The Road to Liberation: Trials and Triumphs of WWII

by Marion Kummerow

  Derek wasn’t at all sure his father would be proud, given what Derek had done and said to Sally but that was going to change. He took the football down to Mikey, told Sarah to pack up a basket of food and they would drop it off on the way to the solicitor. Mikey rubbed his face on his shirt a couple of times. When they dropped him at his home and he handed the basket of food to his mother, he surprised Derek by giving him a hug.

  “I wish my Da was a man, like you.”

  “Maybe in time Mikey, your Da will learn to value you and your mother. But, remember you are not him. You don’t have to end up like him.”

  Derek watched Mikey’s mother as Sam whispered to her. The tears ran down her cheeks and she made no attempt to clean them off. She muttered something to Sam and moved closer to Derek.

  “I don’t know why you are doing what you are, but thank you. I can never repay you but I’ll pray for you every day.”

  “Please pray for my family. We have some work to do on getting over the war.”

  She touched his arm, understanding written all over her face. “Nobody said coming back from the war would be the hardest bit for you men. If I had a shilling for every man I’ve heard say they miss the war, I’d be rich.”

  “I don’t miss the war itself but the comradeship and the understanding. Us men don’t appreciate how bad you women had it at home. How much stress and strain you were under and how courageous you all were. I hope things work out the best for you in Ireland, Dee. Write to Sam if you ever need anything. He can contact me.”

  “I won’t be needing your help again; I’ve got my family over there, but thank you.”

  “Sam, we have to go. The meeting starts soon.”

  43

  Derek, Sam, and Sarah sat in the Solicitor's office. Derek wished he could say something to make the old servants look more at ease. Reginald barely looked at them, but he kept fawning over Derek.

  It would take a few weeks for the sale of the business to go through and for Derek to clear out his old things from the house. He looked at Reginald as the solicitor gave them the details of the Will.

  “Your father left everything to Roland with him being the eldest son, apart from an annual allowance to your mother and a stipend to the servants.”

  Sam looked up at this but said nothing.

  Reginald continued, “Roland had already accumulated a sizeable sum of money in his own right. Your brother purchased quite a large plot of land in Chertsey, close to Rose Cottage. He also had a small rental portfolio. I will have to check if all the properties have survived the war and whether any need repairs.”

  Derek nodded, trying to hide his surprise. He had no idea Roland was so wealthy.

  “Everything passes to you, Derek. Roland had a good knowledge of investments. If you keep his choices, you could comfortably live off the income they provide.”

  Derek couldn’t believe his ears. He wouldn’t have to return to the army and could live the rest of his life in Chertsey with Sally. If she’d have him.

  “Thank you, Reginald. I will discuss the investments with you another day. Can you pay the money to Sarah and Sam with immediate effect? They have waited too long already.”

  Sam took Sarah out for a celebratory meal, leaving Derek to face his mother, alone. When he returned, she was sitting in the drawing room, a large glass of wine at her side.

  “We missed your presence, Mother. Reginald passed on his regards.”

  She didn't reply.

  “Reginald will write to you with the details of your annual income but expect in the region of £8,000.”

  “I can’t live on that. There has to be more money. Your father had many investments.”

  “He didn’t have as much as you think, Mother. His money went to Roland. Roland left everything to me.”

  “I don’t know how I shall manage. This house costs a lot for a start. Your father should have done better by me.”

  Derek let that comment pass. “Mother, this is my house so I will pay for its upkeep. You are free to live here as long as you wish on one condition. You treat Sam and Sarah with utmost respect.”

  His mother opened her mouth, but Derek ignored her. “Mother, I will stand as best man for Sam when he marries Sarah. After the ceremony, I will work on finding them alternative accommodation closer to Rose Cottage.”

  “You expect me to live with servants?” His mother held her hanky to her nose as if she was about to get an attack of the vapors.

  “You have always lived with servants, mother. Only this time, they will use Roland’s room as a bedroom. I have told them to turn my bedroom into their private sitting room.”

  His mother paled, “I won’t agree to this.”

  “That is your choice. But with accommodation so difficult to find, give it some thought.” Derek decided his mother needed a firm reminder. “Sam and Sarah have worked for us for most of their lives. They are entitled to retire, something Dad promised them, but you reneged on that promise. This is my way of making it up to them. My decision is final.”

  “Why couldn’t you have been the one who died, and Roland lived?”

  “I wish Roland hadn’t died, but he did. So this is the way things stand. You have another option.”

  His mother stared at him, waiting.

  “You could marry one of the gentry you admire so much but I must warn you, your allowance would cease.”

  “You are insufferable, Derek. You always were.”

  Derek left the room. He itched to go to Chertsey, but he had to delay his trip by two days. He could have gone and come back to London but sensed that wasn’t the correct thing to do. Instead, he sent a note to Sally telling her he would be there soon.

  The two days seemed to last forever, but finally he arrived in Chertsey Station. He got out of the train and walked toward Rose Cottage. He took the back lane in the hope he wouldn’t meet anyone he knew.

  He repeated what he was going to say over and over again. It sounded good to him but what would Sally think?

  He pushed the gate open, hearing sounds coming from the back garden. Walking around the cottage he saw Sally playing ball with the children. Looking closer he saw it was a bundle of rags, not a ball. Grinning, he was glad he had kept one football back for Tom.

  Tom spotted him first.

  “Look, it’s Uncle Derek.” Tom came racing toward him. “Are you back for good now? Are you really home? Aunt Sally has cried so much, I thought she might drown.”

  He glanced up at Sally. She’d turned pink, hearing Tom’s comments.

  He held out his hand to Tom. “Nice to see you again, Tom. Do you think I could meet Liesl?”

  Tom looked at him, uncertainty in his eyes. “Liesl. Come here and meet Uncle Derek.”

  The young girl walked over slowly, her blue eyes holding his gaze. She didn’t seem to blink. He had a feeling she could read his soul.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Derek.” Her voice and manners were perfect, but he felt like she was addressing a stranger. Which in fairness he was.

  “Uncle Derek silly. He’s Aunt Sally’s husband,” Tom admonished but Liesl just stared.

  “Nice to meet you, Liesl. You’re very pretty. I love your dress.”

  “Mum made it for me. She’s good at that. Are you here to stay? Where’s your case?” Liesl looked behind him.

  “I have to check with your Mum first. Tom, do you think you could take Liesl to Callaghan’s and buy her something?”

  “A gobstopper?” Tom gave Derek a hopeful glance but Sally intervened.

  “No Tom. I told you she is too small for them. Buy her some licorice or whatever Mr. Callaghan has. The ration book is in the cupboard.”

  “I know. Come on Liesl, let’s go before they get all mushy.”

  “Why will they get mushy?” Liesl stared at Derek before Tom dragged her away.

  “I wish we could get mushy,” Derek said lightly, but the look on Sally’s face told him not to try joking.

  “Sally, I… oh heck I had
it all laid out in my head and now I can’t remember what I was going to say.”

  “What are you doing here? Did you bring papers?” Her lovely face showed signs of strain, large black circles under her eyes, her mouth thinned. The hurt in her eyes. All of this was his fault.

  He didn’t follow what she was saying at first but then it dawned on him.

  “No, Sally. I don’t want a divorce. I want to be your husband.”

  “Derek, I want that too but I can’t…” She turned away from him. He took her by the arm and swung her around but held her gently.

  “Listen to me. I want you and the children. I’ve been so stupid. I didn’t know my backside from my elbow. I’m such a fool. Please tell me it’s not too late.”

  “You want the children?”

  “Yes.”

  She didn’t look convinced, “but what if we have children of our own?” Her cheeks turned pink. His Sally, still embarrassed, after all they had been to one another.

  He rubbed her hands in his, wanting to hug her but sensing it was too soon.

  “Then we will have a big family like you said you wanted. I don’t care if we have the two, we have, or ten more. I want you, Sally and those kids.”

  Sally hesitated.

  He took a step toward her. “I know I hurt you and I wish I could take back every word I said. I was in a bad place. I should have gone to the hospital straight away.”

  “What was wrong? Why didn’t you let me visit?”

  “I had some shrapnel in an old wound. They had to operate to take it out. There was a chance I might not walk again and I didn’t want you to feel under a burden.”

  He almost stepped back from the blaze of anger in her eyes.

  “Derek Matthews, I don’t know if I want to slap you or hug you. I married you in sickness and in health.”

  “I’d like the second option.”

  But Sally seemed not to hear him.

  “You’re my husband. I wanted you back so badly I wouldn’t have cared if you came back with one leg, one arm or one eye.” Sally threw herself into his arms. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her back.

  “Sally forgive me for being such a cad.

  “I love you, Derek. I always will.”

  He drew away from her but didn’t let her go. “It will be hard at first. You and me, we aren’t the same people we were all those years ago.”

  “I know that.”

  “I miss my docile, little wife,” he responded.

  “Your what? I was never docile, Derek. You take that back.”

  He kissed her deeply, removing all ability for either of them to speak.

  “See, I told you they’d get mushy.”

  Sally pushed him away, redder in the face than he’d ever seen her.

  She rubbed her hands on her dress as she said, “Tom, that was fast. We didn’t expect you to come back so quickly.”

  “I wanted to make sure he didn’t disappear again, like last time.”

  Tom’s look made Derek feel like a heel.

  “Come here son, I have something to ask you.”

  Tom came closer, holding Liesl by the hand.

  “I’d like to come here and live with you. Would that be okay with you?” Derek asked, watching Tom’s face closely. He hadn’t realized until right this minute how much he wanted the boy to agree.

  “You mean forever?” Tom asked.

  “Yes. Or at least until you find your own girl, move out and have a home of your own.”

  “Yuck! I’m never getting married. Are you really going to stay? You aren’t going to disappear again if I go to Maggie’s or somewhere. You did that last time.” The accusing look made Derek feel lower than a snake.

  “Yes, I did. I can’t give you any excuse other than to tell you I’m sorry. I was a fool. But give me a second chance and I won’t let you down. I may mess up sometimes, but all dads do that.”

  At the look on Tom’s face, he realized what he had said.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean…”

  Tom spoke over him, the hopeful look in his eyes tearing Derek apart, “You want to be my Dad. Like, for real?”

  Sally slipped her hand into Derek’s. Derek choked on the lump in his throat.

  “Yes, I would. I can never take the place of your Papa but I’d like to be your Dad.”

  Tom looked at Sally.

  “Does that mean I could call you Mum, like Liesl does?”

  Derek heard Sally’s hard swallow.

  “I’d love for you to call me Mum. I see you as my son, Tom.”

  “Mum.” Liesl held her hands up, so Sally picked her up. Liesl put her arm around Derek’s neck. “Dad.”

  Derek pulled Tom into the group. “Family.”

  Sally kissed his cheek. “Our family.”

  “Will Harry call you Mum and Dad too?” Tom asked, after a few minutes.

  Derek and Sally exchanged a glance.

  “He could but I guess he might feel too old to call me anything but Derek.”

  Tom shrugged his shoulders. “Can we go tell Ruth and Rachel we have a new Dad?”

  “Take your time doing that son. I’ll wait here with your Mum.”

  “You’re going to get all slushy again.” Tom picked up the pace as he ran, holding Liesl’s hand, almost lifting Liesl’s legs from the ground as she tried to keep up with him.

  Derek held Sally’s hand until the children had gone down the lane.

  “Thank you, Derek.”

  He put a finger under her chin forcing her to look up at him.

  “No Sally, thank you. Not just for this but for everything.”

  Epilogue

  June 1947 Abbeydale

  “Sally, where are you?”

  Sally heard the back door shut behind Maggie.

  “I’m here, just giving the front room a good dusting. You’re breathless again. Have you been to the doctor yet?”

  Maggie waved away Sally’s comments as she had every other time she mentioned the doctor. Sally was worried about her friend and the effect the long war years had on her. Even now, two years after the war had ended, they had to queue for rations. People all over the country were suffering.

  In London and other cities there was no accommodation to be found. The houses destroyed by bombs were left the same way they had been when Derek had returned. There was no money to rebuild them. Every penny seemed to be going to repay loans to America or help those in Europe. Sally thanked God over and over, Derek’s money meant they had a comfortable standard of living and gave them the opportunity to help the less well off in their community.

  “Maggie, you’re out of breath. I’m calling the doctor.” Sally moved to pick up the telephone. They’d had it installed a month ago. Derek had insisted as he was worried about Sally having the baby alone. Sally had protested, saying there were more deserving cases all over the country and she would wait, but he’d insisted.

  “Don’t fuss.” Maggie took a seat at the table. “Sally, I’m old enough to say when I need a doctor.”

  Sally didn’t like it, but she couldn’t make Maggie see someone. She gave Maggie a glass of water and then put the kettle on.

  “Sally, I met the postman, he had a letter from Rachel. I’m dying to read it but have to wait for Ruth to come home. He gave me these for you.” Maggie took a breath as she handed Sally her post.

  She rifled through them, her heart skipping a beat as she spotted Harry’s writing.

  “Look Maggie, it’s from Harry. The children will be so excited.”

  “Why do you think I hand delivered it. I want to hear all the news, me being a gossipy old witch and all.”

  “You aren’t a gossip. Maybe I should wait for the children.”

  “No, read it first. Where are they anyway?”

  “Derek took the kids down to the river to go fishing with Sam. That old man is such a blessing, him and Sarah are like grandparents to the kids.”

  “Less of the old Sally, that couple are younger than I a
m. How are you feeling?”

  Sally patted the bump of her stomach. “He kicks a lot.”

  “He? I’d say you are carrying a girl from the look of you.”

  “I don’t care what it is, so long as it’s healthy and doesn’t come early. I’m not ready yet.”

  “You’ll manage. Now are you going to read Harry’s letter, or do I have to steam it open?” Maggie’s tone was teasing but her eyes held concern.

  Sally turned the letter over and over. She didn’t want to open it, yet she was desperate to know. Harry had told her in his last letter, he was searching for Trudi. He was happy to support Sally and Derek in their bid to adopt Tom. It was a fairly straightforward procedure as they knew Tom was an orphan.

  But Liesl was different, she might not be an orphan. Had Harry found Trudi? Did the woman want her child back? How could Sally give up the daughter she considered hers.

  Sally’s eyes stung. “Maggie, what if he found Liesl’s mother? I couldn’t bear to give her up. I just…” Sally’s voice broke. Her hand shook as she gave the letter to Maggie. “I can’t. Can you open it?”

  “Sally, you’ve got to have faith. Whatever the news is from Harry, you and Derek will deal with it. You are not alone. You have a family who love you to the moon and back.”

  Maggie’s hands were shaking almost as badly as Sally’s. She seemed to take forever to open the letter and scan the contents.

  Her face crumpled and Sally stopped breathing. Trudi was coming back. She would take the children because Tom wouldn’t be separated from Liesl and Sally couldn’t stop her. She stifled the urge to run and find Derek so they could smuggle the children away. Maybe to Ireland, somewhere the authorities couldn’t trace them.

  “Sally. Sally, you’re not listening.”

  “She’s alive, isn’t she? Maggie, I know I’m horrible, but I can’t give up my children. I know she is Liesl’s birth mother but I…”

  “Trudi’s dead, Sally. She won’t be coming.”

  Sally couldn’t breathe through the thick, heavy feeling in her chest.

  “Oh my God, what have I done? I prayed I could keep those children. I killed her or as good as…”