The Women of Mulberry Lane, page 18
‘Yes, love, it does,’ Peggy said. ‘I shall be delighted for you to work for us whenever you have time, though I shan’t ask you to leave Maureen in the lurch – she knows, I take it?’
‘Yes, she was happy for me, just as you are,’ Rose told her and smiled. ‘Able told me Sheila was rushed to hospital. I hope she is all right?’
‘She will be. The doctor seemed confident that with complete rest and treatment she would have a healthy baby, so she’ll be stopping there until the birth.’
‘Poor Sheila,’ Rose said sympathetically, ‘but as long as they can help her and she doesn’t lose the baby…’
‘I’m sure she will be fine now,’ Peggy reassured her. ‘Things have been difficult, but they will be better now. Sheila knows she is lucky to have Pip home and he has accepted it at last.’
‘I’d give almost anything to have Jimmy home,’ Rose said and crossed her arms over her stomach protectively. ‘Anything but my baby…’A little sob escaped her, but she shook her head, refusing to cry again.
‘Jimmy died for his country, Rose. We don’t know just what happened, but he was a brave man and you have to try to take comfort from that.’
‘Yes – and that’s what I’ll tell his son…’ Rose fought her emotion.
Peggy smiled. ‘Sure it’s goin’ to be a boy?’
‘Yes, I think so,’ Rose said and smiled. ‘I don’t mind either way – but it would be nice.’
‘Yes, it would,’ Peggy replied. ‘Thank you again, Rose. Do you want to come back this evening?’
‘Yes please. I need to earn all I can before I have to slow down.’
‘We’ll help you – and if you can’t afford that house on your own, you can come and stay in the pub until you find somewhere else…’
‘Jack Barton is paying the rent,’ Rose told her. ‘He says I’m keeping the house warm for him and so he’s paying. I pay for the coke and the lighting, but he covers the rest. It’s a home for him and Tom when they come on leave…’
‘I suppose they may be back to live soon enough,’ Peggy said. ‘What will you do then, love?’
‘I’ll face that when I get to it,’ Rose smiled. ‘At the moment I’m so happy about the baby I don’t care about much else.’
*
Peggy left Rose and Able to look after the bar that evening and went to the hospital in a taxi with her son. He was still using a crutch to get about, but he no longer let it bother him and the look of resentment had gone from his eyes.
They went in to see Sheila together, but Peggy left them to it after a while and wandered out into the corridor to find a seat and wait for Pip. She watched the men taking in bunches of flowers or fruit for their wives and smiled. Giving birth was always such a joyous time for those parents who had a happy outcome.
She saw that several of the fathers were soldiers, some with empty sleeves or horrendous scars on their faces, yet all of them looked happy as they left after seeing their wives.
Pip looked relieved and more relaxed when he came out at the end of visiting time.
‘She is feeling better already, Mum,’ he said, ‘and the nurse said she is responding well to treatment…’
‘Good.’ Peggy smiled at him. ‘Let’s go home, love. If we’re lucky, there may be a bus – if not we’ll take another taxi…’
‘I’ll come on my own tomorrow,’ Pip said with determination, ‘and I’ll use the bus. I’ve got to get used to it and exercise will help – the doctors told me that in the hospital but I wouldn’t listen.’
‘You’re stubborn, like the rest of your family, Pip.’
He grinned at her. ‘I know – but it’s better than sittin’ feeling sorry for myself, Mum.’
Peggy nodded and smiled inwardly. It was good to see her son thinking for himself and with a gleam of determination in his eyes. He’d had to learn to fight the Germans and now he had another battle to fight.
13
Maureen looked through the rails of second-hand clothing in what had been Mrs Tandy’s shop until she was cruelly murdered. She was pleased to see that some really nice things had been brought in, because they were more likely to sell.
‘That green suit with the pleated back is smart,’ Maureen said. ‘And it’s cheap at thirty shillings.’
‘I suggested she ask two pounds,’ Vera said, ‘but she was adamant that she just wanted to get rid of it, and said she was happy to sell for thirty shillings less our commission.’
‘I’m sure it will go quickly, because it is a bargain,’ Maureen said. ‘I wouldn’t mind it myself, but since I had Gordy I couldn’t get into a size ten…’
‘That’s why Mrs Wilding wants to sell it,’ Vera confirmed with a smile. ‘I should say she needs a fourteen since the birth of her daughter.’
‘It would have been Janet’s size once,’ Maureen said, ‘but she isn’t here now. I’m not sure if it would fit Peggy – and Rose isn’t buying anything like this for the moment…’
‘I’m sure someone will come along,’ Vera said and smiled as Irene from the hairdressers entered the shop. ‘How are you this mornin’? Come for the wool your mother put by?’
‘She asked me to pick it up,’ Irene said. ‘But I noticed you have some more clothes in – is there anythin’ nice?’
‘What size?’ Vera asked and nodded when Irene said she was a ten. ‘Maureen was just admiring a pretty new suit we have… that green one there…’
Irene looked along the rail and drew the suit out. ‘Oh, it’s lovely. May I try it on please?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Vera said, gesturing towards the curtained alcove where customers could try on articles of clothing.
Maureen smiled and took her leave. As she’d thought, the suit wouldn’t stay on the shelves long, because it was good-quality and smart.
She went into the shop and waited while Gordon served Mavis with a pound of sugar and some margarine. The elderly woman stopped to chat, smiling at Maureen and asking how she was, before going off with her basket over her arm.
‘Mavis is looking for a lodger,’ Gordon told her after she’d left. ‘She was asking if I knew anyone who would paint her bedrooms for her. The whole lane misses Tom Barton. He was always obliging if they needed a job doing…’
‘Yes, we all miss Tom,’ Maureen sighed. ‘He couldn’t wait to join up and I hope the life is what he was looking for…’
The shop door opened and Irene entered with a carrier bag in her hand, the logo still said Mrs Tandy’s Wool Shop – Maureen hadn’t bothered to change the bags because they were too good to waste.
‘That suit fits me lovely,’ Irene said and beamed. ‘Terry is takin’ me to meet his mum tonight and I wanted to look nice – I don’t suppose you’ve got any boxes of sweets I could buy?’
‘We have some Fry’s chocolates,’ Gordon told her. ‘If you’ve got the coupons?’
Irene nodded and looked pleased as he produced a quarter-pound box of chocolates. She gave him a half-crown and he gave her seven pennies’ change after marking her ration card.
‘I went without last week so I could buy Mrs Shelby some sweets as a present,’ Irene said. ‘If Terry’s mum likes me, we’ll probably get engaged on my birthday.’
‘That’s nice for you,’ Maureen said but frowned as the girl left the shop. ‘Terry Shelby is in the army but he’s twenty-three and Irene is only sixteen…’
‘A lot of girls are getting married young these days,’ Gordon said. ‘They’re the lucky ones. I wonder what will happen when the next schoolgirls start looking for boyfriends – there are going to be more women than men…’
‘Yes, I know,’ Maureen looked sad. ‘We’ve lost so many young men – it’s a wicked shame…’
‘Yes…’ Gordon frowned as Maureen gave him her shopping list. ‘We haven’t got any treacle or condensed milk and I sold the last of the tinned peaches this morning…’
‘Oh dear…’ Maureen grimaced. ‘Shirley says it’s Richard’s birthday this weekend. She wanted to bring him round for tea – because his mum doesn’t bother with his birthday…’
‘I’ve got a tin of pears left,’ Gordon said and delved under the counter. ‘I was saving that for us, but I can’t help with the other stuff.’
‘Oh well, I’ll make a big jam tart instead,’ Maureen said. ‘I’ve still got two jars of strawberry and one of plum jam I made last autumn…’
‘Shirley won’t mind,’ Gordon said. ‘Unfortunately, we don’t have any of her favourite blancmange powders left…’
‘I’ll go round to the wholesaler on my way home and see what I can find,’ Maureen promised. ‘Is there anything else we’re right out of?’
Gordon gave her a long list. Maureen knew that some of the stuff hadn’t been available for a while, but she might be lucky enough to find other things. She paid for her purchases and Gordon marked her ration card. They were always scrupulous with paying and with the rations; it wouldn’t do to take advantage because they owned the corner shop.
Maureen went home and fetched the keys to the van. Gran insisted she would look after Gordy while Maureen drove to the wholesaler and she kissed her son and left him happily waving his fists and legs in the air.
The wholesaler wasn’t far away and Maureen was lucky enough to buy several of the items she needed.
‘We’re starting to get more ships from the Atlantic,’ the man on the till told her. ‘I reckon the Germans are on their last legs and in a couple of months we’ll be back to normal… well, ’ceptin’ for sugar and fresh meat, stuff like that…’ He laughed at his own joke.
Maureen doubted they would see the end of some rationing for ages, though others might ease once the ships could travel safely again.
Maureen paid him, said she hoped he was right and he sent a young lad to the van with her to load it. She got in and drove the short distance to her home, leaving the van loaded and locked. She would get lunch now for her and Gran, and feed Gordy, and then take the goods to the shop.
Just as she was about to go round the back of the house, a man stepped out of the shadows and made a grab at her arm. Maureen gave a cry of alarm and then saw who it was.
‘Rory…’ she gasped. ‘I wasn’t expecting you…’
‘No, you bloody bitch!’ he said savagely and gave her a slap round the side of her head. She jerked back in shock. ‘You didn’t think I had the right to know that you let my son die…’
Maureen recoiled from his anger. ‘It wasn’t like that,’ she protested, distressed. ‘Robin was very ill. I didn’t know where to contact you…’
‘You could have told Velma’s mother. She still lives in the same filthy hovel – but you neglected my son and you thought I’d give you a hiding and you were right…’
‘No, that’s not true,’ she said, looking at the man she’d believed she loved until he betrayed her once too often. ‘I would never have hurt or neglected Robin. I loved him. He caught the chickenpox. He had it badly and there was nothing I could do…’
‘Bitch…’ Rory swung at her again and she smelled whisky on his breath as she backed away, putting her hands up in front of her. ‘You had his bloody kid and that’s all you cared about. I’ll give you such a hiding…’
‘You touch my girl again and I’ll kill yer,’ Gran said fiercely, startling them both. She had come out of the house and was wielding a steel poker. ‘She nursed that boy night and day and it broke her heart when he died…’
‘Shut yer mouth, witch…’ Rory said and glared at her. ‘I’ll do for yer and all…’
‘Over my dead body!’ Gran said and pushed in front of Maureen, hitting him on the arm with her poker.
Rory snarled furiously, swore and then grappled with her, taking the poker off her and holding it in a threatening position.
‘You old hag…’ he muttered and drew his arm back. ‘I’ll bloody swing for the pair of yer…’
‘No, yer won’t, mate,’ a voice said and an arm went round Rory’s throat, blocking his air. The next moment the poker had been snatched from his hand and he was lying on the ground. Two young soldiers stood over him. One of them looked at Gran and Maureen. ‘All right?’
‘Oh, Tom, thank you,’ Maureen said and looked at Rory lying on the ground. The man who had wrestled him down was bigger and stronger and extremely good-looking, but a stranger. ‘He thinks I let Robin die…’ She swallowed a sob and then Gran gave a little sigh and swayed against her. Maureen and Tom moved quickly to prevent her fall. ‘She’s had an upset…’
‘See that rat clears off, Micky…’ Tom said and his friend grinned, hauling Rory to his feet. Maureen didn’t see what happened as she and Tom took Gran inside and settled her in her chair. She was trembling but insisted she was fine as Maureen said she would ring the doctor.
‘Just make me a cup of tea, love,’ Gran said. ‘I’ll be all right.’
‘Sorry we were a bit late…’ Tom’s friend said as he walked into the kitchen after them. ‘I don’t think that bully will be back for a while. His nose is bleeding and I broke his arm for good measure. Where I come from blokes like that end up with a knife in their back – pickin’ on a woman and an old lady…’
‘Thank you,’ Maureen said and hoped that he wouldn’t end up being arrested for assault; he’d gone in a bit heavy breaking Rory’s arm, even if he had needed a lesson. ‘Your arrival was timely…’
‘Glad to be of service,’ Micky said. ‘Tom said I might get a room where he lives – or at the pub?’
‘I’m not sure if they have room at the pub,’ Maureen told him. ‘Rose is at your house, Tom – but if she doesn’t mind…’ She thought for a moment. ‘Mavis wants a lodger. Tom will show you where… she was only asking about her rooms being decorated this mornin’, Tom – but you’re on leave…’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he said. ‘I had a bit of a bang on the head so that’s why they sent me home for a while…’
‘He was blown up and lucky to be alive,’ Micky chimed in. ‘We couldn’t believe it when the lucky so-and-so crawled out from under the lorry…’
‘They put me on transport because I could drive,’ Tom explained, looking a bit crestfallen. ‘I haven’t even fired a gun in anger…’
Maureen laughed, partly in relief that his friend had saved her from Rory’s bullying and partly at his look of chagrin. ‘Oh, that’s too bad, Tom,’ she said. ‘After you went all that way… wherever you did go…’
‘France and then we were heading to Germany…’
Micky made a warning sound and Tom grinned.
‘Maureen’s no spy. I was driving a truck filled with men and their kit. We were hit with some kind of explosive – probably a booby trap – and the truck was blown off the road…’ His smile disappeared. ‘Half the men were badly wounded and six were killed. I was unconscious and the next thing I knew I was on a ship with the other wounded being brought home. I was in hospital for a few days and then they said I’d been lucky and gave me two weeks’ leave…’
‘Yeah, rotten shame,’ Micky said and grinned. ‘He’s missing the advance, Mrs Hart – I take it you are Maureen Hart. This rogue here reckons you’re like a mother to him… though a mighty young one…’ His eyes sparkled with mischief.
‘I’m just glad you survived,’ Maureen told him but smiled. She didn’t mind if Tom saw her as his substitute mother. ‘It’s good to see you – and nice to meet you, Micky. You can call me Maureen, everyone does.’
The kettle had boiled and she made tea for them all. Gran’s hand shook a little as she drank hers, but her colour had come back. After they’d finished, the two soldiers left.
‘If you get any more trouble, Maureen, you let me know,’ Micky said and winked at her. ‘I don’t like men that hit ladies…’
‘Thank you for what you did – it was kind…’
Maureen saw her visitors to the door and then went back to Gran. She took her cup and looked at her anxiously.
‘Are you sure you don’t want the doctor?’
‘Quite sure. He didn’t do much harm because of Tom and his friend…’
‘It was foolish coming out like that,’ Maureen said and restored the poker to the front of the range. Micky had brought it in and she could see a smear of blood on it. Gran’s blow hadn’t drawn blood. Micky must have really smashed Rory in the face.
‘I wasn’t goin’ to let that devil hurt you,’ Gran said stoutly, though her hand trembled a little. ‘He’s a nasty brute and always has been. It’s a pity you ever got in with him.’
Once upon a time, Maureen might have felt sorry for Rory but now she just wanted to be free of him. Although he could be charming, he’d let her down and left her alone and pregnant, and, if Gordon hadn’t loved her and married her, she might have had a much harder life. Yes, Rory had a right to be upset over his son’s death – but he shouldn’t have tarred her with the same brush as his first wife Velma. Maureen hadn’t caused Robin’s death, she hadn’t neglected him, and his death had broken her heart.
‘I think you should go to the police,’ Gran said. ‘I don’t think you’ve seen the last of Rory – and if Gordon knows what happened, he’ll kill him. Better to have him stopped by the police than somethin’ like that happens…’
‘Gordon isn’t fit enough to do what Micky did just now…’
‘That crutch of his could deliver a killin’ blow,’ Gran said. ‘I’m warnin’ yer, love. If Rory comes round here again and Gordon catches him – there will be hell to play.’
Maureen felt a shiver down her spine. The last thing she wanted was for her husband to be involved with a murder and she knew he wouldn’t let Rory lay a finger on her or the kids and not strike back…
*
‘Of course you can both stay here,’ Rose said when Tom asked her if she would mind. ‘It’s your house and your dad is paying the rent. I can stay with Mavis for a few days if you like…’
‘No, we don’t want to put you out,’ Micky said and smiled at her. He was massively attractive with a rugged face and a powerful physique. ‘I can get a room elsewhere. I’ve only got a few days’ leave.’
