The Way Ahead by Mary Jane Staples Read Free Book Online

liked them best. She sometimes wondered if her life had become the humdrum one of conventional motherhood and routine domesticity. But then she’d look at the twins, feel the sense of wonder that they were hers, and follow that by thinking of their father, the man who had helped in the creation of the miracle.
    God, she really did miss him, she thought, as a battered old taxi, coming from Corfe Castle village, passed her with a rattle and a wheeze.
    Reaching her wartime home on the outskirts of the village, the cottage Boots was renting for the duration, she turned in, brought the car to a stop in the short drive, switched off the engine, and alighted. She went round, opened the passenger door, and out scrambled perpetual motion in the form of Gemma and James. They were still rabbiting on about ownership of the candy, tightly clutched in Gemma’s hand.
    ‘If I confiscated it,’ said Polly, ‘would that settle the matter?’
    ‘But, Mummy, it’s ours,’ protested James.
    ‘Oh, you’ve finally settled it yourselves, have you?’ said Polly. ‘It’s yours and Gemma’s?’
    ‘Well, it’s mine really,’ said Gemma, ‘but I’d best share it with James.’
    ‘Hooray,’ said Polly, and opened the front door with her key. In rushed the small boy and girl. There were three letters on the hallstand. Odd, how did they get there from the mat? Had Mrs Clowes, her domestic help, been in? She must have. The top letter was a blue airmail missive. Polly, picking it up, recognized her husband’s handwriting. She slit it with a quick fingernail.
    James called from the living-room.
    ‘Mummy, Daddy’s here.’
    ‘What? What did you say, James?’
    Gemma answered.
    ‘He’s down the garden, Mummy.’
    Polly ran into the living-room. Through the open French windows the garden showed clear and green, the borders colourful with spring bulbs. An Army officer turned at the bottom of the garden and began to stroll back to the cottage. Out through the French windows scampered the twins.
    ‘Daddy!’
    ‘Daddy!’
    It had been a year since they had last seen him, but they hadn’t forgotten him, young though they were . They pelted up to him. Boots stooped and put an arm around each of them.
    ‘Hello, little poppets, I think you’ve both grown a bit,’ he said.
    ‘Daddy, we been to Mummy’s home to see Granny and Grandpa,’ said James.
    ‘We just come back,’ said Gemma.
    ‘So have I,’ said Boots, ‘but not from your grandparents.’ He sat down on the garden bench and brought the twins up on the seat with him, Gemma on his left, James on his right. He planted a kiss on James’s cheek and one on Gemma’s nose. Gemma giggled and chattered. James used his own tongue. Both children knew without question who their father was, even if he had been away for ages.
    Polly, out on the patio, stood quite still, watching the exuberant reunion. Emotion coursed through her. Boots saw her.
    ‘Hello, Polly.’
    ‘Hello, darling.’ Polly’s response was slightly husky.
    ‘Be with you in a tick,’ said Boots.
    ‘Don’t hurry, give them a fussing,’ said Polly, and waited while he talked to the twins, hugged them, and listened to piping voices delivering words that tumbled over each other. It pleased Polly immensely that during his absence she had succeeded in keeping his image alive in their young minds. She noted his demonstrations of affection, of delight in his twins. It touched her emotions. Eventually, Boots sent the boy and girl into the cottage to play the game of standing guard over his valise, which he’d left in the kitchen. Polly took her turn then for a reunion. She sat down beside him. Boots put an arm around her and kissed her with warmth and feeling, which helped her to make an admission. ‘Do you realize, you old darling, that I’m close to needing a hankie?’ she said.
    ‘I realize your nose is slightly pink,’ said Boots. ‘I liked your neutral one best, but I can live with the pink. Um, is there a