by Nancy Revell
‘So,’ Martha said, ‘I think we should all really be thanking Helen.’
The women were all nodding, not sure what to say. Rosie spoke first.
‘What you did there was incredibly brave, Helen. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to thank you enough.’
Helen batted away the compliment.
‘Agreed,’ Polly said, looking at Helen, who was in the process of handing Hope over to her mother.
The women all stared at Polly and then at Helen. Never in a blue moon would they have predicted the two arch enemies would be sitting within half a mile of each other, never mind speaking to each other.
‘Oh my goodness!’ Helen suddenly blurted out.
She stared at Polly.
‘I can’t believe I forgot!’
Everyone was looking at Helen.
‘What?’ Polly asked, a worried look on her face.
Tears fell freely from Helen’s face as she looked at Polly. ‘I’ve got the best news ever for you!’ Helen took a deep breath.
‘It’s Tommy! He’s alive!’
Polly stared at Helen. A look of total confusion on her face. Not daring to believe the words she had just heard.
Seeing her disbelief, Helen nodded.
‘It’s true! He’s alive! I’ve seen him with my own eyes!’
Helen heard one of the women gasp.
Polly still seemed incapable of speech.
‘He’s here, Polly!’ Helen said. ‘He’s back!’
‘He’s alive?’ Polly’s voice was practically a whisper. As though she didn’t even dare speak the words, never mind hope that the man she loved more than anything in the entire world was not dead.
‘He’s up at the Ryhope.’ Helen was staring at Polly, trying to make her understand that this was real.
Polly got to her feet.
Helen stood up, although every muscle in her body told her to sit back down again.
‘He’s in a bad way, Polly,’ she told her quickly. ‘Sounds like he’s been through the wringer. But he’s all right. He’s going to be all right.’
Helen looked up and found the person she was looking for.
Dr Parker stepped forward.
‘He’s been in and out of consciousness,’ he told Polly. ‘He’s lost a lot of weight and he needed an operation.’ Everyone was now listening with bated breath. ‘He lost a lot of blood, but he’s still in one piece.’ Dr Parker wanted Polly to know what to expect – and also that he hadn’t, like so many of the soldiers that ended up on his table, lost any limbs.
Polly was nodding – taking in everything that she was being told.
‘He just gained consciousness a few hours ago,’ Dr Parker said.
‘And,’ Helen looked at Polly, ‘he was asking for you. Saying he had waited so long to see you.’
All the women – not just Helen and Polly – now had tears in their eyes.
‘We were on our way to tell you,’ Helen said, ‘when this happened.’ She looked around at the surrounding devastation.
‘I’ve got to go and see him!’ Polly said.
‘See who?’
It was Bel, accompanied by Maisie.
‘Tommy!’ Polly turned to her sister-in-law and grabbed her by the shoulders.
‘He’s alive, Bel. He’s alive!’ She was crying and laughing as she hugged Bel.
‘He’s up at the Ryhope,’ Rosie said to Maisie.
‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ Maisie asked.
Rosie nodded.
Maisie turned to Polly. ‘George’ll take you up there in his car. He always keeps a secret stash of petrol for emergencies.’
Polly’s face lit up. She looked around at the women, and then down at Gloria and Hope.
‘Well,’ Gloria said, ‘what yer waiting for?’
They all stared at Polly and Maisie as they hurried off.
‘That’s amazing news,’ Bel said.
‘I can’t believe I forgot to tell her straight away,’ Helen said.
‘Well, I think you had a good excuse as to why it skipped your mind,’ Dr Parker said with a smile.
‘I do think, however,’ he added, ‘that it’s high time we got Gloria and Martha to the hospital. I’d like to see those wounds properly cleaned and stitched up as soon as possible … And I know you’re not going to like it, but the pair of you are going to have to spend at least one night in the Royal. Gloria, you’ll probably need two. That leg is going to need to be rested.’
Martha looked over to Hannah and Olly, who read her thoughts.
‘We’ll go and see your parents,’ Olly promised.
Martha opened her mouth to speak.
‘And, yes,’ Hannah said, ‘we’ll tell them that you’re fine and they’re not to worry.’
‘But nothing we say,’ Olly chuckled, ‘will stop them rushing up there faster than the speed of light to see you.’
Gloria glanced at Hope and then at Bel.
Helen caught the look and anticipating what Gloria was going to ask Bel, she stepped forward and gently eased a sleepy Hope out of her mother’s arms, jiggling the floppy little girl onto her hip.
‘I’ll look after Hope. She is my sister after all.’ She smiled at Bel. Not for the first time she thought that Bel reminded her of someone but couldn’t quite put her finger on who it was.
‘Are you sure?’ Gloria said.
‘More than sure,’ Helen said, looking down at Hope.
‘Well, if you need anything,’ Bel said to Helen, ‘you know where we are.’
Helen smiled and nodded her thanks.
‘Right,’ Bel said, looking round at the rest of the women, ‘I’m going to go and tell Arthur the good news. God, he’s going to be over the moon!’
As everyone shouted their goodbyes, Bel turned and hurried back to the Tatham.
‘Will it be all right you staying at mine?’ Gloria asked Helen, thinking about Miriam.
‘Of course it will be.’
‘Well, the front-door key’s under the mat,’ Gloria said. ‘You know where everything is so just make yourself at home.’
The women all stared at Helen and Gloria.
There was a silence, broken by Dorothy, who couldn’t contain her excitement and curiosity.
‘So, you two are friends?’
Helen looked at Dorothy but didn’t say anything.
Gloria chuckled.
‘I would have thought you had worked that out by now, Dor!’
For once Dorothy was at a loss for words.
At least now she knew why Gloria was always sticking up for Helen.
‘You know,’ Rosie said to Helen, ‘none of us will ever forget what you did this evening.’
Helen looked at Rosie – her face becoming serious.
‘I’d have done anything for this little girl.’ She looked at Hope, whose head was now heavy on her shoulder.
‘And for Gloria. I don’t know what I would have done without Gloria these past few months.’
The women looked puzzled but knew not to ask.
Rosie smiled. She was glad Gloria’s and Helen’s friendship was now out in the open. She’d guessed a while back but hadn’t known for sure until she’d seen them coming out of the museum the other night.
‘But, I’m afraid to tell you – ’ Rosie looked at Helen, her face deadpan ‘– that whether you like it or not …’
She paused and allowed a smile to break through.
‘… you have just made yourself some friends for life.’
‘Friends. For life,’ Martha agreed.
‘Friends!’ Dorothy and Angie said in unison.
‘Which means we’re here for you too, if ever you need it,’ Hannah added.
Helen looked at the women and forced back tears.
For once, though, they were tears of happiness.
Looking at Rosie, Martha, Dorothy, Angie and Hannah, there was so much she would have liked to have said, but she didn’t.
Instead she looked at Gloria and then bac
k at the women.
‘Well, looks like I’m stuck with you all, doesn’t it?’ The slight quiver in her voice betrayed her true feelings.
She took a deep breath, before a mischievous look spread across her face.
‘But don’t think this means I’ll be giving you any slack at work.’
She paused.
‘We’ve got a target to hit, you know!’
They all burst out laughing.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
‘You two feeling all right?’ Rosie asked.
She was perched on the narrow bench in the back of the St John’s ambulance that was making its way up through the town to the Royal.
Martha was sitting bolt upright next to Rosie, a bandage around her head, and Gloria was sitting on the stretcher opposite, her wounded leg stretched out in front of her.
‘I’m more than fine,’ Gloria said. Her voice was a little slurred due to the painkiller she had been given.
‘I’m more than fine, too,’ Martha said, ‘although I wish they’d given me whatever it was they gave Gloria.’
‘It’s because you’ve got a head injury,’ Rosie said. ‘You sure you’re feeling all right?’
‘Yes, I’m all right. Honestly,’ Martha said with a smile. Rosie nodded.
‘Well, after what’s happened this evening, my mind’s made up. That’s for sure.’
Gloria and Martha stared at Rosie with puzzled looks on their faces.
‘Charlotte,’ Rosie said by way of an answer.
‘Ahh,’ Gloria said.
‘You’re not going to let her come back?’ Martha said. ‘No way,’ Rosie said. ‘Not in a month of Sundays. Certainly not until this war is over. Not after tonight.’
She was quiet for a moment.
‘I have to admit, though, I was dithering and wondering whether to have her back home, but not any more. No way, José!’
Gloria laughed.
‘Well, I don’t blame ya. In fact, I think me ’n Hope will move to Harrogate. It’ll be a damn sight safer.’
Rosie looked at her workmate and knew she’d never leave her hometown – bombs or no bombs.
As Dr Parker walked up Tatham Street with Helen and Hope, who was now fast asleep in her sister’s arms, he didn’t think it was possible to love another woman as much as he loved Helen.
He took his jacket off and draped it around her shoulders.
‘What a night, eh?’ he said.
‘Not one we’ll be forgetting any time soon, that’s for sure!’ Helen laughed.
When they reached the top steps to Gloria’s basement flat, Dr Parker looked at Helen.
As their eyes met Helen had a flash of memory of earlier on in the evening when they had stood just like this.
John had been about to kiss her. She was sure of it.
Helen waited with slightly bated breath as John bent his head towards her.
She closed her eyes slightly and waited to feel the touch of his lips on her own.
But when she felt nothing, she opened them again to see his head moving to her side to give Hope a tender kiss on the forehead.
‘There’s one very lucky girl,’ he said, looking at the sleeping child in Helen’s arms.
‘And she’s got one very brave big sister.’ He smiled and gave Helen a kiss on her cheek before turning and heading back to Tatham Street.
It was going to be a long night.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
As Polly and Maisie hurried along Salem Street it seemed that the whole of the east end was up and half of them were out on the street, either heading in the direction of Tatham Street or chatting to neighbours on their doorsteps.
Turning right at the bottom and onto Mowbray Road, Maisie and Polly walked as fast as they could, dodging people and jogging when they got the chance. They ran across the wide breadth of Ryhope Road, watching out for any more ambulances and fire engines.
The further they walked, the quieter it became, and by the time Mowbray Road turned into Tunstall Vale, there was barely a soul to be seen.
‘You all right?’ Maisie asked breathlessly, glancing across to Polly. She looked as though she was in a different world.
‘Yes … Yes … I think so,’ Polly said. They turned the corner into Briery Vale Road.
‘I can’t quite believe it … don’t think I’ll believe it until I see him,’ she added as they crossed the road onto West Lawn. She rarely came to Ashbrooke. Never had much reason to come this far out of town. She had forgotten just how upmarket it was here and how grand the houses were.
‘Here we are!’ Maisie said, jubilantly. She was exhausted. And her feet were killing her. Thank God she hadn’t put on her high heels this evening.
Maisie opened the small gate and Polly followed, looking up at the huge three-storey mid-terrace.
So, this was Lily’s. This was what a bordello looked like. They’d all known about Lily’s for almost two years – since they had come to Rosie’s rescue that night her uncle had attacked her – but none of them had ever been here, not even Bel, and her sister lived and worked here. It was a place they all knew about, were all secretly madly curious about – especially Dorothy and Angie. God, they’d have given anything to be here now.
Maisie banged on the front door and seconds later it was flung open. Lily’s face was a mixture of worry and anger.
‘Where’s Rosie?’ she demanded before either Maisie or Polly had time to draw breath.
‘Is Rosie all right?’ It was George.
‘Has something happened?’ Kate pushed through Lily and George.
‘She’s fine,’ Maisie said. ‘Absolutely fine. There’s nothing to worry about.’
Lily’s face immediately relaxed.
‘Well, come in!’ She moved to the side. ‘Can’t have you both standing there on the doorstep like two little street urchins, can we?’
Maisie looked at Polly and rolled her eyes.
Stepping into the hallway, Polly almost gasped in awe at the unadulterated opulence of the place.
‘Maisie, thank goodness you’re back!’
Polly and Maisie looked up to see Vivian hurrying down the stairs.
‘I wish you hadn’t just gone running off like that. You’ve had us all worried sick.’ She reached the bottom of the stairs and went to give her friend a hug. ‘Did you find Bel and Lucille? Are they all right?’
‘Yes, thank goodness, they’re fine,’ Maisie said. ‘Although a couple of Rosie’s squad had a bit of a hairy time of it all.’
Everyone looked, wanting to hear more.
‘I’ll tell you all later, but right now there’s something far more pressing that needs addressing.’ She looked at Polly, who still hadn’t uttered a word. ‘And which requires your services, George.’
George looked at Polly and back to Maisie with a question on his face.
‘Polly needs you to take her to the Ryhope – tout de suite,’ she added, looking at Lily and seeing her smile at her attempt to speak French. ‘For Polly here has just had the most marvellous news.’
She paused for dramatic effect.
‘Her fiancé, Tommy Watts, is alive!’
‘Oh, that’s the most wonderful news!’ Kate rushed over and flung her arms around Polly. ‘I’m so happy for you!’
‘Formidable!’ Lily declared. ‘Une raison de célébrer! Come into the parlour!’
Maisie looked at Lily and thought she’d already had a few. She’d obviously been fretting about her golden girl and quelling her anxiety with a few brandies, as she was wont to do.
‘No, Lily,’ Maisie said, glancing at Polly, who was looking more than a little bewildered. ‘We’ve got to get Polly to the Ryhope – now. Polly doesn’t want to sit around hobnobbing with us lot when the love of her life who she thought was dead is very much alive and just up the road.’
‘Well, now you put it like that,’ Lily said, turning around to face George. ‘What are you waiting for? Chop, chop!’
George was already at the stand
by the front door getting his jacket and scarf.
‘Come on, my dear,’ he said to Polly, ‘we best get you there and pronto!’
Polly’s eyes lit up.
‘Thank you, George! You sure it’s all right?’
‘All right?’ George said, raising his eyebrows. ‘It’s an absolute pleasure!’
And with that he gave Lily a quick kiss and, aided by his walking stick, made his way carefully down the front steps.
‘You’ve made an old man very happy tonight,’ he told Polly as he opened the front gate and let her go through first. ‘I’ve not had an excuse to take this old girl out for a spin in ages!’
As he opened the passenger door for Polly, he heard Lily shouting out:
‘Drive carefully, George!’
George guffawed.
‘As if I’d do anything else!’
As Polly climbed into the passenger seat of George’s little red MG, she looked up to see Lily, Kate, Maisie and Vivian all waving and shouting out their good wishes from the top step.
When George turned the ignition and the engine died as soon as it started up, Polly thought for an awful moment that the car wasn’t going to start, but on the second try the engine spluttered to life.
Fifteen minutes later George was pulling up outside the Ryhope Emergency Hospital.
‘Well, here we are, my dear,’ George said. ‘Go and give that fiancé of yours a big smacker!’
Polly gave George a hug, jumped out of the car and ran as fast as her legs would take her to the main entrance.
George sat, the engine still running, and watched as Polly disappeared through the revolving doors.
He wanted to savour this moment.
It wasn’t often these days you got to hear some good news.
And this was good news.
Bloody good news.
Chapter Seventy
‘I’ve come to see a patient,’ Polly said, leaning on the front reception desk. ‘A Tommy Watts. He’s been unconscious and has just woken up. I’m his fiancée.’ Polly rushed the words out.