by Ellie Dean
Miss Gardener ignored Bertha’s glower. ‘Our service is available twenty-four hours,’ she said proudly. ‘There are very few private telephones in Cliffehaven, but of course our businesses and administration offices see it as a lifeline to the outside world, and in these troubled times it is also a vital means of communication for the Allied services.’
She indicated that April should take the spare chair over to Bertha, who clearly resented this intrusion but didn’t quite have the nerve to say so.
April sat down just as a call came through.
Bertha put on a plummy telephone voice that was nothing like her natural local burr and put the caller through to the number they’d requested.
‘I’ll leave you to it for an hour and then I shall supervise you when you take over,’ said Miss Gardener. ‘Winston needs some fresh air and to stretch his legs.’
‘He isn’t the only one,’ grumbled Bertha when Miss Gardener left and the coast was clear. ‘That dog stinks the place out.’
April giggled, relieved that Bertha seemed to be thawing towards her. ‘Do you think she even notices?’
‘It would be hard not to,’ she said flatly, and then concentrated on a flurry of calls coming in.
When the rush was over she turned in her swivel chair and regarded April with open dislike. ‘I’ve been working here for eight years and I’ve seen girls like you before,’ she said sourly. ‘Miss Gardener might like the fact you went to a posh school and talk la-di-da, but I know your type. You won’t last a week.’
April met her disapproving glare and refused to be cowed. ‘Well, we’ll just have to see about that, won’t we?’ she said coolly. ‘And by the way, you’ve got a caller waiting on line four, and number fifteen has hung up.’
The woman reddened, and in her rush to amend her negligence, managed to cut off the caller and had to ring him back.
April sat back and watched her fumbling, calm in the knowledge that given a chance to find her way round the switchboard, she’d be quite capable of doing this job – even with one hand.
The Anchor’s doors were shut for the afternoon and it was warm and cosy in Rosie’s upstairs rooms. Harvey and his pup, Monty, were sprawled in a shaft of sunlight streaming through the window, and Ron and Rosie were having a cuddle on the couch following their late lunch.
‘You’re being very grumpy, Ron,’ Rosie complained. She pushed away from him and began to stack their dirty dishes on the low table in front of the couch. ‘Whatever’s the matter with you today?’
‘Ach, Rosie, me darlin’, I’m feeling me age, so I am,’ he grumbled.
Her blue eyes widened in surprise. ‘You? Never,’ she said, brushing his bristled cheek with her lips. ‘Come on,’ she coaxed softly in his ear, ‘tell me what’s really wrong.’
He slid his arm round her trim waist and pulled her back to his side. ‘There are things I can’t tell you, Rosie – you just have to trust me on that. But what with one thing and another, I feel a bit beleaguered at the moment.’
‘Why? What’s happened?’
He squeezed her closer and kissed her passionately. ‘Women,’ he said when he finally came up for air.
Rosie was immediately on alert and pushed away from him. ‘Women? What women?’
‘Ach, to be sure, not that sort of woman,’ he blustered. ‘I’m talking about the ones at Beach View. Cordelia’s decided to forgive Bertie Double-Barrelled, which will only lead to complications. He’s out with her now in his car, no doubt charming her into believing he’s God’s gift and filling her head with nonsense.’
Rosie regarded him squarely. ‘Ron, it’s you who’s talking nonsense. Why shouldn’t Cordelia make up with Bertie? He might be a little fulsome in his flattery, but he seems harmless enough, and at least he gives her the chance to get out and about.’
‘Aye, he does that, but there are things about that man . . .’ He fell silent and fiddled with his pipe. ‘He’s not suitable for Cordelia, that’s all I’m saying,’ he finished rather lamely.
‘Why ever not?’
Ron took his time to fill his pipe. ‘I’m just concerned about Cordelia,’ he said. ‘She’s flattered by his attentions, and he’s already proved to be unreliable. Look what happened when he left her high and dry at the Conservative Club that time.’
‘You’re a real old softy, aren’t you?’ she teased.
‘Hmph. I just like to look after my own, that’s all, and despite her age, Cordelia can be very naïve at times.’
‘Well, I think it’s marvellous that she’s found someone to escort her to dinners and bridge parties. She must get awfully bored sitting around at Beach View.’ She lightly kissed his lips and patted his cheek. ‘Don’t worry so much, Ron. With you watching over her, she won’t come to any harm.’
He sat there in silence, puffing on his pipe, his thoughts unreadable.
‘You said women,’ Rosie reminded him. ‘Who else has upset you?’
He gave a deep sigh and tamped down the smouldering tobacco with a calloused finger. ‘It’s the new girl, April,’ he confessed.
‘I’ve yet to meet her, of course, but Peggy said she sounded like a nice girl when they spoke on the telephone.’ She smiled at him. ‘Good heavens, Ron, she’s only just arrived, how on earth could she possibly have upset you?’
‘It turns out she’s in the family way,’ he muttered. ‘Something Peggy decided to keep to herself until the girl was already in the house.’
Rosie nodded. ‘Peggy did actually tell me after the girl had telephoned – in strict confidence, of course. I really don’t see why you should be so concerned, Ron.’
‘She’s not married, Rosie, that’s what concerns me.’ He glowered at the sleeping dogs. ‘It’s not right, Rosie. Not right at all, and I don’t want the other girls getting ideas.’
Rosie chuckled. ‘I hardly think they’ll all rush out and get pregnant just to keep April company. They’re all far too sensible. Besides, Peggy said she was engaged to be married. It’s hardly April’s fault the army sent her chap off somewhere before they could have the wedding ceremony.’
‘I’m not convinced about any of it,’ he muttered. ‘Why wouldn’t her mother keep her at home, and where is this chap’s family? Surely they wouldn’t just abandon her like this without a valid reason?’
‘It’s really none of our business, Ron,’ she said firmly. ‘We don’t know the girl’s background, or anything about her chap’s circumstances, and I have to confess that I’m a bit shocked by your attitude. I never suspected you were a prude and hidebound by old-fashioned ideas.’
‘You make me sound like a churchgoing maiden aunt,’ he complained.
‘Well, you’re acting like one,’ she countered. ‘Whatever her story, the poor girl clearly needs support. She’s amongst strangers, Ron, and is looking to you and Peggy and the rest of the girls to help her through what can only be a very trying and distressing time.’
‘So you think I should just accept her story and carry on as if none of it bothers me?’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t know if I can do that, Rosie, not while I suspect she’s not telling us the whole truth.’
Rosie folded her arms and regarded him squarely. ‘Well, you’re hardly in a position to do anything else, are you?’ she said flatly. ‘As for the truth – you’ve been a stranger to that for all the years I’ve known you. It’s a bit late to set yourself up as a paragon of virtue, when I’ve lost count of the times you’ve tried to get me into bed without the presence of your wedding ring on my finger.’
He reddened and refused to look at her. ‘Aye, well, that’s different,’ he mumbled.
‘No, it isn’t. It’s human nature, Ron, and you can’t blame the young ones for breaking all those old rules when the future is so uncertain. And in my experience, it’s the innocent ones that get caught – not the flighty ones – so think on, Ron, and give the girl the benefit of the doubt.’
He looked at her rather shamefacedly. ‘I’m an old fool, aren’t I?’
‘Yes, but you’re my old fool, and I love you despite everything.’ She wound her arms round his neck and kissed him hard before letting him go again and becoming businesslike. ‘Let’s have another cup of tea, and then we can talk about more important things – like the outfit I’m planning to wear to Stan and Ethel’s wedding.’
Bertha had jealously guarded her switchboard during the hour they were alone, but April had taken careful note of all she did, and was feeling fairly confident by the time Miss Gardener returned from her dog-walking.
‘You may go and make us some tea while I sit with April,’ Miss Gardener said imperiously. ‘Use the leaves I’ve left to dry in the saucer, there’s still plenty of flavour in them.’
Bertha pushed back from the exchange and removed the headphones with a distinct lack of grace.
Miss Gardener waited until she’d clumped out of the room and then closed the door behind her. ‘It’s regretful that Bertha has yet to learn some manners,’ she said coolly, ‘but she is an excellent telephonist and you’d do well to learn from her.’
April took Bertha’s place, settled the rather unpleasantly warm headphones over her ears and adjusted the mouthpiece to suit her smaller bosom. She was suddenly very nervous, for although the board was familiar, she was all too aware of Miss Gardener watching her like a hawk.
The click of a light above number eighteen told her a call was coming in and she hesitated momentarily before connecting and asking the caller which number they wanted. Four calls later, she felt a little more relaxed, and by the time Bertha had returned with a tray of teacups, she was managing without being prompted by Miss Gardener.
‘You did very well,’ Miss Gardener said some time later as April swapped places with Bertha, who was clearly disgruntled by the whole episode. ‘Come with me into the other room, and I’ll discuss your hours and the rate of pay the Post Office provides.’
April gathered up her coat and gas-mask box and reluctantly followed her into the other room where Winston was shuffling about on his bottom.
‘Poor Winston,’ crooned Miss Gardener. ‘He’s a martyr to worms – nasty things. The vet’s pills don’t seem to work at all.’
April doubted that giving a dog chocolate was much help either, but she said nothing and tried to concentrate on Miss Gardener’s long list of rules and regulations as the dog continued to shuffle and squirm.
She finally made her escape and took a deep, refreshing breath of the cold air outside before she headed back to Beach View to tell Peggy her good news.
Peggy and Fran had finished preparing the evening meal by the time April arrived back at Beach View, and Peggy could see instantly that April was in a celebratory mood. ‘You got the job?’ she said, smiling.
‘I start tomorrow at eight in the morning until three in the afternoon, which is when Bertha takes over. Miss Gardener lives on the premises, so she’s there to answer any calls during the night.’
‘Ach, to be sure, that’s brilliant,’ said Fran. ‘I’m so glad you’ve found something. How did you manage with your bad arm?’
‘I can still use those fingers, so it wasn’t too difficult at all,’ April said. She shed her coat and gas-mask box and hung them on the back of the door.
Peggy dished out some of the stew for Fran, who was about to go on night shift at the hospital. ‘How did you get on with Vera Gardener?’
April grinned. ‘She’s definitely still a headmistress, but she seems fair. It’s Bertha who’s taken umbrage, because she wanted her niece to have the job.’
‘Bertha’s always been a rather disagreeable woman,’ said Peggy. ‘Take no notice of her, dear. That niece of hers probably doesn’t want the job anyway. She’s a lazy piece.’
‘I got that impression from Miss Gardener.’ April poured tea into a cup and added a few drops of milk. ‘But you didn’t warn me about Winston, and the awful smells he makes,’ she teased. ‘Was that deliberate?’
‘Oh, lawks, I forgot all about him,’ gasped Peggy. ‘I’m sorry, April, I was under the impression he’d died years ago, otherwise I’d have said something.’ She regarded her keenly. ‘Was it really bad?’
‘I thought I was going to be ill at one point,’ April confessed, ‘but thankfully the exchange is in a different room so I can close the door on him.’ She sipped the tea and gave a sigh. ‘He won’t last much longer if she keeps stuffing him with chocolate and sweet biscuits.’
‘Chocolate?’ gasped Fran. ‘She feeds a dog chocolate? But that’s criminal when there’s so little of it in the shops.’ She finished the bowl of stew and rolled her eyes. ‘Honest to God, some people need their heads testing.’
April agreed, but said nothing as she drank her tea and watched Daisy playing with her dolls in front of the fire.
Fran drew on her cape and gloves and picked up her gas-mask box and handbag. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ she said cheerfully. ‘Don’t worry if I’m back later than usual, though. Robert’s wangled time off and he’s treating me to lunch in a country pub.’
As Fran ran down the steps and slammed the back door behind her, Peggy lit a cigarette and glanced up at the clock. Explaining to April about Bertie Double-Barrelled, she gave a sigh. ‘He’s taken Cordelia out for the afternoon in his car, and I suspect he’ll treat her to supper somewhere. I do hope he’s learned his lesson and will treat her properly from now on.’
April nodded distractedly, for her thoughts were on other things. ‘Do you think I should have told Miss Gardener I’m expecting?’
Peggy shook her head. ‘You’re only there for four weeks, and it’s not likely to affect the smooth working of the exchange, so I’d keep it to yourself, dear. Not that it’s anything to be ashamed of, mind,’ she added hastily. ‘But Vera’s old-fashioned and . . .’ She shrugged. ‘Well, it’s not really any of her business, is it?’
April nodded and finished her cup of tea. ‘I’d planned to meet Shirley Ryan down at the seafront kiosk tomorrow, but I won’t be able to make it now I’ve got the job, which is a shame because I thought she was a very nice girl.’
‘She might have found work at Goldman’s,’ said Peggy. ‘In which case neither of you will be there. Is there a way to get a message to her?’
‘I don’t know where she lives,’ April admitted. ‘But I don’t like the idea of her hanging about waiting for me. She’ll think I’ve changed my mind about meeting her.’
‘I tell you what,’ said Peggy. ‘I’ve got my turn at the WVS tomorrow and I’ll finish at about noon. Why don’t I take a stroll down and see if she’s there? You never know, she might not have turned up either if she has a job to go to.’
‘Oh, Peggy, would you? But—’
‘It’s no bother,’ she said airily. ‘And if she isn’t there, I’ll leave a note with Mabel who runs the kiosk and ask her to pass on your telephone number and address should Shirley turn up there another day.’ She smiled and patted April’s arm. ‘There, see. There’s always a way to sort out these things. But you’d better give me a description of Shirley so that I can recognise her.’
‘She’s my height and very pretty, with brown curly hair and hazel eyes, and a baby boy who is about six months old. I hadn’t got around to telling her that I was expecting,’ April added quickly. ‘We didn’t really have time to do more than realise we got on well.’
Peggy felt a rush of pleasure that April had found someone her own age that she could relate to. ‘Oh, how lovely. No wonder you two hit it off, and of course I won’t breathe a word about your baby – that’s for you to do.’ She stubbed out her cigarette as the sound of Rita’s motorbike rent the stillness. ‘Write that note and leave it all with me, dear. Now I really do have to get on with everyone’s tea.’
April helped Peggy by setting the table, and as the girls returned home and congratulated her on her job, she felt a glow of happiness at being at the heart of this lovely home. Yet despite their warmth and friendship, she couldn’t help but wonder how Peggy would react when she disc
overed the baby was illegitimate. It could change everything.
21
The bombing campaign over Germany was still very much ongoing, and although everyone at Beach View had become inured to the sound of the planes taking off from Cliffe and mostly ignored them, they still reacted swiftly when the sirens went off.
April was fast asleep when the high-pitched whine alerted her to an enemy raid, and she quickly pulled on her dressing gown, grabbed her ID papers and the precious photographs and hurried downstairs to the kitchen where Harvey was howling at the shrieks of the sirens that were now going off all over town.
There was clearly a smooth routine for such events. April was handed the box of essentials and Cordelia was escorted by Ron down the garden path, while Peggy wrapped Daisy against the cold night.
They all trooped out as the sirens reached their ear-splitting pitch and the searchlights began to quarter the sky in search of enemy aircraft. Ron closed the door of the Anderson shelter, plunging them into darkness, and April shivered at the memories of her incarceration in the hotel cellar on the night Paula and seven of her colleagues had been killed.
Peggy lit the lamp that hung from the ceiling and as the pale glow illuminated the dank, cramped space, April forced herself to relax. She was as safe here as anywhere and actually it was a relief to know that she was above ground, for the thought of being buried alive again was enough to give her nightmares.
As Ron cradled Daisy in his arms, Sarah made sure that a sleepy Cordelia was secure in the deckchair that had been wedged into a corner. Surrounded by pillows to keep her from sliding out, Cordelia promptly went back to sleep, undeterred by the awful noise of the aircraft because she’d turned off her hearing aid.
Peggy took the box from April and made tea on the small camping stove. Harvey had stopped howling now that the sirens had gone silent, but the sound of the dogfights continued overhead. Rita tried to snatch a bit of sleep, even so, huddled in her fleece-lined First World War flying jacket and thick trousers. She would have to go to the fire station once the raid was over to check if she was needed. Sarah was wrapped in a thick dressing gown, with trousers pulled over her pyjamas; Ivy was bundled in a blanket and woolly hat; and Ron was in his poacher’s coat, the kitten tucked in one of the pockets while Harvey snored at his feet.