A Winter Baby for Gin Barrel Lane

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  As he dodged around hurrying people Jack wondered what he should do first. Would it be wiser to visit his mum and stand fast against the inevitable ear-bashing? Or should he see Dolly first where no doubt he would receive a severe tongue-lashing? Either way, he was in ordure up to his eyeballs.

  The nearer he got to Gin Barrel Lane, the slower his steps became. He was dreading having to face up to the people he loved. His heart hammered in his chest and sweat formed on his brow despite the icy cold. He tried to find the words he could use to explain his actions, but he failed miserably. Walking out had been far easier than trying to go back.

  Spotting the Crown at the top of the lane, he felt his pulse quicken. He stopped and stared at the building which had been his home for nearly all of his life and a warm feeling crept over him. A dog barked somewhere close, making him jump, and Jack started walking once more.

  Going around to the back, Jack stood by the door. Should he knock? Would it be appropriate to just walk in? Making a decision, he knocked first then strode in.

  ‘Jack!’ Nancy gasped. ‘Oh, lad, it’s so good to see you! Thank God you’re all right! You had us so worried!’ As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around the young man she’d loved since he was a baby.

  ‘It’s nice to see you too,’ he mumbled from where his face was hidden deep in Nancy’s bosom.

  ‘Nell! Nellie!’ Nancy called as she let Jack go and he hauled in a great breath.

  ‘What? What’s all the racket? Bloody hell, Nance, I’m up to my armpits in customers!’ Nellie yelled back.

  ‘Nellie Larkin, you get your arse in here now!’

  Jack grinned. How he’d missed this.

  ‘What’s so important…?’ Nellie left the question hanging as she spied her son. ‘The prodigal returns.’

  ‘Hello, Mum.’

  ‘Is that all you have to say for yourself – hello Mum? Do you have any idea what you’ve put us all through? We’ve been to hell and back while you’ve been doing God knows what!’

  Jack stood and took his mother’s anger, knowing he deserved it. Wisely he kept his mouth shut.

  ‘I’ve not been able to sleep for fretting! I couldn’t eat…’ Nellie went on.

  ‘That’s not strictly true,’ Nancy mumbled, and Jack fought against a smile beginning to form.

  Nellie ignored the remark and continued with her tirade. ‘Fred is beside himself and Dolly – well Dolly is a shadow of her former self!’

  ‘I missed you an’ all,’ Nancy said quickly while Nellie took a breath.

  Jack clamped his teeth together before the threatened grin broke through.

  ‘We’ve had runners out looking for you, we’ve sent messages to all the pubs and inns and what came back? Nothing, that’s what! We d’aint know if you were alive or dead!’

  Whilst Nellie paused, Jack said quickly, ‘I’m sorry, Mum.’

  Nellie was undone and rushed to her boy. ‘Thank the good Lord you’re home safe and sound!’ Tears rolled down her face as she hugged him and it was all Jack could do not to cry along with her.

  Nancy’s apron was soaked with tears as she set the kettle to boil.

  ‘Sit down and tell me where you’ve been. Have you seen Dolly yet? What have you been doing?’

  ‘Give the boy a chance, Nell, otherwise he’ll turn tail and go off again!’ Nancy said sharply.

  Nellie threw her friend a look which could sour milk then returned her attention to Jack.

  ‘I came here first, I’ll see Dolly later. I’ve been working in a pub in Bordesley Street.’

  ‘That’s just over the way!’ Nellie said flapping a hand in the air.

  Jack nodded.

  ‘So close yet so far,’ Nancy muttered as she provided tea.

  ‘Shut yer cake-hole, Nance!’ Nellie snapped.

  Nancy pushed a plate of cake in front of Jack and pursed her lips. The gesture was too much for him and he burst out laughing.

  ‘I’ve missed you two so much,’ he managed at last.

  Over hot tea, Jack explained how kind Will Jeavons had been to him. ‘I wanted to come back as soon as I left,’ he said.

  ‘Well, why didn’t you?’ his mum asked.

  ‘Pride.’

  Taking a deep breath Jack explained his confusion. He told of his love for Dolly and how he’d been found by Wilton.

  ‘I d’aint know he was married either,’ Nellie said.

  ‘Nor me,’ Nancy put in.

  ‘Well, you have to go over the road now and see Dolly,’ Nellie said.

  ‘Do you want a tot of gin – ’cos I’ve a feeling you might need it!’ Nancy said with a grin.

  ‘No, thanks!’ Jack grimaced at the thought.

  ‘Come home to us when she kicks your arse out,’ Nellie said.

  ‘I told Wilton that might happen.’

  With another deep breath and fingers crossed, Jack left the kitchen of the Crown and headed for the Palace.

  29

  ‘Oh, my God! Jack, where have you been?’ Dolly gasped as Jack stepped into her kitchen.

  ‘I’m sorry, Dolly,’ he mumbled.

  ‘I’m so glad you’re all right!’ she said as she hobbled over to give him a hug.

  Jack’s heart melted as he folded Dolly in his arms. He could smell the soap she was so fond of and he kissed her hair, delighting in its silkiness. Then the moment was gone as she pulled away and his joy was replaced by sadness.

  ‘Welcome back,’ Sadie said, holding up the teapot.

  Jack nodded with a smile. He would not risk offending her by refusing.

  ‘Come and sit down and tell me everything.’ Dolly indicated a chair as she sat down herself.

  ‘I don’t know where to start.’

  ‘Try the beginning.’

  Jack thought about that and decided to start from the end instead; with Will Jeavons and his meeting with Wilton Burton.

  ‘Wilton has a wife and baby son, Dolly,’ he said.

  ‘I did wonder,’ she replied quietly.

  ‘I’m sorry, I know how much you liked him.’

  ‘I did, yes, but I wasn’t sure he felt the same. But what I want to understand is why you left.’

  ‘I think you know already, you just won’t accept it.’

  Dolly flushed scarlet and she nodded.

  ‘We all told you but you wouldn’t have it,’ Sadie put in despite it clearly being a private conversation. A look from Dolly had her add, ‘If you d’aint want us to hear then you should have gone elsewhere to talk.’

  There was a large living room, but Dolly had hated it from the moment she had moved in. She felt uncomfortable in there and it always made her shiver. Dark and drab, it had no windows and seemed as though the builders had stuck the room on the end of the building as if to simply use up their excess bricks. Eventually it had become a lumber room, and everything that didn’t have a place of its own was shoved in there. Dolly didn’t use it so no one else did either. The door firmly shut, it was forgotten about.

  ‘My feelings for you drove me away. I couldn’t bear seeing you with Wilton, I thought…’

  ‘No, Wilton never gave me cause to think there was anything between us. He was ever the gentleman.’

  ‘I know that now and it makes me feel like a fool. Dolly, I have to know one thing. Could there ever be a chance for you and me?’

  Dolly’s blush came red hot to her cheeks and her eyes glistened with tears. Now she wished they’d gone somewhere more private.

  ‘I see. It’s all right, I understand. Mum said I should go home when I’d finished here.’ Jack stood to leave but Dolly rushed to him as best she could without her cane. Flinging her arms around his neck she kissed him with a fierceness that almost frightened her.

  Sadie and Alice exchanged an astonished glance at the unexpected turn of events.

  Jack was in heaven and if he’d died at that moment he wouldn’t have cared.

  When their kiss ended, Jack mumbled, ‘I love you, Dolly Daydream, I think I always have.’


  ‘Oh, Jack! My love, don’t you ever go away again!’

  ‘I won’t, I promise.’

  Sadie and Alice broke into spontaneous applause and Dolly laughed loudly as Jack helped her back to her seat.

  Will Jeavons’ words came back to him: As soon as you get there, ask her to marry you. You thought you’d lost her once, don’t let it happen again.

  Dropping to one knee, he said, ‘Dolly, will you marry me?’

  Dolly looked at the man she had loved all along without even realising it, and whispered on a breath, ‘Yes.’ This prompted more applause.

  ‘Then I’d best find a job.’

  ‘You could go back to the Emporium. Danny Whitehouse is standing in as manager at the moment.’

  ‘No, I wouldn’t take that from him. Besides, I’d rather stay close to you.’

  ‘Aww, ain’t that nice?’ Alice said.

  ‘It’s bostin’!’ Sadie bawled, wiping tears on her apron.

  ‘Should we go and tell Nellie?’ Dolly asked.

  ‘Better had, before Aggie beats us to it!’ Jack replied.

  The cook and maid watched the happy couple go hand in hand to share their news and Alice said, ‘Blimey, that was a bit quick, wasn’t it?’

  ‘I think once he’d declared his feelings for her, Jack wasn’t about to let Dolly slip through his fingers again.’

  ‘I wonder when the wedding will be?’

  ‘Christ, Alice, he’s only just proposed!’

  ‘Ar, well, there don’t seem to be any grass growing under his feet.’

  ‘I can’t argue with that.’

  The two women chatted on as they took up their duties once more.

  ‘Do you think we’ll be invited to the wedding?’ Alice asked.

  ‘I doubt it, we’re only staff, remember.’

  ‘That’s a shame, I would have liked that.’

  ‘Hmm, me an’ all.’

  Over the road, Dolly and Jack were given hugs of congratulation once they had shared their news.

  ‘I was beginning to think it would never happen!’ Nellie said tearfully.

  ‘So was I,’ Nancy sobbed joyfully.

  ‘When’s it to be, then?’ Nellie asked.

  ‘Maybe in the spring when the weather warms up?’ Dolly suggested.

  ‘I don’t care when as long as we are together, but in the meantime I need a job. I have a wedding ring to buy.’

  ‘I told him to go back to the Emporium but he won’t,’ Dolly explained.

  ‘Well, you can work for me again,’ Nellie put in.

  ‘As long as you pay me, and not in gin!’ Jack joked.

  ‘Let’s go and let them all know at the Emporium that you’re home safe,’ Dolly said.

  In the cab they cuddled together, delighting in their closeness, as well as warding off the cold. They were greeted happily by the staff and congratulated heartily when they shared the joyful news of their engagement.

  ‘You’ll be wanting your job back, then?’ Danny Whitehouse asked.

  ‘No mate, I didn’t come here today for that.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘You don’t sound very pleased.’

  ‘It’s just that – well I don’t think I’m really cut out to be a manager.’ Turning to Dolly he went on. ‘I’m sorry, Dolly, but I was happier back at the Palace with my pals. Please don’t think I’m ungrateful because I’m not, what with all you’ve done for me.’

  ‘But where will you live if you go back?’ Dolly asked.

  ‘I never got round to renting out my house, so I’m all good.’

  ‘Right, then, get your stuff together and you can accompany me home,’ Dolly said with a smile.

  ‘What about this place?’ Danny asked.

  They both looked at Jack and with a sigh he said, ‘Oh, all right then!’

  He smiled at the cheers from the staff. He had walked out on them without a word, and now they had welcomed him back without questions or recriminations.

  He knew that the gossip would travel, but he didn’t care. He was back in the fold and more importantly, he was betrothed to Dolly. Whistling a little tune, Jack took his rightful place behind the bar and Dolly and Danny left him to it, laughing as they went.

  30

  Ezra Moreton threw the newspaper onto his desk in frustration. There was an unholy row going on in the corridor outside his office between two of his guards and they were interrupting his peace.

  Flinging the door open, he marched towards the arguing men. ‘What the bloody hell is going on here?’ he demanded.

  ‘I heard summat in the pub last night and he’s saying it ain’t true!’ one said.

  ‘That’s ’cos it ain’t!’ the other remonstrated.

  ‘Shut it, you!’ Ezra snapped. ‘Now, what was it you heard?’

  ‘There’s talk of Dolly Perkins looking to buy another pub.’

  ‘What? She won’t be able to afford that.’

  ‘That’s what I said, boss,’ the other man said before wilting beneath a look of anger from his employer.

  ‘Mr Moreton, sir, I was only coming to tell you what I heard,’ the first said.

  ‘Right, well you’ve told me so now you can both get out there and see if it’s true. Don’t come back until you know more.’

  The two men walked away and Ezra sighed and shook his head as the disagreement began again.

  Going back to his newspaper, Ezra found he’d lost interest in it. Laying it on his lap, he stared out of the window at the frost-covered street.

  Was Dolly looking for new premises? Surely not, because the Emporium had only recently begun to trade. Where had the rumour started and why? Had Miss Perkins mentioned something along those lines in passing? Was she actually on the lookout for another building?

  Surely she didn’t have designs on opening yet another gin palace. That would make four! It was a ludicrous idea. It wouldn’t work – the town couldn’t stand another of those gaudy, glittering palaces. Although, whenever he passed them, they were always bustling with life. She must be making a packet.

  He tried to imagine where she would look next if she were to open another gut-rot doss-hole. It was bad enough having three – but four! He thought about how many pubs and inns Birmingham sported; there must be at least a hundred, and all but a few were thriving. So what was another gin house? It was certainly no threat to his business, which was mainly brewing beer, although some gin distilling was done.

  He snorted as he realised Dolly Perkins couldn’t hurt him or his business. He could, however, hurt her if he could discover whether the rumour was true. If it proved the case then he could buy up any property she showed an interest in, just to spite her.

  For the moment he would wait and see what news his men brought back. With a chuckle, Ezra picked up his newspaper once more.

  Back at the Emporium, Eli Hodges was having a meeting with Jack about the changes planned for the dining room.

  ‘As you can see, the ladies have laid it out so we can get a better idea,’ Jack said.

  ‘Mirrors and lamps, then. They will make all the difference and it won’t cost as much as if we were knocking down walls.’

  Jack grimaced as his thoughts immediately went to the bedroom where the body was found.

  ‘I agree. When can you start?’

  ‘I’ll put the order in for the mirrors today, and we’ll start installing the new lamps as soon as I get them,’ Eli said. ‘I’m grateful for the work, Jack.’

  ‘I’m pleased you can take it on. I reckon it will be smashing when it’s finished and we have folks in for food.’

  ‘Fingers crossed it takes off for you.’

  Eli left the Emporium to place the order for mirrors and collect the lighting ready for starting work as soon as possible.

  ‘Looks like we’ll be going ahead with it then?’ Bess asked.

  ‘Yes, and with Eli’s track record, it’ll be done in no time. Now you have to come up with a menu.’

  ‘What are you loo
king for? I hope it ain’t lark’s tongues and the like,’ Bess said with a wrinkle of her nose.

  Jack laughed. ‘No, just good wholesome home-cooked food like you give us.’

  ‘I’ll get on to that right away, then you can see what you think.’

  ‘Thanks, Bess, you’re a diamond.’

  ‘Speaking of which, shouldn’t you visit the jeweller and buy Dolly a ring?’

  ‘As soon as I have enough money. I thought I’d take her to choose one for herself.’

  ‘That’s a good idea, then at least you’ll know she has one she loves.’

  ‘I have to pop out for an hour, so I’ll leave you to it.’

  ‘Where are you off to now?’ Bess asked.

  ‘I’m going to see a man about a joanna.’

  ‘Where on Earth will you put a piano?’

  ‘In the bar!’

  Jack left Bess shaking her head. The schemes that boy comes up with!

  Jack whistled for a cab and called out the address. ‘Theatre Royal, New Street, please.’

  The cabbie nodded and waited for his passenger to climb aboard.

  Jack tapped his pocket where he had put the money taken from the ‘accounts’ drawer in his bedroom. This was where petty cash was kept for any eventualities that might arise. He had left a note in place of the money saying what it had been used for. He would add the amount once a deal had been struck.

  He had noted from the newspaper that the Theatre Royal had invested in a brand-new grand piano and he was hoping their old upright one might be for sale. If he was lucky, he could buy it and get it installed in the bar. Then all he had to do was find someone who could play it.

  On arrival, the cabbie nodded when asked to wait and Jack hammered on the doors of the theatre. In just a moment, his knock was answered by a little man who was almost bent double with age.

  ‘Waddya want?’ he snapped.

  ‘I’d like to see someone about buying a piano.’

  ‘Get in, then! Standing there letting all the cold inside! You kids have no bloody respect!’ The old man continued to mutter as he led Jack down a corridor and further into the theatre. He shuffled along slowly, his slipper-bound feet making a swishing sound as he dragged them over the wooden floor. ‘Folk coming to the door making me walk all this way. Some people have got no respect!’