The Liberty Girls

by Fiona Ford

  At that, the table guffawed with laughter.

  ‘Now, that’s not true. They’re ever so well-mannered and polite,’ Joy said. ‘One offered me some nylons when I was waitressing in here yesterday.’

  Alice raised an eyebrow. ‘Tell him you don’t want his nylons. I’ve told you before, we don’t want no trouble.’

  ‘Joy can go out with a GI if she wants – she’s not married or engaged. Surely if anyone’s entitled to a bit of fun it’s Joy?’ Rose muttered darkly, pushing her plate away.

  ‘Thank you, Rose,’ Joy said gratefully before raising an eyebrow at her sister. ‘Anyway, talk about pot and kettle. What about your own GI?’

  Alice felt a flush of colour creep up her neck. ‘He’s not my GI, as you put it. He’s a friend.’

  ‘And a very nice friend ’n’ all,’ Dot put in, taking a large bite of her egg sandwich and sending crumbs everywhere. ‘He seems a proper gentleman.’

  ‘Oooh yes.’ Aggie smiled. ‘A lovely man.’

  ‘He is a lovely man,’ Alice said hotly. ‘A real family man and he misses his son dreadfully.’

  Flo looked at Alice, her eyes full of sympathy. ‘I can’t believe he’s widowed so young. What is he – our age?’

  ‘Thirty,’ Alice replied.

  ‘Oh, same age as Luke,’ Joy pointed out.

  Alice glared at her sister. ‘What is it you’re trying to say?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Joy shrugged, helping herself to another sandwich. ‘Just making an observation, that’s all.’

  Alice narrowed her eyes. ‘As long as that’s all it is.’

  ‘What else would it be?’ Joy protested in mock innocence.

  ‘I think he’s jolly good fun,’ Mary said firmly. ‘And I think you were lucky to have bumped into him in Bath.’

  ‘Literally!’ Flo laughed.

  As the other girls joined in, only Rose remained silent.

  ‘Rose? Are you all right?’ Alice asked gently.

  ‘Why does everyone keep asking me that?’ she snapped. ‘I just wish you’d stop going on about how good these GIs are. They won’t save us. What about support for our precious boys fighting for all they’re worth, living on scraps like the rest of us? These glamour-puss Americans are swooping in at the eleventh hour and taking all the glory when it’s our boys that have been putting their lives on the line for the past three years. Don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean, Alice. Look at your Luke – still missing in action.’

  Alice’s jaw dropped in shock at Rose’s sudden outburst. ‘I try not to think about it like that,’ she said honestly. ‘I think that the Americans’ involvement is a good thing – anything that helps bring Luke home more quickly.’

  ‘Sorry,’ Rose said in a tight voice as she got to her feet. ‘I’m just a bit tired, I’ll go and splash a little water on my face.’

  Watching Rose clutch her stick as she walked gingerly to the bathroom, Alice felt a flood of despair creep through her bones. Her old friend was vanishing right before her eyes and she was at a loss to know how to help.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Once Rose had disappeared from view, Alice rounded on the rest of the table. ‘Have you noticed the change in Rose? She hasn’t been herself for weeks now.’

  ‘I’ve thought that too,’ Flo agreed as she brushed the sandwich crumbs from her lap. ‘I’ve never seen her so upset.’

  Mary pushed her plate away. ‘She’s been a bit out of sorts for a while,’ she said in a small voice. ‘I think she’s really missing Tommy and the news about her sight has hit her hard. At home, she’s always biting either my head off or Malcolm’s.’

  ‘That’s not like her,’ Alice replied thoughtfully.

  Mary looked uncomfortable as she nodded. ‘It’s not. I mean I know I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose your sight, but I can’t help thinking that she had clung to the fact that this blindness might be temporary. Now she knows that’s unlikely it’s as though she’s angry with the entire world and isn’t afraid to show it.’

  ‘That poor girl,’ Flo added, biting her lip.

  ‘She is a poor girl,’ Aggie ventured. ‘Imagine how you might feel if you lost your sight. I think she’s right to feel a bit angry – she’s grieving, remember, only this time it’s not for a person it’s for who she was.’

  ‘We need to do more for her,’ Dot said. ‘Take her mind off things. Perhaps I’ll see if she wants to help me up the WVS. She might not be able to see well enough to sew herself but she’s such a good teacher she can show some of those that can’t stitch for toffee a thing or two.’

  ‘I’m worried about the fact she’s given up on these first-aid nights.’ Mary frowned. ‘I think it would be good for her to carry on with them and I know the Red Cross will want her to.’

  Alice put down her serviette and stood up. ‘I’ll go and talk to her – tell her that we’re all here for her.’

  ‘No, let me,’ Joy said suddenly, resting her hand on top of her sister’s. ‘I’m not as close to her as you girls are; we don’t have the same history. She might find it easier to talk to me.’

  Alice looked doubtful. ‘I’m not sure, Joy, Rose needs to be handled gently. She’s been through a lot.’

  Joy narrowed her eyes in annoyance. ‘I know that – we have become quite friendly of late. You’re all going on about her blindness as though there’s nothing more to her than that. She’s still a young woman with thoughts, feelings and dreams – it might do you lot some good to think about that.’

  A flicker of guilt passed across Alice’s face as she realised to her surprise how right her sister was.

  ‘Oh, let her try,’ Dot put in sagely. ‘She’s right; Rose might open up a bit more.’

  ‘All right,’ Alice agreed reluctantly, ‘but be gentle, Joy!’

  ‘What do you take me for?’ Joy said, rolling her eyes.

  As Joy walked across the room the girls said nothing until she was gone. ‘Do you really think she was the best person to send?’ Mary wailed.

  Flo shrugged. ‘She can’t do any worse than us. Rose barely says two words to me at work these days.’

  As the waiter replaced the tray of finger sandwiches with a plate teetering with cakes, Alice found herself licking her lips in anticipation.

  ‘And what about you Alice?’ Mary asked as she helped herself to a delicious-looking carrot cake. ‘How are you? I remember after the bombing in Whitstable last year I felt a bit out of sorts for a while.’

  ‘Fine.’ Alice shrugged, still not wanting to talk about it. The memory was too raw.

  ‘Come on, let’s leave our worries at the door now,’ Aggie said at last. ‘This is supposed to be an afternoon where we enjoy ourselves, so let’s try and have a good time, eh?’

  ‘You’re right, sorry,’ Flo sighed. Then she noticed Aggie was still rubbing her chest. ‘You’re not still bothered by that cucumber sandwich, are you?’

  ‘I’m getting terrible indigestion at the moment.’

  Flo raised an eyebrow. ‘Might help if you got a good night’s sleep.’

  ‘What on earth’s sleep got to do with indigestion?’ Aggie said in an exasperated tone. ‘Honestly, Flo, you do fuss.’

  At that moment Arthur opened his eyes and grinned at the table, causing all the women to coo and beg Alice for a cuddle.

  ‘You’re doing ever so well at holding down a job and bringing up Arthur all the while worrying about Luke,’ Flo said admiringly as she took Arthur from Dot and rocked him gently in her arms.

  ‘That’s right,’ Mary agreed. ‘I don’t think I could do it.’

  Alice rolled her eyes. ‘You could do it in your sleep, Mary Holmes-Fotherington.’

  Flo chuckled. ‘So what we’re saying is that us Liberty girls are extraordinary and we couldn’t manage without one another.’

  ‘Too right.’ Dot smiled, raising her cup of tea. ‘Here’s to the Liberty girls.’

  ‘The Liberty girls,’ the little group cried as they clinked their cups agai
nst each other’s.

  ‘What’s all this?’ Joy said from behind her, her arm linked through Rose’s.

  Alice blinked in surprise. Joy had only been with Rose for about ten minutes and yet she had done something the other girls hadn’t managed in weeks: put a smile on their friend’s face.

  As Joy sat back down, Alice found herself smiling warmly at her sister. ‘We were just having a little celebration toast. To us girls.’

  ‘About time,’ Joy teased. ‘When I left you lot were carrying on like it was a wake not a tea party.’

  The girls laughed then, and as Flo handed Arthur back, Alice was delighted to see that Rose was also joining in with the giggles.

  ‘I think it’s probably time for me to go,’ Alice said reluctantly as she glanced down at her son. ‘He’s been so good up until now, I don’t want to spoil it for everyone else.’

  ‘He’s been wonderful.’ Mary beamed, leaning across to stroke Arthur’s cheek with her forefinger. ‘What did I tell you? Nobody here has batted an eyelid, have they?’

  Alice glanced around the room. Mary was right; nobody had been remotely interested in their little party all afternoon. Even so, she didn’t want to ruin it now.

  ‘We’ve made light work of the food so I think it’s time we all left,’ Dot said, surveying the empty plates and cake stand that now bore only a few crumbs.

  ‘It’s been wonderful though,’ Flo exclaimed. ‘What a treat, thank you so much for inviting us, Joy.’

  ‘It’s nothing,’ Joy said as she signalled to the waiter for the bill. Immediately the chit was placed in front of her and Alice reached across to have a look at the amount, only for her sister to slap her hand away.

  ‘Today is on me.’ She reached into her bag for her purse.

  ‘Absolutely not,’ Mary exclaimed. ‘That’s very generous of you but even with your staff discount it’s an expensive treat for you to shoulder alone. We insist on paying our way.’

  ‘Yes of course, Joy,’ Rose said immediately.

  ‘It’s a lovely gesture, darlin’,’ Dot said admiringly, ‘but you can’t afford it.’

  Joy’s eyes flashed with pride and determination. ‘Not at all. You girls have all been so good to me, and I want to say thank you – properly. I’ve been making plenty in tips and, besides, my staff discount really is incredibly generous so it will hardly cost me a penny. I insist.’

  With that Joy opened her purse and laid out a variety of notes and coins on the table.

  ‘That’s incredibly generous of you,’ Mary repeated as they gathered their coats.

  ‘Yes, Joy, you really must let us take you out for something next time,’ Flo insisted.

  ‘Though it might not be as grand as Mayfair House,’ Rose teased.

  Dot chuckled. ‘Or even a Lyons Corner House.’

  Together the girls left the hotel to a chorus of thank yous from the staff and Alice found herself at the back of the group, pushing Arthur in his pram as they sauntered through the Belgravia streets towards home. Excited chatter buzzed between them at the unexpected treat but it was only Alice who was silent, her mind racing to places she didn’t want it to go. Yes, there was no denying the fact that her sister had been extremely kind, but Alice had seen just how much money had been stuffed into Joy’s purse and she knew fine well that sort of cash didn’t come through tips alone. She glanced up at Joy striding ahead, her arm still linked through Rose’s, and felt alarm bells ring. Joy was up to something, Alice knew it, and she was determined to find out exactly what.

  Chapter Twenty

  It wasn’t until the following evening that Alice found time to talk to her sister about the large sum of money she’d seen in her purse. In between feeding Arthur, washing nappies and attempting to run up a couple of new romper suits from an old pair of trousers that were beyond mending, she had spent the day stewing over Joy, trying to think of a logical reason as to why Joy was carrying so much cash, but each time she drew a blank.

  As the clock struck five she heard the sound of a key in the lock, and Alice felt her resolve build as she knew she was finally going to get the chance to find out what was going on.

  ‘Hello,’ Joy called, her voice echoing down to the kitchen. ‘Cor, I’ve had a bugger of a day – me dogs are killing me.’

  ‘I’ve made tea,’ Alice shouted. ‘Why don’t you come in and tell me all about it.’

  ‘Ooh, you’re a lifesaver.’ Joy sighed as she hobbled into the kitchen in threadbare stockings and collapsed into the chair nearest the window.

  Alice filled a cup to the brim and pushed it across the table towards Joy. ‘Tough day then?’

  ‘You could say that,’ Joy grumbled. ‘We had a load of GIs in again – all guests of a local dignitary. All I’ve done all day is fetch and flippin’ carry.’

  ‘Isn’t that your job?’

  ‘I suppose.’ Joy sniffed, reaching for the tea. ‘I’m just a bit tired of being called “baby”.’

  Alice chuckled at her sister’s indignation. She had always been a drama queen and could see that despite her best efforts to change there were still some quirks that remained.

  ‘I wanted to talk to you actually,’ Alice began hesitantly.

  ‘What about? Do you want me to look after Arthur for you tonight? Only I can’t, I’m sorry, I’m off out.’

  ‘No, nothing like that.’ Alice shook her head. ‘Where are you going anyway? Somewhere nice?’

  ‘Just the pictures with some of the girls from work,’ Joy said hurriedly. ‘I’ve got to get back up the West End sharpish. I only came back to change.’

  With that Joy leaned forward to set her cup down, only for Alice to lay her hand warningly on her sister’s forearm. ‘Before you go, there’s something I want to talk about.’

  ‘Will it take long?’ Joy whined. ‘I’m going to be late as it is.’

  Alice folded her arms. ‘No, I don’t think so. I’ve just got a question for you – shouldn’t take you too long to answer it.’

  As Joy pulled up the sleeve of her dress to check the time, Alice felt a flash of horror. She had never seen that watch before and, judging by the gold band and mother-of-pearl face, it was expensive.

  ‘New watch?’

  ‘No, I’ve had it ages. An old flame gave it to me – you remember Trevor Hayes, don’t you?’

  ‘Flash Fat Trevor from down the Lane?’ Alice scoffed. ‘Ran the stables at the end? How could I forget? He was that bent he couldn’t lie straight at night.’

  ‘It was all a long time ago, Alice,’ Joy fumed as she got to her feet. ‘I’ve moved on from that.’

  There was a pause as Alice regarded her sister: shuffling from foot to foot, her cheeks red with sudden anger and that intense gaze in her eyes. Alice knew her sister only looked that agitated when she had something to hide.

  ‘Have you really moved on from that, Joy?’ Alice asked softly. ‘Only I’m beginning to think there’s something you’re not telling me.’

  ‘Like what?’ Joy snapped. ‘I’ve done nothing but bend over backwards to show you I’ve changed since I moved in. I’ve looked after Arthur, I’ve helped you with Rose, I’ve tried to show you I want to move on but you can’t forget the past, can you? You want to label me as the naughty little sister no matter what I do.’

  ‘I can forget the past,’ Alice said evenly. ‘I can even forgive. All I want is to see you happy and settled.’

  ‘And that’s all I want.’ Joy held Alice’s gaze. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

  ‘Then where did you get all that money?’

  Joy paled. ‘I don’t know what you’re on about. I haven’t got any money.’

  ‘I saw it,’ Alice fired back, feeling suddenly very tired. ‘When you went to pay for the afternoon tea, you opened your purse and I saw you had several notes stuffed in there.’

  ‘That was my wages! I’d just got paid!’

  The indignation on Joy’s face was almost funny, Alice thought as she looked her sister up and down.
She recognised the look of old. It was the same look her sister had worn whenever she was caught with her hand in the biscuit tin, when she’d been arrested by the police for pickpocketing and when Hannah, Flash Fat Trevor’s wife, had caught the two of them indulging in a bit of how’s your father. Joy only ever wore that look when she’d been up to no good and both she and Joy knew it.

  ‘Just tell me,’ Alice said, her tone weary now. ‘We both know you’re lying. I don’t have the time for it and apparently you don’t either if you’re off out tonight, so just save it and tell me what’s going on.’

  Joy opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish, clearly searching for the right thing to say. Realising her sister wasn’t going to confess, Alice felt the rage inside her burn even brighter.

  ‘When you moved into this house, I told you that you had to behave,’ she began, her voice taking on a dangerous, steely edge. ‘I told you that I didn’t want my son to grow up like we did – exposed to the petty behaviour of a petty criminal. I wanted better for him than that. You promised me you would behave yourself, that you’d changed. You haven’t changed, Joy, you’re a chip off our dad’s old block and you bloody well know it. Now sling your hook because I’ve had enough.’

  Without even waiting for a reply, Alice turned her back and started to wash up the tea things.

  ‘You don’t know what it’s like,’ Joy wailed. ‘You’ve never put a foot wrong in your life.’

  ‘Oh, is this the part where you tell me how misjudged you are, how tough you’ve had it?’ Alice rolled her eyes; she’d heard it all before. ‘How about you think about someone else, eh? You ever think about how tough I had it? Taking care of you, putting food on the table while you went out thieving left, right and centre. Things were hard for me ’n’ all, Joy, but I never turned to crime. I’d seen enough of that in my childhood: I didn’t want to see it in adulthood as well.’

  Joy slumped back in the kitchen chair. As she rubbed her hands over her face Alice thought how old she looked all of a sudden. Her hair, which had once been full of bounce, seemed more brittle and there were extra lines around her eyes and mouth.