He was so deep in thought he wasn’t aware of the rumbling sound that seemed to make the road on which he walked vibrate. It gradually entered into his consciousness and looking back he could see a great cloud of dust where the mud on the road had been disturbed by many wheels. There was a convoy, an army convoy coming his way.
Cutting across a field, he ran hurriedly to where a secondary road, little more than a track, emerged. He didn’t bother to look either way as he clambered over the hedge and slid down on the other side. The armoured car was almost upon him and he tried to get back up and over the hedge, but because the bank was steep and very slippery after a succession of frosty nights he found himself sliding, unable to gain purchase with his worn shoes, and he was soon out of control, falling inexorably into the path of the vehicle.
The driver stopped the car but not soon enough. Eynon felt a blow and then waves of darkness, but he didn’t quite lose consciousness. He was aware of footsteps crunching towards him. The pain in his head was severe and he felt the unmistakable sensation of blood running down his face.
He came to fully with a voice asking his name and whether he was all right. Then a hand was slapping him gently on his cheek, and he looked up into the rugged features of a man wearing a forage cap. An army uniform appeared below the face and his brain cleared in seconds. He opened his eyes wide and recited his name and army number clearly and confidently.
‘Where are you from, son?’ the man asked.
At this Eynon frowned and looked frightened. ‘I don’t know, sergeant. I can’t remember.’ Then acting for all he was worth, he sat up and began to behave in an agitated manner. ‘I should be back there with – the lorry. It’s gone.’ He repeated the same words several times in a variety of ways, acted confused and recited his name and number again, and was eventually taken back to camp.
There he underwent severe questioning and he told most of the truth, just adding that since the fall from the lorry he had been confused about where he should be and how he could get back there. He hid his excitement. Soon he would be able to receive letters and find out how his brother Ronnie was, and Johnny and Taff.
* * *
On Christmas Eve, two military policemen knocked loudly on the door of Marged’s house and told her that Eynon had been found and was in hospital. ‘Private Eynon William Castle is accused of absconding,’ they told her in their cold indifferent manner. ‘If it is proved, he will be sent to a military prison before being returned to his unit for further punishment.’
Laughing between tears, Marged’s only thought was that he was safe, and that their news was the best Christmas gift she had ever had. Then she sent Beth down to tell Huw. This must surely bring him home.
Christmas Eve brought news for Ronnie too. Their second appeal had been successful. He would be allowed to continue working at the market stall. He and Olive hugged each other and, like Marged, thought this was the best news they could receive now they knew Eynon was safe.
Ronnie handed the letter to Olive and said, ‘Don’t forget to read the last bit.’ He was warned that should his situation be changed, then he had to let them know.
‘That’s all right; we don’t plan a return to the beach next summer, do we?’ Olive spoke the words lightly but she held her breath for Ronnie’s reply.
‘No, love. I think we’ll stay on the stall. There are plenty of Castles and hangers-on to run the rest of it, eh?’
Olive thought she couldn’t be happier. She had found her niche and was sharing it with Ronnie.
* * *
Christmas morning was the strangest one Beth could remember. Their father was still sleeping at Bleddyn’s and presumably he would eat Christmas dinner there too. Mam was busy in the kitchen, throwing pots and pans about, the noise and the muttering revealing the extent of her frustration. After unpacking the presents that had been displayed under the tree, except the four awaiting Huw’s return, and those for Audrey and Maude and Myrtle who were coming later with Ronnie and Olive, Beth suggested a walk.
‘If you aren’t going too far, I might come with you,’ Lilly said.
‘Call for the girls, they might like to get out for an hour,’ Marged suggested.
‘Why don’t you come too, Mam?’
‘Christmas morning? Don’t be ridiculous, there’s far too much to do!’
‘The chicken is cooking, the pudding’s simmering nicely, it’s too soon for the vegetables and we’ll only be half an hour.’
Marged finally agreed in the hope that Huw would call and find them all out. Dressed in their warmest coats and wearing the new scarves and hats and gloves Marged had given them, the five of them set off through the town, intending to go to the park and feed the ducks, something Myrtle particularly enjoyed.
At the park gates they came face to face with Mrs Downs and her daughter Shirley, who had been on a similar errand, Shirley celebrating one of only two mornings in the year when there were no morning papers to deal with.
Beth was embarrassed, having to speak politely to the girl she suspected of seeing Freddy. Wishing Shirley and her mother a Happy Christmas stuck in her throat.
‘Pity your Freddy couldn’t get home for Christmas, eh?’ Shirley said. ‘Send you a card, did he? I had a big-huge one a week ago.’
‘Kind of him,’ Beth said stiffly.
Although they had all spoken to Mrs Downs, she had said nothing. She was staring at Maude and Myrtle.
The shy girls backed away from her nervously, remembering the woman’s anger when she had chased them out of the shop. She took a step towards them.
‘So you’re Maude and Myrtle,’ she said, and her eyes were filled with pain. ‘Not much like your father, are you?’
From Maude came a deep intake of breath. ‘You know him?’
‘Knew him more like! He’s dead. And it’s all because of your husband, Mrs High and Mighty Castle! He was responsible, your Huw. For that and all the rest!’
It was only then that they realised that the unhappy woman had been drinking.
‘Come on, Mam.’ Shirley put an arm around her mother and tried to lead her away.
‘Please, tell us who he was,’ Maude begged. ‘We want to find our sister-in-law. We might have a brother, see.’
‘What are you talking about? You haven’t got a brother, you stupid girl.’ Pulling away from Shirley, Mrs Downs lurched towards Marged and said, ‘Killed in an accident he was, when your husband got him drunk and left him and that woman of his to find their way home.’
‘What is this to do with Maude and Myrtle?’ Marged asked, looking at Shirley for the answer. Shirley said nothing, concentrating on getting her mother to move away.
Mrs Downs shrugged herself away from her daughter’s grip and said belligerently, ‘He was their father, wasn’t he? Your Huw introduced my husband to Martha Copp, and he left me for her. Even that wasn’t enough. Oh no! No, he left them drunk, in a strange town and they were killed on the road. All down to your husband, Mrs High and Mighty Castle. Proud of him now, are you?’
Shirley apologised and succeeded in guiding her tearful mother away from them. ‘Always bad at Christmastime, she is. It was this time of year that Dad died, see.’
The questions came in a torrent from the girls and Marged tried to answer evasively, unsure of how much of the woman’s outpourings were fact and how much was fiction, a fantasy built over the years to pass the blame on to someone else, excusing her husband for his infidelity and abandonment and making it easier to bear.
When they got back to the house, Marged put the vegetables on, following the routine like an automaton, unaware of what she was doing. When she did remember it was Christmas dinner she was cooking she wondered, as she had no appetite and the others were silently lost in their own thoughts, who was going to bother to eat it.
* * *
In the flat above the paper shop Hetty Downs had calmed down a little. Shirley took the opportunity to learn a few facts before her mother sobered completely and refused to
discuss it.
‘Strange, wasn’t it, Beth finding Maude and Myrtle and then discovering they were Dad’s daughters?’
‘Illegitimate they are. Nothing to do with us. At least your father had the decency not to give them his name.’
‘Decency? What’s decency? Whatever you feel about Dad, they are his children and my half-sisters. I don’t think I can ignore that, Mam.’
‘Just remember that I had to face the shame of living with a man who was unfaithful, who left me for another woman and gave her the children that I was denied. Oh yes, everyone will know and once this gets out – and it will – memories will be uncovered and I’ll have to live it all over again.’
‘I’ll be here, Mam. I’ll help you deal with it.’
Hetty seemed not to hear. ‘How can you think of marrying when you could be facing something like that?’
‘D’you think she called them Carpenter so the secret would be safe?’
‘How do I know how her mind worked?’
‘If so, it might have been to protect you,’ Shirley said, but her mother didn’t answer. Hate was a habit and she wasn’t ready to give up on it yet.
* * *
The girls went several times to the grave of their mother over the Christmas period. Now they knew the truth, they also found the burial plot of Paul Downs, their father. Both of their parents had been killed in December. That seemed more poignant, as they had found him so close to the anniversary.
Maude and Myrtle went with Beth and knocked on the door of Hetty Downs. There were a multitude of questions the girls needed to ask, but Mrs Downs refused to open the door.
‘Is Shirley really our half-sister?’ Myrtle asked.
‘Yes,’ Beth told her. ‘You had a half-sister, not a sister-in-law, so no brother I’m afraid. But when things have settled, I think you might be able to talk to Shirley and learn something about your father.’
* * *
Audrey and Wilf were married quietly in January 1941. They said nothing to Marged. When Wilf’s mother passed away two weeks later, Wilf moved his belongings into the house that had been Moll’s home. The move was accomplished quietly and without fuss, and Wilf’s house was sold in the same way.
Since the revelation about their child had been aired, Wilf had spent more and more time with Audrey. They had arranged for a retired nurse to look after his mother, who by that time no longer knew whether he was there or not, or even who he was. So slowly did the change take place, it wasn’t noticeable enough for Maude or Myrtle to mention it with any degree of importance when he moved in altogether.
Although tradition in the town disapproved of women attending an interment, there were so few mourners that Marged went to Wilf’s mother’s funeral and stood beside Huw and Bleddyn silently, as though they were all strangers. They both knew that they would have to discuss what was happening with regard to the stalls and the café before the new season, but neither of them felt able to make the first move. Huw was still angry and determined that the business should be renamed Castle’s, Marged was equally determined that it remain Piper’s, and Bleddyn thought it politic to stay out of it until the couple had at least reached the stage at which they were willing to discuss the situation without quarrelling. All they did at this stage was repeat recriminations with tedious regularity.
During the time following the funeral of Wilf’s mother, Marged was aware of Audrey spending time helping Wilf to sort out Mrs Thomas’s possessions but took little interest. Time was passing and she was becoming more and more worried about the approaching season.
‘Uncle Wilf is here,’ Myrtle told Marged one afternoon when she called with some shopping.
‘That’s nice,’ Marged said casually. ‘Company for you and your sister as well as Audrey.’
‘Staying for supper, as well, mind,’ Myrtle insisted, but Marged only smiled. She was too wrapped up in worries about what would happen to her and Huw and Piper’s for her to show any concern about her sister.
* * *
Eynon had recovered his health rapidly once he had been taken to the military hospital. The wound on his head which had taken so long to heal had needed a small operation and was now settling down to what he thought would be an interesting scar around which to weave stories to tease his friends and family.
He stuck to his story of being unaware of what had happened to him and where he had been during the months of his absence, and his word was finally accepted. One day he wrote home joyously to tell his family that leave had been granted and he would be home to see them very soon.
Marged immediately began to think about the food she would prepare for him, and insisted that his bedroom was freshly decorated. ‘It’s like Christmas all over again,’ she said as she began to reply to his letter. She thought of all the letters she had written and which had been returned. He would be able to read them now and know just how much they had all missed him. Huw was as excited as she, but he still didn’t return home.
It wasn’t until Audrey invited Marged for supper one day in late January that Marged was finally faced with the fact of her sister’s marriage. She walked into the house just a few doors from her own and was surprised to see balloons decorating the walls and a slab of fruit cake sprinkled with icing sugar on the table, amid sandwiches and pasties, garlands of evergreens and even a few coloured candles.
‘What’s this?’ Marged asked. ‘I haven’t forgotten a birthday, have I?’ She began to smile but the movement froze on her face as Huw stood up from the couch and stared at her.
‘A celebration, Marged. A celebration of a wedding that should have taken place years ago.’ He picked up a glass containing a small serving of port. ‘A toast, to Audrey and Wilf, Mr and Mrs Wilfred Thomas. Married a couple of weeks ago. Aren’t you going to congratulate them?’
The room went out of focus as a shocked Marged took in what he was telling her.
‘Married? You and Wilf are married? But when did this happen? Why wasn’t I told?’
‘We wanted it to be our day, no one else’s,’ Audrey said quietly.
‘We had to wait a very long time for it,’ Wilf added, ‘and we were determined to make it special.’
Marged felt anger rising. She looked around the room for a sign of support but although all the family were there, including Bleddyn, Evelyn and Hannah with Josie and Marie, no one looked anything but delighted. Only Huw’s face showed disapproval but that was for her, a silent warning for her not to spoil this moment.
To hide her face and give herself a chance to recover, she hugged her sister and wished her luck. Then the room was filled with noise and laughter as everyone relaxed now the possibility of argument was gone. The food was dispensed by Beth and Lilly, helped by the kindly Hannah.
Later, Marged was glad to immerse herself in clearing up and washing dishes, away from the rest, remembering the day she had told her sister’s secret and persuaded her mother that she should work at the beach café and Audrey should be punished for the shame she had brought on them by being made to run Moll’s house, away from the fun and prying eyes.
Marged had always behaved herself and didn’t see why she should be the one stuck at home doing housework. Now there was a chance to put that right.
As they were about to leave, Audrey took out the wedding photographs. She had worn a dress made by Hannah from delicate lace and lawn which had been dyed a pale primrose colour and decorated with embroidery in pearls and gold thread. Marged stared at her sister’s smiling face. She was too old to be a sparkling bride yet she did sparkle. And Wilf made a handsome enough bridegroom. Then, as she was about to remark on the charming picture they made, she looked at the rest of the group and gasped.
Beth was bridesmaid, Ronnie was best man. Huw was there too. She later discovered he had given the bride away. They all knew but had kept it from her. Her gentle sister had taken her revenge.
‘Why? Why didn’t you tell me?’ she asked, her voice low with pain.
‘You spoilt ever
ything for them once; we were determined you wouldn’t do it again,’ Huw said. ‘Ambition is all right, but not when it makes one person consider themselves more important than the rest.’
‘I didn’t see why I should have to to run the house. I wanted to work on the beach,’ Marged explained. She realised how bad the words sounded as soon as they were spoken.
‘So did I,’ Audrey said softly. ‘But only one of us could. One had to stay home.’
‘And you made sure it wasn’t you,’ Huw said to Marged, bitterly.
Marged kissed her sister and Wilf, who had remained silent throughout. ‘I’ll go now,’ she said, forcing a smile. ‘I’ll come and see you tomorrow, shall I? We can talk about what we all want to do.’
‘I don’t want to change anything,’ Audrey said. ‘Not now. It’s too late. Wilf and I will live here and do what’s necessary to help. I’ll organise the rock and sweet shop. Alice will probably help me again. Glad to get away from that foul-tempered father of hers she is.’
‘I admire a strong woman,’ Huw told Marged in one of their rare quiet moments together, ‘and there’s no doubt a strong woman was needed run Piper’s. But there’s never any need for greed and ruthlessness, and determination to get your own way whatever the cost.’
‘I’m not like that!’ she said horrified. ‘Huw, you can’t see me like that?’
‘You were willingly led by Moll, weren’t you? She pulled all the switches and made certain we understood who was boss, and she could always rely on you for support. But it can’t go on. Not now. It’s caused too much unhappiness.’
Marged had to agree. ‘I was young, outraged morality was a wonderful feeling. At the time Mam was very convincing.’
‘That was her biggest and most dangerous fault. She was always convincing.’
Holidays at Home Omnibus Page 59
