by Maureen Lee
Kitty was delighted to hear Jessica was getting married, and promised to keep the news strictly to herself.
‘Gus is looking round for a property to rent close to the base,’ Jessica told her. ‘I’d prefer to stay in Pearl Street, but it wouldn’t be fair on him. He’s on edge the whole time if he’s not in easy contact with his office, and I doubt if I could have a telephone installed in wartime. That means I’ll be moving soon, Kitty.’
‘I’ll miss you and Penny, Jess,’ Kitty said serenely. Her holiday had certainly done her good. Lately, she’d been looking increasingly pleased with herself.
‘The thing is, dear, you could have this house if you want it. I know the landlord very well and I’m sure he could be persuaded to transfer the rentbook to your name.’
Jessica thought that Kitty would jump at the idea. She’d only be a few doors away from her dad, with whom good relations had been completely restored, and she was becoming fond of Theresa’s boys. Not only that, her lifelong friends lived in the street. But to Jessica’s surprise, Kitty shook her head.
‘I wouldn’t feel right, taking a whole house to meself. There’s whole families need it far more than I do.’ Kitty looked at Jessica with shining eyes. ‘Anyroad, I’ll be off meself soon. I’ve joined the Merchant Navy as a nurse. I intended telling you once I got me first posting. It should come through any day now.’ It had seemed like a miracle at the time. Kitty had gone back to work after her week in Southport, determined to do something different with her life, and there, on the noticeboard, she had found the ideal solution. The Merchant Navy were advertising for volunteers to serve on hospital and troopships. It meant there was no need to get permission to change her job. She’d applied immediately, gone for interview and been accepted. All she was waiting for was an advice to say what ship she would serve on. ‘I won’t be coming back to Bootle any more, except to visit me friends and family,’ she said. ‘I’ve no idea what I’m going to do when the war’s over, but I’ve no intention of settling down for a long time.’
It all seemed a bit extreme to Jessica, but she wished the girl good luck. ‘I’m glad you’ve got over Dale Tooley,’ she added.
‘I haven’t,’ Kitty said simply. ‘The time we were together was so perfect, that I doubt if I’ll ever get over Dale. You’ll probably think me stupid, Jess, but in me head there’s two Dales: the one I went out with for three months, and another one who told me he was married. I could easily forget the second in time, but I’ll never forget the first.’
Jessica, who was in the throes of trying to decide if her lost baby’s life had been sacrificed for Peter Henningsen’s, said drily, ‘I don’t think that’s stupid, Kitty, not at all.’
‘There’s something else I won’t forget, Jess,’ Kitty said warmly, ‘and that’s how kind you’ve been. I’m not sure how I would have coped without you.’
‘I did my best, but I don’t think I truly understood how upset you were. It’s only now I realise what you went through. The idea of Gus doing to me what Dale did to you, is so beyond the bounds of possibility that it’s never crossed my mind.’
‘That’s the way I thought,’ said Kitty.
‘I’m sorry, Eileen, but I shall have to leave for the Register Office soon.’
Eileen immediately jumped to her feet, but Jessica insisted there was just time for a glass of sherry. ‘I wouldn’t mind one myself. Now the time’s come, I’m feeling a bit nervous.’
‘That’s understandable,’ Eileen assured her. ‘Is a car coming for you?’
‘No, I’m walking. We’re supposed to keep vehicles off the road today.’ Jessica giggled. ‘I hope we don’t get taken prisoner on the way.’
‘It’s sheer bedlam out there. If it was a genuine invasion, the Germans’d turn tail and run. They’d think they’d landed in a giant lunatic asylum. I’ll walk part of the way with you, if you don’t mind, and see if I can find our Sheila.’
They left shortly afterwards. Eileen wandered off in search of her sister, and Jessica Fleming, hand in hand with Penny, made her way through the happy and excited crowds towards the place where she was due to marry Major Gus Henningsen.
Kitty’s posting came through the following Monday. She was ordered to join the troopship Nero which would sail from Portsmouth on the first of October, five days later. A travel docket was enclosed for the train.
She had already worked out her notice at the hospital, but went in for a final time to say goodbye to the good friends she’d made over the last twelve months.
‘It’s been the best year of my life,’ she said to Nurse Bellamy.
‘We’ve enjoyed having you,’ the nurse said crisply. ‘Perhaps when the war’s over and things are back to normal, you might consider a career as a professional nurse. You could probably skip the first year’s training in view of your past experience.’
‘I’ll think about it,’ Kitty said seriously. The idea was already on her list of options when the time came to make a decision on her future.
Lucy cried profusely when they said goodbye. ‘It won’t seem the same without you, Kitty. Clara is still as thick as thieves with Valerie. I hope whoever takes your place won’t side with them, else it’ll be me against all three.’
‘I thought you were getting married to what’s-his-name at Christmas?’ Kitty had lost track of the names of Lucy’s never-ending boyfriends and fiancés.
‘Harry! Oh, he turned out to be a drip, so I chucked him,’ Lucy said witheringly, ‘but I met this dead good-looking Yank at a dance last night.’
They promised to write. Kitty said goodbye to the nurses who vowed they’d keep close track of the Nero in the papers, then sought out Clara Watkins. Although she’d said nothing to Lucy, there was bad news in store for Clara. One of the nurses had confided that her husband George had been seen in a pub in town with Valerie Simmonds, and they appeared to be very good friends indeed!
Clara was in the kitchen preparing the dinner trolley. Kitty didn’t waste words. ‘I’d like you to keep an eye on Lucy for me,’ she said bluntly. ‘She’s young enough to be your daughter, Clara, and it’s not fair the way you and Valerie gang up on her.’
‘Lucy can be a little bitch,’ Clara sneered, though she had the grace to look slightly ashamed.
‘She’s never been a bitch to me. She’s a good kid and she has a hard time at home. I’ve never asked anything of you before, Clara, but do me one first and final favour, be nice to her. Anyroad, it’s best to be on good terms with your mates at work. You never know when you’ll need one as a friend.’
‘I’m really sorry you’re leaving, Kitty,’ Clara said grudgingly. ‘I’ve always liked you, though I may not have shown it. For your sake, I’ll try to get along with Lucy from now on.’
Kitty was saying her last goodbye to the Wren at the reception desk, when a pretty, well-dressed woman came into the building through the main entrance. She looked vaguely familiar and Kitty was trying to remember where they’d met before, when the woman said, ‘How are you?’
‘Fine,’ Kitty said courteously. ‘I’m afraid …’
The woman laughed a trifle patronisingly. ‘You don’t remember me, do you? I’m Miss Ellis from the Labour Exchange. I’ve come to see Staff Nurse Bellamy. It’s Kitty, isn’t it?’
Kitty remembered the rude way in which Miss Ellis had spoken to her, as if she was worthless and ignorant. ‘No,’ she said coldly. ‘It’s not Kitty, it’s Nurse Quigley. Goodbye, Miss Ellis.’ With a toss of her head, Kitty swept out of the door, though on the way home, she regretted her rudeness. All in all, she had much to thank Miss Ellis for. She’d learnt a lot over the past year. One thing, she would never allow anyone to speak to her in such a demeaning way again.
Jimmy Quigley was panic-stricken when Kitty told him the news. ‘You’re leaving! But it sounds dead dangerous, kiddo. You could be killed. I need you, girl, I need you here with me.’
‘You’ve got a wife now, Dad,’ Kitty said gently, ‘and a family of your own. You
don’t need me any more.’
‘Theresa’s no good. It’s you I want, Kitty, me own flesh and blood.’ How on earth would he live without his Kitty on hand?
‘Once Theresa’s had the baby, she might come round. And don’t forget, Dad,’ Kitty reminded him, ‘that the new baby’s your own flesh and blood.’
‘Jaysus, kiddo, you’ve really knocked the wind out of me sails. The lads’ll be heartbroken when I tell them. They’re dead fond of their big sister.’
‘I’m not disappearing off the planet for good, Dad. I’ll be back to see you, don’t worry.’
Jimmy came round to Jessica’s every night as soon as he finished work, as if he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his daughter before she went away.
‘What’s all that lot for?’ he asked the night before she was leaving, pointing to a small pile of clothes which were folded on the table.
‘I’ve been sorting all me stuff out,’ explained Kitty. ‘I thought I’d take them round to the WVS. I’ve got a handbag, some old shoes and a couple of books as well.’
‘But what about when you come back, luv? You’ll need those things then.’ He panicked again. Kitty seemed determined to leave no trace of herself behind. There would soon be nothing left to remind him of his girl. ‘I’ll store this lot in me loft for you.’
‘If you like, Dad.’ Kitty understood and let him take the few things, though she knew she would never need them again.
Next morning, about twenty neighbours accompanied Kitty to Marsh Lane Station to wave farewell when she caught the train. Jimmy had taken the morning off to accompany her as far as Lime Street Station.
‘I’m sick to death of goodbyes,’ sobbed Sheila when the train had disappeared. ‘Folks are forever leaving, and not all of them come back.’
‘Remember when we started school – it was our very first day,’ Brenda Mahon reminisced, ‘and everyone was making fun of that little kid from Dryden Street who had a terrible squint? Kitty was the only one who wouldn’t join in. She went out of her way to play with him at break time, although she was only five and it must have taken an awful lot of courage.’
‘She was always a lovely girl, Kitty Quigley,’ Aggie Donovan said tearfully, ‘though I must say I was surprised when she took up with that there Yank.’
Gus had found a furnished bungalow which was ready to move into in a small village only a short distance from Burtonwood. He took Jessica to visit it before signing the lease. It had been built for a young couple only four years before, but when the man was called up, his wife had gone to live with her parents in Chester. The furniture was new, and although not Jessica’s choice, she decided she could live with it until the war was over and they all went to live in New York.
As soon as she was back in Pearl Street, she started to pack her belongings. ‘I seem to do this regularly once a year: first Calderstones, then Bootle, the Lake District. I travelled a long way, but I always ended up back where I started. Now I’m leaving Bootle for the third time in my life, but this time I know I’ll never be coming back.’
She felt a mixture of joy and infinite sadness. Bootle was her home and would always remain so in her heart, but things moved on, life was unpredictable. Three years ago, she was living in Calderstones, childless and married to Arthur. Now, Arthur was dead, she had Penny – and an American husband.
She found herself thinking about Arthur a lot. Although she knew it was a case of shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted, she wished desperately she’d been nicer to him. Jessica vowed that she would never do anything to Gus or Penny that she would regret later. ‘I think I’ve already changed a little for the better. Years ago, I would never have had such patience with Kitty. I would have told her to pull herself together, to stop moaning and get on with it.’
On her final night in the street where she was born, after Penny had gone to bed, Jessica slipped into the Reillys’ to say a private farewell to Sheila and give her Penny’s baby clothes, sadly no longer needed for the child she’d been expecting herself.
‘I know I’ll see you briefly in the morning, but I just wanted to wish you all the best for the future, Sheil. I pray that everything turns out well with the new baby and one day soon Calum will be home for good.’
‘It said on the wireless we’ve turned the corner.’ Sheila hated goodbyes. She was doing her level best not to cry.
‘That’s right. We’ve been told to wait up for the midnight bulletin.’ Jessica stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. ‘Will your dad be along soon? I’d like to say goodbye and he won’t be around tomorrow.’
‘He’s gone to a lecture with Kate Thomas. Me and our Eileen keep hoping something’ll come of it between them, but I don’t think so, somehow.’
Jessica didn’t think so, either. ‘Give him my love, then. Well, cheerio, Sheila.’
‘Tara, Jess.’
The two women embraced stiffly and promised to visit each other soon. Jessica went home and switched the wireless on low. The faint strains of a choir singing ‘Greensleeves’ came from the set. This time, it wasn’t merely a false hope, it definitely appeared as if things were going their way for a change. Algeria had capitulated, the Australians were doing well in New Guinea and the Americans had landed on the Solomon Islands. Although Stalingrad was still under siege, the Russians were gradually getting the upper hand. Nature having taken her relentless and predictable course, snow already lay thick on the Caucasus and the invaders were faced with another paralysing Russian winter. In North Africa, forty thousand enemy prisoners had been taken when Major-General Montgomery and his troops attacked El Alamein, and the RAF continued with their heavy raids on German cities.
Jessica listened to the music as she emptied the drawers of the sideboard. She hadn’t been there long enough to fill them with the usual rubbish which accumulated over the years. The suitcases and boxes were waiting in the parlour ready to be loaded in the van. She’d almost forgotten about the van, and discovered there was enough petrol to get her as far as Burtonwood. The bungalow had a garage, and, you never knew, the van could be worth something once the war was over.
In the right-hand sideboard drawer she found the letter from Arthur’s Commanding Officer, together with the photo of her wedding. She was about to throw them both on the fire, when she decided to keep them instead. ‘I know I’m starting a new life with Gus, but it doesn’t mean I should cancel out everything that’s happened before. Arthur specially asked that Penny should never forget him. She might want to know what he looked like when she’s older.’
She hoped Gus would manage to get there that night. Once the men were all safely back and the base had settled down for the night, he usually came so they could spend a few hours together. He was determined to give her another child to replace the one she’d lost. ‘It’s still not too late, Jess. Lots of women have children well into their forties.’
But not in their late forties. Jessica had a strong feeling in her bones that it was all a waste of time, though trying was better than it had ever been with Jack Doyle. Still, she had Penny – and she also had Peter, the son she’d never met.
Jessica was so lost in her thoughts that Big Ben had begun to chime before she realised it was midnight and the news was about to begin. She quickly turned the wireless up. Bruce Belfrage was the announcer. His normally calm voice was jubilant. ‘The enemy is in full retreat in North Africa.’
The great German General Rommel had been beaten! The tide had turned. Throughout the land, cheers went up, particularly when the news was relayed by loudspeaker to workers on the late shift.
For some, the news had come too late to raise a cheer. They were glad, of course, but had already lost their loved ones. Others, more cautious, wondered how many more years would it be before they reached their final goal: victory!
In Pearl Street, there was a knock on the door of number 10 and Jessica Henningsen hurried down the hall to let her husband in. ‘Have you heard the good news?’ she asked exci
tedly.
Gus nodded. ‘There’s a few guys celebrating on the corner and they told me.’ He kissed her and she nestled in his arms. ‘What was it Churchill said – “Into the storm and through the storm”. Well, we’re halfway there, Jess. It won’t be long before we’re through the storm completely.’
If you have enjoyed
Through the Storm
don’t miss
LIME STREET BLUES
another Maureen Lee bestseller
in Orion paperback
ISBN: 978-0-7528-4961-4
Prologue
It always began with the sound of the footsteps, the soft, slithering footsteps on the stairs, the unshod feet in their well-darned socks lifting steadily from one step to the next. He wasn’t the sort of man to wear slippers. Listening, I would picture him in my mind’s eye, just his feet, coming up the narrow beige carpet with the red border, the cheapest you could buy, worn away to threads in the middle and secured to the stairs with triangular-shaped varnished rods that slid into bronze brackets at the side. I saw everything very, very clearly, in precise detail.
Even on the nights when there were no footsteps, I never went asleep before Mam came home from work at ten o’clock. Then I would feel relatively safe, but not completely. Mam had never been able to offer much protection. But even he must have realised that a child’s screams at dead of night might have alerted someone; a neighbour, a passer-by.
I still dream about it frequently, always the footsteps, never the violence, the terror that was to come. Because in my dreams I am not there when he enters the room. My bed is empty. Yet I can see him, as though an invisible me is present, the tall figure of my father, an expression on his dark, handsome face and in his dark eyes that I could never quite fathom. Was it excitement? Anticipation? Behind the glitter of the main emotion, whatever it might have been, I sensed something else, mysterious, sad, as if deep within him he regretted what he was about to do. But he couldn’t help it. The excitement, the anticipation, gripped him like a drug, stifling any other, kinder, feelings he might have had.