Walking Back to Happiness

by June Francis

  ‘So what else do you know about her?’

  ‘Her mother’s a widow. Father killed in the war.’

  ‘Where do they live?’

  ‘Apparently not far from where Nick and Bobby live.’

  ‘Is Marjorie still at school?’

  ‘Blackburn House.’

  ‘That’s not far from the school Bobby and her mam, Lynne, went to.’

  ‘Liverpool Girl’s College,’ murmured Lucia.

  ‘That’s it. How did they meet?’

  ‘No idea,’ said Lucia. ‘But the fact that her mother invited Michael to have some dinner with them yesterday makes me think they have been seeing each other for quite some time. Did I tell you that Tim kindly bought us the turkey?’

  ‘Well, that was something good at least.’

  ‘Mmmm, it was really tasty. But what am I going to do about our Michael and Marjorie?’

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t go forbidding him to see her; however much you’re tempted to. At least he brought her to meet you, so he’s not going behind your back. Forbidden secret meetings can seem more thrilling when one is young. It probably won’t last if you don’t make a fuss.’

  ‘OK, I’ll try,’ said Lucia. ‘Now tell me whether you’ve heard anything more from Babs about her intended visit.’

  Nellie hesitated. ‘Only that they’ll be coming in summer so Babs can see more of the children.’

  ‘That’ll be nice. We’ll be able to have days out together.’ Lucia glanced in the direction of the window. ‘It looks like it’s sleeting. We’re going to have to make a move soon with this weather. I hope we do have a good summer.’

  ‘Why don’t you stay the night? It’s not as if the children are in school tomorrow.’

  ‘I’m in work, though.’ Lucia looked out at the weather again. ‘Still, I can catch a bus into town from here. If you’re sure you don’t mind, we will stay, thanks.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have offered if I minded. We’ll squash you all in somewhere.’ Nellie stood up. ‘Now, how about a cup of cocoa and a mince pie?’

  ‘Great!’ Lucia jumped to her feet and followed her to the kitchen.

  It wasn’t until she was on her way to work the next morning that Lucia remembered she had made no mention of the incident with the car to her aunt. She thought of Tim and wondered if he would suffer any more of these ‘close calls’. And what would Isabella say if he told her about his narrow escape and that the car had been driven by someone he recognized from his past.

  Lucia did not have to be in work until eleven, so she had time to pause after getting off the bus in Skelhorne Street and gaze in Lewis’s shop windows. Although the sales did not begin until January, and she really didn’t have any money to spare to spend on new clothes or household goods, she did enjoy seeing what was on offer. She soon realized she was a bit too early to view the sales goods, as the windows were only just being prepared for dressing and there were huge posters stuck to the glass saying, ‘Gigantic Sale starts on 2nd January’, which meant she could not see what lay behind them. Her mother had never shopped at Lewis’s, saying she could not afford their prices, and instead had patronized TJ Hughes on London Road, where the cost of goods suited her pocket.

  Lucia continued on up Renshaw Street, and was just a few feet from the corner where she turned into Leece Street when she saw Tim’s brother, Marty, whose workplace was nearby. She greeted him and asked whether Tim was all right.

  ‘He and Jerry stayed at ours last night. We were surprised to see them, thought they’d choose to stay at home. Mam didn’t turn up, what with the buses not running. Irene put her foot down and said I wasn’t to take the van out to go and pick anyone up. Thank God, the roads have been gritted overnight, so I was able to take Tim and Jerry home before coming to work.’

  ‘Did Tim mention the car accident in our street to you?’

  ‘No, was anyone hurt?’

  ‘Tim seemed to think the driver might be concussed. Someone had phoned 999 so we didn’t linger.’ Lucia decided not to mention that Tim had recognized the driver, or that the man had appeared to be driving straight at them at one point. Thinking about the incident now, it was possible to believe that he had lost control of the car and had no intention of running anyone down.

  ‘Roll on spring,’ said Marty.

  Lucia echoed his words, and went on her way, glad that parts of the pavement had been gritted as well as the roads. Even so, it was a relief to arrive at the coffee bar and get inside and have her senses assailed by the smell of freshly brewed coffee, fried bacon and toasted teacakes.

  ‘So you’ve made it,’ said Maggie, who was standing in front of the till, emptying change into the compartments of the drawer. ‘Did your Christmas go all right?’

  ‘Yes, thanks! There’s something I want to ask you.’ Lucia paused to remove her outdoor clothes and hang them up. ‘My aunt Babs sent presents from America, and the one for my sister, Gabrielle, was a Barbie doll with an extra couple of sets of clothes. I was wondering if you’d mind making some more for the doll if you have any old scraps of material? If it’s too much trouble I’ll understand. Especially as I can’t afford to pay you.’

  ‘Do you have the doll with you, or even a set of the clothes?’ Maggie asked.

  ‘No, we stayed at Aunt Nellie’s last night, so I came straight here from there. I’ll bring Barbie in tomorrow.’

  ‘That’s fine. I’m looking forward to seeing this Barbie. My sister-in-law, Emma, said that my cousin Betty has mentioned the doll. Her little girl has one. Apparently they’re all the rage in America.’

  ‘They aren’t very big and they’re not like the doll I wanted when I was a little girl. You know a doll that you could pretend was a baby and wheel in a pram. I think it’s the clothes that are the attraction. Barbie is something of a fashion plate!’ Lucia paused and gazed about her. ‘Now, what d’you want me to do first?’

  ‘The usual. Wipe the tables and put the cruet sets out.’

  ‘Did you and Josh have a good Christmas?’

  ‘Yes, we went up to Emma’s cottage in Whalley. The village looked like a Christmas card because they had snow up there. The kids were made up.’

  ‘So there wasn’t just the two of you?’

  ‘No, it was a real family Christmas. Emma and my brother Jared and their two children, my sister Dot and husband Billy and their adopted son, Georgie, were there as well. The cottage was a bit crammed but it was fun.’

  ‘Tim and Jerry came and had Christmas dinner with us and afterwards we played Snakes and Ladders with Jerry and Joseph,’ said Lucia. ‘Theresa read and Michael went out with his girlfriend.’

  ‘I can’t imagine Tim playing Snakes and Ladders,’ said Maggie.

  ‘Well, he did and he seemed to enjoy himself, despite not winning a single game. He said it was the best Christmas he’d had since he didn’t know when.’

  ‘Compliments are always in plentiful supply with him!’

  Lucia slanted Maggie an annoyed glance. ‘Are you suggesting he was only saying it to get round me and that he didn’t mean it?’

  ‘No, but he’s quite sophisticated, so I just can’t picture him enjoying Snakes and Ladders.’

  ‘Anyway, that wasn’t all we did,’ said Lucia, wiping the last table and going to fetch the cruets.

  Maggie slammed the drawer of the till shut and stared at Lucia. ‘Go on – what else did you do? He didn’t snog you, did he?’

  ‘Of course not. We’re just friends and I like having some adult company. Besides, can you see him getting serious about me? Not with me being responsible for so many younger brothers and sisters. I mean, marriage isn’t on the cards, is it?’

  ‘Men don’t have to have marriage in mind to go a step too far,’ warned Maggie.

  ‘You don’t have to keep telling me. I’m not daft,’ Lucia retorted. ‘Anyway, he behaved like the perfect gentleman.’

  ‘You need to watch him, he’s a crafty one!’

  Lucia pressed her lips togeth
er to prevent the hot words that were on the tip of her tongue from spilling out. Instead she said, ‘You can think what you like, but you might be interested to know that he had an accident on Christmas Eve. He really does need someone to be there for him and Jerry – and before you can say something such as “make sure it’s not you”, I’ll remind you that normally he has his landlady there. She generally has Christmas dinner with us, but she’d gone down south to spend Christmas with her brother and his children.’

  ‘Was Tim badly hurt?’ asked Maggie.

  ‘He fell, carrying Jerry’s bike down from upstairs. His face is bruised and swollen, but fortunately he doesn’t appear to have broken any bones.’

  ‘Did he go to the hospital?’

  ‘No. With the weather the way it was on Christmas Eve, he decided it was unlikely that an ambulance would come out to him. After all, he didn’t see it as an emergency and, besides, he couldn’t leave Jerry alone in the house.’

  ‘Yes, that’s understandable. Poor Tim. He won’t like his good looks being spoilt.’

  This time Lucia could not prevent herself from saying, ‘You really are being bitchy about him. I thought you’d forgiven him for not being honest with you in the past?’

  ‘I have, but the memories still hurt.’

  ‘What memories still hurt?’ said a male voice unexpectedly.

  Lucia glanced up at Josh standing a few feet away, and then at Maggie who was looking stunned. Lucia said swiftly, ‘We were talking about our fathers and how we missed them over Christmas. Some memories make me happy but others make me sad. Maggie feels the same.’

  ‘I know what you mean,’ said Josh. ‘Anyhow, now isn’t the time to feel sad. We’ve work to do, although I doubt we’ll be as busy as during term time.’

  Maggie and Lucia agreed.

  Even so, as it drew closer to lunchtime, customers began to trickle in. Lucia was pleased to see Nick and his dark-haired, good-looking reporter friend Chris sit at a table, and waited only a few minutes before going over to take their order.

  ‘Hi, Lucia,’ said Nick. ‘How was your Christmas?’

  ‘Better than I thought it would be. How was yours?’

  ‘Good! Aunt Hester and Uncle Ally phoned all the way from Canada on Christmas Eve, which made Dad happy.’

  ‘The miracles of modern technology,’ said Chris. ‘It makes one wonder how our ancestors survived without it.’

  ‘They were tougher than us I reckon,’ said Lucia. ‘I remember Mam and Aunt Nellie talking about their grandfather who was a sailor in Victorian times. When he was younger, apparently his ship had sail and steam.’

  ‘You can understand them covering both options when steam-driven ships were in their infancy,’ said Chris.

  Lucia agreed, adding, ‘Even so, they could be at sea for months, even a year or more. Apparently my great-grandfather arrived home after one such voyage to discover his wife had died while he was away.’

  ‘That must have been terrible,’ said Nick. ‘And obviously he had children. Who looked after them?’

  ‘He had a sister who never married. Mam and Aunt Nellie both remembered her.’

  ‘The spinster aunt could always be depended on to rally round in the old days,’ Chris commented. ‘They often get a mention in the novels set in those times. Anyway, Lucia, haven’t you anything to say about the accident in your road yesterday morning?’

  Lucia’s heart seemed to turn over. ‘How did you hear about that?’

  ‘Slow news day. I think Mr Murphy must have told Isabella about it.’

  ‘I don’t suppose she told you or your colleagues that the car was heading straight for Tim Murphy, me and all the kids – and the driver only managed to avoid running us down because he put on the brakes, went into a skid and spun away across the road?’

  ‘I heard the car went into a skid, but none of the rest,’ said Chris, leaning in closer to Lucia. ‘It sounds like it could have been a very nasty accident.’

  She gazed into his gorgeous brown eyes and let out a sigh. ‘I think Tim had his doubts about it being an accident. He recognized the driver from his youth,’ Lucia blurted out, without thinking about the effect her words might have on a newspaper reporter and a policeman. ‘I can tell you we got away fast. Me and the kids were on our way to Aunt Nellie’s and Tim and Jerry were going to his brother Marty’s house in Litherland. We had to walk because the buses weren’t running. Anyway, that’s enough talking from me. I’d better be taking your order,’ added Lucia, thinking Tim would probably be annoyed if he knew she had spoken the way she had to these two.

  Having taken their order she went into the kitchen and handed it to Josh and told him that the tables were filling up nicely.

  ‘Anyone I know?’ he asked.

  ‘Nick, with his friend Chris, the newspaper reporter.’

  ‘I’ve never met Chris.’

  ‘He’s very good-looking and interesting – Nick is going out with his sister. I like Nick. He’s a good sort. And they’ve known each other for years, so they must know they are suited.’

  ‘You’ve a sensible head on your shoulders, so I’m sure you won’t go making any stupid mistakes when it comes to boyfriends,’ said Josh.

  ‘Thanks for those kind words. I wish other people believed that and stopped pointing out things to me that I’m completely aware of,’ Lucia said hotly.

  ‘You wouldn’t mean Maggie, would you?’ asked Josh.

  Lucia stared at him woodenly. ‘Now why should you think that?’

  ‘Because I haven’t forgotten her old flame turned up here just before Christmas, and you offering to help him find rooms for himself and his son. Maggie’s inclined to consider herself the expert when it comes to Tim Murphy.’

  ‘Does that annoy you?’ asked Lucia.

  ‘I’d prefer not to answer that question,’ said Josh. ‘Now, back to work.’

  Lucia did as she was told, not wanting to get on the wrong side of her boss. She liked Josh, and most of the time he was easy to get along with. He was fair and generous and she could never imagine him cheating on Maggie.

  She noticed a few more customers had entered while she had been in the kitchen and went over to take their order. ‘Two teas, luv, and two Welsh rarebits?’ said an elderly woman.

  She returned to the kitchen where Nick and Chris’s order was waiting for her. She took it over to them with the bill and asked Nick when the group would next be rehearsing at her aunt’s house.

  ‘Next Friday,’ said Nick, handing over payment for the food. ‘Why don’t you come and listen and bring Mr Murphy along?’

  ‘I’ll ask him. Enjoy your meal.’ She headed for the till, hoping that Tim would say yes. After serving the two women their Welsh rarebit, she saw to clearing the tables. Knowing there wouldn’t be many customers during the next few hours, Josh told Lucia she could knock off early. Business wouldn’t get really busy until the university and college spring terms started. He also handed her half a chocolate cake and several custard tarts. ‘For the kids,’ he said.

  Lucia thanked him and left shortly afterwards. As she walked down to Skelhorne Street bus station, she was thinking of checking whether Tim and Jerry were home so as to invite them round for a cup of tea and to share the goodies Josh had given her.

  Five

  As luck would have it, Tim was leaning against the doorjamb next door, watching Michael and Jerry sprinkling table salt on the two lots of icy steps.

  ‘Hi, Lucia, can I make you a cuppa?’ Tim asked. ‘I did offer to help but was turned down. I feel a right lemon standing here, watching the boys working, but Michael said it could be risky for me to help out with the steps being so slippy. Didn’t want me having another fall and perhaps breaking my leg this time.’

  ‘And it’s not as if this is hard work,’ said Michael, ‘and you provided the salt, Mr Murphy.’

  ‘I think it’s time you took a break,’ Lucia said, ‘Josh gave me some goodies, so how about if I put the kettle on, and we all hav
e a warm drink and share them?’

  ‘Sounds good to me,’ said Michael.

  ‘And me,’ piped up Jerry. ‘How about it, Dad?’

  ‘I appreciate the offer, but can I bring something to the table? A bottle of milk, say, and I’ve got some boiled ham that needs eating up?’

  ‘Sounds like this will be a feast,’ said Lucia.

  Tim went indoors to return a few minutes later with the milk and boiled ham and a packet of biscuits. Jerry hurried over to his father’s side. ‘You can lean on me, Dad,’ he said. ‘I want to help.’

  ‘You can carry the biscuits and boiled ham, son,’ said Tim.

  That settled, it was not long before they were all indoors and Theresa had the kettle on. She laid out cups, saucers and plates in the kitchen, where a glowing fire sent out a welcome warmth. All the children gathered round Lucia as she placed her shopping bag on the table and withdrew from its interior the remains of the chocolate cake and some custard tarts.

  ‘They look delicious,’ said Joseph. ‘Can we all have a bit of both?’

  ‘Yeah, I’d like to try them both, too,’ said Gabrielle.

  ‘Well, if Theresa will line up the plates,’ said Lucia.

  ‘You don’t have to count me in if there isn’t enough,’ said Tim. ‘See to the kids first.’

  ‘Let me cut the chocolate cake and see how far that goes,’ said Lucia.

  She counted heads to check that she had the number right, and managed to cut enough pieces so they would all have a taste of Maggie’s yummy chocolate cake. Josh’s custard tarts were a different proposition altogether. She decided that she and Michael would do without. But when Tim saw the piece on his plate, he placed it on Michael’s plate.

  ‘Your wages for all your hard work salting the steps,’ he said, winking.

  Michael glanced across at Lucia with a questioning look. She nodded, so he put it in his mouth and chomped on the scrummy mixture of melt-in-the-mouth pastry and delicious creamy custard filling, sprinkled with nutmeg. ‘You don’t know what you’re missing, Mr Murphy,’ he said.

  ‘If they’re that good, I’ll give you some money, Lucia, and you can buy some more tomorrow,’ said Tim.