Stay as Sweet as You Are

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Oh, aye?’ Irene raised her brows. ‘So ye’re not really interested in the new shirt and tie ye’re after? Yer were full of it before.’

  ‘Of course I want a new shirt and tie, but I’m not talking about it all the time.’ Greg wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of knowing that in his mind he could see himself dressed to the nines in his navy-blue trousers, a new white shirt and a pale blue tie. ‘It’s nearly ten o’clock and we’re still on the second game. All because the girls won’t give their mouths a rest.’

  ‘I’d rather talk about the clothes we’re wearing for the wedding,’ Lucy said. ‘I mean, I’ve got to look nice, being a bridesmaid.’

  ‘And I’m an invited guest,’ Rhoda said, with more than a little pride in her voice. ‘So I’ve got to look nice, as well.’

  ‘I’m sure yer’ll both look lovely.’ Irene too had been wondering what colour dress to buy for herself. Something in blue, perhaps, or a deep lilac? ‘And I’ll make sure my two don’t let the side down. They’ll look like film stars.’

  Greg grinned. ‘Yeah! I’ll be George Raft. He’s always dressed to kill.’

  ‘He’s a gangster, yer daft nit,’ Jack said. ‘He doesn’t only dress to kill, he carries a flippin’ gun around with him.’

  ‘What about you, Steve?’ Lucy asked. ‘Ye’re very quiet, and you’ve got to look nicer than anyone ’cos yer’ll be walking down the aisle with yer mam.’ She giggled. ‘I don’t mean yer’ve got to look nicer than the bride, though. I bet yer mam will look lovely.’

  ‘I won’t let me mam down, don’t worry.’ Steve’s grin hid the excitement he felt inside. Titch had brought a suit home for him and he was thrilled to bits. It was in a dark navy and fitted him to perfection. He was as tall as Titch, but not as stocky, so it was easy for his future step-dad to get the fit right. He said the words over again in his mind, relishing them. ‘My step-dad.’ Never had he known such happiness. ‘Yer’ll see me in all me finery on the day.’

  ‘I bet yer’ll look dead handsome,’ Rhoda said, glaring knowingly at Greg. ‘More like Randolph Scott than George Raft.’

  ‘Who shall I be?’ Jack scratched his head. ‘Who’s more handsome than those two?’

  Lucy didn’t hesitate. ‘Robert Young. He’s me favourite.’

  Irene heard the key in the lock. ‘Here’s the men. Get the cards back in the packs and take the cups and saucers out. It’s time yer were going home, Rhoda, or yer mam will start to worry.’

  ‘Okay, Mrs Pollard, and thanks for having me.’

  Bob came in rubbing his hands. ‘Have yer won a fortune, pet?’

  George chuckled. ‘She’s in the wrong house for that.’

  ‘We’ve hardly played cards, Dad, we’ve been talking about clothes for the wedding. At least me and Rhoda have, the boys couldn’t care less.’

  ‘Well, let’s get yer home now. Nellie waits up for me and I don’t want to be too late.’ Bob noticed Rhoda making her way to the door. ‘Hang on, love, I’ll see yer home once Lucy is safe in the house.’

  ‘That’s all right, Mr Mellor,’ Steve said. ‘I’ve got to pass her house on me way home. I’ll hang on until she’s inside.’

  Lucy tossed and turned in bed, her mind too active for sleep. She was telling herself to put everything out of her head and count sheep, when she heard the front door open. Her mother was home. Then she heard a man speaking in hushed tones and she shot up in bed. It was Wally Brown, she could recognise the smooth, silky voice even though he was whispering. What was he doing here this time of night? It was nearly eleven o’clock. Then the voice faded and Lucy fell back against the headboard. They must be in the living room, but why would her mother bring him here so late at night? She had no right to, and her dad would go mad if he knew.

  It was impossible to sleep now, with that man in the house. So Lucy drew her knees up to her chin and pulled the bedclothes around her. She’d stay awake until he’d gone. And she’d have something to say to her mother in the morning. The alarm clock on the chest of drawers ticked away, the only sound in the house. Until Lucy heard whispering at the bottom of the stairs. Alert now, she could make out her mother’s voice. ‘Don’t go up, she’ll scream the house down if she sees yer.’

  ‘I’m only going up to see if she’s asleep.’ Wally’s low voice carried up the stairs to the now terrified girl. ‘She won’t even know I’m there.’

  Lucy knocked on the bedroom wall. And when she heard the footsteps reach the landing, she knocked again, harder.

  Greg shook his brother’s shoulder. ‘Jack, Lucy’s just knocked.’

  Jack was wiping the sleep from his eyes when the knocking was repeated. The two boys scrambled out of bed and rushed down the stairs. ‘Mam, Lucy’s been knocking. There must be something up for her to do that.’

  Irene and George were enjoying a cup of tea before going to bed, and they both looked startled at the sight of the boys. ‘What did yer say, sunshine?’ Irene asked.

  ‘Lucy’s been knocking.’ Jack was impatient at their slowness to understand. ‘There must be something wrong. Twice she’s knocked.’

  By the time he’d finished speaking, Irene had taken the key for next door from the glass dish on the sideboard and George was on his way out of the front door. The boys followed quickly on their heels.

  Ruby was standing at the foot of the stairs when her front door was opened, and she looked bewildered when she was pushed aside by George, who took the stairs three at a time.

  ‘What the hell d’yer think ye’re doing?’ Ruby was very worried now. ‘Get out of my house.’

  Irene passed her without a word. And she reached the bedroom just as her husband grabbed the man who was standing at the side of Lucy’s bed. ‘You dirty swine,’ George roared. ‘I’ll flay yer alive for this.’

  ‘Who the hell are you?’ Wally blustered, knowing he didn’t stand an earthly with the size of this bloke. He could only try and talk himself out of it. ‘I only came up to see if Lucy was all right.’ He saw Ruby hovering near the doorway. ‘Tell this maniac to take his hands off me, will yer?’

  Ruby came into the room, but made sure she kept out of Irene’s reach. ‘He’s a friend of mine and you have no right to be in here.’

  George, still holding Wally by the throat, asked, ‘Oh, so yer allow men to come into yer daughter’s room, do yer?’

  Ruby lowered her head, lost for words. So it was up to Wally to bluff his way out of it. ‘It’s all a misunderstanding. Let’s go downstairs and I’ll explain.’

  Irene looked at Lucy, who was backed against the headboard, her eyes wide with fright. ‘Lucy, did you want this man to come into your bedroom?’

  ‘No! I don’t like him, he’s horrid!’

  ‘Then this is a police matter,’ Irene said. ‘You,’ she gave Ruby a push which sent her flying against the wall, ‘are not fit to be a mother. You allow a dirty old man to come into your daughter’s bedroom, and the police wouldn’t take kindly to either of yer. Yer’d both be locked up. I’ll make sure neither of yer are allowed near Lucy again.’

  ‘Oh, come on!’ The thought of involving the police scared the life out of Wally. ‘I didn’t mean no harm. Yer’ve taken it the wrong way. Leave go of me and let me go home.’

  ‘Ye’re not moving from this spot until the police come.’ George tightened his grip. ‘But before I send me son to the police station, just tell me why yer came into this room?’

  ‘I told yer! Just to make sure she was in bed and asleep!’

  ‘Rubbish!’ Irene said. A plan had formed in her mind and she prayed to God she could pull it off. ‘There’s only one way yer can crawl out of this, without us calling the police. And that’s if yer walk away from here now, and take Ruby with yer. Not just for tonight, but for good. If either of yer show yer face around here again, I’ll make sure yer go to jail. That’s if the neighbours don’t lynch yer first. It’s up to you, so make up yer mind.’

  ‘Yer can’t do that to me,’ Ruby cried. ‘This
is my home.’

  ‘Wrong,’ said George. ‘It’s Bob’s house, he only lets yer live in it. We already know this evil bastard has his own house, and when yer visit him yer behave like a married couple, so I suggest yer go and live with him.’

  Wally couldn’t think any further than getting away from the huge hands around his throat. ‘Go on, Ruby, put yer coat on and let’s get out of here.’

  ‘Not so fast!’ Irene said. ‘Ruby won’t be allowed back for any of her belongings, so she’ll be a while packing. George will sit with you downstairs and I’ll stay here until she’s got everything together. This is the last time either of yer set foot in this house. That’s if yer’ve got any sense.’

  The boys moved into the front bedroom out of the way of their father, who was literally carrying a struggling Wally down the stairs. No way was he going to be allowed to scarper without taking Ruby with him.

  ‘Come in here and sit with Lucy, boys,’ Irene called. ‘So I can keep me eye on what’s going on.’

  ‘Mrs Pollard.’ Lucy grabbed her arm to stop her from moving away. ‘Does this mean me mam won’t ever be coming back?’

  Irene sat on the side of the bed and held her close. ‘That all depends, sunshine. I’ve taken a lot on meself by telling her to leave because, after all, I’m only a neighbour and shouldn’t really be interfering. If this situation hadn’t come up, Ruby would have been within her rights to tell me to mind me own business. But that man was wicked to come into yer bedroom, and yer mam was as bad for not stopping him. I wouldn’t trust her after that, and there was no way I was going to let her stay in this house tonight with you. Your dad will be very upset and angry when he knows, and I know he’ll agree with me and George about throwing them out. But it depends upon how you feel, sunshine. She is your mother, after all. So think about it carefully, and be sure in yer mind. Would yer be very unhappy if yer thought yer were never going to set eyes on her again?’

  Lucy plucked nervously at the bedclothes. ‘I’ll probably spend the rest of me life being unhappy because me mother never ever loved me, Mrs Pollard. And I’ll always wonder why. But she’s hurt me so much, and me dad, and I know she’ll never change. Yer can’t make someone love yer if they don’t want to. So I’d rather she left so me dad can come back home again.’

  ‘Are yer sure, sunshine?’

  Lucy nodded as she wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. ‘I’m sure, honest I am. I want me dad back ’cos I love him and he loves me. We’ll be happy together, just the two of us. Me mam spoiled things for us, always skitting, telling lies and cheating. And there was never any comfort or laughter in the house.’

  Irene put a finger under the girl’s chin and lifted her face. ‘In that case, I think yer dad’s in for a very pleasant surprise tomorrow. We’ll talk about it later, when yer mam and her friend have left. And there’s nothing for yer to worry about because I’m certain neither of them will have the nerve to show their faces in this street again, not after me and George have given them a good talking to. And I’ll be sleeping with yer tonight in case ye’re a bit nervous. We’ll cuddle up and keep each other company.’ She beckoned to her sons who were hovering near the door. ‘Yer can come and sit with Lucy for a while, now. I know ye’re missing yer beauty sleep, but it’ll soon be all over.’

  ‘We don’t mind that,’ Jack said. ‘As long as Lucy’s all right.’

  ‘I’m fine, now.’ Lucy pulled the sheet up to her chin. ‘I’ve got to admit I was terrified when I heard that man walking up the stairs, though. I knew he was coming ’cos I heard him and me mam talking in the hall. She told him not to come, but when he took no notice of her she didn’t even try and stop him. And she should have stopped him. Even if she doesn’t love me, she should have stopped him. But it’s over now, and I do feel a bit better knowing me dad will soon be back home.’

  ‘Yeah, in a couple of days when you and yer dad are settled down, yer’ll be fine,’ Jack said. ‘And we can come in your house for a game of cards, for a change.’

  ‘And don’t forget we’ve got the wedding to look forward to.’ Greg wanted to see the smile back on Lucy’s face. ‘Yer’ll have yer dad here to make sure ye’re the prettiest bridesmaid this street has ever seen. And he’ll be so proud of yer.’

  Before the smile came to Lucy’s face, she allowed time to finish what she was thinking. That one day, when she was a bit older, she’d go and see her mother. Just to ask why she couldn’t find it in her heart to love her husband and her daughter.

  Ruby struggled to keep up with Wally while carrying three big, heavy bags. He was walking with his hands in his pockets, his anger showing in every step he took. Not once did he offer to help by taking one or two of the bags from her. ‘What a bloody performance,’ he growled. ‘For two pins, that big feller would have marched us off to the police station and we’d have been in big trouble.’ Not for a second would he allow himself to admit to being in the wrong. He’d only gone up to Lucy’s room to take a peek at her. To stroke her long hair, or her pretty face, perhaps. He only wanted to touch her, not hurt her.

  ‘I did tell yer not to go upstairs.’ Ruby daren’t raise her voice or say that everything that had happened was his own fault. ‘I told yer what she’s like.’

  ‘Oh, shut up, woman!’ Wally needed a scapegoat, someone to vent his anger on. Gone now were the words of flattery as he looked sideways at her. ‘If ye’re coming to live with me, there’s going to be some big changes. D’yer understand?’

  ‘Yes, Wally.’

  ‘For a kick-off, yer get yerself a full-time job to pay yer way. I’ll get rid of the cleaner and you can do the housework – that’ll save me a few bob.’ Wally was beginning to think he might be on to a good thing here. More money coming into the house and his own personal servant who would cater to his every whim. And she’d put up with it because she was crazy about him. He’d be waited on hand and foot, and she’d be there for the taking, any time he felt like it. ‘And another thing – that blonde hair looks ridiculous, let it grow out.’

  ‘But it’ll look terrible while it’s growing out! It’ll take ages!’

  ‘Ask the hairdresser if she can dye it back to its original colour. I don’t care what yer do, but get rid of the blonde, it makes yer look like a tart.’

  ‘All right, Wally, I’ll have a word with the hairdresser. And I can go full-time where I work, they’ve asked me to a few times. Anything you say is all right with me, yer know that. I only want to make yer happy.’

  I speak and she jumps, Wally thought. I’d never get another woman as obliging as her. He held out a hand. ‘Give us one of those bags to carry, they must be heavy.’

  Nellie Carson opened her door to find herself facing a woman of about her own age, with her hair combed back into a bun, a black shawl draped around her shoulders and wearing a big grin. ‘I know who you are,’ she said instantly. ‘Ye’re Mrs Aggie.’

  ‘And you are Mrs Nellie.’

  Both women laughed and Nellie held the door wide open. ‘Come in, ye’re very welcome. I’ve been dying to meet yer ’cos I’ve heard so much about yer.’

  ‘All good, I hope.’ Aggie’s eyes were taking in the spotlessly clean and comfortable living room. Here was a woman after her own heart.

  ‘Well, from what Bob and Lucy have told me, yer’ve got the heart of a saint and are the funniest woman on two legs.’

  ‘Only when I’m standing on me two legs, queen? I thought I was just as bleedin’ funny standing on me head.’

  Nellie chuckled. ‘If yer wear fleecy bloomers like I do, then ye’re probably a damn sight more funny standing on yer head.’ She waved Aggie to a chair. ‘Sit yerself down and I’ll put the kettle on.’ Her hand on the kitchen door, she turned. ‘Did Bob know yer were coming?’

  Aggie shook her head. ‘There was bleedin’ murder at Bob’s house last night, that’s why I’m here. But you put the kettle on first, then while we’re waiting for it to boil I’ll tell yer what went on.’ She followed N
ellie into the kitchen and when the gas plopped under the kettle, she leaned back against the sink. ‘I wasn’t there to see all this, more’s the pity. But Irene repeated it word for word, so I’ll give it to you as she gave it to me.’

  Her arms folded across her tummy, Aggie soon got into her stride. And before long there were gasps of horror and tuts of disgust coming from Nellie. ‘I’d have strangled the buggers with me bare hands.’

  ‘Yeah, me too, Nellie. They want stringing up. But you haven’t met Irene yet, or her husband, George. They’re a match for anyone, believe me. And they think the world of Lucy. I believe they did right not sending for the police because it would have only filled neighbours’ mouths. As it is, George and Irene put the fear of god into this Wally feller, so he’ll never show his face again. And Irene, God love her, had the sense to send Ruby packing with him. Lucy was very upset, she was as white as a sheet going to work this morning. It must have given her an awful fright having this man come into her bedroom. But she’ll soon get over it when her dad’s back home. They dote on each other.’

  ‘Yeah, Aggie, I know. Bob will be over the moon at being able to go back to his house, but he’ll be blazing about how it came about. I’ve got to know him really well, and I know he’ll blame himself for leaving Lucy there. Still, once they’re settled down they’ll soon put all the trouble and heartbreak behind them.’ Nellie poured boiling water into the brown teapot. ‘Now we’ll sit and have a nice cuppa. Are yer waiting for Bob to come home, to tell him?’

  ‘No, I’ll leave that pleasure to you. I left Irene cleaning the house so it’s nice for him to come home to, and I’m buying a bit of shopping for their larder on me way back. But I will have that cuppa with yer, Nellie, ’cos me throat’s parched. And yer can tell Bob we’re all looking forward to seeing him later on today.’

  ‘Would yer think it was cheeky if I came with him?’ Nellie asked. ‘I’ve heard so much about all of yer, I feel as though I know yer.’