Magda's Daughter by Catrin Collier Read Free Book Online

wedding.’
    â€˜Perhaps.’ He glanced down at the towel he was wearing. ‘I suppose we’d better look for your green knickers.’
    Helena sat beside Ned on the sofa in Andrew and Bethan John’s drawing room. She was so still, so quiet, that neither Father O’Brien nor Andrew was sure she’d understood a word they’d said. She simply continued to stare out of the window. She didn’t even look up when Bethan brought in a tray of tea and set it on the table.
    â€˜Magda was taken quickly, Helena. From what I saw, there was very little pain. Just one of her headaches, or so she said. During the war I saw more deaths than any man should in a single lifetime, and you can take it from me that your mother’s was peaceful. In the end, that’s what we all want for our loved ones and ourselves. To slip away quietly to the Lord’s kingdom.’
    Helena turned to the priest. ‘Did my mother say anything?’
    â€˜That she loved you and was sorry.’
    â€˜Sorry?’ Helena repeated in a dull, cold voice. Ned and his father both saw she was in deep shock.
    â€˜I think she was sorry she didn’t have time to say goodbye to you.’
    â€˜Why?’ Helena asked Andrew. ‘Why did she die? She was fine at lunch. You all saw her. She was fine.’ She looked to Ned and Andrew for an explanation.
    â€˜Your mother’s death was so unexpected, Helena, that there will have to be a post-mortem.’ Andrew broke the news as gently as he knew how.
    â€˜You’re a doctor. You were with her just after it happened. You must have some idea what caused it.’
    â€˜From what Father O’Brien said about Magda complaining of a headache and the suddenness, it’s possible she suffered a brain haemorrhage,’ Andrew diagnosed. ‘But that is only a possibility. I could be wrong.’
    Bethan poured the tea into a cup, sweetened it and handed it to Helena. ‘You must move in with us, darling. Ned will take you down to the flat to get your things.’
    â€˜Thank you, Mrs John, you’re very kind, but I should go back. I have things to organise. Mama’s funeral …’ As Helena said the word funeral, the finality of her mother’s death hit her.
    Ned saw her lips quiver. He reached for her hand. ‘My mother’s right, Helena. You must move in here.’
    â€˜I have too much to do.’ Her hand shook, and Ned took the cup from her.
    â€˜You can arrange everything from here. We’ll help you as much as we can.’ Ned looked to his father for support.
    â€˜You won’t be able to arrange the funeral until your mother’s body is released after the post-mortem, Helena,’ Andrew warned. ‘Bethan is right; you can’t stay in the flat by yourself. You’re part of this family and your place is here, with Ned and us.’
    â€˜In the meantime there are people who have to be told.’ Father O’Brien rose to his feet. ‘Mrs Raschenko and Magda’s family in Poland.’
    â€˜I telephoned Alma just after she reached home. She’s on her way back here.’ Bethan took the empty cup the priest handed her.
    â€˜I wish I could stay, Helena. But I have to deliver the food to the church hall. The women can manage the Sunday school tea without me. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’
    â€˜There’s no need, Father. I’ll be fine,’ Helen replied unconvincingly.
    â€˜I’ll see you out, Father.’ Andrew followed the priest to the door.
    â€˜It’s a sad day, Doctor John.’ The old man shook his head. ‘I met Magda Janek the week she and Helena came to Pontypridd. Magda wasn’t one for complaining, so she didn’t say much, but I could tell that she’d had a bad time of it during the war. And although Mrs Raschenko did all she could to help her and Helena, Magda didn’t have an easy life, even here. Not with a child to bring