The Nightingale Girls

CHAPTER Thirty-Six



GRIFFIN STREET DID His Majesty proud for his Silver Jubilee. Church bells were ringing all over the city as Dora left the hospital early on that sunny May morning. She turned the corner into Griffin Street to find neighbours hanging out of the windows high above her, shouting to each other as they strung colourful bunting across the gap between them. On the street, women were busy arranging long tables, laughing as they tried to stop the tablecloths fluttering away. Children darted in and out around their feet, into everything, already over-excited.

‘Dora!’ Bea rushed up to her, dragging Little Alfie behind her. His chubby legs could hardly keep up with her long strides. ‘Have you seen it? Isn’t it grand? Mum’s made a jelly and fairy cakes and sausage rolls, and later on we’re going to have races and games, and look what they gave me . . .’ She opened her palm to reveal a small silver medal on a burgundy ribbon. ‘Everyone at school got one but mine’s the best.’

‘That’s smashing, love. Be careful you don’t lose it.’ Dora scooped her baby brother into her arms. ‘You look very pretty, too. Is that a new dress?’

Bea nodded. ‘Mum made it for me. She says everyone’s got to look their best for the King’s Jubilee.’ She tweaked her pigtails, tied up in fancy new ribbon. ‘Nanna says she’s going to wear her fur coat, but Mum says it’d look daft. And our Josie’s shut herself in her room and won’t come out,’ she added as an afterthought.

‘Has she now? It doesn’t sound like our Josie to miss a day of fun and games.’ Dora hitched Little Alfie on to her hip. Except he wasn’t so little any more, and weighed heavy in her arms. When did he grow so big? she wondered. ‘Come on, let’s go and find out what it’s all about, shall we?’

The kitchen table was crammed with plates of sausage rolls and dainty little iced cakes as fancy as anything from Lyons’. In the centre a large bowl of scarlet jelly glistened like a jewel. Nanna Winnie sat at a corner of the kitchen table, making fishpaste sandwiches. She had fetched her best green coat with the fox fur collar out of the wardrobe, and the smell of mothballs filled the tiny kitchen.

‘All right, Mum?’ Dora greeted her mother with a kiss on the cheek. ‘You’ve been busy, haven’t you? It all looks lovely.’

‘She’s done enough to feed an army!’ Nanna Winnie grumbled. She pointed the end of the butter knife at her daughter. ‘You just be sure to bring back more than you take, that’s all.’

‘That’s hardly the party spirit, is it, Nanna?’ Dora grinned.

‘Party spirit indeed! I don’t hold with parties,’ Nanna grunted. ‘Never have, never will.’

‘Come on, Nanna, you love parties! Bet you’ll be the first up and dancing when the music starts.’

‘Not with my back, I won’t. I’m a slave to my lumbago.’

Dora set Little Alfie down on the floor and turned to her mother. ‘Anything I can do to help?’ she asked.

‘No, thanks, love, it’s just about done now. Besides, you don’t want to ruin your nice dress, do you?’

‘I thought I’d make a bit of an effort.’ Dora looked down at her cotton dress. Her mum had made it for her years ago and the blue flowery pattern was faded with washing, but it was still her best frock. She’d made an effort with her hair, too, smoothing down her frizzy curls and fastening them back with matching blue ribbon.

‘You look lovely. Doesn’t she, Mum?’

Nanna Winnie peered at her. ‘She’s scrubbed up all right. But you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, can you?’ she said, and went back to her sandwich-making.

Dora laughed. There was no point in getting offended – as her mum always said, if you took offence at everything Nanna came out with, you’d be in a huff all day.

‘What’s happened to our Josie?’ Dora asked. ‘I thought she’d be down here helping you?’

Rose and her mother exchanged looks. ‘She’s taken herself to bed. Says she’s not feeling right.’ Rose shook her head. ‘I don’t know, they’re dropping like flies around here. Alf’s been complaining about a pain in his gut all night.’

‘If you ask me, there’s nothing wrong with our Josie,’ Nanna mumbled. ‘She’s been a right little madam lately. Barely speaking one minute, snapping at everyone the next. And she gave our Bea a good hiding the other day. I mean, I know she can be an annoying little bleeder sometimes, but she didn’t deserve that.’

‘Josie hit Bea?’ She was usually the peacemaker of the family, always trying to stop fights between her brothers and sisters.

Her mother read Dora’s thoughts. ‘I know, it’s not like her, is it? And Lettie Pike reckons she saw her in Victoria Park the other day when she was supposed to be at school.’

‘That Lettie Pike’s a troublemaker. I wouldn’t believe anything that came out of her mouth,’ Nanna said. ‘Whatever else our Josie does, she’d never miss her school. She’s too clever for that.’

‘I wouldn’t be too sure.’ Rose looked worried. ‘The way she’s acting at the moment, I don’t think I’d put anything past her.’

Fear began to uncurl in the pit of Dora’s stomach. ‘Shall I have a word with her?’

‘Would you, love? She might listen to you.’

She took a deep breath before she stepped into her old room, steeling herself against the rush of painful memories that overwhelmed her.

Josie lay in the middle of the bed, huddled under the eiderdown, her dark head on the pillow. She turned sharply as Dora came in.

‘Oh, it’s you.’ Her hunched shoulders relaxed.

‘I brought you a cake. I thought you might want one before Bea scoffs the lot.’

‘Thanks.’ Josie didn’t move, so Dora put the cake carefully down on the bedside cupboard.

‘How are you feeling, love?’ she asked.

‘I’ve got a headache.’

‘Will you be all right for the party?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘Blimey, you must be sickening for something if you want to miss out!’ The old feather mattress sank beneath Dora’s weight as she perched on the edge of the bed. ‘It won’t be the same without you, Jose. Mum’s made all your favourites, and Nanna’s all dressed up in her best fur coat like Nancy Glitters. You should see her!’

Josie didn’t move. Dora stared worriedly at the back of her sister’s silky dark head. ‘What is it, love?’ she whispered. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘I told you, I’ve got a headache.’

Dora looked down at her hunched figure under the bed clothes. ‘How long have you had it? You’re not running a temperature, are you? Let me see . . .’ She reached over and tried to put a hand to her sister’s forehead, but Josie batted her away.

‘Don’t touch me! I don’t need you nursing me, all right? Just leave me alone.’

The fierce look in her blazing brown eyes startled Dora.

‘All right, Jose. No need to bite my head off.’ She stood up. ‘Come down if you feel better, won’t you? We’ll all miss you at the party.’

‘Well?’ Her mother looked up from her sandwich-making as Dora came back into the kitchen. ‘How is she?’

‘She says she’s not well.’

‘Not well, my eye!’ Nanna snorted. ‘If you ask me, that girl’s hiding something.’

Dora chewed her lip and said nothing. She hoped she was wrong, but she had the horrible feeling that her grandmother might have hit the nail on the head.

She tried to shake her lingering worry from her mind as she got stuck in, helping her mother and their neighbours to shift food and chairs outside. The children ran around them, tunnelling under the tables, caught up in the excitement of the day. At the other end of the street, a few of the men were bringing a piano out of one of the houses. Nick Riley was with them, his shirtsleeves rolled up, dark hair falling into his eyes. He seemed to be doing most of the heavy lifting, Dora noticed.

She caught his eye and they both looked away at the same time.

‘Your Nick’s a strong lad, isn’t he?’ Nanna remarked to June Riley, as she placed a plate of sandwiches in the middle of one of the tables.

‘Nice to see he’s useful for something,’ June replied, taking a long drag on her cigarette.

‘She can talk,’ Nanna muttered to Dora. ‘She hasn’t lifted a finger all morning. Too busy sunning herself and making eyes at the men.’ She brushed off the cigarette ash that June had allowed to fall on to the table. ‘Where’s your Danny anyway?’ she asked.

‘He’s around somewhere.’ June waved her cigarette vaguely, allowing another shower of ash to fall.

‘Last time I saw him he was with the Pike boys,’ Rose said, flicking a wasp off the jelly. ‘You want to watch them, June. You know how they love to tease him.’

Sure enough, at that moment Dennis Pike came hurtling around the corner, laughing and shouting. His brother Frank came after him, followed by Danny who was doing his best to keep up, his face red with exertion.

‘Come on, Danny. Catch!’ Dora spotted the boy’s cap flying through the air. Danny tried to grab for it but Frank got there first, snatching it out of mid-air before Danny had a chance.

‘Oi, you two. Give it back!’ she shouted. Dennis and Frank just laughed at her.

‘We’re only playin’!’ Frank shouted back. ‘He loves it, don’t you, Danny? He knows it’s just a game.’ He dangled Danny’s cap in front of his face, then snatched it away at the last minute. ‘Gotta be quicker than that, Danny boy!’

He tossed the hat up high. It spun around in the cloudless sky, then started to come down. Dennis went to jump for it, but before he could grab it, a hand shot out and snatched it out of mid-air.

‘Gotta be quicker than that,’ Nick Riley said.

Dennis and Frank took one look at him, towering over them, and ran. Nick went over to where Danny was doubled up, gasping for breath, and put the cap back on his head.

‘What have I told you about going near those boys?’ Dora heard him say softly. ‘You stay away from them, you hear me?’

‘But . . . they’re my f-friends,’ Danny said shakily, still fighting for breath.

Just at that moment the rest of the Pikes – Lettie, her husband Len and Ruby – came out of their house to join the party. Lettie carried a plate of sandwiches proudly aloft.

‘Is that all she’s brought?’ Nanna muttered in disgust. ‘Typical. That woman’s as tight as a duck’s—’

‘Aren’t you going to help me with the sausage rolls, Mum?’ Rose interrupted her quickly, as Nanna and Lettie Pike exchanged evil stares across the table.

Dora was staring too, but in admiration of Ruby who looked stunning. Her fitted dress, white and covered in big splashy red roses, showed off every curve, while the daring scoop of the neckline barely contained the generous swell of her breasts.

‘Oh, Ruby, you look like a film star!’ she breathed.

‘Thanks.’ Ruby tugged at her short white gloves. Her mouth was painted the same red as her dress. ‘You’ve got to make the effort, haven’t you?’

‘I feel like a right plain Jane next to you,’ Dora said wryly.

‘You look lovely,’ Ruby complimented her absently, barely looking at her dress. ‘Anyway, I’m only wearing this for one person’s benefit. And that’s him.’

She nodded to where Nick Riley was lifting another table into place.

‘You fancy Nick Riley?’ Dora said in disbelief.

‘Doesn’t everyone? Look at him, Dor. Look at those muscles. He’s so strong. And so handsome.’

‘Handsome is as handsome does, as far as I’m concerned. And Nick Riley’s a right surly bugger!’

‘I know. That’s why I like him so much.’ Ruby sighed. ‘I’ve always liked the strong, silent type. And he’s a mystery. He doesn’t chase after me like all the other boys. He’s hard to get. I like a challenge.’

Dora laughed. ‘You mean you only want what you can’t have?’

‘Maybe,’ Ruby conceded with a shrug. ‘Except I mean to have Nick Riley. You see if I don’t.’

‘What are you going to do? Kidnap him and make him succumb to your womanly wiles?’

‘If only! No, I’m going to work my magic on him. But I need you to help me.’

‘Me? How?’

‘I want to make sure I sit next to him at the party. But I know he’ll want to sit next to Danny so I need you to get Danny to sit next to you instead.’

‘Can’t you just sit next to Danny as well?’

‘Ugh! No, thanks. He gives me the creeps.’ Ruby shuddered. ‘Anyway, he’ll only spill something or dribble down my dress. I can’t have that, can I? No, it’s best if you keep Danny busy. Keep him at the other end of the table, well away from us.’

‘I don’t think Nick likes Danny out of his sight.’

‘He’ll be all right about it if he knows he’s with you. Nick trusts you. Anyway, I’ll keep him so busy looking at me he won’t even remember he’s got a brother. Please, Dora? Will you do it?’ Ruby batted her eyelashes appealingly.

‘I suppose so,’ Dora agreed. ‘But I still don’t know why you’re bothering.’

The party was a great success. They crammed in along the length of the table, shoulder to shoulder, tucking into sandwiches, cakes, fruit jellies and blancmanges. There was lemonade for the kids, while beer flowed for the adults. They toasted the health of the King many times.

It was a pity Josie wasn’t there to enjoy it, Dora thought. She still couldn’t get her sister’s face out of her mind. The hollow, despairing look in her eyes was one she’d seen in the mirror too many times.

She tried to push the thought from her mind and enjoy the party. There was time to talk to Josie later, she decided.

Thanks to Ruby’s deft shuffling, Nick ended up with her at the far end of the table, with Danny beside Dora at the other end. She didn’t mind keeping an eye on him or helping him with his food, although she was conscious of Nick’s eyes on them from the other end of the table as she cut up Danny’s sandwiches and spooned out a portion of jelly for him.

Ruby, meanwhile, was doing her best to impress Nick, laughing and flirting and batting her eyelashes for all she was worth.

After they’d eaten, there were games and races for the children. Dora was dragged into joining in the three-legged race, fastened to her sister Bea, while Nick was attached to Danny. They screamed with laughter as they hobbled forward, trying to trip each other up. Dora pitched head first over the finish line, but Nick and Danny still beat them.

‘Well done!’ Ruby made sure she was the first to congratulate Nick, throwing her arms around him as if he’d just won the Grand National.

‘All right?’ Nick put out a hand to help Dora up as she struggled to her feet. ‘Better luck next time, eh?’

‘We’ll see.’ They gave each other a quick smile.

‘Oi,’ Ruby hissed in her ear. ‘No flirting. He’s mine, remember?’

Dora laughed. ‘As if he’d look at me when you’re wearing that dress!’

She was still laughing as she left them racing and headed back into the house to check on Josie. But her smile disappeared when she met Alf stomping down the stairs.

Her blood turned to ice. ‘Where’s Josie?’ she said.

‘Still in bed, I s’pose. How should I know?’ He shouldered past her into the kitchen. Dora followed him.

‘What were you doing upstairs?’ she demanded.

‘If it’s any business of yours, I went to get some of your Nan’s indigestion pills. Got a right pain in my gut, I have.’ He rubbed his hand across his belly under the stretched fabric of his shirt. ‘You’re meant to be a nurse. What d’you reckon it is?’

‘I don’t know and I don’t care. What have you done to Josie?’ Dora stood squarely in front of him, her eyes cold.

He stared back at her for a moment. Then a slow, nasty smile spread across his broad face. ‘Why? You jealous?’

It took all her strength not to lash out at him. ‘If I find out you’ve laid your filthy hands on her, I swear I’ll—’

‘All right, you two?’ Rose came in through the back door, her hands full of empty plates. ‘What you doing hiding in here? Where aren’t you out enjoying the party with the others?’

‘I came to check our Josie was all right,’ Dora said, her eyes still fixed on Alf.

‘Poor lamb. I’ll go up to her.’ Rose put the plates on the table and headed for the hall. ‘You go out and check on Bea. She’s howling her head off, I think she’s fallen over.’

Luckily Bea was more annoyed at being pushed off a wall by the Pike boys than hurt. Dora listened to her cursing them as she examined her grazed knee.

‘Don’t you let Mum hear you saying words like that,’ she warned as sternly as she could without smiling.

‘Why not? Nanna says them all the time.’

Dora was still trying to think up a suitable reply when the back door crashed open and Rose came flying out of the house, ashen-faced.

‘Come quick!’ she screamed. ‘Our Josie’s gone!’