by Joan Jonker
Stan looked at his wife and saw the colour drain from her face. ‘Are you all right, love?’
‘I can’t take it in!’ Mary looked dazed. ‘How does this Gary know?’
‘Celia and Charlie told him. He said they were having a good laugh because she said her husband had agreed to let people think it was his. And she hasn’t told them that she’s married to me grandad, she said she’d married me uncle, and that’s how she knows me.’
Stan asked, ‘How long have yer known all this?’
‘Only since last week, Dad. I was frightened to say anything right away ’cos Celia’s always hinting that she’s going to tell yer about me lying. And she’d make up worse tales about me, to get me into trouble with me mam. That’s why she started all this, just to get back at me mam, she’s so spiteful.’
‘And where does this Gary feller fit in to all this?’ Mary asked. ‘Is he a crony of theirs? He must be pretty thick with them to know all this.’
‘Oh no, Mam, he doesn’t even like them. I only ever see him every Thursday at the dance, but I really like him. So would you, if yer’d let me bring him in. He’s waiting outside for me. He’s told his mother what’s been going on, and she called him a stupid bugger for letting someone blackmail him. But Gary was only fourteen, Mam, and yer know how wicked Celia is. He was terrified of her ’cos he didn’t want his mam to find out. He hasn’t got a dad, he died when Gary was very young, so there’s only him and his mam.’
‘I don’t want yer to bring him in,’ Mary said. ‘Not tonight, anyway. I want to get things straight in me head first. If what ye’re saying is true, I’ll have to think about what to do about yer grandad.’
‘Hang on a minute, love, don’t be so hasty.’ Stan stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘I’d like to ask the lad a few questions, see whether it is true or whether he’s made it all up.’
‘He hasn’t made it all up, Stan, ’cos we know Celia’s pregnant. And if this Charlie is the father, me dad has a right to know.’
‘Bring the lad in, Laura,’ Stan said. ‘Let’s see if he can answer some questions.’
‘Yer won’t take off on him, will yer? It’s not his fault I’ve told yer lies. He’s lovely, and I like him better than any boy I’ve ever met.’
‘We’ll see about that.’ Stan’s face was stern. ‘Just bring him in.’
Jenny hadn’t opened her mouth, even though everything surprised and shocked her. Now she knew why her mother hadn’t been herself for over a week now. She’d been worried about Grandad. She looked across and met Mary’s eyes. ‘Our Laura’s done a lot of things to hurt all of us, but I think she’s been very brave doing what she’s done tonight.’
‘I know that, sunshine, and even though she’s been very naughty, I admire her speaking up. But we’ve got to get at the truth now, for everyone’s sake.’
All eyes went to the door when Laura came in, hand-in-hand with a tall blond boy who looked nervous at first, until he smiled. ‘I’ve wanted to meet yer for a long time,’ he said, ‘and I’m sorry it has to be like this.’
Mary studied his face for a few seconds, and knew she was going to like him. His handsome face was as honest and open as could be. ‘Sit down, son.’
Jenny moved to another chair, making room for Gary to sit next to Laura. She noticed that their hands stayed gripped, as though they didn’t want to be parted.
Stan was more reasonable than he thought he’d be. If he was any judge of character, there wasn’t much wrong with this boy. ‘We’re finding it hard to believe all that Laura’s told us, son, so can yer shed some light on it?’
‘I don’t know where to start, Mr Nightingale, but I suppose Laura’s told yer how stupid we’ve both been for letting Celia get her claws into us?’
‘I understand that, and believe it,’ Mary said. ‘She’s as evil as they come. But what’s this about the baby she’s expecting? I’ll be truthful with yer, me dad told us she was expecting, but never gave a hint that the baby might not be his. I’ve been out of me mind with worry, ’cos he’s too old to be starting a family. And I can’t stand his wife, I won’t have her in the house.’
Stan held up his hand. ‘Leave all that for now, love. I would like Gary to answer a few questions for me. Will yer do that, son?’
‘If I know the answers, Mr Nightingale, I’ll be glad to answer them.’
‘Tell me about this bloke called Charlie, and why yer think he’s the one got Celia in the family way?’
‘I don’t think it, I know it! They told me themselves and they thought it was funny! She’s been knocking around with Charlie for ages and makes no secret of it. I honestly didn’t know that she was married to yer dad, Mrs Nightingale, not until Laura told me a week or so ago.’
‘And is Charlie a married man?’ Stan asked. ‘Or don’t yer know?’
‘No, he’s definitely not married, he lives with his mam. I’m certain of this ’cos he only lives a few streets away from me. He doesn’t half fancy his chances, does Charlie, he’s a real ladies’ man.’
‘Is he now?’ Stan stroked his chin. ‘I wonder if he fancies being a family man?’
‘What are yer thinking of, Stan?’ Mary asked. ‘I don’t want me dad getting into a fight with a younger man, it would kill him.’
‘Yer dad doesn’t need to know anything, love, if we play our cards right.’ Stan looked at the young couple still holding hands. ‘Are yer willing to help me put Celia and this Charlie in their place? And help Grandad to be happy again – give him his life back?’
‘Oh yes, Dad, I’d do anything to help me grandad,’ Laura said. ‘And I know Gary will too, after what she’s done to us.’
Gary grinned. ‘It would give me great pleasure to see them squirm. And the thought of Charlie pushing a pram down Walton Road – well, it’s a sight I’d like to see.’
There was hope springing in Mary’s heart. She’d often said to Stan that if Laura met a nice boy he might be the makings of her. Well, from what she could see, the boy sitting opposite to her was a nice boy, and he’d certainly changed her daughter.
‘Jenny, will yer put the kettle on for us, sunshine?’ Mary smiled at the daughter who had never caused her a moment’s anxiety. Please God she’d now have two daughters to be proud of. ‘We’ll have a cuppa while yer dad tells us what he’s got in his mind.’
Laura followed her sister out to the kitchen. ‘Seeing as I’m getting all me sins off me chest, kid, I can’t leave you out because I’ve made you suffer more than anybody. I’ve been a lousy sister to yer, and I am so sorry. Yer see, I’ve always been jealous of yer.’
Jenny raised her brows. ‘Jealous of me! Why?’
‘I know it sounds daft, but it’s the truth, and I feel so guilty. I was jealous of yer blonde hair because yer looked like me mam, and I didn’t. Jealous because yer were always laughing and happy, and everybody loved yer. Jealous because yer were good at school and I was a dunce. Yer were too good, and I walked all over yer. I can’t tell yer how sorry I am and I want yer to forgive me. Give me a chance and I’ll prove I want to be a real sister to yer. To share things, like sisters should do. I want yer to believe I mean all that from the bottom of my heart. I also want yer to believe me when I tell yer again, I was lying about John and Mick. I have never been down an entry with either of them, or kissed them. They wouldn’t have touched me with a bargepole. Please believe that, and then I’ll have a clear conscience.’
Jenny didn’t answer for a while, then a slow smile spread across her face. ‘You make the tea, big sister, I’m going on a message.’
Molly opened the door and her eyes widened in surprise. ‘Yes, me darlin’?’
‘If Mick’s in, Mrs Moynihan, can I have a word with him?’ Jenny knew he was in, she’d seen him through the window. Although she would never admit it, she’d been keeping tabs on him since Monday night. He hadn’t been out any night, and she was glad he was as miserable as she was. ‘If he’s not, it doesn’t matter, I’ll come back tomorrow.’
/> Molly felt herself being pulled backwards. ‘It’s all right, Mam, I’ll see what Jenny wants. You go in.’ He waited until his mother had closed the living-room door. ‘What can I do for yer, Jenny?’
‘Would yer like to be me boyfriend, Mick?’
There was no smile on Mick’s face. There hadn’t been for three days and four nights. ‘If this is yer idea of a joke, Jenny, I don’t think it’s funny.’
‘It isn’t a joke, Mick. I’ve never been more serious in me life.’
Mick’s heart wanted to beat faster with hope, but he wouldn’t let it. ‘Yer were dead serious on Monday, Jenny, when yer told me, in no uncertain terms, that yer wanted to get out and about on yer own. So I decided I’d do the same thing.’
‘But yer haven’t been out, have yer?’ Jenny wasn’t going to be put off. ‘I know yer’ve been in every night ’cos I’ve watched yer through the window.’
‘You haven’t been out, either.’
‘How d’yer know?’
‘Because I’ve seen yer through your window.’ Mick realised how childish it sounded and almost laughed out loud. But he didn’t. Jenny had hurt him so much, he wasn’t about to let her hurt him more. ‘Anyway, what have yer come over for?’
‘To ask if I can be yer girlfriend. I know yer haven’t found another one, ’cos yer haven’t been anywhere to meet one.’
‘Yer’ve changed yer tune, haven’t yer? What about all those things yer said to me about meeting other boys?’
Jenny thought if Laura could admit to lying, so could she. ‘It was all lies, Mick, I didn’t mean a word of it. I’ve wanted to be your girlfriend for as long as I can remember. I don’t want no one else. But I’ll not crawl to yer, Mick Moynihan, so either yer close the door in me face or yer get yer coat and come out with me. Which is it to be?’
‘Yer do know that if I’m yer boyfriend, I’m entitled to kiss yer?’
‘I can’t wait, Mick. In fact, if yer come down off that step we can have our first kiss in the street and give the neighbours something to talk about.’
‘Don’t tempt me, Jenny.’
‘I’m not tempting, Mick, I’m offering.’
When Mick stepped on to the pavement, he expected Jenny to back up, but she didn’t. ‘Yer mean it, don’t yer?’
‘Of course I mean it! Now, when a girl gets her first kiss, it’s a big day in her life. One she can look back on with happiness. So will yer put a smile on yer face, just for me?’
It was a brief kiss, but lasted long enough for Mick to see stars and Jenny’s knees to buckle. ‘This is for keeps, isn’t it, Jenny?’ His voice was husky.
‘For ever and ever, Mick.’
‘Hang on, I’ll get me coat and we’ll go down to Auntie Lizzie’s. John and Janet are there and I want them to be the first to know.’
Molly was standing inside the living-room door with his coat in her hand. May God forgive her, but hadn’t she been listening to every word that was said? ‘Romance back on track, is it, me darlin’?’
His dimples deep holes in his smiling face, he kissed his mother’s cheek. ‘On track and it’s full steam ahead, Mam.’
Seamus chortled. ‘Sure, now, isn’t it meself yer take after? It’s a one-woman man yer are, right enough.’
‘We’re only going to Auntie Lizzie’s, Mam, so I won’t be late.’
‘Will John not be thinking he’s had his nose pushed out of joint? Yer know he’s always had a soft spot for Jenny.’
‘That’s why I want to be the first one to tell him. But somehow I don’t think he’ll be that upset. Janet seems to have found favour with him. Anyway, I’ll see yer later. Ta-ra.’
Lizzie Marshall’s face lit up when she saw Jenny. ‘Oh, it’s good to see yer, love, I was beginning to think yer’d fallen out with me.’
Jenny kissed her and lightly pinched her cheek. ‘I fell out with everyone, Auntie Lizzie – I was a real misery guts. Even me mam couldn’t get a smile out of me.’ She would never tell anyone how Laura had lied to her. ‘I can only put it down to feeling under the weather.’
‘Well, let’s hope it doesn’t happen often,’ John said, ‘otherwise none of us will have heads left. Yer’ll have bitten them all off.’
‘Ay, don’t you talk to my friend like that.’ Janet wagged a finger at him. ‘She can’t help it if she’s not well.’
John grinned at her. ‘If yer don’t put that finger away, I’ll bite it.’
‘You do that and see what’ll happen. Either I get me mam to come after yer with the rolling pin, or yer kiss me finger better.’
‘I’ll give both options my consideration and let yer know.’ John turned his eyes to Jenny. ‘How come you and Mick have both turned up?’
‘I called for him. I wanted to say I was sorry for being nasty the last time I saw him. I’m glad to say he accepted my apology.’
‘I’ve asked her to be me girlfriend, John.’ Mick put his arm across Jenny’s shoulders. ‘I finally plucked up the courage.’
It was difficult to read anything from John’s face. ‘I gather, seeing as ye’re both grinning like Cheshire cats, that Jenny’s answer was the one yer wanted to hear?’
Mick nodded. ‘We’ve come to see if yer approve, or whether yer want to throw down the gauntlet and challenge me to a duel, at dawn, in the North Park.’
John searched Jenny’s face, and a feeling came over him that he couldn’t put a name to. He’d loved her for so long he couldn’t imagine stopping loving her. But he now knew that though he would always love her, it would be the love of a brother for a special sister. He turned to Mick, and grinned. ‘What d’yer mean, the North Park? That’s flipping miles away! What’s wrong with Walton Park?’
Relief flooded Mick’s body. He wasn’t going to lose his best mate after all. ‘Well, it’s like this, yer see, pal. Knowing what a lazy begger yer are, I knew yer wouldn’t travel all that way just to kill me.’
‘So after years of rivalry, it’s you who’s won the fair maiden’s hand? Well, I don’t think ye’re good enough for her, she deserves better.’ John put his arms around Jenny and held her close. ‘I’m cut to the quick, I really am. Me poor heart is bleeding.’
‘I’ll bet it is,’ Jenny laughed, hugging him back. ‘But we’ll always be mates, won’t we, John? Nothing will change that.’
‘We’ll always be that, Jenny, and I’ll always be there for yer.’ His arms dropped to his side. ‘At least, I will when me bleeding heart is mended.’
‘Ah, yer poor thing.’ Janet sidled up to him, and in her childish voice, asked, ‘Shall I kiss it better for yer?’
‘Not as long as yer mam’s got a rolling pin and you talk like a parrot. I like the shape of me head as it is, thank you.’
Janet patted his head as she would a child, then moved close to her friend. ‘So is it all settled, Jenny? Mick is officially yer boyfriend?’
‘Yeah, I think so.’
‘Yer think so! Hasn’t he asked yer yet?’
‘No, I asked him, Janet.’
‘Ooh, er!’ Janet pursed her lips. ‘You asked him, eh?’
John bent his elbow and gave Mick such a hard dig in the ribs, he caught his breath. ‘Just watch this, Mick. Can yer hear her head ticking over? Let’s see what gem she comes up with this time. Honest to God, she comes out with some corkers.’
While this was going on, Lizzie was drinking it all in. She needed to go down the yard but she didn’t want to miss a single word. Mind you, she might have to if they didn’t hurry up. At her age, she’d die of humiliation if she disgraced herself.
Janet wanted a bit more information before she decided. ‘What did yer say to him, Jenny? Did yer come right out with it, or did yer go all round the world?’
Jenny giggled. ‘There wasn’t much point in going around the world, Jan, so I just said, “Will yer be me boyfriend?”’
Janet tapped her lips with a finger. Then, her mind made up, she walked over to John, stood in front of him and looked him straight in the ey
es. ‘Will yer be me boyfriend, John Hanley?’
‘Ooh, I’d have to think about that, Janet. After all, it’s not only you I’d be taking on, but yer mother and her rolling pin.’
‘Me mam doesn’t hit members of the family, she only hits people who do things she doesn’t like. And she wouldn’t like it if you turned me down, so there. It would be in yer own interest to say I can be yer girlfriend.’
‘Oh dear.’ John couldn’t look at her because he knew he’d burst out laughing. ‘Are yer listening to this, Auntie Lizzie? I’ve got a choice between a duel to the death with Mick, or Mrs Porter’s rolling pin. And I’m not a strong lad, as yer know, so for either one I’d have to get a stuntman to stand in for me.’
‘Ye’re not palming me off with any stuntman, John Hanley. If yer won’t be me boyfriend, I’ll have to pinch Mick off Jenny.’
‘I can’t let yer do that, curly top, ’cos they’re me two best mates. It looks as though yer’ve got me over a barrel and I’ll have to give in to yer.’
Lizzie could no longer resist the call of nature. She struggled to her feet, and on her way to the door, she said, ‘I’ll be gone a couple of minutes, that’s plenty of time to seal yer relationship with a kiss. But for heaven’s sake don’t tell yer mam I suggested that, Janet. I’ve never been partial to rolling pins.’
As she hastened down the yard, Lizzie could hear the laughter, and she knew that John and Mick would be doubled up, while the girls waited for their kiss.
‘Yer are sure this is Charlie’s address, aren’t yer, Gary?’ Stan asked as he made notes on a notepad. ‘And that his mother’s name is Hettie?’
‘That’s definitely his address, and he calls his mam by her first name. I’ve heard it hundreds of times. Their surname is Owens.’
‘What do yer intend doing with all this information, now yer’ve got it?’ Mary asked. ‘I’m not going to call on the woman, if that’s what yer’ve got in mind.’
‘We’re all in this, love, so I don’t expect any one person to do what needs to be done. We mustn’t forget that Charlie’s mother is not to blame for what he does. It could come as a terrible shock to her.’
