Chapter Thirty-Nine
Nancy was allowed home three days later. John insisted on fetching her in the car, although Annie told him she could bring her back in a cab.
‘Why bother when I’m here?’ He gave her a friendly smile and again Annie thought how lucky she was to have such good friends. Ruth had been wonderful, too, keeping the shop running without a word of complaint while Annie went to and fro from the hospital.
‘Actually, I know Marie will be relieved they’re letting Nancy come home,’ he told Annie on the way to fetch her.
‘She’s as worried about you running yourself ragged as she is about Nancy – you’re looking quite peaky.
What will you do when she’s back? What I mean is, I know she usually looks after Adam while you’re downstairs working in the shop.
She’s not going to be up to that for some time, is she? ’
Annie shook her head. ‘No, but everything’s in hand. I’ve employed a lady to work part-time to help Ruth downstairs so I can look after Nancy and Adam.’
Annie was still deeply concerned, however.
Only the night before she’d noticed the same shadowy figure in the doorway across the road.
She’d mentioned it to John but he’d pointed out that it wasn’t necessarily the same person she’d seen before.
There were so many homeless people in London that it could have been any passer-by seeking shelter.
What Annie didn’t realise was that deep down John was also worried, although he couldn’t tell Annie that. She was frightened enough as it was. He decided that he would try to be more vigilant and drive by more often.
For now, Annie tried to push the fear from her mind. She would have her hands full looking after Nancy and Adam for the next couple of weeks and she didn’t need anything else to worry about.
Nancy cried when she got back to their little home above the shop. There’d been moments during the beating before she lost consciousness when she’d been convinced she was going to die, but here she was still, with her life ahead of her.
Everyone fussed around her, settling her in the chair by the fire and fetching her a stool to put her feet on and a warm blanket.
‘Now, mademoiselle, you are not to get up apart from to go to bed or to the toilet,’ Marie told her firmly. ‘I shall be coming to see you every day so anything you need you ’ave only to ask.’
‘Thank you.’ Nancy sniffed back a tear. ‘You’ve all been ever so kind.’
The biggest problem was trying to stop Adam climbing all over her. He had missed her and didn’t understand why she couldn’t play with him.
Eventually John and Marie left Annie to fuss over Nancy, and she was just making her a drink when Ruth appeared.
‘You’ve got some visitors downstairs; shall I send them up?’ she asked with a broad smile.
‘Well yes, but who is it?’ Annie answered.
‘You’ll see.’ Ruth scampered away and seconds later Annie heard the tread of more feet on the stairs. She looked towards the door and gasped when first Charity, then Luca, appeared.
‘Oh!’ She didn’t quite know what to do or say as they both stared at her sheepishly.
She’d spoken to her mother on the phone a couple of nights before.
Charity made a point of finding a phone and ringing Annie at least once every week, and although Annie had told her what had happened to Nancy, she hadn’t expected her to come.
‘I thought yer might be glad of a little ’elp,’ Charity said, and stepping forward she enveloped Annie in a warm hug. ‘I told yer dad I was wantin’ to come but I were nervous about goin’ on the train on me own, so he offered to bring me.’
‘Don’t worry, I shan’t be stayin’,’ Luca told her hurriedly. ‘But as yer mam said, she were nervous about travellin’ alone. She were hopin’ to be able to stay fer a few days to ’elp yer look after Nancy and Adam.’
‘I can sleep on the settee,’ Charity chipped in. ‘If you’ll ’ave me, that is. Peggy told me yer sounded worn out, so I thought yer might be glad of a little help.’
Nancy was beaming and Annie was shocked, but in a good way. ‘Well, you could always come into my bed wi’ me if yer didn’t mind sharin’,’ she said cautiously. She had never met Annie’s mother before but she’d taken an instant liking to her and knew they were going to get on.
Charity nodded enthusiastically. ‘That sounds perfect if you’re sure you don’t mind.
Now tell me what yer were plannin’ to do fer dinner an’ I’ll make a start on it.
’ She bent to kiss Adam next before heading for the door that led to the kitchen.
Meanwhile Luca looked uncomfortable as he shuffled from foot to foot.
‘An’ I’d better make tracks back to Euston an’ see what time the next train to Nuneaton is.’
‘You most certainly will not! Not until you’ve had something to eat anyway. Sit down and make yourself comfortable,’ said Annie.
‘Er . . . if yer sure.’ Luca perched on the edge of a chair, but he soon relaxed and got down on the floor to play with Adam and his train set.
As Annie watched them together, a lump formed in her throat.
This was what she’d always dreamt of: having a mam and dad of her very own.
And now after all these years it was finally happening.
At last, she knew who she was and where she’d come from, and although they weren’t the ideal family, she hoped that one day her mam and dad might get back together.
Charity had clearly forgiven Luca for what he’d done on that cold winter night all those years ago, and Luca must still care for her, otherwise why would he have brought her all this way to help their daughter?
The next couple of hours passed in a blur.
Charity insisted that Annie sit down while she saw to the food and Luca kept Adam entertained.
The meal Charity served was delicious, a lovely cottage pie and veg with mounds of mashed potatoes, although Annie noted Nancy didn’t eat much.
Still, it was early days and hopefully she’d be more herself again soon.
Luca set off for Euston soon after, promising to phone in a few days to find out when Charity wanted to come home.
Annie felt sad to see him go. She’d discovered he had a good sense of humour, and he had endless patience with Adam, which boded well for the future.
Charity then got Adam ready for bed and insisted on helping Nancy change into her nightclothes and settled into bed.
Jamie had called in briefly to see her after he’d finished work bearing yet more flowers.
‘I shall have to go out and buy some more vases at this rate,’ Annie had teased.
And then at last Annie and Charity sat together enjoying each other’s company and chatting. When asked, Annie haltingly told her mother about her early years in the workhouse, which reduced Charity to tears.
‘I’ll make it up to you, I promise,’ she sobbed.
Annie shook her head. ‘You’ve got nothing to make up; you didn’t even know I existed,’ she pointed out.
‘Now tell me how little Skye is and all about what Noah and Mercy were like as children.’ She was keen to hear everything about her siblings.
They’d both sent their best wishes and Annie was looking forward to seeing them again.
The next week passed all too quickly and with each day Annie was relieved to see Nancy growing stronger. The cracked ribs were still painful but the bruises were fading and she was slowly regaining her confidence, although Annie wondered how she’d feel when it came time to venture outside again.
And then came the evening when Charity said regretfully, ‘I think it’s time I were goin’ home now. You’ll manage, won’t yer?’
‘Of course,’ Annie assured her, although she realised with a little jolt that she was going to miss her.
‘In that case I’ll tell Luca to come an’ fetch me when he rings tomorrow.’
‘Well, it’s only a few weeks till Peggy and Levi’s wedding,’ Annie pointed out. ‘And I’ll be back in Nuneaton for that.’
There were tears on the afternoon Charity departed two days later, and suddenly the little rooms above the shop felt very empty.
Nancy could potter about slowly if she took her time, but she still tired easily.
The new shop assistant Annie had hired to help Ruth was working out a treat, however, so there was no rush for her to be back in the shop just yet.
‘Right, you’ve barely set foot out of this place since Nancy came home,’ Marie said sternly the next time she called in. ‘And so I shall expect you at my dinner party tomorrow evening. It will do you good to get out for a while.’
‘Oh, but I’m not sure Nancy is up to being left yet and—’
Marie held her hand up to stop Annie’s flow. ‘Nonsense. We shall make sure that Adam is tucked up fast asleep before you leave and Jamie can be here to ’elp ’er if need be, so I won’t take no for an answer. The young couple might be grateful for an evening alone.’
‘I suppose there is that,’ Annie admitted. Jamie and Nancy hadn’t had a moment alone together since Nancy had been discharged from the hospital.
‘That is settled then.’ Marie smiled with satisfaction as she drew on her gloves. ‘I shall ’ave a car sent for you at seven thirty sharp, so be ready.’
The next night, as Annie got ready to attend the dinner party, she had serious misgivings. Since Nancy had come home from hospital, Annie had fussed over her like a mother hen.
‘I still don’t feel right about going out and leaving you,’ she fretted as she brushed her hair in front of the fire. She was wearing a pale-lemon gown in a shimmery chiffon that set off her colouring to perfection, although she hoped she’d be warm enough in it.
‘I’ll be fine,’ Nancy assured her with a fond smile at Jamie, who’d just arrived. She was actually looking forward to spending some time alone with him. ‘You just go and enjoy yourself.’
‘Well, you have Marie’s phone number if you’re worried about anything,’ Annie said for at least the tenth time in as many minutes.
Jamie chuckled. He was standing at the window watching for Annie’s car and when it drew up outside, he lifted her coat and helped her into it. ‘Go on,’ he urged. ‘It’s time you had a break and I’ll take good care o’ Nancy and Adam.’
Annie reluctantly made her way downstairs, checking that the shop doorway over the road was empty before she got into the car. She tried to stop worrying as the car drove away, but it was easier said than done.
When she reached Marie and John’s house, the maid met her at the door, and after taking her coat, she led her to the drawing room where Marie was waiting for her.
‘Ah, ’ere you are. Knowing what a fusspot you are, I was afraid you would not come.
’ Marie smiled as she greeted her. ‘Let me introduce you to our friends.’ She led Annie over to a couple who looked to be in their early thirties.
They were a good-looking pair, him tall and dark and her petite and blonde.
‘This is Miriam and Victor Parkin. Victor works with John and we are good friends. Miriam, Victor, please meet Annie, another of my good friends. We go back to when I lived in France.’
They shook hands and Annie started to relax a little. They certainly seemed to be friendly enough.
‘And now you must meet our other guest, although I know that you ’ave already met in a previous life.’ She led Annie towards a tall broad-backed man who stood talking to John and when he turned, the breath caught in her throat.
‘Alex, I’m sure you will remember our friend Annie.’