Stormy Days On Mulberry Lane Read online

  ‘Gordon won’t expect me just yet,’ Maureen said. ‘I’ll make a cup of tea in your kitchen, Sheila, and start the mixes for the morning – if the pastry is cooling in the fridge it will save time then.’

  Sheila nodded as the midwife clucked round her, clearly disapproving of the talk of making pastry, but Peggy winked at her behind Rene’s back and Sheila grinned.

  The two of them went downstairs, leaving Sheila to the tender mercy of the midwife.

  ‘She’s a bit of a tiger,’ Peggy said as they entered the kitchen and made themselves at home. She made their tea while Maureen made a batch of pastry for the Bakewell tarts she intended to cook the next day fresh. ‘Sheila will have her breathing down her neck each time she comes to check on baby’s weight or progress.’

  ‘Yes, she’s new round here,’ Maureen said and smiled. ‘Sister Mary was wonderful to me when I had Gordy and Matty. I was lucky, but she retired last year and they’ve got more of these new midwives now.’

  ‘I’m glad that is over anyway,’ Peggy said and frowned. ‘We probably had time to get to the hospital after all, but I was afraid if we tried, she might give birth in the taxi.’

  ‘I was happy to help,’ Maureen smiled. ‘It was rather special, Peggy. A moment we shared and won’t forget.’ She wrinkled her brow. ‘Good job it wasn’t next weekend – I’ll be away for a few days.’ She laughed. ‘I know we’ve only just got back from the last, but Gordon wants us to have some holidays and it is rather lovely.’

  ‘Going somewhere nice?’

  ‘Just to Southend for a couple of days over the weekend this time.’

  ‘Have a lovely time – but I’m glad you were here today.’

  ‘So am I.’ Maureen smiled. ‘It was lovely to see Sheila with her new baby.’

  ‘Yes, and she was so delighted when you told her she had a daughter,’ Peggy said, smiling at her friend. ‘I knew she would be fine with you, Maureen.’

  ‘Sheila had done most of the work before I got there,’ Maureen said and flattened the pastry with her hand before rolling it out. She wrapped it in greaseproof paper and put it in the fridge. ‘I think I’ll do the rest tomorrow.’

  ‘I’ll come in and help,’ Peggy promised, even though it wasn’t one of her mornings. ‘Able will take the children to the pool or the rink – I think Fay is eager to get back on the ice, so we’ll have to see how she gets on with her first time back.’ She looked up as Rene entered the kitchen. ‘Is everything all right?’ Peggy asked, her heart jerking as she saw the look in the midwife’s eyes. ‘I thought they were both fine?’

  ‘Mother has come through very well considering,’ Rene said. ‘Baby looks well, but she’s a little small so we’ll keep an eye on her – and I think Mrs Ashley must stay in bed for two weeks. No talk of work or worrying about her business.’ She frowned at them as if they’d done something wrong. ‘She has been lucky, but that doesn’t mean she can just carry on as normal – she needs complete rest—’

  ‘Yes, of course, and we’ll be looking after everything,’ Peggy said. ‘Sheila knows that – and Maureen was just reassuring her that she would look after the cooking as always, at least until she goes off for her holiday. I’ll get someone to help me for that short time or we might close the shop for a couple of days.’

  Rene nodded, but her smile was still barely there. ‘As long as she understands she won’t be going back to her normal ways for at least two weeks – and preferably longer if she listens to me. Young Margaret has to come first. Some of these modern mothers think they should carry on as if they were single with no responsibilities.’ She gave them a hard look. ‘I shall leave you to look after them now – but ring me if you have any concerns.’

  Peggy and Maureen nodded silently. They looked at each other as she left and then, when she outer door was safely shut, burst into spontaneous laughter.

  ‘How many children have we had been us?’ Maureen asked, shaking her head. ‘Come on, Peggy, let’s take a pot of tea and some cake up to Sheila in case she fancies it.’

  ‘You go up – I’ll just ring Pip and tell him the news.’ Peggy smiled. ‘He should be in his hotel room now.’

  ‘Did you try earlier?’

  ‘Yes, but reception said he wasn’t there.’

  Peggy went through to the hall and dialled the number of the hotel that Pip had given to his wife in case she needed him. She got through to the reception and this time she spoke to a man, who sounded a bit awkward when she told him who she was and what she wanted.

  ‘Mrs Ronoscki?’ he said tentatively. ‘You’re Mr Ashley’s mother?’

  ‘Yes. I need to speak to him please. I have some important news—’

  ‘I’m afraid Mr Ashley isn’t here,’ the receptionist said. ‘I feel terrible, but we were just considering whether to telephone Mr Ashley’s home – the thing is, he has had an accident—’

  ‘An accident?’ Peggy’s heart caught with sudden fear. ‘What happened – is he badly hurt?’

  ‘We haven’t been given details, Mrs Ronoscki,’ he replied. ‘I can give you the number of the accident and emergency unit he was taken to – we were informed because he had a receipt from us in his pocket. We wondered why you hadn’t been informed?’

  ‘The phone did ring earlier, but it was at an inconvenient time,’ Peggy said, fighting her panic. ‘Will you please give me the number?’

  She wrote it down carefully. Her heart was beating fast and she felt a little sick. Pip in an accident – just when his wife had given birth to the daughter they’d wanted so badly.

  Peggy was about to dial the number when the doorbell rang. She went to answer it and her sense of distress and near panic increased as she saw the police officer there.

  ‘Pip – is he alive?’ she asked in a breathless voice, her hands trembling.

  ‘May I come in please?’ he asked and stepped inside the hall. ‘You are…?’

  ‘Peggy Ronoscki – I’m Pip Ashley’s mother. His hotel just told me there was an accident, but they didn’t know any more.’

  ‘He was in a car that had stopped at the side of the road. A lorry ran into it and both he and his passenger were injured and taken to hospital. I believe Mr Ashley is quite badly injured and the lady is slightly less so…’

  ‘The lady?’ Peggy frowned. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t know who that might be – my son’s wife has just given birth to her second child and I was going to tell him the wonderful news—’

  The police officer frowned. He consulted his notes. ‘The passenger was a young woman of perhaps twenty or so – and she has superficial cuts and bruises, but Mr Ashley is unconscious and needs surgery.’

  ‘I see…’ Peggy bit her lip. Why had Pip had a female passenger in his car when he was sitting at the side of the road and who was she? ‘Thank you for letting us know, officer. I shall let my daughter-in-law know that her husband has had an accident, but I don’t think she needs to know the rest.’ He nodded. ‘And now, if you don’t mind, I need to telephone the hospital.’

  After the officer had departed, Peggy made the call and was put through several departments until someone was finally able to give her some news.

  ‘Mr Ashley has severe damage to his legs, also one shoulder and, we think, to the back of his neck or head. He is in surgery at the moment, Mrs Ronoscki, and if you leave your number, someone will let you know when he is out and his condition then.’

  ‘That is all you can tell me for now?’ Peggy asked, feeling sick with worry.

  ‘I’m sorry that is all I’ve been told. You will be informed when he is out of surgery.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Peggy replaced the receiver and stood staring at it for a moment, uncertain of what to do. She was about to go up to Sheila when Maureen came down to her.

  ‘What’s wrong, Peggy?’ she asked, as she saw the worried expression in her face. ‘We heard the door—’

  ‘It’s Pip – he’s had a nasty accident and they took him to the Winchester Hospital. He was in his
car and a lorry ran into it—’ She blinked hard to ward off the tears, ‘—He is in surgery at the moment – I think it is serious, Maureen.’

  ‘Oh, Peggy love – what on earth do we tell Sheila?’

  ‘She has to know,’ Peggy swallowed a sob. ‘At least some of it…’

  ‘Yes,’ Maureen looked at her doubtfully. ‘What a time for it to happen!’

  ‘I’ll stop here tonight,’ Peggy said. ‘We’ll tell Sheila and then I’ll ring Able and let him know.’

  Sheila was lying with her eyes closed. Maureen and Peggy looked at each other, because how did you tell a woman who had just given birth that her husband had been hurt in a car accident?

  Sheila opened her eyes and looked at them. ‘Is it Pip?’ she asked, a flicker of fear in her eyes. ‘Tell me please – I know it is something, because he hasn’t rung to see how I am and he always does when he is away…’

  ‘Yes, Sheila love,’ Peggy said and went to sit on the edge of the bed. She reached for her hand. ‘Pip had an accident. He was sitting in his car at the side of the road and a lorry ran into it. They didn’t give me many details, but the hospital says he is in surgery and they will let us know when he is out and recovering.’

  ‘He isn’t dead then?’ Sheila asked shakily. ‘Oh, Peggy – is it my fault? Was he upset because of me, because I insisted on having another baby?’

  ‘That’s silly,’ Peggy told her and held her hand tighter. ‘Pip had just parked for some reason and the lorry smashed into him. How could that be your fault – or his?’

  Sheila shook her head, tears on her cheeks. Her distress was heart-wrenching and Peggy reached out to hold her as she wept. She stroked her head, letting her cry for a while.

  Maureen sat on her other side and held her left hand, trying to comfort her. ‘Don’t cry, love,’ she said. ‘It will upset your milk and you’ll need it all to feed baby.’

  Sheila nodded, gulped and wiped her face with the back of her hand. ‘It’s just that we’ve been a bit up and down recently. I’m not sure why – whether it’s just Pip worrying over me or if he still resents that I didn’t tell him I’d removed the cap, because I wanted another baby.’

  ‘It isn’t either,’ Peggy told her firmly. ‘Pip loves you, Sheila. Yes, perhaps he was a little anxious for your health – we all have been. I know Pip and if he’s been a bit off it will be work – maybe things haven’t gone just right down there.’

  Pip had gone down to Devonshire where he was having talks with other designers and engineers who were working on new aeroplanes. So why was he in Winchester Hospital? It was a puzzle. He went to see his fellow designers every few weeks and Peggy had sensed a bit of distance in him herself recently but had thought no more about it. Pip could be moody – he got that from his father, Laurie Ashley – and Peggy hadn’t been concerned enough to ask him what was on his mind. Now she was regretting that.

  ‘You should go home,’ she told Maureen as Sheila’s tears ceased. ‘I’m staying here tonight, Sheila love. You can’t be on your own and nor can you answer the telephone.’

  Sheila nodded, looking relieved but sad and resigned. ‘Thank you, Peggy. I know I can rely on you – on both of you. Peggy is right, Maureen, you must go home. It’s getting late and your family needs you.’

  Maureen nodded and stood up. ‘I’ll go, but I’ll be back in the morning. Don’t worry about the tea shop or the pub, Sheila. Peggy and I will organise it all for you.’

  ‘Thanks – it’s wonderful to have good friends,’ Sheila said and squeezed her hand. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you both.’

  ‘You would do the same for us,’ Peggy said. ‘I’m going to let Able know the situation – I shan’t be long, love.’

  Peggy went back downstairs and rang her husband.

  Able listened and told her not to worry. ‘I’ll do whatever I can, hon. We’ll see what Pip is like after the surgery – I can look after the kids while you go down to see him. Or we can all go down together.’

  ‘I have to think of Sheila too,’ Peggy said, feeling torn two ways. The mother in her was screaming that she wanted to see her eldest son; he was ill and he might need her – but she couldn’t and wouldn’t leave Sheila, and Maureen couldn’t do everything alone. ‘It may be best if you go down and visit him, Able. Explain to him if he is awake that I need to look after his wife, and telephone Janet too, let her know about the baby and Pip—’

  ‘Is something else wrong?’ As sensitive as ever, Able had picked up the slight inflection in her voice. ‘Something you can’t tell me?’

  ‘Not just now, but I shall,’ Peggy said and smiled because he could always lift her spirits no matter what. ‘The important things right now are Sheila and Pip – and their baby. I expect the rest is just routine and will sort itself out when I get to talk to Pip.’ Like why he was staying at a hotel in Winchester and who this mystery woman was.

  ‘All right, hon. You get back to Sheila and don’t worry about anything – at least, try not to.’

  Peggy rang off. The first shock had worn off a little bit, leaving anxiety and distress. She was upset that Pip was hurt and anxious as to how his accident would affect Sheila and the children – and a little bothered by what the constable had told her about the young woman whose injuries had been light…

  In the morning, the hospital rang to say that Pip was out of theatre and as well as could be expected. Peggy frowned and asked what that meant.

  ‘Mr Ashley is still in a coma, Mrs Ronoscki. We’ve patched him up and there are fortunately no serious internal injuries – but we don’t know about the head injury. We shan’t know whether it has affected him until he comes out of his coma.’

  ‘You mean he may have a brain injury?’ Peggy said, her throat tight with fear and grief. Oh God, don’t let it be that!

  ‘We cannot answer that until he wakes up,’ the nurse told her. ‘I’m sorry, but that’s all I can tell you – and no visitors for a couple of days please.’

  ‘I am here in London, caring for my son’s wife. She has just had a baby and she can’t be left, but my husband will visit and report back to us when it is allowed.’

  There was an odd pause, then, ‘Your son’s wife lives in London?’

  ‘Yes – why?’

  Again, the pause, then, ‘We are trying to trace the passenger in Mr Ashley’s car. She was treated for superficial cuts and bruises and then she left without leaving further details – her name was April Bracknell and she is about six months pregnant. We wanted to make sure she had suffered no damage internally because of the baby.’

  ‘I see – yes, I can understand that—’ Peggy caught her breath sharply.

  ‘You have no idea where we can trace her and ask her to return for treatment?’

  ‘No, I’m sorry. I can’t help you,’ Peggy replied, managing to sound calm though she was anything but calm. ‘Perhaps my son had just given her a lift. I certainly don’t know the name or anything about her.’

  ‘Well, we’ll ring you when we have news – and let you know when you can visit.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Frowning, Peggy replaced the receiver. The mystery woman had been young and pregnant. Had Pip just given a young woman a lift home – or was there more to this than met the eye?

  Peggy shook her head because that just didn’t sit well with her. Surely Pip wasn’t having an affair with another woman? He’d been very much in love with Sheila when they’d married, but she knew they’d had a few ups and downs – but then most people did, didn’t they? Peggy knew she’d never had a serious quarrel with Able. In fact, she didn’t think they’d ever argued about anything much and certainly not ever reached the screaming and shouting stage. But was Pip happy in his marriage? For Pip’s sake, Peggy hoped he was and that her suspicions were unworthy. She hadn’t told Able yet about the young woman in the car, but she would when she got the chance. He would have a calmer, clearer view and tell her not to jump to conclusions, which she knew she mustn’t. Pip had probably give
n a stranger a lift and that was all there was to it.

  That evening, Peggy rang Janet herself and she promptly burst into tears, showing how emotional she was feeling.

  ‘Oh, Mum, poor Pip, I keep thinking of him lying there all alone with none of us to tell him we love him,’ Janet said, her voice thick with tears. ‘Sheila must be frantic to see him.’

  ‘She is too weak to visit him after the birth. Besides, the hospital won’t let us visit yet, but we shall telephone all the time and one of us will go down soon.’

  ‘Ryan doesn’t want me to come all that way on my own, so I’ve asked him to take me down in the car, Mum. He says he’ll bring me as far as London so I can be with you and then we’ll see.’

  ‘Are you sure you feel up to making a long journey?’ Peggy frowned. ‘I couldn’t sit in one place for hours at a time when I was in the last month of my pregnancy, Janet.’

  ‘Ryan will stop whenever I need to,’ Janet said, sounding confident. ‘He’s so good to me, Mum – and so careful. Both he and Maggie run around after me all the time.’

  ‘Well, if you’re sure. Shall you bring Maggie?’

  ‘Yes. Like me, she really wants to see all of you – has been asking for weeks when we can visit…’ Janet paused. ‘Besides, if you’re needed to help Sheila, you couldn’t come up here to be with me and I’d rather be there with you, Mum. If I have my baby in London, you can make sure we’re all OK.’ Janet drew a shuddering breath. ‘I’ll be nearer to Pip and I do need to see him – he’s my little brother…’

  ‘Yes, I know. You’ve always been close.’ Peggy smiled. ‘You’ve solved my problem, Janet, before I even knew I had it – but you’re right. I can’t split myself in two and Sheila will need help whatever happens.’

  ‘That is what Ryan said,’ Janet told her. ‘He saw immediately that you would need to be with Sheila and I can’t have my baby without you, Mum—’

  ‘Then come to me and I’ll look after you, darling,’ Peggy said. ‘It will be lovely having you all here – help us all to get through the next few weeks.’