The Dover Cafe On the Front Line, page 37
‘Gerroff.’ Dick tried to break free, but being restrained by Bert was very different from being held in the constable’s puny grasp.
If it weren’t for Annie Elliott lying at the bottom of the stairs, Lily would have giggled. Instead, she knelt down and took Pauline in her arms. Her friend’s head dropped onto her shoulder and she started to weep.
‘Shh,’ Lily whispered. ‘It’s all right now.’ As she waited for her to stop crying, she examined the woman in front of her. Mrs Elliott hadn’t moved since she’d arrived, but her entire body was shaking with shock. Lily leant forward to smooth the woman’s dark hair back from her forehead and flinched as she saw her face; one of her eyes was swollen shut, while a cut on her cheekbone was bleeding, the blood running down to her puffy lips.
‘Can you tell me what happened?’ she whispered.
‘Dick . . .’ Pauline gulped. ‘I’ve done everything he asked,’ she wept. ‘I’m sorry, Lily. I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault, Paul. But we need to get a doctor for your mum. Maybe get her to hospital.’
‘No!’
Lily jumped as Mrs Elliott made her voice heard for the first time. ‘No hospital.’
‘She won’t go. She never will,’ Pauline whispered.
‘You can’t stay here while your dad’s still on the loose. It’s not safe.’
‘We can go to Mrs Butler next door—’
‘No!’ Annie Elliott said again. ‘I don’t want my neighbours to see this.’
‘For God’s sake, Mum, it’s not as if they don’t know!’ Pauline shouted in frustration.
Tears started to leak from the woman’s swollen eye and Lily stroked her back. ‘All right, Mrs Elliott. We won’t.’
She looked up at her brothers.
Jim sighed. ‘You know where the best place for her would be, don’t you?’ he said.
Lily nodded. Because despite everything that had happened and all the shocking revelations, there was only one place she could think of to go. ‘We need to take her to Mum,’ she whispered.
‘Are you out of your mind?’ Pauline exclaimed. ‘After everything you’ve found out, you think the best place to take her is to your bloody mum?’
Lily nodded. ‘She’ll be safe there,’ she said simply, realising it was true. Whatever her mother’s faults, however bad her temper, one thing she knew for sure: Nellie Castle would always try to keep them safe no matter what the threat.
Roger let out a cry of triumph then, and cuffed Dick’s hands securely behind his back. ‘You’re coming with me, Sonny Jim,’ he said self-importantly. Then he nodded at the assembled company. ‘We’ll be needin’ statements from all of you later.’ Then, with Dick Brown held securely in front of him, he marched him out of the house towards the police station.
Rodney shook his head. ‘Jesus wept, that man’s an incompetent fool.’
‘Don’t tell me you’re surprised.’ Bert chuckled as he bent and offered his hand to Pauline. ‘Come on, girl. Let’s get you out of here.’
‘Mrs Elliott, can you walk?’
The woman nodded and slowly Lily helped her to her feet. But her legs collapsed and she fell against Lily’s chest.
‘Jim?’ Lily said. ‘Do you think you could . . . ?’
Jim flexed an arm. ‘I reckon I can manage it.’ Then he bent down and gently lifted the woman, cradling her against his chest as he walked out of the door.
‘You sure you can manage her?’ Pauline skipped anxiously behind him.
‘No problem. My army kit’s heavier than her.’ He strode towards Cannon Street, the others following behind, doing their best to ignore the curious stares.
Nellie was still sitting at the table with the others when they entered the café, and she leapt up as they came in. Then her eyes fell on the figure in Jimmy’s arms. ‘Why the devil have you brought her here?’ she shouted.
‘Mum, they need help,’ Lily said desperately. ‘It was the only place we could think of.’
Nellie paused and stared at her daughter, who returned her gaze unflinchingly. Finally, Nellie’s lips lifted very slightly as she nodded and walked towards Jimmy, patting Lily on the shoulder as she passed.
‘Get her upstairs, Jim. Put her on the sofa for now. As for you—’ she turned to Pauline ‘—I think you might have something to say to me.’
Pauline shifted uncomfortably. ‘I-I’m sorry,’ she said miserably. ‘I never meant any harm. But Dick said—’ Her face crumpled and she started to cry.
Nellie sighed. ‘You should have come to me.’
‘How could I?’ She slumped in a chair. ‘Dad didn’t know about Dick. An’ he’s always so jealous. Mum can’t even chat to the butcher’s boy at the door without Dad havin’ a go. I just knew if he found out about this, he’d kill her. And that’s exactly what he tried to do. But now he’s run off and there’s no telling if he’ll try again.’
Marianne brought a cup of tea over. ‘I put some sugar in it for you, love.’
Pauline smiled gratefully and sipped.
‘And where’s Dick now?’ Edie asked.
‘Arrested by Roger Humphries,’ Rodney said. ‘Eventually.’ His lips quirked. ‘Marianne, if you’d married that man, I’m not sure I would have spoken to you again.’ He rubbed his hands over his face. ‘Christ, what a week: a wedding, a shelling, a funeral, and now a long-lost brother bent on revenge.’
‘Don’t you dare call that man your brother!’ Nellie wagged a finger at him.
Rodney shrugged. ‘Facts are facts, Mum.’
‘I don’t care! That man has no right to call us family. And I don’t want any more said about it!’ She went into the kitchen and poured hot water from the kettle into a metal bowl. ‘Lily, get the medical supplies. I reckon you’ll be a sight better at getting that woman fixed than me.’ Then she stalked upstairs.
Chapter 50
Later that night, Nellie crept into her bedroom where Annie Elliott now lay. Pauline was sitting in the armchair by the bed, her head slumped to one side, while the light from the oil lamp on the bedside table cast a dim glow over the injured woman, who was lying with her one good eye wide open, staring up at the ceiling.
Nellie shook Pauline gently by the shoulder. ‘Go upstairs and try to sleep, love,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll sit with your mum.’
Pauline looked at her mother uncertainly, but at her nod, she left the room.
Nellie settled herself into the armchair and sat quietly for a moment, conscious of Annie watching her warily. Finally, the woman whispered, ‘I’m sorry.’
Nellie regarded her steadily. ‘Do you want to tell me what happened?’ she asked.
Annie shifted uncomfortably. ‘I met Donald at the dress shop where I worked. He came in with Jasper, and bought a beautiful silk scarf. All swirly reds and pinks it were. Said his wife needed some colour. He were that handsome in his uniform, with his blue eyes and his dark hair. I’d always fancied him, truth be told. But he were married to you. And everyone knew it were a bad idea to mess with Nellie Castle’s man.’
Nellie snorted softly. ‘You didn’t seem to.’ Nellie remembered that scarf. It had been beautiful. Donald had told her it brought out the red in her chestnut hair, and she’d worn it till it fell apart.
Annie shook her head, then winced. ‘I were young, Nellie. Young and vain and foolish and my head were easily turned.’
‘So, is that when it happened?’
‘He came back the next day. And then the next. An’ then he waited outside for me one day. Beautiful day, it was. We went walking along the cliffs and he turned and kissed me. He apologised. Said he’d been dying to do it since he first saw me. Said that you’d been cold since he’d come back, and I’d brightened his time. I felt sorry for him.’
Every word she said sent a dagger of pain through Nellie’s heart, but she forced herself to listen. ‘So cold that you an’ me birthed on the same day. Did he know? That he’d left you pregnant?’
She nodded. ‘I wrote to him.’
‘And?’
‘He never replied.’ Tears started to leak out of her eyes. ‘Me mum and dad told me to leave and not come back till the baby was gone. I had nowhere to go.’ She sniffed. ‘So I ended up stayin’ at the workhouse.’
‘Did you contact him again?’
She nodded miserably. ‘Wrote and told him I’d had a boy and he was in the workhouse. That I’d had to leave him there, but I’d put his name on the birth certificate so our baby would always know where he came from. I got a reply back from Jasper. He sent that note for the boy, and told me to leave it with the workhouse people to give to him when he was older. Told me he were sorry for what Donald had done.’
‘And then?’
‘After the baby were born I went home and me dad told me never to mention it again and set up the marriage with Sid Elliott. I’ve thought of that little baby every single day of his life. Every day. And look what he is.’ She started to cry in earnest and Nellie patted her hand.
‘Maybe he wouldn’t have been that way if only someone had loved him.’
‘I loved him. I loved him something fierce.’
‘But he weren’t to know, were he?’ Nellie sighed. ‘Well, it seems you’ve suffered for your mistake. Did Donald ever try to see you again?’
‘I steered clear. Sid were always so jealous. But he didn’t know about Dick. He never knew . . .’
Nellie sighed. ‘Donald lied to you,’ she said. ‘We had a good marriage – or so I thought.’
‘What’ll you do?’
‘I’ll look after you till you’re better, then I think you and Pauline ought to think about leaving Dover. You got anywhere to go?’
‘I got a brother in Scotland. I ain’t seen him in years. Sid always said it were too far to visit . . .’
‘Well, I suggest you get on a train and go soon as you can.’
Annie nodded. ‘I would, it’s just . . . I ain’t got the funds. Pauline’s been givin’ Dick money and Sid only ever gave me enough for food.’
Nellie sighed. ‘I’ll lend it to you, then. You can send it back when you’re settled.’
‘I don’t know how to thank you. After everythin’ I done.’
Nellie laughed humourlessly. ‘Don’t thank me. If it weren’t for the state of you, you’d not be welcome here and your ears would be ringing with my curses. Folk were right – you should never mess with Nellie Castle’s man. Soon as you’re on your feet, I want you out.’
Annie nodded then turned her face away and Nellie settled back in the seat and closed her eyes. In many ways, Dick Brown’s revelations had done her a favour. They’d brought the children rallying round, but, more than that, they’d shown her again what a good man Jasper was. How lucky she was that he seemed to love her. Whether he still would when he woke up, though, only time would tell.
*
Lily woke as Pauline climbed into the bed beside her and propped herself up on one elbow. ‘You all right, Paul?’
Pauline sighed. ‘No. But at least I’ve finally got Mum away. I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘For tellin’ Dick all your secrets.’
‘When did he tell you about being your brother?’
‘At the dance. I were so happy, but then he comes up and spills his poison, and . . . Well, you know what happened. I made a fool of meself.’
‘And you told him about Mum’s stash of stuff? And me being Jasper’s daughter?’
Pauline nodded. ‘He were always on at me. Said he wanted to get his own back on Mum and your dad for the wrong they done him. Said if I didn’t help him he’d tell my dad that he was Mum’s son. I swear I didn’t know he were gettin’ money from Jasper, though. Cos I were givin’ him most of my wages as well.’
Lily gasped. ‘You paid him?’
‘What choice did I have? My dad woulda killed her, you know, if you hadn’t come by. You got no idea how lucky you are to have Jasper.’
‘I think I do now.’
‘And even your mum ain’t so bad. Least you can rely on her.’
‘I know. Always.’ Lily still wasn’t sure she could entirely forgive her for her lies, but when all was said and done, her mother loved her. And she couldn’t pretend any longer that she didn’t love her too.
‘I love Mum, but I’ve always had to look out for her. Is it too much to ask for someone to look out for me for once?’
Lily reached over and took her friend’s hand. ‘You’ll find someone one day. You’ve got a good, loyal heart, Paul.’
Pauline sniffed. ‘Anyway, soon as we can, I’m gonna try to get Mum to leave. Save enough money and take her to me uncle in Scotland. I’ve never met him, but Mum writes to him all the time. Maybe we’ll have better luck there, eh?’
Lily laughed. ‘Well, it couldn’t be worse.’
Pauline started to giggle as the tensions of the last few weeks bubbled up, and soon the two of them were rocking with laughter. Until suddenly it changed, and Pauline’s laughter turned to sobs. Lily jumped out of her bed and slipped in beside her friend, putting her arms around her. ‘I’ll look after you tonight, all right? You just sleep. You’re safe now.’
Pauline wept for a long time, but finally her cries quietened, and her breathing deepened. Lily lay for a long time staring up at the ceiling, thinking about all that had happened. Everything had changed, she realised. In just a few short weeks, her life had been turned upside down, and it wasn’t over yet. Because Jasper’s life still hung in the balance, and she didn’t want him to die not knowing what he meant to her. To all of them. Because though she might be his true daughter, for the others, he’d always be the father of their hearts.
*
It was a few days before Annie Elliott was fit enough to travel, and as she waved her and Pauline off at the back door one morning, Nellie breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Thank gawd they’ve gone,’ she said. ‘Though why she won’t press charges on that nasty husband of hers, I’ll never know. Still, now everyone knows what sort of a man he is folk have made it clear he’s not welcome anywhere so hopefully he’ll pack up and leave soon. As for that Dick Brown, he deserves to rot in that prison cell.’ After Dick’s arrest, the police had discovered stolen goods in his room. It seemed that he’d been pilfering from hospital staff and patients while he’d been working there, so for now he was being kept in prison until a date for his trial was set.
‘It were a good Christian act to put that woman up after what she did,’ Gladys said.
‘You’re not wrong. I deserve a sainthood for that. I don’t mind tellin’ you there was a devil on my shoulder that was whispering bad, bad things to me. But then, it weren’t all her fault.’
‘Will you stop being angry now they’ve gone, Gran?’ Donny asked. ‘Because it’s getting a bit wearing.’
‘Don!’ Marianne gasped.
‘What? That’s what you said to Lily the other day. I heard you.’
Marianne blushed. ‘I’ve told you before not to listen in on other people’s conversations,’ she admonished, casting a quick glance at her mother.
Nellie laughed. ‘I’ll try, Don. But I won’t feel meself again till Jasper opens his eyes.’
‘How was he yesterday?’ Gladys asked.
Nellie sighed. ‘No change. But he struggles when they stick that blinkin’ tube down his throat to feed him, which they say’s a good sign. It’s disgustin’ what they have to do. Lily’s learnt to do it so she can help and that eases my mind.’
A disgruntled shout from the café had Nellie lumbering back in. ‘All right, all right. Gawd’s sake, I’ll be with you in a minute.’
Chapter 51
The weeks following Daisy’s funeral were difficult ones in Dover. Although the fear of invasion had started to recede, the threat of sudden death from shells or bombs had increased to such an extent that permission was given for people to sleep overnight in the caves and water, heat and toilets were installed. The caves really were starting to feel like a home from home now, and there was even talk of holding the annual Christmas party in the large cavern at the back of Barwick’s Cave.
Late one afternoon in November, Mavis came into the café. She looked tired and thin, her red hair greyer than it had been, but she and Derek had endeavoured to carry on as normally as possible. By some miracle the Royal Oak was one of the few pubs in the area that remained undamaged aside from smashed windows, and they found they were busier than ever.
‘How are you, Mave?’ Nellie put a cup of tea in front of her friend and sat down opposite her at the table.
‘Oh, you know, bearing up, I suppose.’ She smiled wanly. ‘Stan writes regular from Shillingford. Poor lad’s still in pieces, but Maggie’s keeping him strong. By heck, I miss our Daisy, though.’
Nellie patted her hand. ‘I know, love. I know. But it looks like you mean business today. So what can I do for you?’
Mavis dug in her bag and brought out a notebook. ‘Right, well. It’s been a pretty awful year, all told, and with the market square Christmas party cancelled, I’ve decided to have it in the basement at the Oak. What do you think?’
Nellie smiled. ‘I think that’s a sight better than the caves. When were you thinking?’
‘Christmas Eve seems a good day. We can start early and people can come in and out as they please. And we’ll do the usual games for the kids. So, you reckon you can do some food?’
‘Tell me what you need, and me and Marianne will do it.’
Mavis licked the lead on her pencil. ‘Mince pies, sandwiches and maybe Marianne can make a cake of some sort? And anything else you can think of.’
‘I’ll make sure we have a few treats for the kids.’ She sighed. ‘Daisy always drew the pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey picture, didn’t she? I’ll ask Edie to do it this year. She’s not too bad with that sort of thing. Just so you know, though, if Jasper’s still out cold, then I’ll probably not come.’
Mavis nodded. ‘I were up there yesterday and I swear while I was chit-chatting his hand moved. I said to Derek, “If Jasper ain’t awake in the next few days I’ll eat my hat.”’
