Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Café

by Milly Johnson

  Jimmy slumped down on Della’s chair. He supposed Ivanka was right, of course and he knew she wanted to make an impact so he shouldn’t be too harsh on her. It would all be different when it was common knowledge that she was the boss’s bird.

  There was no one else the cleaners could have gone to but Roy Frog, but it wouldn’t do him any good. However many of Jimmy’s best workers the boggle-eyed git lured over, they wouldn’t save Cleancheap from going down. What was Roy Frog playing at though? He was going to an awful lot of trouble to cause shit for the only person who could save him from insolvency. Why would Roy Frog, on a sinking rubber dinghy, fire rockets at the big safe ship which had come to save him? It didn’t make any sense to Jimmy at all. His rival’s purpose couldn’t have just been to score some scrappy points of revenge.

  ‘Okay, sweetheart,’ he said, sighing hard and holding out his hand for Ivanka to take. ‘Everything will be okay and of course I’ll stand by you.’

  Jimmy didn’t know if this week was a true indication of whether they could cope without Della in the office, but it was looking as if he would have to anyway. The train he had set in motion with that engagement ring was approaching its terminus. Then he thought what a horrible word ‘terminus’ was. It didn’t have good connotations at all.

  Chapter 81

  The Sunflower Café was full that Friday meeting. Even girls who didn’t usually turn out for the monthly cleaning get-together were present. There was a happy buzz in the place, especially as the gossip had reached most of them about Cheryl’s turn of fortune. Connie had been invited along by both Cheryl and Astrid and sat with them in the sunny little room, feeling that she had ‘Jimmy Diamond’s Wife’ written across her forehead in fluorescent lettering. At some point they’d have to know that Marilyn Smith was actually Connie Diamond. She hoped they’d understand. She hoped that working happily for Lady Muck would make them forgive her everything.

  The three-tiered plates crowded with finger sandwiches, tartlets, pastries and Patricia’s clotted cream scones were set on the tables, the teapots were being tipped and the cluck of chatter filled the room, then Hilda rapped the table with the salt pot to start off the proceedings.

  ‘Hello everyone,’ she said. ‘Thanks for coming. I know you’ll have a few questions and things to talk about so let’s get cracking. Is there anyone here present who is still working for Diamond Shine?’

  A hand was raised at the back.

  ‘Shirley,’ said Hilda. ‘Are you staying with them?’

  ‘Am I ’eck as like, I’m handing my notice in tomorrow,’ Shirley replied. ‘I just wanted to make sure we were all in it together.’

  ‘Yes we are,’ came a general mumble in response.

  ‘And no one should work a notice period either,’ said Hilda. ‘Any payments you get from now on should be given to Lady Muck, that’s right, isn’t it Astrid?’

  ‘Ja. Zat is reight,’ Astrid replied in her usual half-German, half-Tyke.

  ‘We have a new member with us that I’d like to introduce you all to,’ said Hilda. Connie felt her cheeks starting to glow as a sea of eyes turned in her direction. ‘Marilyn Smith. It’s because of Marilyn that I learned about Lady Muck so we have her to thank. Or to curse if owt goes wrong.’ There was a ripple of amusement but Connie wasn’t laughing. She felt sick with the weight of responsibility she had brought on herself.

  ‘So? Any questions?’

  ‘Is there any more egg mayonnaise?’ asked Meg Thompson.

  ‘Not that sort of question, you greedy bugger,’ snapped Hilda. ‘Be serious.’

  ‘Can I open a window?’ Sandra fanned her face. ‘I’m having a flush.’

  ‘I’ll open it for you,’ Patricia called.

  ‘I’ve got a question. What about Della? Will she be all right?’ asked young Gemma, which brought another mumble of agreement from everyone. Connie smiled inside that Della was held in such affection by the women.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Hilda. ‘I hope so. I’d like to put a good word in for her with Lady Muck if I ever get to meet her. I must admit it’s a bit of a funny carry on, not knowing what the boss looks like.’

  ‘Well, you don’t in a lot of companies, Hilda,’ said Ava. ‘Our Leonie works for Marks and Spencer and she’s never met the big boss.’

  ‘This isn’t exactly Marks and Spencer though, Ava,’ said Hilda.

  ‘Astrid, is there any more egg mayonnaise on your table?’ Meg was still chasing her choice of sandwich. Hilda cast her an impatient glance.

  ‘It’s just the way Lady Muck does business for now,’ put in Connie to stop the speculation. ‘I heard she was setting on an office manageress to take some of the pressure off her. She wants to be more accessible to you all, I know that.’

  Understanding ‘ah’s followed.

  ‘I hear Norma Know-it-All has been set back on,’ announced Hilda.

  ‘And her Grumbleweed lover?’ sniggered Sandra, still fanning her face but looking shades less scarlet than earlier.

  ‘And Lesley Clamp, Alaska Clamp and Nepal Clamp. I hear that Ruth Fallis’s sister will be joining them as well.’

  ‘I thought she was in the clink,’ said Ava.

  ‘She’s out. But it won’t be long before she’s back in. She’d nick a cat turd out of a litter tray if it wasn’t nailed down, that one. So is everyone clear what they’re doing?’ Hilda waited for a nod or a shake of the head and got both. ‘You need to chuck any Des’s Discount supplies in the bin. Don’t use them. They’re contaminated. You buy your own products, save the receipts and accounts of your car mileage or bus tickets and send them in to Lady Muck with any payments. Don’t take the mick, girls. We’re on to a good number here, so if anyone feels they want to spoil it for the rest of us, you’ll have me to answer to, all right?’

  ‘Okay, if there aren’t any more egg mayos, I’ll have a cheese savoury if there are any spare.’

  Patricia arrived behind Meg with a plate of personal egg mayo sandwiches and said, ‘Here, Meg. Before you wither away.’

  Meg was overjoyed and began to tuck straight in.

  ‘There’s more chance of Ivanka winning Miss Universe than there is of Meg withering away,’ laughed Hilda. ‘Now, let’s raise our cups and toast Lady Muck, whoever the bloody hell she is.’

  ‘ To Lady Muck.’

  The Sunflower Café was filled with the united voices of the toast. Connie tried not to grin proudly. She thought she could fall in love with Hilda Curry. The woman was a brilliant leader and Jimmy had been a fool not to treasure his workforce more. She would make sure that Lady Muck gave them the value they deserved.

  ‘And now some happy news for those of you who don’t know. Our own little Cheryl has had some luck for a change. She was left some paintings by a client and they’re worth a few bob.’

  A round of applause broke out and Cheryl smiled shyly. Wenda patted her on the shoulder and whispered through a honeyed ham and mustard finger sandwich, ‘About time, lass.’

  ‘ To Cheryl.’ There was another toast of raised tea-cups and Connie felt that every woman present, without exception, was rejoicing for Cheryl. The affection in the room was almost touchable. Those afternoon teas in the café, she knew, were a precious bubble filled with sisterhood and support as well as scones and sunflowers.

  ‘Next meeting is in three weeks, back to the usual pattern of first Friday of the month,’ said Hilda, then she called over to her sister. ‘For God’s sake, Pat, get Meg a goody bag before she cries.’

  Connie liked the women so much. This time next week, Lent would be over and her new life would have begun. She supposed that she should call a meeting and enlighten everyone about what was really happening. She wondered if she should do that before or after Jimmy made his grand announcement to her that their marriage was over and would be shocked to find that he was delivering old news. She decided that everything might as well happen on the same day. Lady Muck therefore had six days left of anonymity.

  *

&n
bsp; Hilda caught up with Cheryl just as she was about to get a lift home with Astrid.

  ‘Can I have a word, love?’

  ‘Course,’ said Cheryl, letting Hilda pull her into a quiet corner.

  ‘It’s about Gary,’ Hilda said.

  The name made Cheryl’s insides stand to attention.

  ‘I thought I’d better let you know what I heard.’

  ‘What, Hilda?’

  ‘He’s spent all that money he won. Went mad shopping with that . . . that tramp and blew the rest on scratchcards hoping to repeat his luck. She isn’t with him any more, obviously. But watch it if he comes crawling back to you now. It won’t be long before the papers get hold of your news. He might even have heard already about your turn of fortune.’

  ‘Thank you, Hilda,’ said Cheryl.

  ‘Mind how you go, lass.’

  Cheryl didn’t know what she thought about that news as she walked out to Astrid’s car. She couldn’t foresee how she would react if Gary did turn up at the door. Would it definitely be because she had the prospect of some money? Could Hilda have got it wrong, and things had ended with Chartreuse Clamp because he was missing her? After all, Hilda was known to be biased against the Clamp family. She hadn’t a clue; but what was clear was that she should cancel her date with John Oakwell, because it wasn’t fair to go out with him when another man was still on her mind.

  Chapter 82

  Connie went into Meadowhall the next day to buy herself a new dress for Brandon’s Tuesday soirée. Just a plain black one that would look like a hired-help uniform, she decided. She bumped into Cheryl in Debenhams.

  ‘I’ve been shouting over at you for ages,’ said Cheryl. ‘Didn’t you hear me?’

  Connie had heard someone saying ‘Marilyn’ behind her but hadn’t thought any more about it.

  ‘Er, no. I’m usually in a world of my own,’ Connie excused herself. ‘So what have you bought then, anything nice? Some new clothes? I expect the newspapers will want to take some photos of you soon.’

  ‘I hope not.’ Cheryl grimaced. ‘That’s really not my thing at all. I’ve bought some books and a couple of tops but I’m not used to spending, if I’m honest. I keep thinking someone is going to jump out and tell me it’s all a big joke and Edith’s pictures aren’t worth the canvas they’re painted on.’ She didn’t say that she needed to get out of the house in case Gary called round. She wanted more time to think about what to do. ‘What about you?’

  ‘Black dress,’ said Connie. ‘Nothing special. Client is having a party on Tuesday and wants me to distribute chocolates.’

  ‘That doesn’t sound bad,’ said Cheryl with a whistle. ‘Have you got time for a coffee? I’ll pay.’

  ‘Get out of the habit of saying that to people,’ Connie admonished. ‘You’ll find too many of them will let you.’

  They went downstairs on the escalator to the store café and had a coffee and a fat slice of Victoria sponge each. Connie insisted on paying and won the battle only because she promised that Cheryl could treat her next time.

  ‘Lady Muck is going to be busy next week,’ said Cheryl. ‘What with all the new cleaners on board.’

  ‘I hope so,’ said Connie, lifting a forkful of sponge to her lips. ‘She’s worked hard. She deserves some success. So, will you carry on cleaning now you’re rich or . . . no, daft question. Of course you won’t . . .’

  Cheryl cut her off. ‘Yes, yes I will. You hear about lottery winners who turn all miserable because they’re bored, don’t you? They buy a speedboat and a Rolls Royce and lose all their friends. Well, I want things to carry on as normally as they can. Mr Fairbanks – that’s my art-expert gentleman – he can’t believe I’m still cleaning his house for him. I said “You didn’t think I’d just leave you, did you?” I’m very fond of Mr Fairbanks and Miss Molloy and Miss Potter.’ In fact, Cheryl had had a very interesting afternoon with Miss Potter yesterday.

  ‘I think it’s going to be hard to keep to your normal life when you own a Van Gogh, love,’ Connie smiled. ‘You’re going to have to be very careful about any new friends you make.’

  ‘I’ve made a new friend,’ Cheryl blurted out, looking at Connie with troubled green eyes. ‘And I don’t know what to do about it.’

  ‘Go on,’ Connie encouraged her.

  ‘It’s a policeman,’ Cheryl said. ‘I thought – I still think – that the lady who left me the pictures was murdered by her nephew. So I rang the police and I spoke to this detective John Oakwell. Then the nephew reported me for harassing him, so this policeman came to the house to warn me off. Then I bumped into the . . . John on Thursday in Morrisons and we got talking. We went for a coffee and I’m supposed to be going with him to the cinema tonight.’

  Connie waited for her to go on and when she didn’t, she said, ‘And the problem is . . . ?’

  ‘I’m still thinking about my ex. Who is a dick.’

  ‘Ah.’

  ‘John’s really nice. He’s got really nice smiley eyes and he’s handsome and he’s big and smart and—’

  ‘How do you fancy giving me his address and I’ll go out with him instead.’ Connie smiled.

  ‘I was with Gary for ten years. He lied to me so much and gambled all our money away and I know we’ve split up and he’s a total knob but . . . but . . . Oh I’m so confused. You know when people have rotten limbs cut off and they say they still feel them . . . Do you know what I mean, Marilyn? Why is my head saying different stuff to this?’ She touched her fingers to her chest where the heart was.

  Connie pulled a tissue out of her handbag and passed it to Cheryl just in time as a fat teardrop rolled down her cheek.

  ‘Sometimes you have to listen to your head, sweetheart, because hearts can be very stupid. Sometimes you just have to let go of that limb because the body is playing every trick it can to make you re-attach it, but it’s past the point of saving and would poison you if you did. ’

  ‘Do you think?’

  ‘Ten years is a long time to be with someone, Cheryl. Eventually the heart will catch up with the brain, but it’s a bit slower on the uptake.’

  Cheryl nodded. ‘You been through this, Marilyn?’

  No, but I will be soon, said Connie to herself. And I’ll have to remember that it’s a damned sight harder to take the advice that you give so easily out to others. She nodded without giving any detail.

  ‘Got any more shopping to do when we’ve finished this? I could give you a lift back to Barnsley if you haven’t,’ she said.

  ‘Ooh, that would be handy, if that’s okay with you,’ said Cheryl. She was glad she had bumped into Marilyn and had a talk. She felt better for sharing it and hearing someone else’s perspective on it. Especially someone like Marilyn who radiated kindness like sun-rays. She only hoped that if Gary was going to try and worm his way back into her life, he’d do it now, whilst she was full of Victoria sponge and courage.

  Chapter 83

  Not only did Gary come around when Cheryl was still full of sponge and courage, but he called on her when she had just put on her new dress, her new shoes and her new red lipstick. She’d never worn such a brave, bold shade before, but she and Connie had gone for a wander around the make-up and perfumes in Debenhams before they drove home and Cheryl had heard the slick red lippy call to her all the way from the Mac counter.

  Cheryl heard their old car first, then saw it pull up outside the house through the window and immediately her whole body started to shake. Her idiot heart was thumping like a horse’s legs against a stable wall. It missed a great long beat when Gary knocked on the front door and when her hand reached out to open it, she saw how much it was trembling.

  There he was on her doorstep, with his grin and his handsome boyish face and a large bunch of pink flowers wrapped in cellophane. There was a ‘thirty per cent extra free’ sticker on it.

  ‘Hi Cheryl,’ he said and she saw his Adam’s apple make a pronounced nervous rise and fall in his throat. ‘Can I come in for a moment? These are
for you.’

  She took the flowers from him because he was holding them out to her and she was too polite to leave him stuck in that position.

  ‘Yes, come in then,’ she said whilst her head screamed at her, Don’t let him in, for God’s sake.

  Gary stood in front of the fireplace and turned a full circle. ‘It’s funny to be back here. I’d forgotten how cosy it is. I’ve missed the old place.’

  Don’t ask him if he wants a drink, warned her head. Courtesy, however, won the day.

  ‘Can I get you a coffee or something?’

  ‘Only if you’re having one. I’m not disturbing you, am I? You going out?’

  ‘No, you’re not disturbing me,’ she said, partly answering his volley of questions.

  Yes he is frigging disturbing you, said her head.

  Cheryl put the kettle on, which didn’t take long to boil as she’d only just had a cup of tea herself.

  ‘You’ve got a new picture up,’ said Gary pointing at the Sunflowers before following her into the kitchen. She could smell his aftershave, she’d always liked it. When he had first left, she would go into Boots, spray some into the air from the sample bottle and let the cloud of scent settle on her. He’d felt hers again just for a moment or two.

  ‘Yes I have,’ she said, aware that he was close behind her, within touching distance. She didn’t know what she would do if his fingers made contact with her. She poured coffee and milk into two mugs and handed him one. It was his old mug, she’d bought it for him for Christmas. It said ‘You are my cup of tea’ on it. She thought she’d taken it to his mum’s house with his other stuff. She hoped he wouldn’t think she’d deliberately kept it, but chances are he would, she thought with a flinch of embarrassment.

  He sat down at the small kitchen table.

  He’s sitting. You’ll never get rid of him now, said her head.

  ‘You look lovely, Cheryl. That red lipstick really suits you.’