Magda's Daughter by Catrin Collier Read Free Book Online Page A

up on her own in a strange country, so far from her family. But Magda just got on with things. She was one of the best. We’ll miss her at the church, but it’s selfish of me to think of anyone besides Helena now she’s all on her own.’
    â€˜Helena’s not alone, Father.’ Andrew opened the door. ‘She’s part of our family. She has my son and all of us.’
    â€˜So she does. But I’ll be back later to see how she’s getting on, if that’s all right with you, Doctor John.’
    â€˜You’ll be very welcome any time, Father O’Brien.’ Bethan joined them in the hall. ‘I heard a car pull up in the drive. I was hoping it would be Alma.’
    â€˜It is.’ Andrew walked out to meet her.
    â€˜Mrs Raschenko.’ The priest shook Alma’s hand. ‘I’ll say hello and goodbye, but I’ll come back to pay my respects on the loss of your dear friend.’
    â€˜Thank you, Father.’ Alma shook the priest’s hand and hugged Bethan. ‘Where’s Helena?’
    â€˜In the drawing room with Ned.’
    â€˜She’s in shock,’ Andrew warned.
    Alma looked from Andrew to Bethan. ‘As we all are.’ She went inside and took off her coat.
    â€˜Auntie Alma. It’s kind of you to come back here straight away.’ Fighting tears, Helena left the sofa and hugged Alma as soon as she walked in.
    â€˜It was the least I could do. Your mother was one of my closest friends as well as my best employee. I’m so sorry. I know how much you two meant to one another.’ Alma returned Helena’s hug before they both sat down.
    â€˜The shop,’ Helena began. ‘You’re going to have to put someone else in to manage it, and there’s the flat –’
    â€˜I’ll close the shop for the time being out of respect for your mother,’ Alma said decisively.
    â€˜For how long?’ Helena asked.
    â€˜As long as it takes me to find someone to run it, but I have no intention of looking until after the funeral. As for the flat, you’re welcome to stay there rent-free for as long as you like.’
    â€˜We’re hoping Helena will move in here with us,’ Bethan said.
    â€˜Do you want to, Helena?’ Alma asked.
    â€˜I’m not sure what I want,’ Helena replied.
    Recalling the numbness that had beset her after she’d lost her husband, Alma knew exactly how Helena felt. ‘I agree with Bethan. You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. But there’s no hurry to make any decisions, or move your own or your mother’s things out of the flat.’
    â€˜We have to cancel the wedding,’ Helena said suddenly.
    â€˜Postpone it,’ Ned amended.
    She looked at him. ‘I couldn’t go ahead with it. Not the way my mother planned it.’
    â€˜Of course you couldn’t,’ Alma agreed, ‘Everyone will understand you not wanting to think about it at the moment, Helena, and you must leave the reorganisation to us. But there are some things you can’t postpone. You have to write to or telephone your grandmother and your mother’s brother and sister.’
    â€˜I doubt anyone in Magda’s family will be allowed to leave Poland to attend her funeral,’ Andrew cautioned.
    â€˜That’s a shame.’ Alma gripped Helena’s hand. ‘I know Magda wrote to her mother, brother and sister every week, and sent them regular parcels of food and clothes.’
    Helena suddenly realised that although her mother had told her many stories about growing up on the farm in Poland, and read her several extracts from the letters her family had sent them over the years, she didn’t even know if her mother’s family had remained in the same village where Magda had been born. ‘I don’t know any of their addresses.’
    â€˜They will be in Magda’s writing case,’ Alma reassured her.
    â€˜I have to go back