Secrets to Keep Read Online Free PDF Page B

coat that came down to just above her ankles, a black dress underneath, black woollen stockings, and sturdy black lace-up shoes on her size two feet. A black felt hat was pulled well down over her iron-grey hair which was cut pudding basin-style just below her ears, the sides gripped behind them. The new arrival’s attention was fully fixed on searching through her capacious handbag for something.
    ‘Bloody hell! That Vi Jones can’t half talk, our Jessie. I’ve never known anyone with so many ailments, and it’s my opinion all are the making of her own imagination. I ain’t one to refuse a penny or two for me concoctions, as you well know, but this is the third time this week I’ve had to make up summat for her! I’ve other folks that need my services besides her, and I can’t help out me other clients if Vi’shypocondriousity is taking up most of me time. If she sends her daughter around again this week, I want you to tell her I’ve gone off on one of me plantcollection jaunts and yer not sure when I’m due back.’
    Having given up her search through her bag, Bertha Rider was now taking off her coat. Spotting Aidy out of the corner of her short-sighted eye, she smiled delightedly and said, ‘I thought I’d missed you tonight, gel. Glad I ain’t. It always does me heart good to catch sight of your pretty face. Is your Arch working late? Is that why you ain’t at your own home, getting his dinner?’
    While her grandmother had been chuntering away, Aidy had been staring at her blindly. Despite her own devastation, all Aidy’s thoughts now centred on this old lady. Her sixty-eight-year-old gran had taken her husband’s death from septicaemia several years ago very hard. Her grandparents had worshipped each other. There had been worry at the time that Gran would join him herself from a broken heart, but the love and support of her family had pulled her through. She now looked fondly back over the years spent with the love of her life and didn’t burst into tears whenever he came to mind.
    Jessie had been the only child out of the four she had given birth to, to survive past infancy. Mother and daughter had always been very close. Losing a husband was bad enough, but losing a a child mustbe the worst thing ever. Aidy dreaded to think of how her grandmother was going to react to the death of the daughter she’d doted on. And not just her gran either. Her three younger siblings, who were all obliviously out playing with their friends, would need to be told of their beloved mother’s sudden death. They were all going to be devastated.
    Bertha Rider suddenly sensed that she and her granddaughter were not alone. Her beady, short-sighted eyes were directed at Ty as she demanded, ‘And who a’ you?’ She then told him in a warning tone, ‘Not a salesman, I hope, ’cos we don’t want anything
you’re
trying to flog.’
    Ty was not in the least amused by being mistaken for a salesman. He sharply introduced himself. ‘I’m Doctor Strathmore. I’ve taken over the local surgery from Doctor McHinney.’
    Squinting, Bertha scanned him closely. ‘Bit young to be a doctor, ain’t yer? Hardly out of short pants. I’ve been hearing about you. Doctor Mac’d be turning in his grave if he knew how you was changing things at the surgery. Anyway, what yer doing here? No one in this house is sick enough to need your help … well, they weren’t when I left an hour or so ago.’ She then caught sight of something on the floor by the doctor’s feet and squinted harder. ‘What’s that on the floor?’ She peered at it. ‘That our Jessie?’ Her aged face was wreathed in bewilderment. ‘What’s shedoing down there? Get up, our Jessie, you’ll catch yer death on those cold flags. Jessie, you hear me?’
    Aidy stepped over to her grandmother, placed one hand tenderly on her arm and said tremulously, ‘Mam can’t hear you, Gran.’
    Very aware of the passing of time and the patients waiting for his return, Ty spoke