Widow's Windows

"Er, yes, of course, but I can afford to take a lot less than a shilling, I don't clean your windows for the money," Bird too, whispers back, tears in his eyes, though he tries his hardest to smile too, "And for me, Mrs Edrich ... Eveline ... Lieutenant Edrich was a fine man, I was fond of your Arthur, too."

Eveline blinks back her tears and squeezes Bird's hand, still holding the shilling.

"Arthur spoke of you often, while he was home. We had no secrets from each other. He told me how you saved his life, but the letter from his Captain never disclosed how he died or who comforted his last few hours." Eveline lifts her voice, adding in as cheerful a tone as she can, observing the boy tucking into a custard cream biscuit, "A fine boy, you have there, Roger. Were you able to find and marry your saint? Or was she a nun from the convent?" she manages a weak smile.

"Firstly, I must say that, for a long time I have considered your Roger a fine young man, a gentleman. His father would be so proud of him, and of you too for his upbringing," Bird replies, with a smile, glad the subject was moving from the sad past to a more pleasant present day one.

"Thank you," Eveline smiles.

"As for your questions about Art's mother, the answer is neither, Eveline. Well, not exactly anyway," Bird chuckles, "Immediately after demob I did go especially go out of my way to wash the kitchen windows at the St Margaret Convent in the High Street. There I met my wife Mary. She was orphaned at five years old and had spent fifteen years in various convents and ended up working as a kitchen skivvy. She was a sweet and innocent girl, almost twenty years younger than me. I count myself very lucky. As mother to Art, his two brothers and two sisters, as well as being my better half, I suppose you could say that I married an angel."

"I'm pleased for you, Roger. Now, you must bring your family over for Sunday tea, I'd like to get to know them, as friends. After all, I've known you for such a long time Roger, fifteen years or so, without really knowing you as well as I should. Arthur would have invited you over long ago and often, if he'd known you were watching over us, and I feel I've rather let the side down. So, say you'll come, Roger, please."

"Yes, Eveline, we will come."

The End.