A Mother's Love Read online

  Connor chuckled. ‘And what does Billy look like?’

  Ellie punched him playfully on the arm. ‘You know full well I was talkin’ about Billy,’ she said, although she couldn’t help giggling as a picture of Mr Spooner with big fluffy feet, a long nose and big ears formed in her mind. She linked arms with Connor. ‘Night before last I thought my whole world were coming to an end, but thanks to me two bezzies my life’s finally taken a turn for the better.’

  Chapter Two

  Standing with her back to the Mersey, Ellie blinked at the magnificent stone statues that adorned the top of the Liver Buildings. She pointed upwards. ‘Is that Bella or Bertie? I can never remember which is which.’

  Connor squinted at the copper statue with its huge wings stretched out as if it was about to take flight. ‘That’s Bella. She’s lookin’ out to sea, searchin’ for handsome sailors comin’ into dock.’ He turned and indicated the other statue. ‘The one facin’ the city is Bertie. He’s lookin’ to see if the pubs are open.’

  Ellie sighed blissfully. ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could sit on their backs and fly out to sea?’

  Connor feigned shock. ‘But if that were to happen the city would fall! Don’t you know anything?’

  Ellie nodded. ‘Of course! That’s why they’re chained to the domes, just in case they should spring to life and leave.’

  Connor’s green eyes twinkled. ‘Silly, really. After all, if a thirteen-foot statue came to life I think we’d have a bit more than the city falling to worry about. I’ve seen the mess seagulls make … Ah, it looks as though they’re ready for us to board.’

  Chuckling, Ellie linked her arm through his and they handed over their tickets. Once aboard, Ellie headed for the railing and leaned against it. Shading her eyes with one hand she watched similar-sized vessels coming into dock. ‘It must be wonderful to own a ship and go to all sorts of strange and exotic lands.’

  ‘Not with a war on it mustn’t. Think of all the mines and U-boats. I think I’d rather keep both feet on dry land, thank you very much.’

  Ellie turned sharply. ‘I hadn’t thought of that! There’s no danger of us hitting a mine, is there?’

  Connor shook his head. ‘The authorities are checking the Mersey all the time. They’d know if there was anything lurking in the water.’ He pointed towards the brown paper bag that Ellie carried and raised his brow hopefully. ‘Did you say that Arla’s mam had given you some grub for the journey?’

  Ellie chuckled. ‘Connor Murray, we’ve not even left the harbour.’ Fishing around inside the packet she pulled out a couple of jam sandwiches, one of which she handed to Connor. ‘You’d think we was goin’ to Timbuktu with all the food Arla’s mam and yours gave us. Just as well with your appetite.’

  Connor patted his stomach. ‘An empty sack won’t stand up, and it won’t take long to get through this little lot. Let’s have a look and see what we’ve got.’

  Ellie counted the items off on her fingers. ‘Two jam sandwiches, two Spam rolls, two fairy cakes, four scones and a bottle of ginger beer.’

  Connor frowned. ‘I’ll need fresh supplies for the journey home tomorrow, but if I know Auntie Aileen, she won’t let a growing lad go hungry.’

  ‘Do you ever think of anything else—’ Ellie began before a loud blast from the ferry’s horn drowned out the rest of her sentence. ‘Dear God, I nigh on left me own skin then!’ she said, much to Connor’s amusement. ‘I forgot they did that.’

  The ship’s engines roared into life and Ellie watched the waves break against the side of the ferry, trying to remember how long it had been since she last made this journey. Her mother had taken a rare day off work and treated her to a day at New Brighton. Millie, who hated being cold, had cautiously dipped her feet into the water.

  ‘Crikey,’ she had gasped as the icy water lapped around her bare ankles. ‘If I stay in here too long I’ll be blue!’

  The water temperature, on the other hand, did not perturb Ellie, who swam out happily, turning on to her back and calling back to her mother, ‘It’s a lot colder’n the Scaldy, but it’s a lot cleaner too.’

  ‘You’re like one of them mermaids. But you mustn’t stay in too long else you’ll be like a cube of ice.’

  On their way home they had bought fish and chips to eat on the ferry. Breathing in now, she tried to remember the scent of that long gone fish supper.

  ‘Penny for them?’

  ‘Hmm?’

  ‘Penny for your thoughts. You’ve been lookin’ across that water with a big old smile on your face ever since we left the Pier, so what’s made you so happy?’

  ‘Oh, you know, just thinkin’ of the old days when me and Mam used to cross the Mersey,’ Ellie said. ‘I never dreamt I’d be comin’ over the water with you one day, nor that I’d be so pleased to get away from Liverpool. It feels odd that I should be so happy to leave a place that’s meant so much to me.’

  ‘You’ve had a bad time of late. It’s only natural you should want to get away for a bit.’

  Ellie watched as the tobacco warehouse and its chimneys grew smaller whilst the town of Birkenhead grew larger. ‘It’s not just that. Ever since she died it doesn’t really feel like home any more.’

  Connor shrugged. ‘My dad always says that life’s a journey, and we have to think carefully about which path we choose.’ He smiled at Ellie. ‘Looks like you’re about to start on the second part of your journey, chuck. Workin’ on the farm is about a million miles away from life in the city, so I hope it’ll help you decide which way you want to go next … Oh, look out, we’re comin’ into dock.’

  Ellie felt her tummy lurch with anticipation. So this was it, the start of her new life. Holding firmly on to the ship’s rail, she prepared for the slight bump as the ferry joined the dockside, and turned her thoughts to the conversation she had had with Arla earlier that morning.

  ‘We are still goin’ to join up, ain’t we? Only if we go together there’s a good chance we’ll get the same postin’. Life’ll be a lot easier if I’ve got me bezzie by me side. I know you’re gonna be sixteen before me, but I’m only a month after you, and … oh, please say you’ll not join before me,’ Arla pleaded.

  Ellie had smiled reassuringly. ‘As if I’d join up without me bezzie! You just make sure that you’re up and dressed ready for the off, and in the meantime I promise to write whenever I can, so stop worryin’ your head.’

  Her knuckles whitened as the ship bumped against the side of the dock. If Connor’s right about life being a journey, what will happen if I decide I don’t want to join the services, she thought. What if my journey puts me on a different path from the one Arla intends to travel?

  Connor interrupted her thoughts. ‘Come on.’ Taking her by the hand, he led her down the ramp and on to the dockside. ‘The bus stop is just over there. Of course, there aren’t so many running now, what with the war an’ all, but we shouldn’t have to wait more than an hour at the most.’ He studied the timetable. ‘We need the number 3. Accordin’ to this it should be along in fifteen minutes or so, then once we’re on it’ll be about forty-five minutes before we get to Oxton. Aidan said he’d pick us up at around five o’clock, so …’ he glanced at the small watch on his wrist, ‘that should be about right.’

  Ellie sat on the small wooden bench and pulled out the bottle of ginger beer. ‘Fancy a swig?’ she said.

  Taking the bottle he uncorked the top. ‘D’you reckon Sid’s still stuck in that window?’

  Ellie giggled. ‘Could you imagine? My mam would’ve laughed fit to burst if she’d seen the look on his face. I thought he was goin’ to pop like a balloon the way he carried on.’

  ‘Serve him right if he had, especially after all the nasty stuff he were sayin’ about you and your mam.’ He offered the bottle to Ellie, who shook her head. ‘I hope he’s still stuck in that window and I hope the Nazis—’

  Ellie shot him a warning look. ‘I don’t like him any more than you do, but you shouldn’t go wishing
that lot to target dear old Liverpool.’

  Connor pulled a face. ‘I wasn’t. I was wishin’ for them to hit him, and his stinkin’ court. Get everyone else out first, use his big red face as a target and then … BOOM!’

  Ellie stifled a giggle. ‘Two birds with one stone. Connor, when you were talkin’ about journeys earlier, it made me think, do you know what path you’re goin’ to take? D’you reckon you’ll join up?’

  Connor nodded enthusiastically. ‘Too right! Soon as I’m eighteen I’m off to the RAF. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nowt wrong wi’ the Navy nor the army, but all the girls want to date a pilot. Don’t ask me why, but I believe it’s summat to do wi’ the uniform, so when I’m not up in the clouds fightin’ for me country I’ll be fendin’ off the ladies … well, it just can’t come soon enough is all I can say. Only don’t mention it to me mam. She’ll only worry.’

  Ellie’s heart sank. Whilst none of the services was thought to be a safe option, being a pilot was considered to be one of the most dangerous choices and she could see why Connor’s mother was so concerned.

  He sat down on the bench beside her. ‘I saw your face just now when I mentioned the RAF, but you mustn’t worry about me, Ellie. I’ll be one of the lucky ones. I’ll be up there in the clouds, swoopin, duckin’ and divin’ out of the Luftwaffe’s way, then turnin’ round and shootin’ the blighter in the rear.’

  Ellie forced a smile. ‘If anyone can send Jerry off with his tail between his legs, then I’ve no doubt it’s you. Did you say our bus was the number 3? I think this is it comin’ now.’

  The green and cream double-decker chugged slowly to a halt alongside them. Getting to her feet, Ellie swung her satchel on to her shoulder.

  Connor pointed to the upper deck. ‘Come on, you can see for miles from the top.’

  They had just managed to sit down when the bus lurched forward. Glancing at his wristwatch Connor raised his brow. ‘He’s a couple of minutes early. Still, I can’t see anyone running.’

  An elderly conductor appeared at the top of the stairwell, one weathered hand gripping tightly on to the rail whilst the other tried to keep his cap from falling off his head. Ellie resisted the urge to leap to her feet as the doddering old man weaved his way unsteadily down the aisle towards them. ‘Fares please,’ he said, half falling, half sitting in the seat in front of them. Ellie opened her mouth to reply, then looked helplessly at Connor. ‘Gosh, I’ve just realised I don’t know where I’m goin’!’

  The conductor gave Connor a wry smile. ‘Wimmin! Never mind, little lady, I ’spect your boyfriend ’ere knows where you’re headed for.’

  Ellie furrowed her brow. ‘He’s not my boyfriend, and I should jolly well hope he does know where he’s goin’ ’cos it’s his uncle’s farm.’

  ‘’S not my fault you dunno where you’s goin’.’ Sniffing, the conductor turned to Connor. ‘Where to?’

  ‘Oxton, please. I’ll pay for us both—’ he was beginning, but Ellie cut him off mid-sentence.

  ‘If I’ve enough I shall pay the fares, thank you very much.’ She addressed the conductor through pursed lips. ‘Two tickets for Oxton, please!’

  The conductor reeled off the tickets and tottered back up the aisle, muttering as he did so, ‘I’m sure as I don’t care who pays for the fare as long as someone does.’

  Connor’s mouth twisted as he tried to hide his amusement. ‘I heard you and Arla talkin’ about joining the services together?’

  Ellie nodded. ‘Why?’

  ‘After seeing the way you put that conductor in his place, I reckon you’ll make corporal in no time. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if you ended up in charge of your own regiment.’

  The bus had travelled down what seemed to be an endless maze of country lanes with high hedgerows before finally stopping at a small village green.

  Connor yawned. ‘This is where we get off.’

  Ellie brushed the crumbs from her dress on to the palm of her hand. ‘Can you see your cousin any-where?’

  Connor laughed and pointed to where a young man sat in the driver’s seat of a pony cart. ‘Bit hard to miss him, wouldn’t you say?’

  Ellie’s mouth dropped open and the delight on her face was clear to see. ‘Oh, Connor, is that him? Are we really goin’ for a ride in a cart?’

  Connor grunted as he stretched his arms and legs. ‘We ain’t goin’ to walk along at the back of him, if that’s what you were thinkin’. How else did you think we were goin’ to get to the farm? I did tell you he was comin’ to meet us.’

  Ellie nodded vigorously, and as they walked up the aisle of the bus she kept her eyes fixed on the ride that awaited them. ‘I know, but I thought he was comin’ to meet us on foot and we were gonna walk to the farm.’

  Connor chuckled. ‘You don’t know Aidan, do you? I thought I might have mentioned him in the past, but all will soon become clear.’

  The two friends got off the bus and headed towards Aidan, who was waving merrily at Connor. ‘Come on, kid, get a move on. I told me da that we’d be back for supper.’ He rolled his eyes dramatically. ‘Mam said they wasn’t to start eatin’ till we get back, so he’s chompin’ at the bit.’

  As Connor swung Ellie’s satchel up towards his cousin, he showed Ellie how to get on to the cart. ‘One foot on the step and then … heave!’ he said, giving her a hefty shove from the rear. Landing in Aidan’s lap she blushed hotly, and mumbled a quick apology as she scrambled back off his knees and sat down on the wooden seat beside him. Indignantly, she turned to Connor. ‘Steady on. You nearly sent me over the other side!’

  ‘’S not my fault you’re lighter than a feather!’ Connor retorted, sitting down beside her.

  Smiling, Aidan held out a hand. ‘Hello, Ellie. I’m only guessing that you’re Ellie, of course, and that our Connor here hasn’t a whole host of women wantin’ to flee the city?’

  Shaking his hand, Ellie felt her blush racing towards her hairline, which seemed to amuse Aidan, whose lips curled behind his beard. ‘Don’t worry, queen, I was havin’ you on.’ He looked across her to Connor. ‘How’s things wi’ you, coz? Me da says you’ll be stoppin’ the night?’

  Connor nodded. ‘Just to make sure Ellie settles in okay. And to see you all, of course.’

  ‘Of course!’ Aidan laughed. He clicked his tongue and the brown pony started to walk forward.

  Ellie’s stomach gave a small lurch, but the smile that spread across her face left no one in any doubt as to how she was feeling. She addressed Aidan without moving her gaze from the pony’s back. ‘What’s the pony’s name?’

  ‘Pony. We’ve only got the one so we thought it wasn’t worth while tryin’ to think up a name for him.’ He chuckled at Ellie’s reproving face. ‘Blimey, you’re an easy one to tease. His name’s Spud.’ He wagged a finger at Ellie. ‘Don’t look at me like that. It was me da’s fault. He asked me little sister Cassie to name him when she was helping Mam to peel potatoes in the kitchen, and she said she wanted to call him Potato because he looked like one: round, brown and covered in dirt. I told me da there was no way I was goin’ into Coin Meadow and shoutin’ for a potato, so we compromised and called him Spud instead.’ He gazed wistfully at Spud’s back. ‘It could’ve been worse. We could’ve been mucking out.’

  Ellie stifled a giggle, and Aidan smiled. ‘If you think that’s funny, wait till you get introduced to the rest of the animals that Cassie was allowed to name.’

  She looked fondly at the small pony as he plodded methodically down the lane. ‘If I had been allowed to name him I’d have called him Winnie, because he reminds me of a fluffy teddy bear.’

  Aidan shook his head. ‘It must be a girl thing, calling animals by soft names.’ He looked at Ellie, who was pulling her sleeves down over her wrists. ‘Are you cold?’

  ‘Just a little bit. I reckon it’s after being in that warm bus—’ She broke off as Aidan passed her the reins.

  ‘Hang on to these a mo’,’ he instructed. ‘I’ve gorra blanket in t
he back somewhere.’

  Stunned by his actions, Ellie held the reins in a rigid grip whilst Aidan turned round on his seat and started to root about in the back of the cart. Connor started to laugh. ‘You should see the look on our Ellie’s face. Her eyes are as big as a couple of saucers.’

  Turning back, Aidan spread a thick patchwork blanket over her knees. ‘There you go, snug as a bug.’ He took the reins back and started to whistle a soft tune.

  Ellie peered curiously at him from the corner of her eye. He had the same piercing green eyes and black curly hair as Connor, but that was where the resemblance stopped. Unlike his cousin, who was clean cut and well presented, Aidan had allowed his hair to grow into a thick bushy mop; his beard, if you could call it that, was thin and patchy; and whilst his skin appeared tanned she wondered after a glance at his stained overalls whether it was, in fact, just dirty.

  She glanced at Connor, who, to her dismay, had seen the way she had eyed his cousin. He gave her a large wink and leaned towards her. ‘Like peas in a pod, aren’t we?’

  Ellie blushed. ‘There’s certainly some family resemblances.’

  ‘What?’ said Connor. ‘Are you tellin’ me I look like Worzel Gummidge?’

  ‘Connor! Don’t be so rude,’ Ellie chided him.

  ‘Don’t worry yourself, queen; he’s only jealous. What I lack in looks I make up for in brains.’ Aidan chuckled. ‘Looks of a scarecrow, brains of a genius, that’s me. After all, what farmer in his right mind dresses in his Sunday best to work the land?’

  As they rounded the corner Spud’s little hooves picked up speed and Aidan’s attention was redirected towards the madly trotting pony. ‘Little beggar,’ he said as he pulled gently on the reins. ‘Can’t get the blighter to budge half the time, but as soon as he smells his hay he thinks he’s a racehorse!’