Betty yawned as she got up from her desk and wandered over to pull up the sash window in her office. A blast of warm air filtered in along with the sounds of people down in the street below. It was a Saturday and trade was brisk in the store downstairs. She’d hardly slept, what with waiting up for Douglas and then tossing and turning worrying about her eldest stepdaughter, Clemmie. Whatever she did, the girl wasn’t happy and she seemed to take pleasure in making Betty feel uncomfortable in her own home. Douglas seemed oblivious to what was happening under his own roof. She would just have to bite the bullet and have a word with him. She turned sharply as someone knocked on her door.
‘Come in.’
Freda stepped in holding a cloth money bag weighted with coins. ‘I’m sorry to bother you, Betty. I’m finishing off the collection for Maureen. She leaves Woolies the day after tomorrow and I’ve still not thought about what to buy her as a leaving present. I wondered if you’d like to contribute?’
‘My goodness, is it that soon? I thought we had another week before she left. Oh my, I’ve still to find someone who can work in the staff canteen and cook decent meals for our workers. I take it you had no luck asking the counter staff?’ Betty said as she reached for the handbag that was tucked under her desk and pulled out her purse.
‘Not yet. A couple of them showed some interest but it came to nothing. I’ve put a postcard up on the wall in the staffroom and said to speak to you.’
‘That’s a good idea. I’ve notified the labour exchange that we’re looking for a cook but, like you, I’ve yet to be successful. Oh dear,’ she said, looking into her purse. ‘I could have sworn . . .’
‘Is there something wrong?’ Freda asked, stepping closer to the desk.
‘I could have sworn I had two half crowns in my purse. They were there last night when I paid my bus fare.’ She shook her head in disbelief.
‘You didn’t spend them this morning on your way to work?’
‘No, Douglas had an appointment in Erith so he kindly drove me to work.’ She didn’t add that it was in a hearse. ‘I’ll go up to the bank at lunchtime and withdraw some money. Put me down for five shillings and collect it this afternoon, otherwise I may forget that as well,’ she said, looking bemused.
Freda gave Betty a wary look. Betty didn’t seem to be on top form lately. Perhaps she was taking on too much now she had a husband as well as a busy job? ‘I’ll catch you later. There’s no rush,’ she grinned, trying to hide her thoughts as someone else knocked on the door. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’
Freda left the door open as she went out and Betty looked up to see who had knocked. ‘Please do come in,’ she called out after waiting to see who would appear. She was surprised to see the cleaner, Enid.
‘Can you spare me a minute, Mrs Billington?’
‘Hello, Enid,’ Betty said. She had no idea what the woman wanted but with her mind still on the money that had vanished from her purse she was in no mood to listen to the problems of her staff.
Enid limped into the room and took the chair opposite Betty. ‘I’ve come about the job.’
‘The job? Are you not happy with your cleaning job?’ Betty asked. She had meant to have a chat with the woman but it had slipped her mind. She was aware that Freda had been chasing Enid to keep her on her toes but beggars couldn’t be choosers these days with the staffing problems she had in the store. ‘I really don’t have time to discuss your work at the moment but if you’d like to come back later in the day, I can see you then,’ she said, smiling at the woman, who seemed very nervous.
‘It’s about the cook’s job. I want to give it a go. I see the advert in the canteen and no one’s taken it down so I thought I could give it a go.’
Betty stared at the woman. For some reason she’d never really taken to her and her first thought was to wonder if her cooking was as good as her cleaning of the store. She was saved by the sudden wailing of an air-raid siren as it built to a crescendo that blocked out every other sound. Even now, after nearly four years of war, the sound was enough to make her want to curl up in a ball and hide.
‘Mrs Billington, we need to go down into the cellar,’ Enid said, standing up and moving as quickly as she could out of the office with her limp.
Betty followed, stopping only to lock the office door and check the upstairs storeroom and canteen were empty, before going down to the shop floor and the entrance to the cellar. Her head was still buzzing with her problems. Would Enid be a suitable cook, and whatever was young Clemmie up to? Betty was sure of one thing, and that was that her stepdaughter was behind the money that was missing from her purse.
Ruby straightened her WVS uniform and reached for her matching green hat. She had a busy afternoon ahead of her at Christ Church hall where the women now met. It was Maisie’s afternoon running the rag rug group as well as overseeing the ‘make do and mend’ ladies. She stepped out of her front door and looked up the road to see Maisie heading towards her, young Ruby’s pram laden down with clothes and a box.
‘I hope young Ruby’s safe under that lot?’ she asked with concern.
Maisie hooted with laughter. ‘David’s home so he’s got her fer the afternoon. The girls are at school so he shouldn’t have any problems. He reckons he’s going to sort out the garden and think about planting some veg once he’s had a chat wiv Bob about what to put and where.’
‘Let’s hope her ladyship sleeps through then or he’ll not get much done. Men and their big ideas, eh?’ Ruby smiled.
‘As long as David remembers to change the little one’s nappy and give her a bottle I don’t care what he does. By the way, what’s going on with Gwyneth? I really need to get cracking on wiv her wedding dress. I caught her at Woolies yesterday, when I went in for some black thread, and she said she had no time and then avoided speaking to me.’
Ruby helped Maisie to steer the pram around the sharp bend into Manor Road, putting her hand on the load to stop it slipping. ‘Her and Mike have had a bit of a barney. She reckons the wedding’s off. She was in a right state the other night and so was Myfi as she overheard them arguing.’
‘Blimey, I didn’t think Mike was one fer arguing. He don’t seem the type. Dependable and honest is how I think of ’im. What do you reckon is the problem? I like the pair of them and it would be perfect fer them to settle down with some kiddies of their own. Myfi needs brothers and sisters and the pair of them would make ideal parents.’
‘I was hoping to have a word with Mike to see if I could help out in any way,’ Ruby explained. She didn’t want to mention that Gwyneth had refused to live in the rooms that Maisie and David had just vacated in case it offended her. Besides, it was not her place to share what she’d been told in confidence.
‘Why don’t you go down and see ’im at the police station? He’s on duty now as David bumped into ’im earlier as he headed off ter work.’
‘What, and be late for our meeting? They’ll have my guts for garters if I’m not on time,’ Ruby said, although she thought Maisie’s idea was a good one.
‘Go straight there now and I’ll cover for you. They’ll hardly know you’re gone before you’re back. If yer know what I mean?’ she grinned.
‘I do and I will,’ Ruby laughed.
The two women parted company at the junction of Pier Road and the High Street, with Ruby hurrying past the many shops in the High Street towards the riverfront where the police station backed onto the Thames beside the jetty. She noticed a queue at the fishmonger’s and thought about making fish and chips for tea. She had a bit of flour for the batter, although it would have to be dried egg in the mix as her Pat hadn’t been by lately with any spare eggs from the farm where she worked. It was a bright sunny day with people making the most of the sunshine. Not perturbed by the earlier air-raid warning, there were families making the most of the lovely day, taking in the air and watching the world go by on the river, albeit mainly ships painted a dreary gun-metal grey.
Pushing open the heavy double doors, she went up to the counter where, apart from someone reporting a lost dog, things seemed to be quiet. No major crime in Erith today, Ruby smiled to herself. It was Mike himself who came out of a side room to serve her.
After exchanging pleasantries Ruby got to the point. ‘Mike, I wondered if we could have a quiet word in private?’ she asked, giving the police sergeant a serious look.
Mike frowned. ‘I hope there’s nothing wrong, Ruby?’ he replied, showing her through to a small room to the right of the high counter.
‘I’ve not broken the law, if that’s what you mean, but I do know of a young woman with a broken heart living in my house. I don’t want to poke my nose in where it’s not wanted,’ Ruby said, taking the seat offered to her by a worried-looking Mike. ‘It’s just that if I can help in any way, I feel it’s my responsibility to enquire, being as how Gwyneth’s parents live a long way off and me being affianced to your dad, like.’
A small smile crossed Mike’s face at Ruby’s quaint way of speaking as he sat opposite her and rubbed his hands through his hair. ‘You’re the nearest thing to a mother that I have right now, Ruby. I need to speak to someone. I’m that muddled that I fear I’ll lose Gwyneth for good if I’m not careful. I dare not speak to Dad as he’ll tell me to pull myself together and act like a man.’
Ruby laughed. She could imagine her Bob doing just that. ‘You can tell me whatever you want. It’ll go no further. So what is it that’s worrying you? I take it this isn’t just a case of cold feet, lad?’
‘I wish it was, Ruby. It’s more a mix of a few things that, when added together, have me worried sick about committing to Gwyneth.’
‘And Myfi – you can’t forget the child. The pair of them come as a package.’
‘I’d have it no other way. I already think of her as a daughter. She’s the apple of my eye. No, it’s the thought of having children with Gwyneth that has me tied up in knots, along with giving her a good home.’
Ruby nodded thoughtfully. ‘She mentioned you’d said about taking on those rooms that Maisie and David rented until recently.’
‘I can’t understand how I put my foot in it. Maisie made it a good home and with Avenue Road being one of the best in town, facing out over the farm like it does and backing onto the recreation ground, it would be just right for Myfi to enjoy.’ He shook his head in despair. ‘I thought it would suit us down to the ground.’
‘The problem is that Gwyneth sees the future more clearly than you. The pair of you are older than the usual young couples setting out in life. I get the feeling that Gwyneth wants children and that she’d like them to come along pretty soon.’
Mike looked embarrassed and ran his finger round the collar of his uniform jacket as his face turned a beetroot colour. ‘That’s the other problem. I reckon I’m too old for babies. If anything happens to me in this war, I don’t want to leave Gwyneth not being able to cope. It’s a lot to consider.’
It was Ruby’s turn to go red in the face but this time it was with anger. ‘Mike Jackson, that is the most selfish thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Why, any one of us could be wiped out by a bomb, step under a bus or drop stone dead at any time. We can’t worry about the future but we can plan to be happy. You, my lad, can make Gwyneth a very happy woman, as well as a certain little girl who is dying to be a bridesmaid.’
Mike looked shamefaced. ‘I’d not thought of it like that,’ he admitted. ‘In truth I’ve always fancied myself as a dad.’
‘As for your living accommodation, that’s soon mended. Bob can move in with me, then you’ll have the house to yourself.’
‘What, you’ll be marrying Dad? That’s jolly good news and about time too.’
Ruby held her hands up in horror. ‘Hold on there, Mike. I didn’t say anything of the sort. Please don’t start putting ideas into his head, will you? There will be a spare room going begging once Gwyneth and the youngster move out. He can kip down in there. What will you do about the room you let out? Surely you won’t want a stranger under your roof once you’re married.’
‘God, Ruby, I’ve not given that any thought,’ Mike said, looking worried. ‘I can’t really kick the bloke out. He’s not got any family around here.’
Ruby stopped to think. It was good of Mike and his dad to give a room to Mike’s colleague but what could they do with him now things were changing? ‘Don’t worry about that for now. I’ll have a think about it. There’s bound to be somewhere he can put his head down that’s clean and respectable. What you need to do next is to have a chat with Gwyneth and clear the air before she packs her bags and goes home to Wales.’
Mike looked pale with shock. ‘She wouldn’t do that, would she?’
Ruby shrugged her shoulders. ‘The way she was talking it was on the cards. I suggest you sort out your differences sooner rather than later. If you’re off duty this evening, why not take her somewhere nice? Erith Dance Studio has got a social on. You can pick tickets up at the door. I’ll look after Myfi; she’s a good kid and no trouble at all. She enjoys playing board games and is eager to learn how to play crib. Freda’s off to London to see a show with Sarah and Maisie so we’ll have the place to ourselves, apart from Nelson that is – that dog dotes on Myfi, as she does on him. I can see you having a dog as a lodger once you’re married.’
Mike stood up and gave Ruby a big kiss on her cheek. ‘You’re a good woman, Ruby Caselton.’
Ruby left the police station as pleased as punch that she’d been able to put Mike’s mind at rest and help the situation. She liked a good wedding and Gwyneth and Mike would make a handsome couple. The only fly in the ointment would be Bob living under her roof. Despite her telling him she wasn’t ready to marry until she was sure her Eddie would approve, he was still pestering her to name the day. ‘Well, he’ll just have to wait until I’m good and ready,’ she muttered to herself. ‘If Bob’s that keen to marry, he can pop up the road to Vera and ask her. She’d not turn him down.’
Freda sat entranced as she watched the stage. Show Boat was such a splendid musical. She’d sat, almost shedding tears, as the emotional and powerful ‘Old Man River’ was sung by one solo male singer in the middle of the stage and the next minute was tapping her toes along to the more lively show tunes. Perhaps it was the cocktail that Maisie had treated them to before the show that had her in such a merry mood or just the delight of forgetting the war for a few hours, even though she still had her gas mask close to hand to be on the safe side. She knew that many people had stopped carrying the cumbersome masks but surely the government would not have distributed them without cause? No, Freda intended to carry hers in the handbag-style box that Maisie had covered in a pretty scrap of fabric until the day the war ended.
‘Thank you so much for this wonderful treat,’ Sarah said to their young friend as they filed out of the building amongst the happy throng of theatregoers. ‘I shall remember this evening for as long as I live.’
Maisie reached for her cigarettes and inhaled deeply, blowing out a cloud of smoke. ‘I must admit it was very good. The costumes were fantastic considering the designers have the same constraints put on them as we do when making clothing. I suppose some dresses would have been used from other productions. Make do and mend never seems to stop, does it?’ she said in a bitter voice. ‘If there’s one thing that gets me down about this war, it’s having to make do when I love to kit the kiddies out in new clothes without counting coupons and unpicking and remaking clothes. Bloody Hitler,’ she grinned at the girls, at the same time as nodding to a nearby bar. ‘Come on, I need another drink. David gave me some money to contribute to the treat so let’s blow the lot on cocktails. What do yer fancy?’ she asked, throwing her cigarette to the pavement and stubbing it out with the toes of one of her best brown suede shoes. ‘I’m going to ’ave a Singapore Sling if they ’aven’t run out of gin.’
‘I’d prefer a cup of tea,’ Sarah whispered to Freda as they followed Maisie through the boarded-up doors of the bar, ‘but I’ll not be a spoilsport. Let’s make a pact not to drink too much in case we miss our train. Betty won’t be happy if we don’t turn up at work. It’s Maureen’s last day and she still hasn’t found someone to replace her in the canteen. Here, there’s a table in the corner,’ she called out to Maisie, who was forging ahead through the crowd around the busy bar. ‘It looks like the fleet’s in,’ she grinned to Freda as they reached the crowd and the sound of happy drinkers became deafening.
‘Along with the RAF and half the army. This place is packed out. I’m going to grab that table before someone beats us too it,’ Freda shouted so that Sarah could hear her. ‘Keep an eye on Maisie so she doesn’t buy the strong stuff and get us drunk.’
‘You’ll be lucky, darling, they water it all down in here,’ a chirpy sailor winked at her. ‘On yer own, are you?’
Freda knew his sort and wasn’t keen for his attention. ‘I’m with my mates. My husband’s at home looking after our ten kids. Where’s your wife?’ The sailor muttered something unpleasant and turned back to his friends. She was still smiling to herself when Maisie and Sarah appeared with the drinks. Times had changed. Two years ago she’d not have said boo to a goose, let alone sent a sailor off with his tail between his legs.
‘What shall we toast to?’ Maisie said, raising her glass above her head.
‘Friendship?’ Sarah suggested.
‘We always toast to that. It goes without saying, doesn’t it?’ Maisie replied, still holding her glass up for the toast.
‘Then let it be finding a good cook for the staff canteen or we’ll die of hunger,’ Sarah suggested.
‘You can’t toast to looking for a cook,’ Maisie scoffed as her arm started to tremble.
‘Besides, Betty is giving Enid from over the road a trial. I don’t hold out much hope as she’s next to useless as a cleaner but beggars can’t be choosers,’ Freda chipped in.
‘God save us all,’ Maisie declared and took a swig from her glass.
‘I’m not sure I can manage another dance,’ Gwyneth said, leaning over to rub her foot.
Mike looked glum. ‘Goodness, I didn’t step on your toes again, did I? My feet are more used to plodding the beat than dancing.’
Gwyneth gave him a tender smile. ‘Oh Mike. You’re a wonderful dancer. I could stay in your arms forever. It’s just that I’ve been on my feet all day and these dance shoes Maisie lent me are a little tight.’
‘Why didn’t you say? Here, sit yourself down and I’ll fetch you a drink while you rest. I shall find you the best dancing shoes money can buy, then you’ll be able to dance with me to your heart’s content at our wedding,’ he declared as he led her to a vacant seat at the side of the dance floor.
A shadow crossed Gwyneth’s face. ‘Mike, I’m still not sure . . . I know I agreed to go dancing with you but as for a future together . . .’ She looked down at the engagement ring Mike had placed on her finger not so very long ago.
Mike bent down and took her hands in his. ‘Darling, things have changed. I have so much I want to say to you.’ He looked round at the crowded dance studio. ‘We can’t talk here. Do you think your feet could stand me taking you for a short walk?’
Gwyneth nodded her head. She’d hear Mike out. As she’d near enough made up her mind to return to Wales with Myfi to live with her parents after changing her mind about the wedding, it was only fair she say goodbye to him properly. She hated disappointing the man she adored so much but there was no point in walking into a future together when both had different thoughts on how the marriage should proceed.
‘I’ll get our coats,’ Mike grinned.
Gwyneth walked slowly through the dancing couples, avoiding looking at the happy faces. She would miss Mike so much it felt as though her heart was breaking, even though she had not yet told him she was leaving Erith. She met him at the entrance and he slipped her coat around her bare shoulders. She’d worn a pretty navy blue dance frock that was scattered with tiny yellow rosebuds. The darkness suited her black hair and sparkling eyes, although at the moment they portrayed only sadness.
‘Here, take my arm or you’ll trip in the darkness,’ Mike said as they crossed from where Erith Dance Studios was situated and walked in companionable silence up Pier Road.
‘It’s hard to believe this town can be so busy during the day and then so quiet at night,’ Gwyneth sighed. ‘You can’t even see the barrage balloons up the Thames.’
‘We’ll see them soon enough when the enemy approach. Our searchlights don’t miss a thing.’
Gwyneth shuddered. ‘I hate this war and what it’s doing to people’s lives. It took Myfi’s mother, my twin sister, from us,’ she said bitterly.
‘Myfi’s got you now and you’re a fine mother. No one could ever argue with that.’
‘It’s not the same, though, is it?’ She spun to look at him. Even though their faces were just inches from each other Mike couldn’t see if she was angry or upset. Taking a torch from his pocket, he led Gwyneth to steps in front of the door of the Woolworths store and placed his coat down, encouraging her to sit on the top step before propping his torch against a window which gave off a small glow of light.
‘Gwyneth, I’ve been a bloody fool. I’ve thought everything through and come to a decision.’
‘So have I, Mike. I’ve decided to return to the Valleys. There’s been too much heartache away from home. It’s time Myfi returned to Wales and her roots. There’s nothing here for either of us.’
Mike couldn’t believe what he was hearing. ‘Gwyneth, we had words. I know what I said wasn’t what you wanted to hear but believe me, I only meant to do what was best for you and Myfi. I’ve not been married before and to be honest, the whole business petrifies me.’
Gwyneth rested her elbows on her knees and covered her face with her hands. After a moment she looked up at Mike and gave him a watery smile. ‘Mike, don’t you think it petrifies me as well? I’ve had a violent marriage and I’ve seen my sister killed and Myfi left on her own. When I met you it was like coming home after a long time alone at sea. You’ve been gentle and kind and above all, I found I loved you.’
Mike reached out and took her hand. ‘I’ve never stopped loving you, Gwyneth. I could kick myself for being such a buffoon. I wanted a home for us and never thought for one moment that it wouldn’t be big enough for a proper family . . .’
‘You mean, you do want children?’
‘I want to adopt Myfi and I also want our babies, if we should be blessed with them. I’ve been a bit of a fool about us having kiddies, thinking I was too old, but I’ve come to my senses.’
Gwyneth couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘More than one baby?’
‘A hundred babies if that’s what you want, my love,’ he said, kissing the palm of her hand. ‘Just don’t run off to Wales and leave me alone. Promise me that.’
‘I promise I’ll never leave you, Mike,’ was all she could say before he pulled her close and kissed her gently.
‘I could kick myself for almost losing you,’ he said. Gwyneth returned his kiss and for a few moments they didn’t speak.
‘I don’t mind moving into the rooms up the Avenue. Maisie made them really homely.’
‘It’s too late. They’ve been taken,’ Mike replied, his voice still husky after their shared kisses.
Gwyneth was disappointed. ‘So we’re still left without a home?’
‘I have a lovely home ready for you across the road from Ruby.’
‘But that’s the home you share with your dad and you have a lodger from the police station,’ she said, trying not to sound disappointed, but then gave herself a stern talking-to. She had Mike back and shouldn’t expect too much, especially not in wartime. ‘Don’t worry, we can look for somewhere together. We should be grateful that we have each other,’ she told him firmly so that he understood she was happy with her lot.
Mike roared with laughter. ‘Oh my love, you don’t understand. Dad will move in with Ruby and we can find somewhere else for the lodger to live, even if it means him kipping in a cell down the station.’
‘That would be perfect,’ she sighed.
Gwyneth was just snuggling into Mike’s arms when they heard hurried footsteps and then someone bellowing, ‘Put that light out!’
‘God, I forgot Dad was on ARP duty,’ Mike said, grabbing the torch to switch it off and pulling Gwyneth to her feet.
‘What the hell’s going on here? You could have alerted half the German air force to come and bomb us,’ Bob roared as he arrived in front of them gasping for breath.
‘Hello, Dad, you’ll be pleased to hear the wedding’s back on.’