Read Online Moonlight and Ashes by Rosie Goodwin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rosie Goodwin
Tags: Historical fiction, WWII
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had no intention of getting her head bitten off yet again, but as she made to slip past her, the girl nervously caught at the sleeve of her overall.
‘’Ere, about last night - I were wonderin’, could yer keep it to yerself? Seein’ me on the streets, I mean? I’ve no need to tell yer that some o’ the women who work here are hard-nuts an’ they’ll make me life a misery if they get to know I’m on the game.’
Maggie stared into the girl’s haunted face. It was hard to believe that this was the same woman she had caught standing on a street corner. She looked so unhappy. The bruise on her eye had now turned a deep purple colour and without her heavy make-up she looked very young.
‘I’ll not say a word to anyone,’ Maggie murmured, and saw the girl’s look of relief. ‘It’s no business of mine what you get up to.’
She was almost through the door when the girl muttered, ‘Thanks, missus.’ At a loss as to what to make of it all, Maggie picked her way back through the other women to her machine.
When she arrived home that evening, she found Sam’s mother sitting at the side of the empty fire-grate.
‘I sent yer mam across the road to see to yer dad’s dinner,’ Beryl Bright informed Maggie, flashing her a smile.
Maggie returned the smile before peeping out of the kitchen window to check on the children, who were all three happily playing in the Anderson shelter.
‘I thought yer might like to know that I had a letter from our David this mornin’.’
Maggie’s heart began to pound but she kept her face straight as she asked, ‘Oh yes, and how is he?’
‘Not so good, to be honest, but at least he’s safe up to now. He’s in Norway, an’ the things he’s seein’ are breakin’ his heart. You know what a big softie he is.’ Beryl fiddled with the fringe of the tablecloth. ‘Apparently, things ain’t good out there. His friend died in his arms a while back. Seems our lads weren’t properly equipped for such Arctic conditions. Let’s just hope this government that Churchill is puttin’ together will help ’em, eh? I tell yer, them bloody Jerries have somethin’ to answer for. Though I suppose we should be grateful they’re leavin’ us alone. If it weren’t fer the rationin’, the black-outs an’ the menfolk bein’ called up left right an’ centre, there might not be a war on fer us.’
‘Let’s just hope it stays that way.’ Maggie thought of what David must be going through. He was such a gentle man, and she could imagine how badly seeing people die in front of his very eyes must be affecting him.
Her mother-in-law reached across to squeeze her hand as she lumbered to her feet. ‘Right, well, I’d best get meself home now yer back. I just thought you’d like to hear he’s safe.’
‘Thank you, that was very kind of you. But aren’t you going to wait and see Sam? He’ll be home from work in a minute.’
Her mother-in-law shook her head. ‘No, there’d be no point. You know me an’ our Sam allus rub each other up the wrong way. How’s he treatin’ you nowadays?’
Maggie felt herself flush, and crossing to the sink she rolled up her sleeves and began to peel some potatoes. ‘Oh, I can’t complain.’
‘Mmm. Still spendin’ half his time in the pub, is he?’ Seeing Maggie’s embarrassment the older woman’s voice softened. ‘I know I shouldn’t say this, Maggie, ’cos they’re both me lads, but life dealt you a bad card when it tied you up to our Sam. Sometimes I can hardly believe that they’re both mine ’cos they’re as different as chalk from cheese. You an’ our David were so right together. If only . . .’
‘Mam, I know yer mean well, but don’t you think it’s a bit late for If Onlys now, all these years on?’
The woman’s chin sank to her chest. ‘Sorry, love. I’ve no wish to rake up old memories. It’s just that . . .’
‘I know.’ Drying her hands, Maggie wrapped the woman in a warm embrace. ‘Now get yourself
‘’Ere, about last night - I were wonderin’, could yer keep it to yerself? Seein’ me on the streets, I mean? I’ve no need to tell yer that some o’ the women who work here are hard-nuts an’ they’ll make me life a misery if they get to know I’m on the game.’
Maggie stared into the girl’s haunted face. It was hard to believe that this was the same woman she had caught standing on a street corner. She looked so unhappy. The bruise on her eye had now turned a deep purple colour and without her heavy make-up she looked very young.
‘I’ll not say a word to anyone,’ Maggie murmured, and saw the girl’s look of relief. ‘It’s no business of mine what you get up to.’
She was almost through the door when the girl muttered, ‘Thanks, missus.’ At a loss as to what to make of it all, Maggie picked her way back through the other women to her machine.
When she arrived home that evening, she found Sam’s mother sitting at the side of the empty fire-grate.
‘I sent yer mam across the road to see to yer dad’s dinner,’ Beryl Bright informed Maggie, flashing her a smile.
Maggie returned the smile before peeping out of the kitchen window to check on the children, who were all three happily playing in the Anderson shelter.
‘I thought yer might like to know that I had a letter from our David this mornin’.’
Maggie’s heart began to pound but she kept her face straight as she asked, ‘Oh yes, and how is he?’
‘Not so good, to be honest, but at least he’s safe up to now. He’s in Norway, an’ the things he’s seein’ are breakin’ his heart. You know what a big softie he is.’ Beryl fiddled with the fringe of the tablecloth. ‘Apparently, things ain’t good out there. His friend died in his arms a while back. Seems our lads weren’t properly equipped for such Arctic conditions. Let’s just hope this government that Churchill is puttin’ together will help ’em, eh? I tell yer, them bloody Jerries have somethin’ to answer for. Though I suppose we should be grateful they’re leavin’ us alone. If it weren’t fer the rationin’, the black-outs an’ the menfolk bein’ called up left right an’ centre, there might not be a war on fer us.’
‘Let’s just hope it stays that way.’ Maggie thought of what David must be going through. He was such a gentle man, and she could imagine how badly seeing people die in front of his very eyes must be affecting him.
Her mother-in-law reached across to squeeze her hand as she lumbered to her feet. ‘Right, well, I’d best get meself home now yer back. I just thought you’d like to hear he’s safe.’
‘Thank you, that was very kind of you. But aren’t you going to wait and see Sam? He’ll be home from work in a minute.’
Her mother-in-law shook her head. ‘No, there’d be no point. You know me an’ our Sam allus rub each other up the wrong way. How’s he treatin’ you nowadays?’
Maggie felt herself flush, and crossing to the sink she rolled up her sleeves and began to peel some potatoes. ‘Oh, I can’t complain.’
‘Mmm. Still spendin’ half his time in the pub, is he?’ Seeing Maggie’s embarrassment the older woman’s voice softened. ‘I know I shouldn’t say this, Maggie, ’cos they’re both me lads, but life dealt you a bad card when it tied you up to our Sam. Sometimes I can hardly believe that they’re both mine ’cos they’re as different as chalk from cheese. You an’ our David were so right together. If only . . .’
‘Mam, I know yer mean well, but don’t you think it’s a bit late for If Onlys now, all these years on?’
The woman’s chin sank to her chest. ‘Sorry, love. I’ve no wish to rake up old memories. It’s just that . . .’
‘I know.’ Drying her hands, Maggie wrapped the woman in a warm embrace. ‘Now get yourself
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