‘Ah, Grandma, I shall have to see if I fall in love with him. But you know I don’t want to marry anyone yet awhile. I won’t be eighteen until next month and there’s so much to do here. I’m not leaving you.’
There was a knock at the workroom door.
‘Come in, it’s open,’ called Sue, as Evie, nearest but sitting with her back to it, was half-buried under yards of skirt, unable to get up quickly.
The door opened slowly and there stood Billy Taylor.
‘Good grief!’ Sue gasped. ‘Where the heck did you spring from, lad?’
Evie turned and her mouth fell open. There was a long, long moment of silence. Then: ‘Billy? Can it really be you?’ she breathed.
‘Evie … oh, lass, I’m that glad to see you.’
Sue heaved herself to her feet and went out to put the kettle on. One way or another there would be a need for tea, that was certain. And, in the meantime, a need for privacy.
‘Sit down, Billy,’ said Evie, gathering herself and putting her work aside. She indicated a chair and he sat and looked around the workroom.
‘I found you easy enough – that smart sign with your name on it. You’re doing well for yourself, Evie,’ he smiled.
Evie didn’t reply. She was looking at this man who had once meant a great deal to her. What did she feel about him now? She searched her heart and her mind and discovered only confusion.
‘Why are you here, Billy?’ she asked politely.
Billy looked at the girl he’d last seen close to well over a year ago. She was a girl no longer. She was a beautiful young woman, taller, slim but in a womanly way and, despite the layers of cardigans, he felt clumsy and out of place all of a sudden.
‘I came to see you, of course, Evie,’ he stuttered.
She was looking at him with an unreadable expression on her face. After a few moments she said, ‘And why have you come to see me, Billy?’
Oh Lord, she wasn’t making this easy for him.
What did you expect – that she’d rush into your arms declaring undying love, you idiot?
‘To say I’m sorry … for that stupid argument we had … for all the daft things I said.’
Evie turned and gazed out of the big shop window, a faraway look in her eyes. Then she sighed and turned back to him. Her face still unreadable.
‘It’s all right, Billy. I forgave you a long time ago. I wrote to say that I was sorry and asked you to forgive me. It doesn’t matter any more.’
Billy felt tears in his eyes. This was going all wrong. Any moment now she’d get up and thank him for coming as she showed him to the door.
‘It matters to me,’ he said, dashing the tears away. ‘Oh, Evie, I’ve been a right fool! I was too proud to write and apologise straight off, and when I knew you’d written—’
‘So you do know I wrote?’ she asked quietly, frowning.
‘I didn’t get your letters for months.’ He took a deep breath. ‘My mum stole them and hid them and, when I found out, we argued and I came down to see you to try to put it all right. I knew I should have said I was sorry straight away.’ He shrugged helplessly. ‘I saw you in Redmond, looking right pretty, and with a man I thought was your husband, and I went back home without speaking to you … without saying all the things I needed to say.’
Evie looked away again, eyes narrowed as if she was thinking very carefully. The silence stretched out until he could hardly bear it.
‘And have you said all you need to say now, Billy?’ she asked him.
‘No! Never mind what happened. Never mind about my mum and your dad and all the things that took place to set us apart from each other and to keep us there. I’m sorry that we argued, and I’m more sorry than I can say that I let it go on and on and was too daft to do owt about it.’
‘It’s all right, Billy. I told you, it doesn’t matter.’
‘But it does, Evie. Because I love you. I love you more than I can say and I can’t bear to think that I hurt you and you thought I wasn’t sorry. I’ve wasted so much time when I could have been with you, loving you as I do.’
‘Oh, Billy, a long time has passed since we fell out.’
‘Yes, but my love for you hasn’t changed, Evie. I should have listened to my heart and not given up until I’d told you, and I should have done it months ago.’
Evie put her hands over her face and Billy thought she was crying, but when she eventually looked up she was dry-eyed though she looked troubled.
‘Billy, I don’t think we can just take up where we left off.’
‘Why not, Evie? If I love you—’
‘Because my life is different now. This isn’t Shenty Street and I’m never going back to Shenty Street. I know what we said that day we put all our stuff in Fergus Sullivan’s van – for a long time I thought of little else. But I have made a life here, and Grandma Sue and me have worked hard to set up this place and make it a success. I’m not going to give it up. Not because it’s what Grandma and me do but because I don’t want to!’
Billy let this sink in for a minute or two.
‘I’m not asking you to give up owt, Evie,’ he said quietly. ‘I can see what a success you are here.’ He looked around at the shelves of fabrics, the dressmaker’s dummy, the two sewing machines, the pile of fashion magazines, and the fitting room screened off in the corner. ‘It’s marvellous what you’ve done. Why would you want to give it up? All I’m asking is that you let me back into your life and allow me to love you and be proud of you.’
‘Yes, Billy, we can be friends again, if that’s what you mean,’ Evie said. ‘But I think you want more than that.’
‘I did hope that you could love me in return,’ Billy ventured. ‘Or maybe learn to love me again, as I think you did once.’
‘Oh, Billy, I don’t know,’ said Evie, getting up and walking over to the window, biting her nails. ‘It’s different now.’
‘Is there someone else?’ Billy thought of the name Letty had mentioned, George Morris.
‘There is someone who wants to marry me, yes.’
‘And do you want to marry him?’
Evie sat down again, sighing. ‘Not now. Not yet. But he’s a good man, very kind, and he’s one of my dearest friends. I’ve told him I’m too young to be married and I don’t know if I want to marry him. He understands that and is prepared to wait. But we are close friends.’
‘And what about me, Evie?’
Evie smiled a crooked smile. ‘A close friend, Billy?’
‘Oh, Evie, if that’s what you want. If that’s the best I can hope for.’
‘It is just now, Billy. We’ve got a lot of ground to make up before things can be the same between us as they were, if they ever can, and I reckon you know that.’
Billy nodded.
Evie reached out, took his hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘But I shall be glad to have you back in my life, Billy, even if you are miles away.’
‘Thank you,’ he murmured.
Sue made a lot of noise outside the inner door and came in with a tea tray, looking carefully at the pair to see how things were.
‘Tea,’ she announced needlessly. ‘Where have you got to get back to tonight, Billy?’
‘Home, I suppose,’ said Billy. ‘Though now Mum’s gone I’ve no one to worry about but myself.’
‘Yes, we heard about Ada. We’re sorry for your loss, aren’t we, Evie?’
Evie nodded and they drank their tea while Sue asked about old friends in Bolton.
‘Right, best be off then,’ said Billy eventually.
‘I’ll see you out,’ Evie offered, getting up.
‘It’s nice to see you, lad. Goodbye,’ said Sue, taking up the tea things and going back to the kitchen.
‘Goodbye, Mrs Goodwin,’ he called after her, then turned to Evie. ‘Goodbye, Evie.’
‘I hope it’s not really goodbye, Billy,’ she said. ‘I think we’d better say farewell, and I’ll see you soon.’ She smiled. ‘We can’t make up all that lost time if we
don’t see each other again, can we?’
Billy’s heart lifted and he smiled for the first time since he’d arrived. ‘No, Evie, you’re right. I reckon I might give up the postal delivery and have a look around, try my hand at summat else, maybe elsewhere.’
‘Don’t rush it, Billy,’ said Evie. ‘Close friends, remember? Please, you need to give me time.’
‘Evie, love,’ said Billy, ‘you’ve given me hope and I know that’s more than I deserve.’ He kissed her cheek as she stood aside to let him through the front door. ‘You can have as long as you need.’
EPILOGUE
June 1956
‘Oh, Evie, love, you look beautiful,’ said Sue, as she helped Evie arrange her hair, in which she had a pretty white band with flowers on it.
‘Thank you, Grandma. Is Mum here yet?’
‘She’s gone to the church. I think she wants a moment with your dad and Bob.’
‘Of course she does. I know she takes a posy to the grave whenever she’s in the village.’
‘Well, we’ll have no sadness today, lass. Let’s get you to church.’
‘Good grief, you brush up well, Sis,’ said Peter as Evie came into the workroom. ‘I hardly recognise you.’
‘Which was exactly what I was going to say to you,’ laughed Evie.
Peter grinned and pretended to adjust his tie. ‘Ready, Grandma?’
‘I am, love. Let’s go.’
When it was the moment to leave, Evie held her bouquet of white roses tightly, thinking about all of those who wouldn’t be at her wedding, sending up a prayer to her dad and wishing that he could walk her up the aisle.
Bells rang out as the newly married couple emerged from the church and their family and friends showered them with rose petals.
‘Oh, doesn’t Evie look amazing? I can hardly believe she made that dress herself, even though I lived through every decision about it and every fitting,’ said Letty to Margaret.
Billy looked down at Evie’s glowing face, feeling so happy, aware that he’d nearly lost her, lost everything.
Evie leaned in and kissed him on the lips. ‘You are perfect.’
‘And so, my darling Evie, are you.’ Billy smiled shyly.
‘But I’m the luckiest, because I’ve got you.’
If you enjoyed this book, try these other heart-warming family dramas from the No. 1 bestselling author, Josephine Cox
Family secrets can weigh the heaviest…
Although she’s surrounded by a loving family, Marie is lonely. The secret she has been carrying for many years is a burden – it’s telling could ruin the lives of those she loves most.
Marie’s granddaughter, Cathy, is a cheerful young woman and in the first flush of love. Her grandmother’s secret will not only change Cathy’s future but rewrite her past.
Sister-in-law Beth seems to have a happy life and a good
marriage but behind closed doors she’s heartbreakingly sad. Will she be brave enough to speak out and run away?
These three women are at the beginning of a journey – one that will change their lives forever.
Click here to buy now
One fateful night changes the course of a child’s life forever…
Rosie’s mother is a cruel woman and has Rosie’s kind and loving father wrapped around her finger. Though John Tanner does his best to protect her, Rosie often bears the brunt of her mother’s rage.
And his protection can’t last forever.
In one tragic moment Rosie’s fragile world is shattered. Grieving and alone, Rosie is thrust into a harsh reality, and she must face the obstacles that fate has set in her path.
But secrets will out, and Rosie must uncover the shocking truth behind her mother’s cruelty before she can hope for the love and happiness she deserves.
Click here to buy now
And don’t miss Josephine’s bestselling 50th book, The Runaway Woman
Those looking in from the outside think Lucy Lovejoy’s life is like any other, but at the centre of her family there is a big empty hole where all the love and warmth should be. Over the years, her children have watched while their father chipped away at Lucy’s self-confidence. Now the children are following their own paths, and Lucy has never felt more alone.
When tragedy strikes at the heart of the family, it’s a wake-up call for Lucy. Everyone has taken a little piece of her, and she isn’t sure who she is anymore. So when Lucy faces a betrayal from those she loves deepest, she knows that it’s time to make a choice.
Is she brave enough to find herself again?
Click here to buy now
About the Author
Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, one of ten children. At the age of sixteen, Josephine met and married her husband Ken, and had two sons. When the boys started school, she decided to go to college and eventually gained a place at Cambridge University. She was unable to take this up as it would have meant living away from home, but she went into teaching – and started to write her first full-length novel. She won the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ Award, for which her family had secretly entered her, at the same time as her novel was accepted for publication. Her strong, gritty stories are taken from the tapestry of life. Josephine says, ‘I could never imagine a single day without writing. It’s been that way since as far back as I can remember.’
Visit www.josephinecox.com and www.facebook.com/jocoxbooks to find out more information about Josephine.
Also by Josephine Cox
QUEENIE’S STORY
Her Father’s Sins
Let Loose the Tigers
THE EMMA GRADY TRILOGY
Outcast
Alley Urchin
Vagabonds
Angels Cry Sometimes
Take This Woman
Whistledown Woman
Don’t Cry Alone
Jessica’s Girl
Nobody’s Darling
Born to Serve
More than Riches
A Little Badness
Living a Lie
The Devil You Know
A Time for Us
Cradle of Thorns
Miss You Forever
Love Me or Leave Me
Tomorrow the World
The Gilded Cage
Somewhere, Someday
Rainbow Days
Looking Back
Let It Shine
The Woman Who Left
Jinnie
Bad Boy Jack
The Beachcomber
Lovers and Liars
Live the Dream
The Journey
Journey’s End
The Loner
Songbird
Born Bad
Divorced and Deadly
Blood Brothers
Midnight
Three Letters
The Broken Man
The Runaway Woman
Lonely Girl
A Mother’s Gift: Two Classic Novels
A Family Secret
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4E3
http://www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201 301, India
http://www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London, SE1 9GF
http://w
ww.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
http://www.harpercollins.com
A Woman's Fortune Page 29
