Victory for the East End Angels

by Rosie Hendry

  Others were making the most of the fine day too. Some mothers and their young children had ventured down onto the sand and the youngsters were busy constructing a sandcastle, chattering happily with each other as they worked. She paused for a moment, watching them, before carrying on paddling again, thinking that was something that she was determined to do with her child. She rested her hand on her stomach, feeling its solidness, knowing that inside was her and Mac’s child, and that both of them would do whatever they could to ensure it was well looked after and loved. She’d never been to the beach with her parents, of course it was impossible where they’d lived in India so far from the sea, but she very much doubted that, even if they’d lived right beside it, her mother would have brought her and her brothers down to the beach to enjoy themselves like those mothers had.

  Her mother’s lack of hands-on care when she’d been a child didn’t stop her from interfering and trying to push Winnie into doing what she wanted even now. Despite her making it crystal clear to her mother that she would not be having her baby at the maternity home in Oxford, being ruder to her than she’d ever been before, the woman still hadn’t given up. She’d switched tactics, telephoning Connie and trying to persuade her via her godmother. Fortunately, Connie was having none of it and hadn’t tried to make Winnie change her mind, merely laughing at Cynthia Churchill’s persistence like an irritating wasp. Winnie sighed: at least her mother wasn’t pestering her directly any more and for that she was grateful. It wouldn’t be long now until the baby was born and then her mother’s argument for the Oxford maternity home would be irrelevant, although knowing her she would find something else to interfere with. She hoped she would never dare try the nanny suggestion again.

  Feeling herself becoming annoyed with the situation, she turned and looked out to sea, focusing on the horizon and taking some slow, calming breaths – she was on holiday and should relax and enjoy the moment. She had better things to think about, like Mac coming home. She didn’t know yet when that would be, he was still in Germany as far as she knew, but with the war being over it could only be a matter of time before he’d be recalled to Britain and hopefully be demobbed. Then they could start their life together as a married couple with a child. Whether he would be home before their baby was born was anybody’s guess.

  A larger wave splashed the hem of her dress, the cold water reaching higher up to her knees and shocking her dry skin, pulling her attention back to the moment. The tide was creeping up the beach and she waded across to the shallower water where the waves gently washed over the sand. It wouldn’t be long before the sea was licking at the shingle bank at the base of the cliff. The children’s sandcastle would be flooded and returned to the sea. Winnie knew she should concentrate on now, rather than worry about what was to come.

  Chapter 68

  Frankie walked along the seafront, carrying warm newspaper parcels of fish and chips in her arms, to where Bella and Winnie were waiting for her; the delicious smell wafting upwards was making her mouth water. She was hungry after spending the day walking along the cliff tops towards Weybourne, doing some drawings as she went, spending time on her own, lost in her art and giving herself time to relax and recuperate ready for what lay ahead.

  Since they’d arrived on holiday, she’d spent a lot of time thinking about her future and the decision she had to make. She finally had her answer and it was time to share it with her friends after keeping it to herself for so long, although how they would take it she wasn’t sure. Bella knew that there was something on her mind, she’d asked her more than once if she was all right, gently probing to see what was distracting her, but she hadn’t told her anything, not wanting anyone to influence her decision one way or another.

  The fish and chips were as delicious as they smelt, the salt and tangy vinegar enhanced their taste and eating them outside in the fresh sea air added an extra delight as well.

  ‘These are good.’ Bella picked up a fat chip between her finger and thumb and blew on it to cool it down before popping it in her mouth.

  ‘And the fish is so fresh,’ Winnie added, breaking off a piece of crispy batter from her portion.

  Frankie smiled at her friends, both of whom looked relaxed and happy, their faces lightly tanned from spending so much time outside since they’d arrived, the weather having been good all week with gentle spring sunshine warming the air after the chill of winter. They’d spent time together and apart, each doing their own thing, and it was proving a perfect mix for their holiday. Now, eating their meal sitting on the bank of stones watching the sea gradually creep up towards them as the high tide reached its peak, Frankie was so glad that they’d come here, together this last time as a band of three, before their lives took them off in different directions. Now that Station 75 had closed, that connection of working with each other had been broken and it was unlikely that they would ever be together in the same way as they had been, day after day, throughout the war. She would miss their companionship so much.

  ‘I’ve got somethin’ to tell you,’ she blurted out, unable to wait until they’d all finished their fish and chips as she’d planned to do.

  Winnie nudged her arm. ‘At last, we’ve been wondering when you were going to spill the beans.’

  Frankie stared at her two friends. ‘What? Who told you?’

  Bella touched her arm. ‘Nobody’s said a word, but we know you well enough to see that you’ve been worried about something, and no doubt have been working it out while you’ve been off drawing?’ She raised her eyebrows questioningly. ‘We presumed it might have something to do with Alastair and when he comes home, and now that Stanley’s going to stay in the countryside your plans might have changed.’

  ‘I should have known I couldn’t hide anythin’ from you two.’ She paused for a moment and looked out to sea where some of the small fishing boats had just been launched, the fishermen going out to check their crab pots. ‘You’re right, I ’ave been thinking about the future and what I want to do next. I didn’t want to go back to what I did before and I don’t know when Alastair will come ’ome, so, in the meantime, I want to do more, something that will ’elp people like we’ve been doing working at Station 75.’ She paused and took a breath before continuing. ‘I’ve decided to volunteer for UNRRA to help with the displaced persons coming out of the camps.’

  Winnie frowned. ‘UNRRA?’

  ‘The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration,’ Bella said. ‘I’ve read about it in the newspaper. But that means you’ll be sent abroad.’

  Frankie nodded. ‘Yes. Possibly to Germany, there are so many people there who need ’elp.’

  ‘What about Alastair? If you go, he’ll come home and you won’t be here,’ Winnie asked.

  ‘From what he’s said in his letters, he might want to join UNRRA too, especially if I’m there. It won’t be for ever and I just feel the need to do somethin’ more with the experience I’ve got from working at Station 75.’

  ‘Well, I think it’s a very brave and noble thing to do,’ Bella said. ‘When will you go?’

  ‘As soon as I can. I’ll apply, then there’s some trainin’ and then I’ll be shipped out to where I’m needed. Station Officer Steele helped me find out about it, she thought it was a good idea.’

  Winnie smiled at Frankie. ‘I’m sure she did, and I rather think the boss is right. If it weren’t for this one,’ she rested her hand on her stomach, ‘I think I’d volunteer myself. They will be very lucky to have you, Frankie, and I’m sure you will be a great asset to them. You could go, Bella.’

  Bella looked startled for a moment but recovered herself quickly. ‘No, it’s not for me! I’m not sure I could cope with the work, and I have other plans . . . my writing, I need to keep that going.’

  As Bella dropped her eyes and took her time to select a chip from the open newspaper parcel lying on her lap, Frankie’s eyes met Winnie’s and the pair of them exchanged a silent message. Frankie got the feeling that there was something t
hat Bella wasn’t telling them, and clearly so did Winnie.

  ‘Before I go, I’m going to see my mother in Suffolk,’ Frankie said. ‘I’d like to spend a bit of time with her.’

  Winnie let out a loud sigh. ‘You know, it’s a good thing that the war in Europe is over now but it’s got its downside too: it’s going to be hard not being with you two the way we have been for so long. I’m used to seeing you every day and I love being with you, but that’s all over now.’ Her grey eyes filled with tears. ‘When this holiday’s over, and we go back to London, everything will have changed and it’ll never be the same again.’

  Frankie put her arm around Winnie and Bella did the same. ‘You’re right, everything ’as changed, it won’t be the same as it was when we were all working together at Station 75, but we’ll always be friends, that won’t ever change. Even if we can’t see each other so much, we can write and meet up when we can.’

  ‘We’ll be there for each other when we need help,’ Bella said. ‘Life moves on, nothing stays the same for ever, but our friendship won’t alter. After all we’ve been through, we’re cemented together and distance is not going to change that.’

  Winnie nodded, sniffing back her tears. ‘Thank you, I’m just being silly, I get rather emotional these days! Getting to know you both has been the best thing about the war for me.’

  ‘What about Mac?’ Frankie asked.

  ‘Oh, he’s not so bad either.’ Winnie laughed.

  Frankie looked up at the seagulls which were flying back and forth above them, their beady eyes on the chips lying in their laps. ‘We’d better finish our meal, or those birds will drop in and do it for us.’

  Tucking in again to the delicious food, she felt lighter than she had for a long time, her decision made, her friends told and her future on a steady path again. Importantly for her, it was a future where she would be doing something worthwhile.

  Chapter 69

  Bella sat alone in the window seat of her and Frankie’s room looking out at the inky black sea over which arched a sky pin-pricked with thousands of stars. It was beautiful; calm and peaceful with the gentle shushing of waves breaking on the beach. She’d got into the habit of sitting here when she woke up during the night, looking out at the vastness of sea and sky while she thought about the future.

  Movement from across the darkened room startled her. ‘Bella, are you all right?’ Frankie sat up in bed. ‘Are you ill?’

  ‘I’m fine, I just woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep so I thought I’d look out at the sea for a bit. Go back to sleep.’

  Frankie slipped out of bed and came over to the window and laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘Don’t you think it’s about time you talked about what’s worrying you?’

  ‘There’s nothing worrying me . . . ’ Bella laughed. ‘Quite the opposite, in fact. Stefan asked me to marry him.’

  ‘And what did you tell ’im?’ Frankie sat down next to her.

  ‘Yes, of course!’

  Frankie threw her arm around Bella’s shoulders and hugged her. ‘That’s marvellous, I’m so pleased for you, Bella.’

  ‘He asked me on VE Day, I’ve been keeping it a secret since then.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I just wanted to hold it to myself for a bit. There’s been so much going on and I felt I needed to keep it close and enjoy it for a bit, you know what it’s like once news like this gets out.’

  Frankie laughed. ‘Station 75 crew love a wedding. I don’t think I’d ’ave been able to keep it a secret when Alastair asked me, and Winnie definitely wouldn’t.’ She paused for a moment. ‘You ain’t regretting saying yes, are you?’

  ‘Absolutely not, I didn’t hesitate when he asked me, my heart and head were both in agreement for once. Stefan has completely bowled me over. I’d never have believed someone could have that effect on me until I met him. I loved James, I really did, but with Stefan it’s different, more passionate, perhaps because of his Polish ways.’ She smiled. ‘Whatever it is, I don’t doubt that it’s the right thing to do. Now he’s staying in England, there’s no problem of going to live in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language or know the customs, and he supports my writing wholeheartedly. He’s perfect, Frankie.’

  ‘You make a lovely couple, I’m really pleased for you. You need to tell Winnie, she’ll be delighted.’

  ‘Who’s going to be delighted?’ Winnie’s voice asked.

  Bella hadn’t heard their bedroom door open. ‘I’ve got something to tell you. Stefan asked me to marry him. I—’

  ‘That’s marvellous, congratulations!’ Winnie hurried across the room. ‘When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell us?’

  ‘He asked me on VE night, but I’ve been keeping it to myself,’ Bella explained.

  ‘Blimey, I’d never have been able to do that,’ Winnie said.

  Bella and Frankie both laughed.

  ‘What’s so funny?’

  ‘We know!’ Frankie said.

  ‘It’s wonderful news, when are you going to get mar— Ouff!’ Winnie suddenly bent over, clutching her swollen belly.

  ‘Are you all right?’

  Winnie shook her head. ‘I woke up with these pains in my stomach and it’s getting worse. I think this baby’s ready to be born.’

  Chapter 70

  Winnie grabbed hold of the back of the chair and leaned against it as a pain in her pelvis and belly gripped her in its vicelike claws again. She closed her eyes, moaning as she focused all her energy on riding out the wave until it subsided again. She never knew it was going to be like this, she thought, as the pain slowly diminished and she could spare some of her mind to focus on something else until it began all over again. Coming out of her pain-induced trance, she was aware of hands on her back, gently rubbing, trying to soothe her, Frankie and Bella doing their best to help her.

  ‘How much longer is this going on for?’ she asked, looking across at the midwife who’d been sent for and was busy preparing the bed in her hotel room for the baby’s delivery. ‘It hurts.’

  The midwife, a woman of similar age to Station Officer Steele, and who had the same no-nonsense look about her, looked at Winnie and smiled. ‘Of course, it hurts, what did you expect?’

  ‘Not this!’ she snapped. ‘I didn’t think it would hurt this much and if I’d known it would have put me right off having one.’

  She’d seen women in labour before while she worked at Station 75 but had never fully appreciated what they were going through, how the pain felt so all-encompassing. She was helpless to do anything about it.

  ‘Giving birth is hard work, Mrs McCartney, it’s not called labour for nothing.’ The midwife smoothed out the clean sheet she’d just put on the bed over a layer of brown paper.

  ‘It’s Winnie, please, Winnie. I keep wondering who you’re talking to when you say Mrs McCartney.’

  ‘Right, Winnie, I need you to lie down on the bed so I can examine you and see how long it’s likely to be before this baby’s born. If your friends would like to leave the room.’

  ‘No!’ Winnie grabbed at Frankie and Bella’s hands. ‘I need them to stay with me.’ She looked at her friends who were both looking worried but nodded their agreement. ‘Them being with me helps.’

  ‘Very well, onto the bed please, Winnie, so I can see what’s going on.’

  Winnie did as she was told, and climbed onto the bed, the paper laid out beneath the clean sheet crackling underneath her.

  ‘Not long to go now,’ the midwife said after she’d examined her. ‘You’re almost fully dilated and then the baby can start to come out.’

  ‘Thank—’ Another wave of pain started to build, and she had to focus her attention on riding through it once again, vaguely aware of Frankie and Bella either side of the bed holding on to her hands.

  ‘Blimey, Winnie!’ Frankie said, pulling her hand free of Winnie’s and shaking it when a contraction pain subsided again. ‘I ain’t going to have any feeling left in my hands if you carry on at t
his rate.’

  ‘Me neither,’ Bella said, rubbing her own hand. ‘You’ve got a tight grip, you know, Winnie.’

  ‘Well it bloody hurts!’ Winnie snapped. ‘I’ve had enough and want it to stop.’

  Frankie and Bella looked at each other and smiled.

  ‘What’s so funny?’ Winnie said. ‘I’ve never been in such pain in my life.’

  ‘Well there’s only one way to make it stop and that’s to get the baby born,’ Frankie said. ‘You ain’t the sort of person to give up when things get tough, Winnie. You’ve been through some tricky situations in the Blitz. What about when that building came down and your ambulance almost got crushed?’

  ‘You were an ambulance driver?’ the midwife asked.

  ‘We all were, we worked at Station 75 in London.’ Winnie frowned. Driving an ambulance was one thing but giving birth was a totally different challenge; Frankie was right, though, there was no way out of it, she had to get on with it, no matter how much it hurt. ‘Oh no . . . here it comes again.’ She winced as the pain began to build yet again and reached out for her friends who gallantly took hold of her hands and held on as she squeezed them.