by Joan Jonker
Molly shook herself mentally. ‘D’yer know, Victoria, I can’t stop me mind from going back over the last few years. If you and me ma had taken my advice, neither Rosie O’Grady or Phil would be part of our lives. It’s a good job yer didn’t take any notice of me ’cos I’m a lousy one to be giving advice.’
‘You were acting in our interests, Molly, me and Bridie understood that.’ A mischievous glint appeared in Victoria’s eyes. ‘Just put it down to the extra years me and yer ma have had. They’ve given us the wisdom to judge people and also the right to be stubborn when we want.’
‘Ye’re right there, sunshine! My ma can be as stubborn as a mule. Once she sets her mind on anything she’ll not be budged.’ Molly pulled one of the wooden dining chairs over and sat down. ‘Me and the girls have inherited that from her; we’ve all got a stubborn streak.’
‘Tea up!’ Phil called, coming through with a tray set with cups and saucers. ‘The maid is bringing the teapot in.’
‘Hey, we’ll have less of that!’ Doreen put a wooden stand down and placed the teapot on it. ‘I’m going to have to take you in hand, Phil Bradley, ye’re getting too big for yer flaming boots. Don’t think I’m going to be a skivvy when we get married.’
‘Oh, and when is that likely to be?’ Molly asked, her brows raised.
‘We haven’t set a date yet, have we, Phil?’ The message of love in Doreen’s eyes was there for all to see. ‘We didn’t want to make any plans before our Tommy and Steve came home. I couldn’t get married without me kid brother being there.’
Phil looked up from pouring out the tea. ‘There’s another reason, Mrs. B. Your Jill has been courting Steve for a long time, we wouldn’t want to upstage them by getting married first.’
Doreen leaned across the table, her eyes alive with excitement and happiness. ‘Since Phil went on full pay, we’ve been saving up like mad, Mam. We’ve got enough money for the wedding and I’ve got stacks of things for me bottom drawer. But as Phil said, we wanted to wait and see what Jill and Steve were going to do. I thought it would be nice if we could have a double wedding.’
There was doubt on Molly’s face as she took the cup from Phil. ‘Ooh, I don’t know about that, sunshine. Our Jill’s been saving up, but don’t forget they won’t have a house to walk into. Getting the house won’t be a problem because I’ve already asked the landlord. He said he often has an empty property and would be more than willing to give Jill and Steve first offer. But a house needs to be furnished, and that would take a lot more money than they’ll have.’
Doreen pulled a face. ‘Trust me not to think of that! I’ve got fresh air where me brains should be. I’ve been selfish, I can see that now. The number of times I’ve bragged to our Jill about how much we’ve got saved, and never once did it enter me stupid head that I might have been upsetting her. Because I wouldn’t knowingly upset her, Mam, honest!’
‘I know yer wouldn’t, sunshine, and so does Jill. She wouldn’t think yer were bragging, she’d be glad for yer. You know yer sister hasn’t got a selfish bone in her body.’
‘A double wedding would be lovely, though, Molly, wouldn’t it?’ Victoria had a faraway look in her eyes. ‘Two pretty princesses and two handsome princes. It would be quite a sight to see.’
‘That’s true, Victoria, but I’m afraid it’s not going to happen. Don’t forget Steve’s been in the army for two years, he won’t have been able to save on the few bob soldiers get. Oh, we could all rally round and give them bits and pieces of furniture to start them off, but yer know what our Jill’s like for having everything just right. She wouldn’t want to start married life with a couple of chairs, a table and a bed. And I certainly wouldn’t want it for her, or Steve. They’ve been sweethearts since they left school; they deserve nothing but the best when they get married, and that includes a decent house to live in.’ Molly handed her empty cup to Phil. ‘Perhaps we should leave talk of weddings until we see the lay of the land, eh?’
‘You’re right, Mrs B.,’ Phil said, putting the cup on the tray before reaching for Doreen’s hand. ‘Let’s look forward to welcoming the boys home and leave the serious talk until they’ve settled back into civvie street.’
‘Yeah, let’s do that, Mam. I won’t say anything to our Jill unless she mentions it herself.’ Doreen hid her disappointment behind a smile. She couldn’t wait to marry the boy who’d stolen her heart the minute she’d clapped eyes on him. But her mother was right. Her sister and Steve didn’t have the luxury of a fully furnished house to move into, like her and Phil. So she should be grateful and count her blessings, instead of bragging.
Molly stood up and pushed her chair back under the table. ‘I’ll have to scarper because Rosie’s coming round. And d’yer know what, Victoria, I can’t wait to see the smile on that lovely face of hers.’ She bent down to cup the lined face in her hands. ‘I’ll see yer tomorrow, sunshine, and I’ll tell yer what Rosie has to say. And it’ll be in me best Irish brogue.’ As she straightened up Molly chuckled. ‘But if she says one word about her and our Tommy getting married, so help me I’ll flatten her. Two in the family is enough to be going on with.’
‘Rosie can just get in the queue,’ Doreen laughed. ‘It should be our Jill first, me second and then our Tommy. After all, they’re both only nineteen.’
‘If I said that to Rosie, I know what her answer would be. “Now, Auntie Molly, me darlin’, surely yer’ll not be forgetting that it’s meself that’s nineteen years, two months and five days?”.’ Molly had the Irish lilt off pat. But then hadn’t she been hearing it all her life? ‘And after a quick calculation in her head, she’d say, “And that lovely son of yours, who’s me everloving boyfriend, sure isn’t he a month and two days older than I am?”.’
‘Mam, if I closed me eyes I’d think it was Rosie talking,’ Doreen said. ‘Yer sound just like her.’
‘Yes,’ Molly laughed as she walked to the hallway, ‘and if I don’t get going won’t herself be nineteen years, two months and six days, so she will.’
Chapter Three
Molly barely had time to put her foot in the door before she was being smothered with kisses and hugged so tightly she could hardly breathe. ‘Auntie Molly, I’ve never been so happy in me life, and that’s the truth of it. Sure, haven’t I spent the day laughing and crying with the joy that’s inside of me?’
‘Rosie, ye’re nearly choking me, sunshine,’ Molly croaked. ‘If yer don’t let go, I won’t live long enough to welcome me son home!’ She felt the grip relaxing and stepped back to smile into a pair of deep blue eyes that were set in a face as pretty as a picture and framed by a mass of tumbling, rich black curls. ‘It’s certainly a day for laughing and crying, and also a day for rejoicing.’
‘And for prayers, Auntie Molly. As me mammy would say, “Never take without giving something back”. And as the good Lord has looked after Tommy and Steve for us, sure ’tis only right we give our thanks in return. So on Sunday me and Auntie Bridget are going to church, so we are, to light candles.’
‘Me and the girls will come with yer,’ Molly said. ‘I might not be the best living Catholic in the world, but I’m no heathen, either.’ She looked across at Ruthie. ‘Have yer offered our visitor a cup of tea, sunshine?’
‘The kettle’s on a low light, Mam. I thought I’d wait until you came home, otherwise the tea would be stiff.’
‘Well, be an angel and see to it for us, there’s a good girl.’ Molly was smiling inside. Rosie worked in a shoe shop and she loved her job because it gave her the chance to meet people. But how did she cope today with her head being in the clouds? ‘How many customers did yer sell two left shoes to, sunshine?’
Rosie’s infectious chuckle brought a smile to Jack’s face. It was easy to see why his son had fallen for this girl, she was a treasure. ‘It sounds as though yer Auntie Molly’s hit the nail on the head, eh, love?’
‘No, I’ll not be saying that, Uncle Jack. The truth of it is I didn’t sell anyone two left shoes. It was
two right ones, and didn’t the woman hot foot it back to the shop just before closing time? And not a cross word passed her lips, either! She told me boss it was perfectly understandable that I would have me mind on other things when I’d just heard me boyfriend was coming back from the war. She was a darling woman, right enough, and didn’t I give her a big kiss and tell her so.’
‘So yer told all yer customers that Tommy was coming home, did yer?’ Molly asked, although she knew what the answer would be.
‘That I did, Auntie Molly! And I told the people in all the shops on the block, too! As me mammy used to say, yer should never keep happiness to yerself, yer should share it with others.’ There was a sparkle in her eyes. ‘I showed them all the letter and told them what was in it, but I wouldn’t be after letting them read it. All those kisses Tommy sent were meant for me, and even me mammy wouldn’t expect me to share them.’
‘No, kisses are very special, sunshine, and yer don’t share them. I suppose he told yer he’d be writing again as soon as he knew the date he was being discharged?’
Rosie nodded. ‘I can’t wait to see him, Auntie Molly, me whole inside is shaking and me heart is thumping like mad. Me head is telling me to be patient, that the time will soon pass. But me heart is very stubborn, so it is, and it won’t take a blind bit of notice of what me head is telling it. I don’t think I’ll last the week out, Auntie Molly, and that’s the truth of it.’
‘Of course yer will. There’s so much to do the time will fly over.’ Molly told her about having the banners made and how preparations would soon be in hand for a Welcome Home party. ‘It’ll be a party and a half, sunshine, you mark my words.’
Rosie was clapping her hands with joy. ‘I’ll not be going to work the day he’s due home. Me boss said it would be perfectly reasonable for me to take that day off because me mind wouldn’t be on the job and he didn’t want a queue of customers bringing back the odd-sized shoes I’d sold them.’
Molly smiled, Ruthie giggled and Jack let out a loud guffaw. ‘I’d say your boss had his head screwed on the right way, love.’
‘He has that, Uncle Jack! He has his eye to business, all right. Every night he checks the till and the money’s dead on, never a penny out.’
‘That’s because he has an honest staff,’ Molly said, handing out the cups of tea Ruthie had poured. ‘Now, let’s put our heads together and discuss where we’re going to scrounge enough food from for this gigantic party. I’ll have a go at Maisie and Alec in the corner shop, and Nellie can work her charms on the bloke in the Maypole. Any other suggestions over the next few days will be welcome.’
On the Monday morning Molly sighed with disappointment when she popped her head into the hall for the umpteenth time to find there was no letter lying on the floor. ‘The postman will have been by now,’ she told her daughters, ‘so there’ll be no news today.’
‘There’s still the afternoon post,’ Jill said. ‘One could come then.’
‘Have a little patience, Mam.’ Doreen pushed a crumb from her lips into her mouth. ‘Don’t be worrying so much or yer’ll be a nervous wreck by the time the boys come home.’
‘I know, sunshine! I gave meself a good talking to yesterday and told meself to fill me days with work so they don’t seem so long. So as soon as Ruthie’s gone to school I’m going to give Tommy’s room a ruddy good clean. The windows and woodwork are going to get such a good washdown they’ll think it’s their birthday. That’s after I’ve mopped the lino, like, and before I polish what bit of furniture he’s got. Then tomorrow I’ll do the landing and stairs.’
‘I was going to say leave it until the weekend and we’ll give yer a hand,’ Jill said. ‘But they might be home before then.’
‘If this house isn’t shining in every nook and cranny by Wednesday, sunshine, then I will be a nervous wreck! And I feel sorry for any speck of dust that dares to land anywhere after that, ’cos I’ll marmalise it.’
The two sisters were going out of the door as Ruthie came down the stairs rubbing sleep from her eyes. ‘Mam, why didn’t yer marry a millionaire? Then I could stay in bed as long as I liked and even have the maid bring me breakfast up.’
‘Get a load of you, Lady Muck! If yer want to be waited on hand and foot, I suggest yer look for a man with pots of money when yer grow up. Young Billy Brennan from the next street won’t be able to keep yer in luxury.’ Molly smiled when she saw the blush cover her daughter’s face. ‘I’ve seen yer giving each other the eye.’ She ruffled the tousled hair. ‘I’m only pulling yer leg, sunshine, don’t take it to heart. But remember, I married a man who gave me much more than money. He gave me love, warmth and happiness. And best of all, he gave me four of the most beautiful, adorable children in the world.’
Ruthie gave her a hug. ‘And he gave us the best mam in the whole world.’
‘There yer are, then, sunshine, we’re all satisfied with our lot.’ Molly patted her daughter’s bottom. ‘Go and get a swill while I make yer toast.’
Half-an-hour later, after seeing Ruthie off to school, Molly made straight for the kitchen. She was bending down to get a bucket from under the sink when the knocker sounded. ‘Oh Lord, who can this be?’ she said aloud. ‘Talk about no rest for the flippin’ wicked!’
Her eyes flew open when she saw Ruthie standing outside, with her friend Bella Watson from the house opposite. ‘Have yer forgotten something, sunshine?’
‘Auntie Nellie wants to see yer.’ The two young girls were giggling. ‘She said she’d come down here but she’s not decent. But as you’re never anything else but decent, will you honour her with yer presence.’
Molly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. All her great plans would go for a burton now. If Nellie had her way, they’d be sitting talking for hours. ‘OK, girls, you poppy off now or yer’ll be late for school.’ She watched them walk away, arm in arm, then went inside to stand in the middle of the living room to have a conversation with herself. ‘Why couldn’t she have left it for an hour and I’d have had the windows and woodwork washed? I’ve a good mind to get on with it and make her wait a while.’ Then in her mind’s eye she could see Nellie’s chubby face peeping through the curtains, waiting for her, and she let out a long sigh. ‘It’s no use, I’ll have to go. Otherwise I’d be worrying meself sick in case there’s something wrong.’
She picked up the front-door key from the glass bowl on the sideboard. And as she walked the short distance to her mate’s, she was muttering, ‘I’m not staying, though. I’ll get our Tommy’s room done today if it kills me.’
When Nellie opened the door with a smile on her face, Molly felt like clocking her one. ‘This had better be important, sunshine, ’cos I’ve got a stack of work to do.’
‘It is important, girl, so come on in.’ Nellie pressed herself back against the wall to make room. ‘I’d have come to you, but I look a sight.’
As Molly followed the swaying figure into the living room, all thoughts of Tommy’s room evaporated and were replaced by a surge of affection for her best friend. Nellie was wearing a skirt that was far too tight and was riding high on her ample hips, showing an expanse of bare leg above the rolled-down stockings being kept up with a piece of knotted elastic. ‘Is it good news, sunshine?’
‘A bit of both, girl, a bit of both.’ Nellie sat down and pointed to a chair on the opposite side of the table. ‘Park yer carcase and hold on tight. I’ll have yer gripping the edge of yer seat with excitement.’ She scratched her head with the fingers of both hands. ‘Don’t worry, I haven’t got fleas. I enjoy a good scratch first thing in the morning, it wakes me up. It’s only a habit, so take that look off yer face.’
‘Nellie, will yer get on with it, please! What did yer ask me to come for?’
‘D’yer want the good news first, girl, or the bad news?’
‘The good news, please. Yer can keep the bad news to yerself.’
‘I had a letter from our Paul this morning. He’s in a demob centre down South, and as soon as he
’s been kitted out with civilian clothes, he’ll be home.’
‘Oh, that’s marvellous news, sunshine! I’m so happy for yer, I really am. But what d’yer mean about being kitted out in civilian clothes?’
‘Haven’t yer heard, girl?’ Nellie looked surprised. ‘All the lads are getting demob suits, shirt, shoes, the lot! I thought yer knew! It’s been on the wireless.’
‘I haven’t been listening to the wireless, not since the war ended. That’s a nice surprise, that is. Our Tommy’s probably outgrown the clothes he was wearing before he went away.’ Molly was beginning to feel glad she’d come. ‘If the suits are any good, it might do your Steve to get married in.’
‘Yeah, it could come in handy.’ Nellie tilted her head. ‘D’yer want to hear the bad news?’
‘Only if it doesn’t affect me or me family.’
‘Our Lily got a letter this morning, too. From that feller she was going out with.’
‘That’s not bad news, it’s good news.’
Nellie’s head shook so vigorously, her chins couldn’t keep up with her. ‘I don’t like him, girl, I just can’t take to him.’
‘It’s not you courting him, though, is it, sunshine? If your Lily’s happy with him, that’s all that counts.’
‘Yer wouldn’t say that if one of yours was going out with someone you didn’t like, would yer? Yer’d be singing a different tune, then.’
