The Docklands Girls (5 page)

They walked across the park to the hotel and were led to their table.

‘I hope you don’t mind, darling, but I’ve pre-ordered our meal. I told the head waiter that this was a special occasion and he’s promised to do us proud.’

Hildy was impressed as they were served prawn cocktail, followed by delicious steak, mushrooms, mixed vegetables and chips. As they tucked into their meal, a bellboy entered the dining room carrying an enormous bouquet of flowers and marched over to the table and presented it to Hildy.

‘These are for you, madam,’ he said.

She was overcome and felt herself blush as she took them from him, aware of the interest this had aroused from the other diners.

Milt chuckled at her discomfort. ‘No need to be embarrassed, darling, how often does a person get engaged? It’s a special day.’

‘Oh Milt!’ was all she could say.

He took the flowers from her and put them on an empty chair. With twinkling eyes, he said quietly, ‘You can show your appreciation later.’ Which made her blush even more.

After the meal, they were drinking coffee and talking. Milt was telling her that when he did eventually leave, it might be some time before she heard from him.

‘Now you’re not to worry. Troops move around a lot and it’s not easy to get mail collected and posted. You’re more likely to get several letters together so I’ll number them on the back of the envelope so you’ll know which comes first. You do the same.’

As she gazed at the strong features of the man beside her she realised that there would be a deep void in her life when he was eventually shipped out and she suddenly felt how it must be for those women whose husbands were already abroad; the families of the British Tommies already in the fray. At least she didn’t have children to worry about, that must make the burden even worse. But she was determined not to show her fears. After all, that’s what being an army wife was all about and Milt was a regular soldier.

Pushing back his seat, Milt said, ‘Come along, let’s go to our room.’

When they entered the bedroom, he took her into his arms and kissed her, then taking the package from his pocket he removed the ring from the box and placed it on her finger.

‘There you are, darling. Now it’s official!’

The stones sparkled in the sunlight pouring through the window. Flinging her arms around his neck she said, ‘Oh, Milt, I do love you.’

He grinned broadly. ‘Hell! I sure hope so.’ He kissed her, lifted her off her feet and spun her round until they collapsed on the bed in a bundle.

She lay in his arms, content. They made love and slept, waking later to drink champagne that Milt had ordered and had been sitting in an ice bucket ready for them.

Later they dressed and went to the bar for a drink, then ate in the dining room before retiring for the night.

Waking early the next morning, Hildy didn’t know when she’d been happier. She gazed at the ring on her finger, then at the sleeping figure beside her and prayed fervently that this wonderful man would come safely through the war and back to her because the alternative was too painful to contemplate.

She washed and dressed in her dungarees, then gently woke her fiancé. They drank a cup of coffee together before she had to go with Hank saying he’d be in touch.

Hildy knew that when she went home after work that day and faced her mother, there would be a scene, but she didn’t care. She had a future before her with a man she loved and she wasn’t going to let anyone spoil it. Her mother would just have to accept that her daughter was entitled to a life of her own.

The foreman at the factory was very relieved to see Hildy arrive as usual, dressed ready for work in her dungarees and carrying her case which she put away in her locker. If anything, she looked more chipper this morning than she did yesterday, which made him even more curious. It wasn’t until he did his round of inspections later that he noticed the ring on her finger. He stopped beside her.

‘Well, Hildy, you are a sly one. Congratulations! Who’s the lucky man?’

She was delighted that at last she could share her good news and beamed at him.

‘Sergeant Milt Miller, a GI I’ve been seeing. We got engaged last night.’ She held out her hand for him to inspect her ring.

The foreman was impressed. ‘That cost a few bob, love. Does that mean you’ll be leaving us to live in the States then?’

‘Eventually. We have to wait until the war is over, of course, but Milt wanted to make it official before he was shipped out.’

‘I’m happy for you, Hildy. I hope you won’t have to wait
too long to get hitched.’ But as he walked away, he was concerned for the girl. War could be cruel, he just prayed that her man would come through unscathed. He’d seen too many families shattered when they opened the door to the telegraph boy, bearing the small envelope with bad news.

Later that day, Hildy walked slowly towards her home, knowing that when her mother heard about her engagement, all hell would break loose. Fortunately Olive was still at work so she had time to change, make a cup of tea and gather her thoughts, but her heart sank when she heard her mother’s key in the front door.

As Olive walked into the kitchen, Hildy asked, ‘Want a cup of tea, Mum? I’ve just boiled the kettle.’

Her mother gave her a scathing look. ‘You decided to come home then!’

‘I left you a note telling you I would be away last night,’ Hildy said, pouring the tea into a cup and passing it across the table.

As she did so, Olive caught sight of the ring on her finger. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her daughter. ‘What’s that all about?’ she asked pointing to Hildy’s hand.

‘Me and Milt got engaged last night,’ Hildy said and felt her stomach tighten as she did so. ‘We’re going to get married when the war is over.’

‘How very selfish of you!’ Her mother looked livid. ‘You stand there and calmly tell me you’re going to marry that Yank, without any thought to
my
welfare. You are just going to walk away and leave me to live alone. How could you do such a thing?’

Hildy sat down at the table, looking at Olive, she said,
‘Yes, I suppose I am. I do have the right to some happiness, you know. You could be happy for me.’

‘Happy? You know what happened to me – to us. Your father walked out on his marriage, how do you know this American won’t do the same to you in another country? What will you do then I’d like to know?’

‘Milt is
not
like my father. He loves me.’

Olive laughed scornfully. ‘That’s what he says now, you wait until you’ve been married a while, it’ll all change, and in the meantime I have to manage, is that it?’

Hildy was at a loss as to how to get through to her mother.

‘For heaven’s sake, Mum, you aren’t an old woman. You’re only forty-six, in the prime of life. You have a job, you’re earning money, you might even meet another man and get married again.’

Olive was incandescent with rage. ‘Marry again, after all I’ve been through with your father? I’m just trying to stop you from making the same mistake.’

Hildy’s anger erupted. ‘No, you’re not! You’re trying to make sure you keep me here, with you, to spoil my chance of happiness just so you can have me at your beck and call, like I’ve been ever since Dad left.’ She rose from her chair, grabbed her coat and, as she put it on, glared at her mother.

‘I’ve had enough of your selfish ways and your emotional blackmail. I’m going to marry Milt and you won’t stop me!’ She walked out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

Olive sat at the table, outraged at her daughter’s outburst and suddenly swiped the cups and saucers off the table, sending them crashing to the floor.

Trying to calm down, Hildy walked with her feelings in turmoil, oblivious to her surroundings, until she came to the pier. She entered and strolled along the walkway, looking out at the horizon wishing she could get away, to escape from the woman who for years had bled her emotionally dry. She sat down, lit a cigarette and admitted to herself that she hated the woman who’d given birth to her and was then filled with guilt. No one was supposed to hate their mother – it wasn’t natural. Tears of frustration brimmed in her eyes. She had been so happy yesterday and now her mother had spoilt it for her yet again, as she had done consistently over the years whenever Hildy had a boyfriend. Her mother had so cleverly found something about them to criticise. A mention here, a word there, until the relationship would fail. But not this time.

This time, Hildy told herself, this time she’d met the man with whom she wanted to share the rest of her life and no miserable, self-centred woman was going to come between them. She’d move out if she had to. The more she thought of it, the better that idea became. She should have done it years ago. It would be good for Olive, make her stand on her own two feet for once. After all, she could afford the rent on their two-up two-down with the wages from her job. She could take a lodger, too, with the room that would become spare.

Thus inspired, Hildy went to an estate agent to enquire about a small furnished flat for herself and spent the afternoon looking at a couple that were available. The second one in the Polygon area was just what she needed, at a rent she could afford so she went to the bank to draw
out some money for the deposit and was given the keys.

She walked home filled with determination. She let herself in and went straight upstairs to start packing her clothes. She could hear her mother banging about in the kitchen below, making her presence known, but Hildy ignored the noise and filled two suitcases. Then she carried them downstairs and put them by the door just as Olive stepped out of the kitchen. She looked at the suitcases and then at her daughter.

Taking a deep breath, Hildy said, ‘I’m moving out, Mum. Under the circumstances I think it’s the best thing.’

At that moment there was a knock on the door. It was a taxi Hildy had ordered earlier. She handed the cases to the driver, then a piece of paper and a key to her mother.

‘Here is my address. I’ve got my ration book. I’m sorry it’s come to this, but it’s for the best,’ and she walked out of the door towards the cab. It was only then that Olive found her voice.

‘You selfish little bitch!’ she screamed. ‘Walking out on your own mother just for the sake of sex with some strange man. You’ll live to regret it; see if you don’t!’

Hildy closed the cab door, gave the driver the address and leant back in the seat trying to shut her ears to the abuse that was still being hurled at her.

‘Bad day, love?’ asked the taxi driver.

‘Something like that,’ she said and made him stop at a telephone box so she could call the base and leave a message for Milt with her new address.

That evening, Milt Miller arrived at her flat carrying a bunch of flowers. He gave her a hug and kissed her.

‘Well, when I got your message I was surprised,’ he said. Then looking round the rooms, he added, ‘Nice place, just what you need. Is the rent expensive?’

When she told him, he said, ‘That’s great,’ then taking a bundle of notes out of his pocket he gave them to her saying, ‘this will help you along for a while.’

She looked at them with some surprise and started to decline his offer.

‘Don’t say any more, honey,’ he said. ‘We are engaged, this is the least I can do. I’ll send you more whenever I can, after all, it’s now my place to take care of you.’

Hildy was overwhelmed. Ever since her father had left, she had been the one to take care of her own and her mother’s welfare. She who had to carry the burden that should have been her father’s. Now here was a man who was going to look after
her
. She put her arms around Milt and kissed him.

‘You have no idea just how much those words mean,’ she told him.

‘I told you, darling, that I had shoulders broad enough to carry all your worries, but now I have to go. I borrowed a jeep so I could come and see you, but I’ve got to go back to camp. I’m not sure when I’m going to be free as we are out on exercises from tomorrow, I’ll be in touch as soon as I get back.’

As he drove away, he knew that very soon they would be shipping out. He wasn’t sure when, but the rumours around the camp had been rife. The top military brass had been meeting to choose the day for the landings, that was all he knew, but he couldn’t and wouldn’t say anything to Hildy. He realised just how difficult the decision to leave her
mother must have been for her and no doubt Mrs Dickson wouldn’t have made it any easier, but he was certain it was the right thing for Hildy.

During the next few days, Southampton became swamped with even more troops and vehicles. All along the streets surrounding the docks, tanks and their crew were lined up. As the local population went about their business, they saw the British Red Cross serving the troops hot drinks and sandwiches. Mobile canteens, run by the Church Army cared for the British troops. Every inch of the Empress Docks was filled with landing craft. The prime minister, complete with cigar, visited the troops to boost their morale and take a look at the final preparations for the forthcoming invasion.

Belle had seen little of Jackson Butler as most of the troops had been on exercises and she missed him. Of course leave had been cancelled for others who were also involved with final training, so business was slack.

The bar of the Horse and Groom was almost empty when Belle and Cora were sitting together that lunchtime chatting. Without the customers crowding the bar, the interior seemed even more dark and shabby, the stale smell of beer and tobacco seemed to cling to the walls, despite the fact that the bar doors were open trying to invite any casual drinkers. The pianist in the corner was sitting at the bar drinking a beer as it was hardly worth playing for a handful of people who were not exactly in the mood to celebrate anything.

Looking around the near empty bar, Belle asked, ‘Is it
me or is there a strange atmosphere in here today?’

‘Funny,’ Cora replied, ‘I was just thinking the same. It reminds me of the Blitz, you know when you were having your supper waiting for the air raid siren to go, anticipating the worst.’

Belle finished her half of bitter. ‘Come on, love, let’s get out of here; its making me depressed. Let’s go to the pictures, at least that’ll cheer us up.’ So that’s what they did. But the British Pathé news, full of the troops fighting in various fields of battle, did little to lift their spirits.

The troops were at last given twenty-four hour leave. Although no information had been given out, the men knew that the invasion was imminent so they were determined to enjoy what they considered to be their last free time and they were hell-bent on enjoying themselves.

All the pubs around the docks were packed with all nationalities. The military police were out in force as were the local constabulary, ready for unrest, but on the whole, it was trouble free. Yes, there was many a drunken soldier who was taken back to their different camps to sleep off the excess of alcohol, but the others just wanted to enjoy the time they had before being shipped out. To drink and get laid.

The local brasses were kept busy; they too realised that this may be the time to make a pile of money as the men queued for their services. The locals looked on with some amusement at the men standing in line outside various brothels. Others were disgusted saying the area around the town should be cleared by the police and all the prostitutes put behind bars. But the police were aware that would be
unwise at this particular time and on the whole if the girls didn’t cause any trouble, they were prepared to look the other way. That’s how it was in wartime.

Cairo Fred drove his girls hard, thinking his cash flow would be sadly affected once the boys sailed across to France, taking their money with them. His girls complained bitterly, but he was not interested, only in the money they earned.

The law was different for those dealing in the black market. Men who dealt in American goods, filtered by the quartermasters who were on the fiddle, were syphoning off as much as they dare whilst they were able to do so. The racketeers loaded their vans. They took everything that was offered, but the local police had several of them under surveillance and pounced on them when their stocks were full. The courts were busy with a waiting list of cases to be dealt with.

As one of the judges remarked during a case, ‘Greed is the downfall of many a criminal.’

At lunchtime, Cora waited in the Lord Roberts for Hank after hearing that leave had at last been given to the men, hoping that he would have a few hours free. She sat nervously waiting and looked up anxiously each time the door opened, until eventually he walked in and hurried over.

Taking hold of her hands he leant forward and kissed her.

‘Gee, Cora, I was so worried I wouldn’t get to see you before we shipped out.’

She felt the blood drain from her face. ‘When are you going?’

‘Nobody knows for sure, but very soon. That’s all I
know and this will probably be the last leave I get. I have to be back by midnight.’

Her heart sank, but not wanting his last night to be a sad one she forced a smile.

‘If that’s the case, what would you like to do?’

He gazed at her taking in every detail of her face so he could remember each part of it. ‘Let’s have a drink here, then go back to your place. I just want us to be alone.’

As they were sitting quietly together, he gave her an address to write to when he’d gone.

‘Keep those letters coming, Cora, ’cause it’s the only thing that keeps a man going when they are in a war zone. I’ll write back when I can – don’t worry if you don’t hear for a while – mail collection is uncertain.’ He smiled and said, ‘Let’s get out of here.’