Sing as We Go (25 page)

Kathy obeyed meekly and suddenly found she was very thirsty.

‘Would you like me to trot along and see the vicar? Just to ask if there’s a chance he can fit the ceremony in some time tomorrow?’

Kathy shook her head. ‘It’s no use unless we hear from Tony.’

‘I take your point.’ She was silent a moment before adding, ‘Perhaps we’ll hear something from him this evening.’

Kathy raised her head and looked directly into Jemima’s honest eyes. ‘Do – do you think her attack was genuine?’

‘No – I don’t. It was too contrived. Oh, I don’t say she couldn’t have suffered some sort of attack during the service with the stress of it all, but to happen just at that very moment, just when he was asking the congregation that all important question. It was straight out of
Jane Eyre
, now wasn’t it? So melodramatic as to be unbelievable.’

‘I know,’ Kathy agreed sadly. ‘But we can’t prove it. No one can. And Mr Kendall and Tony just – just daren’t take the risk of calling her bluff.’

‘Well, if the worst comes to the worst, we’ll just have to arrange a very quiet ceremony when Tony gets his first leave.’

Kathy set her cup down carefully on the bedside table. ‘But the same thing will happen. It’ll go on happening. She said – she told me that she’d see to it that he never married me. I didn’t believe she could do it, but she has. She’s managed it.’

‘You might find that this enforced separation – Tony having to go into the armed forces – will be the making of him. I’ve never said a word against him. He’s a nice young man but, between you and me, maybe that’s his main fault. He’s
too
nice. He’s not strong enough to stand up to his mother, but now he’s going to be forced to make the break. It’s being done for him and it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. You might well find that when he comes home on leave he’ll be a very different person.’

‘I – I don’t really want him to be any different. I love him as he is . . .’ She smiled sadly as she added wryly, ‘Despite his mother.’

‘Well, in that case, my dear, you’ll never be free of her and you can take it from me that she’ll never stop trying to prevent your marriage. And, even if you succeed in that, she’ll never stop interfering in your lives. If Tony survives the war—’

Kathy covered her face with her hands and cried out, ‘Oh no, don’t say that, Aunt Jemima. Please, don’t even think it.’

‘It’s a possibility that has to be faced, my dear,’ she said quietly, and added in a whisper, ‘And I should know.’

Guiltily, Kathy raised her face. Here she was selfishly taking all the generous support Jemima had to give when the poor woman had spent a lifetime of loneliness. Somehow, she had lost the love of her life. Kathy was sure of it.

‘I’m being very selfish and self-centred, Aunt Jemima. I’m sorry.’

‘Oh, phooey.’ Jemima flapped her hand. ‘We’ve just got to think what’s best to be done now.’

There was nothing to be done. Tony didn’t come to Jemima’s house that evening or the next morning. After breakfast, of which Kathy ate hardly anything and even Jemima ate only a little cereal instead of her usual bowlful followed by toast and marmalade, they washed up the pots together and then sat in the kitchen, waiting. As the clock crawled to half past eleven, Jemima jumped up from her chair.

‘I can’t abide all this sitting about. Shall we walk up to the hospital and make enquiries? At least we might find out if there’s any chance he . . .’

Kathy shook her head. ‘He’ll come when he can. It – it must have been more serious than we thought. I feel so guilty now for having thought badly of her.’

‘Huh!’ Jemima was not yet ready to be so understanding. ‘Either that or she’s keeping up a very good act. She should have been on the stage, that one.’ She paused and paced up and down the small space for a moment. As if she could not bear to sit, she muttered, ‘Then I’ll walk along to the church and see if . . .’

‘It’s no good,’ Kathy said, sounding far more reasonable than she was actually feeling inside.

‘Come on, girl, don’t give up. Not now. At least if we could get you married today . . .’

Again, Kathy shook her head. ‘That’s not how I want it to be. Not all rushed and – and underhand as if – as if . . .’

‘As if you’ve
got
to get married?’

Kathy lowered her gaze and said nothing. Jemima sank into her chair and leant her head back, closing her eyes. ‘Yes,’ she said flatly, ‘you’re right. I’m pushing you too hard. It’s just – it’s just . . . Oh, I’d so like to have seen you married before he has to go away. It’d give you both something to hang on to. It’s not going to be easy for either of you. He’s going to have to face God only knows what and it’s going to be hard for you, trying to carry on as normal when nothing’s ever going to be “normal” again. Oh why, why, can’t those in power see the futility, the stupid, stupid waste of it all?’

The clock ticked steadily on as the two women fell silent again and waited once more.

He came just after five o’clock, looking white and dishevelled. He was still wearing his wedding suit; dark shadows ringed his eyes and anxiety clouded their brightness.

‘They’re keeping her in for observation.’

‘Where is she?’

‘At the moment, she’s in the County but we’re trying to get her moved to the Bromhead Nursing Home.’

Jemima sniffed. ‘I should leave her where she is. It’s a good hospital.’

‘Well, yes, I know, but she likes her own room. She likes her privacy.’ He turned to Kathy and took her hands. ‘Darling, I am so sorry about what happened. I couldn’t help it. You do believe that, don’t you?’

Before Kathy could answer, Jemima said, ‘Well, now you’re here, I – er – have to go out. I must see Mabel Spencer. WVS business, you know. We’ve – um – a lot to discuss.’

They both knew she was deliberately leaving them alone together. Within minutes she had donned her hat and coat. ‘Just feed Taffy for me at six o’clock. You know how he likes his routine.’ And then she was gone.

‘Let’s go into the front room. Jemima insisted on lighting a fire in there – in case you came.’

‘In
case
I came? Darling, surely you knew I would come as soon as I could?’

‘Well, yes, of course I did,’ Kathy said, trying to sound as if she meant it. ‘But I didn’t know when that would be, did I? And – and you have to catch the early train tomorrow morning, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I do. And there’s nothing I can do about that. I could be on a charge if I’m late reporting.’

They sat, huddled together, on the sofa. ‘We should be on our honeymoon now. You should have been Mrs Kendall for a whole twenty-eight hours. Darling, I am so, so sorry.’

‘I know,’ Kathy said simply. She twisted in his arms to look up at him. ‘But – but we could still have our honeymoon. At least, a bit of it. We—’ She blushed as she said shyly, ‘We could go upstairs. Aunt Jemima won’t be back for ages . . .’

Their lovemaking was bitter sweet, each of them knowing deep in their hearts that this night together might be all they ever had, and afterwards they lay in each other’s arms. While Tony slept, Kathy wept silently against his shoulder.

Only when Taffy’s meowing outside the bedroom door reminded her that she had forgotten to feed him did they rouse, dress and go downstairs.

‘I don’t suppose she’d mind if you stayed. I – I think she’d understand.’

Tony shook his head sadly. ‘I have to go back to the hospital before visiting ends. And then – then I have to pack.’

‘Of course,’ Kathy said huskily. She was about to offer to help him but she bit back the words, realizing that his father, too, deserved a little time with his son before . . . She closed her eyes and dared not think about what was to happen in the morning.

Just before he left, Tony handed her a long, thin box. ‘I was going to give you this on our wedding night. I still want you to have it.’

Kathy opened the box and gasped when she saw the single string of pearls nestling against the dark blue velvet lining. ‘Oh darling, it’s beautiful. Thank you.’

As she kissed him, he murmured, ‘Wear them always for me, Kathy. And remember, whatever happens I really do love you.’

Twenty-Five

‘How did it all go then?’

Stella was excited the next morning. She had so wanted to attend the wedding, but with Kathy, Miss Robinson, Tony and even Mr James Hammond all off for the day, the store had been severely understaffed.

‘It didn’t,’ Kathy said shortly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Muriel Curtis moving closer.

Stella gasped. ‘What do you mean “it didn’t”? Do – do you mean he jilted you? Left you standing at the altar?

‘Not exactly.’

‘What then?’

Kathy raised her eyes and glanced around. There were no customers yet, so she moved towards Muriel with Stella following in her wake. ‘I might as well tell you together. The wedding didn’t happen,’ she said bluntly.

Kathy watched Muriel’s face closely, half expecting to see relief, perhaps even triumph, on the other woman’s face. But to Muriel’s credit, there was neither. Instead, she frowned and asked in a concerned tone, ‘Why? What happened? Oh . . .’ She sighed heavily and closed her eyes briefly, saying flatly, ‘Don’t tell me. His mother was taken ill.’

‘How . . . ?’ Kathy began and then stopped. She’d been about to say: How did you know? But of course she realized exactly how Muriel knew. Instead, she said flatly, ‘Yes. During the service. Just at the moment when the vicar asks the congregation about “just cause” and all that.’

‘Huh! I call that perfect timing,’ Muriel said sarcastically. ‘I’m so sorry, Kathy, truly I am. I – just want to see him happy. You know that. And if you were the one to do it, then I wished you well.’ She gave a wry smile. ‘I tried as hard as I knew how to hate you when you first started going out with Tony. But I couldn’t. And I’d have liked nothing better – now – than to see the two of you happy together.’

‘You’re very generous,’ Kathy said huskily. ‘But it doesn’t look as if it’s going to happen now. He – he left this morning on the early train. And goodness knows when he’ll get leave.’

‘He should get a few days when he’s completed his basic training and been posted,’ Stella said. ‘My cousin did. Mind you, that was the Army. Mr Kendall’s joined the RAF, hasn’t he?’

Kathy nodded, not trusting herself to speak for the huge lump that felt as if it was growing in her throat.

‘Work, that’s the best thing for you,’ Muriel said, almost adopting Jemima’s brisk manner. ‘And here’s the first customer of the day. Forward, Miss Burton, if you please,’ she added with a smile. As Kathy moved towards the lady entering the department, Muriel whispered to Stella, ‘As we don’t work on commission here, Stella, perhaps you’d let Kathy take most of the customers today. Keep her busy.’

‘Of course, Miss Curtis. Poor thing. What a dreadful thing to happen.’

‘Yes,’ Muriel murmured. ‘Isn’t it?’

*

With the help of her colleagues’ thoughtful actions, Kathy was kept busy all day and the time passed quickly. About mid-morning, Jemima walked through the department. It was not unusual, so Kathy thought nothing of it. It was also quite normal for the supervisor to stop and speak to the head of department, so seeing Jemima and Muriel with their heads together in conversation caused Kathy no discomfort. Though, perhaps, if she had thought for a moment, she might have guessed that this morning their exchange was not wholly about stock and displays.

‘I expect she’s told you,’ Jemima began, and Muriel nodded.

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘That’s generous of you, in the circumstances.’

‘What happened to me was nothing to do with Kathy and I’m sorry to see nothing has changed. That woman . . .’

‘Precisely, but sadly there’s nothing any of us can do. If I had thought for a moment that interference from me would have helped, I’d have been up at their house in a trice. But I knew such an action would only make matters worse.’ Jemima pulled a wry grimace. ‘If they could get much worse. He’s gone this morning, you know.’

‘Yes.’ Now Muriel’s voice was husky. She still loved him and, even though now she was seeing him with someone else, she was trying to move on with her own life. And there would always be a place in her heart for her lost love. A part of her that would be devastated if he should be hurt or – God forbid – killed. ‘I’m trying to keep her busy. Trying to keep her mind off things.’

‘Good. Thank you, Muriel.’ Jemima moved on, and without even a glance towards Kathy, who was serving a customer, she left the department.

Evenings were going to be the most difficult. The long hours that stretched into an even longer night. Hours of darkness when Kathy lay staring into nothingness, wondering what might have been and what, if anything, could be done. Once more, Jemima attempted to come to the rescue.

Kathy arrived home before her that first evening and was feeding Taffy, still apologetic that she had neglected him the previous night, though, as he arched his back under her gentle stroke, she believed herself forgiven. He wound himself around her legs as she prepared his dinner and miaowed and purred in ecstatic anticipation.

As she placed his dish on the floor, she heard Jemima’s quick tripping steps down the passageway.

‘I’ve just been talking to Ron Spencer,’ Jemima began, almost before she’d stepped inside and closed the door. ‘He wants to know if you’re going to the choral society on Thursday evening. Evidently they’re trying to get a special concert together for the war effort. In fact, he’ll probably ask you if you can spare any more time. I told him I’d ask you.’

Kathy hid her smile. She wondered just which of them it really had been who had suggested trying to fill Kathy’s empty evenings. Touched by their kindness, Kathy said at once, ‘Yes, of course I’d be glad to help. I’d been thinking of offering to help you at the WVS too, but I do want to go and see Mr Kendall. Just – just to see if I can help him at all. He’ll miss Tony’s help with – with . . .’

‘He certainly will and I’m sure he’ll welcome you with open arms. But what
she
will do is another matter.’