Christmas at the Foyles Bookshop (The Foyles Girls)

by Elaine Roberts

  ‘Spare me some change please,’ the man repeated over and over again.

  An old lady appeared, giving him a cup of tea and a sandwich. ‘It’s not much, but it’ll help keep you warm and fill your belly for a while.’

  The man grabbed it and bit hungrily into the bread. When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. ‘Thank you, ma’am, thank you.’

  A tear tripped down Alice’s face.

  Molly pulled out her handkerchief and sniffed into it, before dabbing at her eyes. She opened her purse and took out two silver coins.

  Alice nodded and did the same.

  The old woman glanced over at them. ‘’E’s ’ere every day; there must be somewhere these injured soldiers can go.’ She sighed. ‘He can’t work with his injuries, but I don’t suppose he’s alone in that.’

  Molly bit down on her lip. Blood seeped into her mouth, leaving an iron taste on her tongue. She bent down next to the man. Despite the cold weather, there was a stench of sweat around him. ‘Take this.’ She placed her two silver half crowns on the palm of his grubby hand.

  The man stopped chewing. His eyes widened and his mouth gaped open, as he stared down at the money. ‘I can’t take that; it wouldn’t be right.’

  ‘Let us worry about that.’

  The man clenched his hand shut. ‘Sorry.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘I was suddenly afraid you’d change your mind.’

  Alice tapped Molly on the shoulder and passed her the two silver florins she was holding.

  ‘Thank you, thank you, I can’t say thank you enough.’

  Molly stood up and smiled. ‘It’s the least we can do. I truly wish there was more.’

  In silent agreement, Alice and Molly stopped at the edge of the pavement. Their arms linked, as they looked left and right, so they could cross Oxford Street to walk along Rathbone Place.

  Alice glanced at Molly. ‘It’s sad, isn’t it? That man risked his life for us, and now look at him, begging on the street with nowhere to live.’

  Molly nodded. ‘I wonder if there’s someone who can help him, maybe the Salvation Army, even if he only got a bath and a hot meal every day.’

  Alice mumbled, ‘It’s shameful, treating him like that, and he can’t be the only soldier in that position. It’s terrible.’

  ‘I can see why your cousin opened up a women’s refuge; it’s heartbreaking.’ Molly paused. ‘It brings home how my parents could have ended up, if it hadn’t been for the kindness of the refuge they grew up in.’ She tightened her lips for a moment. ‘Perhaps I’ll make some enquiries.’

  The doors to The Old Queen’s Head public house stood ajar, an old dog lay in the doorway, his sad eyes looking their way. A woman leant over the dog and shook an old rag into the air. The breeze carried the dust in their direction. ‘Sorry, girls.’ The woman disappeared again.

  Alice waved her hand in front of her face as they crossed the road, threading their way through the cars chugging along Oxford Street. ‘Anyway, you and Andrew have been through some scary times, so I think waiting to set a date won’t throw him.’

  ‘Let’s hope not.’ Molly gave her friend a sideways glance. ‘Do you like being a wife and mother?’

  ‘I love it. I don’t spend as much time with my son as I would like.’ Alice stared into the distance. ‘When this war is over, Freddie and I will be looking for our own place, but at the moment, with driving the ambulance and being under the continual threat of bombs going off, it’s good to go home and see that the family is safe. He’s still in pain from his injuries, but happy to be back at the police station. At least he can keep an eye on Lily and Daisy.’ Alice chuckled.

  ‘Has the arguing stopped between Lily and your father?’

  ‘I don’t think they will ever be the best of friends. That sister of mine is quite headstrong, but joining the police has focused her, so things have calmed down. Also, father is more tolerant since he’s been visiting the soldiers in St. Thomas’.’

  Molly nodded. ‘That’s good. I wonder how Victoria got on at Endell Street Military Hospital last night. I think she was quite nervous about visiting the patients again.’

  ‘Yes, it must be quite nerve-wracking; after all, what do you talk to them about? I told her to take some books to read to them. At least when I go to Victoria train station to collect the wounded, the conversation is often about where they are going and what’s going to happen to them.’ Alice smiled. ‘Some of them like to do some harmless flirting, but I think that’s what they hide behind.’

  ‘I expect it was quite scary when you first did it on your own.’

  Alice nodded. ‘I was terrified, but I kept telling myself if it were my brothers in this situation, I would want someone to be nice to them. My mother was very good at it.’

  Molly immediately thought about her own mother. ‘Mothers put us to shame. You have to admire them; they have strength that none of us know about.’

  Alice sidestepped a child that ran out in front of her. ‘You were brave too, leaving what you knew at Foyles, to work at the munitions factory.’

  Molly shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t know whether I was brave or stupid, but at least I met Andrew and have a newfound respect for the work they do in those places.’

  ‘Do you ever hear from Grace? I often wonder if she settled into working on the land.’

  Molly’s eyes lit up. ‘She writes to me every week and is loving working outside; she’s doing well. I think a stray dog has adopted her.’ She laughed then paused for a moment. ‘I don’t think Grace will ever get over you saving her life. There aren’t many letters it’s not mentioned in.’

  Alice smiled. ‘You know, that’s the best bit about what I do—’

  ‘What, saving lives?’

  ‘No, although that’s obviously good as well, but I was thinking more about how we can make a difference to someone’s life by the small things we do.’ Alice looked across at Molly. ‘You know, I can’t count the number of soldiers I’ve taken to hospitals, or spoken to at the rest station at Victoria.’

  Molly frowned. ‘And yet you sound quite sad about it, when actually you should be proud of all the work you’ve done, especially having a small child as well.’

  Alice tried to raise a smile but failed. ‘That’s just it, it’s all getting too much. I’m so tired all the time, and it’s Arthur that doesn’t get my full attention. I’ve got to give up something and it’s a difficult decision to make.’

  ‘You’re not ill though, are you?’

  ‘No, just tired.’

  Molly pondered for a moment. ‘Now I’m not at the munitions factory, I’ve still to find something to do towards the war effort, so I could take over one of your jobs, although driving an ambulance might be more difficult for me than serving the soldiers at Victoria station.’

  ‘Don’t put yourself down, Molly. None of it’s easy, in fact some of it is heart-wrenching.’ She paused. ‘I’ll try and make a decision.’

  Molly and Alice stood outside the black front door of Victoria’s home in Percy Street, worry and dread etched on their faces.

  ‘It’s not going to get done with us gazing up at the front door.’ Molly took a deep breath. ‘Are we going in, or shall we walk away?’

  Alice lifted her hand and grabbed the brass doorknocker, letting it drop with a heavy thud.

  Molly silently watched her actions. ‘I suppose that means we are definitely doing this.’

  ‘It’s what we came to do, and we have to be strong, for Victoria’s sake.’

  A curtain twitching at the house next door caught Molly’s attention. ‘Ooh, we’re being watched.’ She chuckled. ‘She’s spying on Victoria; do you think she’s a German spy, or just nosey?’

  A smile broke across Alice’s face as she looked at the neighbour’s house. The dark curtain immediately dropped back into place. ‘You’re terrible; if she is a spy, she’s not a very good one.’

  Giggles erupted from them both and the tension of the day ahead was momentarily
forgotten. The creaking of the front door brought the laughter to an abrupt end.

  Colour drained from Alice’s face, as she stared at the man standing in front of them in police uniform.

  Molly gasped, but no words came out.

  ‘Can I help you?’ The officer’s deep voice filtered through to the pair of them.

  6

  John stared down at his hands, clutching a piece of his puzzle in his lap. The knuckles were almost visible through his translucent skin. His bony fingers confirmed he was losing weight, as they twisted and turned the awkward shape he was holding.

  Beatrice frowned as she gave him a sideways glance; if only the sun would come out, so they could go for a walk. She sighed. It felt like the rain lashing against the window hadn’t stopped for weeks. She looked out at the grey afternoon, the wind moaning as it collided against the house. Beatrice knew that, if she stood up and looked out at the sea, the white foam crests of the waves would be roaring onto the pebbles and the golden sand would be buried under the crashing waves. ‘I’ll be glad when the summer comes.’

  John jolted out of his daze and looked up from his puzzle. ‘I believe this is summer, Grandma. You’d think there wasn’t much more rain to come down.’

  Beatrice raised her eyebrows as she looked across at him. ‘Yes, well, it’ll be good when we can sit in the yard, or on the sea front, and get some fresh air into our lungs.’ She paused for a moment. ‘You look very pale this morning; shall I fetch the doctor?’

  John gave a humourless laugh. ‘No, Grandma.’ He hesitated, staring at the fragile lady he adored. ‘Here’s something I do want to do though.’ He stared at the puzzle piece, while biting down on his lip.

  Beatrice dropped the newspaper onto her lap, before whispering, ‘What is it?’

  ‘Oh nothing.’ John shook his head. ‘I’m sorry to disturb your reading. I know Grandpa will keep you busy, once he gets home from his club.’

  ‘You are much more important to me than anything that is written in this paper.’ It rustled as she straightened the pages and folded it shut. ‘So tell me what’s going on inside your head, because I know something is.’

  John smiled. ‘You know me too well.’

  ‘So tell me.’ A long silence followed Beatrice’s words; she didn’t take her eyes off him.

  John took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and gasped, then immediately straightened his lips into a tense thin line, as pain gripped his chest. Experience told him it would gradually subside. He slowly opened his eyes to see his grandma staring at him with fear in her eyes. ‘It’s all right, Grandma, it’s about time I learned not to take deep breaths.’ He forced a smile, in a bid to reassure her. ‘You do know you mean everything to me, don’t you?’

  Beatrice could feel the tears pricking at her eyes; she blinked quickly, before nodding. ‘As you do to me too.’

  ‘I want you to always remember that—’

  ‘You’re scaring me.’ Beatrice pulled herself out of the armchair, the newspaper forgotten, as it fell to the floor.

  It was John’s turn to try and brush away the anxiety that had gripped him. ‘I’m sorry, Grandma, there’s nothing to be frightened about.’ He paused, not taking his eyes off her. ‘I believe my asthma is getting worse and I would like to see my mother and father. They haven’t been to see me for years and I want to know why. Was it so terrible, the last time they were here? I know there was an argument with Grandpa, but he seems to argue with everyone. Surely that wouldn’t have kept them away, would it?’

  A chime rang through the house. Beatrice breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I’ll just get that; I’m not expecting visitors, so goodness knows who it is.’

  John watched her almost run from the room, the door slowly gliding shut behind her. Regret wrapped itself around him. He shouldn’t have mentioned it; after all, she was stuck in the middle of everything that happened in this house. Laughter came from the hall, followed by heels clattering on the red and black tiles. He sighed; the moment was gone, but it was probably just as well. The sitting room door swung open. A smile quickly spread across John’s face. ‘Aunt Mabel.’ He pressed his hands hard on to the arms of the chair and pushed himself up. ‘How wonderful.’

  Mabel took the couple of steps to him. ‘Don’t get up, John, and don’t call me aunt.’

  John gave a feeble laugh. ‘I’m not strong, but surely I can give my aunt a cuddle.’ He wrapped his thin arms around her. He could feel her arms tighten around him, her expert hands taking in his thinness, without a word being said. Instinctively, he knew the thick jumper would not stop her from knowing he was getting worse.

  Beatrice beamed at them both. ‘I’ll go and put the kettle on. It’s lovely to see you, Mabel, so we shall make this an occasion to have biscuits.’ She chuckled as she left the room.

  Mabel smiled after her mother; she had missed her more than she realised.

  John watched his aunt, wondering what had prompted the visit after such a long time. ‘It’s lovely to see you; it’s been a while. It’s grand to see you looking so well, London must suit you.’

  Mabel smiled and gave a little curtsey. ‘Why, thank you, kind sir.’

  Laughter burst from them both.

  ‘How are you managing, John?’

  ‘Nothing changes here, as I’m sure you know, but what about you?’ John waited, but the silence became unbearable.

  Mabel looked away, her joy no longer visible. She blinked rapidly.

  John grabbed her hand. ‘How are you coping without Uncle Sid?’

  ‘London keeps me busy and Endell Street Hospital is a great place to work. The doctors and nurses care so much for the injured soldiers.’ Mabel paused. ‘I miss him every day, but I know we will meet again, when my maker calls me to him.’

  John squeezed her hand. ‘It all seems so unfair. To survive on the front line and then cop it when the Germans bomb London—’

  ‘Yes, well, we were daft to visit Greenwich when there’s a war on, but he wanted to get away from here for a couple of days and have me all to himself.’ Mabel took a deep breath. ‘Anyway, enough about me, I want to know how you are?’ She pulled up a chair to sit next to him.

  ‘As I said, nothing changes.’

  Mabel ran a critical eye over him. ‘I disagree. You’re quite pale, and I believe you are losing weight, so I’m guessing you’re not eating properly.’ She watched a flicker of something run across his face but wasn’t sure what it was. ‘I know you’re stuck here with the grumpiest man in the world but you can write to me, or better still, talk to me now.’

  John laughed. ‘Yes, I do believe he is the grumpiest man in the world.’ He paused to catch his breath. ‘I’ve missed you; you always make me laugh.’

  ‘So, how are you really doing?’

  John brushed away imaginary fluff from his trousers. ‘If I’m honest I think my asthma has moved on to something else, although I don’t know what. I’m coughing up stuff, which is new.’ He cast a glance in his aunt’s direction. ‘And I’m eating properly yet I’m still losing weight.’ He looked down at his hands. ‘I think my fingers look a bit misshapen, they seem to be swollen on the ends and around the knuckle. I’m also sweating more than I used to, that seems to have a particularly salty taste to it.’

  Mabel’s mouth dropped open for a moment before she put on her professional nurse’s head again. ‘Have you told anyone?’

  ‘No, I don’t want you to either. I’m tired of living like this.’

  Mabel shook her head defiantly. ‘You have to fight whatever it is, see a doctor. I have money saved, and we can use that to pay for any treatment you might need.’

  ‘It’s not what I want, and anyway I think it’s gone beyond that.’ He paused. ‘I was just talking to Grandma about finding my parents. I want to know why they haven’t been to see me for so long.’

  Mabel felt her heart leap in her chest; he had caught her by surprise. ‘You know they love you to bits, so they must have their reasons.’ She stood up an
d paced around the room. ‘I remember each time they visited, it broke their hearts to leave you, but they had to think of your welfare.’

  John nodded. ‘But they haven’t been back for years, so I want to know why? Do they no longer have time or care about me?’

  Mabel glared at her nephew. ‘John Appleton, I shall wash your mouth out with soap if you continue talking like that. Your parents adore you, and don’t you forget it.’

  John’s face contorted with rage. ‘So where are they?’

  *

  Molly grabbed Alice’s arm, as they both stared wide-eyed up at the policeman.

  The man at the door frowned, glancing from one to the other. ‘Are you ladies all right? You’ve both gone quite pale.’

  ‘We’re er…’ Molly struggled to speak.

  Alice blinked rapidly as she looked across at Molly, and back to the policeman blocking the doorway. Memories of seven years previously jumped into her head, when she’d opened the same front door to a policeman. It was the dreadful day she met Freddie, who had brought news of the Stoats Nest train crash, which had killed Victoria’s parents. The news had taken Victoria years to come to terms with and was a harrowing experience; not one Alice had wished to repeat, but the war dictated otherwise. Why was he here? Her mouth was dry, her tongue stuck to her lips as she tried to moisten them. ‘We’re here to see Victoria, we’re… er… friends of hers.’

  A woman’s voice called out from inside the house. ‘Who is it?’

  The policeman looked over his shoulder into the hallway, but before he could speak, Daisy was standing next to him.

  Alice blinked quickly, trying to recover her equilibrium. ‘Morning, Daisy. Sorry, when I saw the policeman, I thought you had received bad news.’

  Daisy frowned for a moment. ‘Oh, you mean Peter; no, he’s a colleague that popped in for a cup of tea while walking his beat.’ She looked from one to the other. ‘I shouldn’t have allowed him to answer the door, but I was upstairs changing into my uniform and didn’t think about the consequences, which isn’t very good for a policewoman. Let me introduce you properly.’ She moved her arm between them. ‘Constable Peter Albright, please meet Alice Leybourne and Molly Cooper.’