by Cathy Sharp
‘Are you ready, Alice?’ Her father’s voice came from outside the door. ‘The cars are here. We’ve got to leave or we’ll be late.’
‘Yes, Dad, I’m ready now.’ Alice picked up the small posy of pink roses that Bob had sent to her as her father opened the bedroom door. ‘Will I do?’
‘You look lovely,’ he told her and offered his arm. ‘I’m proud of my girl, Alice. You’re a lovely lass, kind and decent, and don’t you let anyone tell you different.’
Alice smiled, the cloud of doubt that had hung over her since she woke that morning beginning to disperse. She had been helplessly in love with the charmer, who had swept her off her feet, making her forget all she’d been taught, but he’d left her in the lurch and she’d promised to marry Bob – and she would be true to him.
Alice stood with her hand on her new husband’s arm, a fluttering sensation inside as he thanked everyone for coming and for their lovely gifts.
‘We are grateful for everything,’ Bob said, ‘but most of all it’s good to know we’ve got such good friends. I hope you will all support Alice when I’m away – and I thank you all for coming today. We have to go now or we shall miss our train.’
The next minute they were leaving the pub and their guests, standing for a moment outside on the pavement as the car Bob had hired waited to take them to the railway station. Alice tossed her bouquet in the air and Angela caught it, laughing as the others teased her and asked who the lucky man was. Neither Sally nor Michelle had tried for it, though Jean, Mavis and Nan had reached up, but somehow it had fallen into Angela’s hands. She laughed and smiled, waving at Alice as they got into the car, joining her good wishes to all the others.
Bob had spoken for both of them when he’d thanked them for being their friends just now. Alice felt blessed to know that so many people cared about her. She’d known Michelle and Sally would come, also Angela, but the others had been a bonus – and her father’s support had meant everything. He’d bullied her brothers into cleaning themselves up for once, and they’d come along, looking uncomfortable in white school shirts, trousers and ties, but grinning all over their faces as they threw handfuls of confetti over her. She knew they’d come for the wedding tea more than anything else, but she was just glad they were here. Her mother’s absence was hurtful but no more than she’d expected, because Mrs Cobb was a stubborn woman and it would take an earthquake to move her once she made up her mind.
‘Everything all right, Alice, love?’ Bob asked when they were in the car and speeding towards the station. ‘It was a nice do even if it was in a pub and not a hotel – didn’t you think?’
‘Lovely,’ Alice said, and smiled at him shyly. ‘You’ve made everything lovely for me, Bob – thank you for all you’ve done …’
‘You don’t have to be grateful,’ he said, looking serious as he reached out and took her hand in his. Alice’s hand trembled because she was nervous, though determined not to be. ‘And don’t be worryin’ your head over the future either, love. You married me because I asked and because it was better for you – but I know you’re not in love with me. I don’t mind, Alice, because I love you and I believe you will come to love me – but I’m patient. I can wait and that means for all of it. I don’t expect you to hop in bed and make passionate love, but I hope you’ll let me hold you and kiss you sometimes … and we can be more than friends in time.’
‘Oh, Bob,’ Alice said, and her eyes stung with tears. ‘You’re so good to me … I don’t know why you care for me, but I’m so glad you do. I may not be ready for marital relations yet, but after the baby is born …’
‘Let’s wait and see,’ Bob said, and leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips. ‘I’ll never force you. I promise you that, Alice. I’ll just wait and hope until you’re ready.’
Alice nodded and held onto his hand. She was too filled with emotion to answer, but she hung on as if she would never let him go. Bob was a decent man and one day … one day she would repay all he’d given her.
FIFTY-NINE
It had been a lovely wedding the previous day, Angela’s one regret being that Mark hadn’t been there with her. She was missing him more than she would have believed but he hadn’t rung her once since he’d left on his lecture tour and she thought he was avoiding her.
Approaching the door of Sister’s office, she heard the gentle laughter coming from inside. Father Joe was visiting, and by the sound of them they were enjoying a chat and a drink.
Another chuckle from inside Sister’s office made Angela turn from the door with a smile on her face. Her business would wait until the morning. It was time she was on her way home if she was going to have a meal before the last rehearsal for the concert, but first she wanted to speak to Sally. Much to Angela’s surprise, Sally had helped Alice get ready for her wedding, and although she hadn’t smiled much during the reception, she’d made the effort to go and that must surely show she was improving.
She thought about Mark as she sat in the back of the taxi and let it take her to Sally’s home. Later, she would be seeing Father Joe herself at the rehearsal at the church, but she wanted to change first and have a bite to eat. Perhaps she could persuade Sally to come to the rehearsal.
Pulling up her coat collar against the cold wind, she got out of the taxi and paid the driver off. She could catch a bus easily from here later on. Her heart lifted as she went to the door and it was opened by Sally herself.
‘Angela,’ she cried. ‘I was just getting ready to come to the rehearsal …’
‘That’s great,’ Angela said. ‘I popped round to see if you would help …’
‘Come in and join us for tea. It’s only Spam and bubble and squeak but you’re welcome to stay and have some.’
‘I was going to have Welsh rarebit, because it makes the cheese go further. Muriel was complaining when I saw her earlier today, because the Government cut the cheese ration again last month and there’s never enough,’ Angela said and followed her in. ‘I should love to stay if your mother will have me, though I ought to change …’
‘Of course she will,’ Sally said. ‘Mum likes you now she knows you. Besides, she knows you’re my friend, and you can borrow one of my jumpers for the evening if that will do. My pink twinset if you wish …’
‘I’d be glad to borrow a jumper,’ Angela said. ‘What about that grey one with the pink stripes?’
She laughed, because it felt good to be sharing Sally’s things, just as Sally had shared hers. It put them on a new footing, real friends willing to help each other, and Angela hoped it was a friendship that would last for life. She slipped her arm through Sally’s as she went into the warm kitchen that smelled of delicious frying and home baking.
Sally seemed to have weathered the worst days, and in the weeks since Andrew’s death it seemed she’d managed to come to terms with her grief. It was a new start for her and they must all do what they could to help her.
‘Are you feelin’ a little better?’ Father Joe asked Sister Beatrice. ‘I promised Angela I’d be at the hall to help her this evening and I’d best get off, but not before I know you’re all right.’
‘Of course I am,’ Beatrice said stoutly. ‘Mark Adderbury told us Terry was making progress – but I do feel responsible for his breakdown.’
‘None of it was your fault or Adderbury’s. I’m thinking it was already too late before he came to St Saviour’s. The damage was done long since and in the poor lad’s mind was such terror that nothing could have saved him.’
‘Perhaps,’ Beatrice agreed. ‘Well, you get off, Father Joe. I’ve got some sick children to visit – and then I shall make a tour of the dorms.’
‘I shall call in again soon.’ He finished his drink.
Beatrice sighed as the door closed behind him. Even after some weeks, she still felt the weight of Terry’s confinement heavy on her conscience and knew that it would live with her for a long time, even though it wasn’t her fault.
Shaking her head, she left her offic
e and walked heavily along the corridor. Nancy had a future here, and that was good. Beatrice would do all she could to help her settle. As soon as she was fifteen, she would move her into a room of the Nurses’ Home and give her a job.
Sometimes the staff were excellent and stayed for a long time, at others they came and went. Alice had married and that was a good thing; it meant she had not needed to dismiss the girl when she began to show signs of her pregnancy. It was ridiculous that a ring on the third finger of her left hand should make her respectable, but that was the way things worked for young women. Perhaps one day it would change but Beatrice doubted it would be just yet. She was so pleased that she hadn’t sacked Alice when Nan first told her, glad she’d given her another chance, and she prayed that Alice’s marriage would be a good one.
Sally was ready to work once more and Beatrice was glad that the young carer had decided to go ahead with her nursing training. She hoped she would return to them at the end and looked forward to seeing her become a nurse.
As for Mark Adderbury, well, she could only pray that he would find happiness in his personal life. He deserved someone warm and loving … and then there was Angela. She was always so efficient, but when she didn’t know she was being observed sorrow was there in her eyes.
Beatrice had known enough personal suffering. She’d put it all behind her when she entered the convent and took her vows, but there were times when she remembered. She didn’t always see eye to eye with Angela, but they rubbed along most of the time. Beatrice had come to terms with the woman’s appointment at St Saviour’s; it freed her to look after the children and the staff and she approved of much of what Angela had suggested.
Entering the isolation ward, she found the lights dimmed and Nurse Paula sitting on the edge of one of the beds, helping a child to drink his milky cocoa. Micky had come out in a rash but Beatrice thought it was just a non-infectious skin complaint. However, she wouldn’t release him to the dorms until she was sure.
Nurse Paula looked up and smiled, taking the empty cup from the child and watching as he settled down.
‘He was feeling a bit thirsty so I made him some cocoa.’
‘Is he running a temperature?’
‘No, he seems fine to me. Most of my patients are doing well and nearly ready to go back to the dorms …’
‘Don’t tempt the fates,’ Beatrice warned. ‘We’ll have a rash of measles or something – and we can do without complications until Staff Nurse Wendy arrives.’
‘I’m happy to do extra shifts until then,’ Paula said. ‘Michelle said she would too – and Anna says she is willing to put in a few extra hours if it will help.’
‘Thank you, all of you,’ Beatrice said, and smiled. ‘I shall be here all evening so just call me if you need me.’
Deciding that she was worrying too much, she continued her round. All was peaceful and quiet, apart from a few snuffles and coughs, the children safe in their beds. Her carers were keeping an eye on things. Beatrice may as well go back to her office and start checking that schedule, but she would put the kettle on first and make a cup of tea.
It had been a hard few weeks one way and another, but she had good people around her. Life must go on and she could only hope that they would have peace at St Saviour’s for the foreseeable future. It was the children that mattered, and as long as she could go on providing a good home for those unfortunate children who needed her, she was content. She had known pain and despair in her own life and because of it she’d sought refuge in the convent. God had had a purpose for her even then, directing her where she could do His work.
Oh yes, she was certain that it had been God’s purpose for her. The thought filled her with exhilaration and all the shadows seemed to lift as she looked forward to the years ahead that she would spend here caring for those in need.
Read on for a sneak peek of the compelling new story featuring the staff and children of St Saviour’s Children’s Home.
The Christmas Orphans will publish in autumn 2016.
‘Wait until I catch you, you little bitch.’ The man’s voice struck terror into the hearts of the two small girls hiding under the stairs. ‘I’ll tan your hide, Sarah, you see if I don’t.’
Samantha squeezed her twin sister’s hand reassuringly but didn’t say a word, because Pa had sharp ears and even the slightest sound might give their whereabouts away. She hardly dared breathe as she heard the sound of doors being opened and slammed shut as their father searched for them. Tears were trickling silently down Sarah’s face when Samantha touched her cheek, knowing that her beloved twin sister was weeping, though not a sound came from her lips. Both of them knew that if Pa found them they would both be beaten, but Sarah would bear the brunt of it because Pa hated her. He blamed her for causing their mother’s death, as she’d been born last and it had taken so long that Ma had been exhausted and died soon after.
Neither of the girls had known their mother, but Pa said she was a saint and, when drunk, accused Sarah of murdering her. Samantha had come quickly and the parents had been gazing fondly on their daughter when Ellie May was gripped with terrible pain once more and this time it had gone on for hours, ending with Sarah’s birth and Ellie lying in an exhausted fever from which she never recovered.
When the girls were little, a woman had come in every day to take care of them and to cook Pa’s meals. She was a pretty woman, sharp when addressing the twins, especially Sarah, and quick with her hand, but whenever their father was around she was all sweetness and light, and he was taken in by her every word. When she said Sarah was awkward, stubborn and rebellious, Pa agreed that she must be kept in check, but he left the chastising to Jeanie.
Although he had drinking bouts every so often, he’d been content enough whilst Jeanie looked after the house and everyone had expected they would marry one day, but just over a year previously, a few days before the twins’ tenth birthday, there had been a quarrel and Jeanie had left them, vowing never to return and swearing that Ernie May was an impossible man. She said he’d taken advantage of her good nature and she wouldn’t put up with it a minute longer – declaring that only she would have had the patience to take care of brats like his, and that she would have no more of it. After that, Pa’s temper had grown worse and he’d taken against his daughters, particularly Sarah, who had caused all his troubles and killed her sainted mother. He wished she’d died at birth and wanted only to be free of his responsibility towards the twins.
Samantha knew all this, because Aunt Jane had told her when she’d visited a week before. Their aunt was a tall thin woman with a sharp face and a hard mouth. Samantha had asked her why Pa hated them so, but Sarah double so, and her aunt told her everything in a voice that felt to Samantha like the lash of a whip. Sarah had merely stared at Aunt Jane, taking very little in as always. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand anything, as Pa and Aunt Jane thought, but she was slow at putting things together in her mind and she couldn’t form the words properly unless Samantha told her how.
‘You should have been an only child,’ Aunt Jane had told Samantha plainly. ‘The other one caused all the trouble by killing your mother. My brother adored his wife and they wanted a child, even though she was always a little fragile. The doctors told her she ought not to have children, because of her weak heart, but she wouldn’t listen – and Ernie could refuse her nothing. All would have been well had that idiot not taken so long to come and killed poor Ellie.’
‘But that wasn’t Sarah’s fault,’ Samantha said feeling protective of her sister. ‘I’m sure Ma wouldn’t have blamed her, if she’d lived.’ In Samantha’s mind her mother was a beautiful angel, and sometimes when Sarah was silently weeping and Samantha was hurting with her twin’s pain, she’d felt the presence of someone warm and loving and believed it was her ma. Sometimes, she felt that their mother was close by, caressing them, and she thought Sarah sensed it too.
‘Ellie was as soft as butter over kids and I dare say she’d have loved her,’ Aunt Jane
said, a bitter twist to her mouth, ‘but she’s gone and Ernie has never been the same since. He drinks because he can’t bear it that she’s gone and he hates Sarah.’
‘It isn’t fair,’ Samantha said. ‘Sarah doesn’t mean to break things but she’s clumsy and it just happens …’
‘Well, I’ve told you why your pa drinks and I’ve made my offer,’ Aunt Jane said, her manner blunt. ‘Your pa doesn’t want either of you and he’s made up his mind to go away to work at sea – and that means you’ll be on your own. I’ll take you in, Samantha, and gladly – but I won’t have her. She should be in a proper home where they take care of girls like that … I could ask at St Saviour’s. I hear Sister Beatrice is a good woman, even though she’s a nun and I can’t abide them as a rule …’
Samantha had looked at her beautiful sister and wondered how her aunt could speak so coldly of a child who was so innocent and lovely. Her soft fair hair framed perfect features and her wide blue eyes were soft, a little vacant and dreamy, but her smile was like sunshine, the light coming from her sometimes so bright that it made her twin blink with its radiance. Samantha knew that, although twins, they weren’t alike; her hair was a darker blonde, her eyes more grey than blue, and they could clash with storm clouds when she was angry – or that’s what Jeanie had told her when Samantha flew into a temper to protect her sister.
Why did her aunt want to put Sarah in a children’s home? It wrenched at Samantha’s heart to think of being separated from the twin she loved and she vowed that she would do anything to keep them together, but she wouldn’t tell her aunt that, because she’d just get angry and tell her she was a fool.
‘There’s nothing wrong with Sarah, she just needs a little patience and kindness, that’s all,’ Samantha said, facing up to her aunt. ‘I’m nearly eleven now. I’ve been helping Sarah to wash and dress, and making supper and breakfast for us all since Jeanie left – and I can look after us both. I shan’t go anywhere that Sarah isn’t welcome.’
