Through the Storm by Maureen Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

raids. She felt the need to be in the thick of things. She opened the door of the van and slid into the driving seat. ‘Goodbye, love.’
    He bent down and kissed her on the lips, his face stricken with grief. ‘Goodbye, my darling Jess.’
    ‘You’re sure you don’t mind my taking the van?’ Jess had plans for the van once she was ensconced in Bootle.
    ‘I’ll get something else.’ He needed transport occasionally to collect items which had been donated to the museum.
    ‘Is there enough petrol?’
    ‘I’ve put in the entire month’s ration. The rest of the coupons are in your handbag.’
    ‘Thanks,’ she said briefly, and for the very first time since she’d told him she was leaving three days ago, Arthur felt a surge of resentment. She was selfish, always putting herself first, never him. Nevertheless, he said, ‘I’ll send you a cheque each month.’
    Jess had been about to slam the door, but paused. ‘I told you, Arthur, I don’t expect you to keep us, not under the circumstances.’
    ‘I’ll send a cheque all the same. You can tear it up if you like.’
    ‘As you wish, dear.’ She closed the door, switched the engine on and shoved the gear lever into first. ‘Goodbye,’ she shouted.
    The van was moving when she heard banging on the side. She braked impatiently and Arthur opened the door. ‘Who was it, Jess?’ he said pleadingly. ‘Just tell me his name?’
    But Jess merely shook her head, and once again the van started to move and Arthur was left with no alternative but to release the door. He watched as a white hand reached out and slammed it shut. He still watched until the van reached the end of the High Street, turned the corner, and Jess was gone.
    Miss Helen Brazier was getting married and vacating number 10, one of Jess’s properties, though no-one in Pearl Street knew she was the landlord of a dozen houses in the area. They’d been purchased by Bert Hennessy many years ago as an investment. An agent collected the rent, took his commission and deposited the remainder of the money in her and Arthur’s joint bank account, where it went towards paying off debts that were still outstanding to the bank from when the firm went bankrupt.
    According to the agent, with his approval Miss Brazier had been subletting number 10 ever since she’d joined the ATS fifteen months ago. Now stationed in Suffolk, she was about to wed a sergeant in the Royal Air Force who already
owned
his own house in Potters Bar – Jess read the letter to the agent, and Helen Brazier had actually underlined ‘owned’ twice. Normally, the tenancy would automatically be transferred to the people subletting, but the Grahams were bad payers, never in when the agent called for the rent, and several weeks in arrears for the umpteenth time. He suggested they be given Notice to Quit.
    Go ahead, Jess
wrote back when she received his letter. She couldn’t stand people who didn’t pay their bills.
Though it’s not me who should suffer the shortfall in rent, but Miss Brazier. She’s the person ultimately responsible
. Jessica had a heart of stone when it came to business matters.
    Helen Brazier saw the justice in this when it was put to her, and offered her furniture to make up the shortfall.
It’s good stuff
, she wrote.
It belonged to my mother. I’m sure it’s worth much more than what is owed. My hubby-to-be already has his own furniture. Anyroad, it would cost the earth to have it sent to Potters Bar
.
    The agent asked what he should do?
The Grahams have moved out and left the place a proper midden. It needs cleaning and redecorating throughout before it can be re-let, though the wallpaper’s the sort that’ll take a coat of distemper. The furniture’s good quality, like she said
. He wanted to know if he should sell it, or let the house furnished.
Lots of people lost their stuff in the raids. You could get as much as half a crown a week more by letting it fully furnished
. If Jess wanted it sold, he would charge