The Midwives of Lark Lane

by Pam Howes

  Cathy threw her arms around his neck. ‘Thank you so much,’ she said, tears of joy springing to her eyes.

  ‘May you both be very happy.’ Luca grinned as congratulations rang out and a loud cheer went up from the crowd of fairground workers, who’d gathered around the newlyweds, clapping and whistling.

  ‘What a lovely welcome,’ Gianni said, beaming. ‘Ready?’ He took the keys from Cathy and unlocked the door. He swept her into his arms to more cheers, and carried her up the few steps.

  ‘You’ll put your back out.’ She grinned as he lowered her to the floor. She gasped and looked around, mouth agape. The red and cream interior looked warm and colourful; everything matched, including the cushions and curtains. Red upholstered benches formed an L-shaped seating area around a cream Formica-topped table. ‘It’s lovely,’ she said. ‘And much more spacious than I was expecting.’

  Gianni nodded. ‘The table folds down, so there’s plenty of floor space for Lucy to play with her toys.’

  Wood-panelled walls lined the living area and were finished with sparkling glass tops, etched with vines and flowers. The light from the sun shining through the small windows reflected and bounced little rainbows around the room. A wood-burning stove stood in an alcove, and a corner shelf above housed a small television set. Cathy glanced around the kitchen area, complete with sink, cooker and a compact fridge. She opened and closed cupboard doors and turned on the taps. ‘Where does the water actually come from? Is there a bathroom? Where do I wash our clothes?’

  Gianni laughed as her questions tumbled over one another. ‘The water comes from tanks called jacks; they’re stored below the wagon. I have to fill them as soon as we park up somewhere. You need to be careful not to waste water as it’s a job and a half to do. Most people do their washing at the launderette, I think. You’ll have to ask Maria about that.’ He led her down a narrow corridor and slid back a door. ‘Bathroom; it’ll be a bit of a tight squeeze, but just enough room to share.’

  Cathy looked at the tiny washbasin and toilet crammed in with the smallest shower cubicle she’d ever seen. They’d be lucky to get one in there, never mind the pair of them.

  ‘We’re fortunate to have that, you know,’ Gianni said as he led her further down the corridor. ‘Most of the caravans don’t have a bathroom. The workers make do with strip washes or showers at the swimming baths. Anyway, this’ll put a smile on your face.’ He opened a door and gestured to the bedroom. ‘Maria’s done it all out with fancy stuff that she thought you’d like.’

  Cathy smiled broadly as she walked into the room. ‘It’s beautiful. Maria has good taste.’ A cream lace panel at the window gave privacy. Pink velvet curtains, tied back with silky tassels, matched the quilted bedcover. She sat down on the double bed, which was surrounded by built-in cupboards and had a neat bedside table either side.

  ‘And next door is a lovely room for Lucy,’ Gianni said.

  Lucy’s room was furnished with a little bed, a chest of drawers and a pink rug on the floor. ‘It’s very pretty,’ Cathy said.

  ‘The seating in the living area converts to a double bed,’ Gianni told her. ‘Lucy can have our room when she’s older and if and when we have another baby, we’ll put it in hers and we can sleep in the lounge. Right, let’s go over to Dad and Maria’s and claim our daughter. No doubt someone has waltzed off with her. You okay, love? You’re a bit quiet.’

  ‘Yeah, I’m fine. Just feeling tired. Erm, where can I bath Lucy?’

  ‘Ah, now I’ve seen kids dunked outside when the weather’s fine. We’ll get her a little bath; like the one you use at Granny Lomax’s.’

  ‘Okay.’ Cathy nodded, wondering how long it would take her to adjust to caravan living. ‘It’ll be a bit like a holiday in a way, but it’s for life.’

  Gianni frowned and pulled her close. ‘Well that’s okay, isn’t it? You said it’s what you wanted. To be in our own place at last.’

  ‘Oh it is,’ she reassured him. ‘But don’t forget you’ve had plenty of time to get used to this way of life and you haven’t had a toddler under your feet either. It’ll take a bit of adjusting, for all of us, I mean.’

  ‘It will, but we’ll be fine,’ Gianni reassured her. ‘I’m bloody starving. Maria promised us dinner tonight. We can relax and enjoy ourselves with a drink and a meal outside.’

  Cathy smiled. ‘Mmm, I’m looking forward to it. I love Maria’s cooking and I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.’

  Following a couple of relaxing hours of sitting around the campfire, and stuffed to bursting with Maria’s delicious spaghetti bolognese, Gianni hoisted a sleepy Lucy onto his hip and slung his spare arm around Cathy’s shoulders as they made their way back to the caravan. The warm evening air was still and silent, apart from a large owl hooting on an overhead branch, its chunky outline highlighted by the full moon.

  As Gianni pointed the owl out to Cathy, the slim figure of a dark-haired young woman, wearing a long floaty skirt and strappy top, sashayed towards them, holding the hand of a tall youth with blond hair. She stopped and stared for a moment and then her face broke into a wary smile. She yanked on the youth’s arm and he stopped too.

  ‘Eloisa,’ Gianni greeted her. ‘How are you?’ He felt Cathy stiffen beside him and pulled her closer.

  The half-smile left Eloisa’s face but she nodded at Cathy. ‘When did you two arrive, or should I say, three?’

  ‘We got back earlier,’ Gianni said. ‘Maria was expecting you to join us for supper.’ Eloisa was Maria’s only daughter, his stepsister.

  Eloisa pouted. ‘I left her a note to say I was going out with Ronnie. We’ve been to the pictures to see Carry On Constable.’

  ‘Any good?’

  ‘Yeah, it was quite funny.’ She stood up on tiptoe and pecked Gianni on the cheek. ‘So, how did the wedding go? I suppose I should congratulate you.’

  ‘Thanks. The wedding was great. Wasn’t it, Cathy?’

  ‘Yes, we had a lovely day.’ Cathy chewed her lip.

  Gianni sensed she felt awkward. ‘Right, we’ve gotta get this little one to bed. Catch up with you tomorrow.’ He hurried Cathy away, conscious of Eloisa’s eyes staring at his back.

  ‘Sorry about that,’ he apologised.

  ‘Not your fault,’ Cathy said. ‘We can’t really avoid her.’

  ‘More’s the pity.’

  In the caravan Cathy took Lucy from him. ‘I’ll get her ready for bed while you make us a cuppa.’

  Gianni put the kettle on and sat with his feet up, thoughts in a whirl. Eloisa was the only blot on his otherwise happy landscape. When he and Cathy had split up over two years ago, he’d had a one-night stand with Eloisa, who’d then accused him of fathering her expected baby. Luca and Maria had insisted the pair marry, but then Eloisa finally admitted the truth: Gianni’s cousin Alessandro was the father. After a fall, Eloisa had lost her baby and Alessandro had been sent home to Italy. A few weeks prior to that a letter had arrived from Cathy for Gianni but had been intercepted by his cousin.

  When Gianni finally got his hands on the letter, he’d learned that Cathy was also pregnant, and travelling the country looking for him. He’d set off to find her, just in time for Lucy’s premature December birth. Cathy and Lucy were his world. He’d never let them go again. But he knew deep down that Eloisa hadn’t forgiven him for leaving in such a hurry and without a word of goodbye. And now that he’d brought his family on his travels he’d wager a bet that she wouldn’t make life too easy for them.

  Cathy was awakened the following morning by people shouting and dogs barking close by. She groaned and reached for the bedside clock. Seven thirty. Gianni was still sleeping, snoring gently beside her. She could hear Lucy singing in her room along the corridor and smiled. She opened the bedroom door quietly, used the bathroom and then crept into the kitchen. They might just get a brew in peace before Lucy started shouting for attention.

  Maria had thoughtfully stocked the cupboards and fridge with groceries and Cathy made two mugs
of tea. She carried them into the bedroom just as Gianni was rousing himself. ‘Good morning. It’s a lovely day,’ she said, handing him a mug as he sat up and leaned back against the padded headboard. ‘Maybe we could have a little walk this afternoon if you’re not needed on the site.’

  He shook his head. ‘Sorry, love, I won’t have time. We open at six tonight and we’ve got loads to do today. The rides need finishing setting up. You and Lucy could have a little wander around though; see if you can find some shops, and just across the way is a small swing park. She might enjoy that.’

  Cathy shrugged. ‘Okay. I’ll get something nice for tea. A play in the park will keep Lucy occupied.’

  By midday Cathy was back from the shops with fresh fish and new potatoes for tea, and a whole afternoon stretching ahead with not much to do, but it was a chance for her to put her feet up and read while Lucy had her afternoon nap. She’d bought a Woman’s Weekly magazine from the newsagent’s and had popped into a little bookshop and picked up a couple of books. She’d heard Gianni mention he fancied reading Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and she’d found a Mills and Boon medical romance for herself. No doubt the story would be nothing like real hospital life, but it might give her a taste of past times, if nothing else.

  She unpacked her shopping bags while Maria took Lucy over to her caravan for a sandwich and drink. She’d told Cathy to come and eat as soon as she’d put her shopping away.

  Lucy was sitting on a picnic rug by Maria’s caravan steps, tucking in, when Cathy joined her.

  ‘I feel like I should be offering to help out over there.’ Cathy gestured with her thumb to what looked like a war zone. ‘There’s stuff all over the place and they’re running around like mad things.’

  Maria smiled. ‘They all know what goes where and it’s easier to just let them get on with it. By six tonight you won’t recognise the place.’ She handed Cathy a plate and a mug. ‘Sit down and have five minutes.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Cathy took a welcome sip of tea. ‘We had a nice stroll, Lucy enjoyed the swing park, but I don’t know what I’ll do for the rest of the day. I feel like a spare part. I’m not used to just sitting around. I’ve always been busy either working, taking my turn running the family home while Mam was at work or helping my granny.’

  Maria nodded. ‘Maybe we can find you a little job to do in time, but for today just take it easy.’

  The fairground was in full swing by eight o’clock and Cathy knew it would be pointless trying to get Lucy into bed. The noise was horrendous. It was a good job Lucy had managed a slightly longer afternoon nap than usual, Cathy thought. Bright lights on the rides flashed on and off and even with curtains drawn Lucy’s bedroom was lit up all the time. Excited squeals from the girls on the waltzer and ghost train echoed through the air and Eddie Cochran’s ‘Three Steps to Heaven’ blasted from the tannoy speakers, quickly followed by Brenda Lee’s ‘Sweet Nothin’s’. It was a warm night and with the door and windows open the smell of diesel fumes and fried onions filled the caravan, along with the sickly sweet aroma of candyfloss and toffee apples.

  Cathy gagged and wrinkled her nose as she sat with her feet up on one of the bench seats, trying to read her hospital romance. She could hear the roar of the motorbikes and the punters cheering. She supposed she should go and watch Gianni performing, but couldn’t bring herself to move – and she’d have to take Lucy, who might be a bit frightened by all the noise. Besides, the wall of death ride terrified her.

  Gianni had hurried in earlier and wolfed down the fried plaice and new potatoes she’d made for tea. He’d taken a quick shower, thrown on his show outfit, given her a hug and a kiss and dashed away, looking very handsome in his red satin shirt and black leather trousers. Everyone was working, Maria in her fortune-telling tent, Eloisa on her hook-a-duck stall and Luca on the bikes with Gianni. Cathy felt nothing short of useless. But what job could she do? And who would look after Lucy if she did work here?

  After another half an hour of non-stop noise, her head banging, she closed the sitting room doors and windows and took two aspirins with a glass of water. Lucy was crying now with tiredness and Cathy picked her up and took her to the bedroom to get her ready for bed. Everywhere in the caravan smelled of fried food and it was stiflingly warm. Cathy wafted the stuffy air with her Woman’s Weekly and closed the window to try to shut out the noise and smells.

  ‘Let’s get you a drink of milk,’ she said to Lucy. ‘And what about a nice biscuit?’ She carried her back to the airless sitting room and laid her on the bench seat, putting a cushion behind her head. She filled Lucy’s cup with milk and helped her hold it. Lucy took a few sips and then pushed the cup away. She shook her head at the biscuit. ‘Want Granny Alice,’ she whimpered. ‘No like that noise.’

  ‘Neither does Mammy,’ Cathy said quietly. What she’d give right now to be sitting in Granny Lomax’s peaceful lounge watching the TV, or even her mam and Johnny’s slightly chaotic sitting room with all the kids in bed. There was no chance that Lucy would be asleep when Gianni got in just after ten, and that was far too late a bedtime for a toddler. She sighed and swept Lucy’s fringe out of her eyes. Maybe it would get quieter when the novelty of the fair being in town had worn off a little.

  By the following Sunday morning, the big packing, dismantling and clearing of the site was under way, ready for the move to another part of Yorkshire. Maria brought some boxes and old newspapers across for Cathy to pack her pots and pans and ornaments away.

  ‘Are you okay, Cathy? You look a bit pale.’

  Cathy shrugged. ‘I’m just very tired. I’m not sleeping and neither is Lucy. She’s all out of routine, very late to bed, restless all night and then up really early. Gianni sleeps like a log and doesn’t even realise I’ve been up half the night trying to keep her quiet while he gets some sleep.’

  Maria patted her shoulder. ‘You’ll soon get used to it. Let Lucy run about outside during the day. Fresh air will tire her out. There’s plenty of people around to keep an eye on her.’

  Cathy nodded, knowing that was something she wouldn’t do. There were all sorts of strangers coming and going, as well as dogs roaming the site and a rushing stream in a dip behind the big rides. It didn’t feel a very safe place to let a toddler play out on her own.

  ‘I’ll make sandwiches for the hired hands about twelve. Come over to my van for a bite to eat. You’ll get a good sleep tonight as the fair is closed and we won’t be on the road until eight in the morning. See you in a while.’ Maria left with a flurry of colourful skirts and a toss of her long curly hair.

  Cathy packed away their few belongings in the boxes and changed into a light blue cotton shift dress and white sandals. She took Lucy to the swing park for half an hour and then went back to Maria’s caravan.

  Gianni was already there with his dad and Uncle Marco, Luca’s brother. They were sitting in front of the caravan on a picnic rug and Eloisa was sitting a bit too close to Gianni for Cathy’s liking. Lucy squealed, ‘Daddeeee,’ and he jumped up to catch her as she ran towards him. He held out an arm to Cathy, who strolled up to him, giving Eloisa a stare as dark as the one Eloisa was shooting in her direction. Gianni wrapped his free arm around Cathy and dropped a kiss on her lips. ‘Let’s sit on the steps,’ he suggested. ‘You look a bit pale, love. Are you okay?’

  She nodded. ‘Everybody keeps asking me that, but I’m just really tired.’

  ‘Try and have a lie-down later, see if you can persuade Lucy to lie with you.’

  ‘I will.’

  ‘At least we can get an early night and spend a bit of time together,’ he said, winking at her.

  After they’d made love and Gianni had fallen asleep, Cathy tossed and turned all night. At six am she shot out of bed and into the bathroom, where she dropped onto her knees over the toilet bowl, retching for all she was worth. She flushed the toilet, swilled her mouth and face and slumped onto the floor again, her back leaning against the tiny wall-space between the sink and toilet. She he
ld her head in her hands and took some deep breaths.

  The bathroom door slid aside and Gianni popped his head in. ‘You okay? Heard you throwing up. Come on; let me get you a drink of water.’ He helped her to her feet and into the sitting room. ‘Go and sit down,’ he ordered, running water into a glass. He handed it to Cathy, who took a couple of mouthfuls.

  ‘Do you think it’s something you ate?’ he asked, looking worried.

  She shrugged and took another sip. ‘Maybe. Or just the heat and smells and being overtired. It’s all catching up with me. You go back to bed for an hour, love. You’ve got a lot of loading to do soon. I’ll stay here in case I need the bathroom in a hurry again.’

  ‘Okay.’ He nodded. ‘If you’re sure.’

  By the time the fair left Leeds for York later that morning, Cathy felt a bit better and she and Lucy, along with Maria, followed the procession of wagons and trailers in Luca’s car. Gianni was driving as Luca was behind the wheel of the trailer that housed the wall of death ride. It was another warm day and the slight breeze blowing in through the open windows was very welcoming.

  Two

  Walton Gaol July 1960

  Jack Dawson stretched out on his bunk and yawned. He broke wind loudly, scratched his balls and rolled over on to his side. He smirked as his companion in the bunk above him yelled, ‘Dirty, stinking swine.’

  Jack was totally fed up with his life, stuck in a small, cockroach-ridden cell for most of the day, with the thickest Scouser on the planet. He reached under his pillow and pulled out a surprise letter he’d received last week from Lorraine, an old girlfriend. She’d told him that his ex-wife Alice had remarried and wondered if he knew. He didn’t, because no one had bothered to tell him. But thank God for that. At least when he got out he’d have his freedom and no kids to support. Let the new husband take on the responsibility for them all, Jack thought. More fool him.