Page 163 of The Sapphire Child
Stella turned to Andrew. ‘Are you okay?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, I want to do this.’
She leaned up and kissed his lips. ‘I love you very much.’
He looked back at her adoringly. She had long got used to him wearing an eye patch over his sightless eye; to her it was part of his charm. Everything about him made her happy.
They caught up with the others. Belle was running around restlessly and jumping on and off a low border of bricks around a graveside.
Stella went to her daughter and whispered, ‘Why don’t you pick some of those wild flowers under the trees for Granddad Tom – to cheer him up?’
‘Is Granddad Tom sad?’ she asked, her sweet face frowning.
‘A little bit.’
‘Why is he sad, Mummy?’
‘Because he’s come to say goodbye to his baby daughter, Amelia,’ Stella explained. ‘She died a long time ago and is buried here.’
‘Like your dog Frisky was buried at Gulmarg?’ Belle asked.
‘Yes, like that.’
Belle dashed off. ‘Back in a minute!’
Stella exchanged amused looks with Andrew. At three and a half, the energetic Belle kept them busy all day long, as well as entertained with her chatter and observations.
They joined Tom and Esmie who were standing in quiet contemplation over two graves: one for Tom’s first wife, Mary, and the second for their infant daughter.
Stella read the inscription on the first headstone.
IN LOVING MEMORY OFMARYMAXWELLLOMAX,DEARLY BELOVED WIFE OFCAPTAINT. LOMAX OFTHEPESHAWARRIFLES,BORN2NDJANUARY1888,DIED5THJANUARY1913. ERECTED BY HER SORROWING HUSBAND.
‘OFOR THE TOUCH OF A VANISHED HAND, AND THE SOUND OF A VOICE THAT IS STILL.’
Stella had a pang of pity as she watched Tom struggle not to weep. But it was the second grave that tore at her heart.
IN MEMORY OFAMELIAMARY,INFANT DAUGHTER OFCAPTAINT. LOMAX. BORN5THJANUARY1913,LIVED FOUR DAYS.
‘MY FLESH SHALL REST IN LOVE. SAFE IN THE ARMS OFJESUS. OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.’
Seeing the desolate, loving words, Stella understood for the first time just how much of a burden Tom must have carried for so long – grief that he had bottled up and refused to speak about. Only Esmie, patient and caring over many years, had been able to break through Tom’s reserve and show him that he was allowed to grieve for his lost wife and child – owed it to them to acknowledge their existence and pay tribute to their short lives.
Esmie handed Tom a bunch of white chrysanthemums. He placed them on Mary’s grave, crouching down to touch the stone.He rested his hand there a moment. When he stood up, Esmie put her arms around her husband and hugged him in comfort.
Stella turned to Andrew. ‘Are you ready?’
He nodded, clutching the second bouquet that Esmie had just passed to him. Andrew stepped over to the baby’s grave and spoke in a clear voice.
‘Amelia, today I meet you for the first time. All I know about you is that you fought to hang onto life for four days. We don’t know what you looked like. Perhaps you and I might have looked alike. I wish I’d got to know you – my big sister.’
He cleared his throat and glanced at Stella. She gave him a nod of encouragement.
‘But what I do know,’ he carried on, ‘is that you were greatly loved. Your dad –ourdad – has never stopped loving you and never will. Because we Lomaxes are loyal to those we love.’ He turned to his father. ‘Let’s lay the flowers together, Dad.’
Tom stepped towards him and, shoulder to shoulder, they bent and laid the flowers at Amelia’s stone. As they stood back up, Tom said hoarsely, ‘Thank you, Andy.’
Abruptly, Tom grabbed Andrew in a fierce hug and began to weep.
