Chapter 13
A MESSAGE FROM EMILIA

Facebook had become a household name, and people enjoyed chatting with people they knew and getting new friends. Maria had commented that it was time wasting and made people lazy, but Tammy, her youngest, thought otherwise and tried to convince her mum to have a go.

‘You can see your friends and chat with them. You can make friends with people who have the same interests, and you can talk about jobs and general things. People even start dating through Facebook,’ she said.

‘I don’t need a date,’ Maria said and had a long laugh.

‘I know, Mum. I am just saying how you can benefit from Facebook.’

Maria’s last daughter was eighteen. She called her baby woman because she had protested that she was no longer a baby, and her mother should stop treating her like one. Maria would like to do things for her, and Tammy often sat with her mum for cuddles. Sometimes Ron gave her a look as if to say, ‘It’s my place you are taking.’

She remained close to her mother and was protective of her. Tammy liked to go shopping with Maria, and she would suggest what clothes her mother should buy to make her look sexy. Maria would protest that such clothes were too girly or too short for her. ‘No, Mum, you should dress like the women on television,’ she had argued.

Tammy had been encouraging her mum to explore the fun on Facebook. Maria saw no need to make friends with strangers. She had heard her colleagues talk about it but showed no interest until Tammy mentioned that she could even search for long-lost friends. She became curious and tried to see for herself what people were saying and the reason for their excitement.

At last Maria opened an account on Facebook and started inviting friends to chat. She posted family pictures and seemed to enjoy the attention she received from friends, as they liked the pictures she posted, and they enjoyed one another’s comments. It was very entertaining and also brought her friends closer to her.

It struck her one day to search for Emilia. She hadn’t heard from her for more than forty years. She would like to know what she was up to. She knew Emilia was in Spain with her husband, but that was all she knew. She would like to be back in touch.

What she found was amazing, Emilia was on Facebook and had posted beautiful pictures of her family. Maria assumed from the family picture that she had two girls. She also saw Emilia’s husband and the pub they owned.

‘I am glad to find you here,’ she typed excitedly.

‘Hmm, it’s been such a long time,’ Emilia replied instantly.

‘What a nice picture you have on your profile. You are looking young, Emilia,’ Maria went on. ‘Is this other picture your family?’

‘Yes, that’s my husband Tim and my daughters Rose and Martha,’ Emilia replied.

‘What a lovely family you have,’ Maria typed. ‘Are you still living in Spain?’

‘Yes, yes, we are still here,’ she replied and continued, ‘Guess what!’

‘What?’ Maria replied excitedly.

‘I saw Connor here in my pub one day,’ Emilia said.

‘Who is Connor?’ Maria asked.

‘Have you forgotten Connor? The boy in my class who followed us after school every day causing trouble?’

‘Oh yes, yes, I remember him. What was he doing in your pub?’

‘He did not know it was my pub, but I recognized him when he entered.’

‘Has he changed? He wasn’t the nicest fellow at that time,’ Maria typed.

‘Oh yes, he has. He was on holiday with his family. It’s a posh family, I guessed. He had a beautiful wife and a son. He told me had a delivery company in London and has employed over a hundred workers who drive his fifty delivery vans. He even showed me pictures of his company’s vans lined in a car park. No wonder he could afford such a woman for a wife. She was surprisingly polite, and so was the son. Connor was well dressed and looked noble. I was pleased for him.

‘They seemed to be living well. We did talk for a while. He said they left their hotel for some sightseeing in town and wanted a place to have a drink. I gave their first drink on me. It was nice seeing people I know from the past.’

‘Did he remember the dog poo incident?’ Maria asked. ‘I am not proud of it, but he pushed too far. It’s a shame.’

‘Don’t worry, we were kids then. He shouldn’t have done what he did. He has moved on, and we have also moved on, haven’t we?’ Emilia said.

‘I guess so,’ Maria agreed.

‘I wasn’t going to bring it up, but he did and laughed over it. He came round again before he left for London,’ said Emilia. Then she suddenly asked, ‘What have you been doing with yourself?’

‘I am married, and have two daughters as you know and a step daughter’ Maria replied.

‘That’s super. What is your job, or have you retired?’ Emilia asked.

‘I work in the legal services and am not ready to retire yet.’

‘I bet you would do something like that! You were good at school. It must be an exciting job then?’ Emilia asked curiously.

‘Hmmmm, it is challenging but can be exciting too,’ replied Maria.

‘And your husband, what does he do?’ Emilia asked.

‘He is a teacher in a secondary school,’ Maria replied.

‘I am been trying to find my mother but had no luck. Now that you are here, can you help me?’ Emilia asked desperately. ‘The last time I saw her was when she was sectioned, and I haven’t had any news since then. I tried sending her birthday cards but don’t know what address to send them to.’

‘You should have done this sooner. How old will she be now?’ Maria asked.

‘Oh, she would be seventy-two in March,’ Emilia replied.

‘Well then, we should be searching retirement homes, but there are so many of them,’ Maria reasoned. ‘How about your brother, have you heard from him?’

‘Nope,’ Emilia replied instantly.

‘So your children don’t know their uncle and grandmother?’ Maria typed.

‘No, they don’t. That’s why they are putting pressure on me to find them.’

‘I will let you know when I get some information about them.’ Maria assured her.

It was a good chat and entertaining to hear from an old friend. Time had changed Emilia a lot; the way she chatted showed that she was more mature and wise at sixty, but Maria wondered why she had not looked for her mother in all those years. Maybe she was lost in her own fantasies, having a caring husband and a good business.

The last time Maria had heard about Maureen was when she was discharged from hospital and was given a flat at Bexleyheath. She also knew that she was a member of a charismatic Christian church at Woolwich called the Victory Bible Church. That was a long time ago, but it could be a start.

She went to the church hoping to talk to the oldest members; someone might have information about her. The church leader, Rev. Emmanuel, remembered Maureen very well. She became very active and enjoyed the singing and dancing in the church. She helped mothers who needed support with their babies as during worship. Everyone knew her. She still attended the church every Sunday. Maria asked if she was still strong to attend services.

Pastor Emmanuel looked at her, amazed. ‘Wait and see for yourself,’ he said and ushered her into a seat.

The church assisted elderly members who would like to take part in Sunday service by picking them up from their houses and dropping them home afterwards. Maureen lived just a hundred yards away from the church, so she walked to attend all services with her walking stick. She was a strong character, who had survived horrible hardships in her life, but she never gave up. Making friends with the Victory Bible Church had even made her stronger. She had always said that the church was her family, and they had kept her going. A ‘church of hope’, she called it. The members were very fond of her and called her Aunty Maureen. They paid her visits, and the wife of the reverend always called her at night to check that she was okay before she went to bed.

Maria sat amidst the congregation and took part in the service while she waited for Maureen. Then she arrived and went straight to her favourite seat, which was next to Maria. She sat down and prayed and then joined in the worship. She was up on her feet, sang, and danced. Maria was surprised to see a woman her age so active. (When people commented on that, Maureen always said, ‘It’s by the grace of God.’)

After the service, Maria opened a conversation with Maureen, who looked up to her face and declared, ‘I know you from somewhere. I can’t remember where, but I definitely know you.’

‘Yes, you know me. Aren’t you Aunty Maureen?’ Maria asked excitedly. ‘Did you use to live on Walpole Road in Walthamstow?’

‘Yes, I did … that was a very long time ago!’ Maureen replied looking excited too.

‘We lived on the same street.’ Maria tried to solve the puzzle, and it worked.

‘You are Brenda’s daughter!’ Maureen said at last.

‘Oh, you’ve remembered!’

‘How is your mother?’ Maureen asked.

‘Mum passed away last year.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,’ Maureen said sympathetically. ‘She was the best friend I ever had, apart from the church.’ She looked into Maria’s face. ‘Do you live round here? And remind me, what is your name?’

‘Maria. I used to be in your house every day with Emilia; I remember perfectly well.’

‘Oh yes, Maria, Emilia’s friend.’ Maureen nodded at the recollection.

‘I don’t live near here. I came to see you,’ Maria announced, looking straight into her eyes. ‘Take me home, and I will tell you why I have come.’

‘That’s fine with me, but please don’t mind my flat. It’s small and unkempt,’ Maureen said.

‘Don’t worry about that, I am glad to find you,’ Maria said.

‘Have you any news from Emilia? She was your friend, wasn’t she?’

‘That’s why I am here,’ Maria said.

Maureen lived in a two-bedroom flat on a ground floor on Maiden Road in Woolwich. It was neat and simply decorated. There was a medium-sized television, and the kitchen was just right for her use. The market was close by so she did not have to travel far to get what she wanted; Tesco was just by the corner. Maureen was placed in a good area, and she enjoyed the attention from her neighbours. They all looked after her and would carry her shopping in whenever they saw her with it.

‘Your flat is not as bad as you described it, Aunty Maureen. It’s nice.’

‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ Maureen offered.

‘That will be nice. One sugar and a drop of milk, please. Do you want me to help?’ Maria asked

‘No, I will be all right.’

As they sat down to talk, Maria observed that Maureen had been doing marathons and even had winning medals displaced on the side cabinet.

‘Now tell me, have you found my daughter?’ she asked seriously.

‘Yes, in a way,’ Maria responded carefully.

‘What do you mean, “in a way”?’ Maureen asked, getting a bit irritated.

‘I saw her on Facebook,’ Maria explained and continued, ‘She was desperately looking for you and did not know where to start.’

‘That cannot be true,’ Maureen protested. ‘I have always been here. This has been my address for about forty years!’

‘She asked me to find you, and then she would like to come with her husband and two daughters, Martha and Rose, to visit you,’ Maria said.

‘That’s getting better and better, husband and daughters. They are most welcome in my house,’ Maureen said without a trace of emotion. ‘Where was she all those years? Why did she abandon her sick mother? I was ill and needed her support. Where was she? You don’t abandon family when they need you most, and I am her mother!’

‘Emilia feels sorry for leaving without informing you, and she told me she regrets it,’ Maria said sombrely.

‘If she was that sorry, why did she not get in touch sooner? I am disappointed in them, her and her brother,’ Maureen said angrily.

Maria shook her head. ‘I have no news about your son.’

‘I hope he is all right, wherever he may be,’ Maureen said and looked away. She could remember years back, the family that she had, how she did all she could for her children. She loved the two of them so much. What upset her most was her son. She actually had little contact with him when she was taken ill. She might not even recognize him. She had contacted his foster parents, but they said he left when he was eighteen, and they had not heard from him or any news about him. He had vanished into thin air. The thought of it made her sad. She had made several efforts but without success. She hadn’t given up searching, though. She told everyone she knew about her children and wished that one day they might reunite.

‘Emilia would like to get in touch but has no number to call you. Are you prepared to give me your number so I can pass it to her? She gave me her number in Spain,’ Maria said, handing Maureen a piece of paper.

Maureen took a dairy from her little handbag and showed Maria what number to call. Maria scribbled it down and asked to leave. She was happy that at last she had managed to locate Maureen, and she was glad to have found her fit and well. Things hadn’t gone well with that family, but they survived, and it would be incredible to see them together again. Not many people are able to stand during hard times, but Maureen coped and even achieved rewards. Maria could not say whether Maureen had forgiven her children, but she saw her eagerness to meet Emilia and her family. Can a woman’s tender care cease towards the child she bears?