Chapter 55

Helen tried to remain calm as she listened to Peggy's instructions.

‘Tony said to dress Bobby in as many of his clothes as you can manage. You must also take everything you'll need with you. Mum, Babs and I intend visiting you as much as possible and can always bring bits along with us, so no need to panic.'

‘Thank you,' Helen said, wishing she could control her trembling fingers and button up Bobby's pyjamas more quickly.

‘Here, let me,' Peggy said. ‘You sit and try to calm down. You'll need all your energy when you go out with Tony. It's still cold out there and you have quite a walk ahead of you, some of it uphill.'

Helen ran through all the things she had packed into her small bag and Peggy's large coat pockets. ‘I feel terrible taking your coat. How will you get it back?'

Peggy shrugged. ‘Mum or Babs can fetch it for me. Or Tony. That's the least of our worries.' She finished doing up Bobby's pyjamas and put two sweaters over them, then pulled on his coat. ‘There. You look very cosy in that lot,' she said, taking his woolly hat from Helen and putting it on his head. ‘It won't be for long, Bobby.'

He went to stand in front of Helen. ‘When are we going, Mummy?' he asked excitedly.

She had explained that they were going on an adventure and that he must be sure not to speak until they got to where they were going, in case the Nasties heard him. ‘When Uncle Tony arrives. Remember, you must hold on to him tightly. He'll carry you all the way.'

Peggy knelt in front of him. ‘There's no need to be frightened. Mummy and Uncle Tony want you to see how long you can stay very still and not speak. Do you think you can do that?'

He nodded slowly but Helen didn't miss the doubt on his sweet face. She reached out and pulled him into a cuddle. ‘There's nothing to worry about, sweetheart,' she soothed. ‘I'll be with you the whole time. I'll be walking next to Tony and will talk to him sometimes so you can hear my voice and know I'm with you. All right?'

Peggy kissed his cheek. ‘Do you have your two best toys?'

He patted the pockets on either side of his jacket.

‘Good boy,' she said. ‘Babs, Nana Ida and I will bring your other things when we come to visit.'

He lurched forward and gave Peggy a hug, holding tightly around her neck. Helen saw tears spring to Peggy's eyes and knew how much the three women were going to miss having him in the house.

‘Can I come back here?' he asked his lower lip quivering.

How strange was his life, Helen mused. He was going to miss the place that had essentially been his prison since he was a toddler.

‘If you want to, of course you can,' Peggy said kissing his cheek. ‘But like Mummy said, you're both going on an adventure and we'll visit you very soon, so you mustn't worry.'

Helen heard distant voices followed by Babs's footsteps outside the attic.

‘Tony's here,' Babs said. Her eyes were suspiciously red. ‘He said to come down so you can leave as soon as possible.'

Helen had caught Ida blowing her nose earlier and was determined not to let her own emotions get the better of her. Her pulse raced. She had expected to have a little more time saying her goodbyes, but she didn't want to keep Tony waiting. He must be as nervous as she was.

When they joined Tony, Ida looked away and wiped her eyes, before turning back to them, a forced smile on her face. She patted Bobby's cheek and kissed Helen's. ‘We'll see you both very soon,' she said, her voice cracking. She cleared her throat. ‘I'd, er, better get back to the kitchen and wash those pots.'

Helen knew it was an excuse so she didn't have to watch them make their final arrangements and leave the house, possibly for the last time.

‘Thanks for everything, Ida,' Helen said.

Ida turned away and waved her hand in the air, too emotional to speak.

‘We need to hurry,' Tony said. ‘I saw four of them going out as I was on my way here. The fewer of them in that house when we leave the better. Right, let's be having you, Bobby.'

He lifted her son and wrapped round him a sling-type contraption he must have made for the purpose. ‘This goes under your bottom,' he said as he manoeuvred it into place. ‘That's right. Peggy, will you strap this behind my back and connect it to the straps over my shoulder? It'll help keep Bobby in place and hopefully won't be too uncomfortable for him.'

‘It's a good thing it's cold out there,' Peggy said, doing as he asked.

‘We probably couldn't get away with this if it wasn't,' he said. ‘As it is I've borrowed my father's old tweed coat from when he was larger. I thought if I bulked up with a thick hat and my largest scarf it might hide Bobby better and just look as if I've wrapped up well.'

‘It's a good idea,' Helen said, checking Bobby was comfortable. ‘Good boy,' she said. ‘Now remember, cuddle Tony and say nothing until Mummy asks you to.'

‘Yes, Mummy.'

She was relieved he seemed excited rather than frightened, and hoped nothing would happen to change that.

Helen fastened Peggy's coat. She was wearing her own thinner one underneath. She tucked her hair under the scarf Peggy had loaned her, pulled on the hat and gloves and checked the coat pockets to make sure her toothbrush and personal items were there. Then, taking the larger handbag Ida had lent her for the occasion, she patted it. Inside were her most important belongings, including underwear and her aunt's photo.

‘We'll keep your Aunt Sylvia's belongings safe here until we can get them to you.' Babs leant forward and kissed her on the cheek, wiping a tear from her own with the back of her hand. ‘I wish we had longer to say goodbye.'

‘There's no need for that, Babs. We'll be seeing them soon.' Ida said. ‘You'd better get going before those lot next door return. Good luck, all of you.'

‘Thank you,' Helen said, her voice little more than a squeak.

‘Open the door please, Peggy,' Tony said, leaning forward awkwardly and kissing her quickly. ‘I'll come back with your ID card as soon as I've dropped Helen and Bobby with Mrs Edwards.'

‘Thank you, but only do it if you possibly can. Don't take any risks on my account.'

Helen knew they were all taking risks using Peggy's identity card, and that she needed it in case she was stopped.

Peggy opened the door. Tony gave Helen a solemn nod and stepped forward. ‘Let's get this over with.'