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She accepted a cup of tea from her friend, but looked at Joey over the rim of it as she sipped, then asked softly, “When were you going to tell me you’re pregnant, Jo, dear?” |
Identity Hunt wrote: |
I do so hope that she is just *worried* about the baby and not that there *is* something wrong with the baby......... |
Elder in Ontario wrote: |
and many congratulations on both those nominations - they are richly deserved. |
Fiona Mc wrote: |
That was so lovely and I agree with Hilda, Joey after all her pregnancies and births would know her own body and if something is wrong.
By the way congratulations for your nominations. Hope you win! Can I admit I'm an ignoramous and ask which award and more about it please? |
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Joey leaned her head against Hilda once more. “Maybe I will. Thank you, Hilda – not just for the wisdom and the sympathy, but for opening my eyes to your own needs. Despite your pain, you’ve helped me enormously. You always seem to know exactly how to soothe my ache. You have a knack for always making me feel everything will come out the way it was intended, somehow. I need that hope just now. But we didn’t do the same for you last year, did we?” |
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When I was with Mother Abbess, she gave me space to let go, taught me to grieve properly, helped me find out who and what I was, without Nell. No one here could do that for me. |
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Joey nodded. “Watches me like a hawk. She’s always popping over. I just happened to be passing, she says. Passing where, for goodness sake?” |
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Passing where, for goodness sake? |
MaryR wrote: |
Joey nodded. “Watches me like a hawk. She’s always popping over. I just happened to be passing, she says. Passing where, for goodness sake?” |
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Don’t glare at me in that tone of voice, |
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Your icy voice can’t make this go away! You can’t give it detention or lines to make it behave. |
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How was her Headnistress going to last the term in her still-fragile state, if she expended all her energy on others and kept none for herself? Talking about it all would help, of course, but would she? Matey accepted that she was applying double standards here, as she herself refused to talk at all. |
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very rare and gallant friend, such a very special person, one with so much depth |
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so impatient with your own good self for being overcome by your emotion, instead of accepting it as part of the great grief you are suffering. |
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She was once more in the midst of life. Every day would once more have a purpose. |
Lisa A. wrote: |
I've just finished Harry Potter so my reading muscles are in top form. |
Tara wrote: |
It's lovely (and very necessary) that Ellie has her own special name for Hilda, and Vivien's gift of the photo is really special. I think I'd probably advise Ellie to enjoy it privately, though, rather than display it publicly, I still feel that her relationship with Hilda might cause problems for her before we're done. |
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i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing....) |
Squirrel wrote: |
Oh Hilda, Hilda love....How will Gwynneth talk to her about that? |
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The weekend, and all the weekends to come, stretched before her, stark and empty as the room, as her heart. |
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a tenacious terrier sensing wrathfully that the bone would not be hers this time.
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She gave her friend a mock-salute and a broad grin then disappeared to get her belongings. Matron watched her go with a sad smile on her face. How wounded and vulnerable Hilda still was! But how very gallant – and stubborn! |
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….and gradually her loneliness became peopled with memories, the sweet memories she had asked of Nell, the dear memories she had promised Mother Abbess she would polish to make them sing. She smiled - a grave, sweet smile. She would accept the memories as she had accepted the terrible anguish. And just as she had with her pain, she laid these wonderful memories also at the feet of her Lord, a bouquet of rare and beautiful flowers to do Him homage. They had come from Him and Nell, so they must be returned to Him in gratitude. Hers not to wonder why… |
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Where was her faith in God’s goodness at such moments? Where was her gratitude for all He had done? .....And yet – God had been with her even in her extremity. She knew that, deep within herself. Else why that little bubbling stream that was called joy? God did not censure her for her descent into the darkness, but He did insist that she trust Him, even when the dark held not one star to light her way. |
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But what was even more wonderful, more powerful, was the fact that, right now, all around the world, there were whole communities on their knees. So many loving hearts offering up to God their prayers, their whole lives, for the sake of His world and all His suffering little ones! |
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….and gradually her loneliness became peopled with memories, the sweet memories she had asked of Nell, the dear memories she had promised Mother Abbess she would polish to make them sing. She smiled - a grave, sweet smile. She would accept the memories as she had accepted the terrible anguish. And just as she had with her pain, she laid these wonderful memories also at the feet of her Lord, a bouquet of rare and beautiful flowers to do Him homage. They had come from Him and Nell, so they must be returned to Him in gratitude. Hers not to wonder why… |
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She closed her eyes, stilled her mind, sat patiently in His presence, quite at home |