Sing as We Go (19 page)

‘I know, I know,’ Tony whispered and stroked her hair. ‘And we won’t let her. I promise. But – but you have to believe me, Kathy. She really is ill. I know she is.’

Against his shoulder, she screwed up her face and bit down hard upon her lower lip. And there and then she made her decision. She would put on the greatest act of her life. She would pretend to believe him. She would pander to the woman just like Tony and his father did. Perhaps the way forward was not by confrontation, but by little acts of kindness that would slowly break down the barriers. It was worth a try. Anything was worth a try if she wanted to keep Tony’s love.

And about that, there was no question.

Kathy lifted her head and kissed him gently. His arms tightened around her and he returned her kiss with passion.

For just a little while all thoughts of Beatrice Kendall were driven from both their minds.

Eighteen

Without any warning, Amy arrived to stay the weekend at the beginning of December.

‘I’ve brought you some butter and a few eggs and a chicken. Dad only killed it this morning so it’s quite fresh.’

Jemima pounced on them as if they were gold dust. ‘How thoughtful of you. Kathy had to queue last week, just to get a couple of ounces of butter.’

‘Now, I don’t want to put you out, Aunt Jemima,’ Amy went on. ‘I can sleep with Kathy.’ The two girls hugged each other as Jemima answered, ‘You won’t put me out, my dear. I’m delighted to see you. How’s that brother of yours?’

‘Oh, Morry’s fine. You know Morry.’

‘Yes,’ Jemima murmured and suddenly her tone was wistful. ‘Yes, I know Maurice. He’s not going to do anything silly, is he? Like volunteering?’

‘Don’t think so,’ Amy grinned. ‘But I am.’

‘What d’you mean?’ Kathy and Jemima spoke together.

‘I’m going to join the Wrens. That’s why I’m here. I’m going to find the nearest recruiting office. There is one in Lincoln, isn’t there?’

‘I haven’t the faintest idea, but we can find out, I’ve no doubt.’ Jemima regarded her seriously. ‘But Amy, are you sure about this? I mean, wouldn’t you be better helping your father on the farm?’

Amy laughed. ‘Dad doesn’t need me. He’s got Morry and he can apply for a deferment for him. Besides, all the old boys in the village are coming forward to help out. What about you, Kathy? Are you going to join up? You’d look cracking in uniform.’

‘I might if – if Tony’s called up. But I don’t want to before he has to leave.’

‘But I thought you told me that his mother will get him out of it?’

Before Kathy could reply, Jemima put in, ‘She can try, but I doubt she’ll manage it. Being a manager in a store selling fripperies is hardly likely to be viewed as valuable war work.’

Kathy leant forward to say in a loud whisper that was intended for Jemima to hear, ‘He made the unforgivable mistake of saying that a woman couldn’t do his job.’

The two girls giggled and looked at Jemima, who wriggled her shoulders and declared, ‘Well, like I told him, I could do his job standing on my head.’

The smile faded from Amy’s face as she murmured, ‘You might very well have to. Oh, not standing on your head, Auntie, but if this war goes on, you might very well have to step into his shoes.’

At this and all that her remark implied, the three women fell silent.

Despite the cloud hanging over everyone and the restrictions of the blackout, the two girls enjoyed a merry weekend together. Kathy was given Saturday off and they treated themselves to afternoon tea in Boots’ café and then to the cinema.

‘Aren’t you seeing Tony?’ Amy asked. ‘I don’t want to play gooseberry.’

Kathy shook her head. ‘No. We thought it best for him to stay at home this weekend.’ She had told Amy all about her visit to the Kendalls’ house and the quarrel she’d had with Tony afterwards. It felt good to have a friend she could confide in. She hadn’t realized just how much she was missing Amy and their girlie chats. Impulsively, she reached out across the table and clutched Amy’s hand. ‘Oh, I do miss you so much. How is everyone at home? Your mum and dad and – and Morry?’

‘They’re fine.’ She squeezed Kathy’s hand as she added, ‘And Morry’s fine. Don’t you worry about him. He’s friendly with a girl in the village. Eve Jackson. Do you remember her?’

‘A pretty blonde girl.’

‘That’s the one.’

‘I’m so glad,’ Kathy heaved a sigh of relief. Somehow, she still felt responsible for Morry’s happiness – or rather for having made him unhappy by her refusal to marry him. If he was seeing someone else, then . . . But at Amy’s next words her hopes were dashed. ‘Of course, it’s not serious. Not on Morry’s part. There’s only one girl for him.’

Kathy groaned. ‘Don’t, Amy. You make me feel awful.’

Amy laughed. ‘Well, don’t, you silly goose. No one’s blaming you. Not even Morry. We all know – and Morry too if he’s honest – that it’s no good marrying him if you don’t love him.’

There was silence between them until Kathy asked hesitantly, ‘Have you – have you heard how my mam is?’

‘She’s all right,’ Amy said gently. ‘Mum’s been across to see her and Dad keeps in touch with your father. I won’t say she’s “fine” but she is all right. He’s not hitting her, if that’s what’s worrying you. Mum asked her straight out and told her to come to our house if that happened.’

‘Thanks.’ Kathy’s gratitude was heartfelt. ‘And please thank your mum and dad for me. They’re the best. They really are. You’re so lucky, you and Morry.’

‘I know,’ Amy said simply. They were silent for a few moments before Amy said with a briskness that was very like Aunt Jemima’s. ‘Now, let’s go and find out where the nearest recruiting office is.’

The days leading up to Christmas were the busiest Kathy had known since she had come to work at Hammonds.

‘You wouldn’t think they’d be wanting to buy hats, would you?’ she remarked to Stella as the two scuttled about the department, with scarcely a minute’s breather between serving customers.

‘Defiance, that’s what it is,’ the younger girl said with an astute flash of insight. ‘We’re showing that Hitler feller he can’t get us down. Oh, Kathy, just look at this hat! Isn’t it the prettiest you’ve ever seen?’ She sighed. ‘I do wish I could afford it.’

‘Put it on your Christmas list.’

‘Huh!’ Stella’s mouth tightened in disgust. ‘And what good d’you think that’d be? Do you know what I’m getting for Christmas?’

Kathy stared at her and shook her head.

‘War Bonds. That’s what my father’s present to me is.’

Kathy found it hard to hide a wry smile. It was just the sort of thing her own father would have done. But she was saved from having to answer the girl, as three more customers arrived in the store at once.

‘What are you doing for Christmas, Kathy?’ Jemima asked a week before the day. ‘We’re lucky this year. With Christmas Day falling on a Monday, we’ll get three days off work. I shall go to Sandy Furze Farm as usual and Betty has invited you too. If you want to go, that is.’

Kathy was torn. Once, she’d have liked nothing better than to spend Christmas enveloped in the warmth of the Robinson family. For years she’d lived out the cheerless austerity at home, longing to escape across the fields to her friend’s house. Some years she’d managed a visit on Boxing Day and the stark contrast between the homes had left her feeling even more dissatisfied with her own. But now there was Tony.

‘I’ll let you know tomorrow night. I’ll try to find out what Tony’s plans are.’

Jemima looked sceptical but she said nothing. Privately, she hoped that for once the young man just might have the courage to stand up to his mother. She sighed. He was soon going to have to summon up another kind of bravery. She hoped he would be up to it.

During her lunch break the next day, Kathy went to the manager’s office.

‘Go straight in, Miss Burton.’ Miss Foster smiled at her fondly.

Kathy entered and closed the door behind her, leaning on it a moment to watch Tony working over a sheaf of papers. When he looked up, a smile lit up his face. He jumped up at once and came round the desk, his hands outstretched. They snatched a brief kiss, before Kathy launched into the reason for her visit to his office.

‘I’m sorry if you’re busy—’

‘No, no, it’s all right. It’s just all this form filling one has to do these days. There’s so many new regulations now, my head aches with it all.’ But he was laughing as he said it.

‘Am I going to be able to see you over Christmas?’ she asked. ‘Because, if not, I’ve been invited to go with Miss Robinson to her family.’

Tony ran his hand across his forehead, agonizing over the decision. ‘I want nothing more than to spend Christmas with you, darling, especially if Miss Robinson’s away and we’d have the house to ourselves.’ He pretended to leer at her. But Kathy couldn’t smile in return. She’d already guessed what was coming next. ‘Darling, you know I’m likely to be called up soon. It – it might be the last Christmas I get to spend with Mother . . . and Father,’ he added hurriedly.

Now Kathy smiled, surprised to find his decision didn’t hurt as much as she’d thought it would. She wound her arms around him, not caring for once if anyone came in. ‘It’s all right. Really, but there’s just one thing.’

‘What?’ Tony was anxious.

‘You’re spending New Year’s Eve with me.’

His worried expression cleared. He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Darling, I do love you so.’

*

‘I do hope you’re not breaking any food rationing regulations, Edward,’ Jemima said primly, as they all sat around the laden table watching Ted Robinson carve the goose. ‘We’ve all received our ration cards, you know.’ But there was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, which was mirrored in her brother’s glance.

‘Aye well, didn’t Betty tell you? This is going to cost you two coupons a slice.’

‘Now, don’t you listen to him, cariad,’ Betty said, bustling in with dishes of steaming vegetables. ‘Rationing doesn’t start in earnest until January.’

‘Maybe not – officially, but there are already shortages in the city,’ Jemima said seriously now.

‘Then you let us know what you need and we’ll send it,’ Betty said firmly. ‘Living on a farm, we’ll be luckier than most.’

‘That’s kind of you, dear,’ Jemima murmured. ‘But then, you’ve always been good to me, Betty, haven’t you?’

The two women exchanged a look across the table and smiled at each other.

‘More potatoes, Kathy?’ Morry, sitting beside her, passed the dish.

‘I thought you had an evacuee staying with you?’ she asked as she helped herself.

‘We did,’ Morry answered. ‘A comical little chap from London. A typical cockney. Half the folk round here couldn’t understand him.’

‘I could,’ Amy declared. ‘He’s a little sweetheart, Kathy. He’ll be back in January, but he went home for Christmas.’ She glanced across at her father and smiled. ‘Dad paid for his fare home.’

‘Now, now, Amy lass, don’t go giving all my secrets away.’

‘You know me, Dad. I always say if you’ve anything to hide, don’t tell me.’

‘Is it safe for him to go back?’ Kathy asked.

‘I think they’re hoping that there won’t be any bombing over Christmas.’

‘Like in the last lot, you mean, when the soldiers on both sides got out of their trenches and played football?’

Everyone laughed, but beneath his breath so that only Kathy could hear, Morry said, ‘I wouldn’t trust Hitler to do anything like that. I hope the little chap’s going to be all right.’

‘Eat up, everyone,’ Betty said cheerfully as she sat down. ‘There’s plenty more.’

‘Aye, we’d better make the most of it. Goodness knows what we might all be eating by next year.’

‘Oh, it’ll not last as long as that, Ted,’ Betty said, ever the optimist. ‘We’ll all be back to normal before you know it. Now, let’s forget all about the war and enjoy our meal. And don’t forget, we’ve got a little surprise for Kathy after our dinner.’

‘A surprise? For – for me? What is it?’ Kathy looked across at Amy, who shrugged her shoulders and said, ‘I don’t know. They haven’t told me.’

‘Of course we haven’t,’ Morry laughed. ‘Else it certainly wouldn’t stay a surprise for more than two minutes, would it?’

Everyone, including Amy, laughed, but Kathy could wheedle nothing more out of anyone.

‘Wait and see, cariad,’ was all Betty would say.

While the women cleared away and washed up the mountain of pots after a superb Christmas dinner, Morry disappeared. From the kitchen, they heard the engine of the old farm truck start up.

‘Where’s he going?’ Amy asked.

‘Wait and see,’ Betty said again, her plump arms deep in the sink.

‘It must be a big present for Kathy if he’s got to fetch it in the truck.’ Amy tried to prise something out of her mother, but Betty was tight-lipped.

Half an hour later, they heard the vehicle returning.

‘Go and open the door for him, Kathy,’ Betty said.

‘I’ll go,’ Amy said, throwing down the tea towel and heading for the door, but Betty stopped her.

‘No, Amy – let Kathy go,’ her mother said, quite sharply for the easy-going Betty.

Kathy shrugged and went to the back door. Opening it, she saw her mother climbing out of the passenger seat.

‘Mam, Oh, Mam.’ Tears coursed down her face as she threw her arms wide and ran towards Edith.

‘My darling girl,’ Edith whispered, holding her close. ‘I haven’t long. Your father’s asleep by the range. He doesn’t know I’ve come and Maurice has promised to take me back in half an hour. Let’s hope he doesn’t wake up before then.’

Betty appeared near the back door. ‘Come in, come in.’

‘I didn’t ought to,’ Edith said, as arm in arm she and Kathy moved towards the house. ‘I’ve had to come out in my wellingtons. When I go back, I’m going to make out I’ve been feeding the hens.’

She hugged Kathy’s arm to her side and smiled up at her, almost enjoying the intrigue and, hopefully, getting the better of her husband for once.

‘Oh, Mam,’ Kathy whispered, her tears of joy turning to sadness. How awful it was that her mother was like a prisoner in her own home, that she daren’t even come out to see her daughter for a brief half hour.