by Ellie Dean
‘I am going to miss you, Ivy,’ Rita murmured, giving her a hug, and then gasping in delight and awe. ‘Oh, my goodness, Ivy. I felt the baby move.’
Ivy grimaced and gently ran her hand over the small, hard swell beneath her nightie. ‘Yeah, he’s inclined to do that. Usually when I’m trying to sleep.’
‘Do you think it’s a boy?’ asked Rita.
‘It would be nice for Andy, but it don’t really matter what it is as long as it’s all right,’ Ivy replied. She pressed Rita down onto her bed and pulled up the covers. ‘Go to sleep, Rita, and don’t worry about nothing except them big bags under yer eyes you’ll ’ave in the morning if you lie there worrying about things.’
Rita slid down the bed and nestled into the pillows. ‘Thanks, Ivy. You always did know how to cheer me up,’ she said drily before jerking upright again and touching her face. ‘I won’t really have bags, will I?’ she gasped.
‘Course not, you silly mare,’ scoffed Ivy on a giggle. ‘But I will if you don’t shut up and go to bloody sleep. Me and the baby is wore out.’
Rita slid back down beneath the covers and closed her eyes. Ivy wouldn’t stand for any soppiness, but at this moment, she could have kissed her and told her she was the very best friend and sister a girl could have.
On that comforting thought, Rita drifted off to sleep and dreamed of floating down the aisle towards Peter in the fairy-tale dress Sally had made for her.
Peggy had slept surprisingly well considering that Daisy had crept into her bed sometime during the night and was rather restless, and it was barely light when she rose from her bed, eager for the coming day. As she quickly dressed in an old blouse and skirt and tied the wrap-round pinafore over everything, she could already hear that the rest of the household was up and about. They’d clearly caught wedding fever too.
Peggy left Daisy sleeping off her late night and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, only to find the porridge already simmering and the table all but cleared. It seemed that everyone had already eaten, but for Anne and her family
As she stirred the porridge to keep it from sticking to the pot, she could hear the usual squabbles over whose turn it was in the bathroom, which made her wonder for the umpteenth time if she should dip into her savings and turn the small single bedroom currently used by Danuta into a second bathroom with a toilet. However, the thought was fleeting. The expense and upheaval it would cause would be wasted, for once all the girls had left and Anne was back in her cottage, one bathroom would suffice – and there was still the perfectly good outside lav if one got desperate.
Peggy looked up from the range as Rose and Emily came running into the kitchen, closely followed by their mother. She hugged the girls and cheerfully wished Anne a good morning. ‘Did you sleep all right?’
Anne grinned. ‘Like a log once I knew there were no nasty consequences of Grandad’s daft carry-on with those ferrets. I was coming out of the bathroom when I overheard you giving Grandad earache and I asked Martin what it was about. He reluctantly confessed, and I thought we’d be in for a disturbed night, but the girls slept right through without a murmur.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ said Peggy. ‘Perhaps it would be a good idea to take them to the Anchor on Sunday so they can see the ferrets in their cage and get to understand them a bit more. It would be a shame if they stayed frightened of them. They’re quite sweet really.’
Anne tucked her shining dark hair back from her face. ‘I’ve never been that fond of them myself, but as Grandad seems intent upon carrying them about wherever he goes, I suppose they should get used to them.’
Anne settled the girls at the table and tied bibs around their necks. ‘I’ll wait until the last minute to dress them,’ she said. ‘They’re bound to get dirty otherwise, and white is so unforgiving.’ She glanced at the cleared table. ‘Has everyone already eaten – and where’s Daisy?’
‘She’s still asleep after all the excitement last night. I’ve left her to it so I can get on and clear up before Sally comes to do any last-minute alterations.’
Peggy glanced at the clock and doled out bowls of porridge and glasses of the free orange juice provided by the government to all children under five. ‘Cordelia and the girls have had theirs, so I’m surprised Martin hasn’t come down yet with all the noise they’re making up there.’
‘He was up at the crack of dawn as usual,’ said Anne. ‘I suspect he grabbed some bread and jam before he left for the airfield.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘He and Roger are evidently conferring about the meeting that’s planned with the town council next week.’
‘Then I hope he doesn’t lose track of the time. Rita’s counting on him being one of the ushers.’
‘He’ll be there,’ said Anne firmly.
Peggy raised an eyebrow, but Anne wasn’t going to elaborate further, and changed the subject. ‘I’m so glad Sally’s got her home dressmaking business up and running again. I thought she was quite potty when she started buying all those old wedding dresses and tatty ballgowns from jumble sales and so on, but she’s actually been very clever and forward-looking.’
‘Sally’s always had a sensible head on her shoulders,’ said Peggy, sitting down with a cup of tea.
Anne nodded. ‘It’s a case of having to grow up quickly with a useless mother like that, but it’s stood her in good stead. I popped in to see her the other day and that front room is positively crammed with all those second-hand cast-offs, but she’s slowly using the material from each and every one of them to make something new and utterly gorgeous.’
‘You didn’t happen to spot Rita’s dress by any chance?’ Peggy asked hopefully.
Anne laughed. ‘No such luck. Sally had it covered very thoroughly by a sheet. And before you ask, I didn’t see Ivy’s either. So you’ll just have to rein in that awful curiosity of yours, Mum, and wait like the rest of us.’
Peggy drank her tea, and when the children had finished eating, Anne went with them into the garden to feed the chickens and then play in the makeshift sandpit Ron had made out of offcuts of wood and pilfered sand from the beach.
Standing in the doorway for a minute to watch them, Peggy lit a cigarette and then tackled the last of the washing-up before going to wake Daisy. If she left her any longer there would be tears before bedtime, and nothing was allowed to spoil today.
Daisy threw a bit of a tantrum because she wanted to wear her new white dress with its frothy petticoat. Eventually, Peggy got her into dungarees and a jumper, and coaxed her into eating her porridge and drinking her orange juice. Grimacing at the taste of her daily spoonful of cod liver oil, Daisy then hurried off quite happily to play with Rose and Emily in the garden.
While Anne kept an eye on the children, Peggy took the opportunity to hurry upstairs to use the bathroom now it was free, and some minutes later, returned to her bedroom to put on her make-up. She planned to wear the lovely blue silk skirt and jacket Sally had made her five years ago for Anne’s wedding, and it hung on the wardrobe door, fresh from the dry cleaner’s, with the matching shoes placed beneath it. She’d splashed out on a new and very fancy hat for Ruby’s wedding, and had worn it at Ivy’s. It would do sterling service today, and next weekend when Doris and Colonel White tied the knot at the Town Hall, so it hadn’t been money wasted.
Pausing in the act of putting on her lipstick, Peggy wondered again what had kept her sister from the party the previous evening, and decided she’d telephone her once she was finished here. Hunting out the delicately worked gold earrings and matching necklace Jim had sent her from Burma, she put them on and admired the effect in the mirror. They were utterly gorgeous, even though they looked rather incongruous teamed with a wrap-round apron. But that didn’t matter, for she just knew they’d be perfect with her outfit.
Anne and the children were still in the garden, so Peggy went into the hall and got through to the exchange. Doris answered on the second ring and sounded a bit flustered. ‘Hello, Doris. Is everything all right? Only we missed
seeing you last night.’
‘I thought it was the doctor returning my call,’ she replied. ‘John has hurt his back and he’s in absolute agony – barely able to move. I couldn’t leave him on his own, poor man.’
‘Oh, Doris, how awful. But how did he do it?’
‘His foot caught in a rabbit hole on the golf links and he fell awkwardly, aggravating an old injury. I’m sorry, Peggy, but I’ll have to ring off. The doctor’s receptionist promised he’d telephone the minute he finished morning surgery.’
‘Let me know if there’s anything I can do,’ said Peggy, and put down the receiver.
Doris was clearly in a terrible state, which was hardly surprising as their wedding was only a week away. Peggy could only pray that John’s back healed in time, and they weren’t forced to cancel.
Her thoughts fled as there was a knock on the front door. Opening it, she found Sally and her husband, John, on the doorstep, their arms laden with cloth clothes bags.
‘Hello, Auntie Peggy,’ she said, stepping into the hall and kissing her cheek. ‘I’m not too early, am I? Only I thought it would be best to come now so that I’d have time to do any last-minute alterations to Ivy’s dress.’
‘Not at all,’ said Peggy, her fingers itching to open the bags and see what was inside. ‘Come in, come in, the pair of you.’
‘Sally!’ Rita came running down the stairs with an equally excited Ivy following more slowly. ‘Here, let me help you with those,’ Rita said, quickly taking charge of John’s burden before he let it slip to the floor. ‘And thanks for giving Sally a lift up, John,’ she added, glancing past him to the fire station truck parked outside. ‘She’d never have managed to carry this lot up the hill.’
‘There’s more to come,’ he said, shooting her a grin before he quickly ran down the steps and reached into the truck for two shoe boxes.
‘Oh, Sal,’ Rita breathed. ‘You did it. You really managed it when I honestly thought it would be impossible.’
Sally laughed. ‘John, you’d better give those boxes to Aunt Peggy. As you can see, Rita and I have our hands full.’
‘I’ll take ’em.’ Ivy snatched the boxes from John before Peggy could get her hands on them. ‘Don’t want to spoil the surprise,’ she said with a naughty wink to Peggy. ‘You’ll see everything all in good time, Auntie Peg.’
John left and the three girls giggled as they carefully carried the precious clothes up the stairs and into the large front bedroom. Peggy stood at the bottom of the stairs as the bedroom door was firmly closed behind them, and gave a frustrated sigh. One peek wouldn’t have hurt, surely?
‘Come on, Mum,’ said Anne with a smile in her voice. ‘You’ll be up there the minute Rita’s ready for you, so savour the anticipation and watch the girls for a minute while I go and get changed. I doubt Rita would want me turning up in these old trousers and twinset.’
Peggy went out into the garden to mind the children, her ears pricked for a call from Rita to come and help her get dressed. But there was still no summons by the time Anne returned, so Peggy went and got dressed in her finery, feeling more than a little put out that Rita didn’t seem to want her help.
The ceremony was to be held at noon, and by eleven everyone but the bride and Ivy were downstairs, ready and waiting to leave for the church. The three little girls looked utterly cherubic in their white dresses edged with pink ribbon, the delicate froth of netting petticoat just peeking below the hem. They wore white shoes and socks and coronets of pink flowers were pinned firmly on their heads. Each would carry a small basket of confetti, but for now they were in Anne’s safekeeping.
Martin had returned and quickly changed into a suit before hurrying off to do his duties as an usher, and Jack had arrived freshly barbered and shaved with a rose in the lapel of his new tailored suit. The bridal flowers had been delivered by the local florist, and Stan, the stationmaster, had provided the blooms from his allotment to decorate the church, which his niece, April, was busily arranging.
Jack had really splashed out for his only child’s wedding, for not only had he organised limousines for the bridal party, but he had also booked the fully catered reception at the Officers’ Club. Peter had paid for all the dresses and booked a short honeymoon in a swanky London hotel, with theatre tickets and a boat trip on the Thames organised.
With all the arrangements out of her hands, Peggy had nothing to do but relax and enjoy the day. But that was impossible, for time was swiftly disappearing, and still there was no call from Rita.
Sarah, Jane and Danuta had looked fresh and pretty in their summer frocks and straw hats when they’d left Beach View with Charlie in plenty of time to walk to the church, and Cordelia’s friend Bertie had arrived looking as dapper as always, to ferry her there in his car. Peggy, Anne, Ivy and the three children would travel together in one of the limousines while Jack rode with Rita in the second. The liveried chauffeurs were now waiting outside, their gleaming black cars fluttering with white ribbons which drew quite an audience from neighbours and passers-by.
Peggy was trying not to fidget as she sat with Jack at the kitchen table which was laden with the bouquets, and distractedly watched the clock while Anne kept the three children amused by reading them a story.
Jack looked nervous and kept straightening his tie, which was already perfectly knotted, and continued to mutter the words of his speech under his breath.
Peggy smiled at him fondly and stilled his hand. ‘Don’t worry, Jack, you’ll be fine. It’s a good speech, and everyone will love it.’
Jack was about to reply when Ivy yelled from upstairs. ‘Auntie Peg! Are you still down there?’
Peggy shot to her feet and hurried into the hall. ‘Of course I am. What’s the matter?’
‘Nothing. Only Rita wants to speak to you.’
Peggy ran up the stairs to find Ivy and Sally waiting for her on the landing. Ivy looked positively radiant in a blush-pink dress that draped from a close-fitting bodice to just below her knees, and on her feet were matching pink shoes decorated with tiny, sparkling butterflies on the heels and toes.
‘D’ya like ’em, Auntie Peg?’ Ivy asked, excitedly waving her foot about. ‘Ain’t Sal clever? She made ’em all ’erself.’
‘They are gorgeous, and so are you, Ivy. That pink really suits you.’ She gave Ivy a gentle hug before turning to Sally. ‘My goodness, Sally, you’ve done the most marvellous job. You are such a clever girl.’
‘It’s always easy when the bride knows what she wants,’ replied Sally cheerfully. ‘I’ll be off home now to get changed. See you at the church.’
As the two girls went downstairs, Peggy eagerly stepped into the bedroom and gasped at the sight of Rita standing there looking so very beautiful that she could have stepped straight out of a fairy-tale book.
The sheath of white lace skimmed over her slender figure to the toes of her butterfly-studded white shoes, and pooled behind her in a short train. The neckline scooped from shoulder to shoulder with a scalloped edge, and the sleeves ended in an elegant point over her wrists.
On closer inspection, Peggy discovered there were tiny silver butterflies embroidered on the sleeves and hem which shimmered in the light. The delicate cloud of veil was tethered into her dark curls by the diamanté tiara Peter’s mother had sent from Australia, and Peter’s wedding gift of diamond earrings and necklace sparked fire at every beat of her heart.
‘Oh, Rita,’ Peggy managed, desperately trying not to cry. ‘You’re the most beautiful and regal bride I’ve ever seen. Fairy Queen Titania in all her glory couldn’t outshine you today.’
Rita shot her an impish grin. ‘I scrub up all right, don’t I? Do you think Peter will like it?’
‘Of course he will,’ breathed Peggy. ‘And consider himself the luckiest man in the world to have such a stunning bride. I still can’t believe that my little tomboy could be so elegant and feminine.’
Rita reached for Peggy’s hand. ‘I love you so much, and I can never repay you for
everything you’ve done for me and Dad over the years. You don’t think too badly of me for deserting everyone, do you?’
Peggy took her gently into her arms and breathed in her delicate scent. ‘My darling girl, I could never think badly of you. You and Peter are on the brink of having the most marvellous future, and although I shall miss you dreadfully, I wish you all the happiness and success in the world.’ She touched her cheek to Rita’s for a moment and then drew back. ‘Do you want to have a word with Jack before you come down?’
Rita’s eyes were suspiciously bright, and her lower lip quivered as she nodded.
‘Remember, Rita,’ said Peggy softly. ‘You’re only allowed to shed happy tears today.’
She went downstairs to tell Jack he was needed and assure Ivy that she didn’t look fat and ugly, but really rather wonderful in the pink dress which made her skin glow and her eyes shine. She then put on her hat and checked there were plenty of handkerchiefs in her handbag; she and Cordelia always enjoyed a good cry at weddings.
Peter had been saddened to discover that one of the Polish pilots he’d come to know and like during his time at RAF Cliffe had been badly injured during a dogfight over Holland and was now recuperating at the sanatorium on the Cliffe estate. When he’d gone to see him, the large Pole had bellowed a delighted welcome and struggled from his seat to stand on his prosthetic legs to give him one of his famous bear hugs and enthusiastically plant smacking kisses on his cheeks.
Wing Commander Baron Stanislaw Kowalcyzk – or Stan as everyone called him – was a larger-than-life character who possessed a soft heart and generous soul. He cried easily and got emotional about everything except his own plight, and endeared himself to everyone he met. When he’d been in action, he’d had to cram his great body and long legs into the cockpit of his Spitfire – which was made for someone half the size – and would often yell ‘Chocks away,’ and be roaring down the runway seconds later to a whoop of sheer joy.
