Read Online Rhiannon by Carole Llewellyn - Free Book Online

been happening I forgot about this letter. It arrived the day after the accident. I left it on the mantelpiece for Dad... . Well, anyway, last night I opened it and you’ll never guess what. Aunt Florrie’s appearing at the Cardiff Empire and look, she’s sent us money and tickets for us to go and see the show!’

    â€˜Well I never!’ Ethel shook her head in disbelief. ‘The last time I saw Florrie was at your dear mother’s funeral. The three of us used to be such friends; we grew up together in this very street, you know? Mind you, I never saw two sisters so different.’ She rubbed her knees, as though rubbing the memories to life. ‘Your mother, Rose, such a sweet girl, content to stay close to home – you and your dad were her life, Rhiannon. While Florrie, well, she couldn’t wait to leave the valley. She was a born show-off, loved to perform, loved to sing. Everyone believed that she was destined for great things – she had the voice of an angel... .’ Ethel sighed. ‘She’ll not know anything ’bout your dad, then?’
    â€˜No. I don’t suppose so. The letter says she was only due to arrive back in the country on March the eighteenth – the day of dad’s fun—’
    â€˜We’ll explain everything when we see her. Won’t we, Rhi?’ Mair interrupted.
    â€˜You’re planning on going to Cardiff?’
    â€˜Yes. The theatre tickets are for tomorrow’s matinée performance. We thought we could go by train and, well, Mrs Lewis, the thing is, we intend to stay with Aunt Florrie ... if she’ll have us.’
    â€˜Oh, I see,’ Ethel said quietly. Then, turning to Rhiannon ‘Have you told my Frank about this?’
    Rhiannon shook her head, ‘No – not yet.’
    â€˜Have you told Frank what?’ Frank asked as he entered the kitchen closely followed by his sister, Sadie.
    For a while no one spoke. Rhiannon flashed Ethel a pleading look.
    â€˜The girls are off to Cardiff to see their Aunt Florrie,’ Ethel offered.
    â€˜Cardiff? When? How? And when do you intend getting back?’
    Rhiannon caught his hand, ‘Frank?’ Her eyes filled with tears.
    He put his arm around her ‘Rhi what is it? What’s wrong?’
    â€˜We’re not coming back!’ Mair blurted out.
    â€˜Don’t be daft, Mair. This is your home.‘ Frank looked to his mother for reassurance but there was none. He turned to Rhiannon. ‘Rhi what’s going on?’
    Ethel stood up, took a large woollen shawl from the back of the chair and wrapped it around her shoulders. Then she picked Martha up off the rug and wrapped it around the child.
    â€˜Mair, Sadie, would you both help me to get the washing in from the line? I think it’s time to give Frank and Rhi a few minutes alone.’
    Reluctantly Mair followed Ethel, Martha and Sadie into the garden.
    Frank turned to Rhiannon. ‘I can’t believe you’re planning to leave
tomorrow,’ he snapped.
    Rhiannon had been so dreading this moment. ‘Frank please ... you must see it makes sense? We’re soon to be given notice to leave our home. Aunt Florrie is the only family I have left. She’ll know what to do. She’ll take us in, I’m sure.’
    â€˜But it all seems so rushed.’
    â€˜This way, there’s a chance for Mair and me to begin a new life. I really don’t want to stay around here. Without Dad ... it would be too painful.
    Seeing the hurt look on his face Rhiannon reached out and touched his arm. He pulled away. ‘And what about me? I thought—’
    Rhiannon quickly interrupted. ‘Cardiff’s not that far away.’ Since the accident Frank had changed. Her father had always teased her that Frank was sweet on her. If that was true then she didn’t want to hear it. ‘I’ll come to visit often, I promise,’ she smiled at him.
    â€˜It won’t be