The Forgotten Family of Liverpool: A gritty postwar family saga novel that will break your heart

by Pam Howes

  ‘What is your daughter’s name and age?’

  ‘She’s Carol Rodgers and she’s ten,’ Dora said.

  Mr Storey frowned and beckoned her inside before going over to his desk. He picked up a piece of paper and looked at it, then went to a filing cabinet in the corner, opening the third drawer down and pulling out a card. He ran his finger down the card and nodded. ‘I thought the name rang a bell. We sent Carol home at dinnertime. Complained of a tummy ache, so according to this information her mother was informed by telephone and she came and collected her.’

  Dora stared at him as though he’d gone mad. ‘But I’m her mother and I got no such call,’ she said, her voice rising. ‘There must be some mistake. What phone number do you have on there?’

  ‘I’m afraid that’s confidential information, Mrs Rodgers.’

  ‘I’m Ms Evans,’ Dora shrieked. ‘Who has got my daughter? What have you done with her?’

  It was Mr Storey’s turn to look worried now. ‘All I can tell you is that Mrs Ivy Rodgers came and took her home after we called to let her know that Carol was unwell. Carol went away quite happily with her.’

  ‘Ivy, you called Ivy?’ Dora realised she was yelling now and took a deep breath. ‘Ivy is not Carol’s mother; she is her stepmother. How dare you let her take my daughter? Why is her phone number on Carol’s record?’

  Mr Storey looked down at the card he was holding. ‘It says here that the contact number was changed recently, following information sent to the school via a letter brought in by your daughter.’ He looked up. ‘I really think you need to take this matter up with Mrs Rodgers, er, Ms Evans. There appear to be some crossed wires.’

  ‘Oh, don’t you worry, I will,’ Dora snapped. ‘And get that number changed back to mine right away.’ She grabbed a pen from his desk and wrote the shop number down on a piece of paper and thrust it at him, before grabbing Jackie’s hand and marching out of the office. Anger carried her back to the shop. She’d swing for that bloody Ivy. What the hell did she and Joe think they were doing, undermining her parental authority like that?

  As they approached the shop she saw an ambulance, its bells ringing, pull up outside and her heart sank. Esther? Oh my God, she’d taken so long and promised she’d be quick, with her being poorly and Sammy wanting to take her home. She dashed inside to see Sammy wringing his hands, a white-faced Esther lying on the floor by his feet, a cushion under her head. She dropped down beside her as the ambulance attendants hurried in. She heard Sammy explaining what had happened. Esther had just collapsed onto the floor in front of him and he’d been unable to get any response from her. He’d panicked and called an ambulance.

  35

  It was one of the longest nights of Dora’s life as she sat with Sammy and held his hand. They were waiting for news in the family area of Fazakerley hospital. Sammy had gone with Esther in the ambulance and Dora had told him she would get Frank to bring her to join him as soon as he called in on his way home from work. Sammy had called out as the ambulance doors closed that she wasn’t to tell Sonny what had happened. Frank was looking after Jackie and told them not to worry about anything. He’d lock up the shop and it would remain closed for the time being.

  The problem of Carol being taken out of school Dora would let Frank deal with. She’d called the prefab after Sammy left but no one answered the phone and her loyalties were torn; she knew Sammy needed her and the school had assured her that Carol had been happy to go off with Ivy. Frank had said he would call Joe and speak to him when Joe got home from work. Frank was as angry as Dora and agreed it was out of order for Ivy to do such a thing.

  A young nurse disturbed her thoughts as she wheeled a trolley in. It was set with a snack and a pot of tea. ‘Thought you’d be ready for some refreshments.’ She smiled and poured two cups for them. ‘Let me know if you need anything else. The sandwiches are cheese or egg.’

  ‘Is there any news yet?’ Sammy asked, his voice wavering. All they’d been told so far was that the doctor who’d examined Esther suspected a bleed in the brain and was operating immediately.

  ‘Not yet, I’m sorry.’ The nurse smiled sympathetically. ‘Your wife is still in theatre. A doctor will be with you as soon as we have some news.’

  Dora sniffed back tears and took a sip of the hot sweet tea, just like her mam used to make for shock. She hadn’t thought she’d be able to eat anything, but her stomach growled as she lifted the lid off the plate of sandwiches, reminding her that she’d had nothing since dinnertime and it was now two thirty in the morning. ‘Come on, Sammy,’ she cajoled as he protested he wasn’t hungry. ‘We both need to keep our strength up for Esther. You know how much she likes to make us eat.’

  At three fifteen a young doctor came to them and led them to a side ward where Esther lay on a bed, her face as white as the pillow she rested on. ‘I’m afraid it’s just a matter of time,’ the doctor whispered. ‘The bleed was extensive and there was nothing we could do to stop it. I’m so sorry.’

  Sammy wept uncontrollably in Dora’s arms. Her own heart breaking, she found the strength from somewhere to comfort this man who’d become as dear as a father to her. How he would cope without his darling Esther, she couldn’t imagine. The pair were inseparable. She took a deep breath. ‘Sammy, do you think it’s time we let Sonny know what’s happened? I could call him at his friend’s or ask Frank to go and get him.’

  He pulled away from her, wiping tears and snot on his shirtsleeve. ‘Over my dead body,’ he growled. ‘This is all his fault. Him coming home and upsetting her made her ill. She’s not been right since the day he walked through that front door, fretting and worrying about what he’d be up to next. I won’t have him around when I’m saying goodbye to her. The only person I want by my side is you, Dora.’

  Dora nodded, too choked to speak.

  Esther passed away just before Frank arrived at the hospital to tell Dora he’d taken Jackie to school and that he’d put a notice up on the shop door. He went to find a phone to let work know he wasn’t coming in today due to a bereavement. When he came back to them Sammy asked if Frank could take him home and requested that they come into the house with him. He couldn’t face it on his own.

  Dora felt her stomach lurch as Frank pulled onto the drive of Sammy’s beautiful detached home. Sonny’s car was parked there.

  Sammy tutted and shook his head. ‘What the bloody hell is he doing here?’

  The front door flew open and Sonny stood on the doorstep, a look of anger on his face as he saw Frank and Dora helping his father from the car.

  Dora was thankful her brother was with them. Frank would stand no nonsense from this one.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Sonny demanded as Frank pushed past him, supporting Sammy, who ignored his son. Sonny stumbled backwards and cracked his elbow on the doorframe. ‘I asked you a question?’ he yelled, angry at being ignored. ‘I called at the shop and there was a notice on the door about not being open today. I come here to see what’s wrong and find the house empty and no sign of you or Mother.’

  ‘Get inside, boy,’ Sammy growled. ‘Showing me up on my own doorstep.’

  Frank took Sammy to the back of the house as instructed and sat him down on a sofa in a large sitting room that overlooked the well-tended back garden.

  ‘Dora, would you make us some tea while I speak to my son, please? Perhaps you could help her, Frank?’

  They nodded and left a stony-faced Sonny standing in front of the fireplace, glaring at his father.

  ‘Shout if you need us,’ Frank said, giving Sonny a look that dared him to put a foot out of place.

  ‘Why would he need you,’ Sonny yelled after him. ‘I’m his flesh and blood, not you.’

  Dora filled the kettle and placed it on the gas hob. She looked around the huge kitchen where Esther had made all her beautiful cakes and biscuits and felt the tears running down her cheeks. Frank put his arms around her and held her tight.

  ‘I can’t believe she’s gone,’ she sobbed.
‘She wasn’t well, but I never expected this… How are we going to cope without her? She was Sammy’s life, his world.’ She stopped as she heard raised voices from the sitting room and then the door opened and Sonny barged his way into the kitchen. His face was white, but he looked angry rather than upset.

  ‘Why didn’t one of you call me?’ he demanded. ‘She was my mother, I should have been there. Now he’s blaming me, saying it was my fault she died. You two had no right to be with her at the end.’

  ‘I wasn’t,’ Frank said quietly. ‘And Dora was there because your father asked her to stay. She’s been there for both of them for a long time now and them for her. It’s called respect. You should try it sometime.’

  ‘Oh, she’s been there all right, wheedling her way in, living rent-free in the flat that should have been mine when I came home. Well, things will change now, I can tell you. He’s in no fit state to make decisions. That will be down to me from now on. I want you and your brats out of that flat by the end of next week.’ He turned at a noise from the hallway and next thing his feet left the ground and he was on the floor, flat on his back, holding his nose.

  ‘That’s for your mother,’ Sammy said, rubbing the back of his hand. ‘And Dora stays put. Give me back your key, get out of my home and my life. I don’t ever want to set eyes on you again. You are not, and never will be, welcome. Go and sort your mess out in London. And I don’t want you at the funeral either.’ He looked at Dora. ‘I’ll have that cuppa now if you don’t mind, my dear.’ He shuffled away as Dora looked at Frank and shrugged her shoulders.

  Following Jewish tradition, Esther’s funeral was arranged within twenty-four hours and a service held at the Sefton Park Hebrew Congregational Church. Dora had never seen a church so packed. The couple still had many friends, in spite of losing some over Sonny’s past indiscretions, and were popular in Liverpool as their business had served the community for many years. Word had quickly got round after Frank put an announcement up in the shop window about Esther’s death, along with an apology for the shop still being closed. Dora had been shocked by the speed of the arrangements. The funerals she’d been involved with for baby Joanna, Joanie and her dad had taken several days to prepare for.

  Esther’s graveside burial service was held at Long Lane Jewish Cemetery in Fazakerley and Dora was touched to see Agnes standing by the gates as the procession passed by. Agnes caught up with them as Dora and Frank parked their car and made their way to the grave.

  ‘Thank you for coming,’ Dora said as Agnes linked her arm.

  Agnes smiled. ‘I couldn’t not come. And it’s only a few minutes’ walk from my house. How’s Sammy holding up? He looks very smart.’

  ‘Yes, he does,’ Dora said proudly. Sammy wore a dark suit and a tall black hat with his beard and hair neatly trimmed. She was so used to seeing him covered in bits of cotton thread and wearing his usual skull-cap. ‘He’s okay. Still in shock. They do things differently to how we do them. It’s been so quick. We’ve not even had time to think properly. Certainly no time to grieve yet.’

  ‘No sign of Sonny Jim then?’

  ‘Nope. And hopefully he won’t come back. Sammy’s washed his hands of him. He wrote a long letter last night to tell him that the money he was loaned when he got married will be written off, but he will get nothing else. If he tries any funny business Sammy will take him to court for it. I posted the letter first thing this morning to the bank where Sonny works. Sammy said to make sure I asked for it to be signed for so we know he’s got it. I stayed at the house with him last night and so did Frank. Joe’s looking after the kids today; he’s taken a day off work so he can take them to and from school.’

  ‘And you sorted that mess out about the phone number?’

  ‘Yes,’ Dora replied. ‘Ivy said that she’d asked in her letter for their number to be added to mine in case of emergencies when the school couldn’t contact me. Joe apparently thought it was a good idea too. But of course that isn’t what the letter actually said, and I was never contacted because they thought it was a genuine number change. She lies through her teeth, as we know. But short of asking for that letter back, which I know Joe won’t do as he’d rather keep the peace, what can we do?’

  They joined the other mourners at the graveside, but stood well back, as Dora wasn’t too sure about Jewish protocol and didn’t want to offend anyone by doing the wrong thing. They were there to see Esther laid to rest, and that’s all that mattered. She sent a little silent prayer to heaven in her mind, sure that Esther would know they were all thinking about her.

  Frank handed Dora a mug of Horlicks as she stretched out on the bed settee at the flat. His sister looked pale and exhausted. It had been an eventful last few days. Topsy twisted around his legs and he stroked her ears affectionately. She purred and rolled onto her back. ‘Soft old thing,’ he said, tickling her tummy. He was staying here while the shop was closed as he felt Dora was vulnerable on her own. There were some right scallies around, like them that had burgled Dora that time. She’d never got her rings back; the scuffers never did get to the bottom of it. Frank always kept a look out in pawn shop windows and the like for them, but he’d had no luck so far. He felt better knowing that if he stayed here he could keep his eye on things for Sammy too so he had some time to grieve for Esther. Frank knew exactly how he would be feeling right now. Even though he and Joanie had only had a few months together and Sammy and Esther had shared a lifetime of marriage, the pain was just as bad and it never went away. Thank God they’d both got Dora and her kiddies to look after.

  36

  While the shop was still closed during the week following Esther’s funeral, Dora caught a bus over to the pleasant suburb of Allerton to visit Sadie in her new home. It was ages since they’d seen each other. With school holidays looming, both would be busy with their kids, so today was an ideal time for a catch-up.

  Sadie, looking well, and as slim as anyone who’d carried five babies in quick succession could, welcomed her into the spacious hallway with open arms. ‘Oh, it’s so good to see you. The little ones are out in the back garden so come through. We can do the tour as we go.’

  Dora admired Sadie’s light and spacious sitting room with its bay window and new carpet, and the first three-piece suite she’d ever owned. ‘Brand new as well,’ she said. ‘It’s on the never-never from Epstein’s. It was the only way we could afford to buy things, but Stan’s got overtime most weeks so we’re managing. Better than all that mismatched stuff from Wright Street. And look,’ she said as they reached the kitchen at the back that overlooked the garden, ‘a fridge!’

  ‘Oh lovely. That’s what I miss. I loved my fridge at the prefab. I could have had Mam’s, but Frank’s taken it to his mate’s for when he gets offered a flat. He half-paid for it when they bought it, so it was almost his anyway.’

  ‘And see,’ Sadie pointed through a hatch in the wall, ‘there’s a dining area, but we’ve shoved the table right up to the wall so the kids have got space to play. Saves them taking their stuff into my posh room and making a mess. I’ll show you upstairs when we’ve had a brew. There are a couple of deckchairs outside. We can sit out and get some fresh air while it’s nice. Belinda and Steven are on the lawn. I can’t believe our Lindy starts school in September. Time flies.’

  ‘It does,’ Dora agreed. ‘Our Carol goes up to secondary school next year.’

  Sadie brought two mugs of coffee out and they relaxed in the warm sunshine.

  ‘Your garden is lovely,’ Dora said, admiring the neat lawn and well-stocked flower beds.

  ‘My dad comes over at the weekend and looks after it for us. It was covered in builders’ rubble and weeds when we moved in but it’s a good size. The bottom end is a lost cause because I’ve got two would-be Anfield players on my hands. They have to practise somewhere I suppose. Don’t want them out on the front in case they break any windows. The neighbours are a bit classier round here than Wright Street – present company excepted,’ she finished wi
th a grin as Dora raised an amused eyebrow.

  ‘Wonder how the Smyths are getting on? Bet that Lenny one is in prison now or the army, if they’d have him. Did you ever hear anything else about your jewellery?’

  Dora shook her head. ‘No, those are long gone by now. For all we know, Lenny could be married and his new wife wearing my rings. It’s a shame in a way; I’d like to have given one each to the girls when they’re older, but it wasn’t meant to be.’

  ‘How’s Sammy doing? We saw the news about Esther in the Echo. Bet it was a shock for you both. So sudden like that.’

  ‘It was awful.’ Dora sighed and chewed her lip. ‘I spoke to Sammy this morning before I left home. He said he’s okay, just putting his paperwork in order while he’s got the chance, but he sounds lost. I don’t know if we can carry on with the business to be honest, if he’ll have the heart to do it, and I know this might sound selfish, considering, but I’m really concerned about my future. It’s my home as well as my job. I have to admit that I feel quite scared when I allow myself to think about it.’

  ‘Are you still on the council list?’ Sadie asked.

  Dora stared at her. ‘I don’t know, I never gave it a thought. They won’t have my new address though. Do you think I should ring them to find out?’

  ‘Definitely. I mean, if Sammy decides to sell up, where would you go? A buyer might want the flat for storage or to live in. You’d be on the move again.’

  Dora nodded. ‘I’ll do it as soon as I get home. Oh God, the thought of having to uproot again makes me feel ill. I can’t go back to Knowsley because there’s nowhere to go back to. And finding somewhere private to rent that’s big enough for me to earn a living out of as well would cost the earth.’