A Wedding at Mulberry Lane

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘He needn’t be. I know there are plenty of jobs around if he looks; people like me who could do with a man around for a few hours. I’m sure lots of shopkeepers would be glad to give a hero of the war a few hours work.’

  ‘Yes, I am too,’ Maureen said, ‘but Rory wants more than that for us – he always was ambitious. I think he thought he would come out of the Army with a trade or some sort of job offer…’

  ‘He’s not blind, love. People can still work with one eye and do lots of things – and maybe his sight will return.’

  ‘I pray it does,’ Maureen sighed. ‘All those years I was tied to Dad and now I’m free and able to marry Rory, if Velma was telling the truth about their marriage being bigamy, but…’ She shook her head and Peggy reached out to squeeze her hand.

  ‘He’s alive, Maureen, and he knows you, and he loves you. Just keep believin’ that things will get better. Mike is rejectin’ Janet at the moment and she’s desperate, but I’ve told her that if she loves him she just has to keep hopin’…’

  ‘Oh, poor Janet,’ Maureen said and her eyes felt wet with tears. She flicked back her dark hair, which had a natural bend; she’d allowed it to grow a little so that she could put it up in a knot out of the way under her nursing cap. ‘I’m so sorry for her – and him. It’s an awful situation to be in. Compared to Mike and to other men at the hospital, Rory is lucky. Once they’ve finished all his treatment there’s nothing to stop him comin’ down to Portsmouth and findin’ work there. I’ll have a look round and see what’s goin’ and suggest it to him.’

  ‘Yes, you do that,’ Peggy said and picked up the empty tea pot. ‘Shall I make some more? Or we’ve still got some of the coffee Able gave me at Christmas – and I like sharin’ it with my real friends…’

  ‘Sorry, I have to get home. Gran is cookin’ my tea and I have packin’ to finish,’ Maureen said, getting to her feet. ‘I’ll write and phone when I can. I’ve told Shirley Hart to come to you if she needs help while I’m away. You don’t mind?’

  ‘Of course not,’ Peggy said. ‘I’ve always liked Gordon Hart and, as I told you when he asked you to look out for his daughter when he was called up, we all help our own round here. I think her grandmother will keep goin’ for years and there won’t be the need, but if it happens I’ve plenty of room to put her up.’

  ‘Gran would have her some of the time, but I thought it might be too much for her to have a young child around the whole time – besides, Shirley is safe enough on the farm as long as she has her gran. Gordon didn’t want her in London because of the risk of bombing and her gran is related to the farm owners. Unfortunately, Shirley didn’t like the people that own the farm much – Mrs Hunter is a stern, no-nonsense sort.’

  ‘Shirley wasn’t used to that,’ Peggy agreed. ‘When you offered to look after her, you didn’t expect your father to get married, of course, nor that you would be working away.’

  ‘No, I thought I’d be here in the lanes. If Shirley does come to you let me know. I’ll arrange somethin’ – try to get relocated to London…’ Maureen bit her lip. ‘I’d like to do that for Rory’s sake, but I’ve only just been assigned to Portsmouth and I wanted to help not cause bother…’

  ‘You should set your mind to your work,’ Peggy told her. ‘Rory understands, even if he doesn’t like it, Maureen. Besides, you can’t fight the battles going on in his head, even if you visited every day. He has to come to terms with his life and to accept that things are different now. Laurie was quite a while gettin’ over his ordeal in the last war… I’m not sure that he ever did manage to subdue his memories.’

  ‘War is awful,’ Maureen said. ‘I didn’t really know how bad it was until I met that troop train with the volunteers and saw the wounded arrivin’ – and that’s why I want to do what I can… but I feel guilty because Rory needs my help too.’

  ‘You’re a woman.’ Peggy laughed gently. ‘We never stop feeling guilt, love. It’s a part of our being and we can’t avoid it. You’re not Rory’s keeper or his mother. You didn’t neglect his child and let it die – and you were not to blame for his injury. We all have to make sacrifices to do the right thing, and it would be wrong for you to waste the chance you’ve been given.’

  ‘Yes, I know.’ Maureen smiled at her friend. ‘But it makes me feel better hearin’ you say it. I’m going to miss poppin’ in for a chat.’

  ‘And I’ll miss you, love,’ Peggy said, ‘but you’re not goin’ to the ends of the Earth. You’ll get home sometimes…’

  ‘Yes.’ Maureen stood up and they embraced. ‘I’ll write and tell you how I’m gettin’ on, Peggy.’

  ‘And I’ll tell you what’s happenin’ here – and I’ll visit Rory and let you know how he’s doin’…’

  ‘Thanks. I’d better go then…’ She picked up her basket and left.

  Maureen was grateful to Peggy for saying none of it was her fault, but she still felt guilty about deserting Rory. Yet there was nothing she could do just yet. Perhaps he would be released sooner than he thought and then he could come down to her; they could be together and he could look for work in the area…

  Just as she was leaving the pub, Maureen saw a soldier wave to her from the other side of the road. She hesitated, surprised at seeing Gordon Hart in London, and surprised at the pleased feeling it gave her to see his tall figure walking towards her. He was attractive and his time away in the Army had given him a slight tan and a look of strength and determination he hadn’t had before. She was very aware of the smile in his soft eyes and the way his dark hair slicked back from his face; it was shorter than she’d remembered, but it suited him.

  ‘Peggy and I were just talkin’ about you.’ Maureen smiled as he came up to her. ‘Have you been down to see Shirley?’

  ‘I brought her up to town for a treat,’ Gordon said. ‘I’ve got two weeks leave, before they send me over there, wherever that is; they never tell us where we’re goin’ – Shirley was hoping you would come to the zoo with us and have tea at Lyons…’

  ‘I would’ve liked that but I’m leavin’ for Portsmouth this evenin’,’ Maureen said. ‘I start my nursing trainin’ this week.’

  ‘Yes, I got your letter,’ Gordon said and frowned. ‘Are you pleased with the change, Maureen?’

  ‘Yes, I am,’ she said. ‘You mustn’t worry about Shirley, you know. Peggy and Gran would look out for her if necessary – and I’ll always be around for her…’

  Gordon smiled and nodded. ‘I know. Shirley tells me about all the cards and little gifts you send her. She thinks of you almost as her mum these days…’

  ‘Oh…’ Maureen’s cheeks heated, because Gordon had made it clear once or twice that he would marry her if she said the word. ‘Well, she misses you, Gordon, and I thought it might help her a little to get letters, and of course I’m fond of her. Now, I must fly or I’ll miss the train. I’ll write to you – and remember to tell Shirley I haven’t forgotten it’s her birthday soon… she’ll be seven this year, won’t she?’

  ‘You’ll spoil her,’ Gordon said as he nodded and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. ‘You’re a lovely girl, Maureen. I know you’ll make a wonderful nurse.’

  ‘Thanks…’ Maureen smiled. ‘I really must go…’

  She walked quickly away, knowing that Gordon’s gaze followed her. The first time he’d asked her to marry him, he’d just wanted a mother for his little girl, but his smile told her that his feelings were warmer these days. Maureen liked him and she was fond of the little girl, who had changed from a spoiled brat since she’d felt Mrs Hunter’s hairbrush on her bottom. If she’d married Gordon, the child could’ve lived with her… but then she wouldn’t have got back with Rory…

  Maureen put thoughts of Gordon Hart and his motherless daughter to one side. After years of being virtually a prisoner of her father’s shop, she was free to work where she pleased and at last it looked as if there might be a chance of happiness for her and Rory… surely that was what she wanted? Yet a small nagging do
ubt was there at the back of her mind.

  Chapter 4

  ‘Get me another cup of tea, love,’ Henry Jackson said to his wife as he sat down in his chair by the fire that evening. ‘I’ve been on the go all day in the shop – that thankless daughter of mine! Popped in to tell me she’s leaving London and then she was off without a care in the world…’

  Violet passed him his cup. ‘Well, Maureen is twenty-six this year. She leads her own life now, Henry, and you should be grateful she came into see you… that ungrateful son of mine hasn’t been to see me for years. I don’t even know if he’s still alive. It’s ages since he sent me so much as a birthday card.’

  ‘That’s different,’ he replied, frowning because he’d wanted sympathy and his wife wasn’t offering it. ‘Your son went off years ago, but I gave that girl a good life – why did she go and leave me in the lurch? I can’t manage the shop without help, and you never go in unless you’re forced.’

  ‘I’ve got my own business, and it brings in more profit than yours does, Henry,’ Violet said and gave him a hard look, because she’d made it clear more than once that she’d expected more of their marriage. ‘I work hard as it is and you expect to be waited on hand and foot – let me tell you, I’m not your slave. Maureen may have put up with it, but I shan’t. I’ve told you to get someone to help with the shop – and I need a hand with the housework too. Just the scrubbin’ and polishin’. I can manage the rest…’

  ‘If you want help you can pay for it,’ Henry muttered, glaring at her back as she went off to the kitchen. It had annoyed him when his daughter breezed in looking as if she hadn’t a care in the world. She’d told him she was off to train as a nurse and he’d hunched his shoulder and refused to wish her good luck.

  When he married Violet he’d thought Maureen would probably live with her gran but come into the shop and help him with the stock and keeping things straight. She might have cooked for him sometimes, because Violet wasn’t much of a cook, and he’d discovered she had a sharp tongue. He’d tried having a girl in the shop years ago and it hadn’t worked, but he’d thought Maureen would always be there, grateful for what he gave her – and in his opinion he’d always been good to her, keeping her and giving her a few shillings pocket money. She just didn’t know when she was well off.

  ‘Henry, come and give me a hand with the washing up,’ Violet called from the kitchen. ‘I’ve got a customer coming for a corset fittin’ later this evenin’ and…’

  ‘Sorry, love, I’ve got to do my warden’s round,’ Henry said and heaved himself out of the chair. He’d hoped for a nice peaceful sit-down, but it looked as if the only place he would get that was down the warden’s hut. One of the younger men would brew tea for them and most likely they’d get an hour or two of peace and quiet before the siren went. ‘I might be late back…’

  ‘Henry…’ He heard Violet calling him impatiently as he walked down the stairs, but he didn’t look back. He was a fool to have got married. If he’d been sharper, he could have kept Violet waiting; there for him when he chose to visit her and his daughter at home to keep house. He’d made a bad mistake and he didn’t think there was a chance of getting Maureen to come back now she’d got a taste of freedom.

  *

  Maureen looked around the room she’d been told she was sharing with two other trainee nurses. It had three single beds separated by small cabinets and each of them had a locker at the far end of the room, and there was a table with three chairs, where they could sit to write letters or drink a cup of tea. She noticed that a tiny gas ring had been provided and there was a kettle but no sign of cups or any other utensil.

  ‘Hi, you must be the new arrival,’ a pleasant voice said behind her and Maureen turned to see a pretty young woman with black hair caught up under a uniform cap and bright blue eyes. ‘It’s a bit dire at first, but you’ll get used to it…’

  ‘I was just wonderin’ how we made ourselves a drink…’ Maureen said and went forward with her hand outstretched. ‘I’m Maureen and I’ve just this minute got here – are you one of the girls I’m sharin’ with?’

  ‘Yes, there are three of us. My name is Sally Barnes,’ the young woman said and took her hand in a firm grip. ‘I’m glad you’ve come, Maureen. We can certainly do with another pair of hands. Our other sharer is called Pam and she comes from Devon – I’m from London, same as you, but south of the city…’

  ‘Are we allowed to make tea?’ Maureen asked, liking the friendly girl immediately. ‘I brought some tea, sugar and a pint of fresh milk, also some condensed, but I only have one mug – and I didn’t think about a pot…’

  ‘That’s all right; Pam and I both have our own mugs and we use an infuser to make it in our mugs. We put everything in our lockers, because we have things called spot inspections. Sister Roberts descends like a god from the heavens with an avenging light in her eyes every so often and woe betide us if we’ve left dirty cups about. We nip to the toilets to wash the mugs and spoons in the morning, but there’s often a queue, so we keep a bowl under my bed and use the extra water from the kettle if it’s dark outside.’

  ‘Oh dear, it sounds rather spartan,’ Maureen said. ‘I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I sort of thought it would be a guesthouse with proper plumbin’, not a wooden hut…’

  Sally laughed. ‘Welcome to the war, Maureen. I was surprised too, but they told us it was temporary – that was several months ago, mind you…’

  ‘I don’t suppose it will kill me,’ Maureen laughed, feeling that she’d already made a friend. ‘Which is my bed?’

  ‘I’m afraid you’re in the end one,’ Sally said apologetically, ‘up against the wall. Last in gets what’s left…’

  ‘It’s fine,’ Maureen said. ‘And is my locker the end one too?’

  ‘Yes, number three, and I’ve got the key,’ Sally took it from her uniform pocket and handed it to her. ‘Pam wanted to use it until you got here, but I wouldn’t let her. She always seems to have so much stuff and she’ll pinch your space if she can.’

  ‘I didn’t bring much,’ Maureen said. ‘I was told I’d be given my uniforms and I don’t expect to go out often…’

  ‘Oh, we get invited all over the place,’ Sally told her cheerfully. ‘The lads invite us to dances, picnics, tea or the cinema all the time, once they’re feelin’ better – and of course we meet men from the Naval base as well. I keep some of my stuff in a case under the bed. Sister doesn’t much like it, but most of the girls do the same and she has accepted it – but woe betide you if she finds any dust there…’

  ‘Oh, well, I shan’t be going out with the patients or sailors,’ Maureen said and smiled. ‘I’ve got someone in London. He was in the Army and he’s been wounded and I shan’t let him down by goin’ out with other men.’

  ‘Oh, poor you,’ Sally said compassionately. ‘The girl who was here before me had someone in the Army too. He was badly injured and she went home to be with him, but I heard he died…’

  ‘That’s awful. Rory is gettin’ better, but he’ll be havin’ treatment for a while yet, perhaps months…’

  The door opened just then and another girl entered. She had blonde hair which was short and bubbly with natural curls, and she’d taken off her cap. Flinging it on to the middle bed, she sat down and kicked her shoes off, rubbing her toes and grimacing. She was plumper than either Sally or Maureen and immediately the tidy room seemed to be more crowded as her things just spread out everywhere in an unsightly mess. Her apron was slung on the end of the bed and slipped to the floor as she lay back against her pillows.

  ‘Hi,’ she said, belatedly realising that Maureen was there. ‘Sorry, I’ll talk to you later, but I’m bushed. We had a manic shift and I’ve got to sleep…’ And closing her eyes, Pam appeared to do just that, her gentle snores making Maureen look at Sally, who was trying not to laugh.

  ‘That’s Pam for you. Come on, I’ll take you to the canteen,’ she said. ‘I can rest later, because I have a day off. I’ll sho
w you where to get your uniform and introduce you to some of the others.’

  ‘I’ve got to report to Matron in two hours…’

  ‘Plenty of time to get your bearings,’ Sally assured her. ‘It will save you getting lost when you come back later. You’ll probably be on night shift after you see Matron, and it’s hell getting back here in the dark if you’re not sure where to go…’

  ‘Thanks,’ Maureen said. ‘Are there any lights at night or do I need a torch?’

  ‘Are you kidding me?’ Sally arched her brows. ‘We don’t have lights outside any of the buildings, because if we did we’d probably be toast by morning. I’ll show you the remains of the nurses’ accommodation that was… Hitler’s lot made a right mess of it and some of the girls inside at the time were killed.’

  Sally wasn’t teasing now, her face tense with strain. The bombing was bad enough in London, but the realisation that nurses and injured men were at risk was somehow more upsetting. War was horrible at a distance, but Maureen was about to see it at first hand and she felt her stomach tighten. The reality was likely to be far worse than anything she’d imagined.

  *

  Maureen had never worked so hard in her life. She’d been on her feet for twelve hours straight with only short breaks for a cup of tea and a sandwich, and now all she wanted to do was sleep.

  She was just about to switch off her light and curl up in bed when the hut door opened and the girl she’d seen briefly a couple of nights previously entered.

  Pam smiled at her and sat on the bed next to her. ‘You look whacked,’ she said. ‘It’s Maureen, isn’t it? I’m Pam. I’m sorry if I seemed rude the other night but I was exhausted – the way you look now.’

  ‘I thought I worked hard at home,’ Maureen groaned, ‘but this… it’s more tiring than working in a shop.’

  ‘I worked in a dress shop.’ Pam grinned. ‘I must have been mad to throw it up and come here.’