A New Dawn
Chapter 15
Christmas Eve finally arrived bringing lots of hustle and bustle throughout the house, so Charles asked if she would like to go out for a walk or something. Anything to get out of the house so they went across to the park and then he thought he would take her to the baths, as he remembered one of their first conversations when he was ill in hospital.
Charles said both dresses were beautiful when she modelled them for him and he really couldn't pick one. In the end she decided to wear the black one and save the duck egg blue one for the Boxing Day event. Charles had promised he would take her back to London the day after Boxing Day. He had also told her about Rebecca, she wasn't that worried about it, as she told him she would be surprised that anyone who looked like him hadn't had a bit of history, but she was glad she knew before she met her especially as his parents seemed to like her so much.
For his part now that he had sat up and noticed what his parents were saying and implying he never left Molly's side all evening, he knew that Edna was pleased gone were the daggers she gave him that first breakfast morning.
Rebecca was indeed beautiful Molly thought as she came and joined them for a short time. Charles went off to get them drinks while they were talking
"It's been nice to meet you Molly, I heard that Charles had married" she laughed "You saved me from a fate worse than death" Molly raised her eyebrows in shock, she couldn't understand that, she loved Charles and thought he was a lovely kind bloke.
"My parents and his wanted some sort of merger, probably make them even richer" she laughed "But I don't want to be married to anyone, I like the freedom to do what I want, when I want." Molly just smiled, just goes to show its all semantics and luck who you are born to Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Sailor, Rich man, Pie man, Beggar man or Thief. Rebecca who was born into great wealth but wanted to act like a trollop and poor Blanche who was born to god knows who that would have loved to have married and had children.
"Well I expect I will see you on Boxing Day Molly" she simpered "Must circulate" and off she sashayed leaving Molly smiling. Different circumstances and she thinks she would have got on quite well with Rebecca.
"Are you alright dear" asked Edna as she walked up to her and Molly nodded smiling.
"You know that it is only her posh frock that stops her looking like Blanche" and Edna nearly spat her drink out "She's definitely a tart but not sure she has much 'eart," Edna roared with laughter causing a couple of heads to turn including Frances
"I think Charlie had a lucky escape" she continued "Can I ask you a question Edna" and she nodded
"Where do you live, you don't live here an all do you" Edna laughed again
"No dear, we have a house in Guildford, near to Aldershot"
"When do you go 'ome, can we come and see you?" and Edna's eyes filled with tears
"Of course, you can dear" she said "We stay here every year until New Year, Frances likes a big do for New Year"
-OG-
They got through the rest of the evening, Molly was very careful not to get carried away and drink too much and say something bad. Christmas Day turned out to be just as solemn no stockings, dinner was served. The whole meal was taken up with politics and that Winston had been kicked out, Clement Atlee was a fool, where was all the money going to come from for his grand ideas about a welfare state that would look after you from the cradle to the grave.
Personally, she thought he sounded like the right man to be running the country. How many people had ended up in a workhouse or dying because they couldn't afford medicine? They needed to pop down the London Hospital and see people struggling to breathe with consumption then being sent away if they didn't have the money. It's what took her grandad and one of the reasons she wanted to be a nurse. But she did acknowledge that Winnie had got them through these five years and it seemed a bit mean to kick him out.
She was wearing her Duck Egg blue dress tonight and Charles whistled when he saw it. It followed every outline of her body.
"It's not too tarty is it Charlie" she asked
"Absolutely not" he smiled "Don't think about what my mother said, and I don't want you to look like a tea cosy" he snorted a laugh as she slapped his arm.
"Charlie?"
"Mmmm?" He answered nuzzling her neck her growing hair tickling his face
"Do you think Edna will be OK when we go tomorrow, I know Mum and Dad would welcome them, shall I ask if they want to come and see us for New Year" he cupped her face and looked into her worried eyes.
"Are we not coming back here for New Year?" he had a smirk on his face knowing that she probably didn't want to come back here as he watched her face fall a little bit.
"I'm joking," he kissed her "we can stay in London until New Year if you want"
"Well should I ask her?" she asked expectantly
"If you want to" he had a feeling that Edna would want to be with Molly, he noticed the closeness of them. He wasn't sure how his parents would react at both him and them leaving before New Year. "Will your parents mind, where would they stay?"
"Nah!" she answered "I think you might be a little bit shocked when you see how we live Charlie"
"Bit like when you came here then" he smiled down at her and she nodded
The party was well underway; Molly felt lovely in her new dress, tonight she felt more confident, she didn't feel the need to hang on to Charles arm as she had met some of the people before and some of them had been quite nice. She had another chat with Rebecca who introduced her to a man that she had brought with her. Later in the evening she saw Edna by herself so she went to stand with her.
"So, you are off to London tomorrow?" she said
"Yeah! Can't wait to see them all again, missed me mum, nan and the little bleeders" she held Edna's hand "I wanna know how Jacs is too" Edna nodded
"Listen Edna, we ain't got much and it might be a bit of a squeeze and that but would you and Roger like to come up for New Year's Eve" she looked at her "It will probably only be a few beers down the pub, nothing posh like this but you are very welcome" Edna smiled at her beaming with pride that this girl wanted to include her but was worried that they couldn't offer much.
"We can always find a hotel nearby if need be, will have a word with Roger and let you know before you leave tomorrow" determined that Roger would agree, she would like to see Jacqui again as well and meet Molly's family.
-OG-
They had their bags packed and ready to leave with Molly like a little flee bouncing about in her excitement to get back to London. Every time Charles came into her space she hugged him, kissed him, and smiled at him. She was already reverting back to how she had been brought up tactile and showing her emotions. It was the woman he met in the Alexandra, with the most intoxicating, expressive green eyes the ones he fell in love with.
They had a sedate breakfast with his parents and he could see that they were furious that he wouldn't be here for their New Year celebrations but how could they expect him to be, they hadn't made Molly feel that welcome. Also, he had spent a lot of time over the last few years with Brian and Dave, shared experiences that others couldn't understand so he too would like to see how they were settling back into normal life. He was still a Captain in the army and although not under his command would like to check on them as they had been together in Saigon for all those years.
Their driver took them to Bath train station to get the train to Paddington, Roger and Edna came with them to see them off. Even Roger felt a bit lost at Charles going off as they had been together all the way through, arriving in Singapore together, the surrender and going off to Saigon together, the beatings, the hunger. He would miss him too. But you had to let the young go, even though he knew his wife was struggling just as much at letting Molly go. That invisible bond that binds you by experience, that no one else can understand.
"Come to London" Molly pleaded "You will be welcome, Jacs would love to see you and me mum and Nan will look after you"
"We can always stay at the East India Club" Roger said "I'll book it we don't want to put your parents out" It had been a long time since they had been to London and while he thought Edna would enjoy going to the west end he wasn't sure after all these years away she would be ready to see what had gone on here while they had been away.
-OG-
They got off the underground at Plaistow to walk to Selwyn Road with their suitcase. As soon as they turned into Molly's road the first thing she noticed was the hole where Jacqui's family used to live. There were large beams of wood holding up the houses either side the rubble still there. You could see the wallpaper from what used to be their bedrooms. As they walked further down the street towards home, she looked ahead and could see that the whole top end of the street had gone on the right side. Pre-fabs were in place of the houses that used to be there. She gripped hold of Charles arm, this hadn't happened before she left. He looked down to see her glassy eyes. He had seen some of the reports before Singapore fell of the hammering that London had taken in bombing raids, a lot of cities had. Now he was seeing it for himself first-hand.
"Looks like they got the windows fixed" said Molly trying her best to be cheerful with what she was seeing herself.
The door opened before they even had time to knock with and a whole host of children ran out and hugged her. Well some of them were young adults now she had been gone so long. Her dad beaming and hugging her tight.
"Welcome home Moll" he whispered into her ear before turning to Charles and slapping him on the back "Knew you were a good 'un and would bring my girl back."
It was such a different welcome to when they arrived in Southampton. There were hugs, tears and laughter. Jacqui and Brian had already got there knowing they were due and joined in with the mass of people that were welcoming them back.
Charles was kissed by both Belinda and Nan who told him she wouldn't say no to a pretty face like his, leaving him to laugh and grip Molly's arm a bit tighter which in turn made her laugh.
"Dad I asked Edna and her husband Roger to come for New Year but they say they will stay in a hotel if we can't put them up"
"They can stay with us Moll if it's a problem, we are still with Mum and the rest but I'm sure between us we can fit them in" jumped in Jacqui who had also missed Edna's company.
"No" said Dave emphatically "I'm sure we can manage. Nan can move in with the girls so you two can have the basement and me and Belinda will move in with the other kids and they can have our room" he nodded "The kids are used to top and tailing they won't mind for a couple of nights"
Dave and Brian insisted they went to the pub while the women gossiped and got their dinner ready.
They were on their second pint when Dave asked how they were coping
"Not sure I like living in London anymore, too crowded" he looked down into his glass "I know me job was held open for me and he gave my Belinda some wages while I was away but still" he shrugged "If it wasn't for all the kids I'd jack it in move somewhere out in the country or something."
"Yeah not sure what I will do when we get demobbed" said Brian "I know they are going to want draughtsmen for the rebuild and that but Jacs and I have been thinking of going back out there"
"What" said Dave "Back to Singapore" and Brian nodded
"See if we can find Violet" he took a large sip "Early days though, will see what happens after demob" Charles felt a sadness for Brian he had always got on well with him and he didn't know how he would react if Molly had told him something like he had been told, that his wife had had a baby that didn't survive, while he couldn't be there to support and comfort her.
"What about you Charlie, what you gonna do?"
"I've only ever been in the army, it's all I've ever known not sure I could do anything else"
"Well mate I admire your courage, not sure I would want to stay in the army and have to see things like that again" Dave shook his head "Lets 'ope that this time this really was the war to end all wars."
"Yep wouldn't want to go through that again" replied Brian "Still not sure that if the surrender hadn't happened when it did, then they would have got rid of all of us" and the other two men nodded.
-OG-
Charles enjoyed his time with Molly and her family. The atmosphere was relaxed and informal with people just coming through the kitchen door via the side passageway. He found out that Belinda and Dave had many brothers and sisters who paid a visit to see Molly and her new husband now that she was back. He felt that he had been hugged and kissed by more strangers in the last three days than he had been in his entire life.
Molly's younger brothers and sisters were all virtually grown up now except for the very youngest Martin, who looked about 8. Both the teenage boys had left school and were been trained by both Dave and his brother Arthur, to be engineers at the brewery. The two girls Bella and June were both moaning that they had been laid off with their mother at the Munitions factory as the men had come back from the war. Apparently it was alright for them to do a man's job for the last 5 years when they were going off to fight but now just like that they were being kicked out.
"Why don't you look at nursing?" suggested Molly "If that Bevan bloke does set up the national health they will want nurses."
"Well suppose we could have a butchers at it" said Bella "It's better than just sitting about"
"You can do what you want if you want it enough" piped in Nan
He was struck by their independence and found out that Nan had raised all her children single handily when her husband died. Belinda was just 8 at the time, which can't have been easy with no money coming in but had taken in washing and a bit of needlework. All of them seemed to have ambition and he realised just how different his upbringing was. He had been to boarding school then onto Sandhurst whether he wanted it or not, it was what was expected of him and his name got him his position within the army and his postings.
The nights were the best, they walked down the stairs into the basement and it was like their own little home. They had what was Nan's bedroom a little living room and kitchenette, which had a long wooden board across one wall and when removed revealed a bath, which Charles felt rather odd about. A bath in the kitchen and yet the toilet was outside. Apparently Dave and his brother figured out how to plumb one in as it worked out a bit expensive going up the baths every week.
But it was cosy and they were on their own down there and only needed to walk up a flight of stairs if they wanted to join the mayhem of the Dawes household.
He had waggled his eyebrows and with a glint in his eye convinced Molly they could enjoy another bath together only this time she sat in front of him.
-O-
Roger did book the East India Club in St James Square for 3 nights as he knew that Edna would want to stay in London and see both Jacqui and Molly, not to mention go to Oxford Street for a bit of retail therapy as it had been many years since they had visited London. He was hoping they might be able to take in a show but would look into that once they got there if Enda wanted to go.
He didn't think either of them had ever been to East London before and while she had got on well with both Jacqui and Molly in the camp, he wondered if she realised just what a different life they will have led. He came from a small family himself with only one brother he never saw since he joined the army, his older brother having taken over the family farming estate in Worcester. Edna was an only child herself and had led a very sheltered life as the daughter of a headmaster of a private school in the country, he wondered how she would react when she finally saw how Molly had been brought up. But after over three years as POW's they had all got used to not having much and only the basic necessities so maybe she would just take it in her stride.
They got a hackney cab from their hotel giving the address of where they were to go and as the cab travelled east you could see the devastation of the east end. The cranes still stood by the docks but there were roads full of rubble where houses and warehouses once stood and as they drew up outside of Molly's family home Edna saw the missing house opposite knowing that that was where Jacqui's family used to live.
"Looks like it wasn't easy here either Roger" she commented
"No, I don't suppose it was"
The door was thrown open wide letting a stream of light out into the street, Molly and Jacqui raced down the steps to greet them followed by Dave, Brian, Charles and the rest of the household. They got the same hugs and kisses Charles had received just days before and Edna was a little overwhelmed, she had secretly always dreamed of a family like this.
They had brought an overnight bag as instructed by Molly but didn't think they would actually stay, not sure of their welcome but they were shown to a bedroom at the top of the house where they were to spend the night and were made very welcome into the Dawes household.
"I thought we would have an early tea before going down the pub" enthused Belinda "Dave's brother is a member of a pig club and he got us a lovely bit of ham" she smiled at both Roger and Edna "We gave the kids tea early so it will just be us grown-ups no need to worry about getting peas in your hair or nothing"
Charles sniggered they were hardly children some of them were already working. Dave had brought home some stout from work to have with dinner. Charles sat next to Roger and Molly was on the other side with Edna but the Dawes family were not about to let them feel left out and the conversation flowed about the state of the East End, how long it would take to rebuild, what Attlee and Bevan could do for them all and opportunities that would come with the changes, that the welfare state would provide a safety net from which they could all aspire but no one fall through. All of them seeing the positives for the future.
"Do you mind if I ask what a pig club is "asked Edna of Nan. They had been in Singapore for 6 years and this was new to her.
"Nah your all right ducks" cackled Nan "Food started getting short and the government asked us to grow our own if we could, keep chickens or rabbits…"
"Mind you" interrupted Belinda "if you keep chickens you lose your egg ration, we've got a few out back so you can have a boiled egg for breakfast if you like"
"Anyway" continued Nan "All the neighbours club together and we bought a pig, fatten it up on any of our leftovers and then it's taken to the butcher and we share the meat"
"Why didn't you eat one of the chickens" asked Roger and both Belinda and Nan roared with laughter
"Bloody kids named them didn't they" laughed Belinda.
"Screamed their bleedin' heads off when they thought we was going to wring Mavis's neck, so we just keep em for eggs now" and the table erupted into happy laughter.
"I'm hoping they don't take me Anderson Shelter back" said Dave "Got all me tools in that now" he smirked "When all the little bleeders are making a racket I can pop down there for a bit of peace and quiet" Charles and Roger sniggering they still weren't a hundred percent sure he wasn't part of the group of men in camp making fake jewellery and selling to the locals. At one stage there was so much local money coming into camp it was getting to be a bit of worry when half the stores were being bought up.
"Dave" lamented Belinda worried at what Charles, Edna and Roger would think.
"Is Uncle Arthur going to be there tonight Dad, surprised we haven't seen him yet" asked Molly and Dave, Belinda and Nan started sniggering before bursting into peals of laughter.
"What?"
"I can't believe he is a brother of mine" Dave shook his head "Bleeding idiot…..Not sure Moll if he will be there, he aint got a car anymore so it depends if he wants to get the bus up from Poplar" and there was more laughter from Nan and Belinda
"Come on then, what did he do"
"Well you know what he's like for reading them government pamphlets" started Belinda trying not to laugh "They started dropping all these little incendiary bombs, so if the big one didn't hit you it set off the little ones that set fire to your house"
"So the government leaflet says we should have a shovel and a bucket of sand and if the house got hit with one of them you picked it up with the shovel and dropped it in the sand covered it with more sand and then take it somewhere safe" continued Nan "Well one hit the house didn't it" and she's laughing "He gets his shovel, and picks it up….and bearing in mind the sand bucket is near the front door" and she is holding her sides with laughter so Belinda carries on the story
"He opened the front door and lobed it out into the street" tears streaming down her face and Dave shakes his head taking over the story
"Well we obviously weren't here Moll, just them, the sod brought Belinda and the kids back from Sussex to see Nan and just got home himself" nodding to Nan and Belinda "He left the window of his car open and as he chucked it out it landed in the car, bloody thing went off didn't it"
"Anyway long and short of it Moll" continued Dave "Arthur didn't realise a car would go up in flames quite like that and won't get another one nothing left of it apparently". There was that moment of stunned silence before everyone burst out laughing.
"What did Aunty Grace say" asked Molly tears of laughter streaming down her face
"She weren't best pleased" said Nan "Reckoned she was gonna be cleaning soot off her front step for weeks"
"Yeah and your Uncle John screaming at all the neighbours to but the bloody thing out before every bomber in the south east made a bee line for their house"
"Did the fire brigade turn up" asked Molly still laughing
"No love, too busy that night all the neighbours chucked their sand on it"
"Bloody good job he didn't have a lot of petrol in it, that's all I have to say" finished off Dave
-OG-
There was no coffee and liqueurs after dinner here like there had been in Bath but the putting on of coats to go to the local to meet with all their friends and family, seemed all the family lived close to each other.
There was a piano in the corner and everyone got seated. There was a large area between the bar and seats, people were getting up to dance or sing to all the old songs that were played
"You gonna teach me to be Ginger yet" asked Molly holding on to Charles arm and he grinned down at her
"Well as we are in London perhaps we should go to the picture house and I can see how this Ginger and Fred actually dance"
"You telling me you've never been and don't know" she giggled "You been lying to me all this time"
"Yep" and the pair of them burst out laughing and he kissed her forehead.
They did some classics of Knees up Mother Brown and even got Roger and Edna up for the Hokey Cokey. As they clock struck midnight it was if all the bells in the East End were ringing in 1946 and they linked arms to sing Auld Lang Syne. They went outside into the street along with many others and every light from every house was shining along with the bells ringing in the start of a new year.
"I still 'ave an urge to tell em to put the bleedin' light out" said Molly's Uncle John causing Nan to roll her eyes
"And I'll knock your bleedin' block off if you do" causing a great deal of laugher in the group
Everyone said goodbye to Jacqui and Brian who were walking back to her parents in East Ham while the rest of the adults walked back to the Dawes home.
Dave and Roger walking back together out in front while Belinda and Nan had linked arms with Edna and Charles and Molly following behind.
"You're very fond of our Molls aren't you?" asked Nan not one to hold her tongue
"Yes, she's a good girl… well the pair of them were when we were in that camp"
"Dave won't talk about it much" added Belinda "He's not the same as he was…..doesn't seem as happy somehow"
"I think it probably changed us all" sighed Edna
"Jacqui told us she lost the baby out there and that you and Molls looked after her" and Edna sighed at remembering that terrible time not just for Jacqui but her too
"I lost a child only a long time ago, lived for a short time and you never really forget" Nan squeezed her arm in sympathy she had also lost one of her children early on. "We were never blessed with another" she added shocked that she was telling them, maybe it was all the gins she had drunk or maybe it was they had made her feel so welcome and at ease in their home. "Never easy losing a child" added Nan, although she had 5 others she never forgot the one she lost.
"You will look after her won't you?" asked Belinda. Edna looked at her shocked at the question "Well her life is moving in a different direction with Charles ain't it" she started "Point her in the right direction, make sure she stays 'appy"
"But she will come to you if she needs guidance wont she?, you are all so close" Edna said still in shock.
Nan and Belinda squeezed her arms again. "Nah, we know she loves us and that, and I will always be her mum" Belinda's eyes filling with tears as she spoke "but the moment she married Charles her life was moving in a different direction to ours"
"We want her to be 'appy" said Nan "but we can't 'elp her with this new life, we can hug her and kiss it better but we can't 'elp her if she wants guidance, we don't know that life"
"She said she loves you, how you hugged her in camp when she was sad" said Belinda her voice hitching "I want you to be there when I can't 'elp her"
"We both do" said Nan. Edna wanted to weep with what they were saying they were passing the care of their daughter and granddaughter into her care for the new life she had chosen with Charles.
"I will look after her like she is my own"
"We know" they both said
-O-
Roger and Edna were in bed at the Dawes household deciding not to get a cab back to South West London.
"Well" he asked holding her tightly, he knew whatever had been discussed on the route home had effected his wife greatly
"They asked me to look after Molly"
"Are you sure you want to do that" he sighed "We have already lied to Frances and Peter about why we couldn't be there for New Year, this will probably cause a rift"
"They might get over it accept Molly" she smiled at him "Rebecca was never really likely to marry Charles"
"You need to be sure Edna, because once you pick a side there will be no going back" she lifted herself up so she could look into her husband's eyes
"Are you saying you want to side with Frances and Peter"
"No" he answered "I'm just saying you need to be sure you want to get involved"
"Well I hope we don't have to choose a side and that Frances and Peter accept Charles' choice. I know we have been good friends for decades…but I have never been made to feel so welcome, made sure we had a bed and were looked after than we have been by all the Dawes family. I would have loved to have had a big family like this Roger"
"I know sweetheart" he sighed "They're certainly characters" chuckling at the stories "Perhaps you're right, Frances and Peter will grow to care for her" but he had a feeling they wouldn't but he would keep his own counsel, he didn't want to upset her. He knew that their friends were very determined people when they wanted their own way.
-OG-
Down in the basement another couple were having a similar conversation
"Do you think Edna and Roger had a nice time" she asked while running her hands across his chest
"Yes, I actually think they did"
"Did you"
"Of course, I was with you" as he kissed her briefly on the lips
"When you have to go back to work can we live near them" her hands running down his torso and just under the waistband of his pyjama bottoms
"Well I will have to see what accommodation is available when I start back, I've been gone a long time Molls" her hand moving further south and cupping him in her hand causing him to take a sharp intake of breath
"Is this another tip from Blanche?" he laughed
"Might be" she giggled "Do you want me to stop?" she asked as he rolled over onto his side and she moved her hand up and round his back
"No don't stop" and kissed her on the nose "It would be nice to have our own home wouldn't it?"
"Yeah" she said as she kissed him and returned her hand to where it had been.