Chapter
10
Months
had passed and there was still no answer from Ian after Martin had sent his
letter. He stood outside in the cold looking in to the distance. Ellie looked
out of the dining room window as she made lunch,
"Martin
sweetie come inside it's freezing out here" Ellie said as she walked
outside, she put her arm round him, "you'll catch a cold if you stay out
here" Martin looked at her then gave her a hug. They both walked back into
the house, Martin sat down at the table,
"I'll
make you a cup of tea" Ellie said
"Thank
you beautiful" Martin replied staring out of the window, Ellie made his
tea and set it down in front of him,
"Martin
talk to me, please" she sat next to him and put her arms round his waist,
"I
wish I knew if he was alright and safe, we've not heard anything since June and
it's now November, I need to know he is alive and safe, I can't watch Jenny and
Lindsey go through what they went through when Mum died" a tear rolled
down his cheek, Ellie put her head against his,
"You're
not alone, you've got me and I'm not going anywhere" she gave him a little
squeeze and kissed him on the shoulder. Martin gave a little smile and turned
to face her and his hand on her waist, she whipped away the tears from his eyes
and leaned in to give him a hug,
"Thank
you Ellie" Martin said
"What
for" she replied
"For
everything, for the support and for just being fantastically amazing in every
way possible. You're one in a million. I love you Ellie"
"I
love you Martin" they smiled at each other
"I'm
going to finish making lunch" Ellie said making her way towards the
kitchen,
"You
need any help" Martin asked
"No
I'm fine, you drink your tea" she smiled at him,
"Anyone
ever told you, you have a beautiful smile"
"Yes
Martin, you tell me all the time"
"That's
because it's true" he walked up to her and kissed her
"Mmm,
so wonderful when you do that"
"Yeah"
"Yeah"
they smiled and kissed again.
It started to rain outside, Nicky ran
inside along with Lindsey and Chrissie
"Where
have you two been" Ellie asked as Lindsey and Chrissie sat at the table
"Helping
Mum in the vegetable garden" Chrissie said putting her head on the table,
"I
didn't think Mum liked anyone else helping her out" Ellie started to make
their sandwiches
"We
asked and she said yes" Chrissie answered
"Ah
ok then, where is she now"
"She
went upstairs" Chrissie said
"No
surprise there then" Martin put in
"Mmm,
I know" Ellie agreed
"Martin
has the postman been yet" Lindsey asked
"Not
yet sweetie" he replied
"But
Dad hasn't sent us a letter since June" Lindsey looked sad
"I
know but he is out in the centre of things so it might be hard for him to write
to us from where he is and he is probably always on the move" Martin
hugged his sister
"I
wish he would write though"
"I
know, I know, me too"
"Here
Chrissie sit up and eat your lunch, you too Lindsey" Ellie put their lunch
in front of them and went back into the kitchen, Martin followed,
"Are
you ok beautiful" he asked
"Yes
I'm fine thank you sweetie"
*************************
It
soon came very close to Christmas and there was still no news from Ian, Lindsey
had started to think the worse, she spent every moment she could staring out of
the dining room window hoping for some good news. Martin and Jennifer were
worried about their sister, Ellie was doing everything she could to help them,
"Sat
by the window again Lindsey" Ellie said to her as she entered the dining
room,
"Oh
yes, watching out for news on Dad"
"You
know Lindsey it's like a watched pot if you keep watching the drive no news
will come" Ellie sat opposite her on the window sill,
"Haha
funny" Lindsey replied still staring out of the window.
"Lindsey
you've been doing this for a while now, everyone's worried about you"
"It's
only been two weeks"
"It's
been nearly two months" Ellie looked at her, Lindsey turned her head to face
her,
"Really
that long"
"Yes,
go play with Chrissie, it will take your mind of things"
"Ok"
Lindsey got up and left the room
"How
did you do that" Martin asked standing in the doorway
"No
idea" Ellie walked over to him and kissed him
"Hey
Chrissie" Lindsey walked into Chrissie's room
"Hey
Lindsey, have you come to play with me" Chrissie looked up
"Yes,
what are we playing"
"Dolls"
Chrissie held up her doll
"Ok
I'll go got mine" Lindsey ran to get her doll.
Back downstairs Ellie was finishing off
cleaning the kitchen,
"You
know Martin I've been thinking about having a summer wedding" Ellie began
"Really,
that sounds great" he walked up behind her and put his arms around her
waist,
"I
know, then we can have the reception in the garden" Ellie lent back
against him
"How
about having our wedding next summer" Martin suggested
"Really"
Ellie turned around
"Yes,
the sooner the better" he leant in and kissed her
"So
any dates in mind" she asked
"Not
yet, how about we think about it and talk more tonight" Martin said
"Good
idea I need to get to the shop anyway, don't want to leave Jenny on her own any
longer" Ellie ran to get her coat, kissed Martin and headed out of the
door.
"Hey Jenny" Ellie said pushing
her way through the line of people in the shop "so sorry I had to leave
you on your own for the morning but Mum went into the city this morning without
any warning"
"It's
ok Ellie, I've been alright" Jennifer replied
"That's
good but I'm here now, who's next please" Ellie and Jennifer carried on
serving customer all afternoon. At the end of the day they closed up, tidyed the
shop, putting more stock out ready for the next day, they cashed the tills and
took the money home with them. They walked down the dark country lane arm in
arm as not to lose each other. Ellie carries a torch with a piece of paper over
the end to dim the light. It was cold, the wind blew behind them pushing them
along the way. When they got home Martin greeted them and sat them down in
front of the fire in the living room
"What
for dinner sweetie" Ellie asked
"Squirrel
tail soup tonight" Martin replied
"Squirrel
tail soup, what is that?" Jennifer asked
"Soup
made from squirrels, got no more meat until next week"
"Where
did you get a squirrel from" Jennifer gave him a funny look
"Louis
managed to get three of them" Martin replied
"Yes,
Dad taught him how to use the shotgun before he left for the war" Ellie
said
"Louis
can use a shotgun" Jennifer and Martin said together
"Yes,
so can I, I didn't really agree with Louis knowing how to use one at his age
but when Dad left he became the man of the house" Ellie replied
"Can
you teach us" Martin asked
"Of
course" Ellie smiled at him, Martin went back into the kitchen and carried
on with dinner, Louis set the table as Nicky walked through the door
"Hello
everyone" she shouted
"Mummy"
Chrissie ran down the stairs and gave her mother a big hug "you've been
gone all day" she stated,
"I
know I've been looking at more fruit and vegetables for the garden and getting
advice as well" Nicky replied
"You
could have given us some warning" Ellie stood in the doorway to the living
room
"I'm
sorry sweetheart, I will next time" Nicky took her shopping upstairs. Ellie
looked at Martin and signed, she walked over to the dining room
"I
can't take this anymore" she said to Martin who gave her a hug "she
needs to get her act together, she's gone from spacing out to swanning off without
anyone knowing where she's going, it's not on anymore, she's got a farm to
run" Ellie said
"Ellie
I don't mind taking care of the farm" Martin told her
"I
know you don't but the farm is hers and she needs to look after it as
well" Ellie put her head against Martin's chest, he held her tight, tears
started to run down her face
"I
can't cope with her anymore and what's she's doing to us" she told him
"I'll
talk to her if you like" Martin suggested,
"Ok"
she gave a little smile and hugged him.
Later
that night after everyone had gone to bed Martin went to talk to Nicky,
"Nicky,
can I talk to you downstairs please" he said putting his head round her
bedroom door
"Well
I was just about go to bed but sure" Nicky went downstairs with Martin
following behind her "What's up" she asked as Martin closed the
living room door,
"This
has to stop now, all your swanning off and spacing out and paying all your
attention on the vegetable garden and ignoring your children it's got to
stop" Martin told him
"Martin
I'm sorry, but it's hard, I've lost my husband and..."
"I
know Nicky and I am sorry but you have to pull it together now, even my Dad
wasn't this bad when my Mum died, yes he grieved but then he pulled it together
for us, for his children, yes he misses her, yes he still cries for her, but he
keeps it together for us and you need to do that to, for Chrissie and Louis and
Ellie especially Ellie because she can't cope anymore not anymore" Martin
looked at Nicky who looked back at him,
"I'm
trying Martin, I really am"
"No,
you're not, you always say you will but you don't, things have got to change,
starting now, I'll see you in the morning" Martin walked up the stairs and
went to bed. Nicky followed after thinking about what Martin had said, she went
into Ellie's room,
"Ellie
darling, oh hello Martin" he said as she saw Martin
"Mum
what are you doing I'm trying to sleep" Ellie replied
"I
know but this is important" Nicky sat on the end of Ellie's bed
"What
is it" Ellie asked
"Well
after talking with Martin I have decided to go and stay with your Auntie Maria
for a while"
"What"
Ellie was shocked
"Whoa,
Nicky that's not what I meant" Martin stated
"I
know, but at the moment ever since Patrick, your father died, this whole place
reminds me of him and everywhere I go I see him, I think if I'm somewhere
different I may be able to move on and pull myself together"
"Mum
are you sure"
"Yes,
I will be leaving tomorrow"
"Tomorrow,
Mum it's too short notice"
"I
know, I know but if I don't leave as soon as possible then I will only get
worse, I will make my own way to the train station by myself in the
morning" Nicky took Ellie's hand
"Ok
I guess there is no way of talking you out of this, but you're the one telling
Louis and Chrissie" Ellie told her mum,
"Ok
I will tell them in the morning before I leave" Nicky got up and left the
room.
The
next morning before Nicky left she talked to Louis and Chrissie, she gave them
both a big hug before making her way to the door,
"Write
to let us know you have arrived safely" Ellie told her
"I
will I should be there before dark anyway" Nicky smiled "also all
your Christmas presents are in my wardrobe"
"Ok
Mum have a safe trip" they hugged each other then Nicky left to go to her
sisters.
Ellie
sat on the window sill in the dining room wondering what the future would hold
for them all now Nicky had gone
"When
do you think she will be back" Jennifer asked her,
"Honestly,
I don't think she will" Ellie replied, Jennifer walked off, Ellie
continued to look out of the window
"We're
all on our own now" or so she thought.
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