by Annie Murray
‘Had any news lately?’ Ruby asked.
Janet shook her head. ‘Not since March. Two and a half months. That’s normal, I know, but you can’t help worrying.’
‘Oh,’ Ruby said bleakly. March seemed aeons away to her.
Edie listened to the two of them. If anything good was coming out of all this anxiety it was that Janet and Ruby were growing closer through all these struggling days of war, going through some of the same things. Edie squeezed Janet’s arm, knowing how she watched the war in the East, the desperate fighting there had been against the Japanese in India and Burma, wondering if that was where Martin was. The towns of Kohima and Imphal had been cut off by the Japanese, and although they had broken through at Kohima, Imphal was still under seige. Janet could hardly bear to think about it. Was he trapped in there? Had he been captured by the Japanese? Or had he been lying dead for weeks without anyone to let her know? In desperation she had written to his parents asking for news, but she had had a worried letter in reply saying they had not heard from Martin either. Of course he might not be in any of these places. He might be safe somewhere in South India. But if so, why had no one heard from him?
‘Never mind.’ Despite her pain and anxiety, Janet heard herself sounding like her mother. ‘All we can do is wait and help each other through whatever happens, isn’t it?’
‘Us wenches stick together through thick and thin!’ Ruby cried, and slipped her arms through Janet’s and Edie’s. On impulse, she started on a verse of ‘Let’s swing out, to Victory!’ and the others joined in. Singing and laughing, the three of them made their way home, arm in arm.
Twenty-Nine
September 1944
‘Hello my beautiful boy!’ She took Davey’s face in between her hands and kissed him as he sat at the kitchen table, dunking arrowroot biscuits into warm milk. He had a thin, milky moustache. ‘So how did you get on?’ He looked blankly at her.
Edie smiled. ‘First day at school – remember?’
‘It was all right,’ he said contentedly, biting into a second biscuit.
‘Here,’ Frances handed Edie a cup of tea and sank down wearily at the table. She was already wearing her slippers for comfort. ‘Come and join us for a minute. He’s got along very well, haven’t you, Davey? We went along to the school and there were other children on the way of course. And I asked him if he wanted me to come in, but everyone else was saying their goodbyes outside – a few tears from some of course. He said no, he’d go in by himself and off he went. Didn’t turn a hair.’
Edie had expected Davey to be nervous and tearful on his first morning, but instead he’d been so excited he couldn’t wait to get there. He’d had his uniform on even before she left for work. It was Edie, not Davey, who was churned up inside and had a lump in her throat at the thought of letting him go.
Letting Davey out of the cocoon of safety and privacy of home after all these years had disturbed her ghosts. All this time she had kept him close to her, living their quiet life, hoping no one would come looking for him. Her few close friends knew how he had come to her in the Blitz of course, but Edie didn’t want to attract attention to it. Frances had suggested a number of times that she adopt him properly to put her mind at rest, but she wouldn’t do it. She had even dreaded taking him to the doctor when he had earache, and went to a surgery in Selly Oak where they didn’t know her. She was frightened of anyone asking questions. When she went to Davey’s school and stood under the headmaster’s gaze, she had felt flustered, panic-stricken. She’d have to tell him lies! Supposing he asks for Davey’s birth certificate! I’ll have to say we’ve lost it, she thought. I don’t even know what day he was really born on. I don’t know the first thing about him! But for all that, Davey was her boy. She’d looked after him all this time, felt the emotions of a mother. And now she had to send him out into the world with nothing but a satchel and fourpence for his dinner!
‘So did you like it?’ Edie pressed him. ‘Are there some other nice children?’
‘Oh yes,’ Davey said airily. There was a pause, then he added, ‘They don’t know much, though.’
Edie and Frances looked at each other and both started laughing.
There had not been a lot to laugh about as the summer months went by. Though the news started to be better, the defeats of the Japanese out east, the Allies marching into the August heat of Paris, still neither Janet nor Ruby had heard from their loved ones. There was every reason to fear the worst. The three women had grown even closer over the past months. Janet, who had parted with Martin so long ago, was the least able to feel hopeful. What they had heard about the fighting in south-east Asia was appalling. How could Martin have survived? And if he had, then why had she heard nothing? The same desperate thoughts went round and round inside her head. Sometimes she was very low, and Frances, Edie and Ruby did their best to comfort her.
Ruby was convinced that Wally was alive. ‘They can’t have time for writing letters with all that going on. But I’ll hear from him any day – I just feel it. Big strong bloke like him!’ She scanned the newsreels, the units of Americans marching into Paris in August, hoping that by lucky chance she might see his face, but so far if he was there, he was at the back of the crowd.
She was blooming now, heavily pregnant with a couple of months left to go, and she seemed incapable of worrying too much about anything.
‘Of course, I’ll look after the baby when its old enough,’ Frances told her. ‘Although I do believe this might have to be the last one I take on. I’m getting far too old for it! But Ruby, dear, you do need to think about how you’re going to manage things. Especially in view of your mother’s news.’
Ethel Bonner, alias Mimi, had come home one evening from an extended ENSA jaunt round the Midlands, hair peroxide blonde, heels clicking up the front steps, and announced, when she was scarcely through the door, that she was to remarry, a man called Lionel who was her pianist with the Lucky Dip Entertainers.
Her children all gathered round, full of questions.
‘I’m very happy for you, Mom,’ Ruby said when the hubbub had died down. ‘But as you can see, I’m in the family way again and I’m not going to be able to look after the boys for yer any more. You’ve got to come home and be a mom to them. You’ve left us to fend for ourselves long enough.’
The pregnancy had not been showing enough to be obvious last time Ethel had stopped off at home. It was the first time she’d heard of it.
‘In the family way?’ Ethel seemed to come down to earth with a thud. She sat down abruptly by the range. Ruby noted that she had nice sheer nylons on under the smart suit. ‘But yer a widow! Who’s the father, Ruby? Who the ’ell’ve yer been playing about with?’
‘I haven’t been playing about. He’s an American soldier called Wally Sorenson and I love him. He’s much better to me than Frank ever was.’
‘Oh yes, and where ’is ’e now you’ve a babby on the way?’
‘Fighting in France,’ Ruby said proudly.
‘Oh ar – and you’ve heard back from ’im, ’ave yer?’
‘Well . . . no. But ’e loves me, Mom, I know ’e does and ’e’s asked me to marry him! I s’pect ’e’s been too busy, what with the invasion and everything, marching across France . . .’
‘Busy spinning the same tale to some French wench by now – that’s if ’e’s not six foot under,’ Ethel said. ‘Ruby – how could yer be such a fool?’
‘Oh, I wish you’d never come home!’ Ruby got up and pulled herself heavily upstairs to her room. She lay on the bed and cried bitter tears. Where was Wally, her lovely strong man? Her husband to be? It was a terrible thing, hearing her mother voice her own fears so brutally.
But after a short time she heard Ethel coming upstairs. She sat on Ruby’s bed, a proper mom again suddenly.
‘Look, bab – it’ll be awright. I’ll be at home more now – I’ll try to make sure of it. Soon as the war’s over this’ll all be finished for me anyway, Rube. And Lionel and me want to
have a proper marriage, not running here and there, pillar to post.’ Ruby felt her mom put her hand on her back and she sobbed even harder.
‘What’s he like?’ Ruby asked eventually.
‘He’s kind-hearted, Rube, like yer dad was. And ’e plays well, like Sid did. I know ’e’s not yer dad, but ’e’s a good’un and I hope you’ll do your best to make him welcome. He makes me happy.’ Ruby had to admit to herself that her mother seemed even more changed. Slimmer, her hair cut nicely and an easy smile. She couldn’t begrudge her that. But she had worries of her own and she so much needed her mother’s support. She sat up, pressing her hand over her stomach.
‘I don’t want to go through it all again, Mom. I hated it in the hospital—’
‘You don’t have to go up the hospital to have it, do yer? I had all of you at ’ome – never went near a hospital. We can call the midwife in. When’s it due? Not long, by the look of yer.’
‘’Bout two weeks. Will you be there, Mom, this time?’ Ruby felt like a little girl again, desperate for comfort.
‘I’ll do my best,’ Ethel said. ‘It all depends when his majesty decides to put in an appearance, doesn’t it?’
Ten days later, Edie was in the cloakroom taking her overall off at the end of the shift when Ruby appeared next to her.
‘It’s started, Ede.’
‘What?’ Edie frowned.
Ruby laid her hand on her bump. ‘It’s coming. I’ve been on the go all afternoon. It’s not too bad yet though – just sort of gripey.’
‘Flippin’ ’eck – why didn’t you go home?’
‘Oh, I’ll be awright. It’ll be a while yet.’
They went out into the stream of workers coming off the shift, into the winter darkness. The pavement was covered in mushy leaves and they caught a whiff of chocolate on the air.
‘You all right?’ Edie kept asking.
‘Course I’m all right,’ Ruby said, sounding a lot calmer than Edie felt. ‘It won’t be along yet.’ But after they’d crossed Bournville Green and started up the slight hill, Ruby stopped for a moment, holding on to someone’s front wall, breathing heavily.
‘Oh my God, Ruby!’ Edie was all of a dither. ‘You should’ve gone home hours ago!’
‘Will you stop mithering,’ Ruby said, recovering herself. ‘That’s better – another one over.’
‘Shall I take your arm? You need to get to the hospital.’
‘No I don’t. I ain’t going. I can’t stand the hospital – I’m staying home to have it.’
‘Oh.’ Edie was taken aback. Ruby hadn’t said a word about her plans until now. ‘You having Mrs Jessop in?’ Mrs Jessop had been bringing babies into the world in the Glover Road neighbourhood for years.
‘Maybe. But the person I want to do it really is Mrs Hatton.’
Edie’s jaw dropped. ‘Frances?’
‘Me? But I haven’t delivered a baby for more than thirty years!’
Frances’s amazement was even more complete than Edie’s. ‘I don’t even know if my registration is in order any more! Oh dear, look, it’s getting heavy going, isn’t it, dear? We really should get you some proper help.’
Ruby was holding on to a chair in the front room, breathing through the latest contraction. The walk home seemed to have speeded things up.
‘Never mind your registration,’ she panted. ‘You can’t forget how to do summat like that, can you?’
‘Well no . . . Oh dear, oh goodness . . .’
It was the first time Edie had seen Frances well and truly thrown by something and for a moment she felt cross with Ruby. Frances had done so much for them all, was kindness itself. But she was not young – a strain like this wouldn’t do her any good.
Just then Davey and Marleen got wind that something was going on and came running through from the back.
‘Hello, pet!’ Edie kissed Davey. ‘D’you have a nice day at school?’
‘What’s wrong with Auntie Ruby?’ David asked, with a five-year-old’s directness as Ruby puffed away over the back of the chair.
‘She’s got a pain in her tummy,’ Edie whispered.
Marleen looked back and forth at all of them, trying to make sense of things.
‘Right.’ Frances switched into a different gear in front of their eyes. ‘Well, if this is the situation we shall have to do our best. Ruby – what about your mother?’
‘She’s at home,’ Ruby managed to say. ‘Edie – could you fetch her?’
‘Well, yes – if you think . . .’ Edie looked at Frances. ‘Is she having the babby here?’
‘I don’t think she has any choice by the look of things,’ Frances said briskly, taking Marleen’s hand. ‘Now, come along Marleen. Your mummy’s going to give you a little brother or sister to play with. But you have to come with me and be good for a bit. Edith, could you hurry, please?’
Edie tore down the hill to summon Ethel, and ran back ahead of her without leaving her any time to ask questions. When she got back to Linden Road, Frances seemed to have recovered her midwife’s instincts and was moving energetically round the house, sleeves rolled up and a clean white apron on over her skirt and blouse.
‘Now, Edie.’ The list of Frances’s thoughts spilled out. ‘I’ve taken her up to your room – that seems the best place. I’ve sent David and Marleen up with some newspapers, but from now on I shall need you to keep the two of them out of the way. Janet can help when she gets in, and there’s a fish pie in the oven. I’m looking out old sheets, I still have most of my basic equipment and we shall have to pray for a nice healthy delivery. If anything goes wrong she’ll need to get to hospital. Now the kettle’s on and a pan to boil. Ruby’s mother can help you – oh—’ She stopped, half way up the stairs. ‘Give her some fish pie if she hasn’t had any food . . .’
‘Don’t worry,’ Edie said, following her. ‘I’ll come and get the kids out of there.’
She was surprised at the sudden speed with which Frances managed the stairs. She followed her rounded figure up to the bedroom, full of respect and fondness for her.
‘I’m sorry, we’ve landed you with yet another thing,’ she said.
Frances turned, a smile lighting her face. ‘Well – I’m a bit anxious. It’s been a long time. But awfully exciting as well . . . I can’t help feeling flattered.’
As Edie took the children downstairs, Ethel arrived.
‘I’ll go and be with her in a minute, when I’ve got my breath back,’ she panted, pulling her coat off. ‘Dear, oh dear, our Ruby’s given me some shocks in her time. Is she all right? Mrs Hatton’s a midwife then?’
‘Yes,’ Edie answered both questions, still full of wonder as she took in fully the change in Ethel’s appearance. ‘She’ll look after her all right.’
Ethel had had the presence of mind to bring some of Ruby’s things and also a few of Marleen’s old baby clothes ready for the new arrival. She was in the process of unpacking the bag when Janet appeared.
‘Hello.’ She looked round in amused bewilderment at the children still up and playing about, Ethel’s platinum blonde head bent over the bag of clothes and the general atmosphere of something going on.
‘Ruby’s having her baby,’ Edie said.
‘Is she?’ Janet said, taking her coat off. ‘Oh, marvellous.’ It took a moment for the penny to drop. ‘What, you mean, here?’
Edie pointed towards the ceiling and as she did so a bumping sound and a groan came from upstairs.
‘Right,’ Ethel braced herself. ‘Can you show me the way, Edie?’
Edie took Ethel upstairs. Edie’s room had been transformed: newspapers spread out and everything cleared out of the way. Frances stood hurriedly arranging some things on the table and Ruby knelt by the bed, hands clenched on fistfuls of the covers, breath hissing through her teeth. At the height of the pain a strangled cry came from her.
‘Well done, dear,’ Frances said as she came through it.
‘Your Mom’s here,’ Edie told her. She hesitated and then
seeing Ruby gathering herself up to face more pain she said, ‘Can we come and be with you when it comes? D’you mind, Ruby?’
‘I don’t bloody care who’s ’ere, I just want it out!’ Ruby roared as the contraction seized her again.
Edie looked at Frances, who nodded. ‘I think you’ll be able to tell when!’
Edie retreated downstairs. She and Janet sorted out makeshift beds for the children on the floor of the front room, gave them their milk and kept them occupied until they were both sleepy. Marleen dozed off in Janet’s arms over a story. Davey was more aware of the strangeness of the evening.
‘Why is she making those noises?’ he asked Edie. ‘Is her tummy hurting?’
‘Probably a bit, yes,’ Edie agreed. ‘Now Davey, if you’re a good boy and go to sleep there’ll be a new little friend for you to play with in the morning.’
‘Who?’ he asked, wide-eyed as she settled him beside Marleen.
She kissed him. ‘Just you wait and see.’
Edie made tea and took cups up to Frances and Ethel. She and Janet sat in the back room. It was impossible to think about anything other than what was going on upstairs.
‘The sound of someone else in pain makes me feel all wobbly,’ Edie said.
‘Me too. It’s enough to put you off childbirth for life!’ Janet said. ‘Shall I put the wireless on?’
‘No!’ Edie protested. ‘I want to know what’s going on!’
‘Would you go through it again?’
‘Oh yes . . .’ Edie hesitated. Hearing Ruby brought so much of it back, the overwhelming experience of childbirth, which had ended so tragically for her. ‘But not if I was going to lose him, like last time.’
There was a particularly blood-curdling screech from upstairs. Edie jumped up. ‘Oh my God, listen to that, she must be getting close! You coming, Janet?’
‘I don’t know.’ Edie saw her worried expression. ‘I don’t want to faint and get in the way or anything.’
‘Come on – you won’t,’ Edie laughed. ‘You don’t want to miss it!’
