London, March 1921
A wedding to remember
‘Oh, Ada, darling, you will look wonderful. Your frock is beautiful. Joe is going to be so proud of you when you walk up the aisle towards him.’
‘Ta, Edith. I only managed to finish me frock last night. I left the hem undone till I was sure Joe was finally coming home. I didn’t want to jeopardize his chances by having everything ready. A bit of superstition, but I thought that if I didn’t leave something undone, I might put a jinx on things – what with his release date having already been put back five times in the last nine months!’
‘Well, he is home now. And Annie has rung and said he is as nervous as a kitten.’
‘I can’t wait to see him. But I thought it best not to, till we meet in the church. When I saw him three weeks ago I told him that the next time would be as I walked up the aisle. Eeh, it were funny posting the banns in the prison chapel. But the prison chaplain said he would duplicate them in his parish church and wed us there.’
‘St Anne’s is a lovely church, with its pepperpot spire and majestic pillars. A wonderful place for a wedding. Now, come on, let’s slip your dress on.’
Taking the beautiful turquoise-satin dress by the hem, Edith slipped it carefully over Ada’s hair for her. Then Ada took over. ‘Eeh, I’m not used to being dressed. I can manage.’
They were in a bedroom in Edith’s Holland Park home. Edith had insisted that Ada stay the night before her wedding and went from there to the church.
Ada hadn’t felt out of place, as she visited often, often sitting with Christian when his nurse was off-duty and Edith needed to be working.
Christian had returned home badly wounded. He’d been blown up when the vehicle he was travelling in hit a mine. All the others in the truck had died, but Christian survived. If you could call the almost vegetative state that he was in, and being totally blind, surviving.
The last six months of the war had been terrible. When the war ended it should have been a time for rejoicing, but Edith hadn’t felt that she could. She was still going through so much heartache and torment. Though her elder brother Douglas returned home all in one piece, the shock of what happened to Christian had quickly been followed by the death of their father; and on top of that, poor Edith was coping with the broken Laurent. The love of her life.
Ada had loved Laurent on meeting him. His bravery shone from him. He courageously took on the battle to walk again, and didn’t allow his facial injuries to daunt him. Because of this, everyone accepted him as he was. He and Edith had married as soon as he could stand on his false leg. It had been a quiet affair, but a lovely wedding, and one that had helped to smooth over some of the sadness within Edith.
‘Ada, when I see the light on your hair, like it is now, I think of my girls.’
‘Aye, they had lovely hair.’
‘Oh, Ada. Will this pain never go away?’
‘Eeh, lass. It will be like a wave. Receding at times, then crashing over you at others.’
‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up today. This is your special day.’
‘I know, but those are the times when the wave crashes. It hit me this morning when I woke. Me lads came to me, and I had to fight not to tear me heart from me. But I focused on what the day is going to give me. Me Joe is finally going to be me husband. He has his freedom, and our life together begins; and somehow that happiness cushioned the sadness and I could cope. You have to think of something to do the same for you, Edith.’
‘Yes, you are right. I will focus on the fact that I have at last engaged a Polish-speaking investigator. I didn’t think I could at first, but I realized that to break my confidence would mean the agency would never again be commissioned by anyone, so why would they do so? He has had a lot of success in tracing people misplaced through the events of war, and has reunited many families. He has agreed to take my case up and search for my girls.’
‘There you are then. All will be well, I know it will. Now, is that husband of yours ready? If he is to be best man, he needs to be on his way to the church.’
‘He is. Ready, that is. I don’t think he has gone yet, though. Ha! He moaned about having to wear a starched collar. He said we British have always been known as “stuffed shirts”, but should have been known as stiff ones!’
‘Eeh, Laurent’s a good ’un. He’s what we would call a joker, but Annie would call “a right card”!’
‘Yes, it is his sense of humour that gets him through. Well, both of us really.’
Edith’s voice was wistful again, so Ada pulled her up sharpish, before she sank back into her morose mood. ‘Reet. How do I look?’
‘Beautiful. Darling Ada. That colour really suits you, and having your hair plaited up like that is a stroke of genius; it looks so pretty. Oh, Ada . . .’
‘Now, now.’
‘These are tears of happiness, I promise. I am so happy that at last you and Joe will be together.’
‘We have a lot of hurdles to jump yet, but we’ll jump them together. And, Edith, ta for offering Joe that maintenance job. He’s reet handy, and will keep Jimmy’s Hope House up to scratch, you’ll see. We’ll have no leaky roofs this year!’
‘I know. And it’s going to be a real treat for them all: you having your wedding party back there. The children are so excited. And all the young mothers are working their socks off getting the wedding breakfast ready.’
‘Wouldn’t have it anywhere else. Me Jimmy is honoured and remembered there. And that’s down to you, Edith. The young ’uns all look up to him as a hero.’
‘He was. Oh, Ada, come here.’
Ada went into Edith’s outstretched arms and took comfort from the hug she received, but didn’t stay long, for it was too much for her. ‘Reet, I’m ready. Let’s do this.’
‘Your carriage awaits you, Madam.’
‘Eeh, fancy me riding in a Rolls-Royce. I never thought I’d see the day. Lead the way, my maid-of-honour.’
Laurent was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. He had his false leg on, but sat in his wheelchair, no doubt conserving his energy for his duty as best man. He gasped as he looked at Edith. ‘Ma chérie, you look beautiful.’
Edith wore a dress in a style similar to Ada’s. But hers was cut just below the knee, where it gave way to white stockings and satin pumps with a little heel. The dress flowed from the bodice in gentle folds. The colour – a darker blue than Ada’s long, flowing frock – enhanced rather than paled Ada’s dress and suited Edith’s very dark hair and olive complexion so well.
‘Oh, and look at you! Ada, you are gorgeous. The prettiest bride since my own Edith.’
Ada blushed. Somehow, when Laurent complimented her, it sounded so delicious – if that was a word you could use for a compliment. But it was one that fitted, as his accent and his lush tone seemed to sweep all over her and make her feel special.
‘You should have left by now, Laurent. You need to be at the church to greet and support Joe. Go along with you! Your driver is waiting outside for you, and has been for fifteen minutes.’
‘Don’t chastise me, my darling. I had to see you both before I went. I will go now. Call the chap in to help me.’
At the church, Jay was waiting outside for them. He was to give Ada away, and she could think of none better.
Excitement knotted her tummy muscles as she took his arm and drank in his compliments. She felt, and was sure she looked, like a queen! This was going to be a good day for her. She’d not had many good days in her life to count, and the total of them could be summed up on her ten fingers and toes. But right now she’d only think of them, and not of the terrible days she’d suffered.
Joe turned as she walked up the aisle. His smile warmed her through and gave his face a lovely look, as his expression combined both love and happiness.
As they left the church and the bells rang out, filling the air with joy, and the rice rained down on them, Ada thought she would burst with happiness. Looking around she caught sight of Rene. Eeh, if only Rene could find a nice man. But there were so few to choose from and Rene seemed settled into her work. She worked as a sister in Shepherd’s Bush Military Hospital where Edith also worked. It must seem to them that the war hasn’t ended, she thought, as they tend to those badly wounded that still need their care. Rene came over and held her, wishing her congratulations. Annie was with her, holding on tightly to little Brendan’s hand. ‘Ma, ma, me want up.’
‘Ha, Brendan, lad, I can’t pick you up, it would ruin all me finery.’
‘Huh! If she don’t pick you up, I will, lad!’
Beryl! Ada couldn’t believe her eyes. How did she get here? Had the asylum let her come on her own;
‘Beryl, lass. Eeh, it’s nice to see thee. Ada said as you weren’t able to come. Glad you changed your mind. Now, you’ve not much on and look cold, so I’ll get you a lift sorted to Jimmy’s Hope House, eh?’
‘I’m going nowhere, Joe. Eeh, you’ve got some side. Murdering her husband and then marrying her. Still, she’d not get anyone else, whore that she is. You know that she went with my Bill, don’t you? Well, she did. He told me he had her on the kitchen floor. Well, I reckon that’s best place for her!’
Joe looked shocked. Ada had never told him about the rape. She hadn’t wanted him upset; he’d enough on his plate. Avoiding his eyes, she looked at her sister. ‘Beryl, lass, don’t do this. Not today. I’m glad as you’ve changed your mind and come to be with us. But don’t make a scene. Please.’
‘Scene! What else am I to do when you stole me babby and had me man, eh?’
Beryl lunged towards Brendan as she said this, but Annie was too quick for her and grabbed the little tot and held on to him. ‘If yer try to lay an ’and on ’im, you’ll ’ave me to contend with,’ she said.
Beryl hesitated. Others began to stand in front of Annie and Brendan. Looking from one to another, Beryl looked like a frightened, cornered animal.
‘Come on, love. Let Joe sort you a seat in one of the cars. You’ll be warmer. And if you promise to calm down, you can come to the wedding breakfast. I’ll take you to Annie’s house and get you something to wear. Come on.’
‘I don’t want to, our Ada. I want Mam. Mam. MAM!’
It was a pitiful cry and one that wrenched Ada’s heart.
Edith moved forward, speaking in gentle tones that held authority. ‘Beryl, I will take care of you. Now, nothing is going to happen to you, and you can choose what you want to do. I’ll take you back to your hospital or on to the wedding breakfast. I won’t leave you until you feel safe.’
‘I’ll come too, Beryl. I’ll help to take care of you. I’m Sister Rene, and this lady is Doctor Edith. We will look after you. Come along with us.’
Beryl’s body seemed to fold as she slumped to the ground. ‘I want me mam.’
‘Yes, we know you do. Now, take my arm with this hand, and Sister Rene’s with your other one. That’s it. Now, stand up, but keep hold of us.’ Once Beryl was standing, Edith turned to Jay. ‘Jay, can we take your driver, and you and Eloise go in with Laurent?’ Jay said that would be fine, and Edith turned to Ada. ‘Don’t worry, Ada. Try to carry on as you would have done. Beryl will be fine. We will be with you as soon as we can.’
Ada could only nod. The action spilled a tear from her, but she wiped it away. Her heart wanted to go with Beryl, but, to her immense pain, she had to accept that if she made a move to do so, it would upset her sister again. In Beryl’s tangled mind, Ada knew that she looked on her as the cause of everything that had dragged her down.
As the car pulled away, a hand rested on Ada’s arm. Turning, she looked into the lovely, kind eyes of Eloise. ‘We have a wedding breakfast to get under way. Come on, beautiful bride. Lead the way.’
With a heavy heart, Ada took the hand Joe offered and went towards the gleaming Rolls-Royce. Once her body had sunk into the deep leather seat, Joe climbed in next to her. ‘Well, Mrs Grinsdale, that were a good start! Now I don’t want you worrying about what Beryl said – none of it. I can imagine the circumstances, and I love you more than anything for shielding me and coping with that. Eeh, there’s nowt like a fracas at a wedding – good old northern tradition that!’
She couldn’t help but smile. ‘Aye, we’ll show these southerners how it’s done, eh?’
‘That’s the spirit. Now, try to put it behind you. Everyone knows that Beryl is not well in her mind. None of them are going to hold what happened against you.’
‘Oh, Joe, will she ever be well? Will she ever stop thinking of me as someone that ruined her life?’
‘You never know, lass. It could happen. But if it doesn’t, it’s one more cross we have to bear, and we’ve borne a lot worse.’
‘We have, Joe. As everyone has. You’re reet. Let’s put it behind us. No matter what, we’ll allus support Beryl as much as she’ll let us. And we’ll work towards the day when she is well again.’
‘Good, lass. Now. How about you give your husband a kiss?’
It was a kiss Ada had thought would never happen. All the years they’d loved one another they’d never shared a kiss, not a real one – one that was their right to take and give. With it a warmth came into Ada that blocked out all she’d been through. It unlocked her heart to the possibility of hope: hope for the future, and hope for herself and Joe and little Brendan. From now on they could build a life together, one never again to be shadowed by war.
She wished she could make things right for everyone. She wished that the scars cut deep into people’s souls could heal; and that Edith, especially Edith, could be reunited with her little ones. Something Edith had once said told her there was no possibility of her having any other babbies, as her marriage wasn’t likely to be consummated. That was what Ada would call a deep love – a love that had to be platonic, and yet was so strong the couple were bound together forever. Poor Edith. Poor Laurent. Please, God, bring little Elka and Ania home to them. Make their lives complete. They have done everything they can for their country, and for those hurt by war. It’s time they had sommat in return.
Leaving this prayer behind her, Ada turned her attention to Joe. Her Joe. Her man. A happiness settled in her like she hadn’t felt for a long, long time. Leaning towards him, she pursed her lips again. But just before his lips touched hers, she whispered, ‘I love you, Joe.’