East End Angel

by Rivers, Carol

  ‘I’d prefer to stay with her,’ said Fitz. ‘She’s had a big shock.’

  ‘Who are you?’

  ‘A friend of the family.’

  ‘Thanks, mate, but I’ll see she’s all right.’

  ‘Don’t worry about me, Fitz,’ Pearl said shakily. She was still getting over what the warden had said. ‘Go back to Gwen.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes.’ Pearl was led away by the warden. She didn’t even have time to look back as a truck pulled up beside them. The driver climbed out and helped her in.

  ‘Take this young lady to headquarters,’ said the warden. ‘She’s related to the people in number twenty-four.’

  There were two long benches facing each other under the big canvas roof. Pearl sat on one them, holding tight to the rail as the vehicle moved off. It had been a dreadful shock to see their home so black and battered. She had been rushed off quickly. But why? Were they going to break the news to her that something had happened to her family?

  Pearl shielded her eyes from the big lights that shone down inside the building. Someone took her arm. ‘This way, please.’

  ‘Where are you taking me?’ Pearl tried to hide the fear in her voice.

  ‘You’re going to see your family.’

  ‘Are you sure they’re all right?’

  ‘Yes,’ said the big woman in army uniform. ‘You mustn’t worry.’

  ‘That’s easy for you to say,’ Pearl snapped, pulling away. ‘You haven’t just seen your home in pieces.’

  ‘There’s no use in creating a scene, my dear. Just calm down.’

  Pearl was very angry. She had been robbed of her husband, now her old home had gone and they were telling her not to worry!

  ‘Commander Knowles would like to speak to you. It’s called a debriefing, something that has to take place after a large, and in this case, unexplained event.’

  She marched on and reluctantly Pearl followed. The female officer stopped and knocked hard on a door. It was opened by a tall man also in uniform.

  ‘Ah, Mrs Nesbitt,’ he smiled, reaching out to take Pearl’s hand. ‘I’m Commander Knowles. Please come in. That’s all, thank you, Corporal.’

  When they were alone, he gestured to a large leather chair. ‘Do sit down and make yourself comfortable. Would you like some tea?’

  ‘No. I just want to see my family.’ Pearl sat on the edge of the chair.

  ‘All in good time.’ He took a seat behind his desk. ‘This must seem rather cloak and dagger but we have to be on our toes. After an unexplained explosion, the Ministry of Defence has to investigate. Hence the decontamination unit.’

  ‘But there wasn’t a raid.’

  ‘Exactly. So finding evidence is very important. It will tell us exactly why the factory blew up and unfortunately took several houses with it.’

  Pearl shuddered. ‘My parents and sister could have been killed.’

  ‘Yes, this concerns us too.’

  ‘How long will all these investigations take?’

  He smiled and pleated his fingers. His steady eyes looked at her without blinking. ‘A little while, I’m afraid. You see, one of our aims is not to cause panic amongst the general public. And in this case, as we don’t know what actually happened, it’s imperative that we be discreet about our work. It might take weeks, but more likely months.’

  ‘Those men in shiny suits ain’t very discreet.’

  ‘No, but they are absolutely essential. When a major disturbance happens – and we are not under air attack – then it’s up to the special units to find out the cause. In cases such as this, we follow up every lead, yet try to keep a low profile. Gossip and panic soon spreads, and with them an undermining of the country’s confidence.’

  ‘But the factory only made things for ships. It was just an ordinary factory. Why should it blow up?’

  ‘You are very astute, Mrs Nesbitt. The factory made steel, yes, and everything from bridges to blast furnaces. But also important parts for our warships and aircraft.’

  ‘You mean someone might have done it deliberately?’

  ‘What we have to remember,’ he said evasively, ‘is that the enemy know a great deal about us. Well-trained foreign saboteurs look exactly like you and me. They speak fluent English, mix freely with the public, sometimes marry and have families. If not detected, one insider can wreak havoc, disrupting the workforce or–’ he paused – ‘planting bombs.’

  Pearl stared at him. ‘You mean a spy could have blown Dad’s factory up?’

  ‘We investigate every possibility.’

  ‘Do Mum and Dad know about this?’

  ‘We have had the same conversation, yes.’ Commander Knowles flattened his palms on the table. ‘Now, our first concern is to get your family housed.’

  ‘They can come and stay with me for the time being.’

  ‘Have you enough space?’

  ‘I’ve got two bedrooms. And there’s only me there, now my husband, Jim, has been called up.’

  ‘What’s his name?’

  ‘Jim Nesbitt. He’s in the Engineers.’

  The commander looked thoughtful. ‘We shall have to talk about evacuation, if only for a short while.’

  ‘But they’ve always lived on the island!’ Pearl protested. ‘Can’t you get them somewhere here?’

  ‘We shall have to see.’

  Ten minutes later, Pearl was reunited with her parents and Ruby. But not even her dad’s big bear hug and her mum’s whispered words of how lucky everyone had been to escape death, could comfort Pearl. They might still be alive but the war had taken everything else.

  Two days later the back door opened and a hunched figure appeared. Unrecognizable in his woollen hat, Jim pulled down the collar of his greatcoat and grinned at his wife and sister-in-law.

  ‘Jim!’ screamed Pearl and Ruby together. They were standing at the sink, washing the breakfast dishes in cold water. Pearl dropped the cup on the drainer and rushed forward to be lifted off her feet.

  He was laughing as she pulled off his hat. ‘Hello, beautiful. Give us a kiss.’

  She planted her lips on his and kissed him for all she was worth. Setting her gently down he scooped Ruby into an embrace.

  ‘Oh, Jim, I thought you’d be in Africa.’

  ‘Not yet.’ The three of them hugged. Pearl forgot, like Ruby, that she was wearing her turban and dressing gown. ‘I haven’t even got me make-up on yet.’

  ‘Nor me,’ said Ruby, blushing.

  ‘Why didn’t you write to say you were coming?’ asked Pearl breathlessly.

  ‘Didn’t know myself, did I? The CO got me a twenty-four-hours’ leave pass after he heard from Commander Knowles. They told me all about Roper’s Way.’

  ‘I told him your name and that you was in the Engineers. I was in a bit of a state that night. But I didn’t think he’d get you a pass.’

  Jim grinned. ‘Well, he did. Are Syd and Amy all right?’

  The girls nodded. ‘But Dad’s out of work now,’ Pearl explained. ‘And we’re managing here as Roper’s Way don’t look like it’s going to be repaired very soon.’

  ‘It must have been a shock.’

  ‘The factory went up and took the houses with it.’

  ‘What’s going to happen?’ asked Jim, taking off his coat.

  ‘They want us to evacuate,’ said Ruby.

  ‘Blimey. Your mum and dad won’t like that. Did they find out what caused it?’ Jim rubbed his cold hands together.

  ‘No, they’re investigating,’ said Pearl. ‘They have to do that in case it’s spies or something.’

  ‘Did you manage to save anything?’ Jim asked.

  ‘We had our identity papers on us, and Mum had the ration books in her bag,’ Ruby explained. ‘We’ve got extra coupons for food and clothes. Pearl’s given Dad one of your shirts and a pair of trousers. Mum and me are sharing Pearl’s stuff.’

  ‘Syd can have what he likes. I won’t be needing civvies, will I?’

&
nbsp; ‘We’re going to the market to kit ourselves out,’ said Ruby.

  Jim put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Must say, you’re taking it very well.’

  ‘Ain’t no other way, is there?’

  He hugged them again. ‘Now, have you got something to eat for a hungry man?’

  They both began to dash round the kitchen. Pearl was so excited to see Jim, she couldn’t think what to do first.

  ‘Look, sit down with Jim,’ said Ruby, pushing them both in the other room. ‘Make the most of the peace whilst Mum and Dad are at church. You won’t get a word in edgeways when they’re back. I’ll make the tea.’

  Jim’s big hands pulled her against him when they were alone. ‘Oh, Pearly-girl, I couldn’t wait to see you. I was worried.’

  ‘Why haven’t you written?’

  ‘You can blame the army for that. I’ve been on intensive training. Up at blooming four in the morning and on me stop-and-goes till we’re given the order to finish late at night. You remember that snow in January? We was out in it, running over the hills and down dales. Got right ballsed up when it started to thaw and we was swimming around in a load of mud. We were freezing, fed up, and I don’t mind admitting I was ready to throw in the towel.’

  ‘But you didn’t, did you?’ Pearl freed herself from his arms. Even the crackling fire her dad had built early that morning couldn’t take the coldness from her words. ‘You stuck it out.’

  ‘I had to, love.’

  ‘I would have pretended to run out of breath,’ she said with a smile. ‘And tried to get home to me wife.’

  He clucked his tongue. ‘Now don’t start that, sunbeam.’

  ‘I know, I know.’

  He laughed and patted her hand. ‘How are you all managing? Bit cramped, ain’t it, with everyone?’

  ‘They’re lucky to be alive. The commander said it might be spies that blew up the factory.’

  ‘Perhaps you can see why I’ve got to go to war.’

  ‘S’pose so.’

  ‘Every man is called on to do his duty. I was asked to do mine and I agreed. I could have walked away from it, but do you think I could live with meself afterwards?’

  ‘You and your pride.’

  He grinned, showing his strong white teeth. ‘Now, Pearly-girl, what can I say that will make you happy?’

  ‘Nothing, me broken heart will mend.’

  Laughing softly, he slid his arms round her. ‘Your heart’s not broken, sweetheart, it’s as sound as Big Ben. And now, for pete’s sake, give us a kiss, a real one.’

  She held his face between her hands and kissed him. It was a kiss of deep love and tenderness. She held all of her happiness in her hands, a man so precious to her that she couldn’t bear to think of life without him. She felt his strength and goodness, and she was beginning to see why he had done what he had. It had taken Roper’s Way to make her realize that no one was safe in war, as he had warned her.

  ‘Well, that was a surprise,’ he croaked, looking into her eyes and searching her gaze. ‘You ain’t never kissed me like that before.’

  ‘I’ve never felt like this before.’

  ‘Blimey, I’ll have to go away more often.’

  ‘Just as long as you come back.’ This time she spoke without bitterness. She was learning not to be selfish, but it was a very hard lesson.

  ‘I’ll always come back, remember that.’

  ‘I’ll try.’

  ‘So we ain’t gonna have our usual tiff?’

  She smiled at the twinkle in his eye. ‘No, I only want to make love.’

  He jerked up an eyebrow. ‘Bit difficult with your mum and dad and Ruby here.’

  ‘Perhaps Dad will take Mum and Ruby to the pub tonight?’

  ‘You reckon?’

  ‘It’s the only way we’re going to cuddle.’

  Jim pulled away as Ruby came in with the tea. They sat round the fire and discussed all that had happened. And when Syd and Amy arrived, there was yet another reunion.

  All afternoon they drank tea and talked of the future. Pearl didn’t want her parents or Ruby to evacuate. Even Jim said they were welcome to stay at Pride Place. But Pearl’s mum and dad said they had come to a crossroads. With no home and no job to go to, her dad felt at a loss. Amy had heard of some nice places in the country that some of her evacuated friends had gone to. Places where Syd could have a real allotment, and perhaps chickens.

  Pearl didn’t want them to go. The commander had said he’d do his best, but what did that mean? He couldn’t find another house on the island for them; all the empty ones were bombed and full of rats.

  Pearl listened quietly to the conversation. Without Jim and her parents and Ruby she would be very lonely.

  Later, Jim joked about square-bashing and life in the army. As usual, he was making fun of the mishaps. When at last he turned and looked at her, Pearl read the deep love for her in his eyes. Her thoughts would always be with him too, no matter where he went. But was her love strong enough to bring him safely home?

  Chapter 11

  ‘Gwen, I’ve got to sit down, my feet are killing me!’ Pearl waddled into the shop and headed for the chair the Hemsleys kept by the counter. ‘The warning went when I was on the bus. We had to get off and go to the shelter. It didn’t last long and a good job too, as I desperately wanted a wee.’

  ‘You never know what’s going to happen after them raids in April and June.’

  Pearl shuddered to think of the recent tit-for-tat bombing raids between April and June. The RAF had viciously bombed Lubeck and razed to the ground its ancient medieval buildings. In reprisal the Luftwaffe had used the Baedeker tourist guides to target similar towns and cities in Britain. As a result, everyone was nervous of what was going to happen next.

  ‘Well, you’re home now, so take the weight of your feet,’ said Gwen, pushing the chair under her. ‘What did the doctor say?’

  ‘I appear to be eating for two.’

  Gwen laughed. ‘All mothers do that. Not that I’ve had the experience meself.’

  ‘Did you want kids, Gwen?’

  ‘Yes and no. When you’re young you do, but then the shop came along and filled the gap.’

  Pearl wiped her sweating forehead with her hand. Placing her fingers on the bump under her cotton maternity dress she felt a small movement. She took a deep breath to find some air and the baby kicked again. ‘Quick, come and have a feel. It’s jumping all over the place.’

  Gwen slipped her hand under Pearl’s. ‘It’s a boy, got to be. Always on the go, and by the looks of you he’s built like his dad. He’ll be a whopper for sure.’

  ‘I just hope he doesn’t come out wearing overalls,’ laughed Pearl as the kick came once more. ‘Ouch, he just had a go at me ribs.’

  ‘Are you putting your feet up? Your ankles are swollen.’

  ‘Yes, Ruby sees to that. She fusses around like an old mother hen.’

  ‘Good job she does. You’ve not got your mum to do it. How do they like the country?’

  Pearl changed her position on the hard chair. ‘Dad’s got a job at the aerodrome and they’ve been allocated a council flat. It’s on an estate, but Mum says it has two big bedrooms, a nice kitchen and living room, and a garden as well. All the houses are terraced and built in a square, so the backs meet in a sort of courtyard. It’s very private, she said, and Dad has an allotment only five minutes away. You can smell the pig dung from the farm and buy eggs there too.’

  ‘Eggs?’ gasped Gwen, wide-eyed. ‘What a treat!’

  ‘They want Ruby to move down, but she don’t fancy leaving the island. And since I’ve left work, her bit towards the rent helps.’

  ‘Me and Fitz were thinking about that. We could drop it till you get sorted.’

  ‘The rent is low already.’

  ‘We’d prefer you as lodgers rather than some noisy family who don’t keep the place clean. And anyway, with Ruby staying with you, she can look after the baby. Give you a break.’

  ‘Well, that w
ould be helpful,’ Pearl sighed. ‘When I knew I was pregnant and had to give up work, I was really glad when Ruby said she’d stay with me.’

  ‘Better having family than a lodger, love.’

  ‘I don’t think I’d like that much. Though I would if I was really down on me uppers.’

  ‘I hope you’ve stopped your fire-watching duties?’

  ‘The warden wouldn’t let me do any more. Said I was a risk to life and limb, rolling about the place.’

  Gwen laughed. ‘You could always do a bit of knitting now.’

  ‘I am, but the click-clack of the needles drives me barmy. I’m trying to knit all the baby’s clothes from old jumpers and make some blankets for the first-aid parcels as well.’

  ‘I’ve started on a few socks and hats for the baby,’ Gwen admitted. ‘White and lemon, just to be safe.’

  Pearl giggled. ‘Thanks. The last smock I did was red. As it’s due near Christmas, I might call the baby Santa.’

  They laughed and Pearl watched Gwen slice a thin rasher of bacon from a small joint. Her mouth watered.

  ‘Have you seen your friends from work?’ Gwen asked as she wrapped up the rashers.

  ‘Em and Colin came over. They’re still going strong.’

  ‘Wedding bells, eh?’

  ‘Might be.’

  ‘Take this for a fry-up,’ said Gwen, handing over the bag. ‘And watch you take care. I don’t like the look of those ankles.’

  Pearl didn’t like the sight of them either. Her ankles had always been slim, and it wasn’t very nice seeing tree trunks in their place. Sometimes she thought of the miscarriage. She kept on asking Dr Cox if all was well and he’d said she was very healthy. It appeared that her ‘quick canoodle’ on the couch with Jim, when her parents had been staying there, had done the trick. A letter had gone off to Jim but she hadn’t had a reply. The only letter she’d received had told her he was missing his slippers, his code for Africa.

  ‘Well, I’d better go up. Thanks for the rashers.’ Pearl trod heavily across the dusty floor. The bus ride to the doctor’s had exhausted her on such a hot day.