Keep Smiling Through (45 page)

Cliffehaven looked like a picture postcard in the snow. It smothered roofs and chimneys, lay in sparkling white drifts in the hollows on the hills and over the gardens. Glittering in the trees, it hid the rubble of the bombed-out buildings and muffled every sound.

But it was a damned nuisance, for it had brought almost everything to a grinding halt. The trains and buses weren’t moving, and the day-to-day business of getting about had become dangerous as the slush froze and turned pavements and roads into ice rinks. Shops began to run out of supplies because nothing was coming into Cliffehaven; coal, anthracite and paraffin were at an all-time low just as they were most needed; and there were constant calls to the fire station to deal with burst pipes, chimney fires, and damage to roofs already weakened by bomb blasts.

It was almost another week before the snow began to melt, but then the residents of Cliffehaven had to cope with enemy planes flying overhead, constant air-raid warnings, and the inconvenience of having to sit huddled in a freezing Anderson shelter for hours on end. To add to the misery, the government had decided to ration gas and electricity, and there were constant blackouts, sometimes lasting for half a day, which meant it was almost impossible to cook, clean or even bathe properly.

Peggy had had enough. She’d been down to the Town Hall to do her two-hour stint for the WVS and had bumped into Doris, who seemed determined to tell her every last detail of her current charity fundraising, and her burgeoning relationship with Lady Charlmondley. Doris had thrown broad hints about coming back with Peggy to see Sylvia, and Peggy had told her straight that Sylvia was due to leave today and didn’t have time to put up with her fawning all over her. Doris had taken umbrage and Peggy had happily left her to stew.

She carefully made her way along a pavement slick with dirty snow and slush, her mind working over everything she had to do before she could sit down with a cigarette and a cup of tea. With Sylvia and Louise leaving there would be spare beds again, and she supposed she should tell the Welfare people. The Town Hall was still packed with the homeless and, although Peggy felt terribly sorry for them, she actually just wanted a bit of peace for a while amongst people she knew and loved. It was an effort to make strangers welcome and attend to the problems they seemed to bring with them.

Perhaps it was her age slowing her down – after all, she would be forty-four in three weeks’ time, and most women her age were beginning to take things easy. Not much chance of that, she thought crossly, not with a houseful and Louise getting worse by the day as the snow kept her in Cliffehaven. She’d be glad to see the back of her.

At least Rita seemed happy enough to go with Louise now she knew her job was safe. Of course Louise still wouldn’t accept that Rita would be returning to Cliffehaven, but Rita was proving to be much tougher than she’d thought, and now she knew she had Peggy’s support, she would deal with Louise – Peggy was sure of it.

She tramped up the front steps, knocked the snow from her boots and went inside, to be greeted by the sound of laughter in her kitchen. She unwound her scarf, took off her gloves and boots and hung her coat on the newel post. It seemed that everyone was home, and the kitchen was so crammed she could barely find somewhere to sit. Sylvia was holding court, pouring champagne, chattering away nineteen to the dozen to Fran and Suzy.

‘Rosie managed to find a few bottles at the back of her cellar,’ muttered Ron. ‘Sylvia wanted to throw a bit of a party before she left.’

Peggy took a glass and lit a cigarette. She realised that nothing much would get done for a while, so she relaxed and watched the others. The five girls were chattering and giggling, Ron was looking stoic and Jim was flirting with a delighted Mrs Finch, who clearly couldn’t hear a word he was saying but was enjoying the attention anyway.

Louise was looking sullen as usual, refusing the champagne and sipping a glass of water instead. She still hadn’t forgiven Sylvia for refusing to give her and Rita a lift to Salisbury where they could have caught a train into Wales. She simply couldn’t – or wouldn’t – understand that with Christopher taking up the entire back seat, there wasn’t room for passengers.

Beneath the hubbub of noise, Peggy turned to Ron. ‘I understand Tommy Findlay’s been sniffing around again,’ she murmured.

‘He was,’ he said round the stem of his pipe, ‘but there’s been no sign of him since Christmas.’ He eyed her through the pipe-smoke. ‘Do you have any idea why Rosie puts up with him?’

‘She has her reasons,’ Peggy replied. ‘It’s not up to me to tell you what they are.’

‘He’s not some old flame, is he? Or the missing husband? Braithwaite’s her maiden name, you know.’

She patted his arm as she nodded. ‘Don’t worry, Ron, she’s still your girl.’

He narrowed his eyes. ‘I wish I could be certain of that,’ he said gruffly.

‘Then do something about it,’ she said. ‘Tell her how you feel and put things on a firmer basis. You’ll find she’ll be quite open to the suggestion.’ She grinned at him. ‘Trust me, Ron. I know about these things.’

He grinned back. ‘Aye. I suppose you do.’

‘Can I have everyone’s attention?’ called Sylvia. She smiled as the babble died and all eyes turned to her. ‘I would just like to say thank you for giving me such a loving and happy home for my short stay here. Ron, I owe you my son’s life and my eternal gratitude. Jim, you’ve been a constant source of entertainment, good food and black-market petrol.’

Everyone laughed, and she turned to Mrs Finch. ‘Thank you, Cordelia, for being such a lovely companion, and to all you girls for providing much-needed laughter and fun.’ Her smile faltered as she looked at Peggy. ‘Peggy, we haven’t known each other long, but I think of you as a good friend. Please stay in touch, and perhaps after this war is over, we can pick up where we’ve left off.’

Peggy nodded, saw that Sylvia was close to tears and knew that there would be no protracted goodbyes. She hated them too and understood.

Sylvia raised her glass. ‘To Beach View Boarding House and all who are lucky enough to live here.’

Peggy met Sylvia’s gaze as she raised her own glass. She would miss her, certainly, but they would stay in touch and meet again.

Sylvia finished her glass of champagne and with a smile to everyone, made her way through the crush and into the hall. Her cases were already stowed on the passenger seat, the petrol cans and food for the journey safe in the boot of the Rolls-Royce. All that was left for her to do now was leave.

She slowly drew on the mink coat and gloves, the chatter from the kitchen drifting out to her. Peggy had seen her slip away – had understood that she hated long goodbyes and wanted to go quietly and without fuss. Dear Peggy, what a good friend she’d been.

Smoothing back her fair hair and adjusting her hat, she caught her reflection in the mirror and gave a wry smile. Her life might have been very different if she’d grown up in a warm and loving family like this, with a mother like Peggy. It had been her dream as a child, and now, through the vagaries of fate, she’d had the chance to experience it for a while. The memories of Beach View and the Reilly family would remain with her for the rest of her life.

She quietly opened the front door and slowly went down the freshly salted steps to the Rolls-Royce. Christopher was waiting for her at the hospital, James had promised to come home for a few days next week and her other two sons were due for leave within the next month. Her own precious family needed her now, and the enrichment of her few weeks in Cliffehaven would carry her through whatever lay ahead in her strange and rather wonderful life.

Sylvia took a deep, enlivening breath of the cold sea air. The sun was brilliant on what remained of the snow, a good omen for the long journey – a bright, shining hope for the future.

The next day dawned just as brightly, and Rita was as eager as Louise to begin their long journey to Wales. It would be lovely to see Tino and Roberto and get Louise finally settled – but the best part would be coming home again to Cliffehaven and Peggy.

It was strange how her priorities had changed over the past weeks – the dream of being in the WAAFs fading as the new and exciting job at the fire station offered all she’d needed. Perhaps Louise had been right all along, she thought wryly, for she had found everything she’d yearned for, right here in Beach View.

Rita had spent the previous evening with Cissy, who left early that morning for the airbase, her arm finally out of plaster. She’d said goodbye to Fran and Suzy as they rushed off for their early shift at the hospital, and tried not to lose her patience with Louise as she fussed and dithered and raced about like a headless chicken.

Now it was time to leave, and although she knew she’d be coming back soon, she still felt rather tearful as Jim and Ron hugged her and Mrs Finch gave her a kiss. ‘Take care, Anne,’ she said, giving her a gentle hug, ‘and give my best to Martin.’

‘You take care too, Rita,’ Anne replied, ‘and we’ll see you soon.’

‘She’s staying with me,’ said Louise, glancing yet again at the clock. ‘Come on, Rita, or we’ll miss the trolley.’

Rita turned to Peggy. ‘I’ll be back,’ she murmured as they hugged. ‘Keep a space for me.’

‘You’ll have June’s old room,’ Peggy replied, ‘and I’ll make sure it’s all ready and waiting for you, don’t you fret.’

‘Waste your time all you want,’ said Louise. She eyed Peggy with barely disguised triumph. ‘Rita won’t be back.’ She didn’t bother to say goodbye as she marched into the hall and picked up the heavy bag that was straining with all the things she’d bought for Roberto and Tino as well as her own precious belongings.

Rita kissed Peggy and followed Louise into the hall. Her own bag was very light, for she didn’t need much for such a short time away. As Louise opened the door and hurried down the steps, Rita shot Peggy a smile that held a world of love, and the promise to return as soon as she could.

The journey seemed endless as they had to change trains, catch buses and wait for hours on lonely platforms for their connections. Louise never stopped complaining. She muttered her ill-will over Lady Sylvia’s selfishness, moaned about the delays, the draughts in the carriages, the terrible food at the stations, the lack of decent facilities, the crush, the noise and the inconveniences she had to bear.

Rita hadn’t listened to half of it, preferring to read the magazines Cissy had given her, or to look out of the window or watch the other people in their carriage. She let her mind drift to how she would feel on seeing Roberto after all this time. Would the experiences he’d had have changed him? Her own experiences had changed her, that was a fact, and she hoped with all her heart that he didn’t expect anything more from her than sisterly kinship.

They finally arrived at the tiny station in Wales and clambered down onto the platform. It was a neat, pretty place, with a small cottage next to the signal box, a vegetable garden beside the embankment and fresh paint on the doors and window frames.

Louise dumped her bag and peered through the clouds of smoke as the train chuffed away. ‘They should be here,’ she said fretfully. ‘Where are they? They knew what time we were to arrive.’

‘Mamma! Rita!’

‘Roberto! Tino!’

The four of them clung to one another, exchanging kisses and hugs, drinking in the sight of their beloved faces, rejoicing in their reunion.

‘It’s wonderful to see you again, Rita,’ said Roberto as Louise and Tino continued to embrace. ‘You look very well, considering what you’ve been through.’

Rita grinned up at him in delight. ‘So do you – but what’s with that moustache?’

He thumbed it bashfully. ‘Thought I’d give it a go,’ he muttered.

‘It makes you look very distinguished,’ she replied, trying her best not to laugh. It actually looked like a caterpillar crawling over his top lip, but she would never say so. She glanced at Tino, who was lovingly kissing away Louise’s tears. ‘Papa’s lost weight,’ she said quietly. ‘Are you sure he’s fully recovered?’

‘Fitter than ever now he has so much physical work to do around the farm,’ said Roberto, reaching for her bag. ‘Come on, we’ve arranged for you to stay in the village. They’re a nice old couple and have plenty of room, and you’ll find there are other wives and their families close by, so you won’t get lonely.’

Rita caught his arm. ‘I can’t stay long, Roberto,’ she warned.

He looked crestfallen. ‘But I thought you and Mamma were coming to live here?’

She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, but as I explained in my letter, I have a home with Peggy Reilly and a good job at the fire station. I’ll be going back on the next train the day after tomorrow.’

‘I’ve had no such letter, Rita.’ He glanced across at his weeping mother. ‘Mamma will take a bit of time to settle in – you know how she dislikes change – and we can only visit on our time off and in the evenings.’ He turned back to her, his dark eyes concerned. ‘How does she feel about you going back?’

‘She’s not happy about it,’ Rita said truthfully, ‘but she’ll be fine once she settles in, and with you and Papa, and the other families nearby, she won’t miss me at all.’

He grinned at her and linked arms. ‘So, tell me all about this job,’ he said. ‘I thought you wanted to go into the WAAFs?’

The elderly couple was as delightful as their little thatched cottage which stood within a flourishing vegetable garden on the edge of the small village. Their bedrooms were neat and pretty with chintz curtains and bedspreads, the sitting room and kitchen warm from the blazing fire in the inglenook and the large range.

Rita unpacked her toothbrush, flannel and nightdress, leaving everything else in the bag. She ambled into the other room as Louise chattered away happily to Tino, who was sitting on the bed. Louise hung up her clothes in the wardrobe and put the Madonna and child statuette in pride of place on the chest of drawers under the window. ‘There,’ she said softly. ‘Now it is truly home.’

Rita looked round the room as Louise continued to settle in. There was a large double bed in here, and the view from the window looked over miles of fields to the distant craggy mountains. It might be isolated, but it was warm and cosy, and Rita could see that Louise was already feeling quite at home now she had Tino and Roberto close by.