The Women of Mulberry Lane, page 26
Thanks, your friend Tom. XX
‘Oh, Tom,’ Rose said and tears started to trickle down her cheeks. She’d been worrying about him since Peggy came over to tell her that he’d been wounded and now she was laughing, because it was just like Tom to do something like this. She smiled through the tears. ‘I shan’t let you down, Tom love,’ she whispered.
Getting to her feet with new energy, Rose got up to put the kettle on. She would make another cup of tea and then go across the road to let Peggy know that Tom was all right. Her thoughts all over the place, Rose had let the gas run too long without putting the match to it and when she did it made a loud bang and flared up, startling her. She jumped back in fright and stumbled over a stool, landing on her bum on the kitchen floor.
The gas had settled now and she pulled herself up, moaning and grumbling as she put the kettle on the gas and told herself not to be a fool. A moment later and she was gasping as the pain struck. She doubled over with it, cursing and feeling frightened. It was at least three weeks too early, though she hadn’t been exactly sure when it would be born, because Jimmy had been able to visit home on weekends for some time before he went on that last posting.
Rose turned the gas out. She stumbled to the door and stood there for a moment in the early morning sunshine. The pain was coming again, sharper now, and she was afraid the baby would come before she could get help.
‘What’s up, love?’ Alice said, coming out of her front door. ‘I heard a bang just now – are yer all right?’
I let the gas build too long and it flared up,’ Rose admitted. ‘It’s off now – but I tripped over a stool and I think…’ She gasped and caught at herself and Alice nodded.
‘The baby is on the way,’ she said knowingly. ‘You go back inside and I’ll fetch Peggy. She’ll decide whether you should stay here or go off to hospital. Don’t you worry, Rose. We are going to look after you now.’
*
Rose finally gave birth six hours later in the spare bedroom in the pub. Peggy had wanted to send her to the hospital, but Rose had been in too much pain, so they’d got her over to the pub, with help from a couple of men working on the clearance at the old lawyer’s office, and up the stairs to the room Peggy had selected.
‘At least here we can keep an eye on you,’ Peggy said. ‘I’ve sent for the doctor and the midwife, but Maureen is coming round and she saw me through the birth of the twins, so you’ll be fine.’
Rose had tried not to scream and upset people, but in the end Maureen had told her to let it out and so she did. Her screams were heard downstairs in the pub and the regulars nodded to each other and murmured ‘poor lass’ and ‘shouldn’t be long now…’ and then went on with their business. A child was being born and everyone felt it was a good omen for the future that it should be born over the pub. ‘It will be one of us…’ they said and smiled. ‘Peggy and Maureen will see her right…’
The doctor and the midwife eventually arrived, but Maureen had it all under control and the doctor went off to another patient. The midwife stood and watched, giving advice and finally taking charge when the baby needed a helping hand just at the last. Once she was satisfied that both mother and baby were doing well, she nodded to Maureen.
‘I can leave her to you now, Maureen. I couldn’t have done more myself – and there are half a dozen more babies due any day now…’
Maureen accepted her praise and frowned at Peggy after she’d gone. ‘Well, she wasn’t much help. It’s a good thing you let me know when you did, Peggy.’
‘I remembered she and the doctor were late arriving when I had the twins and I thought Rose would have the baby sooner than she did…’
Maureen sighed as she finished tidying her patient up and put the baby wrapped in a towel into Rose’s arms. ‘You’ve got a lovely little girl, Rose. She looks just like you.’
Rose smiled wearily. She realised that she’d been lucky, because six hours was nothing when a child was being born; many women had hour upon hour of suffering and so she’d got away light, though it didn’t feel like it at the moment.
‘Thank you – you’ve both been so kind to me.’
‘We look after our own,’ Peggy said and patted her hand kindly. ‘I’m going to make you a cup of tea and bring you a slice of apple pie. You can have them and then get some sleep – you deserve it.’
‘She’s lovely, isn’t she?’ Rose said, looking at the tiny baby in her arms. So small to have caused all that pain! She sighed, thinking of her baby’s father, and then shook her head. There was no point in looking back.
‘I told you Tom is coming home next month?’ Rose said and Peggy nodded and smiled. ‘He’ll stay with me and I’ll look after him – I’ll be back on my feet by then, won’t I?’
‘Of course you will,’ Peggy said confidently. ‘A few days in bed and you’ll be as right as rain…’
Rose nodded and smiled as she held the baby to her breast. Maureen told her what to do as she fed her little girl for the first time.
‘Any thoughts on what you will call her?’
‘Her name is Molly,’ Rose said. ‘She’s named after you, Maureen, but I can’t call her that, so Molly is nearest.’
Maureen looked pleased and smiled. Some people shortened Maureen to Molly – the last one to call her that had been Rory when they were first courting. For a moment the smile left her face, but then she remembered what Gordon had been told. Rory had lost his life by his wanton destruction of other people’s property. He couldn’t hurt her any more – and she wouldn’t tell Rose, because she’d named her child as a thank you.
‘It’s a nice, friendly name,’ she said. ‘I’m glad everything went well, Rose. I’m going home now, because I have to start getting tea ready for Shirley and Gordon. I’ll come and see you tomorrow.’
Rose nodded, intent on letting her baby suck its fill. She was quietly happy and at peace. She had her child now and the future was looking brighter, because of the good friends she had made in the lanes. She looked up as Peggy came to her.
‘I don’t know what I would have done without you and Maureen – and Alice. If I’d been alone in some bedsit somewhere, I shouldn’t have known what to do…’
‘The first is always the most terrifying,’ Peggy said and handed her a cup of sweet tea and a slice of apple pie. ‘But you’ll never be alone here, love – too many people care for you. Besides, Tom would never have forgiven us if we’d just shoved you in a taxi and sent you to the infirmary.’
Rose blushed. ‘I’m glad I can help him, Peggy. He has been really good to me.’
‘He loves you,’ Peggy said simply. ‘Tom is a good man, Rose – one of the best ever. It’s not my place to give you advice, but I know what I would do if I were you…’
Rose looked down at her baby, who had finished sucking and was now sleeping. She gave her to Peggy to take and watched as she was laid in her cot. Molly would need a father to look after her in the future and Rose knew that Tom truly cared for her. She’d thought once that she could never care for anyone other than Jimmy, but now she knew that she did feel something for Tom. It had upset her when he was wounded and she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him.
‘I might…’ she said and smiled at Peggy. ‘But I’m too tired to think about it now…’
20
Rose was feeling much better by the time Tom arrived in a small car. The driver was a hospital orderly and he got out, opening the door for Tom, who emerged with some difficulty, using his crutches to help him stand upright. His escort brought his kitbag to the door and handed it to Rose, who stood waiting to welcome Tom home.
‘Thank you for bringing him home,’ she said and smiled at the young man.
‘Just doing my job, miss,’ he said and grinned. ‘I wish you luck with him – he’s been like a bear with a sore head these past few days. We’re glad to get rid of him.’ He winked and turned to look at Tom, who grimaced as he hobbled towards Rose. ‘Behave yourself, Sergeant Barton…’ The orderly looked back at Rose. ‘Your fiancé has been promoted and I hear he is in for a medal for bravery – he saved the lives of his superior officer and three others…’
Tom glared at him and he laughed, saluted and got in his car. As he drove off, Rose carried the kitbag into the kitchen, Tom following slowly. She realised that his leg was still painful.
‘Are you well enough to be home?’ she asked as he sat down heavily on a kitchen chair and leaned his crutches up against the table.
‘Don’t you start,’ Tom said and scowled. ‘I’ve had enough of being fussed over and mauled by doctors and nurses. It hurts a bit, but not as bad as it did – and they wouldn’t let me out until I could walk the length of the ward and back.’
‘And you did it even if it half killed you,’ Rose said and arched her brow at him. ‘You might be able to fool them, Tom Barton, but this is me, Rose, you’re talking to – and I can see it is hurting like hell. Did they give you anything for the pain?’
‘Yes, I’ve got a few pills, but I shall save them for nights – they’re the worst,’ Tom admitted. ‘I can stick days, especially when I’ve got company – like yours.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’m glad to be here, Rose. You don’t have to think you need to be here all the time. I’ll be fine – just need a bit of help now and then.’
‘You will rest and do as you’re told for a while,’ Rose said with a straight face. ‘I’ve got you where I want you now, Tom Barton, and you won’t find it easy to hoodwink me.’
Tom stared at her and then burst out laughing. ‘Rose, you’re priceless, do you know that? I always knew you were the one for me… but…’ His eyes went over her. ‘You’ve had the baby. I wanted to get home in time for the birth.’
‘She came early,’ Rose said and smiled at him. ‘Molly is upstairs and sleeping after a big feed. You can see her later, when she wakes up.’
‘I should’ve been here when you needed me…’
‘It’s all right, Tom. Peggy and Maureen wouldn’t have let you near until it was over – besides, I wouldn’t have wanted you to hear me screaming the place down.’ She laughed. ‘This is much better. I’m on my feet again and I can look after you.’ She saw the protest in his eyes. ‘I haven’t forgotten what you did for me when I was so ill after Jimmy’s death…’ The laughter had gone, but she was still smiling. ‘It’s all right, Tom. I have accepted that Jimmy is never coming back. It happens sometimes for the lucky ones, but in my case I know he has gone. His loss broke my heart, but it is mending – in fact it mended when I held Molly in my arms. Life has to go on and she needs her mother.’
‘She will need a father too – and you need a man to help you raise her,’ Tom said. ‘I know I’m an invalid now, but that won’t be for long. They told me I may have a bit of a limp and it means my army days are over – but I’ll have my own business and then I can help you look after Molly.’
‘Are you sure you want to marry me, Tom?’ Rose asked him seriously. ‘I know you care for me – but I loved Jimmy and Molly is his child. It’s a lot to ask you to take on another man’s child.’
‘I love you, Rose, and I love your daughter – or I shall. It’s all I want now. I’m ready to settle – here in the lanes for a start, just until I make enough money to buy us a decent home.’
‘I’ve no desire to leave the lanes,’ Rose told him. ‘These people are friends, Tom, and when you’ve grown up without true friends, to find the kind of caring these people offer is beyond price. I’ll be happy to live here all my life.’
‘Then we’ll stay for as long as you’re happy,’ Tom said, ‘but I want to give you things, Rose. You’re more than I ever expected to have and I shall do everything I can to make you happy.’
‘Oh, Tom…’ Rose said and her eyes were damp with tears. ‘I do love you – it’s different from what I felt for Jimmy, but it’s just as strong in its way…’
*
‘I brought you a coconut cake,’ Maureen said when she called round later that day. ‘I wanted to let you know that we’re here for you, Tom – and if there’s anything we can do to help, just say…’
‘Thanks, Maureen,’ Tom said, ‘but Rose is looking out for me. The doctor said a nurse will come in and change my dressings every morning for a week and then I should be fine.’
‘You will find it’s harder to walk without crutches than you think,’ Maureen told him. ‘It took Gordon months to get the use back in his leg properly. You have to build your leg muscles up with exercises. I can show you once you feel up to it – and I’ll help if you like. Rose could help too if I show her what to do…’
‘Thanks, Maureen,’ Tom said. ‘I’ll let you know when the nurse takes the dressings off…’ He hesitated, then, ‘Rose and I are getting married as soon as I can walk down the aisle without these things.’
‘That’s wonderful, Tom,’ Maureen said. ‘I’m not surprised. I guessed you thought a lot of her a long time ago… and I believe she thinks quite a bit of you, too.’
Tom’s eyes met hers. ‘I love her, Maureen. I have since the first time we met. Rose isn’t in love with me yet. She likes me and trusts me – but I hope she will come to love me – but I’ll take whatever I can get…’
Maureen nodded. There had been a time when she felt much as Rose did; she hadn’t been in love with Gordon at the start, but she’d learned how lucky she was to have him and her love had built slowly. She didn’t know what she would do without him now and the very thought of losing him devastated her. She could only hope that Rose would have the same experience.
‘Well, that is up to you and Rose,’ she said. ‘What I wanted to say, Tom, was that there are a lot of people here who wish you well and when you’re ready to begin work they will be queuing up for your services.’
‘Thanks, Maureen. Rose thinks it’s a good place to live, so I reckon we’ll be staying put…’
Maureen nodded and left them, but a few minutes later Alice popped in to say hello. She’d brought a lamb stew, more vegetables and potatoes than meat, but tasty and fragrant, which she said was for their supper.
‘I’m right next door, Rose,’ she said. ‘If you need anything – you just call me and I’ll do what I can…’ She grinned wickedly at Rose. ‘And if you want some cooking lessons, I’ll oblige – though Peggy’s the one for the cooking.’
Peggy was the next to visit. She brought an apple pie over and asked how the baby was and if Tom could manage the stairs. ‘We could get some of the men to bring his bed down if it would be easier…?’
‘Thanks, Peggy, but they told me to use my leg as much as possible so I’ll manage,’ Tom said. ‘It was good of you to call. Maureen came earlier and Alice was here a few minutes ago…’
‘You’ll have non-stop visitors for weeks,’ Peggy laughed. ‘You’re a popular man, Tom – and most people have jobs waiting when you’re ready to start.’
‘I’m really grateful,’ Tom smiled. ‘I’ll have to find a yard somewhere close where I can put my stuff…’
‘Able is rebuilding the lawyer’s old offices,’ Peggy said. ‘He’s putting a large shed out the back – we thought it might suit you, an office, with living accommodation at the back and over the top. It’s up to you, of course. You might prefer to keep this house on…’
Tom glanced at Rose. ‘I’m not sure, Peggy. This is Dad’s home and I’m not sure what he’ll do when it’s all over. He said he was going to stay in the army, but he may change his mind. If he wants to come home, it might suit us to move…’
‘Well you have the first offer,’ Peggy said. She glanced round her. ‘I suppose you could carry on a business here – though your landlord might have something to say.’
‘Yes…’ Tom looked thoughtful. ‘I’ll have to talk it over, think about things for a while, but thank you for the chance.’
Peggy nodded and left them alone. Rose looked at the food and laughed.
‘Everyone knows I’m not much of a cook, Tom, but if this goes on we’ll have enough to feed an army…’
He nodded; his eyes thoughtful. ‘Would you rather stay here – or start fresh over the road?’
‘I’m not sure. I wouldn’t mind sharing with your dad – he was good to me when I was ill.’
Tom nodded. ‘Sharing with dad wouldn’t be a problem – but if he had a new wife it might be different…’
Rose stared at him. ‘Jack is getting married?’
‘Well, he hasn’t said so – but he wrote to me and told me he’d met someone. She’s a widow and she has been working with the troops overseas; she manages the mobile canteens and sounds a jolly sort of person. I don’t think Dad would’ve mentioned her if she wasn’t special to him – and he’s free to marry now my mother is dead.’
‘Do you mind?’
‘Mind that he has a chance to be happy again?’ Tom shook his head. ‘I’ll be glad, Rose. Mum never truly wanted him and he had a bit of a rotten time with her. I hope he does marry again… but it might mean we’d be better off in Able’s place.’
‘Yes, perhaps,’ Rose agreed. Two women in the same small kitchen never worked. ‘We’ve got a few weeks to make up our minds, Tom – Able is only just starting to build.’
‘Yes, though Peggy will want to know, because others will be after it…’
‘You think it is a good idea, don’t you?’
‘Yes – but only if it suits you, love. I know we’ve got a bit of grass out the back. I doubt there will be over the road.’
‘I don’t think it will make much difference to Molly,’ Rose said. ‘When she’s older I shall take her to a park to play – and she will play outside with the other kids in the lane when she starts school.’
‘Yes – we always played in the lane safely,’ Tom said and for a moment his eyes clouded as he remembered his younger brother Sam. ‘Some of the kids were sent away during the war and most have grown up now, but the younger ones play hopscotch on the pavements all the time…’
