Always in my Heart (Beach View Boarding House 5)

by Ellie Dean

  ‘That would be lovely,’ she replied, ‘but I can’t be out too late. I’m on duty again at six tomorrow morning.’

  ‘That’s settled then,’ said Peggy briskly. ‘But I’d advise you not to go to the Anchor. The beer’s terrible and the new manager gives short measures.’

  Anthony and Suzy eyed her with amazement at this outburst.

  ‘Just take my advice,’ she said rather more moderately. ‘The Ship is a much nicer pub and it’s only just down from the post office.’

  The clock struck four as the two of them left the house, quietly happy with each other as they pulled up their collars and ducked their heads against the wind.

  ‘That’s going to put the cat amongst the pigeons,’ said Cordelia with a twinkle in her eye. ‘Doris and Suzy are chalk and cheese. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Doris realises her son has found someone she won’t be able to bully.’

  Peggy gave her a hug. ‘It’s been quite a day, hasn’t it? I’m delighted that you’ll have some real family to fuss over at last. You’ll be able to play the Great Aunt to the hilt.’

  ‘You’re my family, Peggy,’ Cordelia said, her expression earnest. ‘And although Jock’s daughters are related to me by blood, they are strangers and can never mean as much to me as you do.’

  ‘Oh, Cordelia,’ Peggy said as the tears threatened once more.

  ‘Don’t you dare start crying again, Peggy Reilly, or you’ll set me off too.’ She struggled out of her chair and grabbed her walking stick. ‘I think I’ll go upstairs and write Jock a long letter now I know where to send it. Call me if you need anything, won’t you?’

  Peggy nodded and followed her up the stairs to make sure she didn’t take a tumble, and once she was settled by her gas fire with her writing box, went back to the kitchen.

  She was peeling the rather whiskery old potatoes that Ron had stored down in the cellar when she heard the telephone ringing in the hall. With a humph of exasperation, she wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer it. Telephones were a luxury, and if she and Jim hadn’t been running a boarding house before the war, they would never have paid for one – but now it was essential, and she couldn’t imagine what life would be like without it. Still, sometimes it was just a blasted nuisance.

  ‘Beach View Boarding House,’ she said automatically.

  ‘I want to speak to Cordelia Finch,’ said the rather bossy voice at the other end of the line.

  ‘Mrs Finch is not available at the moment,’ said Peggy cautiously. ‘Could I take your name and number and get her to call you back?’

  ‘You may not. This is her sister, Miss Fuller. You will tell Cordelia that I’ve had a telegram from someone purporting to be my nephew – demanding that I take in his wife and daughters who are on their way from Singapore of all places.’

  ‘Cordelia has had the same telegram, Miss Fuller.’

  ‘Then I hope she has refused to take them in. I don’t hold with these people going to live abroad – and then turning up the moment things turn sour, bringing their horrid diseases and habits with them, and expecting everyone to down tools and give instant assistance.’

  Peggy was lost for words at the vitriol that was coming down the line. ‘They are your brother’s grandchildren,’ she managed finally. ‘Surely you—’

  ‘My brother turned his back on England and his family many years ago, and therefore lost the right to expect anything. I will not be replying to the telegram.’

  ‘We are glad to give them shelter, Miss Fuller,’ said Peggy flatly, ‘and with an attitude like yours it’s a good thing they won’t have to stay with you.’

  She put the receiver back before the other woman could reply and marched back into the kitchen positively trembling with fury. What a nasty, vindictive old witch – how she could be related to sweet Cordelia was a complete mystery.

  She left the potatoes in the sink, plumped down at the table and lit a cigarette. There were times when people really shocked her, and this was one of them. How could anyone be so cold and unfeeling – especially when it was family? She puffed furiously on the cigarette until she’d calmed down enough to go back to peeling the spuds.

  She wouldn’t tell Cordelia about her sister’s call, she decided. It would only upset her, and from what Cordelia had told her about Amelia, the two of them had never got on anyway, and rarely communicated, so there would be no harm done.

  Chapter Eleven

  Cordelia had spent the rest of the afternoon writing her letter to Jock. There were so many things she needed to tell him, and so many questions burning to be asked. By the time she’d finished, she wondered if perhaps she’d rambled on too much, and if he would be able to read her writing, for it was a bit wobbly and ill-formed. She eased the stiffness in her fingers and held them out to warm in front of the gas fire, her thoughts as meandering as her letter.

  If Jock was staying in Singapore then he was in great danger, for the news had said that the Japs had taken Kuala Lumpur and were swiftly advancing towards the island. She could only hope that Churchill’s boast that Singapore was a fortress held true. It was unthinkable that such a strategic and important island could fall into enemy hands. But then Jock had wisely seen to it that his wife and daughters had escaped, and this brought her a thrill of pleasure. It would be lovely to get to know them – to be able to help as much as she could to ease them into the way of life here. They would find it very strange, she realised, and extremely cold after being in the tropics, but she and Peggy would see to it that they were warmly welcomed and made to feel at home.

  With that happy thought, Cordelia found a stamp, sealed the letter, turned off the gas fire and went very carefully down the stairs. She was finding them a little difficult of late, for her balance was a bit off, and she held tightly to the bannisters and her walking stick and took each stair one at a time. On reaching the hall, she fiddled with her hearing aid, and with a smile of pleasure, could hear that Ron and Jim had returned from their fishing trip.

  The kitchen was in chaos as the two men had taken over the sink to gut and wash their catch, their voices ringing out as they told Peggy what an adventure they’d had. Harvey had rolled in something nasty and stank to high heaven, and Peggy was dragging him out of her kitchen and slamming the cellar door on him.

  His piteous howls were ignored, and Peggy rolled her eyes at Cordelia as the howls rose in volume and the men’s tales took on even greater colour. Cordelia grinned as she sat at the table and watched the men skilfully wield their wickedly sharp knives. There was always something interesting going on at Beach View and it quite perked her up.

  ‘To be sure, and Jim thought he saw a submarine,’ said Ron gleefully as he rinsed the gutted sea bass under the tap and dropped it in a bucket of water. ‘He was all for turning tail and running for home.’ Ron chuckled. ‘But it was only the bottom of an old boat that had turned turtle.’

  ‘Aye, well, it could have been,’ muttered Jim, ‘but if it wasn’t for my good eyesight, we’d all be in the brig now and under charge.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Peggy sharply.

  ‘The coastguard spotted us – but luckily they were too far away to recognise the number on Frank’s boat, and we managed to get round the headland and ashore before they could catch us.’ Jim grinned. ‘You should have seen us, Peg. I reckon we broke the record for beaching the boat and getting the catch indoors – even the auld man here managed to run up that shingle to Frank’s place like a two-year-old at Kempton races.’

  ‘I’ll give you auld man,’ grumbled Ron as he wiped his fishy hands down his trousers and left silvery scales to gleam on the worn corduroy. ‘To be sure I’m fitter than you, Jim, after all the years you’ve been sitting on your arse in that cinema.’

  Peggy got out of her chair and, arms akimbo, cleared her throat rather loudly to grab their attention. Her expression was dark, her voice flat with anger. ‘Do you mean to tell me that you went out without permission? And risked prison and a large fine just to catch
four fish?’

  ‘It was eight, actually,’ replied Ron with airy disregard for Peggy’s crossness. ‘Frank had his share too.’ He grinned at her. ‘It was worth it, Peg. These pollock will fetch a good price from Fred the Fish, and the bass are big enough to feed everyone tonight.’ He gave her a winning smile as he popped the fish heads into a separate pot for soup. ‘Are you not partial to a bit of fish, Peggy?’

  ‘I’m partial to having my husband kept out of prison,’ she retorted. ‘There’ll be no more fishing unless I see the official permit first.’

  ‘Ach, Peg, you worry too much,’ said Jim as he reached for her.

  Peggy drew back sharply. ‘You’re not coming anywhere near me until you’ve washed away the stink of fish, Jim Reilly. As for you, Ron, you should know better.’ She glared at them. ‘And you can clean up the mess you’ve made of my sink and the lino. There’s water and fish scales everywhere.’

  ‘But I told Fred the Fish we’d meet him as soon as we got back. He’ll be waiting,’ protested Jim.

  ‘Then he can wait a bit longer,’ snapped Peggy. ‘No one leaves this kitchen until it’s spotless. Do you hear me?’

  ‘To be sure, Peg, they can probably hear you halfway down the street,’ muttered Ron.

  Peggy flicked a tea towel at him and he laughingly dodged out of the way. ‘You’re a hard woman, so you are, Peggy Reilly, but we’ll have this kitchen like new before you can blink.’

  ‘That’s what you said when you promised me new lino last year,’ she retorted. ‘And do something about that dog. He’s making enough noise to wake the dead.’

  Cordelia watched the cleaning-up operation with amusement. This was what she loved about Beach View. There could be heated rows and lots of shouting, but under it all was the rock-solid love that bound them into a formidable team that could take on the world. She knew that once Peggy’s kitchen had been restored to her satisfaction, and Harvey and the men were scrubbed clean, things would calm down and they would laugh about it over their illicit fish supper.

  Cordelia waited until they’d cleaned everything and scrubbed down the dog as well as their hands, then gave her letter to Ron to put in the postbox on the way to the fishmonger’s. Then she unhooked the wrap-round apron Peggy had given her for Christmas and slipped it on, tying the strings round her waist and adjusting the folds over her non-existent bosom. Fish pie with lashings of potato topping was her speciality, and if they were going to eat before it got too late, she needed to get on.

  Fran and Rita came in just after the pie had been put in the oven, so there was plenty of time for them to wash and change before tea. Jim was on fire-watch tonight, and Ron was doing warden duties with the Home Guard, so they ate as soon as it was ready, and then left to go out into the bitter night, their share of the iced buns wrapped in paper to have later with their flasks of hot tea.

  Suzy’s absence had been commented upon, and Peggy had simply said she was out with a friend for the evening – she didn’t want the girl bombarded with questions, or to make too much of things at such an early stage. Fran was a bit put out that she hadn’t been invited along, for they usually went everywhere together, but as she was tired from a long shift at the hospital and looking forward to an evening of leisure, she didn’t probe further.

  She and Rita were helping Peggy with the washing-up while Cordelia freshened the pot of tea. The wireless was on most of the time now, for there was always something to listen to, and quite often there would be news bulletins throughout the day.

  Cordelia checked the time and sat down in her chair by the range. Daisy had been changed and fed, and was gurgling happily to herself as she lay beneath the blankets in her old pram, and Cordelia smiled fondly as a hand or a leg waved about. It was lovely to have a baby in the house again.

  With the washing-up done and the tea poured, Peggy sat down while Fran and Rita made a fuss of Daisy and set her giggling. ‘Don’t get her too excited,’ said Peggy softly. ‘Or she won’t settle, and with Jim out until dawn, I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep.’

  Daisy continued to bat the rattle that hung from the pram’s hood, and wave her arms and legs about, as the solemn voice of Bruce Belfrage announced that there would be a direct broadcast from the Prime Minister, Mr Churchill.

  The women glanced at one another fearfully, knowing something very serious was afoot if Mr Churchill was going to speak to the nation.

  ‘When I broadcast directly to my fellow countrymen last August,’ he began in that familiar gravelly voice, ‘it seemed to be our duty to do everything in our power to help the Russians meet the prodigious onslaught launched against them. We had no means whatsoever of providing effective war against Japan compared with those days of nineteen-forty, when the whole world, except ourselves, thought we were down and out.’

  Cordelia and the others listened as Mr Churchill continued to talk about the magnificent Russian efforts to beat back Hitler’s armies, which he declared would end Hitler’s dominance in Europe. But it was a strangely defensive speech, for he talked about the terrible difficulty he had over fighting Germany and Italy on the home front, supporting Russia in what he termed as ‘our darkest hour’, and sustaining a defence of the Pacific and the Far East single-handedly. He carried on in the same vein for a while and then he paused for a long moment, and everyone held their breath.

  ‘I speak under the shadow of a heavy, far-reaching military defeat,’ he said solemnly. ‘Singapore has fallen. All the Malayan Peninsula has been overrun.’

  There were sharp intakes of breath, and Cordelia felt tears of anguish prick as Churchill continued to rally the Allies into showing continued courage and fortitude in the face of this new enemy.

  ‘We must remember that we are no longer alone,’ he finished. ‘We are in the midst of a great company. Three-quarters of the human race are moving with us. The whole future of mankind may depend on our action and conduct. So far we have not failed, and we shall not fail. Now let us move forward steadfastly together into the storm and through the storm.’

  Peggy had found it difficult to sleep, for the news that Singapore was now in the hands of the Japanese was a terrible blow – and the knowledge that the heavily protected island had fallen so swiftly simply brought it home to all of them how very vulnerable they all were.

  She’d tossed and turned and eventually got up and dressed in the dark. Having made a cup of tea, she sat at the kitchen table and smoked a cigarette while she fretted about the future. Hitler had been threatening to invade for months, and now the eyes of the world were on the Far East and the Americans had yet to arrive in England, it seemed to Peggy that it was the optimum time for him to carry out that threat.

  She thought about Jim and his brother Frank, waiting for the dreaded call-up papers to arrive. For once, Peggy felt helpless. It was all very well for Winston Churchill to ask them all to make sacrifices, when they were already scraping the barrel when it came to food, heating, clothing, and even the most mundane of everyday necessities – just how much more could everyone be squeezed when morale was already at such a low ebb?

  These were dark days indeed, and although it was important to appear cheerful and to shrug off the inconveniences, Peggy was beginning to waver beneath the weight of all the responsibilities of keeping her family in good spirits. Poor Cordelia was worried sick about her nephew, and she couldn’t think how she could ease that anxiety, for they could have no idea of whether he’d been killed in the fighting or had been taken prisoner. There were terrible rumours coming out of the Far East of brutal treatment handed out to prisoners by the Japanese, and she just hoped that Jock had managed to escape.

  She stubbed out the cigarette and went to fetch Daisy, who was beginning to stir. It wouldn’t help anyone if she became gloomy, and it was up to her to keep up morale and think about the positive things, she decided as she bathed Daisy in the kitchen sink. Having dressed her in the sweet knitted layette, she carried Daisy to the fireside chair and fed her, glad of
her comforting warmth and weight in her arms as the household continued to slumber and her fretfulness ebbed.

  Churchill was right about keeping strong and steadfast, for little Daisy and the rest of her family had to be protected from the terror that was exploding across the world – and if that meant making sacrifices, then she would soldier on willingly.

  Having come to this conclusion, Peggy finished feeding Daisy and put her in the playpen so she could stretch and kick and watch her while she finished the ironing.

  ‘Good morning, Peggy,’ said a bright-eyed Suzy as she came into the room half an hour later. ‘You’re up early.’

  ‘So are you, considering how late it was when you came in,’ replied Peggy with a soft smile as she stirred the porridge.

  Suzy blushed. ‘The time just seemed to fly,’ she said as she poured a cup of tea. ‘We have so much in common; I don’t think we stopped talking all evening.’ She smiled back at Peggy. ‘He even knows my brother,’ she said in a kind of wonder. ‘They were both up at Oxford and in the same debating team.’

  Peggy couldn’t help but smile. Suzy looked radiant this morning, despite the early hour, and just talking about Anthony had brought a sparkle to her eyes. ‘It’s a small world, isn’t it?’ she said quietly as she scooped out a good helping of rather watery porridge and placed the bowl in front of her.

  Suzy nodded and tucked into the porridge, her fair hair gleaming beneath the starched nurse’s cap, the blue of the uniform enhancing her eyes. ‘Anthony says the world has got even smaller now Singapore has fallen. I do so hope that Grandma Finch’s relations make it safely on that long journey.’ She finished the porridge. ‘Anthony says they’ll have to go via Africa, then across the North Atlantic to the west coast of Scotland.’ She shivered daintily. ‘The thought of all those U-boats lying in wait, and the rough seas – I don’t know if I’d be that brave.’

  ‘I’m sure you would if your life depended upon it,’ murmured Peggy.