Home Sweet Home Read Online Free PDF

taken prisoner when Singapore had fallen to Japanese invasion. If it hadn’t been for that, who knew what might have happened between the pair of them.
    Frances said nothing until Ruby’s friend Declan was out of earshot on the other side of the hall ordering fresh drinks. He’d been cornered by George Gibbs, an old farmer who was out tonight dressed in his Sunday best which, unfortunately for him, smelled of mothballs and mouse dust. Frances took advantage of being alone with her cousin to ask about her mother.
    â€˜Ruby. Do you remember my mother?’
    Ruby frowned. ‘No. Not really.’
    â€˜Do you know where she is?’
    Ruby appeared agitated. At the same time she surveyed the dancers on the floor as though their steps were slightly out of sequence and needed a severe frown to bring them into line.
    â€˜I’m not sure. You need to ask my dad.’
    Ruby’s eyes continued to search the dance floor. Her lips were sucked inwards. ‘You mean Uncle Stan knows?’
    Ruby shrugged and still didn’t meet her cousin’s look. ‘I don’t know. Not for sure. What’s brought this on?’
    â€˜I would like to meet her.’
    Ruby’s frown returned. ‘Meet her? After all this time?’
    â€˜She’s my mother. I want to know what she was like.’
    Seeing the desperate look in her cousin’s eyes, Ruby reconsidered. ‘Well, I suppose it’s only natural that you would want to meet up with her, but—’
    The time seemed ripe to change the subject. ‘The spread looks good. If you hear what seems like thunder, don’t worry! It’s just my stomach rumbling!’
    Ruby pretended to treat the matter in a light-hearted manner. At the same time, she eyed Frances with nervous apprehension. She had not expected her cousin to ask something like this. What with that and the way she’d seen Declan look at Frances, the night had not turned out exactly as she’d hoped. Turning the conversation to food was an acceptable alternative to discussing more serious matters.
    â€˜We’re not allowing anyone to indulge until the interval or there’ll be nothing left. I think the apple cake will go well, don’t you? Did you know that dried apples are fetching nine pence per pound?’
    Frances replied that she didn’t know. Quite frankly, she didn’t care, but if it took discussing the price of dried fruits to stop Ruby’s questions, then she would do it.
    â€˜Dates are the cheapest. Seven pence a pound.’
    Declan still hadn’t returned from fetching drinks for himself and Ruby.
    Ruby carried on talking about the price of provisions until he’d signalled from the other side of the room, raising the two drinks he’d bought.
    â€˜I’d better go.’ Ruby paused, her expression one of concern. ‘You will be all right, won’t you?’
    Frances nodded. ‘Why shouldn’t I be?’
    Ruby stroked her cousin’s arm in a gesture of sympathy. ‘We’ll talk about it later. Is that all right with you?’
    Frances nodded again. Ruby was not to know that she had already made her mind up: she was going to find her mother. Nobody would stop her. She wouldn’t let them.
    On the other side of the room, Declan handed Ruby her drink. ‘Does your cousin want something?’
    Ruby lay her hand upon his arm. ‘With regard to your comments to my cousin and the way you looked at her, Declan, can I remind you that Frances is only fifteen years old?’
    His smile gave nothing away. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
    Ruby was not fooled. Her jaw was set, her eyes hard. ‘Oh, yes, you do. You know very well. Leave her alone, Declan. She’s too young. Leave her alone or you’ll have my father to answer to. And me. I promise you, it will not be pleasant!’

CHAPTER THREE
    Ruby was up early the following morning, preparing for a talk she was giving