Home Front Girls

tell you all about that in a minute. It’s something so wonderful you won’t believe it. I can still hardly believe it myself – but hark at me rabbiting on. Have they told you where they’ve put her? And has there been any word from Robert? I heard some ladies further down the ward saying that London had been bombed, too, last night and I’ve been worried sick.’
    Here at least, Miranda was able to put her mind at rest as she told her, ‘Robert is safe. In fact, even as we speak he’s on his way. His friend is driving him from London. But how long will you have to stay in here?’
    ‘Ah well, that’s a bit more good news.’ Dotty attempted another smile, making her cracked lips split open again. ‘Because there’s such a shortage of beds they said I can go home. Normally they would have kept me in longer, but with things as they are . . .’ She shook her head. ‘Trouble is, I shall have to come home in the clothes they found me in. They’re in the locker there but they had to cut off the sleeve of my blouse to get it off my arm before they set it and the nurses have washed me as best they could and put me in this gown, but my hair . . .’ Her voice trailed away as her one good arm rose to stroke the tangled filthy mess that was her hair. ‘I’m afraid I must look a dreadful sight,’ she whispered. ‘And I don’t quite know where Miss Timms and I are going to go – when I find her, that is.’
    ‘Ah well, there’s no need to worry about that,’ Miranda told her, forcing a smile. ‘You’re going to come home with me for as long as you need to, and we’ll soon get you washed and brushed up. We don’t want Robert seeing you like this, now do we?’
    ‘But what about Miss Timms?’ Dotty persisted, her eyes concerned now.
    Ignoring her question, Miranda whipped the curtains about the bed as she told the girl, ‘We’ll talk about that in a while. But first we’re going to get you dressed and take you home. I’m sure there will still be some cabs running. Lucy, could you go outside and see if you could find one whilst I help Dotty?’
    Only too glad to escape, Lucy hurried away, but Dotty was not going to let the subject of her beloved Miss Timms drop so easily.
    ‘But can’t she come home too?’ she asked as Miranda pulled the hospital gown over her head.
    ‘No, I’m afraid she has to stay here for now,’ Miranda answered. ‘But I’ll explain everything when we get home.’
    ‘Then can’t I at least see her before I go?’
    Miranda shook her head, too full to speak, and for the next few minutes she concentrated on getting Dotty dressed. In no time at all she and Annabelle were helping the girl down the stairs to the reception area. Dotty was as weak as a kitten and leaned heavily on Miranda, and for now she was silent as a terrible sense of foreboding took hold of her. Why were they whisking her away so quickly without letting her see her mother first? Another little thrill spliced through her. Her mother! She had never been able to say that before, but now at last she knew who she belonged to, where she had come from. Her mother had promised that she would soon reveal who her father was too. For the very first time in her life she felt complete and could hardly wait to share her good news with her friends.
    The bad feeling lifted a little as she saw the chaos all around her. Doctors were tending to the most seriously injured patients first as others lay on stretchers groaning with pain. Ambulance and Army men were wheeling yet more casualties in and the whole place was heaving, with bodies everywhere. Perhaps her friends hadn’t managed to locate Miss Timms yet in such pandemonium? But later on when she had cleaned herself up a little she would come back. Things might have calmed down by then and she would find her.
    Outside, they helped her into the cab and the driver told them, ‘I’m afraid it’s goin’ to take some time to get yer to Cheylesmore, missus. There are diversions everywhere, an’ half o’ the roads are closed off, but I’ll do me best.’
    It was the first sight of the city Dotty had had since being trapped in the cellar and she was horrified. Fires were still blazing, and people with all that was left of their worldly possessions packed in barrows, prams or anything that would carry them were making a mass exodus from the city.
    ‘Th-the cathedral?’ Dotty gasped as they drove along.
    ‘I’m afraid it’s flattened,’ Miranda told her gravely.