The Lost Daughter of Liverpool: A heartbreaking and gritty family saga (The Mersey Trilogy Book 1)

by Pam Howes

  ‘Don’t worry. We’ll manage. We’ve got some money to collect in for the Christmas orders; and you can take a bit extra from it for the dinner. We’ll still be working in the New Year for now and we’ll just have to work as hard as we can at home, while we can.’ Dora frowned as the sound of the bell that usually summoned break time rang again.

  Jack stood on a chair and took control. ‘I suggest we stop for the day. You’ve all had a shock and I know it’s too cold in here to work. Go home. Hopefully by tomorrow I’ll have sorted out some coke to keep us going. But come in bright and early, well wrapped up just in case, and let’s show that we can get this order finished on time. Palmer’s have never let a customer down yet and we’re not going to start now.’

  Jack Carter saw the girls out and locked the door behind them. He lit a cigarette as he wandered around, switching off lights. He’d been with the business since he left school and would miss the place if and when it closed. He hadn’t a clue what he’d do and his wife would go mad when he told her. That bloody daft, work-shy son-in-law of Gerald Palmer’s was a waste of time. He’d been warned again and again they needed representatives to visit the stores up and down the country that were still trading. Palmer’s customer list had been extensive and the place should be blossoming again. But Kane had ignored all the advice he’d been given, trying to save money, and now it was too late. Good for Dora and Joanie that they’d had the sense to start their own little business. They’d got good heads on them, those two girls, and he’d be proud to see them grow and maybe in time have their own factory. But heaven help the others who weren’t so lucky. They’d end up doing some sort of unskilled work, just to put food on the table, no doubt like the future he’d be facing himself at this rate.

  He put on his coat and cap and let himself out of the building. His motorbike was standing by the back wall and he made his way across the yard. He’d call at the coal merchant’s place on his way home, to see if they’d deliver a couple of bags of coke tomorrow to tide them over. If they billed him rather than Palmer’s he’d see they got paid somehow. He couldn’t have his girls working with freezing hands for another day. He wouldn’t blame them if they all walked out, but they knew they’d lose pay and none of them could afford to do that, and certainly not at this time of the year. Kane had told him to prepare for a meeting at half-nine tomorrow. The coward had cleared off pretty sharpish today. Jack sighed, threw his leg over the bike, started the engine and set off down Old Mill Lane towards Knowsley village.

  CHAPTER 8

  Dora groaned and snuggled deeper under the blankets as the alarm clock shrilled the start of another working day. Joe slid out of bed yawning, and shut the door quietly on his way out. She heard him use the bathroom and then water running as he filled the kettle in the kitchen. She’d swear that clock was getting louder and more vindictive as the days went by, and six am was far too early, unless you had feathers and wings. She closed her eyes again and tried to drift back into her fading dream.

  ‘Wake up, sleepyhead.’ Joe shook her gently by the shoulder and put a cup of tea on the bedside table. ‘Would you like some toast?’

  She sat up slowly and shook her head. The sickly feeling she was unable to shake off overwhelmed her as soon as she was upright. She flung back the bedcovers, ran to the bathroom and dropped to the floor, retching over the toilet bowl. Joe followed her and stood in the open doorway looking worried. As she sat back against the side of the bath, breathing deeply, he flushed the toilet and wiped her clammy face with a damp flannel. He smoothed her hair from her eyes and dropped a kiss on top of her head.

  ‘Come on, back to bed with you.’ He helped her up from the floor and led her into the bedroom. ‘This tummy upset is lasting ages. Perhaps you should see the doctor.’

  ‘I need to get ready for work,’ she mumbled, flopping down onto the edge of the bed, knowing full well that going to work was the last thing she felt like doing. ‘But my head’s banging and I ache all over.’

  ‘You’re going nowhere,’ he said as she opened her mouth to protest. ‘I’ll ring Palmer’s as soon as I get to work, let them know you won’t be in.’ He helped her into bed, tucked the blankets around her and propped her up with the pillows. ‘Drink this while it’s still hot.’ He handed her the cup of tea and dashed out of the bedroom, coming back with two aspirins. ‘Take these and I’ll call at your mam’s on the way and see if she can come and look in on you later.’

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ Dora said. ‘She’ll be busy helping at the village hall for Saturday’s Christmas Fair. And I really should go in to work; I don’t want to let them down. We’ve got that last shirt order to finish and I need to pick up my wages.’

  ‘They’ll give them to Joanie. I’ll try and catch her before she goes in, and ask her to get them for you.’

  ‘But, Joe—’

  ‘Never mind, “But Joe”! You’ve struggled in all week feeling rotten. You need to rest or you’ll be laid up over Christmas, and then you won’t be fit to get your own orders finished. Palmer’s couldn’t give a toss about you girls. The way they’ve treated their workforce is shit, letting you all down like that and after you’ve worked so hard and kept the place going during the war. And that bastard George Kane repays you with no festive bonus and threats of closure. I bet his family won’t be going without on Christmas Day. The idle sod’s been sat on his fat arse, or buggering about at his golf club, without putting any efforts in to secure more orders. He’s pathetic.’

  Dora handed him her empty cup and sank back against the pillows. He was right. She’d lose a day’s pay, but she’d got some work to finish here. Later on, when she felt like getting up, she might do some hand-sewing. She really didn’t have the energy to ride her bike this morning and the thought of getting the bus made her feel even worse.

  Joe left the room and she heard the sound of him raking out the grate and getting the fire ready to light. Good, at least she’d be warm; sitting comfortably on the sofa while she worked.

  ‘I need you well for next week,’ he said, coming back into the bedroom and pulling on his work clothes. ‘It’s the works do and I want to show off my lovely wife on that dance floor.’

  She smiled. He always knew how to cheer her up. And anyway, she wanted to be there, to keep an eye on Ivy. Not that the woman’s name was ever mentioned, but still. ‘I’ll be all right, love. Just been doing too much I think. It’s hard work, balancing two jobs and looking after the house.’

  Joe leant over and kissed her. ‘Let’s see how it goes in the New Year. If they close, they close. Right, I’m off.’ He pulled on his jacket and scarf, wrapping it twice around his neck. ‘The fire’s lit and it’s burning nice. When you feel like getting up, put a shovel of coal on mid-morning and then do the same this afternoon. I’ve brought the scuttle in and left it on the hearth so you’ve no lifting to do. Make sure you get a bit of toast or some soup later.’

  She nodded. ‘I will. Don’t worry, I’ll be all right.’

  ‘See you tonight.’ Dora took a deep breath. Dare she try to get out of bed, or would she throw up again? Usually she felt a bit better after chucking up the once, apart from the queasiness that overwhelmed her when she caught the scent of coffee or bacon frying in the factory canteen. And lately even walking past the chippy made her stomach lurch.

  She was in no doubt that she was in the family way, although it didn’t seem to have dawned on Joe yet. She’d seen no sign of her monthlies since the beginning of October, and the morning sickness confirmed it. Tomorrow, she’d take another day off work and go and see the doctor. She didn’t really know how she felt about it, but excitement was growing within her and she knew Joe would be over the moon. She would tell him as soon as she was sure; she wanted to keep the surprise from everyone else until Christmas Day, for when the family were all here. What a wonderful Christmas present for her mam and dad; Frank and Joanie getting engaged and their first grandchild to look forward to.

  Joanie arrived at tea time wit
h Dora’s wage packet and stayed for a brew. Dora was up and dressed, had managed to hand-hem two skirts and had cut and stitched the buttonholes on a top, while sitting with her feet up on the sofa in front of the fire, listening to Housewives’ Choice and Workers’ Playtime on the wireless. She felt much better for resting.

  ‘So, how did it go today?’ she asked as Joanie sipped her tea.

  Joanie pulled a face. ‘There’s a horrible atmosphere. Mr Kane and Jack Carter were in a meeting for most of the day. Jack put Peggy in charge and she’s been a right bossy cow. Give her a bit of responsibility and she thinks she owns the place. She took them a tray of tea in the late afternoon and she said they shut up talking and looked shifty as though they didn’t want her to hear what they were saying.’

  ‘Well, they probably didn’t. You know what a gob Peggy’s got. You can’t keep anything private once she gets a whisper. Wonder what they were talking about though?’

  ‘God knows. Getting new contracts in, I hope.’ Joanie sighed, finished her drink and put her cup down on the coffee table. ‘I’d better be going. Mam’ll wonder where I’ve got to. Are you coming in tomorrow?’

  ‘No.’ Dora shook her head. ‘I’ll give myself another day or two. I should be fine by Monday. They’ll dock me two days’ pay next week, but I’ll do some more bits here and then we can get some money in when we finish the two dresses for New Year’s Eve. Pity they’re both satin fabric. I wish we could get access to Palmer’s over-lockers, and then we could neaten the seams quickly.’

  ‘I’ve been giving it some thought,’ Joanie said. ‘There’ll hardly be a soul around in that last week, apart from us stitchers. I’ll sneak upstairs one night while you’re all getting ready to leave and I’ll do the seams in no time. Jack usually hangs around checking things before he locks up and he always goes to the canteen for a last brew and a ciggie. Keep him talking while I do it, and if he does see me, I’ll just say I lost my purse, or something, and was looking for it. I can say I thought it’d fallen out of my pocket when I went to get something from upstairs. I don’t know why we didn’t think of it before. It’ll save us loads of time on future seams if we can get away with it. No point in just asking if we can use them because he’ll say no.’

  ‘That sounds like a good plan,’ Dora said, breathing a sigh of relief. ‘And when we know for sure that they’re definitely closing, we can ask if we can buy an over-locker from them.’

  Joanie got to her feet and fastened her coat. ‘Well at least we’ve got a future of sorts to look forward to now.’

  ‘We have.’ Dora saw her to the door. ‘We’ll make it work somehow, I promise you.’ She gave Joanie a hug.

  ‘I hope you feel a bit better tomorrow. You look so pale.’

  Dora chewed her lip. She was dying to say something before keeping quiet drove her mad. ‘Can you keep a secret? I mean, you can’t say anything to anyone.’

  Joanie nodded. ‘You know I can. Why, what’s wrong?’

  ‘I think I’m expecting!’ Dora couldn’t help smiling broadly as she said the words.

  Joanie let out a yell and flung her arms around her friend, nearly knocking her flying. ‘Oh my goodness. You’re not?’

  ‘I’m going to the doctor’s tomorrow, but I’m pretty sure I am. Joe doesn’t know yet, nobody does.’

  ‘I won’t say a word. I absolutely promise. Oh, I’m so excited for you. I can help you look after the baby when we’re working here. We can take turns feeding it and things.’

  Dora laughed. ‘It’ll be just like the times we shared our dollies when we were little girls.’

  ‘We can make clothes for it. Pretty dresses if it’s a girl. It’ll be the best dressed baby in Knowsley. Oh, I can’t wait to be Aunty Joanie!’

  As Dora waved Joanie off, Joe turned the corner and pulled up outside the bungalow. A big smile lit up his face as he dismounted. Dora breathed a sigh of relief that he was home. She hated him riding the motorbike when the roads were so icy and wished they could afford to buy a car. Maybe one day.

  Dora’s legs turned to jelly as Doctor Owens confirmed her suspicions. She was pregnant. He said he would send her urine sample to be tested and the result would be back next week, but all other indications, including an undignified internal examination, pointed to the fact that she could expect a happy event in the first week of July next year. Doctor Owens had been their family doctor for as long as Dora could remember, and he congratulated her as he made her an appointment to see him again following the Christmas holiday.

  She left the surgery, head in a whirl. She was dying to tell Joanie that it was definite, but she was at work, and anyway, Joe should really be told first. The little café down the road was open so she popped inside and ordered a cup of tea and a slice of Victoria sponge cake. Taking a window seat, she kept her eyes on the street outside. It was finishing time for the nearby primary school and the pavement was busy with mums pushing prams and dragging reluctant toddlers along on reins as they went to meet their older offspring. She smiled at a harassed-looking mother who caught her eye through the window as she yanked a toddler out of the gutter and sat him on the end of a large pram. The young woman raised an eyebrow and smiled back.

  Dora took a bite of the moist sponge cake, picturing Joe’s face when she broke her news to him later.

  Dora placed the shepherd’s pie and a dish of boiled carrots on the top shelf of the oven to keep warm, and set the table for tea. She drew the sitting room curtains, threw a shovel of coal on the fire, wiped her hands down the front of her apron and arranged a knitting pattern, a ball of white wool and a pair of needles on the coffee table. She’d popped into the haberdasher’s on her way back from the doctor’s, with the plan of seeing if Joe noticed her purchases when he sat down after tea to read his Echo. If he was anything like her dad, the hint would go right over his head. She grinned as she heard his motorbike pull up outside, and ran to let him in.

  Joe washed his hands at the kitchen sink while she dished up their meal.

  ‘Thank God it’s Friday,’ he said, wiping his hands on a tea towel. ‘I’ve got rehearsals tomorrow, and the band’s playing tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon, but the money will come in handy next week when you get short pay.’ He sat down at the table and Dora handed him a plate piled high. ‘Thanks, love, smells good. I’m starving. How’ve you been today? Feel any better?’

  ‘Sort of…’ She lowered her eyes and stared at her plate, feeling her cheeks heating. She wasn’t really hungry after that huge slice of cake earlier and was dying for him to finish his tea, then she could tease him a little before she told him her news. She played around with her food and was conscious of him looking at her.

  ‘Do you still feel rough? You might feel a bit better if you eat something.’

  She made the effort and ate a few mouthfuls while he wolfed his down.

  ‘Shall I finish it for you?’ he offered, a hopeful expression in his eyes.

  She nodded and pushed her plate across the table. ‘I’ve made an apple crumble,’ she said. ‘I’ll just go and make some custard.’ She poured two cups of tea and slipped out to the kitchen, pushing the door to behind her. How she was managing to stay silent, she didn’t know. But she wanted the special moment to be just right and for them both to be relaxing on the sofa with the wireless playing quietly in the background.

  Dora cleared the empty dishes. Joe carried the drinks to the coffee table, picked up his Echo and sat down on the sofa. ‘Leave them pots, chuck,’ he called. ‘I’ll do them when my tea goes down. Come and sit next to me and tell me about your day.’

  She closed the kitchen door, flopped down beside him and snuggled close.

  He folded his paper, dropped it onto the carpet and slid his arm around her shoulders. ‘You look a bit brighter today. Not quite as pale.’

  She smiled. He hadn’t noticed her display on the coffee table, or if he had, it hadn’t registered. ‘I went to the doctor’s this afternoon.’

  ‘Did you? And w
hat did he say? Did he give you anything for it? Bet you’ve caught a bug from someone at Palmer’s. Can’t be from me.’

  She shook her head. ‘Well, you did have something to do with it.’

  He frowned and pulled away. ‘How do you make that one out?’

  She picked up the knitting pattern and waved it in his face. He stared at the picture of baby hats and booties, his frown deepening, and then a smile began at the corners of his mouth and spread across his face. His hazel eyes lit up and he choked on his words. ‘Oh, Dora.’ He held her tight and rained kisses on her face. ‘I can’t believe it. A baby! Apart from being sick, you’re okay? Everything’s all right?’

  ‘Yes, everything’s fine. I’m due the beginning of July.’

  ‘Are you happy about it? I mean, I know you wanted to wait a while. But you can leave work soon anyway, and then you can rest at home.’

  She laughed. ‘I’m very happy, but there won’t be much time to rest. I’ll be working for a while longer and then I’ve got a business to build up. I can’t let Joanie down. But it’ll be much easier for me, working from home. I can put my feet up as and when I need to.’

  ‘The sewing room will have to be sorted out for the baby now. I’ll shift everything out.’

  ‘It’s months off, Joe. Stop flapping! The baby will be in with us for a while, anyway. We’ll sort all that out next year. But listen, I don’t want us to tell anyone just yet. Don’t say anything to your mates at work. We’ll tell Mam and Dad, and Frank and Joanie on Christmas Day. And we’re at your mum’s on Boxing Day so we’ll tell her then.’

  He nodded. ‘My heart’s racing. Me a dad! Promise me one thing though.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘No more riding that bike to work. Get the bus for now, please, love. I’ll get a sidecar for the motorbike next year and you and the baby can ride in that when we go out, until I can afford to buy us a car.’