by Rosie Clarke
‘No, that’s true and I shan’t expect it,’ Janet said and smiled. ‘I think I’m acquiring some of your wisdom, Mum.’
‘You always had it, but you had too much grief too young,’ Peggy said. ‘But we shan’t dwell on the past. This is a happy time for us all – and we know Pip is doing well.’
Sheila had rung early that morning to say she was visiting the hospital again that day and hoping to talk to the doctors about moving Pip nearer home.
‘He’s improving all the time,’ she’d told Peggy who had been eager for news of her eldest son. ‘But the doctor told me it will be at least two months before he can leave hospital, so if he can be moved to London it will make things easier all round.’
‘Don’t worry about the business,’ Peggy had told her firmly. ‘We’re taking care of that – but Chris is missing you, so if you can get Pip back to London, it will be much better.’
‘Pip says I should go home, but if I’m here I can push for him to be moved as soon as possible. Tell Chris I love him lots and I’ll be home soon.’
‘Try to ring when he’s here,’ Peggy had said. ‘Just to have a little chat…’
Sheila had promised she would and Peggy had gone up to tell Janet that her brother was improving and might soon be moved back to London. They’d had a long chat before the children came in to see the new arrival and Peggy was tempted to ask Janet about the girl who had been in Pip’s car, but she decided to keep it to herself. Janet never pulled her punches and she was capable of marching up to her brother’s hospital bed and demanding to know what sort of a fool he was, picking up women when he had Sheila at home.
Peggy frowned, because she loved Pip as much as any of her children, but he had some of his father’s traits and she couldn’t help wondering if he had strayed – if the baby the unknown girl was carrying was yet another grandchild. The effect on Sheila would be devastating and Peggy didn’t want to see their marriage fall apart.
She thought about it as she made apple pies and pear upside-down cake, meringues and coconut tarts for the shop and some fancy almond biscuits for her own family. Peggy’s love of cooking had always calmed her and as she worked, the feeling that she was jumping to conclusions came to her mind. Pip could simply have been giving a colleague – or even a stranger – a lift out of kindness. She mustn’t prejudge him, but she would ask when he was well enough.
As her thoughts of home and family settled, Peggy’s mind went back to the young girl she’d brought home and nursed. It still felt painful to her that Gillian had turned against her, playing spiteful tricks, stealing from her and then stabbing her with a knife. Why would she do that to someone who had been kind to her? Peggy suspected there was far more to the girl’s story than she’d yet guessed and she worried at it like a terrier with a bone. Despite what Gillian had done, Peggy felt sad because of what had happened to her; it was so sad that she had suffered so much and died. Someone out there deserved punishment and the police had their suspect – but were they after the right man?
After Peggy had served breakfast to her guests, she lingered to chat about various things, from the slight change in the weather to what was on at the West End theatres. One of her couples seemed to be quite well off; they’d come to London to shop and visit theatres and places of interest.
‘It is our fortieth wedding anniversary on Saturday,’ Frank Halliday said to Peggy as his wife left the room. ‘My Vera deserves a treat. I want to take her to a slap-up meal at the Savoy Hotel – she has always wanted to go there – and buy her some special clothes, a nice piece of jewellery and visit the theatre. Can you suggest anything?’
‘They usually have a good show at the London Palladium,’ Peggy said. ‘In July, Frank Sinatra was there and it was a sell-out, but they have wonderful musical shows and pantomimes.’
‘Well, my wife would have loved that,’ Frank Halliday said with a smile. ‘She says he reminds her of me and she has all his records.’ He nodded happily. ‘We’re going to try to see something of the Royal Family while we’re here – Princess Elizabeth and her husband had their new daughter on the fifteenth of August.’
‘Yes. Everyone is delighted with that and her name.’ Peggy smiled. ‘My husband is an American and he loves the Royal Family.’
‘It’s a pity we missed Frank Sinatra though…’
‘I’m sure there are a lot of other good shows on at the moment. I’ll find my Weekly News for you; it has all the shows in.’
Frank Halliday nodded. ‘You’re very kind. We were told you went out of your way to help your customers. That is why we decided to stay here rather than a large hotel – they can be so impersonal, can’t they?’
‘Yes, I suppose so,’ Peggy agreed. ‘Most would have the kind of information you need on hand, but it all depends what kind of accommodation you need or want.’
He smiled and agreed, thanked her again and then followed his wife from the room.
Peggy was thoughtful as she went through to the kitchen with the last of the used dishes. People were interesting and she enjoyed what she did, considered she was lucky to have her own business. In fact, her life was pretty good – but there was still the slight shadow of Gillian and the way the girl had died in hospital. She felt slightly guilty, as though she’d neglected something, she ought to have done to make the girl feel secure and happy. Yet what more could she have done? Gillian had been too severely damaged before Peggy brought her home the first day. Should they have made more effort to discover just where Gillian came from and who was behind what had happened to her? Perhaps they would never know the truth now.
24
Shirley had a wonderful day out with Keith Turner. They had lunch at a smart Italian restaurant, which she enjoyed very much, eating Gallia melon for the first time in her life and enjoying the taste of spaghetti mixed with a spicy tomato sauce and minced beef. Together with a salad dressed with olive oil and herbs, it was a different experience for her and she’d felt sophisticated and grown-up, pleased with the new experience and the creamy tiramisu served for afters with a light white sparkling wine.
Shirley had felt light-headed and giggly, especially when they went to a cinema to see a Laurel and Hardy film that had them both laughing at the antics of the comedy pair. After the film, they had a lovely tea, because Keith wanted to make the day last as long as possible, and it was nearly eight o’clock when they finally took a bus to Shirley’s home. Keith then produced a small box from his pocket and offered it to her shyly.
‘You’ve spent enough on me today,’ she protested, but he placed it in her hand and smiled.
‘It isn’t much, just a little keepsake,’ he said and when she opened the lid and looked inside, she saw a small silver heart locket on a chain. ‘Keep it if you don’t want to wear it and remember me…’
‘I shall wear it; it is lovely,’ Shirley said and reached up to place a kiss on his cheek. ‘Thank you for everything. You’ve spoiled me and I shan’t forget this day, Keith, or you.’
He nodded, hesitated, then, ‘You’ve got a lot of studying to do and I’ve got to learn my trade in the Army, but I might send you a postcard now and then – and I’ll visit when I’m home… if you’d like?’
‘Let’s keep in touch, but no promises,’ Shirley said, smiling at him. ‘We like each other, Keith – but I’m getting over a break-up with someone I thought I loved and you hardly know me…’
‘Yes, that’s true, but I know my own mind,’ he said. ‘I’ll write and tell you where I am, Shirley. I’ll hope you write back – have fun at medical school and I’ll think of you…’
He turned and walked away, proud and tall, and Shirley was tempted to call him back and tell him she liked him an awful lot, but she held her tongue. For years she’d believed herself in love with Richard and she wasn’t sure how she felt now. She’d been furious with his behaviour towards her, but she’d calmed down now and Keith’s generosity and decency had had a lot to do with that, but she still wasn’t sure whether she st
ill had feelings for Richard and what she would do if he came in search of her.
Shirley’s mother was full of talk of the new baby that evening, which she related over a pot of tea when Shirley got home. Ryan had finally arrived late in the afternoon and was over the moon with his new son, though he’d taken care to bring Maggie a lovely new riding crop so that she wouldn’t feel left out. Able had taken all the older children to the skating rink after school, and though both Maggie and Chris had been novices on the ice, they’d all enjoyed the outing. Peggy and Maureen had spent the morning cooking cakes in her kitchen at the boarding house.
‘We might as well do it here for the time being,’ Peggy had said. ‘We can keep an eye on Janet while looking after the business for Sheila.’
Maureen had nodded and smiled. ‘Your kitchen is a lovely modern one, Peggy. I sometimes wish I could trade in my old range for a new gas cooker, but then I worry that I wouldn’t be able to work it.’
‘I still like cooking on the range,’ Peggy had assured her. ‘It’s nice to have a choice, though. I’m sure Gordon would install a new one if you asked him.’
Maureen related the conversation in between telling Shirley how adorable little Ryan was and how happy it had made Janet now she’d given her husband a son.
‘Would you like a new gas cooker?’ Gordon asked, looking thoughtfully at his wife.
‘I’m not sure,’ Maureen began and looked at her daughter. ‘What do you think, Shirley? It would have to go out in the scullery, because there’s no room in here.’
Shirley was about to give her opinion when they heard the knock at the door.
Gordon frowned because it was past eight in the evening. He got to his feet. ‘I’ll go – you never know who’s about…’
Shirley sat back down and looked at the knitting pattern she’d selected from her mother’s collection. She’d bought some white wool and was just about to start casting on when her father returned.
‘It was that so-and-so Richard Kent,’ he growled. ‘I told him to sling his hook. If he thinks he can upset you like that and then crawl back here, he can think again! He didn’t even telephone to make sure you’d got home all right!’
‘He didn’t need to, Dad. I can look after myself.’ Shirley’s heart pounded. ‘What did he say?’
‘He says he wants to explain,’ her father said. ‘I told him after the way he spoke to you, I’ll explain with a fist in his mouth if he hurts you again…’
A slight smile touched Shirley’s mouth, because she knew her father’s anger stemmed from his deep love for her. ‘Thank you, Dad,’ she said. ‘Did he run off?’
‘No…’ Gordon glared at a spot on the old-fashioned cornice. ‘The blighter wouldn’t budge. He put his foot in the door and says he needs to see you. I told him to clear off and not darken our door again, but he says he’ll go when you tell him. Do you want me to take a poker to him?’
‘No, I don’t think so,’ she said and stood up. ‘I shall tell him myself.’
The door was slightly open. Shirley opened it wider, but she didn’t invite Richard in, even though she could see he was expecting her to.
She drew a deep breath, then, ‘Why have you come? You made your opinion of me pretty clear, Richard.’
‘I was angry and I didn’t think it through,’ he said, looking awkward. ‘I still think you should have told me rather than the police – but I shouldn’t have said those things to you…’
‘No, you shouldn’t,’ Shirley told him. ‘I had no idea it was Tosy. I thought it might be someone else, but I made no accusations. My landlady had her name down as the one with a key that was never returned and the restaurant manager said I wasn’t the only one to lose money and possessions.’
‘The police found stuff in her room, things we had lost but weren’t sure she’d taken,’ he said, looking subdued. ‘They say she is a habitual thief, probably can’t help herself and by covering for her at medical school, we were making her worse…’
‘Yes, I imagine she believed she could get away with anything,’ Shirley said and looked him straight in the eye. ‘Thank you for telling me – and for the apology. Goodnight, Richard.’
‘Hang on a minute,’ he said and looked startled. ‘I thought we might go out somewhere tomorrow evening.’
‘Did you?’ Shirley felt a cold shiver and her stomach plummeted and yet she knew she was right as she said, ‘No, I don’t think so, Richard. I don’t think I want to be your girlfriend after all.’
‘But you must… I mean we were so close…’ he looked half annoyed, half shocked.
‘Yes, I was close to giving myself to you, but I’m glad I didn’t,’ Shirley said. ‘If you really cared for me, Richard, you would never have suggested that we had sex before we were married. You would respect and love me and be prepared to wait until I qualify as a doctor and we could marry…’
‘That’s old-fashioned and stuffy. All the girls at medical school do what they want – you’re just behaving like a little girl…’
‘Yes, perhaps I am,’ Shirley agreed, ‘but it’s what I am and if it’s old-fashioned and stuffy, then that’s what I’ll be!’
His lips curled in a sneer. ‘You were keen enough on the beach, nearly begging for it—’
‘Yes, perhaps I was,’ Shirley agreed. ‘When I meet the man I want to marry, I think I shall enjoy making love very much – but I’ll find out when I’m married and not before, because I want a man who respects me, and you don’t, Richard. You didn’t even call to make sure I’d got home safely. Before you went to medical school, I believed you did care – we were always together, the best of friends, but now I see it was never more than that…’
‘That’s stupid! I love you, want you—’
‘If that is true, then I’m sorry,’ she said firmly. ‘You see I don’t love you – perhaps it was just a schoolgirl crush, but it is over now.’ She realised that apart from a feeling of sadness that she’d lost a friend, she felt nothing towards him.
‘Shirley…’ he protested. He’d taken a couple of steps back in his surprise and she closed the door with a little snap in his face, stood for a moment with her back against it and then walked into the kitchen. Her parents had the wireless on and were listening to a music programme, as if they’d deliberately shut out her quarrel with Richard.
Sitting down on the sofa that had replaced the old daybed Gran had been given as a young bride, Shirley took up her knitting.
Maureen turned the radio down, smiling at her. ‘Everything all right, love?’
‘Yes, thanks, Mum,’ Shirley said. ‘Will you take me to the train on Monday, Dad, or shall I book a taxi to help with my stuff for medical school?’
‘Of course, I’ll take you in the van,’ Gordon said. ‘I’ll leave my staff in charge of the shop for the morning.’
‘Thanks, Dad,’ Shirley said and started to cast on her stitches. ‘I’m glad I got white wool. If I’d bought pink it wouldn’t have been right…’
‘I never use a colour for the first coats,’ Maureen said, ‘because you never know whether it’s a boy or a girl until it’s born.’
Shirley nodded. ‘I’ve broken it off with Richard, Mum. He wanted to take me out, but I said no.’
‘Good!’ her father growled.
‘Are you sure that is what you want, love?’ Maureen asked, looking anxious. ‘You two were so close when you were children – for years,’
‘Yes, and I did believe he was the one I would marry,’ Shirley said. ‘I’m glad this happened, Mum. I’ve learned things about him that I might never have known until it was too late.’
‘That’s good then,’ Maureen said and smiled at her lovingly. ‘As long as you haven’t cut off your nose to spite your face?’
Shirley laughed and made a little show of feeling for her nose. ‘No, I haven’t done that, Mum. I know now that it was just a childish crush. Besides, he’s not the man I thought he was; he is selfish and thoughtless and I don’t like him any more.’
‘Are you certain, love? I’d hate you to break your heart over pride.’
‘I’m certain.’ Shirley smiled at her. ‘I’ve got you and my family to love and that will do for me until I pass my exams to be a doctor – that’s what I want, Mum.’
‘Sensible girl,’ her father said. ‘Forget that pompous ass. He isn’t worth the mud off your shoes, love.’
‘I know…’
‘Then I’m happy,’ her mother replied and gave her a searching look. ‘This wouldn’t have something to do with that silver locket you’re wearing?’
‘Keith gave me that – and no, I’m not ready to make any commitment yet, Mum. He has things to do and so do I, so it’s a case of wait and see.’
Maureen nodded and smiled. ‘That’s your choice, love, and I know it’s what your dad wants – I just want you to be happy.’
‘I may feel a bit depressed over it for a while,’ Shirley confessed. ‘Richard was the centre of my world for a long time, but he isn’t now.’
Her father was stuck behind his newspaper, but she knew he was listening to every word as he shook the paper sharply in approval. Shirley smiled. She knew he’d felt she was too intense about Richard for a girl of her age and perhaps she had been.
25
Peggy answered the telephone when Sheila rang with the good news. ‘The doctors say Pip is improving more quickly than they thought possible and they are saying they may be able to move him as soon as next week. He’ll still be in hospital for a while, but he’s more like himself.’
‘That is wonderful, Sheila. Give him my love and tell him I’ll visit as soon as I can,’ Peggy said. ‘I am so pleased that the hospital has agreed to move him back to London. You will have your family here and Chris will be delighted to have his mother back.’
‘I’m sorry he has been upset,’ Sheila said, ‘but you understand why I had to come down, don’t you?’
‘Yes, of course I do, love. In your place, I’d want to do the same,’ Peggy assured her. ‘I really want to see Pip, too, and I was considering coming down by myself and leaving Able to manage the children.’