Sing As We Go

by Margaret Dickinson

  Jemima waved her hand dismissively. ‘I’m not one of the gossips. I do know a little more than you might think and I am aware that it is not all your fault. However, that said, I am not in agreement with this flat you have in town. If you set Kathy up there, it would be announcing to the world that she’s your mistress—’

  ‘But I’m not,’ Kathy declared hotly.

  ‘I know that,’ Jemima answered patiently. ‘But I’m afraid the gossips wouldn’t believe it. They would have a field day and – to be honest – who could blame them? But it’ll be very different if you meet here, under my roof.’

  Tony and Kathy exchanged an amused glance, realizing that no one would dare to question their conduct if it had Miss Robinson’s blessing.

  ‘That’s very kind of you and, yes, I do see what you mean about the flat—’ Tony pulled a wry face. ‘But it was all I could think of. You see – ’ now he turned to Kathy as if this concerned her more than Jemima, yet he spoke freely in front of the older woman, wanting her to understand too – ‘you see, I can’t – I daren’t—’

  Kathy touched his hand in a tender gesture. ‘I know,’ she said sympathetically. ‘It must be so difficult for you with your mother being an invalid.’

  Tony squeezed her hand and murmured, ‘You’re sweet to be so understanding. Not – not everyone is.’

  Though Jemima said nothing, Kathy heard her give a disbelieving sniff.

  Now Kathy too began to scour the daily papers for news of the progress of the war. Poland had been overcome, but the expected onslaught on Britain did not happen. Instead, every home was bombarded with public information leaflets and lists of regulations.

  ‘But it’s better than bombs,’ Kathy remarked, trying to sort out which list of dos and don’ts applied to them.

  ‘They’ll come soon enough,’ Jemima replied tartly, sifting through the leaflets. ‘Identity cards. We’ve got to carry identity cards and gasmasks at all times. Even children.

  ‘Did you know that a lot of children from Leeds have been evacuated to the Lincoln area already? They arrived with luggage labels attached to their coats. Poor little mites.’

  Jemima frowned. ‘Yes, I had heard. I’d like to help, but with us both out all day, it’s hardly suitable for us to have a young child, is it? I expect Betty will be the first in the queue to take a little one though.’ Her face softened. ‘A real mother is Betty,’ she whispered. ‘Bless her.’

  Kathy stared at her. It was the first time she’d seen Jemima sentimental, but the next moment the older woman had shaken herself out of her daydreaming and was briskly asking Kathy to hold the tape while she measured the windows for blackout curtains.

  ‘Mr Hammond has instructed that all the staff can have their curtains made up for free and they can buy the material at cost price. The workroom’s going to be busy, but he’s certainly setting a good example. I think he’s already looking for more staff for the dressmaking department.’

  ‘Mm,’ Kathy murmured, holding the end of the tape measure. ‘I wish I’d leant to sew. It’s going to be useful.’

  ‘I have to admit, it’s not one of my skills,’ Jemima said, stepping down from the stool and writing figures on a piece of paper. She straightened up. ‘Your turn to climb up. But we’re lucky, you know,’ she went on as Kathy reached up to the top of the curtain rail. ‘At least we can get any sewing work done at the store.’

  ‘Stella was saying that the fabric department has been so busy the last few days, some of the shelves are empty. Mind you, we’ve been quiet. I expect buying a new hat is the last thing on people’s minds at the moment.’

  ‘They’ll drift back. Things will settle down into a routine soon enough and folks will start to act normally again.’

  ‘You think so?’ Kathy was doubtful. ‘I don’t think things will ever feel “normal” again.’

  Now Jemima did not answer.

  ‘Will you have to go?’ It was the question Kathy was asking continually.

  ‘Not yet,’ Tony tried to reassure her. He smiled and pulled a wry face. ‘And if my mother has anything to do with it, I shan’t be going at all.’

  ‘Why? What can she do?’

  ‘Nothing. At least, I don’t think so, but she’s quite determined that her precious boy won’t have to go and fight.’

  Kathy smiled and linked her arm through his as they walked down High Street towards their favourite hotel restaurant, where Tony had booked a table. Whatever the tales were about his mother, if she could pull strings to keep Tony safely out of the war, then she had Kathy’s whole-hearted approval.

  Surprisingly, the place was full.

  ‘It’s a good job I booked or we wouldn’t have got in, by the look of it. Ah, good evening, Gregson,’ he added as the head waiter hurried forward to hold out Kathy’s chair for her and then to hand them each a menu. ‘You seem busy tonight.’

  ‘We certainly are, sir.’ He leaned forward as if imparting a confidence. ‘I think everyone’s determined to make the most of the time they have together.’

  Kathy glanced round. Many of the diners were young couples like themselves, who at any moment might be caught up in the conflict and parted for goodness knew how long. Perhaps forever. Kathy shuddered and sent up a silent prayer that Tony’s mother would start pulling strings right now!

  They were halfway through their main course when Gregson approached the table, an expression of apology on his face.

  ‘There’s a telephone call for you, sir.’

  Tony sighed, but got up at once. ‘Sorry, darling. I won’t be a minute . . .’

  Kathy, now knowing what to expect, carried on with her meal. She had finished eating by the time Tony returned to the table, her arms folded, determination on her face.

  He didn’t sit down, but hovered near her. ‘I’m sorry, darling, but—’

  ‘Tony, sit down and finish your dinner. At least this course,’ she added, softening just a little.

  ‘I really can’t—’ he began.

  ‘Yes, you can,’ Kathy said firmly. ‘Five minutes isn’t going to make any difference.’

  ‘It might. Mother thinks she’s having a heart attack and Father’s at work. I have to go, Kathy, really I do.’

  Kathy rose. ‘Then I’m coming with you.’

  Tony stared at her, consternation on his face. ‘Oh – well now – I don’t think—’

  ‘I’m coming.’ And for once, Kathy would not take ‘no’ for an answer.

  They reached the house where Tony lived with his parents in less than fifteen minutes.

  ‘Please, Kathy, stay in the car. It’s – it’s not the right moment for you to meet her. It – it’ll upset her even more.’

  ‘Why?’ Kathy asked, feigning innocence.

  ‘She might be really bad. I might have to call the doctor – or – or even an ambulance. Please, Kathy – please stay in the car at least until I see how bad she is.’

  Kathy sighed. If the woman really was ill, she didn’t want to be guilty of making her worse. And Tony had his ‘little boy look’ on his face. ‘All right then, but if there’s anything I can do to help . . .’

  ‘Yes, yes, of course,’ Tony said quickly and hurried away into the house.

  He was gone a long time. So long in fact that it began to get dark. And still Kathy waited, but now she was growing impatient. Surely Tony hadn’t forgotten that she was sitting out here?

  A car drew up in front of Tony’s. A well-built man with broad shoulders, a bald head and glasses eased his way out from behind the driving seat and reached into the back seat for his medical bag. Kathy watched as he went up the garden path of the Kendalls’ home and rang the bell. Almost immediately, the door opened and she saw Tony usher him into the house. As he was about to close the door again, Tony glanced down the path and saw her. For a brief moment he hesitated, seeming unsure, but then, leaving the door half-open, he loped down the path and came to the passenger’s window.

  ‘Darling, I’m so sorry. You’re still
here. I thought you might have gone by now. Let me call you a taxi. Mother’s in a dreadful state. I’ve had to call the doctor . . .’

  ‘I saw,’ Kathy replied shortly, trying to keep the impatience out of her tone, but failing. She bit her lip, feeling suddenly guilty at being so selfish. ‘I’m so sorry your mother is ill. Is there anything I can do?’

  Tony shook his head. The worried look never left his face and Kathy could see that he was anxious to get back into the house. ‘Let me call you a taxi,’ he said again.

  ‘It’s all right,’ Kathy said, climbing out of the car. ‘I’ll walk home. It’s a nice evening.’

  ‘But it’s right the other side of the city. It’s almost dark and now we’ve got these blackout regulations, I don’t like you walking all that way on your own.’

  ‘It’s a clear night. I’ll see enough by the moonlight. We’re used to black nights in the country. It won’t bother me.’

  He smiled wryly as he closed the car door. ‘A beautiful romantic evening and I can’t even walk my girl home. I truly am sorry, darling.’

  She touched his face gently. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said softly and kissed his cheek. ‘Go back to your mother. I do hope she’ll be better soon.’

  ‘I know what’s caused it,’ Tony blurted out.

  You being out with your girlfriend, Kathy thought, but aloud she said, ‘Oh?’

  ‘The young man next door’s been called up. His mother’s in a dreadful state. She came round to see Mother. I do wish she hadn’t. She should know how delicate Mother is.’

  Kathy almost snapped: And what about the poor woman whose son has gone to war? Are none of you sparing a thought for her? Automatically, Kathy’s glance went to the next-door house. It was all in darkness. In mourning already, it seemed, though she knew it was really because the occupants were following blackout regulations.

  She pulled in a deep breath and once again tried to see it from Mrs Kendall’s view. Although she didn’t know the woman – yet – she could imagine a gentle, delicate, doll-like creature for whom life in general and this dreadful war in particular was just too much for her to bear.

  She pictured her as an ageing Dora out of David Copperfield, a sweet-natured woman on whom all her family doted. With this picture in her mind, Kathy could find it in her heart to forgive the woman who appeared so selfish. Perhaps it wasn’t all her fault. Perhaps . . .

  ‘I must go in,’ Tony said, kissing Kathy’s cheek swiftly and squeezing her hand. ‘Do take care, darling.’

  The haunted look on his face was genuine. He was torn between the two women in his life. Anxious not to add to his worries, Kathy smiled and reassured him. ‘I’ll be fine.’

  With that they parted, she to walk through the dark streets of the blacked-out city, he to rush indoors to care for his mother. For a moment she lingered, watching until the door closed behind him. Then she sighed and turned away. As she did so, she cannoned into a man walking up the street.

  ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you,’ she cried.

  The man reached out and caught hold of her steadying her. ‘That’s all right, miss. No harm done.’

  Peering at him through the poor light, she could see that he was dressed in workman’s clothes and heavy boots, but his voice was deep and gentle. He nodded to her as he released his hold on her and stepped back. Touching his cap he moved away, but to her surprise, instead of walking on further up the street, he turned into the gate of the Kendalls’ house.

  Kathy couldn’t move. Her curiosity held her there as she saw him go in at the side gate leading round to the back of the house. The gate closed behind him and his shadowy figure in the moonlight was lost to her. For a few moments longer, Kathy stood staring at the house before turning away and walking slowly down the street, her thoughts in a whirl.

  Could the man she had bumped into have been Tony’s father?

  Sixteen

  ‘You’re home early,’ Jemima greeted her as she stepped into the comparatively bright light of the kitchen. ‘Oh, don’t tell me! His mother’s been taken ill. Again!’

  Kathy sighed as she slumped into the easy chair opposite Jemima.

  ‘Got it in one!’ she murmured, still half lost in thought. After a moment she asked, ‘Aunt Jemima, do you know Tony’s parents?’

  ‘No, not really. I know a bit about them. And I do remember seeing his mother in the store years ago when she was a young woman and I was a junior. And I do believe – ’ she pondered a moment – ‘Tony’s father has been in the store a few times. But his mother never comes in any more. Not now. She rarely goes out anywhere – so I believe.’

  ‘What’s his father like?’

  Jemima wrinkled her forehead. ‘An older version of Tony. Dark hair – going grey now.’ She snorted in an unladylike manner that was so out of character for Miss Jemima Robinson that Kathy almost laughed aloud. ‘But you can’t wonder at it with that wife of his,’ Jemima went on. ‘But he strikes me as being a nice sort of chap. Quiet. Ordinary, just like you and me, really. Not at all the sort of chap you’d have thought Beatrice Charlesworth would have married. Oh dear me no. Far too ordinary for her.’

  ‘She must have fallen in love with him.’

  ‘Maybe.’ Jemima sounded doubtful.

  ‘Are you trying to say she married beneath her?’

  Jemima frowned. ‘It’s all a bit of a mystery really. Mr Anthony Hammond took over the store from the people who started it. He continued to build it up and obviously he’s become quite well to do. Deservedly so, for he’s a hard worker and a clever businessman. He’s Beatrice Kendall’s uncle – her mother’s brother. The Charlesworths were actually quite ordinary, but rumour had it that Beatrice was spoiled rotten by her doting uncle. Mr Anthony only had one son – Mr James. No daughter, you see. And he lavished attention and gifts on his niece instead. I believe he even paid for her to go to a private girls’ school.’

  How ironic, Kathy thought. My father longed for a son and Mr Anthony Hammond craved a daughter. Aloud, she said, ‘So how come she didn’t marry someone – well – more top drawer?’

  ‘That’s the mystery.’

  ‘Then she must have loved George Kendall.’ Kathy, so in love herself, was adamant. But Jemima merely smiled and conceded softly, ‘Perhaps. She wouldn’t be the first to fall for someone totally unsuitable.’

  Kathy said nothing, but she was left wondering if Jemima still felt that her romance with Tony Kendall was doomed for one reason – or another.

  ‘I think I might have bumped into his father.’ Swiftly she explained how she had come to be outside the Kendalls’ house and she described the man she had seen.

  ‘That certainly sounds like him. He’d’ve been coming home from his shift. He works at an engineering firm. Poor George.’ Jemima sighed and murmured again, ‘Poor, poor George.’

  The following day, Kathy heard nothing from Tony all morning. At her lunch break, she headed for his office without waiting for his summons. She knocked, then entered the outer office.

  ‘Good morning, Miss Foster. Is Mr Kendall in today?’

  ‘Oh – er – yes, good morning, Miss Burton. Yes, yes. I believe he is. Er – please would you sit down a moment while I—’

  Kathy smiled. She had been about to go straight into Tony’s office. Why shouldn’t she? Everyone knew they were practically engaged now. But she was amused by his secretary’s guardianship and she didn’t want to offend the kindly little woman. So she sat down meekly and folded her hands in her lap to wait.

  Miss Foster returned. ‘He’s engaged on the telephone at the moment. If you wouldn’t mind waiting a moment, then you may go in.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Foster.’

  Miss Foster returned to her desk and continued to tot up a long line of figures. It was so quiet in the outer office, the only noise the plopping of the gas fire, that they both heard the ‘ting’ of the telephone receiver being replaced in the inner room.

  Miss Foster quickly scribbled a figure
and then looked up. ‘You may go in now, Miss Burton.’

  ‘How is she? How is your mother?’ Kathy asked as soon as she’d entered his office and closed the door behind her.

  Tony stood up and came around the desk to take her in his arms. ‘Not too bad. She’s resting. Dad’s stayed off work today to look after her and I’m taking tomorrow off. Darling, I’m so sorry our date was spoilt and, the way things are at the moment, I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again.’

  Kathy swallowed her disappointment and smiled bravely. ‘That’s all right. I understand. I just hope she’ll soon feel better.’

  ‘You’re very sweet. Not many girls would be as understanding as you are.’

  ‘It’s not your fault.’ She put the palms of her hands flat on his chest and smiled up into his face. ‘But just promise me one thing.’

  ‘I will if I can. You know that.’

  ‘When she’s well again, you’ll take me home to meet both your parents.’

  A look of horror flitted across Tony’s face. ‘Oh, I don’t know about that. She – she doesn’t like visitors.’

  Kathy put her head on one side and regarded him steadily. ‘What you mean is – ’ she spoke softly, but now there was a note of firmness in her tone – ‘that she won’t want to meet me. Your girlfriend.’

  Tony closed his eyes and groaned. ‘You’ve heard the gossip about Muriel and me, I suppose? You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.’

  Determined not to tell any more outright lies, instead Kathy said carefully, ‘Then tell me what happened with Muriel.’

  ‘I hate talking about this. It – it doesn’t seem right.’

  ‘I promise I won’t say anything to her. I wouldn’t be so cruel. I – I think she still has feelings for you.’

  His mouth hardened. ‘I doubt it. And I certainly don’t feel anything for her now. She ended our – our friendship suddenly and without any explanation. All she would say was that “it would be for the best”. I didn’t understand it. I still don’t.’