Chapter Twenty
Two weeks after Monty’s death, Peggy and Levi had returned to their cottage, and suddenly the house felt empty, as if it had lost its soul.
As young as he was, little Adam seemed to be missing Monty and Nancy regularly burst into tears.
Monty had shown her nothing but kindness since she had moved in and she missed his friendly face.
Even Alfred had changed, and moped about the place with his tail between his legs.
During the day Annie tried to stay cheerful for the sake of them all but at night when Nancy and Adam were in bed, she wept bitter tears.
She had grown to love Monty and she bitterly regretted that she had never told him so.
But it was too late for regrets and with her usual spirit she got on with things.
She hadn’t visited the shop yet, feeling that people would see it as a mark of disrespect so soon after Monty’s death, but she had started to feel claustrophobic and bored.
She was also a little peeved to find that her presence in the shop wasn’t missed.
Susan had it running like a well-oiled machine and could hardly keep up with the demand for the clothes.
The profits far exceeded Annie’s hopes or expectations, and she wondered if it was time to branch out and rent another shop somewhere else.
Her mother-in-law called in at least once a week to see Adam and on one such visit she annoyed Annie when she said, ‘Well, at least you aren’t leaving Adam to go to the shop any more.’
Annie bristled – the woman had a habit of making her do that. ‘Actually I was thinking it might be time to consider opening another shop somewhere else.’
‘Whyever would you want to do that?’ Mrs Taylor-Lloyd raised her eyebrow disapprovingly as she sipped daintily at the tea Nancy had made for her.
‘Well, the Nuneaton shop is running perfectly well without me, and I feel like a new challenge might be good for me,’ Annie answered primly.
‘I believe that a woman’s place is in the home. Adam needs his mother around, unless you’d like me to take care of him, of course?’ the woman answered tartly.
‘There’ll be no need for that, thank you,’ Annie said firmly. ‘Nancy is more than capable of caring for Adam when I’m not here. And as for a woman’s place being in the home, I disagree. The war changed that when women had to do the work of the men.’
Mrs Taylor-Lloyd sniffed her disapproval. She’d learnt that Annie had a mind of her own. That was obviously one of the things Monty had loved about her, although she couldn’t for the life of her see why.
‘Well, at least give it a little thought before you decide. My poor Monty isn’t even cold in his grave yet. What would people think if you were to set off on a new venture so soon?’
Annie pursed her lips but remained silent. She’d realised a long time ago that she and her mother-in-law were never going to see eye to eye.
Twenty minutes later there was a knock on the front door and when Annie answered it, she found Reggie standing there.
‘I thought I’d bring the car round to take Mother home, seeing as it’s such a filthy day,’ he told her.
‘Oh . . . then you’d better come in. I think she’s almost ready to leave,’ Annie said reluctantly.
For the last month, Reggie had used every excuse he could to visit and Annie was thankful Nancy was always there with her.
She dreaded to think what might have happened if she wasn’t.
She still didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him.
‘Ah, darling, how thoughtful of you,’ his mother simpered when she saw him. ‘Is it still raining?’
‘Cats and dogs, I’m afraid.’
Thankfully they left soon after and when they’d gone Nancy frowned. ‘I don’t like ’im. An’ it ain’t cos of his scars. I see ’im hoverin’ about out the front sometimes, just walkin’ back an’ forth, an’ he gives me the creeps.’
‘Just never let him in if I’m not here,’ Annie warned her and the girl nodded as she loaded the tea things onto the tray.
Later that evening, when Nancy and Adam were in bed, Annie sat trying to read a book, but it couldn’t hold her interest and she began to pace back and forth as another lonely night stretched ahead of her.
The next morning Peggy called in and over coffee Annie told her about her idea of opening another shop.
‘Can yer afford it?’ Peggy asked, ever the sensible one.
Annie nodded. ‘Monty left me a fair bit, so with that and what I’ve made from the shop I have enough to rent somewhere and stock it.’
‘But where would the shop be?’
Annie shrugged. ‘I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. Perhaps in Coventry?’
The conversation was interrupted when someone knocked on the front door and Nancy pottered along the hallway to answer it, returning to tell her, ‘There’s a young lady ’ere to see yer, Annie.’
‘Did she give you her name?’
Nancy shook her head. ‘No, but she says she knows yer.’
‘Then you’d better show her in,’ Annie answered as she rose from her seat and straightened her skirt. As the visitor appeared in the doorway Annie gasped with delight and flew across the room to wrap her arms about her.
‘Oh, Marie . . . I can’t believe it’s you. I thought I’d never see you again.’
They had last seen each other during the war when Annie had helped the Resistance movement in France while working at a field hospital as a nurse.
She had stayed for a time with Marie’s family, the Lacroix, when she had nursed a badly injured Barney in their cellar, but sadly they had all been killed by the Germans, apart from Marie who had managed to escape to Paris.
Following the war, they had corresponded briefly, but Annie had never thought she would see her again.
‘How are you? What are you doing here? Are you still living in Paris?’
Marie giggled at the flood of questions. ‘Slow down,’ she urged. ‘My English is still not so good. But I am well. I live in London now and so I decided that I would get on the train and come to see if I could find you.’
Peggy smiled and stood up. It was the first time she’d seen Annie so happy since Monty had died and she felt that this young woman’s visit couldn’t have come at a better time.
‘Right, pet, I’m goin’ to love yer an’ leave yer,’ she told Annie. ‘Seems like you pair ’ave a lot o’ catchin’ up to do.’ She kissed Adam and went on her way to help Eve in the shop.
‘How long are you here for?’ Annie asked. ‘Can you stay for a few days? Oh, do take your hat and coat off. I’ll get Nancy to make you some coffee.’
‘Unfortunately, I can only stay for a few hours,’ Marie said regretfully. ‘But I am so ’appy I ’ave found you.’
Nancy smiled to see Annie looking so happy and carried Adam away to the back room to give them some time to talk.
‘I first visited the shop where they told me that you ’ad recently been widowed,’ Marie said when they were alone. ‘I am so sorry to ’ear this. I didn’t even know you ’ad got married let alone ’ad a child.’
‘Yes, it’s been a difficult time. But tell me all about what you’ve been doing.’
Marie looked lovely. Her clothes were obviously expensive, and she was even prettier than Annie remembered.
‘I, too, am married now,’ Marie informed her. ‘I met my ’usband shortly after the war in Paris, an’ after our marriage he brought me back to live in London. He is a friend of Monsieur Gordon, the man who you used to travel back to England with to tend the injured soldiers?’
Annie’s heart did a little somersault. ‘Yes . . . I remember.’ Her voice came out as a squeak. She could hardly admit to Marie that Alex Gordon was still the first person she thought of every morning, and every time she looked at Adam.
‘Now come, tell me all about your shop,’ Marie urged.
And so, for the next half an hour Annie explained how they’d started the rag-and-bone shop and how Levi had given her her first clothes shop.
‘Peggy runs that one now, because I then bought another shop selling more expensive clothes. It took a while for it to take off but now we can hardly keep up with demand.’ She sighed.
‘There doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day since I had Adam, although little Nancy is a wonderful help.
And Susan has the shop running like clockwork.
To be honest, I’m not really needed there any more.
But now . . . Oh, I don’t know. I feel that I want to venture further afield since Monty has gone.
The trouble is, I’m not quite sure where I want to go. ’
‘Why not come to London and start a shop there?’ Marie suggested. ‘There is always a great demand for fashionable clothes there.’
‘Yes, but wouldn’t the shops be very expensive to rent?’ Annie said.
Marie nodded. ‘Much more than ’ere no doubt. But you could charge much more for the clothes. I know the different areas well and I could ’elp you. Some of them ’ave living accommodation above them, so Nancy could watch Adam while you were working, but he would still be close.’
‘Hmm.’ Annie’s mind was doing overtime. London . . . it sounded like a dream. Although it would be a wrench to be so far away from Peggy and Levi and the people she loved.
As if reading her mind, Marie went on persuasively, ‘Just think, you could all ’op on a train to come back and visit when you ’ad time.
And I would love to ’ave you closer. My ’usband works long hours and it can be lonely with only the servants to keep me company.
I would love to ’ave you there. Why don’t I make a few enquiries for you when I go back?
I could find out what shops are available to rent and let you know, if you wish? ’
‘That would be wonderful,’ Annie agreed.
‘Is missing your late ’usband the only reason you wish to move?’ Marie asked, sensing something was troubling Annie.
‘Well, to tell the truth it would be a relief to put some distance between myself and Monty’s brother,’ Annie admitted.
‘He’s always made a nuisance of himself but since I lost Monty, he seems to think he can come round here whenever he likes.
His excuse is always that he wants to see Adam, but I never feel safe around him. ’
‘Ah, I remember you tellin me ’e was a bad man. In that case it would be good to put some distance between you,’ Marie agreed. ‘Now, let me spend a little time with your adorable little boy.’
It was late afternoon when Marie regretfully glanced at the clock. ‘I must be leaving now. I do not wish to be too late. I told my ’usband where I was coming but ’e will be concerned if I am too late getting ’ome.’
‘Of course. I’ll put Adam in his pushchair and walk you to the station,’ Annie offered. She was reluctant to let her go.
‘Non, it is far too cold to venture out unless you ’ave to,’ Marie said as she fastened the pin into her hat and slipped on her coat.
‘But ’ave no fear. I will start to look for suitable premises for you immediately and I shall write should I find anything.
Then you could perhaps come and stay with us overnight and I can take you to see it for yourself? ’
Annie was concerned about Marie venturing out alone in the dark after all the attacks that had taken place, but as Marie pointed out, the station was only a hop and a skip away and it was still afternoon so there were plenty of people about.
‘That would be wonderful.’ For some long time now, Annie had felt she had nothing to look forward to, but now she was excited at the prospect of a new venture.
When Marie had gone, Annie told Nancy about her suggestion.
Nancy looked shocked. ‘But ’ow would we get there?’ London sounded like the other side of the world to her.
‘Well, we’d go by train. It’s only a few hours’ journey,’ Annie explained. ‘But not a word of this to any of Monty’s family yet. Nothing might come of it if Marie can’t find any suitable shops to rent. But if she does, I don’t want Reggie to know where we are.’
‘But what about Levi an’ Peggy? An’ Susan an’ Eve an’—’
‘Oh, of course we’d tell them, but let’s just wait and see what happens, eh?’
Nancy nodded. Although it sounded a long way away, she would have followed Annie to the ends of the earth. She had become the family Nancy had always longed for and she was totally devoted to her.