by Joan Jonker
‘It was a good laugh, though, Nellie, and we’ve all enjoyed ourselves. So I’ll wish everyone a very good day.’
As she was passing, Nellie tapped her on the shoulder. ‘I’ll never have another cup of tea off that dining table of yours, girl.’
‘In twenty years, Nellie, yer’ve never had a cup of tea off my table.’
‘I know that, Hetty. I was just dropping a gentle hint to remind yer. Neighbours for twenty years, and never once invited in for a friendly chat and a cup of tea. Now anybody hearing that would think yer weren’t a very generous person.’
Hetty was prepared for her this time. ‘The day you invite me into your house for a cuppa, Nellie, will be the day I invite yer into mine.’
Nellie was looking very happy as she smiled up into Molly’s face. ‘Ay, that was good, wasn’t it, girl? I really enjoyed meself, and it didn’t half go down well with Tony and his customers. We’ll have to do it again some time, so our crowd can see it. How about next time yer have a party?’
Molly gasped. ‘The next time I have a party! Ye’re a cheeky article, Nellie McDonough, yer really are. Why can’t you have a party for a change? Mind you, if by some freak act of nature yer did ask me to a party in your house, I’d die of shock.’
‘That’s why I don’t ask yer, girl ’cos I know the surprise would be too much for yer. It’s you I’m thinking about, Molly. I’d hate to be the one what brought on a heart attack.’
‘Listen, sunshine, I take a chance on having a heart attack every time I go out with yer. There are times when I don’t know where to put me face, and I could willingly strangle yer.’
‘If ye’re getting a cob on ’cos I mentioned having a party in your house, girl, then forget I said it. Give me a great big smile, then I’ll know yer haven’t fallen out with me.’ When there was no response, Nellie squeezed her friend’s arm. ‘What’s wrong, Molly? Are yer feeling out of sorts?’
‘No, I’m fine, sunshine, and I did enjoy our Lionel and Ethel Barrymore show. But yer do go too far sometimes, Nellie, and I don’t know where to put meself. I felt sorry for poor Hetty. There was no need for yer to pull her leg like that. She’s not as outgoing as you, and yer could see she was embarrassed.’
The little woman looked genuinely surprised. ‘Why? I didn’t say nothing to upset Hetty, so why would she be embarrassed?’
‘It’s not only Hetty, sunshine, it’s everyone! This obsession of yours with the goings on in people’s bedrooms, well, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.’
‘Oh, yeah, I know what yer mean now, girl. Hetty did mention she’d never had a cup of tea in my house.’ Nellie’s thoughts had her nodding her head as they approached Hanley’s cake shop. ‘It would be neighbourly to invite Hetty in for a cuppa some time, wouldn’t it? After all, we’ve lived by each other for long enough.’ Leaning heavily on her mate’s arm to help her up the two steps, Nellie said, ‘Shall I ask her to come to yours one morning, so she can have a nice cup of tea with us?’
‘Sod off, Nellie McDonough. To pinch Hetty Garrett’s words, “The day yer invite me to yours for a cup of tea, then that’s the day I’ll invite yer to mine.”’
‘Ah, well, it was worth a try, girl.’ Nellie approached the glass display cabinet. ‘Ay, Molly, see that cream slice, the third one from the end? Well, it’s just waved to me, and because it’s friendly, I’m going to buy it.’
‘It’s a nice bit of liver, this, love,’ Jack said, ‘it almost melts in the mouth.’
Ruthie nodded in agreement. ‘Yeah, it is nice, Mam, and I’m going to eat it all up. But I don’t think I can manage all the mashed potato, so can I ask me dad if he’d take some off me?’
‘It’s all right with me, sunshine, but hadn’t yer better ask him yerself?’
‘Pass yer plate over, pet, I’ve got room for a bit more.’ Jack used his knife to transfer some of the potato from his daughter’s plate to his. ‘Yer grandma is always saying it’s a sin to throw food away when there’s people starving.’
‘The six years of war, when food was hard to come by, taught us all a lesson,’ Molly said. ‘Most women are more careful with food now. I know by listening to them in the shops.’
‘Did Nellie buy liver as well?’ Jack asked. ‘George would be happy because I know it’s a favourite of his.’
‘We always get the same, me and Nellie. Whatever I buy, she buys. The only difference in my shopping basket and hers is the bag of cream cakes. She bought six cream slices, and I’ll bet that George and Paul will never see all those cakes on the same plate. She’ll put three on the table, and the other three will go in the larder, to be eaten by my mate when no one is looking.’
Ruthie’s brow shot up. ‘Auntie Nellie wouldn’t eat three cream slices on her own, would she, Mam?’
Molly nodded. ‘Oh, yes, sunshine, she’ll eat those cakes without any trouble, and she won’t feel guilty. She loves her cakes, does Nellie.’
Jack chuckled, as in his mind’s eye he could see Nellie with a cake in her hand and cream round her mouth. ‘What’s she been up to today, love? Anything interesting?’
‘Not really, no!’ Molly held out her hands for the empty plates. ‘In fact she was very quiet. An uneventful morning really. Nothing to write home about.’
Chapter Nineteen
‘Are yer not putting a coat or a cardi on, girl?’ Nellie asked, looking surprised to see Molly in a short-sleeved cotton dress. ‘Yer’ll catch yer death of cold in that.’
‘Nellie, it’s a beautiful sunny morning. There’s not a cloud in the sky, so it’s going to stay fine all day. Yer can’t go out in that coat, sunshine, ’cos yer’d swelter in it.’ Molly grinned. ‘I was going to say yer’d be reduced to a grease spot, but I won’t ’cos I wouldn’t hurt yer feelings for the world.’
‘I’ve got to keep this coat on, I’ve nothing else to wear.’ Nellie wiped a hand across her brow to brush away the beads of sweat. ‘It’s all right for you, going out in yer figure, but there’s no chance of me doing it.’
Molly decided to try another tactic. She wasted a few minutes rooting in a drawer for the want of something to do, then, with her back to Nellie, she asked, ‘Are yer hot, sunshine?’
‘Hot! I’m bleeding roasting, girl, it’s just pouring off me.’
Molly spun round. ‘Then take that ruddy coat off yer! Let’s see what yer’ve got on underneath it.’
Slipping her coat off, Nellie threw it over the back of a chair. Then she lifted both arms and pulled a face. ‘As yer will agree, I can’t walk out in this. It’s got a pin keeping the hem up, and there’s a few rips and split seams.’
‘I wouldn’t be seen dead with yer in it,’ Molly said. ‘Surely yer can do better than that old thing? It should have been given to the rag and bone man ages ago. But what about the navy one yer got from the market? That really looked nice on yer, and yer could walk out in it knowing it fitted yer perfectly and yer looked good.’
‘D’yer really think so, girl? I’d feel really conscious walking out in just a dress. I’ve hardly got the figure for it.’
‘Nellie, we don’t have time to argue if we intend being near the laundry by eleven. So nip home, pick up the navy dress, and bring it back here to change into. And look sharpish, don’t loiter. I want yer back here in the time it takes me to hang yer coat up.’
The little woman walked out with her head down, muttering, ‘I wonder who her bleeding servant was before I came along?’
Molly smiled as she hung the coat up. She loved her mate like a sister, and at the moment she felt sorry for her. It must be awful carrying so much weight around in this hot weather. But Nellie would grin and bear it, for she knew if she complained she’d get a lecture on her eating habits. And really, Molly admitted to herself, Nellie wouldn’t be the same if she was slim. She wouldn’t suit it.
‘Are you still hanging that ruddy coat up?’ When Nellie pushed on the front door, Molly was thrown face forward on to the wall. ‘Oh, sorry, girl, I didn’t mean to hur
t yer. The trouble is, I don’t know me own strength.’ With the navy dress over her arm, she waddled through the living room to the kitchen. ‘I’ll change out here if yer don’t mind, girl. I won’t be two shakes of a lamb’s tail.’
‘You better hadn’t be, sunshine, ’cos it’s a good walk down to the shop, and we need to be there before eleven.’
‘It’s no good talking while I’ve got me head inside a dress, girl, so save yer breath.’ A few seconds later, Nellie came out wearing the dress and looking as pleased as Punch. ‘It still fits me, so I haven’t put any more weight on.’ She did a twirl. ‘How does it look, girl?’
‘Oh, yer look wonderful, a real treat. Honestly, it’s a lovely fit on yer. I bet yer’ll feel nice and cool going out in that.’ Molly was pleased because her friend was happy. ‘Have yer got any money to spare, sunshine?’
Nellie looked suspicious. ‘Yeah, I’ve always got a bit of spare money, but why d’yer want to know? Are yer skint?’
Molly raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Nellie, it’s only Monday. It would be God help me if I was skint and had to feed the family for the rest of the week. No, I was going to suggest that if yer have got a few bob to spare, we could go down to the market and see if yer can find another bargain like the dress yer’ve got on now. If yer had a couple more, yer’d be able to go out every day without yer coat, and without sweating cobs.’
‘Ooh, yeah, that’s a good idea that, girl. We haven’t seen Mary Ann or Sadie since Christmas. They’ll think we’ve fallen out with them. Can we go this afternoon, when we’ve finished our detective work?’
‘Let’s wait and see how we get on this morning. If we find ourselves at a dead end, then we can take a tram or a bus to Great Homer Street. But the whole idea of going down to stand near Claire’s shop is to find out more about the bloke she’s getting involved with.’
Nellie nodded. ‘We’ll see how it goes. But would yer do me a favour, girl, and comb me hair for me? It’s no good looking good in this dress if me hair’s a mess.’
Molly opened one of the sideboard drawers and took out a comb. ‘Come here, sunshine, and let’s titivate yer up. But don’t forget, if yer click with a feller, yer’ve got to ask him if he’s got a mate. And also if the mate is good-looking and has plenty of money.’
‘Blimey, ye’re not asking for much, are yer?’ Nellie’s eyes disappeared behind her chubby cheeks. ‘Ay, if this feller I’m going to click with has got a friend what’s handsome and with plenty of money, then I’d be daft if I didn’t take the friend and leave you with the feller I’ve clicked with.’
Molly chuckled. ‘Ye’re not as daft as yer look, sunshine, are yer? Not where men and money are concerned, anyway.’ She nodded towards the front door. ‘Now let’s put a move on so we get there before the queer feller.’
‘Are yer taking yer basket, girl?’
‘No, it’s too hot to be carrying that thing around. And I don’t need much shopping; we’re having bacon and egg tonight. All I need is bread and milk. So I’m only taking me handbag with me.’
‘Then can I put me purse in it, girl, save lugging me ruddy big handbag around? If we have time to go to the market, I’ll look for a small one for meself.’
Molly opened her bag. ‘Put it in, sunshine. It’ll be safe in there.’
The two friends were nearing the block of shops where Claire worked when they saw Graham Collins. He was nearing the laundry from the opposite direction, and soon disappeared inside.
‘Blimey, that was close,’ Molly said. ‘At least we know he’s here, and we’re not wasting our time. Another ten minutes and we’d have missed him.’
‘Are we going to split up again, girl, like we did last time?’
‘I think so, sunshine, it’s safer that way. We won’t be so noticeable. And each time we come we’ll have to wear a different dress. I don’t mean we’ll have to buy more clothes, just that we’ll have to change what we’ve got.’
‘I haven’t got one to swap with, only me mother-of-thebride dress. D’yer think that would stand out too much?’
‘Oh, I think so, sunshine. Yer’d stick out like a sore thumb. It’s hardly the sort of dress yer’d go to the shops in. We need to look like two ordinary housewives, and nobody will take any notice of us. We can change our appearance by doing our hair a new way. I could comb mine back and tie it with a ribbon.’
‘Well, it’s God help me, then, girl, ’cos I haven’t got enough hair to tie back. I could put a scarf on me head, though – that would make me look different.’
‘Good idea, sunshine! Ay, yer can borrow the one Doreen bought me for Christmas. It’s a pale blue voile, with pretty flowers on. It’ll look nice and summery, and it won’t be too hot for yer.’
Nellie was over the moon. She remembered the scarf, and though she hadn’t said anything at the time, she’d wished one of her family had bought her something as pretty. ‘I know the scarf you mean, girl, and it is nice. But are yer sure yer wouldn’t mind me wearing it, with Doreen buying it as a present for yer?’
‘Of course I don’t mind, soft girl, and neither would Doreen! It’s only a flaming scarf. If it was a gold necklace, that would be different. I’d have to think twice about it.’ Molly put a hand on her mate’s hand. ‘He’s just come out, sunshine. Now, no matter which way he goes, we’ll follow him.’
‘D’yer want me to walk on the opposite side, like last time?’
‘No, let’s be daring and stick together.’ Molly fixed her eyes on the man as he stood at the edge of the pavement waiting for a break in the traffic so he could cross the busy road. ‘He’s crossing over, sunshine, so we’ll do the same thing.’ She bent her elbow. ‘Stick yer arm in, and try to keep up with me if I run. There’s a lot of cars and vans on the road today, but I suppose most of the shops will be having a delivery, seeing as it’s Monday.’
Nellie didn’t need the help of Molly’s arm. She seemed to bounce across the road and actually reached the other side before her friend. ‘Come on, slowcoach.’ She grinned. ‘What took yer so long?’
‘I was keeping me eye on the traffic, sunshine, dodging the ruddy cars. It’s a wonder yer didn’t get run over, ’cos yer didn’t even look to see if it was safe! One van driver had to slam his brakes on, and he was calling yer for all the silly buggers going.’
‘Ooh, I’m not worried about him, girl, ’cos brakes were made for stopping quickly. That’s what they’re in his van for.’
‘So, if he’d knocked yer down, it would have been his fault, would it?’
‘Of course it would! Blimey, girl, I’m big enough for him to have seen me from a distance. He’d have plenty of time to use the brake.’
‘Okay, let’s forget it. While we’re arguing the toss, our target is getting away. He’s not going to the woman’s house, like he did last week, ’cos he’s going in a different direction. So we’ll have to stay close enough not to lose sight of him.’
Graham Collins walked jauntily along the road. He appeared to be in good spirits, without a care in the world. After five minutes he turned into one of the many streets running off the main road.
Molly looked up at the street sign. ‘This is the street he lives in. Only last time we came in from the other end. So he’s going to his own house.’
‘We can still follow him, girl, ’cos he’s probably only going home to see his mother. I bet he won’t stay long, not if he’s got a job.’
‘I think ye’re right, sunshine, but we’ll walk to the top of the street and wait there. We’ll hang around for twenty minutes, and if he doesn’t show himself by then we’ll call it a day. He lives with his mother, and for all we know he could spend the rest of the day with her. I’d say he was about the same age as us, so his mother will be getting on in years.’
‘Anything yer say, girl, I’ll fall in with. We’ll give him twenty minutes, and if he doesn’t come out by then, we could take a tram down to the market.’
‘Yer’ll have to wait another day for yer dress,
sunshine, ’cos here he is again.’ The friends were standing on the corner of the street, and Molly linked her arm through Nellie’s. ‘Pretend to be talking to me, sunshine, and walk slowly until he’s passed us.’
Graham was whistling when he skirted the couple without giving them a second glance. His gait told them he was in a very happy frame of mind.
‘He seems in good spirits,’ Molly said. ‘I wonder if he’s going to that woman’s house?’
‘We’ll soon find out,’ Nellie answered. ‘He’s only a few doors away from it now.’
Sure enough, Graham turned in to a path as they were speaking, and they could hear him knocking on a door. ‘I’ll run past, sunshine. Stay here and wait for me.’ Molly took to her heels and was just in time to see their quarry kissing the woman they’d seen him with the week before. The door was closed then, and both were lost to view.
‘Well, girl, what did yer see?’ Nellie asked when Molly rejoined her. ‘Or were yer too late to see anything?’
‘All I saw was him taking his hat off, and bending his head to kiss her. It was the same woman, all right, I could tell by the hair. I really don’t know what to make of it.’
‘He’s having Claire on, that’s what he’s doing.’ Nellie was nodding to show she meant what she said. ‘We should tell her what we’ve seen or find out definitely what he’s up to.’
‘I agree with yer wholeheartedly, sunshine, but what can we do about it? That woman he’s just kissed is definitely one of his fancy women, and God knows how many more he’s got. But how come, if he deals in antiques, he’s not at work? Or is that another lie he’s told Claire? For all we know, everything he’s told her might be a pack of lies. He might not even live with his mother. He could be a married man, with a string of women on the side. He probably took a fancy to Claire because of her looks. Any man would be proud to have her on his arm.’
‘He’s a rum one, isn’t he, girl? And I think someone should burst his bubble. It would be sad if Claire fell for him, and he dropped her like a hot brick if someone else came along and took his fancy.’ Nellie was quiet for a while, then said, ‘There’s one lie we could find him out in.’
