In any ordinary life (In any oridnary Book 1) (31 page)

“Now I have to go and say my goodbyes.” Ivy jumped back into the passenger seat unable to understand why he felt so defeated.

“What do I need to do John? You said you needed my help and I don’t understand what use I’m going to be in all this.”

“I need you to find out what shit that little girl in there has been hiding from all of us and you need to do it fast.”

   Reaching the cottage John looked a pale gaunt reminder of his former self and Ivy knew whatever information she was about to acquire wouldn’t spell good news for any of them.

“How will I get on the base?”

“You’re working with Anne and show this at the gate. I’ve authorise it. And before you say anything I knew this was going to happen. You’re not the only ones who lives are predictable. Just make sure your discreet…please.” Ivy pulled her coat around her again this time not because of the cold; his words didn’t bring her any comfort and now she had been cast in riddles.

   Not knowing the full circumstances made her more curious about what was really going on and the next challenge she had to face was walking back into the house and trying to pacify her mum.

   “Where have you been till this hour you know I’ve got to go back to the factory,” Ivy took off her coat and looked to the floor for inspiration

“Mum I know we had car trouble I’m sorry” Irene glanced a look at her daughter, the only look a mother could give when she’s working out the truth.

“She needs you and the others upstairs asleep. Tell Iris as well that if she doesn’t turn up tonight on time there will be hell to pay.”

   Waking up the next morning she felt sick with anguish and the card which John had left sat on her dressing table mocking her at every glance and making her feel worse.

   Running to the bathroom she vomited with the nerves, frustration and guilt. Hearing the commotion Daisy opened the bedroom door taunted by Ivy’s sickness.

“Whoever’s making the noise can they go and make it somewhere else? I’m not in the mood.” Seeing Ivy’s washed out complexion her annoyance soon turned to concern.

“You ok love you really don’t look well. You’re not pregnant again are you?” Ivy laughed and wiped her hand across her face trying to gain some composure.

“No Daisy you have to have sex to be pregnant and that’s not happened for a while. No I think I must have caught something off Jayne she’s been cranky for the last couple of days.” Daisy sat on the floor pulling her pretty pink dressing gown around her.

“Tell you what then if you need a break it’s my day off and I will take Jaynee out for a bit gives you a break.” Ivy needed an excuse to get out of the house and Daisy had just walked straight into it.

“You’re an angel if you could. Think I might nip down to the docs….you know just in case.”

“Ok Dokey that’s sorted come on chicken.” Grabbing the already awake toddler she started to mutter nonsense to her down the hall.

   Ivy laying down on the bed closed her eye’s and thought of Jeanie, she couldn’t help but wonder whether it was courage or stupidity that made her give up her family and walk away from everything she had ever known.

   Looking through her wardrobe she tried to find something that looked suitable for an office and as a glimmer distracted her search she excavated deeper into the depths of her wardrobe to find out what it was.
Jeanie’s engagement ring not from James from John
.

   Ivy placed the ring on her own finger and as she admired the clear cut simple diamond ring she knew it was Jeanie all over. Despondent Ivy placed it on the mantel and continued to dress as no matter how much she had tried John was too much in love with her sister to ever look at her again twice.

    Feeling self conscious she realised other than looking after Jayne for the last two years, she hadn’t really done anything important not even towards the war effort. Ivy still a little vein and selfish looked again at her appearance she was still beautiful and the spitting image of her mother. Her blonde hair curled and sparkled in just the right places and Jeanie always used to tell her how lucky she was to be that beautiful. Looking back at the mantel her beauty still wasn’t enough to win the man she wanted and today she might have looked a picture of elegance but, deep inside she just felt sick and alone. Ivy placed the ring in her jacket pocket and headed out of the door, shouting her goodbyes to Daisy and Jayne her mind was set on finding out what was going on at the base.

   Arriving at the front gates her stomach flipped over and the effort to stay calm was overwhelmed by the effort to throw up again. Anne graced the stair way as Ivy waited in reception and she couldn’t help but notice Anne’s contempt at her presence.

“Ivy Stanton. Jeanie’s sister is that right?”

“Yes…Yes that’s me.”

“I can see follow me please.” She didn’t even hide the fact that she was doing it. Ivy felt uncomfortable; she was scared and this was the first situation she had ever encountered which she had been solely in control of. The thought of messing this up now felt unbearable.

   Ivy knew of the rumours which had circulated the offices, Jeanie had told her already about the cruel nature of some people and by the sounds of it Mary had been one of them.

   “Follow me please I’ve been told you’re needed in the sorting room.” Anne escorted her down a small corridor into a smoky dark dank room and instead of taking her all the way she pointed to the direction she had to follow.

“Thank you…oh and for the record I know what you have been saying about my sister and just so you know. So does John.” Ivy made her way through the badly smelling room and as she reached the desk at the end she was greeted by a white haired gentleman.

“Ahh you’re my new recruit…never had one before but walk this way.” He scuffled his feet as he walked and Ivy couldn’t help but smile at the curled pipe in his hand.

“My granddad used to smoke a pipe; the smell always reminds me of him… I’m Ivy by the way.” Taking his time he sat on the chair at the end of the corridor,” Jacob that’s me. Jake sometimes but seen as you’re a pretty one I’ll let you make up your mind.” Ivy took off her coat and placed her handbag on the desk behind the chair.

“So Jacob what do you need me to do?” as he smiled his little white moustache curled into his cheeks and he reminded Ivy of a little elf.

“John said you where going to sort out that stuff that had been held back or something. I do forget my dear…age and so on. The room at the back is for all those things that go missing a girl used to come down here before. Forgot her name and she had a Scottish accent. Another pretty little thing to.”

“So it’s in there. Am I on my own?” Jacob had started to shuffle back to his desk at the far end of the corridor; he hadn’t heard Ivy’s reply and as she wiped the sweat off her hands she opened the door not knowing what to expect.

“Shit for fuck sake girl gets a grip.” Ivy stepped cautious into the room but as she did so she calmed in moments. It was tiny more like a broom cupboard than a room and as she slid around the door she immediately saw the bags of letter’s thrown around. It was if someone had brought a whirlwind inside and blew them about. 

“This could take me month’s…come on Jeanie give me a clue.” Sifting around she came across three pales, one was labelled unclaimed, the other no address and on the other POW.  Realising quickly that all of the letters had been opened, read and the information stripped out she realised she had found her starting place.

   “I’m missing something I’ve been here hours and I know there’s something that I have to be missing.” she rested herself against the wall folding her arms. Ivy looked up towards the ceiling hoping for inspiration.

“I’m talking to myself Jeanie this is all your fault and usually when I caught you doing it I though you where made. Well it just goes to show you that it runs in the family!” Stamping her foot down in temper something on the dresser caught her eye. Grabbing the chair she reached up and realised the paper on the end was the photo of James.

The same picture she had given to Jeanie before her internment. Ivy froze, recalling John’s conversation whilst out on his trip. James and John had been some of the focus of this person’s attention.

Stepping down Ivy placed the box on the table and as she searched the piles of letter’s she noticed these were not from Jeanie, they where for Jeanie delving deeper Ivy jumped in fright as Jacob entered the room.

“Sorry my dear did I startle you I have brought you a cup of tea. You left your bag as well so I thought I would bring that down here,” catching her breath she replaced the lid on the box.

“Thank you it’s still a bit messy in here I’m afraid.” Jacob looked around the room smiled and left without question.

   Stuffing the contents into her bag she knew if she left immediately it would arouse suspicion and as she drank her tea she paced the floor counting down the clock. After twenty minutes she left the room and in a stroke of luck Jacob was no where to be seen, wanting to run down the corridor she tried to keep her emotions under control. As she reached the gates of the barracks Ivy set off home at pace nothing or no one was going to stop her finding out the truth.

    The house was empty as she arrived home and as she ran upstairs she kicked off her shoes and coat tipping out the contents of her bag onto the bed. Frantically she started to search through the papers.

They all said the same thing:

“I love you Write back….Write back……Write back.”

Finding a telegram stuck to the bottom of the box Ivy tentatively pulled it from its envelope.

“We regret to inform that Private Jack Rutherford of the Engineering division has been lost presumed dead. Dr James Watson has been informed of his passing.”

Ivy screamed hysterically, “John said she was fine, he said she was ok. I don’t understand.” James’s letters screamed at her wanting to know what was going on and who Jack was. Ivy frenzied ran to the phone box and the panic of not getting to John welled inside like an unexploded bomb as they where all in danger.

   Her hands shook as she requested the number from the exchange. “I need to speak to Lieutenant Colonel John Stanton please its urgent. I have clearance….I promise I have clearance.”

“One moment please I’ll just put you through.”

“John…..” Anne Coston’s voice deflated Ivy immediately and her contemptuous tones continued through her introduction.

“No he’s not here he’s otherwise engaged.”

“You don’t understand Anne I need to get an urgent message to him it’s important.” Anne placed her hands on her hips unrequited at Ivy’s melodrama.

“Well it couldn’t have been that important when you ran out here this afternoon,”

“Now you listen to me good Anne Croston. You need to write this down and listen well tell John James is alive and they are all in danger.” Anne screwed up the piece of paper unable to listen to the drivel any longer.

“This is bullshit Ivy what are you talking about,”

“For fuck sake. He sent me to see Mary.” Anne paused shocked that she knew about her.

“My Mary. Mary Conaghan?”

“I don’t fucking know some girl in hospital in some place that begins with Kirk. Please for the love of god listen. Tell John that James is alive. I found letters and his picture the name on the back of the picture was shit EC…..it just says EC…they are all in danger and the telegram that Jeanie received was a fake. I’ve checked Mary did it her signature is on the bottom. Anne I’m trusting you. Please get this message to him.” Anne was silent on the other end of the phone Ivy screamed again.

“ANNE…ANNE!!,”

“I’m here I got it I’ll go now I need you to wait.” Anne dropped the phone and ran down the corridor, the carriers where all but gone but she knew John would only travel by car. Seeing John she raced out in front of the vehicle and as the car slammed to Holt. John stepped out.

“Anne what are you doing?” Still in shock Anne handed over the scribbled piece of paper. “Ivy…Ivy on the phone she said you would know she said it was important.”

“Go back inside and tell her…tell her from me thank you and I will do my best.”

   Anne didn’t stop to see the car leave and as she raced back up the stairway tears streamed down her face.

“I’m here Ivy…I’ve done it.” Ivy cried with relief dropping the phone out of her hand. Taking a deep breath Ivy sobbed uncontrollably feeling the relief at having got to John just in time. Leaving the phone box she wrapped her jacket around herself.

   Irene pacing the floor realising that the secret of the letters had started to be unravelled. Not able to comprehend what was going on she waited for Ivy’s return.

“Mum?”

“You tell me this minute what’s going on you said it was nothing these letters aren’t nothing where’s my girl tell me now Ivy. NOW!.”

“I found these at the base this afternoon reading through them I realised that something wasn’t right and I’ve told John.”

“My girl is fighting a war for a husband that isn’t dead and by the looks of it was never in danger she could be dead I could end up burying her because of him again. I can’t cope with this anymore. I feel as if I’m loosing my mind.” Ivy walked cautiously towards her, placing her hands over Irene’s she pulled her close.