Friends and Lovers

by June Francis

  When Viv came out Nick took one look of her face and grinned. ‘Come on – what did she say?’

  ‘My mother is the most terrible liar!’ said Viv in severe tones. ‘Apparently Jimmy was my father after all, or so she’s told Stephen.’ She smiled innocently.

  ‘As if you didn’t know she was going to say that,’ murmured Nick. ‘And you think he believed her?’

  ‘Obviously.’ She shrugged. ‘Although I don’t know why he couldn’t have told me so.’

  ‘Perhaps not so obviously,’ said Nick drily.

  Viv stared at him. ‘You mean he didn’t believe her but pretended to?’

  He raised his eyebrows in a very speaking way. ‘People go around pretending all sorts of things all the time. Maybe he chose to believe her because it was what he wanted to believe. What does it matter? They’ve got a child to consider.’

  ‘They’re going to call the baby Melanie. It’s out of Gone With the Wind. She was a nice character, understanding and forgiving. A lot of the time in the book Scarlett O’Hara believed herself in love with Melanie’s husband.’

  ‘I know. I saw the film. And all the time she was really in love with the rogue with the heart of gold, Rhett Butler,’ murmured Nick. ‘There’s a moral there. Women! They never know their own minds. How do you really feel about George?’

  ‘He’s a grown man,’ said Viv, taking a deep breath. ‘I’m not his keeper. I’m not going to worry about him.’ She went into his arms. It was a lie of course but she was not going to let her feelings about George show. She smiled up at Nick. ‘I know my mind. Now when’s our wedding going to be?’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Viv stood before the long mirror, barely able to believe in the vision in ivory satin that was reflected there. The dress had a boat neck and a bell-shaped skirt dipping at the front with a train falling in folds from the back. Ursula had designed it but Viv had another costume for later that she had made herself. The thought of tonight made her smile. She was going to surprise Nick.

  Hilda adjusted the short bouffant veil yet once more. ‘Mam, you’re fussing,’ cried Viv.

  ‘I’m allowed to fuss on my daughter’s wedding day,’ muttered Hilda. ‘I want you to bowl them all over when they see you.’

  ‘I want Nick dumbstruck but not speechless,’ said Viv dreamily. ‘I don’t care about the rest.’

  Hilda smiled and shook her head. ‘What about George? Just like him to turn up out of the blue.’

  Happiness flooded Viv’s features. I was so glad to see him, Mam! And to hear his news. Wasn’t it great about that girl not being dead but having been rescued further down the valley? It’s made such a difference to him.’

  ‘Lovely,’ said her mother drily.

  Viv grinned. ‘How about Aunt Flora, Mike and the kids? Weren’t you thrilled to see them?’

  ‘Of course!’

  Viv turned her head and reached for the bouquet of yellow roses and white carnations. ‘Has she said anything to you?’

  ‘I take it you mean about Tom?’

  Viv nodded and Hilda moaned, ‘Don’t move your head like that! You’ve disturbed your veil and I had it just right.’

  ‘Mam! You do realise that you’re doing the bridesmaids’ job?’ said Viv, exasperated. ‘Where are Dot and Ingrid and Ursula?’ She rustled over to the door.

  Hilda hurried after her. She was wearing a cerise-coloured suit made of wild silk. ‘Where d’you think you’re going? We don’t want anyone seeing you yet. Not until you make your big entrance in church.’

  ‘I want to see Dot.’

  ‘You’ll see her in a minute. They’re getting ready in the other room. Our Flo’s in there as well as Lizzie. She’s got you a lucky black cat. Now relax. I’ll get us both a sherry.’

  Viv raised her eyes to the newly whitewashed ceiling. ‘You’ll have me falling up the aisle!’

  ‘It won’t do you any harm. It’ll calm your nerves,’ said her mother.

  ‘I haven’t got any nerves.’ Viv did a little jig round the bedroom. George had called her ‘Sis’. She had hugged him and told him that he was never to do so again. The fewer people who knew the truth the better. ‘I’m happy,’ she said.

  Hilda shook her head at her. ‘We all have nerves on our wedding day. I had nerves and it was my third wedding. I just wasn’t sure that Stephen would go through with it after all.’

  ‘He’s a hero is my step-daddy,’ said Viv. ‘I just hope he has no regrets – ever!’

  ‘Three females who spoil him soft – why should he have regrets?’ said Hilda, delicately arching her pencilled eyebrows.

  Viv glanced about the bedroom in what had been Stephen’s house. While Stephen’s and Hilda’s new house was being finished they were going to America on a belated honeymoon so that at last Hilda could visit Hollywood. Nick and Viv had taken out a small mortgage on this house. Stephen had asked much less than it was worth. In two years or so they hoped to be able to buy land and build their own. ‘What about that drink?’ she said to her mother suddenly. ‘I’d like us to toast each other while we’re on our own.’

  ‘We’ve got a lot to be thankful for,’ said Hilda, her face brightening.

  Viv leant against the dressing table and scrutinised her mother’s face. She said in mischievous tones, ‘Are you getting all sentimental on me, Mam?’

  ‘Me! I haven’t a sentimental bone in my body,’ said Hilda in scandalised tones, and whisked herself out of the bedroom.

  Viv shrugged and went over to the window. Already a small crowd had gathered outside. Tonight, tonight! she thought. There was a knock on the door. ‘Enter,’ she said, considering the occasion demanded a grand word.

  Her Aunt Flora entered, her hazel eyes alight with admiration and affection. ‘You look beautiful, love. I just came to see if you needed any help from your bridesmaids?’

  ‘Not yet. Shut the door, Aunt Flo. Mam’s just gone to get us a drink. She said I’m nervy but it’s her who’s got the nerves.’

  ‘She’s only had you for a short while,’ said Flora softly, ‘and now she’s losing you. It’s a moving moment.’ She looked about her. ‘It feels strange to be here in such circumstances. To think I could have lived here …’

  ‘Well, you didn’t. And thank God you didn’t,’ said Viv, sitting beside her and putting a hand through the crook of her arm. ‘Stephen’s right for Mam.’ She hesitated. ‘How are you and Mam now?’

  Flora murmured, ‘Just the same as we’ve always been. We give and we take what we need from each other, and that’s how it’s always been with us. Nothing’s going to spoil your wedding. This is your day so don’t worry.’

  ‘What about George? Has he said anything—’

  ‘Not a thing.’ Flora patted her hand. ‘I think I worried unduly. After all, he barely knew his father.’ She pulled a face. ‘Anyway he’s flirting with all the bridesmaids if that’s any consolation to you, but especially that Ursula. What do you think of her?’

  Before Viv could answer there was a knock on the door and Flora got up and opened it to her sister. They stared at each other. ‘Perhaps I should get another glass?’ said Hilda.

  ‘No,’ said Flora, smiling. ‘You have your moment with Viv. I’ll see you later.’

  With her colour slightly high, Hilda handed a glass to her daughter. ‘Here’s to you, Viv. I hope he won’t disappoint you.’

  ‘Mam! What a thing to say,’ she chided, placing her bouquet on the bed.

  Hilda pulled a face. ‘Well, you accused me of going soft on you before so I couldn’t have that.’

  Viv smiled and raised the glass. ‘I hope you’ll be content in your new house, Mam, and that you find a hard-working daily to take my place.’

  ‘I’ll see to it, don’t you worry.’ Hilda smiled and drank the toast. ‘I’d better go and take Melly off Steve. He’ll have to get ready for you.’

  Viv nodded, then just as Hilda made to go she leant forward and kissed her. Her mother stilled and stared at her, her e
yes suddenly moist. Then she reached out scarlet-tipped fingers and touched Viv’s cheek gently. ‘You both deserve to be happy,’ she said quietly. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you both. Tell Nick I said that when you’re alone and far away or he’ll think I’ve gone soft.’

  ‘I’ll tell him,’ whispered Viv, moved almost beyond words.

  EPILOGUE

  Viv gazed at herself in the bathroom mirror and adjusted her veil, humming a song from Kismet. She had left Nick undressing in the bedroom that overlooked the sea.

  ‘Are you ready yet?’ he called.

  ‘Are you?’

  ‘Ready and waiting.’

  She smiled and took one last look at herself in the brief chiffon bodice and the skirt that she had made from several lengths of sheer material. Unexpectedly nerves fluttered in her stomach. She told herself firmly not to be so daft. It wasn’t as if she was a Victorian virgin bride who knew nothing about sex and had never seen a man without his clothes on before.

  She walked slowly into the bedroom and then stopped and drew an unsteady breath.

  Nick lay naked on the bed – that was, naked except for the knight’s helmet. ‘I thought the full suit would be inappropriate so I …’ His voice trailed off.

  Viv’s hands fluttered in the air like butterflies caught up in a courtship dance. ‘The Seven Veils, sir? Or would you like me to peel you some grapes?’

  ‘Where did you get it?’ he murmured.

  ‘I made it with my own dainty little fingers,’ she answered. ‘Where did you get the helmet?’

  ‘I made that too. It’s cardboard.’ He took it off and slung it across the room. ‘Come here.’ His voice had deepened with emotion. ‘I think we’ve put off this moment long enough.’ Slowly she went to him and he pulled her down on to the bed.

  ‘Mam said that I was to tell you that we deserve to be happy,’ said Viv, stroking his chest. ‘That she wouldn’t have known what to do without us.’

  ‘That was big of her,’ said Nick, removing her bodice. ‘I’m sure we will be happy.’

  ‘As happy as anyone can be.’ Her fingers travelled downwards.

  ‘How much do I love you?’ he whispered.

  ‘You could show me a number of ways, I reckon.’ She smiled into his eyes.

  ‘This time nobody and nothing is going to stop us,’ said Nick, and slowly removed the first veil and began to show her just how much he really did love her.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I would like to thank my Hawitt cousins Maureen, Majorie and Irene for their interest and willingness in helping me with my American research. It was much appreciated.

  Also by June Francis

  Flowers on the Mersey

  Step by Step

  A Place to Call Home

  A Dream to Share

  Look for the Silver Lining

  When the Clouds Go Rolling By

  Tilly’s Story

  Sunshine and Showers

  It Had to Be You

  About the Author

  JUNE FRANCIS’S maiden name was Nelson, and although she can’t lay claim to the famous Lord Admiral, she can boast of at least six mariners in her ancestry who came from far and wide. June’s mother worked in service and her tales of the old days have inspired several of June’s published novels.

  Copyright

  Allison & Busby Limited

  13 Charlotte Mews

  London W1T 4EJ

  www.allisonandbusby.com

  Copyright © 1993 by JUNE FRANCIS

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  First published in the UK in 1993.

  Reissued by Allison & Busby in 2011.

  This ebook edition first published 2011.

  All characters and events in this publication other than those clearly in the public domain are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent buyer.

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

  ISBN 978–0–7490–4057–4