Doris’s baby was due towards the end of July and Molly found that of more concern to her than the assassination of an Austrian Archduke in a small Balkan state. She had not seen anything of Nathan recently and although she missed him, kept telling herself she had done the right thing.
The baby, a boy, was delivered safely. Charlie was as proud as Punch when he came to tell them. ‘Mr Collins gave Doris a whole guinea for the baby before he went off to training camp in Wales. And he’s given us an extra room on the top floor.’
Molly’s heart missed a beat. She had almost forgotten about his being in the Reserves. ‘When did he go?’
‘Just this morning. It’ll do him good. The missus came home last week and she’s always at the old woman. If it weren’t for Miss Jessica, his life wouldn’t be worth living.’ Charlie glanced at Molly and said gruffly, ‘Our Bernie’s been visiting Frank by the way. I’ve told her it’s wrong but she can’t see it.’
Molly wasn’t a bit surprised. In a year’s time Frank would be out of prison and there and then she decided to see if she could ask for a legal separation. The life she’d shared with him seemed to have been led by a different person and since Bernie had obviously taken him up it was doubtful Frank would want to live with Molly again.
She decided to visit Doris and the baby as soon as she had a moment. With Nathan away there would be no chance of bumping into him and she could see how Jessica was getting on for herself. But there was a wedding dress and four bridesmaids dresses to be made first.
It was August Bank Holiday before Molly had the chance to go to Blundellsands. Cath and Jimmy were taking the ferry to New Brighton and she could not help noticing they were snappy with each other. ‘What’s wrong with you two?’ she asked as she brushed her hair before going out.
Cath burst out, ‘He says he’s going to enlist if there’s a war. Have you ever heard anything so stupid?’
Molly stared at her in amazement. ‘Why on earth should there be a war? Who are we going to fight?’
Cath raised her eyes ceilingwards and said, exasperated, ‘You’ve been at that bloody sewing machine too long!’
‘Cath!’ protested Jimmy. ‘It’s not nice for a woman to swear.’
She ignored him. ‘Or are you blind, deaf, and dumb, Moll? It’s been in all the newspapers. Germany’s invaded Belgium and we have a pact which was drawn up blinking years ago to defend them. The Government’s sitting in Parliament today trying to decide what to do.’
‘Well, we’re not at war yet,’ said Jimmy hastily. ‘So let’s go and enjoy ourselves. See you later, Moll.’
War! Could there really be a war? Suddenly it was a matter of urgency that she see Nathan. A month had passed so surely he would be home now? All the reasons why she shouldn’t see him were no longer important at the thought that he might go off to war.
She dragged a struggling George away from the pavement where he was playing with a friend. ‘Wanna play!’ he wailed.
‘We’re going on the train. You’ll enjoy that.’
His cries stopped and she hurried him to Sandhills station.
There was a lovely breeze cooling their faces as they walked up Blundellsands Road in the direction of the sea. Swinging on her hand, George smiled up at Molly, sniffing the air. ‘We’re going to the sands. I can smell the sea.’
‘We’ve got to visit Uncle Nathan first. And maybe we’ll see your Auntie Doris and her baby,’ said Molly, her chest tight with apprehension.
He wrinkled his nose. ‘I don’t like babies! But I won’t hurt it because I want to play on the sands.’ He squeezed her hand and brushed his lips against it.
My little love, she thought, comforted.
There was no answer at the front door so Molly went round the back and found Doris with the baby sitting in the garden. Charlie was stretched out in a deck chair, reading a newspaper.
‘What’s this? Not working?’ said Molly, forcing a smile.
‘While the cat’s away.’ Doris got up and came towards her. ‘Mr Collins had to rush off to Yorkshire as soon as he was home. Something to do with business. They’ve all gone with him.’
Molly felt sick with disappointment. Right now decisions were being made in Parliament that might mean Nathan’s going off to fight the Hun. That couldn’t happen, surely? On such a beautiful day the prospect of men killing each other seemed utterly impossible.