Stormy Days On Mulberry Lane

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘And then we’ll have too many people to house and feed,’ Peggy said and gave him a half-smile. He was well-meaning, young, and he’d answered her call quickly, but he didn’t know Alice. He didn’t understand that she was a part of the lanes and that everyone loved her and wanted her to go on.

  Feeling very sad, Peggy went down to see him out. He’d given Alice something to make her sleep and said that a few days in bed would sort out her problem, but Peggy wasn’t much comforted. She was happy to look after her friend and would for as long as Alice needed her, but she’d hoped for some medicine or pills that would help.

  ‘Not good news, hon?’ Able asked as he came out of reception and saw her sitting on the bottom stair. ‘How is she?’

  ‘Sleeping at the moment,’ Peggy said. ‘He thinks it is just old age, Able. Says her heart is wearing out and all we can do is care for her and let her rest.’

  Able nodded. ‘Well, let’s give her a little time to rest and see what happens. Alice has lived through two wars; she might surprise us all.’

  ‘Somehow, I think the doctor is right, even though I don’t want to believe it,’ Peggy said and blinked hard to hold back the tears. Over the years, she had come to love Alice dearly. They were close friends and this time they’d had together with Alice living in her home had been precious to Peggy. Alice was more like a mother to her than her own had been and Peggy’s mother had been dead for many years. She would miss Alice if she passed away.

  ‘Well, whatever the truth, hon, you can only love her and care for her, just as you always have,’ Able said and Peggy nodded, blinking back her tears.

  ‘Yes, I know, love,’ she said. ‘We’re so lucky to have such a wonderful family. And we’ve lots of friends, so I mustn’t grieve too hard, but I shall look after her to the end, Able. I shan’t let her go into hospital – unless they can save her…’

  ‘I wouldn’t have expected anything else,’ he said simply. ‘That’s why you’re Peggy of Mulberry Lane – and it is a part of why I love you.’

  ‘And what is the other?’ she asked, a sparkle in her eyes because she saw the naughty light in his. He whispered in her ear and she gave a gurgle of pleasure. ‘You’re wicked, Able Ronoscki!’

  ‘I know,’ he said, ‘but you like me that way.’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ she agreed and kissed him.’

  It was the next morning and Alice was no better. At mid-morning, Peggy took her a cup of tea, but she only had a sip before lying back on the pillows. Peggy thought she looked even more fragile. She went down to the kitchen and the tears just cascaded down her cheeks.

  Able saw and came to put his arm about her, kissing her to comfort her. She let him hold her because the pain was too much for a moment.

  ‘Oh, Mum… kissing again,’ Fay said sounding bored, as she entered the kitchen and saw them embracing. ‘My friend Robert says his mum and dad never kiss. He doesn’t think they like each other any more.’

  ‘Poor Robert,’ Peggy said and smiled at her daughter. ‘Is Freddie ready for his football practice? Are you ready for something to eat?’

  ‘You haven’t forgotten I’ve got practice this afternoon?’ Fay said and perched on the stool. ‘What are we having?’ She sniffed. There was no smell of dinner cooking. ‘Is Alice still unwell, Mum?’

  ‘Yes, she is in bed, love. That’s why I haven’t started lunch yet – how about we have some sausages and chips for a change?’ Peggy smiled as she heard a murmur of approval from both Freddie and Able, who were standing in the doorway. ‘I’ll do fried onions for those who want them.’

  ‘I’ll be taking you to the rink,’ Able told his daughter. ‘Your mum has to look after Alice because she’s poorly. Freddie will come with us, won’t you?’

  ‘Yes, Dad. I could take Fay on the bus if you like?’

  ‘That’s fine, son. You can go to your football and I’ll take Fay – and your mum can sit quietly with Alice this afternoon.’

  Alice slept throughout the afternoon and evening. Peggy popped in to look at her several times, but she was breathing strongly and seemed fine otherwise.

  The following morning, she was awake and Peggy took her toast with scrambled egg and her tea in bed. She ate most of the egg and the soft middle bit of toast and said it was lovely and asked for another cup of tea.

  Peggy sat with her as she drank her second cup of tea.

  ‘I should get up,’ Alice said. ‘I ought to be helping clear away the breakfast things…’

  ‘Pearl’s new assistant, Ruth, is doing that,’ Peggy said and smiled. ‘She’s only sixteen, full of energy and keen to please, because this her first job and she’s delighted to work for us, so we’ll let her enjoy her first day at work, shall we?’

  ‘As long as you can manage, Peggy love,’ Alice said with a smile that said everything. ‘I was just thinking about the old days when you ran the pub. We had some fun then, didn’t we?’

  ‘Do you recall the night we went down to the cellar and you sang us those naughty songs and showed your knickers to Hitler?’ Peggy asked mischievously. ‘Everyone roared with laughter and we all joined in your songs. You made us forget to be frightened, Alice.’

  ‘No, Peggy, it was you who did that, taking us down there, giving us shelter all together and drinks and food. Alone in my house, I’d have died of fright. If I hadn’t had you—’ she sighed. ‘The years you went away from the lane were the worst of my life… Tom was good to me and his little wife, too. Sheila stood me a drink sometimes and Maureen saw I was never short of food, but it wasn’t the same for any of us round here without you.’

  Peggy’s throat tightened and she had to blink away the sudden tears. ‘Well, I’m back now, so we’ll make the most of what we have, Alice.’

  ‘Oh, you did that as soon as you got here,’ Alice told her. ‘These past months living with you have been the best of my life. You’re the daughter I never had, Peggy Ronoscki – and that husband and children of yours are gems. I’ve been so happy with you here.’

  ‘And now you’re going to move into the pub with me. Just think, Alice, you can go down and get a milk stout whenever you fancy it.’

  Alice chuckled. ‘I’ve known the time when I would’ve taken you up on that, Peggy love, but I don’t fancy it so much these days – a nice cup of tea or a drop of that sherry you like suits me.’

  ‘Would you like a glass with your dinner?’

  ‘Yes, please,’ Alice said. ‘I’ll get up and come down for that, Peggy. I know you have cooking to do.’

  ‘It’s Monday, Alice. The children will be at school all day, so we’ll have something nice and light – what do you fancy?’

  ‘Can I have whatever I like?’ Alice asked with a spark of interest.

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘Tell that smasher you married I’d like some of his pancakes with the cream and sweet stuff he puts on,’ Alice twinkled a her. ‘It ain’t great for me figure, but I doubt I’m going to win Miss World any day soon…’

  Peggy laughed and clutched at herself, because Alice had lost none of her saucy wit over the years and it was such a relief to hear her jesting, as she always did.

  ‘None of us is likely to do that,’ she retorted. ‘Have you seen what those girls wear, Alice? I couldn’t parade up and down like that for all the tea in China!’

  ‘You could knock spots off ’em if you did,’ Alice declared. ‘You always were a looker. There were quite a few men fancied you – that doctor what’s-his-name in the war for one; he was sweet on you for a bit, and Jack Barton always fancied you rotten – but you made the right choice. Able Ronoscki was right for my girl and she knew it.’

  ‘Yes, I did, even from the start, though I fought what I saw as wrong – but then Laurie went up to Scotland and had an affair. I think now there had been others before that, but they were just casual; the one in the war was special to him and I knew our marriage was over. That was when I let myself admit my feelings for Able.’

  ‘And then you
thought you’d lost him, but you’d got his twins to help you through,’ Alice said, reaching for her hand. ‘I always knew whose they were, Peggy, and I was glad you had them. I couldn’t believe it when Able came back to you after the war. It was a bloomin’ miracle!’

  ‘I couldn’t believe it either, but I was so glad. I’ve never been this happy in my life before…’

  Alice nodded. ‘That’s why I bless God for giving him to us,’ she said and held on to Peggy’s hand tightly. ‘When I go, I know my girl will be all right.’

  ‘Go where?’ Peggy asked, pretending not to know what Alice meant.

  ‘Now, don’t give me that nonsense,’ Alice said. ‘That’s not us – not my Peggy. She always faces the truth and so do I. My time is almost up, love. I reckon He’s up there with a stopwatch checking and He’ll be calling me in before long. My boat ride is nearly done – and it’s been a good ’un for the most part.’

  ‘Yes, it has, Alice.’ Peggy smiled at her, though the tears were close.

  ‘I’d have liked my husband to have had longer,’ Alice said thoughtfully, ‘but he wasn’t the only one. I had a young man named Alf. He used to take me dancing and buy me a port and lemon up the Palladium, but he got a job offer in New York and I wouldn’t go… he asked, but I said no.’

  ‘I didn’t know that…’ Peggy looked at her in surprise.

  ‘You’d only just come to the lanes as a young bride then, Peggy. We were friends, but not like now. Alf was the last man in my life and I had to join the Ladies Friendship Club for a while for something to keep me busy – do you recall that was where we got to know each other better? We made jam together there – and yours was the best even then.’

  Peggy nodded. She’d been born in the East End, but Mulberry Lane and the community here were special and she’d got to know Alice after her marriage. ‘Yes, I suppose that was the start of our friendship, Alice. It is a lot of years ago. I had Janet and then Pip and you helped me with various things, looking after them and shopping if I was too busy.’

  ‘I had plenty of energy then,’ Alice said. ‘I watched your children grow up and saw you grow from a nervous young wife to the confident woman you became. I knew you were special right from the beginning and I was never lonely after I found your family – and then the war came and we were even closer. I liked that…’

  ‘I’m glad,’ Peggy said and squeezed her hand. ‘I’m going to leave you to rest now, Alice, but I’ll come up again soon, love.’

  ‘Yes, I will rest today, but tomorrow, I’ll get up again,’ Alice said and smiled. ‘You’re a good ’un, Peggy. Never forget that.’

  Peggy nodded and went down to the kitchen. Her heart was bursting. Alice had told her things she’d never known before and it made her realise how large a part she’d played in the other woman’s life. When she’d left London, it must have been a blow for Alice and yet she’d said not one word.

  Thank goodness Fay had wanted to skate! Peggy knew now that she’d been needed back here and it was strange how things worked out. She’d returned for Sheila’s sake and for Fay and Maureen, but it had been Alice who needed her most.

  It was hard not to weep, but Peggy wouldn’t let herself give way again. Alice would know when she took her something up later and it would upset her. She hadn’t lost her friend yet and she would hang on to her for as long as she could.

  ‘If there is anything Rose or I can do to help, you know you have only to ask,’ Tom said when he called in that afternoon for a cup of tea and a chat. ‘I’ve always been fond of Alice and we’re willing to do anything to help.’

  ‘Thank you, Tom. I really appreciate it,’ Peggy said, serving him a generous slice of warm apple pie. ‘Able will be sorry to have missed you. I think he is talking to a client this afternoon – someone wants to buy two of the apartments on completion, I think…’

  Tom nodded. ‘Yes, he called in at the yard on his way by. I came mostly to see you, Peggy – but also to tell Able that I think we have a couple of decent jobs coming our way soon.’

  ‘Not big developments I hope?’

  ‘No, these are for a house and an extension to a shop, just nice and manageable if we’ve got a few hundred behind us, which we shall have once the flats are sold.’

  ‘Good.’ Peggy smiled at him. ‘And how is that gorgeous wife of yours and your children?’

  ‘All wonderful,’ Tom said and grinned. ‘I’m a lucky man, Peggy, and I know it. I asked Rose if she would like a nice house in the suburbs, but she said no, she wants to stay in the lanes. She enjoys helping you with the cakes and she’ll be back as soon as she can manage it.’

  ‘I’m glad,’ Peggy told him, feeling pleased Rose wanted to go on helping her. ‘The folk hereabouts would miss you and Rose.’

  ‘I’d keep my yard where it is and travel in, but Rose says we can make any improvements we want to our house and she likes living here near friends.’

  ‘Yes, Rose has it right,’ Peggy agreed. ‘Family first and then friends a close second. None of us can be truly happy without them.’

  ‘Well, that old Mr Grundy, right at the bottom of the lane, is a sour old devil. Both Rose and I have tried to help, but he just pulls a rude face and slams the door.’

  ‘Is that Joshua Grundy?’ Peggy raised her brows. ‘He comes in for a half of bitter now and then – used to be a four-pints-a-night man. Perhaps he’s feeling the pinch, Tom. I’ll ask him if he can give me a hand with the beer casks. Able can manage them, but it isn’t easy for him. We could do with an extra man to help him get them up from the cellar – I know you would help and so would Jack, he’s the new barman starting next week, after I move in, but if Mr Grundy is short of a few bob it could make the difference.’

  ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ Tom said and grinned at her. ‘I don’t know how we managed without you, Peggy. I can offer him a job sweeping up my yard, too. I’m sure he can manage it.’

  ‘Leave it until you see what response I get,’ Peggy advised, ‘but don’t offer him charity. He’ll never accept.’

  Tom nodded and went off just as the post arrived. Peggy looked at the large fancy envelope that was flourished at her and smiled. There was only one source for that and she smiled as she opened it. She was invited to a grand dinner at the Savoy Hotel on a Friday evening late in November, and her presence was mandatory, otherwise she would forfeit any claim to the winner’s prize, should she be chosen.

  Peggy frowned over the terms of the letter. She didn’t like that she was being ordered to attend and wished she’d never been nominated, because she wasn’t at all sure that she could leave Alice to go to a dinner that would be nice, but wasn’t important. Yes, it would be good to have that certificate on the wall and the prize was excellent – but the happiness and comfort of those she loved came first and unless Alice was a lot better, Peggy would not be attending the gala night, whether she forfeited the prize or not.

  35

  Laura came up to see Peggy the very next morning. She was excited about the gala evening and bubbling over because she hoped it meant she might be amongst the prize winners.

  ‘I came up to London, because I’m going to buy a new dress for the evening; there’s sure to be lots of pictures for the newspapers, even if we’re only runners-up.’ She laughed. ‘I haven’t bought anything new for ages, so I thought I’d make a day of it. Besides, my mum insisted. She’s looking after things for me so she said I should come up for the day, get a new dress – and visit you at the same time.’

  ‘I imagine you’re in with a good chance,’ Peggy told her. ‘Anyway, how is business?’

  ‘Pretty good,’ Laura said. ‘I’ve made the most of getting to the last round and the meals I’m serving up seem to be popular…’ She hesitated then, ‘Would you share the secret of your shepherd’s pie with me? I could serve that with a fancy name and it would save me some time when I’m really busy.’

  ‘Yes, of course I will,’ Peggy said. ‘As a matter of fact, I’m making it to
day for my family. You can watch and make notes. If I try to tell you, I might forget something…’

  ‘You’re a really good friend,’ Laura said. ‘You had every right to say no, Peggy. Why should you share your secrets?’

  ‘I would with any friend that asked,’ Peggy said. ‘I’m not going to make a fortune by writing a cooking book or entering lots of competitions. I’ve probably got quite a few more you could use or adapt for your own guests.’

  ‘I must admit trying to keep up with my late husband’s standards are wearing me out. He didn’t have all the rest of the jobs I have to do with the children and preparing the rooms.’

  ‘How many children do you have?’

  ‘Three – two boys of eight and eleven and a girl of nine.’

  ‘You must bring them up when you can,’ Peggy offered. ‘Meet my family and I’ll do another of my easy dishes that tastes a bit different and see what you think – and I’ll copy a few recipes out for you.’

  Just at that moment, Able came down to the kitchen. ‘Alice is asking for you, love. I said you would go up in a minute or two. I didn’t know you had a visitor…’

  ‘This is Laura Kennedy. I told you I met her at the competition.’

  ‘Ah yes, Peggy said you were friendly and helpful.’

  ‘She helped me more than I did her,’ Laura said as Peggy excused herself. She heard Laura ask if someone was ill and Able explained.

  Upstairs, Alice told her she felt a bit worse and had decided not to get up. ‘You don’t mind, do you, Peggy? I think I’ll stay here for a bit longer.’

  ‘Of course, Alice, whatever suits you, love.’ Peggy bent and kissed her papery-soft cheek. ‘I’ll bring a cup of tea and a piece of apple pie and custard up soon – I’m just making the pie for lunch.’

  ‘You get on, Peggy,’ Alice gave her a look of love. ‘I’m all right – I just wanted you to know why I wasn’t coming down.’

  ‘Much better you stay where you are,’ Peggy replied and went back downstairs.