‘Eeh, it’s grand to be together.’ Rosie huddled in between her sisters as they walked along the promenade, against the might of the strong wind lashing the south-east coast of Herne Bay.
‘Aye, it is. But, by, it’s cold. Is there a tea shop nearby, Rosie?’
‘That’s where I’m taking you, our Florrie.’
A gang of POWs were working on the sea wall and, as the girls passed, one called out, ‘Guten Morgen, Rosie.’
Daisy gasped. ‘You knaw a German, Rosie!’
‘Aye, lots of them. They’re all right, nice lads – naw different from our own.’
‘You’re blushing, Rosie. You’re not . . . Eeh, Ma would scalp you. Tell me you’re not fraternizing.’
‘By, Daisy – “fraternizing”? That’s a strong word for being friendly, ain’t it? British, Polish, German: we treat them all the same. That bloke I spoke to is called Albie – well, Albrecht is his real name. His plane came down in the sea.’
‘Eeh, I’ve never heard the like. Treating him’s one thing, but being friendly with him is quite another.’
‘Aw, don’t be so stuffy, our Daisy. He’s just another human being I nursed. That’s all.’
The girls were quiet for a few steps, then Daisy, the eldest, asked, ‘You ain’t falling for him, are you, Rosie? Ma would have a blue fit – she calls the Germans sommat rotten.’
Rosie didn’t answer.
‘Rosie?’
‘Aw, Daisy, let’s drop it, shall we? This is meant to be the first day of a grand week together. God knaws we get very little time together.’
‘Oh, Rosie. Come here.’ Rosie found herself encased in Florrie’s arms. ‘Whoever you fall for, it’s all right by me. We can’t help who we fall in love with.’
‘Naw, that’s true. I suppose as Florrie’s right. I hope you don’t fall for a German, though, Rosie; it would be awkward and would change things. But then I’d still be envious of you. It’d be good to meet a man I could fall for, but I don’t see it happening somehow.’
‘You will, Daisy. You’re only twenty-six and a beauty. You’ve the best figure of us all – you’re not so busty as me and Rosie. I don’t knaw about you, Rosie, but I get leered at more than admired.’
‘Aye, I knaw what you mean.’
‘Look, Rosie, I didn’t mean owt. I’m just worried about you. You allus fell head over heels for anyone as showed you some attention.’
‘That’s not true, our Daisy. Aw, come on, don’t let’s fight. I wanted this time together to be the best ever.’
‘Me too. Let her go, Florrie, and give me a turn. I want a hug an’ all, Rosie.’
‘Eeh, Daisy, I’ve missed you.’
‘Missed sparring with me, no doubt.’
They both laughed at this, though Rosie knew there was some truth in it. Coming out of the hug, she told them, ‘Let’s hurry – the tea shop is one street back, so we’ll cut off the promenade here.’
Turning off the promenade was like going into a wind tunnel, as the strong gusts found an outlet. Bending double, the girls had almost to fight their way forward. When at last they heard the clanging of the doorbell announcing their arrival at the tea shop, they all giggled with relief. ‘By, I thought Scotland were the place for autumn winds, but that nearly cut me in two.’
‘I knaw, we get some easterly winds here at times, Florrie, and though it’s only September, they can really chill you.’
‘Shut the door quickly, girls, and keep the heat in. What can I get you?’
‘Three teas and three of them scones, if you’ve got three, please, Kath.’
‘Right-o, Rosie. Are these your sisters, then? Not that I need to ask. They all look like you. I’ve a nice fire going in the other room, so take yourselves in there. It’s early in the year to light it, but I thought today warranted it.’
‘Thanks, Kath. Come on, you two, follow me through. You’re in for a treat.’
‘Eeh, Rosie, this is cosy.’
‘Aye, it is, ain’t it, Florrie? We can kill time here until our train’s due – the station’s only just up the road. Eeh, I can’t wait to see Ma, and all of them.’
Rosie had waited for this day with both eagerness and trepidation. Eagerness because not only was she seeing Florrie and Daisy, but they were all to travel to Scotland together to stay with Ma for a week; trepidation because it would mark the last time, for who knew how long, that they would all be together.
Florrie made straight for the roaring fire. A small side room carpeted in red, this part of the tea shop was Rosie’s favourite. Low-ceilinged with beams hung with shiny brasses, the room had four tables set against bench seating fixed to the wall, each table covered with pristine white tablecloths.
Joining Florrie, who was warming herself by the roaring fire, Rosie snuggled into her sister.
‘You’ll get red blotches on your legs, the pair of you. Get away and let the warmth circulate.’
Pulling a face at Daisy, but not retaliating, Rosie sat down at the table that Daisy had chosen.
‘You can look like that, Rosie, but I have to watch out for you.’
They smiled at each other, and Rosie felt a deep love for her elder sister. Never mind that they were often at loggerheads, they were really very close, and it was their similar natures that caused friction.
With tea served, their chatter quietened, as each knew it was time to talk of their future. Rosie started the conversation by asking, ‘So, do you knaw where it is that you’re going?’
‘We do.’ Daisy’s voice was muffled as she juggled the mouthful of scone she’d bitten off. ‘Singapore. We’ve been told to be at St Pancras station at ten in the morning, ten days from today. Anyroad, we’ll tell you all about it when we’re on the train. You’re sure that the one we’re catching will get us into London in time to catch the overnight to Glasgow, aren’t you, Rosie?’
‘Aye, I am. By, it’s going to be grand to spend this time with you. Though sad, as it will be goodbye when it’s over.’
‘I’m hoping not. Can you get some time off, to see us on our way? Only we’ve written to Sibbie, and she telephoned me at the hospital and said that she and Marjella have a few days’ leave then and can make it to London to meet up with us and wave us goodbye. It’d be grand if you could come too, Rosie.’
‘I don’t see a problem. You see, I swap my regular rest days with the local girls, as I ain’t got much to do down here. Then they do me the same favour, so that I can take a few days together and can travel to see Ma. I’m still owed plenty, so I’ll sort it as soon as I get back. Eeh, I envy you both. I sometimes think I’ll be stuck here for the duration. Not that it’s a bad posting, I’m happy enough, but it’d be good to see a bit of the world.’
‘Aye, it will. I’m that excited.’
‘Me too, Florrie. I can’t wait. I joined the Queen Alexandra’s to get a bit of excitement, and now it seems we are going to. And it’ll be good to be together an’ all.’
Rosie experienced a feeling of being left out of something. Her mood fell, but it lifted again as she watched the POWs being marched past and saw Albrecht look through the window of the cafe. He winked at Rosie, sending a tingling sensation through her. No, I can’t feel this way – I can’t.
At this thought, Rosie tried to dispel Albie from her mind. Oh God, don’t let this happen. Our Daisy’s right – me ma would skin me alive. I can’t fall in love with an enemy of our country, I can’t. But Rosie didn’t know if she could stop herself, even though she knew it was a forbidden love.
‘Look at you, me lasses. Eeh, I’m that proud of you.’ Betsy felt worry enter her as she welcomed Daisy, Florrie and Rosie home. ‘Now, come on, what’s your news? Oh, aye, I knaws as you have some – I can see it in your face, our Florrie.’
‘Ma, there’s naw easy way to tell you, but me and Florrie have been posted.’
Betsy’s gasp rasped in her throat. The moment she’d been dreading was upon her.
‘Now, don’t worry, Ma. It’s a good posting – not to a trouble-spot, but to a military base. We may not even see any wounded.’
Despite this reassurance from Daisy, Betsy didn’t feel at ease, though she began to as she listened to their excited chatter about their expectations of Singapore.
‘So how’s things here, Ma? Have you heard from Billy?’
‘Naw, and I’m worried for him. The last we heard he was going to the Far East an’ all. Malaya, aye, that were it. It’s all too much, at times. I have four of you all over the place, and Roderick, well, he’s only three years off call-up age, what if—’
‘Oh, Ma. Come here.’
At this from Florrie, Betsy found herself in the arms of her girls. Her heart was breaking.
‘Oh? And what’s this all about? You all look like doom and gloom’s hitting home.’
‘Aunt Sue!’
‘Whoops, careful, Florrie, me darling, you nearly knocked me off me pins. It’s good to see you all – you’re a sight to cheer us.’
‘I’ll put the kettle on.’ Betsy could think of nothing else to do or say. Things were as they were, as Angus was always telling her. But although her usual way would be simply to get on with it, she just couldn’t. What ma could, in such circumstances? She was going to be left with none of her brood safe – none of them.
This thought had hardly left her when the dreaded hooter sounded, signalling that the lifeboat needed to be launched. It was a sound they were hearing a lot lately, as stricken boats hit a mine or were shelled by enemy aircraft. ‘Eeh, that’ll mean Angus and Rory have to go out. I tell you, it’s all driving me mad.’
‘Ma, why don’t you do sommat that’ll help the war effort? It’ll make you feel better, I’m sure.’
‘Like what, Daisy? What can I do, stuck up here?’
Betsy felt excitement as she listened to Daisy’s suggestions. She hadn’t imagined that she could help by getting her workers to knit socks and suchlike for the soldiers, or by collecting tinned food for them in London. The prospect cheered her.
The door flying open caught their attention. ‘Ma – Da’s gone out to sea. There was an SOS from a sinking ship that had hit a mine. But in the control room we picked up a report of a German U-boat torpedoing another ship.’
‘Eeh, naw, lad – naw.’ This was too much to bear. Her Angus was in danger.
‘What about your Uncle Rory? Did he go as well, Roderick?’
‘Aye, he did, Aunt Sue. They’d gone after the smaller ship, before the distress signal concerning the U-boat came in. There was nothing to be done to stop them.’
Betsy looked from one to the other. Her whole world was crumbling as she did so. A gasp from Susan brought her out of the anguish that clothed her. ‘They’ll be fine, Sue. Our men are indestructible; they knaw every wave of that sea, and that’ll give them an advantage. Afore we knaw it, they’ll be coming through that door whistling, as if nowt’s happened. Now, let’s get that tea.’
Betsy’s hand shook as she pushed the hot plate holding the kettle over the flames of the fire, but preparing the teapot and getting the mugs out helped her. She was better when she was busy; and aye, she thought, it was time she showed the mettle she’d always had within her. Moping about the injustice of everything wasn’t helping anyone.
With this new-found courage, Betsy moved through from her kitchen to where the others were gathered in the front room. She still loved this old house, which belonged to Mags; well, her half of the house did, as Mags had divided it up to make a home for herself, too, and still used her half on visits. But even so, Betsy had ample space, with three bedrooms, a bathroom, a living kitchen and this posh room, which she hardly ever used these days.
‘Right, cure-all: a lovely pot of tea, or a Rosy Lee, as you sometimes call it, Sue. Eeh, you London lot, you talk funny at times.’
Susan laughed out loud at this. ‘Me? I like that. What with you calling ears “lugs”, and women “lasses” and a mug of tea “a pot”! I think you’re the funny talker, out of us two.’
They all joined in the laughter. It wasn’t a real belly-laugh, like those they used to share, but it was a start, and it showed Betsy how much she could influence the mood of so many people. No matter that her young ’uns had grown up and left, they still relied on her, and she hadn’t been the strongest for them since this war broke out. Well, that was going to change.
‘Does you miss your old life in London, Sue? In all these years, I’ve never asked you.’
‘Sometimes, Betsy, but not often. I’ve felt bad lately, with how my city has taken a hammering, but I love it up here.’
They were standing on the quayside, as were most of the townsfolk. The lifeboat hadn’t returned, and they hadn’t heard any news about how it was faring. Wives and children huddled, hardly talking, their eyes pinned on the distant horizon and the glow over Ireland that lit up the night sky. ‘Them lot’s lucky not being involved in this war.’
‘The Irish, you mean?’
‘Aye, well, the southern Irish.’
Susan didn’t answer. Betsy knew that she was as knotted with fear as she herself was. For all her bravado, she was worried to the bones of her, now that it had been so many hours since the lifeboat had left the shore.
‘Ma, I’ve brought you a hot drink of cocoa; and you, Aunt Sue.’
‘Ta, Daisy lass. Are Florrie and Rosie asleep?’
‘They are. I didn’t wake them once they’d gone off. We had a long journey and hardly any rest on it. I’ve used Aunt Mags’s telephone and rung for an ambulance to be here on standby. Where’s Roderick?’
‘He went out on the second boat. There’s been a few that have left the harbour. Since he turned fifteen, and with the shortage of men, he’s been a junior lifeguard. Oh, lass, I hope they find the menfolk.’
‘They will, Ma. Keep strong. You were a different person this afternoon, keeping us all going.’
‘It’s me job, lass. I knaw as I shirked it for this past year, but I want you to knaw as I’m here for you all. You can write me owt that’s happening. I want to knaw. You’ve naw need to be guarded with me any more.’
Betsy felt Daisy’s arm come round her shoulders. ‘Good to hear, Ma. You knaw, I reckon as our Rosie has sommat to share, but is afraid to.’
‘Oh, what? What’s our Rosie up to that she can’t share, eh?’
‘That’s all I’m saying, Ma. For one thing, I might be wrong. I think you should talk to her as you did to me just then; let her knaw as she can be open with you, naw matter what’s on her mind, and without upsetting you, but getting your counselling.’
‘Eeh, our Daisy, have I been that bad? I feel ashamed of meself. I’ve only looked inwards. And there you all were, going out into the world without me. I’ll find me moment to talk to Rosie, if it presents itself to me.’
Daisy held her tighter. ‘Ta, Ma. We all need you, you knaw. Forget how it’s been. I promise you that I’ll write only the truth to you from now on. Well, that is, as much as I can, as we have to be careful what we say.’
Betsy sighed. Turning into the hug that Daisy gave her, she snuggled into her eldest daughter, and had the strange feeling that her own ma was holding her.
An engine noise in the distance got her pulling away. A hush descended over the huddle of folk. Far outside the harbour, a light could be seen coming closer. And then another. Neither of them told her that these boats included the lifeboat, but at least she knew there could be news.
When the news finally came, it was grim. The lifeboat had been lost – blown sky-high by a torpedo. Betsy felt her legs start to give way, but a moan from Susan filled her with strength. ‘Come on, lass. And you, our Daisy. We might be needed. Let’s get nearer to the landing station.’
With a heavy heart, Betsy pushed her way through, consoling and encouraging the gathered lasses as she did so. ‘Let us through – Daisy here’s a nurse, she might be needed.’
When they reached the landing station, both boats pulled in and someone called out, ‘Help us unload these men – they’re injured, but we left a life-raft out at sea, so we have to go back to it. There’s ten men in it.’
The sea was surprisingly calm now, lit by streaks of bright moonlight, and Betsy would have said it was beautiful to behold, if the circumstances had been different. She scanned the faces of the injured, but there was no Angus or Rory. Her heart dropped, but she was determined to hold on to her emotions.
Someone else shouted, ‘The inn’s open, take them there.’
‘Right, that’s where we’re going an’ all.’ Turning Susan round, Betsy held her hand. ‘We can do this, lass. We can help them as have made it back, whilst praying that our men are on the raft.’
Once inside the inn, Betsy was surprised and pleased to see Daisy take charge. ‘Ma, go and get our Florrie and Rosie. Tell them it’s urgent.’
Betsy didn’t hesitate. As she left the inn, she saw injured men, but didn’t know any of them, and assumed they were from the lifeboat that had been blown up, as all of them were badly hurt and many of them had burn injuries. The rescuers would have brought them in first, which indicated that those left in the raft were less in need of urgent care. Just as she got to the door, she saw Roderick. And thanked God that he was back safely.
‘Ma, we’ll need an ambulance – it should have been on standby.’
‘It’s on its way, lad, don’t worry. And your sisters will do all they can. Now, go up to the house and get Florrie and Rosie here, and get yourself into some dry clothes. Eeh, my lad, I’m right proud of you, but they shouldn’t take one so young with them.’
Betsy marvelled at the skill of her girls. In the hour it took for the ambulance to arrive, they had administered to all seven injured men, bandaging wounds with ripped-up sheets, setting broken limbs with splints made from pieces of wood that the landlord provided, and stemming blood-flow with tourniquets. But it was when she witnessed Daisy removing shrapnel from a man’s stomach that she felt the most admiration she’d ever felt in her life.
Orders shouted by Daisy were obeyed without question. Needles were brought to her and sterilized by Betsy and Susan, in the pots of boiling water that the landlord kept going on his stove; as was fine fish-gut, which was used to stitch the wound and gashes sustained by other patients.
As the last man was put into a van that was to follow the ambulance, everyone cheered. The landlord came over to Daisy and Florrie and held up their hands in the air. ‘Well, me lassies, I ken ye did a great job there. Ye deserve a medal. Lives have been saved this neet, so they have. I’d offer everyone a drink, but our own lads aren’t back in yet. We need to keep a vigil going.’
‘Thanks, Willum, but can you get everyone to set to and scrub this room, and can you sterilize everything again? Rosie and Florrie, come with me, we’ll get cleaned up. I ordered the ambulance to come back. We need to be ready for when the next boat comes in.’
It was two hours later that they brought in the men from the raft. To Betsy’s great relief, Angus and Rory were on it, and neither was hurt, just shocked at what they’d seen.
‘Me bonny wee lassie, I’ve visited hell.’
Betsy looked up into Angus’s weather-beaten face and felt her love for him swell inside her. ‘Eeh, Angus, thank God you’re home.’
Within the circle of his arms Betsy felt a lifting of all her troubles, but she couldn’t enjoy it for long, as her help was required. ‘Take yourself home, love. I’ll be there as soon as the girls are done here.’
‘I’ll have meself a wee dram first, lassie. I’ll be in the bar, as I see Willum has opened it up, now that we’re back.’
‘Go on with you. Any excuse.’
‘Are ye not for thinking that I have the best excuse ever, then, me lassie?’
Betsy laughed, and it was a relief to do so. There were times tonight when she had thought she was visiting hell, too. But it was a hell made better by the skill of her girls. She’d never again raise any objections to anything they wanted to do. They were no longer her young ’uns, but good, strong young women who could make their own mark on the world.
As they walked back to their home, after the last of those brought in injured were on their way to hospital, Betsy linked arms with her girls. Rory had long ago taken Susan to their home, and Angus and Roderick had gone home fifteen minutes or so earlier.
The four of them walked along to the sound of the sea gently lapping the shore, and a backdrop of light still shining across and reflected in the water, creating a magical sight.
‘Eeh, you’d never think as there were any bad in the world when you gaze at that, would you? But we’ve witnessed the result of evil tonight.’
‘We have, Ma.’
‘Aye, but you, me lasses, are doing nowt but good. You have the skill to right some of the wrongs and make folk live, who would have died without your help. I’m ready to let you go.’
‘That’s a funny thing to say, Ma.’
‘Naw, Rosie. It’s what I’m doing. I’m letting go, and yet I’m standing in your corner. It’s naw longer me place to berate you for owt – you’re your own women, and I’ll support you in owt an’ all, no matter what me views are.’
‘Eeh, Ma, have our Florrie and Daisy been telling tales?’
‘Naw, it’s just that I’ve realized that I’ve to open a path to you all to travel along towards me, if you need to, and aye, without fearing the consequences.’
‘Aw, Ma. You’re the best ma in all the world, and we all love you an’ all, with all our hearts; and it’s going to be grand having you there to talk our problems over with. Not that we couldn’t always, but well . . . some things you weren’t good at hearing.’
‘By, me little lasses, I’ll change, I promise. And I love you an’ all. And with all me heart and soul. Come back safely to me, once this war is done. I’ll be waiting.’
A strange feeling overcame Betsy as she said this, but she shook it off. Such feelings were natural, with all that was happening. ‘Anyroad, me little lasses, you’ve nowt to worry over now. Your ma’s safe and here for you. And everything’ll pan out. It allus does.’ Saying this didn’t stop Betsy looking heavenwards and praying to God to make it so.