Secrets to Keep by Lynda Page Read Free Book Online Page A

in the cup, giving a violent shudder. It tasted even worse than it smelled.
    Handing the empty cup back to her grandmother, she looked at Bertha hard. She was worried about the old lady who looked as if she had aged ten years during the past couple of hours, though that wasn’t surprising considering the shock she’d received.
    ‘How are you bearing up, Gran?’ Aidy asked.
    ‘Well, I’m not going to go the same way I did when yer granddad passed, so yer needn’t be worriting yerself about that. I had a good chat with yer mother when I was seeing to her in the parlour, and I made her a promise that I was going to stay strong for the family on her behalf. I’m determined to.’
    Aidy smiled wanly at her. ‘When I was sitting in here earlier nursing Marion, I made Mam the same promise, Gran.’
    Bertha tenderly patted her shoulder. ‘Then,between us, we’ll make sure we all get through this.’ But she took a deep breath, worry clouding her face. ‘I’m not sure how I’m going to manage from now on without a bit of help, though, me duck. I wish I were younger and wouldn’t need to burden you. It’s not like your own life ain’t full enough as it is.’
    Aidy frowned up at her, bemused. ‘Help? With what?’
    ‘Well, the gels can help with the housework and some of the lighter jobs, but it’s the heavy part that’s worrying me. I ain’t as strong as I used to be.’
    Even more bemused, Aidy asked, ‘The heavy part of what?’
    ‘Well, while I was seeing to Jessie, I was racking me brains for how I could earn our keep, and as I can’t see anyone taking me on at my age, the only option I’ve got is to do what she did. I’ll move out of the bedroom I shared with yer mam and give that over to a lodger. I’ll use a Put-u-up down here. And I’m gonna take in washing and ironing. I was wondering if yer think Arch would light the fire under the copper for me before he went to work each morning, and if you could see yer way to coming home at dinnertime and helping me with the mangling? I wish I didn’t have to put this on yer, but I’ve no choice. I need to provide a living for the kids and meself in whatever way I can.’
    Aidy gawped at her. The shock of her mother’ssudden death had been all-consuming. She hadn’t given the serious matter of how life should carry on from here without Jessie a thought. Aidy’s heart swelled with love for the elderly, worried-looking woman standing beside her. It took a special person at her advanced age to propose undertaking what she had just suggested doing for the sake of her family. And it wasn’t just talk on her part either. But whatever the answer was to their serious problem, it was not going to involve her gran labouring over other people’s dirty washing twelve hours a day, or labouring at all at her age, Aidy was adamant on that. She knew inside that there was only one answer to this situation. ‘You needn’t be worrying about any of that, Gran. Arch and me will be moving in here and taking care of you all.’
    Bertha looked appalled by the very idea. ‘Oh, but you’re both young with your own lives to be getting on with and …’
    Aidy held up a warning hand. ‘You’re our family, Gran. I don’t want to hear another word on the matter.’
    Bertha heaved a deep sigh of relief. ‘Well, I can’t deny that’s a load off my mind, Aidy. But what about Arch? Will he be agreeable?’
    ‘Of course he will, how can you ask? He’ll see, like me, that us moving in here makes sense.’
    Bertha had to agree, it did, although she still feltit a great shame that she wasn’t more bodily able, and then the burden of caring for herself and the youngsters wouldn’t be down to her granddaughter and her husband. But Bertha had always pulled her weight around the house as much as she could, and would continue to do so. She said to Aidy, ‘You finally got Marion to settle down then?’
    Aidy sighed heavily. ‘Arch took her up to bed. They’re all asleep, bless