July 1943
‘Who was it suggested we go and work for the railway?’ Maureen asked as she kicked off one of her black leather work shoes and leant over to rub her toes. ‘My feet are killing me. Do you think this job will ever get easier?’
Irene joined Maureen on the small bench and yawned. ‘I hate to be the killjoy but we both thought working on the railway would help us win the war. All I’ve done in the past month is learn the timetable of all trains from the coast up to London and found out that handling baskets of carrier pigeons makes me sneeze. I had a hell of a time getting feathers off my uniform,’ she declared, checking her railway-issue jacket and brushing off imaginary marks. ‘George thought I’d been attacked by a flock of birds when I returned home and he wouldn’t stop chuckling all evening.’
Maureen grinned to herself. George was a good sort and at times his wife could be a little po-faced. There was never much merriment in their house unless young Georgina visited her grandparents. Maureen would love to have seen him with a smile on his face. Just because there was a war on it didn’t mean they couldn’t have a laugh or two. ‘How’s it going with your George at Vickers? Is he still busy?’
‘Busy? I never see him to ask about his day. We seem to be like ships that pass in the night, what with his long hours and my shift work. It’ll be even worse once we have to do night shifts when we’re completely trained.’
‘It could be worse,’ Maureen said. ‘At least you know he’s only a few streets away from home. Sarah’s at her wit’s end not having seen our Alan all these months. I must say, I’m missing him as well.’
‘Has Sarah not received a letter recently?’ Irene asked as she combed her hair and repositioned her uniform cap.
‘There was a letter for both of us a couple of weeks ago but we couldn’t make anything out from what he wrote. We even steamed off the stamps to see if he’d left a clue. It was something that Freda’s brother does while he’s away at sea. Then the letters arrived out of order and she never did find out what he was trying to say. The way the war’s panning out at the moment he could be almost anywhere in the world.’
‘At least he’s safe,’ Irene said.
‘How do you make that out?’
‘If he was a prisoner of war, the letters would come via the Red Cross. I heard someone at my WI meeting saying that’s how she heard about her son.’
‘God forbid,’ Maureen shuddered. ‘I just wish we could get back to normal. I for one will be happy when I’m back in the kitchen of Woolworths cooking for the staff.’
Irene looked down her nose. ‘You’d go back there?’
‘Betty came round to see if there was any chance of me coming back. It seems the new cook isn’t up to scratch. But I can’t just drop things here and go running back, can I?’
‘It’s up to you. You’re over the age of fifty so not obliged to do war work like I am. However, I thought you’d have wanted to do something more worthwhile.’
Maureen tried not to grin. She was less than two years older than Irene. ‘Years ago I had the chance to sing with a dance band but our Alan was still at school and it didn’t seem the right thing to do. Perhaps I’d have been another Gracie Fields or Vera Lynn singing to cheer up the troops.’
‘Anything would be better than working on this station platform in all weathers. I suppose even peeling potatoes in the Woolworths staff canteen sounds enticing.’
Maureen didn’t answer. She missed her old job more than she’d ever thought she would. From what Sarah had said the new cook wasn’t up to much and they’d started to take their own food into work rather than eat what Enid was cooking. She’d promised Betty that as soon as she had a free day in between her shifts she’d visit the store and give Enid a tip or two. She looked up, breaking away from her thoughts, as the stationmaster walked into the waiting room where they’d been resting.
‘Come on, you two. Whoever said a woman could do a man’s job was talking out of his backside. Caselton, there’s a train due in shortly and we need those bloody birds loaded or they’ll not get to the coast. Gilbert, you can take a turn in the ticket office. Look sharp now,’ he grunted as he left.
‘Oh no,’ Irene sighed. ‘I just hope there’s a strong guard on the train who can help me. I almost let a flock of birds out yesterday when a basket fell open.’
Maureen laughed as she bid Irene goodbye. A few hours in the ticket office was all right with her. It was a little pokey but draft-free and she got to chat with passengers. Working on their local station meant she knew many of the travellers and the rest of the shift would pass quickly enough.
Settling herself onto a stool, she peered out through the small glass screen and started to sing, ‘A room with a view and you . . .’ She was rather partial to a Noël Coward song.
‘I recognize that voice,’ Ruby Caselton said as she appeared at the small window. ‘What’s all this, music while you work?’
Maureen stopped singing and peered back at Ruby. ‘Hello there. I find it passes the time in between selling tickets. I’m also fond of, “Oh! Mr Porter, what shall I do . . .”’
‘Ha! I wondered where Georgina had got that from. She tends to sing the same few words over and over again.’
‘Bless her, she’s such a little wonder, but then I would say that being as she’s my only grandchild at the moment. If our Alan doesn’t come home soon, it’s unlikely we’ll see any more little ones from the pair of them.’
‘I may just have news for you. Sarah gave me this to pass on to you, as she knew I’d most likely bump into you this afternoon. She’s that excited but I’ll leave you to read your news,’ Ruby said, passing over an envelope with Alan’s handwriting on the front.
‘Oh my,’ Maureen beamed, clutching the letter to her chest. ‘If you don’t mind, I’ll take a quick look at what he has to say. There doesn’t seem to be anyone queuing behind you. Are you off to Dartford or taking yourself up to London?’ Maureen asked distractedly as she tore open the envelope.
‘You won’t find me going off to London. I thought I’d go to Dartford as it’s market day and the train’s quicker than the bus. Two stops and I’ll be there. I might even have time to pop into the Co-op and have a look about.’
Maureen nodded her head but Ruby could see she wasn’t listening to a word that was being said. Her face turned pale before she looked up at Ruby. ‘He’s coming home. My boy’s coming home. He’s reckons he’ll be here on leave in time for Mike and Gwyneth’s wedding.’
‘A return to Charlton, please, love,’ a man said, leaning past Ruby and dropping a couple of coins onto the brass plate screwed to the counter below the serving hatch.
Maureen gave him a small smile, passing a ticket and a couple of coppers in change back through the gap. ‘Over the other side in two minutes, mate. You’d best hurry.’ The man tipped the edge of his cap before rushing off towards the stairs that took passengers over the track to the other side of the line.
‘He’ll have to put a spurt on if he wants to get the train,’ Ruby observed as she watched the man stop to catch his breath at the top of the stairs.
‘He’ll be all right. Irene’s over on that side, she’ll hold the train for him.’ They both looked across the rails to where Irene was standing with her hands on her hips by a stack of wicker pigeon baskets. She was looking to where the signals had just changed and a train was slowly approaching the platform.
Ruby waved before the train obliterated the view of her daughter-in-law. ‘I’d best get my ticket before I forget it,’ she said, turning back to hand her money over the counter. ‘Is there anything you want me to pick up for you while I’m in Dartford?’
Maureen cocked her head to one side and gave some thought to the question. ‘A rich husband wouldn’t come amiss,’ she laughed.
‘I’ll keep it in mind but it’s not the kind of thing you’d usually see on the shelf of the Co-op, or Woolworths come to that,’ she laughed before her face took on a serious expression. ‘Would you marry again?’
‘It’s never really crossed my mind. I’m happy enough with my lot. I miss my old man but I have family and friends around me so life is as good as it can be at the moment. Why do you ask?’ she said, seeing the smile slip from Ruby’s face. ‘Are you having second thoughts about Bob’s proposal?’
Ruby shrugged her shoulders. ‘I think I’ve been a bit of a fool. I should have left things as they were but it’s too late now.’
‘It’s never too late, Ruby. Bob will be disappointed but if you’re honest with him, he’ll get over it. He’s a decent bloke,’ Maureen said, looking concerned for the older woman. Ruby was always the one who could sort things out for others and here she was unsure of her own future. Anyone would tell her that Bob was perfect for her but Ruby needed to know for herself.
‘Bob’s planning to move into my place so that Gwyneth and Mike have Mike’s house to themselves after the wedding. He’ll have Gwyneth’s room. I said I don’t want no hanky-panky in my house so you needn’t raise your eyebrows like that, Maureen Gilbert,’ she added, noticing Maureen’s shocked expression. ‘If I change my mind now, then it may stop the wedding and we already know that Gwyneth’s had a few wobbles. I’d never be able to live with myself if the girl didn’t marry Mike.’
‘I can see your predicament,’ Maureen said. ‘If you make it clear to all and sundry that Bob is just your lodger for now, then you shouldn’t have any problems. Bob’s not daft. If he can see the pair of you aren’t getting along as you should, then he may do the honourable thing and let you off your promise,’ she advised.
‘That could work. Thank you, Maureen,’ Ruby said with a sigh. ‘I know I should have spoken to someone sooner rather than having bottled this up for so long.’
‘What would make you sure you were meant to marry Bob?’ Maureen said, stopping only to sell a train ticket to an elderly woman.
‘You’re going to think I’m daft – I know Bob did when I explained it to him, but he accepted what I had to say. But that was a while ago now and I can’t keep putting him off, can I?’
‘You can tell me, Ruby. I’ll not think you’re daft. You’re the most sane person I’ve ever known.’
Ruby turned to check there wasn’t anyone nearby then leant in close to the window to the ticket office and in a half-whisper said, ‘I’m waiting for my Eddie to give me a sign that he approves of me marrying again. I don’t expect him to appear in front of me and speak but there must be a way that I know he’s all right with me remarrying.’
Maureen nodded her head slowly. ‘Yes, I can see what you mean. Give it time, Ruby. Something is bound to happen,’ was all she could advise, although she decided that if there was a way she could help Ruby with her problem, then she would.
Ruby gave out a sigh of relief. ‘I knew you’d understand. Now, I’d best get myself up the platform a bit or I’ll have a long walk when I get off the other end. I’ll see you later, Maureen, and thank you for the chat. I really do appreciate it.’
Ruby walked slowly up the platform towards the stairs that led to the bridge taking travellers to the other side of the track. She spotted Irene helping someone down the steps. It would be rude of her not to stop and say hello. As the couple reached the bottom of the steps she could see that Irene was holding a small suitcase in one hand and the arm of a heavily pregnant young woman wearing a voluminous smock top with the other. ‘There you are, my dear. Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to find you a seat for a little while until you catch your breath?’
The woman assured Irene she was fine although she looked a little flushed around the cheeks, and after taking her suitcase she walked slowly towards the door that led out of the station and towards Erith town, giving Ruby a puzzled look as she passed by.
‘I never expected to see her come back to Erith so soon. Not in that condition,’ Ruby said as she gave Irene a quick kiss on the cheek.
Irene frowned. ‘Do you know her? She seemed very well spoken and polite,’ she added in surprise.
Ruby laughed. ‘I do know people who speak properly, Irene. Do you mean to say you didn’t recognize her?’
‘Should I?’
‘That’s Vera’s granddaughter. The one who had the important job in London. I mentioned to you how they’d fallen out when Vera had her little misfortunes a few months ago.’ She hadn’t told her daughter-in-law the full story and the circumstances of Sadie’s problems. ‘I’m pleased to see they’ve made up and the girl’s come home to see her nan. I’m surprised that Vera never told me about it, though.’
‘I have no idea what you are going on about, mother-in-law,’ Irene said primly. ‘The girl never mentioned Vera or Alexandra Road. In fact, she asked directions to another part of Erith.’
‘Then perhaps she’s found somewhere to live on her own. I must admit, I’d find it hard to live under the same roof as Vera. I doubt she’d be too keen on a young baby living with her. She’s never been much of one for kiddies. It’s good to see a young girl providing for herself and not relying on relatives.’ Perhaps she’s made it up with the man she was carrying on with and he has provided for her, Ruby thought to herself. But wasn’t he married?
‘I need to get on with my work,’ Irene said with not a little irritation in her voice. ‘I do believe you have the wrong person. As I said, this one is not heading to Alexandra Road as she’s walking to the other side of town to Oakhurst House in Lesney Park Road. You know that’s the home for unmarried mothers, don’t you?’ she added with a small smirk. ‘That would be a turn-up for the books, wouldn’t it? Vera wouldn’t like people to know her well-to-do granddaughter was going to that establishment.’
Irene left Ruby standing alone on the platform as her train slowly pulled into the station surrounded by a cloud of steam and a lot of hissing. Ruby felt numb as she climbed aboard. Even if Vera made up her differences with her granddaughter, she was never likely to set eyes on her great-grandchild. At the church-run maternity home that Irene had mentioned the babies were taken away and adopted as soon as they were born. Was this why Sadie was back in Erith?
‘You look as pretty as a picture,’ Freda said, admiring the flowing silk skirt edged with lace as Gwyneth turned around in her wedding gown. The girls were at Maisie’s house where the front room had been turned into a dressmaker’s workshop as preparations stormed ahead for Gwyneth and Mike’s big day. ‘No one would guess it was second-hand. It fits you perfectly.’
‘You’ll be bleeding all over the blooming dress if you don’t stand still,’ Maisie grumbled from one side of her mouth, the other being full of pins. ‘Let me just check the neckline looks right. I had to unpick and remake the bodice as it was so large.’
‘I don’t know how to start to thank you,’ Gwyneth said, her voice breaking with emotion. ‘Myfi looks adorable in her bridesmaid’s dress, as does little Georgina.’
‘I just hope that Georgie behaves. She is rather young to have such a responsible position at your wedding. I dread to think what she’ll get up to,’ Sarah said from the settee where she was stitching lace edging to a peach-coloured dress. A larger version was spread out on a nearby armchair.
‘I’ve been thinking about that,’ Gwyneth said, standing very still as Maisie made a couple of stitches on the edge of the sweetheart neckline and stepped back to approve of her handiwork. ‘I want the three of you to be my bridesmaids, as well as Bessie and Claudette. You’ve all been such good friends to us since we came to live in Erith and I really want to share my happy days with you all.’
Freda, Sarah and Maisie all looked at each other in surprise. ‘I’d adore to be your bridesmaid,’ Sarah said, ‘but that means another three full-sized dresses and two for the girls. Even if we had the fabric, I’m not sure even Maisie could work that sort of miracle in six weeks.’
All eyes turned to Maisie who had yet to answer. ‘I do believe it can be done. How do you feel if Sarah and Freda wear the bridesmaids’ dresses they had for my wedding?’
‘Mine will need taking out a little,’ Freda said. ‘What about you, Maisie? You can’t very well wear your wedding dress,’ she grinned.
‘I have the gown I wore when Sarah and Alan were married.’
Gwyneth clapped her hands together in delight. ‘How wonderful. I can’t wait for my wedding day.’
‘Hold on,’ Freda said. ‘What about Bessie and Claudette? What will they wear?’
Gwyneth’s face fell. ‘We can’t really leave them out, can we?’
‘We don’t ’ave to,’ Maisie said with a secret smile. ‘Freda, you get the kettle on and, Sarah, help Gwyneth out of that dress. I’ll just be a couple of ticks,’ she said, putting down her needle and thread and dashing from the room.
‘Goodness knows what Maisie’s up to,’ Sarah said as she undid the row of small buttons down the back of the dress and helped Gwyneth step from the silky skirts of her bridal gown. ‘You’re going to make a beautiful bride,’ she sighed as she carefully hung the dress on the wooden picture rail that circled the wall of the room.
‘I wish I’d seen you and Alan marry,’ Gwyneth said. ‘I’ve seen the photograph that Ruby has on her sideboard. It must have been such a wonderful day.’
Sarah gave a wry grin. ‘It was memorable for many reasons. We married the day war was declared.’
‘Oh my goodness,’ Gwyneth said, placing her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. ‘I shouldn’t laugh but in years to come what a tale you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren.’
‘And we’ll have an anniversary I hope Alan will never forget,’ Sarah said.
‘He’ll be home to see Mike make me his wife. You must be looking forward to seeing him after all these months?’
‘We’re hoping that by the time Alan heads off to wherever the Air Force decides to send him there may even be a little brother or sister for Georgie in the offing,’ Maisie announced, entering the room, her arms filled with a froth of blue organza.
‘Oh my,’ Gwyneth said, as much in shock from Maisie’s words as she was to see what the woman was carrying. ‘Whatever do you have there?’
‘I didn’t know you still had this dress,’ Sarah said, reaching out and gently stroking the fabric and trying to ignore what Maisie had intimated, even though her cheeks were starting to turn pink with embarrassment. ‘Didn’t you wear this dress the first time David took you out dancing? You’ve never worn it since.’
Maisie shook out the dress and held it up to herself. The colour suited her blonde hair and English complexion. ‘Ter be honest, I’ve never really liked it. The bodice was on the tight side and I’ll not get into it again now I’ve had the baby. It’s not as if I can pass it on to you lot as we are all of a similar size,’ she said, looking at Sarah and Gwyneth who both nodded in agreement.
‘More’s the pity. The colour reminds me of cornflowers,’ Sarah said.
‘It’ll make two nice frocks for Bessie and Claudette. They can have the same style as Myfi and Georgina’s dresses.’
‘Oh, but Maisie, I can’t have you cutting up your beautiful dress for me,’ Gwyneth said, although she too reached out to stroke the dress.
‘I do believe there’ll be enough left to get a little dress out of it for the baby as well. What a colourful group of bridesmaids we’re going ter make,’ she said, reaching for her scissors.
‘I’ll be followed down the aisle by a rainbow. I honestly don’t know how to thank you, Maisie,’ Gwyneth said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. ‘There’s my parents thinking we’re going to have a quiet wedding because of the war. They won’t expect to see all this finery. It’s all so exciting. If there’s anything I can ever do for you . . .’
‘You can start by helping Freda with that tea. I’m fair parched,’ Maisie said with a wink to her friends.
Sarah gave a smile to the young woman standing at her counter. ‘May I help you?’
The girl gazed up from where she was looking through knitting patterns and shook her head. ‘I’m just looking, thank you,’ she said wistfully.
‘This is a nice pattern and easy to follow. I knitted the cardigan and bootees when I was expecting my daughter and I’m all fingers and thumbs when it comes to knitting. You can’t have long to wait now, can you?’ she added, looking at the size of the girl in front of her.
The girl placed her hand on her stomach and winced. ‘I’m overdue by a week.’
‘How wonderful, you must be so excited?’
‘I’ll not bother with this,’ the girl said as she turned away from Sarah.
‘Wait a moment . . . don’t I know you? Aren’t you Vera’s Munro’s granddaughter? I’m Sarah Gilbert, Ruby Caselton’s granddaughter. How are you?’
‘I’m sorry, I’ve got to go,’ the young girl said and disappeared into the crowd of shoppers.
How strange, Sarah thought to herself as she went to serve a waiting customer. I’ll have to ask Nan when I go to collect Georgie. Glancing up at the large clock on the wall of the store as she placed a customer’s purchases into a brown paper bag, she noted her shift finished in another two hours.
Sarah let herself into her nan’s house by pulling the string attached to the letter box until the she could reach the key. Nothing much changes, she thought to herself. She found Ruby sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea with Vera from up the road.
‘Hello, Sarah love, the pot’s still warm if you want to get yourself a cup and saucer. I’ve just put Georgina down for a nap. She’s been helping Bob in the garden. He’s given her a trowel and a couple of bulbs to plant. She loved helping him. I’ve washed her hands and face,’ she added, seeing Sarah’s grin. ‘Bob said he’ll replant the bulbs when she’s gone home as most likely they’ve gone in upside down.’
Sarah laughed. ‘I’ll have to write to Alan and tell him that his daughter is now a gardener. That’ll please him no end, as he’d rather spend his time tinkering with his old motorbike and getting greasy than planting things. How are you, Vera?’ she asked before taking a sip of her tea. ‘You must be so pleased to have Sadie back home with you?’
Ruby almost choked on her tea and did her utmost to stare at Sarah to alert her not to continue with the conversation. It was too late.
‘My granddaughter is not living with me. I have no idea where she’s living. I have a very respectable lodger at the moment. He’s a police constable and known to Bob and Mike so comes highly recommended. I have no idea why you should think that Sadie is living under my roof,’ she said, looking deeply offended.
‘I’m sorry, Vera . . . I had no idea . . .’ she stuttered as she caught her nan pulling a strange face at her. ‘I’ll not say another word on the subject.’
They all drank their tea in silence until Vera spoke. ‘What makes you think our Sadie is in town?’
‘I spoke to her not an hour ago in Woolworths. She seemed . . . she seemed very well,’ Sarah added, not liking to mention the girl’s pregnancy in case Vera was unaware.
‘If you mean she’s in the family way and not married, then I’d not say that’s looking well. I’d call it a sin,’ Vera huffed. ‘Besides, she’s living miles away and not likely to be staying around here to shame her family.’
‘I spotted her yesterday at the train station, Vera,’ Ruby said, not happy with the way the conversation was going. ‘She had a suitcase with her and was asking the way to Oakhurst.’
‘Oh no,’ Vera started to wail. ‘Why would she come back and make me a laughing stock of the town? Whatever will people be saying about me?’ she cried.
Sarah was alarmed. She hadn’t meant to cause a problem by mentioning Vera’s granddaughter. The woman had always spoken highly of the girl and how well she was doing. There was many a time that Vera had put Sadie up as a shining example of a hard-working girl and mentioned that she would never stoop to working in Woolworths like Sarah and her friends. ‘Perhaps I’ll collect Georgina and take her home,’ Sarah said. ‘Vera, I didn’t mean to upset you, I’m sorry.’
Vera nodded as she wiped her eyes. ‘You meant no harm. You’re not to know what that girl’s done to her old nan. If only she was a good girl like you. There’s no need for you to go home on my account. You deserve an explanation.’
‘I think this needs a fresh brew. I’ll put the kettle on,’ Ruby said as she got to her feet. ‘I’ll take Bob’s out to him. I don’t think we need him interrupting us while we chat,’ she said, raising her eyebrows at Sarah as she went over to the stove and lit the gas.
When a fresh pot of tea was placed on the table and Ruby had delivered a mug out to Bob in the garden, she nodded to Vera. ‘Perhaps start at the beginning so our Sarah knows what’s been going on,’ she urged the woman.
Vera cleared her throat and started to explain what had happened for her to send her granddaughter away. Ruby nodded her encouragement, already knowing the story. ‘She lied to me,’ she said to Sarah. ‘I fell hook, line and sinker for her tales about her being engaged to her boss and him planning to marry her. Oh yes, he was very well thought of in his official job and was worth a penny or two but it turns out he had a wife and children. When Sadie came sobbing to me that she was expecting his baby and he’d sacked her and accused her of carrying another man’s child, I sent her packing. I thought she was a good girl. She let me down. I washed my hands of her,’ she said as the tears started once more.
Ruby was shocked. ‘You didn’t tell me she’d lost her job. I thought at least the blighter would have seen her all right.’
‘I’ve no idea what happened after she walked out of my front door. She said she was all right for money. No doubt had another fancy man to look out for her. Her sort always do. I gave her my savings to make sure she never darkened my door again.’
‘The poor girl,’ Sarah said. She’d always found Sadie to be a snooty madam but no one deserved to be treated like that by a man. For her nan to turn her back on her only granddaughter was not something Sarah could understand. ‘I couldn’t think of anything worse than being alone while facing giving birth. She must have come back to Erith to be close to her home.’
Vera gave her a sharp look. ‘Are you saying I’ve done wrong?’
Ruby took command. ‘Now, now, Vera, there’s no need to snap at our Sarah. How was the girl when you spoke to her, love?’
Sarah thought for a moment. ‘We only spoke for a few moments as the counter I was working on was busy. Everyone seems to want knitting patterns at the moment. I didn’t realize who it was to begin with and she said very little but I thought she was very thin in the face and withdrawn. Once she knew who I was she wanted to leave. I did think it strange that she was looking at knitting patterns but in a wistful kind of way.’
‘She probably had no need of knitted baby clothes,’ Ruby said.
‘What do you mean, Nan? We all know you can’t have too many knitted items for a baby.’
‘There’s no need when the girl won’t be keeping the child. Many of the girls up at Oakhurst have their babies taken away for adoption,’ Ruby said, giving Vera a sly look. ‘What a to-do: your pregnant granddaughter back in Erith and living at a home for unmarried mothers, then to have her baby taken away. If people weren’t talking about you before, they will after this, Vera. It’s a shame you can’t forgive her before the gossiping starts . . .’
Sarah watched Vera’s face as the woman absorbed Ruby’s words. She knew her nan could be crafty but this took the biscuit.
Vera stood up, looking angry. ‘No one is going to take away my great-grandchild or talk about my family. I’ll see to that,’ she declared, reaching for her coat and marching from the house.
Ruby looked at Sarah and grinned. ‘I thought that would make her see sense. I’d best go after her in case she causes a rumpus up at the unmarried mothers’ home. You know what she can be like.’
‘I know what you can be like as well, Nan,’ Sarah giggled. With luck, Vera would have her granddaughter home and safe before the baby was born.