by Rosie Clarke
‘Yes, they have…’ Peggy stared at her and then nodded. ‘Yes, they wouldn’t let us run the pub if we had it – and Laurie may be considered a risk in future, because TB is an infectious disease, and if you’ve had it, you could still carry it…’
‘You’ll have to take the tests, of course,’ Maureen said, ‘but I don’t think any of you have it – in fact I’m pretty sure you don’t. Laurie was away during the time he was infectious and I imagine that people he knew up there in Scotland might be more at risk of havin’ picked it up than you. It’s lucky he was away all that time…’
Peggy nodded. ‘I feel a pig for sayin’ it, but I’m glad he was away and I just hope he hasn’t passed it to any of us…’
‘I shouldn’t worry over that much,’ Maureen said. She leaned forward and took Peggy’s hands in hers. ‘It will work out, love. Just hang on in there – and do what you have to do, but in the end, you owe it to yourself and the twins to choose Able if you get the chance.’
*
Tom glanced round the shop. He would be leaving soon for training camp and had been given his first choice of being in the Army, like his dad. Jack was expected home for a few days before Tom left, and he and Sid would sort out what to do over the house. Rose wanted to take it on, but that was up to Tom’s father and the landlord and Sid could move in with Mavis if Rose and Jimmy took over the house.
Tom had heard the rumours of a big new offensive in the summer; there were a lot of Americans over here now and various manoeuvres were taking place off the coast in Devon. It was all top secret and although rumours of a disastrous attack by E-boats had circulated in April, no one knew anything for certain and the papers were not allowed to report it.
Walking into the stockroom, Tom thought about the cash box he’d found hidden under the floor some months previously. He still hadn’t told Maureen, because Violet was living upstairs and he was afraid his soft-hearted boss would give whatever was in it to her father’s widow, when Tom was sure Harold had intended it for his daughter.
Maureen didn’t need it at this time, but Tom knew there was a possibility he wouldn’t come home and he had to tell her – but not yet. He would leave a letter with Peggy and ask her to give it to Maureen if anything happened to him. Satisfied with his solution, he decided to go home and write the letter now. Peggy would keep it safe and, if Tom was killed, Maureen would know that he’d tried to look out for her.
He picked up an evening paper. The news was on the second page. Ellie’s husband Peter had been found guilty of murder and would hang. Everyone in the lanes would be pleased about that, and Tom was proud of the part he’d played in his arrest.
Locking the shop door after him, he paused to look up and down the lane. It was a nice warm evening and the sun was shining, softening its shabbiness. This was home and if Tom survived the war he would return one day and start a business of his own.
As he crossed the street, Irene from the hairdresser’s came up to him.
‘You’ll be off soon,’ she said. ‘I’ll miss seein’ you around, Tom.’
‘I’ll be back like a bad penny,’ he said. ‘’Sides, you’ve got a boyfriend now, Irene.’
She nodded. ‘Yes, Mick is all right,’ she agreed, ‘but I’d still rather it was you.’
Tom laughed and waved his hand as he went round to the back door of his house. Sid was already in and had the kettle boiling. Sid would be relieved over the news about Peter, because it would mean that he and Ellie could marry when she was ready.
Tom’s heart hadn’t broken when Rose told him she was marrying Jimmy, but it still hurt. He was glad to be leaving for the Army. It was time for him to move on.
*
Maureen caught the bus to the hospital. She had so much to tell Gordon, and some things that she must keep to herself for the time being. It had made Maureen want to weep for pity when Peggy showed her the letter Laurie Ashley had kept from her, because it was such a cruel thing to do. Peggy had been forced to bear too much heartbreak of late and Maureen wished with all her heart that she could do something to ease her friend’s suffering.
Yet perhaps the knowledge that Able was alive would be enough to get her through the hard times ahead. The war was not yet over and none of them knew what might happen. The Germans had tried a mini Blitz in February and though the occasional raid still went on, few of their planes got through and what damage was done was mostly to docks or coastal, but according to the papers there was worse to come. If Hitler’s secret weapon really flew, it could bring death and despair to London all over again.
As she left the bus and walked into the hospital grounds, Maureen put her sad thoughts away. Gordon was improving daily and she had great hopes of having him home before too long, at least by July or August. Shirley was happy because her friend Carol was no longer in such a miserable situation, and Maureen was eagerly awaiting the birth of her second child.
She was such a lucky woman! Maureen felt that her glow of happiness must be visible to everyone as she walked into the ward and saw Gordon sitting out in a chair beside his bed. He was waiting for her visit and she saw the eagerness in his face as he became aware of her walking towards him.
She bent to kiss him softly on the lips. ‘How are you today, my love?’ she asked softly. ‘You look better.’
‘I am, much better,’ Gordon assured her. ‘I’ve been to the end of the ward on crutches and I took a few steps on my own – and they say if I keep improving, I can come home in a month, by the end of June anyway…’
‘Oh, Gordon darling,’ Maureen said, feeling that her happiness was perfect. ‘That’s wonderful. Everyone keeps asking when you’re coming home – and Gran says we’ll bring a bed downstairs to the parlour so that you don’t need to go up the stairs until you’re truly well again.’
‘It may not be as long as we feared,’ Gordon said and she saw the pride and confidence was back in his eyes. ‘I’m doing really well, Maureen. I probably shan’t need a wheelchair at all…’
Maureen sat on the edge of the bed, putting the fruit she’d bought on his bedside locker. Her heart was full because this was the man she loved so much and she knew that he was prepared to fight for their happiness and to make a good life for them all.
Maureen had her man on the mend and his terrible wounds were healing well, in large part to a wonderful new treatment that had cleared up the infection in his leg. She had the future to look forward to and there was so much promise for her and her family. If there was one small shadow on her horizon it was Peggy’s heartache. All she could do was pray that her friend would one day be as happy and content as she was – and perhaps there was a way. There was always a way to get through the bad times if you tried. Peggy didn’t give up and her friends would support and love her, and perhaps soon this rotten war would be over and then things might begin to sort themselves out.
Maureen would be there for her, just as she’d always helped everyone else. Peggy was more than the local landlady; she was loved, admired and needed. Maureen felt the shadows lift, because somehow she knew that whatever happened, Peggy would fight through as she always did. The folk of Mulberry Lane would help her just as she had helped them and surely one day she would be happy again… Once the Germans were beaten and that surely had to happen soon because the Allies were beginning to turn the tide on all fronts. In a year or so it might be all over and the folk of Mulberry Lane could begin to build their lives once more. Maureen was eager and willing to work hard to make a good life for her family and her beloved husband, and she knew Peggy would do the same for her family. She prayed that Anne’s child would be safely born and that Kirk would come home to his wife and child.
Maureen’s smile could have lit up the entire ward as she leaned forward to kiss her husband. Surely they had weathered the worst Hitler could throw at them and things would get better soon…
We hope you enjoyed this book.
Rosie Clarke’s next book is coming in summer 2019
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ROSIE CLARKE is happily married and lives in a quiet village in East Anglia. Writing books is a passion for Rosie, she also likes to read, watch good films and enjoys holidays in the sunshine. She loves shoes and adores animals, especially squirrels and dogs.
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Addictive Fiction
First published in the United Kingdom in 2018 by Aria, an imprint of Head of Zeus Ltd
Copyright © Rosie Clarke, 2018
The moral right of Rosie Clarke to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN (E) 9781786692993
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