Always in My Heart by Ellie Dean Read Free Book Online Page A

was heavy fighting in Malaya. America and Britain had declared war on Japan – and Germany and Italy had declared war on America. She set the papers aside, for they’d done very little to restore the bright mood that had waned after all those memories had come flooding back.
    In fact, as she sat there in the quiet kitchen and heard the thin wail of the newly born Daisy drift in from the other room, the past returned even more forcefully. She had lost her precious daughter hours after her birth, but her sons had thrived, only to fly the nest decades ago to seek their fortunes in Canada.She rarely heard from them now, just the odd card at Christmas and perhaps a hastily written aerogramme which told her very little. There were grandchildren she’d never seen, and, no doubt, great-grandchildren too – but they probably didn’t know she existed.
    Cordelia realised she was feeling a bit sorry for herself and determinedly snapped out of it. Disappointments were all a part of life’s rich tapestry, and there was absolutely no point in dwelling on them now. She’d been lucky in so many ways, with a strong and happy marriage that had survived their moving into her childhood home in Havelock Road to look after her elderly parents in their last years.
    When her husband died, she’d been left alone in that big house, and had at first managed quite well. But she hadn’t been used to seeing to repairs and bills and the day-to-day problems that her husband had always taken care of, and, with her hearing getting worse, and age and arthritis hampering her, things began to slide out of control. Her husband’s estate had not been as large as he’d planned – something to do with rather unwise investments – and she’d finally resorted to living in just two of the downstairs rooms without even the help of a daily woman. But then a pipe had burst in the attic water tank during one very cold winter and brought the ceiling down, and it had all become too much to bear.
    Peggy Reilly had heard about her plight from the plumber and had called round immediately to offer help and practical advice. Cordelia sighed contentedly.Dear Peggy, she was such a treasure. That visit had seen her move into Beach View while the repairs were done, and it hadn’t taken a great deal of persuasion from Peggy to make the arrangement permanent. The newly refurbished house had been sold, the money carefully invested, and Cordelia was content to live out the last of her years at the heart of this warm and loving family.
    ‘Silly old fool,’ she muttered as she clattered her teacup in the saucer and blinked away the sentimental tears. ‘Sitting here blubbing when you have so much to be thankful for – you should be ashamed of yourself.’
    ‘To be sure, is it talking to yourself now, Cordelia Finch?’
    She glared at Ron, who’d come into the kitchen in his muddy boots, the equally filthy dog, Harvey, scrambling in behind him. His sudden entrance and bellowing voice had startled her. ‘At least I can have a sensible conversation that way,’ she retorted, ‘which is more than I’ve ever had with you.’
    He waggled his greying brows, his blue eyes twinkling with humour in the weathered face as he rolled up the ratty sleeves of his disreputable old sweater and hitched up his sagging and much-patched trousers. ‘Is that right now? And what great things are ye debating? The price of bananas? The amount of sugar you’ll not be letting me have in me tea?’
    She fiddled with her hearing aid as she regarded the boots and the panting dog that seemed to be grinning at her, and tried to look cross – though it was hardto achieve when the pair of them eyed her with such cheekiness. Like his dog, Ron was a charmer, an old Irish rogue in his mid-sixties with more blarney than was good for anyone. But he did make her laugh. ‘Get those boots off,’ she ordered, ‘and do something about Harvey. He stinks to high heaven.’
    ‘He’s been rolling in the