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Chapter Two
Monster Lead Me Home

There were moments in Martha Hudson's life that were too painful to think about. For many years, she had kept this part of her life a secret for fear of it breaking apart everything she had worked hard to rebuild. But now, as the train rumbled towards Birmingham, she wished and hoped that time would come to a complete stop and she would be able to take a few moments to gather herself. It was not that she was dreading the return to her hometown. It was more about facing the truth and acknowledging that Tommy was truly gone. She had not been back since Tommy was taken from her, and the streets he once walked now only held his ghost.

Four years had passed and the pain within her heart was still unbearable. She had moved to London in hope that it would numb the pain she was living with, and it had slightly helped her. When they were young, they had both planned to escape Birmingham and move to London to make a life for themselves. When he died, she had taken it upon herself to experience everything they had planned to do, almost in honour of his life. She had met a good man – a doctor – and had accepted his proposal a few months ago after a year of courting. It had been difficult to open herself up to another man, and it had taken her some time to truly do so. Except there was one thing she couldn't give him for she was not able to, and that was her body.

Her life plan was to never return to Birmingham but Michael had been offered a position at the City Hospital of Birmingham which meant that a relocation to the place she had quickly departed from was inevitable. To be the bride and future wife of a doctor, it was about keeping up appearances, and so she had no choice but to return. Michael had no idea about her past, nor the reason why she had moved to London. He didn't know that she had loved and had lost.

As the train pulled into the station, she believed that Birmingham would forever stay in her past. But now, it was her future. How life worked, she did not understand.

Uncertainty began to swim in her stomach and a cold shiver ran down her spine. She closed her eyes as her hands began to shake uncontrollably. Michael seemed to noticed and rested his hand over hers in an attempt to calm her. She took deep breaths, knowing that her reaction would be met with questions once they got to their new house. The train stopped, and Michael helped her up from her seat. Her knees felt weak, and he assumed she was travel sick. He grabbed their belongings and with a helping hand, he helped her off the train. The cold air hit her hard and she tried to fight against the shaking of her body. She glanced around as a sea of people exited the train, filling up the platform. She took a moment to observe the people around her as Michael figured out where they needed to go. She saw families running to each other and being reunited; she saw couples hugging each other tightly; businessmen navigating their way through the hordes of people and out into the city. Michael pulled gently at her hand as he led her through the sea of bodies, and towards the streets outside the station. They were out in the open air before Martha realised, and she took a few deep breaths. He pulled her towards the vehicle waiting for them, and he helped her into the seat as he placed their suitcases on the back seat. He hopped into the driver's seat, and offered Martha a reassuring smile.

As they weaved through the streets of Birmingham and to their new home, Martha was quiet. Michael noticed the difference in his fiancée.

"Are you well, my dear?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

"I am well," Martha replied, trying to convince herself. "I'm tired, that's all."

This seemed to be enough for Michael as he nodded, and focused his attention on the road. The house came into view and Martha was taken aback by the beauty of it as it stood proudly in the distance. It was a far cry from the house she grew up in, but this would be her home. It was exciting to have a home to call her own, with a man she could love. It was never her intention to find someone after Tommy. Michael had pursued her since they met and he was fun to be around. He made her laugh, he cared about her, and he loved her. And this would be their home together.

As they pulled up outside the house, she let herself out of the car before Michael could get to her side. Michael watched her look around at the house and the grounds that surrounded it. It was spectacular, and an early wedding present from him to his future wife. It filled him with pride to know he could look after her, and while she had been adamant that she wouldn't return to Birmingham, for whatever reason, he was proud of her for supporting him in his new job position.

"Shall we take a walk around the grounds?" he asked excitedly.

"Later? I am quite tired," she said quietly.

"Of course," Michael replied, closing the gap between them. He didn't notice her body become frozen as he wrapped his arms around her body and brush his lips against her own. "I wanted to ask you… about earlier. On the train. You were unwell?"

"Travelling scares me," Martha replied. "That's all. I apologise for acting that way."

"Do not apologise, Mo. I understand," Michael smiled. "Go to bed. I'll wake in a couple of hours."

Martha nodded, a small smile on her face. She entered the house and looked around in complete awe. The house was not only grand on the outside as she looked at all the intricate details that the house had to offer. It was beautiful. A marble staircase led the way towards the bedrooms and studies, and she found herself climbing the stairs slowly. Michael had told her that he had found them a house but other than that it had been a secret to her. She took a peek into every room upstairs, and smiled as she stepped into the master bedroom. Flowers welcomed her and filled her senses with a beautiful scent. She picked up the card addressed to her and read Michael's handwriting.

'To my beloved,

Welcome home, darling.

With love,
Michael.'

She smiled and closed the card. The bedroom looked out onto the gardens, and she watched as Michael spoke to a grey haired man with a cane near the fountain. She furrowed her brow and tipped her head to the side as she wondered who he was. Michael had informed her that it would just be the two of them for a couple of days as the agency found them staff to care for the house. Martha had been adamant that she didn't want anyone to be working for them, but Michael was sure of it.

"We need help, Martha," he had said. "That's my final answer."

She had become quiet after that, knowing that when his voice was stern that it was best to not argue with him. It felt odd that he would want people to care for the house and to care for them. He had been brought up in a household where his family had help whereas she came from a household where you had absolutely nothing to your name except the clothes on your back.

She moved away from the window, and slid onto the bed. She laid there for a moment staring at the ceiling. It was not long before sleep came to her.

It was a few hours later when she awoke to Michael calling her name. She opened her eyes and saw that it was still daylight outside. She wondered how long she had slept for. The room was empty and she wondered if she had imagined her name being called, but when Michael burst through the door, she knew that it was real.

"We have been invited to a party, my dear," Michael said excitedly, ignoring the fact that she was startled at the sudden wake up call. "It does sound rather exciting!"

Martha nodded. "When is it?"

"Tomorrow night," he said, reading from the letter. "You are cordially invited to a party hosted by myself, Mister Kimber."

"That's exciting," Martha said. "I didn't know you knew anyone here."

"I've met with Mister Kimber a number of times," Michael said exasperatedly as if he had just told her and she had forgotten. "He would always hold parties in London."

"Ahh…" she said, absentmindedly. She glanced at the flowers again. "Thank you for the beautiful flowers. It was a lovely surprise."

"Anything for my love," Michael said, his tone softer now. He sat on the bed and rested a hand upon her covered thigh. He moved forwards and kissed her. She kissed him back. "I had a friend of mine come by and place them in here. I was worried you were going to fall asleep in another bedroom. Thankfully, here you are."

"I appreciate it," Martha smiled, tiredly.

"Girls and their flowers. Girls and their diamonds," he said, holding her left hand in his and staring at the ring that adorned her ring finger. "Three months and seven days until you're mine. Mrs Michael Thompson."

"It's not long to wait now," she whispered softly.

He twisted the ring around her finger, and she allowed him to. The ring on her finger was something she never truly brought any attention. It made her hand look different that it scared her to think about what it meant. Was she ready to be someone's wife? Was she ready for this?

"Will any of your family be attending the wedding?"

Martha shook her head. "No."

The subject of her family only came up once in the whole time they were courting. She had told him about the death of her parents when she was just seven, and the people who had brought her up were like family to her except they hadn't spoken for some time now. Michael seemed to understand and she respected that he didn't seem to pry. He never asked questions about them, but she knew that he would be there to listen to her when she was ready to talk about them.

She watched as Michael seemed to be in awe of the sentimental value of the ring and what it truly represented. Man and wife. A future of endless possibilities and a life full of love. It had been something she had wanted so much but it was never supposed to be with anyone. Her future had been planned, and the war had taken the most important person in her life away from her. As she stared at the ring, she could not help but feel as though she was suffocating.