Page 36 of Neighbors at War

‘I agree,’ Sylvia said, wiping away a tear.

Peggy rubbed her mother’s upper arm. ‘You’re a clever soul, aren’t you, Mum?’

‘I’m not so sure about that.’ She stroked Bobby’s cheek. ‘And how’s my favourite boy today?’

Bobby answered by holding out his teddy for her to see. ‘That’s a lovely present. Did Mummy get that for you?’

Helen decided to go and see if she could help Babs in the kitchen. ‘I’ll just pop through and see if Babs needs me for anything.’

‘Good idea,’ Ida said. ‘I’ll fetch some drinks and we’ll get started with that food. We don’t want to ruin our meal by letting it go cold.’

* * *

‘This is delicious,’ Aunt Sylvia said half an hour later as she dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. ‘You must let me know how you make these potatoes so tasty. Mine always seem rather bland, especially now.’

‘Your potatoes are fine, Aunty,’ Helen argued. ‘Although you’re right, these really are wonderful.’

‘They’re all Mum’s doing,’ Babs said proudly. ‘She won’t tell us what she adds to them, though. You can try and find out, but I doubt you’ll succeed.’

‘You’re not going to tell us?’ Sylvia asked.

Ida shook her head. ‘I can’t.’

‘Can’t, or won’t, Mum?’ Babs said, before addressing Helen and her aunt. ‘If you can find out I’ll be over the moon. I’ve been trying for ages.’

After the washing up was completed and the table and chairs pushed against a wall to give them more room, Helen relaxed on the sofa, staring into the fire and listening to the chatter of the other women. Sylvia pointed to Bobby asleep in Ida’s arms and Helen’s heart filled with love for her little boy. He was so precious and she was grateful that these four women also loved him. She was lucky in so many ways and having this adopted family around the two of them meant everything.

She reflected that even though they hadn’t been able to enjoy the usual Christmas fare, there had been no Christmas tree and they’d had to make paperchains out of old newspapers, it had still been a special day.

Helen felt a yawn coming and covered her mouth. She had been up since six that morning looking after Bobby and then helping prepare the meal with her aunt, and her tiredness had caught up with her.

A moment later Babs whispered something to her mother, got up and left the room.

‘I think it’s time we made a move,’ Sylvia suggested.

‘Just a moment,’ Babs said, returning. ‘I want to give Helen something before you go.’

Helen saw she was holding a bag out for her. She took it and opened it. ‘I thought we weren’t to buy each other gifts,’ she said, concerned not to have bought the Hamels anything.

‘This isn’t for you, it’s for Bobby.’

Helen pulled the item of clothing out of the bag and held it up, gasping. It was a navy blue, double-breasted woollen coat which she guessed must be a couple of sizes larger than his current one, if not more.

She wasn’t sure what to say. ‘This is far too much.’

Babs shook her head. ‘It isn’t. Anyway it’s not just from me but also from Mum and Peggy.’

Helen wasn’t sure she could accept such a generous gift, especially when none of them had very much to live on as it was. ‘I don’t think⁠—’

‘Let me stop you right there,’ Ida insisted. ‘I don’t think you realise how fond we all are of this little chap.’ She pursed her lips at Bobby, making him giggle. ‘He’s a much-needed light in these dark days and one of the few things that make us smile. One of the women at Boots told Babs she had this coat and what she wanted for it.’ She cocked her head to one side. ‘A pair of winter boots. We knew it wasn’t any bother for us to give her those.’

‘Winter boots?’ Sylvia said, and Helen heard the shock in her aunt’s voice. ‘We can’t possibly allow you to be out of pocket. I’m sure we’ll think of some way to find him a coat.’

‘You misunderstand.’ It was Ida’s turn to argue. ‘We had already given Babs a short list of items none of us wear anymore. One of those things that had been sitting uselessly in a cupboard for a couple of years was a pair of ankle boots. My husband bought them for me as a surprise and they pinched horribly. I never had the heart to tell him and always found an excuse not to wear them. Now someone has them to keep her feet warm and Bobby has a coat that fits. Everyone is happy.’

‘We must give you something in return,’ Helen said. uncomfortable at being beholden to anyone, even friends.

‘Letting me look after a little one is payment enough,’ Ida said.