by Cathy Sharp
‘Just a couple of weeks ago,’ Lily replied struggling to hold back the tears. ‘Don’t feel upset for me, Jenny. I knew what Chris did for a living and I’m prepared to wait.’
‘You really do love him,’ Jenny said. ‘I’m glad I told him we were over, Lily, because otherwise I’d still have been feeling frustrated that I wasn’t going out and you would have been in love with a man you daren’t tell.’
‘Yes, you liked Chris and enjoyed his company but I love him,’ Lily said. ‘I hope that you will find someone you love one day, Jenny.’
Jenny shrugged. ‘I liked Chris – and I like Peter Clark but I don’t think I’m likely to fall in love with him; he doesn’t set my pulses racing! I said I’d like to go out with him because I enjoy the theatre – but you know, Lily, I’m not sure I know how to love, not in the way you love Chris.’
‘One day you will,’ Lily said. ‘It’s going to hit you just out of the blue and then you’ll understand the joy and the pain of loving someone so much you’re incomplete without them.’
Jenny nodded and smothered a sigh. ‘I think I’d like to discover what love really is but for the moment I’m just happy to go out with anyone decent that asks me.’ She yawned. ‘I’m going to have a bath, wash my hair and then go to bed – what about you?’
‘I’ve got tonight off and then I start on days so we’ll both be on days for a while,’ Lily said. ‘I’ll listen to the wireless, do a little bit of knitting and then go to bed with a book.’
‘Gosh, we lead such exciting lives,’ Jenny said wryly. ‘Good thing we both love our jobs.’
‘Yes, we do love our jobs,’ Lily agreed. ‘I’ll bring some cocoa up later.’
Jenny nodded and went out. Lily put her ironing things away and switched on the wireless, making sure that it was a light music station so that she could relax to it and knit at the same time. It wasn’t surprising that her sister got bored sometimes; their lives really weren’t very exciting but Lily wouldn’t have changed hers, except to have Chris home and safe. To live a normal married life would be heaven for her – and she knew that if Jenny fell in love then her life would be so much better. Lily wanted it to happen for her sister’s sake, but she didn’t feel that Dr Clark was the right man for Jenny – he was too serious, too dedicated to his work.
Perhaps when she and Jenny were both on days together, they could go to the pictures and the theatre more often. It would help break the monotony of their lives and cheer Jenny up. Lily smiled. Chris had spoiled her sister when they were together, taking her to special places and giving her extravagant gifts and she was missing that, even though she hadn’t loved him. If Dr Clark took her out a bit it should brighten her life – and yet, without love, it wouldn’t last long …
Lily couldn’t help wondering how Sister Rose would react when she heard that Jenny was going out with the handsome young doctor. If she cared for him, it would hurt her …
Life was so complicated at times. Sighing, Lily got on with knitting the new cardigan she was making for one of her patients. Rene was elderly and her hands could no longer hold the needles but she’d paid for the wool and Lily had agreed to make it for her. She enjoyed the rhythm of her work and felt at peace as the soft music filled the kitchen. A feeling of optimism came over her – Chris would come home when he could, just as he’d promised, Jenny would discover a new love – and perhaps Rose would find happiness too …
CHAPTER 17
Lady Rosalie looked at the ticks all the way down the page and smiled. It was so pleasing when applicants for fostering came through with flying colours. Sister Rose and her motherly landlady Beattie had fitted her criteria exactly. Beattie was to be the official foster carer since it was her house and Rose was Beattie’s support so her wage would guarantee the household. It was an unusual arrangement but Lady Rosalie thought it a good one. And it would be good for Sister Rose who had recently lost her mother. Naturally, the nurse had been upset but she’d stayed at her post, merely taking a few hours off for the funeral.
‘I can’t do anything for Mum now,’ she’d told Matron when she’d been asked if she needed leave to arrange things. ‘I feel sad but it was a happy release for her at the end.’
It was sad the way Nurse Rose’s mother had gone, gradually losing all sense of what was happening around her. Even if you were a nurse and understood what was happening, it was still hard to see it in a loved one. However, the young woman could direct some of that love she had inside her to this young orphan.
If only she could find a lot more homes as good as this was potentially. Yes, she decided, it would do for Danny Bryant very well. He was energetic and needed young people about him, so sister Rose and Beattie were perfect for him.
A slight frown creased her brow at the latest news from Constable Steve Jones. He’d visited her to update her on the situation as regards to Danny’s father.
‘We visited the home of Mr Bryant and found it deserted and in a filthy state,’ the police officer had told her. ‘After discussing it with the landlord, we discovered that the rent had not been paid in three months and that he intends to repossess it next week. His solicitor told him that he’s entitled to recover back rent from the sale of anything left in the house, although there doesn’t appear to be anything much but some very old, rickety furniture.’
‘And the whereabouts of Mr Bryant?’
‘We have no idea. Our officers have a description of him and will keep a look out anywhere the homeless congregate.’
Lady Rosalie had nodded. ‘So, you think we can go ahead with the fostering and are unlikely to receive a visit from Danny’s father demanding his son’s return?’
‘I don’t think it likely that he will come looking for his son. He hasn’t reported him missing and, as far as we know, has shown no interest in his welfare. We will now take steps to make Danny a ward of the council and in your care so that his father cannot just take the boy away.’
‘Thank you.’ She’d smiled at the earnest young officer. ‘I believe I have found the ideal home for him and shall proceed accordingly.’
With all the proper paperwork in place, Lady Rosalie was now ready to give Sister Rose the good news – but she would let Matron do that. Smiling, she picked up the telephone and dialled the number for Mary Thurston’s office.
Mary replaced the receiver and nodded in satisfaction. She was very pleased that her nurse had been approved as a foster parent in conjunction with her landlady. It would not interfere with her work but it would give Sister Rose something extra in her life.
As Matron of the Rosie, Mary noticed everything that went on in the infirmary and she’d noticed that one of her best nurses had seemed a little lonely perhaps, a little unhappy. Rose Harwell was devoted to her work but work was not always enough even for the most dedicated nurse – as Mary knew herself. If you had no family or loved ones to care for, it could be hard, particularly at holiday times and Christmas. She had all her nurses to think of and had made the Rosie her life after her own mother had died, but even she felt the lack of relationships sometimes and was looking forward to her little holiday in the summer with Lady Rosalie and her son. Sister Rose was younger and perhaps needed more – either a husband or a child – and now she would have a young boy to love and care for.
It was with lightness of heart and mind that Mary went in search of Sister Rose. She found her, as she’d known she would, in the children’s ward, tending a little girl who had been sick and was crying.
‘May I have a word please, Sister Rose?’
‘Yes, of course, Matron.’ Sister Rose smiled at her and beckoned to one of their newer nurses. ‘Nurse Margaret, can you just make Jinny comfortable, please?’
‘Yes, Sister, of course.’ The junior nurse came over and took on the task Sister Rose had been doing previously.
Sister Rose washed her hands at the basin and then approached Matron. ‘Is something wrong?’
Mary beamed at her. ‘Completely the opposite, Sister Rose.
I’ve just heard that you have been given custody of Danny – and you may take him home with you whenever you wish. You will, of course, receive the official papers in due course and Beattie will be given a small allowance for his food and clothes – but there is no need to wait to take him home.’
‘That is wonderful!’ Sister Rose’s face lit up with pleasure. ‘He will be so pleased. He was bored with being here and now he can start school as soon as the school holidays are over.’
‘Yes, exactly – you have all that in place?’
‘Yes. We changed his school in case his father went looking at his old one so he’ll be going to our local school. I’ll take him the first morning and Beattie will meet him afterwards if he wants her to – though he says he’s old enough to walk home himself and it’s only just around the corner from Beattie’s house.’
Mary nodded her satisfaction.
‘Good – and before you go on with your work you may wish to tell Danny the good news.’
‘Thank you, Matron, I shall.’
Mary watched as the nurse went off to tell the boy she’d offered to foster and watched as his face lit up with joy. It gave her a warm feeling inside. They couldn’t often place a child with someone they already knew and cared for, but this time it had worked out perfectly and she imagined they would have no more need to worry about Danny Bryant.
If only it was the same for all the abused and orphaned children in London. Mary shook her head as she went on a tour of the other wards. Life wasn’t all flowers and sweetness and it was so good when something went right for once. She went in search of one of the patients concerning her the most at the moment. She would ask Nurse Alice if she thought Hilda was about ready to go home or if she needed a few days longer in the women’s ward.
‘It’s the most marvellous thing, Matron,’ Nurse Alice said. ‘Dr Clark managed to trace Hilda’s son Noah. She thought he’d gone abroad but he hasn’t, he is living in Wiltshire on a farm and was too ashamed to get in touch with his parents after he ran away because he didn’t want to stay on at school. Anyway, he’s coming up to London on Saturday to see if he can persuade his mother to go and live with him and his wife.’
‘Now, how on earth did Dr Clark manage that?’ Mary said, certain that the doctor must have gone to a considerable amount of trouble. ‘Well, she may not live any longer but she’ll be looked after for what remains of her life so we’ll keep Hilda here until Noah comes and make sure she is sensible enough to accept his offer.’
Mary smiled as she continued her rounds. If only all her problems could be solved so easily – but there was always another one to take its place. Still, it was good of Dr Clark to take such an interest and she must remember to thank him next time they met.
CHAPTER 18
Ron saw that the man who had once offered to share his fire was in his usual spot again that night. What had he called himself – Ted? He’d looked at Ron a few times since that night but hadn’t approached him again. He was brewing something over his fire and it smelled good. Ron hadn’t eaten anything all day but a half-rotten apple a stallholder had given him and his stomach ached; even a cup of tea would be welcome. He walked hesitantly up to the man and stood looking at him.
‘That smells good,’ he said at last.
‘It’s soup,’ Ted said. ‘I got work today and I’ve made soup with meat and vegetables – you can have some if you want, lad.’
‘Please …’ Ron sat down, but not too close. The man nodded, poured some soup into a tin cup and offered it to him. He took it and sipped it, relishing both the warmth it spread through him and the taste. He found a bit of meat and chewed the delicious morsel. ‘It’s really good!’
‘I learned to cook in the Army when we were out on exercises,’ Ted told him. ‘It was a good life until I got invalided out with my leg.’
‘I’m Ron and you’re Ted, ain’t yer?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’ Ted grinned and saluted him. ‘Sergeant Ted Harris reporting for duty, sir!’
A reluctant smile came into Ron’s eyes. ‘I reckon I might like to be in the Army if they teach yer to cook like this!’ He accepted a small piece of bread and soaked it in the soup. It tasted so good! ‘I’m sorry I was rude the other night.’
‘You had a right to be,’ Ted said. ‘There’s plenty of blokes you need to avoid. I’m not one of them – but you’ll only know that when you get to know me better.’
‘Am I going to know you better?’ Ron asked, still a little wary.
‘If you want to,’ Ted said and grinned in a way that Ron could relate to. ‘In the morning I’m going to work on the docks – and they might have a job you can help with, lad. You’ll get some money at the end of the day and there’s a canteen nearby where you can get a free meal twice a week. They have too many to feed us every day but they give us tickets and we can eat there twice in the week.’
‘Thanks,’ Ron said quietly and finished his soup and bread. ‘Shall I wash this?’ There was a dripping tap at the end of the bridge that all the vagrants used. Someone had installed it there years ago and it was gratefully used by all the men who had the things needed to make tea or, as Ted had, soup.
‘I’ll do it later,’ Ted said. ‘You can sleep near my patch if you want – but it’s up to you.’
Ron hesitated. He still wasn’t completely sure he could trust this man, but he wasn’t safe on his own either. Some of the other vagrants had been staring at him the previous night, making it impossible for him to sleep.
‘I’ll stay just here,’ he said and huddled with his back to the wall a few feet from Ted’s fire. It didn’t throw out much heat but it was better than where he’d been, and he’d noticed that most of the others kept to their own patch. He was probably as safe here as anywhere. ‘Thanks – I’ll do the same fer you one day, Ted.’
‘It’s all right by me,’ Ted said and settled back, closing his eyes. ‘If yer need anything just yell.’
Ron nodded and closed his eyes. He felt safer than he had for many nights, because before this he’d only rested anywhere for a short time before moving on. Most of the tramps were too sunk in their own misery to take any notice of a young lad on his own, but there was one who had kept looking at him the previous night. Frightened, Ron had moved off when the man closed his eyes and found another place to rest. Now, perhaps, perched close to Ted, he might actually be able to sleep. He closed his eyes and felt the drowsiness steal over him. The warm soup and the fire were making him relax …
Ron woke with a start sometime later as he heard the shouting. He was aware of two men struggling and in the faint light from some distant street lights, he saw the flash of steel. One of the men had a knife! Even as he watched, the other flicked his wrist and the knife went flying, landing near Ron. Quick as a flash, he picked it up and hid it under his greatcoat. Then he heard a loud crack and a scream and the man who had been holding the knife cried out.
‘You bugger! You’ve broken my arm!’
‘Serves you right,’ Ted’s voice said clearly. ‘If you try to molest that boy again, I’ll kill you. Now clear off and don’t ever come here again – I’m warning you, you filthy devil, I’ll break your neck not your arm if I see you again!’
‘How was I to know he was your property?’
‘He doesn’t belong to me or anyone else, but I’ve warned you – now sling your hook or I’ll make you really sorry!’
Ron was shivering as he watched the dark shadow run off, muttering and swearing. Ted stood watching for a moment and then came to him, looking down at him.
‘It’s all right, Ron. He didn’t touch you. I saw to that!’
‘Thanks,’ Ron said and found his teeth were chattering. ‘How did you manage to get the knife off him?’ He took it out and handed it to Ted, who accepted it with a grin.
‘It’s a trick I learned in the Army,’ he said. ‘It comes in useful – I’ll teach you if you like?’
‘Thanks.’ Ron smiled at him. ‘You’re all right, Te
d. I was lucky I stayed near you tonight.’
‘Yes.’ Ted put some wood on his fire. ‘Stay here while I fetch water and I’ll make us a brew. I think that devil has gone but you need to stay close to me for a while, Ron.’
‘I shall – and I’ll come to work with you tomorrow and to the canteen.’
‘You do that,’ Ted told him with a nod. ‘Some jobs need two of us so we’ll find more work like that – and we might earn enough to get a bed at the Sally Army, if you want.’
Ron hesitated and then grinned. ‘Yeah, why not?’ he said. ‘I reckon I can trust you – you’re like my friend Danny.’
‘Got a friend, have you?’ Ted asked smiling slightly.
‘Yeah, sort of – but I don’t know where they took him …’ Ron drew a deep breath. ‘Him and me – these men caught us and were going to sell us but the police came. Me and Danny had been fighting ’em – the others were too scared. I was hurt so they took me to hospital and I don’t know where they took Danny.’
‘Do you know his second name?’ Ted asked.
Ron shook his head. ‘Nah, we didn’t bother, but I liked him a lot.’
‘Maybe we can find out where he went,’ Ted said. ‘I know a couple of coppers that are all right. They’ll ask around for us and if we can find him, you could go and see him, especially if we can get enough work to find a settled place.’
‘Do yer think we could?’ Ron asked, his interest caught. ‘I ain’t never managed more than an hour or two – and I ain’t had that recently.’
‘Times have been very hard,’ Ted said. ‘After I left the Army I worked in a factory for a while but it closed due to the depression and since then I’ve only found work on the docks. I’m a carpenter by trade but there aren’t many jobs going – if I could find one, I could teach you the skills you need to survive on the streets.’
‘Would you?’ Ron looked at him in wonder. It was hard to believe that Ted was genuine, because he’d been let down too many times, but something inside was telling him that, at last, he might have found someone he could trust. ‘I’d like that if I was any good at it.’