A Moment to Remember
Page 25
Was this how it was going to be every time she saw him?
A week later Matron called Milly to her office.
‘Please take a seat. I’ve had a letter from Major Robinson’s wife. She is coming to see him at the weekend and she has asked to meet you. I am still waiting to hear about your transfer.’ She folded the letter she had been holding. ‘Have you managed to avoid talking to Lieutenant Green?’
‘Yes, Matron.’
‘So he still doesn’t know you’re here?’
‘No.’
‘Well, go along and tell Major Robinson the good news.’
Milly left the office.
Major Robinson was over the moon. ‘How do I look? Do I need a haircut? I’m getting better at shaving, but will you look at me on Saturday just to make sure I haven’t missed a bit?’
‘Of course I will, and I’ll make sure you’re turned out spick and span.’
‘Thank you. You’re a good girl, Milly, and I know Frances is going to love you.’
On Saturday afternoon, Major Robinson was very happy and talked continually to anybody who would listen.
Milly knew what time Frances Robinson was arriving, and when the taxi pulled up outside the house, she went to met her. ‘I’m Milly Ash. Please to meet you.’ She held out her hand.
‘May I call you Milly? I feel we know each other through your letters.’
‘Please do,’ Milly said with a smile. ‘Andrew is in the garden.’
She went to lead the way, but Frances held her arm. ‘Please. Tell me, is he very bad?’
‘Not physically, but he can’t see at all.’
‘Will he ever regain his sight?’
‘That’s hard to say. I have known some gas victims to see again even if everything is a blur, but I shouldn’t hold out too much hope.’
‘He shouldn’t even have been in the trenches. He was just visiting his men. He’s always been the same, always has to poke his nose in.’ Frances took a pretty lace handkerchief from her handbag and dabbed at her eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘That’s all right. Now, are you ready?’
She stood up straight. ‘Yes.’
They made their way across the beautifully kept lawn to a group of men sitting under a tree. Among them were Major Robinson and Richard. Milly was cross with herself. She should have got the major to wait up near the door.
She went over to him and whispered, ‘I’ve got someone to see you.’
Frances went to him and kissed his cheek.
‘Frances. Let me touch you.’
She bent down, and he ran his fingers over her face.
Milly could see that Frances was crying, and she started to walk away.
‘Just a minute, Milly,’ called Frances.
Milly was in her own world and didn’t hear her name being called.
‘Milly. Milly Ash.’
She stopped and turned.
There was a crash of a glass being dropped. Richard was trying to get out of his wheelchair. She rushed over to him, afraid that he would fall or bump into something.
He held on to her. ‘Please say you are my Milly Ash.’
‘Yes, I am, Richard.’
Tears fell from their eyes as they stood locked in each other’s arms.
‘What’s going on?’ asked the major.
‘I don’t know,’ said Frances. ‘But it looks beautiful.’
Milly helped Richard back into his chair and wheeled him to a secluded corner of the garden. There she sat on a seat with Richard at her side.
‘Why did you run away?’ he asked, holding out his hand for her to hold.
‘Because of Jane. I had to,’ she said softly, taking his hand.
‘Milly, no one blamed you. It was an accident. If anyone was to blame it was me, for starting all that in the first place.’
‘But what did your mother and father think?’
‘We tried to find you. We didn’t know where you lived. We even tried to find your Aunt Doris.’
‘You did all that?’
‘You had become part of our family and I have never stopped loving you. I just wanted you back again.’ He kissed her hand. ‘Why didn’t you talk to me when I first arrived here?’
‘I thought you would be angry with me.’
‘But now I’ve found you and we can be together. You’re not engaged or married?’
‘No.’
He kissed her hand again. ‘Please kiss me.’
‘Richard, I can’t. I shouldn’t even be holding hands with you.’
‘I’ve loved you all this time. What about you? Did you ever think of me?’
‘Richard, I have always loved you. Every time I feel a little down, I look at my lovely bracelet and think of you.’
‘You still have that bracelet? I would have thought you’d have sold it by now.’
‘It’s been a close call at times.’
‘Milly, I still love you. Could you feel the same way about me, even if I am scared and blind?’
She choked back a sob. ‘Richard,’ she said softly, ‘I’ve never stopped loving you, but I never thought I’d ever see you again. I thought you would hate me for what happened to Jane.’
‘We knew you would never hurt her.’
‘She was my best friend and I loved her.’
‘I know.’ Richard kissed her fingers. ‘Please say you’ll never leave me and that you will be my wife.’
‘I will, Richard. I will.’ Milly wiped the tears from her eyes, then held him close and kissed him. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her.
‘We should be married as soon as we can,’ Richard said softly.
The gong sounded for tea.
‘We must go.’ Milly stood up and turned his wheelchair round. ‘As you can see, I’m better at handling these now.’
‘Please don’t think about that.’
‘It’s something I shall never forget.’
As they got nearer to the house, Richard said, ‘Can we talk after tea? We have a lot of catching up to do and a lot of plans to make.’
‘I would love that.’
As she pushed him up the ramp, she turned and looked at the sky. It was just starting to turn a lovely shade of pink, heralding a new day tomorrow. Milly knew at that moment that she had found her true love at last, and that from now on, all her tomorrows would be wonderful.