Women on the Home Front (61 page)

The parents shook Emmett's hand again and they left.

‘Well,' said Emmett awkwardly. ‘We'd better be off too.'

Clifford called Pip and he came to them, although he seemed a little subdued. Connie went to pat his side and the dog yelped again. ‘Must have fallen over or something,' said Clifford.

Connie and Pip walked back to the others side by side. How could she have got it so wrong? She had truly believed she and Emmett were important to each other, but clearly he had other ideas. ‘Someone to help while away the time …' That had hurt her deeply. How could she have been so stupid? Up until now, Connie had always prided herself that she understood people but perhaps she wasn't so clever after all. As they packed the picnic things away, she caught a glimpse of the letter she'd just penned to Roger waiting to be posted. Perhaps she was wrong about him too.

Reuben had a fantastic send-off. Friends and family had been ‘sitting up' with Kez ever since her father died which meant that she'd had someone with her day and night. According to the Romani tradition, Kez had fasted the whole time. Connie hadn't seen her friend since Clifford took them both home that Easter Sunday and she was concerned to see her looking so drawn and tired. Connie had managed to get time off to go to the funeral by swapping her off duty time with one of the other student nurses. She dressed in black with a white blouse as was the custom for women going to a gypsy funeral.

It seemed the gypsies had come from the four corners of the earth to pay their respects but Isaac wasn't among them. He was still serving his time. They walked from Titnore Lane behind the hearse all the way to Broadwater cemetery, a distance of some three miles, holding up the traffic and creating a staring crowd as they went. The women who normally sold their flowers from coach-built prams parked along the Broadwater Road weren't doing any business today. Instead, they stood in a silent line near the cemetery entrance. Reuben was in a glass-sided horse-drawn hearse with a lorry full of wreaths and flowers following behind. Kez had put a Gates of Heaven wreath which she'd made herself at the side of his coffin; a tall archway of green foliage, peppered with Love in the Mist and a dramatic spray of mimosa, daffodils and Queen Anne's Lace on the left-hand side. As was the custom, the little black gates beneath the archway were permanently open.

The service, in the chapel at the cemetery itself, was beautifully done and to Connie's surprise, Isaac was already waiting in the pew, a prison officer next to him. The officer's coat hid the handcuffs on both their wrists until the Vicar, Rev McKay from St Mary's, had a word with the man and Isaac was allowed to sit next to Kez without the cuffs. They had chosen the place to lay Reuben to rest with care. It was a sunny spot, halfway up a hill, overlooking the Findon Valley. It was peaceful and as they walked towards the open grave, the birds sang in the warm April sun and rabbits scurried into the undergrowth. Reuben would have loved it up here, Connie thought. As soon as the graveside ceremony was over, Isaac was taken away again and Connie couldn't help voicing her disgust over his treatment. ‘Anyone would think he was a murderer, the way they're treating him.'

Everyone got lifts back to the caravans in Titnore Lane and once they were all gathered, Reuben's caravan was towed into the middle of the field to be set alight. Connie knew for a fact that he had many valuable things inside. ‘Aren't you going to keep anything of his?' she asked Kez before the thing went up in flames. ‘Something to remember him by?'

Kez seemed surprised. ‘We never touch a dead man's things.'

‘Perhaps there's something Isaac would want?' Connie insisted. ‘Some of his own things.' She couldn't bear the thought of Isaac coming back to nothing.

‘All Isaac's things are in his own tent,' Kez said wiping her eyes. ‘The Roma believe touching a dead man's things would bring bad luck.'

Connie watched the flames leaping into the air as a perfectly good home went up in smoke. She couldn't understand it. All that lovely china and glass, his pots and pans, the watches he repaired … and nobody wanted anything. Even the caravan itself was valuable. Simeon had used gold leaf rather than paint when he'd decorated it and Reuben had always kept it up to date so far as repairs went.

As the flames died down, the gypsies took to the road again. Connie stayed to say goodbye. ‘What will you do now?'

Kez shrugged. ‘Move on, I suppose. This was the place where Reuben wanted to be. Simeon is talking to some mush about buying a piece of land over Slinden way.'

Connie kissed her children and hugged her friend. ‘How will Isaac know where you are when he gets out of prison? Shall I send him to Slinden?'

‘He knows we'll be at the horse fairs,' Kez said. She swallowed hard. ‘He'll find us.'

Connie walked away with a heavy heart. Something had changed. It wasn't just losing Reuben. Perhaps something in Kez had died with him. She seemed troubled, as if something was playing upon her mind. Whatever it was, Connie was worried about her.

When she got back to the nurses' home, Connie found another letter from Kenneth in her pigeonhole. It had been penned using his left hand so the few lines were shaky and a little difficult to decipher. ‘
My nose is better. It's still a little …'
(Connie couldn't make out that word) ‘
but the Maestro says it will improve with time.'
Connie's spirits leapt. Maybe now at last she could tell her mother. She wrote back immediately to ask.

It was the end of the week and the girls were going to a dance but Connie had been asked to do a short spell of nights because they were short staffed. She was a bit disappointed as she watched Betty and Eva getting ready. Although they were meeting up with Jane Jackson, Sally, back home from college and with her mother again for the Easter holidays, had declined to come. She was better, but still hadn't quite got over losing Terry. Connie wished with all her heart she was going with them. In fact, she wished she was going herself. After all the angst of the past few days, she could have done with a bit of light relief and a good laugh.

Betty had some lovely things. Her mother was good with a needle and spent a lot of time making the latest Butterick or Simplicity pattern. Everyone still needed coupons but she managed to pick up some nice material on the market. The room was filled with excited chatter. Avon's Wishing and Evyon's White Shoulders perfume filled the air as Connie helped Eva with her hair and lent Betty the pearl earrings she had bought in H. Samuels.

‘Oh, I wish you could come too,' said Betty, ‘especially as we're meeting your friend Jane. She's lovely, isn't she?'

‘She tells me she's got a new boyfriend,' said Connie. ‘I haven't met him yet. Tell me what he's like, won't you.'

‘Leave it to me,' said Betty conspiratorially. ‘I'll dish the dirt.' And they all laughed.

‘Roger will be disappointed to miss you,' said Eva, patting her hair in place.

‘You didn't tell me he was coming,' Connie cried.

‘You didn't tell me you were doing nights,' Eva countered.

Connie slumped on the bed. ‘I didn't know until yesterday,' she said. ‘Honestly, I sometimes think Ward Sister has it in for me because I swapped duties to go to Reuben's funeral.'

‘You always let your imagination run away with you,' said Betty. ‘Has anyone seen my stole?'

Connie was stunned into silence. Betty's remark made her bristle but Connie let it go. Starting a row would spoil their evening. Betty found her stole and the girls were ready. Some of the other nurses were already gathered in the corridor. Connie stood at the door to wave them off, their high heels clacking along the linoleum floor. It was seven o'clock and she had an hour and a half before she had to be on duty. It was time to try out the new family phone.

‘Belvedere Nurseries. How can I help you?' Connie's mother sounded very efficient and when Connie told her so, they both giggled. It was lovely to hear her mum's voice and it made Connie feel ever so slightly homesick. They chatted about Mandy and school. ‘She's doing maypole dancing in the vicarage summer garden fete. Ga? She's fine. Oh, and we took Pip to the vet.'

‘Why?' Connie was alarmed.

‘You remember how he didn't like anyone patting his side after we'd been on that picnic where the little girl went missing?' said Gwen. ‘Well, the vet thinks he was hit with something.'

‘I don't understand,' said Connie.

‘His side has been badly bruised. He was lucky not to have a broken rib, apparently.'

Connie vaguely remembered Pip barking as he rushed into the wooded area where the child was and then hearing a sharp yelp before he came out again. Everyone was so taken up with little Janice being reunited with her mother that Connie hadn't given her dog a thought. Could he have been hit by a falling log or something?

‘The vet thinks he was hit or kicked,' her mother went on.

‘Kicked!' Connie was horrified. ‘Who on earth would have done that? Is he going to be all right?'

‘Yes,' said her mother. ‘It's just going to take time, that's all.'

‘Poor old Pip.'

When she'd put the phone down, Connie thought back to that day. Something was niggling away at the back of her mind. Something that was connected to all this, but what was it? She felt like she was grabbing at something only just out of reach.

When she reported for duty, Connie was sent to the antenatal ward. She was working with Sister Neil and she wasn't looking forward to it. Connie had already had an altercation or two with her since she'd begun her training, once when Connie had been asked to tidy the linen cupboard and didn't get the sheets in a perfectly straight line and another time when Connie had burst through some swing doors when Sister was coming in the opposite direction, causing her to drop a bottle of distilled water. Everyone said she was an excellent nurse but Connie thought her hard-nosed and unfeeling. Still, it might not all be bad. Connie had never actually seen a baby being born and this was a golden opportunity. Sadly, once again she was doomed to disappointment. It was a very quiet night with only one woman in labour with her first baby. ‘She'll be hours yet,' said Sister after she'd examined the patient. ‘It probably won't come until the day staff are here.'

At two in the morning, a bell sounded near Sister's desk. Connie was making cotton wool balls and putting them into huge jars at a table nearby. Sister Neil looked up anxiously. ‘That's the patients' bathroom on antenatal. Who would be having a bath at this time of night?'

Connie was just as puzzled.

‘Nurse Dixon,' said Sister, ‘you come along with me. I'm not going on my own.'

Taking torches, they walked purposefully along the dimly lit corridor to the bathroom. The light was on, the door slightly ajar and they could see movement inside. Glancing back at Connie, and taking a deep breath, Sister pushed the door and strode in. Afterwards, Connie wasn't sure which of them had been the most surprised, Sister, herself or the bearded man standing stark naked in the bath, drying himself with the hospital bathmat. While he was washing his feet and legs, he must have bent a little and accidentally pushed the emergency bell with his bottom. As soon as he saw Sister and Connie, he used the mat to cover his modesty.

‘It's okay, missus,' he said gruffly. ‘I ain't gonna hurt nobody.'

Sister Neil puffed out her chest. ‘What on earth do you think you are doing?' she demanded.

The man held his hand out in surrender. ‘I'm sorry, missus. This is the only place I can get cleaned up. I've got an interview for a job in the morning.'

Sister Neil strode towards the bundle of clothes on the floor. Her mouth was set in a tight line. Oh, you're in for it now, my lad, thought Connie. Even from where she stood, Connie could see that his body was covered with clusters of little red dots, not unlike the German measles rash. The man obviously had body lice. His clothes were probably alive with them. He stepped out of the bath and stood on the tiled floor.

‘Please, missus,' he begged. ‘Don't call the police. I'll get dressed and be out of here in two minutes. You won't even know I was here.'

Sister Neil tut-tutted. ‘Well, you're not walking out of here with those clothes.'

‘I have to,' he said. ‘They're all I've got.'

Sister Neil turned to Connie. ‘I hope I can trust you to say nothing about this, nurse,' she began. ‘Go to the porter's office and ask him for a complete change of clothes from the lost property box.'

Connie couldn't believe her ears but she said, ‘Yes, Sister.'

‘But first of all,' said Sister, ‘go and get a brown paper bag from my office and take those things with you. Tell the porter to burn them in the boiler and then ask him to come up here in about half an hour.' She had taken a cloth from the cleaning cupboard and was rubbing Gumption onto the side of the bath. ‘As for you, my lad,' she said addressing the astonished midnight bather in a far more gentle tone of voice, ‘when I've cleaned this scum from the sides, you can have a proper bath. In fact, you can have a good long soak.' Sister turned and saw Connie standing in the doorway. ‘Are you still here, nurse?' she said sharply and Connie fled.

Down in the bowels of the hospital, the porter's lodge was empty. Connie was just wondering what to do when a fresh-faced young man came towards her. He looked familiar but Connie couldn't work out where she'd seen him. He was younger than her, tall, average looking with round rimmed glasses and a small moustache.

‘Can I help you, nurse?'

Connie handed him the bag of clothes and explained what Sister wanted. He seemed surprised. ‘You've left her alone up there,' he said anxiously. ‘Is she going to be all right?'