Chapter Sixteen

It was mid-morning on Tuesday before Holly was able to have a word with Dora. Although it was only October women were already coming into the shop to order gowns for Christmas so she and Miss May had been rushed off their feet.

During a welcome lull, Holly hurried into the staff room and made them all a cup of tea then carried Dora’s through to the sewing room for her.

‘Eeh, that’s a welcome sight, luvvie.’ Dora took her foot from the treadle of the sewing machine and smiled at her as she reached for her drink then glanced at her curiously as she hovered. ‘Is there somethin’ you were wantin’?’

‘Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you,’ Holly said. ‘I was just wondering if you happened to know a family by the name of Farthing in Whitechapel?’

‘Farthing – but that’s your name, ain’t it?’ Dora said curiously as she took a slurp of her tea.

Holly nodded. ‘Yes it is, and my father came from there origin-ally so I’m trying to find out if there’s any of the family left there.’

‘Hmm!’ Dora tapped her lip thoughtfully. ‘Well, I can’t say as I can recall anyone o’ that name close to us but then it’s a fair-sized place. I could ask about for you, if you like?’

‘Oh, yes please,’ Holly said fervently and she scuttled back into the shop. All she could do now was wait.

The following week Ivy had to take a day off work sick, which was most unusual for her and Holly was worried.

‘Shall I get a doctor to come in and look at you?’ she offered as she got ready to go to her shift at the hospital.

Ivy was curled up in the chair at the side of the fire, her face the colour of putty.

‘No, I’ll be fine, I’ve probably just eaten sommat what’s disagreed wi’ me. I’ll most likely be right as rain again tomorrer.’

‘Then is there anything I can get you before I leave? Some toast, perhaps, and a cup of tea. It might settle your stomach.’

‘No, really.’ Just the thought of food made Ivy feel sick again. ‘You get off. I’ll probably go into work later on if I feel a bit better.’

Holly reluctantly left her and made her way through the blustery streets to the hospital. Red and russet leaves were blowing across the pavements and suddenly the day had turned chilly although after the intense heat of the summer the cooler air was welcome. She’d noticed that the air in the city was much more humid than back at home, probably because everywhere was so built up, she supposed.

She was approaching the hospital entrance when she saw Dr Parkin just ahead of her and her heart did a little flutter, as it always did at sight of him. As usual his hair was in need of a brush and his white coat was crumpled but to her he looked prefect. They’d shared a few of their breaks together since the night he had walked her home after dear old Mrs Green had died but he had never asked her out again. She wished that she had taken him up on his offer but it was too late to do anything about it now. Even so she knew that if he asked her again she would go. He was now busily studying to further his career to become a surgeon and so he wasn’t on the wards as often as he used to be and she found that she missed him.