Welcome Home (42 page)

This time, Archie could think of nothing to say, but his anxiety deepened. Come back to us, Beth, he prayed silently. Wherever you are, stay safe and just come home to us.

Whilst Edie waited with growing impatience – and deepening disappointment – for even just one or two members of her family to come home, life went on. In July, the
country went to the polls and when the results came out at the end of the month, Edie was appalled.

‘I can’t believe it,’ she said, staring at the newspaper in front of her. ‘They’ve thrown poor old Churchill out. He won the war for us, but they’ve thrown
him out. How terribly hurt he must be. I can’t understand it.’

‘Well, I can, love,’ Archie said in his deep voice. ‘I think the country feels the need for a change and Labour is promising all sorts of reforms, including public ownership of
power industries and inland transport. And then there’s education –’ Archie was warming to his theme now – ‘they’re planning to raise the school-leaving age to
sixteen and provide further education for adults, but I think the best promise they’re making is a National Health Service where everyone – rich or poor – will have the right to
medical treatment. Mind you, Edie, what I think would be perfect would be a labour government with Churchill as Prime Minister, but that’s never going to happen.’

‘You don’t mean to tell me that you voted labour, Archie Kelsey?’ Edie accused him.

A little shame-faced, Archie admitted, ‘Actually, I did.’

‘Well, I’m surprised at you.’

‘So, you voted Tory, did you?’

‘Of course. We always have, haven’t we?’ She paused and then added, a little grumpily, ‘I wish you’d said. I needn’t have trudged all the way to the polling
station. We’ve only cancelled out each other’s vote. I wouldn’t have bothered if I’d known.’

Archie wrinkled his brow. ‘Sorry, love. I never looked at it that way.’

‘But what made you vote for
them
?’

‘Because they seem to stand for the working class – the likes of us. And, if nothing else, I like the sound of the health service they’re proposing. It’s high time
everyone got decent care if they’re ill, not just because they can afford to pay for it.’

Edie blinked. She took little interest in politics and, if truth be known, she’d only ever voted Tory because she knew that’s what Archie did. Now she was being forced to think for
herself and whilst she understood Archie’s desire for a better world for their children and grandchildren – grandchild, she corrected herself – because that other little brat was
nothing to do with their family, she couldn’t forget Mr Churchill’s brave, rallying speeches all through the terrifying days of the war and especially when Britain stood alone. If it
hadn’t been for him, she was sure that they’d all be living under Nazi rule by this time. Folks seemed to have forgotten all that. She sighed heavily, no doubt everyone wanted to put
the past six years behind them – just like she did – and move forward, as Churchill himself had said, into ‘broad, sunlit uplands’. But why hadn’t they believed that
he could be the one to help them to do that?

Edie shook the newspaper in exasperation. ‘Well, I don’t understand it. But I’m not going to argue with you, Archie.’ Silently, she thought that there were other things
she could argue with him about far more easily than politics.

‘We’ll have to wait and see if this new government keeps their promises.’ He sat down in his chair by the fire and took up the newspaper, which Edie had cast aside now.

Edie was restless. War work at the WVS centre had all but ceased, there was no one at home whenever Archie was at sea and she still couldn’t bring herself to speak to Lil.

‘Could we go and see Reggie before you have to go back?’

Archie glanced up. ‘I don’t see why not, love. I’ll ask Harry if I can borrow his car. In fact, I’ll nip round now and ask him. I sail tomorrow evening, so if we’re
going, we’ll have to set off early.’ He heaved himself out of his chair, reached for his cap from behind the door and left the house.

Harry was only too pleased to lend Archie his car, especially when Archie promised to fill it up with petrol when he returned, the basic petrol ration for civilians having been restored at the
beginning of June.

They set off the following morning, both in high spirits at the thought of seeing Reggie, but the visit was not a success. Reggie was out in the fields all day helping with the harvest and
though he dashed home at dinner time, he spoke to them through mouthfuls of food and then rushed out again.

‘Mr Schofield can’t manage them ’osses without me, I’ll have to go.’

‘All right, lad, you run along,’ Archie said, but Edie pursed her lips, angry and hurt that their son couldn’t spare them even a few more minutes.

And there was an uncomfortable atmosphere between Ruth and Edie. The farmer’s wife was pleasant enough and generous, giving them dinner and loading them with eggs, cheese and butter to
take home, but Edie could not forget, nor forgive, the woman who she believed had not only enticed Reggie away from his parents but had also had encouraged Irene to go out dancing. And look where
that had led!

Irene thought a lot about Ken Forbes during the weeks and months she waited for Frank to come home. She was desperately sorry that she had hurt her husband and all his family
– to say nothing of her own mother, who had had such hardships to bear already in her life. They didn’t deserve this, none of them did. And yet, she could not totally regret her time
with Ken. He was not to blame for their brief affair; he’d been a single man with no wife to go home to and he’d been lonely too, just like Irene, amidst the madness and unreality of
life during wartime. He had been such a handsome, kind man who had made her feel loved and wanted and he had helped her to forget, even if only for a few blissful moments, how much she missed her
husband. And it was Frank whom she truly loved. And then there was Marie. She was a little darling with bright, golden curls and a winning smile that could melt your heart. But the child
couldn’t melt Edie Kelsey’s, though she was fast winding her way into her Grandma Lil’s. And Uncle Archie – now there was a kindly man. He’d never once reproached her,
even though she had betrayed his son. He still came and took Tommy out with him every time he was at home from sea and he never failed to smile down at Marie.

If Frank was half as understanding as his father, then perhaps – but she hardly dared to hope. Edie would be sure to have her say. None of her family had ever stood up to Edie Kelsey.

Grimsby fishermen were out on strike early in August, complaining bitterly that the foreign trawlers landing their catches in the docks were driving down the price of fish,
and the value of some of the local fishermen’s catches was half what it should have been.

‘I’ll have you at home for a bit, then,’ Edie said, gleefully. She would even go without Archie’s pay if it meant him being ashore for as long as the strike lasted.

‘You most certainly will not,’ Archie replied heatedly. ‘I don’t believe in strikes – though I do agree they’ve got a point. But I shall do my job. As long as
the man who owns my trawler wants me to go to sea, I shall go.’

So Archie ran the gauntlet of the pickets and put to sea as usual, but always minding, on his return, that he was first in the line of trawlers waiting to dock on the high tide.

In the middle of August, there were more celebrations for VJ Day – Victory over Japan – and now the whole world was at peace. But this time, although the street celebrated again as
it had for VE day, there was no revelry in either Edie’s house or Lil’s. They stayed behind closed doors.

Archie, home for three days from the sea, disappeared to the pub, meeting Harry for a drink. ‘Thank God it’s
all
over now, Harry,’ he said.

‘I’ll drink to that, Archie.’

They sat in companionable silence for several minutes before Harry said softly. ‘Any news?’

Archie sighed heavily. ‘No more’n you already know. Nothing from Frank and not a word from Beth. I really . . .’ He paused and swallowed hard before adding, ‘I’m
really afraid now that something’s happened to her, but I daren’t say owt to Edie.’

‘Wouldn’t you have heard something by now from the authorities if . . . ?’

Archie shrugged. ‘Perhaps not if she’s been involved in something top secret abroad.’

‘Ah,’ Harry said, understanding at once. That had been his thought too.

Archie sighed, ‘Anyway, all this other business seems to have taken Edie’s mind off Beth a bit and with Reggie staying on the farm . . .’

‘It’ll be a much better life for the lad, Archie.’

‘I know that and I’ve sided with him, but that doesn’t go down well with Edie. Oh, I can see her point, Harry, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve always advocated letting
our kids do what they want with their lives, and that doesn’t sit easily with her. She thinks she knows what’s best for them.’

‘She just wants them at home, Archie. You can’t blame a mother for that.’ There was a note of wistfulness in his tone that Archie couldn’t fail to notice.

‘I don’t,’ he said gently, with unspoken understanding, ‘but you have to let the young ones fly the nest some time.’

‘I agree. The trouble is that Edie’s been forced into parting with hers by the war far earlier than she would have done normally. Especially Reggie.’

‘You’re right, Harry. But it’s been the same for everyone. Thousands of families have lost loved ones, have been separated for years and,’ he smiled wryly,
‘I’ve no doubt a great many are at this moment being faced with the same sort of shock that we’ve had with Irene. The war’s ruined – or certainly altered – a lot
of lives.’

A noisy group of revellers congaed past the open door of the pub, singing, ‘The war is over, the lads are coming home . . .’ to the traditional music played to the dance.

Archie and Harry exchanged a smile. ‘I’d best be getting back. I don’t want to leave Edie on her own for too long. She’s not out merrymaking today.’

Harry chuckled. ‘But Jessie’s in the thick of it. The bunting and the Union Jack hat she made are on full display once more. And Terry is playing his piano at the end of the street.
I think I’ll stay here a bit longer, if you don’t mind. I might have a quiet game of dominoes with old Charlie over there in the corner. It’d save me getting roped into the
dancing because of the shortage of men. Mind you don’t get dragged into it, Archie.’

‘They’d have a job. My dancing days are over – if there ever were any.’

He stood up, shook Harry’s hand and made his way home, but it was with leaden feet and an even heavier heart.

‘Are you having a party for little Tommy? He’ll be five next Wednesday, won’t he?’ Jessie asked.

Edie pulled a face and sighed. ‘I really don’t know what’s happening. Usually, we would have done summat together but now—’

‘Oh for Heaven’s sake, Edie, surely you can put your differences with Lil and Irene aside for one day. What about that little lad? Think of him. He hasn’t a clue what’s
going on. It’s his
birthday
and a very important one at that. He’ll start school here in the same week, won’t he?’

Edie shuddered at the thought. ‘I expect so,’ she said tightly. ‘But that won’t be a very happy experience for him, will it?’

Jessie blinked. ‘No worse than for anyone else.’

Edie glared at her sister. ‘You think not? He’ll be bullied for sure when the other kids find out about his whore of a mother.’

Broadminded though Jessie was, she winced at Edie’s description of Irene. ‘Well, I reckon we should have a little party here for him. Maybe on another day. When will Archie be home?
He’d not want to miss it.’

‘Thursday.’

‘There you are, then. We can give the little lad another party on either the Friday or the Saturday, because Archie certainly won’t sail on a Friday, now will he?’

Edie laughed wryly. ‘No, he won’t.’

‘Saturday’d be best for us and then Harry can come as well.’

‘All right,’ Edie agreed reluctantly, but for once her heart wasn’t really in the planning of a party. The last one she’d helped to organize – for VE day –
had ended in disaster.

Irene had enrolled Tommy in the local primary school, but she was anxious. Several children from their street went there and she was sure word would soon spread like the
proverbial wildfire. Tommy would be bullied, she was sure.

He’d been at school less than two weeks before it happened. Irene felt helpless, but aid came from an unexpected quarter. Shirley, home on leave, arrived at Lil’s back door, holding
Tommy by the hand. Ursula stood a little uncertainly behind her. Irene was the one to open the door and for the first time since her homecoming, the two former friends and sisters-in-law faced each
other.

‘He’s got a bloody nose, Irene, but we’ve sorted them out. I don’t think it’ll happen again. But mebbe you ought to meet him out of school rather than let him walk
home on his own. He’s only just five.’

Irene avoided meeting Shirley’s gaze and bit her lip. ‘Thank you,’ she said huskily as she reached out to grasp Tommy’s arm and pull him into the house. ‘Thank you
– both of you.’ Then she closed the door.

As they walked through the backyards, Shirley muttered. ‘I expect she doesn’t want to go out much. Afraid of the stares and the whispers. But she ought to look out for Tommy
more.’

Inside her own home, Shirley told her mother. ‘We saw Tommy on our way home. He was being bullied by some kids in the street.’

‘Eh?’ Edie turned anxious eyes towards Shirley. ‘Who was it? Them little buggers at the end of the street?’ She started towards the back door as if she would go this very
instant to protect her grandson.

‘It’s all right. We put a stop to it, Mam. In fact,’ Shirley grinned, ‘Ursula was a real star. She gave the two lads a clip round the ear and they ran off.’

Ursula laughed. ‘I happen to know them. They live next door to where I have lodgings. They’ll be worried I’ll tell their mothers.’

Edie nodded absently, her mind returning to her grandson. ‘Is Tommy all right?’