She was woken from her reverie by Teifion walking into the office. ‘Lucy, I have an idea.’
‘Is it something I’ll like? If so sit down and tell me,’ she said. ‘If it's a favour then you’ll have to wait until after the weekend, we’re busy.’
‘That’s it! I’m free on Saturday as Ed Connors is helping Betty. ‘I’ve got the whole day off. Lucky eh? I can come and give a hand. My years of experience are at your disposal! And, I don’t want paying. And, in case you’re in any doubt, I won’t be representing my father, just helping you.’
‘Why are you having the day off? Saturday’s a busy day at the Ship, surely?’
He didn’t tell her how he had pleaded for the time, wanting the excuse to share the day with her. ‘Betty says I’ve worked so hard, doing much more than I’m paid for so I can have the day off. I’m free on Friday too, at least between opening hours, so if there’s any setting up, I’m your man.’ After a brief discussion with Meriel his offer was accepted.
George was predictably furious when he returned and stormed at his son, who seemed unaffected by the tirade of words although in fact he hated upsetting his father, afraid of seeing him collapse again in that frightening way.
Frieda was home again and acting the part of the loving wife whenever they were in company. In private she and George rarely spoke to each other. She had insisted that her affair would continue as she couldn’t live with George unless she had what she called her freedom. She agreed to return to George and play the part of ‘the dutiful wife’. The words were cruel. What he wanted was a loyal, loving and truthful wife, a partner in everything he did, and a ‘dutiful’ wife was as far away from that as he could imagine. By her occasional appearances in Cwm Derw and her pretence at being his loving wife he would at least have had some pride left, and sadly, he had settled for that.
He stopped going home at lunchtime whether Frieda was at home or not, either going to the café or for a snack at the Ship and Compass. Betty made him a few sandwiches and, with a pint, he was content with that. He took a daily paper and hid behind it, using it as a screen to avoid conversation with other customers. He was in no mood for polite chatter. The jovial businessman, everyone’s friend, was a part he played in the office and shed every time he stepped out of its door. Let down by his wife and with a son who refused to work for him, Walter’s face, smiling contentedly, lurked at the edges of his mind as he tried to hold back on the anger that threatened to consume him.
He stayed at the office late each evening and sometimes called once again at the pub for a leisurely pint before going home. He found some savage satisfaction in watching his son being pleasant to unimportant people, although he always made sure it was Betty who served him. There was always a meal waiting and sometimes Frieda had eaten hers and he ate alone. Somehow he found that satisfying too. Punishing himself seemed a bitter kind of pleasure when he was unable to punish Frieda – or Walter Evans.
He often passed the office of Evans and Calloway and childishly wished he could throw something at the window, destroy Walter’s daughter’s success, smash it into oblivion. To add to his misery the place always seemed busy. It was rare to pass when there was no one there. Often several people filled the small space, looking at the houses on offer or at the desk, presumably making enquiries about a house move. ‘Upstarts,’ he said aloud and someone passing looked at him and hurried away, alarmed by his red, angry complexion.
*
Between opening hours and the necessary work behind the scenes at the Ship, Teifion went through the arrangements for the sale with Meriel and Lucy. He didn’t interfere, apart from offering a few helpful suggestions, upon which they acted. He and Lucy seemed to get along surprisingly well, with her having so recently considered him as one of the enemy, and Meriel wondered how Gerald would feel about their companionship.
Gerald’s feelings were alarm and resentment. He decided that it would be a sensible move to propose. A partnership between Lucy and Teifion would be so convenient it had to be stopped before either of them realized it.
Having made up his mind he hated to delay but knew the important sale was filling Lucy’s and Meriel’s days and their minds, and he wouldn’t receive a good hearing. Instead he planned an evening purporting to celebrate the success of the auction but in fact it would be an evening on which he would propose.
His father had arranged for him to go to London for a few days to attend a sale of old vehicles including several motorbikes. He had a list of models in which his father was interested and the prices he expected to pay. At the same time Gerald intended to gather leaflets and information on the latest cars, in the hope of persuading his father to concentrate on selling new machines rather than dirty-fingered repairs to old bikes which he hated and his father loved. Polishing new body work, persuading the wealthy to part with their cash was far more his style.
He booked a table for dinner in an out-of-town hotel for the evening following the auction and ordered flowers and a gift of Joy perfume to be delivered to the table. The price of the perfume nearly gave him a heart attack as he handed over the money in a shop in London, but he concentrated on looking nonchalant, hoping the tic at the side of his face didn’t show. He knew he had to imply generosity and the promise of an attentive and adoring husband, he had to convince her she would be putting her life in safe hands. He had a moment of doubt when he wondered if Lucy would actually know the value of his gift, but decided he could accidentally let slip the price to make sure she understood.
*
Although they worked together for just a few days, Lucy had become used to Teifion’s presence. When he arrived she would glance up and nod a welcome then they would begin discussing the various arrangements. Together they sorted out many small problems that occurred. Meriel was amused and a little worried, wondering whether Teifion was reporting back their plans to his father, who seethed with anger over his lost business.
Confidence in him was revived when they walked to the office early one morning and saw several of their posters advertising the sale had been fly-posted around the streets. One, to which Teifion proudly pointed, was on George Dexter’s office window. Meriel wondered how the man would react when he noticed it.
‘Best we never find out,’ Lucy said with a chuckle.
Meriel and Lucy were up very early on the day of the sale. Leo had arrived at five thirty to find them up and awaiting his arrival before eating a simple breakfast of tea, toast and jam. To their surprise Teifion walked in just before six. They had expected him to be one of the later arrivals, forgetting momentarily his own experience of days like today.
They were on their way by six thirty, arriving to find men already at work spreading out the garden items and farm equipment in the grounds around the barn where the auction would take place, and adding labels carrying the lot numbers. The well-dressed Mr Lewen was there, suitably dressed in corduroys and a thick jumper and on his feet instead of highly polished shoes he wore workmanlike wellingtons, which were cleaner than those seen in a shop window, Meriel noted with amusement. Harry Power was there too and he waved as he dashed past on an ancient bicycle, carrying a paperboy’s sack filled with leaflets, around his neck.
The grounds and the two barns being used for the sale were soon filling up with people examining the varied items. Most carried catalogues and were marking lots on which they would later bid. Any nervousness Meriel and Lucy had felt in the past few days quickly left them and they went around, planning their route as they went, intending to step outside for some of the larger and more expensive items.
On time precisely, Meriel and Lucy hugged each other before they went to the desk to begin. Their hearts were thumping painfully yet they both appeared calm. They sat at the desk, side by side, with Lucy following the lists, noting the successful bidders and the agreed price and at times directing the men who were to display the pieces as they came up.
Leo stood near and Teifion waited beside the desk out of sight within the crow
d, ready if he should be needed to move anything or help to display them. In the entrance, squeezing himself into the already densely packed barn, George found a place from where he could watch Meriel and Lucy but not be seen.
The barn where they were to begin had been filled to capacity long before they were to start with many more standing outside craning their necks to listen to Meriel’s clear voice, noting the progress on their catalogues with a moving finger sliding down the page.
Bids came fast as the more interesting items of furniture were sold first and almost without being truly aware of the sums involved, Meriel knew the prices were slightly above what she had hoped. A collection obviously from a child’s nursery, produced a spate of bids and she felt the usual excitement as the prices rose. After years without such luxuries, even now, five years after the war had ended, there was an excitement as fine old rocking horses, dolls and dolls’ houses, prams and clothes plus other paraphernalia went under the hammer.
When they stopped for lunch she and Lucy did a rough estimate and were encouraged by the sales so far. Teifion went to the tea tent and brought them each a plate of sandwiches and a sticky bun, which Lucy declared she was too excited to eat, but ate them anyway.
Harry Power cycled past, this time eating a doughnut. With a thumb stabbing the air he called, ‘Well done, ladies, you’re doing well.’
‘What did you expect?’ Lucy shouted through a mouthful of crumbs. ‘We’re the best!’
Meriel hushed her. ‘Don’t tempt fate, we’ve a long way to go yet!’
‘It seems to be going well,’ Leo said, bringing his sandwiches and joining them. ‘I think this one is going to break records. You haven’t started on the farm equipment yet and already the money’s pouring in.’ He had stayed in the background, just watching in case of trouble. They were a good-tempered crowd but just occasionally there could be an argument between two bidders getting out of hand and he was ready to deal with any unpleasantness. But whether because of two women being in charge or because there were plenty of bargains for all, there were no moments of anxiety for him. He had relaxed and watched with immense pride at the way Meriel dealt with the long and tiring day.
Walter and Lynne were there too but like Leo, they kept very much in the background, soaking up the atmosphere and swelling with pride at their capable and talented daughter. Her adoption was forgotten in the thrill of the moment as on so many occasions in the past. She was their daughter, their wonderful girl. They were happily unaware of George looking at them with envy and hatred.
Meriel and Lucy watched as the men helped the purchasers with their goods, heaving the heavy and awkward lots on to waiting lorries, fastening the dockets on to their clipboards duly signed. Lucy’s eyes were sparkling. ‘This is wonderful, Meriel. I can’t imagine ever wanting to do anything else, can you?’
The rest of the day went well, with higher than expected prices being achieved for almost all the goods. With Leo and Teifion offering help, seeming to do what was needed before being asked, they moved from one barn to the next, carrying their precious lists and notebooks. The table and chairs arrived ahead of them, from barn to barn then out into the grounds to dispose of the last of the collection. There were still many shortages and the opportunity to buy second-hand some of the equipment they couldn’t otherwise afford had brought farmers and smallholders from miles away.
There was no sign of the crowd diminishing; as the day went on some left but more continued to arrive. The auction moved outside; there were several pieces of stone statuary, everything from birdbaths and planters to huge full-sized figures of men and women on plinths, towering over the crowd. There was no initial bid for a collection of dog kennel, basket and bowl, but Meriel’s father began to bid and eventually bought the lot for Rascal. Tennis rackets, croquet sets, picnic tables, deckchairs, curtains, the place was a treasure trove that had tempted unbelievable crowds.
Meriel knew that Leo’s reminders about extra advertising, his persuasions to widen the area she had intended to canvass with leaflets and posters, had been a large part of the day’s success. Teifion too had been a valuable addition to the wonderful auction and catching a glimpse of George and remembering the poster Teifion had stuck on his window, they laughed and waved at him. Lowering his head George hurried away.
It was after eight o’clock before they could leave. Lynne had already disappeared and her father told her she was making sure there was a meal waiting for them all at Badgers Brook. Leaving the temporarily employed workmen to finish clearing up, and arranging for the few curtains and oddments to be disposed off, a weary Meriel and Lucy walked towards the cars. Meriel smiled as she heard Leo warning the men to ‘Make sure there’s nothing more than a few flattened grasses to show we’ve been here.’
‘They’ve been marvellous,’ Lucy said. ‘They all worked so hard and with remarkable efficiency considering they’d never done this before. Even Mr Slick-Dresser Henry Lewen can’t complain.’ Lucy said with a sigh. ‘What a day!’
‘Henry? Is that his name?’ Meriel asked, amused.
‘Yes, doesn’t it sound exactly right for him?’
‘You ought to refer to him as Henry, that’ll upset your Gerald.’
‘Is he my Gerald?’
‘Do you want him to be?’
‘Come on, get into the car, I’m suddenly starving.’
Leo ran up, having gone back to discuss the success of the sale with Mr Lewen, to gauge his opinion on the day. ‘He was smiling widely and proclaimed himself more than delighted with the day,’ he reported to them. He hugged Lucy, then Meriel, holding her just a little longer, telling her she was wonderful.
Meriel felt the tiredness falling from her and wallowed in his praise. With an arm still around her he walked her over to Walter and repeated his comments about the owners’ delight. Meriel was sorry when the weight of his arm left her and they got into the cars.
Leo and Teifion had been invited to join them for supper and Lynne had a casserole warming and some bread crisping in the fire oven. With fresh fruit offered as dessert they considered it a feast.
Lucy was about to sit and begin when there was a knock at the door. A very agitated Gerald stood there asking for Lucy.
‘Come in, we can find another plateful,’ Meriel said, but he refused. She was aware then of his anxious expression and asked, ‘Gerald? Is something wrong?’
‘Yes, er no, not exactly. I booked a meal for us and when I went to find Lucy she was still busy, then I was told she’d gone. We’re late but we can still make it if I phone to explain.’
Lucy appeared and when he explained she shook her head. ‘Sorry, Gerald, but I’m too tired. We’re going to eat then collapse.’
‘But it’s arranged, something rather special to congratulate you on today. From what I’ve been told you were wonderful. Amazing.’
‘At the moment all I feel is exhaustion. Can we make it another day?’
‘Please, Lucy. It’s important to me.’ He gave a half-smile and added, ‘The flowers won’t be as fresh tomorrow. Flowers and a special gift for a special lady.’
She looked at him, the expression of devotion as his eyes stared into hers, the pleading tone, his hands reaching out and holding hers and suddenly she knew. He was going to propose. Panic filled her, both pleasure and pain. How much she had wanted this but now she was unsure. She had changed, her life had been transformed; marriage and children and a lifetime of Gerald no longer encapsulated her entire world.
‘Gerald, it’s a kind thought and normally I’d love to come but tonight I wouldn’t be good company, I‘d be sneaking glances at my watch, wondering how soon we can leave. You don’t deserve that. Please, let’s make it another day, shall we?’
His shoulders drooped and his hands fell to his sides, a picture of utter dejection. Once more his actions were genuine but again, Lucy found his behaviour unconvincing.
She went back into the kitchen where her meal had been put into the oven to keep warm, looking ver
y thoughtful. She brightened and joined in the conversations and good-humoured laughter and said nothing of what had happened.
It wasn’t until everyone had gone and they were making their traditional hot drink to take up to bed that she told Meriel what she suspected. ‘“Flowers” he said, and a special gift. I’m sure he was going to ask me to marry him.’
‘And why doesn’t that thrill you?’ Meriel asked softly. ‘Why aren’t you bright-eyed and glowing with happiness?’
‘I no longer want to trust my life to him and I don’t really know why. Once it was all I dreamed of.’
‘You were an assistant in the hairdresser’s then, look at you now!’
‘That’s the trouble. I’m no longer that nervous girl afraid of being left on the shelf, desperate to say yes to a proposal of marriage.’
‘Being successful in a business doesn’t preclude you from everything else – at least, I hope not!’ she joked.
‘No, but perhaps it makes Gerald consider me a better prospect.’
‘A prospect? That’s what we call someone offering business.’
‘Perhaps that’s what I am. To Gerald. Offering him a share of all this, something that belongs to you and me.’
‘Nonsense, he isn’t that stupid.’
‘Neither am I. Meriel, will you do something for me, a big favour?’
‘Of course.’
‘Will you hint to Gerald that I’m leaving Evans and Calloway? Just a hint that I’m not pulling my weight, and that we’re to part company?’
‘I can’t do that! Someone might believe it and it isn’t true, you’re an equal partner. I can’t lie about such a thing.’
‘Please, just for a while. Just a hint, to Gerald. Then we’ll see whether he changes his mind, about the flowers and the special gift for a special lady. Please?’
The Heart of the Home Page 20
