Stormy Days On Mulberry Lane

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘Don’t forget to tell your police officer what Gillian said, Mrs Ronoscki. We want this stopped and anything we can do towards that helps – anything…’

  Peggy looked into his intelligent eyes and then smiled. ‘Yes, I agree. I shall be telephoning first thing in the morning.’

  21

  Peggy had locked the front door and was about to go upstairs when the telephone rang. She answered it and smiled as Able said her name.

  ‘I hope I didn’t wake you, hon?’ he said. ‘Only, I wanted to tell you straight away—’

  ‘Is it Pip?’ Her heart caught with sudden fright. ‘He isn’t…?’

  ‘He has woken up and he knew Janet and Sheila,’ Able said. ‘I’d gone to fetch them both some coffee to help them stay awake and when I got back, he was holding their hands and they were all crying.’

  Peggy felt the tears of relief on her own cheeks. ‘Oh, thank God!’ she said. ‘I had begun to wonder – but he’s all right… he’s really all right?’

  ‘He is awake and he knows us all, but he doesn’t remember the accident at all. The doctors say he’s been lucky. They were afraid he might be brain damaged, but it seems he’s OK as far as that is concerned. However, he still has broken ribs and other broken bones to cope with, as well as a bit of internal damage. They’ve told us he will mend inside as well as out, but he may have some complications. One of his lungs suffered in the accident and he may get breathing difficulties at times, especially if he catches a bad cold or flu, but all in all, he’s been pretty lucky.’

  ‘Poor Pip won’t like that,’ Peggy said sadly, ‘but it could’ve been so much worse, Able. If he’d died or been brain damaged. We’ve got him back and that’s all that matters to me.’

  ‘Yes, of course. I’m bringing Janet home tomorrow. She’s had a lot of backache and she says she can settle now she knows Pip isn’t going to die or be an invalid for the rest of his life.’

  ‘What about Sheila?’

  ‘She is stopping with Pip. The hospital people have told her about cheap accommodation near the hospital and they say the woman in charge there is very good and will look after Meg sometimes for her.’

  ‘Well, it is her choice.’

  ‘She said to tell you she is sorry for giving you all the extra work, hon, but she hopes you will understand.’

  ‘Of course, she wants to be with him – just tell her not to overdo it. She ought still to be resting as much as possible…’

  ‘Janet has told her that, but she just nods and carries on as she thinks fit,’ Able chuckled. ‘She reminds me of you a bit, Peggy. So what have you been doing while I’ve been away then? Everything all right your end?’

  ‘Oh, this and that,’ Peggy said. ‘Nothing very much, Able. I’ll tell you when you get home – but thank you so much for ringing me. You’ve set my mind at rest concerning Pip now. I’m glad you’re coming home tomorrow – give my love to Sheila and Pip and tell her that she can stay as long as she wants and I’ll look after things for her.’

  ‘I think she knows that, hon,’ Able said. ‘I worry about you, Peggy. Everyone takes it for granted that you can cope, but it isn’t fair—’

  ‘You worry too much, my love, but I love you for it,’ Peggy said. ‘They take me for granted because I can cope and I shall.’

  ‘As long as you’re all right?’

  ‘I’m fine, but I’ll be better when you’re home, Able. I miss you.’

  ‘Not as much as I miss you. Love you.’ She heard the smile in his voice. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow just after lunch.’

  Peggy replaced the receiver. She walked upstairs and discovered Fay standing outside the spare room in her nightdress.

  ‘I woke up, Mummy. I heard voices and people down the stairs and then the phone rang—’ She stared at her mother. ‘What’s wrong with your arm?’

  ‘I just banged my arm, love, don’t worry. That was Daddy on the phone. He’ll be home tomorrow – and Pip is getting better, so Janet is coming home and Aunty Sheila is staying with Pip.’

  ‘Will Freddie come home too?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Peggy said. ‘Have you missed him, Fay?’

  ‘Yes – but don’t tell him,’ she said and smiled naughtily. ‘I was a bit scared earlier, but it’s all right now.’

  ‘Nothing for you to be scared of, love,’ Peggy said. ‘Gillian was ill outside our house and the doctor came and took her to hospital. It’s all over now.’

  Fay nodded. ‘Can I have a drink of milk please?’

  ‘Of course, you can – would you like to get into bed and I’ll bring it up?’

  ‘Can I come with you while you get it?’

  ‘Yes, my love,’ Peggy took her hand and she skipped happily at her side along the hall and down the stairs, jumping the last two alone and looking back to see what her mother had to say. Peggy smiled. ‘I’ve got a nice chocolate biscuit if you fancy it?’

  ‘Yes, please, Mummy.’ Fay looked up at her mother. ‘It’s nice having you all to myself for once.’

  ‘Yes, it is nice,’ Peggy said. ‘But we have to look after other people, don’t we, Fay? Alice needs a home and company; Chris needs us while his mum and dad are away and Maggie, too; we must always try to help those who need it, whoever they are.’

  Fay smiled at her. ‘You’re a nice mother. Not everyone is as nice. I hear the way some of the guests talk to their children and they aren’t like you…’

  ‘Well, everyone is different, Fay.’

  ‘Yes, I know – but I’m glad you’re my mum.’

  Peggy squeezed her hand and smiled. Fay could be a right little madam when she chose, but underneath, she was loving and kind. ‘And I’m glad I’ve got you,’ she said. ‘I think we deserve nice cold milk and two chocolate biscuits, don’t you?’

  It was late when Peggy finally got to bed. She lay thinking for a while before she slept, the doctor’s last words echoing in her mind. Had he been saying what she’d thought he was? Would she be right to adjust what she’d said the tiniest little bit and use the name he’d supplied? Olly Want rather than Olivant? She’d never heard the name Olivant before, but Doctor Phillips knew of an Olly Want who beat up women who refused to sell their bodies on the streets for his profit. It was in all likelihood the name Gillian had tried to say but supposing it wasn’t? If Peggy gave Olly Want as the name Gillian had supplied, the wrong man could be arrested and another villain go free – but if she said nothing conclusive, they would not be found and punished.

  She wrestled with the problem for a few minutes and then gave up. She would think about it in the morning. Thank goodness Able was coming home! A problem shared was a problem halved, that was the old saying and it was true.

  In the morning, Peggy’s arm was feeling sore, but she had no real pain. She would leave the doctor’s dressing in place until Able got home and then ask him to change it for her. She rang the police station after she’d seen to the guests’ breakfasts. Peggy had worried that someone might have heard the fracas the previous night, but no one mentioned anything, so she said nothing about it, simply responding to requests for more toast or jam as always.

  She got through to the station immediately but had to wait a few minutes before the officer she wanted could be found.

  ‘I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Peggy,’ he said. ‘I was going to pop round later. ‘Doctor Phillips put in a report about the stabbing and that they have the girl in hospital… By the way, her name is Jilly, spelled with a J not a G or that’s what her father says. Surly devil, couldn’t get two civil words out of him! She didn’t change her name much – and most of her story was true. She just left out a few bits—’

  ‘Whatever Gillian said, she had been badly beaten,’ Peggy told him. ‘She was feverish and I think very ill when she came to me… I tend to see her as a victim rather than a bad girl.’

  ‘Yes, we’ve had the report and, on the whole, I’d agree with you – but stabbing you is a serious matter.’

  ‘I doubt s
he really knew what she was doing,’ Peggy said. ‘Afterwards, she apologised for stealing from me and begged me not to send her away because he would kill her.’

  ‘Ah yes – the doctor’s report said she gave you a name… Olly Want, is that correct?’

  ‘It could be,’ Peggy said hesitantly. ‘It wasn’t clear – it sounded like Olivant or perhaps Olly Want…’

  ‘It will be Want,’ Sergeant Poole said firmly. ‘We know this bastard and we’ve been after him for a long time, Peggy. If the girl dies, we can put him away for years… mebbe give him the rope…’

  Peggy wet her lips, which were suddenly dry. ‘I can’t be certain that was the name she said…’

  ‘No doubt about it,’ he said cheerfully. ‘He’s a cocky bastard, but we’ve got him this time – and about time too. I’ve been after this one for ages.’ She heard the hesitation in his voice as he asked, ‘What do you want to do about the girl’s attempt on your life if she recovers?’

  ‘It was an accident,’ Peggy said without hesitation. ‘She wasn’t sure what she was doing – she may have thought I was someone coming to attack her or someone else. She’d been treated so harshly, it was no wonder she didn’t know what she was doing. When she recognised me, she was different.’

  ‘You’re very forgiving,’ he said drily. ‘Well, it’s your choice – but it may be a matter of formality anyway. From the doctor’s report, I doubt if she will survive long enough to prosecute.’

  Peggy put down the receiver before she was rude. The officer meant well, but she was welling up inside and she couldn’t listen to another word.

  ‘Whatever happens, it isn’t your fault, Peggy,’ Able said when she told him what had happened, her eyes brimming with tears. He put his arm round her, holding her close to him, his lips caressing her hair. ‘You helped that girl out of the goodness of your heart, Peggy. It was wrong of her to turn on you the way she did, but how can we know what affected her mind? We know that she has suffered terribly, but we can’t know why she did what she did.’

  Peggy nodded and dried her eyes on his handkerchief. It was amazing how much it helped just to have Able’s arm around her. He was her anchor and she felt calm again, able to think clearly.

  ‘I know that she has suffered, but I can’t help feeling that she wanted to tell me something important,’ she told him. ‘It could have been the name of the man who terrified her, but…’ She sighed. ‘She is dying, Able. I feel so sad that she was treated so badly and I’m angry that someone is walking around free after beating her like that. I wish I’d asked her more but she was so ill…’ She sighed, ‘We shall never know now – poor little girl.’

  ‘Yes, she is a poor little girl,’ Able said, ‘but you did all you could for her, hon. She repaid you with an attempt on your life and while I understand that her mind had gone wrong somewhere, I can’t forgive that. It’s time for you to put thoughts of her aside. You have your family, who all love you – and Janet is going to need your help very soon. She was complaining of backache all the way home and I think it will not be long before you have another grandchild to love.’

  Peggy smiled and nodded. ‘Yes. Janet went straight up to have a warm bath – or as soon as Maggie would let her. I agree the birth must be very close now, even though she is a bit early according to her dates – another week or so to go.’ She sat down at the kitchen table and pushed the fresh coffee Pearl had made them towards him. ‘Now, tell me all about Pip. What did he seem like when you saw him – and what the doctors have to say?’

  ‘Pip opened his eyes that morning, looked at us and asked where you were. Sheila said he was speaking more clearly than he had the first time he woke and I thought he seemed quite sensible,’ Able said. ‘I told him you sent your love, but you were looking after Chris so that Sheila and the baby could come down to visit him and his face lit up.’ He grinned at her. ‘I let Janet have a few minutes with him and then we left Sheila alone with him. We saw him again later and he seemed quite content, sent you his love and said not to worry, he’d be back in no time.’

  ‘And what do the doctors say?’

  ‘Apparently, he must have a hard head, because they had expected more damage and now they think his brain is fine, apart from a small amount of amnesia. He cannot recall anything of the accident, but perhaps that is a good thing.’

  ‘So, he doesn’t remember who was in the car with him?’

  ‘No. He remembers leaving his meeting with his colleagues and then nothing until he woke up in hospital.’

  Peggy nodded, wondering whether the amnesia was real or feigned for Sheila’s sake. One day she might ask him, but for now she could only thank God that he was alive and well. ‘I’m glad you’re home, Able,’ she said. ‘I didn’t like being without you, even for a couple of days.’

  ‘I feel the same,’ Able said and reached for her hand just as they heard a cry of alarm from upstairs.

  ‘Mum!’ Janet’s voice called urgently. ‘Mum, I need you…’

  Peggy was on her feet at once, all thoughts of Gillian and her worry for her son gone as she recognised the panic in Janet’s voice. Her new grandchild was on the way…

  22

  Shirley was on her way round to Peggy’s house to see if she could do anything to help when she saw the young soldier walking towards her, with what she would afterwards describe to her mother as ‘a lovely, soppy grin’.

  ‘Good afternoon, Miss Hart,’ Keith Turner said and gave her a broad smile. ‘I called in at Mrs Ronoscki’s home, but her daughter is having a baby and the midwife had just arrived, so I was coming to your house. Her husband told me where you live.’

  ‘I was just on my way there to see if Peggy or Mum needed anything,’ she said. ‘I know the twins and Chris are at school, but I don’t know if Maggie needs someone to talk to. I’m sure someone will give you a cup of coffee while I pop up and ask – and if I’m not needed, we could go for a walk, if you like?’

  ‘I’d like that a lot,’ he responded eagerly.

  Shirley nodded. She knew her mother and Peggy would manage to look after Janet, but she would ask just in case they needed something fetching – but it was a nice afternoon, perhaps one of the last before summer began to close in and she would enjoy walking and talking with this young soldier, who had saved Peggy from more serious injury. He’d called to enquire after Peggy, as he’d said he would, and Shirley liked that – and something had changed inside her head. She wasn’t sure yet what had happened, but Richard’s verbal attack had been unkind, uncalled for and unjust and she’d been very hurt; however, that hurt had turned to anger.

  How dare he take Tosy’s part over her? His friend had stolen from her, lied to her, pretended to be a friend and, she suspected, sent her a letter meant to cause her break-up with Richard. Well, she’d managed that now, because at this moment in time, Shirley didn’t feel like forgiving him. She might change her mind, but for now she was too angry, so she would go for a long walk in the sunshine with this friendly young man and enjoy herself.

  As she’d suspected, Shirley’s assistance wasn’t needed. Janet hadn’t yet given birth, but the doctor had been, as had the midwife, and both were of the opinion that it would be a while yet, though her mother had confided that she wasn’t at all sure they were right.

  ‘Peggy was quick having her twins and I think Janet is just like her in that way. However, it doesn’t matter. I shall stay with her for as long as she needs me – so you’ll have to get your dad’s tea, love. Gordy and Matty are with Dot and she says she’ll give them tea for me. She will bring them home at half-past five – so be back by then, Shirley, but enjoy the rest of the afternoon with your friend.’

  ‘Thanks, Mum. You’re sure Dot can manage the boys?’

  ‘Maggie is round there too and she was playing cowboys and Indians with them when I last saw her,’ Maureen said. ‘Alice went round to Sheila’s to help with them, so I’ll bet your brothers are being spoiled to bits.’

  Shirley laughed, beca
use if the elderly residents of the lane had anything to do with it, her brothers would’ve been spoiled ages ago. Her mum was popular with everyone and at Christmas there were always lots of little gifts for Shirley and the two boys. She could have gone to any one of six houses in the lane and been taken in for tea and cake whenever she chose and so could her brothers. She often thought it was like having an extended family.

  When Shirley got back to the kitchen, Able was sharing his jug of coffee with Keith and two elderly gentlemen Shirley recognised as living at the far end of the lane. News of the imminent birth had gone round all the houses and one by one they all called to ask if they could do anything, because if anyone was as popular as her mother, it was Peggy.

  Keith looked up in anticipation and she nodded. He was on his feet at once, thanking Able for the coffee. They left together and Shirley explained that she had to get home by five-thirty to get her father’s meal and then put her brothers to bed.

  ‘Where would you like to go?’ he asked.

  ‘We could walk down to Commercial Road and have tea at the Rose café,’ Shirley said. ‘It’s nice there – they do lovely scones and their jam is home-made. Not as good as Mum’s and Peggy’s, but nice…’

  He glanced at his wristwatch. ‘I’d have taken you somewhere posh if there was time.’

  ‘I don’t need posh,’ Shirley told him. ‘I’ve been serving tea and lunches at a posh hotel – and they don’t serve a better tea than up the Commercial Road.’

  Keith nodded, giving her that rather nice, soppy look again. ‘I’d like to hear what you’ve been doing – is that your job, being a waitress?’

  ‘It was my summer job to earn money for my studies. I’m going to college next week. I shall be studying to be a doctor for the next five years or so.’

  Keith’s smile dimmed slightly at the news she would be studying for so long, but in another moment, he was smiling at her again. ‘Yes, you’re a clever girl, I can see that – how long have you wanted to be a doctor?’