Darkest Before Dawn Episode 08
The family settled into the new normality of life at war until the following May, when Alf made a momentous decision following the downing of a German bomber at Clacton-on-Sea in April.
“Two people killed, dozens injured, countless homes destroyed,” Alf stated.
“It’s dreadful.” Maud shook her head sadly.
Even though they were the enemy, she knew they would have been someone’s sons, husbands and fathers.
“I know the way your mind works, Maud,” Alf said.
“The Heinkel was laying mines to destroy our ships. You know who’ll be on those ships? Our boys.
“That includes Edward. Maybe John. Don’t waste your sympathy on them.”
Maud stared at him and he wrapped his arms around her.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you, but now we’ve had the first civilian casualties, there may be many more.
“Here, with ships in the harbour, we’re vulnerable to enemy bombs.”
“We’re safe here, Alf,” Maud insisted. “It’s not far to the shelter. The ARP and everyone were so quick to rush to the rescue . . .”
Her voice tailed off when she realised he was shaking his head.
“They had no warning,” he said. “And there is the danger of invasion. I’ve made a decision. I’m moving you to London.”
“What?” Maud cried, her heart pounding.
Leave her home? What if Edward came back and found the house empty?
“Never!” she exclaimed.
“Rose will be happy to put you up. Please, Maud.”
“We’ll be fine here,” she said stubbornly. “Isobel has her job. And what about Tilly?”
“Tilly will go with you. The girls will find other jobs in London.”
Alf had always done the right thing for his family, and Maud knew she’d have to trust him now.
He’d always made the big decisions and she wondered how she’d cope in the city without him.
“What about you?” she said. “How can we leave you behind?”
“I’ll come to see you when I can,” he promised, pulling her back into his arms.
Tilly had started to feel queasy on the train to London.
Truth be told, she hadn’t felt well for a while and couldn’t even manage the lovely dinners Maud made.
She put it down to worrying about Edward.
She missed him so much that it seemed every time she thought about him she ended up rushing to the bathroom.
“I’ve never been to London,” Tilly told Isobel. “I have no idea where anything is.”
“You’re in for a treat,” Isobel replied. “The buildings are so big. There are statues, red buses and beautiful parks.
“We’ll go on a bus to Aunt Rose’s so you’ll see more.”
Tilly nodded and smiled. Everything seemed less frightening now she was part of the Pollard family.
Maud and Alf treated her as if she were one of their own, and it touched her more than words could say.
She still had to pinch herself sometimes. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was, being married to the man she loved and having the family she’d always longed for.
Liverpool Street Station was big, sooty and busy.
Alf led the way and they scurried along behind him.
Rose was waiting for them at her home, holding the net curtain aside as they arrived at her gate.
The front door was thrown open and she rushed out to greet them.
She was smartly dressed, fully made-up and her hair was pulled back in a French plait.
“I’ll say goodbye,” Alf said after he’d carried the bags into the hall. “I have to get the next train back.”
“So soon?” Rose asked, disappointed.
“Alf’s boat has been requisitioned as a troop ship,” Maud explained. “He’s part of the war effort now.”
“You take care,” Rose warned him. “Don’t go doing anything daft.”
She hugged him, then Isobel and Tilly did the same.
Sidney held out his hand and Alf grabbed him in a hug, making him squirm.
“Look after everyone for me, Sidney,” he said.
Rose ushered them all inside so Maud could say goodbye to her husband.
Tilly felt for her. It had been the hardest thing, saying goodbye to Edward.
“Come on, Tilly,” Isobel said. “Let’s go into the city and look for work.”
“But we just got here!” Tilly’s heart sank a little.
“Please, Tilly,” Isobel pleaded. “The sooner we’re both earning the better.”
“What about Mum?” Tilly asked as she looked out and saw Maud watching Alf hurry down the street.
Her back was straight, her shoulders rigid, and only the slight tremble of her head gave away that she was crying.
“Maud will be fine with me,” Rose assured them. “I’ll look after her.”
As they left, Maud was coming back inside. Her eyes were red, but she’d wiped away her tears and was smiling.
“Off out already, girls?” she asked cheerfully.
“Are you all right?” Tilly asked sympathetically, and she felt Isobel grasp her arm and hurry her along.
“I’m sure she was upset,” Tilly said, looking back over her shoulder.
“Of course she was,” Isobel replied. “But it’ll really cheer her up if we come home with jobs.”
Tilly nodded. Isobel knew best where her own mother was concerned.
There came a time when you had to stop getting upset about things and start fighting back, and that was what Maud was doing in her own way.