Read Online The Girl on the Beach by Mary Nichols - Free Book Online Page B

she was going to manage to cook a dinner without vegetables, when someone behind her said, ‘It’s awful, isn’t it?’
    She turned to see who had spoken. She was a youngwoman, about the same age as Julie, warmly wrapped up in a tweed coat and a headscarf from which a few blond curls peeped. She had a pleasant smile. ‘Yes, it is,’ Julie agreed. ‘It’s bad enough with the war and all, but this weather is making it a hundred times worse.’
    ‘Did you hear the news this morning? Rationing is starting on Monday.’ She laughed. ‘I don’t know what good that will do, there’s nothing to buy.’
    ‘I heard the beginning of it but the baby woke up and started to cry, so I missed most of it.’
    ‘It’s butter, sugar, bacon and ham. Why those in particular, I don’t know. I’ve given my book to my landlady and she’s going to register me.’ She paused. ‘Fancy a cup of coffee or tea?’
    ‘Not coffee, that imitation stuff tastes awful, but a cup of tea will go down a treat.’
    They went to a café just down the road. Julie picked George out of his pram and left it outside while they went in and settled themselves at a table near the window where they could see the pram.
    ‘He’s a darling,’ the woman said. ‘What’s his name?’
    ‘George.’
    ‘It suits him. I’m Rosemary Summers, by the way.’ She pulled off her glove and held out her right hand. ‘Rosie to my friends.’
    Julie took the hand. ‘Julie Walker.’
    ‘Walker? My boss at Chalfont Engineering is Mr Walker. Any relation?’
    ‘He’s my father-in-law.’
    ‘Really? Then you must be Harry’s wife.’
    ‘Yes, I am.’
    ‘He’s a lovely man. You’re so lucky.’ She turned to thewaitress who stood over them, pencil poised. ‘Two teas, please.’
    ‘Yes, I know it. How long have you been working at Chalfont’s?’
    ‘Only three weeks. I came down from Scotland. I was going to join up, but I failed the medical on account of childhood asthma. They said I’d do more good working in a factory on essential war work, and sent me to Chalfont’s.’
    ‘Do you like it?’
    ‘It gets a bit boring doing the same thing on the same machine day after day.’ She laughed again. ‘And night after night. I’m on nights this week which is why I was exploring. You can’t sleep all day.’
    ‘Exploring Bermondsey, that’s a laugh.’
    ‘Well, I thought I’d need to know my way about, where the shops and shelters are, things like that.’
    ‘Where do you live?’
    ‘I’ve rented a room on the Waterloo Road. It was the first place I came to when I got off the train. It’s handy for the factory. Where do you live?’
    ‘Just round the corner. We’ve got a nice little house with a garden.’ She laughed. ‘And an Anderson shelter. I hate it.’
    ‘Perhaps you’ll never have to use it.’
    ‘I hope not.’
    They finished their tea and would have gone on talking all afternoon, if George had not reminded them of his presence and begun to grizzle. ‘I must take him home to give him his feed and put him down for his afternoon nap,’ Julie said, standing up.
    They left the café and walked together along the busy road to Julie’s turn. ‘That’s our house,’ she said, pointing. ‘Come and see me, when you’ve got time off.’
    ‘I will, thank you. I haven’t made any friends here yet, and working such odd hours, it’s difficult to get to know people.’
    ‘Well, you know me now. Any time you’re passing.’
    Rosie took her at her word and arrived two afternoons later bearing gifts: a tin of golden syrup, a bag of potatoes and two onions. ‘I thought these might help,’ she said.
    ‘Goodness, yes. Wherever did you find them?’ She busied herself putting a kettle on the gas stove.
    ‘There’s a chap I’ve met at work who seems to be able to get almost anything for a price …’
    ‘How much?’
    ‘Oh, it’s a gift from me to you, for taking pity on me.’
    ‘Taking pity. I don’t pity you, why should I?’
    ‘I