His face brightened but she hastened to set him right.
“Please don’t get your hopes up, Reverend. I want to help, I do. But these are Germans. I know they are Jewish and hopefully, that’s what people will see first but there is a lot of anti-German feeling in this country. Maggie and her generation lost so much in the last war. My own father died before I was born.” She didn’t add that her mother hadn’t been married and had paid the price for it. He would find out soon enough when the gossips in Abbeydale caught up with him. “It may prove more difficult than you think to persuade people to put aside those views and just see the children for what they are, innocent victims.”
“I am a good judge of character, Sally Matthews, despite my youth and relative inexperience in this role. I had a wonderful mentor at my last parish. He taught me to try every solution I can think of. I might fail over and over again, but every failure means success is just around the corner. Now forgive me, I have to get off. I seem to have a lot of weddings to plan.”
Sally drained her tea and gathered the cups together. “I’ll carry the tea tray through to Maggie. She’d be upset if I didn’t pop my head in and say hello, now that I am here.” She hesitated.
“What? Go on, speak freely.”
“Have you considered asking Maggie to help?” She could tell from the look on his face, he hadn’t. “Maggie Ardle is well-known and respected in Abbeydale and beyond. She has a big heart and is just waiting to fuss over someone. That would be why you might feel a little henpecked.” The flush on his neck told her she was right. “I’ve known Maggie my whole life, she was a godsend when Mum died.”
“Ask her to tidy up, too, will you? I don’t know how best to approach her.”
“I thought you were a grown-up, Reverend Collins.
“Ah, whatever gave you that idea.” He laughed as he walked out the front door.
Sally gathered the cups, saucers, and plates and took them into the kitchen. Maggie looked up as Sally came through the door.
“Gone running, has he? He’s always late. Forget his head if it wasn’t stuck onto his shoulders. Not a bit like Reverend Hilton.”
“I thought you didn't like Reverend Hilton, Maggie.”
“I couldn’t stand him, Sally, as well you know, but beggars can’t be choosers. I had to keep this job, I had nowhere else to go. But I wish I had stood up to him years ago. He had a mean streak in him and there’s no mistake about that.”
“He was ill.”
“Ah, he was toward the end and in so much pain the poor, old devil. Didn’t do his mood any good either. But that wasn't it. His father forced him into the church when he wanted to marry and have a family. But the woman he fell for didn’t have the inclination to be a poor vicar’s wife. She had a different future all planned out. Poor man, I felt sorry for him, to be honest. At first anyway. Now, less said the better, the man is dead after all. So, what do you think of the youngster?”
“He has a heart of gold and some very ambitious plans but…”
“You think he might be a little naïve.”
Sally laughed, as Maggie had hit the nail right on the head. Nothing got by this dear woman.
“I think he may have underestimated the anti-German feeling around here. You know of his plans for the Kindertransport.”
“I do. Sure, aren’t we taking in two of the children. Not that he knows it yet. I haven’t told him.” Maggie put her hand up to her mouth. “You mustn’t repeat it, Sally.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t. He asked me to do the same.” Sally glanced at Maggie.
“What’s on your mind, Sally? I didn’t think you would hesitate to open your heart to some poor unfortunates.”
“They are German, Maggie. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Me? No, why should it? Because of my Reg? He’d be the first one to take in a child had he got the chance. These children aren’t anything but innocent victims of that madman Hitler. I’d take in the whole lot if I could. How do we teach our children to love thy neighbor if we put conditions on it? I didn’t think you would care, Sally Preston.”
Sally held up her hand, not bothering to correct Maggie on her use of her maiden name.
“Don’t get upset with me. I don’t care but I’m a bit worried Derek might. He’s going to be fighting the Germans.”
“And you think the man you married would hold that against children?”
Shame flooded through her. Her Derek who helped the old servicemen begging on the streets, who slipped food to the local children when nobody was watching.
“No, of course not. Oh, ignore me, Maggie. I’m just scared, I guess. I don’t know anything about raising kids. There was only me.”
“You’re a born mother and don’t let anyone tell you different. Those children don’t want perfection. They just want what we all do. A warm bed, a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. And someone to love them. To hold them close when they are scared or worried. That’s all anyone wants, isn’t it?”
Sally saw the loneliness in the older woman’s eyes. She’d been denied those very things when Reg had died. Sure, she had shelter and food but she doubted Reverend Hilton had provided good company, let alone a shoulder to cry on.
“Maggie Ardle, you are one in a million. That’s what you are.” She gave the other woman a cuddle. “Those kids who come here are getting a real treasure.”
Maggie held her close for a couple of seconds and then broke away, saying she needed a tissue. “My bladder is very near my eyes these days. Can’t believe we
