Peggy Reilly eased her back into the mound of pillows she’d propped against the headboard of the big double bed, and sleepily held her baby to her breast. It was barely three in the morning and Daisy was not yet twelve hours old. She gave a wry smile as she thought of her husband, Jim, who would ...
‘You’re early today,’ she said cheerfully. Julie usually enjoyed Maud’s welcome, but she was too on edge this Monday morning to stand about gossiping. ‘Is Dr Michael in yet?’ she asked. Maud sat back on her heels, her expression immediately alert. ‘You don’t want to be bothering him at this time ...
It was still a few minutes to visiting time, but seeing Fran on duty, she pushed through the doors.‘I know I’m early, but I just wanted to speak to Peggy before the others arrive,’ she said before the other girl could order her back outside.‘Well, seeing as it’s you, I’ll let you in, just don’t l...
Without a word to anyone, she staggered up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door. Sally was just thankful she hadn’t brought some awful man home with her, and that Ernie was still asleep, so couldn’t witness Florrie’s less than sober state. As she finished the dusting, Sally wondered how long i...
Martin and Roger had been very thoughtful in the way they’d telephoned each day to reassure her that everything possible was being done to find out what had happened to her brother – but neither of them voiced their deepest fear that the chances of Freddy being found alive had dwindled with each ...
Rita’s treasures were kept in a holdall in the motorbike pannier. Over the next three weeks there were other raids but Barrow Lane was spared further damage, for most of the bombs had fallen harmlessly into the sea. The Americans, although still neutral, came in their trucks and diggers and helpe...
She stood, out of breath and frantic, wondering where on earth she was supposed to go to fetch her uniform, when she caught the terrifying sight of Matron approaching like an ominous man-o’-war in fully starched sail. ‘Why are you standing about here? Your shift began two hours ago.’ ‘There was a...
She was on her knees beside her, reaching for her hand and trying to push a whining, fretful Monty out of the way, when Ron burst into the room. ‘Get away,’ he ordered the pup as he fell to his knees and gathered Rosie’s limp body into his arms. ‘Rosie, acushla. It’s all right, I’ve got you, you’...
Peggy could tell how despondent Rita was about this, and had offered to go with her to the station to see him off. Rita had declined the offer with her usual stoicism, but Peggy could see that she was finding it very hard to keep her emotions under control. Peggy waited until the girl had left th...
And yet, deep down, she knew it did, and there was no escape from it. The hurt was so deep and all-encompassing that she was numb, unable even to cry. As the bedside clock ticked away the minutes she finally came out of her stupor and set the formal letter to one side. She reached for the diary i...