2

‘It must be Bob.’ Freda struggled to her feet and took the coat Sarah had thrust at her. ‘Perhaps you should run on ahead, Sarah,’ she said before grabbing Georgina’s arm. ‘You can help me with the pram; we can’t leave William here alone.’ She chuckled, trying to lighten the girl’s mood, thinking that if Bob had died, it wasn’t something for a child to see.

Georgina looked puzzled, but did as she was told.

Sarah entered her nan’s house using the key tied to a string inside the letter box. Ruby had never removed the key in all the time Sarah could remember. ‘Nan!’ she called out, hurrying in the direction of the sound of Ruby crying. ‘Oh, my goodness, you’re not dead,’ she said without thinking, as she came across Bob doing his best to comfort Ruby.

‘Not the last time I checked,’ he answered gruffly as he wiped his own tears away. He was a man who was not frightened to show his emotions, which was what had attracted Ruby to him in the first place. Now long retired from the police force, he still kept his grey hair short and his face clean-shaven and took a pride in his appearance when the occasion dictated. ‘It’s the King. Seems he passed away this morning. He’s no age at all. It certainly makes you think, doesn’t it?’

‘Oh, it does,’ Sarah said as she knelt by her nan’s armchair to give her a cuddle. ‘Come on, Nan. If I’m not mistaken, you will have a houseful before too long, as the family hear the news; you know how everyone comes to number thirteen to be together in times of trouble.’

‘And to celebrate. Not that this is a celebration,’ Bob added quickly, as Ruby gave him one of her stares.

Sarah gave him a sympathetic smile. ‘Nan, shall we get out your best china, and toast the King’s memory with a nice cup of tea?’

Ruby perked up. ‘I’m a silly old woman. Yes, you’re right. I’d hate anyone to think I wasn’t up to offering a decent cuppa.’

‘I’ll help you,’ Freda said as she parked the pram in the hallway and checked William was still sleeping. ‘Georgina told me we got the wrong end of the stick,’ she grinned. ‘I almost went into labour with the shock. Thank goodness you are well, Bob,’ she added quickly.

‘I do have a few aches and pains.’ He started to explain, before Ruby told him to go and put a clean shirt and tie on. ‘No peace for the wicked,’ he muttered, giving Freda a broad wink, which made her giggle.

‘Close the upstairs curtains,’ Ruby bellowed after him as he hurried upstairs. ‘Georgina, be a love and close the curtains in the front room.’

‘Why do I have to do that? It won’t get dark for hours?’

‘It’s a mark of respect, love. Do you remember when old Mr Michaels, who lived up the road, passed away and we closed our curtains on the day of the funeral?’ Sarah said.

Georgina was thoughtful. ‘But the King only died this morning.’

Ruby shook her head. The child had an answer for everything. ‘It’s the way we show how much he meant to us, now the country is in mourning. Now, why don’t you help me lay out a tea tray? Thank goodness I made a jam sponge cake the other day.’

Georgina nodded and set about helping Ruby. ‘I can help you make more cake if you wish?’ she asked, but Ruby had her mind on other things as Bob came downstairs.

‘Bob, take off your bicycle clips,’ she bellowed as she spotted him peering at the cake she’d placed on her best cake stand. ‘Whatever do you look like?’

‘I thought I’d cycle over to George and Maureen’s and tell them the news, in case they hadn’t heard. I could knock on our Mike and Gwyneth’s door on my way.’

Ruby bent to remove the clips from around his ankles. ‘You don’t need those to walk into the front room and use our telephone. George will be there, even if Maureen’s out. He is looking after Buster; mind you, let it ring for a while as they could be in the garden. After that, you can walk over the road to number one to tell Mike and Gwyneth and the kids to come over. I’d best rustle up some sandwiches as well,’ she added thoughtfully.

‘There’s no need to put on a spread, Nan. People will come here because they are sad. It’s not a party.’

‘She’s right. A cup of tea is good enough while we remember our King,’ Bob agreed.

‘Then keep that bottle of whisky in the sideboard,’ Ruby called after him as he left the room; she knew all too well what Bob was like. He’d be topping up the men’s teacups with the whisky if she didn’t keep an eye on him; it was the same at every funeral and family get-together. ‘What is it with you men?’ she muttered, before paying attention to Georgina, who had pulled on an apron and had her head in a cupboard, reaching for a large mixing bowl. ‘What are you up to?’

‘Making another cake; there won’t be enough for everyone, and they will all want feeding,’ she said in a grown-up voice.

Ruby roared with laughter. ‘Don’t you go worrying your young head about such things. I reckon people won’t arrive empty-handed. Leave it to the adults, eh?’

Georgina scowled and pulled off the apron. ‘But I’m going to be a cook, like Nanny Maureen. I need to practise.’

‘Another time, love,’ Sarah said as she straightened the child’s hair and gave her a kiss.

‘Nobody listens to me,’ she huffed.

Georgina was such a handful these days. Sarah thought with longing to the time when the children were younger; even with the war raging around them, she had loved that time with her babies. She sighed out loud as a smile crossed her face.

‘A penny for them, even though I have a good idea what’s on your mind,’ Freda said.

‘Oh, was it that obvious? You will feel just as I do when your baby grows up. Enjoy the early days, as they pass so quickly.’

‘You’re not too old to have another,’ Freda suggested.

‘Perhaps . . .’ Sarah replied. ‘I’d have to convince that husband of mine first. His head is more into his business these days than it is babies. Now, if I was to suggest having a bigger wireless in the house, or perhaps a television, I’d soon get his attention.’

Freda chortled with laughter as the front door opened and their friend, Maisie Carlisle, appeared.

‘I heard the news and felt so sad I thought I’d come straight down and be miserable with you. I thought this was supposed to be a sombre affair, and here you are laughing like a drain,’ Maisie said with a twinkle in her eye. ‘What have I missed?’ she asked, throwing off her bright-red coat and joining her friends in Ruby’s front room. ‘It’s blooming perishing out there.’

Sarah looked guilty. ‘It’s bad of us to be light-hearted when our Royal Family must be so terribly sad. I suppose that means Princess Elizabeth is our Queen now?’

‘And there she is, a young mother with two kiddies,’ Maisie said, looking thoughtful. ‘She’s just like us really, as we women have to carry on regardless whenever there is a problem.’

Sarah nudged Freda’s arm. ‘Don’t forget her husband should be a great support to her in these times, exactly as ours are . . . or should be.’

‘I take it Tony’s not home yet?’ Maisie asked, catching on quickly to Sarah’s knowing look. Freda started to look upset, causing Maisie to cut in quickly, ‘I’m just saying I’d love to have fewer people under my roof right now. I swear I’ll need a shoehorn to even get through the front door before too long, what with my youngsters growing so quickly.’

‘I don’t suppose when you and David purchased your house you expected to be a grandmother so soon.’

Maisie snorted. ‘Don’t forget that makes David a grandfather. I do like to pull his leg about that,’ she grinned before looking serious. ‘But you’re right. I didn’t expect it, and now we must do the best for our Bessie and the baby, regardless of what people say about one of my kids being an unmarried mother.’

Freda looked annoyed. ‘I take it Vera from up the road’s been adding her two penn’orth again? She’s such an irritating woman; I don’t understand how Ruby’s been her friend for so many years?’

‘I suppose it’s because they go back a long way, and Nan likes to get on with most people. If you think about it, we three have been friends now for over . . .’ Sarah stopped to count on her fingers. ‘Why, it’s over thirteen years.’

‘But we don’t go around running each other down to other people, do we?’

‘Forgive and forget; that’s the sign of a good friend, and perhaps that’s why our Ruby gets on well with Vera. She forgives the old bat’s outspoken ways,’ Maisie said.

‘It’s more that Nan stops Vera in her tracks and takes no nonsense from her,’ Sarah said. ‘What are you going to do about the sleeping situation in your house?’

Maisie lived at the top of Alexandra Road in one of the two double-fronted houses. It looked larger at the front, but was a similar size to the bay-fronted homes, and all had three large bedrooms.

‘David approached our next-door neighbour to ask if we could buy their house. They said no and dug their heels in, even when he offered a decent price. It would have saved us moving.’

Freda gave her a confused look. ‘Why would moving next door have given you more room?’

‘Did you mean you would keep both houses and knock a wall down, to make it one house? That would have been rather grand,’ Sarah said, thinking how much she longed to move out of her two-up, two-down in nearby Crayford Road.

‘I thought so too, and told David as much. That would have given Vera enough gossip fodder to keep her going for many a year. No, I reckon we are going to have to move, and soon, before the younger kids get much bigger. Young Ruby and the twins are squeezed into the back bedroom, while the baby is in with her mum and our Claudette. As for queuing up to use the loo . . . well, let’s just say it is murder, even though David had the outside toilet reversed so that we don’t have to stand in the cold garden any more. The other day I was tempted to use the little ones’ potty.’

‘Now, that is luxury,’ Sarah giggled. ‘I’m sure you will find somewhere to suit you all and, being selfish, I’m glad it will have to be local because of your businesses. And don’t you move miles away. I’d miss you,’ she added.

‘Bless you,’ Maisie said, patting her friend’s shoulder. ‘David did mention selling up and moving away, but I soon put a stop to that.’

‘I would’ve liked to have been a fly on the wall when you put him straight,’ Freda chuckled. ‘If it would be any help, I could have Bessie and the baby move in with me for a while,’ she offered. ‘We get on so well these days, now that we can chat about babies. Little Jenny is such a dear sweet thing. And only a few months older than my William.’

Maisie was thoughtful. ‘I’ll have to talk with David and Bessie. It would certainly help while we make plans, but I don’t want to impose, what with you and Tony having another baby arriving in a few months.’

Freda gave a harsh laugh, causing her two friends to raise their eyebrows in consternation. ‘Tony’s hardly home these days. I’m wondering if he will even be here to meet his child when it is born.’

‘Aw, don’t talk like that,’ Sarah said as she leant over to give her a hug. ‘Tony adores you and is only doing his best to learn his job and give you and your children a comfortable future.’

‘Yeah, and it’s not his fault he’s such a good cyclist that they want him to train our Olympic team,’ Maisie chipped in, shrugging her shoulders at Sarah, who gave her a questioning glance as she continued to hug Freda.

‘What’s going on here?’ Ruby asked as she came into the front room.

Freda pulled away from Sarah, taking a handkerchief from the cuff of her cardigan and blowing her nose. ‘Oh, it’s just me being silly,’ she said, giving a weak smile.

Ruby looked between the girls. Something was going on here, if she wasn’t mistaken. ‘There’s nothing silly about having a few tears. There’ll be a fair few shed across the nation today. It’s like we’ve lost a member of our family. The King was there for us all through the war. It doesn’t bear thinking how Queen Elizabeth and the two princesses are feeling at this moment.’

‘We have a new Queen Elizabeth now, and she’s only twenty-five,’ Maisie said. ‘Fancy being that age and being the head of a country; I couldn’t do that.’

‘She will be head of the Commonwealth,’ Sarah corrected her, thinking how adept Maisie was not only at caring for a large family, but also a successful clothing company, with a small factory and several shops. She knew no other woman who could juggle such a busy life. Maisie put them all to shame. Looking around at the downcast faces, she went on, ‘We ought to be thankful we have such a loyal Royal Family. Our new Queen will do a marvellous job, I’m sure. Things could be a lot worse. Why, we could still be at war and have our menfolk away from home, defending our country . . .’

‘Or organizing a team of cyclists.’ Freda burst out laughing, seeing the look of horror cross Sarah’s face as she realized what she had said. ‘Come on, let’s go out to the kitchen and sort out the washing up. I take it there is rather a lot?’ she asked Ruby.

‘That’s what I’d come in here to see you about. The children are complaining they are hungry, and Bob’s mentioned once or twice that his stomach thinks its throat’s been cut.’

‘Blimey, look at the time,’ Maisie said, looking towards the black marble clock on the mantelpiece over the fireplace. ‘I’d best get down home and get some housework done. I know I closed the factory early as a mark of respect, but it’s a shame not to put the extra time to good use.’

‘Stay and have a bite of food here. We can all muck in together. The kiddies are playing Snakes and Ladders with Bob in the other room, and it would be a shame to disturb them. Bob and Maureen will be here soon, to bring Buster back, and Maureen said she’ll bring a loaf with her as she’s been baking; we can make toast and have a fresh pot of tea.’

‘Make that cheese on toast.’ Freda struggled to her feet. ‘I’ve a large lump of Cheddar in my pantry that I can donate. It tends to give me indigestion these days.’

‘In that case, I’ve got a bowl of fresh eggs down home,’ Maisie said. ‘I’ll come with you, Freda, and then we can walk down to my house as well. Anyone who doesn’t want cheese on toast can have a fried egg instead,’ she said, taking Freda’s arm as they left number thirteen.

‘I’ll keep an eye on William,’ Sarah called after them as she followed Ruby into the kitchen.

‘What was that all about?’ Ruby asked her granddaughter as they started to wash up the cups and saucers and prepare for making a meal. There wasn’t much room in the small kitchen as they worked around each other. A stone pantry in the corner took up much of a side wall, next to the white stone sink and wooden draining board, while on the opposite wall a stove and cupboards filled the space. Thankfully the large living room had room for a table and chairs and a large sideboard, as well as Ruby’s beloved wireless. A couple of armchairs set each side of an open fire made the room very cosy, leaving the front room with its bay window for more formal occasions. Ruby was often to be heard pointing out that the road was once called Piano Street, as many people kept a piano in the front room, which was a sign that the houses were a little further up the social scale than the surrounding streets.

Sarah smiled to herself. Her nan didn’t miss a thing. ‘Freda’s upset about Tony not being home much at the moment; one minute she’s defending him, and the next she wants him home. I can’t say I blame her. What with him being sent all over the place by Woolworths, and then he’s been given leave because of the Olympics. It’s time he realized he’s got a wife and a toddler at home, let alone another on the way,’ she huffed.

‘He went with Freda’s blessing – and ours as well. If you remember, we promised to care for Freda, and that’s the only reason Tony agreed to go to the training camp.’

‘Yes, but then there’s his work . . .’

‘Don’t see problems where there aren’t any, Sarah,’ Ruby admonished her. ‘Tony will in time hold an important job with F. W. Woolworth, and at the moment if they say jump, he must do so. He’s done well working in the Erith store; you’ve said yourself you got along with him when you worked with him?’

‘If more women ran the stores, there would be more understanding about women needing their men at home at times like this.’

‘It’s the way of the world, and we can’t go changing things. We’re here for Freda, and Tony will be back in a flash when the baby decides to arrive. There’s time for that yet.’ Ruby stopped and thought for a couple of moments. ‘Perhaps I’ll have her move in here with me and Bob. I can keep an eye on her and lend a hand with William.’

‘We’ve solved that problem. With Maisie’s house fit to burst, we thought it would be a good idea for Bessie and her baby to lodge with Freda for a while until Maisie has sorted out her housing problem; if Bessie agrees.’

‘That is a good idea, but if it doesn’t work out, I have two bedrooms here going begging. I enjoyed having you, Maisie and Freda living here when you first came to Erith.’

‘And I loved living here with you, Nan. Those were the days.’ She chuckled as they both turned their minds to a time before the war started and the babies came along.

Georgina wheedled her way into the kitchen and gave a big sigh as she leant against the door frame.

‘Whatever is wrong with you?’ Sarah asked, stroking her daughter’s cheek.

‘I want to do some cooking.’

‘Now’s not the right time, love. Nanny Ruby has guests and doesn’t have time to watch you bake. Why not put your coat on and go out into the garden for a breath of fresh air, or perhaps join Granddad Bob and play Snakes and Ladders with the others?’

Georgina gave another exaggerated sigh. ‘All right, I’ll go out into the garden . . .’

‘She’s got a bit of a bee in her bonnet, going on about baking cakes. I had to put her off earlier.’

‘Oh, Nan, she’s been a complete pest. Maureen allowed her to help make some buns. Now she wants to be a cook and work in Woolworths, just like her Nanny Maureen. I’m all for girls learning to cook, but she won’t let go of the idea. Last night Georgie started to tell me how Nanny Maureen makes her steamed syrup puddings differently to me. I could have screamed.’

Ruby chuckled. ‘She will learn the hard way; no cook likes to be criticized in their own kitchen. I’m sure it’s a fad and will soon pass. Next week she’ll want to do something else when she leaves school.’

‘I pray it is something that won’t have her in my tiny kitchen every five minutes. She won’t do her own chores, and thinks she can simply cook all the time. As for her leaving school, well, that’s three or four years away. I doubt I can cope that long.’

Ruby thought for a moment. ‘I do have an idea that may help,’ she said, before checking the child wasn’t loitering outside the door, then speaking to Sarah in a hushed tone.

‘What a day,’ Bob said as he walked into the front room, carrying a tea tray. ‘I thought you could do with a cuppa, now the hordes have gone home.’

‘You’ve read my mind,’ Ruby said from where she’d made herself comfortable in her favourite armchair by the fireside. It had seen better days and the cushions were lumpy, but it was the place where she liked to sit and relax. ‘It’s been a sad day, but all the same lovely to have some of the family together. It reminded me of the days when I was needed more.’

‘What are you talking about, woman?’ Bob asked, settling down on the settee and stretching his legs. ‘Friends and family are here all the time. You’re never short of visitors.’

Ruby tutted. ‘You don’t understand. They now come to see if I want a bit of shopping done, or to check up on us. They don’t want my help or advice, like the old days. It makes me feel old.’

Bob laughed out loud, ignoring Ruby’s scowl. ‘I hate to remind you that we are both old. And as far as I’m concerned, I like people popping in to give me a hand in the garden or up the allotment. Did I tell you our Mike’s going to help me distemper the toilet next week? He’s a good lad.’

Ruby shook her head; trust a man not to understand, but she had to admit that Bob’s only son, Mike, was an affable man. If he wasn’t helping his wife, Gwyneth, bring up their two youngsters, he was doing more than his fair share of tending their family allotment. All that and being a local bobby. ‘We’d be lost without him,’ she said with a smile.

‘As we would without yours; you did a good job caring for them, and now they are reciprocating.’

‘That’s a long word, coming from you,’ she said warmly. ‘I don’t begrudge their help and today was a good example of that. It’s just . . .’

‘It’s just that you want to be telling them how to live their lives,’ he said warily, knowing that his wife could take offence if she thought he meant she was being bossy.

‘I’d never interfere, and well you know it. I simply want to be here for them, and to be able to play my part. I never did tell you how hurt I felt when Maureen went part-time at Woolworths so she could help our Sarah look after the kids while she was working. I’m Sarah’s grandmother and should have been the one to carry on helping.’

‘Now you’re being silly,’ Bob said. ‘Maureen’s as much family as you are to those kiddies, and she’s younger than you. Let her take on the daily care, and then you can enjoy them even more when they come to visit. Didn’t I hear you advising Sarah this afternoon?’

Ruby smiled. ‘Yes, I was able to help her with our Georgina. The child’s got a bee in her bonnet about being a cook, and Sarah’s that busy with her job at Woolworths that she can’t show Georgina how to bake cakes and such, much as she wants to. I said Georgie can come here on Saturday morning and she can cook to her heart’s content while I guide her.’

‘See, you are helping the family,’ Bob said as he picked up his cup and gulped his tea.

Ruby gave up trying to explain how she felt. Yes, she would enjoy her time with Georgina at the weekend, but she felt it wasn’t the same as her life had been in years gone by. She shuddered inwardly as the thought how she was reaching her twilight years and things would never be as they used to be.

They both jumped as someone hammered on the door. ‘Who the hell is that, at this time of night?’ Bob asked as he got to his feet.

‘You’ll never know unless you take a look,’ Ruby replied as she glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. Her heart skipped a beat; it was gone eleven o’clock. Only trouble came knocking at this time of night.