War Babies (48 page)

They hurried in along the entry, Reggie and Jonny dashing on ahead. There was a general air of celebration about, the neighbours outside chatting, and when Mo came out he was clapped on the back
and looked suitably proud and bashful at the same time.

‘Right!’ he proclaimed, wiping his forehead. ‘God, I’m exhausted, I am, I can tell yer . . . Time to wet the baby’s—’

‘Oh, Mo!’ Rachel interrupted. ‘You can’t just disappear off to the pub. Let’s wet the baby’s head here – later on!’ There were nods of agreement
from the women. ‘Come on, Mo – you live most of your life in the Salutation!’

Mo looked crestfallen. ‘Why not both?’ he asked hopefully.

Gladys, who was looking very happy on Dolly’s behalf, said, ‘All right then – you go off now and get yerself back here for when Dolly’s ready to face the world. And wait
’til we’re back from the market – don’t start without us!’

Mo scuttled off happily along the entry.

Irene, who was leaning in her doorway watching the proceedings, announced, ‘That’s one thing I’m never cowing well doing again. Over my dead body.’

Everyone ignored her. This was Dolly’s moment and they were delighted for her.

Mo did them all proud that evening, with bottles and jugs brought along from the outdoor at the pub, and everyone crowded into number one. The Morrisons welcomed Tommy’s
chair inside even though it took up precious space. Some of the neighbours, the Jackmans and Lil and Stanley, and a number from the other yards around, came for a quick look and chat and left
again, the children spilling out into the yard as soon as they had got a glimpse of the new baby and grown bored with her. Dolly brought her down for a bit and seemed in very good health and
spirits. The closest neighbours stayed.

‘It was that quick I hardly had time to turn round!’ said Dolly.

‘Oh, Dolly – she’s the image of you!’ Gladys said tearfully. She was more emotional about everything these days, as if she had finally allowed her feelings to show.

‘About time an’ all!’ Dolly beamed down at the little girl, all seven pounds three of her, with a dark thatch of hair, sleeping soundly in her arms. ‘She and me’ll
have to stick together. We even look as if we might be related!’

‘Isn’t she beautiful?’ Rachel murmured to Danny who was standing beside her. He smiled and nodded. ‘Have you got a name for her?’ she asked Dolly.

Dolly looked at Mo and he gave a nod. ‘She’s going to be called Donna,’ she said. ‘It’s a pretty name and it means “woman” in Italian. Any road,
she’s going to need to be all woman in this house! And her second name’ll be Elizabeth, after Mo’s mom.’

‘A toast!’ Mo announced, standing up and trying to look solemn, though a man with such a comical face and generous belly faced a challenge with this. ‘To Donna Elizabeth
– our little wench!’

‘To Donna Elizabeth!’ they all chorused, sipping from an array of crocks that had been brought in for the purpose.

‘Now you come to think of it,’ Gladys said, as they quietened down, ‘she’s the first babby born in this yard since the war ended.’

Everyone thought for a moment.

‘That’s true,’ Rachel said. ‘The last one was Evie Sutton.’

‘Poor little bugger,’ someone muttered. ‘We’ll all have to keep an eye on that one.’

‘Well – let’s have a further toast,’ Mo said, raising a teacup full of ale. ‘To Donna Elizabeth – child of the peace!’

‘Child of the peace!’ everyone joined in.

Rachel and Danny clinked cups. His wide blue eyes looked into hers and she could see the love and happiness in them. ‘Here’s to the peace,’ he whispered. ‘And to us,
love.’ And they reached for each other’s hands.

As ever, the research for this story involved tracking down a great many small pieces of information from an even greater number of sources too numerous to mention. But I owe
particular thanks this time to Iris and Gordon Parker and their daughter Nina Jennings who shared with me their memories of working on the Birmingham Rag Market. Also to Maureen and Fred Hyde for
hospitality and more memories. And, once more, many thanks to members of the Birmingham History Forum for all their memories and for answers to questions when needed.

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BY
A
NNIE
M
URRAY

Two daughters. Two mothers.
The secrets of two lifetimes.

In 1984 two young mothers meet at a toddler group in Birmingham. As their friendship grows, they share with each other the difficulties and secrets in their lives.

Joanne, a sweet, shy girl, is increasingly afraid of her husband. The lively, promising man she married has become hostile and violent and she is too ashamed to tell anyone.
When her mother, Margaret, is suddenly rushed into hospital, the bewildered family find that there are things about their mother of which they had no idea. Margaret was evacuated from Birmingham as
a child and has spent years avoiding the pain of her childhood – but finds that you can’t run from the past forever.

Sooky, kind and good-natured, has already been through one disastrous marriage and is back at home living with her parents. But being ‘disgraced’ is not easy. Her mother, Meena,
refuses to speak to Sooky. At first her silence seems like a punishment, but Sooky gradually realizes it contains emotions which are far more complicated and that her mother may need her help.
Meena has spent 20 years trying to fit in with life in Birmingham, and to deal with the conflicts within her between east and west, old ways and new.

This is the story of two young women discovering the heartbreak of their mothers’ lives, and of how mothers create daughters – and learn from them.

ISBN: 978-0-330-53520-5

BY
A
NNIE
M
URRAY

Troubles in life. Strength in friendship.

Birmingham, almost a decade after the end of the Great War, and the women of Lilac Street have had more than their fair share of troubles . . .

Rose Southgate is trapped in a loveless marriage. Shy and isolated, she makes the best of life, until she meets a man who changes everything.

Jen Green is struggling to make ends meet, with a sick husband and five children to support. Aggie, her eldest daughter, is twelve years old and longs for excitement. But prying into the adult
world shows her more than she had bargained for.

And Phyllis Taylor is a widow who has managed to put a dark and traumatic past behind her. But the return of her daughter Dolly threatens all that . . .

These women find strength in friendship, as they discover that the best way to solve their problems is to face them together.

ISBN: 978-0-330-53521-2

BY
A
NNIE
M
URRAY

Two Families. Two Wartime loves.
Their lives changed forever . . .

Growing up in Birmingham, Sylvia and Audrey Whitehouse have always been like chalk and cheese. When the Second World War breaks out, Sylvia is still dreaming of her
forthcoming marriage to fiancé Ian while Audrey jumps at the career opportunities the WAAF throws her way.

Audrey joins the ranks at RAF Cardington but soon finds that her new freedom also brings temptation. When she goes too far, the consequences ripple through the Whitehouse
family. Meanwhile, Sylvia is doing her bit as a railway porter, much to Ian’s dismay. Ian thinks the job is unfeminine – unlike Sylvia’s new friend Kitty, who is as sweet and
pretty as can be. But Kitty’s innocent nature hides a dark secret . . .

As the pressures of rationing, bombing raids and sleepless nights grow, the two sisters must decide what they really want from life and if they’re brave enough to fight for it.

A heartbreaking yet inspiring novel, perfect for fans of Margaret Dickinson and Katie Flynn.

ISBN: 978-1-4472-3374-9

A
NNIE
M
URRAY
was born in Berkshire and read English at St John’s College, Oxford. Her first ‘Birmingham’ novel,
Birmingham Rose
, hit
The Times
bestseller list when it was published in 1995. She has subsequently written seventeen other successful novels. Annie Murray has four children and
lives in Reading.

P
RAISE FOR
A
NNIE
M
URRAY

Soldier Girl

‘This heartwarming story is a gripping read, full of drama, love and compassion’
Take a Break

Chocolate Girls

‘This epic saga will have you gripped from start to finish’
Birmingham Evening Mail

Birmingham Rose

‘An exceptional first novel’
Chronicle

Birmingham Friends

‘A meaty family saga with just the right mix of mystery and nostalgia’
Parents’ Magazine

Birmingham Blitz

‘A tale of passion and empathy which will keep you hooked’
Woman’s Own

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Birmingham Rose

Birmingham Friends

Birmingham Blitz

Orphan of Angel Street

Poppy Day

The Narrowboat Girl

Chocolate Girls

Water Gypsies

Miss Purdy’s Class

Family of Women

Where Earth Meets Sky

The Bells of Bournville Green

A Hopscotch Summer

Soldier Girl

All the Days of Our Lives

My Daughter, My Mother

The Women of Lilac Street

Meet Me Under the Clock

First published in the UK 2015 by Macmillan

This electronic edition published 2015 by Pan Books
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ISBN 978-1-4472-8105-4

Copyright © Annie Murray 2015

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Figure © Colin Thomas
Street © Raymond Kleboe/Stringer

The right of Annie Murray to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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