The men were immediately standing and smiling, even John. ‘What do you want us to do, Dora?’ he asked eagerly.
‘Well …’ She glanced at the doctor, not sure this was right. When he gave her a sly wink, she realised what he was doing. He was showing the men that they were needed. She winked back and said, ‘The place needs a good clean, and some paint to brighten up the rooms.’
John grabbed his sticks and began moving with more ease than she had seen before. ‘Let’s get the place cleaned up, and then Dora can tell us what paint she wants. How old is your sister?’
‘Six.’
‘Ah, that would be pink for her room, then?’
‘I don’t think Lily would argue with that.’ Dora laughed, suddenly more light-hearted than she had been since their mother’s disappearance.
John gave a boyish grin and began to organise the men, allotting them different tasks.
‘Better show them where to start, Dora.’ The doctor was looking at the activity with satisfaction. ‘Then come down and leave them to it. I need you this morning.’
There was much banging and crashing going on upstairs as Dora worked, and the sounds were accompanied by the men’s laughter and whistling. During the morning others arrived, disappearing upstairs to join in the fun. At one point she stopped to gaze up at the ceiling, picturing the men working upstairs. ‘I wish the government would do more to help these men find proper jobs. It would give them a purpose in life again.’
The doctor nodded, his eyes reflecting his inner sadness. ‘They need to feel useful, and so many of them have lost their self-respect because they can’t provide for their families. Alan is one of the lucky ones. He has family connections to ease his way back into normal life.’
‘He is,’ Dora agreed. ‘He’s studying hard and looking forward to following his father as a lawyer eventually.’
‘He’ll do well. Are you still going out with him?’
‘We only went out a couple of times when he needed to find his feet, so to speak. He appreciated support from someone who understood. Now he’s making a new life for himself. No doubt he’ll soon find a suitable wife.’
‘And he’ll have plenty of choice. So many young men were killed in that madness, and that means many girls will have little or no chance of marrying.’
Dora sighed. ‘The women outnumber the men and many will remain spinsters.’
‘And what about you, Dora? Would you like a family of your own one day?’
‘I would like to marry one day, of course, but if I don’t it wouldn’t be too bad for me.’ She smiled. ‘I already have a family to take care of. They’re going to need me for quite a while. And another thing, I can’t imagine a man wanting to take on a ready-made family.’
‘Oh, I’m sure there must be a man out there who would be delighted to have such lovely youngsters to care for.’
She pulled a face. ‘You’re an optimist, Doctor.’
‘If I wasn’t I would never get up in the mornings.’ He glanced at his watch, fished in his jacket and handed Dora some money. ‘Those men are going to be hungry, so go and buy some food. Then prepare a hearty meal for all of us. I’ll eat here today as well.’
Dora ran all the way to the shops at the top of the street, where she spent every penny Dr Burridge had given her. Then she ran back, holding the parcels tightly to make sure she didn’t drop anything. As she tumbled through the door, Dobbs began relieving her of the food.
‘Oh good,’ she gasped. ‘You’re here. I need your help.’
‘What?’
‘Come with me,’ she yelled, and then rushed into the kitchen, leaving him to follow her. ‘What’s going on?’
‘We’re going to cook a meal for everyone here today. I’m moving in upstairs and they’re cleaning the place up for me.’
‘Ah, that’s what all the racket is.’
She stopped pulling pans and dishes out of the cupboard, giving Dobbs an incredulous glance. ‘I thought you were deaf?’
‘Eh?’
‘I thought you were Mutt and Jeff,’ she teased, raising her voice.
He smirked. ‘’Ow many up there?’
‘No idea. We started with six but more have arrived, so will you go and check for me?’ Dora stared pointedly at him, daring him to say ‘What?’
This time he just chuckled and headed for the stairs.
Three pans were soon full of sizzling sausages, and Dora was peeling potatoes as if her life depended upon it.
‘There’s twelve of them.’ Dobbs had returned, highly amused. ‘They’re making a right mess. There’s water everywhere. They’re right fond of you, girl. Now, what do you want me to do?’
‘Help me peel these potatoes. Hope I bought enough. With the doc and us, that makes fifteen to feed.’
Dobbs got stuck in. ‘Who paid for all this grub?’
‘The doctor. Have we got enough plates?’
‘There’s some more under the sink.’
Dora found them and tossed them in the sink to give them a good wash.
They worked together well with Dora giving the orders, and they soon had a long table laid out. She had even found a couple of tablecloths – not as clean as she would have liked, but they would do.
‘Go and call them,’ she told Dobbs, as she dished out the hasty meal of sausages, onions and mash, with large chunks of bread and butter to help it down.
Once they were all seated she served them, and it was one of the liveliest times this fine house had seen for some years. The simple meal was demolished with obvious enjoyment.
As the men settled to enjoy a cup of tea and a cigarette, John raised his cup. ‘My compliments to the cooks.’
‘What’s this? A party?’ Alan arrived, swung another chair to the table and sat down.
‘You’re too late, mate,’ Dobbs told him. ‘We’ve eaten it all. But you’re welcome to a cup of tea.’
‘Thanks.’ Alan handed round a packet of cigarettes, smiling at Dora. ‘Going to tell me what this is all about?’
‘Our Dora and her family are moving in upstairs.’ John tossed the empty packet back to Alan. ‘We’re helping to get the place ready for them.’
The amusement left Alan’s eyes, but he didn’t question Dora in front of the others. Instead he stood up. ‘Show me, Dora.’
Once upstairs, Alan surveyed the chaotic mess of steps and buckets everywhere. ‘This must have been a fine house at one time.’
Feeling that Alan disapproved, Dora explained. ‘The doctor’s kindly going to let us live here rent free, and I’m going to work for him all the time.’
‘The job’s good, but couldn’t you stay in your own house?’
‘I’m afraid not. It’s too expensive. We’re broke, Alan.’ She saw little point in denying it.
‘I can help you out—’
‘No.’ She stopped him before he could finish. ‘That’s very kind of you, but we’ve got to deal with it ourselves. This isn’t a temporary difficulty, Alan, it’s permanent, and we must make adjustments, however painful.’
‘But what are Tom and Lily going to say?’
‘Tom’s in agreement, though he doesn’t know about this place yet. And we haven’t told Lily about moving. She’s going to be upset, but we don’t have a choice.’ She looked up into his face, her eyes troubled. ‘This is something we’ve tried to avoid. But we never realised how expensive it was to live where we do. I have no idea how Mum managed to afford it.’
‘Oh, hell! I’m so sorry, Dora. Does Stan know yet?’
‘No, we’ll tell him tonight.’
‘He isn’t going to be happy.’
Dora was well aware what Stan was going to think. He would probably explode when he knew, but this was their life and they had to live it as best they could. It was up to them – nobody else! She changed the subject. ‘How are you getting on? We haven’t seen much of you lately.’
‘I’m working and studying hard, but I love what I’m doing. When I got back from the war I
thought my life was over, but it isn’t. Things are beginning to work out well for me.’ He fell silent, staring at nothing in particular. ‘I’ve met someone, Dora. She’s a friend of the family and doesn’t seem to mind the injuries …’
‘Oh, I’m so pleased for you, Alan. Are you going to marry her? What’s her name?’
His laugh was one of relief at her obvious pleasure. ‘I haven’t got that far yet, and her name is Sybil.’
‘But it’s serious?’
He nodded, studying her smiling face. ‘I wasn’t sure how you’d take this. We went out a few times …’
‘As friends when you needed support to get back to normal. And I hope we can remain friends.’
‘Always.’ He bent and kissed her cheek. ‘You’re a remarkable young woman. You take pleasure in other people’s happiness, feel their sorrow, and yet you have terrible problems of your own. It hurts me to see you suffering so much and no matter how brave a face you show to the world, I know you are suffering. I wish I could wipe away all your unhappiness.’
‘Only finding our mother alive and well would do that. But you mustn’t worry about us, Alan, there are good, kind people looking out for us.’ She touched his arm in an affectionate gesture. ‘You have a happy life from now on.’
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dora was home early and waited impatiently to tell Tom and Lily about the flat. Now the decision had been made, she wanted to get away from this house with all its memories. It would be a fresh start, and that was just what they needed. They had to let go of the past by carving out a new life for themselves. And what better place to start than Dr Burridge’s house? She had explored the area and it was close to schools and everything else they could need.
‘You’re home early.’ Lily ran to hug her.
‘Yes.’ She nodded to Tom as he walked into the room. ‘I’ve got some good news. Sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.’
As Lily scrambled onto a chair, Dora whispered to her brother, ‘I’ve found somewhere for us to live.’
He said nothing, but pulled his chair close to his little sister.
‘First, Doctor Burridge has offered me a full-time job with him. I’ll be working at the hospital some of the time and spending the rest at the Wandsworth house.’
‘That’s wonderful.’ Tom smiled as Lily clapped.
‘The pay isn’t quite as much as I was getting in my other job, so that means we’ll still find it hard to manage.’ She sounded this note of caution before explaining about the move. ‘You know the house in Wandsworth is big. Well, it belongs to the doctor, and he said we could have the whole of the top floor to live in – rent free! Isn’t that wonderful?’
‘It certainly is!’ Tom was clearly pleased. ‘What do you think about that, urchin?’
The little girl’s face crumpled with distress at the news. ‘But we can’t leave here! What about Stan, and school, and …’
‘There’s a nice school in the next road, and one only twenty minutes away for Tom. And we’ll still be able to see our friends. They won’t be far away.’
Lily’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Can’t we stay here, Dora? What if Mum comes back? She won’t know where we are.’
‘Sweetie, we’ve got to accept that she isn’t coming back. We haven’t got enough money to pay the rent on this house any longer.’
‘We’re broke,’ Tom explained. ‘It isn’t fair to put all this worry on Dora. She’s had a struggle trying to keep us in the life we’ve been used to, but she can’t do it any longer. There are three of us to feed. Can you understand that?’
‘You could sell my dolly. We’ve still got that,’ she sniffed, a tear trickling down her cheek.
Dora reached across the table and took hold of her sister’s hand. ‘That’s so generous of you, sweetie, but it wouldn’t be enough. Why don’t you both have the day off from school tomorrow and come with me. Lots of men are helping to get it ready for us. Alan came as well.’
‘Does Stan come?’ Lily swiped a hand across her eyes.
‘Of course he does. Once he’s well again I’m sure he’ll come lots to see you. And as soon as we get it looking nice we’ll have June and Winnie over for tea, shall we?’
Lily drew in a ragged breath. ‘Is it a very big house?’
‘Enormous!’ Relief raced through Dora. Her sister was coming round to the idea much faster than she’d dared hope. ‘This house would fit in it at least three times.’
After thinking about this for a few moments, Lily said, ‘We’ll see it tomorrow. Can I go and tell Stan now?’
‘Yes, we must do that.’ Dora glanced at her brother, receiving a nod of approval.
Stan’s smile of pleasure faded as soon as he saw the expressions on their faces. ‘What’s happened?’
Gulping back tears as they threatened to spill over again, Lily said, ‘I won’t be able to look after you any more, because we’ve got to move.’
His face turned to thunder and he rounded on Dora. ‘What the hell is she talking about? I told you not to move! I said we would work something out if it came to this!’
‘Don’t you shout at my sister!’ Tom glowered at Stan. ‘She’s only doing what she thinks is best for us.’
‘Best for you?’ He was furious. ‘Where are you going? Back to the slums?’
‘Do you think I’d do that to my family?’ Dora was hurt and angry at Stan’s accusation. And why was he carrying on so? This was their business, not his! As much as she loved the man, she wasn’t going to put up with this. Turning sharply she walked out of the house.
Once back in her own home she leant against the closed front door, shutting her eyes tightly. She loved him. He was stubborn, infuriating, kind and strong at the same time – and she had fallen in love with him. What a stupid thing to do. Didn’t she have enough problems without adding to them?
‘Now look what you’ve done!’ Tom stared at the door his big sister had just closed firmly on her way out. ‘Do you think this is easy for her? I hear her walking up and down during the night as she worries about finding enough money to feed us and keep us together. And worse than that is to hear her crying quietly – she’s worried sick. Oh, she tries to fool everyone that she’s all right, but I know different. She’s trying to protect us from the worst of this disaster and she’s taken the whole bloody mess on her shoulders. We’re trying to help and support her in any way we can, but she’s the eldest and she has all the responsibility. Isn’t that right, Lily?’
The little girl nodded, her face drained of all colour.
Stan was stunned. Lily slipped her hand in his, looking up at him, pleading for understanding. ‘We’ve got to go. We’re broke. The doctor’s giving us a place in the big house. Don’t be angry with us, please.’
If he could take back those harsh words Stan would have given everything he owned, but the damage was done and he’d hurt the people he cared about. ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart, I’m not angry with you – I’m angry with myself.’ He reached out and squeezed Tom’s tense shoulders. ‘I apologise, son. My sharp tongue – it’s always been a problem. But I never meant to hurt you. Stay here with Lily while I go and beg Dora to forgive me.’
‘She might not,’ he muttered, still upset. ‘I’ve never seen her walk out on anyone before.’
Stan didn’t waste time getting to Dora’s house. The front door was shut when he arrived. After receiving no reply to his repeated knocking he really thought Tom was right and she wasn’t going to give him a chance to put things right between them. ‘Let me in, Dora, please!’
He breathed a sigh of relief when the door opened. ‘May I come in?’
She stepped back, and without a word turned and walked to the kitchen. Stan followed.
Dora was looking out of the window and didn’t face him. ‘I’m sorry. You don’t deserve to be spoken to like that.’
‘No, I don’t!’
‘You must do what you feel is right, and I’ve got no right to question your decisions.’
<
br /> ‘No, you haven’t.’
‘You’re not making this easy for me.’
‘Should I?’
‘I suppose not. Win always said my bad temper would get me into trouble.’ When she didn’t speak this time, he propped the crutches against the wall, and being careful to put all his weight on his good leg, he reached out and drew her towards him. ‘Forgive me, please?’
When she still said nothing, he couldn’t take any more. ‘Turn and face me, Dora!’
‘Temper,’ she murmured, as she turned in his arms.
He lifted her chin so he could look into her face, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘Are you laughing at me?’
‘Of course not, but you do apologise nicely – when you’re able to hold your temper in check.’
He shook his head in disgust. ‘And that isn’t for long, is it? Saying I’m sorry isn’t something I’ve been used to doing, until I met you,’ he joked, relieved she was talking to him again.
‘And I hope you’re not standing on that leg,’ she said severely.
‘No, I’m using you to prop myself up. Now, if I promise not to shout at you, will you tell me about the new home you’re planning?’
‘Sit down then.’ After helping him to a chair, she explained about her arrangement with Dr Burridge.
They had been talking for a while when Lily’s anxious face appeared round the kitchen door. ‘Are you friends again?’ she whispered. ‘Can we come in now?’
‘Of course you can.’ Dora held out her hand and Lily rushed towards her, smiling.
Tom followed and sat at the table. ‘Has Dora told you?’
Stan nodded. ‘It sounds like a good arrangement, the doc’s a fine man, but I’d still be happier if you stayed here. I’d help you.’
‘We know you would, but you can’t help us for the rest of our lives,’ Tom explained.
‘We’ve got to make our own way, Stan.’ Dora spoke with determination. ‘We’ve been very lucky to have been offered such a nice place to live.’
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