Always I'Ll Remember Read Online Free Page A

work.’
     
    ‘And it couldn’t wait until tonight?’
     
    ‘Everyone’ll be here then.’
     
    Audrey nodded. Another ten minutes and Ivor and the lads would be down and then it would be bedlam until they’d eaten and she’d packed Ivor and the oldest three off to work, and little Jed, the baby of the family at five years old, to school. And the evenings were worse. But she wouldn’t swap a minute of her days for all the tea in China. The good Lord had blessed her when He’d seen fit to send Ivor her way, and none knew that better than she did. Daft as it might be, and she’d certainly never voice it to a living soul, but he still made her feel weak at the knees when she looked at him. She flapped her hand at her niece. ‘There’s still some tea in the pot, hinny, and I’ll be making a fresh brew for that lot upstairs in a minute so help yourself. You want a bacon butty with it?’
     
    ‘No thanks, Aunty, just the tea. I’m supposed to have breakfast ready for when Mam gets back. Da’s still in bed.’
     
    Audrey nodded, turning the bacon which sizzled madly in protest before she began cooking the first batch of griddle cakes. ‘So, let’s have it,’ she said, her broad back to Abby. ‘What’s upset the apple cart this time?’
     
    ‘I got in for the college and so I told her about the lessons.’
     
    The effect of this statement was to spin Audrey round with a lightness which belied her bulk, and the next moment Abby was enfolded in her aunt’s embrace. ‘I knew you’d get in, lass. Didn’t I say you would? Oh, hinny, I’m right pleased for you. When did you hear?’
     
    Once she could breathe again, Abby said, ‘Yesterday morning. At least I won’t have to wait at the top of the street for the postie any more. I think he was beginning to believe I was soft on him.’
     
    Audrey chuckled and returned to the range. ‘He should be so lucky! And your man played up, did she? Well, lass, if nothing else it confirms you were right to say nowt until you knew for sure.’
     
    ‘She was horrible.’ Abby looked down at the mug in her hand. ‘And when Da stuck up for me she went for him an’ all.’
     
    ‘When does your da sail again?’
     
    ‘Tomorrow.’
     
    Abby’s voice was flat. After turning the griddle cakes Audrey surveyed her niece whom she loved every bit as much as her own lads. Nora was mental the way she was with this bairn, but then her sister had never known which side her bread was buttered. Right from when Abby could toddle she’d made her way into this kitchen, and was it surprising the way her mam was? She had lost count of the times Nora had knocked Abby into next weekend for some little thing no one else would have bothered about. And Nora had had the cheek to come round here accusing her of stealing the bairn’s affections when there’d been all that carry-on about the lass being forced into the pickle factory. Anyone with eyes in their head could have seen Nora had lost her daughter long before that. She seemed incapable of love, did her sister. In fact she didn’t think Nora had ever really loved anyone, including Raymond, in the whole of her life.
     
    Audrey turned her gaze to the ceiling, giving mental thanks for her own husband, before transferring the griddle cakes to a big tin dish standing on the hot steel shelf to one side of the hob. As she began the second batch, she said quietly, ‘For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing, lass. That factory is sending you round the bend and you won’t get free of it by just wishing. At least now you can go back knowing an end is in sight and it’ll make all the difference.’
     
    Abby nodded. ‘I know.’
     
    ‘You going to nip in and tell your granda the news before you go back? He’s had another bad night an’ likely it’ll cheer him up.’
     
    ‘Aye, all right.’ Abby slid off the chair. ‘Shall I take him a cup of tea?’
     
    ‘Do that, hinny. He’s only had the one this