Christmas at the Foyles Bookshop (The Foyles Girls)

by Elaine Roberts

  ‘Hhmm, we’ll see.’ Mabel looked back at the lady sitting behind the reception desk. ‘Ivy, I’m delivering Victoria safely to you. She’s here to visit patients. Can you arrange for someone to take her to the ward, then Sister can let her know who she needs to sit with.’ She studied Ivy for a moment. ‘Can you also ask someone to keep an extra eye on the corporal in the side room on Joan of Arc ward, I believe he’s quite badly injured but he’s also going to need some rehabilitation time so he’s going to be here for a while.’

  Ivy nodded. ‘Stop worrying and get off home.’ She gave Victoria a smile. ‘Welcome to the mad house.’

  Mabel giggled. ‘Don’t put her off before she’s even started.’ She turned to face Victoria. ‘Take no notice of Ivy, she should have retired years ago.’ She pulled a tongue out at the grey-haired woman behind the desk. ‘Take care, Victoria. What you are about to do is hard and not for everyone, but it’s also a great thing. Hopefully, I’ll see you again.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Victoria watched Mabel walk towards the door, and out into the cold.

  Ivy gave a little cough. ‘Can I just take your full name, Victoria? It’s only for our records.’ Her lips curled. ‘Matron is quite strict about knowing who is in here, both visitors and patients.’

  Victoria smiled and leant forward a little. ‘It’s Appleton, Victoria Appleton.’

  Ivy jotted the name down on her pad, before walking around her desk. ‘Most of our patients are in a pretty bad way, so don’t be surprised if you don’t get much of a response from them.’

  A shiver ran up Victoria’s spine as she fell into step with Ivy. She forced a smile. ‘Thank you for the warning.’

  Ivy glanced across at her. ‘I’m sure you’ll be fine.’

  Within minutes, they had climbed the stairs and were pushing open the doors to a room with beds on either side, for as far as the eye could see. The green walls were broken up by the daylight coming through the windows. Small clipboards holding sheets of white paper hung near each neatly made bed. Some men were lying still and groans escaped into the air, while others were more upright. A bedside cabinet and a wooden chair, not dissimilar to the ones Victoria had at home, filled the space between each bed. There was no room for private conversation. Perhaps it would be safer to read books; she could read to two patients at once.

  ‘Oh look, lads, a pretty young lady has just walked in; now that should brighten our days here.’

  Ivy gave a mischievous smile and nudged Victoria with her elbow. ‘Aww, come on now, it’s not the first time I’ve been up to see you all.’

  The ward came alive with laughter.

  5

  ‘Do you think we come here too much?’ Molly asked, looking around the Regent Street restaurant. Nothing had changed in Monico’s since they’d first had tea and cake there a few years ago. The strategically placed large potted palms had probably got taller. A grandfather clock chimed in the corner, partially covered by the fronds of the plants. The large mirrors along the walls gave the illusion that it was larger than it really was. The roman pillars and arches gave it an exotic feel.

  Victoria ran her hands over the stiff white tablecloth. ‘Definitely not. This is still my favourite place to come to eat, but I would like to have a proper meal one of these days; it always smells so good as it wafts past my nose.’ She glanced over at the neighbouring table. ‘Maybe one day.’

  Molly laughed, pulling her royal blue skirt from around her legs and straightening the cuffs of her cream blouse. ‘We haven’t actually looked at the menu for a couple of years; goodness knows what meals they have on there to tempt us.’

  ‘That’s true; we always order the same thing,’ said Alice. ‘We’ve created our own tradition of tea and chocolate cake, regardless of good news or bad.’ She turned to look at Victoria. ‘Talking of which, how did you get on at Endell Street Hospital?’

  Victoria’s eyes lit up. ‘It was a bit daunting, walking up to the large gates, and it’s a huge building, but once I’d walked in, they were very welcoming. Well actually, a nurse took me in, when she found me loitering around outside, trying to pluck up courage. Apparently, it’s run by women who were active suffragettes before the war started. Anyway, it seems I can go whenever I want. I have to let them know I’m there and they will tell me which patient to sit with.’ She lowered her eyes for a moment. ‘The sister said that, unless someone wasn’t expected to last the day, they would want me to only spend maybe an hour with each soldier. Apparently, not many of them get visitors, so it’s about spreading the good cheer, so to speak.’

  Alice nodded. ‘That makes sense.’ She paused, turning the wedding ring on her finger. ‘I like to think if my brother, Charles, was in that situation, someone would be kind enough to spend time with him, and when I think about Robert, I want to believe he didn’t die on his own.’

  Molly reached out and rested her hand on top of Alice’s, squeezing it tight. ‘There are good people out there and we mustn’t forget that.’

  ‘That’s why I want to do it, Alice. Your brother is still fighting, as is mine, and then there’s Ted.’ Victoria paused. ‘I refuse to accept I won’t see Ted again. I still love him and want someone to be by his side when he needs it.’ A tear ran down her face and she quickly swiped it away.

  Molly frowned. ‘I know Ted’s the love of your life but is there room in your heart for you to love anyone else?’

  Victoria shook her head. ‘I could never love anyone the way I love Ted.’

  Alice took Victoria’s hand and gently stroked it. ‘There’s nothing to say he won’t come back to you. Remember we have to have faith; it won’t let us down.’

  The waitress sidled up to the table, wearing the traditional long black dress, white frilly-bibbed apron and a white hat perched precariously on her black curls. She smiled as she placed the china tea service in front of them, before silently moving away.

  ‘Let’s talk about happier things.’ Victoria glanced over at Molly. ‘What’s happening with your wedding plans?’

  Molly pushed her blonde hair behind her ear. ‘Nothing is happening – well actually, that isn’t true, I’m getting nagged a lot.’

  Victoria frowned. ‘Who from, Andrew or your mother?’

  Molly groaned. ‘All of them.’

  The waitress appeared, placing plates in front of them, with a large slice of chocolate cake on each.

  Alice nodded. ‘Thank you.’

  The waitress smiled, before moving away from their table.

  ‘Why are they nagging you?’ Victoria picked up her cake fork. ‘I thought you would have it all organised by now.

  Molly gave a humourless laugh. ‘Victoria, I haven’t organised anything, that’s the problem, and what’s more, I’m not going to.’

  Alice raised her eyebrows, as she looked across at Victoria. ‘Is the wedding off?’

  ‘No, it’s just not on.’

  Victoria sighed. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’

  ‘I want both my parents to slow down, before they end up in an early grave. I wish they would stop working and move to the house they bought for me, but they’re refusing to do it, so I’ve told me ma I’ll not be getting married until they have.’ Molly lifted her chin. ‘Pa has offered the house and his savings to Andrew as a dowry; talk about old fashioned, and Andrew said no to it.’

  Victoria reached out and clasped Molly’s hand. ‘Your father is only trying to do the right thing. I think it’s quite sweet that he wants to do the traditional things.’

  ‘I know, I know. It’s hard work keep battling all the time, and no one seems to understand that I want to do the right thing by them.’

  ‘Maybe you need to find a different way to solve the problem,’ said Alice. ‘I’m not saying I have the answers, but there must be another way of appealing to your father’s sense of pride and duty.’

  The three girls fell silent for a few minutes.

  Alice grabbed Molly’s arm. ‘I know, why don’t you tell him that if he mo
ves into the house, it will still be yours, rather than him giving it to Andrew. Then, if anything happens, you would still have somewhere to live.’ She beamed at her friends. ‘It may not work, but I think it is definitely worth a try.’

  Molly glanced across at Alice. ‘You look like the cat that’s got the cream.’

  ‘That’s because that’s exactly how I feel.’ Alice blushed, and her cheeks matched the dress she was wearing. ‘I’m getting good at this stuff.’ Laughter erupted around their table.

  Victoria placed her hand on her chest, as she gasped for breath. The soft silky material of her pale blue blouse seeped between her fingers. ‘In all seriousness, it is a good idea. When you think about it, your father has only ever wanted to look after you, even more so when he’s no longer around, so I think that idea could work.’

  Molly nodded. ‘Maybe I’ll try it; arguing isn’t getting me anywhere.’

  ‘That’s true. And you don’t want to keep Andrew waiting too long, especially as nothing has been straightforward between the two of you. I’m sorry, I should have asked how he is.’

  Molly’s face lit up. ‘He’s wonderful, and his burns from the munitions explosion are improving all the time, but he is urging me to set a date for our wedding.’

  Alice gave Molly a sideways glance. ‘Once the wedding is over with, you’ll then be under pressure to produce grandchildren.’

  Molly picked up her cake fork and let it balance on the end of her thumb. ‘Hmmm, I’m not sure I’m ready for children yet.’

  ‘I’d love another child. It would be good for Arthur to have a brother or sister.’

  Victoria put down her fork. ‘Is this your way of telling us something?’

  Alice chuckled. ‘No, but I would love it to happen again.’ She took the lid off the teapot and began stirring vigorously. ‘This tea will be cold if we don’t drink it soon.’ She replaced the lid and poured the dark brown liquid through the tea strainer, over the cups. ‘You can add your own milk.’

  Molly stabbed her fork into the end of the chocolate cake. ‘So, Victoria, you mentioned a while ago about sorting out your parents’ things. Have you decided when you are going to do it?’

  Victoria let her fork clatter on to the tea plate. ‘No… if I’m honest, I’m dreading it.’

  Molly licked the crumbs from her lips and picked up her teacup. ‘That’s understandable.’ She took a sip of the lukewarm liquid. ‘I’m sure I speak for Alice as well, when I say we can both come round and be with you when you do it. You’re not on your own, you know.’

  ‘I know, and I do appreciate that, but it’s something I should do on my own.’

  Alice licked the cake from around her teeth. ‘You don’t have to, though.’

  Molly eyed Victoria. ‘I don’t think you’ll start, if someone doesn’t force you to, so I think, initially, we should be there, until you begin to go through some things.’

  Victoria sighed. ‘I’m ashamed to say I closed their bedroom door just after they died, and I’ve not opened it since.’ Her eyes welled up. ‘To be honest, I can’t bring myself to go in there. I know it will smell of my mother, and I dread the memories that will come flooding back.’

  Alice’s eyes narrowed a little. ‘We’ll do it together, like we do everything.’

  ‘Are you worried about what you’ll find?’ asked Molly.

  Victoria could feel her throat tightening. ‘Maybe – let’s face it, it was seven years ago and I was only sixteen.’ She paused. ‘I didn’t know them as an adult, so they could have secrets that might shock me.’

  Molly shook her head. ‘I’m sure there won’t be anything you can’t overcome, and we will be with you every step of the way, like you were for me. That’s what friends are for.’

  Victoria gave a watery smile. ‘Yes, that’s true, it’s not like they would have been German spies or something.’

  Molly laughed. ‘Right, let’s eat cake and drink our tea.’ She smiled at Victoria. ‘It was you who once said tea and cake solves everything.’

  *

  Molly shut the front door behind her, pulling her pink woollen gloves from the pockets of her winter coat. She glanced up at Alice as she pushed her hands inside them. ‘I thought it might be warmer today; I nearly went for a lighter jacket.’

  It was early, but Carlisle Street was already a hive of activity. Women wearing headscarves and aprons were cleaning windows and scrubbing doorsteps. They mopped their brows and stretched their aching backs as they nodded and shouted good morning to Molly and Alice. Water and soap suds trickled off steps and formed pools at the side of the road.

  Both Molly and Alice shouted good morning to them, as they walked past.

  ‘Don’t overdo it,’ Molly called out to them. ‘It’s too cold to be out here, scrubbing steps and cleaning windows.

  Mrs Taylor groaned at her neighbour. ‘Trust me, after five minutes of scrubbing the front doorstep, you’re sweating like a pig.’

  Molly smiled. ‘That I can believe.’

  The girls walked on in silence. Molly looked back to watch the women doing their chores; some didn’t look much older than her. They disappeared from view as they turned into Dean Street, heading towards New Oxford Street. ‘It’s only just occurred to me, you’ve come the long way round to go to Victoria’s; you could have walked across Bedford Square from Bloomsbury Street. It would have probably only taken you five minutes, and been prettier, with the spring flowers out.’

  Alice wrinkled her nose as she caught a waft of maltiness coming from the fermenting hops at the Horseshoe Brewery. ‘I know, but I thought it might be better if we arrived together.’

  Molly nodded. ‘I wonder how Victoria is today.’ She stepped behind Alice, allowing a suited gentleman to walk past. He lifted his bowler hat and nodded as he drew level with her.

  Alice waited for Molly to join her. ‘I expect the very thought of opening her parents’ bedroom door has got her in a terrible state. She told me once that she hasn’t been in there since just after the train crash, and that was only to leave things on the bed.’

  Molly looked down at the pavement, and their feet stepping forward, in time with each other. ‘I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t not help, but there’s something not quite right about rifling through someone else’s belongings.’ She tightened her lips. ‘The sooner we get to Percy Street and get started, the better.’

  ‘You need to be patient, and don’t tease her. Hopefully, Victoria won’t be too bad, once we get started.’

  ‘I’m not so sure about that; it’s going to be a painful day for her, but unfortunately, it’s long overdue.’

  A car horn tooted. Both Alice and Molly looked in the direction it came from, but they couldn’t see anything untoward.

  Alice looked sideways at Molly. ‘I know it is.’

  ‘I know she said she wouldn’t, but do you think she’ll ever let go of Ted? After all she was devastated when he disappeared, I’m amazed she’s still standing what with him leaving shortly after losing her parents.’ She glanced across at Alice. ‘I’m sure if she made room in her heart she would find someone else to love, and more importantly, love her back, no matter what life throws at them.’

  ‘I don’t think she will ever move on from him – she has forgiven him because she loves him no matter what.’

  Molly sighed. ‘I know you’re right, but the whole thing just makes me feel so sad.’

  Alice pushed her hand through Molly’s arm. ‘I know, but we need to think of something good, to take her mind off things.’

  ‘What? Why are you looking at me like that?’ Molly chuckled. ‘You’re the good news person, so start thinking of something.’

  Alice giggled as they weaved in and out of the stalls littering the pavement. ‘I don’t know about that. I’ve been listening to my grandfather moaning about some of the sport being stopped this summer; he’ll miss his days out at the cricket, that’s for sure. Anyway, you could potentially have
some good news if you set your wedding date, instead of keeping us all waiting.’

  ‘I haven’t kept everyone waiting, as you put it.’ Molly sighed. ‘It’s the only way I can get my parents to give up working and stop potentially killing themselves. After my father’s scare, it’s all I can think about, but they are so stubborn.’

  ‘Ah, so that’s where you get it from.’ She shook her head at an old lady carrying small bunches of flowers in a basket.

  ‘I’m not stubborn.’ Molly looked across at Alice. ‘All right, maybe a little, but they want us to get married and have children, so there’s never going to be a better time for me to get them to put themselves first.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Anyway, I did as you suggested and told them this morning they could live in the house in Percy Street. That way, my father doesn’t have to worry about stopping work and losing the house that goes with the job. Andrew and I can live in his family home.’

  ‘I must say, he’s being very patient with you.’

  ‘Andrew understands how important it is to me, and I think it’s pretty fair to say that he thinks I’m stubborn too.’ Molly giggled. ‘So he’s letting me go with it, for now.’ Her voice dropped a little as she continued. ‘I don’t want to lose him though, so I do have to get my parents to agree to something, and quickly.’

  Alice frowned. ‘Has he said something then?’

  ‘Oh no.’ Molly sighed. ‘But I’m not very good at this relationship malarkey, and don’t want to make any more mistakes.’

  Alice tucked her hand through Molly’s arm. ‘I think you’ll be all right, Andrew is totally smitten with you.’

  Molly blushed as she pulled on Alice’s arm. She watched a man stretch out his hand to the people, as they rushed past him. He was invisible to them, as he sat on the cold grey pavement, his only leg huddled up close to his chest. His heavy coat was grubby and had seen better days. While his unshaven face was weatherworn, it also held a film of dust that filled the deep lines etched on it. Shaking her head, she undid her handbag and took out her purse.