by Joan Jonker
Molly could hear the giggling as she closed the door, and she had trouble keeping her own face straight. ‘Come on, Nellie, let’s get it over with.’ It was then she noticed the glint in her mate’s eyes, and as she pulled the knickers up to the chubby knees she heard a chuckle, then, ‘As I’ve told yer many times, girl, life can be a bugger.’
‘My life would be a bed of roses if it wasn’t for you, Nellie McDonough. Yer cause me more trouble than my four kids ever did. In fact they were angels compared to you.’
Doreen and Jill had their ears to the kitchen door, and Doreen repeated to Victoria everything that was said, making the old lady shake with quiet laughter.
‘It wasn’t my fault the baby pulled me knickers down, girl, so if yer want to tell anyone off, well, tell the baby. Your trouble is that yer haven’t got no sense of humour. I bet when I tell yer ma and da, when we go round there this afternoon, they’ll have a ruddy good laugh. And Tony and Ellen when we go to the butcher’s, they’ll see the funny side, as well.’
Those listening behind the door missed a treat, for Molly’s mouth and eyes were wide with horror. Then came her reply. ‘If that is your intention, Nellie Mac, to make a fool of yerself, then yer do it on yer own. I won’t be with yer when yer go to the butcher’s, and you won’t be with me when I visit me ma and da. So see if yer find that funny.’
‘I am a burden to yer, girl.’ Nellie’s face was sad, but her tummy was shaking with mirth. A fact which didn’t go unnoticed by Molly. ‘Perhaps yer’d be better off without me. You go and do the shopping on yer own, I don’t want to be a hanger-on. I know when I’m not wanted, I can take a hint.’
‘Oh, yer poor thing,’ Molly said. ‘Me heart is bleeding for yer. As yer often say, life can be a bugger. But I’ll forgive yer this time, sunshine, ’cos as I say my heart feels sad for yer. So make yerself respectable and we’ll be on our way with no harm done.’
Molly was turning away when Nellie said, ‘I hate to tell yer, girl, but the elastic in me knickers snapped when I pulled them up. Will yer ask your Doreen if she’s got a safety pin I can borrow?’
The laughter from the living room drowned out Molly’s reply.
Chapter Eighteen
Ellen and her daughter Phoebe got off the bus outside Lime Street Station, both laughing and excited. It was a very special day in Phoebe’s life, and she was glad her mother was with her for support. She wouldn’t have the nerve or confidence to look at wedding dresses on her own.
‘What do yer want to do first, sweetheart?’ Ellen asked. ‘Shopping, or a snack in Sampson and Barlow’s? I think we’d be better having something to eat and drink first, for we’ve both come straight from work and we’d feel much better with some food down us, even if it’s only a sandwich. The café is right behind us, and the bridal gown shop yer were told about is just a bit further along Lime Street on the opposite side. Yer can see it from here, but yer can’t see what they’ve got on display in the window.’
‘I’m so excited, Mam, I’ve got butterflies in me tummy and feel as weak as a kitten.’
‘It’s Sampson and Barlow’s then, sweetheart. Yer’ll feel a lot better with some food inside yer.’ Ellen linked her daughter’s arm and led her to the stairs up to the café which was over a shop. It was a popular eating-house, serving good food at reasonable prices during the day, but was more expensive in the evening, when it catered for people going to the theatre or cinema.
The café was quite full, but Ellen was fortunate to see two women paying their bill, and she quickly led Phoebe over to the table. ‘That was lucky, sweetheart, all the tables are taken.’ She picked up the menu, ran her eyes over it, then passed it to Phoebe. ‘I’ll have the toasted crumpets with a pot of tea. What do you fancy?’
‘I don’t really feel hungry, Mam. I’m a bag of nerves.’
‘Yer’ll feel better when yer’ve had a cup of tea, and you really must have something to eat or yer’ll feel worse. Have crumpets with me, they’ll set us up for the afternoon.’
The service was quick and efficient, the crumpets were delicious, and the tea was enough to settle Phoebe’s nerves. ‘I’m glad yer talked me into coming here, Mam. I feel much better now.’
Ellen was delighted. ‘Ready to face the world, are yer, sweetheart? Well, I’ll settle the bill and we’ll go in search of a wedding dress that’ll give the neighbours something to talk about. A lovely dress for a lovely bride.’
‘I’m not worried about the neighbours, Mam, it’s Paul I want to look good for. And you and me dad. I want you to be proud of me.’
‘Yer don’t have to dress up for me and yer dad to be proud of yer, sweetheart, we’ve always been proud of yer. You and Dorothy, Gordon and Peter. Yer dad loves all of yer, yer know that. He dotes on yer.’
‘He can’t love us any more than we love him, Mam. I still remember what our life was like when we were kids, when our real dad was alive. We couldn’t play out because no one would play with us. No clothes, no food, dressed like tramps and always starving. And never without bruises. It’s terrible to say this about someone who is dead, but we hated our dad. So you can imagine how we felt when you married a man who was the opposite. We all adore the man we used to call Sinbad, who is kind, loving, gentle, and full of fun. And I want him to be proud of me on the day I get married.’
‘I made a mistake in marrying Nobby Clarke, Phoebe, and we all suffered because I was stupid. He was a rotter, but like yer say we shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. I was weak in those days, and should have left him when I found out he was a drunkard and a violent bully. But I put the past behind me when I married Corker, and my life now, and my family’s, is a far cry from those bad days. Let’s put all bad thoughts out of our mind, because they serve no purpose.’ Ellen beckoned the waitress and asked for the bill. ‘There are people waiting for tables, Phoebe, so make a move. I’ll pay at the till.’
When they reached the bottom step, Phoebe put a hand on Ellen’s arm. ‘I’m sorry, Mam, I should never have mentioned Nobby Clarke. I didn’t mean to upset yer. It was talking about me dad, and how much he loves us, that raked up the past. And the difference in the two fathers we’ve had. I’m sorry, don’t let it spoil our day.’
‘Don’t fret about it, sweetheart. I’m strong enough now to talk about the past without getting upset. Thanks to Corker, who I love dearly, Nobby Clarke is a faint memory, and talking about him doesn’t upset me. I will only say I hope his soul is at peace now.’
Phoebe leaned over and kissed her mother’s cheek. ‘I know what you went through, Mam, and I admire and love you very much. So now we’ve got that over, shall we sail forth to find the most beautiful bride’s dress in Liverpool?’ She bent her arm. ‘Put yer leg in, Mam, and we’ll cross over.’
There were two white bridal dresses on models in the window, and Phoebe’s eyes were shining with excitement. ‘Ooh, they’re both lovely, Mam. I wouldn’t know which to choose.’
‘All brides’ dresses look lovely, sweetheart, but yer don’t choose the first one yer see. You have to try a few on, to see which one suits yer best. There’s so many different styles and material, yer’ll be spoilt for choice. And colour, too, for ivory is a lovely colour. Yer might prefer it to white if yer see a dress yer like.’
‘Ooh, I think white for a wedding dress, Mam, that’s traditional, isn’t it? And a white veil.’
‘Don’t make yer mind up until yer’ve seen what’s on offer. If there’s nothing in here that sets yer heart beating faster, then we’ll try another shop. So come on, let’s take the bull by the horns.’
The bell on the door rang when they entered the shop, and an assistant came through heavy velvet curtains which covered the entrance to the changing rooms. ‘Hello, can I help you?’ she asked, her smile and tone friendly.
Phoebe’s mouth was dry with nerves, so it was Ellen who explained. ‘My daughter is very shy, but she’ll be fine when her nerves settle. She’s getting married soon, and I’m helping her choose a wedding dr
ess and accessories.’
The assistant smiled at Phoebe. ‘Most girls who come in are nervous, my dear, but not for long. When they see the selection of wedding dresses we have, their nervousness turns to pleasure and excitement.’
‘The dresses in the window are lovely,’ Phoebe said. ‘Except they would probably be too long for me. I’m only five feet three or four inches.’
‘If you were two feet or six foot, makes no difference, we cater for all sizes. If you’ll come through to the showroom I can show you the range of dresses we have in. Any of them can be made to fit, in any style, colour or material.’ She smiled again at Phoebe, putting her at ease. ‘You don’t just go into a shop, see a wedding dress you like the look of, and say, “Oh, that’s nice, I’ll take it.”’
‘I don’t think my mam would let me do that. She’s here to make sure I don’t do anything stupid.’
Mother and daughter were waved to two chairs which were upholstered in a deep red velvet, and they were very impressed. And they were more impressed by the four dresses that were brought through, one at a time, from another room, all covered with layers of tissue paper to keep the dust from touching them. Phoebe’s eyes were shining and as each dress was held out for her inspection she clutched her mother’s arm. ‘Oh, Mam, they are all beautiful.’
‘Yes, they are, sweetheart, fit for a fairy princess. But yer can’t tell just by looking at them that they are right for you. Dresses look different on different people. Yer can’t tell until you try them on. And you can’t try any on now because yer’ve come straight from work and I’m sure the assistant wouldn’t like you touching them.’
‘No, I couldn’t allow you to try on today, madam, for the least mark would mean we couldn’t sell the dress. Besides, you need to make an appointment if there is a particular dress that you are attracted to. If you could come back one day when you have time to try them on, it would be far better than making any rash decision now. If you do decide to purchase one of our gowns, you would need a fitting, and be measured for any alterations. Your wedding day is probably the biggest occasion in your life, so you want it to be perfect.’
Ellen nodded. ‘The lady is right, Phoebe, buying your outfit can’t be rushed. You do need everything to be perfect.’
‘Is there a particular dress that caught your eye, madam?’ The assistant didn’t want to put the girl off, because if she bought her wedding dress and accessories from the shop, then she herself would get a bonus. ‘Usually one dress catches the attention, I’ve found.’
Phoebe looked into her mother’s eyes. ‘Don’t tell me, Mam, just nod your head if there is one you favoured, and we’ll see if we both liked the same one.’
Now Ellen had fallen in love with one of the dresses as soon as she’d set eyes on it. It was just what she imagined for her daughter, but she didn’t want to influence her in any way, so she didn’t answer, just smiled and nodded.
The assistant was listening as she covered the end model with tissue paper, and she was intrigued. ‘Can I join in? It’s a long time since I played a guessing game. I think the last time was when I was still at school. I don’t want to butt in, and my boss would have a duck egg if she knew, but I know which dress I’d say was just right for your daughter. So may I join in?’
Ellen and Phoebe laughed. ‘Mam, have yer got a piece of paper on yer, and we can tear it into three pieces, so we can’t cheat?’
‘I’ve got paper,’ the assistant said, ‘and pencils. Just hang on, I won’t be two ticks.’
‘Mam, my tummy is churning over. I’ll never sleep tonight, I know I won’t.’ Phoebe, always the shy one of the family even though she was the oldest, was beginning to realize that her dreams of being Paul McDonough’s wife were really going to come true. ‘If I’m like this now, what will I be like on me wedding day?’
‘Yer’ll be taking many deep breaths in the weeks ahead, sweetheart, because once you’ve settled on your bridal outfit, yer’ve got to start thinking about the bridesmaids. The material for their dresses, colour and style. And headdresses. I’m not telling yer this to frighten yer, but there’s stacks to be done. Not that yer’ll be left to do it on yer own, because I’ll be with you all along the way. And if we get stuck we can ask Molly next door, she’s been through it a few times and knows the procedures. And Molly would love to help.’
The assistant came back from the front room and handed them a pencil each, and a small square piece of white paper. ‘I feel like a child again, and it’s a wonderful feeling. You have certainly brightened up my day! Now, how are we going to distinguish the dresses? All of them are white, so colour is out. How about neckline, that’s the best. There’s a round neck, a square neck, and a sweetheart neck. So if we write the one we liked best on the paper and fold it over, we can mix them up, and each pick one out.’
There was plenty of giggling as the pieces of paper were put in a small hatbox and were given a good shaking before the box was offered to Phoebe to be first to pick one. She kept it in the palm of her hand until her mam and the assistant had theirs. Then she opened it up and said, ‘Round.’ She looked at Ellen. ‘What does yours say, Mam?’
Ellen held the paper up. ‘Round again.’ And when the assistant said ‘Third time lucky’, Phoebe and Ellen were delighted.
‘Can I come on Saturday and try it on?’ Phoebe asked. ‘I’ll bring someone with me.’
Ellen wanted to ask a few questions seeing as she couldn’t be with her daughter on Saturday. ‘What material do you have that dress in?’
‘The one you saw was in silk, and we can also have a soft cotton which is nice.’
‘What about lace?’ Ellen asked. ‘In an ivory or cream colour?’
‘We can make it in lace, in the colours you mentioned, but we don’t keep any in stock as they are very expensive and the cost is out of the reach of most people.’
‘What sort of price are you talking about?’ Ellen pushed aside her daughter’s hand. ‘It’s all right, sweetheart, I’m only making enquiries.’
‘It would depend upon the style of dress, madam. A straight skirt would be in the region of thirty pounds. Then you have the headdress and veil to buy, which would take the amount to pay much higher.’
Ellen was shaking her head. ‘I was thinking of a very full skirt, but it is up to my daughter. I’m being selfish, saying what I would like; I shouldn’t be trying to influence her. But I only want what is best for her. She’ll be the first of my four children to marry, and me and me husband want it to be very special.’
‘Mam, I don’t want you and me dad spending a fortune on me,’ Phoebe said, ‘and a lace dress would cost a lot of money.’
‘Listen, sweetheart, I had strict instructions from your dad that you were to have the very best, money no object. We aren’t rich, but we aren’t poor, either.’ Ellen turned to the assistant. ‘I know you can’t give an exact figure, but roughly what would be the cost of a full skirted dress, in ivory lace, with a round neck, and long sleeves which taper to a point on the back of her hand?’
Phoebe smiled at the assistant. ‘Yer’ve been very kind, and very patient. Me and me mam will have a good talk, and when I come on Saturday I’ll have it all written down.’
Ellen was determined her daughter was going to have the best, and knew if she wasn’t with Phoebe on Saturday, her daughter could be talked into anything. ‘Can you give me a rough idea of the cost of a dress I have described to you? Plus veil and headdress? I’m not expecting you to give a spot on price because you won’t know the number of yards of material until Phoebe has been measured, but just an idea. Yer see, there are three matrons of honour, and two bridesmaids, so a lot to think about.’
‘I’ll try,’ the assistant said, ‘but it will be a rough guess on my part and don’t hold me to it. Give me ten minutes.’
When they were alone, Ellen held her daughter’s hand. ‘When I got married to Nobby Clarke, I was wearing a dress that I’d had for ages, me everyday shoes, and a small bunch of flo
wers. And it was in a register office with just two of me mates as witnesses. A bare room, and we were in and out in fifteen minutes. So I can’t look back on my wedding day with fond memories. And I don’t want that for you. I want you to have what I never had: a wedding that you’ll always remember as the happiest day of your life. So put up with me if I seem to be taking over, for me and yer dad want the best for yer. If yer don’t want ivory satin and leg-of-mutton sleeves, then tell me. It’s your wedding, you have what you want.’
‘Mam, I’ve come round to thinking ivory lace would be lovely. But it’s the money I’m concerned about. There’s the bridesmaids’ dresses, flowers and everything. It’s all going to be too much.’
As the assistant came back in, Ellen told Phoebe, ‘We’ll talk about it on the way home. And have another look at the two dresses in the window, yer only had a glimpse of them before. Just to make sure you have chosen the right one.’
‘I’ve chosen the right one, Mam, I don’t need to look at any others. As soon as I saw it, I knew. And when you and the lady chose it as well, that sealed it for me.’
‘This is the best I can do without having measurements.’ The assistant held up a piece of paper, but didn’t pass it to Ellen whose hand was outstretched. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t let you have this, it’s more than my job is worth. If I was out in the figures, and the customer complained, wanting to keep me to the price I’d given, then I would be in deep trouble. So this is just my estimate. With a very full skirt, and the long sleeves you suggested, in ivory lace, the dress could be anything between seventy and eighty pound. Another ten pound for a headdress, presuming you want a really nice one.’
Phoebe gasped. ‘Mam, that’s ninety pound! I’d intended to buy me own wedding outfit, I’ve saved up for it! I can’t let me dad fork out that much.’
