by Joan Jonker
Milly didn’t understand, but she wasn’t going to say so. ‘Fancy that, now!’
While Molly stood with her mouth gaping, her friend went on, ‘She’s not half good, too! I’m definitely going to see the play when it’s on. Would you like to order some tickets, Milly, for you and your feller?’
‘If yer let me know when it is, Nellie, I’ll think about it.’ Milly knew, like everyone else in the street, that it was wise to take everything Nellie said with a pinch of salt. But it was best not to take any chances, so the poor woman had to think of an excuse. ‘Mind you, to be truthful, it’s not something me and my feller go in for. So I don’t think we’ll bother, if yer don’t mind.’
‘It’s your loss, girl!’ Nellie called, as the woman made her escape. ‘She’s better than Bette Davis any day.’
Molly found her tongue. ‘Yer’ve gone too far this time, Nellie McDonough. Yer’ve made a flaming holy show of me.’
Nellie wasn’t the least bit put out. She thought the whole thing hilarious. ‘No, girl, I’ve made a holy show of meself, and I couldn’t care less. If Milly was daft enough to believe a word I said, then she wants her ruddy bumps feeling. And if you didn’t see the funny side, they yer’d better go back home and see if yer’ve left yer sense of humour on the table.’
‘I haven’t left nothing on the table, clever clogs! I distinctly remember picking me sense of humour up and putting it in me pocket. So there!’
‘So yer did think it was funny, then?’
‘I thought it was bloody hilarious, sunshine, one of yer best stunts.’ The two women smiled at each other and Molly jerked her head. ‘Come on, let’s get cracking. And when we get home, over our cup of tea, I’ll practise some more of me lines on yer.’
‘Ye’re too good to me, girl! Yer’ll be spoiling me.’
The laughter around the table had the rafters ringing. ‘An amateur dramatic society?’ Jack was pressing at the stitch in his side. ‘How does she think all these things up?’
‘God alone knows,’ Molly said. ‘Every day is something different, and it’s been like that for the twenty-five years I’ve known her. But the funniest thing today was Milly Crossen’s face. Talk about a picture no artist could paint. She couldn’t get away quick enough, and she legged it down the street as though the devil was on her heels. In fact, given a choice, I think she’d rather have had the devil on her heels than Nellie. The lesser of two evils.’
‘You’re lucky, Mam,’ Tommy said. ‘Yer’ve got yer own comedy show every day.’
‘Yeah,’ Doreen grinned. ‘I think you should pay Auntie Nellie.’
‘Don’t tell her that, for heaven’s sake! Every morning when I open the door to her, she’ll be standing there with her hand out.’
Jill put her knife and fork down on her plate before pushing it aside. ‘Mam, yer said yer had some good news for us but wouldn’t tell us until we’d eaten our dinner. I’ve just finished mine and I can’t wait any longer.’
‘Ruthie and Tommy, come on, hurry up. I know yer would have all been finished ages ago if I hadn’t started telling yer about Nellie, but once I start on her there’s no stopping me.’ Molly saw that all knives and forks had been laid down and began to reach for the plates. ‘Let’s get these out of the way and we’ll have a nice clear table. Stack them up in the kitchen, girls, and I’ll wash them later.’
When they were all seated, and five pairs of eager eyes were on her, Molly took a piece of paper from the pocket of her pinny. ‘I think the Hanleys are giving us a very good deal. We have to supply the ham for the salad, but they’ll supply everything else. That includes all the food, the table decorations and flowers et cetera. It works out at twenty-five bob a head, and that price includes the use of the hall.’
There were murmurs of surprise and approval. ‘That is a good deal, love,’ Jack said. ‘Yer couldn’t fall out with that.’
‘I couldn’t get over it,’ Molly said. ‘I thought it would be a lot more. Edna said it would have been if we’d been having a hot dinner. But it’ll be July, no one would expect a hot dinner.’
‘What about the cake, Mam?’ Doreen asked. ‘Has she given yer a price for that?’
‘No, they want to talk to you first about how big yer want it. But Edna said it won’t be too dear because of being sponge. She guessed between five or six pounds, depending on the size of each of the three tiers.’
‘Will yer be able to manage all that money, Mam?’ Jill asked. ‘Because me and Doreen would help yer out.’
‘I know yer would, sunshine, but this is something me and yer dad want to do. You and Doreen are seeing to the bridesmaids’ dresses, Miss Clegg’s buying the flowers, the boys are paying for the cars and drink, so there’s only the reception left! We’ll manage fine, so don’t be worrying. If I get stuck, I’ll sing out.’
Later, when they had the house to themselves, Molly and Jack were able to discuss finances without having to sound as though everything in the garden was rosy. ‘If we’d had a little more time, there wouldn’t have been a problem,’ Molly said. ‘An extra few weeks and I’d have been laughing sacks.’
‘How do we stand now?’
‘Well, the reception for forty people is fifty pounds. I had twelve pounds saved, which I told yer about, and I gave Edna ten pounds today as a deposit. So that leaves us owing her forty.’
‘We should be able to manage that,’ Jack said. ‘There’s nine pay days before the wedding.’
‘You need a new suit, shirt and shoes, love! I’m not having you letting the side down. I want my husband walking down that aisle looking like Gentleman Jim, with a beautiful daughter on each arm. And I’ll settle for nothing less.’
Jack sighed. ‘I’d forgotten about clothes. You’ll be needing a decent rig-out, being the mother of the brides.’
‘Don’t worry about that, sunshine, ’cos I fully intend to look the part. Doreen’s making me dress, so that won’t cost very much. But I want a real posh hat, a ruddy big one, and that’ll cost more than a few bob.’ Molly sat forward and smiled into his face. ‘Me and Nellie have talked about this wedding for donkey’s years. How we were both going to wear hats as big as cartwheels. I think George has talked me mate into something smaller, but my heart is still set on a big hat.’
‘Then you shall have one, ’cos yer deserve it. Look, love, I’ll not go near a pub for the next nine weeks, and I’ll cut down on me ciggies. If I do that, and if the overtime keeps coming in, I’ll be able to give yer at least an extra ten bob a week. More if I possibly can.’
‘Yer’ve no need to cut down on yer ciggies, sunshine, a working man is entitled to some pleasure in his life. But any extra cash yer can hand over I’ll be grateful for. I’ll be cutting corners meself to save a bob here and there. Every little helps, as they say.’
‘What about me getting a good second-hand suit? That would cut down the cost.’
‘Forget it! The fifty-bob tailors do good suits, no one will be any the wiser.’ Molly clasped his hand. ‘With your good looks, everyone will have their eyes on you, not on the tailor’s name inside yer jacket. Ye’re still the best-looking feller down our street.’
Jack’s free hand covered hers. ‘When yer look at me like that, love, all I can think of is why don’t we have an early night in bed?’
‘It’s only a quarter to ten.’
‘So what! Ruthie’s in bed and she’s the only one we’ve got to worry about these days. The others can let themselves in.’
Melting brown eyes locked with vivid blue ones. ‘OK, yer talked me into it.’ Molly kept her smile back as she ran her hand down the front of her dress. ‘Mind you, I’m not a bit tired so I won’t be able to sleep.’
Jack put his arm around her waist. ‘Sleep was the last thing I had in mind.’
Chapter Fourteen
‘I wonder who that can be?’ Molly put the iron back on the gas ring before looking through to the living room. ‘I’m not expecting anyone, so it can only be one of the neighbours o
n the cadge. Be an angel and open the door for us, Jack, save me leaving my ironing.’
‘Yer know I’m not one for gassing to neighbours.’ There was a rustling of paper as Jack pushed the Echo down the side of his chair. ‘If I’m not back in ten minutes, come and rescue me.’
Molly grinned as she pressed the iron over the piece of damp cloth covering the crease in Tommy’s trousers. ‘The size of him and he wants me to rescue him.’
‘Someone to see yer, love,’ Jack called. Then to warn his wife who the visitor was, he said, ‘Sit yerself down, Maisie.’
Molly immediately thought of the girl and the name Lofty. And as she laid the iron down safely, she muttered under her breath, ‘I wasn’t expecting to hear any more about that, I thought it was all a flash in the pan.’
Maisie was still standing. ‘I won’t sit down ’cos we’ll be closing in half-an-hour and my feller will go mad if he’s left with all the clearing up.’
‘Sit on the arm of the couch, if yer don’t want to make yerself too comfortable,’ Molly said. ‘Yer’ll make me feel guilty if I sit down and you’re standing to attention. Besides, yer make the place look untidy.’
‘Oh, OK, but only for two minutes. I only called to tell yer that girl was in the street again about an hour ago. I saw her passing the window and Alec went outside to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. There might be nothing in it, but I still have this feeling about her. She’s after someone and I wouldn’t like to be that person when she finds them.’
‘Did Alec see where she went?’
‘He said she just walked down to the main road, but she was looking closely at the houses as she went.’
‘I don’t know what to think.’ Molly stroked her chin. ‘If only we knew someone who lived in Tetlow Street, we could find out if Len and Lofty are the same feller.’
‘I don’t know what yer’d gain by that, love,’ Jack said. ‘If his name’s Lofthouse he’s bound to be called Lofty, especially by his workmates, anyway. But there’s nothing wrong in that – it doesn’t mean the lad’s done anything wrong.’
‘I know that, Jack, I don’t need yer to tell me. By the same token though, it doesn’t mean he’s as pure as the driven snow! Apart from Lily, not one in Nellie’s family likes him. And I believe yer’d be hard pushed to find one in our family who likes him.’
‘I only know the lad by sight, I’ve never spoken to him,’ Maisie said, ‘so I can’t pass judgement. But I thought I’d let yer know about the girl being in the street again, just in case it turns out it is Nellie’s daughter she’s looking for.’
‘It’s good of yer to be concerned, Maisie, and I’ll have a little think about it.’ Molly’s mind went to her iron which would be going cold, and she got to her feet. ‘I’ve sorted the wedding reception out, as yer know, so me mind’s a bit clearer now.’
‘I’ve done what I thought was right, Molly, so it’s up to you what yer do.’ Maisie turned towards the door. ‘I’ll get back or I’ll have a moaning husband on me hands.’
‘I’ll see yer out.’ Molly followed her down the hall. ‘Have yer heard that Corker’s ship’s due in tomorrow? He’s one person I’m always happy to see.’
‘Ye’re not the only one,’ Maisie laughed. ‘Young Gordon was in the shop before and he seemed to grow a couple of inches with pride when he said his dad was coming home.’
Molly’s hand was on the door ready to close it. ‘They idolise him and it’s no wonder. He’s a man and a half, is Corker.’
‘Yer’ll not find anyone to disagree with yer.’ Maisie began to walk away. ‘I’ll see yer tomorrow, Molly. Ta-ra.’
Molly went straight through to the kitchen to put the iron back on the gas ring, then popped her head around the door. ‘Yer wouldn’t know what to think, sunshine, would yer?’
‘I think the whole set-up is a mystery, love. I haven’t said anything before because it’s really none of our business, but doesn’t it strike you as queer that Lily doesn’t know where he lives? She was going out with him before he went in the army, so she must have known him over two years. Yer’d think she’d have met his family by now, and know all there is to know about him. It’s a funny how-d’yer-do for a courting couple.’
‘Yer can say that again! I never say a word to Nellie ’cos I know she’s worried sick about Lily – which is only natural seeing as she’s her only daughter. If it wasn’t for the fact I can’t go anywhere without her, I think I’d be paying a visit to Tetlow Street and doing a bit of detective work. I could always ask in one of the local shops if they know the family. I could say they were old neighbours of mine I was trying to get in touch with, and while I knew they lived in Tetlow Street I couldn’t remember the number.’
‘Don’t try it, love, ’cos yer might take on more than yer can chew.’ Jack ran his fingers through his mop of dark hair. There were a few grey hairs at the temples now, but they suited him. ‘What would yer do if Mrs Lofthouse was standing next to yer in the shop when yer asked? Yer’d have a hard job talking yer way out of that!’
‘No I wouldn’t,’ Molly chuckled. ‘I’d either take to me heels and run like the clappers, or come straight out and say her son was courting me best mate’s daughter.’
‘Ye’re going to have me worried to death! Promise me yer won’t do anything so stupid, love?’
‘Yer’ve no need to worry because I wouldn’t do anything like that unless I had Nellie with me. I’m not brave enough to do it on me own. So I’ll promise yer I won’t do anything stupid on me own, but I won’t promise not to do it with her. Because if the time comes when I think there’s something she should know, then I’ll tell her. And if she wants any help doing a bit of detective work, I’ll be right beside her. Because, Jack Bennett, we both know full well that she’d be the first to come to my aid if necessary. She’s a true friend, is Nellie, and has always been there for me. And I’ll be there for her.’
‘OK, I get the message.’ Jack grinned. ‘Why didn’t yer just tell me to mind my own ruddy business?’
‘Now, that wouldn’t be a nice way to talk to me husband, would it? Him what I love with all my heart and soul.’
‘What about yer body?’
Molly tutted. ‘Now ye’re getting greedy. And anyway, what about our Tommy’s trousers? I started them twenty minutes ago and I haven’t done one leg yet!’
Jack dropped his head in his hands in a dramatic pose. ‘Now ye’re telling me I’m not even as important to yer as one leg of our Tommy’s trousers. Oh, woe is me.’
‘Ah, yer poor thing! Never mind, dry yer eyes and when I’ve finished me ironing I’ll kiss yer better.’ Molly disappeared for a few seconds, and when she reappeared, she was brandishing the iron. ‘But there’s no early to bed tonight, sunshine, so get that idea right out of yer head.’
‘What the heck are yer doing here this time of the morning?’ Molly’s hands went to her hips as she stared down at Nellie. ‘Is yer clock fast, or something, ’cos it’s only just turned half nine!’
‘Listen, girl, the only fast thing in our house is me! And if yer rubbed the sleep out of yer eyes yer’d see that I’m not dressed for visiting. I’ve only come to borrow a couple of rounds of bread ’cos I’ve run right out.’
‘Yer mean yer’ve had no breakfast yet?’
Nellie hesitated, wondering whether to tell a fib or not. Then she went all virtuous and decided she stood more chance of getting in God’s good books if she was honest. ‘I had one round, that’s all that was left. And my tummy would be complaining in no time if I had nothing to eat until dinnertime.’ She narrowed her eyes as she gazed up at her friend. ‘If ye’re thinking of refusing me, I think yer should know the pitfalls to that! When my tummy gets hungry it also gets very angry. And it rumbles so loud it sounds like thunder. So we could be standing in a shop, or even walking down the street, and suddenly there’ll be this loud clap of thunder and everyone will run for shelter thinking a storm’s on the way. And when they found out it was me what was making the noise
, yer’d be dead ashamed to be seen with me. Yer know what a delicate disposition yer’ve got.’
Molly knew when she was beaten and lifted up her hand. ‘OK, yer’ve talked me into it. But yer ain’t getting in me house, not this time of the morning, or I’ll never get me work done. So stay there and I’ll fetch the bread for yer.’ When she turned to walk, there was a smile on her face. And when she spoke, it was supposed to sound like sarcasm. But after over twenty-five years of friendship, she should have known better. ‘I don’t suppose yer’d like me to butter it for yer?’
‘Ooh, would yer? I didn’t expect that, girl, it’s very good of yer.’
‘You can just sod off, Nellie McDonough. It’s bad enough giving yer a cuppa every morning and wasting time gabbing. I’m not feeding yer as well, so yer can get lost.’
Nellie had a knowing look on her face when she folded her arms and turned her head. ‘Did yer hear that, Corker? That’s how me so-called friend treats me when no one’s around.’
Molly was suspicious. It might just be a leg-pull and her mate would have the laugh on her. On the other hand, though, it could be true because the gentle giant was due home today. So she inched closer to the edge of the step and poked her head out. When she saw him walking towards them just three doors away, she jumped down to the pavement and ran towards him. ‘Corker! Oh, it’s lovely to see yer. A sight for sore eyes, that’s what yer are.’
Corker dropped his seaman’s bag and welcomed her with open arms. Lifting her up in the air, he twirled her around. ‘And it’s lovely to see you, me darlin’. Sure, yer haven’t changed a bit, ye’re still as pretty as ever.’
‘I’m keeping me eye on you two,’ Nellie said. ‘And if yer kiss on the lips I’m going to snitch to Jack and Ellen.’
‘Put me down, Corker, ’cos she would too! She’s run out of bread and wants a couple of rounds to keep her going until we go to the shops. You stand and have a natter to her while I cut a couple of slices.’
