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| Solid Lump of Comfort http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2121 |
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| Author: | Sarah_K [ Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Solid Lump of Comfort |
Set the night before Madge and Jem have to elave Austria. I wrote this as a response in rather a splurge so I apologise if I have the wrong people still present! Madge came down the stairs quietly. The babies were all fast asleep now, even David had ceased that awful quiet sobbing for his aunty Jo, and the house was silent. A month ago, even a week ago, Madge would have treasured the quiet as something precious but now it felt eerie and unnatural. In the front room Jem was reading over the plans for tomorrow's journey. She could see him mentally ticking off all the tasks they had completed in such a rush, making sure none were left undone. If they forgot anything then they couldn't come back for it. Madge tried to stifle the sob she felt rising in her throat but she couldn't silence it completely. Her little gasp caught Jem's attention and he turned to see his white-faced wife standing in the doorway. "All asleep darling?" "Every one of them." Madge forced herself to smile. "It's going to be a challenge waking them early enough if they're still so hard asleep in the morning." Jem nodded stiffly and turned to look over the piece of paper again. As he read the words, which Madge knew he most have learnt by heart, he paced the familiar room. Their belongings were all packed now, most of them had been sent on ahead with the school's furnishings, but a few pieces of furniture remained. They had only been able to take what was essential, what had the most sentimental value, but Madge knew she'd remember every piece they left behind just as well. Sinking into the one remaining chair Madge tried to focus her mind on the journey to come. It wouldn't be easy to keep the little ones quiet but she knew everything had to be in order if they wanted to get out of Austria and across Europe safely. At that thought an image of her sister, cold and dirty and tired, rose in Madge's mind and refused to be banished. "Madge?" She hadn't realised Jem had stopped pacing until he was kneeling by her side. "What's wrong dearest?" "Do you think..." For a moment words failed Madge. "Do you think they're still..." Jem grasped her shaking hands and looked straight into Madge's eyes. "I'm quite sure they are." "You can't be." Madge could feel the tears she'd been suppressing welling up in her eyes. "There's no way to tell where they are or if they're safe and Rob's so small, and Joey..." Finally Madge broke down and sobbed. Her heart had been heavy ever since her sister and friends had been delayed after their shopping trip. All through that awful evening and Daisy's return and the hurried planning she had remained in control of herself. For the babies' sake, for Margot's sake, she couldn't let herself go to the terror she felt but now that they were all away or asleep she couldn't hold it back any longer. As she cried Jem lifted her so that she was sitting on his lap, his arms tight around her holding her safe. He whispered soothing things to her, though she heard none of them as words, and let her wet his shoulder completely. Eventually the storm of sobbing quietened and Madge, gulping hard, was able to raise her head to look at her husband. "I know it's weak of me. Only..." she ducked her head for a moment before meeting Jem's gaze again. "Only I can't bear not knowing. She and Dick were all I had and she's my responsibility and then there's Rob and the other girls and poor Nell." Gently Jem reached up and stroked a stray tear from her cheek. "They have Jack with them, and Gottfried, and Nell's a sensible type, a Chalet School mistress no less! I know it's hard Madge but we have to believe they're safe." He smiled sadly at her. "We ought to be used to this by now with that scamp of a sister of yours, she's been in scrapes before and she's always pulled through." "But this is, oh Jem this isn't the same as her running away from school or being sick. Even if they all come through safely we shan't see the Tiernsee again any time soon and if it really is to be a war then who know what we'll have to face!" "One thing at a time." Jem looked serious for a moment. "We'll all have to be brave in the days to come and there's no point in storing up trouble. First we worry about getting you and the children to Guernsey, and our escapess of course. I wonder if we shouldn't rather have sent Joey straight into Germany, I can't imagine even Hitler standing up to her when she gets a head of steam behind her!" Madge made a sound halfway between a laugh and another sob and hid her head on Jem's shoulder again. They sat there together, in a comfortable silence, until the clock struck. "Time we were in bed too Madge-girl." Madge stood and moved towards the door where she paused and held out her hand. She stood for a moment holding Jem's strong hands in her own before throwing her arms around him. "I'd never be able to do this without you Jem. Never" Madge whispered into Jem's ear and kissed the patch of skin she could reach at the side of his neck. "Or I without you dear one." Jem returned the embrace and the kiss, as they each drew strength from the other, and then they turned and climbed the stairs. Tomorrow would come and many after it when the waiting seemed impossible to bear but, whatever came, they would face it together. |
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