“Well, Madeleine, I think our little Florence could do with a few explanations, don’t you?” said granny.
“I think she needs some answers,” said my grandma.
“I think we should leave them both in peace,” said granny. “They have a lot to talk about. This has gone on far too long, too much hurt, too many secrets kept from our little granddaughter. Why on earth Helen did you let this happen like this? You selfish girl.”
“What do you mean, you selfish girl? How dare you accuse me of being selfish? I brought her up even though she was not mine. I don’t remember you all saying you would take her. I remember the excuses about you being too old and then Madeleine having that breakdown, going into the home and then running off to some Greek island and hiding away for five years. Yes Florence, that’s what, happened. It was HER that wouldn’t let Simon’s parents see you so her secret wouldn’t come out. She couldn’t cope without Simon. Then Roma’s death finished her off and she was incapable of looking after you so I stepped in and took you. I fed you and clothed you and did all I could for you. Philip didn’t mind and we brought you up as our own even though I never wanted children of my own. Now this is the thanks I get. I have had enough of this. I am going home. I assume you will leave us now Florence and come and live with your real mum. I suppose, Madeleine, you want her or are you going to desert her again?”
“So you gave me away. How could you do that to me?” I said in disbelief.
“I was ill Florence. So much had happened to me. I couldn’t cope. I couldn’t look after you. Helen did not hesitate at the time to take you. Helen, I will always be in your debt. You saved me and Florence. Thank you.”
“There was nothing else I could do, was there. I had no choice. But once you came home, you should have claimed her back. That was what you should have done. Mum and dad gave you this cottage; you had everything.”
“Yes, why didn’t you come to get me?” I asked in desperation.
“You seemed so settled, with your school and friends and everything. It seemed unkind to take you back. I had no idea how to look after a five year old. I’m not even sure whether I will be any good now,” said Aunty M with desperation in her voice.
“But I’m sure you will know what to do. I will help you and I’m no trouble, am I?” I stated.
“And I’m a hopeless mother anyway. I have my career to think of. It has been hard for me to juggle Florence and my job,” said mum.
“I know I have been a nuisance,” I said to my mum. At last I had the answers to so many questions. Now I knew that I had not been wrong. I had not been wanted by the person I knew as my mum for all these years.
“Florence and I will stay together now. Isn’t that right, Florence?”
And without hesitating I blurted out, “Yes it is, Mummy Marmalade.”
With that granny and granpy, grandma and grandpa and Mummy Marmalade all grabbed me. Philip came up too and pulled my nose again. Even Helen smiled at me and I could tell she was relieved. Relieved to get rid of me and relieved to speak out at last after all these years. She and Mummy Marmalade said a few words which I couldn’t hear and then one by one everyone left. There was talk of everyone making a date for Sunday lunch in two weeks time. Then they all left leaving Mummy M and me alone.
“I just can’t believe you are my real mum. I never guessed. You and mum look so similar in those wedding photos. I just thought mum had married someone else and never told me. It never dawned on me that it was you in the photo. I didn’t think you had ever married.”
“Yes, I did. I married Simon. That is why when I told you about Roma and Simon, I kept saying ‘mum’ because that was me and you thought I meant Helen.”
“Will I be able to move in Apple Jack’s Cottage for good then?” I asked.
“This is your home, Florence. Helen is bringing down all your stuff from London when they all come from lunch in two weeks time.”
“Mum?”
“Yes darling. Doesn’t it sound funny, Flo. What is it?”
“I need to go to Roma’s grave. I have to tell her all that has happened. Can I go now?”
“Of course. You can take some flowers. Do you want me to come?”
“No thank you. I would like to go on my own.”
“That’s fine, Flo. She needs to know about her mum, doesn’t she?”
“Yes she does and I want to be the one to tell her,” I said.
Chapter 36
I climbed up the stairs to the attic. Roma was sitting on the red sofa waiting for me like I guessed she would.
“Well we never guessed, did we?” said Roma.
“No we didn’t, but at least now we know who our dad was and what happened to him. We know who our mum is. I just can’t believe it though. I love Aunty M so much. She has made me feel so happy since I’ve been here. She treats me just like a grown up and now I won’t have to go back to London. I don’t know what will happen about school though. I may not be going to Saint Maur’s now. But I don’t care,” I said with a big grin on my face. It was then I looked towards Roma. She was very faint now and her eyes were sad. I realised we had to get to her grave now before it was too late.
“Roma, come on we need to get you back to your grave.”
“I know Flo, but I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”
“And I can’t bear to lose you too. Is there any chance that you may be able to keep on visiting me?”
“I don’t know. Once I have rested properly it may be that I won’t be able to come back. But I heard someone say once, ‘never say never’ so if I can, I will. I will do anything to stay near to you.”
“I’ll go first then. Will you follow me?” I asked.
“I will,” Roma replied.
I headed down the stairs and waved goodbye to Mummy M who was sitting in the kitchen drinking tea. She smiled and waved back. Roma and I continued on our way. I stopped at the Post Office and bought a bunch of freesias because of their lovely smell and also because Roma pointed to them as her favourites.
We arrived at the grave. I pulled out the old flowers and put the freesias in their place. Roma floated over to the grave and lay down.
“Thank you, Flo for bringing everyone together and bringing out all their secrets. Now everyone is talking and you can all carry on with the rest of your lives. I just wish I could be part of it all with you. I’ll find dad and have a word with him when I get over to the other side, and see if there is any way I can come back. I’ll send you a sign. He may be able to visit you too. Never say never.”
“What will the sign be?”
“Don’t know. But you’ll guess, I’m sure.”
Out of nowhere, the wind blew. It howled around me making my curls fly and tangle into millions of knots. I grabbed my hair, dreading the telling off I would get from mum. Then I remembered that that would never happen again. Mummy M understood how easily hair can get into knots. She wouldn’t mind. She would help me untangle the knots I knew she would. My life was going to change now. I sighed with a smile. I had so much to look forward to now.
As I looked towards the grave, Roma had gone. An emptiness overwhelmed me and I fought back the tears. The wind quietened down and suddenly I felt very alone. I turned around and started to walk back home. Home. It sounded good. I walked back home to my real mum and my new future.
For years Ruth Young has been teaching children and young adults but her passion has always been storytelling. She is currently working on a sequel to Aunty Marmalade and is in the process of publishing another book for young readers. Mrs. Young and her husband, an airline pilot, have two daughters studying at University. She loves to travel and enjoys writing her stories wherever she goes. Mrs. Young and her husband live in Surrey, England.
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Aunty Marmalade Page 9