‘She’s big and she’s always shouting. She doesn’t listen to other folk.’
‘Can’t be much of a teacher, then,’ said Evie. ‘Sounds like a job for Grandma.’
Sue was briefed about Robert’s troubles and she shared this with Jeanie, but not with Michael. He’d been unusually ill-tempered of late – Mr Clackett was keeping him very hard at work since Sue had had a word – and she didn’t think it would help matters if he were to box Robert’s ears and shout at him.
Sue went with Robert to school the next morning, leaving Evie to get on with baby Nancy’s rompers on her own. When she came back she looked grim but satisfied.
‘Well, that Mrs Kelsey might say she can’t tell what Bob is saying but she certainly understands me,’ said Sue, and left it at that.
Robert went into school and stayed until the end every day after that, though he was now miscast as part of the Heavenly Host in the Nativity play and didn’t have a speaking part. Still, it was a small triumph for him of sorts, as not every child had a part, and Sue vowed to make sure his gown was the best-fitting of all the angels’ costumes.
Evie hadn’t expected to hear from Billy for a few days after their argument and her return home, but when she still had not had a letter by the middle of December, she started to think that Mary had been wrong and that Billy was no longer interested in her.
‘And have you written to him?’ asked Sue, as they sat side by side, cutting and stitching.
‘No, Grandma.’
‘Why’s that, then? Do you think the argument was all his fault and nothing to do with you?’
Evie breathed out heavily and tried to recall exactly what had been said. Strangely, she could remember little of the cause now, only that Ada had been behind it.
‘Well, it was his mum that stopped him getting the train that day, I told you.’
‘That was mean, I admit, leaving you standing there on the station for hours, but if the woman’s scared of losing him then that’s why she’s acting unfriendly. You see, Evie, as things stand, you can’t both have Billy, can you? He can’t be with you and with Ada.’
‘True, Grandma. Thing is, I don’t even know for sure that I want to be with Billy for ever and ever. It’s too much to think of that yet, especially if his mother comes as part of the deal. Oh, I know that’s selfish, Grandma, but you should have seen her face, and she was so rude. Maybe I’ll know one day, and I certainly don’t want never to see him again. That would be terrible! I want us to be as we were – special friends – and I do miss his letters. I was so excited about seeing him when I went north.’
‘So if you could make it right between the two of you now, never mind about the future, what would you do?’
Evie thought for a few minutes. ‘I’d write and say I want us to be friends again,’ she said quietly.
‘There’s your answer, then,’ said Sue, not looking up from her work. ‘Why don’t you go and do that now? You choose to make it happen. Don’t wait for Billy to decide. Or his mother. He’s a good lad is Billy. You can have the rest of the morning off so you can get the letter in the post box by Suttons’ straight away. Then you can get the darts sewn in this blouse and the collar made by teatime.’
Evie kissed Sue’s bent head and went to do as she suggested. She remembered what Mrs Russell had said on the train about how Grandma Sue influenced her own destiny, and she acknowledged to herself what a wise woman her grandma was.
Dear Billy,
I’m sorry we fell out at Gerry’s party and I’m sorry for the things I said. I want it to be just like it was between us, and I hope you are prepared to forgive me. I promise not speak about your mother like that again. It was very rude and I know it was wrong.
It was especially wrong because we’d had such a lovely time until then and you’d swapped shifts to be with me and make it a nice weekend, and it got spoiled.
I’ve missed your letters and I hope this makes up for what I said and that we can be friends again.
With love,
Evie
How could such a short letter have taken half the morning to write? Evie wasn’t entirely satisfied with it but it was the best she could do. She went down to Suttons’ to post it in the pillar box outside, then nipped into the shop to buy some humbugs, which were Sue’s favourites.
As she was coming out she saw further down the High Street her father disappearing into the Red Lion.
But Grandma had a word with Mr Clackett, who is supposed to be keeping Dad’s nose to the grindstone so he doesn’t have time to go to the Lion.
‘Honestly, Grandma, if it’s not Bob it’s Dad,’ she said when she got back to Pendle’s, handing the sweets to Sue and explaining what she’d seen. ‘He’s like another child.’
‘You’ve realised that, have you, love?’ said Sue.
‘Should one of us go and fetch him out? I don’t know if he’d take any notice of me, and I don’t want you to have to go. It’s cold outside and a bit icy.’
‘It might hurt his dignity to have his wife’s mother come and drag him out of the pub in front of everyone,’ said Sue. ‘And I don’t want to ask Mr Clackett to fetch him. That’ll only create more trouble.’
Luckily, at that moment there was a knock on the shop door, which was always open for customers anyway, and there was Jack, Monty beside him.
‘By heck, Jack, you’re the very man I need,’ said Sue. ‘Our Michael’s been seen entering the Lion and he’s supposed to be too busy at Clackett’s to be having a pint or two at dinnertime. You know how Mr Clackett doesn’t hold with drinking, and Michael’s already been given a warning.’
‘Leave it to me and Monty,’ said Jack. ‘I can guess what you’re going to say and I’ll go there right away.’
‘Oh, thank you, lad. I’m that grateful. I reckon you’ve come for the rent. When you’ve done with Michael, come back and I’ll pay you and we’ll give you a bite to eat, too. How does that sound?’
‘I’ll see you directly,’ Jack said, and set off for the pub, Monty trotting along beside him.
‘That was lucky,’ said Sue.
‘Yes, Grandma. But what on earth are we going to do when Jack isn’t here to help us? Dad’s been in a bad mood generally lately, and I’d hate there to be a scene in the Lion.’
‘I’ll have to have another word with Mr Clackett,’ said Sue, getting up stiffly, then taking off her glasses and rubbing her eyes. ‘So dark these days. I hate winter. I think we might need a stronger bulb in that there light. It’s going to be a cold one this year, I can feel it in my bones.’
Having dispatched Michael to Clackett’s, Jack and Monty returned to Pendle’s and shared Sue and Evie’s lunch, and then Letty came round to have a look through the fabrics with the idea of asking Sue to make a blouse for Miss Richards as a Christmas present.
Jack had been about to depart, but when Letty appeared he stayed on and made himself useful brewing tea and entertaining ‘the ladies’, as he called the three of them, while Sue and Evie worked and Letty asked questions about everything in her usual vivacious way. There was much laughter, and Sue was glad to see Evie looking happier than she had for a few weeks, now she’d got her apology to Billy in the post. Sue also noticed that Jack paid a lot of attention to Letty, taking an interest in everything she said and lending a sympathetic ear when Letty admitted that she still didn’t know what she was going to do with herself next, but her aunt liked her company, and her presence at Lavender Cottage allowed them to grieve together for the loss of Letty’s parents without having to explain or put on a brave face.
Then Peter came home from school and there was more lively conversation. Letty showed him some new chords on the guitar and he strummed while they both sang, Jack joining in on the chorus.
‘It’s better than the wireless,’ declared Evie. ‘Has anyone seen Bob? I haven’t heard him come in but maybe he went straight upstairs. Odd he shouldn’t have said hello, though.’
‘I’ll go and look,’ Peter said
.
‘He’s been finding school hard again lately, poor lamb,’ Sue explained to Jack and Letty, ‘though I had thought we’d turned the corner with that.’
‘No sign of him upstairs,’ said Peter, returning to the front room. ‘I’ll look out the back. Bob! Bob! Come and say hello to Letty and Jack. Bob …?’ He reappeared shortly after. ‘He’s not there either.’
‘Odd,’ Evie said, putting her work aside. ‘Mebbe he’s been kept in at school or summat. We ought to go and make sure.’
‘I’ll go with you,’ Peter volunteered. ‘It’ll take us both to face down that Mrs Kelsey, from what I’ve heard about her. Shan’t be long.’
They put on their outdoor shoes and coats and set off down the High Street for the school.
‘You and Letty will want to be getting off home,’ Sue said, as the workroom, which had been so full of life all afternoon, subsided into slightly anxious quiet.
‘No, I’ll wait and make sure Robert’s all right,’ said Letty.
‘And I will, too. And when we’ve found him I’ll take you back home in the rig, Letty,’ said Jack.
A quarter-hour passed and Peter and Evie returned, their cheeks red from the cold that had descended on the village with the night drawing in.
‘The school was completely shut and dark,’ said Letty. ‘We looked all round. Everyone’s gone home.’
‘Right,’ said Jack, ‘it’s getting dark now so it looks like Robert went off somewhere after school instead of coming straight home. Now don’t worry, Sue. If we search around the village it’s quite likely we’ll find him in no time. Could he have gone to play with one of his friends?’
‘Oh, Jack, the poor lad hasn’t got any friends! He never goes to play with anyone.’
Jack looked taken aback for a moment. ‘He hasn’t mentioned anyone’s name?’
Sue shook her head. ‘Has he said anything to you, Peter?’
‘No, Grandma. I reckon we should start on this search quickly, though. It’s getting frosty already. You stay here in case he wanders in, and the rest of us can go and ask if anyone’s seen him. How does that sound?’
Peter and Evie set out to ask in the Suttons’ shop and up and down the High Street. When they’d gone, Jack said he’d go to the market garden and ask Michael and Mr Clackett if they’d seen Robert playing in the field at the back.
‘I’m sure they’ll want to help us look, too,’ said Letty.
‘Of course Michael will. And I dare say Mr Clackett will, as well,’ Jack said, holding the door of Pendle’s open for her.
Sue went to the shop window and stood looking out, impatient for news. After a while she saw by the light of a streetlamp Evie and Peter coming back.
‘Well, love?’
‘Nothing. Though Mrs Lambert did say she saw Bob coming out of school this afternoon, so we definitely know he’s both been and left,’ said Evie.
Sue’s hand leapt to cover her mouth as she stifled a sob. She sniffed back her anxious tears and visibly pulled herself together.
‘You don’t think … he could have been kidnapped by Mr Hopkins’ men?’ asked Peter.
‘Don’t be daft, Pete,’ Sue snapped. ‘It’s Michael they’re interested in, not Bob.’
‘And, anyway, they don’t know where any of us are,’ said Evie. ‘But I’ve just thought of somewhere else to look – down through the field and in the woods. Bob’s always liked it there. Do you remember how he said he wanted to stay there for ever with the woodland creatures?’
‘But why would he be there now, in the dark and cold?’ asked Sue.
‘I don’t know, Grandma, but at least we ought to go and look. Pete, I think there’s a torch in the cupboard under the stairs. We’ll need that as it’ll be properly dark beyond the streetlights by now.’
‘Good thinking.’ He went to find it and came back with two torches. ‘Grandma, you stay here and put the kettle on. I reckon Bob will need a warm drink when he comes back. And tell Dad and Jack where we’ve gone.’
‘Off you go then, you two. Take it steady; it may be slippery.’
‘We will, Grandma. Try not to worry,’ said Evie, giving Sue a hug before dashing off after Peter.
It was pitch-dark in the field behind the High Street. Evie and Peter were slowed by the uneven ground, but they hurried as best they could. Their breathing sounded loud and ragged in the quiet of the field.
‘There!’ said Peter suddenly as something shot across the track in front of them.
‘Aah!’ Evie cried. ‘Oh, my goodness, I nearly died of fright!’
‘It was only a deer,’ Peter said, but his heart was hammering, too. The animal had seemed enormous, coming out of the dark so close to them.
They paused only for a few seconds to calm themselves, then moved on, over the stile at the back of the field and into the woods.
‘Bob!’ called Evie. Her voice sounded high and thin.
‘Bob! Bob!’ Peter bellowed. ‘We’ll have to go slower here, Evie, or we’re bound to trip over something.’
They crept along, too busy concentrating on stepping over tree roots and avoiding brambles to call out. The sound of the stream grew louder and the temperature seemed to plummet as they neared the water, which was fast-flowing now, and looked black in the light of the torches.
‘Bob, Bob, are you there?’ called Evie. ‘If you can hear us, please answer.’
No one spoke.
‘I don’t think he can be here,’ said Peter, training the beam of his torch over the partially overgrown track in front of them. ‘Bob! Bob! No, I think we’re wasting our time, Sis.’ He turned to retrace his steps.
‘No, wait …’ Evie shone her torch where Peter’s had just arced over the bank of the stream. It was very muddy and there were signs of shoeprints sliding down towards the water. ‘Bob, are you there?’ She went forward carefully, the light slightly unsteady in her shaking hand. Peter trained his torch in the same direction.
‘Oh, Bob …’ gasped Evie.
Her younger brother was lying on his front in the stream, his face turned to one side just under the surface.
She ran forward. ‘Here, Peter, take my torch. Oh, Bob, oh, you poor little fella …’ She lowered herself into the stream, gasping at the coldness of the water. ‘Peter, for God’s sake shine those torches over here.’
Peter did as she asked, though he was sobbing loudly as Evie dragged the little boy’s body up from the stream, heaving it over onto the bank with Peter’s help. There was a huge graze on Robert’s forehead. It looked as if he’d slipped on the bank, fallen into the stream and hit his head on some stone or log beneath the water. There was no doubt, though, that he had drowned.
‘Here …’ Evie held out her hand and Peter pulled her onto the bank where they stood and held each other tightly, weeping with all their hearts for their brother.
That was how Michael and Jack found them a few minutes later.
PART TWO
A turn in the road
January 1955–January 1956
CHAPTER TWELVE
Evie looked up briefly from the sewing machine and waved as the postman passed the shop window of Pendle’s. Then she heard the letterbox clatter.
‘Aren’t you going to see what’s come?’ asked Sue, squinting over the shirt collar she was turning.
‘I don’t expect there’ll be a letter from Billy, if that’s what you mean,’ said Evie heavily, continuing with her work.
‘Oh, I’ll go then,’ said Sue, beginning to heave herself to her feet.
‘No, Grandma, it’s all right, I will.’
Evie came back with two envelopes, neither of which was addressed to her. She resumed treadling and the two women continued their work in silence for a while.
Since Robert’s death, Pendle’s had often fallen into silence, and in the dark days of late January, no one’s spirits could be lifted. The women went to their work quietly because they must, and Michael spent every evening drinking away his wages or being bough
t rounds by men who felt sorry for him, often returning home drunk and morose, or being brought home by Jack, or the local policeman if he happened to be around.
As she worked, Sue allowed her mind to wander. She couldn’t see a way out of this and she wondered if they would ever be happy again. She thought back to the autumn when the sewing business had taken off so well, when Jeanie had blossomed in her new job, and even Michael had worked hard with Mr Clackett keeping him in order; when Peter had entertained them all with his music and his excitement about the band, and little Robert had been the hero of the Bonfire Night fête with the success of his fund-raising. It felt like a lifetime ago now – almost as if all those things had happened to a different family.
The sewing business was still going well. Evie was working hard, but there was not much laughter in her these days. Often Sue would look up while they stitched and catch Evie with red eyes, silently weeping for her brother.
Billy had not been in touch since Evie’s trip to Bolton for Geraldine’s birthday party. Evie had written that day Robert died and then again just before Christmas, with a card and a letter breaking the awful news, but she’d heard nothing from him. Sue thought that strange; she wouldn’t have had Billy down as someone to bear a grudge. His mother, on the other hand, was exactly that kind of person, and Sue had her suspicions about Ada’s role in Billy’s silence. But again, she had felt too worn down with her sadness to do anything about that.
Peter was hardly here these days, and Sue knew Evie missed him. They all did. He’d practically moved in with the Thomas twins, Brian and James, and taken his music with him. Mr and Mrs Thomas had welcomed him and were glad to offer him a second home and a place where, Mrs Thomas had confided to Sue, he could be away from being reminded too much of Robert and get over his brother’s death in his own way.
‘How are you doing with those curtains, Evie? Will they be ready for Mrs Cooke by tomorrow afternoon? She wants to hang them herself, she says, so she’s collecting them.’
A Woman's Fortune Page 16
