All I Have to Give (23 page)

It wasn’t a place she’d ever thought to come to. Hettie Baxter, the owner, thought herself higher than other people, and didn’t want the likes of Ada and other working-class
women on her premises. Her cakes were for the toffee-nosed lot who lived on the hill. Well, she lived on the hill now and could be classed as one of them. This made her giggle a little.

‘What’s amusing you then, Ada? First time in the teashop, is it?’

‘It is, Bill, and I can’t wait to see Hettie’s face. She’ll not like it.’

‘She’ll have to lump it. You’re as good as the next one, and the lady you’re meeting with is above most of them, from what you tell me. Go in with your head held high.
You look lovely in that frock that Beryl has lent you. Blue suits you – it sets off your red hair. And, with Beryl’s fur wrap, you look the business. Beautiful!’

Once he’d finished, Bill cleared his throat. Ada gave him a warning look and he held his hands up and shrugged his shoulders, but didn’t argue with her.

‘I’ll park up the road a bit and wait for you. That hill is enough to kill anyone, let alone someone who’s still carrying an injury.’

Ada wasn’t sure she wanted this, but knew it would be difficult to climb the steep hill to his and Beryl’s house. ‘Ta. That’s kind of you, Bill. But no funny
business.’ She slithered off the seat, missing the step, and winced with the pain the movement caused her.

‘You should have waited. I was on my way to help you out.’

‘Aye, I know the kind of helping hand you give. I’ll see you in a while.’ Glad to escape the disturbing banter, Ada hurried inside, nearly jumping out of her skin at the loud
clang of the bell over the door. All eyes looked her way. But those that held hers – the piercing, disapproving ones of Hettie – made her cringe with embarrassment. A voice saved
her.

‘Oh, Ada, you made it. Here, we’re over here, my dear.’

Hettie leant heavily on the counter in front of her. Her over-plump frame, fed on a million of her freshly baked cakes, shook the structure and she stood back quickly, letting out a loud
huff.

Ada smiled sweetly at her and then turned towards Rene. Hettie was getting her comeuppance, and that felt good. But this feeling soon died when she realized Rene had someone with her. Her nerves
fluttered in her stomach once more as she walked in between the mostly occupied white-clothed tables, with dainty china set out on them.

‘Oh, Ada, it is good to see you, and you look lovely. How are you?’

Ada’s voice seemed stuck in her throat, so she just nodded and smiled.

‘This is my friend, Lady Eloise Mellor.’

A lady! Oh God, I shouldn’t have come.
The lovely smile the lady gave her settled Ada some, as she took her outstretched hand. She gave a bob, then reddened as she felt sure that
wasn’t the right way to address a lady. ‘Pleased to meet you, Your Ladyship.’

‘Just call me “Lady Eloise”. Don’t try to get your tongue around anything more, or you will just make me giggle, and then I will feel rude.’

This was said with a grin. Lady Eloise had a sense of humour. Rene giggled, which set Ada off. She was always prone to the giggles when she was nervous, and she tried to swallow down the one
that threatened to escape now, but didn’t manage it. All three of them joined in the laughter, despite receiving a few disapproving glances and similar huffs to the one Hettie had
uttered.

‘Oh dear, we had better behave ourselves. It is so nice to meet you, Ada. Please sit down.’

It shocked Ada to know that she could sit in this lady’s presence and feel comfortable doing so. ‘Thank you, Lady Eloise. It is nice to meet you too, and to see you, Rene. Eeh, you
look bonny without your uniform on, lass.’

‘You do, Rene dear. But not as pretty as you do, Ada. That dress is lovely.’

‘Thank you. It’s me sister’s – she married well.’

‘Good to hear she is doing something nice for you. Oh, I mean . . .’

Now Rene was the one to look embarrassed, thinking she had said the wrong thing. Hoping the moment would pass, Ada straightened the skirt of her soft woollen frock, which had a sort of
fishtail-style hem that hovered just above her ankles, and was in the prettiest peacock-blue. ‘Aye, she’s trying to mend her ways. But she ain’t happy, and hasn’t been for a
long time.’

Ada, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve told your story to Lady Eloise, including your plans for the future. You see, she is here for a reason. She wants to help you, and other victims
of the explosion. She’s set up a new charity to help all victims of war.’

‘I don’t need charity, Rene.’

‘Rene said you would be averse to accepting my help, Ada. But please think about it. I can get you a new home and furniture and—’

‘I have money. A neighbour went back into me house and found me lads’ possessions, and he found me money. I’d hid it in a tin under the floorboards of me bedroom. I had a dream
to start me own business, but now I will use it to help meself Well, I know it’s soon after the death of me husband, but I have a man-friend and he is in trouble. I hope to help him an’
all.’

‘That is admirable – well done. I do know about Joe, as Rene has told me your story. Lawyers are very expensive. But, Ada, I can help you with that.’

‘Thank you, but I do have enough. I was earning six pounds a week at the factory.’

‘Six pounds! Good gracious, I thought the national average was more like ten to twelve
shillings
a week.’

‘It is, but working on the munitions is dangerous work, and the workers face death every day. Besides, we do long hours. A friend of mine went to the pub with her mate, and they treated a
corporal who was on leave and bought him a pint. He couldn’t believe it when he saw how much money she had, and she found out that she was paid ten times what he was – and he faced
having to climb out of the trenches and dodge a thousand bullets. We do all right. You won’t find many among the munitions workers around here that need your help.’

‘Well! Ada, I’m as shocked as Lady Eloise is, but very pleased for you. But why don’t you listen to what she has to say. It may mean that you can use your own money for what
you originally intended it.’

‘Yes, Rene is right. My father, Lord Mellor, is prepared to look into Joe’s case . . .’

As Ada listened, a small ray of hope warmed inside her. ‘He would do that for me? For Joe? Oh, ta. Ta ever so much.’ Without her bidding it to, a tear dropped onto her cheek.

‘Here, Ada, my dear, wipe your eyes. Everything will be all right, I’m sure of it.’

The dainty handkerchief Rene handed her smelt of violets.

‘You keep it. It’s a present from me.’

‘Thank you, Rene. I’m sorry I blabbed, but no one’s ever offered to do owt for me before – not without some sort of payment. Me sister used to help me out, but she took
much more in return, as you know.’

‘I do, dear. Let’s not talk about her. Give the details about Joe to Lady Eloise, and then leave it to her. Soon a lawyer will be in touch with you. He will ask you a lot of
questions about how it all happened, but just be honest with him. Don’t be afraid.’

Hettie stood in front of them now with a pen and little notebook. ‘What can I get you, ladies? And you, Ada O’Flynn?’ she asked in a mincing voice.

Ada felt as though she could spit in her eye, and would have done, if she wasn’t in the company she was in. Looking directly into Hettie’s eyes, she chose the same as Rene: a scone
with jam and a pot of tea. Ada hoped that she looked and sounded dignified, as if she was used to sitting in Hettie’s tea room with two ladies. Hettie gave her a sly smirk, but Ada ignored
this and turned her attention back to Rene.

‘It all looks so bad, Rene. Folk think I was having a thing with Joe, but I weren’t. I knew he loved me, but apart from thinking about him, I was never disloyal to Paddy. Not
physically. I did tell Joe I loved him. But that wasn’t until every shred of love I had for Paddy had died, following all that he’d done.’

‘I know. Like you say, yours and Joe’s affection for each other will be a big issue, as it gives Joe a motive. But the truth will be seen, I’m sure. I believe you, and so does
Lady Eloise.’

‘I do. I truly do, and I believe the lawyer will too. And if he does, he will defend Joe and, with any luck, get him out of prison and back with you, where he belongs.’

Ada had to use the hanky again. She still felt quite weak at times, and very vulnerable when it came to talking of Joe’s plight.

Without mentioning Ada’s tears, Lady Eloise said, ‘Now, let’s talk about this shop you want to run. What kind of shop? Where would you like it to be? And, if you need it, will
you accept my help along the way, including financial help? My fund is for just such an event – someone who has been stricken by what the war has brought to them and who wants to build a new
life.’

Ada told them of her dreams of owning a dressmaking shop, and felt cheered by the conversation. It felt as if talking about something that she wanted in the future actually gave her a future. A
much brighter one than she had thought possible, and with that came hope. A hope that one day the dreadful pain that clutched at her heart, from the loss of her lads and what had happened to Paddy
and Joe, would lift. And maybe, just maybe, in this new future she envisioned she would find happiness with her Joe.

But she knew one thing: she’d found another friend in Lady Eloise. She liked her as much as she liked Rene, though it still felt strange to have posh friends. She couldn’t call them
mates – that wasn’t a word that fitted these ladies. But somehow she knew they were in her corner and that gave her comfort. And she knew that, with their help, she could climb a
mountain. That’s what saving Joe would be like: climbing a huge mountain.

Low Moor, early November 1916
A bitter revenge is taken

Beryl’s screams filled the house, bringing back to Ada the memories of the pain of giving birth. With these memories came the stark emptiness of the loss of her sons, but
she had to be strong for Beryl, and for Paddy’s child.

Steam billowed from the kettle on the stove, lifting its lid and giving off a hissing sound that comforted. She placed three heaped spoons of tea leaves, plus one for the pot, into the china
teapot – something she never did without thinking how lucky some folk were to be able to afford real tea, and not the blended muck she and her like had to make do with. Suddenly she was
stopped in her tracks. A car door had slammed. Bill must have returned. He’d gone out the moment he realized Beryl was about to have her baby. Where he’d gone to at two o’clock in
the morning, she could only wonder at; but now it was going on five and he must think it would be all over. Well, he had another think coming, as there were hours to go yet.

His face had a pinched, ashen look as he entered the kitchen. Ada motioned with her head towards the stairs. ‘Well, as you can hear, it’s not over with.’

‘God! How long does it take?’

‘Well, He is the only one who knows, but He ain’t telling. Though it can be anything up to thirty-six hours or more for a first. And Beryl is no spring chicken, so there could be
complications. The midwife said she has informed the doctor that Beryl is in labour, and that he will drop in later to check on her.’

‘Will she be all right?’

‘Oh, it matters to you, does it?’

‘Of course, Ada, I’m not that callous. But I don’t mind saying, I don’t know how I’m going to live with her bastard. You must understand that. You’re in the
same position as me – with it being my wife’s and your husband’s baby that’s on its way.’

‘Put like that, I am. But I have found some forgiveness in me. You’d do well to do the same. It happened. You know why it happened. I knew my Paddy and can accept that he would give
himself to anyone who asked. Beryl had reason to ask, for she was deprived.’

‘That’s below the belt. I told you the reason. But I can assure you that problem never bothers me now. I’ve found an outlet for my needs, seeing as you refused me
one.’

‘You’re disgusting, Bill. You’ve changed beyond recognition. For you even to ask me puts you just as low as you view my Paddy. Have you no respect for Beryl at all? And if you
haven’t, then at least have some respect for me. I’m no whore. I’m the sister-in-law you’ve known since I was a lass.’

‘Sorry, Ada, but I just can’t help myself. You’ve got under my skin, and I want you. I need you. Can’t you look beyond Beryl being my wife and your sister? She betrayed
us both. It would serve her right to know we got together, and that I could give you what I couldn’t give her.’

There were no words Ada could say to this. It seemed that Beryl’s and Paddy’s actions had somehow twisted the nice Bill she had known and made him into an evil-minded, selfish man,
whose only wish was to get the ultimate revenge on his wife by committing the exact act that she had.

With Beryl quiet for a moment, the silence between them was broken only by the sound of the water as it gurgled onto the tea leaves, sending an aroma towards Ada that she welcomed. How much a
cup of tea healed the surface of things and helped everyone to cope!

Passing Bill, with two steaming cups in her hand, left her no defence. His hands came onto her waist from behind. She stiffened. ‘Let go of me!’

‘I can’t, Ada. I have to touch you.’

His hands travelled up to her breasts, pulling her into him, so that she could feel his need. Shock moved through her. To her disgust and horror, she felt a sensation of pleasure, but a piercing
scream brought her straight back to reality and, with a deft movement, she lifted her heel and kicked Bill’s shins. His cry as he let go was drowned by the noise Beryl was making, a noise
that propelled Ada forward and up the stairs.

Once in the bedroom, she spilled more of the tea than she had done during and after Bill’s assault, as she took in the sight of what looked like a river of blood coming from between
Beryl’s legs.

‘Oh God! Eeh, what’s to do? Nurse, what’s going wrong?’

‘Run for the doctor, and be quick, Ada. She’s haemorrhaging. Here’s the babby, now. Oh dear, I need help. Ada . . . hurry.’