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Back After the War Save as PDF
Chapters (74)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Also by Anita Frank
  5. Note to Readers
  6. Dedication
  7. Part One
  8. Chapter One
  9. Chapter Two
  10. Chapter Three
  11. Chapter Four
  12. Chapter Five
  13. Chapter Six
  14. Chapter Seven
  15. Chapter Eight
  16. Chapter Nine
  17. Chapter Ten
  18. Chapter Eleven
  19. Chapter Twelve
  20. Chapter Thirteen
  21. Chapter Fourteen
  22. Chapter Fifteen
  23. Chapter Sixteen
  24. Chapter Seventeen
  25. Chapter Eighteen
  26. Chapter Nineteen
  27. Chapter Twenty
  28. Chapter Twenty-One
  29. Chapter Twenty-Two
  30. Chapter Twenty-Three
  31. Chapter Twenty-Four
  32. Chapter Twenty-Five
  33. Chapter Twenty-Six
  34. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  35. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  36. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  37. Chapter Thirty
  38. Chapter Thirty-One
  39. Chapter Thirty-Two
  40. Chapter Thirty-Three
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. Chapter Thirty-Five
  43. Chapter Thirty-Six
  44. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  45. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  46. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Part Two
  49. Chapter Forty-One
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Chapter Forty-Four
  53. Chapter Forty-Five
  54. Chapter Forty-Six
  55. Chapter Forty-Seven
  56. Chapter Forty-Eight
  57. Chapter Forty-Nine
  58. Chapter Fifty
  59. Chapter Fifty-One
  60. Chapter Fifty-Two
  61. Chapter Fifty-Three
  62. Chapter Fifty-Four
  63. Chapter Fifty-Five
  64. Chapter Fifty-Six
  65. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  66. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  67. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  68. Chapter Sixty
  69. Acknowledgements
  70. Extract
  71. Chapter One
  72. Chapter Two
  73. Chapter Three
  74. About the Publisher

A sly smile plays across Lady Helen’s perfect features. ‘As I say, Gordon is prepared to go to any length to get his son. You are a single mother …’ she waves her hand over the field, ‘working every hour God sends, no doubt. How much attention can you really spare a young boy? So, I ask you this, Mrs Ellison – as a mother, wouldn’t you rather do what is best for Tom, rather than what is best for you? What if those German Jews had held onto their children, rather than sending them abroad, where would they be now? Dead in those awful camps, no doubt. But instead, those children, the children of those brave mothers, have life and a future, and opportunity to make something of themselves. Wouldn’t you want Tom to have the best in life?’

She makes her way back to the car and opens the driver’s door. Gwen bites her lip, refusing to watch.

‘Give him up, Mrs Ellison. I assure you he will be treasured, and we will go to every length to ensure that the situation is managed in such a way that no one need ever know the truth. You have my word on that. You will be free to start a new life, financially secure. And it can be a happy one if you choose to make it so.’ She rests her arm on the top of the doorframe to make her final appeal, her voice softening with persuasion. ‘Give your son the chance of a wonderful life – a life without financial concern and blessed with possibilities. It is the life every good parent dreams of for their child, and so few have the resources to make it happen … but we do, Gordon and I. Do what is best for your son, Gwen.’

Scooping her skirt under her, she drops into the leather driving seat and pulls the door to. Gwen shudders as the engine starts. She looks away as the car pulls out into the lane.

From up the field, Tom’s joyous whoops carry like bird calls on the wind, accompanied by Kip’s frantic barking as the two of them chase across the furrows. Gwen’s eyes fill with tears.

She will not let him go. The life he has with her is good enough. She refuses to entertain Helen Allingham’s arguments. She will not succumb to her manipulation. No matter what type of mother it might make her, she will fight for her son.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Jack

September 1939