For a second Joan thought of calling out to him. She had the crazy idea that he might even offer Audrey and her a lift home in the back of the van. But she immediately thought better of it, especially as Audrey was nowhere to be seen and there was no knowing when she would turn up again. Anyway, it was already too late. The traffic jam had eased and the whole column began to move forward.
Joan settled down again with her chin on her hands. She thought gloomily that she seemed fated to keep encountering Ronnie all over the place. Exactly what he was doing here she had no idea. She imagined it was something to do with his work with the Army Catering Corps. At least it was better than seeing him at their house. If only Mum wouldn’t encourage him! Surely she couldn’t like him, not all that much? Not enough to want to dance cheek to cheek with him? But clearly she did.
Again, Joan checked her watch. She wished she had something to read or, better still, that she had her sketchbook with her. She could have done some drawing to pass the time. But she didn’t even have a newspaper, let alone a pencil and paper.
It was an enormous relief to see Audrey running back up the street at last. But she was crying again. Her ruined make-up was blotched all over her cheeks. Joan put a comforting arm around her.
“Did you see Dai?” she asked.
Audrey shook her head and, for a while, she was mute with unhappiness. Then she said, “They wouldn’t let me anywhere near the dock. There were lots of people going in and out of the entrances, but they were all dockers with passes. I told them at the gate that it was really urgent and asked them if they could get a message through, but they wouldn’t listen. Told me to get off home quick sharp before it gets any darker.”
“I suppose we’d better do that,” said Joan. “No use staying here now. And we’ve really got to get back to Mum, Audrey. She’ll be worried stiff, and it won’t do her any good wondering where we are when she’s feeling ill.”
Wearily, they picked up the bundles, which seemed heavier than before, and began the long trudge back to the station. Audrey’s high heels were hurting her. This time it was Joan who led the way. They were both too despondent to speak. Once they chose a wrong turn and it took some time to get back onto the right route.
They were still making their way down the street that they hoped was the quickest way back to Liverpool Central station when the sirens started. The road they were on began to empty right away. People pushed past them, dragging children by the hand, as they made for the air-raid shelters. An Air Raid Precautions warden in a white helmet hurried up to them.
“Looks like a daylight raid,” he said. “You girls had better get into the shelter with the others as quick as you can.”
“But we can’t!” said Audrey, distraught. “My sister and I are expected home. We’ve got to get to Central station.”
The warden shook his head firmly.
“No, no. The trains probably won’t even be running right now, anyway. You’ll have to take cover till it’s over.” And he began to shepherd them along with the others.
Audrey dissolved into tears again, and Joan felt desperate. Everything seemed to be conspiring against them today, and being delayed by an air raid at this juncture was more than she could bear. Mum would be frantic with worry. But at that moment there came a shout from behind them.
“Just a moment, officer!”
A private car had pulled onto the kerb and a man jumped out. It was Mr Russell! He greeted Joan and Audrey briefly, and, to his eternal credit, did not waste time on asking them what on earth they were doing in this part of Liverpool. He simply addressed himself directly to the air-raid warden, showing his identity card.
“These two young ladies are neighbours of ours. I’m on my way home with my wife, who just came off an eight-hour shift as a van driver. I think they might be safer if we gave them a lift home with us, out of the danger area. I don’t mind driving through this, and I’ve been told that the Mersey Tunnel is still open.”
The harassed warden hesitated, but only for a moment. He had a great many other people to think about.
“All right, sir – it might be best if you will take full responsibility for getting them home. I’m consigning them to your care. Understand?”
Joan and Audrey, clutching their packages, had jumped in the back of the car almost before he had finished speaking.
It took some time for Mr Russell to manoeuvre a way through the traffic, but with some skilful driving, they were soon on their way. It was only then that Audrey had recovered enough to explain, with tears in her eyes, their whole disastrous errand. “They wouldn’t let me near the dock,” she told them. “Wouldn’t let me see Dai. And he’s going away again soon.”
Mrs Russell listened sympathetically. She was particularly concerned about their mum being ill.
“Please don’t tell her where we met,” said Audrey. “I mean, that we were in Liverpool. She’d only get upset.”
“Of course. I won’t say a word about it if you’d rather I didn’t,” Mrs Russell said. “The most important thing is to get you back as soon as possible so you can look after her. This alert might be a false alarm – they often are. But there may well be another Blitz tonight and we must get you out of here before then. I tell you what, why don’t you let us deliver those parcels to our local Red Cross dressing station? We can run them over in the car. Then you can get straight home.”
“Oh, Mrs Russell – would you really?”
It was very dark by the time the Russells dropped the girls back at their front door. “Send your mother our love. I hope she feels better soon,” Mrs Russell called after them.
Brian was in the hall. “Whatever took you so long?” he said. “Mum’s asleep. I made her a hot drink, but she wouldn’t eat anything. Good job she hasn’t woken up or she would have started doing her nut about where you two had got to.”
Joan and Audrey were both too exhausted to explain their terrible day all over again. Luckily Brian hadn’t seen Mr Russell’s car.
“Is Judy still at the Hemmings’?” asked Audrey, changing the subject.
“Yes,” said Brian. “I rang them earlier and they’ve offered to have her for the night.”
“Thank goodness for that,” said Joan. The thought of getting Judy to bed would have been the last straw. All three of them trailed dejectedly into the back room.
“Is there anything for supper?” Brian asked. “I’m starving!”