now. As the weeks had passed and still her daughter hadn’t woken, she’d imagined such a movement countless times. No doubt she’d imagined that small tremble this time too. But then she saw another. The baby’s eyelids definitely flickered. Clara jumped up from the chair at the bedside, as they opened into a wide-eyed stare. She cupped her child’s face. Leaning close, she whispered, ‘Martha? Martha? It’s Mummy.’

But her daughter’s normally eloquent eyes showed no flicker of recognition and she jerked her little head to one side, her gaze roaming the room as if Clara were not there.

‘It’s me, babe, it’s Mummy!’ With one gentle finger, she turned Martha’s face towards her. ‘Hello, my darling!’ She smiled, but something in her heart flinched from the unknowing gaze that met hers. She waited with sickening hope for her child to come back to her. She smiled brightly, in spite of her fear. ‘Look what Mummy’s brought you.’ She held up Johnny Harper’s gift, the once-loved teddy bear. Martha’s gaze shifted and fixed on the glassy eyes of the toy. Then, as Clara waggled the bear’s head, a quicksilver flash of knowing lit her daughter’s eyes. They crinkled into a smile, and then a little chuckle escaped her lips as her fat fist reached to grasp the teddy. Martha looked up into Clara’s eyes and gave her the longed-for sunny smile.

Clara wiped tears from her cheeks as relief surged through her. ‘Thank God, thank God,’ she repeated over and over as tears and laughter mingled into one wet outpoured prayer of thanks. She had her baby back.

*

It was late when she left the ward. Sister had developed a soft spot for her and when she heard the good news about Martha she’d relaxed the rules, letting Clara stay long after visiting hours. There might be no buses running, but even the prospect of a long walk home couldn’t lower her spirits tonight. She was desperate to get back and tell Hattie. Martha’s illness seemed to have hit her friend hard. It had touched Clara, for Hattie so often boasted she had no interest in having children of her own.

But once outside the ward, she was surprised to find Alan waiting for her. ‘What are you still doing here?’ she asked. ‘You must have been hanging about for ages!’

‘I thought you’d need a lift.’ His own smile of greeting faltered. ‘What’s happened? Is it Martha?’

She swallowed back her tears of joy. ‘It is, but it’s good news, Al. She’s come round and she knew me!’

He threw his arms round her, squeezing her so tightly she couldn’t breathe. ‘That’s the best news ever.’

‘It is.’ Clara felt her smile might split her face. ‘The best news ever.’ And she realized she was glad he was here to share it. ‘Thanks, Alan. You’ve been so good to me.’

‘It’s been no hardship, Clara.’ He still had her in a tight embrace and, as his eyes held hers, she saw something more than friendship reflected there.

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