by Joan Jonker
‘I know someone else who’ll be happy,’ Paul said. ‘Phoebe will be over the moon. And Dorothy. I know for a fact that their dresses are hanging in the wardrobe covered in tissue paper, just waiting for the opportunity to be worn again.’
Tommy let out a sigh. ‘That’s a load of me mind. I thought yer might think I was a penny-pinching miser, and I’m not really. It’s just that there’s so many things to think of.’ He gazed from Paul to Archie. ‘Just wait until it’s your turn and yer’ll see what it’s like.’
‘Oh, I think those dresses are good for another two weddings,’ Paul said, his dimples showing. ‘What do you say, Archie?’
‘I’ll keep them in mind when the time arrives. Yer never know, I might come up on the pools before then and be rolling in it.’
‘If yer luck’s anything like mine, son,’ George said, ‘then ye’ll be whistling in the wind for the rest of yer life.’
‘Me and me dearly beloved intended have got each other, and that’s far better than winning the pools.’ Rosie didn’t try to hide the love she felt for Tommy. ‘If we’ve got each other, then it’s a happy life we’ll have.’ Tapping her temple, she said, ‘As me mammy would say, there’s more to life than money.’
‘She’s a clever woman, is your mammy,’ Lily said. ‘And now I’ll have to put a move on ’cos me and Archie are going to the pictures. But we’ll sit and have a good talk soon, Rosie.’
‘We’ll be on our way, too,’ Tommy said. ‘We don’t want to miss Phoebe and Dorothy.’
‘Yer won’t miss Phoebe because she’s coming out with me.’ Paul pulled a face when he looked at the clock. ‘I’m late now. I just hope Rosie hasn’t told her about the frying pan lark or I’m going to end up with a splitting headache.’
Archie was cupping Lily’s elbow as they walked down the street. ‘So ye’re going to be a bridesmaid again, eh?’
‘Yeah. I’m very fond of Tommy and Rosie and wouldn’t let them down for the world. But if anybody else asks me, they’ve had it. Yer know about the old saying. “Three times a bridesmaid, but never the blushing bride”? Well, I’m not taking any chances on that happening.’
When they turned the corner of the street, Archie grabbed her hand and started to run. ‘Quick, there’s a bus coming, we’ll just about make it.’
Later, sitting in the back row of the stalls in the Carlton Cinema, he put his arm across Lily’s shoulders and whispered, ‘Don’t worry about being left on the shelf, Lily, because I’d marry yer meself before I’d let that happen.’
She turned her head to smile at him. ‘Gee, thanks, Archie, that’s the best offer I’ve had today. And it beats being an old maid with only a cat for company.’
‘That’s a back-handed compliment if ever I heard one, Lily McDonough. Yer’ve dampened me ardour now, just when I was beginning to feel romantic.’ He could feel her shoulders shaking and asked, ‘What’s so funny about that?’
‘I was just wondering what me mam would say about yer ardour being dampened. She wouldn’t have let that pass without making a crack about it.’
‘I bet Rosie’s mammy has a saying for it.’
The lights in the picture house dimmed and Lily said, ‘Shush, let me enjoy Clark Gable. I’ll dream he falls madly in love with me and wants to marry me. And I’ll consider me options between him and being an old maid with a cat.’
Archie growled. ‘I hate Clark Gable.’
Lily smiled in the darkness. He really was a nice bloke to come out with. Attentive, funny and easy-going. Just the opposite from someone she was still trying hard to forget.
Paul was in such a hurry when he pulled the door closed behind him, he didn’t see the girl until he bumped into her. ‘I’m sorry, I should look where I’m going. I didn’t stand on yer toes, did I?’
‘No, I’m all right.’ Joanne Mowbray had been lying in wait for the boy she thought was as handsome as any film star. ‘I’m yer new neighbour, me name’s Joanne. I know your name’s Paul ’cos I’ve heard yer mam calling yer.’ She nodded at the shoes under his arms. ‘Going dancing, are yer?’
‘That’s the general idea.’ Paul was a friendly person and smiled at her, as he would at anyone who spoke to him. ‘But I’ll have to go now ’cos I’m late. I’ll see yer around.’
‘Is she yer girlfriend?’
‘Is who me girlfriend?’
‘Her what lives next door but one to yer. I don’t know her name.’
‘Yes, she’s me girlfriend and right now she’ll be calling me everything for being late. And it’s not manners to keep a lady waiting so I’ll be on me way. Ta-ra, Joanne.’
She stood and watched him walk away, her eyes hard and scheming. ‘Ta-ra, Paul.’ Then she muttered under her breath, ‘And yer’ll definitely see me around.’
Phoebe opened the door. ‘Where the heck have you been? I’ve been ready for ages!’
‘Well, yer know Tommy and Rosie came, don’t yer?’
She nodded. ‘They’ve not long left here, but that’s no excuse for yer being late. I’ll do it to you sometime and see how yer like it.’
Ellen smiled when Paul walked in. ‘That’s not a very nice way to be greeted, is it?’
‘I couldn’t be rude to Tommy and Rosie, now could I? And blow me, when I came out of our house I nearly knocked a young girl over. The one that’s just moved into Mrs Harwick’s house. She must have been passing when I jumped off the step without looking and went slap-bang into her.’
Ellen had bent to poke the fire when Paul spoke and almost said the young girl had been hanging around when she’d come back from her mother-in-law’s house. She’d wondered at the time if she was waiting for someone, and remembered thinking she’d be better waiting inside, out of the cold. ‘Did she say anything to yer?’
‘Only that her name was Joanne. I didn’t have time to mess around because I knew Phoebe would be getting a cob on. But I got the impression that she certainly isn’t backward in coming forward.’
‘According to her mother she’s not! I’ve only spoken to Mrs Mowbray once or twice in the shop, but she said her daughter was a hard clock.’
‘Then next time she tries to talk to yer, Paul, just say yer haven’t got time, ye’re in a hurry.’ Phoebe slipped her arms into her coat. ‘And if she doesn’t take no notice, tell her to get lost.’
‘Aye, I’ll do that, Phoebe, with knobs on! I’ll say I’m in a hurry, but I won’t tell her to get lost ’cos that wouldn’t be very neighbourly.’ When Paul rubbed his hands together one of his dancing shoes fell from under his arm and he bent to retrieve it. ‘How did yer get on with Tommy and Rosie?’
Phoebe’s face lit up. ‘I’m thrilled and so is our Dorothy. She couldn’t wait to get out of the door so she could go and tell her mate. She won’t half be bragging.’
‘She said she was going to see her mate, but I’d take that with a pinch of salt,’ Ellen said. ‘I think she’s got a boyfriend on the sly.’
‘Oh, I don’t think so, Mam.’ Phoebe giggled. ‘Yer know what she’s like for bragging, she wouldn’t be able to keep it to herself.’
‘I hope ye’re right! I wouldn’t mind her having a boyfriend if she’d bring him here to meet us so we’d know if he was decent and respectable. After all, she’s only fifteen.’
‘She’s fifteen and three-quarters, Mam, as she keeps telling me. And she’s not soft, she’s well capable of looking after herself.’ Phoebe could see Paul was getting restless. ‘We’ll go now, before me laddo here tells me how many dances he’s missing.’
He grinned at Ellen, saying, ‘Dorothy’s not yer only daughter who can look after herself, Auntie Ellen. This one can be a real handful.’
Phoebe swung her handbag at him. ‘You haven’t seen the half of it yet. Just wait until the day I really lose me temper, then yer’ll see.’
‘Well, I hope yer let me know the day before, so I can take to me bed with a sore throat.’
‘Will you two get going! It’ll be time to come home before yer
get there.’ Ellen shoed them towards the door. ‘Besides, I’ve been on me feet all day, I want to stretch out on the couch and relax while I’ve got the house to meself. Peace, perfect peace.’
‘Are Gordon and Peter out as well?’ Paul asked.
‘Both round at their mates. I’m going to enjoy the quiet while I’ve got the chance. So be off with yer, and enjoy yerself.’ Ellen closed the door after them and leaned back against it. She did feel tired. It was hard going working and looking after a house and children. Corker was always telling her to pack the job in, but she enjoyed her work and would miss it. Perhaps after Christmas she might consider it.
‘So Tommy’s all fixed up now, girl?’ Her chubby hands curled around a cup, Nellie faced her friend across the table. ‘I bet he’s made up, is he?’
Molly nodded. ‘Him and Rosie were delighted when they called in last night. Honest, I felt like hugging them to death I was so happy for them. They get pleasure out of little things that you and I would take for granted, and appreciate the help everyone’s giving them. I’m glad the girls agreed to be bridesmaids, and I’m going to do everything I can to make this wedding day one that they’ll be able to look back on all their lives, with pleasure. What we did for Jill and Doreen, I want for Tommy too.’
‘They’re a smashing couple, I’ll grant yer that. I can’t wait to see Rosie in her wedding dress ’cos she’ll be a knockout. We won’t be in the ha’penny specks with her, she’ll put everyone in the shade.’ Nellie eyed the last two ginger biscuits on the plate and then asked, ‘Are yer going to leave those two little buggers all on their own or can I eat them?’
‘Don’t be greedy, sunshine, we’ll have one each. And if ye’re going to dunk it, will yer try to be ladylike and don’t leave it in the tea until half of it falls in the cup? I hate to see yer fishing round with the spoon trying to find it.’
‘I always do find it, though, girl.’
‘Yer get bits of it, then leave the rest in the bottom of the cup for me to wash.’ Molly helped herself to one of the biscuits and softened it by dipping it in the tea for a second. ‘One thing, sunshine, the rationing should be a lot easier by next summer, so I won’t have to go cadging off everyone.’
‘Doreen will have had the baby by then, girl, and yer’ll be a grandma. And yer’ll have a christening party to think of.’
‘Don’t remind me of that, sunshine, ’cos it makes me sad.’ Molly pulled a face. ‘I can’t help thinking that Phil won’t have any family at the christening, not a soul. He’s bound to feel it, even though he won’t let it show.’
‘He must have some family, somewhere. His dad must have had parents and perhaps brothers and sisters. All Phil was told by his mam after he left home, if yer could call living with the Bradleys home, was that his dad was killed in an accident three weeks before he was to marry his mam. And then she discovered she was in the family way. Then when the Bradley feller offered to marry her, she must have jumped at the chance. For all we know, both families might have disowned her ’cos of the shame, and Phil was left to be brought up by a rotter.’
Molly nodded. ‘It’s a miracle he’s turned out to be such a nice bloke. Honest, decent and hard-working.’
‘If yer remember, girl, we said at the time we’d do a bit of detecting and try and find him. I know it was years ago, but I can still remember us talking about it.’
‘We wouldn’t know where to start, Nellie! He told us his real father’s name, but for the life of me I can’t think what it was. I can remember him saying his mam lived in Bootle, down Marsh Lane way, and I think Bullen’s Terrace was mentioned. But whether his dad came from the same area I wouldn’t know.’
‘Why don’t yer ask him, girl? That would be the easiest way. He might know a bit more than he told us.’
‘No, I don’t want it mentioning to him! It would only rake up all the hurt and the bad memories, and for what? We might never be able to find any relatives now, not after twenty odd years.’
‘We could try, girl, ’cos think of what it would mean to him. Remember how we talked once of opening our own detective agency. McDonough and Bennett?’
‘No, I don’t remember, sunshine.’ Molly grinned. ‘I do remember Bennett and McDonough, though.’
‘Trust you! Yer always have to be in front of me.’
‘Well, it was my idea in the first place, so that’s only fair.’
‘So are we in business, girl? Are we going to try and find Phil’s family?’
‘I’d like to try.’ Molly’s thoughts were racing ahead. ‘Just think what it would mean to him to have someone related to him at the christening? A new baby and a new family. It would be wonderful for him, and for Doreen and the baby.’
Nellie rubbed her hands together. ‘When do we start, girl?’
‘Not until after Christmas, sunshine, ’cos I’ve so much to do. It’s only a few weeks off and I haven’t got a single present in yet. Not that anyone’s getting anything special this year, I’m cutting right down so I can put as much by as I can for Tommy’s wedding.’
‘After Christmas then, girl? When all the festivities are over, eh? It’ll give us something to look forward to, and we’d be doing a good turn into the bargain.’
Molly banged a closed fist on the table, sending the cups rattling in the saucers. ‘Nellie, I’ve just remembered the father’s name. It was Bob Mitchell! It came to me in a flash, out of the blue.’ She raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Someone up there is on our side, sunshine, and we can’t let Him down. So, right after Christmas, you and me are turning detectives and we’ll keep on until we have some success. I’m determined about it now.’
‘So am I, girl, and we’ll be the best detectives in Liverpool. We’ll get our man, or woman, if it kills us. And I think we should drink to it. So how about another cup of tea to seal our partnership?’
‘Ye’re a crafty article, Nellie McDonough, there’s no keeping up with yer. But, yeah, what the hell? Let’s have another cuppa.’
Chapter 9
Molly was waving Jack and Tommy off to work one morning when she heard her name being called. She turned her head to see Jill running down the street. ‘You’re going out early this morning, sunshine, it’s only half-seven.’
‘It’s Mrs Corkhill, Mam, I don’t think she’s very well. Steve said I should take the day off in case she needs me, but I wouldn’t know what to do if she really is sick.’
‘Where is she now, still in bed?’
Jill nodded. ‘She got up at seven, as she always does to have a cup of tea and a round of toast with me and Steve. But she only had a couple of sips of the tea and one bite of toast. Then she started to shiver and said she felt as though she was in for a cold so she’d be better going back to bed for an hour or so. She didn’t look a bit well, Mam, her face was grey.’
‘Come in for a minute, sunshine, while I get Ruthie out of bed and tell her to see to her own breakfast. She’s old enough now to get herself ready for school.’ Molly took her coat from a hook on the wall and was putting it on while she shouted up the stairs. ‘Ruthie, yer’ll have to make yer own breakfast, sunshine, and see yerself out to school. Mrs Corkhill’s not well and I’m going up there with Jill. Did yer hear me?’
‘Yeah, okay, Mam, I’ll be all right.’
‘Don’t forget to bang the door after yer, I’m taking the key with me.’ Molly could see the concern on Jill’s face and squeezed her arm. ‘Don’t look so worried, sunshine, I’m sure Lizzie’s right and it’s just a cold. I don’t think she’s been sick in all the years I’ve known her.’
After making sure the door was securely closed, Molly took her daughter’s arm and they walked quickly up the street. ‘You go to work, Jill, and I’ll see to Lizzie. Yer don’t want to lose a day’s pay when ye’re saving up.’
‘No, I can’t expect yer to do that, Mam, I don’t mind taking the day off. Besides, Mrs Corkhill’s been so good to me and Steve, I’d feel mean if I went to work and left her.’
&nbs
p; ‘We’ll see how the land lies, sunshine, and take it from there. If it is only a cold, me and Nellie could manage to keep an eye on her between us. Now get the door open so I can see for meself what the situation is.’
Molly stood at the foot of the stairs and called, ‘It’s only me, Lizzie, so yer don’t have to worry about making yerself respectable ’cos I’ve got everything you’ve got, only twice as much.’ She motioned to Jill to stay downstairs. ‘Leave yer coat on, sunshine, ’cos I think yer’ll be going to work.’
‘Jill shouldn’t have gone for yer, Molly,’ Lizzie Corkhill croaked. ‘I told her it was only a chill and I’ll be all right after a day in bed.’
‘Better to be safe than sorry, Lizzie.’ It was dark in the room because the curtains were drawn over, and Molly couldn’t see the woman in the bed properly. ‘I’m opening the curtains for a minute so I can see what I’m saying.’ She tutted as she pulled back the curtains. ‘That doesn’t help much ’cos it’s not broad daylight yet.’ She walked to the bed and put a hand on the old woman’s forehead. ‘In the name of God, Lizzie, ye’re burning! I could fry an egg on yer forehead it’s so hot.’
‘I’ll sweat it out of me, Molly, so don’t be worrying. I’ll be all right tomorrow.’
‘Like hell yer will, Lizzie, ’cos it’s freezing in this room. I’m going down to make sure there’s a fire up the chimney, then I’ll get yer down and settled on the couch. Yer’ll get pneumonia if yer stay up here. I’ll be back in a minute.’
Jill was pacing the floor. ‘Is she all right, Mam?’
‘She won’t be if she’s left in that freezing cold bedroom. I’m going to put more coal on the fire to build it up, then I’ll bring her down. I’ll make a bed on the couch and make sure she’s kept warm all day and drinks plenty of liquids. We’ll manage, sunshine, so you poppy off to work. But do me a favour, knock at Nellie’s on yer way down and let her know what’s going on.’
Jill hesitated. ‘Will yer manage to get Mrs Corkhill down the stairs on yer own?’
