Stormy Days On Mulberry Lane Read online

  ‘Yes.’ The silence lengthened as they both thought about Pip and what might happen to him. ‘I’ll go now, Mum. I’ve got things to pack. We’ll be there as soon as we can manage it.’

  Peggy heard the click the other end. Janet was clearly too upset to talk more. It was unbearable that Pip should be fighting for his life and none of them were able to see him. Peggy felt tears sting her eyes but fought them back. She couldn’t afford to cry or give in. No matter how much she longed to just drop everything and run to her son, she had to carry on as best she could. She had to be strong for all their sakes. Pip was fighting for his life. Peggy knew her son. He wouldn’t give in without a struggle. She would save the tears for release when he came through this crisis as he would – because he must.

  16

  Peggy was inundated with offers of help from the locals; just like in the war, at times of crisis, the folk of Mulberry Lane all came together to help each other. Rose couldn’t help in the bar, because her baby was due any day. She’d expected to give birth before Sheila, but she offered to look after the twins if Able wanted to go in one evening. However, Pamela Makepeace doubled her hours and announced she wanted to work for Sheila full-time when she left school at Christmas. She’d been training to be a secretary but had decided she would rather help cook, clean and serve in the pub. She started to come in every day and ran upstairs as often as Sheila needed, her young legs making nothing of the effort.

  ‘I love Sheila and little Meg is adorable,’ Pamela told them when she was helping to fill pastry cases with jam and coconut. ‘I could be happy here every day.’

  ‘Doesn’t your father want you to go to secretarial college?’ Peggy asked as she put a tray of rock cakes in the oven.

  ‘Yes, but I can still do that in night class and help Sheila during the day. I’ll have two skills then – two jobs I can do. Even if I do part-time in an office – I reckon it would be boring all day every day.’

  ‘Well, it is up to Sheila and your father,’ Peggy told her. ‘I would take you on, but I can’t promise anything.’

  Sheila nodded when Peggy told her what the young girl wanted. ‘I think I’d better say yes, Peggy. I’m not sure what is going to happen in future – and if Pip is an invalid, I’ll need more help.’

  Peggy had manged to speak to a doctor at the hospital and he’d told her that they still didn’t know anything much for certain, but with Pip continuing to be in a coma it was possible that even if he recovered, he might be impaired by the damage he’d sustained.

  Sheila was facing facts and so Pamela was taken on, as well as a barman in his thirties. Sam Carter had been wounded during the war and walked with a noticeable limp, but he was strong and dependable, much more so than the last one, who had let Sheila down on several occasions. Dot had also increased her hours. She was now doing most of Sheila’s housework and a shift in the bar four nights a week, as well as washing up.

  Several other women had offered to serve in the cake shop, which meant there was no need for Sheila to fret over business – it was just news of Pip she craved.

  When Janet arrived at the pub three days later, she hugged her mother and then went to embrace her sister-in-law, who had ventured downstairs for the first time, despite the midwife’s instructions to stay in bed. They cried in each other’s arms and then Janet was shown the new baby. That brought smiles and the two of them sat down to tea and cake in Sheila’s kitchen to talk in low voices.

  ‘Can you manage all right?’ Ryan asked Peggy as he watched the two younger women together. ‘I feel a bit guilty leaving Janet with you – but I have to go back tomorrow for work.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Ryan. She will be better here with Sheila; they can comfort each other and she’s closer if we get the call to go down—’

  ‘Yes, but what about you? You have a business to run, the twins to look after and those two.’ He nodded towards Sheila and Janet. ‘To say nothing of a new baby in the house.’

  ‘I’ll cope,’ Peggy told him and laughed. ‘This is nothing compared to the war, Ryan. I just want my son to come out of that coma so we know what the future looks like.’

  ‘Yes, of course you do.’ Ryan gave her a reassuring hug. ‘Now, I’ll tell Maggie she can come if she wants. Able said to leave her with him while Janet got over her tears.’

  ‘That is where my strength comes from,’ Peggy said. ‘Able is my rock. I can get through most things as long as I have him.’

  Ryan nodded. ‘You’ve always been strong, Peggy, but Able is a good man and you’re lucky to have each other.’

  Ryan went to fetch his daughter. She came running in with a bunch of stocks and roses for her granny and Peggy kissed and hugged her. It was a long time since she’d seen her now and the little girl was growing. She seemed happy and confident and was full of her pony and the school she attended in the village near her home. The children went back to school a little earlier in Scotland and that meant Maggie might miss some term time, but Ryan said he’d brought her some work to do at home.

  ‘She can practise her spelling and do some sums so that will keep her busy for a while,’ he said to Peggy. ‘Janet will make sure she does it.’

  Maureen arrived then to join in the greetings and to start cooking the cakes for that day. Rose Barton wandered in, looking a bit weary and so close to her time that Peggy wondered if she or Janet would give birth first. The three younger women sat down together for a chat before Maureen began to bake.

  ‘It’s time you went back to bed,’ Peggy said, because she could see that Sheila was tiring. ‘You shouldn’t even be up, love. Janet will come up with you and you can talk with you tucked up in bed.’

  ‘I’ll come up for a few minutes,’ Rose said. ‘Tom is at home with the children. He’s having a morning off, doesn’t want to leave me alone.’ She smiled and patted her bulge affectionately. ‘He thinks his new daughter will make an appearance any moment now.’

  ‘It won’t be long by the looks of things,’ Peggy agreed and looked at Sheila. ‘Go on – up to bed. You can all talk while you rest.’

  Sheila made a face, but Janet and Rose agreed with Peggy.

  Ryan went to them immediately and put his arm about Sheila’s waist. ‘I’ll take you up and then I’ll leave you ladies to it.’

  Peggy smiled and nodded as Sheila acquiesced. She put her apron on and went to help Maureen with the baking.

  Maggie stood looking up at her. ‘Can I help, Granny?’

  ‘Yes, of course you can darling.’ Peggy smiled at her granddaughter. ‘I’ll give you my list of ingredients and you can start by fetching them all from the pantry.’

  Maggie happily took the list and ran off to fulfil it.

  Pamela Makepeace entered, her arms filled with dusters and brooms. ‘I’ve finished upstairs, Mrs Ronoscki. Is there anything else you need doing in the house for the moment?’

  ‘No, that’s all, Pam. You can go through to the bar and start setting up if you like.’

  ‘Yes, I shall,’ Pam said. ‘What is on the lunch menu today?’

  ‘I’m cooking cottage pie with buttered cabbage, also a cheese and onion flan. We’ll make ham and cheese sandwiches with a side salad for anyone who wants them – and there’s a coconut tart, apple pie or rice pudding for dessert.’

  ‘That makes me hungry,’ Pamela said and grinned. ‘No wonder we sell out every day, Peggy. You should see the way they scoff it down – especially your apple pie.’

  ‘I’ll save a bit for you,’ Peggy promised.

  Pamela was a nice girl and she was glad she’d decided she would prefer to help Sheila run the pub and cake shop rather than train as a secretary. If she gained her secretarial skills through night school, she would still be able to take it up one day if she wished.

  Maggie had deposited all of Peggy’s items on the table and Peggy got her started measuring them into little dishes ready for her to use.

  ‘Janet looks well,’ Maureen remarked as she whisked her sponge mixture in a
large bowl with a wooden spoon. ‘I’m not sure I would have wanted to make that journey from Scotland when I was that far advanced.’

  ‘I did wonder whether she might give birth somewhere along the line,’ Peggy admitted with a rueful smile. ‘You know my daughter – when she wants something, she won’t take no for an answer.’

  ‘Now where does she get that from?’ Maureen teased and Peggy smiled.

  ‘I know I can be stubborn too, Maureen, but I don’t think I could have done that journey when I was having the twins.’

  ‘You would if you’d needed to.’ Maureen slipped her last tray into the oven. ‘That’s me almost finished for this morning. I’ll be in the tea shop this afternoon.’

  ‘Yes,’ Peggy nodded. ‘Sarah Jones is going to help you this afternoon. She offered and I gave her two hours for three afternoons a week. She didn’t want any money, said that an apple pie was payment enough, but I told her she would be paid the usual rate of six shillings.’

  Maureen looked up and nodded. ‘Yes, that’s what we paid Rose when she helped out. It isn’t very much, but we gave her any cakes that didn’t sell and she was happy enough.’

  ‘Sarah was more than happy. She really wanted a bit of company – and to help Sheila. She says her husband would never let her go scrubbing floors or do factory work, but she gets a bit lonely at home when her children are at school. A couple of hours serving in the café as a favour to a friend is acceptable to Fred Jones’ principles – he doesn’t count that as work!’

  Maureen giggled. ‘Men and their pride! That six shillings will give her a little independence and she can spend it on the children or herself. He will never know the difference.’

  ‘That’s what she said,’ Peggy agreed. ‘I think you will like her, Maureen. She only lives round the corner in Little Lane, and her husband is a regular at the pub.’

  ‘She often buys cakes from us,’ Maureen agreed. ‘Especially your apple pies and your pear upside-down cake.’

  ‘I’m making both today,’ Peggy said. ‘Old Mr Corker brought us some apples and pears from his allotment – he does that every year. He always used to give me a couple of boxes and he does the same for Sheila.’

  Maureen nodded. ‘Things haven’t changed much here, Peggy. I know they’re putting up new buildings all over London and life is different in lots of ways – but the folk we know don’t alter.’

  ‘They’re our friends, people we’ve known all our lives,’ Peggy said. ‘Some parts of London I wouldn’t know now. Where Hitler cleared the slums with his bombs, they’ve built new houses, shopping areas and those huge blocks of flats. Concrete monstrosities Able calls them – his flats won’t be like that.’

  ‘How are his plans proceeding?’

  ‘We haven’t had much time to talk recently, with one thing or another,’ Peggy replied. ‘I believe it is all going through as it ought. He would have told me otherwise.’

  ‘Just thought I’d say goodbye…’ Rose poked her head round the door. ‘I’m feeling a bit of pain in my back so I’d better get home.’

  ‘You get back, love. Tell Tom to let me know if he needs anything,’ Peggy told her.

  ‘We’ll be all right,’ Rose said. ‘I’ve got a place booked at the London. I’m going in to have the birth this time – the doctor thought it best, so Tom will take me in a taxi if he thinks I’m ready.’

  ‘Well, you know where we are if you need help with the children.’

  ‘Alice was there when I left,’ Rose replied with a smile of affection. ‘That’s one thing about living here in Mulberry Lane, there is always someone ready to help.’ She smiled as Peggy went to kiss her cheek. ‘I’ll be glad when it is all over and I can come back and help out in the tea shop again.’

  ‘Good luck, love,’ Peggy said and Maureen smiled as Rose crossed her fingers on both hands and turned to leave.

  ‘I’m just hoping Tom gets the little girl he wants.’

  ‘I’d bet two shillings it will be a boy not a girl,’ Maureen said as the door closed behind Rose. She glanced at Peggy. ‘We shall be away for three days from tomorrow – you can manage, can’t you?’

  ‘Of course, I can manage,’ Peggy said and laughed. ‘As for Rose having another boy – well, Tom won’t really mind. He will love it whatever it is.’

  ‘Yes, of course he will. I hope it doesn’t all happen while I’m away.’ Maureen frowned.

  ‘If it does, Tom will be fine. He has everything under control, I’m sure.’ Peggy sighed. ‘That’s the last apple pie in the oven – and now I’m going to ring the hospital again.’

  Peggy rang the hospital each day for a week, with no further news, but at the end of the week, Sheila managed to use the phone upstairs and ring herself. She was red-eyed when Peggy found her a little later sitting by the telephone just staring into space.

  ‘No change?’ Peggy asked and she shook her head. ‘Well, they did warn us it might be a while before we could visit.’

  ‘I asked where he’d stopped the car,’ Sheila said, looking at her oddly. ‘They told me it was by an apartment building just at the bottom of a steep hill – the lorry must have lost its brakes and couldn’t stop. It just ploughed into the car…’ She bit her lip and then looked at Peggy. ‘Did you know there was a passenger in his car – a young woman?’

  ‘Yes, I was told,’ Peggy replied calmly. ‘I can’t imagine who it might be – but knowing Pip, I think he may have given one of his work colleagues a lift, don’t you?’

  Sheila looked at her closely for a moment and then nodded. ‘Yes, he would do that,’ she agreed and some of the shadow lifted from her face. ‘For a moment I thought… but no, you’re right…’ She smiled tiredly. ‘Oh, I can’t bear the thought of him lying there in that hospital with strangers and not being able to visit him.’

  ‘What did the hospital say – was there anything hopeful?’

  ‘The nurse said they’d noted some signs in his right hand – she said the fingers were twitching when she washed him this morning. I asked if that was important but she didn’t know – just that it was new—’

  ‘Would you like Able to go down and visit?’ Peggy asked. ‘You’re not up to it yet love, but—’

  ‘I am,’ Janet’s voice said from the hallway. ‘I could go if Able took me. I want to see him and he might recognise my voice—’

  Sheila’s face worked as she struggled to control her emotions. It was clear she longed to be the one to sit by Pip’s side and talk to him, but then she nodded. ‘Yes, he thinks a lot of you, Janet. You should go – if you’re sure you’re up to it?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ Janet declared. ‘I may look like the side of a barn and I’m awkward and ungainly, but I feel well – and I’ll be better for seeing my brother. I’ll tell you everything, Sheila. How he looks, his breathing, whatever is happening, I promise.’

  ‘Yes, that’s what I need,’ Sheila said, blinking back her tears. ‘Tell him I love him and want to be with him, but that we have a new daughter and I need to rest and look after her.’

  ‘The hospital is in Winchester,’ Peggy said. ‘It’s about seventy-odd miles. If you leave early in the morning, perhaps a journey of two to three hours.’

  ‘Able will have to stop often for me,’ Janet said, ‘but we might make it in three hours if we’re lucky.’ She grinned. ‘It’s a doddle compared with Scotland.’

  ‘You’ll ring me as soon as you’ve seen him – promise,’ Sheila said and sighed. ‘I want to see him…’

  ‘Give yourself another few days,’ Peggy said and Sheila nodded. She looked tired and her eyes were red from crying. ‘You know it is best, love.’

  ‘Yes,’ Sheila agreed reluctantly. ‘I know – I know you want to go too, but you feel you need to stay here for me.’

  ‘Pip will respond to Janet’s voice more than mine,’ Peggy said, smothering her own urges to be the one to go to her son. ‘With Maureen away for a few days, I am needed here for all of you. My turn will come and so will yours,
Sheila.’

  Sheila nodded, her shoulders sagging. Peggy gave her a little hug. She knew exactly how her daughter-in-law felt, but they had to let Janet go – even though she was now only a couple of weeks or so away from giving birth.

  ‘And you’re not to do anything unless Able agrees,’ Peggy said with a stern look at her daughter. ‘I wouldn’t let you go if he wasn’t there to look out for you, and if you feel any twinges, make sure you know where the local midwife is.’

  ‘Yes, Mum,’ Janet said and did a mock salute, which made them all smile. ‘I’ll be spending my time in the hospital, don’t forget. If I start to give birth, I think they can cope.’

  ‘Yes, well, you should be putting your feet up, love.’

  ‘I shall rest when I’ve seen him,’ Janet said and smiled at Sheila. ‘I’ll make him wake up; you see if I don’t.’

  17

  ‘Yes, of course I’ll take Janet down,’ Able said and reached for Peggy’s hand, holding it gently. ‘You’re being selfless letting her be the one to go, hon. I know how much you’re worrying about Pip inside, even if you just carry on as normal.’

  ‘He’ll always be my little boy—’ Peggy bit her lip to stop it trembling. ‘Janet may want to stay overnight, love. It would be too much for her to travel there, see her brother and then travel back in one day.’

  ‘That means leaving you alone all night with the kids.’

  ‘I’ll be fine; Maggie is very sensible now and so are the twins,’ Peggy said but she could see he was anxious. ‘What is it, Able? What is bothering you?’

  ‘Someone thought they saw Gillian in the market recently…’

  ‘Here – near the lanes?’ Peggy frowned as a little icicle touched her nape. ‘I thought she would be long gone.’

  ‘Yes, so did we all – but this sighting came from Tom Barton. So, I’m inclined to think it is reliable.’