Diane Allen

“say your goodbyes, our Ali. Give her a kiss – she’d like that.’ ‘If Mum is in heaven, she knows I should have been with her instead of sitting up the fell. She won’t love me any more.’ Tears began to fall from Alice’s eyes and she started sobbing, grief taking over her small, crumpled body. ‘Yes, she’ll know you were up the fell, but she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. You always were headstrong, Mum knew that. That’s why it’s our job to look after Father. She asked that of us with her dying breath. So, don’t you worry, she loved you for the spirited person that you are – she told me so.’ Alice controlled her sobbing for a brief moment and bent to kiss her mother’s brow. Already the skin was cold and bluish white. The brief contact made her feel sick and her legs turned to jelly. What was she going to do without her mother? She almost dissolved into sobs again, but by holding her breath and blowing her nose she managed to bring her emotions under control. ‘There, our lass, she knows you loved her. Go and brush your hair, then come downstairs and make some supper before Mrs Batty gets here. She’ll want to lay Mum out in the parlour while her husband brings the coffin. Reckon it’ll be down to us to get everything ready – Father doesn’t seem up to it. I’ll see to the parlour while you do us all some bacon and eggs. We’ve not eaten all day, and you know Mother – she wouldn’t have wanted that, now, would she?’ ‘I did love her, our Will.’ Resolving to pull herself together and stop sniffling, Alice placed her hands on her hips and announced: ‘Don’t worry, I will look after everybody as Mother”
― Diane Allen, For the Sake of Her Family