Sweet Memories of You (Beach View Boarding House) (28 page)

The factory estate was now a scene of utter devastation as the last of the smoke cleared and the exhausted fire and rescue crews began to organise their gear in preparation for their return to their various headquarters. The parachute factory was a skeleton of blackened steel, the munitions factory was flattened and the tool factory was so badly damaged it would have to be demolished.

She held tightly to the sobbing Ivy as she watched Rita wearily reeling in the hose and fastening it securely to the fire engine. John Hicks was limping badly on his false leg – a sure sign that he too was at the point of collapse – and Ron was talking to one of the heavy-lifting crew, while Harvey slumped at his feet after his exhausting hunt through the rubble of the basement for any more survivors.

Close to eighty people had been killed, with only a handful of survivors left to tell the tale of this terrifying night. It was an absolute miracle that anyone had got out, Peggy thought as she acknowledged Rita’s tired smile and began to steer the girls away from the scene. ‘Come on, girls, you need to get home for a good breakfast and some sleep.’

The mass of onlookers at the gates parted like the Red Sea as they approached, and questions were flung at them from all sides as the newspaper reporter’s camera flashed and voices rose demanding to know how many had died and if any of their friends or family were amongst them.

Peggy herded the cowering girls through the crush and hurried them down the road. They were clearly in shock, for usually they had an answer to everything and a real fighting spirit, but now they were simply young, frightened girls who needed the comfort of their own things around them and someone to make a fuss of them.

Dot, Mabel and Gladys were billeted with old Mrs Pierce in a house off the High Street, and Peggy walked them to the door, had a quiet word with Mrs Pierce and left them to her gentle ministrations. She carried on walking arm in arm with Ivy, talking quietly to her, encouraging her to tell her everything that had happened so it wouldn’t fester inside her and give her nightmares.

When she heard about the tragic manner of the death of Fred and Charlie, whom she’d known since childhood, she went cold with distress and horror. Poor little Ivy had indeed witnessed more than any person ever should, and Peggy knew she would need very careful attention over the coming days if she was to get over such a thing.

They’d reached Beach View when she suddenly remembered she’d left the bicycle behind. After a momentary stab of annoyance she shrugged off her concern and took Ivy indoors. Ron would probably see it lying about and bring it home – and if he didn’t, well, it was an old bike and unimportant in the light of the tragedy she’d witnessed tonight.

She went up the steps into the kitchen and gently pressed Ivy into the chair by the fire. Daisy was banging a wooden spoon against the railings of the playpen, gurgling happily as she munched on a bit of toast. But there was no sign of Cordelia or Sarah, so Peggy had to assume Sarah had gone to work and Cordelia must be upstairs getting dressed.

Having kissed Daisy and given her a hug, she left her to her banging, shrugged off her coat and fastened her wrap-round pinafore over her jumper and skirt, and then filled the kettle.

The kitten had obviously decided the shelf above the draining board was safely out of reach of Daisy’s grasping fingers, and she emerged from behind the tea caddy to squeak a welcome.

Peggy lifted her down and poured a bit more milk into the saucer someone had put out for her earlier. Queenie lapped it up greedily and then sat and stared at Peggy as if waiting for something more.

Peggy’s heart melted as she saw the big blue eyes and the moustache of milk beneath her pink nose. She was utterly adorable, and so she gave her a little cuddle before carrying her over to Ivy who was slumped unmoving in the fireside chair. ‘Hold Queenie for a moment while I hunt about for something for her to eat,’ she said.

Ivy looked down at Queenie and began to stroke her, tentatively at first, and then more firmly until the kitten was squirming with delight and purring like a miniature engine.

Peggy smiled as she hunted out some scraps of pork, and a teaspoon of porridge. It was a strange mixture, but the kitten needed fattening up, and it was all she could think of at the moment.

She turned to find that Ivy was now cuddling the little creature, her face rubbing against her fur as she softly talked about Freda and what had happened in that basement. Peggy smiled, for she was well acquainted with the healing qualities of a pet. Harvey had often been her confidant and comforter during the nights when she couldn’t sleep for worry over everyone. Pets didn’t talk back or try to give well-meant advice, nor did they criticise – they just knew their human was upset, and did their best to give them solace.

Cordelia came into the kitchen and took the scene in at a glance. ‘Sit down, Peggy,’ she ordered. ‘I’ll make the tea and sort out breakfast for you both.’

Peggy sat at the table and realised she was dog-tired after braving the cold and the air raid, and having to deal with so much anxiety and distress. ‘Sarah got off to work all right then?’ she asked.

Cordelia placed a cup of tea in front of her and nodded. ‘The raid made her late, but I’m sure they’ll understand,’ she soothed. ‘Daisy has been washed and fed, and the paper arrived about half an hour ago. I thought I heard the telephone ringing earlier, but I was upstairs getting dressed, so I can’t be sure if it did or not.’

‘If it did, it was probably Doris wanting to give me an earful about that pork,’ sighed Peggy. She glanced across at Ivy, who’d fallen asleep by the fire with the kitten now nestled into her neck. ‘We’ll let her sleep,’ she said softly. ‘The poor child has had the most awful night.’

Cordelia sat down and listened solemnly as Peggy told her what had happened. There were tears in her eyes and she brushed them away with trembling fingers. ‘I knew Charlie when he was just out of short trousers,’ she said. ‘A lovely lad he was too. Used to come during the school holidays and do some gardening for my father.’

Peggy patted her hand and waited for her to compose herself. ‘On a practical note,’ she said, ‘Ivy and a great many others will be out of work now unless the other factories can take them on.’

‘Perhaps that’s a good thing,’ said Cordelia thoughtfully as she regarded the sleeping girl and her bandaged hands. ‘Ivy’s a bright little girl, even if she is a bit rough round the edges, and I’m sure she could find something less dangerous to do.’

‘Yes, she probably could,’ Peggy agreed, ‘but nothing will pay her as well.’

Cordelia was about to reply when the telephone shrilled from the hall. Peggy dashed out to answer it before it woke Ivy. ‘If that’s you, Doris, then I’m hanging up,’ she said without any preamble.

There was a giggle at the other end of the line. ‘Well that’s certainly a novel way of answering the telephone. I take it there is still a lack of sisterly love down there?’

‘Doreen! Oh, Doreen, what a lovely surprise.’ Peggy settled down on the hall chair for a good long gossip and dug about in her apron pocket for her cigarettes. ‘Did you ring earlier?’

‘Yes, and got no answer, so I was worried something might have happened to you.’

‘Cordelia thought she heard it ringing, but she was upstairs,’ Peggy explained. ‘Everyone else was out of the house because of the raid.’ She went on to tell her sister about the attack on the factory estate.

‘That’s awful for everyone, but I’m just relieved that you and the others are all right. We could hear the raid from here and Mr Fletcher suspected it was on the coast.’

‘And how are you, Doreen?’ Peggy asked eagerly. ‘How was your leave with Archie? Was it fun? Did you go to nightclubs and the theatre?’

There was a long silence at the other end and Peggy was instantly alert. ‘You and Archie did go to London, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, and we had a wonderful time.’

Peggy heard the hitch in her voice and knew something was very wrong. ‘What happened, Doreen?’

‘There was an accident – a false alarm, really – and … and … we were caught up in it.’

Peggy shivered with apprehension. ‘Was that the accident in the East End?’

‘Yes. But how do you know about that?’

‘There was mention of it in the paper – no details except that people died …’ Realisation hit her like a hammer blow. ‘Was Archie …?’

Doreen took in a shuddering breath. ‘He and I … We got trapped underground and … Archie’s funeral is tomorrow,’ she finished on a sob.

Peggy’s heart twisted at the sound of her young sister’s sorrow. ‘Oh, Doreen, I’m so sorry, love. I’ll sort things out here and be on the first train tomorrow. You can’t possibly deal with that on your own. And then you must come home to rest and recover and—’

‘The funeral’s in Bow, Peggy. And I won’t be alone, my friend Veronica is coming with me.’

‘That’s very kind of her, but I still want to be with you, Doreen. Family support is important at times like this.’

‘I know it is, but Ronnie has been like family to me these past few years, and I know how very difficult it will be for you to make the journey here. Stay with Daisy and the others and I promise to come down and visit when I’m feeling a bit stronger.’

Peggy gripped the receiver. ‘You’ve promised to come before and haven’t.’

There was a tremulous sigh at the other end. ‘I know, and I’m sorry – but I’ve been moved about so much and have been so busy that …’ She fell silent and Peggy heard the click of a lighter and the exhalation of cigarette smoke. ‘But I do miss you, Peg, and there are times recently that I’ve longed to see you and home again – especially in these past few days. I’ll get some leave and come down as soon as possible, I promise.’

Peggy had heard it all before and knew that something would crop up at the last minute to make her sister change her plans – but Doreen was mourning and clearly on edge, so she said nothing. ‘What time’s the funeral?’

‘Eleven o’clock at Bow cemetery. Ronnie and I will travel up early to arrange things with the stonemason, then after … after, we’ll catch the half-past twelve back here.’

‘What about his parents? Did he manage to find them?’

‘No, but Ronnie’s spoken to a friend of hers who’s a member of the Sally Army, and she’s promised to do her best to find them. I’ve written a letter to his sister, but she’s got small children and it’s too far for her to travel, so I’m not expecting her to turn up.’

Peggy was saddened that Archie, who she’d known only through Doreen’s letters, would be buried without his family around him – and saddened too for Doreen, who would find it excruciatingly lonely standing by that graveside, even though she had a friend with her. ‘I wish you’d let me come,’ she said. ‘I could leave this evening and stay with you so we could travel up together.’

‘You are a darling, Peggy, and the very best sister anyone could have. But no, I won’t hear of it.’ Her tone became more brisk. ‘Look, Peggy, I’m calling from the office, so I’ll have to hang up now. I’ll telephone tomorrow evening, I promise. Love you.’

Peggy heard the click of the receiver at the other end and the soft burr of a disconnected line. With a sigh, she replaced her own receiver and then sat there staring at nothing in particular as her thoughts whirled.

The idea of going to Halstead to be with Doreen was all well and good, but there were travel restrictions to overcome and she had poor, traumatised little Ivy to consider. And then there was Sarah, who was clearly still missing her sister, Rita, who was probably exhausted and down hearted after the night’s dramas and her father having to leave – and of course Daisy and Cordelia. She couldn’t take Daisy with her – funerals were no places for small children – and she couldn’t leave her with Cordelia, for she simply wouldn’t be able to manage.

‘But Doreen’s my sister,’ she murmured, ‘and she’s always relied on me. I simply can’t let her down at a time like this.’ Her mind made up, she went into the kitchen in search of Ron, whose voice she’d heard a moment ago. Ron would find a solution – he always did.

Ron had made sure that Harvey had a good bowl of biscuits and scraps. Queenie had investigated the bowl and Harvey had growled at her, so she’d stalked off to go and scrape a patch in the garden to do her business. He watched her through the window, worried she might run off, but she came back again and disappeared somewhere in the basement. On his bed, no doubt, he thought wearily.

Little Ivy resembled one of Dickens’s street urchins in her filthy dungarees and torn shirt and sweater, with those big boots on the end of her skinny legs and grubby bandages on her hands. But she looked peaceful sleeping there, so he made Harvey sit under the table so he wouldn’t disturb her. He scratched his head and scrubbed his face with his filthy hands, then gave a vast yawn. A bath and a couple of hours’ sleep would make him feel better. He’d heard the beginning of Peggy’s telephone conversation, and he hoped that her spirits had been lifted by Doreen’s call. He liked Doreen, for she could be fiery and funny and they hadn’t seen enough of her these past four years.

As Peggy walked into the room he realised immediately that something was up. ‘Peggy? What’s the matter?’

‘It’s Doreen.’ She sat down and Harvey rested his nose on her lap.

‘She’s all right, isn’t she?’ he asked in alarm.

Peggy told him about Archie and the funeral. ‘She always was stubborn, but I could tell that she needs home and family and time to get over his death. I have to bring her home, Ron. But I can’t do that unless I go to Halstead tomorrow.’

‘Aye, you’re right there, Doreen can be wilful, so she can. You’ll have a job persuading her, Peggy girl.’

‘I can deal with Doreen,’ she replied. ‘It’s all the others I’m concerned about.’ She shot a glance at Cordelia, who was reading the newspaper, and the sleeping Ivy, before her gaze fell on Daisy.

‘To be sure I’ll look after them for you, Peg. ’Tis only for a day, after all, and the other girls will be here.’

‘Dear Ron,’ she said, ‘I knew I could rely on you.’

He cleared his throat and patted her hand. ‘That’s what fathers-in-law are for. No need to thank me, Peg. You just get that girl home safe.’