There is a moment in The Windmill in Part Two as Florence, one of our main characters, is about to leave her beautiful home to begin a perilous journey.

As she closes the door to her home at dawn, she notices the garden. Florence realises as she looks, there are gentle reminders in her garden, illustrated in her plants, trees and everything that is fighting to regenerate life.

Florence realises that this struggle is not an easy one, but their strength to survive, to burst forth with life, gives her hope.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that we view Mother’s Day here in the UK in the springtime. To be grateful for our Mother, who nurtures and cares for all of us and offers us strength when we need it.

Happy Mother’s Day

To celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, 27th March here in the UK, I thought I’d pull out a few selected excerpts from The Windmill involving the mothers in the book.

These key matriarchal figures within the story are strong personalities who help develop and nurture the main characters with their strength, love and understanding. 

Annie

‘At last!’ Ginny stretched up in relief, flexing her shoulders as she exited the M1 and proceeded to follow the road into Hemel Hempstead and pulled up on the gravel driveway of her family home.

Parked, she patted the dashboard of the car, collected her coin and ceremoniously thanked her little VW for a safe journey. Despite being August, the weather turned nasty and the sky was dark, heavy with rain; large spots were now splattering on the bonnet as confirmation. 

One landed on Ginny’s forehead as she took her bag from the boot and checked the time: five minutes past six. As she straightened her aching back, the front door opened and there stood Annie. 

Her long auburn hair was loose,and she flicked it off her face as she smiled excitedly at her daughter. Then she proceeded out of the doorway in her fluffy pink slippers to embrace Ginny, the way any mother would who have not seen their offspring for sometime.

‘My you look tired, but well, darling. How was your journey?’

‘Long,’ Ginny said, smiling. ‘I’m pleased to see you, Mum.’ ‘Come on, let’s go inside, the weather is turning nasty. We can have a long chat and attempt to work out this extraordinary situation.’

As they entered the house, Ginny sensed the comfort of home surround her as her mother took her luggage from her and then stepped back to push the door shut, blocking out the miserable, wet evening.

Audrey Sophia

Helena took the photo offered to her as Audrey Sophia then glanced at the second one.

This time Helena noted how Audrey Sophia’s face lit up. She was aware of who the photo was of before Audrey Sophia announced it. Only a mother could view the image of her child with that amount of pride and love.

‘And this…’ Audrey Sophia paused to catch her breath, ‘is Jack.’

Helena

‘You should have been paying attention, Helena,’ admonished Alex.

‘Not fair, you owe me money for Old Kent Road.’

On hearing a noise, Alex turned, surprised, then was excited to see them. Ginny noted his broadening smile on acknowledging James as Helena looked up from the chaos of the board game.

‘Darling!’ she shouted, and stood up.

‘How lovely, when did you creep in?’ She bustled in to receive a kiss and a hug as Alex got up to pat his son on the back.

Ginny viewed it all, feeling a little awkward, but James pulled her beside him, introducing her to both. With no hesitation, Helena grabbed Ginny, almost hugging the life out of her, then sat her down at the table beside her. 

Happy Mother’s Day

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