Journey's End Read Online Free

tea, shall I?’ she suggested tactfully. ‘That’s if nobody has any objections?’ Rona, Elsie’s daughter, worked alongside Mary in her flower-shop in Leighton Buzzard, and the two young women were fast friends. She’d be sure to report the latest exchange to her!
    Grateful for the intervention, Lucy gave a warm smile. ‘Thank you, dear, that would be nice.’
    But Elsie’s feathers were still ruffled. ‘I’ll have two sugars in mine,’ she snapped, ‘and just a whisper of milk, if yer please. There’s some Garibaldi biscuits in that tin. We’re keeping the homemade ones for Doctor Nolan.’ With that she took off her coat and hat and hung them up. ‘Meanwhile, I’d bestmake a start on cleaning the winders … before somebody we all know takes a mind to do it herself!’ With that she threw Lucy a withering glance and departed.
    Lucy was left chuckling. ‘Anybody would think I interfered with her daily routine.’
    Mary turned with a wry little smile. ‘You do.’
    ‘Well, maybe I do, but I’m frightened that if I stop doing things, I might seize up altogether. Don’t youknow how hard it is for me to be still?’
    ‘I think I know that more than anybody. Don’t forget, I’m the one who has to live with you.’
    ‘Do you think I should apologise to Elsie? She’s such a treasure.’
    ‘It wouldn’t do any good if you did.’
    ‘Why not?’ Lucy had not expected an answer like that.
    Coming to the table, Mary set the tray down. ‘Because the pair of you will only be going at it hammerand tongs again tomorrow.’
    Taken aback, Lucy stared up at Mary open-mouthed. ‘Are we really that bad?’
    ‘Worse!’
    When the laughter carried outside to the men, they stopped work to look towards the kitchen. ‘Something’s tickled their funny-bones,’ Ben remarked with a grin.
    ‘Sounds like it,’ Adam agreed; the merry laughter was infectious.
    ‘That should do it.’ Laying down the spanner, Ben askedAdam to start the car, and when it spluttered into life and seemed to run smoother than before, the older man gave a sigh of relief. ‘Don’t know how to thank you,’ he said, and Ben told him he was only too pleased to have been able to help.
    ‘I’d best get cleaned up, and take Mary to approve my new tractor.’ Ben smiled at the prospect. ‘After that, we’ve got the whole day to please ourselves whatwe do.’
    Adam saw the gleam in Ben’s eye and his heart warmed. ‘You really love her, don’t you?’
    Ben’s answer was instant and sincere. ‘Like I’ve never loved anyone in my life,’ he said. ‘I can’t recall what my life was like before she came along, and now I can’t imagine a day without her.’
    Suddenly, Mary was making her way towards them. Upstairs, hanging out of the window with her cloth, Elsiewas shouting down to her, ‘What were you two laughing about, eh?’
    ‘It’s Mum. You know what she’s like.’ Mary was still chuckling. ‘She was saying how she’d best teach you your place, because you’re getting too big for your boots.’
    ‘Huh! It’s the other way round, more like!’
    When, a moment later, Elsie saw the doctor getting out of his car, she dropped her cloth into the bucket, ran to the landingand called down to Lucy, who quickly made her way upstairs, brushed her hair and sat nervously on the edge of the bed, waiting to greet him.
    Though deep down she knew it was unfair, Lucy harboured a certain distrust of doctors. It had started when Barney fell ill and they could do nothing to help him. To Lucy’s mind, doctors were all the same – authoritative and full of good advice, but as yetthey had not managed to instil any degree of confidence in her. There was one exception and that was Dr Raymond Lucas, from her old home outside Liverpool. He had been a true and trusted friend, and even now Lucy valued his letters and friendship.
    Interrupting her thoughts, the knock sounded on the door for the second time. ‘Come in.’ Like a rebellious child, Lucy