A New Dawn
Chapter 2
It was the afternoon of the third day and Molly had got up and dressed and wandered into the kitchen for a cup of tea to be greeted by both Jacqui and Brian.
"I hear you have been looking after Captain James, Molly" said Brian "How's he doing?"
"Getting better not away with the fairies like he was the first night" she replied
"He's a good bloke" he nodded "I know he's a toff but he's pretty fair, doesn't rub it in or nothing, treats us right" he continued "Wish he was in our chain of command rather than the dickhead we've got"
"I should think so" piped in Jacqui "that's one thing about this bloody war, things are going to change for the better"
Brian laughed, "You and your bloody equality Jacqui, you got the vote" he chuckled knowing he was going to get a punch on the arm which was duly given by Jacqui "You would've made a good suffragette"
"Don't forget you are outnumbered here Brian" said Molly chuckling and joining in the banter "There will come a time where us women will be able to do whatever we want; we won't have to give up our jobs when we get married. We will be able to have it all if we want it"
"Can't see it meself" he laughed but picked up his cap ready to leave as he had to be back in Woodlands. "You sure you girls are alright here on your own, you wouldn't be better at the hospital"
"No" they both called out in unison to his retreating back.
Now that Brian was back at barracks Jacqui was due back at the hospital on night shifts with Molly. They liked being on shift together, it was someone to talk to when they were on breaks. The Australian nurses were very friendly and chatty but some of the British girls were a bit stand offish with them and were sometimes made aware that their backgrounds weren't the same.
-OG-
"How are you feeling now mate" she smiled at him as he opened his eyes. He was definitely starting to feel a bit better although still too weak to get up and he was thankful that there were plenty of orderlies he could ask rather than this little dark haired nurse.
The lights were low as it was night-time, he had to say the long days in bed were rather tedious with very few people to talk with but now he was starting to feel a little better he quite enjoyed his little chats with this nurse.
"So, what's your name?" he asked
"Molly, Molly Dawes" she answered, "what's yours?"
"Charles James" and she smirked; she just knew he would have a posh name like that
"Where you from then Charlie?" she beamed at him
"Charles"
"What, where's that?" and her grin just got wider and he found himself grinning back at her
"No, my name is Charles"
"I know you just said that" her eyes sparking with humour "So where you from then?" he shook his head but not with the frustration he thought he would have at being referred to as Charlie, she clearly didn't have any respect for his rank but then she didn't seem to be that bothered or intimidated by anyone she spoke with. She just seemed to be someone that spoke with everyone, or that had been his observation as he watched her going about her duties around the ward.
"I'm from Bath, in Somerset" he smiled up at her while she put the cool flannels on his forehead and smoothed his hair back and he felt a quickening of his heart as she did this "About 100 miles west of London" he continued and she nodded as if concentrating.
"It's where the Romans built their baths ain't it?" she looked at him and he raised his eyebrows in surprise
"We do have schools in East London mate" and she laughed before walking away to her next patient but she took one final look at him from over her shoulder to see him staring and smiling at her.
-OG-
"So where are you living while you are out here Molly" he asked
"We got a lovely bungalow near here, so we can walk in, me and Jacs that is, the other nurse over there" she replied pointing to Jacqui "Can't believe we've been here over 3 months already and I still ain't been to the gardens"
"What gardens?"
"You know the botanical gardens" she rolled her eyes "How long you been here mate"
"About a year"
"What and you ain't been to the gardens yet either?" she shook her head, "Jacqui and I were going to go but then Brian got a pass so we had to cancel and now we don't seem to be getting the same time off"
"I could take you, when I get out of here" he tentatively asked "If you like"
"Really?" and she flicked her hand between them "What you and me"
"Are you a snob Miss Dawes" he had a wide grin on his face "What's wrong with stepping out with a soldier?"
She laughed in return "Nothing, just thought… toff like you wouldn't want to ….. you know with a girl like me"
"Well looks like we were both wrong" he smiled "What about this Sunday, there is an army band playing at the band stand and we could have tea in the pavilion after"
"OK then Charlie I'd like that"
"Charles"
"What?"
"My name it's Charles"
"I know you keep telling me, I ain't forgotten" she laughed. He rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile.
"Shall I pick you up from here at 2 o'clock on Sunday then?"
"I'd like that, I'd like that very much" she smiled coyly at him.
Charles knew that they had totally different backgrounds but he was drawn to this girl like no other girl ever had. Her sense of humour, sense of adventure, her keenness to learn new things and show an interest in the people and culture intrigued him and he didn't think he had ever met anyone quite like Miss Molly Dawes.
He probably got some of his liberalism from his mother, who although an heiress had been a suffragette herself and still did charitable work and often had many women from all walks of life over to the house trying to raise awareness and funds for medical attention for the needy, to save some of these women and children from the workhouse. His father was the same, although he had spent a lifetime in the service of the army he had met many men during the first war that had changed his opinion of his fellow man and was often trying to fight the cause for the poor souls in institutions with shell shock.
On the whole while there might be the odd raised eyebrow at Raffles, he felt that his friends would like Molly for the warm and compassionate person she is. He was actually looking forward to Sunday very much indeed.
-OG-
Sunday came and Captain James could not help but smile as he saw Molly walking towards him in a floral print dress to just below her knee and large brimmed hat protecting her face from the intense sun.
She waved as she saw him beamed and quickened her step.
"You look lovely" he said, "my car is just over there" and he put his hand lightly on her back to guide her across the road. Opened the passenger door to help her in before going round to the driver's side and starting the engine. The roof was down and the engine roared into life.
"What is it Charlie, I'm not sure I've ever been in a car like this before" he looked at her out the corner of his eye and smiled. It looks like she was persisting in calling him Charlie but he really doesn't think he minds; in fact, he likes the way it sounds coming from her mouth.
"It's a Lagonda M45" he replied, "top speed of …."
"OK Charlie only wanted to know what it was not what it does, nice colour though" she laughed and he snorted a laugh himself shaking his head at her cheek.
They arrived at the Botanical Gardens which were absolutely stunning. She vaguely remembered her Nan taking her to Kew Gardens when she was a kid but it was nothing like this.
He opened the car door for her and extended his elbow towards her so she could hold onto his arm and guided her into the park. He felt a jolt of electricity as soon as she touched him and he looked down into her excited face. In some ways she was like a small child, every emotion displayed on her face, her happiness and excitement at what she was seeing. In turn he was proud to be escorting her here today.
"It's huge Charlie how are we going to see it all?"
"Well we could come back another time" he smiled down at her "Would you like to go to the bandstand and listen to the music?, I think it's the army military band playing today". They ambled through the park, Molly's head turning in all directions trying to take in the beauty of the place. The palm trees, the ferns and of course the orchids.
"Look at the birds Charlie ain't they pretty" she could feel his arm vibrating as he was laughing
"They're Green Pidgeons"
"They don't look like the ones we get in London" she said "Urrrrh! Flying rats my Dad calls 'em"
They took their seats and the band started to play. Molly was enthralled, she was a bit worried when Charles had said they were a military band, she thought it would be all marches or something but they played all sorts. Bless them all, Glen Millers in the Mood and Pennsylvania 6-5000 and she couldn't help but jig about in her seat, then there was Moonlight Serenade. There were the old favourites of There will always be an England and Run Rabbit Run. She loved every minute of it and Charles couldn't help but steal little glances across at her, he didn't think she had stopped smiling the whole afternoon.
When the concert finished they stood and again he offered his arm, he really was a perfect gent she thought. "Shall we go and have tea now"
"That would be nice Charlie thank you" and they meandered to the Pavilion helped seat her and they waited for the waiter. "Tea and sandwiches OK Molly" he asked and she nodded.
Molly couldn't help but look at all the different people walking past, the variety of different clothing styles and colours.
"Jacqui and I were thinking of going to the godowns see if we can buy some of that silk and make our own dresses, its beautiful ain't it" looking at a particularly stunning woman walk past in a sari.
"What on your own" he said sharply "What about Jacqui's husband can he not take you both?"
"Well we don't know when he is next on a weekend pass and we thought we could go next week start making them before he gets back"
"Molly" he hesitated "You do realise that the godowns by the harbour might be a bit dangerous for a couple of girls don't you"
"Why"
"There are a lot of side streets that shall we say might be a little unsavoury" she threw her head back laughing
"Are you saying they're brothels down there?" and his cheeks went a little red as he looked down and nodded
"Amongst other things"
"Charlie" she laughed "I come from East London and half me uncles work in the docks; I know what a whorehouse looks like" she shook her head "In Jacqui and my experience the girls leave you alone if you're not stepping on their toes so to speak"
"I think you might find these a little different from London"
"Sailors is Sailors wherever they are in the world" and she couldn't help smirking at his discomfort "Probably a bit like army" she laughed at his expression "I'm a nurse as well Charlie, you telling me your soldiers don't go and see the doctor with a dose of the clap"
"Yes well" he said "I would still prefer it if you waited until Corporal Wiggerty gets leave to take you both"
"You could take us" she smiled at him her eyes shining with excitement and mischief, he gave her a broad grin back and lent forward into her space
"I can barely cope with you Miss Molly Dawes" his eyes roaming over her face "I couldn't deal with trying to look after both of you, I'm sure that Wiggerty knows better than I how to keep you both in hand"
"Is Brian one of your soldiers?"
"No, I'm Infantry and he is Artillery" he grinned "So no I can't get him a weekend pass to take you to the godowns"
"That obvious was I"
"Only a bit" he just couldn't seem to stop smiling at her. He didn't think he had ever met a woman quite like her before. "I'd better look at taking you home"
She gave him directions to her home and he parked the car and opened the door for her and walked her to her front door.
"Thank you for a lovely afternoon, I really enjoyed myself" she said smiling up at him
"How about rather than the godowns I take you to the Hindu temple or one of the Buddhist temples instead, it really is rather spectacular and you might even get your fortune told if you are lucky" he beamed down at her.
"I'd really like that Charlie"
"How about next Friday then I can pick you up from here see the temple and have lunch?"
They agreed the day and time and both were already looking forward to their next meeting as they walked away from each other.
-OG-
It was a beautiful day when he picked her up and drove to the Hindu temple. Molly was fascinated by the carvings that made up the roof, apparently they were all gods. Inside was just as ornate with carvings of cows and elephants. It really was rather beautiful.
"Would you like to go to the Botanical Gardens for lunch Molly" asked Charles as he guided her back to his car
"Yes please, it's nice there" she grinned up at him
They were sitting outside as it felt marginally cooler outside in the shade.
"So how long are you here for Charlie?"
"Well we usually come for about 2 years and I have done a year already, but who knows if I will be recalled earlier" he shrugged
"Don't you miss home, your family?"
"You just get used to it I suppose, being away all the time" he sighed looking down at his tea "But my father was in the army and frequently stationed abroad so I spent most of my childhood at boarding school while he and mother were away"
Molly didn't say anything but she thought that sounded very lonely and wondered if he was sad at not having his parents around much. She had an overwhelming urge to hold his hand or hug him but not sure if he would appreciate it. She may come from a big noisy family and sometimes it was hard to find somewhere quiet to sit and think but she did miss them.
"Do you miss yours?" asked Charles looking into her sad eyes, thinking to look this sad she must be and not realising that it was for him she was sad.
"I don't miss the noise" she laughed her face lighting up "Someone was always turning up for a cuppa – one of me uncles or Jacquie's mum" she shook her head smiling at the memories "the kids could get up to all sorts of mischief and it drove my mum and nan nuts"
"How many of there are you?"
"I'm the eldest; I have 2 sisters and 3 bothers, Martin is the youngest and he's 4"
"Big family then?" he grinned and she nodded
"So did you enjoy the temple Molly?"
"Yes" she beamed at him "Thank you for bringing me"
"Would you like to come with me next Friday then and see the Buddhist Temple?" he asked tentatively but hoping she would say yes that she wouldn't be working at the hospital.
She nodded her eyes shining "Yes please, I want to see everything" she sniggered "Including the godowns" Charles chuckled and shook his head
"I'll leave that unenviable task to Wiggerty" he extended his arm "Time I got you back home Miss Molly Dawes"
They drove to her bungalow and he escorted her to the door confirming that he would pick her up same time next week. As he walked away that week felt like a lifetime away.