‘Yes. I’ve seen how much you miss your own parents and how the strangers who appeared at your home have caused such problems for you. You’ve told us how you never knew about your grandparents. If I denied my Lizzie contact with William’s mother, she would never know her own family . . .’
‘But I have found out about my grandparents,’ Molly said, reaching for her handbag to show Plum the paperwork that had been such a surprise earlier in the day. ‘I’ve even seen where my mum’s sister lives, and I have maternal cousins. Johnny Johnson drove me there today. I have family, Plum. I have proper family.’
‘That’s splendid,’ Plum said, hugging Molly until she couldn’t breathe, before letting her go. ‘That’s bloody splendid.’
‘And Johnny kissed her,’ Bunty added with a beam.
‘Bloody hell, what a day!’ was all Plum could say.
16
‘How are things?’ Plum asked, as she collapsed into the seat next to Molly in the coffee bar. ‘We’ve hardly had time to breathe, let alone speak these past few days. I’ve taken on two more stable hands and been promised six more donkeys, so hopefully there won’t be so many queues for rides.’
‘It has been mad. Connie told us things would get busier. I love my job, but my head is bursting with so much going on. I’m supposed to be on duty now, as it’s the children’s swimming races, but Bunty is covering for me for half an hour. Then I’ll do the same for her.’
‘At least it doesn’t give us time to think about our problems, does it? Have you spoken to Johnny since his return?’
Molly shook her head. ‘No. I’ve seen Gloria a few times when I’ve been in reception. She’s like a cat who’s stolen all the cream.’
‘Or the redcoat who nabbed her man,’ Plum butted in. ‘I’m sorry but I just can’t take to the woman. I don’t know why, but that’s how it is.’
‘I try to be friendly with her, but she has such a superior air. Now she has her claws into Johnny, she seems so much worse,’ Molly said with an unhappy look on her face.
Plum took a noisy slurp from her coffee cup. ‘Sorry, I’m such a pig – being in a hurry all the time makes for bad manners.’ She noted Molly’s sad face. ‘Does it hurt? I mean about Johnny, not me slurping my coffee.’
‘It did, but I’m being sensible about things. Johnny and I come from different worlds. To me, a kiss means something special. No doubt in the world he moves in, it isn’t so important. I won’t be taken for a fool again and won’t be giving my kisses away so easily in future.’
‘Molly, there’s no need not to enjoy yourself. Just keep it to having fun and enjoying a kiss or two. It doesn’t make you a girl of easy virtue. Just don’t wear your heart on your sleeve.’
‘Was it that obvious? I didn’t think people were aware I liked Johnny so much.’
‘Those who were interested would have seen. Your friends and people like Gloria. Perhaps that’s why she’s been such a bitch.’
Molly raised her eyebrows. ‘That’s a bit strong coming from you, Plum. Thank goodness Gloria isn’t a holidaymaker or we’d be forced to be pleasant. I’ll just try and avoid her from now on.’
‘You do that. I’ll be having words with her if I find her being beastly. Now, I’ll have to love you and leave you, as I have staff to keep an eye on and kiddies to fight off. I must say my job makes me very popular with the children.’ Plum hugged Molly, brushing away a few stray pieces of hay that had attached themselves to her friend’s red jacket. ‘I’ll see if I can catch you tonight for a chat if you aren’t fast asleep.’
‘I’ll be late, as I’m working in the Butlins Theatre this evening. It should be a great show.’
‘In that case, I may just try and make it, if I don’t fall asleep in my smelly overalls again.’ Plum had been ribbed by Bunty and Molly after they’d found her snoring soundly and the chalet smelling of the stables. The chalet door had to be left open to let in some fresh air before they could sleep. Plum’s overalls were now put outside overnight to air.
Molly was just finishing her drink when a shadow fell across the table. Looking up, she saw Johnny with a frown on his face. ‘Have you been avoiding me?’ he asked. ‘I’ve left several notes for you in reception.’
Molly felt a thrill of excitement run through her to see Johnny standing just inches from where she sat. She tried to keep calm. How dare he stand there expecting her to have responded to messages she’d not even seen, especially after he’d been off gallivanting to London with the Butlins receptionist? Molly decided to keep calm and not let Johnny know how shaken she felt. ‘I have no idea what you are talking about. I’ve not received one message from you. Are you sure they weren’t sent to another female redcoat?’ She felt awful for being so brusque. It wasn’t in her nature as a rule.
Johnny pulled out a vacant chair and sat beside her. ‘You don’t mind, do you?’ he asked, ever the gentleman.
‘Not at all. I’m about to go back on duty,’ she replied, trying hard not to look in his direction for fear of crumbling under his gaze. She picked up her handbag and tried to leave, but Johnny grabbed her hand and she had no choice but to sit down. ‘I’m not sure what it is you want, Johnny,’ she said quietly.
‘Molly, I want to know what has changed between us. You’re treating me like a stranger. I thought we meant something to each other.’
Molly could feel her heart melting. Johnny sounded so sincere. Perhaps there had been a mistake. She decided it would be fair to give him another chance. She was far too fond of him to cut him off completely and then see him around the holiday camp each day. She knew it would break her heart. With nowhere to go, she had no choice but to stay friends with Johnny, at least until the end of the season.
‘Hello, you two. You look very cosy. Has Johnny been telling you about our trip to London, Molly? I’ll never forget it as long as I live.’ She fluttered her eyelashes at Johnny, who was frowning once more.
Molly raised her eyes and looked at Gloria standing in front of their table. ‘Johnny hasn’t told me a thing, Gloria. Please sit down and join us.’ She nodded to a vacant chair.
‘I’ll get the coffee,’ he said, rising quickly to his feet and heading towards the busy counter.
‘So, tell me about your trip. I’m eager to know all about it,’ Molly said, forcing a smile onto her face. If Gloria and Johnny were now a couple, she should try to make friends with the woman and hide her own heartbreak, all thought of avoiding her flying out of the window.
Gloria tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled. ‘It was lovely to be able to spend time away from the holiday camp and get to know Johnny a little better. He made me feel very special. I hope we can repeat the trip again when he isn’t busy.’
‘Lucky you,’ was all Molly could think to say before trying to change the subject. ‘I’m looking forward to the show in the Butlins Theatre this evening. We have stars from the radio show ITMA. Will you be there?’ Like all redcoats, Gloria was often working evenings, helping out with the campers’ entertainment.
‘I’m hoping to be there to watch the show, but it depends on how busy Johnny will be. He still has to catch us with work after whisking me away to London,’ she said with authority while watching Molly closely.
Molly felt like a goldfish in a bowl with Gloria the cat watching from outside. Why was she showing off like this? Of course Molly felt jealous. She knew Johnny had a place in her heart, but if he was promised to someone else, she would not fight for him. It would be hard, but she’d hold her head high and try not to look disappointed. In time, it wouldn’t hurt so much.
‘Excuse me, Auntie Molly,’ a little girl said as she tapped Molly’s arm for attention. ‘I wondered if you would help me with my fancy dress. Mummy isn’t feeling well, and I’m not allowed to use her sewing kit.’
Molly recognized the little girl. Her mother was in a wheelchair. Often it was her father who took her to join in the games and events while his wife slept in their chalet. ‘Of course I can help you, Cynth
ia. In fact, I can spare a few minutes right now.’ She took the young girl’s hand and got to her feet. ‘Give my apologies to Johnny, please, Gloria. I’ll not have time for that coffee.’
‘Before you go, I have something for you,’ Gloria said, putting her hand into the pocket of her jacket and pulling out a few scraps of paper. ‘I meant to pass them on to you the other day, but you know how it is.’
Molly glanced quickly at one of the papers and spotted Johnny’s name scrawled on the bottom. Were these the notes Johnny had mentioned? Why did Gloria have them? ‘Oh, I know what these are about already, but thank you for passing them on,’ she said, shoving them into her pocket before walking away with the little girl.
Cynthia skipped along beside Molly. ‘I don’t like that lady. She told my mummy off this morning.’
‘I’m sure she didn’t mean to do that, Cynthia. Perhaps you heard wrong?’
‘I did hear right, and I saw Mummy crying afterwards,’ Cynthia said with a stubborn look on her face.
Molly was unhappy to hear that the child’s parent had been upset. ‘Perhaps I can have a little chat with your mummy while I help with your costume,’ she suggested.
Cynthia smiled. ‘I’d like that. Mummy likes you. She says you have a warm smile. Does it hurt having a warm smile? Does it burn your face?’
Molly laughed with the little girl as they headed towards the chalets. This was what she loved about her job. If she could only avoid Gloria and not feel so unsure of Johnny’s feelings towards her, then her life at Butlins would be almost perfect.
Molly stepped into the chalet and noticed that Cynthia’s mother was sitting up in bed with a bundle of coloured paper and material in front of her. The woman’s face was pale, and she seemed to be having trouble with the task in front of her. ‘Hello, Mrs Smithson. Would you like me to help you with Cynthia’s costume?’
The woman’s expression was welcoming as well as worried. ‘I hope our Cynthia hasn’t been bothering you? She’s that excited about entering the children’s fancy-dress competition. I’m afraid my fingers aren’t as good as they used to be.’
‘I’d love to help you, Mrs Smithson,’ Molly said as she sat in the chair offered to her by Mr Smithson. ‘Can I let you into a little secret? I miss making costumes. I used to help my mum with the Brownies and we were always making costumes for one event or another.’
Cynthia’s mother visibly sighed and Mr Smithson grinned. A short, slight man with greying hair, he seemed to carry the troubles of the world on his shoulders. Molly thought it was likely he’d had a lot to put up with now that Mrs Smithson was confined to a wheelchair.
Cynthia climbed onto Molly’s lap and cuddled her. ‘I knew you would be able to help us. If your mummy is here at Butlins, can she come and help too?’
Molly gave the child a hug. ‘No. My mummy isn’t able to come to Butlins, but I’m sure she’d have loved to have helped you. You will just have to put up with me instead.’
Molly caught the sympathetic look that Mrs Smithson gave her and returned it with a smile. It was only later she realized she’d been able to talk about her mother without shedding tears. ‘Now, what exactly is it you would like to be in the competition?’
‘I want to be a bingo queen,’ Cynthia said, sliding from Molly’s lap and jumping up and down with excitement.
‘A bingo queen? That’s a costume I’ve never seen before. What made you think of that?’ she asked the child with some alarm. The competition was later that afternoon and she had no idea how to proceed.
Mr Smithson sat on the edge of the bed to explain. ‘Our Cynth has been fascinated by the bingo. It’s something we both enjoy attending if Joan is feeling up to it.’
‘I love playing bingo,’ Joan Smithson added. ‘It’s something I can do in my wheelchair. Ernie and I go often when we are at home. We play each week in our village hall.’
‘We were sitting with another couple,’ Ernie Smithson continued, ‘and the husband told us his wife was so addicted she must be the queen of bingo. This fascinated our Cynth and she’s spoken about nothing else since.’
As Molly listened, a few ideas popped into her head. ‘I do believe we could make you the best bingo queen ever. We don’t have much time, and I first must pop over and speak to a colleague for a few minutes,’ Molly said, thinking of Bunty, who was waiting to be relieved from her duties for her tea break. ‘Mr Smithson, would you mind collecting a few ping-pong balls from the gift shop and perhaps a small notebook?’
‘Please, call me Ernie. Yes, I can do that by all means. Anything else to help our little princess?’
‘Queen, Daddy, I’m going to be a queen, not a princess,’ Cynthia interrupted.
‘I’d like to help as well,’ Joan said, ‘although I’m not up to making a dress.’
‘I don’t think we have time for that.’ Molly laughed. ‘Do you have a sewing kit?’
Joan Smithson showed Molly her tin of sewing equipment, which contained safety pins, something Molly knew would come in handy. Feeling assured they had the basics, Molly set off at a fast pace to see Bunty and collect items that no bingo queen should be without.
‘There! What do you think about that, Cynthia?’
The young girl twisted and turned in front of her parents, showing off her bingo-queen outfit. Molly had found some used bingo cards, which had been pinned onto Cynthia’s sundress, while Joan Smithson had written bingo calls on slips of paper, which were now pinned round the hem. Cynthia was tickled pink to have ‘legs eleven’, ‘Kelly’s eye’, ‘top of the shop’, ‘two little ducks’ and other well-known sayings on her dress. Ernie had been kept busy making a cardboard crown and had attached ping-pong balls to the top with numbers written on them.
‘You’ve done a wonderful job, Molly. I wouldn’t know where to start to thank you,’ Joan said.
‘It’s all part of the job,’ Molly replied cheerfully as she cleared away the mess they’d made on the single bed, which had been used as a makeshift table while the costume was created.
‘Beyond the call of duty, I’d say,’ Ernie replied. ‘You’ve made one little girl very happy. We must repay you in some way.’
‘No, no, there’s no need at all. I’ve enjoyed myself. It brought back some happy memories.’
‘Of your mother?’ Joan asked.
Molly nodded but didn’t wish to say any more in front of young Cynthia.
Sensing the situation, Ernie took charge. ‘Come on, young lady. Let’s go and show your outfit off to our neighbours, shall we?’ he said, taking the excited Cynthia by the hand and leading her out of the chalet.
Joan patted the bed close to where she was sitting in her wheelchair. ‘Sit yourself down, Molly. I sense you’ve lost your mother.’
Molly nodded as she sat down. ‘Yes, last summer. I lost both my parents in a car crash. Would you believe that today is the first time I’ve not cried when mentioning Mum?’
‘I saw the grief on your face when you mentioned her. She must have been a very special person to bring such a caring daughter into the world. I’ve been through the wars myself,’ she said, tapping her legs. ‘I may never walk again, and yes, it was a car accident.’
Molly took Joan’s hand. ‘I’m so pleased you survived. I’d never wish Cynthia to go through what I have this past year. It’s been very hard at times.’
‘You’ve survived, Molly. You are a good person, and I have a feeling good things will happen to you. Do you have any other family?’
Molly chatted to Joan about the discovery of family she never knew about, although she kept quiet about Harriet and Simon, as they didn’t feel like family to her.
A tap on the door from Ernie to tell them it was almost time for the fancy-dress competition gave them both a start. ‘My goodness. I must go and help prepare the ballroom for the competition or they’ll be giving me my cards.’ She laughed. ‘But there was something I wanted to ask you. Cynthia mentioned that Gloria, one of the receptionists, had upset you. I wonder i
f you would tell me what she did. I do have my reasons for asking,’ Molly added quickly, in case Joan thought she was just being nosy.
‘Of course you can ask. I feel a little silly now for being upset. I spotted the young lady with her colleagues in the reception area today and said that we had attended the big parade in London last week to celebrate the end of the war. It had been wonderful to watch. Ernie took part because of his war work. He’s still not allowed to talk about it,’ she added quickly. ‘Anyway, I saw this particular young woman wearing her redcoat outfit at the parade and recognized it, as we would be at Butlins the following week. I only said how it had been lovely to see a redcoat marching in the parade and she became rather unpleasant. Ernie quickly wheeled me away.’
‘What did she say to you, Joan?’
‘Only that I must have been mistaken. She said she’d been in London with her boyfriend. I think she said his name was Johnny. Yes, it was Johnny. For some reason, her colleagues began to laugh at her and that was what infuriated her. Did I say something wrong, Molly?’
Molly gave Joan a quick hug. ‘No, you did nothing wrong at all. In fact, you have cleared up something that has been worrying me. Now, I must dash, but I’ll be there to cheer young Cynthia on. I’ll see you all later.’
Molly left the Smithsons’ chalet and headed along a flower-bordered path towards the ballroom feeling as though she was walking on air. Gloria must have been telling lies when she intimated she and Johnny were a couple. It sounded more like work that took Gloria to the capital city if she’d taken part in the parade to celebrate the end of the war. Why shouldn’t redcoats have taken part? Spud, the gatekeeper, had told her that Billy Butlin did sterling work during the war years when the holiday camp was closed. No doubt there were other redcoats representing the company as well. Molly had heard about the big parade through the streets of London. Perhaps if she had been living in Erith, she would have taken the train up to Charing Cross and waved and cheered with the thousands of other spectators. She wondered if Johnny had taken part. Molly gave herself a stern talking-to. Why shouldn’t he go to London, and why shouldn’t he give Gloria a lift in his car? She was making mountains out of molehills, and it wasn’t helped by Gloria’s attraction to Johnny. After all, she’d never seen him reciprocate. He had always appeared to be a gentleman. She would ignore Gloria’s cheap jibes in future.
The Butlins Girls Page 21
