by Joan Jonker
Danny was fast losing his patience, which was most unlike him. ‘I didn’t mean he was strange, I meant he’s a stranger.’
It was young Paul who came to his brother’s aid. ‘Ay, Danny, why don’t yer tell Jenny not to go out with this lad until she knows him better?’
Danny feigned surprise. ‘D’yer know, that’s a good idea, Paul. On me way out, I might just give her a knock and tell her.’
Ada winked across at her husband. There’d never been any doubt in her mind that Danny would be knocking on the Phillips’s door that night. Nor had there ever been any doubt in her mind that her son had more than a neighbourly interest in the girl from number twenty-two. So she patted herself on the back for being right on two counts.
When the knock came on the door, Annie got to her feet. ‘You stay where yer are, sweetheart, I’ll go. It won’t be yer dad, or he’d use his key.’
‘It might be our Ben,’ Jenny said. ‘Perhaps his mate was out when he got there.’
‘Only one way to find out, and that’s to open the door.’ Annie was patting her hair into place when she opened the door to Danny. ‘Hello, lad, come on in.’
‘No, I won’t disturb yer, Mrs Phillips, I just wondered if I could have a word with Jenny?’
Annie held the door wide. ‘Of course yer can. But surely yer could do it better if yer came in for a few minutes?’
Jenny came up behind her mother. ‘Did I hear my name mentioned?’
‘It’s Danny, sweetheart, he wants a word with yer. He won’t come in, I’ve asked him.’
‘He’s probably dashing off to Blair Hall,’ Jenny said, her head popping over her mother’s shoulder. ‘You go in out of the cold, Mam, it’s no good two of us freezing.’
Danny smiled when Jenny moved to the edge of the top step. ‘I believe yer went to the Grafton with yer mates on Saturday, Tony told me.’
Even though it was pitch dark except for the faint glimmer of light from the street lamp, Jenny could see Danny’s white teeth gleaming, and his dimples deepen. He really was a very handsome boy, there was no getting away from it. He knocked all the other lads into a cocked hat. But he wasn’t the one for her. He knew too much about her, and the life she led. ‘Yeah, me and a couple of me friends from work went to the Grafton. And yeah, Tony was there. Is that all yer’ve come to talk to me about?’
Danny was mentally questioning his motive, now he was face to face with Jenny. Well, not really questioning his motive, but the way he’d gone about it. He hadn’t changed his mind or his opinion, but standing on a front step wasn’t exactly the place to say what he wanted to. ‘I’d have taken yer to the Grafton if yer’d let me know. Save yer coming home on yer own in the dark. Unless yer mates live near by, and yer came home together?’
Jenny leaned against the door jamb and folded her arms. It was far too cold to stand talking, but just looking at Danny was enough to keep her there. ‘No, me mates live in the opposite direction. But I’m capable of getting home safely on me own. I’m not exactly helpless, yer know.’
‘I never thought for one minute that yer were helpless, Jenny. But yer have to be careful ’cos yer never know. And yer have to be careful who yer make a date with, as well. Don’t go out with anyone unless yer know them well enough to trust them.’
‘I’m not soft, Danny. I’m a big girl now.’
‘Well, how about coming to the dance with me one night? I know yer can’t come tonight ’cos it’s too late for yer to get ready. But how about tomorrow?’ He had his fingers crossed for luck. ‘And yer can pay yer own fare if it makes yer feel better.’
‘Are yer asking me because yer think I can’t look after meself?’
‘No! Of course not! I’m asking yer as a friend, a mate.’
‘So once we get to Blair Hall we can both go our separate ways? You dance with yer usual partners and I dance with whoever asks me?’ Jenny was thinking it was one way of keeping her promise to Tony. She could dance with him, then have a good excuse for turning him down if he asked to bring her home. ‘Okay, I’ll go with yer tomorrow night. But only on the understanding that yer don’t have to be lumbered with me. You dance with who yer like, and I do the same. Agreed?’
Danny was so intent on looking into her pretty face, he didn’t hear his heart singing. ‘Yeah, agreed. And you tell yer mam she’s not to worry about yer, ’cos I’ll make sure yer get home safe and sound.’
‘Will yer go now, Danny, because the dance will be over before yer get there. Those three girlfriends of yours will think ye’re not coming.’
‘They’re not girlfriends, Jenny, they’re only dancing partners.’
‘I’ll take your word for it, Danny, and now I’ll say ta-ra. Enjoy yerself.’ Jenny was smiling as she closed the front door. You couldn’t fall out with Danny Fenwick, he wouldn’t let you.
Annie was too happy to try to pretend she hadn’t heard nearly every word of the conversation. ‘I’m glad ye’re going to the dance with Danny tomorrow. He’s a nice lad.’
Jenny took a seat by the table. ‘Mam, don’t be getting any ideas about me and Danny. He knows what me dad’s like, and if he’s got any sense he won’t touch this family with a bargepole. He is a nice lad, but he’s not only nice to me, he’s nice to everyone. So don’t let yer imagination run away with yer.’
‘But yer do like him, sweetheart, don’t yer?’
‘Mam, it would be very hard not to. But that’s as far as it goes, so let’s change the subject, eh?’
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ada pulled the door shut after herself and was just about to link arms with Hetty when she spied two familiar figures walking up the street on the opposite pavement. ‘Oh, look, there’s Jean’s mam and dad! It’s ages since we saw them, let’s cross over.’
Joe and Enid Button came to a standstill when they saw the pair crossing the cobbles. Joe was a fine-looking man of sixty, with hair still more mousy than grey. And like his daughter, Jean, he had dimpled cheeks and a face that was happy when it was smiling. His wife, Enid, was small and slim, with dark hair and eyes that were ever changing from brown to hazel.
‘Top of the morning to yer both.’ Ada put on an Irish accent when she stood in front of them. ‘I won’t bother asking how yer are, ’cos yer both look the picture of health.’
‘We’re both fine,’ Enid told her. ‘But neither of us like this cold weather, and we’ll be glad when the winter’s over.’
‘No work today, Joe?’ Hetty asked.
‘I’ve been working a lot of overtime for the last few weeks, so the boss let me have a day off. We haven’t been able to let Jean and Gordon know, there wasn’t time, so I hope we haven’t had a wasted journey. D’yer know if Jean’s in?’
‘If she’s not, she’ll only be at the shops.’ Ada handed her basket over to Hetty. ‘Hold this, sunshine, while I run and see if Jean’s in. If she’s not, Enid and Joe can come in mine and wait for her. I’ll make a pot of tea, and we can have a natter. It would be better than hanging around in the cold.’
‘We don’t want to put yer to any trouble, lass,’ Joe said. ‘We’re well wrapped up, so we won’t freeze to death if we have to wait a while.’
‘Nonsense! I wouldn’t dream of letting yer stand around in this weather! But before we come to blows over it, I’ll run and see if Jean’s in or out.’
In answer to Ada’s knock, Jean opened the door with her hands covered in flour. ‘I’m up to me eyes baking. I thought I’d give the family a treat and make a steak and kidney pie.’ She stood aside and jerked her head. ‘Come in, but don’t look at the place.’
‘I won’t come in, sunshine.’ Ada grinned. ‘And I hope yer’ve made a big pie, ’cos yer mam and dad are here.’
Jean rubbed her nose and left a streak of flour across her face. ‘Ooh, where are they?’
‘I left them talking to Hetty, but they’ve seen yer now and are on their way up. I hope yer’ve got a fire going, ’cos they must be cold, even though they say they’re not.’
Jean stepped down on to the pavement, both flour-covered arms bent at the elbow. ‘I can’t give yer a kiss, Mam, or yer’ll get flour all over yer. Come on in, where it’s nice and warm.’
‘At least bend yer head and let me give yer a kiss on the cheek.’ Enid and Joe were very proud of Jean, who was their only child. She had given them two grandchildren whom they doted on, and who had brought much happiness into their lives.
Before Joe put his foot on the step, he turned to Ada. ‘Thanks for the offer, lass, it was really kind of yer. Me and Enid were both beginning to feel the cold.’ His dimples appeared. ‘Yer can’t take it when yer get to be an old fogey like me.’
‘Away with yer, Joe Button, ye’re as spritely as a twenty-year-old. I bet yer outlive the lot of us.’ Ada gave him a broad wink. ‘It’s good to see you and Enid looking so well. And I hope we’ll see yer again soon.’
‘Yeah.’ Hetty took Ada’s arm. ‘We’re bound to see yer sometime over Christmas. Take care now.’
‘Lovely couple,’ Ada said as they walked down the street. ‘Jean’s lucky to still have her parents. I wish mine were still alive.’
‘Never mind, girl, we’ve got each other. Think what life would have been like if we hadn’t moved in as next-door neighbours.’
‘Doesn’t bear thinking about, sunshine. I can’t imagine life without you.’ Ada squeezed her mate’s arm as they turned the corner into the main road. ‘I’m going to pop me head in the shop to see Annie. I won’t go in, I don’t want to get her into trouble. I’ll just call from the doorway to remind her we’ll be expecting her for afternoon tea.’
‘Yer don’t need to remind her, girl, she’ll come anyway.’
‘I just want to make sure she does. I want to know what happened when our Danny went over to speak to Jenny last night. Me and Jimmy were in bed when he got home from the dance, and we didn’t have time to talk over breakfast this morning. Yer know what a nosy cow I can be, sunshine, I can’t wait until he comes in from work to find out how he got on.’
‘I’m glad you said that and not me.’
Ada chuckled. ‘If you’d said it, sunshine, I’d have clocked yer one.’
‘But seriously, girl, Annie might not like yer popping yer head in. She hasn’t been there long, and she’d be embarrassed if Andy is serving.’
‘Oh, Andy won’t mind, he’s known us long enough.’
However, when Ada put her head inside the shop door, it was to find Annie standing alone behind the counter. ‘Where’s Andy, sunshine?’
‘He had to go to the warehouse for some stock we’re running short on. He won’t be back just yet, so yer can come in.’ Annie was looking as pleased as Punch. ‘Ay, I’ve served two customers while he’s been away. One wanted a paint brush, the other a bottle of turps.’
‘Good for you, sunshine!’ Ada was happy for her neighbour. It was about time she got some pleasure out of life. ‘Andy will be very pleased with yer.’
‘I was nervous at first, me hands shaking like a leaf. But Andy had put the price on every item in the shop, so it was easy. I’m really chuffed with meself.’
‘Me and Hetty were passing, and we’ve called in to remind yer that ye’re expected for tea at the usual time.’
‘Oh, I haven’t forgotten, sweetheart, I’m looking forward to it. Afternoon tea in your house is the highlight of me day.’
‘Just a quick word in case Andy comes back.’ Ada leaned across the counter. ‘What happened last night when Danny paid a call on Jenny?’
Hetty gasped. ‘Don’t tell her, Annie! She’s just admitted to being a nosy cow . . . and they were her very own words. So make her wait until this afternoon. A couple of hours is not going to make that much difference to her.’
Ada lifted both hands in surrender. ‘Okay, okay, I give in, I’m a nosy cow. But a certain person standing just inches away from me is not getting off scot-free. If I’m a nosy cow, then she’s a miserable cow.’
‘What are yer talking about?’ Hetty’s shoulders were squared and a hurt expression crossed her face. ‘Why am I a miserable cow?’
‘Because yer won’t let me be a nosy cow, that’s why.’
Annie’s loud laughter filled the air. ‘If any more cows come into this shop, Andy will be able to sell milk.’
‘Well, seeing as yer can see the funny side of life these days, Annie Phillips, I think you, me and Hetty, could become like the Three Musketeers. Only we’d be three cows. The nosy one, the miserable one, and the laughing one.’
Annie held her chin in her hand and pretended to give that some thought. ‘Ooh, I don’t know whether to look on that as an insult, or treat it as an honour. It’s a “to be or not to be” question, that is.’ She saw her boss’s small van draw up outside and the smile left her face as she stood to attention. ‘On yer way, ladies, here’s me boss. I’ll see yer this afternoon, but I’ve decided I’d like to be a member of your gang, even if it is a herd of cows.’
Ada and Hetty were out of the shop as Andy crossed the pavement carrying a heavy cardboard box. ‘Morning, ladies!’
The friends answered in unison, ‘Morning, Andy.’ Then they went on their way to the butcher’s for stewing steak to make a hotpot for the evening meal.
The kettle was on the boil when Annie called that afternoon, so within minutes the three neighbours were sat round the table with a cup of tea in front of them. There were no cream cakes, hadn’t been for a while now. With Christmas only days away, every penny was being counted for extra food and goodies. The shops were filled with everything needed for the festivities, and excitement was building up.
‘Don’t keep me in suspense, sunshine,’ Ada said after being patient for five minutes. ‘Give us the low down on what transpired between Danny and your Jenny. And don’t worry about me repeating what yer tell me, ’cos me lips will be sealed.’
‘I’ll make it short and sweet then, shall l?’ Annie had blossomed in the last few weeks, she’d really come out of herself. Life had some meaning for her now, and she was taking more care with her appearance. Her hair was no longer combed back in a severe style, but left loose in soft curls, and had really taken years off her. ‘I didn’t hear the whole conversation, ’cos I could hardly stand there and listen, could I? But when Danny left and Jenny came in the room she told me he’d asked her to go to the dance with him tonight and she’d agreed.’
‘Ooh, er,’ Hetty said, her eyes rolling. ‘D’yer think there’s romance in the air?’
‘I think there would be if Danny had his way,’ Ada said, looking pleased with the news. ‘He’d deny it if he heard me saying this, but I’ve got a feeling my son was smitten from the time he first set eyes on Jenny.’
Annie looked from one to the other, then lowered her gaze for a few seconds while she considered her words. ‘I can only tell yer what I personally think, but Jenny might not agree with all I’m going to say. I know she definitely has a soft spot for Danny, but I doubt if she’ll let him know that. Yer see, she is so ashamed of her father, she won’t let herself get close to any lad. She’s never had a boyfriend, even though I know for certain that she’s had plenty of chances. It breaks my heart when I let meself think about it, because life would have been so different for her and Ben if I hadn’t been stupid enough to marry Tom Phillips.’
‘Oh, come on, sunshine, yer can’t blame yerself for that! How were you to know he was going to turn out to be a rotter?’
‘I’ve had cause to go over that hundreds of times through the years, sweetheart, and no matter how I try to find excuses for meself, it always boils down to the fact that my two children are suffering because of my stupidity. Whichever way yer look at it, if it weren’t for Tom Phillips, life would have been much better for me and the kids. Give them their due, they have never once blamed me for putting them through a life of hell. They have always taken my side, and tried to shield me when things got bad. And for that, I love them more than any other mother could love their kids.’
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��Our Danny knows what Tom Phillips is like,’ Ada said softly. ‘He certainly wouldn’t think any the less of Jenny because of the way her father is. My son is not like that. He’s just the opposite, in fact.’
Hetty seldom took the initiative in asking questions, for usually her mate did all the asking. But this time Hetty was running out of patience. ‘Yer don’t have much to say about yer husband these days, girl. In fact yer never mention him.’
‘Not much to mention, Hetty, ’cos I see very little of him. I don’t think we’ve exchanged twenty words in the last fortnight. He comes in late every night, eats his dinner if it’s still fit to eat, then goes up to bed without saying a word. Not that it worries me, for I wouldn’t care if I never, ever, had to speak to him again. Or even set eyes on him. The kids are bewildered, they don’t know what to think. They’ve never said anything, but underneath I believe they think it’s a flash in the pan, and one night he’ll come in from work and be back to what he was before.’
‘I can’t see that, sunshine,’ Ada said. ‘For my money, I’d say Tom Phillips will never revert back to the rotter he was. Something tells me yer’ll never again be troubled by him. Those days are gone for ever.’
‘What makes yer say that, sweetheart? I only wish it was true.’
Ada was remembering how embarrassed and ashamed Annie had been when telling them of her husband’s unhealthy appetite for perverted sex. A man with such needs didn’t turn into an angel overnight. ‘Time will tell, sunshine, time will tell.’ She scraped her chair back. ‘I’ll make a fresh pot of tea, eh, and we can talk about what we’re going to be doing over the two days of Christmas.’
Jenny was ready at seven fifteen that night. She had taken special care with her appearance, and her wonderful thick auburn hair had been brushed until it shone. She kept telling herself there was no need to look too good, it was only a dance she was going to after all. But what the head thinks is often very different from what the heart feels, and her heart was beating very quickly. She also had butterflies in her tummy.
