Keep Smiling Through (36 page)

As the farmhouse was lost in the mist behind them and they reached the narrow, winding country lane that would take them to the station halt some miles away, Peggy felt a great surge of the grief that had been building since yesterday. It overwhelmed her like the breaking of a dam, and she buried her face in her hands, yielding to it in a storm of bitter tears.

It seemed Hitler was giving them some respite, for there had been no bombing raids since before the holiday. The nasty weather had closed in with misty rain blotting out the hills and thick, freezing fog rolling in from the sea, but Cliffehaven was preparing for the New Year celebrations. The talk at the factory was an excited babble as the women discussed their plans, what they would wear, and who they would be dancing with. It took all of Major Patricia’s leadership skills to keep them focused on their work.

Rita was looking forward to the celebrations, too, for she and Chuck had met every day since Christmas, and he’d already bought tickets to the biggest and best dance being held at the Galaxy Ballroom, which was in the Grand Hotel on the seafront. To celebrate, she’d splashed out on a lovely pair of dancing shoes she’d found in the market, and had begun to worry about what to wear with them.

Ever the romantic, Cissy had insisted she have one of her many party dresses, and Rita had asked John Hicks’ wife, Sally, to take it in and shorten it. It was a lovely dress of turquoise blue, and both Sally and Cissy had assured her that it brought out the darkness of her hair and eyes and made her very pretty indeed. Rita had never been one for party frocks before, or bothered much about her looks, but things had changed since meeting Chuck, and even she had to admit she looked rather nice.

She had known it wouldn’t be long before her friendship with the young American became common knowledge, but she refused to be drawn into the factory gossip and denied there was anything serious in their being seen together. She hugged the memory of her shy, first sweet kiss to herself.

The end of her early shift had come at last, and although it was only three in the afternoon it was already quite dark outside. She quickly pulled on the thick fire service overcoat over her dungarees and old sweater, wrapped a scarf round her neck and pulled the beret Anne had given her for Christmas over her curls. Picking up the canvas bag containing the remnants of her lunch, and the gas mask box, she slung their straps over her shoulder, dug her gloved hands deep in her pockets and hurried away from the factory.

The Norton was safely locked away in one of the outbuildings at the asylum, and it was a long walk back, but she had an appointment with John Hicks first and didn’t want to be late. His message had come through to Major Patricia’s office telephone. She had no idea why he wanted to see her, but suspected he was going to cut down on some of her fire-watch shifts now things were quieter.

The station was a hive of activity as the fire engines were hosed down and polished to a gleam, the yard was scrubbed and the whole place made shipshape in readiness for the next raid. There was a chorus of greetings which Rita returned before climbing the wooden stairs up to John’s office.

‘Come in and sit down, Rita,’ he said cheerfully as she opened the door and walked in. ‘Want a cup of tea?’

‘That would be lovely.’ She held her hands over the paraffin heater to warm them. ‘It’s bitter out there.’

‘Before I forget,’ he said, ‘your dress will be ready Tuesday morning. I’ll bring it in so you can pick it up here. If there are any problems, Sally will be at home all day, so she can sort them out.’

Rita experienced a little thrill of excitement. ‘I’m sure it will be perfect,’ she breathed, imagining herself dancing the night away in Chuck’s arms like a fairytale princess.

‘Yeah, my Sally’s clever with the needle. Her home dressmaking business is going from strength to strength.’ He poured the tea and set the cup and saucer on the table with a couple of digestive biscuits. ‘She tells me I’m getting fat,’ he said comfortably, patting his midriff, ‘so don’t let on I’ve sneaked these into work.’

Rita smiled and blew on the hot tea, her hands cradling the cup. ‘It’s our secret as long as you keep sharing them out,’ she murmured. She watched as he settled into the chair by his desk, his injured leg stuck out before him. Rita knew it still caused him a degree of pain, and although he limped quite badly when he was tired, she’d never heard him complain about it.

‘Your father telephoned about ten minutes ago. He said he was sorry he missed you, but couldn’t hang on because the Staff Sergeant had only given him five minutes.’

Rita felt her spirits ebb. ‘It would have been lovely to speak to him,’ she said softly. ‘Will he call again, do you think?’

‘I don’t know, Rita, but I’m sure he’ll try.’

‘Is he well? Nothing’s wrong, is there?’

‘He’s absolutely fine.’ He regarded her in silence for a moment. ‘He rang because he got your letter. He’s not happy about you staying here now the house is gone, and asked me to make you see sense and get you on the next train out of Cliffehaven.’

‘I can’t leave without Louise, and she’s refusing to budge. I explained all that in my letter.’

‘I also understand you’ve withdrawn your application to join the WAAFs for the same reason,’ he said, his gaze steady.

‘How on earth did you know that? Dad couldn’t have told you, because I never let on to him I’d even applied.’

He didn’t smile, simply looked rather sad. ‘Cliffehaven’s a hotbed of gossip and rumour. You should know that, Rita.’ He fell silent for a moment and then gave a deep sigh. ‘So it’s true then,’ he said. ‘What a shame.’

‘I really had no choice once we’d been bombed out.’ She had a sudden, rather alarming thought. ‘I hope you didn’t say anything to Dad about it.’

He shook his head. ‘He never mentioned it, so I didn’t either.’

The relief was immense. Her father would blow a gasket if he’d known and would probably have gone AWOL to come down and read her the riot act. She hated keeping things from him, but what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him, and she’d worded her letter very carefully.

She sipped the hot tea, and then remembered he’d asked her to come here long before her father had telephoned. ‘What did you want to see me about, Mr Hicks?’

He shifted in his chair and fiddled with some of the papers strewn across his desk. ‘As you seem so determined to stay in Cliffehaven, I was wondering if you’d consider taking on a full-time job here. I’d pay the going rate.’

Rita put down her cup, afraid she’d spill the tea. ‘As a fireman?’

‘As a driver and fill-in mechanic.’

A little thrill sparked inside her as her thoughts raced. ‘Mechanics earn more than drivers,’ she pointed out, more in hope than expectation.

He laughed. ‘There’re no flies on you, are there, Rita?’

‘It’s too jolly cold for flies,’ she returned with a smile, ‘and I need the money.’

‘Tell you what. I’ll pay the rate for a driver when you drive, and the rate for an apprentice mechanic when you fix my engines. How about that?’

Rita grinned. ‘That sounds fair to me. You’ve got a deal.’ She drank the last of her tea and stood. ‘When do you want me to start?’

‘On your next shift, and then full-time once you’ve worked your notice at the factory,’ he said. ‘Mr Wickens will be on hand to help. He might be old and a bit doddery, but he knows more about engines than you ever will.’

Rita liked Mr Wickens, even when he was grumpy. He reminded her of Ron Reilly, for no matter how much he grumbled, there was always a twinkle in his eye.

John looked back at her, a grin tugging at his lips. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so broadly,’ he said, ‘or look so happy. Still seeing that young American?’

‘It’s nothing to do with him,’ she said quickly, not wanting him to think she was a dreamy girl with cotton wool for brains. ‘I’m just thrilled you’re giving me this chance, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a decent set of tools again. Dad’s were lost when the house blew up.’

‘You’re always welcome to come in and tinker during your hours off at the factory,’ he said. ‘I’ll pay for any work you do on our engines.’

‘Thanks, Mr Hicks.’ She shifted from one foot to the other, the excitement battling with sudden doubt. ‘I might need a bit of practice before I take one of the engines out on the road,’ she said nervously. ‘I know the mechanics, but the practical side of actually driving anything is a bit hazy.’

He laughed. ‘Come in tomorrow and I’ll give you a lesson. It shouldn’t take long. You’re a bright girl.’

Rita knew she was grinning from ear to ear in delight. ‘Is it all right if I go now? Only Louise is waiting for me to walk her back from the factory, and I want to tell her the good news.’

He frowned. ‘Why aren’t you using the Norton?’

‘Not enough petrol to keep running all over the place, and she’s developed a strange knocking sound which I need to investigate.’

‘Bring it down here and work on it in the garage during your spare time,’ he said as the telephone began to ring. ‘You’ll need it to get about now you’re stuck up at that asylum. It’s not safe walking up there in the dark.’ He picked up the receiver and his expression softened. ‘Hello, Sally. I thought it might be you . . .’

Rita closed the door on his private conversation with his new wife, but was still grinning fit to burst as she raced down the stairs and declared her marvellous news to all and sundry.

Warmed by their congratulations and encouragement, she felt as if she had wings on her boot heels as she all but danced along the pavement and headed for Goldman’s clothing factory. Chuck was meeting her outside the Odeon cinema at seven, she was about to start doing what she loved most, and would even learn how to drive a fire engine. Her world couldn’t be more perfect.

Rita was amazed at how simple it had been to look at life differently, and see that it didn’t have to be conducted in a haze of gloom and hopelessness. That Christmas Day at Beach View had opened her eyes to how low Louise had brought her, and although she would never leave Louise to cope alone, she’d slowly begun to loosen the apron strings.

She and Louise didn’t argue over her seeing Chuck any more. They’d said everything they had to say, and Rita was no longer so easily swayed by Louise’s tears and long, meaningful silences. Louise clearly wasn’t happy at the change in Rita, but they’d reached an uneasy truce, relying on their love for one another to carry them through this sea-change in their relationship.

The news of her new posting at the fire station was greeted with a warm, knowing smile by Louise, who couldn’t resist commenting that she’d always known Rita would be much happier staying in Cliffehaven, and that she hoped this would be the end of all that silly talk about joining the WAAFs.

Rita had just smiled, kissed her goodbye and left their billet with a light heart to ride the Norton down to the fire station on the way to meeting Chuck at the cinema. She was still concerned about the strange noises it was making, and if it hadn’t been for her date tonight, she’d have stripped the engine down and given it a good going over.

It was a filthy night and the fire station was all but deserted. After greeting the volunteer who was manning the telephone and reading his newspaper, she wheeled the Norton to the most distant corner of the vast garage and pulled her ‘air raid bag’ out of the pannier.

Locking herself in the small canteen, she changed into her best clothes. Once dressed, she brushed her hair and fixed May’s sparkling comb firmly amid the curls and then made sure Tino’s earrings were safely pinned in her earlobes. May had been right, they didn’t hurt at all now.

There wasn’t a mirror, but she could just make out her reflection in the shining steel dome that sat over the empty cheese platter. Her reflection was distorted in the curved metal, but as far as she could tell, she didn’t look too bad, even though she was wearing no make-up and hadn’t had the time or the spare money to get her hair done.

She donned the heavy fire service overcoat, which must look very odd with high-heeled shoes, but was the only protection she had against the appalling weather, gathered up her motorcycle gear and carefully folded it and the hold-all away in the panniers. Giving the Norton a pat, she called a cheerful TTFN to the volunteer. The night was hers, and she meant to make the most of it.

She crossed the echoing space, past the three red Dennis fire engines, her heels tapping on the concrete. Opening the door, she grimaced at the rain that was teeming down and gurgling in a rush along the gutters. She’d forgotten to buy a new umbrella, and her hair would end up a horrible frizzy mess.

As she dithered in the doorway a noisy jeep swerved across the road and pulled up with a squeal of brakes, the big tyres sending a slew of dirty water across the pavement.

She leaped back with an angry gasp and only just escaped getting her shoes and stockings ruined. ‘For goodness sake,’ she muttered crossly as she checked for damage.

‘I’m so sorry, Rita. I was on my way to pick you up from your billet and only just saw you. I didn’t know there was a puddle there. Are you okay?’

She looked up at Chuck and her anger fled. ‘Only just,’ she teased. ‘You really should look where you’re going.’

He grinned and took her hand. ‘I can’t help it if you guys drive on the wrong side of the road, and then confuse us poor ol’ country boys by turning out all the lights.’

‘We do it especially, just to wind you up. So, where did that come from?’

‘One of my buddies back at base lent it to me for the evening. I didn’t want you getting wet, and it’s a long walk to your billet.’

Rita smiled back at him, her pulse missing a beat. ‘What a treat,’ she said. ‘I’ve never been in a jeep before.’

‘No time like the present. Come on, or we’ll miss the show.’

Rita felt the warmth of his hand as they ran into the rain, felt the strength of him as he virtually lifted her into the cab of the jeep and slammed the door on the wind and rain. She was a lucky girl and no mistake.

As he climbed in beside her she eyed the jeep’s interior. It was very basic – just a shell of metal really, with only a couple of dials fixed behind the large steering wheel, two bucket-shaped leather seats and a canvas roof which let in a terrific draught. The engine was noisy so it was impossible to carry on a conversation, and the suspension left a great deal to be desired. But it was fun, so much fun, and she blessed him silently for being so thoughtful.