Chapter 5
The cab stopped at the Sanctuary which was situated on a quiet, clean road. There were no rubbish tips teaming with rats and other vermin, no street vendors or teams of people milling around. It was a two-story brick house. They climbed the steps to the front door, Lily taking a key from her purse, and opening the lock, stepping back to let the little family enter before her. The smell of lavender and lemon pervaded the premises, every surface gleaming, even the wooden floor with its highly polished shine.
First, Lily showed them where they would sleep. Bridget looked around the room with the two beds, both covered in colorful quilts. Being tall, she had to stoop to avoid the pitch of the ceiling at the edges but that was no discomfort. The center of the room allowed her to stand straight. It might be the attic, but it was a palace compared to what they were used to.
“Real beds, Bridget,” Maura said, gazing at them in awe. “Do you believe it?”
“Maura, I think I could believe anything after tonight.”
Lily showed them to the indoor bathroom, a true luxury. The children were each given a hot bath first and their clothes were taken away to be burnt. The rags they wore were crawling with vermin. Annie had cried when Lily took her favorite rag doll away, but she soon cheered up when Lily promised to replace it with a new doll the following morning. Then it was the older girls’ turns. Bridget couldn’t believe how much better she felt after washing the grime out of her hair.
When she was finished, she saw Lily had left her some new clothes as well. The dresses, although secondhand, were of much better quality than those she had been wearing.
“Look, Bridget, that pink shirtwaist would suit you.”
“I took that for myself, Kathleen.”
“Maura, it doesn’t go with your coloring at all, it will look much better on Bridget.”
Shocked by her sister’s uncharacteristic outburst, Bridget pulled Kathleen into her arms. The younger girl’s shoulders shook as she sobbed. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t lost my job, we wouldn’t have to stay here.”
“Kathleen Collins, you dry your eyes this minute. Haven’t we landed on our feet? It’s thanking Mr. Oaks we should be doing. I’ve never felt so clean in all my life. Maura, you can have the dress if you prefer it.”
“No, Bridget, Kathleen is right. It would suit you much better. I will take this one.” Maura pointed to a light green dress. “The blue one will suit Kathleen, it matches her eyes.”
Bridget gave Maura a thankful look as Kathleen’s sobs slowly subsided.
“Can we stay here forever?” Annie asked, tugging at Lily’s skirt.
“I don’t know darling. Now, why don’t you cuddle up with Liam and go to sleep? It’s been a long day,” Bridget answered as she kissed her sister.
“I think this is what Heaven looks like,” Annie sighed.
Bridget didn’t respond to the young girl’s comment. Instead, she prayed with them and then tucked them into the larger bed. Maura would share with them and she and Kathleen would share the smaller bed. Lily had offered them a room of their own, but Bridget declined, knowing her family would prefer to be together.
“Bridget, do you think I will be good enough to work for Miss Lily?” Kathleen asked.
“Of course you will,” Bridget said. “There was nothing wrong with you, or your work. Mr. Oaks fired you out of spite.”
“Lily is so lovely, isn’t she? She’s beautiful and kind. I’m so glad we met her,” Kathleen said, her eyes already closing.
You and me both, thought Bridget. But she didn’t say anything out loud.
Despite feeling warm, full, and clean for the first time in a very long time, Bridget couldn’t sleep. She sensed Oaks wouldn’t be so easily put off. Lily had said she was safe here but how did she know? Her eyes finally closed as she fell into an exhausted sleep, but her dreams became nightmares. In each one she was running and running only to end up in Mr. Oaks’ clutches.
Chapter 6
Bridget and Kathleen left Maura with the younger children the next morning and headed downstairs to the sewing room, following the direction of the cook.
“Good morning, ladies. Welcome to our workshop. My name is Mrs. Wilson and I am in charge. Kathleen, I have been told you have experience in button holes.”
“Yes, Mrs. Wilson. I’ve worked at a number of tasks, the last one being the button holes.”
“Good, and you Bridget?” Mrs. Wilson asked.
“I’ve done more or less the same as Kathleen, only my stitching isn’t as neat as hers,” Bridget said. “Lately I’ve been working in the laundry.” She didn’t add that Mr. Oaks Junior had sent her there to see if he could break her spirit. She should have started looking for a new job as soon as that happened but there had been so little time.
“Have either of you used a sewing machine like this one before?”
Bridget couldn’t believe her eyes. The machine was one of the modern ones. She touched it gently.
“No, Mrs. Wilson, but we are both quick learners. Aren’t we Kathleen?”
“Yes ma’am,” her sister agreed.
“Good. Sarah will show you both how to use it, but first let me introduce you to all the women here. Most have been with us for some time now, but they know what it was like when they first came. We believe in helping each other out. We get paid for what we turn in as a group, not for individual work.”
Bridget didn’t know how to respond to that, so she kept quiet. Would they hold the group back as they had yet to learn how to use the machines?
“Bella and Jess have each volunteered to sit with you so that you have an experienced seamstress to ask questions of,” Mrs. Wilson explained. “That will happen after Sarah gives you some lessons. Do you have any questions?"
“No ma’am but thank you. We won’t let you down,” Bridget said.
“I know that. Lily is an excellent judge of character. Oh, here is Sarah now. I will leave you to it and check on you later.”
“Thank you,” Bridget answered for both of them as Kathleen appeared to have lost the use of her voice.
Sarah turned out to be a very pleasant lady whose idea of working hard included making the odd joke. She spoke very quickly as she worked. Bridget found it harder to get used to the new machine than Kathleen did. After a couple of hours, it was as though Kathleen had been using the machine for years.
“You have a natural talent, Kathleen. I’m excited at the quality of the work you will produce,” Sarah said. “Bella will take care of you from now on. You are ready to move to her side.”
Bridget waited to hear if she would be moving to work with Jess, but instead Sarah handed her some more pieces of material.
“You need a little more practice, but I am sure you will get the hang of it. Eventually.” Sarah smiled, making Bridget feel a little better.
She wasn’t about to tell the girl their mother had been a seamstress to a real lady back in Ireland. Her mam would turn in her grave if she saw the mess Bridget was making of what Sarah called the easy stitches.
At noon everyone stopped working when a bell sounded. The women pushed back from their work benches to stretch their arms and legs.
Bridget looked up in alarm.
“Don’t look so frightened, the bell means it’s time for lunch. Lily insists we stop to eat. It’s not like the other places you’ve worked in, is it?” Sarah asked.
Bridget shook her head. For one, all the staff were women and treated each other with respect. There were bound to be disagreements, particularly in a group of women, some of which had been settled quietly that morning. If that was the case all the time, she could see why the women looked happier than the usual factory workforce. Tantalizing smells made their way into the room as the outer doors opened.
“Vegetable soup again by the smell of it,” one of the girls said, sounding disappointed. “I wish she would change up the menu a little.”
“Quit your moaning Maggie,” said another. “It’s better than bre
ad and water.”
“Maybe a diet of bread and water would do you good for a while, Sheila. Those pounds are piling on like nobody’s business,” the lady called Maggie retorted.
“More for that man of mine to put his arms around, ain’t it?” Sheila replied.
Bridget listened to the ladies chatting. They were teasing each other, but it was friendly banter. Kathleen stepped over to her side.
“How did you go?” her sister asked. “Are you still practicing?”
“Yes, Miss I can sew anything.” Bridget smiled to show Kathleen she was teasing. “I’m not as good as you are.”
“You are too, Bridget, only you don’t have the same patience. That’s all. If you stop thinking about everything but the seam, you’ll be fine.”
As if it were that easy. The sanctuary was wonderful, but Bridget had seen there were few children around. She didn’t think Lily’s solution for them would be a long-term thing. Where would they all go? Would they stay together? What was going to happen with Maura?
“I’d best go find Maura and check she’s okay,” Bridget said.
“Lily left a message to say she was fine, and you were not to skip lunch,” Mrs. Wilson said, walking up behind them. Bridget couldn’t help feeling a little guilty, as if caught playing hooky.
“Sorry, Mrs. Wilson, I was just worried.”
“I know that, Bridget, but you need to let Maura get on with things. We’ve all got our crosses to bear. I hope you don’t think I’m being uncharitable, but from where I’m standing you need to let you sister shoulder some of your responsibilities.”
Bridget didn’t get much chance to ponder Mrs. Wilson’s comments, as Kathleen grabbed her arm.
“See, Bridget, you got to let Maura look after the children. If you don’t, you’ll end up having to do it yourself. Now come on, let’s get some soup. I’m starving.”
Bridget let Kathleen drag her off to get the soup. She had to trust Maura, but why did the voice in her head say that was a mistake?
The days passed quickly, and the sisters fell into a routine. Maura refused to come out of the room they shared, so she looked after the little ones while Bridget and Kathleen worked in the sewing room. Bridget gradually became quite a proficient seamstress and Mrs. Wilson praised them both for their hard work. At first, Bridget was worried this would cause an issue with the other women, but they seemed to accept them. Well, apart from one girl who kept mainly to herself.
Bridget found herself wondering about her brothers, Michael and Shane. They may have grown a bit wild, but they were still her kin. If she found them, would Lily and Father Nelson be able to help them?
“Are you away with the fairies, Bridget?” Mrs. Wilson asked as she stopped at Bridget’s table to collect her work.
“Sorry Mrs. Wilson, I was thinking of my brothers,” Bridget said.
“Do you want to pop upstairs to check on them?”
“Oh no, not Liam. We have two other brothers, Michael and Shane. I was just wondering how they were faring.”
“They say no news is good news, but that’s not much comfort,” Mrs. Wilson said. “Why not speak to Lily? She may be able to find out more about them. She has a lot of contacts.”
Bridget turned her attention back to her sewing. Later that afternoon, Lily came to see her.
“Bridget, would you like to accompany me on my visit later? I usually go out one evening a week to visit some friends who, for their own reasons, won’t come to the sanctuary. I thought you might look for your brothers.”
Bridget sent Mrs. Wilson a grateful look before turning back to Lily. “Thank you. I would love to.”
“Great. Dress warmly as despite being almost summer there is a bite in the wind this evening. We will leave about six.”
Bridget would borrow Maura’s cloak. It was thicker than hers. She didn’t want to think about Maura, who was sulking away in their little room, refusing to come out. Bridget knew she was mourning David, but surely, she had to see how desperate their situation was. Lily couldn’t provide for them forever. They needed Maura to work so between the three of them they could save enough to survive on their own. Otherwise, there was no way Liam and Annie would remain with them. They would be taken away by the authorities. Bridget shivered. That was the last thing she wanted to happen.
Chapter 7
Six o’clock came quickly. Dressed in Maura’s cloak, Bridget stood waiting at the door of the sanctuary.
“Evening, miss.”
Bridget nearly fainted at the size of the man who addressed her. He was as tall as he was broad and, despite the fact that she was quite tall for a woman, he made her feel like a dwarf.
“I don’t have anything,” she said, trying to steady her voice.
“Tommy doesn’t want anything from you, Bridget,” Lily said as she approached them. “He comes with us to protect us.”
“Sorry Lily, I didn’t see you there.” Tommy grinned as he moved to let Lily pass. Even though he was smiling, his face was enough to scare off any trouble makers Bridget could imagine. She wondered how he had come about the hideous scar covering most of his cheek.
“Tommy is an old friend. He refuses to let me out at night alone and insists on bringing Mini Mike with him.”
“That’s right, miss,” Tommy said. “No harm can come to Lily with me and Mini beside her.”
Bridget looked around her for the other man, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“We will walk, and the boys will follow. Mike just went in to see Cook. He has a sweet tooth and she always keeps a couple of cookies for him,” Lily explained.
“He never shares, so if you want some you best go get your own,” Tommy added.
“Thank you, Tommy, but I’m fine.” Bridget could see his eyes were lit up with kindness. Why hadn’t she noticed that before? “Where are we going?”
“I thought we might go down to your old house. Maybe your old neighbors have seen your brothers. Tommy and Mike don’t know them, but they have put the word out and I want to see them,” Lily answered.
“Not sure my brothers will come to see you, Miss Lily.”
“They’ll come if they know what’s good for them,” Tommy growled. “Not many want to go up against us. We love Lily and we want her kept happy.”
Bridget shrank back from the look on Tommy’s face, but Lily squeezed her arm to reassure her.
“Tommy is quite protective of me. But don’t worry, your brothers won’t come to any harm. Not from my friends.” Lily beamed as the door opened and a man even bigger than Tommy appeared. “You ready, Mike?”
“Yes, Lily. Cook made oatmeal cookies this time. She still won’t marry me though. Can you put in a good word for me?”
Bridget could only stare at the giant of a man who laughed along with Lily. Cook was forty years old, if not older, and was about four foot nothing in her shoes. This man could almost hold her in one hand.
“Mike has been telling Cook he will marry her for years. She knows he’s joking,” Lily explained to Bridget.
“Am not,” Mike argued. “She’d make a fine wife, although I might not keep my slim figure.”
The three friends laughed while Bridget just stood there. The genuine affection between the three of them was palpable, but you would find it hard to put a less likely group together. Miss Lily looked like an angel between two giants.
“Now you can see why we are safe walking the streets. Not many would approach Mini Mike and Tommy. At least no one in their right mind.”
“How did you all meet?” Bridget asked.
Lily’s smile dropped at the question and Bridget wished she hadn’t asked.
“That’s a story for another day,” Lily said. “Come on, let’s get moving or it will be bedtime before we get back again.”
Bridget walked alongside Lily with Tommy in front of them and Mini Mike bringing up the rear. She was amazed how many people stopped to say hello to Lily. She seemed to know everyone.
Bridget’s heart started r
acing as they got nearer to her old home. Had Oaks come looking for her? Were her brothers still alive? Did Mrs. Fleming have anything to tell them?
She put her hand over her nose as the smell worsened, batting away some flies who buzzed annoyingly around her face. She tried to step over the worst of the foul smelling garbage scattered across the street. Little kids, barefoot and only partially dressed, ran around them not caring where their feet landed. They were covered in muck and stank to high heaven. Funny how she had lived among the stench and noise only two weeks ago. Tonight, she felt as if her stomach would revolt. She noticed Lily covering her nose occasionally. Her new friend looked up to catch Bridget watching her.
“Lavender drops. Mrs. Wilson scents my gloves to help me cope with the stench,” Lily told her.
Bridget just nodded, her eyes darting everywhere as she recognized some faces. They stared at her as if she were a mirage. She smiled back but they didn’t return her smiles. It was almost as if they didn’t recognize her. She led the group into one of the tenements until she found their old neighbor.
“Mrs. Fleming, how are you?” Bridget asked. “How’s the baby?”
“Mother of God, is it yourself, Bridget?” the woman asked, looking surprised.
“Who else would I be?” Bridget asked with a nervous laugh.
“You look lovely lass. All done up like that. I always knew you were a beauty just like your mam. If she could see you now.”
If Mam were still alive, she wouldn’t look like this, Bridget thought, but kept her comments to herself.
“Excuse me Mrs. Fleming. My name is—"
“Lily Doherty,” Mrs. Fleming said. “I heard of you, ma’am. You’re just about as famous as the president around these parts. May God bless you and your family.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Fleming,” Lily said, her cheeks flushing. “I do what I can.”
“You do more than that and we all know it. It’s said you don’t turn away anyone from your door. Is it with Miss Lily you be staying, Bridget? Actually, don’t answer that. The walls have ears around this sorry place.” Mrs. Fleming looked from side to side. “Will you come inside and share some tea?”
Orphan Train Escape Page 3