by June Francis
‘I’ve been told that Betty ran away from home to live with her half-sister up Lancashire,’ said Jared. ‘But tell me a bit more about this Billy who’s showing an interest in our Dot and brought Betty back to Liverpool.’
Maggie hesitated, before saying slowly, ‘He fought in the war, but was only young at the time and stayed on in the army afterwards. His father’s a policeman and Billy’s thinking of doing something in security. Our Dot thinks he’s OK.’ She paused. ‘So what did Mum have to say when she saw you? Have you seen Uncle Teddy?’
‘I believe he’s propping up the bar at the local,’ drawled Jared, shortening his stride so his sister did not have to hurry to keep up with him. ‘I gather our Dot wants him out but she hasn’t explained why. I’m guessing it has something to do with Betty?’
‘So they haven’t told you everything?’ said Maggie, shooting him a glance.
‘Dot didn’t have time and Ma was finding it difficult to give me answers. So you tell me,’ he added softly.
‘Oh hell,’ muttered Maggie, then was silent for several moments before saying, ‘Betty was really scared of him and I don’t blame her. I’ll tell you a little bit. He’s a bully and had been hitting her but she kept quiet about it.’
‘Why didn’t she speak to Ma?’ rasped Jared.
‘She thought she wouldn’t believe her.’ Maggie glanced up at her brother and then away again. ‘Then, after Betty had left, on coronation night he got drunk again and I’d wandered away from the street party to go and see Irene. I met Pete there. He was walking part of the way home with me because he was meeting Norm at the bus stop close to the Gianellis’ house.’
‘The Gianellis? Sounds Italian.’
‘It is. Uncle Teddy is so prejudiced against Mr Gianelli, although he’s half-Scouse. He’s got a lovely tenor voice and his son, Tonio, has a really nice voice, too. They play musical instruments, as well. Me and our Betty and Dot really used to enjoy going to their house for musical evenings,’ she added wistfully.
‘OK!’ said Jared, looking amused. ‘Can we get back to the evening of the coronation?’
Maggie nodded vigorously. ‘Sorry. Uncle Teddy made a show of me and got really violent. Pete tried to protect me, but he was on two sticks then, and Uncle Teddy pushed him over. Then the swine got me by the hair and was dragging me along the road. Then, thank God, Pete’s brother, the policeman, who our Dot’s gone out with, came along. He biffed him and arrested him for being drunk and disorderly.’ A giggle escaped her. ‘I wish you could have been there to see it. Anyway, he was locked up in a cell for the night and wasn’t very happy the next morning. He knows for certain now that we all loathe him and want to be rid of him. I think even Mum feels the same, because she’s kept Betty’s whereabouts a secret from him.’
Jared’s frown deepened. ‘So how did Betty find out about Emma?’
Maggie told him some of what had taken place last year, and by the time she had finished they had arrived home. ‘Are you going to have words with Uncle Teddy when we get in?’ she asked, her eyes gleaming in the lamplight.
‘I’ll have more than words to say to him,’ said Jared grimly, sensing that his sister had not been completely honest with him. But he would have it out with his uncle before the night was out.
But when they went indoors, Elsie was all alone, staring at the television screen. ‘Where’s Teddy?’ asked Jared harshly.
Elsie looked at him and Maggie and he saw fear in her eyes. ‘So you found her. What’s she been saying to you?’
‘Enough to make me want to give that husband of yours a punch on the nose to start with,’ answered Jared, clenching his fist. ‘Where is the cowardly swine?’
‘He went back to the pub when I told him you were home,’ said Elsie, her voice quivering. ‘And perhaps that’s just as well, because I really can’t cope with more violence.’
Jared gazed down at her and then touched her face, where there was a fresh bruise. ‘He’s been hitting you as well, hasn’t he, Ma? Why the hell didn’t you report him to the police?’
‘The neighbours would all be talking about us. It was bad enough when Betty ran away,’ she said.
Jared swore and left the house without another word. He was determined to find his uncle and give him the hiding of his life. But Jared never reached the White House pub, because coming along Sefton Road was his sister, Dorothy. He hadn’t expected to see her this early and stopped in front of her.
‘Something wrong?’ he asked, gazing into her miserable face.
‘He didn’t turn up.’ Her voice cracked on the words.
‘What! He must be mad to let you down!’
‘Oh, he sent a message,’ she said. ‘A sudden police emergency with them needing extra men.’
‘I’m sorry, our kid,’ he said, putting his arm around her. ‘But at least he let you know and he’ll probably be in touch.’
‘I know,’ she murmured. ‘But then some bloke tried it on as I was standing there and it really shook me up. He was drunk and I thought he was going to get violent. Fortunately the doorman realised what was going on and stepped in.’ Dorothy clutched her brother’s arm. ‘Don’t go telling Mum. She’ll blame me for the way I dress and for putting on a bit of lippy, when it’s nothing to do with that.’
‘Of course I won’t tell her.’
She looked relieved and managed a smile. ‘So where are you going?’
‘To have a few bloody words with Uncle Teddy for using my family as punchbags,’ said Jared, drawing in his breath with a hiss. ‘I don’t get Ma! What did she ever see in him after being married to someone like Dad? I remember Uncle Teddy clouting me across the head when I was a kid and smaller than him. I told her, but she said I must have done something to deserve it. He never did it again once I grew bigger, though.’
‘He sweet-talked her. Remember how his visits started after Aunt Lizzie was killed? He’d come and be as nice as pie to Mum, take her to the pictures and bring her flowers,’ said Dorothy. ‘Well, she knows now that she made a mistake. Aunt Lizzie would have told her not to marry him because she had his measure and never wanted him in the house.’
‘Ma was moaning about Aunt Lizzie, saying that she made her marry Uncle William. Do you remember him?’ asked Jared.
‘Yes. You will, of course.’
‘I remember him talking about his family before the war, and how during the last century they’d originally come from a small village near Clitheroe, when the factory closed down,’ said Jared. ‘Apparently his great-grandfather did well here. Then, didn’t William go and marry a lass from the same village after meeting her in Liverpool?’
Dorothy smiled. ‘Go on. What else did he tell you?’
‘That he had a daughter who lived with her grandparents. He’d painted a picture of this toddler and I asked who she was. I saw quite a few of his paintings. I know Aunt Lizzie sold some, and one was exhibited in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.’ Jared’s brow puckered in thought. ‘I wonder what happened to the rest? Went up in smoke during the war, perhaps.’
Dorothy stared at him wide-eyed. ‘The toddler, of course, was Emma. I wish you’d told me.’
‘Ma told me that there was no point in raking up the past.’ Jared frowned. ‘She lied to me. Why?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Dorothy.
She was about to say Let’s ask her, when Jared said, ‘Guess who’s coming along the road towards us right now.’
‘Uncle Teddy?’
‘Yeah. You stay here.’
Jared took off.
He knew the moment his uncle saw him because he did a double take, crossed the road and beetled off in the opposite direction, disappearing up one of the roads on the other side. It was surprising how swiftly he could move for a man so small in stature.
Dorothy had ignored her brother’s order and followed him, and now she seized his arm. ‘Do you think it’s worth going after him? There’s people about and they might look at the height of you and the size of him,
and not knowing what it’s all about, give you hassle. You know how he can rouse people’s sympathy.’
Only too well, thought Jared angrily. ‘OK! I’ll wait until he sneaks into the house when he thinks we’re all in bed,’ he said.
Dorothy smiled. ‘I’ve a better idea. Bolt the doors. Let him sleep outside.’
Jared grinned. ‘Maggie told me about his locking you out on New Year’s Eve.’
‘What else did she tell you?’
Jared told her as they retraced their steps and headed home. When they arrived there, it was to find downstairs deserted, but no sooner had Dorothy put the kettle on, Maggie came into the kitchen in her pyjamas. ‘What happened? Where’s Uncle Teddy?’ she asked.
‘He saw Jared coming and beat it,’ said Dorothy. ‘Mum gone to bed?’
‘Yes. She said that she couldn’t face any more talk tonight.’
‘Well, Jared is going to bolt the doors, so there won’t be any violence,’ said Dorothy, a smile lurking in her eyes.
Maggie grinned. ‘Let’s hope Uncle Teddy doesn’t wake the whole neighbourhood when he discovers he’s been locked out.’ She yawned. ‘I’m going back to bed. I’ve got a library book I want to finish.’
Dorothy made some cocoa and wondered how to tell Jared what else they suspected their uncle of doing to Betty. But the words wouldn’t come, and as she thought her brother’s features were looking drawn, she decided to give talking a rest for now. They both went to bed shortly after.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny but there was no sign of Teddy waiting outside on the doorstep to be let in. ‘Not really surprising,’ said Dorothy. ‘Perhaps he decided to stay away.’
A disappointed Jared agreed. As for their mother, she looked relieved, and an hour or so later she went off to St Philip’s Church with Maggie, leaving Dorothy to put the Sunday joint in the oven and to prepare the vegetables.
Jared watched her whilst having a second cup of tea. ‘So what’s your opinion of Emma Booth?’ he asked.
‘I like her. She’s friendly and really cares about Betty. The countryside is lovely round about where she lives and she’s working hard to make a little business out of having a tea room in her cottage during the fine weather. She’s a smashing cook and also does part-time work as a bookkeeper.’
‘Maggie told me you’d been up there,’ said Jared.
‘Yes. I went with Dougie and our Maggie, but we didn’t spend much time with Emma because her best friend’s mother had just died and she’d done the catering at her place.’ Dorothy put the potatoes in a pan of salted water and then faced her brother again. ‘When are you starting work?’
‘I’ve a week off. I was thinking of maybe going up to Emma Booth’s place. I’d like to meet her and I’d enjoy some country air.’
‘Betty’s up there right now,’ said Dorothy. ‘She could come back with you. If I wasn’t working, I wouldn’t mind joining you.’
‘Another time,’ said Jared. ‘No doubt Betty will be visiting Emma again before the year’s out.’
‘It’s possible that Emma will come to Liverpool around Christmas, like she did last year. If Uncle Teddy stays away, then she could come here.’
‘I’m hoping he’ll come back,’ said Jared, drumming his fingers on the table. ‘I want to have it out with him.’
But Teddy did not arrive home that day or the next. Elsie insisted on Jared visiting Teddy’s favourite drinking haunts with her and they spoke to the men who knew him but drew a blank. None of them seemed to know where he had gone.
‘You’ve obviously put the wind up him,’ said Elsie when they arrived back home that evening.
‘He’s terrified of what Jared will do to him because he’s acted like a monster,’ said Dorothy, yawning.
Maggie glanced up from reading the School Friend. ‘Perhaps he’ll never come back and our Betty will feel safe here again.’
‘Perhaps she’s happier where she is,’ said Elsie.
‘I’ll find out, shall I?’ said Jared. ‘If you all think you’ll be all right for a couple of days, I’d like to take a trip into the countryside.’
Dorothy suddenly remembered the birthday present she’d asked Mr Ashcroft to make for her brother. ‘I think I’ll take a day off and come with you,’ she said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
‘How much is that doggie in the window?’ sang Betty, as she shovelled more dead leaves onto the bonfire.
‘It amazes me,’ said Emma, leaning on the yard brush, ‘how a song like that can have topped the charts this year.’
‘Well, there are probably robbers around with flashlights that shine in the dark.’ said Betty, smiling across at her half-sister. ‘And Lita Roza wants her lover not to be lonely.’ She took a deep breath of smoky air and coughed. ‘Gosh, it’s great being out in the fresh air in the country,’ she croaked. ‘I just hope that we don’t get any really nasty fog in Liverpool this winter or I’ll end up with a bad chest. Did you know that Lita Roza is a Liverpudlian? She was the first female artiste to top the charts. It says something about us Liverpudlians as performers, doesn’t it? Frankie Vaughan is another one born in Liverpool, just like me and you.’
‘I know that,’ said Emma, gazing fondly at Betty, relieved to see her so happy. ‘You’ve reminded me, I must get round to visiting the registry office on Gambier Terrace next time I visit you,’ she added.
‘I could do it for you,’ said Betty.
Emma was about to say that she’d enjoy finding the information out for herself when a voice called, ‘Anybody there?’
Emma started and turned to see Dorothy walking across the grass towards them. She was not alone but accompanied by a man who seemed vaguely familiar.
‘I’ve brought a visitor,’ said Dorothy, smiling. ‘Emma, this is my brother, Jared.’
Before Emma could greet him, Betty shot past her and flung herself at him. ‘Oh, I’m so glad you’re home,’ she cried. ‘If only you’d never gone away.’
He hugged her to him and grinned down at her. ‘But I’m back now, so there’s nothing for you to worry about,’ said Jared.
Emma smiled as she watched them, pleased to see Jared Gregory in close-up. She noticed that his fine-boned face was tanned and just as attractive as Betty had told her, with a straight nose and a firm chin. Suddenly he winked at her and she felt herself grow warm, conscious that his eyes seemed to be taking in her appearance from head to toe in one sweeping glance. She felt a tingle down her spine and was glad she was looking halfway decent in a pair of brown slacks and a Fair Isle jumper that she had knitted herself.
‘I love the smell of a bonfire,’ he said, over Betty’s head. ‘I hope you don’t mind us surprising you like this, but I wanted to see Betty and to meet you, as well.’ He untangled himself from Betty’s embrace and held out a hand. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you, Emma Booth.’
‘I could say the same about you,’ she said, smoothing a hand over her untidy hair and then wiping her hand on the seat of her slacks, before holding it out to him.
Immediately, it was swallowed up in a grip that was strong and firm, if slightly rough-skinned. ‘I’m glad to meet you at last,’ he said. ‘I can still see glimpses of the portrait Uncle William did of you.’
‘W-what portrait?’ she asked, taken aback.
‘The one he painted of you as a toddler,’ said Jared, continuing to hold her hand. ‘I liked your father.’
‘You did?’ she said, delighted. ‘You can’t imagine how that makes me feel.’
‘He was a tolerant man, prepared to put up with having a nosy, overactive nephew in his studio.’
She beamed at him. ‘I never expected this when Betty and Dorothy talked about you. Do come inside. You must be hungry, I’ll get you something to eat.’
‘That’s just what I was hoping you’d say,’ said Jared, gazing down at their hands and slowly releasing his hold on her fingers. ‘I’ve heard all about your cooking … your hotpot, your scones and jams. I couldn’t wait to get here.
’
The colour deepened in Emma’s cheeks. ‘You don’t want to believe everything you hear.’ Her eyes twinkled up at him. ‘We all have our off days.’
‘Harrumph!’ said Betty, staring at both of them. ‘I think you’ve forgotten about me. Can I get a look in? I’d like another hug.’
Jared switched his attention to his cousin and held out his arms to her. She went into them and he hugged her and murmured something in her ear that made her smile. Emma felt an unexpected pang of envy.
Dorothy whispered, ‘You can see why he’s popular with the female members of our family, can’t you? He’s just like Dad, doesn’t have a grumpy bone in his body. It’s just so good to have him home and all in one piece.’
‘Let’s go and put the kettle on,’ said Emma.
They went up the garden to the house and Emma kicked off her old shoes just inside the kitchen and padded across the floor in her stocking feet to deal with the kettle. She washed her hands and asked, ‘What does he know about Betty?’
‘Not all of it. Without Betty confirming my suspicions, I decided to keep quiet about it for now,’ said Dorothy, removing her gloves and holding her hands out to the fire. ‘Uncle Teddy has gone off, by the way. He took one look at Jared and made a run for it. That was on Saturday and we haven’t seen him since. We’ve looked in a few of the pubs, but there’s been no sign of him.’
‘Have you reported him missing?’ asked Emma.
‘In the circumstances, no,’ answered Dorothy. ‘We’re hoping he’ll stay away and never come back.’
‘Perhaps he’s had an accident and has no identification on him and is dead,’ said Betty from the doorway. They turned and looked at her. She smiled. ‘Jared’s just told me that Uncle Teddy’s run away. I hope he’s as frightened of our Jared as I was of him.’
‘You know what this means, Betty,’ said Dorothy, smiling. ‘You can come back and live at home.’
