Page 31 of Neighbors at War

‘Nonsense,’ Tony said. ‘If you think your mother will appreciate this, then buy it for her. Who knows when you’ll have another opportunity to give her a gift this lovely.’

‘It is the last one, don’t forget,’ Babs reminded her. ‘I would buy it myself, but it’s a little more than I can afford to spend. Anyway, she can always keep it for special occasions, or as a treat to cheer her up over the coming months…’

Peggy noticed her sister’s smile slip, and realised that Babs had stopped herself adding ‘or years’. It was what they all dreaded: years of life as it was now, or worse. She took a calming breath. ‘You’re right. She deserves something special after all she’s been through. We’ll buy it for her and if she isn’t happy, which I’m sure she will be, then we can use the creams.’

‘Leave this with me, then,’ Babs said. ‘I have a little discount, so I’ll pay for it later.’ Aware she still had to find something for her sister, Peggy thanked her and she and Tony left Boots.

‘I’m glad you suggested we go there,’ Tony said. He passed his packet from one hand to the other and touched the back of her hand with his as they walked. ‘I wish we could hold hands like other couples.’

Peggy nodded. ‘Me, too.’

‘You don’t sound very happy,’ he said frowning. ‘What’s the matter?’

She explained about it soon being Bobby’s birthday and that she wanted to buy him something from her family for both then and Christmas. ‘But even if I did know what to get for him, I’m not sure where I’d find it.’

Tony beamed at her. ‘Now this I can help with.’

‘You can?’

He pulled a face. ‘I was a little boy once, you know. Leave it with me.’

‘All right, then, I will.’ She looked forward to discovering what Tony came up with and smiled happily.

‘Good,’ he said taking hold of her hand briefly before letting it go again. ‘One of these days we won’t have to hide our feelings for each other in public.’

‘But not yet,’ she said, desperate not to lose her job when she needed it most. It wasn’t only that she needed to earn a living now that her father had passed away and her mother was struggling to come to terms with life without him. Going out to work enabled her to support her mother, as well as tiring her out enough to be able to fall asleep at night. Working and thinking about Tony kept her from dwelling too deeply on their miserable situation. She had no intention of giving up either if she could possibly help it.

Chapter Eighteen

HELEN

‘We can’t keep forcing this coat onto the poor little mite,’ Aunt Sylvia said, trying her best to button up Bobby’s coat, which Helen thought must now be almost two sizes too small for him.

Bobby stuck out his lower lip, his face crumpled and he burst into noisy tears. Helen sighed deeply. ‘I’ve no idea where to find another coat for him,’ she admitted, as she desperately tried to comfort him. ‘If only it wasn’t so cold, and I could get away with dressing him in a second sweater.’

There was a knock at the door and, frustrated, both women swapped glances.

‘I’ll see who it is,’ Helen said, hurrying to the door. She opened it to find Babs standing there, her arms wrapped around herself as she shifted from one foot to the other. Helen waved her inside. ‘Quick, it’s freezing out there.’

‘Thanks.’ Babs’s smile disappeared as Bobby let out another furious bellow. ‘I didn’t bother putting a coat on because I was only coming from next door. Oh dear, have I come at a difficult moment?’

‘It’s fine. Come through.’ Helen lowered her head to her son’s level and pointed at Babs. ‘Look who’s come to visit us, Bobby.’

He looked up at her. Ordinarily, the sight of Babs’s pretty face never failed to make him smile, but this time he just continued crying.

‘What’s the matter, little man?’ Babs frowned, chucking him under his chin. When that didn’t make any difference she gave Helen a questioning look. ‘Why is he so upset?’

‘He’s feeling restricted in his winter coat.’

Babs pulled a face. ‘I’m not surprised. It does look a bit too small for him.’

Helen groaned guiltily. ‘That’s it. I’m taking it off. I can’t expect him to wear this, but what else can I do?’ she asked, only just holding back her own tears. ‘There aren’t any children’s clothes anywhere as far as I can tell.’

‘Have you tried Summerland?’

Helen had heard of the factory. ‘Is that the place next to the orphanage?’

‘Yes, Sacre Coeur. I’ve heard they unravel knitted items at Summerland and make them into something else. They also do the same thing with discarded fabric from blankets or curtains, that sort of thing. Their opening hours are reduced but I can find out what they are, if you like? Maybe they might have something you can buy for Bobby.’