The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II(11)

“Yes, thank you,” Grace replied softly.

“Good.” Mrs. Weatherford gave a perfunctory nod. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a kidney pie to prepare or we won’t have a thing for supper.”

Without waiting for another reply, she marched out of the room, her back unnaturally straight.

Viv lowered her voice. “They’re evacuating the children tomorrow. All of them to the country. At least, the ones whose parents signed them up to go.”

The news struck Grace in the chest. Viv was right; how could they not expect war when such measures were being implemented?

Grace thought of the housewife who had been in the store earlier, selecting a book without the knowledge that her children would be leaving the following day. All the mothers of London would be losing their children due to the evacuation. And many of them would also be sending their husbands to war.

If not enough men volunteered, they might be conscripted. Grace’s stomach gave a slight flip.

Colin might be called up.

It was no wonder Mrs. Weatherford had been so disinclined to hear more.

Viv stared down at the carpet, solemn. A knot of fear tightened in Grace’s chest and she fought for some levity, lest they both give in to hopelessness. “The children will be fine as long as they don’t end up with my uncle and his family.”

Viv offered a sad smile as she played along. “Not that he’d offer them a place anyway.”

It was then Grace realized Viv was still wearing her smart navy suit. “Did you have your interview?”

Viv nodded. “I was offered a position as a shopper’s assistant. I start tomorrow, for however long it will last now.”

“It will last quite a while, I’m sure.” Grace squeezed her friend’s hand. “Everyone always needs a pair of stockings or a new blouse to make them feel fine.”

“Or an elephant?” Viv tilted her head.

“Perhaps a wombat?” Grace shrugged.

Viv’s mouth stretched in a ghost of a smile. “Maybe even a cheetah?”

“Don’t forget its lead,” Grace cautioned.

Viv’s expression turned serious. “We’ll make it through this, Grace Bennett. Just you see.”

She clasped her hand over Grace’s, a reminder of the camaraderie they’d shared since childhood. That solidarity had helped them survive the pain of Grace’s mother’s death, the drudgery of life in Drayton, Viv’s overbearing parents and even the incessant teasing of Geoffrey Simmons, the dolt.

Together, they would be able to take on anything thrown at them—whether it be a curmudgeonly shop owner or a coming war.



FOUR


The queue of children was tragically endless.

In truth, Grace hadn’t had much chance to think of the evacuation. There had been too much activity the evening before as they prepared for the first night of the government mandated blackout while Colin put the final touches on the Anderson shelter in Mrs. Weatherford’s poor torn-up garden.

The ruined flower beds had been mentioned several times by Mrs. Weatherford, despite her sniffed remarks that she didn’t care a whit.

Through it all, Grace was ashamed to admit she hadn’t remembered about the children. Not when she’d left Britton Street to make her way to Primrose Hill Books. Especially not when she caught sight of strange silver balloons in the sky, as large as townhouses and suspended above the city like bloated silver fish. Odd things that no doubt served some purpose of war.

She stared up at one so intently as she turned down Albion Place, that she nearly crashed into a man in a blue wool Royal Air Force uniform with his full kit slung over one shoulder.

“Forgive me,” Grace said. “I didn’t—”

Whatever else she meant to say died on her tongue, for that was when she caught sight of the children. The queue ran down the length of the street, heading in the direction of Farringdon Station.

The RAF officer replied, but she didn’t hear him as he strode briskly past. She couldn’t take in anything more than the endless stream of children with their small gas masks hanging from strings at their sides, their information pinned on their jackets and their bags of belongings. Such small bags for what might be a long absence. For who knew when the children would return?

Some were eager, their faces bright in anticipation for an adventure. Others were tearstained as they clung to their mothers. As for the women accompanying them, each one was pale, their expressions steeled against the agony of their task.

No mother should suffer a choice such as theirs: to send their child to live with a stranger in the country or allow them to stay in the city where it was dangerous.

Despite the pain of separation, there must truly be considerable risk if they were going to the effort to remove so many children. Certainly it was far better than keeping them here, where they were under the constant threat of being bombed.

Though Grace was not a mother, she hoped to become one someday. So it was that every stricken visage drove into her heart the sacrifice these women were making to ensure their children remained safe.

As Grace walked on in her stunned state, she came upon the mass of them congregated at the entrance to Farringdon Station where another stream of children came from the opposite direction. Hundreds, if not thousands.

Many mothers would have empty arms this night.

A heaviness lay in Grace’s chest for those women and the little ones they had to send off to another’s care. She quickened her pace, unable to endure the sight any longer.