Where the Heart Lies (22 page)

‘Top front room,’ said Peggy, glad to have something else to think about for a moment. ‘Rita and the other girls can help get it ready. Use our cot for now. I’ll get another from the Town Hall if they have one. If not, someone’s bound to be selling one.’

He let the door clatter behind him and Peggy heard his footsteps slowly fade into silence. She leaned back into Jim, desperately trying to keep her eyes open, but Jim’s arm was round her, his shoulder solid and infinitely comforting. Her eyelids fluttered and sleep finally claimed her.

Ron untied the sturdy rope that had tethered Harvey to the hospital gatepost and, having let him free to run before him, set off at a steady pace for home. He was weary beyond belief, but the knowledge that Harvey had heard Peggy’s calls and led him to her and Anne, and that everyone had been rescued from that hole which could have become their tomb, kept
him going. He didn’t dwell on the terrible possibility that Anne might not pull through, for thinking like that did no good to his already depleted spirits.

He trudged through the back gate, along the path and into the basement, Harvey close to his heels. He was getting too old for all these shenanigans, and having miraculously survived the first war, he hadn’t expected to have to worry himself silly through another. But his family relied on him, and now there was a great-granddaughter to look after, it gave his role of patriarch an extra special importance. At least he was useful, he thought grumpily – not like some of the old codgers in the Home Guard who had nothing more to think about than ill-fitting false teeth and their next meal.

Rather cheered by this thought, he tramped up the concrete steps to the kitchen and was greeted by four very anxious females who’d clearly learned enough of the night’s events to badger him with endless questions.

He answered them as best he could, told them about Julie and William, and made sure Mrs Finch had come through her solitary night unscathed. She seemed a little more dithery than usual, but he put that down to the fact they were all on edge after their grim night.

Once he considered he’d fulfilled his duty, he dragged off his coat and plumped into the easy chair by the range. ‘I’ll have a cup of tea with a drop of rum to liven it,’ he said through a vast yawn, ‘and
a saucer of the same for Harvey. He’s earned that much tonight.’ He looked fondly at the dog which was now sitting at his feet.

Fran rushed to pour the tea and find the rum as Suzy fussed over Harvey and Rita carried Ron’s filthy coat and boots back down the cellar steps. ‘Ah,’ he said with deep satisfaction as he slurped the scalding alcoholic tea. ‘Now that’s what I call a lifesaver, eh, Harvey?’

The lurcher was too busy lapping to bark his agreement, but his tail was windmilling very happily as he chased the saucer over the floor.

‘Ron,’ said Mrs Finch hesitantly. ‘I have a confession to make.’

He eyed her affectionately and grinned. ‘What terrible sin is it you want to confess? To be sure, you’ve not sold the family silver while our backs have been turned?’

‘Well, it is a terrible mess,’ she said fretfully, ‘and although it was cold, and made me shiver, I didn’t like to burn the oil heater for too long. And then the lamp went out and I tried to light it, and that’s when it happened.’

He put down his cup and took her hand, immediately concerned that he’d not noticed she was very upset over something other than the family. ‘What is it, Mrs Finch? What happened last night?’

She reached trembling fingers into her wrap-round apron pocket. ‘I took out the lovely new hearing aid so I could go to sleep,’ she said, ‘and
then woke up in the dark and forgot it was in my lap. I got up to light the lamp and . . .’ She drew the remains of the hearing aid out of her apron pocket and held them out to him. ‘I must have stepped on it,’ she finished shakily.

He smiled at her, relieved that her fretfulness had been over something so minor. ‘Never mind,’ he said, taking it from her. ‘Worse things happen at sea, and it’ll be quite like old times without you earwigging on every word I say.’

She frowned back at him, clearly not understanding what he’d said. ‘What’s that about wigs?’ she demanded. ‘I do not wear such a thing. How dare you insinuate—’

‘I never said you wore a wig,’ he yelled so she could hear. ‘I said I’ll see what I can do to fix this.’ But as he dangled it before her, he didn’t hold out much hope. Her dainty size four feet had smashed the blessed thing to smithereens.

Julie discovered that Beach View Boarding House was one of a terrace of Victorian villas in a side street that seemed to end in a bomb site. She dithered outside as she checked her watch and wondered what to do. It was still quite early, and the family were probably at the hospital. Perhaps she should have waited until later to descend on them – but she had nowhere else to go, and if she didn’t eat properly and rest soon, she would simply collapse right here on the pavement.

She hitched William to a more comfortable position in her arms and rapped the lion’s-head knocker, not at all sure about her welcome. Would they even be expecting her?

‘There y’are,’ said Ron as he flung the door open. ‘Come in, come in. Your room is almost ready, and I’ve taken the cot up for young William, so he’ll be as snug as a bug in a rug.’ He poked a rather grubby finger into William’s blanket and tickled his chin. ‘To be sure, he’s a fine fellow, so he is.’

Julie smiled at the praise and stepped into the pleasant hall as he closed the door behind her. His welcome had banished her fears and at last she felt she could relax. ‘Thank you, Mr Reilly,’ she said shyly. ‘I wasn’t sure if you’d be expecting me. How’s Anne and the baby?’

‘Call me Ron,’ he said, and smiled. ‘Everyone else does in this house,’ he added with feigned grumpiness, ‘regardless of the fact I’m an old man who suffers from me shrapnel wounds something terrible, and should be treated with respect.’

‘Oh.’ Julie didn’t quite know how to take his sudden change in humour.

Ron wriggled his eyebrows, his blue eyes twinkling again. ‘Take no notice of me, girly. I like a good grumble now and then.’ His expression sobered. ‘Anne’s in theatre and Peggy and Jim are waiting at the hospital for news. The baby is well by all accounts, and expected to be home within the fortnight.’

‘That’s very good news,’ replied Julie, distracted by the sound of footsteps pounding along an upstairs landing.

‘That sounds like Rita. She’ll find you something to eat and show you your room,’ said Ron. ‘I have to get washed and changed and back to the hospital. Nice to have you with us,’ he added over his shoulder as he headed out of the hall.

Julie smiled at the young girl who’d come running down the stairs. Small and slight with a halo of dark curls, she looked a real tomboy in trousers, boots and an old flying jacket. ‘Hello, Rita. I’m Julie, and this is William.’

‘Oh, what a darling,’ she cooed as she peeked into the folds of the blanket. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Julie, and I’m sure you’ll be as happy as we all are here. But I’ve heard all about what happened last night,’ she said breathlessly, ‘so I expect you’re that tired you just want to climb into bed and sleep for hours instead of standing here talking to me.’

‘Actually,’ said Julie, ‘I could do with some food. I haven’t eaten more than a spam sandwich since yesterday morning.’

Rita’s big brown eyes widened. ‘Goodness, you must be starving. Come on into the kitchen while I make you something.’

Julie followed her into the homely kitchen and sank into one of the comfortable armchairs that had been set beside the small black range in the chimney breast. She eased the blanket open so William wouldn’t get
too warm and looked about her. It was obviously the heart of the home, with shabby furniture, worn linoleum and peeling paint, but it was so like the kitchen back in Stepney that it made her heart ache.

Rita was chattering away as she made a doorstep sandwich with thick bread, home-made chutney and a slab of corned beef. ‘The others are about somewhere,’ she explained, ‘but it’s been a long, worrying night for everyone, so I expect they’re catching up on their sleep.’ She shot Julie a grin as she handed her the sandwich and a cup of tea. ‘Want me to hold William while you eat?’

Julie smiled back and tenderly passed him over before she ravenously attacked the delicious sandwich and restoring tea. ‘How many people live here?’ she asked once her initial hunger had been satisfied and she could think straight.

Rita carefully settled back in the other chair, William snug in her arms. ‘There’s Peggy and Jim, of course, and Jim’s dad, Ron. Mrs Finch is a permanent lodger, but we all think of her as our grandmother.’ She grinned wickedly. ‘She’s as deaf as a post, but don’t let that fool you. Smart as a whip, that one, and not afraid to speak her mind.’

She fell silent for a moment, mesmerised by William who was squirming and pulling faces in his sleep. ‘Fran and Suzy are nurses at the hospital, and Cissy’s a secretary with the WAAF. She’s Peg and Jim’s youngest daughter, and we went to school together,’ she explained. ‘There are two younger
boys, but they’ve been evacuated to Somerset. Then there’s me.’

Julie smiled back at her, delighted with her friendliness. ‘Are you a Reilly too?’

Rita smiled broadly. ‘No, but I’ve known the Reillys all my life, so when I got bombed out, Peggy insisted I move in. She’s a diamond, is Aunt Peg,’ she ended with an affectionate smile. ‘You won’t find a better home than this, Julie. I promise.’

Julie thought fleetingly of the little house in Stepney that had once been the centre of her world, then determinedly pushed the memory away before it summoned tears. The sandwich and the tea had left her feeling sleepier than ever, and if she sat here for much longer, she’d nod right off. ‘Thanks for that,’ she said, wearily getting to her feet and placing the china on the wooden draining board.

‘You look all in,’ said Rita, still carrying William. ‘Which is hardly surprising after what you’ve been through. Come on, I’ll show you your room before you fall in a heap.’

Julie gathered up her bag, gas-mask box and handbag and followed Rita back into the hall and up the stairs.

‘You’re at the top of the house in the front,’ Rita chattered happily. ‘Suzy and Fran are next to you, and Cissy Reilly’s along at the end of the landing. I’m in the middle one on the first floor, next to where Anne and Rose Margaret will sleep until Anne’s ready to go home to her own place.’

She finally took a breath before rushing on. ‘Mrs Finch is next to the bathroom. And watch out for the boiler – it goes off with a terrible bang and can singe your eyebrows if you aren’t careful. Peggy and Jim sleep on the ground floor off the hall, and Ron’s in the basement with Harvey,’ she added breathlessly as they reached the top-floor landing.

Julie tried to take it all in, but with so many names to remember, her weary brain just couldn’t cope. She trudged after the lively, chatty girl and followed her into a delightful, sunny room that smelled faintly of beeswax furniture polish.

It was under the eaves, with a window overlooking the nearby roofs and beyond to a glimpse of the sea. A single bed had been made up with fresh linen and a sprigged eiderdown to match the curtains, which had been lined in blackout material. The cot stood beside it, cosy with miniature sheets and blankets. There was a gas fire, a wardrobe, chest of drawers and bedside table, and in the window alcove was a small dressing table. The sun streamed through the window from a cloudless February sky and shone on the polished furniture and wooden floor, making it cheerful and welcoming.

‘It’s lovely,’ Julie breathed. ‘Thanks ever so much, Rita.’

‘It was no bother, really,’ she replied, sweeping back her dark curls. ‘I’m just glad to help after all you’ve done for Peggy and Anne.’ She frowned as Julie dumped her bags and gas-mask box on the
floor. ‘Haven’t you got any other luggage?’ she asked. ‘Only Ron said you’d come down from London.’

‘It’s at me sister’s,’ Julie replied through a vast yawn. ‘I’ve got clean bottles, nappies and formula for William. I’ll collect the rest of it after I’ve had some shut-eye.’

‘Right you are,’ Rita said cheerfully as she handed William over. ‘You get your head down for a bit, and if William wakes, don’t worry. One of us will look after him for you.’ She closed the door and hurried back down the stairs.

Julie gently lowered William into the cot and, without waking him, changed his nappy and covered him with the lovely soft blanket and sheet. Dragging off her coat and kicking off her shoes, she realised she stank of dust and ash and dirt and damp, and she could really have done with a good bath. But she was too tired to worry about that now, a quick scrub with a flannel would have to be enough.

Having found the bathroom, she didn’t feel up to lighting the rather daunting-looking boiler, so she washed quickly in cold water then traipsed back to her room. The comfortable bed was calling her, and she pulled off her skirt and jumper and clambered in between the sheets in her underwear. Sinking her weary head into the soft pillow, she was asleep before she’d even drawn the blankets to her chin.

Peggy woke as the door to the waiting room opened. She was surprised to see Ron sitting on the other side
of the room with his tatty old slippers on his lap, and a quick glance at the clock on the wall showed that almost four hours had passed since Anne had been rushed into theatre. But the arrival of the doctor swept away all these minor observations, and she pushed back her filthy hair from her face and looked at him fearfully, trying to gauge the seriousness of his news from his expression. She felt her heart thud against her ribs and a surge of hope as he smiled.

‘Your daughter is a very lucky young woman,’ he said, taking his briar pipe out of his pocket. ‘She has several oblique fractures to her tibia and fibula, but they were clean breaks, easily reset. These will knit in time as long as we can contain any infection. The quick thinking of Dr Sayers and his nurse meant there was very little blood loss and I was able to repair the damage to the artery.’

He paused for a moment to light his pipe, and the tense atmosphere in the waiting room heightened.