It was mid-morning on Tuesday before Holly was able to have a word with Dora. Although it was only October women were already coming into the shop to order gowns for Christmas so she and Miss May had been rushed off their feet.
During a welcome lull, Holly hurried into the staff room and made them all a cup of tea then carried Dora’s through to the sewing room for her.
‘Eeh, that’s a welcome sight, luvvie.’ Dora took her foot from the treadle of the sewing machine and smiled at her as she reached for her drink then glanced at her curiously as she hovered. ‘Is there somethin’ you were wantin’?’
‘Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you,’ Holly said. ‘I was just wondering if you happened to know a family by the name of Farthing in Whitechapel?’
‘Farthing – but that’s your name, ain’t it?’ Dora said curiously as she took a slurp of her tea.
Holly nodded. ‘Yes it is, and my father came from there origin-ally so I’m trying to find out if there’s any of the family left there.’
‘Hmm!’ Dora tapped her lip thoughtfully. ‘Well, I can’t say as I can recall anyone o’ that name close to us but then it’s a fair-sized place. I could ask about for you, if you like?’
‘Oh, yes please,’ Holly said fervently and she scuttled back into the shop. All she could do now was wait.
The following week Ivy had to take a day off work sick, which was most unusual for her and Holly was worried.
‘Shall I get a doctor to come in and look at you?’ she offered as she got ready to go to her shift at the hospital.
Ivy was curled up in the chair at the side of the fire, her face the colour of putty.
‘No, I’ll be fine, I’ve probably just eaten sommat what’s disagreed wi’ me. I’ll most likely be right as rain again tomorrer.’
‘Then is there anything I can get you before I leave? Some toast, perhaps, and a cup of tea. It might settle your stomach.’
‘No, really.’ Just the thought of food made Ivy feel sick again. ‘You get off. I’ll probably go into work later on if I feel a bit better.’
Holly reluctantly left her and made her way through the blustery streets to the hospital. Red and russet leaves were blowing across the pavements and suddenly the day had turned chilly although after the intense heat of the summer the cooler air was welcome. She’d noticed that the air in the city was much more humid than back at home, probably because everywhere was so built up, she supposed.
She was approaching the hospital entrance when she saw Dr Parkin just ahead of her and her heart did a little flutter, as it always did at sight of him. As usual his hair was in need of a brush and his white coat was crumpled but to her he looked prefect. They’d shared a few of their breaks together since the night he had walked her home after dear old Mrs Green had died but he had never asked her out again. She wished that she had taken him up on his offer but it was too late to do anything about it now. Even so she knew that if he asked her again she would go. He was now busily studying to further his career to become a surgeon and so he wasn’t on the wards as often as he used to be and she found that she missed him.
‘Ah, Nurse Farthing.’ He paused when he spotted her and they entered the hospital together. ‘How are your new recruits doing?’ He always seemed so interested which made her feel special.
She was now in charge of each new batch of Red Cross nurses that started at the hospital and she enjoyed helping them settle in, although not all of them came up to scratch.
She grinned up at him thinking how handsome he looked. ‘Unfortunately one of the first lot didn’t last a day. She was asked to wheel a body to the morgue with one of the porters and she passed out.’
‘Oh dear!’ He grinned. ‘It’s not a job for the faint-hearted is it? And how are things at the shop?’
‘Busy as usual.’ She felt herself beginning to relax and wished that they could have stood there all day chatting. ‘And what about you? How are your studies going?’
‘I love it. I’m tired, but it’s so fascinating, and I’ve been getting quite a lot of practical experience.’ His eyes lit up as he spoke about his work, and Holly couldn’t help smiling back at him. She loved how dedicated and enthusiastic he was about his job. It was what made him such a good doctor. He paused for a moment when he saw her grin. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I do tend to go on a bit. My mum usually tells me to shut up if I’m boring her, and I give you permission to do the same.’
‘I don’t find it boring at all. In fact, I—’
A young nurse came hurtling towards them then, cutting her off before she could finish the sentence.
‘Dr Parkin, Mr McKenna says you’re to go and assist him in theatre as soon as ever you arrive. There’s been a traffic accident an’ he needs your assistance.’
He gave Holly an apologetic glance then he was gone like the wind and she sighed feeling suddenly miserable as she walked towards the children’s ward. This was another of her least favourite wards. She hated to see all the poorly children, although it was nice when she saw them go home.
When she got back to the flat that evening Ivy was out and Holly took that as a good sign. She must be feeling better, she thought as she started to prepare the evening meal.
Ivy meanwhile was striding purposefully towards Jeremy’s rooms, her face set in a grim line. She hadn’t seen him since the Friday before when he had again borrowed most of her wages. He had promised faithfully that he would see her last night but once more he hadn’t shown up at the café where they had agreed to meet to pay her back some of what he owed her. Well, he will tonight when I tell him me news, she thought to herself, her heart in her throat. Half of her wanted to turn and run back to Holly to tell her what a bloody little fool she’d been. But she’d got herself into this mess and now she would have to get herself out of it.
She was breathless by the time she’d climbed the stairs leading to Jeremy’s rooms but even so she didn’t pause before raising her small hand and rapping at his door. She knew he was in, she could hear movement in there.
Seconds later the door opened and there he stood, all dressed up and clearly ready to go out.
He looked momentarily shocked, but smiling quickly he told her, ‘Oh, Ivy, what a shame. I was just about to go out. Another story to report, you know how it is.’
Ignoring his words she pushed past him and once inside she turned to face him.
‘If you’ve come to tell me off about not meeting you last night I can explain I—’
‘I haven’t come about that,’ she told him, her eyes never leaving his face. ‘Well … not entirely.’ She faltered then but after taking a deep breath she rushed on, ‘I want us to get married, Jeremy.’
He blinked and ran his finger around the neck of his starched shirt collar. ‘Of course you do, my darling, and so do I but first I must—’
‘We can’t dilly-dally any longer. You see … the thing is … I’m having a baby … your baby!’
Jeremy clutched at the back of the nearest chair as the colour drained from his face.
‘I … I’m sorry to tell you like this but there didn’t seem an easy way so I thought I may as well just come out with it.’ She was blinking away tears now. She hadn’t expected him to be pleased at the news but she’d hoped he would take it better than this.
He stood there as if he had been turned to stone for what seemed an eternity then asked in a croaky voice, ‘Are you quite sure?’
‘Well, I ain’t had it confirmed by a doctor as yet, if that’s what yer mean but I’ve seen me mam have enough little ’uns to know the signs. I ain’t been right fer the last couple o’ weeks an’ then this mornin’ I were really sick.’
‘I see.’ He sat down heavily.
‘So? What are we goin’ to do about it?’ Ivy demanded. ‘I dare say you’ll want yer family at the weddin’. They’ll probably be surprised at the speed we’re doin’ it seein’ as I ain’t even met ’em yet but it can’t be helped.’
‘Now just hold on,’ he suddenly barked as panic set in. Oh why couldn’t I have been more bloody careful? he thought. Ivy’s face fell then and softening his voice he said, ‘It isn’t something that can be arranged overnight. I think perhaps you should visit a doctor first and get it confirmed then we’ll go from there.’
Ivy’s tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks then. ‘All right, I will soonest ever I can but meantime I’m movin’ in here wi’ you.’
He opened his mouth to protest but she silenced him by placing her hand gently across his mouth.
‘I’ve made me mind up on this so there’s no use arguin’,’ she told him. ‘I’ll tell Holly we’re arrangin’ the weddin’. There’s no need to tell anyone yet about the baby an’ by the time I’m showin’ we’ll be wed. We can say the baby came early when it’s born.’
He gulped, feeling like a rat caught in a trap. ‘But look at this place, it’s a pit.’ He spread his hands as if to prove his point. ‘At least wait while I find somewhere nicer for us to live.’
Ivy shook her head. ‘I don’t care about that, I’d live in a shed wi’ you, if need be,’ she said as she tried to snuggle into him, but he held her at arm’s length.
‘Look, Ivy, I have to go out. We’ll talk about this another time,’ he said desperately. ‘Tomorrow, I’ll meet you out of work and we’ll go for something to eat.’
Her shoulders sagged but she turned slowly and headed for the door all the same. ‘All right, tomorrer then, just be sure you’re there.’ And with a heavy heart she left the room and slowly began the steep descent to the ground floor.
Luckily Holly had gone to bed by the time she got home and Ivy sat staring into the flames of the fire long into the night. Of course she’d expected Jeremy to be shocked when she told him the news but she hadn’t expected him to be quite as horrified as he had been. This was his baby she was carrying, his own flesh and blood, after all. Her hand dropped protectively to her stomach as the tears started again. And now she would have to tell Holly that she was leaving. How would she take it?
The next day Holly received two surprises. The first was when Miss May entered the shop. Holly had already opened up and was tidying away the underwear she had just shown to a customer.
She glanced up to see Miss May looking very flustered.
‘Oh my dear, I’ve had some very bad news,’ she told Holly, removing a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbing at her eyes. ‘My dear brother-in-law passed away over the weekend so I need to take a few days off to go to my sister. Do you think you can manage here on your own? I’ve arranged for someone to care for my husband and I shouldn’t be gone for more than a couple of days.’
‘Of course I can manage,’ Holly told her sympathetically. ‘You can go straight away if you wish to.’
‘Well, I would like to, if you’re quite sure,’ Miss May sniffed. ‘He was such a dear man and they were very happy together but they were never blessed with children so I’m all she has left. They lived in Whitby so she’s going to feel very isolated now that Frederick has gone. I’ll probably bring her to live with me and my husband after the funeral, if she wants to, of course.’
She hurried away to give instructions to the seamstresses and finally she went through the diary with Holly.
‘Lady Hamilton will be in to try on her latest gown tomorrow and Mrs Bracken will be in this afternoon to be measured. Oh, and there’s a new delivery of gloves and stockings coming this afternoon too. Do you think you could see to putting them all away and checking that they’re all there for me?’
‘I shall be fine,’ Holly assured her and soon after Miss May left to catch the train north.
The second surprise came when she closed the shop that evening and made her way up to the flat where she found Ivy packing a large carpet bag with tears streaming down her cheeks.
‘What’s going on, Ivy?’ Holly asked in a small voice.
‘Oh, Holly, I’m ever so sorry but I’m movin’ out,’ Ivy told her tearfully.
‘Moving out!’ Holly was so shocked her mouth dropped open. ‘But why?’
‘Me an’ Jeremy are gettin’ wed.’
Holly’s eyes almost popped out of her head. ‘But this is a bit sudden, isn’t it?’ As Ivy dropped her eyes guiltily, realisation dawned and Holly gasped. ‘Y-you’re going to have a baby?’
‘Yes.’ Ivy looked so miserable that Holly raced across and put her arms around her.
‘Well at least he’s doing the right thing by you, and it’s not the end of the world,’ she said comfortingly. ‘You’re not the first and I’m sure you won’t be the last. But when is the wedding to be?’
‘We ain’t set a date yet but it’ll be very soon,’ Ivy answered. ‘An’ of course I’ll want you there.’
‘Wild horses wouldn’t keep me away,’ Holly assured her with a smile. ‘We could perhaps get one of the seamstresses to run you up a wedding dress.’
‘Oh no, it ain’t goin’ to be a posh affair,’ Ivy told her quickly. ‘We’ll probably just go to the registry office.’
‘And will Jeremy’s family be attending?’ It was all starting to sound rather vague to Holly now and she was concerned. Jeremy certainly hadn’t been the most reliable of men up to now so she could only hope that he was going to do the right thing by Ivy.
Ivy shrugged. ‘I don’t know yet. But … well, will you manage here all right on yer own, wi’ the bills I mean?’
‘I shall be fine, don’t you get worrying about me,’ her friend assured her. ‘If needs be I’m sure one of the nurses at the hospital will want to move in. Some of them live a way away and they’re always looking for lodgings closer to the hospital. But I-I’ll miss you,’ she said softly, suddenly getting tearful herself.
‘Don’t worry, you’ll still see plenty o’ me.’ Ivy squeezed her hand.
‘So couldn’t you wait till the day of the wedding before you move out?’ Holly suggested then but Ivy shook her head and turned back to her bag, ramming the rest of her things in.
‘I reckon it’s better I move in wi’ him now,’ she answered quietly. ‘He’s a bit of a slippery bugger, as yer know, always standin’ me up, so I just wanna be where I can keep a check on him.’
Holly certainly didn’t think this boded well for Ivy’s future but she kept silent. Ivy clearly loved him with all his faults and he was her choice, so what could she do?
‘Right, I reckon that’s it,’ Ivy said eventually as she reached for her coat. The moment to leave had come and it suddenly hit her just how much she was going to miss living there. She and Holly had made it into a cosy little home and were as close as sisters.
They walked down the stairs together and after a final hug Ivy set off down the street clutching her bag. Holly watched her go with a sinking feeling in her heart. For the first time since coming to the big city she was truly alone and it was a frightening thought.