There was applause and cheering from the Barnstormers at the back of the room.
‘Pat was a stalwart of the troupe, not only singing with her sisters but also bringing a classical repertoire to our shows.’ He turned to Pat and said simply, ‘I will miss her voice. Now I ask you to raise your glasses to toast Pat and Tony!’
After the toast Goldstein produced a telegram. ‘Speaking of the USA, I am delighted to read a message from Macy who, as you know, returned home after her “Stirling” work in the aircraft factory. She says, “Wish you guys all the best STOP See you in New York STOP Begin filming next month with Bob Hope STOP”.’
There was a spontaneous eruption of applause at Macy’s news and when it died down, Goldstein spoke again. ‘Incredible to think that one of our friends will soon grace the silver screen. Now, finally, it is highly unusual for a bride to sing at her wedding, but I’ve asked Pat to sing one last song for us before she leaves.’
Peggy was already seated at the baby grand in the corner of the room and Pat joined her there.
‘This is for Tony,’ she said and the dramatic opening bars began. She sang of her joy at seeing his face, hearing his voice and living her life ‘With a song in my heart for you’.
When the final note faded, the guests were on their feet clapping and when Tony took her in his arms and kissed her, they cheered.
‘I’ve never seen anything so romantic,’ said Sheila.
‘Later, will you sing like that for me?’ asked Philippe.
‘I might, if you ask me nicely.’
‘S’il te plaît, ma chérie,’ he whispered and Sheila threw back her head and laughed.
Peggy, still at the piano, began to play a familiar introduction. ‘Don’t sit down, Pat,’ she said. ‘Come on Irene, Sheila, we’ll have one last song from the Golden Sisters!’ And they took up their positions beside the piano, smiled and swayed and caught the note and swung into ‘Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree’. It was as if every concert and every song had culminated in this performance to bring them out of the dark days of war into the sunshine of peace.
They took their final bow, but within seconds the clapping and cheering had been drowned out by a cacophony of sounds: church bells, factory hooters, ships’ sirens.
All at once people were hurrying out of the room and into the street. It was time for Churchill’s broadcast. The scene that met them outside was beyond belief. The crowds they had seen on the way to the hotel had multiplied to thousands. There was a sea of people all the way to the City Hall and, in the opposite direction, thousands more down Royal Avenue and beyond as far as the eye could see.
At three o’clock precisely, the loud speakers crackled and the crowd fell silent as Churchill’s speech to the nation was transmitted. The slow and sonorous voice weighed every syllable and when he declared, ‘The German war is therefore at an end,’ the noise was deafening. ‘We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing …’ Waves of cheering and laughter up and down the streets. Churchill’s closing words – ‘Long live the cause of freedom. God save the King!’ – were the cue for celebrations that would last well into the night.
‘You know, Martha,’ said Goldstein. ‘There were times when I thought I’d never see this day, but the spirit of this place and its people is indestructible.’
‘Sure, it’s about looking after each other,’ said Martha. ‘Family, friends, neighbours, strangers.’
‘Is that how you see the world, Martha?’
She smiled. ‘Indeed it is, Isaac, indeed it is.’
A Song in my Heart Page 36