A Place To Call Home

by June Francis

  Edith looked uncomfortable. ‘Yes! I was very young and innocent and these things happen.’

  Winnie’s eyes glinted. ‘Well, you should warn our Joyce because she could end up following in your footsteps. She didn’t have to go back to camp, she just couldn’t be bothered waiting for you. Greta’s uncle turned up, while we were out, and she went off with him. He’s old enough to be her father.’

  Edith paled. ‘What’s got into her?’

  Greta rolled her eyes at Rene and wondered whether to mention that Jeff was also a married man.

  Winnie said, ‘You spoilt her, Mum. She’s always been selfish.’

  In the silence that followed there was the sound of the key on the string being pulled through the letterbox. Immediately Greta sprung to her feet. ‘Perhaps that’s Alex!’ She rushed to the front door.

  But it wasn’t Alex, it was Jeff and he didn’t look pleased. ‘Where is she? Is she here?’ he demanded.

  ‘Who’s “she?” The cat’s mother?’ said Greta tartly, hands on hips. ‘You’re not welcome here, Uncle Jeff. So why don’t you just turn round and leave!’

  ‘She’s here, isn’t she? The conniving little bitch!’ He shoved his niece aside and blundered up the lobby. Greta drew herself upright and hurried after him. He had paused in the doorway and was staring at Rene. ‘I should have known you’d be here! I bet you were in on it!’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Rene, getting to her feet. ‘What is it you want, Jeff?’

  ‘My bloody money! The bloody bitch went through my pockets and took nearly every penny and now she’s bloody disappeared.’

  ‘Oh dear!’ exclaimed Rene, unable to prevent a smile.

  There was a deadly hush and then he launched himself at her. Edith thrust out a foot and he fell over it, landing face down on the rag rug. Having stepped aside just in time, Rene gazed down at him. ‘You really should look before you leap, Jeff.’

  He uttered a profanity.

  ‘Wash your mouth out with soap!’ chorused four female voices.

  Jeff staggered to his feet and his gaze whirled round from one to the other. ‘You’re all in it together. You’re hiding her?’

  Edith said icily, ‘If you’re talking about my daughter, she doesn’t live here. Now get out, you disgusting man.’ She glared at him and then a tiny crease appeared between her eyebrows. ‘Have I seen you before? Have you been hanging round here?’

  Unexpectedly Jeff smiled. ‘I think I’d have remembered if we’d met, darlin’! I can see where your daughter gets her looks from. Are your morals the same, too?’

  Edith’s lips tightened and she smacked him across the face. ‘Get out! And don’t let’s see you round here again.’

  Before he could make a recovery, Rene and Greta seized him by the arms and Winnie placed a hand on his back, helping to propel him towards the door, along the lobby and out of the house. There they released him. ‘Never darken our doors again!’ said Greta, and wiped a hand against the other. The other two did the same and then the three of them went back inside the house, slamming the door behind them.

  They went into the kitchen where Edith was standing, tapping her fingernails on the mantelpiece. She glanced up at them. ‘Don’t say it!’

  ‘We weren’t going to,’ said Rene, looking sympathetic. ‘Cup of tea?’

  ‘I need something stronger than that.’ Edith sighed.

  ‘You’re out of luck,’ said Greta, and put the kettle on.

  Half an hour later there was the sound of the key on the string being pulled through the door. ‘This time it has to be Alex,’ said Greta, springing to her feet and rushing out of the kitchen.

  Alex stood in the doorway, his face serious.

  ‘Are you OK?’ she asked tentatively.

  He smiled faintly. ‘I’m rich, Greta luv!’

  To her shame, she found it difficult to be pleased for him. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach and words failed her. Then she found her voice. ‘That’s … wonderful!’

  He drew her to him and planted a kiss on her lips. ‘At least, I feel that I’ll find the girls now and be able to help them if they need me to. What really pleases me is that Dad left money in a trust for me and the girls!’ He frowned. ‘But Uncle George used it to get himself out of a hole … but in doing so, he eventually got rich all over again.’ His expression lightened. ‘It was Dad’s money so I’m only getting money that I’m entitled to … that is, me and the girls. Otherwise, I wouldn’t want to touch his filthy lucre.’ He hugged her. ‘I tell you, Greta, this is going to make a difference to us, too. I can’t wait to tell your dad!’

  22

  Rene gazed at her reflection in the mirror. The suit was made of cream linen and there was a snowy white, pleated, lace trimmed blouse to go with it. She’d had real problems finding anything to fit her size and, if it had not been for Miss Birkett, would have had to get married in a frock she had bought before clothing coupons came in. As it was, the older woman had come to her rescue with a suit that was fashionable at the end of the Great War. She recalled Miss Birkett saying that she had bought it, thinking that she would wear it for her own wedding one day. Sadly, that day had never arrived but she hadn’t had the heart to wear it or sell it. So she had wrapped it in tissue paper and put it away in a box.

  The skirt was unfashionably long for wartime but that had meant Rene only had to take it up a few inches to fit her. As for the jacket, having been endowed with a generous bosom, Miss Birkett had suggested inserting some material of almost the same cream colour down the sides. She had made a good job of the task, so the suit fitted a treat.

  ‘Well, I must say, Rene, it pays you to dress up!’ said Edith, her powdered face appearing in the mirror next to Rene’s rosy one. The older woman fixed the veiling on the black hat to her liking and met Rene’s eyes in the mirror. ‘I’m looking forward to this. Who’d have thought I’d be a widow again and attending your wedding. You did say that I could bring a friend?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ said Rene hastily, guessing that the friend might be Teddy. Whoever it was, she had no worries about how Harry would feel about Edith now. She experienced a rush of warmth and excitement thinking about him. He had arrived yesterday and they’d only had time for a few kisses before Alex had demanded to speak to him alone.

  Edith interrupted Rene’s reverie. ‘Right! I’ll see you in church.’ She picked up her black jacket and slipped it on over the black spotted tangerine frock she had worn to the Grafton with Harry and left.

  ‘You ready, girl?’ asked Wilf, who was giving Rene away. He was spruced up in his Sunday best suit and looked slightly uncomfortable in a new starched collar and tie.

  ‘Almost,’ she said, picking up the cream felt hat, with a curly wisp of ostrich feather sprouting from its turned up brim. Placing it on her red gold hair, she fiddled with it for a few moments until the angle was just right. Then she picked up the bouquet of white and yellow chrysanthemums and followed Wilf out of the room. She glanced in the parlour to reassure herself that everything was all right with the buffet laid out on the table and to tell Greta that she was ready. In the last few days Rene had sensed that her future stepdaughter had something on her mind, and the fact that she had not spoken to her about it worried Rene.

  ‘You look lovely,’ said Greta, pinning a determined smile on her face. This was Rene’s day and she wasn’t going to let her worries, about the moneyed Alex being able to re-enter that middle class world he’d once been part of, spoil it.

  ‘You don’t look so bad yourself, luv,’ said Rene.

  Greta’s long black hair was twisted into a knot on the top of her head and the floral silky frock of mainly pinks and lilacs hugged her shapely figure. She looked older than her seventeen years. ‘Dad should be proud of us,’ said Greta, smiling.

  ‘I should hope so,’ laughed Rene. ‘We’ve put in enough effort. Come on! Let’s go knock them sideways!’

  Outside, the neighbours had gathered a
nd a concerted, oohh sounded as Rene came out of the house on Wilf’s arm with Greta following in her wake. Cissie emerged from next door almost at the same time. ‘I thought you’d be waiting at the church, Gran!’ said Greta, pleased to see her.

  ‘I forgot something, didn’t I! Yer both look luv’ly!’ Cissie’s eyes fell on the man at Rene’s side. ‘Even you look quite tasty, Wilf.’ She freed an expressive sigh and winked at Greta.

  Wilf blushed and Greta tried to hide her smile. Rene inclined her head graciously, and suggested Cissie ride with them to the church. Wilf led Rene over to the pony and trap standing at the kerb. The vehicle, along with its driver, was on loan to him for a favour done in the woodwork line. The driver opened the small door in the side. Rene told Wilf to help Cissie in first and he did so, having a bit of a struggle in the process as she insisted on putting her arms around his neck as he heaved her up. Both bride and bridesmaid were about to climb into the trap when a voice called, ‘Excuse me! But is this the wedding of Rene Miller? We’re looking for Alex Armstrong and were told he was staying with her and would be attending the wedding.’

  Instantly Greta’s head shot round, searching for the owner of that voice. She spotted the girls, recognising them from their photograph. They were dressed, almost identically, in frocks of white spotted with navy blue. Each girl wore navy blue berets and an anxious expression. Her heart began to pound and she felt sick.

  Rene’s eyes had followed Greta and now she said, ‘I’m Rene Miller.’

  The dark haired girl dragged her sister forward. ‘We don’t want to make you late but if you could just tell us where the church is we’ll find our own way.’

  Rene glanced at Greta’s set pale face and said in an undertone, ‘I know how you’re feeling, luv, but we have to help them.’ Greta nodded, and Rene turned to the girls and said, ‘Why walk when you can ride? Climb aboard! I’m sure your brother will be delighted to see you.’

  ‘Th-That’s very kind of you but-but we don’t want to-to intrude to that extent,’ stammered the fair-haired sister, glancing at Greta.

  Rene smiled and said gently, ‘I wouldn’t have suggested it if I thought your presence was an intrusion. But hurry, I don’t want to keep people waiting.’

  She grasped Wilf’s hand and climbed into the trap and seated herself next to Cissie. Greta followed her and sat the other side of her grandmother, then watched Alex’s sisters seat themselves on the facing wooden seat. She knew that she was behaving badly but could not help herself. Her emotions were in confusion and the fear that she would lose Alex was uppermost. Wilf climbed up beside the driver, who picked up the reins and flicked them over the back of the horse. He clicked his tongue and they were on their way.

  Rene placed her bouquet on her lap and then grasped Cissie’s arm in one hand and Greta’s in the other. ‘This is Mrs Hardcastle and this is Greta Peters, her granddaughter, and a great friend of your brother. Alex made his home with them originally.’

  The dark-haired girl smiled at Greta. ‘You’re Sally’s daughter! We loved Sally! Missed her terribly when Uncle wouldn’t let her visit. I’m Lydia Armstrong and this is my younger sister, Barbara.’ She held out her white gloved hand. Without being rude, Greta had no choice but to shake hands.

  ‘Alex has been looking for you. I presume you saw your uncle’s death reported in the Welsh edition of the Echo?’

  The sisters glanced at each other. ‘We never went to Wales. We have been living on a farm near Ormskirk,’ replied Lydia. ‘But we have seen a copy of the Echo and called on Mr Simmons, my uncle’s partner, as soon as we could.’

  ‘Why didn’t you go to Wales?’

  Lydia darted a sidelong glance at her sister, who slipped a small hand through her arm. The elder girl took a deep breath and then said gravely, ‘We’d rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind. I can only say that Aunt Jane thought it wise to mislead Uncle about our whereabouts. She wouldn’t even allow us to write to her in case he spotted the postmark on the envelope. Although, she wrote to us and visited when she was able. Then her letters stopped coming and we didn’t know what to do at first because she had told us we must never get in touch with her, so I wrote to Mummy.’

  Greta started. ‘You know where your mother lives!’

  ‘Of course!’ Lydia smiled. ‘She wrote to my aunt, wanted us to join her in America, but Aunt Jane told her that she wouldn’t risk sending us after what happened to the Athenia. Mummy advised us to send a friend to one of the neighbours, pretending Babs and I were still in Wales, and ask after Aunt Jane. Of course, we were told she had been killed in the blitz. Now we know that wasn’t true.’ Her voice trailed away sadly.

  ‘It’s horrible!’ whispered Barbara. ‘Po-Poor Aunt Jane! She was so brave the way she stood up to him when she realised what was going on!’

  Greta noticed all the colour had drained out of the younger girl’s face and she looked about to faint. Swiftly Greta leaned forward and pushed the younger girl against the back rest before moving to sit the other side of her, propping her upright with her shoulder. ‘I’m so sorry! But he can’t hurt you anymore so there’s no need to be frightened,’ assured Greta, her compassion overcoming her fear of losing Alex.

  Lydia reached out and took her sister’s hand. ‘I hope he’s burning in hell for not only the terrible thing he did to Aunt Jane, but what he did to us and Alex, as well.’ Smiling tentatively at Greta, she added, ‘How is Alex and how is it you met?’

  Greta began to explain.

  Cissie brought her head close to Rene’s and whispered, That swine interfered with them, I bet. Poor kids! It says something about the aunt that she got them away from him as soon as she could. I still think the mother isn’t much cop leaving them, though. It wouldn’t have happened if she’d had a bit of guts.’

  Rene could only agree. They both fell silent in time to hear Greta say, ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he sheds a few tears himself. But, please, save the reunion until after the wedding. Sit at the back of the church so he doesn’t see you straightaway. This is Rene’s day.’ The two girls promised to do what she said.

  It was Rene’s wish that they married in church and Harry had given in to her wishes, saying her happiness was all he wanted. His head turned as the organ burst into the wedding march from Wagner’s Lohengrin and he smiled. Rene experienced a soaring happiness and felt as if she floated down the aisle. Cissie slipped into a front pew next to Fred, Alex, Miss Birkett and Winnie, not noticing at first Edith and Teddy sitting in the pew behind them. Rene handed her bouquet to Greta, then placed her hand in Harry’s and beamed up at him.

  ‘Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and this congregation,’ intoned the vicar. The service had begun.

  ‘So do you still feel like Cinderella?’ whispered Alex in Greta’s ear as he caught up with her as she followed the newly married couple up the aisle.

  ‘More so since you’ve become rich,’ murmured Greta.

  Alex smiled. ‘So my role now is?’

  ‘Prince Charming, I suppose.’

  ‘Then stop here a moment and let people leave before us.’ He drew her to a halt.

  Feeling apprehensive, she looked up at him. ‘What’s this about? We shouldn’t be delaying. The photographer will want me for the photos … and besides … ’

  ‘He’ll be taking your dad and Rene first. This won’t take long. I’ve something important to ask you.’

  She thought he looked suddenly nervous and her heart sank. ‘I’ve something important to say, as well.’

  He took her hand, ignoring the neighbours and friends pushing past them. ‘Whatever it is, it can’t be as important as what I have to say, so don’t argue with me.’

  She caught sight of Lydia and Barbara hovering a few feet away and interrupted him. ‘But, Alex, it’s your … ’

  ‘Say you’ll marry me,’ said Alex, ploughing on determinedly. ‘I meant to go down on one knee and speak all those romantic words such as … ’

&nb
sp; ‘I’d like nothing more than to hear them,’ interrupted Greta huskily. ‘But there’s two important people waiting to speak to you.’ Gently she withdrew her hand from his and left him with his sisters.

  The noise in Rene’s parlour was deafening. Some of the neighbours had joined the wedding celebrations and Greta could feel a headache coming on. Her father and Rene had already left for their honeymoon and Cissie and Wilf had taken charge of the proceedings indoors. Greta wandered outside and stood on the step, gazing up at the starlit sky, wondering where Alex and his sisters were. He had missed the wedding breakfast and she was trying not to worry, longing for him to return and say all those romantic words he hadn’t got round to.

  ‘Don’t you think it’s a bit cold out here?’

  Greta lowered her gaze swiftly and stared at Alex. There were so many things she wanted to say but she could only look at him.

  He covered the distance between them in two strides and pulled her into his arms. ‘I asked your dad’s permission and, sensible, understanding bloke that he is, he said yes. He wants you to be secure and seems to think you would be with me. I’ve already bought a special licence so we could do the deed as soon as he and Rene come back from their honeymoon.’

  Greta was overwhelmed. ‘Are you sure? What about you having all that money?’

  ‘It’s great for both of us! Besides, you’re not as poor as you think! That vase on the mantelpiece Mum gave your mother. It’s Royal Doulton and worth a few bob, so you won’t be coming empty-handed.’

  That was good news. ‘What about your sisters? What about your mother?’ she babbled.

  ‘Of course I’m looking forward to seeing Mum again … and it’s great meeting up with my sisters … they’re my family so I’ll want to spend time with them when possible.’ He shook her gently. ‘But you come first! You’re the love of my life.’

  Warmed through and through by his words, she said, ‘It goes without saying, that I love you, too.’ There was a catch in her voice.