Read Online A Moment to Remember by Dee Williams - Free Book Online Page A

cheeks as they sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.
    ‘I’ve never had birthday presents before, or a cake. You are all so kind.’
    ‘It’s no more than you deserve,’ said Mrs Green. ‘You have brought a lot of joy to my daughter and this household. ’
    Jane was smiling fit to bust. ‘You wait till it’s my birthday.’
    ‘We’ve got Christmas before that,’ said Betty.
    ‘I know. I can’t wait. And Daddy will be home then. You’ll love him, Milly. He is so nice and kind.’
    When Milly had asked Jane where her father was, she had told her that he was an ambassador who worked in Germany and only came home at Christmas. She said that he was someone very important.
     
    A few weeks later the preparations for Christmas began in earnest.
    ‘When Richard gets home he will decorate the drawing and dining rooms with holly and ivy. You must help him, Milly. It will be good fun.’
    Milly was also beginning to get excited. She had never known an atmosphere like this, and couldn’t wait for Mr Green and Richard to arrive.
    All week Mrs Green kept popping into the kitchen asking if everything was under control. Betty seemed to be shouting at all the tradesmen, telling them that all the meat had better be perfect, as well as the dairy products and the vegetables.
    For days everybody was in a fluster. Richard was the first to arrive, and Milly gave him a big smile.
    ‘Everything all right then, Milly?’ he asked when she opened the door to him.
    ‘Yes thank you.’
    ‘Good. We’ll talk later.’
    Milly’s heart gave a little flutter.
    Mr Green was due to arrive at the weekend. Milly was very nervous about meeting him for the first time, but Jane and Betty tried to reassure her that he was very nice. At the back of her mind was the thought of her own father, but nobody could be like him, not here.
    Milly went into the drawing room to stoke up the fire. ‘What time is your father arriving?’ she asked Jane, who was sitting in front of the window watching and waiting.
    ‘He should be here soon. I am so excited. I wish he came home more often, though he always brings me lots of exciting presents. I know that you will love him almost as much as I do when you see him.’
    This was such a happy household. Even Richard was being nice to her, and Milly had told Jane about the hair slide he’d given her.
    ‘Well he has been pretty horrible to you.’
    Milly didn’t have an answer.
    ‘You must wear it at Christmas.’
    ‘I think I will.’
    Later that afternoon, a scream from the drawing room sent Milly and Betty to see what was the matter.
    ‘He’s here!’ shouted Jane. ‘Daddy’s here.’
    Milly felt almost as excited as Jane, who was trying to turn her chair around but in her hurry kept bumping into the furniture.
    ‘Here, let me,’ said Milly, who was now good at controlling the chair.
    Milly pushed her into the hall just as Mrs Green opened the front door.
    ‘I heard Jane tell everyone you were here.’
    Mr Green held his wife tight and then bent down and hugged Jane. ‘How are you, my little lamb?’
    Milly wanted to cry. She had never seen such love and happiness.
    Richard, who was standing by the front door, closed it behind his father and held out his hand. ‘Welcome home, Father.’
    Mr Green clasped his son’s hand with both of his own. ‘And how are you, my boy? Still working hard?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘Good. That’s what I like to hear.’ Mr Green was a tall, well-set man with thick greying hair and a moustache; he had a slightly tanned face. Taking the handles of the wheelchair he effortlessly pushed it into the drawing room as Milly hurried along to the kitchen.
    As soon as the excitement died down, Betty was going to give Milly the sign and she was to help with the afternoon tea.
    ‘What a welcome,’ said Milly.
    ‘It’s always like that when he comes home. He’s such a nice man and will talk to us later. Now just lay up the trolley, and don’t let your finger dip in the