Christmas to Come: a heartbreaking coming of age saga set in London's East End Carol Rivers (best sales books of all time .txt) 📖

with what you think is best and support you every step of the way. You just have to do the same by me, right?'

Bella smiled up at her husband, then rested her head on his chest. After all that had happened, most men would have refused to have anything to do with Mary Doyle and her child. But Micky was not like most men. How lucky she was to have him.

Chapter 21

Bella hurried to open the door. A soft April breeze blew down the airey steps sweeping with it Dolly, followed by Anne and Irene. Bella hugged them tightly.

'Where's Michael and Teresa?' the twins chorused.

'Waiting to see you.' Bella took their gloves and scarves, coats and hats and hung them on the stand.

'Are we having tea here?' Irene wanted to know, her curls bouncing around her face.

'It's rude to ask,' Dolly scolded them.

'Course you are,' Bella smiled. 'Go along to the bedroom. All the toys are in there.'

The two girls, identical in their green woollen dresses knitted by Dolly, skipped down the hall to the bedroom. They were regular visitors during the months that Teresa had been confined to the house.

'What's the latest report from Dr Cox?' Dolly asked, hanging up her own coat and following Bella into the kitchen.

'He's inclined to think she'll always have a weak chest,' Bella explained as she filled the kettle. 'But she's much better than she was and thank God, it looks like she's over the worst.'

'Has her mother visited?'

Bella put the kettle on as Dolly sat down at the table. It was set with custard and jellies, cucumber sandwiches and a big sponge cake. 'Only once and then she nearly collapsed from the effort of walking. Sean had to drive her home.'

Dolly paused thoughtfully. 'Did Micky meet her?'

'He doesn't want to and I don't blame him. But he's offered to buy some furniture for the prefab.'

'That's good of him,' Dolly said with a sniff.

Bella nodded. 'Yes, I'm not complaining.'

'Oh, go on, why don't you?' Dolly urged with a sad smile. 'I do my fair share, don't I?'

Bella frowned as she looked at her friend. 'You never complain about Percy! Only about the price of food or the rents going up, things like that.' She was about to speak again when she saw Dolly's face. 'Oh, Dol, what's the matter?'

'Nothing.' Dolly brought out her hanky and blew her nose. 'Nothing that won't mend.'

'What do you mean?'

'Percy's lost his job.'

Bella gasped. 'At Burlingtons?'

'Yes, they've gone to the wall.'

'A reputable firm like that?'

'It's awful isn't it? But you see, there are bigger and better companies outside of London that are cheaper and deliver nationally.'

'But Burlingtons are solid, like the Bank of England.'

'Yes, but some of the old island firms who wouldn't change their methods are not prepared to keep up with the times.' Dolly's voice wavered. 'Their situation is worse than we thought and Percy doesn't even get severance pay as there's nothing left in the pot.'

Bella felt very sad for her friends. 'Could he get a job at Billingsgate? He'd have to travel up of course, but you've got the car.'

'Yes, it's worth a try, even though the petrol would be expensive.'

'If it wasn't what he wanted, would he try another trade?'

Dolly nodded. 'Yes, but Percy's not used to labouring and that's all he'll get on the island. There's jobs going at West India Docks, loading ships. But he would only take an unskilled job if nothing else turned up as it's half his usual pay. You see, we bought our house thinking he was safe at Burlingtons and there would be chance of promotion.'

'How are you managing?' Bella said quietly.

Dolly went red. 'Mum and Dad have loaned us twenty five pounds.'

'What about food?'

'I've pawned my engagement ring. The one we bought in Oxford Street.' Tears sprang to Dolly's eyes again. 'I didn't want to, but it was the only way.'

'Oh, Dolly, I wish you'd told me. I would have loaned you the money.'

'That's very kind of you Bella, but we'll manage. As you know I'm very thrifty. I make everything we wear. Grow our own vegetables. I'm very careful with the pennies.'

Bella grasped her friend's hand. 'But Dolly, if you're ever in a tight spot please come to me.'

'I hope it never comes to that.' Dolly changed the subject quickly. 'Look at this lovely spread! And the cake – did you bake it?'

'Teresa and Michael helped.'

'She can get up and do things now?'

'Yes, Dr Cox said it's good for her to move and shift the congestion, but she does get tired.'

'When will she go home?'

'Not until she's completely better. With TB being rife on the island a few years ago, I won't take any chances. I've written to the council and so has Dr Cox, saying the prefab needs fumigating and decorating. Until that's done, she staying here.'

'You'll miss her when she goes.'

'Yes, it's like she's always been in our lives. But, I told myself from the start not to get too attached.' Bella sighed inwardly. She wasn't the only one who would miss the child when she returned home. Michael and Teresa had become inseparable. They liked the same things, read the same books and shared the same sense of humour. They got on so well that it seemed as though they were brother and sister.

'Do they know they're related yet?' Dolly asked.

'I told them that Mary is Michael's granny, but I didn't go into detail. I thought I'd wait until they started to ask questions.'

'And to think we were discussing what to do as regards telling Michael he had a granny. It was as if someone above was listening and helped sort it all out.'

Bella nodded firmly. 'One day I'll take Michael back and show him Bow Street, where his mother and uncle were born and his granny lived.'

'Dad said he walked round that way last week,' Dolly told her then. 'The ground is as flat as a pancake where your cottage was. There's a sign up saying it's been sold