Past Remembering (46 page)
Authors: Catrin Collier
‘You wanted to be a nurse? Well, I might be able to help you get a position as a nurse’s assistant in the Graig Hospital until you are old enough to begin training. That way you can earn some money while gaining useful experience.’
‘Would I earn enough to pay for my sisters’ lodge?’ she asked eagerly.
‘No, but you’d earn enough for your own. I warn you, it will be long hours and hard work.’
‘I can’t leave the others. I promised Dad I’d take care of them, no matter what …’ Her protestation ended in another flood of tears.
Helping Rachel pull her vest over her head, Bethan double-checked the water temperature before lowering first Eddie, then Rachel into the bath.
Liza struggled to regain control of herself ‘… when Ma was killed I thought I’d never be able to keep us together, then you took us in and I hoped we’d be all right until the end of the war. But that woman said that now Dad’s gone you won’t get a penny …’
‘I’ll do whatever I can to stop you from going into the workhouse, Liza, but keeping you together might be a bit of a tall order. Now that Mary’s got her certificate she can leave school. Mrs Raschenko was telling me only yesterday that she was looking for someone to live in and help her with the baby and the shop. Supposing I recommend Mary for the job?’
‘Mrs Raschenko’s nice. She’d see Mary all right. And we’d be able to visit her, wouldn’t we?’ Liza’s smile reminded Bethan of a rainbow after a storm.
‘Whenever you have time, and she could spend every Sunday here.’
‘That wouldn’t be like getting separated. But what about Polly and Nell? It will be years and years before they can work.’
‘Three years and five years isn’t years and years. Supposing we carry on as we are for the time being?’
‘They can stay here?’
‘With two of you working and keeping yourselves, it won’t be that much of a drain.’
‘We could chip in from our wages.’
‘Wait and see how much you and Mary earn before giving any of it away. Besides, Polly is almost as good at housework as you and Mary, and Nell is learning fast. I know it won’t be like having you here full time to help Maisie, because Polly will be in school, but when Rachel goes into the babies’ class at Christmas, there’ll only be Eddie at home so there won’t be so much to do.’ The more Bethan thought about it, the more she realised she couldn’t expect Maisie to cope on her own. Not if Mrs Llewellyn-Jones had her way and billeted military personnel on her as well. But if extra help was needed in the house, it was her problem, not Liza’s.
‘So none of us will have to go into the homes?’ Liza crouched beside the bath and soaped Eddie who was splashing water into Rachel’s face.
‘No, Liza,’ Bethan said firmly. ‘That never was an option.’
‘But that woman …’
‘… doesn’t run my home or your lives.’ Bethan dabbed at Rachel’s face with a towel. ‘I can manage here. Why don’t you go and see what your sisters think of our plans?’
