Stormy Days On Mulberry Lane

by Rosie Clarke

  Could it possibly be Katie? Whenever Shirley had seen Katie at work, she was wearing a big white apron – but did she wear a black skirt and white blouse under it? Their uniform at work was simply that and not all the girls wore the same. Shirley hadn’t seen much of Katie, as she and Tosy and the other medical students, went out as a group most of the time. Richard had introduced them and the other girl had seemed friendly enough – but perhaps that was just an act? Shirley hadn’t forgotten the anonymous letter that had tried to cause trouble between her and Richard – could this possibly be the same person? Richard had told her Katie wouldn’t write a letter like that, but who knew what a jealous girl might do? If Katie wanted Richard herself…

  Shirley felt a chill at her nape. Richard had shown her clearly that he didn’t want anyone but Shirley. Their kisses were passionate and they had come close to giving into their desires more than once in the seclusion of a dark sandy beach late at night. Cuddled together on the rug Richard had carried over his shoulder, they had tasted the sweetness of love without doing anything that could endanger Shirley’s wish to become a doctor.

  ‘Trust me, darling,’ Richard had whispered. ‘I’ll look after you, I promise.’

  Shirley did trust him, because she loved him. Thus far he’d kept his word, but it was harder for him than her, although she was learning to give pleasure to him, as he did her. She smiled at the thought. The loss of her bracelet mattered only because of the spite behind it. She was lucky that her savings hadn’t disappeared too.

  Taking the key, she removed the money her father had given her from the suitcase and put it in her pocket. Mrs Raiment would place it in her office safe for her where it would be secure.

  14

  ‘Mum!’ Janet exclaimed when she rang later that week and Peggy told her what Gillian had done. ‘You shouldn’t be so trusting.’

  ‘You’re right, but if you’d seen her…’ Peggy sighed. ‘She was only a little thing, and in such distress when I took her in – I never dreamed she would turn on us the way she did. There was just no sense to it.’

  ‘Who knows what goes on in the minds of jealous people?’ Janet said. ‘I hate to think of what she might have done, Mum – if she stabbed that man—’

  ‘We don’t know she did that,’ Peggy said. ‘It may be a different girl—’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so – I’m just glad she has gone,’ Janet replied. ‘You’re my mum and I don’t want to lose you.’

  ‘You won’t, love,’ Peggy said and laughed. ‘How are you? We haven’t spoken for a while. Ryan said you were well but tired – he also said that you’d taken Maggie to see some friends and were staying there for a few days when I rang you last.’

  ‘Yes, I was. She wanted to see Angus, the friend she made last Christmas, so we went to the hotel and had a couple of nights there. He was delighted to see us but has a special smile for Maggie. I think he might have liked a family but he never married.’

  ‘Any sign of Nessie?’

  ‘Not this year – too sunny and clear apparently,’ Janet laughed. ‘Angus does spin some tales, but he’s very generous. He has given Maggie the pony and also the saddle, bridle, the lot. She thinks the world of him and he seems to think of her as a granddaughter.’

  ‘So, you’re all enjoying yourselves up there then?’

  ‘Life is much better here,’ Janet told her sounding happy. ‘Ryan is home much more and we do things together as a family. I’m looking forward to showing you round when you come up, Mum.’

  ‘Yes, late in September perhaps.’

  ‘You could come a bit sooner if you wanted?’ Janet suggested.

  ‘Sheila has her baby a couple of weeks or so before you. We’ll have to see if I can get away,’ Peggy said. ‘Rose has hers anytime now, I think. It seems that you all decided to increase your families at the same time and it’s a real baby boom for Mulberry Lane folk. I’m not worried about the boarding house. Pearl and Able will look after that – it’s just making sure Sheila is all right before I leave.’

  ‘Yes, I know, Mum,’ Janet said. ‘I understand Sheila needs you too, though Pip says she’s getting on fine. He was so worried at first, because of how she was the first time, but now he seems happier and excited about the baby. He wants a girl, because Sheila does.’

  ‘Yes, I know,’ Peggy laughed. ‘He was asking me if he should buy a doll he’d seen – it was a lovely thing, possibly an antique by the sound of it. Pip saw it in a posh shop window and wanted it for his little girl when she arrives, but I told him to wait. It may be a boy – and it’s bad luck to buy too much stuff ahead of time…’

  ‘That’s superstition,’ Janet said. ‘I thought it was just me who does things like that?’

  ‘Well, Sheila had such a bad time with her first child,’ Peggy replied. ‘Just being careful – but I’m sure she will be fine, as you will. I want two beautiful new grandchildren to spoil.’

  ‘You spoil the ones you’ve got,’ Janet said. ‘Maggie loved that camera you sent for her birthday, Mum. She has loads of pictures and some of them are quite good… Oh, and while I think of it, is Fay’s ankle better?’

  ‘Yes, much better thanks, Janet. The swimming has helped and she may start again skating soon. You say I spoil Maggie, well, I couldn’t spoil you and Pip as much as I’d have liked. Money was tighter then and your father was never one for wasting it.’

  ‘Able gives you all you want, doesn’t he?’

  ‘Yes – but I don’t let him waste his money,’ Peggy said. ‘He has an ambitious project he’s undertaking with Tom Barton – the block of flats I told you about will cost a lot to build, stretch his finances to the limit, I imagine.’

  ‘Are you worried he’s taken on too much?’

  ‘I would be if I didn’t trust Tom Barton. He knows what he is doing. Able chose his partner well. Besides, I don’t interfere. Able seems to know what he wants so I let him get on with it. I earn enough to live on from the boarding house. I suppose we make a little from the cakes as well, but that goes into the bank and we’ll split it between us at the end of the year. Maureen, Sheila and I all have our other incomes, so it is just for extras. How about you, love? Have you manged to find a little job up there?’

  ‘I’ve helped out at the Laird’s. His wife likes me and we get on well – but of course, I can’t do much now, though she likes my cakes. I tell her they aren’t as good as yours, but she says you taught me well.’

  ‘So, I should hope,’ Peggy laughed. ‘Anyway, this is costing you a fortune, Janet. I’ll ring you next week. I can hear the twins and Able – they’ve just come in…’

  ‘I’ll let you get on then, Mum. Bye.’ Janet replaced the receiver her end and Peggy went into the hall.

  The twins were giggling at something their father had said and they all looked happy. Peggy noticed that Fay was walking and standing strongly. Her ankle had recovered, which meant the swimming had done its job.

  ‘Did you have a good time at the pool?’ she asked and Freddie turned to smile at her.

  ‘It was lovely, Mum. You should’ve been with us.’

  ‘I was helping Aunty Sheila. Aunty Maureen has been away on holiday this week, though I think she gets back lunchtime today – so I’ve been going in every day to cook cakes. Rose is helping in the shop this afternoon, though, so I’ve got time to sit and talk to you for a while now.’

  ‘Good.’ Freddie smiled and ran to embrace his mother. ‘I swam ten lengths of the pool without stopping once – didn’t I, Dad?’

  ‘You certainly did,’ Able replied and grinned at him. ‘You’re like a little fish in the water now, Freddie.’

  ‘I like swimming nearly as much as football,’ Freddie said with enthusiasm.

  ‘Is there any pear upside-down cake?’ Fay asked. ‘I’m starving…’

  ‘I can make toasted teacakes and, yes, there is pear upside-down cake, Fay. Did you enjoy your swimming?’

  ‘Yes, it is good and my ankle doesn’t hurt now,’ Fay t
old her. ‘Can I go skating again soon?’

  ‘We’ll ask the doctor to look at it and then decide if you’re ready.’

  ‘If I don’t practise soon, I won’t be entered for the competition,’ Fay pouted.

  ‘Perhaps not this time, but you need to make sure your ankle is better,’ Peggy said. ‘You were lucky it didn’t snap, Fay. Had you broken your ankle you might not have been able to skate again.’

  Fay pulled a face but said no more.

  Able and the twins followed Peggy into the kitchen, where she prepared the snack for them and sat down to share it with coffee for her and Able and milk for the twins.

  ‘What are you going to do this afternoon?’ she asked.

  ‘I have a meeting with the architect,’ Able said and frowned. ‘The first design needs to be modified to get the planners’ approval.’

  ‘Does that mean you might not get permission to go ahead?’

  ‘No, just that I have to adjust to certain regulations,’ Able replied easily. ‘Nothing to worry about, Peggy. I knew I had outline permission before I started, but I need final approval – and then we can get started.’

  Peggy nodded. It all seemed a lot of fuss and palaver to her, though she knew it would be good when it was finished. ‘As long as you’re happy,’ she said. She looked at the twins. ‘What about you two?’

  ‘Chris asked me round,’ Freddie said. ‘He has a model he wants me to help him build.’ He glanced at his twin. ‘Fay could help if she likes…’

  ‘It would bore me,’ Fay said and frowned. ‘I suppose I’ll just read in my room…’

  ‘Or we could go and buy you a new dress,’ Peggy said and saw her little girl’s eyes light up. ‘We’ll find something you like – and then you can help me make tea for the guests, is that a deal?’

  Fay laughed and nodded. ‘Yes, Mummy,’ she said and giggled. ‘It will be fun, just the two of us.’

  ‘Yes, we don’t often do things just the two of us,’ Peggy said thoughtfully. She glanced at Freddie, but he was smiling and tucking into his second teacake liberally spread with strawberry jam. ‘It will be fun, Fay.’

  Peggy smiled as her daughter ran upstairs clutching all her bags and parcels. She’d spent more than she’d intended, but they’d found a shop selling pretty clothes and Fay hadn’t been able to make up her mind, so they’d bought three new frocks and a pair of white leather sandals that went with them all. Freddie would have to wait for his treat until she had built up a reserve again, but she knew he wouldn’t mind. Freddie never grumbled about anything, but Peggy tried hard to make sure that he didn’t get left out. There would be new football boots wanted at the end of the summer holidays.

  Freddie came into the kitchen looking thoughtful. Peggy smiled at him. ‘Did you have a good time with Chris, love?’

  ‘Yes, he’s all right, but—’ Freddie hesitated. ‘I thought Aunty Sheila looked a bit pale, Mum.’

  Peggy’s gaze narrowed, because her son was an observant boy. ‘Did she say anything about not feeling well?’

  ‘No, just asked Chris if he was ready for his tea and if I wanted to stay.’ Freddie looked at her. ‘I said no, because I thought she had enough to do – Uncle Pip isn’t home, Mum.’

  ‘Yes, well, you did right,’ Peggy reached for the jacket she’d removed a few minutes earlier. ‘I’m going to pop round there and see how she is – tell your dad where I am. Can you get your own tea? There are tomatoes in the pantry for a sandwich or fresh bread and jam.’

  ‘I’ll make sandwiches and see what Fay wants,’ Freddie told her. ‘You make sure Aunty Sheila is all right, Mum.’

  ‘Yes, I will, love.’

  Peggy left by the back door and walked quickly round to the back of the Pig & Whistle, knocking and entering at the kitchen door without waiting for an answer. Chris was standing at the table looking at his mother, white-faced, as she bent over double.

  ‘What’s wrong, Sheila?’ Peggy asked, going to her in concern. ‘Are you in pain?’

  ‘It feels as if the baby is coming,’ Sheila gasped and looked at her anxiously. ‘It’s at least three weeks too soon…’

  ‘Never mind the date,’ Peggy said. ‘If baby wants to come, he or she will – so I think we’ll get you a taxi for the hospital.’ She glanced at Chris. ‘Go round to my house and stay with Freddie and Fay – and don’t worry, your mum will be all right.’

  She smiled reassuringly at Sheila and went through to the hall to phone for a taxi. Sheila’s help came into the hall at that moment.

  ‘I came in early for my shift in the bar,’ Dot said and looked at Peggy. ‘I thought she seemed a bit tired this morning when she was cooking—’

  ‘I think the baby is on the way, so I’m taking her into the hospital, because Pip is away.’

  ‘I’ll fetch Mrs Ashley’s hospital bag,’ Dot offered. Sheila had booked for a hospital rather than a home birth, because of problems with her first confinement. ‘I know where she keeps it – and I’ll tidy up in here. And take those pasties out of the oven when they’re done.’

  ‘Pamela Makepeace will be in soon,’ Peggy said, smiling at the helpful woman. ‘It’s her night for helping out in the bar, so you won’t be in on your own, but if anyone needs to know where we are, you can tell them.’

  ‘That’s all right, Peggy. I’ll enjoy looking after things for Mrs Ashley.’

  Sheila was gasping with pain when Peggy got back to her, her face white. It looked as if they might not have time to get her to the hospital. She called to Dot, who came running and took in the situation at once.

  ‘Shall I ring for the doctor or the midwife?’

  ‘Can you ring Maureen please, Dot? She should be home now and she used to be a nurse. I’d like her here just in case, as I think we’re going to need her before the doctor or midwife can get here—’ As Dot went off to make the call, Peggy looked at Sheila. ‘You must have been in pain for hours, love. Why didn’t you let me know before?’

  Panic was in Sheila’s eyes as she returned her gaze. ‘I kept trying to ignore it, Peggy. I knew it was too soon and I thought it would just go away if I shut my mind to it…’

  ‘Silly girl,’ Peggy said but with affection. ‘We can’t get you into hospital now, love – but something similar happened to me when the twins were born. Maureen saw them safely into the world and she will your little one – and I’ll be here to hold your hand all the time.’

  ‘Is everything all right, hon?’ Able asked from the doorway and she turned to look at him. He smiled reassuringly at Sheila. ‘I can’t offer to carry you up, love – but I can take your weight if you lean on me.’

  Sheila shot him a grateful look, and with Able and Peggy on either side of her, they negotiated the stairs, Able taking most of her weight as they helped her walk slowly up to her room. Able held on to her with his good arm, while Peggy hurried to pull back bedcovers and lay old sheets and towels on the bed to protect Sheila’s good linen and mattress. Between them, they helped her sit down and then lie back, with her knees up. She was groaning as another pain struck her.

  ‘I’ll get back to the children,’ Able said and smiled kindly at Sheila. ‘I’ll give Chris his tea and he can sleep with Freddie tonight.’ Looking at Peggy, he added, ‘Stay as long as you need, hon. I can manage – and Alice was in her element when I left her making hot cocoa for them.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Peggy smiled at him as he left. What a blessing it was to have a man who made everything easy.

  Sheila drew a sharp breath, gritting her teeth as she experienced the next sharp surge of pain. ‘I’m sorry to be a nuisance, Peggy. I should have gone to the hospital ages ago…’

  ‘Don’t be silly, love,’ Peggy said. ‘I was much the same when the twins came – it’s us women, we try to be strong and ignore what is happening.’ Hearing voices downstairs and then footsteps coming up the stairs she smiled and nodded, ‘Good, that is Maureen. We shall be all right now, Sheila. She will take over while I go down and put the kettl
es on and then I’ll make us all a nice cup of tea.’

  15

  Sheila gave birth at five to eight that evening. She’d been in a great deal of pain for the last hour or so, but Maureen and Peggy helped her through, rubbing her back, encouraging her and holding her hand. When her little girl was born, she wept tears of happiness, concerned only that everything was as it should be.

  ‘I feel so lucky,’ she said, looking at Maureen and Peggy. ‘You’ve both been so kind and I didn’t feel nervous at all – and now I have my darling little Margaret.’

  ‘Is that what you’re calling her?’ Peggy asked and smiled, because it was the name on her own birth certificate, though everyone had always called her Peggy.

  ‘Yes, probably Meg for short,’ Sheila said happily. ‘She’s so beautiful. I just wish she’d waited until Pip was home.’ Her husband was away at his work for a few days and had expected to be home before the birth.

  ‘Yes, she is, love,’ Peggy said and bent to kiss her cheek and touch Meg’s little hand. ‘I’m just glad you’re safe, Sheila, and Pip will feel the same as soon as he knows.’

  The doctor and midwife arrived at eight-thirty and examined Sheila and the baby. Both gave it as their opinion that mother and baby were fine and congratulated the mother and Maureen on a neat delivery.

  ‘I’ll take over now,’ Rene Lent said and washed her hands in the warm water Peggy had provided. ‘You’ve done a good job of delivering baby, but now I want to see to Mum and this fine little girl – why don’t you go and have a cup of tea?’

  ‘Thank you, Peggy and Maureen,’ Sheila said, looking at her friends with gratitude. ‘I’ll be all right now – but come back when Rene has done, Peggy. You too Maureen, unless you want to get home.’