Coming Home 6 (Pages 530 - 649)

 

SPOILERS!!!

Judith settles down in Devon with her aunt Biddy. Her uncle Bob is sent to Scotland where her cousin Ned is also stationed. Then Judith decides to stay in England and writes to her parents to announce that she is not travelling to Singapore. She thinks it will feel selfish to travel there and leave the country that is going through difficult times like a coward. Shortly after Uncle Bob goes, the war breaks out, and Judith plans to volunteer in the Wrens, and a neighbour, Hester Lang, agrees to teach her some secretarial skills.

Uncle Bob phones with terrible news. The ship where Ned was was torpedoed, and he died. Biddy is devastated, and Judith realises that it was a good thing she decided to stay in England. Otherwise, her aunt would have been all on her own. When she writes to tell the Carey-Lewises, Loveday writes back, expressing their condolences and she also explains that Athena married at a register in Edinburgh, and now she is back and pregnant, as her husband has been sent to Ethiopia.

Another death happens soon. Aunt Lavinia dies in her sleep, and Judith goes to her funeral. She is afraid to see Edward, but she is told that he asked for leave but was refused. Everybody is there for the funeral except the men who are away fighting. During the wake, Mr Baines, the lawyer, tells Judith that he wants to talk to her. The first thing he tells her is that Billy Fawcett is dead. He had some argument with someone at the bank, and suddenly, he collapsed and died instantly. Judith says that she can't say she is sorry, but it is sad that so many people are dying. Then the lawyer tells her that he has thought that she should buy Aunt Lavivia's property and as her trustee, he thinks that she needs to invest the money in brick and mortar. At first, Judith thinks that is a bad idea because she lives in Devon with her aunt, and she is planning to move soon. Baines says that she should consider having a base because her parents and sister will return one day, and the house will be good for them while they find something of their own. And in the meantime, she can let the house or use a caretaker. When the man mentions this, she remembers Phyllis, and she comes up with the idea of hiring her as the caretaker. So Judith agrees to buy the house.

Judith returns to Devon. Her aunt is a bit better and has started going out to play bridge and has volunteered for the Red Cross. Mr Baines calls to say that she needs to come to sign the purchase of the house. So Judith talks to the housekeeper, Mrs Nagg, but she is not happy when she is told that she will keep an eye on her aunt. The woman tells her that when she is all on her own, her aunt drinks a lot, and she thinks that Judith's presence is what makes her aunt stop drinking. So Judith thinks that she will take Biddy with her.

Biddy is pleased to go with her, and she loves her niece's new house. When Biddy expresses how peaceful she feels here, as there are no memories of Ned in the house, Judith comes up with the idea of their staying in Cornwall, at least for the summer. Biddy is unsure, but Judith makes her see this is a  good thing. So Biddy, Judith, Phyllis and her daughter Anna start living together.

The news about the war is not good. Gus, Loveday's beau, is reported missing, presumed dead, and Loveday is devastated. Yet, some weeks later he phones, saying that he was injured and now is in a hospital. He will be taken to Scotland the next day, and some days later Loveday receives a letter from Gus, explaining everything. Jeremy Wells has also been wounded when his ship was torpedoed, and he was rescued from the sea. He comes to see Judith, and she can't help but feel happy to see him. Even though Judith has been in love with Edward, she has always had a soft sport for Jeremy. 

And Athena has a baby girl, who she names Clementina.