Sunshine and Showers

by June Francis

  The film was as enjoyable as Patsy expected. The heroine, Ella, who wanted to get into films, was chased by an escaped lion into a Hollywood studio and pleaded to the crew to save her. Her appeals to them were so heartrending that they hired her as an actress and she met her actor hero. The story was amusing and romantic and all ended happily. Greg held Patsy’s hand throughout most of the film and she felt really happy.

  As they strolled home, discussing the film, she was hoping for a goodnight kiss. She was not disappointed despite its brevity due to David still being up and about. She accepted that she and Greg needed to act sensibly. Besides, what would happen to their relationship if the children’s uncle did come home? He might sell the house and take the children away. Where would she and Greg live then? And the children, how would they feel about being separated from them?

  Patsy pulled herself up short. What was she doing worrying about the future? She could not depend, this early in her relationship with Greg, on it ending in a proposal of marriage with him prepared to have Jimmy and the twins living with them as well. Perhaps it was wiser not to think too much but to be content with Greg’s companionship and to enjoy life in the present.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  ‘I can’t believe you’re doing this,’ said Joy crossly, gazing up at David as he looked over the neighbouring fence at her. Rex barked at him. ‘Shush, Rex,’ she hissed. ‘Don’t wake Robert!’ She seized him by the collar and shut him in the outhouse before resuming her conversation.

  ‘What is it you find unacceptable about my actions? It seemed the sensible thing for me to buy this house and turn it into three apartments.’

  ‘I’m not just talking about you buying the house from that man but about your having hired Grant to go to America in search of this Rodney Smith. He could be away for ages.’

  ‘Possibly,’ said David cautiously. ‘What do you suggest? That I hire Wendy as well? How long have they been married?’

  ‘Nearly a year and no sign of a baby yet,’ sighed Joy. ‘And I wasn’t suggesting that you fork out more money.’

  ‘It’s not me that’s paying but his mother’s estate. I gather from Grant that Wendy hasn’t had an easy life and apparently he lost his parents at a young age and was brought up by relatives. Perhaps they can both go and play detective,’ said David. ‘Of course, you will miss them but you’ll have me coming and going next door to keep your eye on,’ he said straight-faced.

  ‘I’ve better things to do with my time,’ said Joy, kneeling down to dig up a couple of lettuces, hoping to conceal a blush.

  He scrutinised her rising colour with interest. ‘I’m not saying you haven’t a busy life. But putting that aside, let’s talk about the share certificate and letter. They really should be somewhere safe, not just stuck in a drawer somewhere.’

  ‘I haven’t stuck them in a drawer,’ she said indignantly. ‘I sleep with them under my pillow.’

  He slowly shook his head. ‘Not clever. It’s one of the first places a burglar would look. There and under the mattress.’

  ‘But I’d wake up if a burglar tried that on,’ she cried. ‘Anyway, I can’t see what good they’d do a burglar if I haven’t made money from them. I think you’re just trying to frighten me into accepting you as my solicitor.’

  There was a long silence and she could not resist looking up at him. He looked furious. ‘That’s not true, but if you don’t want me as your solicitor, I would suggest that you get yourself another one. What about the one who dealt with your husband’s affairs?’

  Joy shook her head. ‘If Robbie didn’t trust him enough to entrust them to him, I don’t see why I should.’

  ‘Fair enough. But if you’re not prepared to let them out of your possession, then I suggest you get yourself a wall safe.’

  ‘I’m not made of money. Anyway, have you heard anything from Brendan O’Hara’s cousins?’

  ‘No. I’d write to them again if I were your solicitor but seeing as I’m not I suggest you write to them yourself. I’ll give you their address.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Joy.

  ‘I’m glad to help you.’ He vanished.

  Joy gazed moodily at the spot where David’s head had been a moment ago and knew that the sensible thing would be to accept his offer of help but she did not feel sensible where he was concerned. She found him far too attractive and was struggling against allowing him to play a bigger part in her life. What she would like was to wander around the house next door with him and to hear his plans to turn it into three apartments. No doubt any lodgers he took in could expect more in the way of luxury than she could offer.

  ‘There you are.’

  Joy jumped at the sound of David’s voice and turned to see him standing in her garden, holding a scrap of paper out to her.

  ‘The address,’ he added.

  ‘Thank you.’ She took the paper from him and placed it in a pocket. After a moment’s hesitation she asked him would he like a cup of tea.

  ‘Only if you’ve baked a cake today.’

  She could not prevent a smile. ‘I’ve made scones. Just don’t wake Robert as you pass his pram.’ She led the way to the house.

  ‘I had a look at him just a minute ago,’ said David, limping after her. ‘He looks bigger than last time I saw him.’

  ‘Of course he’s bigger! It’s over a month since you last saw him. He now has four teeth and I’m going to start weaning him and get him onto a bottle and solids.’

  David followed her inside the kitchen. There was a mouth-watering smell of fresh baking. He liked this kitchen because of its homeliness.

  Joy placed the lettuces on the draining board. ‘Sit down and rest your leg,’ she said.

  ‘There’s nothing much wrong with my leg.’

  ‘I thought you injured it during the war.’ She glanced at him and saw that the muscles of his face were tense and she could have kicked herself for mentioning it.

  ‘I’d rather not talk about it.’

  ‘OK! So these apartments, what are they going to be like?’

  ‘My plan is to have an apartment on each floor with a washbasin in all the bedrooms and a proper kitchen. I aim to put in a bathroom and a separate lavatory on two of the floors. There isn’t room on the top floor for that but I’ll expect a smaller rent for that apartment.’

  Joy stared at him enviously. ‘I wish I had the money for another bathroom and lavatory. If my lodgers were to hear what you’re doing they’ll desert me and move in with you.’

  David said casually, ‘I heard that you provided Mr Donavan with Sunday dinner and a pud.’

  ‘That’s true.’

  ‘So when Grant and Wendy leave, then, you and Mr Donavan will be dining alone.’

  Joy shot him a startled look. ‘I haven’t had time to think about that.’

  ‘Thinking about it now, do you have any qualms?’

  ‘Is there any reason why I should? He’s always behaved politely.’

  ‘But he might behave differently when Grant and Wendy aren’t there,’ suggested David. ‘The way to a man’s heart and all that.’

  Joy raised her eyebrows. ‘If you think I’ve my eye on Mr Donavan, you’re very much mistaken.’

  David said hastily, ‘I would have thought the shoe would be on the other foot and that he would be setting his cap at you.’

  ‘Nonsense!’ Then a mischievous light came into her eyes and she went over to the mantelshelf and took from it a wooden dog. ‘Although he did make this for me.’

  David took the carving from her and turned it over between his hands. ‘It’s good. It’s the kind of thing men do when they have time on their hands or for therapy.’

  ‘I believe he suffered from shell shock but he seems content enough living here,’ said Joy.

  ‘He’s found a haven here, you mean,’ said David, almost enviously.

  ‘I think so.’ She took the carving from him and replaced it on the mantelshelf. ‘The war destroyed so many lives. I don’t talk about the war t
o him, though.’

  ‘That’s sensible of you. Those who weren’t there can’t possibly understand the horror of it.’

  Joy felt a rush of sympathy and wanted to hug him. Instead, she only said, ‘I hope my son never has to go and fight. It’s my prayer.’

  ‘I would have thought after all that happened to you that you’d have stopped believing in God.’

  She gave him a faint smile. ‘I’m not certain of the kind of God I believe in anymore but Jesus Christ, now, I respect his teachings and wish I could live up to them.’ Joy was aware that he was staring at her with an odd expression and her cheeks burnt. ‘Sorry, I’ve embarrassed you. I don’t generally waffle on about religion.’

  David stretched out his legs. ‘I’ve given up on the old man in the sky, myself, but I’d like to believe that we go on in some form or other.’

  ‘My previous employer was a medium and she certainly did,’ said Joy, making the tea. ‘Shall we change the subject? Did you get to see Their Majesties at all when they visited Liverpool?’

  ‘Yes. I caught sight of them when they arrived at the town hall for lunch with the Lord Mayor,’ said David. ‘Did you?’

  ‘Unfortunately no. I believe the streets were decorated with banners displaying the red rose of Lancaster and there were thousands of people cheering and waving the union flag.’

  ‘Patsy and Greg were in the crowd when the king opened the Gladstone dock complex. It’s going to make a tremendous difference to the size of the ships that can dock in the Mersey.’

  Joy remembered how she had so wanted to see Buckingham Palace and Their Majesties. Why was it she had not made the effort to see them here in Liverpool? She could have taken Robert, so that when he was a man he could say that he had seen the king, but she supposed it was the thought of standing for a couple of hours or more, holding her son in her arms, that had put her off.

  She thought about how she could do with some help with him and the house.

  ‘How is Patsy getting on now the old lady has died? I know you’re lodging there but what will happen when you move in next door?’

  ‘You’re wondering about Greg.’ David took a buttered scone. ‘And I can understand why, so I’ll bring him along with me sometime and you can meet him.’

  Joy was pleased. ‘I’ll keep you to that and don’t forget and give Patsy my best wishes; I feel like I haven’t seen her for ages.’

  ‘I’ll tell her,’ said David. ‘But I have a feeling that her next outing will be a visit to Chester.’

  ‘To see her sister, Kathy, no doubt,’ said Joy.

  ‘I believe she’s planning on taking not only the twins and Jimmy but my niece and nephew as well.’

  ‘Five children! Managing one is enough for me. Still, no doubt Patsy will cope,’ said Joy.

  Chapter Thirty

  ‘Keep up, Helen,’ called Patsy, heading down the covered walkway towards the landing stage at the Pier Head with a twin clinging to each hand.

  ‘Do we really have to go all the way to Chester?’ panted Helen.

  Nelson and Jimmy had gone on ahead but Patsy now realised the other girl was having trouble keeping up. ‘What’s wrong with you? You’re not generally this slow. We’re going to miss the ferry if you don’t get a move on.’

  ‘I’ve got a stitch and I feel sick. I think I’m coming down with something. Why couldn’t we have gone to Southport? It’s nearer.’

  ‘Nearer for you but my sister doesn’t live there,’ said Patsy. ‘Grab Mary’s hand and we’ll all run together.’

  ‘I don’t feel like running,’ complained Helen.

  ‘Don’t be a whinge,’ said Maureen, seizing Helen’s arm. ‘Let’s pretend we’re being blown by the wind. That’s what we do in lessons sometimes – wahoo!’

  Maureen ran with Helen, and spreading their arms, they tore down the last few yards and burst out into the sunlit landing stage. The Birkenhead boat was already in and passengers were making their way on board. The girls teetered to a stop as they were about to collide into Jimmy and Nelson.

  Patsy read the boys’ lips and guessed what they were saying to their sisters was far from complimentary. She told them to try to get seats on the upper deck, so they could watch the ships go by. She thought how it would have been all the better if Greg was with them. Even so, since David had come to stay, he often volunteered to spend time with the children, so she and Greg could go out together. They talked of their childhood and their family background, of films and music, even discussed having dancing lessons.

  David and Joy were also a topic of conversation. What Patsy did not discuss with Greg was the plan close to her heart of providing a home for Jimmy and the twins. It could be a stumbling block to them ever marrying if Greg saw it as his duty to continue caring for Nelson and Helen if Rodney Smith was not found. He might think they could not possibly cope with five children.

  Patsy dragged her thoughts away from Greg to her sister instead. Even today, it was unlikely they would be able to spend much time together. But Patsy was looking forward to seeing Alice’s shop and hearing all about her sister’s doings.

  The ferry crossing passed without any disasters. This despite Maureen having to be dragged back from hanging too far over the rail a couple of times. It was a relief to pile onto the train at Birkenhead that would take them to Chester.

  The journey could have been a real ordeal, keeping the children under control, if it had not been for the novelty of travelling by train and Patsy had brought a bag of sweets as a reward for good behaviour. Even so it was with a lift of the heart that she shepherded the children off the train and led them down into the city. She asked the first policeman she spotted the way to Foregate Street.

  If Patsy was honest with herself she would have admitted to feeling more than a little apprehensive about turning up at Alice Bennett’s shop with five children in tow. Perhaps she should have written to say she was coming. Suddenly, she spotted several soldiers and wondered if there was a barracks nearby. In Seaforth the barracks was about a ten-minute walk away from the house on the landward side. She hoped that Kathy would not be taken in by any men in uniform.

  They arrived at the shop and Patsy paused so she could gaze at the display in the window of what must be the latest in bathing costumes. The green and white creation was knitted and all in one piece. She wondered if it was her sister’s work and could not help admiring her daring. The ensemble consisted of costume, towelling robe, rubber shoes and a rubber bag and was arranged against a backdrop of water that was an incredible turquoise blue.

  ‘Does madam like what she sees?’ enquired a familiar voice.

  Patsy glanced up from beneath the shallow brim of her pink cloche hat and said, ‘Madam does but cannot afford it. Hello, Kathy, am I to take it that this costume is all your work?’

  Kathleen’s mouth fell open and then she collected herself. ‘Patsy, what are you doing here?’

  ‘I came to see you. Brought the kids, thinking you might like to see us.’ Patsy waved her arms over the heads of the children. ‘The ones you don’t recognise are my two charges, Nelson and Helen.’

  Kathleen said, ‘Hello, you two. Sorry, but you won’t all be able to come into the shop. You should have thought before bringing them all here, our Patsy.’

  ‘I did! I was thinking you’d be having a lunch break and would be able to spend it with us. You could take us down to that river you mentioned in your Christmas card.’

  Kathleen groaned. ‘Gosh, is it that long ago since I’ve been in touch? I’d like to do that, Patsy, but by the time we get there, it’ll be almost time for me to come back.’

  Before Patsy could say anything in way of reply, a woman came out of the shop, carrying a cream-coloured paper shopping bag by its string handles. She was followed by Alice who immediately recognised Patsy.

  ‘Hello, Patsy! I presume you’ve come to see your sister?’

  ‘Yes, but I see it’s a bad time. You’re both busy in the shop.’

&nb
sp; Alice smiled. ‘Not that busy that I wouldn’t allow Kathy to take some time off to spend time with you.’ She turned to her assistant. ‘Take them to the house and give them something to eat. You can prepare the vegetables for this evening while you’re there. Be back by two.’

  ‘Yes, Mrs Bennett,’ said Kathleen, forcing a smile. ‘Thank you.’

  She began to lead the way.

  ‘Gosh, you’ve changed,’ said Patsy. ‘If anyone had asked you to prepare the vegetables in the past you’d have had a face on you.’

  ‘That’s because Mrs Bennett has been good to me,’ said Kathleen.

  ‘What about Flora? Is she still getting up your nose?’

  Kathleen shrugged. ‘She’d be better if she had a job. It gives you pride in yourself. It would be even better if she left home. That’s what really makes you grow up.’

  ‘I had to grow up before I left home,’ said Patsy seriously.

  ‘But you had no choice,’ said Kathleen. ‘If we’d had a different mother and a dad who’d been home, think how different our lives would have been.’

  ‘Don’t you think I’ve thought about that a hundred times?’ said Patsy.

  ‘A girl needs a father,’ said Kathleen. ‘One who can give her some idea what a husband should be like. She also needs a mother who shows her how a woman should treat a man to get the best out of him. Mrs Bennett knows just how to twist Mr Bennett round her finger to get what she wants. But she also knows to make a fuss of him.’

  Mary said, ‘I don’t need a mam and dad, I just want to live with our Patsy.’

  Kathleen rolled her eyes. ‘I’m glad to hear it because I’ve no intention of taking you on. I have plans and I don’t need hangers-on.’

  Patsy said exasperatedly, ‘Well, you’ve made that clear.’

  Kathleen smiled. ‘No need to get in a twist. You’ve known for ages how I feel. I’ll take you through the park that’s named after the Grosvenors; the top nob is the Duke of Westminster. He’s to Chester what Lord Derby is to Liverpool. Pots of money. He gave the land to the people of Chester to use as a park for their recreation.’