Reenie was about to go back into the shop when a cheerful voice called across the square. ‘Yoo-hoo, Reenie!’
Looking over, she spotted Muriel Parker standing outside the café.
Sighing, she forced a smile and went to speak to her. ‘You look very smart, Mrs Palmer.’ She was wearing her grey/green WVS suit with a red blouse and green hat with a red band.
Mrs Palmer smoothed her hand over her jacket. ‘I’ve finally managed to get hold of my uniform. Designed by the couturier Digby Morton. Such an honour. Of course, so many of the ladies have been complaining that they just can’t fit into it.’ Too fat, she mouthed. ‘Anyway, young Donny brought a most surprising message to me this morning. Sounds like you’ve been quite the heroine. I can’t wait to meet the children. Of course, we at the WVS will do what we can for the little mites. I know some French, you know. Dr Palmer and I have spent many happy holidays over in France. Such cultured people. Absolutely terrible at fighting, of course, but you can’t have everything.’
Resisting the temptation to roll her eyes, Reenie said, ‘A couple of the older children speak quite good English, so no need to worry about the language.’
‘Oh.’ Mrs Palmer looked disappointed. ‘Are you coming in for the meeting?’
‘I’m sure you don’t need me,’ Reenie said quickly. ‘I’ve got quite a lot to do. And with Aunt Ethel here Uncle Brian needs me at the shop.’
‘Nonsense.’ Mrs Palmer took her arm. ‘Those children know and trust you, it’s only right you’re there to put them at ease.’
Suppressing a sigh, Reenie allowed her to lead her to the door, then stopped dead as she noticed a familiar figure walking towards them. Wearing a black hat and coat, she was even more diminished than the last time she’d seen her just a few days before.
‘Did you ask Mary Guthrie to come as well?’ Reenie asked.
‘I did. I urged her to join the WVS shortly after all that trouble with her niece. There’s nothing better for taking your mind off your own problems than helping someone else. And I popped over before I came here to ask her to come. It was the thought of those poor orphans that persuaded her. She’s a good woman, you know.’
Reenie felt a new respect for Muriel. She was an interfering busybody, but her heart was usually in the right place. But now she was going to have to sit in a room with this poor, ravaged woman and resist the temptation to tell her that her son was alive. It was just too cruel to keep the news from her. She’d known keeping this secret wouldn’t be easy, but suddenly she understood that the weight of it had the potential to destroy her peace of mind. Surely if Colin had any inkling of how desperately sad his mother was, he wouldn’t want her to continue to suffer?
Pulling her arm away from Mrs Palmer’s, Reenie walked up to her. ‘Mrs Guthrie, how lovely to see you.’
The woman gave her a surprised look. ‘Really?’ she asked, her tone flat.
‘Are you coming for the meeting?’ she asked.
She nodded. ‘We’ve got some room at the bakery. We could easily put one or two of the children up if necessary.’
There was a snort, and Reenie’s heart sank as she realised Lou Carter had come up behind them. ‘Probably best not, eh, Mrs Guthrie? Last time you put someone up it didn’t end too well. Who you talkin’ about anyway?’
Mary Guthrie’s cheeks coloured.
Mrs Palmer intervened. ‘Thank you, Mrs Carter, but I don’t think we’ll be needing your input, so do get back to your business. Plenty of hungry soldiers eager for a pint of whelks, even at this early hour.’
‘What’s goin’ on?’ she asked, looking through the café’s celluloid window.
‘WVS business,’ Mrs Palmer said airily. ‘Nothing to do with you. Come on, ladies, let’s get started.’ She held open the café door and waited for Reenie and Mary to pass. Then before Lou could follow her, she shut it behind her.
Cissy looked up from serving a couple of customers. ‘You must be Mrs Palmer,’ she said with a wide smile. ‘What a night we’ve had. Honestly, I can’t believe what goes on here. After my quiet life—’
‘Mrs Palmer, Mrs Guthrie, this is Cissy, Nellie’s cousin, who’s come to help out,’ Reenie interrupted. In the basement last night, she’d discovered very quickly that it was best to cut Cissy off sooner rather than later or you’d never get away.
‘Cousin, is it?’ Mrs Palmer examined her curiously. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever heard of you.’
‘Oh, I left many years ago, before the last war. But I’m back now, and happy to help in any way I can. I put the kiddies to bed myself just a moment ago, poor mites. Filthy, they were. But oh, such sweet little things. I’m sure that if—’
‘I think we better get up there then,’ Mrs Palmer interrupted.
Cissy nodded. ‘Course you should. Miss Frost and Mavis from the Oak are already there. Maybe later we can all catch up. Goodness, isn’t this exciting. I’ve not had this much fun since . . .’
But Muriel had already moved on, Mary following closely behind her.
Cissy gave Reenie a dejected look. ‘Was I talkin’ too much?’
Reenie patted her arm. ‘They’re just in a hurry.’
Cissy smiled slightly. ‘No, I was talking too much. Me and my mouth. Auntie Gert always said—’ She stopped. ‘There I go again. Go on up, love.’
Behind her, the door crashed open and Lou Carter strode in. ‘If there’s town business to discuss,’ she said, ‘then it’s only right I should be here.’ She folded her arms across her ample chest and squinted at Cissy. ‘Christ alive, if it ain’t Cissy bloody Stewart! Last I heard you’d run off with that old geezer from the band. Amazed Nellie let you in the door. You’d’ve thought you’d committed murder the way she went on after you’d gone. Then again, no one would’ve blamed you if you’d done in her old hag of a mother.’
Cissy frowned. ‘You ain’t changed, Lou. And me and Nellie have made our peace. I’d love to chat, but I’m in charge here this mornin’ and I’m a bit busy.’ She sidled out from behind the counter and went to take an order from a couple of women who’d just walked in.
‘I might not have changed, but she has. Last time I asked her a question, I was stuck for twenty minutes. Mind you, that were over thirty years ago,’ Lou said reflectively. ‘So what’s goin’ on up there, Reenie?’
Reenie sighed. ‘You may as well come up,’ she said. ‘But please be nice to Mrs Guthrie. She’s having a terrible time and you’re not helping.’
‘Lips are sealed,’ Lou promised as she followed her up the stairs.