by Rosie Clarke
‘I don’t think she expected to find love again,’ Maggie said. ‘Becky said that at first she was very shy with him, very formal – but when she had tea with them and he took her to see his roses, the years seemed to fall away and they knew they still cared. They both felt so many years had been wasted that they didn’t want to wait any longer.’
‘Yes, which is why she decided to go ahead, even though she felt it was wrong with so many men being killed and injured.’
‘I’m glad you made her see that she couldn’t change anything,’ Maggie said. ‘It would be so sad if she’d wasted more time after all those years of remembering and loving him.’
Maggie and the others watched Minnie’s triumphal march down the aisle on her husband’s arm and out into the sunshine. It was still warm, even though it was now autumn, and the scent of flowers was in the air as the happy couple paused to have a photograph taken and the church bells rang out. Confetti was thrown and a lucky horseshoe presented with several other small tokens.
Although there were only a handful of guests, it was a happy group that went off to a nearby pub that had a pleasant restaurant at the rear. It overlooked a garden with lawns and rose beds and the three long tables were set tastefully with flowers, laundered linen napkins and gleaming silver plate knives and forks. The glasses were sparkling cut glass and the wine was a light fruity white that all the ladies enjoyed.
A meal of grapefruit cocktail, followed by tongue and ham with warm new potatoes, salad and dressing, was eaten and then a strawberry trifle and cream was offered to those who had room for it. Afterwards, the cake was cut, toasts drunk and the bride and groom showered with rice and rose petals as they left in a hired car for their train. They were going to Clacton-on-Sea for a few days’ honeymoon and both looked slightly bewildered, as if they’d been swept up in a high wind and didn’t quite know what had happened to them.
‘Bewildered but happy,’ Maggie whispered to Sally as they waved the happy couple off. ‘Do you think they were really in love all those years?’
‘Yes, I believe so,’ Sally said. ‘I asked Rachel if she thought Minnie just wanted a husband and a home and she said she was sure it was real love.’
‘Good.’ Maggie looked at her and made up her mind to share her own secret. ‘I didn’t tell you – but I wanted to – I’ve promised to marry Tim Burrows. We said we’d wait until the war was over, but he gave me a ring… Fred knows, but no one else…’
‘Why aren’t you wearing it?’
‘I’m not allowed at the hospital, and I thought you and Rachel and Beth might think I was jumping in too fast again. I thought I wanted to marry Ralf and then he let me down…’ She sighed. ‘He apologised and asked me to give him another chance, but I said we’d just be friends. I wasn’t sure then whether Tim saw me as more than a friend – but it all happened so quickly and I knew you would all think I didn’t know my own mind again…’
‘And now – do you know?’ Sally asked, looking at her curiously. ‘Are you sure he’s the one, Maggie? You were very young the first time, but you’re eighteen now.’
‘Yes, I am and I do know what I want,’ Maggie said. ‘I realised when Tim told me he was leaving and wouldn’t be seeing me for a while – and I miss him terribly. He sent me an address I can post to; it isn’t where he is, of course, they send the letters we write on and I’m not sure they’re always delivered. I’ve written twice, but I haven’t had a reply yet…’
‘Maybe he can’t because he’s too busy,’ Sally said and touched her hand. ‘Don’t worry too much yet, Maggie love. I’m sure Tim will be in touch as soon as he can.’
‘If he can…’ Maggie said and bit her lip. ‘Those men that were killed were in the army, Sally, but I’m sure there will be deaths in the air – and in the sea…’ She blinked hard. ‘A lot of women will lose their loved ones before this is over.’
‘Yes, I know,’ Sally said and the sadness was in her eyes. ‘All of Harpers’ girls – they all have someone serving. Marion Kaye has two brothers that have volunteered and her boyfriend, and her father works on the merchant ships too, but you may have read about it in the paper?’ Maggie nodded. ‘Her mother died from a brutal beating by her husband and Mr Kaye disappeared. Marion thinks he probably got away on his ship, because the police haven’t been able to trace him.’
‘That is awful! Poor Marion. It must be so upsetting for her.’ Maggie could understand some of what Marion was going through, because her mother had deserted her father as he lay dying – but murder was so vile. ‘Has she had the funeral yet?’
‘Yes, the police let them go ahead, because they said it was an open-and-shut case – Mr Kaye is guilty and if they get him, he will hang…’
‘To have all that – and her brothers in the army too – it’s a lot for anyone to bear, Sally.’
‘Yes. She was having a few tears at work after she read something in the paper the other day. Beth asked her what was wrong and she told her that her brothers and her friend had signed up – and Beth said she was sure the friend was more than just a neighbour, though Marion hasn’t told anyone. What with that and her mother… I told Marion to take a few days off as soon as I heard. She was back to work the day after the funeral, said she’d rather be with her friends.’
‘Yes, I felt the same when my mother died,’ Maggie said. ‘It’s no good sitting at home brooding.’ She hesitated, then, ‘Give her my love when you see her please…’
‘You should send her a card,’ Sally said. ‘You were friends in the department, why not keep it up, even if it’s just a card every now and then…’
‘I don’t know her home address.’
‘Send the card to me and I’ll deliver it to her – if she writes back, she can give you her address herself.’
Maggie nodded and smiled. ‘I should’ve asked before I left, but it was all a bit of a rush.’ She leaned in to kiss Sally’s cheek impulsively. After all, today they were just friends and not employer and employee. ‘I ought to catch my train. I need to be back at work by tomorrow morning.’
Sally smiled and gave her a quick hug. ‘Of course. It was lovely to see you. We all miss you, Maggie, but we know what you’re doing is important. Take care of yourself.’
‘And you, Sally. Is everything all right with you – and Jenny?’
Sally nodded and hesitated, then, ‘Ben is getting restless. He feels he needs to look after Harpers and keep an eye on Jack’s hotel – and yet he wants to join the army. He has been given six white feathers – six! Imagine how that makes him feel…’
‘Oh, those stupid women,’ Maggie said, shaking her head in disbelief that Ben Harper should be thought a coward. ‘What do they think that achieves? It just sends men rushing off to join up whether they’re suited or not – and a lot of them will die for no good reason. They should make their own minds up and not be pushed into it if they don’t wish to, at least until the Government calls them…’
‘The trouble is, Ben does want to fight,’ Sally said and sighed. ‘I know he will go, Maggie, the only question is when…’
38
‘Alone at last, my dearest,’ Jonathan Stockbridge said and took his wife’s hand as they stood in the hotel bedroom, turning it to kiss the palm. ‘I do love our friends and they’ve all been so kind, but I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time…’
Outside, they could hear the sound of seagulls calling and the autumn winds were driving the waves hard against the promenade, the sound of it pleasant when one was inside in the warm and safe from a biting wind. The summer seemed to have disappeared, but neither of them minded a brisk walk along the front and on the pier. Now, though, they were alone in the pleasant room they’d been given, the excitement of the wedding and the train journey behind them.
Minnie felt the blush start at the base of her neck and spread upwards. She did love him so very much and always had, but she was no longer the lovely young girl that had caught his imagination all those years ago an
d she knew her body had aged. She was a size 38-inch hips, instead of the svelte size 34 she’d been when eighteen, and gently rounded, though, as Rachel had told her, in all the right places.
Jonathan’s gaze became intent as he noticed that she was nervous and trying to hide it. ‘What is wrong, my love?’ he asked softly. ‘You’re not sorry you married me?’
‘Oh no, never!’ she declared passionately. ‘I’ve dreamed of this for years, Jonathan dearest…’ She cast her eyes down. ‘It’s just that you fell in love with me when I was eighteen and quite pretty, and now, I’m in my forties and…’ Minnie faltered and then saw the smile in his eyes.
‘Don’t you know that you’re still beautiful to me?’ he asked softly. ‘I adore you, Minnie Stockbridge – and don’t forget that I’m not the dashing young hero who proposed to you over the damask roses.’ He reached out to touch her cheek with reverent fingers. ‘I’ve kept a picture of that young girl in my mind ever since you sent me away, but the woman I see now is every bit as beautiful and her soul is as lovely as ever.’
Tears stung Minnie’s eyes as he took her gently into his arms and kissed her in a way that set her senses tingling. ‘I do love you so much – and you will always be my hero…’
‘Minnie, I know you’ve never been touched by a man and I know you must be a little nervous, but I promise I’ll never hurt you, my love. If there’s anything you don’t understand or can’t bear…’
‘No,’ Minnie said and suddenly her fear had gone. ‘I asked Rachel the things my mother should have told me years ago had she not died too young – and I’m not afraid. I’m yours, Jonathan. Teach me to be a good wife…’
‘Minnie, my sweet angel,’ Jonathan said, bending down to sweep her up in his arms and stumble towards the bed. The effort it cost him had them both laughing as they collapsed in a jumble of arms and legs together on the bed and then, somehow, nature took over and what happened next was the most natural thing in the world.
Kisses, laughter and touches so sweet that they made Minnie’s heart sing and showed her what she’d been cheated of for so many years and she thrilled to her lover’s touch, smiling up into the eyes of the young knight she’d fallen in love with by a bed of sweet pink roses. In that moment, Minnie fell in love all over again with the true loving man who was a little bit stouter than he should be and slightly thinning at the temple but would be forever young and handsome to her eyes…
‘I can’t stop thinking about those poor young men over there,’ Minnie said as, well wrapped up against the cool sea air, they strolled along the sea front at Clacton on the following Monday. In Belgium, the fighting had begun in earnest and once or twice, they had thought they could hear the boom of gunfire. There was a show on at the pier theatre and Jonathan had already bought tickets for later in the week and he was taking her to a dinner dance at a hotel that evening. Yet even in the throes of pure happiness, they could neither of them dismiss the thought of what was happening at the Front. ‘Do you think that rumbling sound we heard at breakfast this morning was thunder or gunfire?’
‘I think it might have been guns,’ Jonathan said. ‘I spoke to old Major Fawcet when you went upstairs to get your jacket. He told me he thought we should hear the guns when the wind is in the right direction.’
‘It is dreadful to think that our young men are being shot at…’ Minnie gave a little shudder. ‘Mr Burrows told me that he’d had a postcard from Stanley – the young man who worked with him in the basement – he says they’re training hard.’ A smile touched her mouth. ‘Stanley says they don’t have guns yet and one of the recruits brought his dog to the parade ground on a leash and it marched up and down with him.’
‘The sergeant major will soon put a stop to that,’ Jonathan said. ‘I suppose for the moment they will train with any weapon they can get their hands on. I’m sure the government didn’t prepare for war as soon as they ought, so there is likely to be a shortage in all kinds of things.’ He looked over his shoulder. ‘This is in confidence, Minnie, but I know I can trust you – Mr Harper told me that he is buying military equipment for our boys from America and his sister is already having it shipped over. It’s to make up for a shortfall in our own supplies…’
Minnie nodded. ‘Mrs Harper told me that her husband wants to fight, but surely he is already doing his bit?’
‘He will do all he can from the supply situation,’ Jonathan agreed, ‘but no man likes to be called a coward. I was given a white feather myself the other day…’
‘Oh, how foolish those women are,’ Minnie said and looked alarmed. ‘You won’t feel the need to join, will you, dearest?’
‘If I was ten years younger, I should already have signed up,’ he told her, ‘but at my age, I’d only slow them down, and then there’s my flat feet. Besides, some of us have to stay here and look after the country, Minnie. I’ll join the civil defence when we get back, my love, and that will have to be my contribution to the war.’
Minnie smiled at him and squeezed his arm. ‘Good. I’ll be joining one of the fundraising groups. Our troops are going to need lots of stuff to keep them going over there. I shall knit balaclavas and socks and raise money to send them cigarettes and sweets…’
Jonathan nodded and looked down at her lovingly. ‘Then we’ll both do our bit in our own way – and for now we can enjoy ourselves. They are still doing inshore boat trips at the moment, so if you’d like, we can go on one of them this afternoon…’
‘Oh yes, I do love the sea,’ Minnie said. ‘I thought they would have stopped the boats trips?’
‘Apparently, the fishermen who run them in their spare time are useful as spies. If they spot an enemy boat, they signal the shore immediately – but, don’t worry, the navy is patrolling the channel so it isn’t likely the enemy will attack a pleasure boat.’
‘I suppose the fishermen have to go out anyway,’ Minnie said. ‘We need the fish to feed the nation.’
Jonathan nodded. ‘Yes, they fish early mornings and do the pleasure trips afternoons.’ He smiled down at her. ‘I’ve been to the sea with Becky most years and I like to talk to them, that’s how I know.’
She nodded, her hand closing on his arm. ‘Your dear Becky – such a sweet loving girl. She has been so lovely to me, Jonathan.’
‘Of course, she has, Minnie. No one could help loving Becky – and no one could help loving you. I am a very lucky man.’
‘We are all lucky,’ Minnie said. ‘Becky is happy working on the counters at Harpers, but I shall encourage her to keep on with her shorthand. I find it quite fun to decipher those squiggles and I think she will learn quicker with a willing partner.’
Jonathan’s smiled deepened. ‘I knew you would make all our lives better,’ he said. ‘It will give Becky a proper home life, Minnie. I want her to make more friends and to go out with girls of her age – but I never had the time to do the things a mother ought to do with her daughter, though I tried…’
‘Becky has me now and I shall see she has all the opportunities she needs, Jonathan. We want her to be happy and one day she will fall in love and want to marry.’
‘Yes, I suppose she will,’ he acknowledged. ‘I still see her as a little girl, but of course she isn’t.’
‘No,’ Minnie said. ‘She will be happy staying with Rachel while we’re away, but when we get back, I’m going to make sure she does all the things she needs to do – and one of them is to learn to dance so that when she goes courting she will know what to do.’
39
‘There is a fundraising social at the Southwark church hall this evening,’ Rachel said to Becky that morning as they had breakfast before catching their bus to work. ‘I’ve been helping to organise it and I’ve bought six tickets. I shall be going and I’ve offered one to Beth and, of course, you’ll come with me – so I have three to give away.’ She looked at Becky as she raised her cup, pausing for a moment. ‘Is there anyone you would like to offer them to? Any friends you’d like to come with us?’
‘Yes, I did offer one to Marion, but she turned it down. If there’s no one you particularly want to ask, I’ll give two to the girls in the dress department – Debbie and Carol – and to Sarah in the cosmetic department. They are all about your age, Becky, and it might help you to make friends.’
Becky looked at her shyly. ‘Thank you, Mrs Bailey. You’re very kind to me, having me here while Minnie and Papa are away.’
‘I was happy to do it,’ Rachel assured her. ‘I get lonely when William is away for long periods. He comes home whenever he can and that is every other weekend at the moment – but I would be happy to help you whenever you wish. Minnie is my friend and you are a lovely girl.’
A blush swept up, turning Becky’s delicate colouring a dark pink. She was a pretty girl, her hair dark brown and inclined to curl at the ends, her eyes a soft melting brown. ‘Thank you.’ She looked happy as she said, ‘I do love Minnie so much. She is just as I imagined my mother might be. She says she is going to make me lots of pretty dresses, not just special ones like Papa had made for my birthday but dresses that I can wear every day.’
‘Yes.’ Rachel mentally agreed the girl’s clothes were a little plain and serviceable. No doubt her father asked for advice and was given sensible clothes to purchase for his daughter, but Becky needed softer colours and prettiness in her life. ‘Minnie is a wonderful seamstress and she cooks well too.’
‘We have a cleaner who also cooks for us, but she doesn’t cook as well as Minnie. Papa says he’s going to keep her coming, because Minnie has her own work, but I think Minnie will cook us nice things.’
