by Cathy Sharp
‘Two days?’ Alice was horrified. It had taken her weeks to find this house and she knew what most of the others were like – the idea of living in somewhere that stank of stale cooking and worse made her feel wretched. Besides, if she had to pay another week’s rent she wouldn’t have enough money to pay in advance for a new place. ‘Please, couldn’t I stay – just until …’ She saw the gleam in the older woman’s eyes and knew she’d given herself away. ‘All right, I’ll go – but now I’m going to work.’
She pushed past the woman and ran down the stairs. Alice felt the fear rising again as she walked to St Saviour’s for the evening shift. She knew Michelle’s mother wouldn’t have her back, because she would guess about the baby – and she was nearly as strict as her landlady.
What was she going to do? Sister Beatrice had told her only a couple of days ago that she’d found a place at the mother and baby home – and she’d said that she would consider taking Alice back if she was sensible and let the child go to a good family. It was the most sensible thing to do, Alice knew that – but she couldn’t bear the idea of giving up her baby.
Jack might be no good; he’d gone off and left her to face this alone after she’d told him she was pregnant – but she still loved him, whether he was alive or dead, and she loved her child. Tears stung her eyes as she went into St Saviour’s. Alice had no idea what she was going to do, but she wouldn’t let them take her baby away – she wouldn’t!
Nan was thoughtful as she went downstairs to the kitchen. She’d tried to be cheerful to raise Sister Beatrice’s spirits, but the thought of what might have happened to her friend had cast a shadow over her. She’d thought she could accept that her daughter wanted to devote her life to God, but since then she’d begun to realise how much she would miss – her daughter’s marriage, grandchildren: it meant Nan had little to look forward to but a lonely old age. Had she lost Beatrice too …
Passing the staff room she heard an odd sound inside; it sounded like crying and Nan was immediately alert. Someone was in trouble and after what had happened you couldn’t be too careful. She went to investigate and saw Alice slumped in one of the old armchairs, crying her heart out.
‘What is it, Alice?’ she asked, immediately concerned. ‘What has happened to upset you? Is it because of Sister being attacked?’
‘No, though I’m sorry for what happened to her. Is she all right?’
‘She’s resting, but it upset her a lot. That poor child …’ Nan pulled up a hard chair to sit next to Alice and reached for her hand. ‘Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?’
‘My landlady is throwing me out; I’ve got two days to find another room,’ Alice said, her eyes drenched in tears. ‘Sister says it’s my duty to give up the baby … and I’ve got no one to turn to. My sister can’t help me and nor can Michelle. I don’t know what to do …’
Nan was silent for a moment, and then she made up her mind. ‘Then I’ll tell you what we’re going to do,’ she said and squeezed the girl’s hand. ‘I’m going to take you to your lodgings tomorrow morning after you finish here and we’ll fetch your things and you can stay with me.’
‘But you can’t want me to stay with you,’ Alice faltered. ‘I’m not married and people will talk – and there’s the baby … you can’t look after me …’
‘Angela told me she can arrange for you to have the baby in somewhere private. We’ll book you in as Mrs Cobb and say you’re a widow. We can get you a ring and afterwards … well, we’ll think about that when the time comes. Now, dry your eyes. We’ve got the children to see to, Alice, love, and they’re all a bit upset over what has happened. Coming home to find Sister being almost stabbed to death and then Terry taken off – well, I dare say some of them are frightened. So pick yourself up and do your job and leave the future to sort itself out. You’re not alone, Alice. I promise you that – and you never will be.’
‘Oh, Nan,’ Alice said, and took the hanky the older woman offered, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. ‘I’ll wash this and give it back – I don’t know how to thank you.’
‘I shall be glad of the company for a bit,’ Nan said. ‘Now I’ve got to collect all these dirty cups and take them to the kitchen. You go and look after the little ones, Alice – and in the morning we’ll sort that landlady of yours out.’
‘Happy birthday, Sally,’ Angela said, and presented her with a parcel wrapped in pink tissue and a card. It was the morning after the incident with Terry and outwardly everything was normal. ‘Have you seen Sister this morning? I’m hoping she had the sense to stop in bed today, but, knowing her, I keep thinking she will pop up at any moment and ask us why we’re wasting time.’
Sally laughed. ‘We managed to persuade her to stay in the rest room overnight so that Michelle could keep an eye on her, but she was up early this morning and went home. Michelle begged her to take it easy and she promised she would, but I think she was in a lot of pain from her arm.’
‘I imagine she would be,’ Angela said. ‘If we hadn’t had a nurse on hand I should have insisted she went to hospital, but Carole said she could manage the wound easily, so it seemed best to get her tended quickly rather than her sitting in an ambulance and then waiting to be admitted.’
‘I’m sure it is what she would want,’ Sally said, exclaiming in delight as she opened her gift and saw the pretty earrings. ‘These are so beautiful; thank you, Angela. I love them …’
‘I’m glad,’ Angela said. ‘I’m afraid Mark will not be able to come this evening. He telephoned earlier to say he will call to collect Nancy later this morning and will leave a little something for you then – but he’s taking Terry down to the clinic today.’
‘I didn’t expect a present from him … it’s a pity he won’t be able to come; the table is for four.’
‘I’ve been thinking about it and I wondered if you would accept Nan as a substitute? I’m sure she would enjoy a meal out at a nice restaurant.’
‘Would you mind? Mark was supposed to be your escort – what about that other friend of yours?’
‘I don’t think Nick would care to be a substitute, besides, I’d rather not ask him. I enjoy Nan’s company and I think she might come – but it must be your decision …’
‘Yes, of course. I like her too,’ Sally said, but looked a little disappointed. ‘I just thought it would be nice if – it doesn’t matter …’
The door opened at that moment and Nan entered, bearing an empty tray. She beamed as she saw Sally. ‘Ah, there you both are. How is the birthday girl? I’ve got a gift for you in my bag, Sally. I’ll give it to you before you leave this evening.’
‘Nan, Mr Adderbury cannot be Angela’s partner at dinner with Andrew and me tonight, because he has to take Terry to the clinic – I don’t suppose you would help us out?’
Nan hesitated and then smiled. ‘I wouldn’t say no to a nice meal out. I’m being spoiled recently. What time do you want me?’
‘Can we meet here at seven?’
‘I’ll be here,’ Nan said, and then collected a load of dirty cups and mugs. ‘As you see, I’m doing the kitchen girl’s work again. I think it’s a sore throat this time …’ She picked up a full tray with a pleased look on her face, but at the door she stopped and turned back to Angela. ‘I ought to tell you that Alice Cobb has come to stay with me for a while. I shall need to talk to you about things – but that will keep for another time.’
‘I feel awful,’ Sally said when the door closed. ‘That invitation didn’t sound right, did it?’
‘Nan understood perfectly,’ Angela reassured her. ‘She’s such a lovely person, Sally. She wouldn’t take offence, and of course she understands it should have been two couples … except that I don’t really have someone special.’
‘What about you and Mark Adderbury?’
‘I rather think he may have someone special now. At the moment there isn’t a romance in sight for me, Sally, nor do I wish for one just yet.’
‘That’s a shame. I think
it would be good for you. Is Mr Adderbury really going out with Staff Nurse Carole, then?’ Sally wrinkled her brow. ‘He’s too good for her. I think he’s mad to prefer …’ She broke off, red-faced. ‘Sorry, not my business, is it?’
‘Don’t worry, I’m not offended, but it isn’t our business of course,’ Angela agreed. ‘However, as a friend I feel he is making a mistake, though it isn’t up to me to say. I hope for his sake she truly loves him. I think he had a bad experience in the past. I don’t want him to be unhappy.’
‘Well, if he ends up with her, I think he may regret it,’ Sally said. ‘And that’s horrid of me, isn’t it? Oh, well, I must get on. If Sister catches me gossiping she will have my guts for garters – whoops! Not very ladylike, but you know what I mean. Sister was asking me all sorts of odd questions this morning, about whether I liked my job here.’
‘Strange. What did you say?’
‘I told her I’ve always been happy at St Saviour’s and that I’d like to come back when I’ve done my training as a nurse.’
‘What did she say to that?’
‘Just looked at me a bit funny and then said she was glad to hear it. Perhaps it’s all this rotten business with Terry that’s behind it in some way.’ Sally put down her empty cup. ‘That’s another one for Nan to fetch. I’d better get back to the children. I left Nancy reading a story to them, but she will want to get ready for Mr Adderbury.’
Angela was thoughtful. ‘Nancy has settled well here. I don’t know what she’s decided about the future. I think I’ll pop down and have a word with her now. I’ll walk with you, Sally.’ Sally slipped her earrings into her apron pocket. ‘What did your mother buy you for your birthday?’
‘Mum was lucky and got some new pink wool. She knitted me a twinset in two-ply and I didn’t know a thing about it. Really pretty colour it is, lacy pattern with big puffed shoulders.’
‘That sounds just perfect for you. Pink will set off your chestnut-brown hair,’ Angela said. ‘Gosh, it’s nice to have a few things in the shops again, isn’t it? Nan was telling me that most of her ladies at the widow’s club buy old knits from the market, unpick them and wash the wool to straighten it and then knit it up again. The trouble is that very often there isn’t enough of one colour so you have to do stripes of white or something.’
Sally giggled and nodded. ‘Mum did that all the time during the war, and me and Brenda ended up with stripes everywhere. That war has a lot to answer for.’ She linked her arm through Angela’s and squeezed it. ‘The best thing of all that happened is that you came to St Saviour’s. I really like us being friends.’
Sally was thoughtful as Angela took Nancy away, and she began reading to the little ones. They’d seemed very absorbed, and Nancy had looked content enough reading to them, even though she must be so worried over her brother. Angela was right when she said the girl had settled in here.
Her thoughts turned to her own life. At home, her parents were happier now that Dad had a better job. Brenda had whispered last night in their room that she was thinking of getting engaged to a man who was the office manager of an import/export firm on the Docks.
‘You haven’t known Derek five minutes,’ Sally had objected, and Brenda just looked at her with a soppy smile on her face.
‘When you meet the right one you know five seconds later, or at least the first time he kisses you,’ Brenda said dreamily. ‘Derek is that bit older. He was in the Army for five years – but worked in logistics most of that time. His old manager recommended him when he retired so now he’s earning a really good wage.’
‘So will you have a nice house and be able to give up work?’
‘Yes, but I’m not going to until the babies come,’ Brenda said. ‘Whatever I earn will be saved for extras. Derek wants to buy a car soon, just a nice little family saloon, but think of it, Sally – no more queuing for buses …’
‘You’re not just marrying him for the car and the house?’
‘’Course not!’ Brenda looked affronted. ‘Derek might not look like Errol Flynn but he’s very romantic.’
Sally smiled at the memory. Brenda was a bit of a giddy goose but there was no doubting that her sister was in love – the look on her face reflected her happiness and she walked about in a dream most of the time. Why didn’t Sally feel that way?
A few doubts had begun to work themselves into Sally’s mind. She cared about Andrew, admired him and respected him, and he was wonderful company, so generous and so different from all the other men, boys really, that she’d met before – but was that enough? Sally had been swept off her feet at Christmas when Andrew first kissed her under the mistletoe, but she wasn’t sure that her feelings for him were strong enough to last a lifetime.
Marriage to a man who was far above her in the class structure would mean that they would both have to adjust to the differences. Sally’s parents were not happy about the idea of their daughter moving up in the world.
‘You’ll grow away from us, love,’ Mum had said as they sat in the kitchen together over a cup of cocoa one night. ‘I’ve got nothing against Mr Markham – I’m sure he is a lovely gentleman, but that’s just it. He is a gentleman and he would not think much of us or where you live …’
‘Andrew isn’t like that, Mum. You’re wrong about him.’
‘Oh, Sally, love. I don’t want to spoil things for you, but be very careful. Why don’t you take your nursing course and then see how you feel? If he loves you, he’ll wait – and if your love survives that time apart, well, I’ll be the first to congratulate you.’
Sally had promised her mother she would give the idea some thought. In some ways, Mum was right. Sally’s dream had always been to take that nursing course and she could now that her father was doing so much better. Andrew had hinted that they might think of getting married in a few months, and was talking of buying a house with a garden far away from Spitalfields. Obviously, he was thinking of children – and it was natural that he should, being that much older.
Sally was a little afraid that he would buy her a ring for her birthday. If he did that she would have to make up her mind and she wanted a little time yet. He was a special man and she thought she loved him … but did she love him enough?
FORTY-FIVE
Beatrice’s arm was sore, but otherwise she felt quite well. It wasn’t Terry’s attack on her that was worrying her now, nor even the distress it had caused her to be told by Angela that Mark thought he might never come out of the catatonic state he’d fallen into – no, it was the fact that Staff Nurse Carole had lied to her about another member of staff.
Beatrice had had ample time to study Sally while she was a patient. Everything the girl did was meticulous, but done in a caring way that spoke of her love for the children and her work. Beatrice had stood that morning in the doorway of the classroom knowing that Sally was unaware of her as she read and talked to the little ones – and she’d asked Nan for her opinion of the young carer.
‘Sally is the best I’ve had under me,’ Nan told her without hesitation. ‘What makes you ask, Beatrice? I would trust her with my life and that’s a fact.’
‘Yes, that has always been my own opinion,’ Beatrice said, and sighed. It seemed clear that Carole had lied about the carer, trying to get her into trouble – but why should she? Was it just personal dislike? If so, it was wrong of Carole to bring personalities into the workplace. Had Sally taken a dislike to the nurse and rubbed her up the wrong way?
Carole should be able to handle something of that nature without complaining to her superior – but it was more serious than that, because Carole had deliberately tried to get Sally into trouble … perhaps even to have her sacked.
Beatrice’s instinct told her that Carole wasn’t the pleasant and caring nurse she’d hoped for when she took her on. Efficient she certainly was, her work could not be faulted – but there was something about her that Beatrice couldn’t like.
What ought she to do about it? Did she want to retain the services of
a nurse who could lie maliciously about a colleague? The answer must be no, but it was a problem not easily solved.
Carole was a good nurse and they couldn’t afford to lose her. Beatrice would have to find a way to reprimand her without causing a breach that made working with her impossible. She must take her time and decide before speaking to Carole, because she needed to be quite sure that Carole’s complaints were unfounded. She took the accounts book from her desk and opened it.
Her door opened and Angela entered.
‘Oh, Sister,’ she exclaimed. ‘What are you doing? I’m sure there is no need for you to be working this morning.’
‘We need to get this expenses sheet sorted out,’ Beatrice said. ‘It will be the Board meeting again next week and I’m sure I’ve made a mistake somewhere. If you look carefully, you will see that some figures have been erased and others inserted.’ She sighed. ‘I don’t know how that could have happened …’
‘Let me take it and go through it for you,’ Angela said. ‘I’ll check it and type it up and then I’ll let you go through it again. You’re pushing yourself too hard and ought to take another few days off, at least.’
Beatrice sighed and handed her the sheet. ‘To be honest I don’t feel up to this at the moment. I think I will go down to the sick ward and have a word with Staff Nurse Carole, and then perhaps I’ll go back to my room and have a bit of a lie-down for an hour or two. I do have a bit of a headache.’
‘It is hardly surprising,’ Angela said. ‘After what you went through yesterday … most people would still be in hospital. Mark wanted to send you to the Royal London but I persuaded him to let our nurses look after you. If you refuse to rest I shall think I was wrong.’
Beatrice smiled. ‘Has anyone told you that you are a very caring person, Angela?’ To her surprise Angela blushed and shook her head. ‘I want to thank you and Mark, Father Joe – and Nurse Carole too, I suppose. You were all good to me. I think I shall arrange a nice fruit cake and a glass of sherry in my office one evening – if you would come, Angela? I shall ask Mark Adderbury, Father Joe and Nan – and Carole perhaps next week …’