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“to look at Louisa, stroked her cheek, and was rewarded by a dazzling smile. She had been surprised by how light-skinned the child was. Her features were much more like Eva’s than Bill’s. A small turned-up nose, big hazel eyes, and long dark eyelashes. Her golden-brown hair protruded from under the deep peak of her bonnet in a cascade of ringlets. “Do you think she’d come to me?â€� Cathy asked. “You can try.â€� Eva handed her over. “She’s got so heavy, she’s making my arms ache!â€� She gave a nervous laugh as she took the parcel from Cathy and peered at the postmark. “What’s that, Mam?â€� David craned his neck and gave a short rasping cough. “Is it sweets?â€� “No, my love.â€� Eva and Cathy exchanged glances. “It’s just something Auntie Cathy’s brought from the old house. Are you going to show Mikey your flags?â€� The boy dug eagerly in his pocket, and before long he and Michael were walking ahead, deep in conversation about the paper flags Eva had bought for them to decorate sand castles. Louisa didn’t cry when Eva handed her over. She seemed fascinated by Cathy’s hair, and as they walked along, Cathy amused her by singing “Old MacDonald.â€� The beach was only a short walk from the station, and it wasn’t long before the boys were filling their buckets with sand. “I hardly dare open it,â€� Eva said, fingering the string on the parcel. “I know. I was desperate to open it myself.â€� Cathy looked at her. “I hope you haven’t built up your hopes, too much, Eva. I’m so worried it might be . . . you know.â€� Eva nodded quickly. “I thought of that too.â€� She untied the string, her fingers trembling. The paper fell away to reveal a box with the words “Benson’s Baby Wearâ€� written across it in gold italic script. Eva lifted the lid. Inside was an exquisite pink lace dress with matching bootees and a hat. The label said, “Age 2â€�3 Years.â€� Beneath it was a handwritten note:   Dear Eva, This is a little something for our baby girl from her daddy. I don’t know the exact date of her birthday, but I wanted you to know that I haven’t forgotten. I hope things are going well for you and your husband. Please thank him from me for what he’s doing for our daughter: he’s a fine man and I don’t blame you for wanting to start over with him. I’m back in the army now, traveling around. I’m due to be posted overseas soon, but I don’t know where yet. I’ll write and let you know when I get my new address. It would be terrific if I could have a photograph of her in this little dress, if your husband doesn’t mind. Best wishes to you all, Bill   For several seconds they sat staring at the piece of paper. When Eva spoke, her voice was tight with emotion. “Cathy, he thinks I chose to stay with Eddie!â€� Cathy nodded, her mind reeling. “Eddie showed me the letter he sent. Bill wouldn’t have known you were in Wales, would he? He would have assumed you and Eddie had already been reunited—that he’d written with your consent on behalf of you both.â€� She was afraid to look at Eva. “What are you going to do?â€� Eva’s face had gone very pale. “I don’t know.â€� She glanced at David, who was jabbing a Welsh flag into a sand castle. “He said he was going to be posted overseas. Suppose they send him to Britain?â€� Cathy bit her lip. “It could be anywhere, couldn’t it? It could be the other side of the world.â€� She could see what was going through Eva’s mind. “You think if he came here, you and he could be together without . . .â€� Her eyes went to the boys. Eva gave a quick, almost imperceptible nod, as if she was afraid someone might see her. “What about Eddie?â€� “I don’t know!â€� The tone of her voice made David look up. She put on a smile, which disappeared the”
― Lindsay Ashford, The Color of Secrets

“been foolish to take any risks. And a funeral”
― Lindsay Ashford, The Color of Secrets