by June Francis
‘So what about Betty?’ asked Dorothy.
‘She’ll be helping me out here during the summer,’ answered Emma, ‘but if she gets the results she needs and is accepted by the art school, I can see her trying to find a room nearby in Liverpool. I’m hoping it’ll be a real good summer and that your mother might help me out with her living expenses. Betty will have to find herself some part-time work, too.’
‘Well, after Mum sending Betty twenty pounds, I suppose it is possible that she will help out,’ said Dorothy. ‘I’d love to know where she got the money from. Our Jared perhaps? We’ll soon find out, I suppose.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
‘Gosh, it’s hot,’ said Lila, fanning herself with a magazine. ‘Aren’t you glad you’re not in Liverpool right now, Betty? It’ll be stifling in the city streets.’
‘It wouldn’t be as hot down by the Mersey,’ replied Betty, without looking up from the drawing she was doing of a sleeping Tibby under a bush. ‘We’d be getting the sea breezes. Anyway, I’ll be going back there any day now I’ve got my results. I wonder how the twins did. I need to find myself a bedsit and a part-time job.’
‘At least you’ve had experience waiting on,’ said Emma, her expression pensive, ‘and you’re not a bad little baker. You’ve been a great help to me.’
Betty glanced at her and smiled. ‘You’re a good instructor.’
‘Your lessons aren’t finished, my girl,’ said Emma, smiling. ‘I was thinking of going blackberrying this evening. With sugar off the ration, I’ll make lots more jam. What do you say? There’s still a chance we might have some customers this afternoon, so it’s best going later.’
Emma knew she was going to miss her sister but she had known that if Betty did well in her exams, then she’d have to help her to fulfil her dream of becoming an artist. She had written to Mrs Gregory informing her of the situation, although she had sent the letter to Irene’s house, wary of the uncle getting his hands on it. They’d had a couple of brief letters from Dorothy, Maggie and Irene but there had been little of importance in them. Uncle Teddy seemed to be keeping a low profile and Maggie and her mother had had several days out during the school holidays, visiting New Brighton, Chester and Southport. As for Dorothy, she had seen nothing of Dougie but had had a couple of dates with a young man she had met at a dance hall with one of her friends from work, but the romance had fizzled out.
‘At least we’ve got Dad out of the house,’ said Lila, glancing over to where Jack was sitting at a table, having nearly finished the model of the sailing ship that Dorothy had wanted. For weeks after his wife’s death, he had been unable to settle to anything, but between them, she and Lila had eventually coaxed him to get started again by moving the models he’d already made here.
Suddenly Emma heard the sound of voices. Customers, she thought, rising and hurrying towards the house. Her wise women had gone a treat during the summer months and she’d knitted a few more. She had also sold a couple of Jack Ashcroft’s models, which had been encouraging.
There were several people crowding into her front room and one was dressed in army uniform. Emma welcomed them and asked if they wished to stay indoors or sit out in the garden. Most chose indoors in the shade, but the soldier chose to go out into the garden.
Betty heard the sound of voices and put down her pencil. Time to see if Emma needed her help, she thought. She glanced up and instantly recognised the man who had come outside.
‘Billy McElroy!’ she exclaimed.
He smiled across at her. ‘Betty Booth. Irene said that I would find you here.’
‘Did she?’ Betty grinned at him. ‘Is that why you’re here?’
‘That’s right. I’ll be leaving the army this week and I’ve bought myself a decent little motor. Irene put it to me that I could take you and your luggage to Liverpool.’
Betty’s mouth fell open and for a moment she couldn’t speak. Then Emma appeared and said, ‘I need your help, Betty.’
‘Coming,’ she croaked. ‘Only wait a minute. I must introduce you to someone.’ Seizing Emma’s hand, she said, ‘This is Irene’s stepbrother, Sergeant Billy McElroy. He’s stationed up here but he’s going home soon and has offered me a lift in his motor. What d’you think?’
Emma looked the soldier up and down and realised he was giving her the once over, too. Their eyes caught and she saw the amusement in his. ‘Do I pass muster?’ he asked. ‘You can trust Betty to me. I’ve known her for several years.’
‘It’s not that,’ said Emma hastily, knowing she was telling a fib. ‘It’s just that she has nowhere to stay in Liverpool yet.’
‘We’ll find her somewhere,’ said Billy confidently. ‘You leave it to my dad and me. He’s a bobby and has his ears to the ground.’
‘I-if you say so,’ said Emma, wishing she had half his confidence.’
Betty said, ‘You do make me feel anything is possible, Billy. Now what about a nice slice of home-made strawberry jam sponge with cream?’
‘It sounds just the ticket,’ said Billy with a chuckle.
Betty and Emma vanished inside.
He sat down and glanced over at the young woman in a deckchair and caught her looking at him. ‘Lovely afternoon,’ he said.
‘Aye, it’s a real nice day,’ said Lila, blushing beneath his bold eyes.
Her father glanced up and nodded in Billy’s direction. ‘You stationed up here?’
‘Not for much longer. You live here?’ asked Billy.
Jack nodded.
‘Lovely country.’
‘Bit too quiet at times,’ said Jack, ‘and it’s a bloody forsaken hole in the winter. Going to be worse this one because my wife died not so long ago, and what with Lila here out at work all day, I’m going to be stuck once Emma closes down her tea room.’
Billy looked at Lila. ‘Your dad, is he?’
‘Aye. He were wounded in the leg during the war and can’t get about. You’ll have to forgive him for grouching,’ she said.
‘If he’s unhappy where he is, then he should up sticks and move. You only have one life. What do you do to earn a crust?’
‘I used to work in the mill but got a bit fed up, so I changed jobs and work in a shop in Clitheroe now,’ said Lila, seeing no reason why she shouldn’t tell him.
‘Plenty of shops in Liverpool. Your dad would see plenty of life there.’
‘It’s not easy to get a house, though, is it?’ said Lila. ‘I was listening to what you said to Betty and Emma. You and your father must be miracle-workers if you can find her somewhere so quickly.’
‘A bedsit, that’s all she needs,’ said Billy, ‘and she’s young, so if it’s on a second or third floor, it won’t matter as much to her as it would to your dad.’
Lila said, ‘Tell me something I don’t know, soldier boy.’
A smile broke over his face. ‘Don’t be so touchy. What he needs is a ground floor flat and a friendly charwoman, who’d come and do for him.’
‘We couldn’t afford a charwoman,’ said Lila, flushing.
‘He should remarry, then.’ He glanced up. ‘Good, here’s my cup of char and the promised delicious cake.’
Emma placed the tray on the table in front of him. ‘Did you really mean what you said about taking Betty to Liverpool?’ she asked.
Billy took the mug and spooned in two sugars. ‘Miss Booth, besides your excellent cake that was my only reason for coming here. Irene’s missed Betty and I like her to be happy. If you feel you can’t trust me, then why don’t you come along for the ride?’
‘I didn’t say I didn’t trust you,’ she retorted hastily.
He smiled as if he didn’t believe her. ‘Can you be ready the day after next?’
She nodded, her head in a whirl, and then hurried away.
Billy left half an hour later. Emma, Betty and even Lila went out front to have a look at his motor and to wave as he zoomed away in a cloud of exhaust fumes. ‘Well,’ said Emma, smiling. ‘There’s plenty of life in him.’
‘You can say that again,’ said Lila wryly. ‘He as good as said that me and Dad should move to Liverpool.’
‘And why not?’ said Betty, raising her eyebrows. ‘Your dad has his war pension and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a job there.’
‘Easy for you to say,’ said Lila, sighing. ‘He and his dad are going to find you a place.’
‘Aren’t they just,’ said Betty, smiling. ‘I think he’s the bee’s knees and his dad is a lovely man, as well. I know I’ll be safe with either of them.’
Lila and Emma exchanged looks but didn’t say a word.
Two days later Emma and Betty were ready by nine in the morning. Billy hadn’t told them what time he would arrive and they didn’t want to keep him waiting. After about an hour, they heard the sound of his motor from way down the road and had the front door open before the car came to a halt.
He switched off the engine and got out and smiled at them both, standing there with Betty’s luggage. ‘I see that the pair of you are raring to go. There was me, hoping you’d give me a cup of tea and something tasty to go with it before we set out.’
‘I’ve made us a picnic and I’ve a flask,’ said Emma, wondering what it was about Billy McElroy that put a smile on her face.
‘Good girl, I’ll settle for that,’ he said. ‘I’ll just use your lav, if that’s OK, and we’ll be on our way.’
He didn’t keep them waiting long and soon he had Betty settled in the back seat with her luggage. ‘The boot’s filled with my stuff,’ he explained. He helped Emma into the front seat and then they were off.
She soon discovered he wasn’t one for small talk whilst he was driving, which surprised her because she had the impression he was one of those chatty men, not full of himself but having plenty to say on a variety of topics. Within the hour he brought the car to a halt on top of Parbold Hill and encouraged Emma and Betty to get out and look at the view of the Lancashire plain that stretched out before them. He took out the picnic and a waterproof which he spread on the ground.
‘Sit down, girls,’ he said.
Obediently they sat and Emma took packets of food from a shopping bag. Betty poured out the tea and handed Billy his cup first. Emma plied him with food and then the three of them ate in silence. Only when they had finished did Betty wander off down a path, saying she was going to stretch her legs. Billy began to ask Emma about herself and her village and how often would she be able to get to Liverpool to keep an eye on Betty.
‘Not very often,’ she admitted.
‘You haven’t thought of moving to the port?’ he asked.
Her lips curled in a smile. ‘I’ve been asked that question before and I admit, I’d find it difficult leaving my village. It’s my home, just as Litherland is yours.’
His grey eyes were thoughtful and a lock of mousy hair had fallen onto his forehead. ‘I’m not planning on staying there for ever,’ said Billy, stretching out on the ground. ‘I’d like to move further out, but I need to find myself a job and a place of my own. It’s time I settled down and got married.’
‘You have a girlfriend?’ asked Emma.
Billy’s smile faded. ‘I’ve already seen the one I want, but whether I can get her to fall in love with me, now that’s something else. I’m going to have to work on it. No rushing her but I’d like to be married six months from now,’ he said seriously, gazing at her.
Only for a few seconds did Emma wonder if he meant her. She felt extremely flattered if that was so, but she was not the least bit in love with him and that meant he wasn’t the one for her. She smiled. ‘I call six months after meeting rushing it. Don’t you think that you need to get to know someone really well, before settling down with them for the rest of your life?’
‘You obviously don’t believe in love at first sight, Emma,’ he said, taking out a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. ‘Mind if I smoke?’
She shook her head. ‘Even if I did believe in love at first sight, I still think a couple should take time to get to know each other,’ she replied.
His brow knitted as he inhaled. ‘I wouldn’t argue but a man can get impatient and I’d settle on courting for three weeks, then an engagement for another three weeks and then comes the wedding.’
‘But that’s only six weeks, not six months!’ Emma shook her head. ‘Much too soon. You could believe yourself in love and then discover after a while that you’ve fallen out of love.’
Billy stared at her. ‘That’s happened to you?’
Emma hesitated and then nodded. ‘So I’m going to wait until I’m sure I’m really in love before saying yes.’
‘And what if love strikes you like a thunderbolt?’ asked Billy.
‘I’d rather it didn’t,’ she said, beginning to collect empty paper bags together.
‘But you don’t always have control over these things,’ said Billy.
Emma made no comment because she had spotted Betty coming back up the hill. Emma glanced at Billy. ‘Are we ready to go?’ she asked.
‘Let me finish me ciggie and we’ll be on our way,’ he said.
They arrived in Liverpool about an hour later. Billy parked his car in Hope Street at the back of the unfinished Anglican cathedral. He opened the passenger door and helped Emma out. ‘Why have we come here?’ she asked.
‘I telephoned Dad yesterday and he’s come up trumps. Nice bedsit in one of those houses across the way in Gambier Terrace,’ said Billy.
‘Gambier Terrace! I can’t believe it,’ said Emma, gazing across the road.
‘Why not?’ asked Billy.
‘Because Gambier Terrace is where the registry office is and I’ve been meaning to visit it for ages.’
Billy opened the back passenger door and Betty slid along the leather seat and got out. ‘I must admit I’m feeling nervous. If I take this bedsit I’m going to be all on my own,’ she said.
‘Rubbish,’ said Billy. ‘You’ll make new friends once you start lessons, and our Irene and Maggie and your Dorothy will soon come visiting.’
Betty rested her hand on his arm and placed her other hand on Emma’s. ‘Isn’t he cheerful, Emma? He makes it sound like everything is easy and will turn out fine.’
‘And why shouldn’t it?’ asked Emma, quashing any doubts she might have. She almost added, And there’s no reason why Uncle Teddy should find you here, but she kept that thought to herself. She had never mentioned knowing that Betty had been pregnant, hoping that her half-sister would confide in her, but she never had. So Emma was not about to remind her of it. Instead, she thought of money. She had paid Betty for the work she had done during the summer and was prepared to add to it from her small savings, so hopefully here was enough at least for a month’s rent. Betty would have to find a part-time job, whether her aunt was prepared to help out her niece or not.
Billy locked the car and they crossed the road. The houses loomed up. Some were of yellow brick and several storeys high. They were set back from the main road that ran the length of the terrace.
She and Betty allowed themselves to be led to the address that Billy had written on a slip of paper. He rang a bell and a few minutes later they were being welcomed inside by a middle-aged woman. She led them up a couple of flights of stairs to an attic that had not only a dormer window but a window in the roof as well, so that the furnished room was filled with light.
‘It’s perfect,’ said Betty, her eyes sparkling.
‘Except for those stairs,’ said Emma, also thinking that the furniture was sparse and not the least bit attractive. There was a sink, two gas rings, a single bed, shelves, a desk, a chest of drawers and a curtained-off alcove with a rail to hang clothes. Still, her half-sister did not seem to worry about material things. Emma remembered that she had been perfectly content with the small bedroom back at the cottage. This room was much bigger and had an interesting view of the sunken cemetery in the shadow of the cathedral.
The formalities were dealt with and soon the moment came for Emma to take
her leave of her half-sister. She hugged her and said, ‘You will write regularly?’
‘Of course I’ll write,’ said Betty, sounding surprised that Emma should think that she might forget about her. ‘You’ve done so much for me and I’m really grateful for the money. You must come and stay. I’ll sleep on the floor and you can have the bed. I’ll definitely try and visit you in a few weeks’ time.’
‘Sounds great,’ said Billy, who was leaning against the door jamb. ‘I’ll give you a lift, Emma, to Lime Street.’
‘Thanks,’ she said, taking his words as a hint that he wanted to be on his way.
Betty turned to him and held out her hand. ‘Thanks for all you’ve done. I know you didn’t have to do any of it,’ she said shyly, ‘and I know I have Irene to thank, as well, but I really appreciate the trouble you and your dad took in finding me this place. It’s amazing that you did.’
‘That’s all right, kid,’ he said, shaking her hand. ‘I’ll tell Irene you’re in residence and I’m sure the pair of you, and Maggie, will be nattering away ten to the dozen hidden away up here under the roof at weekends.’ He released her hand and turned to Emma. ‘You ready?’
She nodded, kissed Betty and then left the room without looking back.
Neither she nor Billy spoke as they went downstairs. They crossed the road to the car and only then did she turn round and gaze up at the top windows of the houses. She thought she caught sight of Betty and waved. The figure waved back. Emma had a lump in her throat and tears pricked her eyes.
‘You OK?’ asked Billy.
Emma nodded, wiped her eyes on her sleeve and got into the car.
Neither of them spoke until he drew up outside the side entrance to Lime Street station. ‘Thanks for all you’ve done,’ she said, holding out her hand.
He surprised her by leaning forward and kissed her lightly on the mouth. ‘My pleasure. If I wasn’t already in love with someone else, then I think I could really fancy you, Emma. Have a good journey.’
