‘If you ain’t ’appy, go back ’ome instead of chasing things that don’t mean squat.’ The chair scratched along the floor as he pushed it back.
Annie’s eyes began to water. He was right. She had been selfish in her pursuit of her dream but how else was she going to achieve it? She took a deep breath. ‘Did you never have a dream, Mr Bradshaw?’
Arthur’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. ‘Yes, I had a dream. I worked hard and I achieved over and above what I set out to do but where has it got me? I can tell you. Absolutely nowhere, that’s where.’
Fear ran down Annie’s spine. ‘I don’t know about that, you have a lovely home.’
Arthur shook his head as sadness swept across his face. ‘Huh, a lovely but empty home is meaningless.’ He stood up and strode away from the table.
The girls sat in silence listening to his heavy footsteps go up the stairs.
Annie shook her head; her appetite for her breakfast was lost. ‘I’m sorry, Joyce, I didn’t mean to upset your uncle.’
Joyce’s lips tightened for a moment before she reached out and clasped Annie’s hand. ‘It’s not your fault so don’t worry.’
Annie opened her mouth to speak when the loud thud of the doorknocker stopped any further conversation.
Joyce frowned; she never encouraged anyone to come to the house. She stood up and rushed to the front door before her uncle came down the stairs again, pulling the dining room door closed behind her.
The girls sat listening to the low voices.
Rose was the first to break the silence. ‘Perhaps it’s Simon or Peter.’
Annie nodded. ‘Maybe. I don’t think Joyce will be very happy if it is, because I get the impression she doesn’t like people to come to the house, mainly because of her uncle.’
The dining room door swung open. ‘Annie, you have a visitor.’
‘Me? But there’s no one who would come here. I’m so sorry if someone has taken it upon themselves to…’
‘It’s your brother…’
‘David? But why would he be visiting…’
Joyce stepped aside and David stepped forward.
Annie’s mouth dropped open. ‘Oh no, David.’ She sobbed and jumped up from her chair and ran over to him. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. She breathed in the musky smell of his cologne and squeezed him tighter. ‘I can’t believe you’ve done it.’
Rose stared at Annie clinging to her brother, his khaki uniform visible behind Annie. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. She tried to hold her tongue but couldn’t. ‘Have my brothers enlisted as well?’
David pulled back but held on to Annie’s hand with both of his. ‘Hello, Rose, your ma and pa asked me to say hello if I saw you in London. They wanted me to let you know they love your letters and they miss the chaos you used to cause.’
Rose gave a watery smile. ‘Thank you, that sounds about right.’ She took a breath. ‘But what about my brothers?’
David cleared his throat and squeezed Annie’s hand. ‘All but Sam, and he wanted to go, but Bill persuaded him to stay to help your pa look after the farm.’
‘Why didn’t someone tell me? Why didn’t they come and see me?’ Tears immediately spilled over and rolled down Rose’s cheeks.
Joyce ran over to her and threw her arms around her. Rose leant into Joyce and sobbed into the coarse wool of her cardigan.
David fidgeted from one foot to the other. ‘I’m so sorry, Rose.’ He paused. ‘They probably thought it would be too difficult to come and see you and they wouldn’t want to see you like this.’
Rose sat upright; she sniffed and wiped her face with her hands. ‘I’m sorry, it must be shock. Can I write to them?’
David nodded. ‘My understanding is they have your address and were intending to write to you but I can give you an address to write to and the letters will reach them.’
Rose glanced at Annie. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t mean to steal your time with David, but just one more question.’
Annie couldn’t trust herself to speak; the salty taste of her tears was still on her lips. She wanted to say so much, she wanted to comfort her friend but she clung to David’s hand and nodded.
Rose bit her lip. ‘Are they on the front line, wherever that is?’
David stared at Rose; the tension in his face was there for all to see. ‘I don’t know and if I did, I couldn’t tell you, and they won’t be able to tell you when you write, so please don’t ask them.’
Annie opened her mouth to speak but only a croaking sound came out. Aware that everyone was looking at her she cleared her throat. ‘Why can’t we know? That seems cruel.’
David nodded. ‘I know but they don’t want anyone passing on information to the enemy.’
Rose frowned as confusion ran across her face. ‘I don’t understand, why would we tell the Germans anything?’
David tried to force a smile. ‘Obviously you wouldn’t but you don’t know about anyone else.’ He glanced down at Annie before looking back at Rose and Joyce. ‘I’m very sorry, especially as I’ve brought bad news to your doorstep but I don’t have long, so is it possible to have a few moments alone with my sister?’
Rose stood up. ‘Of course, but only if I can give you a hug.’
David’s lips lifted at the corners. ‘Of course, hugs are always welcome.’
Rose threw her arms around him and held him tight for a moment before pulling away. ‘Stay safe, and if you see those brothers of mine tell them I said I love them and to keep their heads down so they can come home again.’
Annie could feel her throat tightening as she reached out for Rose. They held onto each other.
Joyce patted Rose’s arm. ‘Come on, leave Annie to have this precious time with David.’
Rose stepped away and the girls left the room.
Annie pulled her brother over to the table and sat him down. ‘I expect the tea in the pot is cold now, can I get you a fresh one?’
David shook his head. ‘Sit down.’
Annie did as she was told.
David reached out and took her hands in his. ‘I want you to know everything is fine back home. Margaret is working hard; she loves the farm and doesn’t want you to worry. Pa has forgiven you for leaving the family and the farm. He waits for the postman every day, and I’m not exaggerating. Ma, well, I can’t deny Ma looks tired, I can’t recall a time when she didn’t but she’s happy, although I know she misses you terribly.’
Tears spilled on to Annie’s cheeks. ‘I miss them all so much. Sometimes I think I’ve made a wrong decision, but I love working in the theatre. If only I could have lived at home and still done what I’m doing.’
David lifted his hand and gently wiped away her tears. ‘They all understand, and more importantly they love you and know you love them. They just want you to be happy and Pa, bless him, just wanted to keep his family close so he could look after us all.’
Annie stared at him. ‘I know, I don’t pretend to understand, but I know his fears were founded on love.’
David nodded. ‘I think he was hurt when his sister left without saying goodbye and he’s never heard from her since.’
‘It must be hard not knowing whether someone you love is dead or alive.’ She paused as she studied him, committing every part of him to memory. ‘You look so different in your army uniform. Please stay safe and I shall pray every night for your safe return.’
‘Don’t worry, Ma’s doing enough of that for all of us, and I have no intention of being a hero because that will probably mean I’m dead.’ David smiled and shook her hands. ‘Anyway, I’ve got to come home to see you on the stage, what better incentive do I need than that?’
The dining room door creaked as it suddenly swung open. Both David and Annie turned to look in that direction.
Arthur stepped into the room, holding a glass of whiskey.
David stood up. ‘Mr Bradshaw, I assume. It’s lovely to meet you. I’m David, Annie’s brother.’ He stepped forward to shake hi
s hand, holding himself in check as the alcohol and smoke wafted over him.
Arthur stared at him for a moment before taking his hand. ‘Such politeness, you are a credit to your family.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ David turned to Annie. ‘I’m sorry, I have to go, I’m not meant to be here at all.’
‘So you’re another one going off to fight for King and country.’ He studied the pair of them. ‘Well, you’re doing the right thing. We have to have pride in our country and all it stands for, and work hard for what’s important.’ He suddenly gave a bitter laugh. ‘Mind you, we think it’s all important until the rug is pulled out from under yer feet and then suddenly none of it’s important.’
David stared at Arthur. ‘We all have to listen to our conscience, sir, and pray that God will steer us in the right direction to do what is right at the time.’
Arthur scowled at David. ‘Is that what yer sister did?’
David looked over at Annie, who shook her head slightly. ‘Annie will find her true path when it’s presented to her.’
Arthur cackled. ‘Is that what this war is about then, is it?’
David frowned at Arthur. ‘Quite the opposite, I’d say.’ He paused. ‘You are clearly a troubled man, sir, so I might suggest you think about what path you wish to be on. Self-destruction is a very miserable path and one that’s usually trodden alone.’ He looked at Annie. ‘I’m sorry, I have to leave.’
Annie nodded and walked with him to the front door. ‘I’m sorry about Mr Bradshaw.’
‘Don’t be sorry, just look after yourself.’ David wrapped his arms around his sister and held her tight for a few minutes. ‘I really have to go, although I don’t like leaving you in the same house as someone who drinks whiskey so early in the morning.’
‘Please don’t worry, or tell Ma, he’s just a very unhappy man. Hopefully one day he’ll wake up and realise there’s no answer at the bottom of a glass.’
David nodded. ‘I won’t, although it goes against my better judgment, but please be careful.’
Annie tried to blink away her tears. ‘I will write, I promise, every day.’
David edged away towards the door; when he spoke his voice was husky with emotion. ‘That’s good.’ He forced a smile. ‘And send me chocolate, lots of it.’
Annie nodded. ‘I will.’
David leant forward and kissed her cheek. For a moment his eyes didn’t leave her face. ‘I must go.’ He opened the front door and without another word he left.
Annie ran after him calling his name.
David stopped and turned round; the emotion he felt at leaving her was there for all to see.
She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. ‘Stay safe. I might be in London but I still need my big brother, and please don’t forget I love you.’
David’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I love you too, sis.’ He turned and walked away.
Annie watched him go through blurred vision, wondering if she’d ever see him again.
13
Annie concentrated hard as she awkwardly held her knitting needles to cast on her stitches, trying each time to thread the wool around her fingers like Rose did but ending up with it all tangled up. She glanced up at Rose who had finished casting on and was already on her second row of knit one purl one. Annie sighed. ‘You’re much quicker than me at this knitting malarkey.’
Rose chuckled. ‘It’s only because I’ve had more practice than you, so don’t give up because you’ll get quicker the more you do it.’
Annie carefully laid her needles on to the bed and pulled at her blankets, tucking them in around her. The rain was lashing against her bedroom window. She looked at Rose, who looked as tired as she felt. ‘Have you written to your brothers?’
Rose nodded. ‘I didn’t mean to take up all of David’s time, it was just a bit of a shock to see him and hear they had signed up.’
Annie shook her head. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t much help to you, it was all a bit unbelievable. It took a while for me to digest everything. I was glad Joyce was still at home to give you a hug.’ She paused. ‘Are you all right?’
Rose shrugged. ‘I have to be. Like you, it’s hard to believe my brothers, who I’ve always regarded as being big softies, are now probably holding a gun to shoot some other poor soul.’
Annie’s eyes began to fill up. ‘I know what you mean but try not to think about it, we can only do our bit and write to them every day so they know we are thinking of them.’ She looked down at her knitting needles. ‘I shall be praying every day for our brothers to be safe and return home.’
Rose gave her a watery smile. ‘I shall do the same. The sooner the war is over the sooner life can return to normal, whatever that is.’
Annie reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘Let’s change the subject.’ She picked up her knitting needles. ‘If I ever get these socks finished, I shall send them to David. He can be my first guinea pig.’
Rose giggled.
Annie chuckled. ‘I shall tuck his chocolate inside them, then he’ll definitely think they are a funny shape.’ She glanced up at Rose concentrating on the needles clicking together. ‘How are you finding it at the Aldwych?’
‘It’s good, and Dot is quite good company while we’re sewing.’
Annie looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘I’ve heard Mr Tyler and Miss Hetherington call her Dorothy.’
‘Yes, but she likes to be called Dot. She was telling me her brother used to call her Dotty.’
Annie smiled. ‘That sounds about right.’
Rose stopped knitting for a moment. ‘She comes from a village so she understands about the likes of Mr Blake and Mr Butterworth.’ She fidgeted and moved in from the edge of Annie’s bed and put her hand to her mouth as she yawned. ‘Anyway, less about old Dot, let’s talk about more important things.’
Annie’s eyes widened. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘No, of course not, but I think it’s clear Peter likes you, and that’s what we should be discussing and not Dot.’ Rose peered at her through her eyelashes. ‘So, what about you?’
Annie laughed. ‘Talk about being direct.’
The wind rattled against the old wooden sash windows. The curtains fluttered as it found a way in.
Rose pulled her woollen cardigan closer. ‘Well, no one tells you anything unless you ask.’
‘You should leave your coat on when you come in here.’ Annie pushed back the covers and got out of bed to draw the curtains closer together again. She gave a little shiver. A loud meow could be heard over the noise of the traffic. She peered out of the window, looking up and down the street. ‘Do you think that cat’s in pain?’ A clang of a metal dustbin lid hitting the ground reached her.
Rose folded her arms. ‘It sounds like she’s hungry and scavenging for food to me.’
‘Yes, I expect you’re right.’ Annie straightened the curtains and went back to sit in her bed. She adjusted her pillows and leant back against the headboard. ‘Joyce is late; I wonder what time she’ll get back? I hope she’s all right.’
‘I’m sure she is.’
‘I’m assuming she’s still at the café, which will mean she’s spent two evenings with Simon.’ Annie smiled. ‘They did both look really happy when we saw them. We never got round to asking her how it all went, did we?’
Rose nodded. ‘She did. I was going to ask her this morning but seeing David threw me.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Anyway, is that you trying to get out of answering my question?’
Annie could feel her throat tightening. She shook her head, not wanting to think about where David was. ‘No, I do like him and my stomach churns whenever I see him.’ She sighed and became all dreamy. ‘Although, I don’t know much about him, except he’s clearly very kind, and if he’s a friend of Joyce’s he must be a good man.’ Annie looked over at her friend. ‘Talking of which you went all girly when you met the man from the bicycle shop.’
Rose blushed. ‘He was good looking.’
‘He clearly
thought the same about you because he barely looked at the rest of us.’
‘You’re not jealous, are you, Annie?’
Annie smiled. ‘Definitely not. Changing the subject, what are doing about Christmas? It’s only a couple of weeks away and I haven’t bought any presents yet.’
Rose nodded. ‘I know, I was thinking the same thing. I don’t think we’ll be able to get home, although it feels more important that I do go now, but I think the show only stops for the one day. I haven’t checked but it’ll only be two days at the most.’
Annie looked pensive. ‘If I remember rightly, I think I heard someone say the show ends on 26th December.’
‘Oh does it?’ Rose bit down on her bottom lip as her mind whirled around in circles. ‘We need to think about what we’re going to do for work soon.’
Annie’s lips tightened. ‘I shall miss being with my family, we’ve never not spent Christmas together.’
Rose reached out and took Annie’s hand. ‘I know, I was having similar thoughts but I don’t know what we can do about it.’
Annie took a deep breath to stop the tears that were threatening to fall; she missed her family and sharing a room with her sister. ‘Well, if nothing else I’ve got to go out and buy some gifts for them.’
‘Me too. We need to get on with it, so it’s a trip to Oxford Street then.’
There was a light knock on the bedroom door. Rose jumped up and walked over to open it.
‘I didn’t know if you would be asleep by now.’ Joyce beamed at them both.
Annie smiled at her flushed face. ‘No, we’re just chatting, come in.’ She moved her legs and patted the other side of her bed. ‘I’m only in bed to keep warm. We’ve just been talking about Christmas.’
Joyce’s smile vanished as she quietly shut the door behind her. ‘You’re not going home, are you? Sorry that was selfish of me, I’ve just got used to having you around all the time now.’
Rose stroked her arm. ‘Don’t worry about that, we’re not going anywhere, but I don’t want to talk about that.’ She grinned at Joyce. ‘I want to talk about you and Simon.’
Colour crept up Joyce’s neck and onto her face. ‘Why didn’t you come back for me like you said?’
a heartwarming WW1 saga about love and friendship (The West End Girls Book 1) Page 21