by Joan Jonker
‘I’m getting worried about leaving and not telling me mam the truth,’ Jill told him. ‘She’s been so good, and done so much, it seems a lousy thing to do. And I love the bones of her and me dad.’
‘She’ll understand, love, and she’ll be pleased for yer, I bet.’ They were dancing near Doreen and Phil, who were excellent dancers, and he beckoned them over and spoke softly about Jill’s misgivings. ‘What d’yer think?’
‘It’s been on my mind, as well,’ Doreen said. ‘I vote that when we say we’re going home to change, we ask me mam to come down the stairs with us. What d’yer reckon, Jill?’
‘I would feel better,’ Jill admitted. ‘And I think we should spend a bit of time now with me nan and granda.’
Phil nodded. ‘You three go, I want to sit with Aunt Vickie for a while. And I haven’t had much chance to talk to the bloke I work with, Jimmy and his wife.’
Doreen hesitated. ‘Yer won’t be long, will yer?’
‘Ten minutes, love, that’s all.’
‘It’s been a grand day, sweethearts, so it has,’ Bridie said. ‘Sure, it was better than I ever could have imagined. Me and Bob have shed a few tears, haven’t we, me darlin’?’
‘A few?’ Bob laughed. ‘I’ve shed a bucketful. I was so proud of you I thought me poor old heart would stop.’
‘As Auntie Bridget said, it’s been a grand day, right enough.’ Rosie had been dancing with Tommy and their faces were red with the exertion. ‘I’ve been telling meself that God said we mustn’t envy others, but sure hasn’t the divil himself been working on me? Try as I might, I have to admit to a little envy. But I’ll not be telling me mammy that when I write home.’
‘Wait until next year, love, then these two will be old married women,’ Tommy said, with his arms across the shoulders of his two sisters. ‘And you’ll be the blushing bride.’
‘Oh, that’ll be the day, right enough!’ Bridie said. ‘Getting married to her beloved with her mammy and daddy here to see it. Sure, she’ll be the happiest girl alive.’
‘Yer’ll make a lovely bride, Rosie, and we’ll all be happy for yer,’ Steve said. ‘And I can’t wait to meet yer mammy and hear all these sayings she has.’
Just talking of her parents was enough to put a smile of happiness on Rosie’s beautiful face. ‘As me mammy would say, Steve, patience is a virtue, and that’s what we’ll have to have for a whole year.’
‘We’ll be going home to get changed soon, Nan, so we’d better have a word with Uncle Bill and Auntie Annie ’cos they’re leaving about eight.’ Doreen bent down and gave her grandmother a hug and kiss, then her granda. ‘I love yer both very much.’
Jill followed suit, then hurried away before the tears started. Phil joined them then, and they had a word with everyone in the hall before Corker whispered that it was time they left. Steve took him to one side and explained the girls couldn’t face leaving without telling their mam what was happening. And the big man understood and thought himself that Molly deserved that. So when the newlyweds called that they were going home to change, the girls kissed their father and asked their mother if she’d mind carrying the bouquets down the stairs for them.
Steve felt a pang of guilt and ran back to kiss his mother. ‘Ye’re the best, bar none, Mam. I’ll see yer!’
‘Why do you have to go ’cos the girls are getting changed? Or do they need you and Phil to help them?’
Steve was halfway across the room and pretended not to hear. He could imagine the cheeky grin on his mother’s face and smiled. He could take the ribbing, but knew Jill would have been sick with embarrassment. And the evening was just beginning; the jokes would start getting worse as more drink was consumed. Thank God for Uncle Corker!
When Steve reached the bottom of the stairs, Molly was being smothered with kisses. She’d been told what Corker had done, and although she was weepy, she was happy for the girls. Sniffing up, she said, ‘The Adelphi, no less! We’re certainly coming up in the world.’
‘Will yer explain to everyone, Mam, and thank them?’ Jill asked. ‘Especially Mrs Corkhill, ’cos she’s expecting us there tonight.’
‘And me dad,’ Doreen said. ‘I hope he won’t be upset.’
‘Nobody will be upset, they’ll be made up for yer. And before yer ask, Phil, I’ll make sure Victoria is looked after.’ Molly waved them away. ‘Poppy off and enjoy the Adelphi. And take a good look around ’cos I’ll want to know all about it. I’ve always longed to know how the other half live.’
Molly composed herself before walking back up the stairs. She’d give them time to get away before telling anyone. Except Jack, she’d have to tell him.
The dancing had stopped and everyone was watching Nellie. She was standing at the top of the room and asked for everyone’s attention. ‘My mate, Molly Bennett, says I can’t walk in a straight line. And tonight, after a few drinks, I’m about to prove her wrong. So just watch this.’ With her arms out balancing herself, she began to walk down the room. She looked like a tightrope walker with her arms out, and there was much laughter. When she reached the bottom of the room, she turned, her face split into a wide grin. ‘How about that, then?’
Molly wasn’t having any of that! ‘Hang on, sunshine, tell it like it is. Corker, will you stand in the centre of the floor, at the top? And if me and Nellie start here, that should be a straight line. Right?’
Corker hopped to it. ‘OK, Molly, walk down in a straight line, and yer’ll bump into me.’
Molly bent her arm. ‘Link me, sunshine, like yer always do.’
They began to walk, with Nellie’s hips swaying. They’d only covered a few feet before Corker could see what was happening and he bent double with laughter. But the friends carried on, and before they’d covered half the distance, they were rubbing knees with the people sitting on chairs at the side of the room. Molly spread out her hands. ‘See what I mean?’
‘You cheated, girl!’ Nellie said. ‘Yer pulled me over there.’
‘Me pull you! Me and whose army, sunshine?’
Nellie put on the spoilt little girl look. ‘I’m not playing that game no more ’cos I don’t like it.’
Molly bent until their noses were touching. ‘Ah, shall I pick yer dummy up for yer?’
‘Sod off, Molly Bennett! I’ll wait for me new daughter-in-law, she can pick me dummy up.’
This is it, thought Molly, putting her arm across Nellie’s shoulder and pulling her close. ‘I’ve some news for yer, sunshine, and for everyone. The newlyweds won’t be coming back. Yer see, Corker gave them a wonderful wedding present. And just about now, they’ll be stepping out of a taxi in front of the Adelphi Hotel, where they’ll be spending the night. Thanks to their Uncle Corker.’
There were gasps as family and friends digested the news. Then the young ones started to clap and cheer. Nellie lost her voice for a while, then she squared her shoulders and thrust her bosom out. ‘Did yer hear that, George? Our son sleeping in the Adelphi Hotel?’ She took off her hat and flicked imaginary dust from the brim before settling it back firmly on her head. ‘It’s a good job we bought posh hats, girl, we wouldn’t want to let the side down.’
‘I don’t know how yer make that out, sunshine, but I’ll agree with yer for a quiet life. But isn’t it wonderful for the kids to start their married life in style? I think Corker deserves a round of applause for what he’s done.’
That was right up Nellie’s street. ‘Come on, folks, how about thanking Corker for what he did for the kids. Hip-hip-hurrah for Corker. Hip-hip-hurrah!’ The room rang with laughter and cheering. And after waiting for the noise to die down, Nellie said, ‘Me and my mate are now going to sing a song to match the occasion. Get yer hat on, girl!’
‘I’m not singing in front of all these people!’
‘Oh, yes you are!’ Nellie marched over to the table where Molly had left her hat and returned to plonk it on her head. ‘Now, follow me, Molly Bennett.’ Pretending to be walking with a cane, and twirling it every few secon
ds, the little woman began to sing:
‘As I walk along the Bois Bou-long
With an independent air,
You can hear the girls declare,
He must be a millionaire …’
Ida ran to join in, followed by Maisie from the corner shop. And pretty soon the whole room was ringing to the sounds of ‘The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo’.
Jack was sitting next to George and they both gave a sigh of contentment. ‘It’s been a good day, Jack – the best I’ve ever had. Thanks to you and Molly, our kids have had a wedding day they’ll remember all their lives. It did my heart good to see our Steve so happy.’
‘I’m happy that both my girls have married good men, George. And right now, watching Molly and Nellie, I’m delighted the two families have been joined together. It’s what they’ve always wanted. Mates for twenty-five years, and they love the bones of each other. We’re lucky with our wives, George, we couldn’t have picked better.’
‘I’ll say Amen to that, Jack! Just look at the pair of them now, they’re ruddy heroes.’
‘Put yer hat down, girl,’ Nellie was saying. ‘Yer don’t need it ’cos the next song is about tramps.’
‘I’m not singing another song!’ Molly huffed. ‘Get someone else up.’
‘Ye’re me best mate, Molly Bennett, and yer’ll sing with me if I have to sit on yer.’ Nellie turned her mate sideways and put a hand on her shoulder. She wouldn’t have cared if she knew the elastic in one of her knicker legs was loose and everyone could see her best pale-blue bloomers. They were clean, weren’t they, what more did they want? ‘OK, let’s go, girl!’
Nellie and Molly sang ‘Underneath the Arches’ with all their hearts. The room was filled with warmth, love and laughter. A perfect end to a perfect day. And a few miles away, in the Adelphi Hotel, four shy young lovers were discovering the joys of marriages that were made in heaven.
