by Ellie Dean
The name of the port they’d docked in had been blacked out, but Peggy guessed that it was probably somewhere in Africa. Jim went on to describe how the natives had come out in canoes to unload the ship, and as there were no restrictions on lights, the night scene of the clustered buildings that surrounded the port was quite stunning.
He’d packed for the Brigadier, who was leaving the ship to take command of his new regiment, and received a ten bob tip just before he’d disembarked. Stuck on board, he’d got bored with nothing much to do, and it was clear that he hadn’t bothered to take up the offer of learning a new language. They were due to set sail the following day, but in the meantime, rain was heavy and the heat and humidity were almost unbearable.
And yet there had been lighter moments, for during a session of spud-bashing the natives had come alongside in their canoes to yell up to the men on deck, and some of them had started pelting them with potatoes. The natives had retaliated with lumps of coal, and the ship’s officers had to break up the fight. It had turned out all right, because the natives then sold them bananas, which had been a real treat.
Jim had written eloquently about the jungle that covered the hills right down to the shoreline, and how the mist seemed to be caught like clouds in the jungle canopy which was alive with the sound of chattering insects and howling monkeys. He loved and missed her, sent a kiss and cuddle to Daisy, and hoped that everything was all right at home, and that they enjoyed Christmas. He’d signed it as always ‘SWALK’ – sealed with a loving kiss.
She put the airgraphs back into their envelopes and sat for a while trying to imagine the scenes he’d witnessed, and all the new experiences he must be going through. It seemed he was being well fed and that life on board was proving rather idle, if not very comfortable due to the heat and the mosquitoes. But all in all, she suspected he was having the time of his life, though he would find spending Christmas in the tropics very strange.
The click of the front door and a blast of cold air heralded the girls’ return, and she quickly went to heat up some more milk for their cocoa. She grinned as they came into the kitchen chattering away like starlings. ‘I don’t need to ask if you’ve had a good evening,’ she said. ‘One look at your faces tells me it went well.’
As they took off their coats and scarves and left their umbrellas to dry off on the cellar steps, they told her how full the pub had been, and how they could barely speak because they’d been singing all night.
Peggy smiled and nodded and served out the cocoa. ‘Take that upstairs and get to bed quietly. Cordelia’s asleep and I need you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning with so much to do.’
Fran, Jane and Sarah kissed her and hurried off, but Mary lingered.
Peggy was immediately concerned. ‘What’s the matter, dear?’
‘I had the strangest conversation with someone earlier this evening, and I’d like to talk about it, if you wouldn’t mind,’ she said hesitantly.
Peggy sat down and cradled the warm mug of cocoa in her hands. ‘It wasn’t Tommy again, was it?’
Mary shook her head. ‘It was a woman. I thought she looked familiar, but it wasn’t until she’d gone that I remembered who she was. It was that Eileen I’d seen Findlay talking to the other week.’
As Mary went on to describe the encounter and the conversation that followed, Peggy’s uneasiness grew. When the girl had come to the end of her story, she asked, ‘Are you absolutely positive it was the same woman? Can you describe her to me?’
‘She was probably in her late thirties, maybe a bit older. Thin and about average height, but smartly dressed and made up as if she’d just been to the beauty parlour. She had dark hair, and I think her eyes were brown, although it was difficult to tell in the dark. She had a funny accent too, and it reminded me a bit of Ivy’s – but Ivy’s with the rough edges smoothed, if you know what I mean.’
Peggy hesitated for just a moment, but it was long enough for Mary to become suspicious. ‘You know who Eileen is, don’t you?’
‘I was just thinking that your description could fit any number of women,’ Peggy hedged. ‘Without seeing her myself, I couldn’t possibly be sure.’ She patted Mary’s knee. ‘I shouldn’t worry yourself over it, Mary,’ she soothed. ‘Whoever this Eileen is, she obviously had your welfare at heart. I should just accept that and forget about it.’
Mary finished the last of her cocoa. ‘If she’s local then I might see her again, but you’re right. She was only trying to help, and I think I rather overreacted, if the truth be told, because she caught me on the hop.’ She smiled and kissed Peggy’s cheek. ‘Thank you, Peggy. Now I really must get to bed. I have an early start in the morning.’
Peggy stared into the fire after Mary had gone upstairs. The fact that Eileen Harris had made a point of speaking to her meant that Tommy Findlay had heard about the girl’s search for Cyril, and was still capable of manipulating Eileen into doing his bidding. Thankfully, Mary hadn’t revealed the reason behind her search, but Peggy knew that now Tommy’s curiosity had been aroused, he wouldn’t just let it go. The net was tightening.
Chapter Seven
CHRISTMAS MORNING DAWNED bright and crisp, and Peggy was up early to bath and dress Daisy before the hullabaloo began. Ron had already left the house to walk Harvey and Monty; Rita had returned from her night shift at the fire station to snatch a couple of hours’ sleep, and Cordelia and the rest of the girls were still upstairs, so at least she had the kitchen to herself for a while. There was a lot to do this morning, and if she didn’t get on with it they wouldn’t eat until late afternoon.
‘Happy Christmas, Peggy,’ said Mary as she came into the kitchen and held out a small parcel wrapped in newspaper. ‘It isn’t much,’ she said hurriedly. ‘But I hope you like it.’
Peggy was touched that the girl had spent her hard-earned money on a gift for her when it really wasn’t at all expected or necessary. She unwrapped the parcel and beamed in delight at the lovely box of scented talc. ‘Oh, my dear, that’s a real treat, but you shouldn’t have, honestly.’ She gave her a hug and reached for the small parcel she’d placed on the table. ‘Thank you, Mary, and here’s a little something for you too.’
‘But I didn’t expect anything, Peggy.’ Mary unfolded the wrapping of white butcher’s paper and drew out a hand-knitted blue woollen scarf. ‘Oh, Peggy, it’s lovely, and just what I need, and it will go with my favourite sweater perfectly! Thank you so much.’
She kissed Peggy’s cheek and sat down with a happy sigh. ‘I’ve done very well this Christmas,’ she said as Peggy bustled about the kitchen. ‘Barbara and Joseph sent me a lovely pair of almost new grey slacks, and Pat sent me a pair of earrings.’ She giggled. ‘I know I shouldn’t have, but I opened them yesterday, knowing I’d be out all day today.’
Peggy had managed to keep her soppy emotions under control, and now she dished out the porridge and started browning the toast. ‘I suppose your Jack hasn’t had the time to go shopping, what with trying to get into the commandos. Still, I expect he’ll send something when he can.’
Mary nodded and looked rather down-hearted, which made Peggy wish she hadn’t mentioned the boy. ‘You’re welcome to join us after work, and stay another night,’ she said quickly. ‘Doris and Ted said they might pop in for tea, and if Ivy’s at work too, I don’t like the thought of you going back to an empty house.’
Mary’s smile was a little wan. ‘Ivy’s actually off today, but she’s planning on going to friends. Perhaps I should have moved in here. It’s becoming a second home.’
‘Well, you think about it. You know you’re always welcome.’ Peggy put the toast on a plate, stopped Daisy from splattering her porridge everywhere and started preparing the mountain of vegetables.
The dilemma of what to do about Mary still made her fretful, and she certainly would have been happier if the girl moved in here so she could keep a closer eye on her. But even then it would prove difficult, for she still had to go to work, still played th
e piano in the pub and could still be accosted by Tommy or Eileen at any time.
‘Thanks for everything, Peggy,’ said Mary a while later as she quickly washed her crockery and prepared to leave. ‘I’m sorry I can’t stay and help, but I certainly might come back tonight – perhaps with Ivy, if that’s all right?’
‘Of course it is,’ she replied warmly. ‘It’ll be quite a party, I suspect.’
Mary left for the factory just as Daisy decided to throw her bowl on the floor, which resulted in great spatters of slippery porridge across the lino. ‘Oh, Daisy, did you have to do that today of all days?’ Peggy groaned and reached for a cloth, wondering what other mishaps the day had in store for her.
Harvey arrived with Ron in tow and shot up the steps to enthusiastically lick the linoleum clean before trying to snaffle the last of Daisy’s toast.
‘Get down, ye heathen beast,’ rumbled Ron as he grabbed his collar. ‘Sit and stay or go and eat your own breakfast downstairs.’
As Harvey shot off to inspect his bowl, Ron put his arm round Peggy’s shoulders. ‘A happy Christmas to you, Peggy, girl.’ His bristled chin rasped her cheek as he gave her a smacking kiss. ‘And look what I found up there this morning.’
Peggy eyed the spray of mistletoe and laughed. ‘You’d better hang it up in the hall, though goodness knows we don’t want to be giving our American guests the wrong ideas.’
‘Ach, to be sure, every girl likes a kiss at Christmas,’ he said with a naughty grin. ‘My Rosie was very accommodating earlier.’
Peggy chuckled. ‘I just bet she was, you old rogue.’
‘Talking of old rogues,’ he said as he fished about in his disreputable trouser pocket, ‘Jim asked me to give you this on Christmas morning.’
Peggy’s eyes widened as she undid the ribbon and wrapping paper to find a square jeweller’s box. As she opened it, she gasped in surprise and delight, for it was the most perfect garnet ring set in gold. ‘Oh, Ron, it’s beautiful,’ she breathed as she slipped it on her finger.
‘Aye, my boy has always had good taste,’ he replied proudly. ‘Takes after his da, of course.’
Peggy smiled. ‘Of course he does,’ she murmured with great affection as she patted his grizzled cheek. She gazed down at the lovely ring, wishing Jim was here so she could thank him properly and share this special day with him the way they always had. Yet how lovely that he’d thought to do such a thing when he’d had so many other worries before he’d set sail for India. She would treasure it always, but for now it would be safer in its box until she’d finished preparing the lunch.
She slipped it off her finger. ‘I’ll put it away and wear it later,’ she said as she blinked back her tears.
The morning passed quickly as the girls and a much more cheerful Cordelia came downstairs to have breakfast and help prepare the vegetables. Ron very carefully carried the wireless into the dining room so they could listen to the morning carol service from Westminster Abbey, and the King’s speech in the afternoon, and they all trooped in after him to give Daisy her stocking and to open the presents they’d put under the tree.
Peggy had found a doll amongst the toys at the WVS, and once she’d given it a good wash and made a new outfit for it, it looked almost new, and Daisy spent the rest of the morning cuddling it. She’d also received a rattle which Ron had made out of a piece of hollowed-out wood filled with dried beans, an orange, some soft sweets and a rag book.
The girls had clubbed their clothing coupons together and bought Peggy a lovely pair of fur-trimmed gloves which looked very glamorous. For Ron, they’d secretly unravelled two of his most disreputable old jumpers and used the wool to knit a sleeveless pullover, socks and gloves, which they insisted he kept for best. Ron had asked Rosie’s advice and bought Peggy and Cordelia some lovely scented soap.
Cordelia had knitted what purported to be scarves for everyone – it was difficult to tell what they were because they were inches wider at one end than the other, were full of holes where she’d dropped stitches, and had several kinks in the middle. But Peggy knew they would all wear them for, despite the terrible knitting, they’d been made with love.
Peggy watched Cordelia with great affection. She was obviously feeling much better today, for she was twittering and giggling as she cooed over the cheap little brooch, the second-hand silk scarf, the hand-knitted woollen mittens and hot-water-bottle cover that the girls had given her. They had done well too, for Peggy had knitted each of them a pair of socks as well as gloves, and they’d bought each other books, hair-slides, sweets and bath salts.
Ron had brought a bottle of sherry from the Anchor, courtesy of Rosie, and they all sat admiring and showing off their gifts as they sipped it and got into the spirit of Christmas while the carol service came over the wireless. Daisy crawled about the floor and became more interested in the discarded newspaper than her new toys, while Harvey chewed on the bone Alf the butcher had put aside for him.
Peggy left them to it and went into the kitchen to check on the chicken and the steaming pudding. There was condensation streaming down the windows and walls, so she risked freezing to death by opening the window and the back door to try and dry everything off. She could feel the damp of it on her face and in her hair, and hoped it hadn’t spoilt her set or made her make-up run. Deciding that her hair and face repairs would have to wait until later, she drained the potatoes and parsnips and dropped them in the roasting tin of hot lard.
The front door slammed and she glanced up at the clock in panic. If that was the Yanks, they were early. She quickly shoved the tin into the oven, ripped off her apron and patted her hair in the hope it didn’t look too straggling and limp. But she hadn’t reached the door when a beloved little figure raced in and threw herself into her arms.
‘Cissy,’ she squeaked as she held her tightly. ‘Oh, Cissy, I didn’t think you could come.’
‘Super, isn’t it?’ Cissy said breathlessly. ‘The Air Vice-Marshall changed his mind about me having to be on duty when he heard Randy had been invited.’ Her face was alight with happiness. ‘And I don’t have to be back until midnight. Isn’t that just too brilliant for words?’
Peggy laughed and hugged her again. Her daughter had picked up the lingo of the upper-class men and women she worked amongst, and she sounded very posh and grown-up. ‘So where is he then? You haven’t left him stranded in the hall, have you?’
Cissy took off the neat uniform cap, unpinned her blonde hair from the regulation victory roll and shook it out so it fell over her shoulders. ‘He and Matt are just bringing in stuff from the car they managed to borrow. You won’t believe the special ration pack Randy’s been given.’
‘Matt’s here too? How lovely. Rita will be thrilled.’
Cissy grinned. ‘She’s already in seventh heaven because she saw him out of the window and dashed down to greet him.’ She leaned closer. ‘I think they’re having a bit of a canoodle on the doorstep. I do hope the neighbours won’t be too shocked.’
Peggy giggled. ‘My neighbours have witnessed far worse than canoodling, believe me. Do you remember when your father and I came back from the pub one night and he carried me in over his shoulder? I swear they must all have seen my underwear that night.’
‘Happy Christmas, ma’am,’ said Randolph as he came in laden with a box, which he placed on the table. ‘It’s sure nice of you to invite me into your home on this special day.’
Peggy was horribly flustered and could only hope he hadn’t overheard her talking about her knickers. ‘It’s lovely to see you too, but I won’t invite you again unless you start calling me Peggy,’ she teased. ‘Come and give me a hug, and then show me what you’ve brought.’
He was tall and sturdy and his hug almost squeezed the breath out of her. Once she’d gained her equilibrium she turned to Matt, who’d appeared similarly loaded with a box, with Rita following close behind him. ‘Goodness,’ Peggy managed after he too had kissed and hugged her. ‘What a lovely surprise, Matt. Rita thought you
couldn’t make it.’
‘I hope it’s all right,’ he said with a frown. ‘But it was a last-minute thing and I didn’t have a chance to warn you.’
Peggy waved away any concern she might have had about stretching the chicken even further than it already had to be. ‘The more the merrier,’ she said gaily.
‘Well, that’s jolly good, because I’m afraid you’re going to have to put up with me too,’ said another voice.
‘Martin! Oh, how lovely.’ She hugged him tightly, her mascara in danger of smudging as her eyes filled with tears. ‘But why didn’t you tell me you were coming?’
‘Like Matt, it was all a bit last minute.’ He twirled his moustache and his eyes twinkled. ‘And don’t worry about stretching the food too thinly. The Americans have been incredibly generous to the families who’ve invited their boys for the day, and I think you’ll find there’s more than enough in there to keep us all well and truly fed.’
Randy opened his box to reveal fruit juice, evaporated milk, a huge pack of bacon rashers, powdered coffee, sugar, rice, peas and lard. Matt’s box contained bottles of the American drink Coca-Cola, along with tins of spam, several bars of lovely chocolate, two cartons of cigarettes, a bottle of gin and another of whisky.
Peggy had to sit down to get over the shock. ‘Gosh,’ she breathed.
‘The gin and whisky are from me,’ said Martin. ‘Couldn’t let our American cousins have it all their own way,’ he said heartily as he patted Randy’s shoulder. ‘Now, where are Daisy and Cordelia? I have a little something for each of them.’
‘They’re in the dining room,’ Peggy managed, her gaze still fixed to the bounty that now covered her kitchen table.
‘Peggy,’ said Sarah rather nervously from the doorway. ‘This is Captain Delaney Hammond.’
The tall, broad-shouldered American soldier held a box in one arm as he gave a smart salute to everyone in the room and advanced on Peggy with his hand stretched out. ‘Delighted to meet you at last, ma’am,’ he drawled.
