A New Day (16 page)

‘She’s an excellent cook,’ Hanna agreed. ‘But we are better off than a lot of people because of the fresh vegetables from the farm.’

Jane nodded. ‘Sam was right to make us come here. Not only is it keeping the boys safe and happy, but we are all still having wholesome meals.’

Three days later Rose returned with the families for the cottages. They looked battered and uncertain, but Rose ushered them forward. ‘This is Jean Walters and her kids, Joy and Doug. And this is Pat Aldridge and her girl, Hazel. Their husbands are both in the army.’

‘Welcome.’ Jane smiled encouragingly at the obviously nervous Londoners. ‘The cottages are ready for you now and we hope you’ll be very happy here.’

‘We gonna live here, Mum?’ Hazel asked in a loud whisper.

Hanna stooped down to the bewildered child. ‘We have a nice house for you and your mum, and your dad can live here as well when he comes home. You’ll be right next door to Mrs Walters and her children, so you won’t be alone.’

‘Oh.’ The girl gave Hanna a hesitant smile. ‘It’s pretty here. Do the bombers come over every night?’

‘No, you’ll be quite safe here.’ Hanna smiled at the other two children who had also gathered around her. ‘And when you’re all settled in I’ll show you round the farm. We’ve got lots of animals for you to see.’

All three children brightened up at that thought.

‘Right,’ Rose nodded to Jane. ‘Let’s get everyone settled, shall we? I have to get back to Wales today if I can.’

The new families only had a few bundles of possessions with them, but they had to use two trucks to get them all to the cottages. The children were tired and Jane didn’t want them to have to walk any more today. George drove one of the trucks and Rose handled the other one with expertise.

There was silence when the women saw the cottages, and even the children were gazing around in disbelief. ‘Where’s all the other ’ouses?’ one of them whispered. ‘These are in the middle of a field!’

Hanna knew how incredible this must seem to youngsters from the East End of London. There they lived surrounded by concrete; here it was all open fields. ‘You’ll have lots of space to run around in,’ she told them, and they nodded, not being able to take their eyes off the fields.

Mrs Aldridge dropped the bundle she was holding and turned to Jane. ‘Oh, this is very kind of you, but we can’t afford nothing like this. We ain’t got nothing left. You made a mistake bringing us here, Mrs Freeman. We’d better go back.’

‘That isn’t necessary,’ Jane said quickly, ushering them inside the first cottage. ‘I’m not going to charge you rent while the war is on, and there is everything here you will need.’

Hanna opened the larder. ‘And there is enough food here to last you for a while.’

‘Cor, Mum,’ Hazel tugged at her mother’s hand. ‘It’s smashing here. Can we stay, please? I don’t want to go back to the bombs.’

‘Well, I’m not going back!’ Mrs Walters declared with determination. ‘And you shouldn’t be thinking such a thing, Pat. This is very good of the lady, and we was lucky Mrs Freeman picked us.’

‘I know that, Jean,’ Pat said hastily, casting Jane an apologetic look. ‘But it’s all a bit overwhelming.’

‘I understand you’ve been through a terrible ordeal and need time to adjust. Why don’t you settle in and see how you like it here. The village is just a short walk away, and there is a school for the children.’

‘You’re right, Mrs Harcourt.’ Jean Walters gave a wry smile. ‘But we can’t take all this without giving something back. We’re both strong, so could we earn our keep by helping with the farming? Don’t know much about it, but we’d learn quick and we ain’t afraid of hard work.’

George spoke for the first time. ‘With your permission, Mrs Harcourt, that would be a good idea. After the other farmhands were called up Pete and me have been doing all the work. Hanna has been helping a lot, but we’d welcome two more workers.’

‘Well, if you’re sure, give it a try, but if you don’t like it, or it gets too much for you, then you must stop. And only work when your children don’t need you, and you will take a small wage for the hours you do. I insist on that.’

‘Fair enough,’ Jean agreed. ‘You want this house, Pat?’

‘They’re both exactly the same,’ Hanna told them.

‘Right, I’ll go next door then. That all right with you, Pat?’

Pat nodded and smiled for the first time.

Young Doug was gazing out of the window. ‘What’s them?’ he asked George.

‘Cows.’

‘Cor, ain’t they big! Are they dangerous?’

‘No, they’re very gentle, but you must keep out of their field in case they don’t like you being there.’

Doug nodded vigorously. ‘I think I’m gonna like it here.’

‘Good, that’s all settled then. Now I must see if I can catch a train. I’ll drive one of the vans back, George, and leave it by the barn. Jane, you contact me if you need anything.’ Rose began to move towards the door, and then stopped. ‘George, you might consider teaching Hanna to drive. Could be useful for all of you.’

‘I’ll do that, Mrs Freeman.’

‘Me, drive!’ Hanna gasped as soon as Rose drove away.

‘It’s a good idea, and one I was already considering.’ George gave Hanna a steady look, laughter in his eyes. ‘And it’s no good you arguing about it because Mrs Freeman said you should learn.’

‘Oh well, if that’s the case then I wouldn’t dare protest.’

They all laughed at the ridiculous idea of anyone opposing Rose Freeman. You would have to be a very brave person indeed to do that!

Jane and Hanna were busy showing the women how the stove worked and where everything was when the truck returned. Hanna frowned, wondering who was driving it, when she saw Pete get out and help the twins down.

‘I didn’t know Pete could drive,’ Hanna remarked.

‘He can manage the farm vehicles,’ George told her, ‘but he’s too young to do more. It’s only a short hop from the house and he’s quite safe doing that. I expect the boys pestered him to bring them down here.’

When the twins came into the kitchen, Hazel, who was about the same age, stared at them as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. ‘Er . . . Mum, look . . . they’re the same!’

Andrew and David were quite used to this kind of reaction and stood there grinning, holding small boxes in their hands.

Joy was the quietest of the children, but she was the first to speak to the boys. ‘Why do you look the same?’

‘Because we’re twins,’ they said in unison, holding out the boxes to the mothers. ‘Mrs Cooper said we were to give you these.’

‘Thank you.’ Pat was smiling broadly now. ‘What are they?’

‘Blackcurrants,’ Andrew explained. ‘Mrs Cooper said if you put them with some apples they make a nice fruit pie. The apples are in your larder.’

‘That’s very kind of her.’ Jean took the gift. ‘You must thank her for us.’

They nodded. ‘Do you like your houses? We helped get them ready.’

‘They are lovely,’ Pat told them.

‘These are my sons, Andrew and David, and Pete is George’s grandson,’ Jane told them.

‘Pleased to meet you all.’ Jean gestured to the open larder door. ‘And we’ve never seen so much fresh food, and eggs! What luxuries. You’ve all been more than generous to us, and we are truly grateful. We had nothing left in London and really didn’t know how we were going to manage.’

‘You’re living on a farm now,’ Pete told them. ‘We produce all our own food. I grow all the fruit and veg, so you just let me know if you need anything.’

‘Oh, my,’ Pat shook her head. ‘I’m having a job taking this all in. One minute we’re in London going through the rubble to see if we could find anything of ours, and the next we’re here. You’d better pinch me, Jean, in case I’m dreaming.’

‘It’s real enough, and I can’t wait to start working on the farm. I always did hanker after green fields instead of concrete.’

‘We’ll give you a few days to settle the children in school and find your way around. Then you can see George and he’ll decide what you can do.’

‘Thanks, Mrs Harcourt.’ Jean shook Jane’s hand. ‘Now don’t you worry about us. You’ve done enough, and we’ll soon settle in.’

The next few weeks flew by. George had declared that Hanna was now competent enough to drive around the farm, but forbade her to go out on the roads without him. Being able to get around easily she could do more on the farm, especially now the boys were at school. Coming from the East End herself, Hanna was quite at ease with Jean and Pat, who had thrown themselves into country life with great enthusiasm. The two women now had colour in their cheeks and laughed a lot. It was heartening to see the change in them and their children in such a short time.

Christmas was fast approaching and it was cold, but that didn’t dampen their enjoyment. Even their children were doing their bit. They had been so impressed when they had seen the twins’ gardens that with Pete’s help they had already planted winter vegetables in their own small gardens at the back of the cottages. They loved doing this no matter how cold the weather because in London all they’d had was a concrete yard.

Hanna lifted the feed from the back of the truck, smiling when she saw the sheep running towards her.

‘Just look at that!’ Pat laughed when the animals surrounded her. ‘Tell you something, Hanna, I ain’t never going back to London. This place has been a real eye-opener to Jean and me, and we’re hoping that when our husbands come back they’ll see we could have a good life here. They’ll turn their hands to any job; they’ve had to so we could survive through the times it was hard to get work. My Bob’s good with anything mechanical, and Pat’s Jim is a builder, but he’ll do any job going.’ Pat sighed and gazed around. ‘We’ve written and told them all about it, and they’ll like it here I’m sure. Can’t wait for them to come home on leave and see all this.’

‘Are you expecting them home any time soon?’

‘Can’t say. They could turn up out of the blue. Be nice if they could make it for Christmas though. Do you think your brother will get home?’

Hanna shrugged. ‘I’m in the same position as you. I never know where he is or when I might see him.’

‘Bloody war! November’s been a bad month what with bombs raining down on London and other cities. And on top of that the bugger is trying to starve us by sinking our ships. It must be terrible for you to hear about shipping losses on the news all the time.’ Pat’s mouth set in a firm line. ‘But we’ll beat him in the end, no matter how long it takes.’

Nodding agreement, Hanna took a deep breath. ‘We have to, Pat. Hop in the truck and I’ll take you back. The kids will be coming out of school soon.’

Christmas was only two days away, and they all waited anxiously to see if any of the men would be able to get home.

The first to arrive was Captain Harcourt, much to the delight of his family, and then Pat and Jean’s husbands made it just in time for Christmas day. Hanna was pleased for everyone, but there was no sign of Jack or Alan, and although her disappointment was crushing she remained cheerful, not wanting to spoil the festive season for the others. She would be having Christmas dinner with George and his family, and enjoying Mildred’s excellent cooking, so that would be a treat, she thought, as she gathered sprouts from the garden.

‘Hanna!’

Looking up she saw the boys hurtling towards her, waving their arms frantically. ‘What’s up?’ she asked when they skidded to a halt in front of her.

‘Jack’s here!’ They began pulling her back towards the house.

The kitchen was crowded when she tumbled through the door and hugged her brother. ‘You made it! Oh, it’s so good to have you home. Let me look at you.’ Stepping back she held him at arms’ length, and apart from tiredness showing around his eyes, he looked well. But he had grown and matured so much that it was hard to believe that this was the little boy she had loved and protected all those years in the orphanage.

He laughed at her careful scrutiny and pointed to the sprouts rolling around the kitchen floor. ‘I’m pleased to see you as well, but there’s no need to throw the vegetables away.’

‘Oh dear!’ Hanna began to pick them up. ‘I’m sorry, Mildred, but I was so pleased to see my brother I forgot I was carrying these.’

With everyone helping they were soon rescued and placed in the sink.

‘No harm done,’ Mildred said. ‘Now, why doesn’t everyone sit down while I make us all something to eat?’

‘Glad to see you made it home as well, Captain Harcourt,’ Jack said when they were all settled.

He nodded, sighing softly. ‘It’s good to have a few days to relax.’

‘How long can you stay?’ Hanna asked Jack.

‘I’ve got a whole seven days. They have to do some work on the ship.’

‘What kind of work?’ she asked, frowning, wondering if they had damage from an attack.

‘Just general maintenance,’ he said dismissively, turning to the twins and changing the subject. ‘And what mischief have you two been up to while I’ve been away?’

Their faces wore identical innocent expressions. ‘We don’t get into mischief.’

When everyone around them roared in protest, they just grinned.

‘Ah well, in that case, as it’s Christmas day I’d better see what I’ve got in my kitbag for you.’

‘Can we look?’ They were already clambering off their chairs. This was a little game Jack always played with them, and they thought it was huge fun to rummage through his bag.

Jack nodded. ‘My bag is over by the door. See what you can find.’

Giggling with excitement they fell on the bag. The first thing they found was a brightly wrapped package, and held it up for Jack to see.

‘Not that one.’ He took it from them and gave it to his sister. ‘Happy Christmas, Hanna.’

‘It will be now you’re here.’ She leant over and kissed his cheek, and then opened her present. It was the most beautiful pair of leather gloves she had ever seen. They were light brown with flowers stitched around the cuffs in a darker shade. ‘Oh, they’re so lovely, and the softest leather I’ve ever felt. Thank you, Jack. I’ll keep these for best. I’ve got something for you in my room.’

‘You can give it to me later.’ He smiled, clearly pleased she liked the gloves.

Their attention was brought back to the boys when they let out squeals of delight, each clutching a parcel. ‘Are these for us, Jack?’