by Carol Rivers
She nodded sadly, hope quickly turning to despair. She felt suddenly empty, as if all the joy had gone out of the day. For one moment she had thought Frank may have heard something – anything – about Danny.
‘Hey, come on, cheer up.’ Frank nudged her. ‘He’ll be writing to you soon. It can’t be much longer now.’
She managed a smile. Then, looking out of the window, she blinked back the tears. It wouldn’t do to let Frank see her upset. After all, he was trying to cheer her up. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful.
The old Victorian manor house loomed out of the trees. Grange Mount was used as a convalescent home for patients discharged from hospital but still recovering from infectious diseases. The corridors were dark and gloomy, the dormitories austere. Lizzie always tried to make her visits bright. Last time she had come she’d brought a cover for Flo’s bed. Comprising odd pieces of material stitched together to form a quilt of many colours, she had hemmed it round in blue stitching.
In Flo’s dormitory there were six beds, three on each side of the room. Flo was reading a book on one of them as Lizzie entered.
She looked up. ‘Oh, Lizzie, you’ve come!’
Lizzie went to hug her. ‘Course I’ve come. Don’t I always?’
‘Yes, but I always think you might not.’
‘That’s daft.’ Lizzie held Flo away to inspect her. She had lost all her puppy fat and her cheeks were pinched, but her lank brown hair had grown and had a nice shine to it.
‘Do you think they’ll let me out soon?’ Flo asked miserably.
Lizzie sat on the bed. ‘The doctor said you’re nearly better. It won’t be long before you’re home.’ She didn’t want to raise Flo’s hopes. The matron had been very non-committal when asked about Flo’s release date.
‘They ain’t said nothing to me.’ Flo looked belligerent and Lizzie smiled. That was more like the old Flo.
‘Dr Tap has told me I’ve got to feed you up when you come home. And you’ll have to take yer medicine.’
‘But we ain’t got no money for medicine.’
‘We’ll manage,’ Lizzie assured her. ‘I’m working five days a week at the shop now. Trade’s really picked up. Next time you even so much as sneeze, day or night, I’m going to send Bert round for old Tap.’
They laughed, sending a happy echo around the drab room. ‘I don’t think Dr Tap would like seeing Bert in the middle of the night,’ giggled Flo. ‘Bert would scare ’im to death.’
‘’Specially in his long johns.’ Lizzie wiped the tears from her eyes. It was so good to laugh again.
‘Where’s that little girl you made friends with?’ Lizzie glanced at the next bed. There was no pillow, only a blanket draped over it.
‘Louise?’ Flo bit down on her lip. ‘One night they came and took her away. The nurses and doctors were wearing them ’orrible white clothes. They all looked like ghosts.’
Lizzie remembered what the sister had said at the hospital about seeing ‘ghosts’. Her mind went back to Flo lying in that narrow bed, with the fever raging through her. She realized now that she was one of the lucky ones that the ‘ghosts’ had never spirited away.
‘Let’s go in the garden.’ Lizzie changed the subject quickly. ‘I’ve brought someone with me who wants to see you.’
‘Is it Bert?’ Flo asked excitedly as she pulled on her coat.
‘No . . . no, it ain’t Bert. It’s Frank. He’s got a present for you.’
‘Oh.’ Flo looked away.
‘Ain’t you pleased?’
‘Why has he come to visit me?’
‘’Cos he likes you, that’s why.’
‘How can he like me, if he don’t know me?’
‘But he does know you. He always gives me the grapes – he’s been very kind.’ Lizzie linked her arm through Flo’s ‘He’s bought you a big bunch of flowers to cheer you up.’
At the door, Flo stopped, tears in her eyes. ‘I can’t wait to come home.’
‘It won’t be long now.’
‘Can we go down Island Gardens again? Like we used to when we were kids.’
Lizzie laughed. ‘Course we can.’
‘And buy sherbet dips and play on the swings?’
They were laughing and crying together now. Lizzie hugged her, closing her eyes. ‘Oh, Flo. I’ve missed you.’ When she pulled away, she sniffed back the tears. ‘We’re a daft pair, ain’t we?’
They held hands as they walked along the corridor, singing, ‘All of our troubles and cares of the day, like silver bubbles drifting away. Just a cosy nest, sweet and Heaven blessed, like a bluebird’s nest in Sleepy Valley.’
Chapter Seventeen
‘When’s young Flo coming home?’ Vi Catcher asked in a curious voice.
Lil was waiting for Reg Barnes to trim the fat from the mince. She intended to cook it for Doug tonight, with a few fried onions. She hoped Reg wouldn’t take long. If she got talking to Vi she’d be standing here till dusk. ‘Sometime today,’ she told Vi, who was next in line at the meat stall. It was Wednesday at Cox Street market and trade was brisk.
‘They ain’t sending her home on a bus are they?’
‘Course not. The ladies up Hailing House offered to fetch her in their motor car.’
‘Only right they should an’ all. A blooming great vehicle like that just standing idle waiting for—’
‘Yeah, it was a nice gesture,’ Lil said before Vi got into her stride. ‘That’ll do nicely Reg,’ she called hurriedly to the butcher. ‘Doug don’t mind a bit of fat here and there.’
‘I been meaning to call,’ Vi continued, ‘but I don’t want to intrude.’
‘There ain’t much Lizzie can’t cope with,’ Lil said briskly, wishing Reg would get a move on. He was trimming the meat and gassing with the customers at the same time. ‘Needless to say she’s over the moon about Flo.’
‘She was lucky, that little ’un, she could ’ave had an ’emorrhage. Wonder if Reg has got any more of that mince going cheap.’ Vi glanced at Lil. ‘You still got to eat, ain’t you, no matter what happens.’
Lil nodded. ‘You’d better catch his eye quick.’
But Vi was not to be rushed. ‘Unlucky house, number eighty-two. I’ve had my share of misfortune, but what with Tom losing his legs, then Kate going and that Vinnie turning out such a bug—’
Lil swung round, her dark eyes flashing. ‘Well, you could look at it like that,’ she told Vi crisply, ‘or you could say the Allens were past the worst. At least Tom came home from the bloody war and Flo beat the fever. And if I know Lizzie, she won’t let the grass grow under her feet when it comes to keeping the family together!’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ Vi agreed hurriedly. ‘I just meant they had a bit of bad luck, that’s all.’
‘Well, looks like it’s changed to good now,’ Lil added tartly as she turned back to Reg Barnes and reached over for the parcel of meat wrapped in newspaper.
Reg winked at Lil. He raised his thick dark eyebrows at Vi. ‘Now what can I do for you, young lady?’
‘None of yer lip, you cheeky sod. I want what she had only cheaper. And trim off the fat. I like mine lean.’
‘Cows don’t fall off trees, you know,’ called the butcher, passing Lil her change.
‘No, they fall straight into your bloody lap!’ shouted Vi, and the women round the stall all laughed.
‘Well, I’d better be on me way,’ said Lil quickly. ‘I’ll tell Lizzie you asked after her.’
‘You do that. And tell her if she wants anything—’
‘I’ll tell her. And watch him with that mince,’ Lil grinned. ‘You never know what comes out of that mincer.’
‘Only the best for you ladies,’ shouted Reg, enjoying the joke. ‘Cross me ’eart and ’ope to fly.’
‘It’s not you ’eart you’ll want crossing,’ bawled Vi. ‘It’ll be that big greasy palm of yours that you keeps shoving under our noses!’
Lil hurried off, pushing the meat deep into her shopping bag. She could still hea
r Vi’s voice bellowing out. Vi was all right, but feed her a titbit and it would be headlines by tea time.
Lil made her way across to the fish stall.
‘Yer looking glam as usual,’ cried Boston, twirling his handlebar moustache under his straw boater. ‘Must be the quality of all me fish that keeps you looking so blooming healthy.’
‘It ain’t yer fish, you saucy bugger,’ smiled Lil. ‘Got me heads and tails?’
Boston reached under the stall and brought out a package. ‘That cat of yours must catch rats the size of elephants on what you gives it to eat.’
‘As long it don’t start bringing elephants to the back door, I ain’t complaining.’ Lil tucked the parcel on top of the meat. ‘While I’m here I might as well have a bit of rock salmon for tomorrow. I’m gonna do me neighbour a nice fish pie for supper.’
‘You mean Lizzie?’ Boston asked quietly.
‘Yeah,’ Lil nodded. ‘Flo’s comin’ home today.’
‘The fever well and truly cleared up has it?’
‘Well, the kid wouldn’t be coming home if it wasn’t, would she? Now concentrate on what you’re cutting up on that slate of yours. I don’t want no bones.’
The fishmonger grinned. ‘Trust me, gel.’
‘That’s what they all say,’ smirked Lil. ‘I’d trust you just as far as I could throw you, cock.’
Lil liked shopping at the market. All right, none of the traders were saints. Everyone knew that Reg Barnes had a bit on the side and Elfie Goldblum would flog you brass for gold if he could get away with it. Fat Freda had been known to slip you the wrong change – to her advantage, of course – and Boston Brown’s fish hadn’t always come straight from Billingsgate. But they were a good laugh and took all the insults with a smile.
Lil walked back through the market, but just as she came to the second-hand clothes stall she caught sight of Frank Flowers. He was leaning on a lamppost, talking to a girl. Lil picked up a navy blue jumper and examined it, looking up every so often. A third person joined them. She wasn’t surprised to see it was Vinnie Allen. They all stood talking for a while, then walked off in different directions.
Lil dropped the jumper and made her way out of the market. It was none of her business – Doug would say – what that little trio was up to. Doug always told her she’d sniff out a gnat’s fart at a mile. He’d also reminded her that the Flowerses had been good to Lizzie and she’d have to agree. There was no denying that life was a lot rosier now for the Allens than when poor old Kate was alive.
As she headed home, Lil decided not to tell Lizzie what she’d seen. It would serve no purpose to upset the girl. But that Vinnie mixed with a rough bunch! Last time she had bumped into him, it had been up Poplar High Street with the bookie. Was Frank also involved with Mik Ferreter?
By the time Lil reached Langley Street she felt proud of herself for making the decision to resist temptation. She would button her lip for once.
But resisting one temptation didn’t mean she had to resist another, did it?
As soon as Doug got in, she’d tell him.
Lizzie had made the bed with clean sheets and washed all Flo’s clothes. The wardrobe, cupboard and floor were scrubbed and disinfected. And the stairs and passage were as clean as a new pin. The boiler had been going non-stop since the weekend. Taking four days off from the shop meant that she could be with Flo until Sunday. Then Lil said Flo could stay with her until half term whilst Lizzie was at the shop, and, if Flo felt better, she could go back to school before Christmas. Flo said she would like that. She missed her friends and it would break the ice before the New Year.
Just as Lizzie came down the stairs, a small hand came through the letterbox and grabbed the string. Lizzie’s heart hammered in her chest. She stopped still as the door slowly opened.
There stood Flo, eyes wide as saucers in her pale, gaunt face. Behind her was James, carrying a big brown paper parcel tied up with string. Her mind flashed back to the day he had brought her home from Hailing House. That had turned out a dreadful day, but Lizzie knew this was going to be one of the happiest in her life.
Flo was home.
Bursting with joy, Lizzie ran down the rest of the stairs. They were soon in each other’s arms, laughing and crying at the same time.
‘Flo, Flo,’ was all Lizzie could mumble, sniffing back her tears. She looked at James and went red.
‘I’ve ’ad a lovely ride,’ Flo said wheezily. ‘We went really fast this time.’
‘No too fast,’ said James with a wink at Flo. She giggled as he handed her belongings to Lizzie.
‘Thank you for bringing her home,’ Lizzie said quietly. There was a tremble in her voice. ‘Will you thank the ladies for me?’
‘Indeed I will,’ said James in a deep voice. ‘Is there anything else?’
Flo giggled again.
‘No thank you.’
James touched his hat and returned to the big black car. They watched it move off slowly.
When Lizzie closed the door she looked Flo up and down. ‘Well, miss, we’ve got to put some weight on you.’
Flo looked at her with big brown eyes that seemed almost too large for her face. She was wearing her old gabardine mac that was now too small, the sleeves stopping halfway down her arms. Lizzie had put a bit by for a new coat and was saving the excursion to the market for a surprise.
‘Where is everyone?’ Flo asked looking round.
‘Babs is at the House and Bert’s at the shop.’
‘Ain’t you supposed to be there too?’
‘I’ve got the rest of the week off.’
Flo pouted in her old fashion. ‘You ain’t gonna be around all the time tellin’ me what to do?’
Lizzie kept a straight face. ‘Oh yes I am. I got it all planned out. It’s yer medicine three times a day, sitting nice and quiet till tea time, then early to bed.’
Flo’s face dropped. ‘Ain’t I allowed out to see me friends?’
Lizzie shook her head.
‘I thought you said I could go back to school for Christmas.’
‘I thought you didn’t like school.’
‘Well I’ve changed me mind, ain’t I?’ Flo said belligerently.
At this, Lizzie couldn’t keep from laughing. ‘That got you going, miss, didn’t it?’
Flo looked cross for a moment, then burst into laughter. Suddenly the door of the front room opened. Lizzie and Flo turned to stare at their father sitting in his wheelchair. He pushed the wheels forward and moved out into the passage. He looked clean and shaved and his grey hair was neatly combed back from his face. Lizzie couldn’t believe her eyes. She had asked him a dozen times if she could help him wash and tidy up before Flo came home. Each time he had refused. Now she knew why. He wanted to surprise them – and he had.
The girls stared at him. Slowly he raised his arms to Flo. She fell into them, hugging him gently. Lizzie saw tears in his pale eyes and she guessed there were big ones in Flo’s.
All three of them were silent. Then Flo broke away, sniffing.
‘You look a bit thin, me girl,’ Tom said huskily, taking out a handkerchief and blowing his nose. Lizzie was pleased to see it was one that she had boiled and ironed yesterday for him.
‘Yeah, well, the food at the ’ome wasn’t like Lizzie’s.’ Flo held on to her father’s hand, her cheeks flushed.
Tom Allen smiled, his gaze going up to his eldest daughter as he said softly, ‘You ain’t ever said a truer thing, Florence Allen. Next to yer mother’s cooking, yer sister’s is the best you’ll get anywhere.’
Lizzie was so surprised she didn’t know what to say. A lovely warm feeling was melting inside her and she didn’t want the moment to end. By the time she had got her breath back, Tom was pushing his chair towards the kitchen and Flo was talking ten to the dozen, giving him a running commentary on the time she had spent away.
Then the front door burst open again. Babs hurried in, breathless and panting. ‘Is she home yet?’
Lizz
ie nodded. ‘She’s just arrived.’
‘The ladies let me come home early,’ Babs gasped, dragging off her coat and flinging it on the stair rail. ‘I got some sherbet dabs in me pocket.’ Delving into her coat, Babs pulled out a brown paper bag. ‘Can she have ’em?’
‘Course she can,’ Lizzie replied. ‘And I’ve got a cake in the pantry. We’ll have a nice bit of tea. Pa’s in the kitchen too.’
It was Babs’ turn to look surprised. ‘Blimey,’ she grinned, widening her pretty brown eyes. ‘That’s a first, ain’t it?’
Lizzie’s heart was beating very fast as she walked down the passage with Babs. They were on speaking terms again. Flo was safely home and Pa had come out from his room to have tea with them in the kitchen. Life felt wonderful.
Lizzie couldn’t sleep. She wasn’t used to Flo in the bed again, squeezed between her and Babs. There was less room but the extra warmth was lovely. Lizzie tossed and turned. Her mind was still whirling. The family was united once more. She hoped it would always be like this. Pa, Babs, Bert, Flo and her all sitting round the table at supper time as Flo caught up on the news. Only Vinnie had been absent, the family’s fly in the ointment.
Lizzie got out of bed, unable to rest. She pulled her coat over her nightdress and went downstairs. The house was silent, except for Bert’s snoring, which bounced off every wall.
In the kitchen, Lizzie lit the oil lamp. Bill had given it to her as a little perk of the job when she had first started at the shop. It was like one of the lamps off the cart that Frank had lit the night they came home from hospital in the fog.
Lizzie made herself a cup of tea and sat by the lamp’s warm glow. Her thoughts turned to Danny as they always did at night. Whilst she had been visiting Flo in hospital she had been too tired to lie awake for long. A picture of Danny’s face would flash up in her mind and she would soon be asleep.