The Mersey Girls

by Sheila Riley

  The money was the only link to the boy she had regretfully abandoned into the arms of another woman. And that woman’s hand was always open, even if she wasn’t the one who had been blackmailing her husband. Ada took credit for the good shoes, the warm clothes, and his full stomach. She smiled when Danny got up and said he had to find Evie.

  ‘Henry asked me to look after the baby. Meggie needed the work and she could not look after him while she was earning,’ Ada told Evie, glad the secret was finally out. ‘I needed the money. Bert couldn’t get work on the docks or anywhere else, so I said yes.’

  ‘Why didn’t you give Danny back?’ Evie asked knowing how heart-breaking it was for someone else to look after the children you love so much, when her own siblings had spent seven years in Ireland during and after the war. She scraped and saved every penny she could to bring them back. So Meggie must have felt the same way.

  ‘None of us knew Henry’s mother would live as long as she did.’ Ada explained. ‘She was getting on for seventy when Meggie turned up that night with a babe in arms and no place to go. By the time she died, Danny was seventeen – he couldn’t get into the army fast enough.’

  Danny overheard his mother. But she wasn’t his mother in the way he thought Meggie would have been. Meggie, wonderful, kind, supportive Meggie who had always been there for him. Who hid him when he got into a scrape and Ada was on the warpath. She was his mother. Danny’s heart sang. But he must contain his joy. Ada had done her best, and had made a good fist of it given the slimy little toad of a husband she had been forced to put up with. He decided to let Evie and Ada talk.

  ‘Are you my father?’ Danny asked Henry later, as he sat down next to the man he had always looked up to, ‘is that the reason you sold me the business for a pound?’

  ‘No, Lad, I’m not. But you have always been like a son to me.’ Henry wished he had been given the opportunity to be Danny’s father. ‘I did it to put right the wrong I did to my Meggie, because I loved her so very much,’ Henry said. ‘I denied her the chance to raise you, her own son because I was selfish. Love makes you do things like that, and I have to be honest, if I could ever have a son… I would want one just like you.’

  ‘Times were hard back then, and they were different,’ Meggie said when Henry reached for her hand, the gesture was as natural to both of them as breathing, ‘but we both watched you, all your life. I even signed your forms to go into the army after you came to tell me how much you needed to get away from Reckoner’s Row.’

  ‘Away from Bert and Ada,’ Danny said. ‘I couldn’t discuss their bitter feuds.’ Because he did not want Meggie to feel any worse than she did already. He was in awe of Meggie and Henry and hoped that when his time came, he would be as happily married as they were.

  ‘I loved you like a son,’ Henry said, ‘and I had to keep the business going for your sake. My mother would have sold the yard from under me out of spite if she knew about you. And it was only right that you have it. You deserve it. You kept it going when I couldn’t. The men look up to you.’

  ‘You’re the man I aspire to be,’ Danny said, knowing Henry and Meggie had given him the things he always wanted: a business of his own to build upon, and the motherly love he had always felt from her. ‘You’re two of the best people I have ever known.’

  ‘You don’t know how much those words mean to me, my boy,’ Henry said. ‘I am so proud of you.’

  ‘We both are,’ Meggie said, and, without warning, she felt the burning sensation rise inside and her heart swelled with more love than she ever dared dream possible. She had longed to tell Danny she was his mother. But could not bear to see the disappointment in his eyes. She believed, wrongly, that his natural sparkle would be snuffed out if he were to find out the truth. But, by the look of it, the revelation had done the opposite when Danny said:

  ‘I will not only keep the business going, I will build it up.’

  ‘This is the right time,’ Henry said. ‘The business won’t stop thriving because I’m no longer in it.’

  ‘I was hoping you would like to stay close, in an advisory capacity,’ Danny said.

  ‘I thought you’d never ask,’ Henry replied.

  ‘Having you around gives me strength. So don’t go upsetting that ticker of yours.’

  ‘You go down each morning and open those gates, my love,’ Meggie told her husband, ‘while Danny is building his empire.’

  ‘Glad to be of service, Mam,’ Danny said, unaware of the joy that last word brought to Meggie. But her reflection was short-lived when Angus came into the tent and caused a bit of a commotion…

  ‘It’s another girl!’ Angus was jubilant. ‘The baby has been born and she’s eight stone eight pounds.’

  ‘Poor Connie. Evie laughed as she joined them and was thrilled when she felt Danny slip his hand into hers. ‘Eight stone?’

  ‘I mean pounds,’ Angus laughed. ‘Eight pounds eight ounces.’

  ‘Congratulations, Angus, well done!’

  ‘I think you find, Connie did all the work,’ Evie laughed, delighted when she saw the look of wonder on Danny’s face.

  ‘Come on Evie,’ Danny said, ‘let’s wet the baby’s head. Connie’s baby, not the new princess’s. That would be treason, I imagine.’

  ‘I can’t see Connie being too chuffed either,’ Evie said.

  27

  Danny took off his cap and had a whip-round for the driver. He would speak to his mother… Ada tomorrow. It was too late in the day to rake up the past. But he knew he could never turn his back on the woman who had reared him, knowing she had never had it easy with that rogue, Bert. She had done her best with what little she had, even if she did give the impression she was Lady Bountiful, he knew differently. Or at least he thought he did. But at least Ada would get the peace she deserved. And would no longer be bled dry by a leeching husband.

  Everybody was in friendly spirits, singing songs on the journey back to Reckoner’s Row, where the coach pulled up outside The Tram Tavern, all eager to join the revelry, which was obviously going on inside when they heard singing.

  ‘Is that our Grace singing?’ Danny asked.

  ‘It certainly sounds like Grace,’ Evie answered, and Jack told them he would just pop in and have a look, closely followed by Lucy who had no intentions of missing out. Everybody was relaxed and the mood was mellow when Lucy reminded Bobby that they, too, could enjoy the party if they collected empty glasses.

  When they entered the bar the revelry was in full swing and Angus, euphoric having held the most angelic little girl in his arms for the first time, went behind the bar to help Mim who rang the bell to a pub full of moans.

  ‘Are ‘ey, Mim, we’ve just travelled miles to get back here and fill the coffers.’

  ‘Fill you bellies with my good ale,’ Mim replied taking no lip from any of the smart-mouthed customers, ‘and I’m not ringing for last orders. There is someone here who wants to make an announcement.’ Mim nodded to Grace Harris who linked her arm through Bruce’s arm and beaming, she said:

  ‘Mam, Danny, everybody, I’d like you to meet my new husband.’ A roar went up and Danny shook Bruce’s hand before lifting Grace and twirling her round the floor, while Ada, standing back, her mouth open wide, was speechless. But rest assured, she thought as soon as she got her voice back there would be words. Plenty of words.

  ‘Don’t worry Mam,’ Grace said, giving her mother a hug, ‘you can still buy a hat. We are having the formal service next month.’

  ‘Well,’ Ada suddenly found her voice, ‘I’ll have to go and see Father MacManus in Saint Patrick’s. And we will have to book the church hall and the cake. Have you had time to look at the wedding dresses, how many bridesmaids will you want? I’ve got a few bob put by. This wedding won’t be shabby.’

  ‘Mam,’ Grace could not hide her delight, ‘you do not have to worry about a thing. Everything is sorted. After the wedding, we will be going to the country house for the reception. Everybody will be welcome. Money i
s no object.’

  Bruce told her only after their onboard wedding that his father had died, and he owned one of the most exclusive shipping lines in the world.

  ‘Oh, Lad,’ Ada said hugging Bruce to her motherly bosom, ‘I’m so sorry to hear your sad news.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Harris,’ Bruce answered when he could speak.

  ‘No not Mrs Harris, you call me Mam – everybody does,’ Ada said knowing there was a lot to discuss with her only daughter and this was not the time or the place.

  ‘A new hat, Mim.’ Ada was more delighted than she could imagine. Her daughter was married to a millionaire and the reception was going to be held in his country house that could sleep everybody in Reckoner’s Row.

  Put that in your pipe and smoke it Mim! Ada thought raising her sherry glass to Mim, each wondering how they could outdo each other in the wedding hat department.

  ‘It’s been a bit of a day, one way or the other,’ Danny said, ‘first Connie has a baby on the same day as our future Queen, then our Grace marries a millionaire – if you please.’

  ‘And Mister Skinner won the Netherford cup, don’t forget,’ Evie reminded him as they finished their drinks and made their way out of the Tavern with Lucy, Bobby and Jack. ‘Good news comes in threes, they say.’

  ‘It might even come in fours and fives,’ Danny said, glad that the man Ada Harris married was not his father. ‘But one thing’s for sure, I doubt we will ever have a repeat of this day for a long time – if ever.’

  ‘And you taking over Skinner’s yard, don’t forget,’ Jack added, and they all laughed.

  Danny didn’t mind the yard being known as Skinner’s; it had an excellent reputation and everybody in the business knew that the workforce were reliable and value for money.

  ‘I’ve had a smashing day,’ Lucy was glowing and tired as the heat of the day cooled only a little, and the pink and gold sun dipped down over the horizon of the river Mersey.

  ‘Me too,’ Meggie and Evie said in unison, and laughed.

  Evie looked to her younger sister, who was getting taller than she was, even though Lucy wouldn’t be fourteen until November. ‘I’ll tell you what, why don’t I make us all a nice plate of chips and egg?’

  ‘Eggs, real eggs, not powdered ones?’ Lucy asked, wide awake. She could think of nothing better to finish her wonderful day out than a nice plate of crispy chips, just the thing to dip into a delicious, frilly-edged fried egg.

  ‘And,’ Evie said with a gleam in her eyes, ‘I bought some fresh bread and a packet of best butter from the farmer’s wife, too.’

  ‘You never did!’ Lucy’s mouth was already drooling. ‘What are we waiting for?’

  ‘Can I tempt you both?’ Evie asked Meggie and Mr Skinner.

  ‘Not for me,’ Meggie said, unable to suppress a tired but happy yawn. ‘I’m off to my bed and I’ll take this fellow with me,’ she said, lifting the heavy trophy.

  ‘I’ll put it on my side of the bed,’ Henry said with a twinkle in his tired eyes.

  ‘See you bright and early in the morning, young whipper-snapper!’ Meggie called, heading down Reckoner’s Row towards their own house in Summer Settle. She could not remember when she had enjoyed herself so much.

  Danny, Evie’s constant companion, gave Meggie cause to suspect the girl was more than glad to keep him company – for a long time. Well, there was nothing wrong with that, she thought.

  ‘I’ll walk you home,’ Danny said making Evie laugh as they reached her gate. Lucy and Jack carried on ahead inside the house.

  ‘I only live six feet away.’ Evie laughed looking to her own front door. ‘But you can come in for a chip butty if you peel the spuds.’ Evie said, overjoyed when Danny agreed. She liked that in a man, she thought. They could be just as equal as women when they put their mind to it.

  ‘I’ll have you know when I was in the army I was a champion spud basher,’ Danny’s eyes twinkled as he spoke. ‘You could read The Evening Express through my peelings.’

  ‘There you go, then,’ Evie said, ‘you’ve got a job for life. Some girl is going to be extremely lucky to get you.’ She smiled, a little surprised when Danny stopped and turned her round to face him, unprepared for what he did next. In a voice more solemn than she had ever heard him speak before, he said:

  ‘How would you like me to be your life-long spud peeler?’

  ‘Will you have time?’ Evie could not help but smile, gazing into his warm, loving eyes. ‘What with having an empire to build, I mean.’

  ‘An empire?’ Danny’s brows creased momentarily, then he realised what she meant. ‘If I’m going to build an empire, I will need a strong woman to help me. Do you think you would like to join me?’

  ‘I would like that very much.’ Evie melted in his arms when he lowered his head to kiss her.

  ‘I’ve loved you from that moment, when I saw you carrying little Lucy on your hip to the dockyard, while holding young Jack’s hand. Taking them to be evacuated to Ireland. I wanted to put my arms round you and tell you everything would be all right.’ Danny’s voice was raw with pent-up emotion, and he drew Evie to him once more. ‘But none of us knew that back then.’

  ‘We know now,’ Evie answered.

  ‘Our future will be strong because of our past. Me and you can build a whole new world, together.’ He paused and his voice softened when he continued, ‘There has only ever been one girl for me, Evie Kilgaren, and that girl is you.’

  ‘And you for me, Danny Harris,’ she answered, her heart bursting with love for this wonderful man.

  ‘So what are we waiting for?’ Danny’s eyes glistened, full of promise. ‘I can’t give you the life Grace has. Not yet. But one day...’

  ‘Let’s build our empire first,’ Evie said placing her finger on his lips, ‘until then I have all the riches I could possibly need.’

  Acknowledgments

  As always to Tony, Nicki, Lee, Abi, Daniel, and Hollie

  Kevin, Gina, Emily and Jack

  Alan, for all that you are: determined and never giving up.

  My brothers, sisters, their wives and husbands and my gorgeous nephews and nieces.

  A special mention for our Chris. Stay strong. Know you are loved.

  Love, Sheila xx

  More from Sheila Riley

  We hope you enjoyed reading The Mersey Girls. If you did, please leave a review.

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  The first book in the Reckoner’s Row series, The Mersey Orphan, is available to order now by clicking on the image below:

  About the Author

  Sheila Riley wrote four #1 bestselling novels under the pseudonym Annie Groves and is now writing a saga trilogy under her own name. She has set it around the River Mersey and its docklands near to where she spent her early years. She still lives in Liverpool.

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  First published in Great Britain in 2020 by Boldwood Books Ltd.

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  Copyright © Sheila Riley, 2020

  Cover Design by The Brewster Project

  Cover Photography: Shutterstock

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  The moral right of Sheila Riley to be identified as the author
of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Every effort has been made to obtain the necessary permissions with reference to copyright material, both illustrative and quoted. We apologise for any omissions in this respect and will be pleased to make the appropriate acknowledgements in any future edition.

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  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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  Paperback ISBN 978-1-83889-324-8

  Large Print ISBN 978-1-83889-669-0

  Ebook ISBN 978-1-83889-325-5

  Kindle ISBN 978-1-83889-329-3

  Audio CD ISBN 978-1-83889-322-4

  MP3 CD ISBN 978-1-83889-667-6

  Digital audio download ISBN 978-1-83889-323-1

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