A Mother's Love

by Katie Flynn

  ‘But you’re right,’ Aidan concluded. ‘Whilst I’m giving her space and time some other bugger’s waiting in the background to snatch her up.’

  ‘So?’ said Wiggy. ‘Are you goin’ to ask her to be your belle?’

  Aidan heaved a sigh. ‘I want to, but what if she turns me down?’

  ‘Faint heart never won fair lady,’ Wiggy pointed out.

  ‘Only fools rush in?’ Aidan countered.

  Wiggy rolled his eyes. ‘You can sit here and argue back and forth whilst someone else steals her out from under your nose.’

  ‘If I am going to tell her how I feel it won’t be in a letter. I’d rather do it face to face; that way I can see her reaction for myself and I’ll know how she really feels towards me.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ Wiggy glanced at his wristwatch. ‘Time for a drink?’

  Aidan nodded. ‘There’s not a lot a glass of beer won’t cure, especially when it comes to nervous suitors.’

  Wiggy laughed. ‘And what fair maiden doesn’t love a suitor too drunk for words?’

  Arriving in Weybourne, Ellie felt that she had finally taken charge of her own life. With no close friends or family nearby, she had no one but herself to rely on. It helped that she was now familiar and at ease with life in the army, and of course the camp set-up in Weybourne was much the same as everywhere else. As she entered the barracks she looked at the bunk beds and decided that this time she would have a bottom bunk. She wondered what Arla was doing right now and whether she would change too, or would stick to the same bed she had had all the way through their training till now.

  As she laid the biscuits out she realised for the first time how very alone she felt. Normally Arla would be chattering away, making suggestions as to where they should go and what they should do before turning in. Ellie smiled. She’d be suggesting that they put their stuff away, made up their beds and then headed for the NAAFI to see whether there were any eligible stripes nearby. Ellie tried to thump some air into her pillow, then gave up. She was being silly. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know anyone in her new barracks – she had after all travelled here with the rest of her section – it was just—

  A voice from behind her interrupted her thoughts. ‘This one taken?’

  Turning to see who had spoken, Ellie saw a tall girl with raven hair and pale skin pointing to the top bunk. Backing out from her bed, she held out her hand. ‘Hi. I’m Ellie Lancton, and no, it’s free if you want it.’

  The other girl took Ellie’s hand and shook it vigorously. ‘Thanks. I’m Gwen, by the way, Gwen Jones. Are you in Section B?’

  Ellie smiled. ‘I am,’ A thought occurred to her. ‘Are you replacing Mabel?’

  Gwen nodded. ‘Are they a friendly lot in Section B?’

  ‘They are, and it was a shame Mabel had to go, but don’t worry: I’m sure you’ll fit in well.’

  ‘Good. It’s a bit of a bind having to start all over again with a new section, but if they’re friendly that’s half the battle.’ She scanned the room. ‘Don’t think I know any of this lot. D’you fancy goin’ to get summat to eat?’

  Ellie smiled. ‘I don’t see why not, thought I don’t s’ pose there’ll be much choice this late in the day.’ She paused. ‘Where’re you from? I don’t recognise the accent.’

  Gwen grinned. ‘I’m from the Rhos in Wales. It’s not far from Wrexham, which isn’t far from Chester. Have you heard of it?’

  Ellie nodded. ‘I’ve heard of Chester, because it’s not too far from Liverpool, which is where I’m from. I think I might have heard of Wrexham, but not … where did you say?’

  ‘Rhos. It’s short for Rhosllanerchrugog, only most of the English find that a bit hard to say.’

  Ellie giggled. ‘I should think they do! I can certainly see why they’ve shortened it down a bit.’ She looked into Gwen’s dark brown eyes and came to the decision that she liked the new girl. ‘Tell you what, how about I help you make up your bunk? It’ll be less to do when we get back.’

  ‘Sounds good to me.’ Gwen placed the three biscuits in a line, whilst Ellie unfurled the sheets. She handed one side to Gwen and the two girls smoothed them over the mattress. ‘Did you join up on your own, then?’ Gwen asked, tucking her side in.

  ‘No, I joined up with me bezzie.’ Seeing the look of confusion on Gwen’s face she added, ‘That’s what you call your best mate in Liverpool.’

  Gwen looked round the room. ‘She not here with you?’

  Ellie shook her head. ‘We were together right up till this point, then she got sent to Cornwall. She was in a different section to me, you see.’

  ‘Tough luck! Still, at least you’ve got the rest of your section. It’s a bit daunting coming into a whole new group of people who’ve already bonded, I can tell you, but if they’re all as friendly as you, I dare say I’ll get along fine.’

  ‘How about you? Did you come in on your own?’ Ellie asked, smoothing down the blanket on her side.

  Gwen nodded. ‘I live with me Auntie Flo and Uncle Nobby on a farm high up in the hills, so I don’t have many friends, or at least not of me own age.’

  ‘How come you live with them and not your mam and dad?’ Ellie asked, adding hastily, ‘Sorry, I hope I’m not being too nosy.’

  Gwen shook her head. ‘Me mam abandoned me when I was a few days old, left me in the porch of the local church and beggared off, never to be seen again.’ She attempted to plump up the flat pillow. ‘Me Auntie Flo were in charge of opening the church up that mornin’, so she was the one who found me.’ Folding her arms on the bed, she leaned her chin on the back of her hands. ‘Cut a long story short, I stayed with me auntie and uncle whilst they looked for me real mam, but of course she didn’t want to be found, so they couldn’t trace her. I were due to go to an orphanage, but Auntie Flo and Uncle Nobby couldn’t have kids of their own, so it was arranged for me to live with them.’ She smiled happily.

  Ellie eyed the other girl curiously. ‘Weren’t – aren’t you angry? About bein’ abandoned, I mean?’

  Gwen pulled a complacent face. ‘Nah, life’s too short. Besides, I didn’t do too badly out of it. I got to live on a farm, which is better than bein’ with someone who don’t want you. I’m not sayin’ me mam were a bad person, just that she couldn’t cope; she must’ve had some feelin’s for me, otherwise she wouldn’t have left me the locket.’

  ‘What locket?’

  Gwen fished around in her kitbag and produced a thin silver chain with an oval locket on the end of it, which she passed to Ellie. ‘This ’un. Be careful when you open it. The catch is a bit iffy; that’s why I don’t wear it.’ She watched whilst Ellie carefully opened the locket. ‘We think the picture inside is me mam. After all, it’d be a bit queer if she left me a locket containing a picture of a stranger inside.’

  Ellie squinted at the tiny photograph inside the locket, then studied Gwen’s features. ‘She does look a bit like you. Didn’t anyone in the village recognise her from the photograph?’

  Gwen shook her head. ‘Nope. The coppers went from door to door, but she definitely weren’t from the village, and none of the locals could remember seeing her before.’

  Ellie closed the locket carefully and handed it back to Gwen. ‘I wish I had summat like that to remember my mam by.’

  Gwen raised her brows inquisitively. ‘Is she …?’ She hesitated.

  Ellie nodded. ‘She died last year. I have got a couple of photographs, but I don’t know whether they’d be any good to put into a locket even if I had one.’

  ‘Sorry to hear about your mam. Have you got the photos here?’

  Ellie shook her head. ‘I left them at me bezzie’s house when we joined up, just in case anything happened to them. They’re all I’ve got.’

  ‘I’m sure you could get summat done. Does she look like you, your mam I mean?’

  Ellie considered. ‘I’d like to think so, and a lot of people do say we’ve the same smile.’ She paused. ‘Only she’s got blue eyes and mine are haze
l and she had brown hair and as you can see mine’s more like copper, and hers was wavy and mine’s more curly.’

  ‘And your dad? Do you ever see him?’

  Ellie gave a short burst of laughter. ‘Wouldn’t know him if I tripped over him! He did a runner before I was born, and from what I’ve heard – not from me mam, mind you; she never said a bad word against him – I wouldn’t want to meet him either.’

  Gwen walked to the end of the bed. ‘Like peas in a pod, ain’t we? No mam or dad left to speak of, and no relatives. Or at least I haven’t.’

  ‘Me neither,’ Ellie confirmed. ‘So you’re right, we are like peas in a pod.’ She smiled brightly at Gwen. ‘Ready?’

  The girls paused outside the door to their barracks. Standing on tiptoe, they looked at each building in turn before Ellie pointed to a long low hut not too far from the parade ground. ‘Naafi!’ she said.

  As they stepped through the door, Ellie took in the familiar surroundings that were more or less identical to those of her previous camps. ‘Cup of tea?’ she suggested.

  ‘That’ll do nicely, as long as it’s not gnats’ pee. I hate weak tea, don’t you?’

  Ellie giggled. ‘Two mugs of tea, please, and …’ She peered at the stale-looking sandwiches before turning to Gwen. ‘Want to share a cheese sarnie?’

  Gwen shrugged her indifference. ‘Can do, but that bread looks like it’s got rigor mortis. It’s all curled up at the edges.’

  The cook glared at Gwen from behind the counter. ‘You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to. I don’t know which la-di-da camp you’ve come from, but we’re on a tight budget here.’

  Looking at the cheese sandwich again, Gwen raised her brows. ‘You can tell, I know the army’s not exempt from rationing and they have the old waste not want not rule, but they’ll be a man down if anyone eats that.’

  The cook turned to Ellie. ‘Did you say two mugs?’ she said icily.

  Ellie nodded and watched as the woman, grumbling her displeasure, poured tea into the mugs before placing them roughly down on the counter, causing the contents to spill over the rims.

  ‘I think you upset her,’ Ellie said as they chose a table.

  ‘Few more days and they’ll be able to use them sarnies as missiles,’ Gwen said with a giggle, but then, looking in the direction of the door, she groaned. ‘You’ve got to be kiddin’ me. I thought I’d seen the last of them two after basic trainin’.’ She looked earnestly at Ellie. ‘Please tell me they’re not in our section!’

  Ellie looked over her shoulder, then turned back to Gwen. ‘D’you mean them two by the counter with their backs to us?’

  Gwen nodded. ‘The gruesome twosome. Evie and Tilly, although Tilly’s not too bad when you get her on her own. But that Evie – oh damn.’

  One of the girls whom Gwen had referred to had turned to face them, and now spoke loudly so that the whole room might hear. ‘I thought we’d left all the rubbish behind, so what on earth is orphan Annie doin’ here?’

  Ellie thought the voice familiar, but could not quite place it. She turned to look at the speaker and nearly dropped her mug.

  Shrieking, the speaker pointed an accusing finger. ‘Oh my God! Orphan Annie’s palled up with one of the slum sisters. Talk about birds of a feather! D’you remember her, Tilly? She’s one of the ones from Liverpool.’ She was nudging the other girl in the ribs whilst still pointing at Ellie. ‘You – where’s your mate? The one that thinks she’s good enough to marry an officer?’

  Her cheeks glowing, Ellie ignored the question and turned back to Gwen. ‘As you can see, we’ve already met, and in answer to your question, no, they are definitely not in my section.’

  ‘Oh dear, looks like I’ve offended someone.’ Evie giggled. ‘I would ask if her mate’d been successful, but no officer could be that desperate.’

  ‘So have you managed to find the right one yet?’ Gwen said, her tone heavy with sarcasm. ‘Only I were thinkin’ that if Ellie’s mate needs any advice on how to date an officer she should come to you, ’cos you’ve had plenty of experience. In fact, you could even put her in touch with a few of your cast-offs. God only knows there’s enough of ’em, all lickin’ their wounds …’

  Evie’s eyes flashed furiously. ‘At least I can get a man,’ she said haughtily. ‘Come along, Tilly; there’s a vile smell in here and I’m not referring to the food for once.’

  The cook, who had been enjoying the sideshow, scowled angrily. ‘Oi!’ she began, but she was addressing the backs of Evie and Tilly as they strode towards the doors.

  Ellie grinned at Gwen. ‘Blimey! You soon put her in her place!’

  ‘I know a thing or two about that girl Evie, and it’s not pleasant. Like I said, Tilly’s all right, and to be honest I don’t know why she’s hanging round with the likes of Evie. She could do so much better.’

  Ellie nodded. ‘She was a bit of a cow in Liverpool, but when Evie left my mate and I bumped into Tilly in a café. She came over and started chatting and we got along quite nicely. She said that Evie was all right once you got to know her, so perhaps that’s why she sticks with her.’ She sighed. ‘I must admit, I did hope she’d say summat to defend Arla and me just now when Evie started being nasty, but she’s obviously worried about upsetting her.’

  ‘You’ve hit the nail on the head there. Evie’s like the puppeteer and Tilly’s her puppet. I’ve never seen Tilly stand up to her yet, not even when Evie’s being nasty to her, and believe me she’s got a spiteful tongue even when it comes to Tilly.’

  Ellie frowned. ‘There’s got to be some reason why she doesn’t just walk away. Perhaps she’s got some sort of big dark secret she doesn’t want anyone finding out about and Evie’s holding it over her head.’

  ‘Sounds plausible. Tell you what, next time Evie finds some poor sap to take her out we’ll ask Tilly what the deal is. It’s the only time they’re ever apart.’

  ‘Good idea. Now, let’s drink this tea before it gets cold and go back to the barracks. I don’t know about you, but I’m whacked.’

  ‘What’s up with you? Tilly! Slow down, for goodness’ sake!’

  Trotting to catch up, Evie grabbed her friend by the elbow and pulled her to a halt. ‘Where’s the fire?’

  Tilly shook herself free from Evie’s grip. ‘Why d’you have to make enemies wherever we go? You promised me it’d be different here, you swore you’d behave, yet we’ve not even got the first day under our belts and you’ve already alienated two of the girls.’

  ‘Oh, come on, play fair! You can’t expect me to be friendly to the likes of Goofy Gwen and the queen of the courts?’ Evie said, clearly exasperated.

  ‘Gwen’s not that bad. She speaks her mind, that's all, and that’s why you don’t like her, because she doesn’t dress things up.’

  Evie glowered. ‘She practically called me a tart in there! How’s that speaking the truth? It’s nothing but pure jealousy.’

  Tilly drew a deep breath. ‘You started it, Evie. You always do. She was happy minding her own business, but you had to start calling her names.’

  Sullen-faced, Evie looked at the toes of her shoes. ‘I like to get in first, you know that. Always throw the first punch, be it physical or verbal. That’s what my dad used to say and I still think he’s right.’

  Tilly shook her head. ‘How on earth do you ever expect to make friends if you go round attacking people all the time?’

  Evie raised her eyes to meet Tilly’s. ‘I made friends with you, didn’t I? Besides, who wants to be friends with the likes of them? People’ll avoid you like the plague if they think you’re friends with people like them.’

  ‘People like us, you mean?’ Tilly said sharply.

  Evie pointed an accusing finger in the direction of the NAAFI. ‘I am not like them, and neither are you!’

  ‘Maybe not once, but you are now,’ Tilly said pragmatically.

  ‘Never! You can take the girl out of Cheshire, but you can’t take Cheshire out of the girl. You
should remember that, Tilly Jarvis, and you’ve done a lot better for yourself since I came on the scene.’

  Tilly frowned as she tried to work out exactly what in her life had improved since she had become friends with Evie, and could think of nothing. She began to walk in the direction of the barracks. ‘I’m not going to stand here arguing with you all night, Evie Maddox. All I’m saying is can you please at least try to get along with folk, for my sake if nothing else?’

  Evie patted Tilly’s arm in a friendly manner. ‘Of course I will, but do try to understand that if you don’t set your sights a bit higher than …’ she searched for a word which would not start another argument, ‘you are at present, you’ll never achieve everything you’re capable of, and that’s all I want for you, to see you do well and be happy.’

  ‘I know, I just wish you’d think before speaking occasionally, and if you really don’t like someone keep it to yourself,’ said Tilly, relieved that the unpleasantries were over. She was not by nature a confrontational person, and took no pleasure in seeing others squirm under her friend’s verbal onslaughts. She had hoped that mixing in with a whole lot of girls might improve Evie’s attitude – she still hoped it would – but so far the evidence did not suggest a change would be coming any time soon.

  She cast her mind back to a couple of days after Evie and her mother had arrived on the Scottie Road. Tilly had been standing with her mother whilst she scrubbed the front doorstep, and their neighbour, Mrs Armitage, was telling them about her sister who had come to stay.

  ‘They used to ’ave it all: maids, money and a bloomin’ mansion, least it was compared to my ’ouse, but ’er ’ubby got into trouble with the tax man. Owed ’em a fortune he did, and when he said he couldn’t pay the tax took the lot off ’em, left ’em ’omeless and penniless. Even took ’im to jail, so o’ course I said Val an’ the kid could come and stay with me till they got back on their feet.’ She pulled a sneering face. ‘Not that ’er brat of a child thanks me for it, h’oh no, looks down her nose at me an’ my food. I tell you straight, she’d ’ave the back of my ’and if she were mine and no mistake. Should’ve ’ad a damned good beltin’ years ago, if you ask me.’