by Rosie Clarke
What Beth needed was a man who took things more in his stride – and she thought she might have met a man she could be happy with, but this time she wouldn’t jump in too soon. Jack’s job took him away and that was good because it gave them both time to think about what they really wanted…
Smiling to herself, Beth turned over and closed her eyes. She was feeling so much happier than she had for a long time and she thought it was partly due to her job and the friends she’d made at Harpers – but also because of a man’s smiling eyes…
34
Maggie was in tears when the nurse told her that it was time for her to leave. Her mother was very weak, but she’d recognised her; she’d clung to Maggie’s hand and begged her forgiveness.
‘I never meant him to die…’ she’d said. ‘Forgive me… please…’
Maggie had mumbled something that sounded like yes, though she knew that inside she would never quite forgive what had happened to the father she loved so much, but it would be cruel to refuse a woman in such distress.
She would never know whether her mother had intended Poppa to take that medicine or whether it had just happened because he’d had enough of the pain, perhaps it was a bit of both. Maggie didn’t even think of the money that had been stolen from him, it had never mattered to her. Nor did she feel pleased to see her mother lying there, the victim of a cruel battering that was slowly robbing her of life. She hoped the police would find and punish the man who had done it, but he was probably long gone on a ship and far away from justice.
They knew as they left the infirmary that Maggie’s mother was unlikely to last the night, but Rachel persuaded her that it would be foolish to sit all night with a woman who had slipped into unconsciousness soon after begging for her daughter’s forgiveness.
‘She knows you came and you forgave her,’ Rachel said as she took Maggie outside and led her to the nearest bus stop. ‘None of this is your fault and you have nothing to reproach yourself for, my dear. Many a daughter would have ignored her plea for a visit.’
‘Mrs Higgins thought I should. She will be angry that I ignored her advice.’
‘Mrs Higgins is not your guardian or even your mother-in-law yet,’ Rachel said. ‘You moved into her house as her guest and if she feels she can no longer offer you a home – you can move out again…’
‘Aunt Helen would take me back until she marries,’ Maggie said. ‘But then I’d have to find somewhere else – and I don’t want to hurt or upset Ralf…’
‘And he should not wish to see you upset either,’ Rachel told her firmly. ‘I know you love this young man, Maggie – but if he loves you, he will stand up for you to his mother…’
Maggie thanked her for her advice but continued to be nervous until they reached Mrs Higgins’ home.
Ralf opened the door to her, looking anxious. ‘We thought something must have happened to you – Mother was just about to send me to the police station…’
Maggie seemed to shrink into herself, answering defensively, ‘We went to visit my mother. She is dying and in great distress. She wanted me to forgive her.’
Ralf shook his head as if dismissing her statement as unimportant, bringing tears to her eyes as she walked into the big, comfortable and spotlessly clean kitchen, followed by Rachel. Mrs Higgins turned reproachful eyes on her.
‘You might have let us know where you were going, Maggie,’ she said in a cold voice. ‘Ralf has been worried to death. I told him you would have disobeyed us and gone to the infirmary, but he thought not…’ she shook her head. ‘After we took you into our family and treated you as a daughter…’
‘I was worried, Maggie…’ Ralf endorsed his mother’s accusations.
Maggie’s tears were not far away. She had been a fool to believe that Mrs Higgins really liked her. She’d taken her in so that she could control the girl Ralf wanted to marry…
‘The police told me she was dying and in terrible distress – how could I not go?’ Maggie was close to tears. ‘Ralf, I’m sorry if you were worried – but I had to go…’
‘No, Maggie, you did not,’ his mother said. ‘Really, if you are to live under my roof, you must observe some rules. It is quite shaming to know that you went to a woman who is guilty of theft and who knows what else…’
Maggie’s bottom lip trembled, but she said nothing, struggling to hold back her tears.
‘And what rule has Maggie broken by visiting a dying woman in distress?’ Rachel cut in because she saw that Maggie was trembling and Ralf showed no sign of coming to her rescue. ‘Any woman of feeling would understand that she must wish to see her mother at such a time?’
‘And who are you?’ Mrs Higgins stared at her furiously. She was not a large woman but her voice carried a piercing sharpness and her eyes were cold.
‘I am Maggie’s supervisor at work…’
‘I do not recall asking you into my home – would you please leave at once?’ the outraged woman demanded.
‘Gladly,’ Rachel said and sent her a look of utter disgust. ‘I have no wish to stay – and if Maggie has any sense, nor will she.’ She turned to look at the girl. ‘There is a spare bed at the flat I share with Miss Ross. If you find it unbearable here, you are very welcome to stay with us…’
‘That won’t be necessary,’ Ralf said, finding his tongue at last. ‘Mother is just upset because we were worried – and I know Maggie wants to stay with us…’
Maggie looked at Rachel. ‘Thank you for the offer, Mrs Craven. I shall not forget – but I do love Ralf…’
‘Very well, I’ll leave you here,’ Rachel said. Her eyes met the angry stare of Ralf’s mother. ‘However, my door is always open to you, Maggie…’
Turning, she went out and resisted the temptation to slam the door behind her. Mrs Higgins reminded her of her own mother-in-law, but, if anything, she was far worse.
Rachel walked to the bus stop and waited for one to arrive, feeling frustrated. She would have liked to bring Maggie away with her. The girl’s feelings were mixed up enough, regret and grief fighting with resentment at the way her mother had deserted her father. She needed kindness and comfort, not scolding for doing something entirely natural.
Boarding her bus, Rachel’s thoughts dwelled on her own past as it drove off. She looked out at the lights of shop windows and found her thoughts drifting to the way her life had changed since she started working for Harpers. It was not only the job and the extra money or even the independence it offered her. Sharing with Sally had given her a settled comfortable life and she would not in the least have minded Maggie occupying the extra single bed in her room. She had a Chinese painted screen that could be erected to give them a little privacy, but it might be fun to share, all of them together, especially if Beth moved in too.
Yes, she rather thought she would enjoy that and she would monitor the situation with Maggie. She’d popped the idea on her suddenly, but if the girl was being made unhappy, she wouldn’t stand by and let it happen… Maggie was almost like a daughter to Rachel – the daughter she’d never had.
For a moment she was overwhelmed by sadness as she remembered her husband’s death, but then the grief faded. She wasn’t that many years older than Sally, and Rachel was aware that she was not unattractive. If she wanted, there was still time to find happiness – to marry perhaps, someone she cared for…
As the bus slowed to a stop and she prepared to disembark, Rachel was smiling. She enjoyed her work at Harpers and she liked sharing the flat with Sally. She was in no hurry to make a change, but the shadows had moved away at last and she’d understood tonight that there was no way she wanted to be like Mrs Higgins – taking her own unhappiness out on others. Rachel had lost her husband, but she had a good job, a nice place to live and friends – in time there might be more.
Beth saw that Maggie looked pale the next morning, but she seemed to be fine once she started serving her customer and when Mrs Craven spoke to her later, she smiled and nodded. After they’d all been to lunch, there
was an unusual lull between customers and Beth took the opportunity to ask her how she felt.
‘I’m all right,’ Maggie said. ‘I shan’t see my mother again, I know that – but I feel I’ve made my peace with her and I’m glad I went.’
‘What of Mrs Higgins?’ Beth saw her eyes darken. ‘Was she very angry?’
‘Yes, at first, but then she cried and said it was just that she’d been worried about me. I had to say it was all right, Beth – but it wasn’t. She was horrid to me and rude to Mrs Craven. I think I made a mistake going to live there… she isn’t nice at all, just selfish.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry,’ Beth said and touched her hand in sympathy. ‘You could come back until Aunt Helen marries…’
‘Thank you, I know.’ Maggie raised her head. ‘I have to think carefully, Beth. I do love Ralf and he would be hurt if I said I couldn’t live in his mother’s house. It’s difficult…’
‘It must be,’ Beth said, understanding her dilemma. ‘It might be even worse if you were married – think what she might expect then. I do not think it is a good idea to live with your in-laws, unless you know them well and like them.’
‘Yes, I shall think carefully,’ Maggie said, ‘but I don’t want to rush into something else and find I’ve made a mistake again.’
‘No, I see that,’ Beth agreed. ‘You take your time, Maggie love – but remember you have friends.’
‘Yes, I know. Mrs Craven says I can stay in her room for a while…’
‘Oh, I didn’t know…’ Beth’s nape tingled. ‘If I moved into Sally’s room, we should all be together…’
‘Just as Sally wanted,’ Maggie said and the smile lit her eyes. ‘It might be fun…’
‘Yes, I think it would,’ Beth said. ‘I’m going to a Music Hall with Jack this evening. He wants to spend every evening with me until he leaves for New York next Monday.’
‘You look happy,’ Maggie said. ‘I’m glad you’ve found someone, Beth.’
‘I thought you were happy too?’
‘I was – I am…’ Maggie looked at her and sighed. ‘I was, but now I’m not sure…’
35
Beth loved every moment of the Music Hall. Being with Jack was enjoyable, even if they just walked through streets in the dusk of evening, holding hands. She was happier than she had been for a long time, the only shadow the knowledge that he would have to leave for his ship on Sunday afternoon. However, she spent as much time as possible with him that week and still managed to write three newsy letters in odd moments in her bedroom and on the bus to work.
‘We’ll say goodbye here,’ Jack told her as he came round to take his leave of her on Sunday morning. ‘I hate long goodbyes, Beth – and it won’t be long before I’m home for another shore leave.’
Beth resisted the temptation to cross her fingers. She thought Jack was very brave to carry on working on board ship despite what had happened, but he didn’t seem to fear the sea and she wouldn’t let him see that she was anxious. Instead, she hugged him and gave him a sweet kiss on the lips and then thrust a little parcel wrapped in brown paper and string into his hands.
‘What is this?’ Jack asked, looking puzzled. ‘You shouldn’t buy me presents, Beth.’
‘It isn’t a present,’ she said and smiled. ‘Keep it and open it on board ship and you’ll understand.’
He put the small package into his inside coat pocket and then picked up the bulging kitbag. ‘I’ll be back before you miss me,’ he said and grinned.
‘Of course you will.’ Beth laughed. ‘I’ll be moving after the wedding – but Fred will know where I am…’
Beth went to watch as he roared off on his motorbike, her heart aching a little as she returned to the house.
Aunt Helen came downstairs dressed in her best navy blue costume with a red and navy hat and red gloves.
‘Do I look all right?’ she asked, a little nervously.
‘You look very smart and attractive,’ Beth said. ‘Have a good time with your friends.’
Aunt Helen nodded, kissed her cheek and left. It felt strange to have the house all to herself. Rather than sit and brood, Beth decided to give it all a good clean and started by polishing the parlour. Her aunt had obviously been sorting through some papers and Beth tidied them into a pile so that she could polish the table top. Her eye was drawn to a life insurance document; the date was recent. It was odd that Aunt Helen should take out a new policy, although perhaps it was because of her marriage. She supposed people did that when they had someone else to consider.
Leaving the room tidy and clean and smelling of lavender, Beth went upstairs to turn out the bedrooms. Her aunt’s personal business was her own and nothing to do with Beth…
Maggie stuck it out at Ralf’s mother’s house for nearly three weeks before she broke. She arrived at Harpers on a Thursday morning with two suitcases in her hands and another bag slung across her back. Beth had just got off the bus and she ran to catch her up and relieve her of one of the cases.
‘What happened?’ she asked as she saw Maggie’s tear-streaked face.
‘We had an awful row. Mrs Higgins couldn’t find her grandmother’s gold brooch. She said she’d been searching for it for days and practically accused me of stealing it, because she’d noticed me wearing a similar one – but Aunt Helen gave it to me the day I left her house.’ Maggie sniffed hard. ‘She has been unbearable ever since I went to my mother’s funeral… I know she thinks I’m a thief… just like my mother, that’s what she hinted.’
‘Oh, Maggie love,’ Beth said. ‘What an awful woman she is – pretending to like you until you went there and making your life a misery ever since.’
‘I wouldn’t stay there after the things she said. I told Ralf that she’d practically accused me of stealing her brooch and she denied it. He told me I was too sensitive and I told him it was time he made up his mind whether he was a man with a will of his own or his mother’s little lackey…’ Maggie’s eyes filled with tears. ‘We had a terrible row and then I just packed my things and walked out. I didn’t take her brooch, Beth. I think she lost it – it was quite old and the clasp was weak. She kept saying she would get it done, but she didn’t and now she blames me.’
Beth sympathised. ‘It is horrid to be accused of something you didn’t do – and if people don’t believe you there’s nothing to be done…’
‘I did the only thing I could. I opened my bags and told her to search before I left – and she said that obviously it wasn’t in my things now or I wouldn’t invite her to search, implying that I’d sold it.’
‘What a nasty woman!’ Beth said. ‘Well, you’re welcome to come to Aunt Helen’s until Sunday morning. I’m moving out after the wedding and in with Sally at her flat. Sally and Mrs Craven insist that I stay with them while I continue to search for a room.’
‘I’ll speak to Mrs Craven later…’
The two girls left Maggie’s cases with Fred. Beth didn’t hear the conversation with Mrs Craven, but Maggie looked happy afterwards and told Beth that she was moving into the flat that evening.
‘It makes more sense than coming to your aunt’s for two nights – you’ll have more than enough to do before the wedding without me in the way…’
‘I’d like you to come round early on Saturday,’ Beth said. ‘Aunt Helen will be happy to see you and we can help her get her things ready…’
‘I’d love to.’ She smiled mistily. ‘I feel so foolish, Beth. I thought I loved Ralf and I still do… but he’s weak where his mother is concerned and I don’t want to come second best all the time.’
‘I know it hurts to lose the person you love,’ Beth told her. ‘Perhaps he will come to the shop and apologise once he’s had time to think about it…’
‘I’m not sure I want him to…’
Beth didn’t try to argue with her. Maggie was feeling bruised and hurt and would need time to think about what she really wanted of life. For the moment that did not include Ralf.
As
she turned round, she saw to her surprise that Aunt Helen had entered the department. She walked up to Beth’s counter and smiled.
‘What have you got that will suit me, Beth?’ she asked. ‘I’ve bought something in the dress department, but now I’d like a pretty hat, some gloves and perhaps a bag…’
36
Sally looked up from her work as Jenni entered the office that morning in late July, and then got up and went to greet her with a smile. She was surprised when the other woman put her arms about her and embraced her, kissing her cheek. Sally kissed her back.
‘What a lovely surprise. I didn’t expect you before Christmas…’
‘I missed you – and you’ve done such a wonderful job here,’ Jenni said. ‘Marco told me that wonderful garden party window display was your idea. And the Olympic support window is fantastic, with its photographs of British and American athletes and our flags! Such a great idea for Harpers! I know it will come down soon, but quite a few people were admiring it when I arrived. Marco told me that was your idea too. You’re a wonder, Sally, and I’m so pleased you came into our lives.’
‘I’ve only done the job you gave me. Mr Marco and Mr Stockbridge have done their share.’ Sally felt a warming glow at Jenni’s praise. ‘How are things for you – your friend? Does he blame you for the loss of his wife…?’
‘Yes – and no,’ Jenni said and grimaced. ‘He knows it wasn’t my fault, but he can’t help feeling that if I hadn’t given her my ticket she would still be alive…and that hurts…’
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘It must be very hard for you?’
‘Yes – however, Henry was glad of my help with finding a nanny for little Tom and he thanked me before I left – said that he hoped I wouldn’t be away too long…’ Jenni smiled. ‘Thank goodness for the new steamships. Only a few years ago it would have meant weeks at sea to get here, now it’s only a matter of days…’