New York Storm

by Rachel Wesson

  Chapter 8

  The factory whistle sounded just as the clock struck eight in the morning. Jamie hadn’t seen Tommy yet but assumed his friend was already working. Neither of them risked being late as despite Old Man Carter’s reputation for fairness, he had on occasion locked the gates once the whistle went. This meant anyone who arrived late had to turn around and go home again and were docked a day’s pay. Nobody could afford that, especially those who were saving for their future.

  His future was centered on Lizzie although, after their walk home yesterday, he wasn’t sure how she felt about him. One minute she seemed to like him and the next she seemed to find him irritating. He wished he had a sister. Maybe then he would understand women more.

  “Morning Jamie, you look grumpy today.”

  Jamie ignored the older woman’s teasing. Mrs. Sherry was older than his ma but took great delight in teasing the young boyo’s as she called them. It wasn’t the only thing she took delight in if what the other lads said was true. He didn’t want to know. He hated gossips with a passion and if anyone loved to know everything about everyone, it was Mrs. Sherry.

  “I saw your Nora all dressed up yesterday at Mass. What’s she been up to? Can’t afford those type of clothes on our wages and she ain’t even got a job, has she?” Mrs. Sherry asked.

  Jamie had to take a deep breath and then another one. He wasn’t one for hitting women but Mrs. Sherry pushed all his buttons.

  “Not that it’s any of your business Mrs. Sherry, but a friend of Carmel Doherty’s gave Nora the dress. I’ll ask Mrs. Doherty to stop by your place and explain in detail how the dress came about, shall I?”

  He had the satisfaction of seeing Mrs. Sherry pale. For all her bluster, she wasn’t prepared to take on Carmel Doherty.

  “Ah Jamie lad, I was only teasin’ ye. Sure Nora looked as pretty as a picture. Good luck to her, couldn’t happen to a nicer lass.”

  Jamie stared as Mrs. Sherry retreated. If he’d known a mention of Carmel Doherty would be enough to shut the woman up he would have used it long ago.

  God help Nora if Mrs. Sherry and her like got wind of the fact she was interested in a protestant. Although maybe ma was right and it was just a passing fancy. Nora knew better than to go down that road, although again with women who knew what they were thinking? Maybe Nora could help him figure Lizzie out.

  Jamie kicked himself. He didn’t have time to be worrying about his love affairs. He needed to find Mr. Carter and see what the old man had in store for him that day. Thoughts of Lizzie would have to wait until later.

  Lizzie sat at her machine, frowning at the mountain of work Mrs. Reynolds had given her.

  “She must think I’m an octopus. Ain’t no way I’m going to get that lot done today.”

  “You will Lizzie, just do what you need to do, nothing extra. Think of the extra money you could earn if you hit the bonus,” Sadie said, eyeing her own pile of work with a determined expression.

  The sewing section got bonuses if they exceeded the amount of items required for each order. They didn’t hit it that often as Mrs. Reynolds was a tough boss, but maybe they’d be lucky this week.

  “Seen your Jamie earlier. Got a face like a dog’s dinner. Did you two have a lover’s tiff?”

  Lizzie almost groaned aloud. The last thing she needed was Mrs. Sherry nosing around in her business.

  She picked up the first of the garments determined to ignore the petty minded widow but it wasn’t enough to put her off.

  “By the look on your face, it must have been a real humdinger of a row. What was it about? He wanting to get his…”

  “Mrs. Sherry. If you don’t have sufficient work to do, perhaps I can rectify that situation,” Mrs. Reynold’s frosty tone rang out over the department.

  Lizzie hid a smile as Mrs. Sherry paled at their supervisor’s remarks.

  “Miss Carpenter you best get a start if you want to see that desk of yours again this evening.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Reynolds,” Lizzie replied demurely, but couldn’t resist sending a glance of satisfaction in Mrs. Sherry’s direction. That would teach the old bat to keep her nose out of her business.

  Lizzie sewed quickly but her mind was on Jamie. What was he so grumpy about? She should be the one who was upset. She had waited and waited for him to kiss her last night but instead he’d gone on and on about the football game and every kick he’d made. She didn’t care how well he could kick a ball but she’d forced herself to listen in the hope he would shut up and kiss her. But he hadn’t made any move. She couldn’t very well be the one to kiss him, so in the end she’d lost patience and stormed inside, barely thanking him for walking her home.

  Lunchtime came and went but Lizzie and Sadie ate at their desk. They were behind on the order and that wasn’t a good position to be in on a Monday. Sadie’s machine had broken down so she’d lost time while that was repaired. Lizzie helped her friend to make up the time lost. She knew the bonus meant a lot to Sadie, as she would be able to hide it from her brother Stan who often stole her wages. He knew how much she earned but working in a different department, he didn’t always know about the bonuses.

  The whistle ran at six surprising everyone as the day had flown past. Both Lizzie and Sadie had exceeded their targets so were one step closer to their bonus. Mrs. Sherry, on the other hand, was behind but nobody offered to stay back to help her catch up.

  “I feel bad, I should stay and help her,” Sadie said walking out the door.

  “No way, you would be in for it with Stan. Besides, if she did more work and less gossiping, she would get the work done. Hurry up or we will miss the lads,” Lizzie said.

  “I thought you weren’t in the mood to see Jamie? You got really grumpy looking when Mrs. Sherry was talking about him this morning.”

  Lizzie poked her friend in the arm. “Don’t you go trying to stir things up Miss O’Riordan. Just because you and my brother are on the right track.”

  Sadie blushed bright red making Lizzie laugh. She gave her friend an impulsive hug. “I am really glad things are working out between you two. I can’t wait until you’re real family.”

  Sadie didn’t reply but she didn’t have to. The look on her face spoke volumes.

  Chapter 9

  Tommy waited and waited but there was no sign of the girls stopping for their lunch. Monday they had worked through lunch, and Tuesday he had been busy running errands for Mr. Carver. Wednesday was usually a quieter day in the factory, but it seemed his luck was against him. Who’d know having lunch with the girl you wanted to marry would be so difficult to arrange?

  He finally spotted Mrs. Reynolds making her way to Mr. Carver’s office and decided to risk a visit to the female only sewing section.

  He kept his head down, or at least he tried to.

  “Well hello there handsome.”

  “Mrs. Sherry, could you please tell our Lizzie I need a word?”

  “It’ll cost ya,” Mrs. Sherry replied, winking at him.

  He stared at her in shock. He didn’t have any coins on him but somehow he got the feeling, it wasn’t hard cash she wanted. “Mrs. Reynolds will be back in a minute, can you please get Lizzie? It’s urgent. A, uh, family matter.” Well, he wasn’t exactly lying. If he had his way, Sadie would soon become family.

  Lizzie came out a moment later, looking concerned. “Tommy, what’s wrong. Mrs. Sherry said someone was ill. Who is it? Ma? Da?”

  “Shssh Lizzie, nobody’s ill. I told her it was a family matter and I needed to speak to you. How come you haven’t come to lunch?Tommy walked back to his section. At least one of them would be. He tao We have a big order on adn you havnet come to lunch?r”

  Lizzie stared at him as if he had lost his mind. “Is that all you wanted? We have a big order to get through and Mrs. Reynolds promised we would get a bonus if we finished on time. Why are you so concerned about lunch?”

  Tommy couldn’t help feeling disappointed, although he knew Sadie needed the extra money. “Don’
t worry, I just wanted to have lunch with you and Sadie. I’m sorry I dragged you away.”

  Lizzie gave him a quick hug before moving away. “I’ll tell Sadie your plans. She’ll be happy you were thinking of her.”

  Tommy walked back to his section. At least one of them would be happy.

  Jimmy Headford picked his way carefully through the mud and other waste lying around the tenement. Nancy would kill him if he dirtied her floor. His wife was one in a million but she took keeping the house tidy a bit seriously in his mind. Still, it kept her busy. She was the type of woman who should have had lots of kiddies to shower with love and attention. They were lucky they had Jamie and Paul. There had been so many losses before Jamie had arrived and after. When Paul survived, the doctor suggested another pregnancy could kill Nancy. Father Devine had told him to ignore the doctors, but although he considered himself a good Catholic, he loved his wife and wasn't going to risk her health. They had two healthy boys and for that, he was grateful.

  At least most of the time. Word had reached his ears young Paul had been seen mixing with Ned Duffy and his shower of cronies. Jimmy wasn't sure what to do about it. He wanted to box his sons' ears and tell him off for hanging around a known villain. But then wouldn't that just lead the boy to run to Ned Duffy for more? There had to be a better way, but what? Jamie, on the other hand, was giving him no reason to worry. He was doing well at his job, keeping his head down. Despite being a man of few words, it was obvious Old man Carter was impressed with him. Jamie was in line for a promotion, which would mean an increase in earnings. Would he then ask his girl to go courting? His admiration for Lizzie Carpenter was obvious to everyone, but Jamie thought it was a secret. Jimmy walked through this front door with a smile on his face. He loved coming home to Nancy, but especially when he smelled baked apple pie cooling in the kitchen.

  “There you are love, I thought I would have to send out a search party.”

  “Ah Nancy, I am not that late. I was just having a chat with Whitey.”

  “You should invite him around for dinner. It would help to line his stomach, soak up all that medicine he swallows for his bad leg,” she said.

  Jimmy grinned. Nancy wasn't quite a tea totaller but near enough. Whitey loved her cooking but he wasn't always impressed with her lectures on his drinking habits.

  “Jimmy, I was thinking of sending our Paul over to Brooklyn to stay with Michael for a few days. What do you think?” Nancy asked.

  Oh, this was a turn up for the books. Who had put that idea in his wife's head? He looked at her, waiting for her to explain but she said nothing. Her neck was pinker than usual and she seemed very interested in stirring the cabbage. He took off his jacket and sat down at the table.

  “Your Michael invite him, did he?”

  “Not exactly. But he said the boys are welcome anytime. I know Paul helps you sometimes on the milk round.”

  Jimmy huffed. Helped him. The boy had got up once or twice. Neither of his sons showed any interest in taking over his milk round. He couldn't blame them really. Getting up at 1:30 every morning was a pain, but it was a reliable business and he enjoyed being his own boss. But he wasn't the type of father to force his sons into anything. They had to follow their own path.

  “Will you tell me what is going on in that head of yours,” he asked his wife.

  She put the bacon and cabbage on the plate in front of him.

  “You know me too well. I was talking to Carmel Doherty yesterday after church and, well, I think it would be good for Paul to go away for a few days.”

  “What was Carmel saying?” Despite having a very high opinion of Carmel Doherty, if she was bad mouthing his family he would have something to say about it.

  “Don't be like that Jimmy. Carmel was worried about how much time our Paul seemed to be spending with that Ned Duffy. She didn't want to speak to you as it was better kept between us women. She said she would try and find a job for Paul. She also said Jamie was a fine man.”

  “Aye, and Paul will be too once he finds his own way. Maybe a trip to Michael's would do him good. Although, if he comes back a woman chaser than I’ll be having words with Carmel Doherty.”

  Nancy burst out laughing just as he hoped. The worry in her eyes lessened somewhat. He didn't understand why his wife didn't just tell him what Caramel had said after Mass rather than waiting until now, but that was women for you. Sometimes there was just no way of figuring them out.

  “I guess I can take Paul over to Brooklyn on Friday afternoon after work,” he said. “In fact, Paul can help on my round and I’ll be done faster.”

  “You're a good man Jimmy Headford.”

  “Does that mean I get a bigger piece of pie?”

  She swatted him with her apron but soon enough there was a large piece of pie with plenty of custard put in front of him.

  He pulled her onto his knee causing her to shriek.

  “You're the best wife a man could have, Nancy Headford.”

  “Will you go away with ya? Let me go, if the boys come in they’ll be mortified.”

  He let her go reluctantly. If he had his way, they would make the most of the rare time they had alone, but he didn't want to embarrass her. She was the love of his life and he would never knowingly hurt her.

  Chapter 10

  Jamie pushed open the door to the local bar, spotting Barry Henson and Mitch Griffin waiting for him inside. Barry seemed to be staring at the space behind Jamie.

  “Did you come on yer own?”

  “I did. Who else would I bring with me?” Jamie teased.

  “I just thought you might have Tommy with ye.” Barry said softly almost talking into his pint glass. Jamie felt bad, he shouldn’t tease his friend.

  “Nah, Tommy is staying in tonight.”

  “Didn’t your cousin call around last week? Last Thursday wasn’t it?”

  Poor Barry, he couldn’t be subtle if he tried. Jamie knew he had his heart set on Nora, but she didn’t return his affection. “Yeah she wanted help to find a job. But her gran’s friend came to visit from somewhere in Colorado. So she’s been busy with her. Wouldn’t surprise me if Nora went to live out there. She’s determined to have a career. No interest in getting married.”

  Barry almost jumped into his pint at this news, but Jamie pretended not to notice. His friend needed to switch his attentions onto someone else.

  “I heard a rumor your friend Tommy was walking out with Stan’s sister. Is it true?” Mitch asked, after taking a gulp from his glass.

  “Don’t know. Who’s been telling you that?” Jamie asked. Mitch was a good friend but in Jamie’s opinion, he listened to gossip too much. Maybe it was because his da was a police officer and always wanted to know everything about everyone.

  “Mrs. Sherry was saying something,” Mitch mumbled going red faced as Jamie stared at him.

  “Ah you don’t want to listen to her. In her world, everyone is walking out with someone. Even Father Devine.”

  “Jamie Headford, if your ma heard ya, she would kill ya,” Barry protested, looking about him as if worried someone would hear.

  Jamie knew Barry’s heart was bigger than most but sometimes his friend’s constant worrying about other people got on his nerves. “Ma’s not likely to come in here now is she? It’s time I was off.”

  “But you only had the one? Plenty of drinking time left,” Mitch complained, the look on his face clearly telling Jamie he should stay longer.

  “Sorry Mitch, I promised me ma I would be home early. Night all.”

  Jamie swallowed the last of his pint quickly before he could be persuaded to stay. Most of the lads he worked with, and their fathers, could be found in the pub every night after work. Mitch, for example, never stopped at one pint but drank three or four on a weeknight, more at weekends. Barry wasn’t as bad for the drink but he could still get through a few glasses. Jamie didn’t understand why they would waste all their wages like that but he guessed it was their way of dealing with the lives they le
ad. He made his way home, avoiding the worst of the rubbish on the streets. Someday he would have a fine house and his children would live somewhere better than this. They would have more to look forward to than a dead end job at the age of fourteen.

  As he walked he thought about Lizzie. He hadn’t spoken to her since last Sunday night when she had walked off and slammed her front door. He still couldn’t understand what he’d done to make her angry. He hadn’t laid a finger on her much as he had wanted to kiss her. Women! They were too much trouble.

  He sometimes thought Mitch had the right approach. His friend was determined to remain single for the rest of his life. Said he had no interest in being tied down to one woman. Barry was the polar opposite. The poor fella almost crying into his beer over Nora Doherty. Nora was the salt of the earth, he loved his cousin and would do anything for her but she wasn’t the least bit interested in Barry.

  Nora’s interest lay elsewhere. What would Barry say if Jamie had told him Nora had been seen with Fenton, a protestant lad working for Mr. Prentice? But then Barry wouldn’t say or do anything. He was a gentle giant of a man who wouldn’t ever hurt anyone or anything. All he wanted was to settle down and have a family. He’d have a hard time getting a woman to agree to live with that mother of his but that was his problem. Jamie couldn’t help him. He had enough problems of his own in the romance department.

  Chapter 11

  “Can you believe it’s Friday already? This week flew past,” Sadie said, her sewing machine humming along in front of her.

  Lizzie didn’t reply, her mouth was full of pins for a piece she was working on.

  “Sadie, are ye going to the Church Saturday social next weekend?” asked Sharon, a young woman who had recently started working in the sewing section. Sadie wasn’t overly keen on her. She seemed quite full of herself, although with her looks, that probably wasn’t hard. A few of the factory lads had almost fallen over their own tongues when she walked past. It didn’t hurt that she seemed to waggle her hips suggestively whenever there was a man around.