Private Sorrow, A

by Reynolds, Maureen

  Ann

  for all her support

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  By the Same Author

  Copyright

  PROLOGUE

  Confession is good for the soul. Now where did that thought come from? Long forgotten Sunday school lessons, or maybe from one of the wayside posters that used to be found on noticeboards outside churches? Witty little sermons aimed at people passing by on their way to the shops? However, it was strange that this thought should appear now. It was almost as if the nightmares weren’t bad enough – the endless agony of terror before finally waking up in a cold sweat and the prospect of another long night without sleep. Confession is good for the soul. Now there was a thought.

  1

  ‘This is déjà vu,’ said Molly, speaking out loud to the stepladder. ‘In a moment, Ronnie will appear.’

  Two minutes later, he did. Molly was amazed by this spooky, familiar feeling. It was almost identical to starting her agency fifteen months ago but now she was overseeing renovation, which would turn the upstairs rooms into a flat, instead of painting the front of the shop. Once again Molly gazed around with a feeling of pride. The only job left was the painting of the walls, hence the reason for Ronnie’s presence. Ronnie looked just the same as he had fifteen months ago. His overalls were the same paint-spattered ones he had worn on that occasion and they hung from his thin body. He still had bad acne, red raised spots erupting on his neck and chin but he was just as cheerful as always.

  ‘I’ll finish the bedroom walls then make a start on the bathroom,’ he said, laying a large groundsheet on the floor and placing a selection of paint tins and brushes on it.

  Molly took one last look around before leaving him to his job. She was pleased with the final result on these two previously unusable rooms. The large room had been turned into a kitchen and living room while the smaller one was the bedroom with the addition of a small shower room. When completed, it would save her the long, tedious journey to Newport every night. Also, it was her own private place and she almost hugged herself with delight. The feeling of déjà vu still persisted when she went downstairs to the office. Like the day in June last year when she opened the agency and had interviewed Edna and Mary, it was strange to be interviewing more staff today. Molly was nervous about this. Initially, the agency had been a secretarial venture but recent enquiries had indicated the need for domestic help and the three women coming today fell into this category.

  The first two to arrive were punctual – a good sign. Mrs Watson and Mrs Charles also looked apprehensive, which amused Molly because that made three of them unsure of what lay ahead. Molly glanced again at the applications. Alice Charles was a young woman and although her letter said she was twenty-four, she looked older; a plain looking girl, tall and thin with a red, raw looking face that appeared as if she scrubbed the skin every day with a Brillo pad. Her companion, Maisie Watson, was much older. Her letter said she was fifty but she was thin and wiry and looked as if she had spent her life doing hard work.

  Molly liked to be honest with her staff. ‘This is a new venture for me because I started this agency as a secretarial business but I’ve had lots of requests for temporary cleaning and household work. I’m not sure how many hours I can guarantee. It may vary each week so if you both need regular hours then I’m not sure if I can give you that.’

  Maisie spoke first. ‘Well, I’m looking for work but would like some days to myself so I thought this job would suit me.’ She turned to Alice. ‘Alice and I are neighbours and she feels the same.’

  Alice nodded. ‘I only got married two months ago so I’m looking for work that will tie in with my husband’s job. He works in the Caledon shipyard and he likes me to have his tea on the table when he gets home at six o’clock.’

  Molly nodded. She was quite out of her depth with the thought of having to be home every night to get the tea on the table but she knew a lot of married women were in the same situation. ‘I expect any work you do to be of the highest standard and if you can’t do any day for some reason I would need to know in advance. You will also have to wear the agency overalls and treat the client’s home with respect. The work will be just the normal cleaning but should a client want a proper spring clean then I would send two of you to do this.’ The two women nodded eagerly. ‘If you leave me your dress sizes I’ll get the overalls ordered and if you would like to start next Monday at nine o’clock, hopefully I’ll have work for you both.’

  After they left, Molly looked at the small pile of business cards on her desk. She had ordered more and they now advertised her as a Secretarial and Domestic Agency. Edna and Mary still worked for her and her friend Jean was now on the reception desk. Molly was very pleased with how busy the past fifteen months had been and she now hoped that with this new addition to the workforce she would be even busier.

  The next interview wasn’t for another hour. After that she planned to phone Hamilton Carhartt’s factory to order the overalls. They had an industrial workwear factory at Carolina Port. She wanted royal blue overalls with the agency name on the pocket. Ronnie was still busy upstairs so she stayed in the reception to help Jean make out some invoices. Jean had started work last year, doing a few hours to help Molly out but she now liked the idea of having some extra money. Her husband gave her a generous household allowance but it was lovely to have something to spend on herself so she had taken on the job full-time.

  At eleven o’clock sharp the door opened and a young blonde woman entered. Once again, Molly experienced that spooky feeling of déjà vu. It was as if she was looking again at Lena Lamont. Then the feeling disappeared when the woman spoke. Her voice was husky and slightly out of breath. Molly could also see that she was much younger than Lena.

  ‘I have an interview at eleven o’clock,’ she said.

  Molly smiled. ‘Miss Dunn?’

  ‘Yes, Deanna Dunn.’

  Molly was confused. T
he interview was for a domestic cleaner and not a look-alike film star. Jean left to post the invoices so Molly ushered the woman to the chair by the window and she sat behind the desk.

  ‘I’m looking for someone to fill a post in our domestic side but perhaps you were looking for a secretarial job?’ Molly had noticed the well made-up face with bright red lipstick and matching polish on her nails; nails that looked as if they had never been contaminated by hot soapy water.

  The woman laughed, a funny sounding deep chuckle that belied the exquisite creature. ‘I can’t do any office work, Miss McQueen. Not unless you want me to sit on a desk and do some photographic work. I’m an actress but I’m resting at the moment.’ She stopped to explain. ‘That means I’m between jobs in the theatre. I saw your advert for domestic work and I thought this would help me until I get another job and even when I do, I can still work during the day except if there is a matinee on a Wednesday and Saturday.’

  Molly was still confused. ‘Is Deanna Dunn your stage name?’ The initial interview had taken place over the phone and Jean hadn’t got anything but the bare details.

  ‘No, it’s my real name. My mother was a great fan of Deanna Durban when I was born in 1936 but I love it and hope one day to be as famous as her.’

  Molly explained the work and the overalls and to her surprise Deanna sounded eager. ‘That sounds great. Does that mean I’ve got the job?’

  Molly said, ‘Yes. Start at nine o’clock next Monday.’

  After she left, Molly wondered if she had done the right thing. Deanna was only eighteen and an actress, so how would she manage cleaning dirty and dusty houses? She decided to give her a chance and if it didn’t work out then she could always tell her there was no work for her. Maybe the part of a lifetime would appear on her doorstep and she would be too famous to need this work.

  Edna and Mary were due to check in much later in the day but as Molly had a lot more invoices she could be doing at home, she decided to leave in the early afternoon. Ronnie said he would lock up and bring the key back tomorrow when he was likely to finish the painting.

  She made her way to the ferry and home to her parents’ house in Newport. When she arrived, her father was pouring over travel plans. Her parents were going to spend the winter months in Australia.

  ‘We’re planning to travel up the east coast and see some of the country before going to visit Nell, Terry and Molly.’ Nell was Molly’s sister and she had had her baby last year. A girl called Molly. ‘Why don’t you come with us? It would do you good to have a holiday and see Nell and Terry again … and the baby.’

  Molly had been down this road before, ‘I can’t. I’ve just started this new domestic side to the business and I have to be here to see it goes smoothly. Maybe some other time.’

  Her father looked at her over the top of his glasses. ‘Mmm maybe,’ he said before gazing back at the tour book.

  Her mother appeared from the kitchen. ‘It’s macaroni cheese for tea,’ she said. Molly looked at her in alarm. Once more the feeling that she had done all this before struck her as curious.

  Later, as she lay in bed, she recalled what a strange day it had been. It was almost a carbon copy of her first day at the agency in Coronation week last year. She hoped it wasn’t going to be an omen of bad luck.

  2

  Edna was on her last day at Albert’s store. For the past few months she had been doing three days a week there. In a way, she was sorry to be leaving but she had other jobs to go to and she looked forward with pleasure to being at John Knox’s house next week.

  Dolly Pirie came in with her friend, Mrs Little – or, as she was better known by her nickname, Snappy Sal. ‘I hear yon Nancy’s coming back,’ said Sal.

  ‘Aye,’ said Dolly. ‘Her job at Butlin’s holiday camp seems to be over.’

  ‘Albert, what was it she was doing in yon holiday camp?’ asked Sal, trying her best to be all sweetness and light.

  ‘She was working as a Redcoat,’ said Albert. ‘She had the job of entertaining the campers but the season is over and she’s coming back to work here until next year.’

  Sal turned to Dolly. ‘A Redcoat! She’s more like a red nose with all the colds and flu she’s aye getting.’

  Dolly gave her pal a quick dig in the ribs. ‘Shush, you better no let Albert hear you running down his niece.’

  Edna was amused by all this banter and she knew she would miss it. Later, when she went round to Dolly’s flat for her dinner-time bowl of soup, they both had a laugh at Sal’s accurate description of Nancy.

  Dolly said, ‘I heard she wasn’t a Redcoat but was working in the dining hall, serving the meals and clearing up the dirty dishes. The couple from the next close went to Butlin’s at Ayr and they told me. But I’ve never mentioned this to Sal because you know what she’s like.’

  Edna laughed. ‘My lips are sealed, Dolly.’

  ‘Now tell me what’s on the agenda for you now,’ said Dolly.

  ‘Mr Knox, you remember I mentioned him, well he’s writing another engineering book and I’m going to be working for him again, plus other jobs that come in. Molly has added a domestic side to the agency so I hope it’s successful.’

  Dolly gave Edna a shrewd look. ‘You like this Mr Knox, don’t you?’

  Edna tried hard not to blush. ‘We’re friends and we’ve been out quite a lot over the year. I think he just likes company.’

  Dolly gave her another cool look. ‘Well you watch your step young Edna. You never know what it will lead to. Have you heard anything about Eddie now that he’s running Albert’s new shop on the Hawkhill? Do you ever see him these days?’

  Edna shook her head. ‘I haven’t seen him for a few weeks. I’ll always be grateful to him for saving my life and I did hear he’s making a grand job of the new shop.’

  Dolly nodded. ‘Aye, I heard that as well.’

  On that note, it was time to go back to work.

  Sal appeared back in the shop a few minutes before closing time. Albert gave her a big smile. ‘Mrs Little, what can I get you?’

  ‘Two ounces of tea and a quarter pound of butter and I’ll maybe treat myself to a half pound of biscuits in yon box over there. Make sure none of them are broken.’

  When she came to the cash desk to pay for her purchases she said, ‘I thought I’d better get my messages today instead of next week because I don’t like that Nancy.’ She leaned closer to Edna. ‘I heard she was just a glorified dishwasher at Butlin’s. I mean I ask you – can you see yon streak of misery entertaining holiday-makers?’

  Edna very wisely said nothing but she felt a pang of sorrow that she probably wouldn’t see Albert, Dolly, Sally or any of the customers for some time. She had grown fond of them all. They had become good friends and she knew she would miss them all very much, especially Eddie and Dolly.

  3

  Molly was pleased with her flat. Ronnie had made a good job and all the woodwork was freshly painted and the walls papered. The small kitchen area with the new sink, cooker and cupboards was partially hidden by a room divider with shelves that held her favourite books, photo frames and ornaments. The new studio couch, which folded down into a bed, and the two comfy armchairs had arrived yesterday and the large colourful carpet had been laid earlier this morning. The new bed, sideboard, table and four chairs would be coming later from Henderson’s furniture shop at the top of the Wellgate, and the flat would be complete.

  She had been very lucky with the couch and chairs. She had seen them advertised in the Courier and they had been a bargain, especially as the owner had hardly used them. Molly was grateful to her parents for helping her out financially. Living above the office would save long hours travelling back and forth across the river. Just thinking about the river made her shiver.

  There was one small surprise with the flat. When Ronnie was painting the cupboard in what was now her bedroom, he discovered it led to another door, which opened onto a narrow stone staircase that led onto Baltic Street. The key had been ha
nging on a hook in the cupboard but Molly, apart from using the place as a staffroom, hadn’t really looked at the two rooms above the office and this had been a huge surprise. ‘This must have been the main entrance at one time,’ Ronnie had said. Molly was delighted with this extra entrance; it would save her opening the office door every time she wanted into the flat. She was looking forward to the small party tonight when she planned to show off her new home to her family and friends.

  She went downstairs. Jean was busy behind the desk and she knew Mary would be finishing her job later. Edna was starting back with John Knox on Monday while Mary had another two weeks with her placement in a city centre office. As for the three new cleaners, well, it was fortunate that there were jobs waiting for them. Thank goodness. She sincerely hoped this new venture would be profitable and successful.

  She smiled to herself as she thought about Edna and John. Was there a romance there she wondered? Then there was Deanna. How would such a glamorous creature cope with the hard domestic work, which was part and parcel of this job? The sight of Henderson’s delivery van brought these thoughts to an end and she led the way back to the flat as the two men expertly manoeuvred the furniture up the stair.

  Later, her mother and father arrived with their neighbour, Marigold, followed soon after by Mary, Edna and her mother Irene, and a few of her friends who worked part-time when they were needed. Jean couldn’t manage because she had a prior invitation with her own family; a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary party.

  Molly had organised a small buffet with sandwiches, sausage rolls and crisps with tea and coffee. Everyone was complimentary about the flat. ‘It looks so cosy,’ said Edna. ‘It hardly looks like the two rooms you had last year and I like the way you’ve decorated it.’

  ‘Well I had to warm the rooms up because I hardly get any sunlight in here as this window looks onto the Wellgate and the bedroom looks onto Baltic Street. I’m glad your mum could come with you, Edna. Did you get someone to look after Billy?’

  ‘John is looking after him. Billy loves going to his house because John has kept all his toys from when he was a boy and you should see them Molly – all pre-war. He’s got loads of Dinky cars with a super wooden garage, toy soldiers and a marvellous train set, plus lots of books and jigsaws.’ She laughed. ‘I might not manage to get him away from all those toys.’