Battles Lost and Won Read Online Free

daughter, then turned her attention to her husband as he walked into the scullery. ‘How’s Alf? Does he know what’s happened to Helen?’
    ‘He’s a mess, but he knows she’s dead. He was just too drunk to do anything about it. He’s crying with shame.’ Steve sat down and wiped a hand over his eyes. ‘Lord knows what’s going to happen to both of them now. As sick as she was, Helen held that family together.’
    ‘She knew she was dying,’ Daisy told her husband, ‘but she so wanted to live long enough to see Alf through his problems. She just didn’t have enough strength to hang on any longer.’
    ‘But Bob did everything he could for her, didn’t he?’ Ruth said.
    ‘He did, darling.’ Steve smiled wearily at his caring daughter. ‘He’s a good lad, but I fear for him now. Unless he can learn to forgive, that anger he’s carrying around will drag him down, if he isn’t careful.’
    ‘I’ll keep an eye on him.’ Ruth’s expression was grim as she piled sandwiches on a plate. ‘He’s my friend, and I’ll help him.’
    ‘I know you will, and we’ll have to watch out for Alf, Daisy.’ Steve pinched a sandwich from the plate, and then stood up. ‘We’ll have to arrange everything, and I’d better start immediately. We can’t leave Helen in the house. Did she have any funeral insurance?’
    ‘Yes, she told me her mother had taken out a penny one when she’d been born, and she’d kept it up. The policy’s in a biscuit tin at the back of her wardrobe.’
    ‘That’s a relief. At least we’ll be able to arrange a proper funeral.’ He hauled himself up, and left, eating as he went.

Three
    The next day Bob went to work as usual, saying nothing about his mother’s death. It was too painful to talk about, and the last thing he wanted, or needed, was sympathy. He couldn’t handle that at the moment. The Coopers were seeing to all the distressing details, and he was enormously grateful to them. They had always been like a second family to him, but now they were all he had.
    Somehow he got through the day, and when he reached home, Ruth was waiting for him.
    ‘The undertakers have been, Bob, and you can stay with us again if you don’t want to go into your own house at the moment.’
    ‘Thanks.’ He laid a large hand on her shoulder and shook his head. ‘You’ve all been very kind, Ruthie, but I’ve got to face up to everything. As much as I hate the old man, he’s got to get through the funeral. I’ll have to sober him up enough to stand at the graveside with some kind of dignity. Mum deserves that.’
    ‘He’s very upset,’ Ruth told him.
    Bob’s expression darkened. ‘So he should be! I suppose it’s asking too much to expect him to have stayed sober today?’
    When Ruth just shook her head, he turned away and swore under his breath, then spun back to face her. ‘Is he down the pub already?’
    ‘He went as soon as they opened. I’m sorry. We did try to stop him.’
    ‘Dear Lord, Ruthie, you don’t have to apologize. There’s only one person who can help that man, and that’s himself. Until he recognizes what he’s doing to himself and those around him, he’s never going to change. I did hope that the shock of Mum’s death might have brought him to his senses, but it seems not.’
    ‘I know you’re right.’ Tears shone in her clear blue eyes. ‘I do so wish we could help him.’
    He looked at his little friend with affection. ‘You’d save the whole world if you could, but some people are beyond help. Don’t you worry; I’ll get him through the funeral. Tell your mum and dad I’ll be in to see them later to discuss the arrangements with them.’
    ‘All right. Have you got any food in the house? Mum said you could eat with us if you haven’t, and she’ll take a dinner in for your dad.’
    ‘Don’t worry about that. I did the shopping yesterday and there’s plenty there.’ His voice broke slightly, and he turned away, hiding his emotions. ‘I’ll