ever, his progress slower and even more laborious. The hope burned in her that he’d change his mind, that he’d know she was praying for him to turn back to her. But he continued down the promenade and never looked back.
She felt the tears roll hot down her face as she stumbled from the seafront and began the long climb towards Beach View. Seeing him again had brought her love for him flooding back, and in the moment when he’d looked into her eyes, she’d thought he’d felt the same way. But what a fool she’d been to ever believe someone like John could ever love her – how naïve to think she might have meant more to him than just a bit of fun. Dear, God, how it hurt.
Her dreams that night were troubled, her emotions soaring and ebbing as if she was on a giant roller coaster at the fairground. But, as morning dawned and she prepared for her last day at Beach View, she decided she wouldn’t mention John and their encounter on the seafront, for it would achieve nothing.
Determined to keep up a cheerful front and not make things even harder for everyone, she washed and dressed and even put on mascara and a dash of lipstick. If bravado was going to get her through the day, then so be it.
It seemed Peggy had come to the same conclusion for, although her greeting was cheerful as she sat at her usual place at the breakfast table, her smile didn’t quite reach her reddened eyes. She turned her attention quickly to cutting up the Spam fritters for Ernie. ‘Will you be going in to work today? Only there’s the packing to finish, the last-minute shopping, and a hundred and one things I’ve probably forgotten.’
‘I’ll ring the factory in a minute and warn them I’ll only be in to collect my wages, drop off the sewing and say goodbye to everyone. It shouldn’t take long, and then I can help you.’
She looked at Ernie who was happily chewing his fritters and slurping his tea. ‘How about coming with me, Ernie? You could meet Brenda and the other girls, and see where I’ve been working.’
He screwed up his little face as he thought about it. ‘Can I go in me chair? And can we buy another flag on the way? Only Harvey’s eaten me best one.’
‘I think that could be arranged,’ she replied with a smile. ‘Now finish your breakfast, and drink your tea without making that horrible noise.’
The three boys raised their eyes to the ceiling and tutted. ‘Sisters,’ they chorused with the exasperation of long-held experience.
* * *
It was a beautiful day, but the rubble and the bonfires that sent spirals of black smoke into the clear sky seemed to echo her mood as she pushed Ernie down the road. This would be the last time she would make this journey – the last time she would look in these shop windows and stand in the long queues outside. She tried not to, but she searched the crowds for a sight of John – of course he was nowhere to be seen.
Having collected her wages and Goldman’s reference from Marjory, who’d unbent enough to give Ernie two of her custard cream biscuits, they went into the factory to say goodbye and hand over the sewing.
Simmons awkwardly ruffled Ernie’s hair. ‘We’ll be sorry to see you go, Miss Turner.’ He cleared his throat. ‘You can say goodbye to everyone in the canteen.’
As the whistle went, the women poured into the canteen, the noise of their wishes drowning the radio programme blaring from the wall speakers. Sally handed over the parcels of sewing and slipped the money gratefully into her pocket as Ernie was hugged and kissed and cooed over.
Brenda almost swamped Sally in her embrace. ‘Now you take care, Sal. Those Welsh are a funny lot. If they give you any trouble, you come back to us. We’ll see you right.’
Pearl shoved her way through the crush and threw her arms about her. ‘I’m gunna really miss you, Sal,’ she said, her blue eyes swimming with tears. ‘Just remember there’s a place at my house for yer anytime you want it.’ She gave her a watery smile. ‘It gets a bit lonely rattling about in it on me own, and I don’t really want to take in some lodger I don’t know.’
Sally hugged her back. ‘I’ll miss you too, Pearl. Stay in touch, won’t you?’
‘Course I will. In