The Vintage Teacup Club

by Vanessa Greene

  Owen smiled, and reached across the table to kiss her. ‘Don’t cry,’ he said, catching a stray teardrop with his finger. ‘It’s good news, Maggie.’

  ‘But seriously,’ he said, slumping back and putting both hands to his head. ‘Seriously,’ then he started to laugh. ‘It’s a lot to get your head around, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes,’ Maggie said, gathering her strength again, ‘and it certainly shouldn’t be done on an empty stomach.’ She pushed Owen’s food towards him and took a bite of chicken from her salad.

  ‘Woah,’ Owen continued, cutting a chunk of his baked potato. ‘You’re going to be a mum,’ he whispered, trying out the word, ‘and I’m going to be a dad. We’re going to have to pretend we know what we’re doing, aren’t we?’

  ‘I think so,’ Maggie said, then shrugged. ‘But I reckon we can do it.’

  Owen was beaming. ‘I’ve always wanted to have kids,’ he said. ‘Obviously I didn’t think it would happen like this, but I feel ready, I think. Do you?’

  Maggie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and thought about it before answering.

  ‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’

  Chapter 36

  Alison

  ‘Cheers!’ Alison chinked her cocktail glass with Jamie’s. The launch party was buzzing, people were wondering around, chatting, drinks in hand, admiring the café interior and the vintage furniture. ‘Here’s to Blitz Spirit,’ she said. Jamie’s eyes were bright with pride.

  Jamie had worked tirelessly on the café over the last few weeks, with Alison helping out whenever she could, but the person by his side throughout had been Adam. While Jamie had clearly been holding back at first, the two of them were now virtually inseparable.

  The café’s backyard, once just a plain square of concrete with rubbish strewn across it, had been transformed. Adam had brought some railway sleepers and created flowerbeds that Maggie had filled with lavender plants and wild flowers. Tiny lights nestled in holes in the wood, brightening the mural on the back wall – a Bovril ad that Alison had painted, giving it a faded look, as if it had been there all along.

  The fringed standard lamps, glass-fronted cabinets and wall-mounted flying ducks the Spencers had donated gave the place a genuine wartime feel, and with 1940s tunes playing out from a gramophone the scene was perfectly set. Alison’s favourite feature was the dummy by the window, dressed in an original cinema usherette’s uniform and presiding authoritatively over the party. She was carrying a wooden tray with a strap that, for one night only, was laden with Manhattans. Authentic blitz cocktails they might not be, but they were certainly doing a great job of livening up the crowd. Union Jack-themed bunches of poppies, cornflowers and sweet peas were in glass vases on the tables, put together by Anna.

  Pete came back in from having a cigarette, and as he and Jamie started talking, Alison leaned in towards Adam.

  ‘So,’ she said, conspiratorially. ‘Looks like you’re doing something right.’ She nodded her head in Jamie’s direction. ‘You really have put the smile back on his face.’

  Adam laughed warmly. He was younger than Jamie, maybe mid-thirties, and was handsome in a rugged way, but with a style that was sleek and retro; hair cut short at the sides, with a longer, styled quiff. Tonight he was dressed in a checked shirt and indigo jeans.

  ‘You don’t meet a man like Jamie every day, do you?’ Adam said with a smile. ‘I’m just lucky he let me snap him up.’

  Alison saw Jamie glance over Pete’s shoulder and catch Adam’s eye.

  ‘Will we be seeing you in Charlesworth a bit more often now?’ Alison asked.

  ‘Maybe,’ Adam said, teasing, ‘although I can’t see myself moving here,’ he mimed an extravagant yawn, ‘too sleepy. And I hear the burlesque scene is pretty dead too.’ He gave Alison a cheeky smile. ‘Brighton’s the place for me,’ he said. ‘But happily it’s close enough that Jamie and I can see each as often as we like. While he’s getting this café off the ground we’ll spend more time here, but hopefully when there are staff on board we’ll get more time by the sea.’ He took a sip of his cocktail.

  ‘Sounds good,’ Alison said. ‘And, like I say, it’s great to see Jamie so happy again.’

  Alison spotted Jenny and Dan then, weaving their way through the crowd towards her. Jenny had her hair styled into big blonde curls and was wearing a sailor-style dress in navy and cream paired with red heels. Her make-up was normally muted, but the bright red lipstick and thick eyeliner she had on tonight really suited her. She made a perfect pair with Dan, who was dressed in jeans with a khaki forage cap on at a jaunty angle.

  ‘Alison,’ Jenny said, breathless from squeezing through people. Alison introduced Jenny and Dan to Adam and they kissed their hellos.

  ‘Nice hat,’ Adam said to Dan. As they started to chat, Jenny swept around to Alison’s side.

  ‘Alison, you’ll never guess what’s happened,’ she said, a huge grin on her face.

  ‘It’s not … did you hear …?’ Alison started, hardly daring to hope.

  ‘Yes! Your friend JoJo contacted me about Charlie, Carlitos and Me and she loves it! They want me to make a couple of changes but she’s gone ahead and made me an offer.’

  ‘That’s fantastic,’ Alison congratulated her. ‘I knew there was something there. I’m glad JoJo was smart enough to see it too.’

  ‘Jenny!’ Jamie snuck in between the two women, putting his arms around them both and looking Jenny up and down. ‘You look hot, dear girl. But where’s your cocktail? And Dan’s without a drink too? Ah, a new café-owner’s work is never done!’ He reached behind him to the usherette’s tray and passed them both glasses.

  ‘Jamie, congratulations. This place is fantastic,’ Jenny said.

  ‘Quite a transformation, isn’t it?’ Jamie said, sweeping his arm from the front door to the back garden. ‘I was sad to leave the hospice shop behind, but it was time to move on. The ladies have been right behind me actually,’ he pointed with a nod of his head at the group of older ladies standing by the gramophone. ‘I think they’re excited to have a place to come for tea that isn’t Joey’s,’ he said.

  ‘Aren’t we all?’ Jenny added, laughing.

  ‘That’s what I’m hoping,’ Jamie said, then added in a stage whisper. ‘On another note, have you seen those two?’ he said, pointing out into the garden where Maggie and Owen had snuck out and were kissing up against the wall. ‘I nearly had to wrench them apart to get a hello,’ Jamie said, laughing. ‘They’re really into each other, aren’t they?’

  ‘Oh yes. Something tells me they might be in this for the long haul,’ Alison said, smiling.

  ‘Jamie,’ Pete said, turning to face them, ‘Dan was just asking about …’

  As the men got caught up in conversation, Jenny whispered in Alison’s ear, ‘Maggie told me her news. It’s crazy, isn’t it?’ Alison nodded. ‘But amazing. She seems happy.’

  ‘I think she really is,’ Alison whispered back.

  They’d all toasted to congratulate Jenny on her publishing deal, and then Alison had gone to greet the Spencers, who were standing by the doorway.

  ‘You made it,’ she said, delighted to see them.

  ‘Oh we wouldn’t have missed it,’ Derek replied, looking around the room. ‘Our things look rather nice in here don’t they?’

  ‘Much more room for them here,’ Ruby said. ‘I brought along some of the lavender furniture polish we used to put on the cabinet, I thought your friend Jamie might be able to use it.’ She patted her bag.

  ‘Oh, I’m sure he will,’ Alison said. ‘Can I get you a drink? Will you have a cocktail? Or there’s lemon barley water and orange squash. There are a few sausage rolls and things up on the counter, so you can just help yourself.’

  ‘Two squashes would be nice,’ Derek replied. ‘We don’t drink much really, leave that to you young people,’ he said, smiling, looking around the room where couples were starting to sway to the wartime tunes.

  ‘Come with me,’ Alison s
aid, leading them by the arm over to the other side of the room, ‘I’d like you to meet my mother, and some other friends.’

  By the time she’d brought the Spencers their glasses of squash, they were deep in conversation with Alison’s mother Cecily, her neighbour June, and two of the ladies from the hospice shop, Muriel and Anne.

  ‘Oh, we won’t stay long,’ Cecily said, although in truth they’d already been there over two hours and had shown no signs of wanting to leave. ‘June will want to drive back soon, I’m sure.’ June was smiling from ear to ear, starting to bop along to a new tune. ‘But this is quite nice, isn’t it?’ Cecily said.

  ‘It certainly takes me back,’ Ruby joined in. ‘This music, when you hear it, it could almost be yesterday, couldn’t it?’ she smiled. ‘Do you remember the evacuees arriving? I was just telling Alison, the other day, about when they came. Those startled little faces, more used to smog than fresh air.’

  ‘You’re looking at one,’ Muriel laughed, pointing to her friend Anne.

  ‘Oh really? Is that right?’ Ruby said. Alison kept quiet, enjoying listening to the ladies talk, and above all seeing her mum so animated, looking healthier than she had been in weeks.

  ‘Yes it is,’ Anne said. ‘Arrived here from London in 1943 and then after the war I came right back,’ she laughed. ‘The family where I was housed made me feel right at home, I’d never been away before, but they really looked after me. Anyway, we stayed in touch and I’d come back from time to time to visit, with my parents. Andrew, their son, used to tease me and pull my hair – he was all freckles and grazed knees, always getting into scrapes. But one day when I came back he was all grown up, and pretty handsome with it. He asked me out dancing, and the rest was history. Seven grandchildren the two of us have got now.’ Anne’s eyes were bright as she told the story.

  ‘Oh my,’ Ruby said, ‘I’ve heard about you two, local legends you are. How nice to finally meet you.’

  ‘Wonderful,’ Cecily added. ‘They were different times back then, weren’t they? Simpler. I remember when I met Alison’s father Gerry …’

  ‘That was fun, wasn’t it, sweetheart?’ Pete said as he pulled out of the parking space.

  ‘Absolutely,’ Alison replied. ‘It’s great to see the café up and running, and Mum was on good form, wasn’t she?’ Pete nodded.

  ‘And to be honest,’ Alison said, ‘it’s nice to get out without the kids once in a while, just us, isn’t it?’

  Pete took his attention off the dark road for a moment and caught her eye. ‘Yes, it is.’

  Alison put on Fleetwood Mac’s Greatest Hits and the two of them sang along to ‘Everywhere’ as they wound down the county lanes back to the house.

  When they got back home Alison walked up the moonlit gravel path, still singing, a bit tipsily. She tripped and leant on Pete for support. He laughed at her wobbliness but then took her in his arms. ‘I love you so much, Pete,’ she said, kissing him. He kissed her back in answer.

  When they got inside it was just before midnight and the house was completely silent. ‘Pete, before we go to bed there’s something I want to show you,’ Alison said.

  ‘OK, sounds intriguing …’ Pete replied, as his wife led him back through to her workshop. She opened the door slowly and the first thing they both saw were the shafts of moonlight, slightly dappled by shapes of leaves, casting silvery beams across the studio.

  ‘My,’ said Pete, as he took in the full picture. Alison’s entire set of shelves was stacked with teacups; blue, pink, yellow, gold, decorated with flowers of every shape and size.

  ‘They make a pretty impressive collection, don’t they?’ Alison said.

  ‘I’ll say,’ Pete replied. ‘I mean I knew you three had been busy, but what a hoard this is. How many do you have here?’ he asked, walking towards the shelf and picking up one of the blue and white cups that were Alison’s favourites.

  ‘A hundred cups and saucers,’ Alison said, waving her hand to point them out, ‘twelve milk jugs and sugar bowls, ten teapots, four cake stands and a couple of other things that took our fancy along the way. It should all be boxed up, but I couldn’t resist taking them all out to have a look.’

  ‘They look terrific,’ Pete said. ‘It’s a shame to see them go really – but they’ll be making us our fortune, won’t they?’

  Alison smiled. ‘Something like that, yes,’ she said, putting her arms around Pete’s waist. ‘Their first stop is Jenny and Dan’s wedding next week.’

  ‘Ah, yes,’ said Pete.

  Alison narrowed her eyes at him. ‘You did remember it was Jenny’s wedding next week, didn’t you?’

  ‘Yes, I mean, yes, of course I did.’

  ‘Anyway, enjoy them now, because I’m going to box everything up tomorrow and drive them over to the old school house so that they’re ready for Jenny and Dan’s big day.’

  Pete gave his wife a squeeze. They turned around and walked out of the studio, and as Alison closed the door behind them she kissed Pete again, her kisses deeper this time. ‘It’s about time we went up to bed, don’t you think?’

  ‘Pete, what time is it?’ Alison stirred and then, seeing the sunlight coming in through the window, groaned and covered her face with a pillow.

  ‘It’s six-thirty, sweetheart. Sorry, I’ve got an earlier start today. I made you a cup of tea and put it on the side. I didn’t want to wake you.’

  ‘Urgh, Pete, I feel dreadful.’

  He sat down beside her on the bed and kissed the top of her head. ‘You’ll live. Look, I’ve got to run, but let’s speak at lunchtime. I’ll be back late tonight – it’s manic at the office at the moment I’m afraid – so don’t worry about dinner.’

  ‘OK, darling. Have a good day at work’.

  A few minutes later, as Alison heard his car start up, she slipped on her kimono and silk slippers, clipped her hair up and took the tea Pete had made her downstairs to her workshop. She had an inbox full of emails that needed responding to and no one ever said you had to get dressed properly to do that. George cornered her in the kitchen, whining to be taken out for a walk, so she let him out into the garden to buy herself a little time. She watched him now through her window as he darted towards a squirrel. It only seemed like yesterday they’d brought him home as a puppy, the girls squabbling over who could play with him first – and now he was a dad himself.

  Hearing a sound in the hallway, Alison turned and caught a glimpse of Sophie coming down the stairs, another figure tip-toeing behind her.

  ‘Morning,’ she called out. ‘You’re up early, girls.’

  ‘Er, yes, Mum,’ Sophie said, before adding more quietly, ‘couldn’t sleep.’

  Alison craned her neck to see better through the doorway, and clocked right away that the person behind Sophie wasn’t Holly.

  ‘Sophie,’ Alison said, raising her voice. ‘Get in here this instant.’

  Alison caught a glimpse of a teenage boy in a military-style jacket as her daughter shooed him out of the front door. Once the door was shut behind him, she walked over into her mum’s workshop, dragging her heels, her head slightly bowed.

  ‘What just happened there?’ Alison said, standing up and fixing her daughter with a stern look. ‘Did I just see you let a boy out the front door?’

  ‘Yes. It was Matt,’ Sophie replied, rolling her eyes to the ceiling.

  ‘Sophie. Look at me.’ Alison took her daughter’s chin in her hand, and Sophie’s eyes dropped down to meet her mum’s. ‘So Matt stayed last night?’

  ‘Yes,’ Sophie retorted.

  Her daughter’s betrayal hit Alison like a jolt.

  ‘Your dad and I go out for the evening, one evening, Sophie, and trust you and Holly to look after yourselves, and this is what you do? You sneak your boyfriend – who incidentally we haven’t even met yet – in to stay the night?’

  Sophie sighed audibly. ‘We didn’t do it, Mum, if that’s what you’re thinking.’

  Alison took a deep breath. ‘Well I won’t
pretend I’m not relieved to hear that. But it’s about more than sex, Sophie, and you know that.’ Sophie visibly cringed at the word. ‘You’ve betrayed our trust,’ Alison continued. ‘We thought you were grown-up enough to leave in charge of the house alone – that you were enough of an adult to look after yourself and set a good example for Holly – but it looks like we got that very wrong.’

  ‘What do you expect, Mum?’ Sophie’s expression was stony. ‘You say it’s the first time you’ve left us alone, but it feels like Hol and I are by ourselves here all the time. Since Dad started the new job it’s like we hardly see him, he’s working so much – and you’re hardly around either, what with your business and this stupid teacup obsession,’ Sophie waved a hand at the laden shelves behind her mother. ‘It’s like neither you or Dad even care about us anymore.’

  ‘Sophie – that’s not fair and you know it,’ Alison said. ‘We explained that things would change a bit when your father went back to work and you and Holly said you were fine with that.’

  ‘You know what, Mum, we aren’t. You’ve neglected us. Holly thinks so too. And it started when you met your new friends.’ Sophie had a vicious look in her eye. ‘All you care about is hanging out with them and pretending you’re young again. It’s like you don’t even want to be a mum anymore.’

  Alison’s jaw dropped. ‘How dare you. I work hard for this family.’ Alison thought of the late nights she’d stayed up with the sewing machine, over the last few months, just to bring in a few more pennies. How many times had she dropped everything for Sophie? And she saw her kids far more often than other working mums she knew. ‘I don’t have to listen to this. There’s no excuse for what you’ve done and you know it. You’re grounded, for a month.’

  ‘You can’t,’ Sophie’s eyes were wide and her bottom lip quivered. ‘What about Matt?’

  ‘I certainly can. And I don’t care, Sophie. You forfeited your freedom last night when you let us down.’