Lizzie's War (6 page)

‘Thank goodness you're back. I was beginning to worry you'd been caught in the raid. I've got the kettle on,' Lizzie said and put Jenny and Matt into the playpen with Betty. ‘Matt has a sore bottom and judging by that nappy in the bucket he has a tummy upset. Would you like me to take him to the doctor while you rest and keep an eye on the other two?'

‘What about the shop?'

‘Ed will manage,' Lizzie said. ‘I just rang him. Your mother thought the telephone an expensive luxury, but I was glad of it this morning.'

‘I'm shattered,' Beth said. ‘I persuaded Mum to go home for a few hours, but only when Dad turned up and nearly dragged her away – but then Mary had the baby about twenty minutes later.' A little sob escaped her. ‘Poor little mite, her skin is yellow and the doctors took her away. They told me the child has some kind of liver infection.'

‘Poor Mary,' Lizzie said and her eyes stung with tears. ‘To go through all that pain and then to have your baby so ill…'

‘I went in to see her for a while, but she wouldn't talk to me, even though the doctor says she's all right now.' Beth choked on the tears she was holding back. ‘She turned her face to the wall and didn't answer when I tried to tell her things would be all right. She just muttered something about it being all right for me…'

‘Oh, Beth, I'm sure she didn't mean it. She was just exhausted and miserable.'

‘Yes, I know, but she does resent me – both Mary and Dottie think I'm the favourite and have things easy…'

‘They're just being silly. Your mother was right when she said they both have husbands and don't have to work. Besides, I'm sure she would have their children sometimes. She doesn't babysit for us at weekends.'

‘No, but they don't see it like that,' Beth said and glanced nervously at Matt, who was banging his rattle on the chair. ‘It was awful seeing Mary's little girl like that, Lizzie. It made me realize how lucky we both are to have happy healthy children. At least they are most of the time… do you think Matt is really poorly?'

‘His bottom is sore.' Lizzie pushed a hot sweet cup of tea in front of Beth and a piece of toast with strawberry jam. ‘Drink your tea, love. I'm going to take Matt to the doctor's surgery and ask for someone to take a look at him. I'll bring him home as soon as I've been seen and then I'll go into work – but your mum won't come today so you'll be here with the children. Hopefully, we'll have something to settle Matt's tummy by then.'

Beth nodded and kissed her son before Lizzie whisked him off. Going out into a morning that for almost the first time that year had a hint of spring about it, Lizzie nursed the child who was beginning to whimper again.

She walked the two streets to the doctor's surgery, noticing the gaps where houses had once been, feeling sympathy for the people who had lost their homes and blessing her lucky star for keeping her family safe.

Though the doctor himself was too busy to see her, the nurse invited Lizzie in and took a look at Matt. He'd already filled his nappy again and the smell was sour.

‘He's given us another nice surprise,' Nurse Henderson said and laughed. The mother of four herself, and in her fifties, she was a dependable woman who dealt with the situation deftly, wrapping Matt's bottom in a soft wad of cotton wool and pulling the rubber pants on over it. ‘He has a nasty tummy infection. I'm glad you brought him in, Mrs Oliver, because you need to be careful it isn't passed on to the others – be scrupulous about washing his nappies separately for a while and keep all the bottles sterile. I'm sure you know, but just to remind you. I'll give you something for his sore bottom and we'll make up a mixture for his tummy.'

‘Thank you. I was a little worried, because he was screaming so much. I thought it was temper, but then when I saw his bottom – and the nappy.'

‘Yes, that smell gives it away,' the nurse said. ‘I'll wrap this soiled one in some newspaper for you – but remember what I said. Give it a good soak in cold water and a drop of disinfectant.'

Lizzie thanked her again and left the surgery, carrying the soiled nappy in her string shopping bag. She hurried home and gave Beth the welcome news that it wasn't serious but they had to be careful about not passing it on to the other two.

‘The nurse said it was a good thing I took Matt, because it might have been serious if we hadn't realised he was unwell.'

‘Matt is always the one that screams the loudest,' Beth said looking concerned. ‘It's a lot for Mum to cope with – the three of them – and I suppose she didn't realize he was ill.'

‘I wasn't sure which of them to see to first this morning, and I thought Matt was just having a tantrum. I expect that's why your mum hadn't noticed he wasn't quite right.'

‘We'll have to think hard about the future,' Beth said. ‘Mrs Jones from down the road popped in a few minutes ago. She'd heard about Mary and said she would look after the children for a few hours if I wanted to go up the hospital. I think she might help out on a regular basis if we paid her. She told me she'd had to give up her job at the jam factory because it was too hard on her feet.'

‘What a shame for her. It was good of her to offer,' Lizzie said. She didn't tell Beth that she considered Mrs Jones a well-meaning woman, but a bit slapdash. Although she'd only been to her house once, that had been enough for Lizzie; everywhere had been in need of a clean, and the kitchen smelled of old greens. ‘We shall have to think about it for a while. Now, I must get off – remember what the nurse said about keeping Matt's nappies separate.'

‘I'll do them later,' Beth yawned. ‘I'm going to have a rest in here with the kids, catch up a bit on the sleep I lost. Mum said she would come round when she could, but it depends on how bad Mary's baby is and if she's perked up at all…'

Lizzie nodded. The children were in the playpen, Jenny and Betty curled up together like a pair of little kittens, while Matt rocked himself and grizzled but less loudly than before. It seemed that the first dose of his medicine had done some good, and Lizzie hoped Beth would get some rest before he started to scream again.

She ran for a bus and arrived at the showroom at half past ten. Ed was serving a customer and greeted her with a smile.

‘Everything under control at home now?'

‘Yes, I think so,' Lizzie said and went into the workroom. She filled the kettle, made tea and took one to Ed as he finished with the customer.

‘He's a new customer and he bought ten of the new lines,' Ed said. ‘Sebastian Winters' manager told him about us and I think he will be a regular from now on.'

‘Thank you so much for holding the fort, Ed. I don't know what I'd do without you.'

‘Bless you, Lizzie,' he looked pleased with her praise. ‘I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't given me this partnership. I think I'd have been down the boot factory hating my work and life…'

‘Well, you're here with us,' Lizzie said. ‘I'd better get busy. I promised Mabel her order would be ready by Monday and I need to get started…'

It was mid-afternoon when the telephone rang in Lizzie's office. She answered it and heard a sob at the other end, and then Beth crying.

‘What's wrong, love?' Her heart caught with fright. ‘Matt isn't worse, is he?'

‘No, it's Mary's baby…' another sob of grief broke from Beth. ‘The child died a couple of hours ago. Mum was with Mary when they told her and she went mad, screamed at them and tried to get out of bed. She was shouting that they'd killed her baby, fighting everyone that came near her. Mum tried to calm her and she punched her in the face. She's got a black eye…'

‘That is terrible, Beth. Is your mother very upset?'

‘Yes, she is – but about the baby and the way it will affect Mary rather than her own injury. She says that is nothing. She offered to look after the children while I came into work, but I'm not going to, Lizzie. She needs company and to be looked after herself for a few days.'

‘Yes, of course she does and we can manage here. We've only had two customers in this morning – so don't you worry about me. I'll be home at the usual time and do what I can. Shall you visit your sister this evening?'

‘I'll go to the hospital and ask how she is, but I don't think she'll want to see me. She's going to resent me more than ever.'

‘No, Beth, you mustn't feel like that,' Lizzie said. ‘It isn't your fault that Mary lost her baby. Your mum has been telling her for weeks that she should take more care of herself.'

‘Yes, I know, but Mary has always been stubborn. She thinks she knows best because she is a qualified nurse. When we were all at home she never took much notice of me. I think she was jealous when I was born…'

‘Oh, Beth,' Lizzie sighed, feeling for her. ‘I always wanted brothers and sisters, but it seems that isn't always as good as it might be.'

‘You've been better to me than either of my sisters,' Beth asserted. ‘I don't want to let you down, but especially with Matt unwell, I feel I shouldn't leave Mum alone. I can't leave her to cope by herself…'

‘Yes, of course I understand.'

They talked some more and then Beth rang off. Lizzie went back to her work, packing Mabel's hats in tissue as she finished them. She only had one to complete now and then she could start on some new ideas for stock… but she felt a little bit unsure of the future. If Beth had to stop coming in she would need to find another assistant but supposing the orders dried up and she couldn't afford to pay her? The girl she really wanted was Tilly, but she couldn't entice her away from Harry's uncle – especially if her own business was in danger of going down…

Even as she sat in gloomy contemplation of the future the doorbell went and Lizzie saw two young women enter the showroom. They reminded her a little of the girl who had stolen from her, but she refused to let that unpleasant incident ruin her pleasure in dealing with new customers who wanted a pretty hat.

‘Can I help you?' she asked and one of them blushed shyly.

‘I'm getting married and I want a pretty hat to go on honeymoon and my friend Sheila wants a hat for the wedding, don't you, Sheil?'

‘Yeah, if yer got anythin' we can afford… it's a bit posh in 'ere, ain't it?'

‘I like it to be nice for my customers,' Lizzie said. ‘I've got hats you can buy from thirty shillings upwards – if that isn't too expensive?'

‘No, I can afford a bit more than that,' the prospective bride said. ‘How much do you want to pay, Sheil?'

‘As little as possible. 'Ave yer got any cheap in the sale?'

‘I haven't had a sale yet,' Lizzie replied, frowning. ‘It would be old lines or shop-soiled goods, but I'm not ready for anything like that yet.'

‘We was told yer were havin' a closin' down sale soon, so we thought we would get in first.'

‘That's a silly rumour. I'm not closing down – and thirty shillings is my lowest price, other than a simple cloche or a beret.'

‘Show us what yer've got then,' Sheila said grudgingly. ‘We see a nice white straw in the winder didn't we, Mave?'

‘Yes – a cloche with a navy ribbon and a silk rose…' the girl looked hopefully at Lizzie.

‘I'm afraid that one is silk and it costs three pounds,' Lizzie said. ‘Look, why don't I show you some that range from thirty shillings to two pounds ten and see if there is anything you like.'

‘Go on then,' Sheila said. ‘It's a bit of a lark any road – can we try 'em on?'

‘Yes, of course you can.' Lizzie opened the cupboards and took out three cloche-style hats, one in white felt, one in navy felt and one in yellow straw. They all had price tags of thirty-five shillings. She took two other hats from the stands, which were a similar shape, but a little softer and made of silk velvet; these were priced at two pounds and two guineas. Lizzie knew she had more in their price range in the back room but wasn't inclined to fetch them after her previous unpleasant experience.

She showed the girls the hats they could afford, including some smart berets at twelve shillings and a brown cloche with a cream ribbon at the same price, but they didn't seem interested in them, because they were after the more stylish hats. Mave wanted a special hat and tried on three of the more expensive ones. She hovered between the white felt and one of the silk velvets and sighed as she preened before the mirror.

‘I love them both,' she said. ‘I've got three pounds and that isn't enough to buy them both, is it?'

Lizzie did a calculation in her head. She would be making just three shillings on the sale, but she was tempted to give in and agree to sell both for the price, but then Sheila spoke up.

‘This navy one is all right, but I've only got twenty-seven and sixpence ter spend. Can't yer let me 'ave it fer that?'

Lizzie would still make five shillings on the hat. She took a deep breath and then inclined her head. ‘I'll let you have that one for twenty-seven shillings and sixpence, but I need three pounds and five shillings for the other two – and that's a special price for you, Mave, because it's your wedding. I don't usually discount my hats, but you were misinformed about a sale so I'll offer them for what I've suggested.'

Mave's face fell. ‘I ain't got no more…' she hesitated, then, ‘I'll bring yer five bob when I get back from me honeymoon. Bobby is taking me to Southend for a week…'

Lizzie hesitated, knowing that she could quite easily end up losing the five shillings, but for once she was willing to take a chance. ‘All right, just this once,' she agreed, ‘but don't tell your friends, because I shan't make a habit of it.'

‘Thanks,' Mave said and her thin, pretty face lit up. ‘I shan't let yer down, miss. I promise. I'll 'ave both them hats please.'