by Joan Jonker
‘I wouldn’t dream of it, Mrs B. I shall say no more on the subject. And I’ll leave you to open the discussion on how one father can give two daughters away. I don’t think Jill will rest in her bed until that’s sorted out.’
Jack threw his cigarette stump in the grate. ‘Me and George were only talking about that in the pub. Neither of us has ever been to a double wedding and know nothing of the procedure. But I told him there was nothing to worry about because you’d know what everyone had to do, and when.’
‘Aye, well yer told him wrong, love, ’cos we haven’t got a clue. I think the best thing I can do is call at the church tomorrow and have a word with Father Kelly. It’s no good us making arrangements and just hoping for the best ’cos the whole thing could end up a shambles. And I’m not taking any chances on that happening. I want the day to be perfect in every way. One we’ll remember all our lives.’
‘It will be, Mrs B., so don’t be worrying.’ Steve pulled Jill closer. ‘I’m sure no wedding goes without a hitch, but it doesn’t matter ’cos at the end of the day me and Phil will be married to our sweethearts and be the happiest men in the world. And you and Mr B. will have got yerselves two brand new sons-in-law.’
Molly grinned. ‘You’ve always been like a son to me, sunshine. And I’ve had me eye on yer as a future husband for Jill since yer were toddlers. Ask yer mam to tell yer how we used to sit at that table and discuss what we were going to wear at yer wedding.’
‘But yer like Phil as well, don’t yer. Mam?’ Jill asked. ‘He’s a lovely bloke and he’ll be a good husband to our Doreen.’
‘Of course, I’m very fond of Phil! I couldn’t wish for a better husband for Doreen or a better son-in-law. But don’t forget I’ve known Steve since the day he was born, and that’s a long time.’
‘That shouldn’t make any difference, love,’ Jack said. ‘It’s not Phil’s fault yer haven’t known him since the day he was born. He’s a decent bloke and yer can’t make fish of one and flesh of the other.’
‘Don’t you dare accuse me of that, Jack Bennett!’ Molly was indignant. ‘I would never favour one against the other, and you should know that by now. But I can’t forget all the memories I have, nor would I want to because they are precious to me. In me mind I can still see Steve picking Jill up when she’d tripped over in the street. She was two, he was three. I can still see him pushing Billy Knox because the lad had pulled Jill’s hair and made her cry. And Billy Knox was two years older than him at the time. And the first day Jill started school, I walked one side of her while Steve walked the other, holding her hand.’ Molly had become emotional and wiped a tear away. ‘Those are memories, Jack, and I treasure them. But I have memories of all me children at different stages in their lives and they are all precious to me. Like the day Tommy’s mate Ginger broke next door’s window when they were playing footie, and Tommy got the blame for it. I thought Nobby Clarke was going to kill our Tommy that day. And he probably would have done if Nellie hadn’t stopped him.’
Jack reached for her hand. ‘Come on, love, don’t be getting yerself all upset.’
Molly sniffed up. ‘It’s all right, ’cos the next thing that has always stuck in me mind about our Tommy, was the day Rosie O’Grady arrived from Ireland and me ma and da brought her around to meet everyone. I think they were both about fifteen and our Tommy hated girls. You were all here, so yer know what happened. But I still carry the memory of me son’s face when Rosie said he was a fine figure of a man, and asked if he had a girlfriend. His face was as red as beetroot and he told me to shut her up.’
‘I remember that, Mam!’ Jill giggled. ‘It was dead funny, but I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Tommy when we all laughed. He couldn’t get out of the house quick enough and he always made it his business to go up to Ginger’s when he knew she was coming.’
‘It’s funny how things turn out, isn’t it? Rosie knew at first sight that Tommy was the lad for her, but it took a couple of years for it to sink in with him.’ Jack’s mind was now going back in time. ‘She played her cards right, did Rosie. She chased him for twelve months and got nowhere, only the cold shoulder. Then she changed tactics and began to ignore him. That’s what did the trick. Oh, and Ginger telling Tommy he fancied Rosie himself and was going to ask her for a date.’
‘Yeah, but I don’t think yer were told the full story on that,’ Molly said. ‘Yer see, Ginger plucked up the courage to ask Rosie for a date, but the crafty little minx said she thanked him kindly, but she couldn’t go out with him because she already had a boyfriend. And it was when Ginger relayed the news to his mate, that Tommy realised if Rosie was to have a boyfriend he wanted it to be himself.’
Molly looked at the clock. ‘Ay, look at the time, we’ll never get up in the morning. But isn’t it nice to have memories, Jack? Life would be very empty if yer had nothing to look back on. And before we hit the hay, I’ll just quickly say that I do have memories of Phil, even though we haven’t known him long. I remember the terrible family he was brought up with, through no fault of his own. He walked away from them with dignity and pride, a decent, hard-working lad. I’ve seen the way he loves and looks after Victoria. He has been her reason for living for the past six years. And I’ve seen the change he’s brought about in our Doreen. I love the bones of her, but she used to worry me because she was the bossy, pushy one. But when she fell head over heels for Phil Bradley, it was the best thing that could have happened to her. She’s no longer the loudmouthed girl she was, but is more thoughtful of others and kind and caring. And I believe this has come about through Phil’s influence.’ She pushed herself up. ‘Now, that’s me heart stripped bare, except for all the loving memories I have of me darling husband, and those I’ll have of Ruthie as she grows older. So confession time is over and it’s time for bed. I’ll let yer know tomorrow what Father Kelly has to say to put yer mind at rest. But no committee meeting tomorrow, eh? Let me and my feller have a night to ourselves for a change.’ She reached for her husband’s hand. ‘Come on, love, and if I don’t fall asleep first, I’ll tell yer what Nellie’s latest caper was.’
‘I won’t keep Jill up long, Mrs B,’ Steve said. ‘Just a quiet five minutes on our own.’
As Molly led her husband from the room, she called over her shoulder, ‘Jill, remind me to put Ginger’s name on the guest list. We can’t leave him out.’
‘He’s got a girlfriend now, Mam.’
Molly stopped halfway up the stairs. ‘The list is on the sideboard, sunshine, so put Ginger down for two.’
Business was brisk in the corner shop and Maisie was kept on the go. As quick as she served a couple of customers, more would come to crowd the tiny shop. They’d run out of bundles of firewood and firelighters, and Alec had gone to pick some up. She hoped he wasn’t long because her feet were killing her. What she wouldn’t do for a sit-down and a cuppa. She’d noticed a young girl standing at the back of the shop but she was so busy it didn’t strike her that the girl didn’t move forward to be served. Then when she was down to just two customers, Maisie beckoned to the girl. ‘Yer’ll never get served standing there, love. Come on over and tell me what yer want. These ladies won’t mind waiting because I know you’ve been here for ages.’
The girl shook her head. ‘It’s all right, I’m in no hurry. Serve them first.’
Maisie thought there was something strange about the girl. Why would she stand there and let all those customers be served before her? Girls her age would usually push themselves forward. And she wasn’t from around these parts unless her family had just moved in. But when yer worked in a corner shop there was little went on in the neighbourhood you didn’t hear about. And as far as she knew, there’d been no families moved out or in.
‘There yer are, Mrs Ashton, two ounces of corned beef.’ Maisie took the coppers from the old lady and threw them in the till drawer. ‘See yer tomorrow, love. Ta-ra!’
Maisie waited until the shop door closed then looked across to the only person left in
the shop. ‘What can I get for yer, love? Yer’ve waited long enough.’
The girl approached the counter. ‘I don’t want to buy anything, I just thought yer might be able to help me. I’m looking for a girl who lives around here who goes out with a boy called Lofty?’
Maisie lowered her head to straighten the bags on the counter. It was a move to buy her some time. As soon as the girl mentioned the name Lofty, it rang a bell. Lily McDonough was going out with a bloke called Lofthouse, and the obvious nickname to come from that was Lofty. But it wasn’t up to her to tell that to a perfect stranger. ‘I couldn’t tell yer, love. Yer see, not many young girls come in here, it’s usually the mothers. If yer knew the girl’s name I might be able to help yer.’
‘I don’t know her name, just that she lives down one of these streets and goes out with this bloke.’
Thinking there was something fishy about the whole thing, Maisie asked, ‘Don’t yer know where the bloke lives either?’
‘Oh yeah, I know that. He lives in Tetlow Street in Walton.’
‘Well, why can’t you ask him for his girlfriend’s address? Surely that would be the easiest way of finding her?’
‘Er, well … er, yer see, he’s working away from home at the moment or I would ask him. His firm has sent him to Blackpool to do a job there and he won’t be home until next week.’
I don’t know who you are, Maisie thought, but I know when I’m being told a lie. ‘Surely you can wait until next week? It’s not a matter of life and death that yer find this girl, is it? I can’t help you, and yer’d have a job on yer hands knocking on all the doors and asking for a girl who goes out with a bloke called Lofty. Yer’d get some pretty strange looks, I can tell yer. But that’s up to you, it’s none of my business what you do.’
The girl, who was of medium height, had a slim figure, short dark straight hair, brown eyes and a healthy complexion. But she had a bold expression and Maisie got the impression that if you got on the wrong side of her she’d lash out with her fists.
Just then, the shop door was pushed open and Alec came through, his two arms full of bundles of firewood. ‘Seeing as ye’re not busy, will yer give us a hand to carry the stock in, love?’
‘Yeah, OK.’ Maisie put on a smile for the girl. ‘I’ll ask around for yer. If I do find the girl ye’re seeking, who shall I say is looking for her?’
‘Me name’s Joan, but she won’t know me. Lofty does, though, so tell her to ask him when she sees him.’
Maisie saw her out of the shop before going to help her husband. ‘I’ve just had a very unusual conversation with that young lady. I’ll tell yer about it when I’ve made us a cuppa. But it sounds to me as though, somewhere along the line, there’s dirty work afoot.’
Alec took a sip of tea and sighed with contentment. ‘Now if only the customers will stay away so we can drink this while it’s hot. A good strong cup of tea is better than a pint of beer any day.’
‘I’m glad those are yer sentiments, love, because seeing as we only close half an hour before the pubs shut, I’d be left high and dry most nights while you propped the bar up. And that wouldn’t make for harmony between us, lover boy.’
‘We’ve been in harmony for nearly thirty years, Maisie, and I ain’t about to change me habits now.’ Alec put his cup down on top of a wooden crate. ‘Now, what’s all this about dirty works at the crossroads?’
‘It’s probably nothing at all, but I’ve got a feeling that young girl was looking for trouble.’ Maisie explained what had been said. ‘When she said Lofty, the first person I thought of was Lily McDonough’s feller. I’ve never met him, but Nellie’s told me enough about him. To say she wasn’t keen would be an understatement.’
‘It does sound a bit queer to me. Are yer going to tell Nellie, or d’yer think it’s best to leave things be?’
‘If this Lofty feller is Lily’s boyfriend, then I know something that Nellie doesn’t know, and that’s where he lives. But whether I’ll tell her or not remains to be seen. One part of me is saying not to get involved, then another part is telling me I should warn Nellie in case there’s trouble coming to her door.’
‘I know what I’d do if I were you.’ Alec drained his cup, wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and put the cup down before reaching into his pocket for a packet of Capstan cigarettes. ‘I’d have a quiet word with Molly first, see what she thinks.’
‘I’ve thought of that, and it would be the best thing because I might be barking up the wrong tree. The trouble is, yer very seldom see Molly without Nellie.’
‘Ye’re bound to see her over the next few days. I wouldn’t let on to Nellie until yer’ve spoken to Molly, because yer know how quick she flies off the handle. If Molly thinks it’s something she should know, then she’s the best one to tell her.’
Maisie heard the shop door bell tinkle and got to her feet. ‘No rest for the wicked. But it’s been an interesting half-hour. Life behind a shop counter may be tiring, and some of the customers so awkward yer feel like strangling them. But there’s one thing it never is, and that’s dull.’ She squared her shoulders, put a smile on her face and walked through to the shop.
When Molly and Nellie walked out of the church into the sunlight, they were both smiling. ‘There yer are, girl, all yer little problems sorted out. Five minutes with Father Kelly and all yer fears laid to rest. It was a good idea of yours to come, otherwise yer’d have been worrying yerself sick for nothing.’
‘I know – I hardly slept a wink all night. I had visions of the girls’ dresses being squashed to blazes, or Jack having to walk behind them, which would have spoilt the whole thing. But that aisle is plenty wide enough for the three of them, and now Father Kelly has explained how the service will go, I’m over the moon.’
‘Then let’s celebrate and mug ourselves to a nice cream cake to have with the cup of tea you’re going to make us after we’ve done our shopping.’
‘Yer can sod off, sunshine, ’cos I’ve loads to do before I go home. I’ve got to start making enquiries about a hall, and then find someone to do the catering. But first I want to get to Hanley’s before they sell out. I’d rather have their bread than any of the big shops’. It might be a penny or so dearer, but the smell of fresh baking alone is worth that.’ Molly’s arm was tired trying to steer Nellie in a straight line, so she pulled clear. ‘Ye’re a dead weight on me arm, sunshine, so let’s see if yer can walk straight without my help.’
‘Well, swap over and I’ll link you!’
‘No, let’s swing our arms for a while and we can walk faster.’
Nellie jerked her head and tutted. ‘I dunno, the next thing is yer’ll be wanting me to race yer to Hanley’s.’ She spied a familiar figure and nudged Molly. ‘There’s Vera Patterson up ahead. She’s probably going to the cake shop as well.’
Molly quickened her pace. ‘Come on, let’s catch her up. I’ve been wondering how she’s managing with the kids from number sixteen.’
‘If you think I’m going to break into a run, girl, then yer’ve got another think coming. I know me limits, and trotting along like a horse is outside of them.’ The chubby face creased into a smile. ‘I’ll tell yer what, girl, if I started to run me legs would move but me body would stand still. So yer’d look a bit of a nit running along with just a pair of legs at the side of yer. I reckon yer’d be at Hanley’s before me tummy and me bust caught up with yer.’
Molly had a strong desire to give her friend a hug. But yer didn’t do things like that in the middle of a main road. ‘Ah, God love yer! I wouldn’t leave you on yer own, sunshine, not for no one. We’ll just take our time and stick to a pace that ye’re comfortable with.’
‘I know yer’ve got a lot to do today, girl, so if it would help yer get around a bit faster, I wouldn’t mind yer giving me a piggy-back.’
Molly chuckled. ‘Oh, aye, ye’re not soft, are yer? The next thing, yer’ll be asking me to buy yer a whip so yer can gee me along.’
‘Yeah, like Tom
Mix! I’ve always fancied meself riding the prairie on me faithful steed, rescuing women what have been kidnapped by the Indians.’
‘Blimey, sunshine, I thought I had a good imagination but yours knocks mine into a cocked hat! For the life of me I can’t see you sitting astride a horse, riding the prairie in search of women what have been kidnapped by the Indians.’
‘Neither can I, girl, but talking about it has passed the time away, hasn’t it? Here we are, outside Hanley’s and there’s Vera at the back of the queue. So yer wouldn’t have gained anything by running after her hell for leather.’
Three women had joined the queue by the time the friends arrived, but they all lived locally and knew each other by sight. So they didn’t object to Molly talking across them. ‘How have yer managed with the kids, Vera?’
‘They’ve been as good as gold, no trouble at all. In fact, me and Bill have enjoyed having them and we’ll be sorry to see them go. It’s a nice change to have company.’
‘When is Mavis due back?’
‘Tomorrow, supposed to be. At least, that was the plan when she went away. But I imagine it depends on how she finds things down there. We’ll just have to wait and see. I did tell her not to worry though, because an extra day or two won’t matter to me.’
‘It’s good of yer to have the children, Vera.’ Nellie would never change her mind about the woman she’d always called the fly turn, but her children couldn’t help what their mother was. That went for her husband as well, the poor bugger. ‘There’s not many would have taken three kids in, like you did.’
Molly tutted. ‘Just listen to hard-hearted Hannah! Yer make out ye’re as hard as nails, Nellie McDonough, when I know ye’re a real softie. Are yer trying to tell me you wouldn’t have taken the three kids in if they didn’t have anywhere else to go?’
‘No, I’m not saying that, girl.’ Nellie shuffled forward as the queue moved. ‘What I’m saying is, yer could have counted on me to stand shoulder to shoulder with you when you offered to take them in.’
