The Teashop Girls Page 20

‘Why thank you, Jenny,’ she smiled. ‘Just what I need.’

  The young Nippy quickly placed the tray on the desk and withdrew backwards, almost bobbing a curtsey. Rose sucked in her cheeks to try to stop herself from laughing. ‘I’ll bring the tea tray back, as I need to visit the kitchen,’ she said to the departing girl. Not so long ago, she had been doing exactly the same thing when Miss Butterworth was the manageress at the Ramsgate teashop. By now, the girl would be hurrying to the kitchen to warn the workers that their manageress was on her way. She hoped that in time, the Nippies would relax even more when in her company.

  Rose had just finished wiping crumbs from her mouth with the white napkin that had been placed on the tray, when there was another knock on the door. ‘Enter,’ she called, drinking the last of the tea in her cup.

  It was the same Nippy, who again bobbed a curtsey. ‘Miss, there’s a lady to see you. I’ve put her at an empty table near the door. Shall I bring her here?’

  ‘No, I’ll come out to see her,’ Rose said. With Mr Grant due anytime soon, at least he could use her office if he arrived while she was speaking to the woman. It was about time the new Sally got here, too, so she could have a quick word and assign her to the Nippy who’d been put behind the counter for the day to show her the ropes.

  Young Jenny took the tea tray and backed out, bobbing as she went.

  ‘Oh, Jenny, there is no need to curtsey. You are no longer working in service,’ Rose smiled, trying not to laugh as the girl curtsied again and left the office in a hurry.

  Rose was relieved to have a new staff member to serve customers with bread and cakes in the little sales section of the tearoom, with its tidy counter and shelving. Like the Nippies, all Sallys were trained in how to present baked goods for sale and how to serve customers at the counter. Every time she had to move a Nippy to that section, it meant a workstation wasn’t being covered, and the tables had to be divided up between the remaining Nippies on duty. Rose knew the problem would get worse as so many younger women were moving into the services now, while others were keen to work at munitions factories because the money was so good.

  Nodding hello to a few of her regular customers as she walked to the front of the tearoom, she stopped in surprise as a familiar voice called out to her. Turning, she saw Lily sitting alone. Rose glanced over to where she had been told the new Sally was sitting, and could see a Nippy serving her tea; so it seemed as if she could spare a few minutes. She hurried to see her friend, first giving her a hug before she sat down opposite her at the small table for two.

  ‘Oh, it’s so good to see you, Lily,’ she said, waving her hand to a Nippy who stood nearby surveying the tables. ‘Tea for my guest, please, Jane. Would you like something to eat?’ she asked her friend.

  ‘Not for me, ta,’ Lily said, pulling her coat closer around her.

  ‘Are you cold?’ Rose asked, looking towards where the May sun shone brightly through the window.

  ‘Just a bit,’ Lily threw back at her while reaching for a pack of cigarettes. ‘So, how’s it going being the boss of your own teashop?’ she asked as she struck a match against the side of the box and lit the cigarette with shaking hands.

  Rose frowned. She could see there was something wrong with her friend, and felt guilty for not finding time to meet up so much since taking on her new responsibilities. ‘I’m sorry not to have seen much of you since I left home. It’s been rather busy,’ she added, looking round the crowded room and thinking she should be carrying out her duties rather than sitting drinking tea, even if it was with a good friend.

  ‘Everyone’s all right, if that’s what you was going to ask me?’ Lily said pointedly.

  ‘I know. Katie and her Jack visited and had tea here before he went off on his ship.’

  Lily gave her a look that spoke volumes. ‘That was two months ago,’ she said.

  ‘Gosh, was it really? How time flies,’ was all Rose could think to say.

  ‘Miss Tibbs has had a bad chest infection, and your mum’s been busy what with the RAF lads taking her empty room,’ Lily added, watching to see Rose’s reaction to the mention of Flora.

  ‘RAF? I thought the army was taking her room?’

  ‘All the soldiers have left the area so the RAF took over. Seems there are quite a few of them over at Manston these days. I’m surprised your boyfriend hasn’t told you,’ she added, stubbing out her cigarette as the Nippy arrived with their tea.

  ‘I’ve not seen or heard from Ben since I was in London,’ Rose said, looking sad. ‘He could be anywhere for all I know.’

  Lily was stony-faced. ‘And meanwhile you hide yourself in work and ignore your family and friends.’

  Rose was shocked by her friend’s outburst. ‘I haven’t . . . I mean . . . I didn’t mean to,’ she said, floundering over what to say.

  ‘Your mum has been deeply affected by you rushing off like you did. She’s scared to come and see you in case you cause a fuss. She’s lost weight and sits around most days staring into space. We’ve all mucked in, but it isn’t the same as it used to be.’

  ‘But she has her ARP work and helps out with the WRVS. I don’t understand?’

  ‘Oh come off it, Rose. We all know the ARP wardens are mostly twiddling their thumbs these days, waiting for something to happen. They’ve even said ARP means “’Anging Round Pubs” as they aren’t busy now most things are organized in the town.’

  Rose felt her face twitch with a smile. She had heard people say that about the ARP wardens, which she thought was a little unfair. ‘That doesn’t sound like Mum at all.’

  ‘Well, believe me, it is just like your mum. She misses you, Rose, and whatever it was you fell out over, you need to see her and talk things through. I’d give my right arm to be able to see my mum and talk with her . . . especially right now,’ she added, picking up her cup with her still shaking hands. Tea slopped into her saucer.

  ‘Lily, what’s wrong?’ Rose said, taking the cup from her hand as tears started to fall down Lily’s cheeks. ‘Please, you’ve got to tell me.’

  ‘I can’t, not here,’ she sniffed. ‘It’s not the right place to talk about my problems.’

  Rose thought for a moment before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a key. ‘Here, go to my flat and wait for me. I usually take my midday break here, but I will come home and we can have a chat.’

  Lily took the key, and after Rose instructed her where to go she gave her a quick hug and left the teashop. Rose stood up and brushed her skirt down. She was worried about her friend, and had decided immediately that she couldn’t ignore whatever had brought Lily to Margate. It was bad enough not speaking to her mum – and as the weeks turned into months, it was becoming harder to face going home to see her. At least there was a new Sally to work in the shop, she thought as she went to the table to invite the woman to accompany her to the office.

  As she approached the table, she spotted Anya. Please God she hadn’t come here to give her a talking-to about not visiting Flora? Rose still felt upset and angry, and wasn’t ready to discuss it with anyone else today. As she walked toward the Polish woman’s table she looked around her. The teashop was filling up fast and there was a queue at the counter, with people buying supplies. Wherever was that new Sally?

  ‘Hello, Miss Neville. You look very smart – just as the manageress should do,’ Anya said, holding out her hand to shake Rose’s.

  Rose leant over to kiss Anya’s cheek. She was very fond of the woman. ‘Hello Anya, what brings you to Margate? Not that I’m unhappy to see you,’ Rose said.

  ‘No – no kisses, you must be professional lady,’ Anya said sharply, ducking away from Rose.

  Rose was puzzled. ‘Is there something wrong, Anya?’ she asked as she sat down next to the woman.

  ‘I am here to work. You must call me Sally. I am no longer Anya the friend when I am working here.’

  Rose grinned as the penny dropped. ‘Don’t tell me you are to be our new Sally?’

  Anya nodd
ed solemnly. ‘I am telling you.’

  ‘Why, that is splendid. But what happened to the job at Mrs Peabody’s grocery shop?’

  ‘A better person has the job. I arranged it for her.’

  ‘But why?’

  ‘Joyce is much suited for the job, and she can take young Pearl with her as she plays with Mrs Peabody’s children. It makes Joyce happy to earn the wage. I wish to have a fulfilling job with Joe Lyons, but not to be waitress, as I am too clumsy,’ Anya explained patiently. ‘I went to London to learn how to be a Sally and serve customers.’ She looked around the teashop, her eyes stopping on the window display close to the counters. ‘I soon sort out and make it look good,’ she said. ‘You may call me Sally Polinski from this day forward,’ she added with a twinkle in her eye.

  ‘That’s wonderful. I received a letter from head office, but they didn’t put the name of the new Sally. Does this mean you have moved to Margate?’ Rose asked.

  ‘No, I have the bicycle Mr Cardew left in the garden shed. I am told he will not need it where he has gone,’ Anya said seriously. ‘I will ride the bike to and from your teashop each day. Mildred, she say she will collect me when she has the use of the motor van. She has it quite often, as she has a good friend. It all works out well.’

  Rose remembered that the official letter had stated the new Sally would be working part-time each day, so there was no need to worry about Anya cycling in the dark. ‘There is also a bus that runs between the towns, if the weather should turn bad.’

  ‘Rain it does not worry me,’ Anya said.

  Rose doubted that much bothered Anya, as she was such a strong character.

  ‘Let me show you the staffroom and where everything is kept; then you can change into your uniform and start to learn the ropes. Welcome on board, Anya,’ Rose said. It was good to know that at least she would get to hear from Anya about how her mother was getting on, even if she wasn’t yet prepared to visit or speak with Flora.

  ‘You’ll never guess who my new Sally is?’ Rose exclaimed as she burst into the front room of her flat overlooking the beach, before grinding to a halt as she saw her friend sobbing into her hands. ‘My dear Lily, whatever is the matter?’ she asked, rushing over to sit beside her.

  ‘Oh, Rose, I’m in such a mess,’ Lily said as soon as she could speak properly. ‘I have to do something that I know you will hate me for. In fact, everyone will hate me.’

  ‘No one is going to hate you, Lily. You are a good person, and always will be. Let me get you a drink to calm you down,’ Rose said, going to the sideboard and taking out a half bottle of gin. She poured a generous amount into a glass. ‘Here – drink this. It will help calm you down.’

  Lily knocked back the gin in one gulp and gave a shudder. ‘Thank you; I needed that. I’m sorry for being such a mess, but I couldn’t tell anyone about my problem, and it’s been eating me up inside. I’ve got a big favour to ask you, Rose.’

  Rose felt terrible. If she hadn’t cut herself off from everyone at Sea View these past months, she would have been able to help her friend with her problem – whatever it was. ‘I will do all I can to help you,’ Rose said sincerely.

  ‘I wondered if I could transfer to the Margate teashop and stay with you? It would be better if I wasn’t in Ramsgate for a while.’

  ‘You can stay with me for as long as you like. I have a small spare bedroom. The flat came furnished, so there’s a single bed already in there, and a chest of drawers for your bits and bobs. You can use my wardrobe if you need to hang anything up. How will you collect your possessions from Ramsgate, though?’ she asked, hoping Lily wouldn’t want her to go to Sea View to help collect her things. She wasn’t ready to face Flora just yet.

  ‘I have a suitcase with me. I hoped you’d say yes,’ Lily said with an apologetic look.

  Rose grinned. ‘It’ll be just like old times with us working together. I’ve been more than a little lonely here on my own. I can’t really ask any of the Nippies to come to the pictures, what with me being their boss.’

  ‘It won’t be quite like the old days,’ Lily said as she stood up, slipping off the heavy coat she had been wearing since they met in the teashop.

  ‘Oh my goodness,’ Rose said, placing her hands to her mouth. ‘You . . .’

  Lily looked down to the swell of her stomach. ‘Yes, I have a little visitor on the way. Any chance of another glass of gin?’

  Rose sat down with a thud on one of the wooden chairs set around the dining table, shocked by her friend’s revelation. ‘I don’t think joking about it will help,’ she said seriously. ‘And drinking gin isn’t any good for a baby.’

  ‘Believe me, I’m not joking. I’ve heard the old wives’ tales too. I’ve downed enough gin to sink a battleship to try and get rid of this, so I don’t think another glass will make the slightest difference.’

  Against her better judgement, Rose poured another glass. She thought briefly about having some herself, but knew it wouldn’t be a good idea when she had an afternoon of work ahead of her. ‘Here you are, but when this bottle’s gone there’ll be no more alcohol in this flat. We have to think about your child from now on – we don’t want you getting sozzled and falling over, do we?’

  ‘There’s not going to be a child,’ Lily said, taking a gulp from the glass. ‘I’ve got the address of someone who can help me get rid of it.’

  Rose thought of Katie and her Jack, who had grown up in a children’s home ‘Surely you can try to keep it? You know what Katie used to tell us about all the babies in that orphanage. It’s no life for a little kiddie.’

  ‘It won’t be in an orphanage. The woman I’m going to see will help me to lose it,’ Lily said defiantly. ‘That’s why I’ve come here. If I’d stayed at Sea View, someone would have tried to stop me. As it was, your mum kept giving me strange looks because I wore my coat so much. If she hadn’t been so distracted worrying about you, she’d have noticed I was expecting.’

  Rose didn’t know what to say. At that moment, she wanted her mum more than anything in the whole wide world. She didn’t know how to help her friend – and who, for goodness’ sake, was the father of the child?

  ‘The news isn’t looking good,’ Mr Grant said as he turned the page of his newspaper, almost knocking a cup out of its saucer.

  ‘I just wish I was able to get over there and help our lads,’ Tom White said pompously as he helped himself to the last biscuit on the plate.

  Rose was beyond fed up with the area manager and his sidekick using her office for their meal breaks when she had so much to do. ‘Have you not thought about joining up?’ she asked Tom.

  He looked as though Rose had attacked him as her few words hit home. ‘Don’t think I wouldn’t like to, Miss Neville. However, my services are required here as I’m in a reserved occupation, besides having certain health problems,’ he said in a weak voice.

  ‘I see,’ she said, giving him a hard stare. He glanced away. ‘If you have finished your tea, gentlemen, I need to use my office to speak to several of my staff.’

  ‘Can you not use the staffroom while we do our business in here?’ Tom White asked indignantly.

  Rose hadn’t seen any work being done, unless it was inspecting the pies and cakes they’d consumed.

  ‘It’s rather delicate and not something to be discussed in a staffroom,’ she said pointedly.

  ‘You might have a word with that Lily Douglas while you’re at it. I’m surprised she was allowed to have a transfer to this teashop, what with it being the most important in the area,’ Tom White said. ‘I’ve heard she doesn’t have a very good reputation with the, er . . . men,’ he added, seeing Rose start to glare.

  ‘Miss Douglas is one of our best workers. I have no qualms about her working here,’ she answered, trying hard to keep her temper. Although not aware of what went on, Rose knew that Lily had fallen out with the man at some point. ‘I’m more than happy to conduct my business with my staff in front of you both, but must warn you it is of a deli
cate nature to do with female health. I’m sure you won’t mind, though, having health problems yourself,’ she said pointedly in Tom’s direction.

  The two men had jumped to their feet and picked up their belongings before Rose could draw breath.

  ‘Perhaps you would take your tea tray with you? My staff are too busy to wait on fellow staff members,’ she said to Tom, who gave her a hard stare and left without lifting a finger to clear up his mess. ‘I didn’t expect it any other way,’ she muttered to their departing backs. I’ve a mind to hand him a bundle of white feathers, she fumed to herself as she indicated to a passing Nippy to take away the tray.

  ‘You seem to be in a bad mood,’ Lily said as she took a seat in front of her friend’s desk.

  ‘Ignore me. I’m fed up with that horrid man Tom White. Thank goodness most men aren’t like him, or Hitler would be landing on our beaches this very minute.’

  The smile dropped from Lily’s face at the mention of Tom’s name.

  ‘You really don’t like him, do you? Has something happened between you?’

  Lily shrugged her shoulders. ‘He means nothing to me anymore. I won’t be getting near him again in a hurry, believe me.’

  ‘That’s the spirit,’ Rose said, all the time wondering how they’d fallen out. ‘Now, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?’

  ‘I wondered if I could go early? I have an appointment.’

  ‘Of course you can,’ Rose said. She’d been nagging Lily all week to see a doctor to check everything was fine with her pregnancy. ‘Perhaps I . . .’ She got no further, as the door burst open and Tom White charged in. Lily gave her a quick nod and hurried from the room.

  ‘I insist you dismiss that damnable woman serving behind the counter,’ he all but shouted at her.

  ‘Mr White, my counter staff are nothing if not professional. Please explain yourself.’

  ‘That foreign one. She told me off and said I should mind my manners. Does she not know who I am? She was rude, and I insist she leaves the premises right now,’ he demanded.

  ‘I think it best to call the Sally in so she can explain her side of what happened,’ Rose said with a sigh. She’d really wanted to chat with Lily before she left for the afternoon, and perhaps offer to go with her for the appointment. She was due a few hours off, and her staff were more than capable of coping if an emergency should arise. Opening the office door, she waved to Anya, beckoning her to come to the office.