With a Kiss and a Prayer (The Cliffehaven Series)

by Ellie Dean

  ‘You’re going to be late for work,’ he interjected, his blue eyes twinkling.

  ‘Oh, lawks, so I am,’ she gasped, grabbing Daisy’s coat.

  ‘Before you go rushing off, there are things I need to tell you.’

  ‘What things?’ She paused in the act of getting Daisy into her coat and shoes, a prickle of fear threading down her spine.

  ‘I’ll be visiting Danuta in the mornings and for a short while each afternoon, and I’ve arranged for someone to drive you up there at the end of your shift. As Rita and Ivy are taking over the cooking and so on, there’s no need for you to be rushing about in a tizzy and worrying about everything.’

  Peggy had been so sure it would be something bad he had to tell her that she slumped in relief that Ron at last seemed to have turned over a new leaf and was being more thoughtful and caring than before Rosie’s departure. ‘But what about Daisy?’ she fretted. ‘Danuta isn’t well enough for me to take her up there.’

  ‘Fred’s Lil will mind her, so you’re to stop worrying, d’you hear?’

  ‘Oh, dear,’ she muttered. ‘I hate causing so much bother to everyone.’

  ‘Go to work, Peg,’ he said firmly.

  Peggy and Sarah left the house together and parted company at the gate. Peggy felt as if she had wings on her heels as she and Daisy walked down Camden Road, and it seemed the happy mood had infected everyone, for there were smiles and waves and even laughter in the endless queues outside the shops. She cheerfully replied to the greetings, and waved to Fred the Fish and Alf the butcher as she passed on her way to the factory.

  Peggy left Daisy in the nursery and hurried into the factory to find that the happy atmosphere had lightened the usual dull Monday morning feeling, making the chatter and laughter louder as the wireless blared out.

  ‘It’s wonderful news, isn’t it?’ enthused a radiant Gracie as they hung up their coats. ‘Today Rome – tomorrow Paris!’

  ‘That’s what I said,’ replied Peggy, ‘but Ron doesn’t seem to think it will be that easy.’

  ‘It’ll be easy if we get on with this blessed invasion,’ grumbled Gracie. ‘Once our troops are in France, Hitler won’t stand a chance of keeping Paris.’

  ‘Oh, I do so hope you’re right.’ Peggy pushed through the cloakroom door and into the main body of the factory to be met by a wall of noise from the machines, the wireless and the loud chatter and laughter of the machinists, cutters, loaders and warehouse staff.

  ‘We’ll talk at break time,’ shouted Gracie. ‘Solly’s promised everyone an iced bun as a treat to celebrate the victory.’

  Peggy grinned and nodded before quickly heading for her machine. The thought that this war might soon be over battled with the delicious anticipation of an iced bun – the likes of which hadn’t been seen at Beach View for years – and she sat down with a will to begin her shift.

  Whether it was the happy atmosphere, the rising hope for the future or the enticement of that bun, it seemed that everyone worked with a greater will that morning. The buns duly arrived from Solly’s cousin’s bakery in time for elevenses, still warm from the oven, the icing sweet and deliciously gooey.

  Every woman gazed in awe at the heavily laden baker’s trays and almost reverently chose a bun and took as long as they could to savour every crumb as a beaming Solly took over the vast canteen urn and saluted the victory with a mug of tea.

  The excitement of the day had dwindled, the sweetness only just still lingering in her mouth as Peggy finally cut the thread on her twenty-fifth pair of bell-bottoms and sank back in her chair to ease her stiff neck and shoulders. She’d worked like a Trojan and the hours had flown, but it would be several more hours before she could really rest and take in the enormous events of the day.

  ‘Do you have time for a cuppa before you go up to the hospital, Peg?’ asked Gracie, who’d heard all about Peggy’s one-time lodger and her terrible injuries caused by bomb-blast during their lunch break.

  ‘I would have loved a cuppa, but someone’s picking me up, so I daren’t keep them waiting.’ She gave Gracie a quick hug, waved goodbye to the other girls and hurried off to fetch Daisy from the nursery.

  Fred’s van was waiting outside the gates, and she smiled at Lil as she approached. Lil was a tiny woman, born in the East End, and very protective of her Fred, who was a bit inclined to flirt – quite harmlessly as it happened – with his female customers. She put up with most things, like his gambling and fondness for a pint or three, but woe betide any woman who dared to overstep the mark.

  Lil could often be quite fierce but she had a heart of gold, and despite the pair of them being in their sixties, they’d taken in four little brothers who’d been orphaned during a particularly nasty bombing raid. Fred was a big, bluff man who adored her, but he was also terrified of her finding out some of the things he and Ron had got up to over the years – a misguided fear, for Lil knew everything and only chose to use that knowledge when it suited her.

  Lil climbed out of the van and hugged Peggy before picking up Daisy and making her laugh as she whirled her around. ‘Come on, gel,’ she said, climbing back into the van. ‘You sit on Aunty Lil’s lap for the ride home. And when we gets there you got the boys to play with, and some lovely fish for yer tea.’

  Peggy frowned. ‘Er, I thought Fred was driving me up to the Memorial?’

  Lil laughed and shook her bottle-blonde curls. ‘Lawks, love, you don’t wanna be going visiting in this smelly old thing.’ She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. ‘You got a posh ride and won’t end up stinking of fish.’

  Peggy looked behind the van and saw a small black Austin purring at the kerb. The low sun was glinting on the windscreen, so she couldn’t see the driver until she climbed out.

  ‘Dolly! What on earth are you doing here?’

  Dolly grinned. ‘I bumped into Ron, and he told me about the girl and your need of a lift each evening. So here I am – your chauffeur at your service.’

  Dolly gave her a tremendous hug and Peggy caught a hint of expensive perfume.

  ‘I’m actually down here to see how Pauline is after she got my letter and didn’t reply to it,’ Dolly said. ‘She all but showed me the door,’ she added with a delicate grimace, ‘but she’ll find she can’t get rid of me that easily.’

  ‘Good for you,’ said Peggy, climbing in beside her, delighted but rather flabbergasted by her friend’s unexpected appearance. ‘She came to see me and was thoroughly beside herself about it all.’

  She regarded Dolly who, as usual, looked younger than her years, was beautifully dressed, and radiant with happiness. ‘It’s a shame she can’t see beyond her nose,’ Peggy said, ‘because it’s so obvious you’re blossoming now you and Felix can be together.’

  Dolly chuckled. ‘I feel about sixteen,’ she admitted, ‘and with Carol being so very sweet and forgiving about everything, I count myself one of the luckiest women in England – if not the world.’

  She switched on the engine and checked her appearance in the rear-view mirror. ‘It’s ripping news about Rome, isn’t it? Such a romantic city,’ she sighed before grinning impishly. ‘But the men are simply outrageous, pinching one’s bottom at every opportunity. I remember I ended up so bruised, I could barely sit down for a week.’

  Peggy laughed. ‘You’re such a tonic, Dolly. I do wish you weren’t living so far away.’

  ‘Well, I’ll be here for a while, so we must make the most of it while we can.’ Dolly engaged the gears and shot off down Camden Road to screech around the corner into the High Street, scattering a gossiping group of women who were ambling across the road.

  ‘Dolly, you’re going to kill someone in a minute,’ warned Peggy, holding onto her seat for dear life as Dolly swerved to avoid a drunk who’d staggered out of the Crown and into the road. ‘Please slow down. I’d like to get there in one piece.’

  Dolly slowed for about three seconds, and having driven over the humpback bridge, put her foot on the accelerator again. ‘Ron tol
d me about the girl you’re visiting. It’s terrible what damage can be done during a bombing raid. It sounds to me as if she was very lucky to escape with her life.’

  ‘It’ll take a long time for her to recover,’ Peggy replied, still holding onto her seat as they went roaring up the steep hill towards the hospital. ‘But she’ll have a home with me when she does.’

  ‘Poor child,’ murmured Dolly around the cigarette she was lighting with one hand while she steered with the other. ‘I understand she has no one left of her family back in Poland.’

  ‘They were killed before she came over here looking for her brother.’

  ‘Well, she’s lucky to have you, Peggy. You’re a wonderful woman and a brilliant mother – far better than I ever could be.’

  Peggy didn’t know how to answer, so said nothing. Dolly adored Carol and Pauline, but she’d left them with her parents while they were still very young, realising she’d be hopeless at providing the best and most stable upbringing. Dolly was an enigma, for she was bright, intelligent and probably the best, most discreet friend Peggy had. But no one knew anything about her life, and somehow, Peggy couldn’t imagine her settling into quiet retirement down in Bournemouth.

  ‘How’s life in Bournemouth?’ Peggy asked.

  ‘Boring,’ said Dolly, flicking cigarette ash out of the quarter-light. ‘But I do have some fun tweaking the noses of those dreadfully snobbish women at the WI.’

  ‘I can imagine,’ said Peggy dryly. ‘Whatever made you want to join them in the first place?’

  Dolly shrugged. ‘I thought I should do my bit – and I have learnt how to make jam and sponge cake.’

  Peggy laughed. ‘Good grief,’ she spluttered. ‘I never thought I’d hear the like.’

  Dolly chuckled. ‘I didn’t say I was any good at it – but I gave it a go just to show willing.’ She drove at speed through the hospital entrance and screeched to a halt on the gravel drive, sending a splatter of small stones across a nearby flower bed.

  ‘I’ll wait here for you – perhaps have a wander about to see what the place is like. Take your time, Peggy, I’m in no rush to get back to my sour-faced daughter and poor bewildered Frank.’

  ‘You could come in and meet Danuta if you’d like,’ offered Peggy.

  Dolly shook her head. ‘Perhaps when she’s feeling better. There’s nothing worse than having to be polite to strangers when one doesn’t feel like being any such thing.’

  Peggy hurried off and was soon entering Danuta’s quiet room. The girl was sleeping, and Nurse Hopkins was sitting by the bed making notes in a folder.

  ‘Hello, Susan,’ Peggy whispered. ‘How’s our girl doing today?’

  ‘She had a restless night, Peggy, so the doctor ordered some stronger medication. I doubt she’ll wake for some hours, but I’m sure that if you sit and talk to her, she’ll know you’re there.’

  Peggy thanked her and sat down as Susan Hopkins quietly left the room. Danuta was breathing evenly, and her skin felt cool, so she didn’t have a temperature, and it seemed that any infection was being fought by the strong medication that was slowly being fed into her by tubes.

  ‘I expect you’ve already heard from Ron, but there’s been some wonderful news today,’ Peggy began softly. ‘Rome has fallen to the Allies. Everyone is expecting the invasion to come any day now, and then we will take Paris and drive on into the heart of Berlin.’

  Peggy felt very emotional as she touched the girl’s bandaged hand. ‘And it’s all because of the wonderfully brave things you and people like you have been doing over there, my darling. I’m so very proud of you.’

  Danuta’s fingers twitched beneath Peggy’s gentle hand, and that was when she knew the girl could hear and understand her despite the heavy medication. Encouraged, she carried on talking for almost an hour before kissing her goodnight and returning to Dolly.

  15

  Ron dodged out of the way and softly but firmly booted Adolf up his tail feathers as he tried to attack him for the second time. Closing the gate on the enclosure, he exchanged glares with the vicious old tyrant.

  ‘To be sure you were named well,’ Ron muttered. ‘And once we’ve got your namesake defeated, I shall take great pleasure in wringing your ruddy neck.’

  Adolf’s coxcomb bristled and he strutted off before flying onto the roof of the coop and emitting a series of loud, defiant crows as his hens pecked greedily at the food Ron had scattered on the ground.

  Ron clasped the bowl of eggs – there were only three today – and looked up at the massed flight of Flying Fortresses, Lancaster bombers, Tornadoes, Spitfires and Hurricanes. They’d been thundering overhead since before dawn with a definite air of purpose and in greater numbers than usual, their fuselages unusually painted with broad stripes; wing and tail lights blazing even though it was daylight.

  Something was definitely up. Ron could feel it in his bones, and with a growing sense of excitement he went indoors, switched on the wireless and then hurried out to the front of the house and along the cul-de-sac until he had a clear view down the hill to the Channel.

  The sight took his breath away and made his heart thud with pride. Bombers, heavy transporters, fighters and even gliders were amassing from all directions and heading towards the French coast, their vast numbers stretching across the sky as far as the eye could see, lights flashing as they blocked out the sun and cast deep shadows over the calm Channel waters.

  Thousands of battleships, corvettes, motor gun boats, motor torpedo boats, minesweepers, cruisers, tank and troop carriers were dark smudges out on the horizon, and the echoes of heavy bombardment carried across the Channel as bright flashes of gunfire were followed by oily plumes of black smoke rising above the distant shore.

  ‘It’s started, Harvey,’ he breathed, stroking the dog’s head. ‘It really has begun.’

  Harvey barked and wagged his tail, clearly confused by Ron’s odd behaviour at this time of the morning, but he seemed to catch his excitement, and his barking became more enthusiastic as he chased after Ron, who’d raced up the steps and back into the house.

  ‘It’s started,’ Ron yelled, banging on Peggy’s door before racing up the stairs to tell the others. ‘It’s started! The invasion’s on!’

  As the girls came onto the landing and hurried downstairs to join Peggy and Daisy, who were now standing on the front step, Ron banged on Cordelia’s door. ‘I hope you’re decent, old girl, because I’m coming in.’

  Cordelia was in her dressing gown and slippers, and after her initial shock, looked at Ron askance. ‘What do you think you’re doing in here? Get out at once.’

  Ron snatched up her hearing aid from the bedside chest and thrust it at her. ‘It’s the invasion,’ he yelled. ‘Hurry up, or you’ll miss it.’

  ‘I can’t hear a word you’re saying,’ she retorted, fiddling with the hearing aid and almost dropping it.

  ‘God love you, woman, you’ll be the death of me,’ Ron groaned, sweeping her up into his arms and hurrying down the stairs.

  ‘Put me down this instant, you great bully,’ Cordelia protested, wriggling furiously in his arms. ‘This is most indecent, and I will not stand for it, do you hear?’

  ‘To be sure ’tis not me that’s deaf,’ he grumbled good-naturedly, carrying her across the hall and out to join the others on the front step.

  Cordelia stopped struggling. ‘What is it? What’s happened?’ she asked, her voice rising in excitement.

  Ron carried her down the steps and along the cul-de-sac before gently setting her on her feet. ‘Look,’ he said, pointing to the skies and the plumes of smoke rising beyond the mass of warships.

  ‘Oh,’ she breathed through her fingers. ‘Oh, my goodness. So it’s happening at last.’ She turned to Ron, still trying to get the volume on her hearing aid at a comfortable level. ‘Why didn’t you tell me instead of grabbing hold of me in that rough fashion?’

  Ron wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. ‘You know you enjoyed it, so stop complaining and
watch the show.’

  Cordelia huffed and drew the collar of her dressing gown tightly to her chin, but she soon forgot to be cross as she stood with the others to watch in awe as the invasion unfolded before them.

  ‘I hope Fran isn’t trapped in theatre and missing all this,’ shouted a radiant Peggy above the noise. ‘It’s a terrific show.’

  ‘I expect everyone’s watching who can,’ replied Ron, noting the swarms of people who’d gathered on the long hill that went down to the promenade, and those who were leaning out of their windows to wave flags and shout encouragement to the airmen.

  ‘This is history in the making, Peggy, and an opportunity not to be missed.’

  Peggy eased Daisy off her hip and the little girl clapped her hands and danced about in delight, laughing and waving to the planes while Harvey, not to be outdone, dashed back and forth barking excitedly.

  They stood there in their nightclothes watching for almost half an hour, and then Peggy glanced at her watch. ‘The news will be on soon,’ she said. ‘Let’s go in to hear what’s happening over there.’

  Ron helped Cordelia up the steps and they trooped indoors. The wireless had warmed up, but music was playing, so Peggy put the kettle on while Sarah and Ivy rushed off to get dressed for work, and Rita put bread on the hotplate for toast.

  The planes were still going overhead and making the most fearful racket, so Peggy turned up the volume on the wireless, poured out the tea and quickly made sure that Cordelia hadn’t got cold from being outside in her nightclothes. Tension was high, the anticipation and excitement showing in all of them as they gathered around the table, their focus on the wireless.

  The music stopped, and everyone edged forward in their chairs as the announcer’s voice broke the tense silence in the kitchen.

  ‘Here is the eight o’clock news for today, Tuesday the sixth of June, read by Frederick Allen,’ he began.