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

sponge.’
    Milly laughed. ‘As if I would! Besides, you always save a bit for us.’
    Betty laughed too. ‘Go on with you. You’re getting to be a right cheeky little madam.’
    Milly suddenly looked serious. ‘I’m sorry, Betty. As my mum would say, you mustn’t get too big for your boots.’ She thought about her own family and knew they had nothing at Christmas.
    Betty noted her distress. ‘Come on, love. I was only having a laugh. D’you know, it’s a right tonic having you around.’
    Milly’s sad face lit with a smile. ‘Thank you.’
    ‘Right, you can come with me and hand out the plates and cake.’
    ‘Thank you.’ She went and hugged Betty.
    ‘What was that for?’
    ‘Just that I’m so lucky and I can’t believe this is happening to me.’
    Betty looked fondly at Milly for a moment. ‘Come on, push that trolley. It’s a good thing the everyday rooms in this house are downstairs.’

    On Christmas night as Milly lay in her bed, she reflected on the past two days. Tears ran down her face. Never in her life had she experienced anything like it. But what about her own family? Did her mother wonder where she had gone? Was she well? It was then that she was filled with guilt. She knew that Christmas Day at home would have been just like any other. No presents for the children or lovely food. If only she dared try to get in touch with Dan and Billy, but that would surely put an end to her wonderful life. She knew she was being selfish, and that upset her.
    Her joy had started on Christmas Eve when she and Betty went with the family to Midnight Mass. Milly had never been in such a lovely church. The family sat in the front and Milly and Betty sat at the back. She was staring at everything that was happening all around her. The sermon and the carols thrilled her; everything about her was so new, and it was such a beautiful sound when the choir’s voices rose all around her that she wanted to cry. She was bubbling with joy when she got back and the family invited them into the drawing room for a drink. Milly was given ginger beer, but to drink out of crystal glasses was in itself such a privilege. When she went to bed that night she was full of apprehension and excitement and knew it would be hard to sleep, but it seemed that all too soon Elsie was standing over her.
    ‘Come on, love, merry Christmas, it’s time to rise and shine.’
    Last night the family had wished her a merry Christmas; nobody had ever said that to her before.
    The two of them had got on quickly and quietly with their chores, then gone into the kitchen for breakfast.
    ‘Merry Christmas,’ said Betty when they entered the warm, cosy kitchen. ‘Sit yourselves down and I’ll dish up. Then Milly, get yourself cleaned up and take the breakfast things in to the dining room. I daresay Miss Jane will be ringing for some help before long.’
    ‘Mrs Green always sees to her when Walton is away,’ said Milly, buttering her toast.
    ‘I know that, but then she’ll be wanting her breakfast and to see what presents she’s got. That will give the missus time to get herself ready for church.’
    Milly was always amazed at how lovely and regal Mrs Green looked, even in the mornings. ‘I’d love to go to church again.’
    ‘Wouldn’t we all. Now get a move on. We’ve got a lot to do this morning,’ said Betty, bustling round the table. ‘Elsie can’t stop as she’s got to get home to her family, but Annie that’s been helping out with the washing and ironing is coming in to give us a hand.’
    Betty brought out of the larder the huge Christmas pudding she had made weeks ago. Milly had been fascinated and had helped in stirring it. Betty had told her to stir one way three times then plop the spoon in the middle and make a wish. Milly didn’t have anything to wish for for herself, as her life was complete, so she wished for her mum to keep well. Betty wrapped the pudding in a cloth and set it to simmer gently in a large pot that hung