A Sister's War by Molly Green (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

able to have ’em. So I told him he’d have ter marry her and be quick about it. I made him promise not ter ever let her know he’d been about ter marry me, ’cos I didn’t want her ter feel bad. It weren’t her fault he’d met me.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He didn’t like it but I could see he were relieved. So he said, “All right. I’ll do it. But I’ll always love yer, Dora, and never forget it.” It fair broke my heart, it did.’

Ronnie felt tears pricking. She swallowed. ‘Miss Dummitt, that’s the saddest story I’ve ever heard. Do you think he kept to his word about not telling her?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Dora looked into the smoky distance. ‘He never told her. And I know that fer a fact because she allus treats me like a friend. She’s never suspected nothin’ between the pair of us.’

Something clicked inside Ronnie’s brain.

‘It was Fred, wasn’t it? Who you took me to meet – and Dolly – on Christmas Eve? He’s the man you were in love with.’

Dora narrowed her eyes. ‘And how might yer know that, miss?’

‘I saw by the way he looked at you – several times. I realise now he still loves you.’

Dora smiled. ‘And I him. But it in’t no good, and it’s no good harpin’ on about it.’ She took a few puffs on her pipe. ‘Sad thing is, Dolly lost the kiddie so I coulda had him after all.’

She paused so long Ronnie thought Dora had come to the end.

‘And that’s the story of them shoes.’ Dora stuck one foot out and turned it this way and that. ‘Tonight’s the first time I’ve wore ’em. It feels a bit funny but I’m glad I did. Sorta lays the thing to rest.’

‘And you never met anyone else?’

Dora grunted. ‘Oh, yes, I met someone else. But he weren’t no Fred.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘We’d best be gettin’ back to the other wenches. They’ll be wonderin’ what me and yous is yakking about.’

‘I promise never to breathe a word of any of this to the others, or anyone else,’ Ronnie said in a low voice.

‘See that you don’t, miss.’ Dora regarded her for a few moments. ‘Like I said … I don’t tell no one my secrets but I feel better this evenin’ than I have for quite a time, and that’s a fact. But let it be a lesson to yer. Fred were a decent bloke but there’s plenty out there that in’t. And yer don’t want ter get tied up with any of the bad boogers – like Will Drake, f’rinstance.’

‘You’ve warned me about him before,’ Ronnie said.

‘See that you heed me, miss.’

No matter how Jess pumped her that night about the conversation, Ronnie kept to her word. But something had shifted between herself and Dora – she was sure of it. There was much more to the woman than she’d ever given her credit for. Dora, by losing Fred, had built a protective shell around herself to make sure no one ever came close to her again. What was so astounding was that the woman had poured out her secret to her – a trainee whom Ronnie had always thought Dora didn’t even like.

Just shows how wrong you can be, Ronnie thought as she snuggled down in the bed she shared with Jess.

Chapter Thirty-One

Regent’s Canal Dock, London

January 1944

Dora’s relentless orders had lasted six weeks, but to Ronnie it felt more like six months. But a phantom six months where she had never felt so alive. She felt she was truly doing her bit for the war effort and enjoying every minute. They’d had to go all the way back to Camden Town to unload the coal at the A.B.C. bakery, and had made another round trip, this time to Birmingham to take fifty tons of steel bars.

‘It’s supposed to be six weeks of solid trainin’,’ Dora told them when Jess grumbled that they were supposed to have a break after the standard six weeks’ training, ‘but we lost all them days when we were iced in, so yous’ll need at least another fortnight.’

Ronnie groaned inwardly.

‘I think we’re ready to go on our own,’ Jessica said.

‘I’ll decide that one.’ Dora’s voice had a steely edge. ‘I hadn’t quite finished. Yous’ll all get yer time off now. Ver-ron-eek, Sally and May first, and Jess and Angela when they come back. Be back the evenin’ of day three.’ She paused. ‘Is that clear?’

Jessica’s face dropped and she muttered something under her breath.

‘Yer got something to say?’ Dora demanded.

‘Yes.’ Jessica looked directly at the trainer. ‘When we’ve finished training and are down to three in a team for the pair of boats, I’d like to work with either Ronnie and Sally, or Ronnie and May.’

Dora’s eyes were slits. She glanced at Angela. ‘Yer got a problem with Angela here?’

Ronnie was silent, her nerves on edge waiting for Dora’s answer. Dora seemed to have forgotten that she’d been aggravated herself with Angela over the shoes.

‘Let’s just say I work well with any of the girls I’ve mentioned,’ Jessica said. ‘And I consider teamwork is vital in our work.’

‘We’ll see,’ Dora said.

Ronnie noticed Angela threw Jess a furious look. Jessica simply hardened her jaw.

Thursday couldn’t come quickly enough. Ronnie was almost counting the minutes.

‘Promise you’ll look after Lucky, Jess,’ she said. ‘She’s really settled in well but she needs her food twice a day and some milk and water.’

‘I’ll see she doesn’t starve,’ Jessica said, ‘but I’m not looking forward to the next three days living with Angela. She’s a pain in the bum. But at least when you’re here it’s not quite so bad.’

‘Lucky will take the sting out of it,’ Ronnie said, chuckling, but grateful not to be left in Jessica’s place. ‘She’s so funny. She always cheers me up.’ She looked at her friend. ‘You won’t let anything happen to her, will you, Jess? She’s had a horrible start in life already,