Eve of the Isle (37 page)

Several women then surrounded the nun. Eve made her way to the backstage changing room where the children were noisily preparing to leave. Albert and Samuel appeared, pushing paper hats, books and shoe bags into her arms. They were full of excitement as they walked out into the easterly wind that had persisted since November. Heads down against the chill and aware of the darkening skies, Eve hurried them through the crowded playground and set off for home. Paper chains scurried in the gutter and a touch of ice nipped at their
noses and fingers making their cheeks rosy. Suddenly a bicycle came flying round the corner.

‘Charlie!' the twins cried, jumping in his path as he brought the bicycle to a halt.

Breathlessly, he ruffled the twins' hair. ‘So what have you two been up to lately?'

‘We sung carols in the nativity play.'

He chuckled. ‘Hope you sung the one about shepherds washing their socks at night. That's my favourite.'

The boys giggled.

Eve looked into Charlie's blue eyes twinkling under the rim of his helmet. She was aware of the other women casting glances in their direction. The children too were stopping to stare at Charlie. A policeman talking at length in a friendly fashion to members of the public was a rare sight.

‘I didn't reckon the whole school would be turning out,' he grinned. ‘I chose my moment, didn't I?'

Eve smiled. ‘What are you doing round this way?'

‘I went past your pitch and guessed you'd come to meet the lads.'

‘How is your knee?' Eve asked, for when Charlie had come at the weekend to take the boys to the park he had been limping.

‘I can kick twice as good now.'

‘Can we go to the park today?' Albert said hopefully.

‘Albert, you know Charlie's dad's not been well,' Eve interrupted. ‘And Charlie's got to help in the bakery.'

But Charlie just shrugged. ‘Dad's feeling better now,
but have you ever seen a policeman in his helmet playing football?'

Everyone laughed and Charlie looked at Eve. ‘But I'll walk you all back and there might be a cuppa at the end of it, if I ask your mother nicely.'

‘You can see our Christmas tree,' said Albert eagerly. ‘We ain't never had one before. Archie brought it on his cart and we're gonna make decorations for it ternight.' Without waiting for Charlie to reply they ran ahead, pushing and shoving each other playfully.

‘Did everything turn out all right at school?' Charlie asked as he accompanied Eve along the street. ‘The lads told me they'd been in a spot of bother with another boy but didn't say what it was. It's been on me mind ever since as I encouraged them to stand up for themselves.'

Eve pulled her coat round her against the cold. ‘It was the name calling again, only Samuel and Albert got the blame. These boys said that Raj was a black devil and had gone to hell.'

‘What!' Charlie stopped the bike, his exclamation loud.

Eve looked round. She was glad there weren't many people about now. ‘The boys were very upset.'

‘Of course! What did this head nun have to say about it?'

‘Sister Superior gave Samuel and Albert a punishment because they hit the culprit. When I got to school they were in the chapel saying penance.'

‘What's a penance?' Charlie asked in alarm.

‘It's prayers said repeatedly for having committed a sin.'

‘What rubbish!' he exclaimed, astounded. ‘It's quite obvious that those other boys were at fault. Did you tell the nun so?'

‘Yes,' Eve said patiently, ‘but this ain't the first time, Charlie. The kids hear the grown-ups say something, then repeat it. Because of the colour of the boys' skin, they are easy targets.'

Eve heard Charlie comment under his breath. ‘I'd like a word with that nun,' he growled. ‘Doesn't she understand that it's her job to stop the playground rot? More important than the supposed religion they teach.'

They walked on in silence and Eve knew that Charlie was angry. When they came to the top of the hill and looked down on Isle Street, he paused for a moment. ‘Eve, Mum and Dad would like you and the boys to join us for Christmas dinner on Sunday, the twenty-third. Would you be able to come? If so, I'll pick you up in the van at about three.'

‘Is it a family celebration?'

‘Yes, as Christmas Day I'm on duty and Joe who works for the electricity company is working too. George hasn't got to work but this year they are going to Eileen's parents in Bromley as they spent the day with Mum and Dad last year. So Sunday is the Merritts' designated Christmas Day.'

Eve knew that Charlie meant well, but what would
his family think of her and the boys accompanying him on such a special day?

The twins began to run noisily up the hill and quickly Eve nodded. ‘All right,' she agreed, her cheeks flushed. ‘But I won't tell the boys until the day before in case you change your mind.'

He laughed. ‘I won't be doing that.'

Eve felt happy as they all walked down the hill to the cottage, although she was a little apprehensive about joining the family gathering, but Charlie had been very persuasive. And perhaps it would be a good opportunity to get to know the rest of the family better.

Three-month-old Dulcie, Pamela's baby, was as blonde and blue eyed as her mother, and as different from her four brown-haired brothers in looks as it was possible to be. Eve was sitting in the arm chair holding Dulcie in the crook of her arm, whilst Pam was pinning gingerbread men on the Christmas tree. She could hear a lot of laughter coming from the children who sat round the fire playing charades. But Dulcie's four brothers had tired of the game and were staring at Eve cradling their sister. Eve had memorized their names and ages. Daniel was the oldest at twelve, James and William were seven and eight and Oliver was five.

Daniel was a mirror image of his father Joe, moon-faced and with serious brown eyebrows. He was the tallest of the boys, but not as tall as his two girl cousins, Emily at thirteen and Lucy, twelve. These were George
and Eileen's two oldest daughters and, as their grandmother said, they looked like thin streaks of lightning.

Though all the boys, including Samuel and Albert, had gone into the yard earlier to play football, it was now close to dinner time. Eve glanced down at the subject of the boys' scrutiny. Their baby sister was dressed entirely in pink, with a wisp of blonde hair turned into a kiss-curl on the top of her head. She gurgled contentedly in Eve's arms.

‘Did you have a good game of football?' Eve asked and all the boys nodded at once.

‘I got a grazed knee, but Granny washed it,' said William, holding up his leg for her to see. ‘It hurt a lot.'

‘You're a very brave boy,' said Eve, giving him a big grin.

‘Uncle Charlie's got a badder knee than you,' pointed out James, looking down his nose at his brother.

‘Yes, but I can't walk on mine. See?' William limped back and forth.

Eve smiled. ‘It will soon get better I'm sure.'

William beamed at her but Oliver was staring at her curiously. ‘Is Uncle Charlie going to be Samuel and Albert's new dad?'

The three older boys immediately turned on their young brother. ‘You mustn't ask that, Olly.'

‘Why not?'

‘'Cos it's rude.'

‘But Mummy asked Daddy it.'

Eve felt her face go scarlet. ‘Samuel and Albert had a daddy once,' she said gently to Oliver. ‘But he died.'

‘Does that mean they can't have another one?' Oliver persisted.

As Eve was thinking how to reply, Lucy came sprinting over. Pushing her plaits back over her shoulders, she smiled at Eve. ‘Samuel and Albert are very clever. Samuel was the horse and Albert was Tom Mix. We all guessed it when Albert threw his lasso. Come on now, boys, it's your turn before dinner.'

Eve was grateful for Lucy's arrival as she hadn't known what to say to Oliver. Had Pam and Joe been talking about her? Eve's thoughts were brought back to the present when Dulcie began to cry. Her big eyes were like glistening blue pearls set in her heart-shaped face. Her grip on Eve's little finger tightened as her lips quivered into a small cry. Rising carefully to her feet, Eve walked over to the Christmas tree. Pam was still tying on the gingerbread men, one for each child this evening.

Eve knew that Eileen was helping Mrs Merritt in the big kitchen where the smell of roasting turkey was creeping out and filling all the other rooms. The men were talking at the big bay window overlooking the street below. Although Mr Merritt had been poorly, he was now feeling more like his old self and sat on the window seat smoking his pipe.

Eve caught Charlie's eye and he grinned. She returned his smile a little shyly as Pam turned to face her. ‘Thanks,
Eve,' she said as Dulcie let out a scream. ‘I think she must be hungry.'

Eve reluctantly handed over the baby. ‘I don't want to let her go.'

Pam laughed as she took the child in her arms. ‘She's delicious enough to eat, isn't she? I'll take her into Charlie's bedroom and feed her. She'll want her nappy changed too.'

‘Can I help?' Eve asked.

‘Dulcie keeps the nappies in the scullery. You could bring one for me and a bowl of water so that I can wash her.'

Eve nodded and watched Pam walk away, her tall figure skirting the large and noisy circle of boys and girls, taking the exit that led down to the bedrooms.

In the kitchen, Eve found Eileen and Mrs Merritt preparing the meal.

‘Oh, Eve, I'm sorry to leave you,' apologized Mrs Merritt. ‘I hope Charlie's been taking good care of you.'

‘I've been holding Dulcie.'

Eileen smiled as she lifted the turkey from the oven and placed it on the top of the stove. ‘She's gorgeous, isn't she?'

‘Don't start getting broody, Eileen,' chuckled Mrs Merritt as she set the glasses on the long, well-scrubbed family table, decorated with holly and candles. ‘You've a football team as it is.'

‘Yes, but every team needs reserves,' said Eileen, winking at Eve.

The women laughed and Eve looked around for the nappies. ‘Pam said she'd like to change Dulcie and give her a wash.'

‘Yes, of course.' Charlie's mother gathered the required things and placed them on a tray. ‘There you are, Eve. And tell Pam that as soon as Dulcie is settled we'll eat.'

Eve carried the tray along to Charlie's bedroom which she had been shown earlier as all the coats had been piled on his bed. The room was full of books and personal effects. The brown wood furniture was well polished and the carpet felt luxurious under Eve's feet, muting the noise, unlike the bare boards of the cottage which echoed noisily. The smell of polish hung in the air and the tall window was decorated by a curved velvet valance, where two long curtains fell beneath, tied back with thick cords.

Pam was sitting in a large upholstered chair, the baby at her breast. ‘I couldn't wait to change her,' she said. ‘She is always so hungry.'

Eve placed the tray on the dressing table, next to Charlie's pens, pencils and writing books, beside a huge tome that Eve noted was about policing.

‘Why don't you push the coats over on Charlie's bed and sit and talk to me?' Pam said as she adjusted the baby's position.

Eve did as she was bidden, feeling the comfortable give of the springs under her weight. The deep blue cover was old but as Eve touched it, she felt something of Charlie run through her fingertips.

‘Eve, would you think it forward of me if I asked you what happened to your husband?' Pam asked after a while.

Eve looked into Pam's healthy face, her blonde hair falling softly around it, her matronly figure and wide shoulders the epitome of motherhood. Was this a chance to get to know her better?

‘He was a cook on board a ship and died whilst at sea,' she explained after a while.

‘Through illness?' Pam asked, her voice full of concern.

‘No, we think he may have fallen overboard. Raj was taken on in India, as part of the lascar crew and the British authorities didn't make many enquiries. So all we can do is guess at what happened.' Eve hesitated wondering if she should go on, but Pam seemed genuinely interested.

‘Can Charlie help?' Pam asked before Eve spoke. ‘He is, after all, a policeman.'

Eve smiled. ‘Charlie was with me when they found a body in the river and I went to the morgue to look at it.'

Pam gasped. ‘The morgue!'

‘It wasn't Raj as he had been dead five years, but Sergeant Moody said the case was still open.'

‘What a dreadful experience,' Pam sighed.

‘Charlie stayed with me. He was very kind.'

‘Now I know why Charlie spoke so highly of you,' Pam said softly. ‘I would simply go to pieces if I lost
Joe and had to look at a dead man that might be my husband.' She was silent for a moment as she eased the baby's head from her breast. A dribble of milk dripped down Dulcie's chin. Pam wiped it carefully with a handkerchief then did up the buttons of her dress.

‘You have two lovely boys, Eve.'

‘Yes,' Eve replied proudly.

‘Charlie is very fond of them.'

Eve remembered what Oliver had said about what he'd overheard from his parents. ‘They're fond of him too . . .' She paused.

Pam just smiled, then lay the sleeping baby in the crib. ‘Now, it's time for dinner. Let's go and join the family.'

Pam slipped an arm through Eve's as they left the room. They were still walking in this fashion when they entered the kitchen and joined the others for Christmas dinner.

Charlie found himself once more pursuing his own enquiries. He was standing in a Port of London Authority office, waiting patiently for the clerical worker to return with information on the
Tarkay
's arrival. It didn't help that it was Christmas Eve, since all the staff were anticipating an early departure and the sight of a uniformed officer meant work for someone. When Charlie had visited before, a young woman had been able to help him. But that young lady was not in evidence and he was feeling doubtful whether he would discover when and where the
Tarkay
would berth.