An Orphan's Dream

by Cathy Sharp

  ‘I believe you will, Ted,’ Beattie said and then looked almost shy.

  ‘I can’t tell you how grateful I feel for what you’ve done for Danny,’ he said. ‘I let things slip after I was invalided out of the Army and didn’t try again to see him after Jim Bryant refused to let me see him, but meeting Ron and wanting to help him shook me out of my self-pity and it was the best thing that could have happened to me.’ He smiled at her. ‘I know you love Danny and he loves you – and I want him to feel he has more family now, not less. You’re still a part of it, Beattie, and I hope you always will be …’

  Ron saw the way they smiled at each other and wondered. Ted liked Beattie; he could tell that – but would he ask her if they could all live together?

  Ted didn’t ask that evening and he didn’t say anything more to Ron about it, but he was whistling happily as they drove home in Mr Reynolds’ old truck.

  CHAPTER 33

  Beattie was singing as she cooked porridge and made toast the next morning. She set the honey pot on the table in front of Rose and some lovely fresh butter.

  Rose looked at her and smiled. ‘That was interesting last night, Beattie – do you think Mr Phillips is courting you?’

  ‘Never!’ Beattie protested but her cheeks went pink. ‘It was nice of him to bring those chocolates, though, and to say he wanted me to be a part of their lives always.’

  ‘I think he is courting you,’ Rose said and smiled. ‘Do you like him?’

  ‘Yes, I do like him – he’s very pleasant and a sensible man,’ Beattie replied. ‘What do you think of him, Rose?’

  ‘He seems intelligent, sensible and kind. I think he’ll be good to the boys and no doubt he would be to his wife, if he had one. Have you noticed the slight limp? That must be why he was invalided out of the Army. I think he was a career soldier by the sound of it.’

  ‘Yes, and he’s served in several countries,’ Beattie said. ‘He talked about Germany and the state of things very well. Considering the way that he had to live for some time, I wouldn’t have expected him to be interested or so well-informed.’

  ‘Oh, once an Army man …’ Rose said and drank her tea. ‘I also think he was well-educated, as I think Danny’s mother was because she encouraged him to take an interest in things, from what he tells me, and his speech is quite good – which just shows you should never judge a book by its cover. Ted admits he was on the streets for a while and works with his hands, but I imagine he might have done a white-collar job had he wished.’

  ‘He speaks better than I do,’ Beattie said. ‘Another reason why he wouldn’t be interested in me – not the way you said. I’m just an ordinary woman who left school at fourteen and married at sixteen.’ She sighed. ‘The Great War was just starting when my husband joined up – and he was just eighteen. I hardly knew what it was to be a wife …’

  ‘Then if the chance comes you should think carefully,’ Rose told her and stood up. ‘That was a lovely breakfast, as always, Beattie. Have a good day and I’ll see you this evening.’

  Beattie watched as she left the house and then went to call Danny down for his breakfast. He didn’t like porridge, even with honey to make it tasty, so Beattie boiled him an egg with bread-and-butter fingers. She was going to spoil him while she still had him.

  The thought came to her that if she were to marry Ted Phillips, she could still have Danny every day, and Ron too. She liked Ron; he was a nice lad who just needed a bit of mothering to get rid of that lost, slightly wild look he had in his eyes at times. Beattie guessed that Ron had been ill-treated, ignored and unloved until Ted found him – and that was his lucky day. The way the boy looked at his saviour spoke volumes and if Beattie’s instincts hadn’t told her that Ted was a good man, the adoration in Ron’s eyes would.

  She could do a lot worse than marry him if he asked, she thought. Of course, he wouldn’t ask – why would he? She wasn’t ugly but there were many prettier women, Beattie knew that and chided herself for the fantasy. Certainly, she could look after them all, for she had a capacity to love and she was generous with her love, as she was with her cooking and anything else that she had. Her house was her own, because she’d bought it with a small legacy from an uncle and another from her parents. Running it as a boarding house for years had given her a reasonable day-to-day living, but she had only a few pounds’ savings and not much else of value. So, she didn’t have a lot to offer – unless a comfortable bed and a good meal were enough.

  But Ted Phillips was a man on the rise and he didn’t need Beattie because he could afford to rent his own home and care for the boys. Of course, if they wanted good home-cooked food … a little smile touched her lips. They said the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach and Ted was coming to lunch on Sunday so she would give him a meal to remember – and if really that was enough, perhaps it might happen.

  Beattie nodded and smiled. She was getting far too far ahead of herself, but she liked Ted a lot and she loved Danny. She thought marriage might be nice, because she’d enjoyed her first brief experience of the marriage bed and didn’t see any reason to fear cuddling up to a good-looking man like Ted Phillips. No, if he asked her – and it was a very big if – she thought she would probably say yes and she would do her best to make it happen.

  What did she have to lose?

  Rose was thoughtful when she arrived at the hospital and left her dark blue nursing cloak in her locker. It had been pretty clear to her the previous evening that Ted Phillips had come courting. He’d been perfectly polite to her, including her in his talk of world affairs, and it was true he seemed to know quite a bit about the chances of war, but she’d seen the way he looked at Beattie and she thought he liked her rather more than he’d yet admitted to himself or allowed to show.

  She’d been half-joking when she’d spoken to Beattie about it earlier but then she’d realised her friend was thinking seriously of a future that might include the ex-soldier. Obviously, a big part of that was Danny – but Beattie had been lonely when Rose first met her. Had Rose left her she might have been again.

  Rose would do nothing to stand in her friend’s way. She wouldn’t push her into marrying but she wouldn’t speak against it either. If Ted cared for Beattie, she would wish her happy – and then what?

  She couldn’t stay if Beattie married. Husband, wife and two growing boys would be a houseful and it wouldn’t be the comfortable environment she’d known for the past few years either. Although she’d loved Danny, two teenage boys together might make for a lot of noise and mess. Rose wasn’t sure she would actually wish to stay on then.

  Beattie was her friend and she wouldn’t hurt her for the world so she would keep her thoughts to herself for the moment.

  ‘A penny for them?’

  The voice from behind her made Rose spin round. She found herself staring at Peter Clark and something about the way he was smiling at her made her smile too.

  ‘I was wondering about a friend perhaps getting married,’ Rose said. ‘But it is still speculative.’

  ‘Ah …’ His smile caressed her. He hesitated and she thought he would walk on past, but then he stopped and planted himself so that she could not go past him. ‘Rose – I like you very much. I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time and now I’ve finally found the words to say: Will you come out with me one evening very soon – please?’

  Rose laughed. She couldn’t help herself. ‘Was it so very hard to ask?’ she asked. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve been an ogress.’

  ‘You haven’t, of course you haven’t. It’s just that I’m a fool and you’re wonderful!’ he blurted out and looked so much like an eager little boy that she moved forward impulsively and he took her hand. ‘Rose, please, please say yes?’

  ‘Yes, I would like to come out with you,’ she said. ‘When?’

  ‘This evening, to dinner. I think we should talk and that’s the best way, over something delicious to eat.’

  ‘All right,’ Rose told him with a smile. ‘
I should like that very much, Dr Clark.’

  ‘Peter, please – when we’re off duty,’ he said, his face alight with pleasure. ‘I’m so happy, Rose. I promise you won’t regret it …’

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘I don’t think I shall – will you pick me up from my home?’

  ‘Yes, and I know where you live.’ His smile was shy now. ‘I walk past Mrs Robinson’s house sometimes and I’ve seen you coming in and out. I visit my maternal grandmother who lives not far from there. She’s very old and frail and is looked after by a retired nurse who lives in, but she enjoys me visiting her occasionally.’

  Rose nodded, her heart singing. The church clock started to chime and she gave a start. ‘I’d better go or I’ll be late. I’ll see you this evening at seven thirty.’

  ‘I’ll be there,’ he promised and let her go.

  Rose resisted the temptation to turn around, even though she knew he was watching her walk on and up the stairs to the wards.

  Peter turned away when she’d disappeared from sight and got into his car. He was due on shift at the London Hospital in half an hour and would just make it. He was smiling at the thought of where he would take Rose that evening – somewhere special, somewhere he’d never taken any other girlfriend. Rose was different and he wanted it to be new, fresh – a new start for them both.

  It was as he neared the hospital that he saw the queue of ambulances. He left the traffic, parked his car in his reserved place and ran, knowing that this was something out of the ordinary. They didn’t have a queue like this every morning so it meant a bad accident must have happened somewhere in London – an accident, probably, in which a lot of people had been hurt and needed attention.

  All thoughts of his personal life vanished as he saw the stretchers being carried into the hospital and he hurried up to one of the porters.

  ‘What’s happened, Ben?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh, Dr Clark,’ the porter said, ‘there’s been a big gas explosion down the Commercial Road or just off it. A factory is on fire and at least forty people have been injured, many with serious burns.’

  Peter nodded. The hospital was always busy and an accident of this size would keep them on their toes for the rest of the day. As well as the horrific burn cases there would be firemen overcome by inhalation of smoke and other small injuries …

  CHAPTER 34

  ‘Have you heard the terrible news?’ Lady Rosalie asked Matron when she rang her at the Rosie later that morning. ‘I know a couple of schoolchildren were hurt – caught in the blast walking past, I understand. Have they been brought to you, by any chance?’

  ‘No,’ Mary Thurston said. ‘We haven’t admitted anyone this morning – what has happened?’

  ‘There was a gas explosion at a factory just off Commercial Road and it caught fire,’ Lady Rosalie told her. ‘I know most of the burn cases were taken to the London but some of the other cases have been taken to other hospitals – I think over a hundred have been hurt and there are more cases coming in. The smoke is toxic, apparently, and a lot of people in the area are complaining of feeling ill.’

  ‘That’s awful,’ Mary said. ‘Well, we may be called on yet so we should prepare, just in case.’

  ‘That’s why I rang,’ Lady Rosalie said. ‘And I have some news for you about the child you told me about last month. She was very unhappy in the temporary home she was placed in but I found her a new foster mother and she’s really settled now.’

  ‘Was that little Ginny?’ Mary nodded her satisfaction. ‘That was a clear case of neglect, Rosalie. I had no hesitation in reporting her case to the police and to you.’

  ‘Yes, well, she is both healthy and happy now,’ Lady Rosalie said. ‘I shall hope to see you next week – but I’d better let you get on …’

  Mary thanked her and replaced the receiver. She left her office and went first to the critical ward and then to the children’s ward. Sister Rose was bandaging a little boy’s knee. She’d just finished and she walked to greet Matron with a smile.

  ‘What can I do for you, Matron?’

  ‘I’ve just been told of a terrible accident,’ Matron said. ‘There are many casualties and the London Hospital has taken the brunt of it but we could well get our share before long. I believe there are some children involved and it may be that we get those.’

  ‘They’ll be working frantically at the London,’ Sister Rose said and looked thoughtful. ‘Was it an explosion of some kind?’

  ‘Yes, yet another gas explosion. Some of these old factories are death traps, Sister Rose. The working conditions are crowded and poor and the equipment is old, so when something like this happens it results in a lot of injuries.’

  ‘Yes, I can imagine,’ Rose said. ‘We don’t often see that kind of thing here, Matron.’

  ‘No, most of our patients are suffering from minor illnesses or simply old age,’ Matron said. ‘I’m not sure we could treat major burns so we shan’t be asked to take those.’

  Nurse Margaret came hurrying up to them. She’d just returned from a bathroom break and clearly had news for them.

  ‘Matron, there are two ambulance men downstairs. They have two children with injuries to their hands, faces and legs, and there is a man suffering from smoke inhalation and a woman with a cut hand from flying glass.’

  ‘Then I shall be needed. I’ll leave you to prepare, Sister Rose, and I’ll send one of my other junior nurses to help you.’ She walked quickly from the ward.

  ‘We have the bed at the end there and the two in the isolation ward,’ Rose thought aloud, ‘but we’ll put them both in there, I think. If the children have serious injuries, it might perhaps be best not to let the other patients see them until they’ve healed a bit …’

  Nurse Margaret went off to make sure the beds were turned down and ready for the children while Sister Rose stood at the door, ready to receive her new patients. They were brought in a couple of minutes later, a brother and sister aged ten and eleven.

  ‘Both were knocked off their feet by the blast,’ the ambulance man told her. ‘The boy, Jack, was unconscious for about twenty minutes and he’s feeling pretty groggy; he also has cuts to his leg and arm. Carol, the girl, has a few minor cuts to her leg and another to her face, but she’s mainly suffering from shock and can’t stop crying.’

  ‘Thank you …’ Rose took the notes she was offered and looked at the brother and sister. Her practised eye noted the dirty faces and unkempt hair. ‘At what time did this happen?’

  ‘About six thirty this morning,’ the porter replied. ‘The children were taken to the London and the first assessment was done there but they are inundated, so we were asked to transfer them elsewhere – this was the nearest hospital that could take them.’

  ‘We have two isolation beds that will be just right.’ Rose bent over the young girl, who was crying. ‘Hello, is your name Carol?’ The child nodded, her eyes were wide with fear. ‘It’s all right, Carol. You’ve no need to be frightened. We shall look after you now, and your brother.’

  ‘Is he dead?’ Carol asked timidly. ‘He wouldn’t open his eyes.’

  ‘Jack is feeling unwell for the moment,’ Rose said, smiling at her gently, ‘but we’re going to make sure he’s going to be all right. I know another nurse looked after you at the start, but I’m going to put you into bed and then I’ll have a look at you, make sure you’re comfortable. Does anything hurt badly?’

  ‘My leg hurts and my face is sore,’ Carol replied tearfully. ‘But I’m ’ungry – we ain’t ’ad anythin’ ter eat since yesterday morning.’

  ‘I’ll get you something in a few minutes,’ Sister Rose said and smiled inwardly. This patient wasn’t too bad if she was more worried about being hungry. Apart from her worry about her brother, she would soon recover once she’d had a nice cup of milky cocoa and a ham sandwich.

  Peter worked throughout the morning and the early afternoon and it was about three o’clock when a young policeman came up to him.

  ‘Sorry to
trouble you, Doctor, but we’ve got a problem and I’ve been told you’re the one we need.’

  ‘What is it?’ Peter asked, his eyes moving round the busy ward. They had just finished dealing with every casualty brought in to them and he was about to take his break.

  ‘I understand you know an old woman called Jessie – she walks about with a ramshackle pram?’ the police officer said. ‘She’s a bit of a funny one but apparently she likes you.’

  ‘Yes, I’ve treated Jessie at the clinic many times but, as you can see, we have an emergency …’

  ‘Unfortunately, Jessie is a part of the emergency and she won’t let anyone but you near her,’ the officer went on with a frown. ‘She’s caught under heavy debris, Dr Clark, and we can’t move her. She screams every time anyone tries to touch her and keeps asking for you.’

  ‘In that case I’ll come,’ Peter said and signalled to one of the nurses. He explained to her where he was going and followed the police officer out of the ward and down through the hospital to the waiting car.

  The scene of the accident was like a war zone, Peter thought as he approached it a short time later. Ambulances were still parked nearby and police cars, also people standing in groups watching, despite being asked to move on.

  ‘I don’t know why it fascinates them,’ the police officer remarked. ‘She’s over there, sir …’

  Peter approached a small group of doctors and policemen standing around what looked to be part of a collapsed building. As he approached, a police constable he recognised looked at him and smiled.

  ‘Ah, Dr Clark – it’s Jessie. She’s trapped under there and we need to give her a sedative so we can pull her clear. It is going to cause her a lot of pain and we may have to amputate her leg to get her out.’

  Peter frowned. ‘Constable Jones, you can’t do that – she couldn’t live if she was stuck in an institution and that is what will happen if you take her leg.’