‘I’ll do that. I won’t wake you when I come in.’
They’d missed the news and there was only light music playing and he wasn’t interested in that. He made his nightly patrols around the house checking the blackouts were in place, the doors and windows locked and the range banked down for the night.
He wandered into the study and decided to straighten the desk. There were papers, scribbled notes and textbooks scattered over the surface. As he was tidying he was flicking through the books and came to a depressing decision. He couldn’t possibly, even with the help of a tutor, learn everything he had to in order to study civil engineering.
He slumped into the chair. This had been his dream for the past few years and now he had to abandon it. If he was honest with himself, he knew he would never make a good teacher so that avenue was also closed to him.
What the hell was he going to do with his life? He couldn’t fly, he couldn’t drive, and just mooching about the place living on the money that Greg had left Ellie didn’t appeal to him. If he couldn’t be a civil engineer then he had to find something equally rewarding or they might end up like Amanda and Nigel and that would be a disaster.
They were having a baby, hopefully there would be one or two more in the future, but that was women’s work. He would be the best father he could but as far as he was concerned bringing up children was best left to the wife.
He sat in the darkness finding it peaceful, exactly what he needed in order to try and find a solution to this problem. Hadn’t Ellie said she might study architecture so they could set up their own company? He couldn’t physically build houses, or design them, but maybe what he could do was manage a firm and employ people who had the skills he didn’t.
Learning what was involved in building a house would be far simpler than becoming an engineer or architect. The books he had were too advanced for what he wanted. Perhaps the best line of attack would be to work alongside a builder for a few weeks. He couldn’t do anything about it over the weekend and on Monday they were going to Glebe Farm so it would have to wait until he got back. He was more optimistic now that he had something worthwhile to do for the remainder of his life.
Twenty-Six
Ellie was exhausted by the time they arrived at Romford station. ‘A bus, a train, an underground, and then two more trains. We could have done it in under an hour in the Tiger Moth.’ They were wearing civilian clothes which were much cooler than an ATA uniform. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d travelled in mufti. ‘We’ve got an hour to wait for the local train. Why don’t we try and find a café and get a cup of tea and something to eat?’
‘I was going to suggest that. Let’s dump our luggage and then go in search of somewhere.’
Romford looked pretty much like it had done the last time she was there although there was the unmistakable smell of cordite and demolished buildings. She looked around nervously. She wasn’t nearly so brave now she was carrying a baby.
‘I think they must have had a doodlebug drop here recently.’
Before Jack could answer half a dozen Spitfires screamed overhead. Instinctively she stepped back into the protection of his arms.
‘Not bombers, Ellie, but the flying bombs. There must be some on their way.’
The air raid siren didn’t go off because these things moved so fast there wasn’t enough warning for anyone to take cover. As long as you could hear the engine you were safe. If it cut out one only had a few seconds before it would plummet straight down onto the unsuspecting people below.
They remained pressed against the wall of the station for another ten minutes but nothing flew overhead. ‘They must have shot them down. Do you think it’s safe to go for a cup of tea or should we stay here?’
‘Tea, sweetheart, after all the excitement I’m parched.’
They found a British Restaurant and he bagged them a table whilst she went to buy whatever was available.
‘No lunch left, missis, but I can make you a nice spam sandwich with piccalilli and a pot of tea, if that’s any good?’
‘That would be splendid, thank you.’
The young woman behind the counter nodded at the discernible bump underneath her frock. ‘How far along are you?’
‘Four months. Apart from running to the loo all the time I feel absolutely marvellous.’
‘Here you are, ducks, and I put on a couple of slices of Victoria sandwich. You need to keep your strength up. Your hubby lost his hand fighting for us. The least I can do is see he gets a bit of cake.’
Ellie carried it over and Jack grinned. ‘Great – that will fill a hole. Cake too? Well done.’
‘I didn’t think I showed but she guessed immediately. I suppose I’m going to have to make myself some smocks as I won’t be able to get into my normal clothes soon.’
‘I expect Joan is already doing it for you. By the way did Mabel say if anyone was going to meet us?’
‘Dad obviously can’t come and she’s frightened of the pony. I expect we’ll have to walk.’
‘You’re not carrying a suitcase three miles in your condition. I’ll find someone who can give us a lift when we get there.’
‘Nobody has got any petrol apart from farmers, doctors and the armed forces. We can leave the suitcases at the station as we both have enough clothes for a few days at Glebe Farm. I’ll steal a bit of petrol from the farm and use your car to fetch it tomorrow.’
The train was only half an hour late and they arrived at their station mid-afternoon. ‘It’s strange having to buy a ticket to travel after so many years of doing it for nothing,’ she said as they paid to leave their luggage for the second time that day.
‘There weren’t any soldiers on the train. I expect they’re all in Normandy.’
‘Don’t remind me. We’d better get a move on or we’ll be late for tea.’ She smiled at him. ‘I’m just hoping the walk will give me an appetite again. I ate far too much at the café.’
With no luggage to carry the walk was enjoyable. Not a single car passed them so they couldn’t even try and hitch a lift. Walking along the country lane, with the birds singing in the hedgerows, the sweet smell of honeysuckle and wildflowers on either side of them, one could almost imagine they were a hundred miles away from danger.
The illusion was shattered when for the second time that day a squadron of Spitfires roared overhead on the hunt for the next wave of flying bombs. They were still a good mile away when in the distance they could hear barking.
‘The dogs are coming. It’s uncanny how they know long before they could possibly smell or hear us.’
Sure enough the two dogs hurtled towards them and wriggled and whined with pleasure as she and Jack fussed them.
‘Mabel and Fred will know we’re almost home. I’m worried about Dad. He never goes to bed unless he’s really ill.’
‘No point in getting upset, darling, we’ll be there in a minute and you can see for yourself. How old is he, do you know?’
‘Not exactly, but I think he was in his late twenties when he married Mum. Neil was born the following year and my brother would have been thirty this year.’
‘That makes him around sixty – no age really. I suppose having had a stroke a few years ago makes him more vulnerable.’
He wasn’t helping one bit. Ellie didn’t want to think about that time. She had still been with Greg then and everything was different now.
Mabel came out to met them and she was beaming, didn’t look at all anxious. ‘There you are. My Fred’s just put the kettle on. He’s feeling ever so much better today.’
Ellie hugged her stepmother and so did Jack. ‘That’s good news, but should he be up? Didn’t the doctor tell him to rest?’
‘Oh, you know your dad, love. He hates to be idle.’
She rushed ahead and into the kitchen not sure what to expect. Dad looked perfectly well. His colour was good and he was smiling. ‘Tea’s ready, Ellie love. My Mabel’s made a nice plate of scones to go with it.’
&n
bsp; ‘Have we got cream and strawberry jam?’
Mabel heard her question as she and Jack walked in. ‘I should think so. As it’s a special occasion I thought we could have it in the sitting room. I’ve already taken the tea trolley in. I’ll bring the tray, Fred love, you go through with Ellie and Jack.’
After their brisk walk they were both hungry enough to do justice to the scones. The conversation was about the forthcoming baby, the progress of the invasion and the vicious attacks of the doodlebugs. Dad’s health wasn’t mentioned. Jack wasn’t his usual lively self and Ellie was worried something had happened that he hadn’t shared with her. He would ask him when they were alone later.
‘How long are you staying with us, Ellie love?’ Mabel asked as they cleared away the remains of the cream tea together.
‘A week at least, if that’s okay with you.’
‘That’s a nice long visit. I doubt you’ll get the chance to come again before the baby. You’d think things would be improving, but it’s worse. Less in the shops and morale is ever so low.’
*
Fred gestured for Jack to sit by him on the sofa. ‘I need to talk to you, son, and not in front of the ladies.’
He guessed what this might be about and his heart sank. ‘Right, go ahead, Fred, I’m listening.’
‘I don’t want you telling my Mabel nor my Ellie, keep this between ourselves. The doctor said my heart is failing. I could go at any moment but might have a few more months if I’m lucky.’
‘God! I’m sorry, that’s really bad news.’
‘It seems when I had that stroke a few years ago it caused the damage. Been living on borrowed time, really. So not complaining. I’ve had a few years with my Mabel and that’s more than I’d ever thought to have.’
‘You have to tell them both. It’s not fair keeping them in the dark.’
‘No, son, I want whatever time I’ve got left to be happy, not to be surrounded by long faces.’
‘I’m not comfortable with keeping this secret from Ellie.’
‘You won’t have to keep it long, Jack lad. Getting these funny turns more often. That isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about. I want you to promise that you and Ellie will take care of my Mabel when I’m gone. I know you don’t want to live here…’
‘I’m not sure that’s true anymore, Fred. Ellie and I have already said that we’ll probably move when I finish studying. I’ve not even told her yet, so we’ll both have a secret to keep. I’ve written to the university and told them I’m declining their offer. There’s nothing to keep us at White Waltham.’
‘That’s all I wanted to hear. You bring your Aunt Joan along as she’ll be good company for Mabel. The farms will come to Ellie when I die anyway.’
This was a lot to take in. Fred looked well; he could scarcely believe the man he’d come to think of like a father was actually dying.
‘I was intending to learn how to be a builder but instead I’ll learn how to manage the farms. I’ll speak to Ellie tonight and suggest that we move here. I won’t tell her the real reason just that there’s no reason to stay at The Rookery.’
‘It must be a bit strange living in that house after Lady Mary was murdered. Me and Mabel were surprised you wanted to stay on.’
‘We bought the house because it was convenient whilst we were both based at White Waltham, then when I was accepted to study civil engineering at Oxford it made sense to remain there. Now I’m not going I think she’ll be happy to move. Neither of us like the village very much.’
Ellie and Mabel returned. ‘Did I hear you telling Dad we’re thinking of moving?’
‘Actually, I was telling him something I should have told you first.’ She listened and nodded as if unsurprised that he’d changed his mind about becoming a student.
‘Have you thought about what you might do instead?’ She patted her tummy with a smile. ‘I’m going to be busy but you need to find something to do or you’ll be bored.’
Mabel had been listening to this exchange and interrupted. ‘Why don’t you move back here, both of you? Fred and me rattle about here like two peas in a colander. I can’t tell you how much we’d enjoy having you here and welcoming another baby under this roof.’
Ellie looked at him questioningly and he shrugged. ‘I’d be happy to live here. Don’t forget we’ve got an airstrip and the Tiger Moth waiting for us when the war’s over.’
‘I’d forgotten about that for the moment. That makes the decision even easier. As long as Joan will be welcome as well, then let’s do it. You’re not going to Oxford and Amanda and Nigel have gone, so there’s nothing to keep as there.’
‘Then I’ll leave you two men to chat whilst Ellie and I decide how to arrange things upstairs. You’re going to need a room for the baby as well as one for your aunt.’
‘Why don’t we move into the rooms you had before we were married, Mabel love? I reckon I’ll find it easier not having to go up and down stairs every day.’
This clinched it for Mabel. ‘That’s ever such a good idea. That way you and Jack will have your privacy.’
Ellie didn’t look convinced. ‘I was going to suggest that Joan had those rooms…’
Jack stepped in. ‘I don’t think so, honey, Joan would think she wasn’t much better than a servant if we separated her off like that. Better that Fred and Mabel take them. He’s right, you don’t want him to have a funny turn and fall downstairs, do you?’
‘I just don’t like the idea of turfing you out of the best rooms, but if you’re both sure this will be better for you, then let’s do it.’
‘I can help Fred with the book work and so on, Ellie, so I won’t be twiddling my thumbs.’
Once they were alone again, he turned to his father-in-law. ‘That went better than I’d thought. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d like to learn the ropes. I can’t do any of the physical work on the farm but I can certainly do any paperwork for you.’
‘Perfect. I’ve got time to teach you everything I know about farm management – you don’t need two hands to run the farms successfully. You just need to be able to manage and delegate.’
‘Ellie and I can get you moved downstairs whilst we’re here. I think she’s decided to rent out our house rather than sell it. We just need to find suitable tenants and then we can come.’
‘We don’t need to wait to do that, Jack,’ Ellie said from the door. ‘I can get the solicitors to handle the lease and so on. I’ll suggest that Eliza and Stan move in to take care of everything until the right people are found.’
He exchanged a smile with Fred and stood up. ‘We don’t need to bring anything with us apart from the baby things and our personal items. It could be leased fully furnished. Now it’s got an upstairs WC and central heating I’m sure we’ll have no difficulty finding tenants. There will be literally hundreds of returning officers looking for homes sometime next year.’
‘Oh, my goodness! We’d completely forgotten about the other members of our family. I’m not leaving Grey or Ginger behind, Jack. I don’t know if we mentioned it, but our dog is the size of a small pony and lives inside and cat is also huge.’
‘As long as he’s happy to sleep in the kitchen it won’t bother me. Not sure how the yard dogs and cats will take to the new arrivals but we’ll worry about that when it happens.’ Nothing was going to spoil Mabel’s delight at having a full house again.
*
Less than a week after they’d borrowed Fred’s farm van to return to The Rookery they were ready to leave for the last time.
‘It seems strange going home again, not having our own house anymore, but it’s the right thing to do,’ Ellie said as she looked around for anything they might have missed.
‘As I’m going to be running the estate for Fred in future I need to be there. I was thinking that maybe we could build ourselves a house, something modern, when the war’s over and there are more builders available.’
‘There’s certainly enough land. Won’t Dad and Mabel think
it a bit odd if we don’t want to share with them?’
‘I wasn’t thinking of them, I was thinking of you. You won’t have your own kitchen, be running your own house and it might be even more difficult when you have the baby.’
‘You mean having Joan and Mabel fussing over the new arrival?’
‘I do.’ He smiled and ruffled her hair which he knew annoyed her.
‘I don’t particularly like housework or domesticity, I have never been a typical girl. I wish I was as enthusiastic as you are about being involved in the farms.’
‘You’ll think of something you want to do. You could always write a book about your adventures in the ATA.’
She threw her arms around him. ‘That’s exactly what I will do, but I’ll include my time as a radar operator as well. What I need is a typewriter – finding one will be my mission.’
Eliza and Stan were waiting to wave them off but there was still the cat to find. Grey was already flopped out beside the bits and pieces, and the pram, in the back of the van but Ginger had taken one look at it and vanished before they could put him in the cardboard box that he was supposed to travel in.’
‘Why don’t you leave him here? Mrs Reynolds. If he wanted to be with that blooming great dog, he’d already be in the back of the van,’ Eliza said.
‘If you’re sure you’re happy to look after him, then that’s what we’ll have to do. I just hope he doesn’t try and follow us and get lost.’
‘Whoever takes over this house will get Ginger as part of the furniture. Take care of yourselves. And thanks ever so much for letting us be caretakers, we won’t let you down.’
*
They stopped several times and the journey took all day. Ellie just hoped the two little dogs who had been in residence for the past few years didn’t object too strenuously to the new arrival.
‘Ellie, let me out here. I want to walk down the lane and I can take Grey with me. He’s been cooped up long enough and needs to stretch his legs if he’s not going to make a poor impression on his new family.’
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