The CBB :: View topic - A Brighter Shade of Blue (finished 18/9 p.7)

A Brighter Shade of Blue (finished 18/9 p.7)

through

[^/[Print]\]

The CBB -> Ste Therese's House

#1: A Brighter Shade of Blue (finished 18/9 p.7) Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:40 am
—
Having read the thread on drabble series that is currently in The Suggestions Box I thought I would enclose a brief synopsis of what has so far happened: Basically my series so far covers the lifes of Ruey Richardson, Ted Grantley, David Russell, and Rix Bettany. My first drabble The University Years, covered Ruey's first term at Uni, and showed the different lifestyle she encountered compared to that of the Platz. A light Cast in Shade follows on from this and focuses mainly on Ted Grantley and Rix Bettany's lifes and the problems they face. Reactions shows the reactions people have to Ted and Rix. This drabble is set a year or two after and although it focuses on Robin and Madge, the others are all included later, with Ruey and David playing major roles. This drabble is a repost of my first drabble ( so my other drabbles could be seen as prequels..) however it has been changed a lot, and hopefully is a lot better written. For a fuller overview of my earlier drabbles, containing spoilers, feel free to PM me.

Lady Russell sighed contentedly. She had not realised how much she had missed that bluer-than-blue lake. All these years had gone by, yet the memories were as clear as if it was yesterday. Of course there had been many bad times that she wished she could forget, but for the moment at least, there was a wave of happiness flowing over her. It had been the right decision to come back here she realised, and she turned to smile at the petite figure standing close by, and watching her so anxiously.

"Oh Madge", the woman said, "To see you smile like that makes me so happy".

"Robin dearest", Madge began,"I'm so glad you made me come back here. I think my life will be easier now that I am only surrounded by memories of Joey before she.. she left us."

She trailed off trying to hold back the tears that were so close to the surface these days.

Robin bit her lip, and asked herself for the thousandth time if this had been the right idea.

Yes, she thought, Madge had been miserable for so long now and she, Robin, knew that it would have been Jo's last wish for her dear sister to be happy in life. And Robin owed Jo so much, so as much as she missed Jo, she must try to be strong.. for Madge's sake.

* * *
Con put down the letter with a relieved smile.
It had been her who had noticed how awful her Aunt Madge looked. That as the months went by Madge's grief was not getting less. Len had refused to listen, to busy with her new son to have time for anyone else. Margot was away, having only been given leave for a short time, for the funeral. That only left Con, and Con was not exactly tactful- and she knew it!

She had hunted through her mind for someone else who was close enough to the family to help Madge, yet not too tied down with their own grief to be of no use to. All of a sudden it had come to her, the small serene figure who had comforted all the Maynard children through that troublesome time... Sister Marya Cecilia.

* * *

Robin had soon realised that Madge needed a complete change. Since her arrival at the Platz there had only been death: first the slow, painful death of her husband, and then only 6 months later the sudden unexpected death of her younger sister, who had been almost a daughter to her.

There had only been one solution in her mind, she had to take Madge to a happier place, one full of sweet memories, not death. One time particuliarly stood out in Robin's memory, and that is why she had been so adament in her insistence of whisking Madge away to the tirol.

Last edited by brie on Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:44 am; edited 25 times in total

#2: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:00 am
—
I love the new title!

#3: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:03 pm
—
I've been watching out for the repost of this and being very good and not reading the original. Can't wait to find out what happens!

#4: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:38 pm
—
Thanks, this is good. Poor Con, still being made to feel inferior.

#5: Author: Rob, Location: Currently in a rainstorm

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 3:47 pm
—

Rebecca wrote:

I've been watching out for the repost of this and being very good and not reading the original.

Me too! Looking forward to more ...

#6: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:41 pm
—
I'm glad you've reposted this, Brie, so that we can follow it all from the end of the last one. Thanks!

#7: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:30 am
—
I do remember the original as it was one of the earliest drabbles I read. Am glad to read it again with all the changes

#8: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:14 am
—
Back on the shore of the tiernsee, Madge and Robin were strolling through the trees, when all of a sudden Robin forgot her dignity, and the fact that the first silver hairs had started to appear on her head, as she let out a squeal of joy, which made Madge jump in shock. Robin broke into a run, and Madge felt she had no choice but to chase after her. The result of this was that the two of them almost pitched straight into the stream ahead. Luckily although she was small, Robin was also strong, and she managed to keep her balance. Madge started to scold Robin- momentarily forgetting that Robin was no longer six years old! But Robin just laughed, and then pointed to the site which had caused her so much excitement. They were standing right in front of a rock which had water simply gushing over it.

"Madge, Madge!", Robin cried,"It's the dripping rock"

"Oh Robin, its beautiful. But did you really want to go for a swim in this particular stream again?"

"Again?"

"Robin don't you remember when you fell in here before? It was Rufus who saved you, Rufus and..and..", here Madge was forced to stop, as her lip started to quiver at the memory of her young and over energetic sister.

"Joey? Joey saved me?", She owed Joey even more than she had previously realised then. She did not just owe Joey for the love and sense of family she had always had. She owed Joey her life.
* * *
Madge was sitting alone. Robin had left a few minutes ago, to go to the chapel to spend some solitary time in prayer. Madge looked up wistfully towards the Sonnalpe. Her life had been so much simpler then. It had been a much easier and happier time. She had been newly married, and she had given birth to her two oldest children there.

Then slowly her mind wandered back, to that old abandoned chalet that had been so dear to her. Life, she thought, had been perfectly blissful then, all those dear girls. She wondered how she had ever managed to leave here. The sheer beauty of this place just made her want to stand still and drink in the view for hours.

She looked out onto those clear waters, and then suddenly let out a positive gurgle of laughter as she remembered that memorable day when Joey had jumped clear over the path and straight into the lake! The girls had not let her forget that for a long time afterwards. Not that Joey had noticeably been subdued after her bath. But then, Joey was Joey- she was not easily suppressed.

Robin walked alone, along the shore of the lake. She missed Joey so much, although she hadn't seen Joey for many years. She had never even got to say goodbye. None of them had. Perhaps thats why everyone was struggling so much to get over her death. They had never been able to let go. Joey had been such a big part of all their lives. She had never refused to help someone. Now that she was gone, without her to hold them all together, and look after them, they were all breaking down. Joey had been such an important part of everyones lives. If it hadn't been for her the family would have suffered much more from Jem's slow and painful passing. She had held them together through their grief, and now it was Robin who had to try and take over this role and look after Joey's family- her family- as best as she possibly could.

Thanks for all the comments.

#9: Author: Mona, Location: Hertfordshire

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:24 am
—
Thanks brie, this is lovely.

#10: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:29 am
—
Thanks Brie.

BTW did you have any luck sorting your uni courses out?

#11: Author: Rob, Location: Currently in a rainstorm

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:33 pm
—
Thanks Brie. Its nice to see that Madge and Robin are there for each other.

#12: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 7:17 am
—
Thanks Brie. This seem more developed than last time and am enjoying the changes

#13: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:12 pm
—
Thanks, brie. I remember enjoying this the first time round. It's interesting to read it again with all the changes, and after reading your other drabbles. I think the title is inspired, too! Very Happy

#14: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:32 pm
—
Thanks for all the comments. I think I was entitled to a decent title for once since mine are usually really lame Laughing

Anyways thanks...

Ruey Richardson sat at home nervously peering out the window. She hoped they wouldn't see her. Afterall how long could they stay here for? Surely Robin would have to go back to her convent soon? Madge would never stay here alone. Ruey was sure of that. She could hide out here for another week or two and then they would be gone. Everything would go back to normal. Ruey felt sorry for Madge's loss, but that would still not convince her to see her. Madge may be hurt now, but she had caused so much pain to Ruey- and Ruey did not, could not, forgive easily. Not that she expected an apology, Lady Russell was far to full of her own importance to think that that little scamp Ruey would ever deserve an apology. Even Aunt Joey had not been able to convince Madge of that.

Suddenly Ruey ducked down, and started crawling towards the door into her bedroom. Silence surrounded her. Had she been seen? Surely she had been quick enough? That was that then, she would just have to hide out here. She would live on stale bread if she had to, nothing was going to convince Ruey to have anything to do with that vile, snobbish woman.

* * *
"Madge you look like you have seen a ghost"

"Don't be silly dear, I'm fine"

"Are you sure Madge?"

"Of course Robinette, don't worry. I'm fine"

Madge searched through her mind, for a way to change the subject. She did not want Robin to find out that Ruey lived in the Tirol. She tried not to think about why she didn't want Robin to know.

"So, so what shall we do this evening then, my dear?"

"Well Madge, if you are sure that you are alright, then I have a little suprise for you. "

"A surprise?", said Madge weakly. Surely, she didn't know that Ruey lived in innsbruck.

"Yes, we are going for dinner with some old friends. I wont tell you any more than that. I don't want to spoil the surprise", Robin finished with a cheeky grin which was in total contrast with her angelic features.

Madge breathed a sigh of relief. "Robin, sometimes its hard to remember that you are a responsible adult, a nun in fact, and not a babe of eight"

Robin giggled. "When was the last time you saw an eight year old with streaks of silver in her hair?"

"Robin, you haven't grown up at all have you", Madge laughed in spite of herself, "well you certainly haven't grown in height thats for sure."

Robin's face was a picture.

"Madge, how mean! I'm not sure you deserve to go out for dinner at all!"

Madge just about collapsed with laughter at the sight of Robin's face, and Robin seeing that Madge was finally relaxing also giggled, and their clear laughter could be heard by all the neighbouring tourists, who were mystified, to say the least by these middle aged women laughing like schoolgirls
On returning to the hotel to prepare for their evening in Innsbruck, Robin was surprised to be presented with a somewhat crumpled letter.

"I'm so sorry fraulein Humphries but the letter was lost down the side of my desk at the start of the week, I only just found it now. I'm so sorry", the assistant looked at Robin worriedly but Robin just smiled and thanked her warmly. No doubt it was not important. It could wait till tomorrow at least. Robin hurried after Madge up the stairs and and shoved the letter into the pocket of her blazer.

#15: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:58 pm
—
Thanks, brie.

#16: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:22 pm
—
People always have excuses for losing important letters!

#17: Author: Rob, Location: Currently in a rainstorm

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:40 pm
—
Oooh how mysterious!!

Thanks Brie.

#18: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:29 pm
—
I'm still not happy with this drabble to be honest, so don't judge it to harshly please! I think it's going to stick out form the other drabbles in this series, because it's not really written in the same style. I've started the drabble after this, and its more in my other style and better I think. Anyways as ever all comments are welcome. Thanks

Despite herself Madge was excited. She was hurriedly searching her mind for friends who were living in Austria at the moment. The train pulled into Innsbruck at this moment however, so she was forced to stop pondering and gather her belongings together. As they stepped on to the platform she started to glance round curiously.

"Madame", a sweet voice called,"Madame".

Madge looked at her curiously there was something familiar about the face but she couldn't place it. Anyway this girl was surely far to young to be the old friend Robin was talking about.

Robin stepped in here.

"You must be Natalie",she smiled her almost cherubic smile at the girl, "I'm Sister Marya Cecilia, but please call me Robin. I remember when you were just a baby and your Mother used to let me help to look after you!"

Finally it clicked in Madges mind. "Natalie Mensch! Oh how you have changed, I haven't seen you in years. How's your mother and Father?"

"They're fine I live nearby so I offered to come and meet you so that Mother could finish cooking the meal. If you don't mind I think we will just walk, it is not far form here."

Madge and Robin walked after her, only half listening to her merry chatter as they drank in the old familiar sights of the town.

They soon approached some pretty apartment buildings. "Don't worry they only live on the first floor so it's not a long flight of stairs", said Natalie laughingly, "They always complain when they visit me and my husband, as we live on the top floor of our appartments".

They had reached the door by now, and it was flung open by an anxious woman whos dark hair was wound round her head.

"Madame! Robin liebchein! Oh how happy I am to see you both!", Gisela stood at the door a happy yet almost unbelieving expression on her face.

"Gisela darling, are you not going to let them in?", a Tall fair man appeared behind Gisela, not all that changed despite the grey through his short hair.
Gisela looked embarassed, and after quickly hugging and kissing Madge and the Robin she finally let them in.

Madge was dazed. "Oh Gisela, i'm so happy to see you again, and you Gottfried!" Then, while Natalie stood quietly in a corner waiting for her parents to come to their senses, it was Robins turn. "Little Robin it is so good to see you again", Gottfrieds exclamation was completely genuine. Afterall he had helped to care for her through her delicate childhood years, and they had a close bond, for Robin would not have been alive today had it not been for Gottfrieds undoubtable bravery during the Nazi regime. Gottfrieds thoughts were running along a similar line. He had not been in contact with the Robin since she had written to tell him she was going to become a nun. He had been so glad she had written to him telling her, he had always had a soft spot in his heart for the angel child he had carried across half of Austria. He had been so touched that she had always remembered his bravery, and always kept in touch with them, even asking his advice on whether he thought she should join the order. Suddenly, Robin could not restrain herself and she flung her arms around Gottfried, and after that it was a free for all in hugs and tears between the four old friends.
Later that evening talk turned to another old friend. One whom even Natalie remembered fondly.

Natalie had been quiet for most of the evening. Despite having left school and getting married, she was still rather in awe of her schools founder. The fact that Robin was a nun, made her unnaproachable to Natalie as Natalie could think of nothing appropriate to say to her. How really was she supposed to have a conversation with a nun she wondered. She had therefore sat there for much of the evening listening quietly. Now her mother changed the subject, and Natalie noticed a sudden atmosphere change in the room, and wondered.

"Madge", said Gisela gently,"I was so sorry to hear about that terrible accident, I want you to know that you have our sincerest sympathys."

Madge nodded at Gisela, up till now this evening had been one happy reunion, but now this reminded her of the one person who Madge would have liked to share the evening with. Gisela was aware that Madge looked uncomfortable with the mention of her sisters death. This would not have surprised her except that under the obvious sadness on Madge's face, Gisela thought she sensed something else. Just the quickest glimmer of guilt, perhaps? However Gisela dismissed this idea quickly, for she could think of no reason why Madge could have had anything to do with Joey's death. Why she had not even been in the country, had she?

#19: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:36 pm
—
It's a shame EBD appeared to forget that she'd arranged for Gisela and Gottfried to move to Switzerland Laughing

. They're both such nice characters.

#20: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:14 pm
—
Thanks, brie. It's nice to Gisela again.

#21: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:59 pm
—
It's touching the way Gottfried thinks of Robin.

Thanks Brie.

#22: Author: Rob, Location: Currently in a rainstorm

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:12 pm
—
I'd forgotten Gottfried escaped from Austria with the group in Exile. When it is mentioned later in the series it usually just mentions Joey and Jack (with occasionally Nell and Robin if EBD was getting descriptive!)

Lovely to see that the bond between Gottfried and Robin has survived, despite the length of time that has passed since they last saw each other.

#23: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:14 am
—
Thnks, Brie. I'm intrigued by the last few sentences...

#24: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:06 am
—
After a lovely evening, only slightly marred by Madge's quietness towards the end, Robin and Madge stood up to leave. As they were staying at a hotel in Innsbruck for the night it was not until the next morning that Robin got to read her letter. After scanning the letter she put it down and stared blankly ahead. She had not been expecting that. Hesitantly,for the letter had set her mind in a whirl to say the least, she picked it up again to read it more thoroughly.

Dear Aunt Rob

You may not remember me very well, and I want you to know that under any other circumstances I would not ask such a large favour of you. However desperate times call for desperate measures and when Sybil told me that you were taking Mum to Austria to get over the loss I felt that I needed to write, even if it was just to warn you. You see Mum and I aren't talking anymore, and Sybs and Josette are convinced that is part of the reason why she is so depressed.

I don't agree, I cant help but think that sge does't have much of a heart these days. I don't want to put you in the middle Aunt Rob but something needs to be done, and soon because its only a matter of time before they meet, and that would be a disaster. I can't really explain this well in a letter- its too personal. I think it would be easier face to face, so if you go to the address written on the back of this sheet then you can meet the person at the centre of this whole muddle. And Auntie Rob please listen to what she has to say, a lot has changed since you left us all those years ago. People change- and not always for the better.

Regards,
David Russell

What on earth was David trying to tell her in that letter? Well there was only one answer and that was back in Innsbruck, and if this had anything to do with Madge then she didn't really have a choice but to go, but really of all the cryptic letters! She could gladly have shook David after the third reading of the letter still revealed nothing but more mysteries.

The Sports Achievement Ball was proving to be as awful as David had predicted. He groaned as another awful song came blaring out from the truly awful band the university had hired. Rix Bettany turned round and glared at his cousin.

"You could at least try and show a little enthusiasm. This Party is partly in honour of yourself you know."

"Is that supposed to make me feel any better? That its my fault for inflicting this noise on all the people in this room."

Rix laughed, "Ok so they are not great, but look at all these girls. Who would have thought lacrosse players could look so good."

David rolled his eyes. Rix was notorious for his complete inability to not have a girlfriend (or three) at any given time.

"So how many have you asked out yet then?", said David trying to sound as though he was at least slightly interested in his cousins love life.

"None, but I have spotted an absolute cutie of a freshman- that girl standing over there", Rix waved his hand in the general direction of a clump of chattering girls, "Well are you coming or not? and try to act cool please. I don't want you ruining my chances!"

David once again rolled his eyes but condescended to follow his older cousin across the hall. Rix was hailed with enthusiasm by the girls, as they all vied for his attention. However David was more interested in the girl standing slightly to the side of the group, her eyebrows slightly raised, looking unimpressed by Rix's behaviour. In fact she looked frankly bored by it. David looked at her trying to decide how to approach her. She was not pretty, but there was something nice about her face that made him see that she was kind. He didn't normally have time for the kind of girls Rix was forever introducing him too, but this one was different. She didn't like Rix, and that was certainly attractive. He wondered why though, afterall as far as he knew all girls liked Rix. A lot. She caught his questionning glance.

"I have two brothers, I'm used to that kind of behaviour whenever they want anything. Flattery doesn't work for me."

He grinned at her. "i'll have to remember not to say anything nice to you then", he said.
She smiled back. "I'm Ruey."

"David", he stared at her wondering if she was joking, "Is that really your name?"

"It's short for Ruhannah."

He raised his eyebrows at this, and she grinned at him, she always enjoyed the shock her name gave to people.

David woke with a jolt. He had fallen asleep at his desk. Again. He banged his head of the desk three times. Why had he let her get away? He needed her like he needed to breathe. Yet she was gone and it was all his fault. Well his and of course the source of all the problems in his life- his Mother.

Thanks for the comments. All will be revealed later...

#25: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:10 am
—
I know it sounds mean, but I'm glad David's feeling miserable!

Thanks Brie.

#26: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:22 am
—
So am I after the way he treated Ruey. Though it would be hard to have your mother makes it so clear she doesn't like who you want to marry or to go ahead and have a rift like that caused.

I like the bond between Gottfired and Robin. That was so lovely

#27: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:20 pm
—
I think he needs to accept that his problems aren't all Madge's fault.

#28: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:28 pm
—
I'm also glad David's feeling low.

#29: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:31 am
—
Thanks for all the comments.
For the fourth time Robin bent down to check the address on the sheet of paper. Hoping that David had at least copied down the address properly Robin knocked on the door. She wasn't sure what she was going to say. She might not even know the person. David could at least of told her who she was going to meet.

Ruey heard the doorbell ring and hesitated. Should she answer it? It could be anyone after all. The chances were it was someone she wanted to see- or at least not Madge. Madge wouldn't be hunting her out, Ruey didn't think. Yes, it was probably okay to open the door.

She opened the door cautiously, and then groaned inwardly.
Robin looked at her curiously before introducing herself.

"I'm Robin Humphries, she said.

"Yes, I know Sister",Ruey looked at her and then grudgingly invited her in.

"I'm sorry, I don't know you", said Robin apologetically.

"No, why would you? I was never an important member of the family. I just faded away after you all got bored of the new wards." Ruey's tone was bitter. "So why have you come here? Did she make you come? Did she order you to harangue me till I left her precious family alone?"

Robin almost leapt back at the viciousness of Rueys voice, and she looked slightly scared. Ruey had the grace to look slightly ashamed at herself.
"I'm sorry" she said,"Of course she didn't send you, you don't even know who I am do you?" Robin shook her head slowly.

"I'm Ruey", even now she could not resist the surprised look on Robins face. "It's short for Ruhannah".
Please come in", and with that Ruey led Robin into a small rather dim sitting room. "I'm afraid the light in here is not great" she said.

"So why have you come here if you don't even know who I am?", then seeing that there was still confusion in Robins eyes, she explained, "Im one of Aunt Joey and Uncle Jacks wards ."
Finally Robin understood. Well that might be an exaggeration, but at least she knew who the girl was.

"I think you should read this, I didn't understand it but you might. David did send me here afterall."
With this she passed the letter to the dumbstruck girl.
David, David had sent this nun here, he had never thought to write to her, to talk to her. Indeed, why send a girl flowers, when you can send a nun? Ruey glowered at the letter, but nonetheless accepted it and started to read.
Thoughts were swirling madly around Ruey's head. That letter. Of course only David could write a letter like that. Such a letter might have in other circumstances have made Ruey smile, but these were not laughing circumstances. The letter mentioned nothing about them. What they had meant to each other. As she read that letter Ruey started to doubt that their relationship had meant anything to him. Was she just another girl? Of course here and there there were references that showed he was perhaps on her side- or was he just on the side opposing his mother? It wasn't an unhappy letter though, there was nothing in that letter that even slightly implied that he missed her. Robin interrupted her thoughts here though.
"Ruey, are you alright?", Robin sounded concerned, she wondered if there was something in that letter that she had somehow missed.

"I'm fine." Ruey was shaking slightly, but there was a slight iciness in her tone which stopped Robin from inquiring further.

"I..I don't think I can help you. I'm sorry, you will have to try somewhere else." Ruey kept her eyes on the floor as she said this.

Robin tried to keep the disappointment out of her face at this. She knew that Ruey knew something but she felt it unwise to inquire further at this point.

"Perhaps I could meet you again sometime."said Robin tentatively, "I should like to get to know my ... niece."

Robin had no idea of their relationship to each other and had decided it would be simplest to call Ruey her niece. Although Robin didn't know it the use of the word "niece" went a lot further towards thawing Ruey than anything else could possibly have done. Ruey smiled at her, a flicker of her old cheeky self showing through her serious facade.

"I would like that. You seem different from the rest of them."

#30: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:54 am
—
I'm not surprised Robin got confused about exactly who was related to whom and how Laughing

#31: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:08 am
—
Poor Ruey - "I just faded away after you all got bored of the new wards".

#32: Author: ghoti, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:51 am
—
There were rather a lot of them... and Madge never seemed that interested in even her own nephews and nieces, let alone the wards. I always got the impression that anyone else's chldren just weren;t as good as hers, and as for the rabble that Joey surrounded herself with! I'm afraid I wasn't overly surprised by Madge's reaction Sad

Looking forward to the next installment.

#33: Author: Rob, Location: Currently in a rainstorm

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:24 pm
—
This is great - thanks Brie!!

Regarding the relationship between Robin and Ruey Shocked

Robin was probably wise to just call her 'neice'!!

#34: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:00 pm
—
Sorry for absences between posting. I actually have no excuse because it is all typed up...

As Robin sat on the train taking her home, she tried to order her thoughts. There was something going on, of that she was sure, but what? Robin liked Ruey, despite the fact that she had been shouted at and been lied blatantly to by her. This puzzled Robin. Why did she like such an angry, confused young woman. There was something about her, Robin decided, which made them kindred spirits. She did not know what- they were so different. Then Robin realised, it was the faint air of sorrow about her, and the sense that she did not belong. Robin recognised both these things. She had felt these when she had grown up too. By this time Robin had already got off the train and onto the steamer going across the lake. She smiled at the lake. This was where she belonged. Alone or not alone.

It was a lonely life being a nun. But very fulfilling, she reminded herself. She prepared to get off the steamer, and walk back to the Kronz Prince Karl. She walked slowly, lost in her thoughts. She detoured up to the Chalet which now stood abandoned and souless. Then slowly, slowly she walked back to see Madge. She was pounced on by an agitated girl.
"What took you so long! C'mon, I don't want to stay here longer than I have too." The surprised Robin speechlessly trailed after the girl who did not stop till they were back up at the chalet.

* * *

For Ruey to think was to act. It had not taken her five minutes after Robin left to realise that she wanted to confide her problems in someone, and what she had just seen of Robin she liked. Yes, she thought, Robin was genuine. It did not occur to her to wait another day or two to contact Robin again, so she chased after her there and then. Only to find she had just missed the train. A half hours wait was possibly not the best thing for an impatient Ruey, but she did try to calm herself down after her mad rush. She did not stop to think that she might run into Madge, until she was standing outside the hotel and there was still no sign of Robin. Thus as soon as she had seen the Robin she rushed her away.

Robin looked at her captor with raised eyebrows. This day, she thought to herself, was starting to get interesting.

Now that she was here, Ruey had rather run out of steam. She cursed herself for once again throwing herself headlong into something without stopping to think. Right, she thought, just say it. Straight out. It wasn't a big deal. She screwed up her courage, and opened her mouth to begin her story.

#35: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:02 pm
—
Thanks Brie - enjoying reading this again.

#36: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:06 pm
—
Me too!

#37: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:32 pm
—
Really enjoying this for the first time. I hope Ruey can confide in Robin.

#38: Author: keren, Location: Israel

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:48 pm
—
I missed this first time too.
Well I began reading it and then stopped.
Now I read the previous episode, I am very curious to read this, so thanks for reposting it

#39: Author: Bee, Location: Canberra, Australia

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:47 am
—
This is really interesting - I never considered what it might be like for the Maynard wards. And I love that we get to see more of Robin! I hope she can help Ruey. Thank you muchly Brie Very Happy

#40: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:03 am
—
Finally caught up on this again - although I read it when you originally posted you've changed little bits, enriched it.

Thanks brie.

#41: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:26 pm
—
A bit of a long bit today...

Ruey felt rather tongue-tied. Everything was in a muddle, and she could hardly think straight. Robin had perched herself on a rock and was outwardly waiting patiently, inwardly there were fireworks going off in her head. Was she finally going to find out what everything meant she wondered, for despite herself Robin was extremely curious about this whole affair.

Ruey cleared her throat. "It all began back when I was just starting University, I had only been there a term but I had joined the Universities lacrosse team." Here she stopped. She was aware that if she went on in such detail they would be here all day, so she proceeded to lay out the barest of facts to Robin, who's face was full of sympathy as the story poured out. Robin suddenly realised that neither Ruey nor Madge had done anything dreadful- the situation had just got out of hand. Ruey found Robin to be a good listener for although Robin could not fully understand Rueys situation, afterall she had never been in love, her sympathy was genuine. Robin hugged Ruey and walked her to the steamer, promising to come and visit her soon to hear the full story as Ruey had decided to be brief and had calmly told Robin the basic story of several years in less than five minutes.

On returning to the hotel Robin found Madge lying outside basking in the sun whilst indulging in a novel. She plumped herself down beside Madge and decided that now was as good a time as ever to find out a bit more about what had been going on in Madge's life for the last few years.

* * *
Ruey sat on the steamer, and felt almost happy for the first time in a long while. She had been very fair to Madge, she felt, she had not let her personal opinion show through at all, that could come later when she knew Robin better. She did not want Robin to hate Madge but just to clarify that it wasn't herself who was in the wrong, and to make sure that that nagging thought that there was something wrong with herself was not true.

* * *

"Madge I have been meaning to ask you, how are your children?", Robin felt that this was not too probing a question as too make Madge suspicious or uncomfortable, also she really wanted to know for she only really remembered them as small children, and she knew the twins not at all. Madge sat up, and closed her book.

"This could take a while", she smiled,"Afterall there are six of them! Well the twins of course are still at school though Kester wants to leave as soon as possible so he can join the Navy. At one point I hoped Kevin would join the Army, but that never happened instead he decided to become a doctor- like his father." Over a year had passed, and now Madge was managing to remember Jem with fondness rather than sadness. "Ailie has just left school, and is training at University. She wants to become an illustrator. She is in London just now. I heard from Steve Maynard who she's staying nearby too, that shes the beauty of the place, and popular with everyone. Luckily she has her head screwed well on, and is still non too fond of anything "Mushy" to quote her. As you know Sybil and Josette are both in Australia, and married. Josette has two sons, yes,"she said laughingly,"I am a proud grandmother two times! Sybil has no children as yet but she has recently taken up church embroidery and I hear she is absolutely loving it." Luckily for Madge, there was a phonecall through for Robin at this point so she had to get up and leave, and Madge was not forced to endure talking about her eldest son.

Madge sat back and as she stared at the lovely scenery around her, her eyes clouded over.

David was coming back today. She was so excited, she hadn't seen him in so long, he had always been away at school or university and they had been in Australia. But now he was coming down for a long weekend. She was so thrilled. Jem came slowly down the stairs, trying to disguise his laboured breathing. Luckily for him, his wife was to excited at the prospect of seeing her son again to notice anything amiss.
"So have you made all the plans for this party tonight, then?", Jem looked at his wife with an amused smile, well did he know that she had relished in the planning of this welcome home party. "Of course i have Jem, as you fine well know!". Here Madge smiled a small secret smile, for she had planned an extra surprise which no one else knew about. She had wondered why her son had not shown any appearances of settling down, or having found the right girl yet. He was afterall over 25 years old. The matchmaker in her had decided that a party would be the perfect opportunity to introduce David to a nice girl. Ever since she had found out that David would be coming home that summer,she had been planning, turning over suitable girls in her mind to find one good enough for her son. She had finally come to a decision, she was convinced she had found the perfect girl for her son. A girl everyone liked. In fact there was really no one else like her. She was pretty, kind-hearted, smart, and she had a maturity beyond her years which Madge felt would endear her, to her rather serious son.

All the guests had arrived, and Madge was anxiously watching the door. As she peered out the window she caught sight of the car coming up the drive. She hurriedly arranged everyone in the hall, so that David would see them all when he arrived. She pushed Mary-lou into the centre and quickly fixed Mary-lous hair much to that young ladys surprise. Madge looked at her future daughter in law with pride. She was wearing a beautifully cut white dress which made her look elegant and stunning.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, everyone inside went silent and they could hear the rumble of Jems voice talking to his son. Madge went to open the door, and that is when the precious dream world she had been creating in her head came crashing down. David was there, tall and dark, but without the serious look on his face that he usually bore. Standing to one side of him was Jem- leaning heavily on the porch railings and looking expectantly at Madge. On the other side was a slender, plain-looking girl with red-brown hair and freckles. She smiled nervously at Madge.

"Mum, Its great to see...", his voice was drowned out by the welcoming calls of his family and friends who were all gathered in front of the stairs. In the ensuing chaos no one noticed Madge's tightly drawn lips, and the fact that she had never welcomed Ruey.

David cornered his mothers at the table where the drinks had been laid out.
"Mum, this is great! Dad says you've been planning this for weeks...Mum are you alright?"
"Fine David, fine,"She forced a smile onto her lips," Will you take a drink, oh and will you take this one over there to Mary-lou. You remember Mary-lou don't you David? Hasn't she turned into a beauty?"

"Ummm, yes I suppose so.. Mum theres someone I would like you to meet, whenever you get a moment- please Mum?"

"Well dear I am rather busy at the moment. Why don't you give this to Mary-lou just now, and make sure you stay and talk to her, shes anxious to see you again." and with an innocent smile Madge walked away, convinced that no one would ever choose anyone else over the one and only Mary-lou. A little helping hand from herself and David would realise that Mary-lou was perfect for him. Satisfied, she looked around for her husband. She saw him sitting down talking to one of the young girls invited, she was wandering over towards him when she realised it was that tramp David had brought with him. She hadn't even bothered to learn the girls name, and she wasn't going to bother now.

"Jem, darling I need you, come here will you" ,Madge simpered.

"But Madge, why don't you come here and meet this wonderful young lady?" One look at Madge's face told him that this wasn't going to happen. "Excuse me." He said somewhat embarrasedly to Ruey, before going over to meet his wife. David, busy trying to disentangle himself from Mary-lou saw his parents and suddenly noticed the gaunt appearance of his father. However Mary-lou did not leave him time to dwell on it at the moment as she insisted on talking herself hoarse to him about her precious school and her aunt Joey. He tried to interrupt and ask why at 23 she was still calling the woman her aunt- but it was perhaps lucky that Mary-lou was bulldozing the conversation and not allowing him to get a word in edgeways.

#42: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:37 pm
—
Thanks Brie Very Happy

#43: Author: Mona, Location: Hertfordshire

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:40 pm
—
Thanks brie, I'm really enjoying this.

#44: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:05 pm
—
Poor Ruey, I want to smack Madge! Laughing

Thanks brie.

#45: Author: Rob, Location: Currently in a rainstorm

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:57 pm
—
What an unpleasant snob Madge is.

I hope Robin can sort out their problems soon!!

Thanks Brie Very Happy

#46: Author: linda, Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 7:28 pm
—

Lesley wrote:

Poor Ruey, I want to smack Madge! Laughing

Thanks brie.

I agree with Lesley. Madge is an awful snob.

Thanks brie Very Happy

#47: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:25 am
—
Robin came back outside to see Madge still lazing outside with a dazed look on her face. "Madge", said Robin.

"Robin dear, I was just thinking why don't we go visit the Sonnalpe tomorrow?" Madge smiled at Robin, determined to enjoy her holiday, despite the pangs of guilt she was feeling. Mentally, she shook herself, what was she thinking? That girl Ruey would never be good enough for her son. She was unruly, and if her family- what was left of it- was anything to go by then she was actually probably crazy.

Robin, meanwhile was trying to decide whether to tell Madge that she had plans for tomorrow- and who they were with. Not realising that Ruey had given her an extremely watered down version of what had happened, she felt that this situation could be easily resolved...

"Well Madge, perhaps in the afternoon, I'm busy in the morning" here Robin paused, not sure how to go on. Madge raised her eyebrows, but thinking that Robin just meant she was going to chapel she nodded. "You see I'm meeting someone" Robin struggled on, but she realised she was getting nowhere so she trailed into silence.

"Who are you meeting Robinette, is it another surprise?" Madge said- her mind going back to their meeting with Gisela a few nights ago.

"Well its actually, ummm , its actually Ruey Richardson." Robin finally got the words off her tongue. Madge was silenced.

Madge looked Robin straight in th eye, and uttered one simple word. "why?"

This floored Robin who had not being expecting this. Robin's silence gave Madge the push she needed, and her next words came out in a muddled flood.

"Why would you want to spend time with her, she's not family. She's nothing, she thinks shes so important, shes arrogant.. and she doesn't even have anything to be arrogant about. I mean look at her family, a crackpot of a father who didn't care enough about her to bother staying on this planet. She lived in a pigsty where she was trusted to look after her family- and she failed. Robin, she failed. She couldn't even look after her pathetic attempt at a family yet she wants the right to look after my son? How dare she steal him away from more deserving girls. Girls who have been well brought up. Girls who put others before themselves..." She could have gone on for a lot longer, and Robin who was standing with her mouth wide open would probably not have stopped her. But Madge had been silenced by a pair of steely brown eyes, very much like her own.

#48: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:47 am
—
Is that David, come to confront his Mother? I sincerely hope he's grown some backbone.

Thanks brie.

#49: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:53 am
—
*Agrees with Lesley.*

#50: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:15 pm
—
I hope so too. Madge is horrible in this!

#51: Author: linda, Location: Leeds

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:12 pm
—
How horrible Madge is being. How can she judge Ruey like this?

I do hope that it is David come to confront Madge. She is totally unreasonable.

Thanks brie

#52: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:51 am
—
Thanks for the lovely comments, well not quite so lovely for poor Madge

David had been dreaming of her constantly, thinking about her constantly, and talking about her constantly to anyone foolish enough to listen. The climax to this had been when he had convinced himself he had seen Ruey in the street and had started chasing after her, he was, he reflected behaving shockingly, and the scared look in the girls eyes when he had stopped her had finally convinced him something had to be done. A short visit from his cousin and his wife had soon convinced him that he needed Ruey.

Rix had struggled with his key in the door, and had reached the grunting and swearing stage when the door was pulled open to reveal a bemused David. "Trying to lock us out now are you David?" was Ted's first words as she stumbled in out of the cold, " I don't understand English weather- I mean its July!"

"It must have been all those years spent in Switzerland", interjected Rix at this moment, knowing from experience that his wife could complain for hours. Ted glared at her husband, and David grinned it felt like being back at university. "So thats what married bliss is like?" he asked innocently.

"Some bliss", they both muttered simultaneously. David laughed, and soon they were sitting in his battered living room exchanging news. David could still hardly believe they were married, the idea of Rix wanting to be a one woman man, and the idea of Ted accepting Rixs proposal would once have made David laugh.

"David, theres something wrong with you, don't think you can hide it from me!" Ted said ferociously.

Rix put his arm round Teds shoulders, "Relax darling he's just mad at himself for letting Ruey go."

"Yes I never did understand that, david. I never thought of you as a stupid man, even though you are related to Rix.." whatever she was going to say next was cut off as she started giggling at Rixs mutinous glare. David, knowing that these two could bicker for Britain hurriedly decided to come out with it and agree with Ted.

"I know" He said. Teds face immediately softened, but Rix had to try and be clever and said, "What? You think I'm stupid? Me the doctor...", however he was quickly silenced by a swift kick from Ted.

"Well David",she said meaningfully,"I think you know what you need to do.." David looked at her blankly. "Go after her you goop!! And try and sort things out with your Mother"

Ted stared at him, waiting for him to jump up and agree with her, but David just sat there. How could he have been so stupid? "She won't want me back" He stated. Ted rolled her eyes and thought to herself what would they do without her?

"Well you have to go, you can't stay moping about here!", this from unromantic Rix jolted David into agreeing.

Shortly after this he had found himself on a plane to Austria, to dazed to even think about what he was going to do when he arrived, or how he was going to find his darling Ruey, the love of his life.

#53: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:00 am
—
Good to see Ted and Rix - and David, spineless jellyfish look to you as their mentor! Rolling Eyes

Thanks brie.

#54: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:05 pm
—
Well, at least he's managed to move himself to go to look for her!

#55: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:53 pm
—
Thanks, brie. I hope David can sort things out.

#56: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:06 pm
—
Thanks, Brie. Isn't OOAO still a nightmare? And Madge is such a snob.

#57: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:57 pm
—
Things haven't changed much between Ted and Rix then!

Thanks Brie.

#58: Author: Rob, Location: Currently in a rainstorm

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:57 pm
—
Rolling Eyes

C'mon David ... say something!!

Thanks Brie

#59: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:51 am
—
Thanks for all the comments

Ted, David reflected had always been the organiser- the brainy one. It had been her who had bought his plane ticket and booked his hotel room. Rix was obviously having a bad effect on her. Imagine booking him into the same hotel as his Mother. He narrowed his eyes, surely she hadn't done it on purpose? David reminded himself to strangle her the next time he saw her.

Madge was floored, why had she opened her mouth? It was she realised now a slight exaggeration perhaps, but she was right. She was a Mother she wanted the best for her children. A tiny voice in her head whispered that she had no right to interfere in his life after having ignored his prescence for all these years. She resolutely pushed that voice to the back of her head. She remained silent staring back into those eyes defiantly.

Robin, wanted the earth to swallow her up- to put it mildly. She was vaguely realising that there were wheels amongst wheels here, and it wasn't simply a case of David and Ruey loved each other, and were struggling to get Madge to see this. Then her eyes widened in horror as she saw Madge lose it. There was no other words for it, she just lost it. She had been under a lot of strain for a long time, and this last sight of her son had been too much for her. She just cracked up.

Sobs wracked through Madges body. These were punctuated with muttering and hair pulling. David looked away. What had his Mother become? A small wave of sympathy ran through him for the first time. Robin clutched Madge to her and hurried her inside.

An hour later Madge was lying in bed alseep, the doctor was standing over her. For the first time in years Madge had agreed to be dosed and put to sleep. The doctor looked grave. Robin was worried, but trying to hide it. She was not succeeding. David was worried too, though he tried to pretend he didn't care, but he kept stealing glances at the suddenly frail woman lying down.

Swirls of guilt were flowing through Robin. This was all her fault. She had mentioned Ruey, she had mentioned David. She had not noticed how ill Madge was.
The fact that she was the only member of the family who had really tried to help Madge did not occur to her, and if it had it would probably not have mattered.
She had failed Joey, Joey with her gift of insight would have solved this problem easily. Joey would not have allowed this to become a problem Robin realised.

She had failed her Joey, this thought repeated itself over and over and over in poor Robins head. David glancing at her realised something was wrong, more than just the casual worry he had expected. He wondered what had been going on while he had been in England.

The doctor turned worried eyes onto the two other occupants of the room. A tall, dark haired solemn looking man, and a petite, beautiful woman with troubled eyes. David stared back into the doctors eyes, he had not been consulted, yet he was also a doctor. "She is suffering from stress and depression." said the doctor. David looked annoyed, talk about stating the obvious he thought.

The doctor continued," I have phoned her normal doctor, and he has told me that she was taking mild anti-depressants for the strain she is under. He thinks they have reacted badly against her, her emotions have been a lot closer to the surface whenever she has not been taking them" David nodded slowly, it was not until Dads death, that Mum started acting really shockingly towards Ruey, before then she had just been disinterested in her, and hopeful that he would move on.

"He thinks they have made her slightly delusional, she had been taking them for over a year, and now Dr Stafford has been trying to wean her off them slowly, this has obviously resulted in todays mental breakdown. Usually something unexpected triggers these breakdowns but not always." Here David and Robin exchanged guilty glances, both were feeling that it was their fault that Madge had collapsed.

The doctor continued," All I can prescribe is complete bed rest for a week, Dr Stafford does not want her to continue taking the pills anymore as they are obviously affecting her badly, and her body is becoming addicted to them. Therefore she may be restless and struggle to sleep for the first few nights. You must,"he stressed these words,"You must make sure there is nothing or rather no one here who will bring her stress,"
Here his eyes rested on David, but he was careful not to say anything," I would advise someone to stay with her at all times, the dose I gave her will wear off soon, I am not keen to dose her again so just try and keep her as quiet as possible. You know where to contact me if you need me."And with that he was gone. Leaving David and Robin alone.

"I had better go", said David reluctantly,"I don't imagine waking up and finding me here, will de-stress Mum." He bent over the bed, and swiftly kissed his Mother before departing. Robin was left sitting in the room alone, apart form Madge. She felt that this was definetly a time for prayer.

Meanwhile, downstairs in the reception of the hotel David was writing urgent telegrams to his sisters asking them to come over. Seeing his Mother lying there, completely helpless had made him forget the way she had been acting this past year or two. For some reason his mind went back to that year, so long ago now, when his parents had been in Canada and he had not been allowed to join them. Swiftly he wrote another telegram, this one to his younger brothers,for no matter what anyone said schoolwork was not as important as seeing your parents.
Perhaps they would excite her too much though? He hastily revised the telegram, putting them on "stand-by" rather than calling for them to come to Austria. His sisters however he wanted to come, it was not fair to leave everything to Auntie Rob. He wandered up to his room after this, for the first time in weeks his thoughts did not include Ruey.

#60: Author: Rob, Location: Currently in a rainstorm

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:26 pm
—
Oh dear!!

Poor David - he must feel awful with Madge being so ill when he was at odds with her

... and poor Madge - she has held the traditional British stiff upper lip for far too long - I hope she gets better soon

... and Poor Robin too - having to try and deal with all of this - I'm not sure that Joey would have been as insightful as Robin imagines, she seemed to have certain predjudices and mental blocks when it came to the clans! (Or perhaps I've just been influenced by too many drabbles on here)

Anyhow, thanks Brie!!

#61: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:51 pm
—
No, I don't think it's just the drabbles - the drabble do base themselves on facts and suppositions. I don't think Joey always showed the insight for which she was famed - certainly not in her younger days, anyway. And Jeoy did have a blind spot when it came to her own family, as we all do, not wanting to think ill of them.

As for Madge, perhaps being on the tablets has made her treatment of David and particularly Ruey worse over the last year - but she was exceptionally rude to Ruey the very first time she met her and Jem was alive then.

Thanks brie.

#62: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:36 pm
—
I hope that Madge can wean herself off the tablets and get her life back on track, and perhaps be slightly more reasonable to David and Ruey.

#63: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:48 pm
—
Joey did seem to have a blind spot when it came to Madge - those remarks about how none of Sybil's bad behaviour when she was young could possibly have been Madge's fault - but then she never seemed to think that either she or Jack could be at fault for any of Margot's behaviour (which was far worse than Sybil's ever was) either.

#64: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:40 am
—
I can't say that I was overly impressed with Joey's apparant butting-in skills, but I think Robin would have had adoring memories of her, and also having not seen her for years her memories have probably become more idolised over the years.

Two days had passed since Madge's collapse. Although she had briefly slept deeply and dreamlessly, this had not lasted. Yet, despite her strongest pleas she was still not allowed to get up. Now as she tossed and turned, her light sleep was fractured with memories she had tried so hard to forget.

Freudesheim. she was seeing Joey again, her adored little sister. Jo greeted her rapturously. They had not seen each other for so long.

She tossed so violently, that she almost landed on the floor. Robin turned concerned eyes on Madge, but she appeared to still be asleep, so Robin went back to her knitting.

The salon, in front of the french windows, a view of the beautiful Jungfrau could be seen. Jo looked troubled. She looked at Joey closely, old worries about her health coming back. Jo told her, Ruey was her ward. How could she cause so much pain to Ruey. She disagreed, she was only doing what was best for them both. They weren't suited for each other. The two sisters argued, and pleaded with each other like they never had before. She stormed out, why was Joey so stubborn, couldn't she accept when she was wrong.

Silent tears rolled down Madges cheeks, she sat bolt upright in bed as the last, most painful memory came flooding back.

The cool, dry morning had washed away their argument, their hurtful remarks, she felt hope as she opened the gate to Freudesheim. She opened the door. Cecil ran out. Len grabbed for her but missed. She tried to catch her but also missed. The car came round too fast. The screams would haunt her forever. Her baby sisters face. The dawning comprehension as Jo realised she had killed her own child.

Madge held her ears, hoping Len's screams would be drowned out. She burrowed her face in her blanket, hoping to block out Jo's face. She clutched her neck, remembering Jo's death. No one had known she would do it, if anyone could cope with loss and guilt it would be Jo, she had helped so many others. One final memory returned to torture Madge.

Jo wanted to be alone, but she had crept in. Jo would need her. Her sisters body swinging. The noose round her neck. Jo had finally lost her appetite for life. Jos complete love for others, her devotion to everyone but herself had brought this, she had nothing left to live for, not now

Robin looked at Madge writhing, white-faced in her bed "Tante Marguerite!!" The shock of seeing Madge like this caused her to lapse into her old pet name for Madge.

Madge turned tearful eyes to Robin. "Its all my fault."

Robin looked at her in confusion. "What is Madge?" She asked gently.
Madge's face was white as she tried to reply. "Joey" was all she managed to squeeze out. She gripped her blanket tightly between her fingers. "I...I promised I would never tell." She hesitated. "Me and Jack, we decided it was for the best. No one must ever know. The children, don't you understand Robin, it was for the children."

Robin had no idea what Madge was talking about, but she looked at her with sympathy. "You can tell me", she said encouragingly.

"The triplets know, they saw, you see but they don't know everything. Thats why Jack left. He couldn't bear to be there anymore. It destroyed him. It destroyed us. We couldn't let it destroy the whole family." Robin did not know how to deal with this, but she realised that Madge needed someone to be there for her, someone to talk to.

"Its okay Madge, you can tell me."

Madge turned wide, haunted eyes onto Robin. " The triplets don't know everything you see. Only me and Jack. Me and Jack" She repeated their names softly.

Robin didn't know what to do. What was Madge talking about? Was Madge hallucinating or was this true?

"I know who killed Cecil" Madge finally announced.

Robin had not been expecting that. Her dear namesake. She had never gotten to meet her own god child, that was one of Robins deepest regrets in life.

"I can't tell you Robin it would break your heart, like it broke mine." Robin had a sense of foreboding, as she realised she did not want to know. But for Joey's sake she told herself firmly.

"Please tell me Madge. You need to tell someone. "

Madge looked at Robin with deepest sorrow in her eyes, and shook her head slowly. No one must know about how and why Joey died. Cecil's death would remain a mystery, and Joey died naturally of heartbreak. No one must know. She was protecting her family. Madge was resolute, it was not fair to tell Robin no matter how much Madge wanted to talk.

#65: Author: Liz K, Location: Bedfordshire

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:49 am
—
Oh my, what with this thread and the thread where the triplets are quads and not triplets....................................

Shocked

#66: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:36 am
—
How awkward for Robin: Madge obviously needs to talk to someone, but she doesn't want to tell Robin and Robin doesn't really want to know Sad

#67: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:25 am
—
It's quite clear that Madge will never get well until she tells someone about this. If she cannot tell Robin, why dosn't she confide in her vicar? She is, after all, supposed to be a person of deep religious faith.

#68: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:01 pm
—
A horrible burden for Madge to share by herself, but she needs to talk to someone about it before it ruins her life as well.

#69: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:03 pm
—
How terrible, and how telling that the sisters had been arguing about Ruey.

Thanks brie.

#70: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:25 pm
—
Madges haunted eyes followed Robin long after Madge had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Robin needed to get Madge to talk to somone, she was hurt that Madge wouldn't confide in her but she realised Madge was mistakenly trying to protect her. Robin had been protected all her life. She had been smothered in cotton wool, until becoming a nun had been her only way to escape.

She loved her family Jem, Madge and Joey. She knew how much they loved her, but she couldn't have lived the life they had had planned out for her, and her life as a nun was very fulfilling she reminded herself... again.

She looked anxiously at Madge. Then there was a knock on the door. Robin cautiously went to open it. There were two girls standing there, she recognised them both. She looked at them greatfully. Adrienne Desmoinnes hugged Robin and Robin felt that comfort that only family could give, and drew strength from her hug. Adrienne whispered, "You two need to talk, I will stay here." She looked wistfully at Robin before leaving the other two together. Robin almost smiled when she saw that, Adrienne and her were very close, though they only saw each other very rarely. Most often they communicated through letters, and the odd phonecall.

Robin took Ailie Russell's arm and walked her away from the room. She couldn't help but look back, as she saw Madge's eyes again in her mind. Ailie misunderstanding, reassured her, "Adrienne is training to be a nurse, she will look after Mum well."

Yet, calm, self-assured Ailie couldn't help but stumble on the last few words. She looked hopefully down at Robin, showing an almost childlike trust in her.

"Will she be okay?"

Her auntie Rob (as all the Russell children called her) gave her a reassuring smile. she liked Ailie, though like all the younger generation of her adopted family, Robin felt she had missed much of Ailie's life.

"She will be alright I am sure, trust in God my child.", even as she spoke the words, she realised her automatic response had been the wrong one.

"Trust in God? I hate it when you people are always saying that, they said it at school as well whenever anything went wrong. I can't just trust in God, I need to know. What if God does nothing? What if he does not care? What if he does not exist? I can't lose another parent. I just can't! Dont you understand?"

Robin didn't know what to say, the only way she knew her Mother was as a photograph, she had blurry memories of a solemn, but loveable giant of a man for a Father though. The old pain of losing him, had long since lost its sharpness, but it was never nice to be reminded she was alone in the world. Ailie at least would never have that problem.

"Ailie Madg.. your mum will be alright. She is depressed yes, and down, but you must remember she also lost your Father,her husband, and your aunt, who was very dear too her. She is only human to be feeling upset about it, and she has been bottling it all up to try and look after everyone else, and that has not helped her either. But I know she will not let you lose her. "

Ailie gave Robin a watery smile, for she had heard the conviction in Robin's last words.

"Can I see her now then please?"

Ailie entered the dark room, and despite her years wished she could hold onto Robin's hand.

Madge was lying completely still now, and her eyes stared rather blankly ahead. She managed a weak smile as she saw her daughter but that was all. Physically she looked fit, apart from her rather white face. But one look into her eyes showed the mental battering she had endured.
Ailie turned away, unwilling to let anyone, least of all her poor Mother, see her tears.

Adrienne wordlessly understanding, drew her quietly from the room.
Robin was left alone with Madge and this new stillness scared her still more than the previous thrashings. She could not move her eyes from the woman who had selflessly mothered her, and countless others, now lying broken and weak.

* * *

Ruey sat in her dark living room, in her rather scabby armchair, with her arms folded tightly across her chest. Ruey had felt acceptance from Robin, and she had felt a bond between the two of them, yet where was Robin? They had been meant to meet up three days ago and what had happened? Robin had not even had the decency to call. Ruey bit her lip, she wanted to be mad but she could not help but be worried. Robin had seemed so nice- and well responsible. Ruey couldn't imagine her just forgetting, should she just go up to the hotel? Just to check? After all in some weird completely not by blood way they were related.
For the first time in a long while Ruey felt something inside her come alive. She found herself caring about someone else again.

Not much more than an hour later Ruey arrived at the hotel. Slightly out of breath ( but this was not unusual for wholesale Ruey) from her run to the hotel. She was just about to step inside when she saw him. Surely it wasn't? Her stomach turned a somersault in that old familiar way. Yet how dare he come here and not even tell her?

Did he not want to see her? That thought insisted on penetrating her mind, and Ruey had never felt more hurt, there relationship may have been fairly brief, but it had been so intense. Now she felt like there was a deep wound in her stomach and she couldn't breathe. She felt her face steaming up with hot, passionate tears. She had thought about him constantly. She had tried to forget, but even moving so far away hadn't let her, and gradually that deep love had been souring into hate. The hurt she was feeling refused to go away but it was rapidly being joined by anger.

If he didn't want to see her then he wouldn't, she resolved, it was as simple as that. She was walking away now, the tears flowing uncontrollably down her face. She wouldn't ever let him see her like that.
She heard the running footsteps behind her. She felt herself spun round. She was in his arms. She tried to resist but it was hopeless. She had missed him so, and being here felt so very right. They embraced long and hard. She couldn't stop her tears flowing and she couldn't even look into his eyes. She loved him so much. But she hated him more.

#71: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:55 pm
—
Oh well, that sounded quite hopeful about David and Ruey.

Interesting idea about Robin becoming a nun to escape from Madge and Joey ... I'm not sure what else she'd've done ...

#72: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:23 pm
—
Thanks, brie.

#73: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:22 pm
—
Thank brie - poor Ailie. Crying or Very sad

#74: Author: keren, Location: Israel

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:37 am
—
Poor everyone

#75: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:37 am
—
What a mess!

#76: Author: ghoti, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:08 pm
—
Oh no! What happened to Robin?

#77: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 9:20 am
—
Really long bit, sorry folks!

"Ruey" he could barely choke the word out.

She didn't hear. How could he have forgotten her? Seeing her had intensified those feelings he hadn't thought could ever be stronger. The sympathy he had been feeling for his mother these last few days disappeared. He was going to lose Ruey again, and he hadn't even got her back yet! He ran after her. He was right behind her now and he could even smell her delicate scent. Her messy hair was tossing in the wind, in that old familiar way.

He couldn't help himself as he reached out for her. He needed her, like he needed water and air. He pulled her to him. He held her, and she let him hold her, burrowing herself in against him. He could hardly believe she was in his arms again, it felt like one of his dreams, and he wasn't quite sure it could be real. Then he felt her try to pull away,and he felt his dream be shattered, but he couldnt let her go, not after all this time. He felt her surrender.

She leant against him but he couldn't look down at her. He couldn't quite bear to look her in the eye. Not after all he had done. All he had made her suffer. She had gone through so much for him, yet he had let her go. He was so ashamed. He just held her tighter. He was not prepared to let her go this time, he hadn't fought for them last time. But this time he would, nothing else mattered.

He could hear her ragged breathing, and her sobs. Almost unthinkingly he bent down and lifted her face to look into his. He had meant to comfort her, but his longing was too much. His lips brushed hers, but she pulled away and shook her head at him.

He felt his world fall apart. He couldn't lose her. He wouldn't! He could never be parted from her again. She was a part of him. His life was empty without her. He had to make her see this. He just had too. He had no idea what to say yet he opened his mouth to speak desperately. The words just fell out.

"Ruey, will you marry me?"

* * *

After the initial shock of seeing her Mother so white and wan Ailie had regained her usual cool composure. She had even insisted on staying with her Mother alone and letting Adrienne and Robin do some much needed catching up. As much as Adrienne had been looking forward to seeing her only real family member, this was not destined to happen at this moment in time. She took one long searching look at Robin and sent her to bed.

"You look as bad as Tante Madge" she said severely, not allowing Robin to see how worried she felt.

Robin was in no position to argue, feeling so weary that she could hardly stand, and was soon lying down. Now that she did not have to carry her entire world on only her on two shoulders she suddenly realised how tired she was. Robin had weakly tried to argue, for she was eager to talk to her niece of sorts, but Adrienne was very firm, and she did not leave until Robin was sleeping soundly.

Once Adrienne had left Robin she wandered back to Ailie. She thought her friend might need the company. she had been old enough when her own parents died to understand how terrifying it could be to see the people that had always looked after you becoming progressively weaker. She stopped outside the room intending to knock. However she hesitated when she heard voices. She looked guiltily around before putting her ear up against the door to try and hear who was speaking. Ailie's loud tones were for once moderated, and Adrienne did not recognse the other even quieter voice. Since she didn't actually approve of eavesdropping, she left then, reassuring herself that she hadn't been being nosy she was just trying to make sure her friend was alright.

Since this was mostly true her conscience rested and she walked downstairs to sit out in the sun until Robin woke up and came for her. She settled down and looked about interestedly. There was a scattering of tourists but that was about all. She looked towards the lake wanting to see if it lived up to all the fabulous descriptions she had heard of it and it was indeed a vivid blue. Tante Joey had been right there.

Adrienne smiled softly, for though she was sensitive she had gotten over the shock of her guardian's death and now remembered her fondly. Her greatest testament had been her funeral. The church was overflowing as Adrienne remembered.

Adrienne slipped into the church, thinking she had never seen a church so full before. Despite Joeys strong connection to the school they had not been able to have it in one of the schools chapels. There had just been too many people.

It was as though every person Jo had met had been touched by her, and wanted to pay their final respects. The front rows were overspilling with family. Adrienne had been so gratified when Steven had asked her to sit with the family. She saw a beloved figure, her tante Robin with her arms wrapped around another. They were both crying. She saw Jack Maynard ,white of face, staring unseeingly at the two caskets- one big and one small.

The entire school was sitting at the back The mistresses did not need to try and silence anyone so solemn were they all. And in the middle, were people she had never seen before, hundreds of them, literally hundreds of them- old and young. All the doctors from the san were there too.

Towards the end of the service there was not a dry eye left in the church. Adrienne with young Phil in her lap, and Ailie Russell clinging to one hand, felt she had never had such red eyes.Until she saw a woman who must be Madge Russell ascend the dais. She was being supported by Con, whose eyes had never seemed so dark though they were dry. Con's face was white but she had an air of calmness about her that would have startled people had their eyes not been on Madge.

Madge was shaking despite Cons grip on her arm. She opened her mouth, "Joey will always be known as a butter-in. I think most people in the room could testify to that!"

There were a few watery smiles and sympathetic glances as Madge struggled to carry on. "I dont think there are words to describe what Joey means to me. She was my little sister, but in many ways like my on child, and yet she was also my best friend. She never did grow up, and when I saw her it helped me to feel young again too."

Here there were a few nods of agreeement chiefly from the chalet staff, and a trio of women, obviously foreign, and not memebers of the family but who were seated with the family nonetheless. They all had their arms linked as though to give each other strength.

"She was my baby sister..." Con gave Madge a reassuring hug but it was clear Madge could not go on. Dick Bettany walked slowly up to his sister. He gripped her hand, and then spoke. "We agreed there would only be one speaker here today. Otherwise we would have been here for the next year. Everyone in this room has a story to tell, a way that Joey changed and brightened their lives. We have got to respect Joey and her cheerful ways and make sure we live our lives as well and as happily as she did."
Here Con decided to take a hand. Her voice shook as she spoke both from nerves and from grief. "Mama would have hated to see us here intears like this. As Matey would say we must not grow up to be spineless jellyfish" here she spared a moment to smile at that old woman, for whom Jo had always been her darling. "Let us remember her fondly, not sadly. With a smile not with tears." As she turned to the casket she managed to smile through the tears which had started to fall as she spoke.

And though Jack got into so much trouble afterwards, everyone agreed that it was the right way to finish Joeys funeral. Jack Lambert stood up and in her position as head girl called out ,"Three cheers for Joey!" Adrienne heard instant cheering but not from the school as she expected but from the three women she later learnt were called Simone, Frieda and Marie. Everyone joined in after that, and though the noise was atrocious they were all smiling and laughing even as they cried. Con standing at the front looked at them all beaming, "Mamma would have loved this" she murmured and everyone there was forced to agree.

#78: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:56 am
—
What a lovely funeral. I'm glad everyone came to pay their last respect to Jo.

#79: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:36 am
—
Long posts are great!

#80: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 12:26 pm
—
Ruey's body sank against David as his words penetrated her mind. She felt her tears soaking through his shirt, but somehow she couldn't stop them from coming. She felt his cold hand gently stroking her face, and then her face was tilted to look into those beautiful dark bottomless eyes. That was when she knew she was lost. He opened his mouth and she just wanted to reach up and kiss him.

But she couldn't she was still so angry. Or was she? She couldn't quite take her eyes of those eyes. The most beautiful, deep, and worried she realised, eyes ever. His deep powerful voice began to speak.
She hadn't heard him right, she couldn't have. Yet all her longing wanted what she had heard to be true. Her anger prerhaps wanted it to be false, but her anger and that dreadful hate was fading fast, and she did not try to release herself from him.

She just wanted another few moments to dream that old dream that he wanted her back. "Ruey" the pain in his voice told her she might not have been dreaming.

"Ruey I can't bear to lose you again. I have spent all this time thinking about you constantly, you were always there, you are a part of me I can't get rid off, and that I really dont want to get rid off. I cant lose you" She felt him hesitate, then he whispered the most beautiful words in her ears, "Ruhannah Richardson I love you more than anything in the world, will you marry me?" She turned to face him, this time staring fearlessly into those magnificent eyes, her mouth was dry, she tried to force the word she was longing to say but she couldn't.

She reached up to his face instead and placed her lips on his. There the two remained, wrapped in each others arms, for almost an hour until they came to some sort of senses, and headed back towards the hotel ready to break the glad news to anyone willing to listen.

* * *

Ailie Russell was sitting watching her sleeping Mother when she stirred stirred. Madge opened her eyes widely, and then scrubbed at them to make sure she was seeing correctly, "Ailie?" Ailie hurried forward and hugged her mother.

"Mum i'm so worried about you, please get better soon." Madge looked at Ailie and saw the genuine worry in her eyes.

Was she really doing the right thing? She knew that the dark secrets she held locked up were destroying her, but she didn't think her children and her nephews and nieces and everyone who had looked up to Joey could handle the truth. Even her wards had been truly devestated by her death. Her wards... why did she hate Ruey so much? She felt as though she was waking up from a long sleep, except this was more like a nightmare.

"Ailie can I ask you something?" Madge asked tentatively.

"Anything, Mum, anything at all." responded Ailie immediately.

"Do you like Ruey?" Ailie was flabbergasted at this odd question.

Then vaguely in the back of her memory somethng stirred. She remembered her older brothers hurt, of a few years ago, when her Mother had refused to accept Rueys existence over the "superior" Mary-Lou. She had never understood it at the time, preferring Ruey who had been an easy-going and fun prefect, to the more strict Matry-lou who had handed out that awful lost-property punishment. That had been then of course right at the beginning, but later she had had more substantial reasons for liking Ruey, and she remembered feeling very upset when Ruey and David had stopped seeing each other. It had all been so long ago though. Now however Ailie resolved to try and fix things at least for David's peace of mind.

"Yes, Mum," she said carefully, " I really do, she was so kind to me , when I was so nervous about D..Dad she really took me under her wing. When you were busy ignoring her" here she tried to stop the accusing tone from slipping in, "She spent a lot of time with me, she really helped me with kind words and letters later. Sometimes I dont know how I would have managed through Dads illness without her."

Madges face was lined with sorrow, first as she remembered her Husband of so many years, and also his more open view of Ruey

"He has gone to a better place, darling" she said somewhat distractedly. Her thoughts dwelling on the fact that Ruey Richardson had done more to help her daughter than she had been able to.

"Yes Ruey helped me see that, that it was only kind to end his suffering..." Ailie said earnestly before hugging her mother fiercely, and then almost crying she said into Madges long curly hair, "Mother dont leave, please get better, I can't lose you,"

The tears sprung up in Madges eyes, " You wont lose me Ailie, I wont let myself be taken from you. Im a fighter- like you."

She sat and hugged Ailie for a long time, " Ailie there are some things I need to do, and get off my chest if I'm going to get better for you."

Ailie looked at her expectantly. She had not seen her Mothers eyes this bright or determined in a long time.

"Ailie will you please get Robin to come to me soon" she hesitated, but then her determined air returned. She had to become a Mother to her children again, she looked at Ailie her hair short, and her face tear stained but most definetly Madge realised an adult. Her children were all adults now, even her twins were growing up, and it was time she did too. She had to realise that they could all make their own decisions and did not need her approval first.

"Ailie will you please ring up Ruey and ask her to come and see me please?"

#81: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 2:09 pm
—
Very well handled by Ailie there!

#82: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 2:32 pm
—
Ailie did very well there, and I hope Madge does as well talking to Ruey.

Thanks Brie.

#83: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:08 pm
—
Thanks brie.

#84: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:39 am
—
Thanks Brie. Am really enjoying this.

#85: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:03 pm
—
Thanks, brie.

#86: Author: ghoti, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:47 pm
—
Good for Madge Smile

And good for Ailie.

I'm really enjoying this; thankyou Brie.

#87: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:37 am
—
Very long bit!

Madge was alone. Ailie was without realising Rueys wherabouts was trying to get through to Ruey on the phone, and Robin still lay asleep in her room. Adrienne was lying outside sunning herself and watching with startled eyes as Ruey Richardson alternately kissed, hugged and yelled at David Russell.

She raised her eyebrows at this interesting sight. However her head was hidden under the big shady hat she wore, and hoping that her relationship with her own young beau would not be this stormy she settled down to watch this interesting show of affection. She was an admitted people watcher, and if she had not been impatiently waiting for her Tante Robin to wake she would have enjoyed lying in the sun watching the world go by.

In the distance she heard Ruey scream "I hate you so much!" even as she kissed him. "Look you are making me cry!"

He was much calmer, with the eye of someone patiently waiting for the storm to end so they can step out. "I let you walk away one time Ruey and I wont do it again. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me?"

"Oh I love you David Russell." said Ruey, "The problem is I can't help but hate you too."

"You will marry me though, wont you?" he asked anxiously.

Adrienne couldn't help but be startled by this, she wondered what everyone else would think of that!

"Of course I will David" she replied, before adding reproachfully, "You can't expect me to be able to forgive you yet though?"

"No" he admitted thoughtfully, "But I don't expect I shall forgive myself anytime soon either."

"Oh David!"

and Adrienne was moved to wonder if anyone else was ever such a whirlwind of emotion as Ruey. Beside her was placid, serious looking, quiet David. They were certainly a pair of opposites.

* * *

Upstairs one of the maids timidly knocked on Madges door.

"Come in" called a sweet if tired voice.

The young girl hastily came in and said in broken English, "These letters, are for you, mein Frau".

Madge accepted them with a smile and thankyou, and the nervous maid tripped out of the room. Madge looked at the letters. There were a few from the Platz and two from innsbruck. She decided to open the Innsbruck ones first. She slit the first one open to reveal a little card with pretty sprays of flowers on it. Inside it read

Dear Madge,
We hope you feel better soon, and we can meet up again. Missing you,
Gisela and Gottfried

She smiled once she had read it, how sweet she thought. She opened the second one which was along the same lines except it was from Natalie and her husband Karl.

The letter from the Platz she opened smilingly, expecting more of the same, not realising that apart from her children no one knew of her illness. It was not until later that Madge learnt that Gisela had phoned the hotel to arrange to meet them again and that was how she had found out about Madges collapse. Everything had been so frantic that Robin had never got the chance to tell their many relatives about Madges illness. So she opened the letter innocently.

Dear Madge,
I thought it ought to be me who told you this, since I can't help but blame myself. Nell has shouted herself hoarse about it, but the fact of the matter is that it was I who was in charge of the school and I should have noticed. I am sorry, it is strange for me I know, but my brain seems to be in an awful muddle, so you must excuse this pathetic attempt at a letter, if you excuse nothing else. Madge, what I am trying so hard to say, although the words really don't want to write themselves, is that we are having to close the school. Not Glendower house I hasten to add, but St Mildred's and the school proper.

Of course St Mildred's was already due to close the year after next. I know we had already agreed on that, with student numbers falling every year it has become more of a liability than anything else. But in view of what has just happened at the school, it seems to make more sense not to re-open St Mildreds either. You see Madge, the business account has been dwindling rather rapidly this year. I failed to notice until it was too late you see. There is almost nothing there now. School fees paid in are gone. There is just no money. We can't run a school with no money, and where we are going to get the money back to repay the parents I don't know. Short of closing Glendower House and selling off the buildings it just seems an impossibility.

Now once you have recovered from that shock you will probably soon come to the rather alarming conclusion that Nell and I reached. Why on earth did the bank not notice? Sadly as we soon realised to our horror, there was only one answer to that. Someone with the right to make withdrawals had withdrawn the money. I know it sounds to horrible to believe, and Nell and myself tried as hard as possible to come to another conclusion but there just wasn't one! Now as you know, the only people with the right to make withdrawals are yourself, Nell, Dollie and I. You as majority shareholder and owner, and us three in our capacity as Head Mistresses. Surely it was none of us.

Then I remembered that there were in fact two other people who knew the details. Your siblings, with shares almost as large as your own had been granted limited access to the funds. Of course they were only allowed to draw out a small amount of money at a time having less rights than us. As reluctant as I was to draw this conclusion, the constant small withdrawals did seem to lead to one of them, and of course that only left Dick. Well, as you can imagine neither Nell or I were inclined to believe something so unlikely, so we went to the bank, and Nell harangued the man until he left us to try and find a description of the man who had made the withdrawals. On a lighter note for a moment, I must say that I did feel rather sorry for the poor man. You know what Nell can be like when she gets going!

As we had rather unwillingly expected the man came back with another young teller who gave a description of a tall, fair Englishman. Just to be sure Nell produced a photograph for him to see. The only one we had been able to find was an old one of the six of you. Yourself and Jem, Joey and Jack, and Molly and Dick. The man nodded when he saw the picture, and then he pointed to a man. But Madge! The man he pointed to was not Dick, it was Jack! Well as you can imagine we were stupified. Neither of us had seen hide nor hair of Jack since the funeral.

I must say Madge, when we arrived back at the school Nell and myself harangued Jack as awfully as we knew how, first for the abandonment of his children and now for this stealing! We had at first felt sympathy for him, for everyone knew how close him and Joey were, but the longer the time went on, the less I was starting to think of him. His poor children having lost one parent, could not deal with the loss of another. Young Phil in particuliar is struggling to cope. I can't help but condemn Jack, as much as I hate myself for being so unforgiving.

I'm sorry Madge that I had to send you this, it breaks my heart to do so, especially since I can't help but blame myself.

Yours sincerely,
Hilda Annersley

Madge dropped the letter with an exclamation, for years she had not taken more than a financial interest in the school she started, and this past couple of years not even that. She loked drearily at the letter, how was she supposed to support her children still at school and college.. and all the Maynard children who whilst being looked after amongst themselves, were under her financial care. That Jack Maynard her brother in law could be stealing from her she found hard to believe. But she had known Hilda and Nell long enough to know that they would not make such a serious accusation without being sure.

She too had recently been feeling rather angry at Jack, of course he too needed time to heal, but his children ought to have come first, and simply dissapearing and walking out of his families life seemed shockingly heartless and slefish. And now this! One thing was for sure though, her already traumatised nieces and nephews would not find out about this. At least not yet. She wished once again that life was simple, and she closed her eyes at the thought of having one more secret to keep.

Then her lips formed a straight, resolute line. The days for blaming others, and letting others lead her were over. She had to take charge of her own life. So many people, she realised, depended on her and needed her. She was not going to let herself fade away without a fight. she narrowed her eyes- the Madge Bettany of old was back. Gone were the days when she would rely on others, and act weak and helpless. In her younger days she had been headstrong and she had made successful an idea that everyone else had scoffed at.

She didn't regret her marriage to Jem, for they had been some of the happiest years of her life. But she knew what she was capable of, and she dimly remembered the joy and fun she had once had as a young, independent woman.

She didn't want to burden Robin with her problems, but she could not deny that all these secrets were eating away at her.She needed to tell someone, but not poor Robin. Then she closed her eyes, Robin was a mature young woman, she could cope. She was strong now Madge was forced to admit, not the delicate specimen Madge remembered. She could cope, couldn't she?

Then there was a knock on the door. Outside the door was clustered the entire assembly of her family here in Tirol. Adrienne had arrived first with an arm through the still sleepy Robin. Robin had wanted to be reassured about Madge before they went for a walk together. Ailie came just moments later, with Ruey and David trailing after her- all three looked nervous. David gripped Rueys arm tightly, he had wanted to run away, and leave telling everyone till a later date. Ruey refused to let them act like cowards though inwardly she was dreading it- what if David acted like he had before? She didn't think she could cope with that again. The five of them stood around the door waiting to be let in.

Thanks for all the comments please keep them coming!

Edited for better English, for Hilda's sake!

Last edited by brie on Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:27 pm; edited 2 times in total

#88: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:45 am
—
Everything always happens at once!

#89: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:00 pm
—
Poor Madge - still, at least this seems to have caused her to suddenly wake up again.

Thanks brie.

#90: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:31 pm
—
What an awful shock for Madge. I really hope she reacts positively towards Ruey this time.

Thanks brie!

#91: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:41 am
—
Perhaps Madge needs this shock to galvanise her into action.

#92: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:52 am
—
Madge was only human afterall. When the door opened to reveal them all she didn't smile, she just gritted her teeth and determined to get on with it. This wasn't going to be a pleasant social call, although she was determined not to be her old weak self but instead the brave woman of her own past They all filed in hesitantly.

Adrienne, with her big shady hat hanging by her side and her coloured glasses, with her curly hair tumbling about her. She looked young and beautiful, in the prime of her life. Robin, small, petite, with bags under her eyes but with a hint of that angelic smile, and the dimples she had always had. She still carried that air of worry about her, but there was also that strong inner strenght to be seen on her determined lips, and for the first time Madge started to wonder about the problems Robin seemed to be carrying. Ailie Russell, slim with those twinkling eyes and short messy hair that always stood on end. She was looking worriedly at her Mother, and Madge couldn't help but still think of her as her little girl. At last her eyes rested on her eldest son, David Russell, tall dark and handsome in her eyes, his fingers intertwined with Rueys, who was plain with red brown hair hanging down past her shoulders and all mussed up by the wind, her nose lightly sprinkled with freckles, and a nervous but rebellious look in her eyes. There was no doubting she was plain in looks, but for the first time Madge allowed herself to see the Ruey everyone else saw, and for a moment she was reminded of Jo.

Madges mouth felt dry, how could she admit that she had failed them all? She had tried to protect them, she was still trying to protect them. She looked at them all closely. Years ago, when she had still taught she had been a good judge of character, she was a bit rusty now as she tried to measure them all up.

She opened her mouth. Adrienne merely looked curious, though she knew more than most people guessed. Just because she was pretty people were apt to forget that she had a brain, and at the moment it was working furiously. The rest looked nervous. Ailie was worried for her mother, and also for Ruey and David. Robin had a bad sense of foreboding, the one that had came to her earlier, and though she would not admit it she was starting to dread what she knew she must hear from Madge. She had never possesed a particuliarly vivid imagination, but somehow she knew that something awful had happened to affect Madge so badly.

Ruey and David were nervous for each other and their fragile, freshly renewed relationship. David could not quite believe this was true, and remembering the rockiness of their earlier relationship he was almost afraid to speak in his fear of losing her. The idea that his own Mother had partially been behind their earlier mishaps set him against her, but her obviosly broken spirit left David where he had been before. In the middle of two people he dearly loved, yet who hated each other. Ruey was trying to look defiant, but this new weaker Madge somehow made her more nervous, and although she wouldn't have admitted it, she still couldn't quite believe what had just happened to her was true, and she was really just waiting for her happiness to come to an abrupt end again. It was taking all her will power not to run away... again.

Madge however was the most nervous of them all, not about admitting her faults which would be hard, but she had realised that this strange group of people were capable of looking after themselves, and deserved to do so. She was about to turn their lives upside down. No, a strong voice in her head said, you cannot do this. Tell Robin though another voice said, you must tell someone, and Robin will not forgive herself if she does not try and help you. Madge looked at Robin properly for the first time since they had arrived in the Tirol. She saw the weights holding her down, and starting to drown her, she was almost a reflection of what Madge herself felt. Unexpected two memories came into her bed. The first of a young Robin crying herself to sleep at Die Rosen afer Joey had gone back to school, because she missed her adopted sister so. The second was of the fleeting expression on Robins face when they had recently walked past the dripping rock. How could Madge have not realised before how Robin was feeling? She must have been carrying around a lot of guilt too. Robin owed her happiness to Jo, Madge realised suddenly, and she was trying to repay her now by helping Madge.

"I need to speak to you all." said Madge trying her hardest to be the woman she once was. "I have made many mistakes in my life, and it is my greatest regret that a lot of them seem to have been made in regard to my own family. Ruey" she turned to look at Ruey who seemed awfully apprehensive. "I regret what I did to you more than you will probably ever believe. I do not ask for your forgiveness for I do not deserve it. But I can honestly say that I would be happy to welcome you into my family. Ailie... Ailie told me how you helped her when Jem died, and for that I want to thank you. David, you are an adult and you have the right to do as you please. I have no right to interfere in your life, and I will try not to in the future. Ailie. I want to tell you how proud I am of you. I may not have shown it when you rebelled and left for London, but I can see how happy you are and I want nothing more than that for my children. Adrienne, I am glad you came, you have been a good friend to my daughter, and I appreciate that. Robin, my dearest" here she paused, "I want you to know how much I appreciate all you have done for the family recently, you have held us together and kept us positive in the time since Jo's leaving us. I cannot ask more of you than I have already done, and I am sure Jo is watching, and also wishing she could thank you."

Madge suddenly closed her eyes and lay down. She knew that what she had said was not enough. Robin would still want to know, but how could she share those memories with her? The tears streamed silently down her cheeks as she remembered blindly cutting the rope down herself, keeping everyone away till Jack came, lying Joey in bed as though it had been natural. Only Jack knew, they had let no other doctor see her, everyone thought she had died naturally of grief.

She had done so much to protect them all, she couldn't stop now. As the memories, as clear as photographs circled through her head she didn't know what to do apart from grieve.

Sorry this drabble is so depressing compared to my earlier (later??) ones!

#93: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:04 am
—
I feel quite sorry for Madge now Sad

#94: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 4:10 pm
—
So do I. But she's facing up to things at last, which has got to make her feel better surely.

Thanks Brie.

#95: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:23 pm
—
Just spit it out, Madge - they have a right to know, and it's eating you up inside.

Thanks brie.

#96: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:12 pm
—
That's a big step in the right direction for Madge. Thanks for all the frequent updates, brie.

#97: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:35 am
—
Robin looked at Adrienne sadly. Their walk together, that precious little time alone was to be cut short again.

"Madge" she said gently, kneeling down beside the bed. Her arms encircled Madge's weeping form, holding her close. "Please tell me" she whispered.

With an effort Madge quietened her tears until she was still again. She felt so weak and powerless as the past took control of her life. Could she tell Robin?

"Go" she said hoarsely. She saw the hurt look on her daughters face at being sent out. the looks of surprise on the other's faces, and then worst of all somehow, the look of dawning comprehension on David's.

"No" she moaned, looking at him with those awful haunted eyes, and for a moment saw them reflected in David's own eyes.

Ailie haulted in the doorway, what was going on? Did David know something too. But the fleeting expression she had thoguht she had seen in David's eyes was gone. Reluctantly Ailie left, followed by Adrienne. Adrienne was struggling with herself. She wanted Madge to get better, and she knew Robin had to stay with her. But why oh why, could they not have some time together? Seeing Robin after so long had seemed so good at the start, but now as they kept being dragged apart she was starting to wish she had stayed at home to avoid this disappointment.

Ruey made to leave as well, watching David stay with sorrowful eyes. She knew Madge had meant what she said, and watching her lying there like that it was hard not to forgive, but it was not easy to either after all she had been through.

"Ruey stay" said David, his words were commanding, but his tone was almost a plea, and Ruey halted before slowly making her way back.

Madge looked at her eldest son sorrowfully. "You know?" she asked.

At last comprehending, Ruey realised what this was about. For the first time she felt great bolts of sypmpathy going out towards the older woman. If she knew it must have been awful for her. Ruey's own teen years had been spent under Jo's care and she had felt great sorrow when she heard. It must have been so much harder for Madge, who was Jo's own sister. Ruey's eyes softened as she looked at Madge. She had an uncomfortable feeling that if her Aunt Joey had been here, she would have told her to try as hard as possible to forgive Madge.

David beside her snorted angrily. "How dare he tell you!" he shouted angrily. "He swore he would tell no one, then he ran off half-way across the world and I thought he had kept his word at least on that. Yet he told you!" Davd stormed.

Madge remained quiet. "David dear please calm down. It was I who told Jack not the other way around."

David looked at her silently. Whilst Robin looked blank.

"I can't believe he told you though. We agreed we wouldn't tell anyone. I... I cut the rope and then I went and told Jack."

Ruey looked at Madge in horror. She couldn't imagine having been the one to find Jo... much less have cut her down.

Robin looked at the floor. But those last words were swirling in her mind, making deep impressions. Cut the rope. But no, it couldn't be...

"Robin" said Madge slowly as if seeing her for the first time. "It was Joey who ran over little Cecil. It was an accident of course, but that didn't stop the way she felt, or the overwhelming guilt. I.. I saw it happen. It was me who opened the door. It was me who let Cecil out. It was my fault it all happened." she paused for a moment in that curiously toneless voice, "I went upstairs later to try and comfort her. She was.. she was... hanging. I cut the rope myself, and lay her in the bed as if she was just sleeping. Then I fetched Jack. I didn't know what else to do. He came, and when he saw he he went white and left the room as quickly as he could. I could hear him downstairs storming and breaking things. But I couldn't move. I don't know how long I stayed there."

Arms were flung around her holding her tight. But it was not the Robin.

Ruey hugged Madge even as she felt those great shuddering tears wracking Madge's body.

David carried on the story almost as though he could not see his Mother.

"I found Uncle Jack when I came in. Gottfried and I had come over to see the new machines they had just had installed. I came back to Freudesheim, and I found the triplets crying on the stairs saying Cecil had died and Jack was inconsolable inside, refusing to talk to them. They didn't know. I went in and kind of grabbed Jack before he could hurt himself too badly. That was when he told me what he had seen. He never mentioned you Mother. He made me promise not to tell anyone, and said he wouldn't either. He didn't want Aunt Joey to be remembered like that."

Madge gave a great shudder.

"The only person I ever told was Ruey." he finished lamely.

Ruey close her eyes briefly as she remembered that night, several weeks after the funeral. David had arrived at her door soaking wet, his teeth chattering and Ruey had been unable to turn him away. It was one of the few times she had seen him over the years.

Through all this Robin remained completely silent and still.

* * *

Adrienne opened her eyes wide. She had tried to move Ailie away, but for once Ailie had insisted on standing at the door, unashamedly eavesdropping. Even as Adrienne held her friend tightly she was wondering what was going on inside the room. Why was Robin not saying anything?

#98: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:47 am
—
Poor Madge; I hope that she can get rid of some of the guilt she feels now that she's told the others what happened.

#99: Author: PaulineS, Location: West Midlands

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:50 am
—
Poor Crying or Very sad

Madge

#100: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 12:13 pm
—
Poor everyone Crying or Very sad

#101: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 12:52 pm
—
What an horrific thing to carry all these years. No wonder it ate away at Madge and no wonder joey did what she did

#102: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 1:32 pm
—
Terrible load to have to carry - hope Madge can heal now.

Thanks brie.

#103: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:11 am
—
David couldn't believe that his mother had been through all this alone. All to protect them. His mother might not always make the right decisions for him, but now he knew just how much his mother loved them all. It was a relief in some ways to know that she did. Throughout his childhood he had had to share his Mother with countless others, and being shunted off to boarding school hadn't helped his feeling of rejection and loneliness.
Yet he hadn't been able to get through their deaths without being able to talk to someone he just hadn't been able to. First he had talked to Uncle Jack, and then later as he was starting to go mad he had confided in Ruey. He had to admit he agreed with his mother to a point, there was no need to tell the Maynards or not the younger ones at any rate, perhaps the triplets, and Steve and Chas? It was so hard to know what to do. But he still couldn't believe his Mother had been suffering alone like this. He suddenly awakened to the fact that Ruey and his Mother were in the same room and not fighting. In fact he had a feeling that his Mum was rather greatful for Ruey's prescence. For a moment he wondered if his Aunt Jo was laughing at them as she saw how much closer she had managed to make them even in her death.

Madge had told them her terrible story, and they had appeared strong for her. They were all adament it was not her fault. Though she had not expected it she felt better now she had released her story. But now she was only really fit for a long sleep. Though she looked at Robins still silent figure with a look of regret, she would need to talk to Robin soon. But not yet. Some healing just had to be done alone.

The others left discreetly. David guiding his Aunt out of the room. Outside were Adrienne and Ailie. Ailie silent for once as she tried to take in what she had just heard. But Adrienne leapt forward as she saw Robin, wrapping her arms around her tightly. Together they all moved along slowly to the room Adrienne and Ailie were sharing.

Adrienne put her arms comfortingly round Robins shoulders. For she had realised what the others had not, that Robin probably felt it most of all. David and Ruey had known before although Adrienne could see that the fact that Madge had discovered the body, and taken it down had disturbed David deeply. Ailie was now lying curled up on top of her bed. She needed time alone. Adrienne wanted to help her but she didn't know what to do. Anyways she had to look after Robin, who was shaking slightly, and who had still not uttered a word since she had heard the news. Her whole world must have been turned upside down Adrienne realised, for she at least realised something of what Jo and Robin had meant to each other.

Robin meanwhile was thinking deeply. She was slightly disturbed by the religious aspect, was Joey a bad person for taking her own life? She had commited a grievous sin, so was she safe in heaven? Had it been the right thing to do? Robin had not seen Jo in a long time but she knew that she couldn't have lived with herself after killing her own precious child. Robin hated to admit it but her own faith in God was faltering, it had been faltering all of this holiday she now realised, but now it had tumbled and fallen, shattering. She couldn't feel love or respect for a God that could have done this. For the first time Robin properly understood Ailies outburst earlier about trusting in God, how could one trust God, when he might do so much wrong with his power? Poor, poor Joey she thought to herself. Then an awful thought entered her head. Would all of this have happened if Robin had been there? Could she have comforted Jo, and helped her?

Ruey looked at the desolate people group surrounding her. She was certainly not a selfish soul, but this was not the engagement day she had envisioned. Not that anyone knew they were engaged of course, they could hardly break the news and get out the champagne after what everyone had just heard. She had nothing but sympathy for Madge now, but she had also realised that she did not belong in the way she had always wanted to think that she did, she was not a member of this family. Somehow she felt so apart from the other grieving people in this room.

Thanks for all the comments.

#104: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:29 am
—
Oh Brie, poor Robin, and poor all of them. I don't know who I feel worse for after Madge. After hearing all that no wonder Robin is questioning her faith. Thanks

#105: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:32 am
—
Oh poor Robin - how hard having to take all that in.

Maybe they should tell the older Maynards: family secrets have a way of coming out and it'd be worse if they found out by accident.

#106: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:33 am
—
Oh poor Robin - how hard having to take all that in.

Maybe they should tell the older Maynards: family secrets have a way of coming out and it'd be worse if they found out by accident.

#107: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:53 pm
—
Poor Robin - this will hit her hardest - I hope she can find a way to accomodate all her thoughts.

Thanks Brie.

#108: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:27 pm
—
A long bit...

Ruey had ended up spending the week at the hotel with the rest of them, the hotel had been busy as it was the middle of the tourist season. She had shared Davids room, and it was a mark of the change that had occured in Madge, that nobody said anything about this.

Ruey however was starting to worry. Two days after her confesion, Madge had emerged from her room. She had looked white and wan. But there was something in her eys that had not been there for a very long time before. Timidly David and Ruey had approached her, wondering whether this was the right time to break their news. But Madge had been delighted, pulling Ruey close and hugging her. Ruey had been touched at the sincerity she had heard in Madge's voice, but since then other worries and insecurities had cropped up.

"David you know that Christmas wedding we discussed?" she said one morning, as the two were lying together in bed, with the sun streaming through the window.

"Of course I do, how could I forget?" said David teasingly, though inwardly he was worrying. what if Ruey was getting cold feet?

"No of course not" Rueys voice was small, " Its just what if thats not soon enough?"

"Ruey what do you mean?" David looked puzzled.

Rueys cheeks were surprisingly red, "You know, you are the doctor after all" she said meaningfully, too embarassed to say what she meant. she continued in a small voice "I mean I might not be, but what if I am? We would have to have the wedding early, I don't think your Mum could take it otherwise. I mean i'm surprised at how well she took us being together and all.."

"Are you...pregnant?" he said eventually

"Well, I don't think so, but I might be and then what would we do?" said Ruey, though now that she had admitted to that nagging doubt, she heard how stupid it was.

"Well we will cross that hurdle if we get to it." he didn't seem overly worried.

"How come this is not bothering you?" asked Ruey curiously, who was rather surprised that David hadn't leapt out of the bed and run away.

'Ruey, its not bothering me because whether we are married or not, I would be very happy for us to have children together."

Ruey looked surprised, but all she did was smile and hug him tightly before saying aloud, " Do you mean that?"

He had nodded. For he had realised as soon as he said it, how true it was.
But she didn't seem much reassured. "What else is bothering you?" he asked, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.

She almost smiled, he had always had that uncanny ability to know what she was thinking.

"It's just I know why Madge isn't getting much better, theres one more problem, and its big, and its going to affect everyone."

Ruey was still not overly fond of her future mother in law. She pitied her and she knew that David had forgiven Madge completely, but whilst Ruey was sympathetic towards Madge she could not help but be wary of her.

David looked at her anxiously, for though she tried to hide it from him, he knew she still didn't trust his Mother completely. He didn't blame her, he couldn't, but nonetheless he did wish she could just forgive and forget.

"I saw a letter," continued Ruey, "I didn't mean to read it, its just that a line caught my eye, and once i'd seen that I was hooked. I know I shouldn't have read it but I did." She looked troubled.

"Well, what did it say?" he asked abruptly, not sure he could cope with any more troubles.

"Madge is going to be penniless." was the short, straight answer he got.

Not for the first time, David wished Ruey would learn to soften the blow. He sat down heavily.
"What do you mean?"
"Uncle.." then she stopped a very hard look going across her face, "Jack Maynard stole all the schools funds, and now the school has no money and will have to close to pay back the school fee's of the pupils it can no longer take."
David closed his eyes briefly. He knew that the sannatorium shares had been sold, his Mum had wanted to distance herself from it when his Father had died. the money from them had been placed in trust funds for all of her children. He knew that his Mother's sole form of income was now from her shares in the school.
* * *
In the way that these things tend to happen, it was not long before all of the family knew that the schools were to close. Though Jacks part in it was known only to a select few.

"Ruey, listen to this" David asked of his fiance several days later, "Its a letter about that awful Mr Green!"

'that awful Mr green' had been the schools lawyer, and they had all learnt that he was not quite of the quality they needed, after his oversights of the previosu year.

"Oh no!" said Ruey despondently, "What now?"

"You might well ask! Mums going to be crushed"

"Oh David, get to the point will you, you will insist in talking yourself hoarse before you even get to anything of any use"

"What just because im not as blunt as you?"

"Im not blunt" said Ruey, though she knew fine well that she was very much so.

David gave her a look, deciding to give her a taste of her own medecine "Fine you want the core of it, then you can have it- no cottonwool attached."

Ruey grinned. "Good thats all I want my dear"

"The schools in a much worse state than mr Green lead us to believe. There are massive debts that Mr Green seemed he didn't need to tell us of until now, as that would have involved him taking a rather steep pay cut.it looks as though Glendower House is going to have to be sold in addition to everything else if we are to get rid of these,and get this he is demanding an exorbitant fee as part of his cut of the sales of Glendower House!"

Ruey let out a gasp. "I thought he was just a bad lawyer, I didn't realise he was crooked."

"I think you will find all lawyers are a bit crooked" said David cynically.

"But what are we going to do?"

"Theres not really a big choice is there. We no longer have any control of the San's the Welsh ones is now owned by several smaller shareholders, including myself. And we can't touch the Swiss san, thats in Jacks name, and god knows where he is." the two had stopped referring to Jack as Uncle, having disowned him completely. "I'll have to sell my shares." he added more to himself than anything else.

"But the sans your inheritance David are you really willing to sell it?" said Ruey who had heard.

"I don't have much of a choice do I?" he replied grimly. He would not let the rest of his family go down while he continued to live the high life.

"Will there be any money left?" she asked fearfully, for she had realised that it would now be left to the Russells not only to look after themselves but also the Maynards.

"Not much, im sorry Ru, I shan't really have any money of my own now. I undertand if you don't want to marry me. I.. I'll be carrying a lot of the family, I dont suppose there will be much money around."

He looked at Ruey doubtfully. He need not have woried however. Ruey flung her arms around his neck.

"Your not getting rid of me that easily David Russell!" she said firmly.

He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Good. I had to say it, but I dont know what I would have done if you left!"
"If I had been the type to leave because of somethng like that, you would have been well shot of me!"

He smiled before turning back to serious business.

"Once the staff at the school are both payed a decent sum, I dont expect there will be much left, especially as the school's debt has to be paid off. We'll definetly have to close St Mildreds too, perhaps we can get a decent sum for the buildings? Luckily when Dad died he left the others a sum of money, and though i dont know what Sybs, and Jo have done with theres I know Ailie, Kevin and Kester haven't spent theirs yet. That will have to get them through school and university."

Ruey wanted to asked about the plentiful amount of Maynards, but she didn't dare.

"Aunt Joey left money for all her kids, but when you spread it between ten and then the six wards, it doesn't leave a lot." said David reading her thoughts.

"Me and Roger and Roddy don't need anything, David. Me and Roger put Roddy through his first years at College, and though I don't have a job right now Roger can afford to put Roddy through his last year. I got a letter from Con this morning saying her journalism is paying off and she will pay for Mike to have his naval training, except Mike isn't to know. She doesn't think Mike would accept her money."

David nodded, he had always been close to his younger cousin, and Con had been the first person her told of their new situation. Both of them had been the quiet members of their families, and this had been the basis for their strange friendship.

"Also, Len may have her own family now, and she may no longer have a job, she taught at the school remember, "She added at Davids blank look, "But Reg is still working and they have always had more money than they need, they are going to pay for Chas's next year of his medical training and by that time hopefully he will have scared up enough, or we will have found some money to put him through his next year. Reg says its the least he can do. You know that the Maynards were the one's that put him through Medical school?"

David nodded again. That just left the kids, though how they were going to pay to get them through school he didn't know. He felt like he couldn't abandon his Mother, and he knew Madge wouldn't abandon the Maynard kids, she was their legal guardian now that Jack had left.
Once more Ruey interrupted his thoughts. "Len was also talking to Steve, and she says Steve is really upset because he can't offer any money. However he is turning his lodger's out and he is going to take in Ailie and Adrienne to stop them having to pay rent, or at least they can pay less rent."

"Wait, he said, "What will happen about Adrienne? She isn't finished her nurse's training."

"Don't worry about her. Robins told me that she had payed her through her nurse training so far, I doubt she'll stop now."
* * *
Robin was also thinking about the futures of all her 'relatives'. She was not the jolly woman she once was, but after several long talks with Adrienne and one with Madge she had accepted what had happened, and had also made an important decision regarding herself.
Adrienne was of course taken care of, but everyone else.... and Robin had learnt that everyone else meant sixteen children, and that wasn't including Madges lot.

Robin hadn't the money to support anyone but Adrienne, but now that she had made her decision prehaps she would be able to help more financially. She knelt for a final prayer, asking acceptance from God for her decision. Then she got up, kissed her rosary and left the room. Time to tell madge.

* * *

Adrienne and Ailie had been having a pow-wow of their own.

" I dont want to go back to London yet." said Ailie decisivly. "I dont want to leave Mum, till I know shes really, really better."

"And don't you feel a bit guilty going back at all, with the state of affairs at the moment. I mean its expensive you know."

Adrienne bit her fingernail, this had been worrying her somewhat, since she had found out about the school closing. Ailie who had never had to want for money, looked up perplexed.

"Oh Adrienne do you really think we shouldn't go back? Oh how awful, what would we do with ourselves?"

"I don't know Ailie, I don't know how much money is needed, and Ailie would you not be willing to give up what you want for your loved ones?"

"Oh I suppose you are right Adrienne, I'm sure I would. The idea will just need a little getting used to, you know?"

Ailie suddenly realised she didn't know that much about Adriennes background before she had come to the school.

#109: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:32 pm
—
So much to sort out - nice that the rest of the family are pulling together to support the kids but I don't think much of Jack Maynard - even though he's lost his wife and child in tragic circumstances, that's no excuse for abandoning his responsibilities and stealing from his family.

Thanks brie.

#110: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:33 pm
—
Thanks Brie Very Happy

#111: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:47 am
—
I hope they manage to catch up with Jack Maynard!

Thanks Brie.

#112: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:10 am
—

Fatima wrote:

I hope they manage to catch up with Jack Maynard!

Thanks Brie.

So do I. I'm really enjoying the way you've developed this from the first time especially with the prequels you wrote as well

#113: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:28 am
—
So it was decided, amongst the younger generation of the family to try and support each other. Ruey had shared the new and somewhat depressing news that there was even less money than originally thought, and Adrienne and Ailie had been persuaded to finish their course. To quote Ruey,

"Well thats a stupid idea! You'll make much more money in the long run if you go back, what are you going to do with yourselves if you don't go back may I ask?", her tone was softer than her words however for she was touched by the sacrifices they had been willing to make.

Whilst they were all carefully planning around Madge, Madge was calmly making plans herself. It was not until she heard Ruey and David talking that she realised plans were being made for her.

"Well once we get back to England what shall we do? I'm only renting my flat here, leaving it won't bring any money. Now that you have left that wretched hospital you have no job. I have no job, though I expect I could get one somewhere, "she sounded doubtful however, "And may I ask where we are going to live? For if I remember rightly your flat can only be described as a cupboard, and that was when you were living alone...."

"I expect mum would have us at the Round house for the first couple of months, till we get back on our feet." He looked queryingly in Madges direction. However Ruey burst in first.

"But David, I have already promised Roger that Roddy can stay with us in holidays, and I said the same to Len, but about Mike."

She silently added, that she wasn't ready live with Lady Russell things were still at the polite stage as far as the two of them were concerned.

"Thanks for telling me Ruey", David raised his eyebrows, he couldn't even provide for his future wife, and she wanted him to provide for his brother in law, and cousins?

"Oh David what am I supposed to do, leave my own brother homeless?"

David looked at Ruey wearily, this was not the way he remembered things being, this was not how he wanted their life together to be, always worrying and fighting about money...

Ruey broke in on his thoughts, "Oh David I am sorry, I should have told you, I mean I should have asked you"

David hugged her immediately, he couldn't not forgive her. And she was right of course, he certainly didn't expect her to not open her own home up for her brother.

Madge cleared her throat. The two lovebirds looked up startled. They had rather forgotten there was anyone else there.

"I may have a better idea. I don't want the children split up, and this seems like a better solution."

Ruey looked up surprised, this didn't sound like the Madge she knew. This woman sounded much more determined and stronger.

"Think about it" Madge continued cryptically, "What is this family full of?"

David shook his head confused. Madge looked exasperated.

Ruey said somewhat tentatively and it must be admitted sarcastically,

"Doctors and Teachers?"

Madge smiled a slow, wide grin.

"Exactly Ruey. Teachers." since she had been one herself, and Ruey was also one along with Len this was rathe true.
"Mum" said David, clearly thinking his Mother had gone insane, "what are you talking about?"

"oh David, it's simple really." Madge starting to sound annoyed, for it had seemed so obvious to her.

Ruey had an inkling of what Madge had thought of but it would never work.

"Oh and David, I know you are just being nice but I am not going back to England."

David looked decidedly flabbergasted. "Mum..."

His voice trailed off. He had no idea what to say.

Madge looked rather ruefully at her soon to be daughter in law. Ruey never spoke much in front of her. Madge didn't altogether blame her, but she wished Ruey would just get over it. She mentally kicked herself, this was her fault. she couldn't just go around blaming everyone else.

"Ruey, what do you think?" Madge looked hopefully at Ruey.

Ruey seeing the worried look on her fiances face, tried to act politely.

"Well to be honest I don't really know what to think,as I don't no what you are talking about really."

That had not come out politely, it had really been quite rude. Oh well, even for David she could not keep apologising to this woman.

"Ruey, David don't you see? It's so simple. It's worked everywhere.. apart from Switzerland I suppose.. but even then it was a big success, and it wasn't really our fault that it didn't."

Ruey looked up surprised, so she had been right then...
Rueys tone was startled.

"Madge, you want to open the school again? How? Its ridiculous. it'll never work."

Madge didn't take offence. Instead it spurred her on, she remembered Dick saying something like that when she had first came up with the idea about forty years ago.

"No Ruey, why should we not open a school, we have done it before haven't we? and it'll keep the family together won't it..."

Ruey looked at Madge open mouthed. How could she think that would succeed?

David wanted to disentangle, what looked like soon becoming a fight, but he was silenced by seeing his Mother in a new light. She was no longer a meek housewife, but a strong,determined woman ready to fight for herself and her family. He realised both of them were staring at him waiting for his opinion...
David remained silent as he tried to work out a polite way of calling his Mother batty, he felt an insane need to be ultra nice to her to make up for Rueys aloof and cutting remarks.

Ruey was watching him steadily, clearly expecting him to side with her. Madge was looking at him almost pleadingly, as though she was begging for him to believe in her again.

He decided to humour his Mother, and then ultmately side with his fiance.

"So where do you propose we start this new school?"

Ruey looked annoyed but she remained silent. Madge smiled disbelievingly at her son. It took her a moment to string together enough words to make a coherent sentence.

"Here. Tyrol. Its cheaper."

Madge scolded herself, that had not been quite what she was hoping for.

"Here?" David scoffed.

Ruey felt rather annoyed at him now, his scorn for this beautiful place...

"Its cheaper to live here" Madge repeated.

Ruey had to admire Madge she was very determined. Suddenly the return to a cramped flat in dreary, damp England was not so alluring.

David looked at Ruey shrewdly. she was starting to crack he could see, not of course that she would let his Mother know. He had forgotten how much Ruey loved Austria.

He was not so sure about this brilliant idea though, no, he was not sure at all, in fact he was dead set against it.

#114: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:32 am
—
I think Madge and Ruey should go for it. Like how Madge and Ruey could end up on the same side of an argument Wink

#115: Author: PaulineS, Location: West Midlands

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:41 am
—
A mixed sex school this time, so they can meet all the children's needs????
They may find they can have some pupils from Switzerland and save having to repay all the fees. Will they be able to keep some of the staff as well?

Well done Madge, not afraid to start again from scratch. Smile

#116: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:13 pm
—
Madge is being really positive here: it's not easy to start over, especially later in life.

#117: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:53 pm
—
Could they hang on to a lot of the equipment too?

Thanks brie

#118: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:12 pm
—
Stephanie flung open the door of Rix Bettany's general practice office, and strode in. She collapsed into the chair in front of Rixs desk, and heaved a dramatic sigh before she burst into a flood of tears. Rix looked up wearily. When he saw who it was he heaved his own deep sigh.

"Where is David?", she asked through her tears.

Rix offfered her a tissue, never taking his eyes of her.

"Why?" he asked cautiously

She sniffed. "I can't tell you. It's private."

"Stephanie" his voice was commanding.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, "We got back together a while back- a few months ago. I left him but now I need him back"

For the first time Rixs eyes left her elaborately made-up face, and he noticed she was not wearing her usual skin tight clothing. This was not good. She looked at him appealingly.

"Rix please"

She fluttered her eyelids at him.

But the days when she had been able to control Rix were long over.

"I'm married now you know." he said conversationally.

She looked at him startled. "But what about me?" she asked seductively, but her heart didn't seem to be in it.

"What's wrong Stephanie?" he asked, although her regretted the question as soon as he asked it.

"This!" she said dramatcially, lifting her top to reveal a small bump underneath it, "and it's all your cousins fault!"

* * *
Ailie and Adrienne had gone back to london to continue their courses, with much reluctance. Robin and Madge were going back to Switzerland to stay with Con temporarily,for a hotel had now become an unnecessary expense.

Stephanie had succesfully been kept away from David, after Rix had done a little investigating and found out she had more recently been with a man even more notorious than herself. Things were not however running smoothy.

Ruey and David and Madge were involved in the oddest of triangles. Ruey and Madge were still struggling to know how to talk to each other. David and Madge were now fighting (about the new school). Ruey and David were now fighting because Ruey had found out about Stephanie, and despite it turning out to be a false claim Ruey was still not overly impressed that David had been with her, and to finish things off Madge and Ruey were oddly united against David (also about the school).

Things were very uneasy between them all. And then Robin decided to drop a bombshell on them too. She had already told Adrienne about it, and she had been pleased with her reaction, although Adrienne was concerned Robin knew she was also pleased for it meant they would be able to spend more time together.

"I wont be returning to the convent after we return to Switzerland." she announced, " Lately I have been having conflicting thoughts, and being back amongst you has made me realise how empty my life was. I have decided to resign my vows. I will no longer be a nun."

Suffice to say, this was met with stunned silence. Madge too was concerned, but having had Robin around for a while now she had realised how much she had missed her. Secretly she had been worrying about what she would do when Robin returned and now she did not have to worry about this. However she did still have one worry.

"Robin" she asked when they were alone. "Please tell me you are doing this for yourself, and not for anyone else." Madge couldn't help but be concerned about this for she did not want Robin giving up her life for her.

"Yes I am doing this for your sake, and for Adriennes sake" she said slowly, "But ultimately I am doing it for myself."

With that Madge had to be satisfied and leaving a troubled pair behind them Madge and Robin returned to the Platz.

* * *
It was with some trepidation that Madge looked at her mail two days after she had arrived at Con's. Her last delivery of mail had not brought welcome news. The first card made her smile widely, and she filed it away. The second was addressed to both her and Robin. Once she had called for Robin she proceeded to open it with Robin looking on curiously. They two of them beamed when they read it:

To Auntie Madge and Aunt Rob

We want to Thank you for everything you have done for us over the past few months, for taking us in, and keeping us together as a family. Mamma left us her money, but not Freudesheim for that was not in her name. However another house was. She left us, divided sixteen ways Die Blumen, in the Tirol.
With our deepest gratitude and love we wish to give it to you as a Thank-you for all you have done.

Yours with love,

Len Maynard
Mike Maynard
Roger Richardson
Adrienne Desmoines
Con Maynard
Felix Maynard
Ruey Richardson
Margot Maynard
Fliss Maynard
Roddy Ricardson
Steve Maynard
Phil Maynard
Erica Standish
Charles Maynard
Geoff Maynard
Marie-Claire De Babillion
"Have you read it yet?" asked an impatient voice.

Robin turned to see Con behind her, and hurriedly brushing away her tears, gave her a big hug. Marie-Claire who was also staying at Con's just now also rushed in and was caught up in Madge's arms.

"We can't possibly accept it though" said Madge gently.

"Wait Madge" said Robin an idea coming to her, "Perhaps we could. It is a large house. We could make it home for all the children."

Madge turned to her, she had not thought of it. "Of course" she said smiling, "It is much cheaper to live there than here, and I always did want Keving and Kester to see the Tirol."

#119: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:19 pm
—
Glad they've moved to stop Stephanie and glad Ruey and Madge are getting on better. Nice geature by the Maynard family and wards.

Thanks brie.

#120: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:15 am
—
Well, this is good, but I do hope Madge and Ruey sort things out between themselves.

#121: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:43 am
—
Ruey lay in her bed, all curled up in a ball, as though she was trying to hide from the world. She wanted David so much but she could not trust him. She screwed up her eyes, she was not going to get up this morning. A single ray of light escaped through the heavy curtains into the room. A tiny sparkle could be seen from behind her chair as the light hit it. Ruey pulled her blanket over her head. Her life was becoming a nightmare.

She had her dream but she could not accept it, she had waited for something to go wrong, and blindly she had accepted Stephanie as that thing.

She heard a banging on her door, but she ignored it. She knew who it was, but if she saw him she would go back to him, for she wanted him more than anything. But she was not supposed to have a happy ending and there was no point seeking what could not be.

Then there was a creaking which made her sit bolt upright in her bed. The door was opening and she looked such a mess. She wanted to look nice for him, but she fought that urge, it didn't matter anymore.

He was here, in her room. He looked apolegetic. She knew he was sorry, but the past could not be undone. She saw the longing in his eyes and she hoped he could not see the longing in hers. He stood there awkward, looking unsure of what to say.

She felt sorry for him. Every moment she was with him it became harder to remain strong. But she had to be able to rely on him. Especially now.

"I'm sorry"

So much emotion was contained in those two words that Ruey was struggling to keep the tears from running down her cheeks. Stay strong, she reminded herself.

"I will never regret anything more than this. Its killing me inside to know how much I have hurt you. To know that I have lost you. I can't live without you Ruey Richardson."

It was no use. She was lost. The tears she felt springing to her eyes were beaten by one of Davids. She opened her arms to him. Because she could be happy, she had been happy, briefly a few years ago. Maybe, just maybe, this could work, and she could be happy.

The End

#122: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:49 pm
—
Awwww, now there has to be a sequel brie?

Thank you.

#123: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:40 pm
—
I hope Ruey has her happiness now. I'd also love to see a sequel to this.

Thanks brie Smile

#124: Author: linda, Location: Leeds

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:12 pm
—
Please, pretty please, can we have a sequel brie. I want to know what happens next!!!

#125: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:23 am
—

linda wrote:

Please, pretty please, can we have a sequel brie. I want to know what happens next!!!

But there is a sequel somewhere on the board about Madge and Ruey teaching at the new school.
Are you reposting that too Brie?
BTW love how you rewrote this. Its been great reading it again after the initial David and Ruey and Rix and Ted meeting. Thanks

#126: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:31 pm
—

Fiona Mc wrote:

linda wrote:

Please, pretty please, can we have a sequel brie. I want to know what happens next!!!

But there is a sequel somewhere on the board about Madge and Ruey teaching at the new school.
Are you reposting that too Brie?

There is the start of a sequel floating about in ste Thereses somewhere, which is in the process of being re-written/ finished... but i'm pining for Ted and Rix a bit so you might see a story about them first...

Thanks for all the lovely lovely comments, they make writing worthwhile

#127: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 4:41 pm
—
Ooohh, yes, Ted and Rix would be great!

Thanks Brie.

#128: Author: ghoti, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:58 pm
—
Aww Smile

I hope Ruey gets her happiness. Thankyou!

#129: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:05 pm
—
Thanks Brie Very Happy

The CBB -> Ste Therese's House

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod. All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1