East End Angel (18 page)

‘I’ve been thinking about going up to see Mum and Dad,’ Ruby said, sniffing. ‘Would you come with me?’

‘Like this?’ Pearl looked down at her stomach.

‘Would it be very uncomfortable on the bus?’

‘I couldn’t sit still for that long. And I’d want to wee.’

‘I just thought I’d ask.’

‘I’d rather wait till after the baby.’

‘I was thinking about going next Saturday,’ Ruby murmured, twisting her damp hanky. ‘I want to show them me ring.’

‘It’s up to you.’ Pearl struggled to stand up. ‘I’ve got to move, ’cos my back is murder.’

Ruby laughed as Pearl toppled back. ‘You showed a nice bit of leg, then.’

‘I don’t recognize them.’

Ruby giggled.

‘I’m glad you find that funny.’ Pearl smiled at herself even though she felt she would never look feminine again. At least Jim didn’t have to see her this way. Not that he would have cared. He would have made a joke and cuddled her as only Jim could. She missed him so much. Especially now, when the problem of Ruby and her love life was overshadowing everything.

Gwen, who was serving a customer, waved to Pearl from inside the shop. Pearl reached out for the lamppost. Her face was bathed in sweat. The pale sun had long ago disappeared as she had made her way home from her short walk to the park bench. The need for fresh air and exercise had driven her out. The pain was like the one she’d had before, starting from the back and making its way to the front. As the baby kicked she tried to signal Gwen. But by the time the customer had gone, Pearl was in trouble. The pain was turning to agony.

At last Gwen saw her and came hurrying out. ‘Pearl, what’s wrong?’

‘I think it’s me time.’

‘What?’

‘I know I’m early but it feels like it.’

‘Oh Lordy, can you walk to the shop?’

‘Don’t know.’ Pearl looked at the shop window. It went in and out of focus. Another pain came. She cried out.

‘Oh!’ Gwen pointed to the ground. ‘Is that your waters that have broke?’

Pearl gazed down at the wet puddle. She felt very frightened. Was she going to give birth on the pavement?

‘Wait there, ducks. I’ll get Fitz to help us. He’s in the storeroom.’

All Pearl could do was cling to the lamppost. ‘Jim, where are you? I need you more than ever now. Why did you go off to that bloody desert?’

She was still talking to Jim when Fitz arrived. ‘Come on, love, we’ll get you inside.’

Between them they took her arms and helped her into the shop. ‘I’ve got to push,’ Pearl whimpered. ‘Another pain’s coming.’

She slumped to the floor by the counter. She knew she was going to have the baby. But it was too early. Was the baby going to die? Was she going to die? Would Jim ever see his son?

A man came in the door and stood still. ‘Blimey, what’s going on here?’

‘She’s going to have a baby,’ cried Gwen, getting on her knees and holding Pearl’s hand. ‘Do you know Sally Crutcher, the midwife?’

The man nodded and dropped his straw shopping basket.

‘She’s number fourteen in the next road. Go and knock for her,’ Gwen shouted. ‘And tell her to hurry, there’s a baby on the way.’

Fitz went down on his haunches. ‘We’d better get you on a bed, love.’

‘I want to push,’ was all Pearl could say as she opened her legs.

‘Oh Gawd!’ Fitz jumped up, his face white.

Pearl knew she wouldn’t be long in having the baby. She heard Gwen telling Fitz to close the shop and find some old sheets.

‘Don’t leave me,’ Pearl gasped in between pains.

‘I won’t, love. But don’t push yet,’ Gwen said gently. ‘Try to wait till Sally comes.’

Pain filled Pearl’s entire body. Sweat and tears mingled on her cheeks. All she wanted to do was push.

‘Good girl, it won’t be long now.’

Pearl felt as though she was bursting with pain as Sally attempted to deliver the baby. It had seemed an eternity as she tried to persuade the baby’s head into position. Thoughts went through Pearl’s mind of the miscarriage. Was something stopping the baby from coming? Would he survive?

‘Nearly there,’ Sally said encouragingly. ‘But only bear down when I tell you.’

‘I want to now.’

‘Breathe in and out instead. Wait for your next contraction.’

Pearl was in a world of her own. She could see Jim’s face and hear his voice telling her he loved her. She was in the desert in the hot sun and there was only the heat, the flies and the dust. And bodies of the fallen. She couldn’t have a baby here. If only Jim could understand . . .

An iron bar struck her stomach. She cried out, her nails sticking in to Gwen’s hand. The makeshift bed of blankets and newspaper felt hard underneath her, but she didn’t care about that. She didn’t care about anything, except getting the baby out.

‘Another contraction,’ Sally promised, ‘and we’ll have the little darling with us.’

Pearl grunted, groaned and shrieked according to Sally’s instructions.

‘One last push now.’

With the last of her strength, she pushed. Then she heard a wonderful sound, a far-off cry that was like an echo. It was a sound she would remember all her life.

The faces around her were full of wonder. Fitz removed his spectacles and polished them on his overalls. Gwen brushed a tear from her eye as Sally wiped the tiny pink body clean.

Gwen clapped her hands together. ‘Oh, Pearl, she’s beautiful!’

‘She?’ Pearl was shocked. Not a son as expected, but a daughter. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes!’ everyone said together. Sally wrapped the baby in a towel. Her eyes were squeezed tight in her tiny red face. Her knuckles were clenched as though she too, had fought a battle. Her bald head had a sprinkling of marmalade hairs.

Presenting her to Pearl, Sally smiled. ‘Congratulations. She’s early, but all seems well.’

Pearl held her baby in her arms. She was tiny, the smallest living body she had ever seen or touched. She was perfectly formed, with ten fingers and ten toes. Her mouth was a cupid’s bow.

‘She’s a stunner,’ said Fitz, a catch in his throat.

‘The prettiest!’ Gwen whispered.

Pearl nodded. ‘I can’t believe she’s arrived on the floor.’

‘Good job I swept it this morning,’ said Fitz.

Pearl kissed the tiny head. ‘I’m glad I did all me knitting in white. I only chanced one matinée coat in blue.’

‘Now we can get cracking on pink,’ said Gwen.

Sally gently pushed Pearl’s legs apart. ‘We aren’t quite finished yet.’

‘I’ve not got another one up there, have I?’ Pearl gasped.

Sally laughed. ‘No, but we have to clamp off the cord and there’s the afterbirth to come.’

Pearl didn’t mind about that now. She had her baby safely in her arms. Her and Jim’s daughter, to make their family complete.

‘I think I’ll make tea,’ said Fitz, getting up quickly. ‘Don’t know about everyone else, but I need it. All I can say is, I’m glad I’m not a woman.’

‘I’ve always said that men have got it easy,’ grinned Gwen as her husband lumbered away. ‘Now perhaps you’ll believe me.’

After he had gone, Pearl frowned. ‘She’s stopped crying. Is that normal?’ She was still worried that things wouldn’t be right.

‘She’ll be crying soon enough for her dinner,’ said Sally with a chuckle. ‘When I’m finished here, we’ll get her on the breast.’

‘I wish Jim could see her.’ Pearl gazed at her daughter. ‘When the pains were bad, I thought I was in the desert. I thought, I can’t have me baby in all this sand. I reckon I know how Mary felt when she was in the stable with all that straw and cow dung.’

Sally and Gwen were still laughing when Ruby rushed in. She stopped dead at the sight of the afterbirth.

‘What’s that?’ she screamed.

‘Just the placenta.’

‘Ruby, come and look, it’s a girl!’ called Pearl.

Ruby’s face had drained of colour. She stepped closer and saw the baby. Then, gasping aloud she dropped on her knees. ‘Did you say she?’

‘Yes.’

‘Oh, Pearl, I’m an aunty at last.’

‘And I’m a mother,’ Pearl whispered as she looked down at her beautiful new offspring.

It was Sunday morning, two days after the birth, and Ruby was rocking the baby in her arms as she paced round the living room. It had been a long night with the baby’s continual crying.

Pearl stretched her back as she sat down on the chair. She was still in her dressing gown and slippers, though Ruby had dressed. There was no fire either, as everything had taken second place to the baby. ‘Is she asleep yet?’

Ruby nodded. ‘Nearly. With all that screaming she’s done, no wonder.’

‘I’m sorry she woke you. I didn’t think you could hear.’ Pearl had the cot beside her bed. She had bought it from Percy Flint, the rag-and-bone man, and had looked at it empty for so long that now it seemed strange that it was so full of life. The wooden bars were a bit scratched but it was clean.

‘She’s only two days old,’ Ruby said as she gazed down at the tiny bundle. ‘I expect babies cry at lot at first.’

‘She’s got a healthy pair of lungs.’

Ruby pulled down the blanket under the baby’s chin. ‘She’s lovely when she’s asleep.’

Pearl grinned. ‘Has she put you off babies?’

Ruby sat slowly down. ‘No, course not. But I realize I’m not ready to be a mother. I ain’t even a wife yet.’

‘At least you’ll have some experience.’

‘Do you want another one after what you went through?’ asked Ruby.

‘Mum told me women always forget the pain.’

‘What will she say when she hears you gave birth in a shop?’

‘I wish they was still living at Roper’s Way.’

‘You should see their new flat,’ said Ruby. She had told Pearl that it was very big and had a garden. Pearl wished she could have gone with Ruby to see it.

‘And Dad’s got this lovely allotment. If you saw it all you’d understand why they like it there. There’s hardly any raids either, only the planes having dogfights over the fields.’

Pearl knew that Ruby was impressed with Abingley. Although she’d only stayed there for one night, she had plenty of vivid descriptions to pass on.

‘They was a bit surprised when they saw the ring.’

‘So you said.’

‘Dad said he would have liked to talk to Ricky first.’

‘Dad wants the best for you.’

‘Yes, but in wartime it’s different and you have to take your chance when you can. Mum said all she wanted is that I’m happy. And if Ricky makes me happy, then they’re happy too. She’s got lots of ideas for the wedding. Whenever that might be!’

The baby’s lips started to wrinkle. Ruby gasped. ‘I can’t believe it, she’s waking up again.’

‘Let me have her, then.’

‘Are you going to take her to see Jim’s mother?’ Ruby asked.

‘As soon as I get on me feet again.’

‘At least the baby will drown out the complaints.’

They both smiled but Pearl wasn’t looking forward to the visit. She’d had a good excuse not to go in the last months of her pregnancy. But sooner or later she would have to. Mrs Nesbitt had old-fashioned ideas about raising children. She’d voiced them loudly when Pearl had last spoken to her. According to her they should be seen and not heard. As for living in rooms without a garden and at the top of a dangerous flight of stairs, this was unthinkable.

Ruby hummed softly as Pearl rocked the baby. It was wonderful to have Ruby there. They were learning about babies together. Luckily they’d had the whole weekend to get used to the new addition but tomorrow Ruby must go to work.

‘It was a shock seeing you on the floor in Hemsley’s,’ said Ruby when she stopped humming. ‘At first I thought you’d had an accident. There was so much blood.’

‘You came in at the right time,’ Pearl smiled.

‘There seems a lot to know about childbirth,’ Ruby nodded. ‘We didn’t cover that in our first-aid courses.’

‘Well, you missed the best part. I kept wanting to push and Sally was telling me not to.’

‘Is it always like that?’

‘Don’t know. I’ll tell you after the next one.’

Ruby giggled. ‘That may be a long way off, with the war.’

Pearl sighed softly. ‘I’m just grateful me and Jim have made a start. Fancy us thinking she was a boy. We were even going to call him James Junior.’

‘What have you decided on now?’

‘I’ve always fancied Cynthia. But I don’t know what Jim will think.’

‘We can’t just keep saying “the baby”.’

‘All right then, we’ll settle for Cynthia.’

‘It will be shortened to Cynth, most likely.’

Pearl thought about this. But she didn’t mind. Cynth seemed to suit the baby too.

‘She’s dropped off,’ Ruby whispered as she looked over. ‘Why don’t you put her in her cot and have some kip?’