by Ellie Dean
Peggy nodded, and in a daze returned to her sewing machine. Six guineas a week plus a bonus was more than she’d made running Beach View as a boarding house before the war. Six guineas a week would cover the repairs and redecoration needed, pay for a washing machine, fridge and electric iron and make her life so much easier. And six guineas a week would mean she’d never again have to take in holiday-makers or lodgers, but could use the entire house as a proper home – giving Bob, Charlie and Ron a decent bedroom each instead of the poky and rather damp basement rooms.
It was terribly tempting – so tempting she felt the urge to run after Solly and accept his offer. But the war wasn’t over, she had responsibilities at home, and when her family returned she’d want to spend time with them in an effort to make up for all the years they’d been parted. As tantalising as it was, Solly’s offer needed some very careful thought.
Ron was snuggled up with Rosie on the couch, enjoying a bit of canoodling after the lunchtime rush. The dogs were sprawled in a patch of sunlight that streamed in through the open window, and the silence in the room was broken only by the distant sounds coming from Camden Road.
‘We ought to go out and enjoy the lovely weather,’ said Rosie, her hair tousled, her face flushed and her blue eyes hazy with desire.
Ron drew her back into his arms and softly nuzzled her neck with his lips. ‘We have the sun and fresh air through the window,’ he breathed, his fingers brushing the erect nubs of her nipples as he searched for the buttons on her blouse. ‘Are you sure you’re not wearing too many clothes, Rosie?’ he groaned with wanting. ‘It’s getting awful warm in here.’
‘Just the blouse, then,’ she replied breathlessly.
Ron’s nimble fingers dealt with the buttons, and she tilted her head back with a little groan of pleasure as he kissed her sweet neck and ran his lips down to the twin globes of her delicious breasts. One twist had the brassiere undone and those glorious, sweetly scented orbs were free to kiss and caress.
‘Oh, Ron,’ gasped Rosie.
The loud banging on the side door startled them and set both dogs barking.
‘Ignore them,’ said Ron fiercely. ‘They’ll soon go away.’
But the banging persisted and the dogs were making such a fearful racket downstairs that Ron couldn’t concentrate. He swore under his breath, tucked his shirt back in and leaned out of the window. ‘Who the hell is that – and what do you want?’ he yelled.
Danuta appeared from the side alley, her little face a picture of distress. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, but these came for Peggy.’
Ron’s impatience immediately died at the sight of the telegram. Rosie regarded him with anguish as she made herself decent. ‘Go, quickly,’ she urged. ‘Bring her in.’
Ron’s heart was hammering as he ran down the stairs, buttoning his shirt and trying to bring some order to his ruffled hair. In his haste he fumbled with the key and finally managed to open the door. ‘I’m sorry, wee girl,’ he said, drawing her into the hallway. ‘I didn’t mean to shout.’
She ignored his apology and thrust the brown envelope at him. ‘The man came with this,’ she said, her face pale with concern.
‘Have you read it?’ he asked, hearing Rosie coming down the stairs to join them.
Danuta shook her head. ‘It is for Peggy, but I think better you should see first in case …’
Ron tore it open and read the few stark words.
Regret to inform * Warrant Officer 11 James Michael Reilly wounded in action * Transferred to army hospital Calcutta.
Ron’s legs gave way and he slumped down on the bottom stair, passing the telegram to Rosie. ‘It tells me nothing,’ he rasped brokenly. ‘How badly is he wounded? Is he expected to recover? And how on earth do I tell Peggy? This will destroy her.’
‘There is a letter for Peggy also,’ said Danuta. ‘It has come from India, so perhaps it is from Jim.’
Ron regarded the letter. ‘That’s not Jim’s writing,’ he managed through the great lump in his throat. ‘And all the letters from over there have Indian stamps on them regardless of where they’ve come from.’
‘I am so sorry, Ron,’ said Danuta with tears in her eyes.
‘Ach, it’s not your fault, wee girl,’ he replied. ‘Something like this was bound to happen sooner or later.’ He gave a deep, tremulous sigh and got to his feet. ‘At least my boy’s alive, and for that we must be thankful.’
Rosie went to Danuta and gently steered her into the bar and sat her down on the settle beneath the back window. ‘Peggy has another hour before her shift’s over, and it won’t do her any good to hear this news in front of a factory full of gawping women. I think it’d be best if we waited until she’s at home.’
‘Aye,’ sighed Ron. ‘She’ll have love and support at home – but for all her courage, this will cut deep.’
As Rosie bustled about behind the counter to get them drinks, Ron turned the letter over and over in his hands before finally tearing it open. The address on the single page was an army Post Box number for the military hospital in Calcutta. The date showed it had been written almost three weeks ago.
Dear Mrs Reilly,
My name is Sarah Fitzpatrick, and I am a staff nurse who has been caring for your husband since he arrived here . He begged me to write to you so that when you receive the telegram from HQ, you would know the facts and be assured that although he’s been injured, it is not life-threatening. He has had an operation to remove shrapnel from his torso, and is expected to make a full recovery, which will see him returned to duty once he’s passed fit.
He will get the best of care here in India, I promise, and when he is able, he will write to you himself.
With very best wishes,
Staff Nurse Sarah Fitzpatrick, Royal Australian Nursing Corps.
Ron passed the letter to Danuta and then buried his face in his hands as the tears of relief finally came.
Peggy had fretted over where she could find a cot for Chloe to sleep in and how on earth she’d fit it into her bedroom, but most of all she was worried about Gracie, and how she was holding up. There had been no word from Solly, who’d left the factory shortly after their talk, so she was no wiser as to when she could expect to be taking Chloe in.
With her thoughts racing over Gracie’s shocking news, Solly’s job offer and all the things she’d have to do to prepare for the toddler, she clocked off her shift and headed for the crèche.
Daisy rushed to her, flinging her arms around Peggy’s legs and chattering about her day nineteen to the dozen. Peggy made the appropriate noises, only half listening as she pulled on her daughter’s cardigan and coaxed her into the pushchair.
‘I big girl. Don’t need that,’ Daisy said, folding her small arms and glaring at her.
‘Big you might be, but I’m in a hurry, so you’ll get in and behave,’ Peggy said shortly.
They held one another’s gaze, and as usual, it was Daisy who looked away first. She clambered grumpily into the pushchair, her expression making it clear that she wasn’t happy about it.
Peggy wheeled her out of the yard and was about to head for home when a large black car purred to a halt at the kerb and Rachel Goldman wound down the window. ‘Perfect timing, Peggy,’ she said with a smile. ‘I’ll give you a lift home before I take Gracie to the station.’
Peggy glanced into the car and saw that Gracie was staring sightlessly out of the window in her own painful world.
Daisy yelped in glee as she saw Chloe. Immacu-lately dressed and elegant as ever, Rachel climbed out to help Peggy fold the pushchair into the already crammed boot, whilst the two little girls greeted one another and got into an excited huddle on the back seat.
‘How’s Gracie holding up?’ Peggy asked.
‘Very quiet, which is hardly surprising,’ Rachel murmured. ‘But I made sure they both had something to eat, and talked to her landlady, explaining the situation and making sure the rent was paid for another month to make certain she doesn’t let the room w
hilst Gracie is away.’ Rachel’s dark eyes gleamed with unshed tears. ‘She’s so grateful to you for taking in Chloe when she has so much else to contend with.’ She squeezed Peggy’s shoulder. ‘You’re a good woman, Peggy Reilly, and if you need anything, anything at all, you only have to ask me or Solly.’
Peggy blushed and quickly got into the car next to a dull-eyed Gracie who reached for her hand, clutching it tightly as Rachel drove towards Beach View.
‘Chloe knows she’s staying with you for a while,’ said Gracie as they pulled up by the front steps. ‘I told her I had to go and visit her daddy …’ her voice faltered. ‘And that I’d come back very soon.’
‘It’s all right,’ murmured Peggy, gripping her fingers. ‘She’ll be safe with me for however long it takes.’
Rachel got out of the car, ran up the steps and rapped the front door knocker, the little girls following closely behind her. As Ron opened the door the children scampered inside, and Harvey bolted down the steps towards Peggy and Gracie.
Peggy watched as Doris, Cordelia and the girls gathered around Ron to hear what Rachel was saying. She was clearly explaining what had happened, and why Chloe would be staying, and in a very short while, Ron came down the steps, silently hugged Gracie and then began unloading the boot with the help of the girls.
Peggy and Gracie followed them up the steps and into the hall, where Gracie’s possessions had been stacked. ‘I didn’t know what you might need, so I brought everything,’ she explained distractedly.
Ron eyed the suitcases, dismantled cot and bags of toys and bedding. ‘Ach, to be sure, ’tis better that way. The wee cot will take no time at all to put together, and I’ll be finding space for everything, never you mind.’
Cordelia came out of the kitchen, followed by the children who had milky moustaches and were eating biscuits – and Harvey who was trying to snaffle them. ‘Take care of yourself, Gracie dear,’ she said softly. ‘We shall all be thinking of you.’
Gracie returned her hug, bravely fighting her tears as little Chloe wrapped her arms about her legs. She picked her up and held her close. ‘Bye, bye, darling, be a good girl for Aunty Peggy, and I’ll see you very soon,’ she said, planting a kiss on her cheek.
Rachel pointedly tapped her watch and Gracie reluctantly set Chloe back on her feet and turned towards the door. She hugged Peggy and then, without a word, followed Rachel down the steps to the car.
Chloe happily waved goodbye and rushed off with Daisy and an over-excited Harvey to find more biscuits.
Peggy waited until the car was out of sight and then closed the door. ‘God only knows what she’ll find in Dover,’ she murmured. ‘I don’t know how I’d cope if something like that had happened to Jim.’
Ron was all too aware of the news he had yet to impart to Peggy, and it was with a heavy heart that he put his arm round her and gave her a hug. ‘Whatever she finds, she’ll cope,’ he said. ‘If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in life, it’s that you women are far stronger than we men give you credit for.’
‘Well, at least something sensible has penetrated that dense brain of yours,’ said Cordelia before she turned to Peggy. ‘How long will Gracie be away?’
‘I have no idea,’ she replied, eyeing the luggage in the hall. ‘But I know for a fact I won’t be able to fit that lot in my room.’
‘You won’t have to,’ said Doris, who was standing in the kitchen doorway. ‘You can move into my room and I’ll take yours.’
‘But—’
‘No buts about it, Peggy,’ said Doris firmly. ‘You can’t possibly be crammed in together in that small room for goodness knows how long – and mine is big enough to take both cots as well as everything else.’
‘Well, it would certainly help,’ said Peggy, clearly still unable to come to terms with this new and unselfish Doris. ‘Are you sure?’
‘I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t,’ said Doris. ‘We all have to muck in together at times like these.’ She turned to Ron, who was staring at her in amazement. ‘Do stop gawping like that, Ronan, it’s most unbecoming,’ she snapped. ‘The children will need to go to bed soon, so the quicker you sort out those cots and move the furniture, the sooner we’ll be straight.’
Ron tugged his forelock and grinned. ‘Yes, ma’am, no, ma’am, three bags full, ma’am,’ he said. ‘To be sure, I feel sorry for the Colonel if this is how you boss him about.’
‘Colonel White doesn’t need bossing,’ Doris said stiffly. ‘He’s an efficient man with a quick mind and knows immediately what has to be done.’
‘Oh aye?’ he murmured slyly. ‘Does that include taking his secretary to lunches at the Officers’ Club?’
Doris went scarlet and turned on her heel. ‘I shall be upstairs emptying my cupboards,’ she retorted.
‘Lunch at the club?’ asked a wide-eyed Peggy. ‘Goodness, she kept that quiet.’ She giggled. ‘You don’t think …’
‘I wouldn’t dare think anything of the sort,’ muttered Ron. ‘And I’d advise you to do the same.’
‘You’re just an old cynic,’ teased Peggy.
‘Aye, well, that’s what life does to a man when he’s surrounded by a gaggle of bossy women,’ he rumbled, reaching for the pieces of the dismantled cot.
Ron spent the next hour carting things up and down the stairs as Peggy and Doris emptied drawers and cupboards and the girls helped Cordelia watch the children and prepare the evening meal. He had to admit it was something of a respite to be keeping busy, for it delayed the moment when he’d have to sit Peggy down and tell her about Jim – a task he was dreading. He’d been quite overcome by the others’ reaction to the news when he’d told them earlier, and had steeled himself to face more tears when Peggy came home. However, Chloe’s arrival had drastically changed his plans and now he’d have to wait until later.
He wrestled to get the cots back together, his thoughts in a whirl. Peggy would no doubt be angry with him for keeping such a thing from her when everyone else in the house knew about it – but his shoulders were broad and he could take anything she threw at him. Jim was alive and being well looked after. That was all that really mattered.
Peggy finished reading from the story book and kissed the drowsy children goodnight. The cots had been pushed together, the sides taken down between them so they could curl up closely beneath the blankets. They looked so sweet as their eyelids drooped and sleep claimed them, but she had the feeling that come morning, they’d prove to be a real handful, and she’d have her work cut out to get them fed and dressed by the time she had to leave for work.
She left the nightlight on and surveyed the large room with its bow window and gas fire. The furniture was dark and heavy, the rug and chair by the fire beginning to show their age. She’d never slept in here before, or had so much space to move about and put things. And yet the size of the room unsettled her, and although her own mattress had been brought upstairs, it would still feel strange not to sleep in the bed she’d shared with Jim since they’d first been married. The change of room and the change of bed somehow distanced her from him and the memories they’d made together downstairs, and she wasn’t at all sure she was comfortable with that.
Her thoughts turned to poor Gracie, who was either camped out in a hospital waiting room or pacing the floor of some rented accommodation. She would be feeling very alone and vulnerable, worrying over Clive and missing Chloe, and the knowledge brought her sharply to her senses. Her cares were very minor compared to what her friend was going through, and she had no business fretting over silly things like the size of the room and the bed she’d be sleeping in tonight.
She took one last look at the sleeping children before leaving the door ajar so she could hear if they called out and then went downstairs.
‘Chloe was as good as gold and they’re both fast asleep,’ she said, sinking into a chair and lighting a cigarette.
She frowned as there was no response and realised that, most unusually, everyone had stayed home after tea – an
d that there was a strange and rather tense atmosphere in the room. Noting the furtive glances directed at Ron and seeing how ill at ease he seemed, she began to feel a creeping sense of something being very wrong. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked nervously.
‘Well, now, wee girl, there is something I have to tell you,’ Ron began, not quite meeting her gaze as Cordelia reached for her hand.
Peggy’s sudden fear rose to almost stifle her. ‘It’s Jim. Something’s happened to Jim, hasn’t it?’
‘He’s alive, Peggy,’ Ron said firmly, ‘but he has been hurt and is now recovering in India.’
‘Hurt?’ she managed as her heart stuttered then began to race. ‘India?’
His large hand rested on her shoulder. ‘He’s in hospital there being looked after by a very nice Australian nurse who assures us he’ll soon be on the mend,’ he said carefully.
Peggy could only stare at him as terrible images of a wounded Jim tormented her.
‘He hasn’t been burned like poor Clive,’ said Ron hastily, ‘and he’s had an operation to repair the wound, which is not serious, Peggy. The nurse assures us that he’ll soon be his old self again and back with his regiment before long.’
Peggy stared at him as her mind whirled and she tried to take it all in. ‘How long have you known?’ she demanded.
‘Since this afternoon,’ he admitted.
‘Then why didn’t you come and tell me then instead of leaving it until now?’
‘We thought it best you should hear this kind of news in the privacy of your own home,’ he replied. ‘And then with Gracie and Chloe turning up and all the kerfuffle of sorting out the rooms …’ He let the sentence hang in the air.
Peggy looked at the others, saw their sheepish expressions, and realised they’d all known. She felt a surge of anger which swiftly died away as reason took hold and she accepted that they’d kept quiet out of love. She’d have hated to hear the news coming so soon after Gracie’s, and in the full glare of the women in the factory – and with all that had gone on today, this was indeed the first and only moment they could have told her.
