Forget-Me-Nots in September Read Online Free

of ketchup. He looked up at the faces of the men. “What can I say? She has a weird sense of humor. I’m sorry, if I’d known it’d contain stuff like this, I’d have opened it in private.”
    “But, Boss, what did Smudge love best?” Jaffa asked.
    Bev just sat there.
    “Barbecues on the beach,” Steve responded. “That parcel, rather than being mistimed, is about brilliant and has the most perfect timing and sense of propriety ever, I say. How about we blow up your pool, and have a party. One for the lads. Remember them our way.”
    Bev nodded. He pulled out the letter, sliding it into his pocket. Right at the bottom of the box was a small packet of flags for the castles and a packet of chewing gum. And a picture. Totally black, apart from one corner where the light was slowly dawning. Across the top was written, it’s always darkest just before dawn.
    He stood, knowing this would be almost as hard as the repatriation, but that his men needed it. One had to do whatever it took to survive.
    ~*~
    Jude stood with Milly outside the base on a hot July day. They’d parked in the village as the huge cargo plane had come overhead and landed. They walked down to the base. She was surprised there were so many people there. Men in uniform stood on guard by the gate. No one spoke; a strange hush pervaded the air.
    The main flag was at half-mast. Along the road stood many veterans with flags, members of the British Legion and currently serving, but off duty, men and women from all branches of the armed forces.
    Finally, the gates to the base opened. As one all the flags were lowered. Three cars, each containing a coffin covered in the Union Flag, each bearing the hat and ceremonial sword of the soldier, slowly moved through the gates, the undertaker walking in front of them. He’d walk the entire route from here to the hospital in Oxford.
    The cars paused as every single flag was lowered so it touched the ground. Flowers were placed on the roofs of the cars.
    Tears ran down Jude’s face, the lump in her throat growing with each passing second.
    Then the slow procession moved on. A ripple of applause began by the gate and spread, gathering momentum.
    Only when the cars were out of sight did people begin to move.
    Jude turned to Milly to find herself enveloped in a hug. “Thanks…” she managed.
    “Any time, girlfriend. Now how about a drink before we head back? There was a café in the village.”
    “OK.”
    Only minutes later she sat across from Milly at a small table inside the air conditioned cafe.
    “Why do you do it?” Milly asked. “Send parcels to people you don’t know and are never likely to meet?”
    “To show them they’re not forgotten.” Jude sipped the drink. “This chap actually replied a couple of times. They don’t always.”
    “What’s he like? Or can’t you say?”
    Jude mimed zipping her mouth closed. “He seems nice enough.”
    “Can’t you even tell me his name?”
    She shook her head. “Nope. MOD regs. Walls have ears and so on. I don’t want to endanger him in any way. He does that enough himself, just by being deployed out there.” She sighed. “So how’s work?”
    Milly grinned. “Subject changed like a pro. You know how the job goes. There’s the long hours and middle of the night phone calls. I’m stuck behind a desk, but I do have loads of men to boss around. What isn’t there to like?”
    “You still hate it?”
    Her friend nodded. “It’s hard. Being DI and not DCI is hard enough, but I’m only filling in here. I’ve no idea how long DI Welsh will be away. So it could be a week, a year…” She shrugged. “Who knows?”
    “You forgot the upside of this equation.” Jude smiled. “You’re in the same town as me for the first time since school.”
    Milly nodded. “Does Kevin still sing ‘Hey Jude’ at you every time you go in the shop?”
    “Every. Single. Time. It’s more than irritating now. It’s creepy, especially given the way he looks at me. I