Lizzie's Secret (34 page)

‘You won't leave Oliver, will you?' Tilly looked shocked.

‘No, I don't suppose I shall,' Lizzie said. ‘Sometimes, I wish I could please myself what I make, that's all…'

Tilly laughed and shook her head. ‘You wait for another few months and then you'll have too much to think about to worry about designing hats…'

‘What did you think you were doing, going to my parents behind my back?' Beth demanded as she came barging into Lizzie's flat that afternoon. ‘I would never have begged him…'

‘Don't be such a fool. I just told him the truth, and even though he wouldn't admit it, he realised he couldn't leave you exposed to danger. If Ed was at work, Madge couldn't cope. Go home for now and have the baby, and then you can look for a house somewhere. It is silly to stay with Madge when your father has given permission.'

‘It's not just that – how can I leave Madge when she's been so kind?'

‘And you've repaid her. Look at how much better the house looks since you took over the cleaning.'

‘Madge's back hurts more again and she won't tell Ed… so I've been doing all the cooking and washing.'

‘She isn't your responsibility, Beth. You should think of yourself and the child – you can still visit Madge and so shall I, but I think you should be with your mother for the birth.'

‘I'll think about it,' Beth said. ‘I've told Mum I shan't go for a few days anyway. I have to get Madge used to the idea gradually. It would be cruel to just leave like that…'

‘Yes, I agree, but don't leave it too long, Beth.'

‘No…' Beth smiled ruefully. ‘I really want to be with Mum for the birth. Afterwards, I'll manage somehow – but I feel nervous sometimes and I do want my mum.'

‘Of course you do. I'd feel the same if I had a mother like yours. You tell Madge that your mum needs you home she won't make a fuss then.'

‘I don't want to lie to her,' Beth smiled oddly. ‘I'm fond of Madge – but I do know she couldn't cope if I suddenly gave birth and Ed wasn't around.'

‘Well then what alternative do you have? I didn't mean to go behind your back, Beth. I was just trying to help you.'

‘I know…' Beth sighed and arched her back. ‘It's just that I don't want my father thinking I'm crawling…'

‘Forgive me?'

‘Of course,' Beth said. ‘I'd better go then…'

Leaving Lizzie, Beth was sunk in thought as she walked back to Madge's house. She knew it would distress Madge more than Lizzie realised if Beth left her, and she didn't want to hurt her feelings.

She stopped walking as she realised something was going on. Seeing the fire engines and police vans, people milling around, she suddenly noticed that the smoke was rising from a house near the end of the road. Beth's heart jerked. Had there been a bomb? Everyone was certain it had to start soon. Yet surely they would have heard something before this… She hadn't heard the sirens, but perhaps it had just been this area… and then she saw it was Madge's house that was on fire and she began to run.

‘What happened?' she asked a woman who was standing watching all the activity. ‘Is Madge all right?'

‘They say it was a gas explosion. Probably a leak or something. I don't know if anyone was hurt, I only just got here…'

Beth ran towards the house. Everything she owned was inside and the house was almost demolished and what was left of it was burning, but all she could think about was Madge.

‘You can't go in there, missus.' The policeman held her arm, preventing Beth from rushing into the burning house.

‘I live there – my friend, was she hurt? Was anyone still inside?'

‘It's your house?'

‘It belongs to Madge and Ed. I'm their lodger.'

‘There was a woman inside. She was lying at the foot of the stairs and they think she'd had a fall. She was unconscious when they brought her out and they've taken her to the infirmary.'

The tears trickled down Beth's cheeks. She had no choice but to follow Lizzie's suggestion now, but it wasn't so much her own predicament that haunted her it was Madge and Ed. She couldn't imagine why Madge should have tried to go upstairs, , but she wished she'd been there when Madge needed her, because she knew how much Ed cared for his wife and if she died it would devastate the kindly man.

*

‘Beth has nothing left,' Lizzie said to Aunt Miriam. ‘And it's even worse for Madge and Ed; they've lost their home, furniture, photos, all their memories.'

‘That is a terrible shame,' Aunt Miriam said. ‘We'll raid my wardrobe and see what we can use. Some of my dresses can be made to fit Beth for now. As for Madge and Ed…' she shook her head sorrowfully. ‘I'm sure Bertie will find something that fits Ed…'

‘Ed doesn't care about anything but Madge,' Lizzie said. ‘He's sitting up the hospital and won't budge even to come home and shave or rest – and I don't think he's eaten a thing.'

‘When he does come out of it, he can home here for a while, just until he gets on his feet again,' Aunt Miriam said. ‘I know Bertie would say that was right. We have to look after him…'

‘If he'll let us…' Lizzie was worried. ‘Madge hasn't come round yet. After all she's suffered, I'm frightened she's hurt too badly…'

‘Do we know what actually happened yet?'

‘The doctors think she fell before the gas explosion. Perhaps she slipped or fainted…'

She was probably unconscious and knew nothing about it, Lizzie.'

‘I hope that was the case. Have the police said what caused the gas leak?'

‘They think it was due to some faulty work on the pipes when workmen were doing repairs in the road a few weeks back.'

Lizzie nodded. ‘I'm going to take a clean nightie up to the infirmary for Madge and some things for Ed and then I shall go round to Beth's home. I'm going to give her some of the baby things I've prepared. '

‘I'd offer her a bed here, but you said she'd gone to her mother's house. Will her father object?'

‘He will let her stay until the baby is born and then she has to find her own place…'

‘Well, you know we have more than enough room, Lizzie. Beth is your friend and I'm happy to help if she's stuck. It's entirely your choice, my dear. Our house is your house; you know that…'

‘You're so kind,' Lizzie said. ‘We'll see how Beth gets on at home. She was going to the infirmary to see Madge today.'

‘I am so very sorry for all of them…'

‘I can hardly believe it has happened – and caused by careless workmanship. They ought to lock those workmen up…'

‘But they won't, because there's no way to prove they caused the problem, and they need all the skilled men they have. It might have been a cracked pipe in Madge's house. Didn't anyone notice the smell of gas?'

‘Beth never mentioned it and she would have…' Lizzie shook her head. ‘It was just an accident I suppose, but why did it have to happen to two of the nicest people I know?'

‘There's no answer to that, Lizzie.' Aunt Miriam looked sad. ‘I suppose you haven't heard from Harry recently? It seems a long time since he came home on leave.'

‘No, I haven't heard,' Lizzie said. ‘He's busy…'

‘You two haven't fallen out, have you?'

‘No, of course not,' she lied, but she couldn't look at Aunt Miriam, because to be honest she had no idea how things stood between her and Harry…

*

Her visit to the Infirmary left Lizzie feeling close to tears. She'd given the nurse the things she'd brought for Madge and asked how she was, but the answer was the same. It was touch and go and even if Madge recovered consciousness they didn't know if she would ever walk again; her spine had been cracked in the fall and she would probably never use her legs again.

Lizzie hadn't known how to hold back the tears. Madge had already suffered so much and if she was a permanent invalid, it would break both her and Ed's hearts.

She'd found Ed sitting in the cream-painted, dark corridor outside the ward; everywhere smelled of strong disinfectant and the small windows were high up, letting in very little daylight, the faded linoleum on the floor looking in need of a good polish. She'd given him a cup of tea, but talking to him elicited only a nod or a shake of the head. It was impossible to reach the silent stranger he'd become and Lizzie left the infirmary feeling close to breaking point. Whatever happened, she would find a way to help them. Lizzie didn't have much spare money, though she was comfortable in her little flat and never went short of the necessities, but Ed was going to need a lot more than that to get back on his feet. His house was a write-off and he would need to look for new lodgings for them – if Madge came out of hospital. Lizzie couldn't even imagine what he would do it his wife died…

Forcing back her desire to weep, Lizzie caught the bus to Beth's home. At least she was safe and with her family. She might have been caught in the explosion too had she not been drinking tea at Lizzie's home…

*

‘Are you settling in all right?' Lizzie looked around Beth's room. ‘I've brought you a dress and hat for after you've had the baby, and Aunt Miriam sent a couple of her dresses to wear for now. They're big and shapeless, but you can alter them to fit just until the baby comes, can't you?'

‘Yes, of course, thanks. That's a lovely hat, Lizzie. I've always liked it.'

‘Good, because you'll enjoy wearing it. I've brought a few things for the baby, too.'

‘Mum's going to give me all her old baby things,' Beth said. ‘I hadn't bought much because I was afraid that something would go wrong with the birth if I did…' She laughed. ‘Silly, isn't it? I'm glad now, because what money I'd saved was in the Post Office and I had the book with me in my bag.'

‘It's still rotten luck – and there's no insurance either. Ed didn't believe in it…'

‘He probably couldn't afford it, and I didn't think of it,' Beth said. ‘I'm more worried about Madge than my situation, to be honest. At least I've got a home for the time being.'

‘Aunt Miriam has offered them a bed,' Lizzie said. ‘Ed will probably manage with second-hand things for a while and I'll make Madge some dresses when she comes out – if she does…' She caught her breath. ‘I visited them at the infirmary. She's still unconscious and Ed looks like death warmed up.'

‘All we can do is pray for her,' Beth said. ‘Mum says she's got some things that Madge can have – and Ed is more my dad's size than Oliver's. Don't worry, Lizzie. We'll all help them – but we can't give Madge her health back.'

‘No and that's the awful thing,' Lizzie said. ‘She was getting a little better. I can't think why she went upstairs – she never does…'

‘She said something about giving me the clothes she'd bought for her son – the baby who died and left her an invalid – I think they were upstairs. Ed told her he would bring them down for her when he had time.'

‘And she couldn't wait, so she went after them herself and fell on the way back…'

‘Yes, probably,' Beth looked miserable. ‘I feel guilty, as if I caused it all…'

‘Of course you didn't,' Lizzie told her. ‘Madge made her own decision – and the gas leak wasn't your fault or hers. You never smelled gas when you were there?'

‘No, not once,' Beth gasped suddenly. ‘Oh, it's the baby kicking again. He's so restless now.'

‘You haven't got much longer to go, have you?'

‘Any day now…' Beth gave another cry and then doubled over. ‘Oh, hell, Lizzie! That one really hurt…'

‘Shall I run down and get your mother?'

‘I've got my bag packed,' Beth said. ‘Here's the number for the taxi and the hospital. Can you tell them I'm coming in and then…'? She let out a little scream. ‘Hurry, Lizzie. I need to get there fast…'

‘Yes, I know. I'll be as quick as I can,' Lizzie said and took the number from her. As she ran downstairs, Mrs Court came into the hall. ‘I'm phoning for a taxi to take Beth to the hospital – she's starting the baby…'

‘I thought I heard her call out. You get off, Lizzie. I'll go up to her now.'

Lizzie rushed out of the house and ran down the lane to the phone box. She fumbled with her change in her haste and rang through to the hospital and then the ambulance. When she returned to the house, she discovered that Mrs Court had got her daughter down into the hall.

‘The taxi will be here soon. You'll be all right, Beth. These things take hours. You'll be in bed soon with a nurse to look after you…'

‘I hope it won't take hours,' Beth said between gritted teeth. ‘It hurts too damned much.'

*

Lizzie sat in the corridor and waited through the long night. Beth's mother had been allowed inside the delivery ward with her daughter but Lizzie had been asked to stay outside. She could hear the screams coming from inside; they seemed to go on and on for ages. Beth was having a terrible time and Lizzie felt as if her own baby moved in sympathy.

It was getting on for four in the morning when Beth's father came along the corridor. He looked down at Lizzie and then sat on the seat next to her, twisting his hat in his hands and looking miserable.

‘Is that Beth?' he asked as they heard a particularly loud scream.

‘Yes. We've been here since seven last evening. I didn't know how to let you know.'

‘One of the neighbours saw you leave in a taxi. I knew it had to be the infirmary. Beth was so close to her time.'

‘Yes. I don't know how much longer it can go on for…'

‘Her mother was twelve hours with the twins. I thought I was going to lose her…' his eyes reflected his fear. ‘Beth's just like her mother…'