All My Tomorrows (41 page)

Good riddance to the pair of them, thought Ruby.

Lucy finished both helpings of pudding as Gladys and Gertie left to sit outside in the sun and smoke their cigarettes. ‘I’ll get our tea,’ she said brightly, and went off enthusiastically to join the long queue by the urn.

‘She’s a caution, that one, ain’t she?’ said Grace.

‘She’s lovely,’ said Ruby with a soft smile, ‘but far too naïve for her own good at times. I’m surprised she’s lasted this long, what with Flora and the sort of high jinks some of the other girls get up to here.’

Grace shrugged. ‘Working ’ere will teach her far more than that posh school she went to, you mark my words.’ She puffed on her cigarette, her expression thoughtful. ‘I reckon she’s tougher than you give ’er credit for, Ruby – but then we all gotta have a bit of steel to get through this flamin’ war, ain’t we?’

Ruby nodded and watched idly as Lucy chattered to the other girls in the queue and firmly slapped away the wandering hand of one of the male technicians. Her perceived naïvety was her charm and, with her sunny disposition, she’d become popular amongst the other women – but she was certainly no fool and had swiftly learned to ignore the often crude jokes, and to fend off the unwanted advances of some of the men. Grace was right, she realised with a sense of surprise. Lucy was far more capable than she’d thought.

Grace tapped cigarette ash into her saucer. ‘I didn’t realise yer name was Clark,’ she said casually. ‘Are you related to the Clarks in Bow?’

Ruby’s blood ran cold, and all thoughts of Lucy disappeared as she fought to keep her expression bland. ‘I wouldn’t know,’ she replied. ‘Clark’s a common name. Especially in Bermondsey where I comes from.’

Grace eyed her steadily. ‘I don’t doubt it,’ she murmured, ‘but the Clarks I’m talkin’ about have got a bad reputation all over the East End – especially that toerag, Raymond.’

Ruby’s heart was hammering and she could barely breathe as her gaze was fixed by Grace. ‘Just ’cos we got the same name don’t mean nothing,’ she managed.

Grace continued as if she hadn’t spoken. ‘I got a letter from me cousin what lives over that way, and the gossip is that Ray got a taste of his own medicine from ’is wife, and is as mad as ’ell ’cos she done a runner and he can’t track ’er down.’ The brown eyes remained steadily focussed on Ruby through the cigarette smoke. ‘It strikes me,’ she said quietly, ‘that she done ’erself a favour by scarpering – he’s a nasty piece of work.’

A trickle of cold sweat ran down Ruby’s back but she found she couldn’t tear her gaze from those knowing eyes.

‘If I was her,’ continued Grace, ‘I’d lie low until the coppers catch up with him for what he done to Micky Flannigan.’

Ruby stared at her, unable to think or speak.

Grace gripped her hand and leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘You got nothing to fear from me, gel. I ain’t about to blab to no one, and the other gels don’t know nothing.’

Ruby clasped her hand, the tears of relief and gratitude blinding her as all pretence was swept away. ‘You’re a diamond, Grace,’ she breathed. ‘A real diamond.’

Grace shot her a warning look as Lucy approached the table. ‘We gels gotta stick together,’ she muttered as she flicked ash into the saucer, ‘and I just wish I’d ’ad your courage to hit back when my old man belted me one.’

‘It weren’t courage, Grace – it were sheer, blind, bloody terror.’

Grace grinned as she mashed out the cigarette and gathered up her things. ‘You’ll do right enough, Ruby – now I gotta get to work. See ya later.’

Doris had hurriedly dried her tears and composed herself before she followed a joyful Harvey into the hall, curtly acknowledged Ron and Cordelia, and lifted the telephone receiver to call Anthony’s office.

Peggy sighed. Her homecoming hadn’t turned out at all as she’d planned, and now she was feeling decidedly dispirited by her sister’s revelations, and more than a little guilty at how cold-heartedly she’d planned to get her out of the house. She wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and go to sleep, but she had responsibilities and a promise to keep, so she plastered on a smile for Cordelia and Ron as if nothing had happened.

‘Is she telephoning Anthony to come and collect her?’ asked Ron hopefully as he pointed the overexcited Harvey in the direction of the hearthrug and settled Cordelia in her usual chair.

‘No,’ replied Peggy. ‘I’ve asked her to stay on for a bit.’

Ron’s eyebrows lowered as he glared at her. ‘Ach, ’tis soft you are, Peggy Reilly. To be sure we can cope without her now you’re home safely.’

‘I’m not as strong as I thought I was,’ she confessed, ‘and Doris has been so good with Daisy, I’ve asked her to help out for a while longer.’

‘Oh dear,’ twittered Cordelia. ‘I do hope you haven’t made yourself ill by coming out of hospital too soon.’

‘Not at all,’ she hurried to assure her. ‘But I will need time to fully recover, and Doris will be a godsend with everyone else being so busy.’ She smiled and patted Cordelia’s hand. ‘I know it’s all been very difficult, but I think you’ll find things will settle down now I’m in charge again.’

Ron snorted as he freshened the teapot with boiling water. ‘The woman’s a menace, and I’m amazed you’re letting her stay after the way she’s treated everyone.’ He handed out the cups and sat down with a thump on a kitchen chair.

Peggy understood their reluctance and fully shared their misgivings, but she’d promised her sister refuge, and was not about to renege on it. ‘I’d like both of you to give her a second chance,’ she replied. ‘After all, she is my sister, and Daisy has become very fond of her.’

Cordelia didn’t look convinced, and Ron eyed her suspiciously. ‘You’ve changed your tune, Peggy,’ he grumbled. ‘What’s going on that you don’t want to tell us?’

She smiled back at him, her eyes wide and innocent. ‘It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, Ron. Surely, after all the years you’ve lived here, you’ve realised that?’

‘Hmph. I know you too well to let you pull the wool over me eyes,’ he retorted. ‘I’ll get to the bottom of this, never you fear.’

Peggy grinned and reached for the new packet of Park Drive cigarettes. ‘You know, Ron, you’re too sharp for your own good – and one of these days you’re going to cut yourself.’

He tried to continue looking stern but couldn’t quite manage it, and returned her grin. ‘You and me both, Peggy Reilly,’ he said.

She decided it was time to change the subject. ‘How’s the lovely Rosie?’ she asked.

‘Blooming as always,’ he replied proudly. ‘She’s promised to cook me a spot of supper tonight, and then I’m taking her to the pictures.’

‘I’m glad things are back to normal between you,’ she said warmly. ‘Let’s just hope nothing else happens to take her away again.’

Ron concentrated on filling his pipe. ‘She’s got no plans to leave Cliffehaven. Rosie’s contented with the life she’s made here – even if it is only half a life because of that mad husband of hers. As far as I can make out, the only fly in Rosie’s ointment is something I can’t do anything about until she trusts me enough to talk about it,’ he said gruffly.

Peggy eyed him sharply. ‘She’s not still troubled by what happened with Tommy, is she?’

Ron shook his head. ‘She’s accepted that her brother deserved to be arrested and locked up. It’s his links with Eileen Harris that are still niggling her.’

‘But their affair was over years ago,’ she replied. ‘Surely she isn’t still harbouring the hurt Eileen caused her?’

‘It seems so,’ he muttered around the stem of his pipe. ‘And if I knew how and why that hurt had been inflicted, then I could maybe do something about it.’ He looked at her expectantly.

‘We’ve had this conversation before, Ron,’ she said firmly, ‘and I will not discuss Rosie’s private business. It’s clear she has no wish to drag it all up again, even with you. She’s got enough on her plate.’

Ron scowled and was about to protest when he saw the glint of steel in Peggy’s eyes and realised it wouldn’t be wise to push his luck. He finished his cup of tea and went down to his basement bedroom with Harvey at his heels.

‘The poor man is only trying to help,’ murmured Cordelia.

‘There’s nothing he could do even if he knew all the facts,’ Peggy replied. ‘It all happened such a long time ago, Cordelia, and now it’s far too late to do anything about it. Rosie’s wise to keep the past where it belongs, and I just hope that Ron has the sense to understand that.’

‘I suppose so,’ murmured Cordelia, ‘but secrets have a habit of casting long shadows, and that isn’t good for any relationship.’

Peggy felt weighed down by her knowledge, and the awful gloom that had overshadowed her homecoming, and decided to lighten the mood. She determinedly dredged up a smile. ‘I can see you’ve thoroughly enjoyed your afternoon of dramatics,’ she said to Cordelia. ‘Why don’t you tell me all about it?’

Cordelia went rather pink and giggled before she enthusiastically described every bang on the door and the shocked expression on the woman’s face as she was prodded in the middle by the walking stick.

‘She recognised me, of course, because I’d only recently been a patient. I thought for a moment she might have me carted off in a straitjacket,’ Cordelia confessed with another giggle, ‘because I did rather over-egg the pudding. I’m sure she thought I was completely potty.’

‘Oh dear,’ sighed Peggy. ‘You put yourself in a very tricky situation, Cordelia – and all because I wanted to come home. Doris was right, I’ve been horribly selfish.’

Cordelia frowned. ‘Nonsense,’ she retorted. ‘I was having the time of my life, and wouldn’t have missed it for anything.’

Peggy chuckled. ‘So how did you manage to avoid being locked in a padded cell?’

‘I pretended to suddenly realise what a terrible mistake I’d made, blamed it on the pills I was taking for the pain in my arm, and apologised profusely as I was backing out of the door.’ She adjusted her half-moon glasses and blew her nose. ‘She was gracious about the whole thing and even offered me a ride home in an ambulance – which of course I refused. I ended up feeling rather sorry for her, actually.’

‘Never mind, Cordelia. All’s well that ends well. We’ll just have to hope none of us needs the services of that hospital for a long while – or we could find ourselves transferred to some place fifty miles away.’

Daisy was squirming and stretching as she woke from her afternoon sleep, and as she managed to roll over and sit up, she caught sight of her mother and, with a beaming smile, lifted her arms towards her.

Peggy gathered her up and smothered her little face in kisses as she held her close. Despite all the dramas and tears, and all the subterfuge involved, it was good to be home again.

Ruby had spent the rest of her shift worrying about the fact that Grace knew exactly who she was, and why she’d fled London for Cliffehaven. She had no choice but to trust her to keep her mouth shut – and her promise to do so had seemed genuine enough. By the time the hooter went Ruby had decided to accept Grace’s promise at face value, for she liked her and enjoyed her company. But the niggle of doubt meant she couldn’t trust her completely, and Ruby realised she would have to keep their friendship on a casual level, and mind what she said in future.

She and Lucy left the factory compound on the dot of seven o’clock. Grace and her friends caught up with them at the gates and they stood about chatting and making plans for the weekend picnic before they went their separate ways.

The three London girls set off for their billet, which was a large Victorian house that had been turned into a hostel for young single females. It lay to the north-east of the factory estate and was one of several such houses which nestled high above the town within the sheltering arc of a leafy copse of trees. According to Grace, these houses were really posh and, before the war, were considered to be the most exclusive in Cliffehaven, so she and the others agreed that they’d fallen on their feet by being billeted there.

Waving goodbye to them, Ruby strolled arm in arm down the hill with Lucy. They were both tired after a long day, so their talk was desultory. They reached the station and when Ruby saw that Stan was sweeping the platform, she drew to a halt. ‘I just want to pop in and say hello to Stan,’ she said. ‘I ain’t seen him for a while, and he’s a nice old fella.’

‘I’ll see you tomorrow then,’ said Lucy through a vast yawn. She hitched up her gas-mask strap and continued down the hill, her heavy boots clumping on the paving slabs.

Ruby hurried through the remains of the station building and onto the platform. ‘Hello, Stan. You’re keeping busy, I see.’

He turned and beamed at her. ‘Ruby, what a lovely surprise. Have you got time for a cup of tea before you go home to Beach View?’

She shook her head. ‘I can’t, I’m sorry, Stan. Peggy’s come home today and I need to get back.’ She grinned up at him, squinting a bit as the sinking sun almost blinded her. ‘I just come to say thank you for what you and Ron done the other night. You saved me bacon and no mistake.’

He regarded her a bit bashfully. ‘No need to thank me,’ he murmured. ‘I’m just glad Ron got there in time.’ He smiled at her. ‘You’ll be all right with Peggy,’ he said as he awkwardly patted her arm. ‘Now you run along and tell her I’ll be over with some more roses on Sunday.’

Ruby stood on tiptoe and swiftly kissed the prickly cheek before she turned away and ran down the High Street.

There was a lump in Stan’s throat as he touched the spot she’d kissed. He slowly walked to the station entrance to watch her race down the hill and, through his tears, he saw her wave as she reached Camden Road. And then she was gone. He was glad she couldn’t see how deeply that sweet gesture had affected him, for she would think him a sentimental old fool. But Ruby had touched his heart – had become the child he and his darling wife had never been blessed with – and he was eternally thankful that he’d played a part in keeping her from real harm.

Ruby was out of breath by the time she reached Beach View, and she had to lean against the door for a moment to steady herself before she went into the kitchen. She could hear laughter and Daisy’s gurgling, could smell the delicious aroma of fried onions, and feel the lighter atmosphere in the house now that Peggy was back in the heart of her family.