Wartime Blues for the Harpers Girls

by Rosie Clarke

  Ben nodded. Already he liked her and he was very curious about what she would have to say – how she would explain what she had done.

  It was past nine that evening when Ben walked into their flat. Sally had started to worry that he might not get home that night and was wondering what was wrong.

  ‘Are you all right, darling?’ she asked, looking at him anxiously.

  ‘Sorry it’s so late, my love,’ Ben said, ‘but Sheila had to wait for her husband to get home before she could leave.’

  ‘You mean…?’ Sally stared at the woman she’d seen appear in the doorway behind him. She gave a little sob of emotion. ‘You – you’re my mother? I can’t quite recall what you looked like that day.’

  ‘You were very ill, Sally, my love,’ Sheila said and moved towards her, arms wide open. ‘And I wasn’t quite as well-dressed as I am now.’

  ‘Mum…?’ Sally said tentatively and was caught up in a warm hug. Tears ran down her cheeks, mingling with those of her mother’s. ‘I’ve always wondered about you – if you were alive and why—’

  ‘I left you with the nuns on the understanding that I could have you back once I was on my feet again.’ Sheila drew back and looked into her eyes. ‘It took a little while and when I finally knew that I could manage to look after you, it was too late. The nuns had moved you on and I couldn’t find you.’

  ‘But when you came to me in the park…’ Sally hesitated, then, ‘You looked different…’

  Sheila nodded. ‘I didn’t earn much and my lodgings in London were expensive. The way I look now is down to my Trevor. He’s a small builder and not short of a few pounds and he insists on spending it on me – before I finally agreed to marry him, I hardly had enough to pay for the room I’d taken in London and food.’

  ‘Come and sit down,’ Sally said and drew her into the sitting room. ‘Now, take your time and tell me everything – or do you want a cup of tea first?’

  Ben said, ‘I don’t make tea well, but I can make coffee or cocoa?’

  ‘Cocoa please,’ both women said and smiled at each other.

  ‘I’m sorry I didn’t answer your letter,’ Sheila said. ‘It came at a bad time. Trevor had just had a nasty accident at work and was taken to hospital. I was up there all the time because it was touch-and-go for a while. They thought he might die or be paralysed – had a bad fall from a roof, see. He was out of his head for a few days and I feared the worst, but then one day he woke up, smiled at me and asked for a cup of tea. The doctors said it was a miracle!’

  ‘I am so sorry he was hurt,’ Sally said. ‘Is he well now?’

  ‘He had a broken ankle and a lot of bruising to his spine, as well as the bang to his head, but his ankle is healing. He still hurts and he’s had a couple of dizzy turns, but since they let him out of hospital he is managing. He insists on going into his office to check on the work schedule each day, though he can’t do any physical work yet, of course, and he isn’t ready to drive.’

  ‘But he will recover completely?’

  ‘So, the doctors tell me.’ Sheila looked at her sadly. ‘But how are you, Sally. Ben told me about the baby and you being so ill – are you better now?’

  ‘Yes, much better, thank you – especially now I know you’re all right. I worried about you…’

  ‘Oh, Sally, darling.’ Tears sparkled in Sheila’s eyes. ‘I’ve let you down badly, love. I should never have left you in that place all those years ago, but at the time I thought it for the best.’ She looked down, an expression of sadness on her face. ‘I was sixteen when I had you, Sally. I got proper taken in by a rogue who left me in the lurch when he knew you were on the way. He took everything we had of value in the house, leaving me with nothing. I was pregnant, homeless and penniless. After you were born, I struggled on for a couple of years, but then I became ill. The nuns took me in and nursed me back to health. They pushed me into giving you up, saying I couldn’t look after you properly. I was promised I could have you back when I was on my feet – but when I did look for you, they’d sent you away and wouldn’t tell me where…’ Sheila paused. Sally was crying and she passed her a clean handkerchief. ‘I did try to find you then, but I couldn’t. For years I kept writing to places like the one I’d first left you at, but they either didn’t answer or said they had no knowledge of you. I’d given up hoping – and then, as I told Ben, I saw a picture of you in the paper.’ She smiled. ‘I was sure I knew who you were, but I had no proof so I paid an investigator to discover what he could – and I kept running out of money.’

  ‘That photograph must have been taken when I did the big charity drive at the shop. I remember it was in the paper.’

  ‘Yes – just over a year ago,’ Sheila confirmed. ‘I’d just met Trevor and he told me to get a better private detective to find out if you were who I thought you must be, as the other one never seemed to discover anything but just kept asking for more money… You looked so much like me as a young girl, but I couldn’t know for sure.’

  Tears were running down Sally’s cheeks. ‘And he told you my history?’

  ‘You hadn’t made any secret of the fact that you were brought up by the nuns and one of your sales girls was very obliging. Your staff all think you’re a marvel…’ Sheila paused.

  ‘Please go on. I want to know everything. You followed me yourself for a while. Why didn’t you approach me?’

  ‘Because I was afraid to. You were successful, married to a rich man and I thought you might think I was trying to get something from you – to ask for money.’

  ‘I would have given it to you if you needed it,’ Sally said and wiped her tears. ‘I wish you had told me sooner. I always wanted to know who you were…’ She gazed at Sheila wonderingly. ‘Who my father was – whether I had a brother or sister…’

  ‘No, there was only ever you. I didn’t meet anyone else I could trust for years – not until Trevor came along. Your father’s name was Mark Gresham, but I never heard from him again after he abandoned us.’

  ‘It wasn’t very nice with the nuns. I wondered why anyone would leave me there…’

  ‘If I’d known what they would do, I would never have left you.’ Sheila sighed as she looked at her again, tears in her eyes. ‘I thought it best for you at the time. Can you ever forgive me? I searched for you for so long and when I approached you and you became ill, I blamed myself…’

  ‘It wasn’t your fault,’ Sally said and moved towards her impulsively, putting her arms about her again and giving her a gentle hug. ‘I was very ill and didn’t know it. I do forgive you for everything – even though I wish you had answered my letter.’

  ‘I was going to, but after Trevor’s accident, I hesitated again.’ Sheila looked at her nervously. ‘I’d committed myself to him and I couldn’t leave him. He’s sitting in the car now waiting and we’re going to a hotel your husband has booked for a few days so that I can spend some time with you.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Sally looked at her husband gratefully as he brought their cocoa. ‘You can spend tomorrow and Christmas Day with us, Boxing Day too. We shall open the store for a few hours in the morning and you must come and visit it and meet everyone, Mum – and Trevor?’ She nodded, smiling though her tears. ‘You are definitely spending all Christmas with us. We have plenty of everything. I shall enjoy getting to know you both and you have to meet Jenny.’

  Sheila was crying now and Sally gave her back her handkerchief. She glanced at Ben. ‘Why don’t you fetch Mum’s husband in and we’ll all get to know one another…’

  Later, after tea, sandwiches, cake and something stronger for the men, Ben called a cab and Sally’s mother and stepfather were taken to their hotel for the night. They would return on Christmas morning to meet their granddaughter and spend the day with their family. Trevor had never stayed in a smart hotel before and he was pleased and overcome when Ben insisted the treat was on him.

  Trevor looked at his wife proudly as he said to Ben, ‘A lot of men might think my Sheila was a wrong
one because of what happened to her as a young lass, but she hasn’t got a bad bone in her body. She had a hard time, but I intend to see she enjoys life in the future. She’ll visit with your Sally whenever she can – and you’re welcome to come to us if it suits you.’

  ‘You are very kind,’ Ben said. ‘I’m glad we’ve all had this chance to get to know one another.’

  After they’d left, Sally got up and went to put her arms around Ben very carefully so as not to jog his arm and send pain through his shoulder. ‘That was a lovely thing you did, Ben. Thank you so much.’

  ‘You deserve far more after all you’ve had to put up with, my darling,’ he said and kissed her. ‘Now, we should get to bed before Jenny decides it is time to get up and ask if it is Christmas Day yet and whether Father Christmas has been!’

  Jenny was now very aware of Christmas and what it meant and asked a dozen times a day when Father Christmas would bring her presents. She kept looking at the tree and the glittering lights and tinsel and jumping up and down with excitement, sure that she would be getting her share of whatever the old man with a beard brought.

  Because of his shoulder, Ben had reluctantly allowed Fred Burrows to be this year’s Father Christmas at the store. It had only been for one Saturday and the few days before Christmas because they couldn’t spare Fred in the busy days the week before when the last-minute stock arrived and needed to be delivered to each department.

  ‘Yes, let’s go to bed,’ Sally said and he pulled her tight against him. ‘Be careful of your shoulder, darling. I don’t want to hurt you.’

  ‘You never would,’ he said valiantly, but he let her go, wincing a little. The broken bones were healing slowly but they still caused an enormous amount of pain and soreness. Once the pain ebbed, he would do exercises to get his movement back, but at the moment it still hurt too much. He followed her through into the bedroom and Sally helped to ease him out of his clothes. ‘I’ll be glad when this damned shoulder is healed and I can hold you again.’ he said huskily.

  ‘Me too,’ she said and kissed him softly. ‘Come to bed, my darling, and I’ll show you how happy you’ve made me.’

  Ben’s eyes lit with humour. ‘And how are you going to do that?’ he demanded. ‘With you pregnant and me with a damaged shoulder?’

  ‘Come to bed and you’ll see,’ she promised and so he did…

  38

  ‘Well, Mrs Bailey,’ Harry had said as he was introduced to Rachel and Lizzie at Beth’s home that Sunday afternoon. ‘So, this is the young lady who caused you to break the law.’

  ‘This is Lizzie,’ Rachel had replied a little nervously. ‘I cared for her too much to leave her in danger.’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure. You need not look so anxious, Mrs Bailey. I am entirely on your side in this. I’ve seen enough kids mistreated in my time and I’ve been tempted to give some of the perpetrators a good hiding, I can tell you. However, it needs to be sorted and I’m happy to do what I can.’

  ‘Yes, thank you – it is very kind of you,’ Rachel responded. ‘I suppose there is no news of her father yet?’

  Lizzie’s father must be keeping a low profile. Not only was he wanted for questioning, he was also AWOL and could be shot by the Army. Rachel felt sorry for him. What he’d done was wrong, but understandable once he’d heard how his mother had treated his wife and daughter.

  ‘I can tell you he hasn’t been arrested,’ Henry then said. ‘My old colleagues at the nick did look for him, but they gave up when he wasn’t to be found – but I’ve got a few leads.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Rachel sighed inwardly. She had hoped he might have constructive news, but that was expecting too much. Lizzie was playing with some of Jackie’s bricks and showing Timmy his rattle and enjoying herself. ‘I don’t think I could bear to part with her now.’

  ‘No reason why you should in my opinion. There are enough homeless orphans on the streets. A child that gets taken in by a good-hearted woman like yourself rather than the orphanage is lucky. Some of my colleagues might not agree, but there is no reason they should find out about it – and her father isn’t likely to complain, is he?’

  ‘No.’ Rachel smiled at his honest talking. ‘I don’t suppose there is.’

  ‘We’ll sort it out for you, never fear.’

  Rachel nodded. She knew he was doing what he could, but if Lizzie’s father chose to stay hidden it might never be resolved in the way she hoped – yet all she could do was to wait and hope. It was the same with William. After his one letter, there was no more news and the worry never quite left her – when would he come home again and what would he say to her about Lizzie?

  It was on Christmas Eve, that Monday morning that Marion entered the department. She walked up to Rachel and waited until she had finished serving her customer.

  ‘Good morning, Mrs Bailey. I just popped in to see if I could buy a present for my mother-in-law. I wanted to buy her a really nice gift as she is so kind to all of us. I wondered if I could still have my staff discount?’

  ‘Yes, of course you can,’ Rachel told her with a smile. I am quite certain that Mrs Harper wouldn’t mind. As far as she is concerned you can return to Harpers whenever you wish.’

  ‘Oh, that’s lovely,’ Marion said and beamed with pleasure. ‘I was a bit afraid to ask but I’m glad I did. I want to buy her one of the best quality leather handbags. She’s never had a really good one…’

  ‘What colour do you think she would like?’ Rachel asked. ‘We have a lovely black one, a red one – and this tan. There are lots of others but they are the best ones at the moment.’

  ‘I love the tan one,’ Marion said. ‘It has a good zip and it will hold a lot. I’d seen it before but I thought it might have been sold.’

  ‘It almost was this morning but the gentleman settled on a silver bracelet and a brooch instead.’

  ‘Then I was lucky,’ Marion said. ‘I’ll take that one please. I know the price.’

  Rachel wrapped the bag, took the money and refunded the staff discount to Marion. ‘You’re looking very well,’ she said as she handed it over. ‘Let me know when the baby is born and I’ll come and visit.’

  ‘You can visit whenever you like,’ Marion said and smiled. ‘I’d like to come back to Harpers one day. I know I shall miss seeing all the lovely things and talking to friends.’

  ‘We’ll miss you, Marion,’ Rachel said. ‘I do very much hope you will be able to join us again one day, if only on a part-time basis…’

  Marion went off clutching her purchase and Rachel turned to the next customer. It was still very busy in the department. Everyone seemed determined to enjoy Christmas despite the war dragging on.

  ‘Damn the enemy,’ one gentleman had told her. ‘My wife and daughter will have a good Christmas, even if we couldn’t buy a goose this year – managed to get two cockerels instead, mind, but we’ve always had a goose before.’

  He’d gone off laden with bags and jewellery, still grumbling about the war, but Rachel had just smiled and made no comment. The customer was always right whatever their complaint or manner – unless they abused a junior member of staff. In that case, Rachel stepped in and firmly asked the unruly customer to leave. It didn’t happen often at Harpers, but this time of the year a few of the men – and the occasional woman – had been celebrating a little early.

  Marion was delighted with her purchase. She’d been saving for the bag for ages, but hadn’t had quite enough put by when she’d left work. However, Reggie had sent her a postal order for extra expenses through the post. Her fear had been that without her discount she might still have to buy a cheaper bag. Now she had the gift she wanted for her mother-in-law and her Christmas shopping was complete.

  Reggie had left for an unknown destination several days earlier, but she’d sent him a package to the usual address and Sarah had his gift for Marion for Christmas morning. The postal order had been extra in case she needed something. It was lovely that he’d been so thoughtful, but she would rather h
ave had him at home for Christmas – forever if she told the truth.

  You never knew exactly where your husband was being sent, but there was a clearing address and most of the mail sent was delivered most of the time. She knew that Reggie had read most of the letters she’d sent when he’d been posted abroad before this and could only hope that he would receive his gift in time for Christmas.

  He’d taken a new warm scarf and good leather gloves with him, because that was what was needed, and the parcel was just a few treats to cheer him up whenever it arrived. She knew he hadn’t wanted to leave her now that the birth of their child was approaching fast and would worry that something might happen, but his mother and Sarah would look after her and Marion wasn’t frightened of what she knew would be a painful ordeal. She could bear the pain to hold her first child and know that Reggie was thinking of her and what she hoped would be a son for him.

  Sitting on the bus home, she was conscious of having a backache and thought how good it would be to sit down with a cup of tea and a slice of her mother-in-law’s seed cake. Although she might return to Harpers one day, she was rather glad she wasn’t there now.

  Rachel was glad when the day was finished. She had been rushed off her feet the whole time and was feeling tired, but she knew that when she got home, the sight of Lizzie’s eager little face would make her feel better. She said goodnight to her staff and walked through the store.

  Fred was walking round the ground floor checking everything was all right. He did it every night and would only leave when he was sure it was all secure and safe. Rachel thought Sally Harper had left earlier in the day and Ben Harper had been in for just a short period. Mr Stockbridge, the general manager, was checking the top floor and he and Fred would meet somewhere in the middle and then they would make sure the doors were locked before leaving together.