‘In a wheelbarrow,’ George piped up, causing Eddie to laugh loudly, then shut up just as quickly when given a stern look by Ruby.
‘She was taken poorly down by the river while out walking with my son,’ Ruby explained, trying her best to mind how she spoke. She didn’t want anyone thinking they were common. ‘My mother lives with us, a few streets away in Alexandra Road,’ she added, hoping it would impress the woman and she’d look on them favourably.
‘If you would like to wait, I will see how your mother is,’ the woman said, before disappearing through a side door.
‘This place gives me the willies,’ Eddie said, twisting his cap in his hands. ‘I’ll wait outside.’
‘You will stay where you are,’ Ruby murmured, placing her hand on George’s shoulder and grabbing Eddie’s sleeve with the other. ‘We are here for my mother, so forget about how uncomfortable you feel and think of someone else for once.’
‘I don’t like hospitals,’ he muttered back.
‘Who does? But it’s not for us to be selfish at times like this. How would you feel if you were unwell in hospital and no one visited you because they didn’t like hospitals? You’d soon have something to gripe about then.’
Eddie opened his mouth to answer but stopped as a man appeared, followed by a nurse wearing the most elaborate starched cap Ruby had ever seen. The man held his hand out to Eddie. ‘I’m Doctor Gregson. Your mother is extremely poorly, I’m afraid . . .’
Ruby stepped in front of Eddie. ‘She’s my mother. Is she going to die?’ she asked, forgetting for a moment that George was with them. She was soon reminded when he burst into a fresh flood of tears.
‘Nurse, would you take the young man to the children’s ward, please? This is no place for him at the moment.’
George fought and screamed as the nurse tried to take his hand. ‘Leave me alone. I want to stay here with my mum and see my nan pop her clogs,’ he yelled.
The doctor bent down until he was face to face with George. ‘Now, young man. Do you like trains?’
George stopped creating a fuss and looked at the man. ‘What kind of trains?’
‘Wooden trains that run on a track. We have a splendid one in the room next to the children’s ward. A father of one of our patients donated it to say thank you for making his little girl better. Would you like to play with it?’
George thought for a moment. ‘You make people better?’
The doctor looked bemused. ‘But of course we do.’
‘And they don’t pop their clogs?’
The doctor laughed and ruffled George’s hair. ‘He’s a bright lad, isn’t he?’ he said to Ruby as he stood up.
‘We think so,’ Ruby replied, thankful that George had calmed down. As much as she loved her son, she wanted to see her mum.
‘Take him along to play with the train, Nurse,’ he said as he held out his arm for Ruby to accompany him back through the door.
Ruby looked at Eddie and gave him a nod to follow her. She didn’t trust him not to run off. With her heart beating faster than it had ever done before, she followed the doctor into the ward. Looking around her, she tried to identify her mum, but the women in the beds all looked the same, with the crisp white sheets pulled up to their chins as they rested. ‘Where is she?’ she whispered.
They were led to the end of the ward, where a green screen was pulled round the last bed. At this point the doctor stopped. ‘I’m afraid your mother is very unwell. All we can do is make her comfortable. She has been calling for you.’
Ruby fought back tears as she hurried to Milly’s bedside and sat on a wooden bench close to the bed. Taking Milly’s hand and squeezing it tight, she held it to her chest. ‘I’m here now, Mum. Whatever have you been doing to yourself?’
Milly’s eyelids fluttered as she heard her daughter’s voice. Ruby had never seen her look so pale and old. Deep shadows around her eyes and a blue tinge to her lips showed how ill her mother was. A white bandage hid most of her grey hair. ‘You got here, then?’ she whispered. ‘I thought I’d be gone before you arrived.’
‘Don’t talk like that, Mum. The doctor will soon have you up on your feet and fighting fit, just you wait and see,’ Ruby said brightly, forcing a smile.
‘You think what you want . . . if it makes you feel better . . . but I’ll not see . . . dawn break tomorrow,’ Milly said, taking weak breaths between her words. ‘Now, I want you . . . to do a couple of things . . . for me.’ She gripped Ruby’s hand and swallowed hard.
‘I’ll do whatever you want,’ Ruby promised as she held a cup of water to Milly’s lips.
Milly turned her head away, refusing the liquid. ‘There’s a box under my bed at home . . . if you look inside . . . you’ll see . . . some things I want you to have,’ she said stopping to take a shuddering breath. She closed her eyes for a little while before continuing. ‘In my old purse . . . you’ll find the money I hid . . . from that bastard husband of yours. Make sure he doesn’t get his hands on it . . . it’s all yours, so don’t go sharing it with your sisters.’
Ruby couldn’t answer, as tears streamed down her face. ‘I’ll get the word to Fanny and Janie to come and see you,’ she said, looking behind her and hoping Eddie had heard. ‘Can you do that for me, Eddie?’
‘No . . . get him out of here,’ Milly
