by Joan Jonker
‘He was in the army?’
‘Yes, sunshine, he joined up. The Bradleys were causing trouble for him, always hanging around and demanding money. He was afraid that as long as he was there, Miss Clegg was in danger. Eventually the neighbours forced the Bradleys out, Phil fought in the war and was discharged early because he’d been wounded. He’s happier now than he’s ever been, with a wife he loves and the elderly woman who gave him a home when he was destitute.’
‘How did yer find out about us?’
‘Because at that point his mother did the only decent thing she’d ever done for him. She met him outside his works one day, just before he left for the army and told him the whole story and gave him the photograph that he treasures. It’s of her with your son when they were on a day out. Phil is the spitting image of his real dad. He has no idea me and Nellie are trying to find you, I didn’t want to tell him and then have to disappoint him if we failed. It was when we found out my daughter was expecting a baby, and realised he’d have no one of his own at the christening, that we decided to move heaven and earth to find yer. He’s a fine lad. I love him dearly, and he’s a grandson yer can be proud of.’
Maggie wiped away a tear. ‘But how did yer find out where I lived?’
Molly’s eyes slid sideways to Nellie. ‘You tell her, sunshine.’
‘We did some detective work. Yer see, my mate thought she remembered Phil mentioning Bullen’s Terrace, but we couldn’t ask him or we’d have given the game away. So that’s where we started.’
Molly took up the tale. ‘We asked a few of yer old neighbours but they had no idea where yer’d moved to. They spoke very highly of yer, though. Then we tried the landlord of the George on the corner. He had a hunch yer’d moved into one of the streets that are named after poets. So down we came and made enquiries in yer corner shop. From what the shopkeeper there told us, we ended up knocking next door. It’s all a bit complicated, sunshine, but we made it, thank God, and we found yer.’ She looked down at her clasped hands for a few seconds then asked, ‘Would yer rather we hadn’t?’
‘Oh, no! I’m sorry if I don’t seem to be happy or excited, but it’s too much for me to take in! I’ll probably cry me eyes out and jump for joy when I’m on me own. Yer see, never a day goes by that I don’t think of my son – he was such a wonderful person. I named him after his dad, and he always got Bobby so we’d know the difference. Neither of them are ever far from my mind and my heart.’ Maggie lifted the corner of her floral apron and wiped her eyes. ‘But I’ve got a good family and I’ve a lot to be thankful for.’
‘How many children d’yer have, Mrs Mitchell?’ Molly asked, her heart going out to the woman. If she lost one of her own children she didn’t think she’d ever get over it.
‘Two sons, one daughter and five grandchildren. Jim’s the eldest, he’s forty-nine and his wife’s Elsie. They’ve got two children, both grown-up and working. They live in Percy Street.’
‘Ooh, er, we came down Percy Street,’ Nellie said. ‘Fancy that!’
‘The other son, Wally, lives in the next street with his wife Edna and their two children. And the youngest is Beth. She and her husband live with me. They’ve got a daughter and she goes to work as well. I’m very lucky having my daughter live with me, and the two lads never fail to call on their way home from work.’
‘So Phil’s got a big family to get to know?’
Maggie leaned forward and didn’t try to stem her flood of tears. Her voice thick with emotion, she said, ‘They’ll be so happy when I tell them, and they’ll want to meet him soon. Our own flesh and blood, and I can’t wait to hold him. When can I meet him?’
‘I’ll tell him and Doreen tonight,’ Molly promised. ‘This is going to come as a shock to Phil, but a very happy one. I’ll make arrangements for him and Doreen to come down one night, and you can put yer family in the picture. Me and Nellie will call on yer in the morning and tell yer when they’re coming.’ She glanced at her friend who had been listening intently, and covered her hand. ‘My best mate, Nellie McDonough, can take a lot of the credit for us being here today. She’s plagued the life out of me. If she’d had her way, we’d have been tramping through the snow in January trying to find yer.’
‘Yer both have my sincere gratitude. And I thank you and yer neighbours for taking care of my grandson. I think we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. At least, I hope so.’
‘I think I can safely say there’s no doubt about that, Mrs Mitchell.’
‘Call me Maggie, all my friends do.’
Molly gave Nellie a nudge. ‘Come on, sunshine, we’d better be making tracks.’ She got to her feet and walked to the rocking chair. ‘It’s been my pleasure to meet yer, Maggie, and we’ll give yer a knock about eleven in the morning.’ She planted a kiss on the woman’s upturned face. ‘You and yer family are going to make such a difference to Phil’s life, and that makes me very happy.’
‘Me too!’ Nellie wasn’t going to be left out. ‘Ye’re going to make a smashing grandma for a smashing lad. We’ll see yer tomorrow, ta-ra for now.’
Maggie followed them to the door. ‘I’m going to sit in the quiet now and go over it all in me mind. I never dreamt when I got out of bed this morning that it was going to be one of the best days of me life.’
Chapter 19
Even though Molly was dying to share her news with the family, and her nerves were as taut as a violin string, she did her best to act as normal as possible. But her bright eyes and quick, jerky movements weren’t lost on Jack. ‘What have you and Nellie been up to today? Yer look as though yer’ve lost sixpence and found half a crown.’
Molly feigned surprise. ‘I don’t look any different than usual, ye’re imagining things. What could me and Nellie get up to but shopping and housework?’ God forgive me for that necessary lie, she prayed silently. But Phil has to be told the news before anyone else, even my own husband.
Tommy grinned. ‘Anyone listening to yer, Mam, would think yer lead a dull life. But life can’t be dull when ye’re with Auntie Nellie.’
‘No, ye’re right there, sunshine, there’s never a dull moment. But that doesn’t mean every moment is filled with excitement either. Unless yer call cadging a ham shank off Tony exciting, or being early enough at Hanley’s to get fresh bread.’
‘It’s not like you to complain about yer lot in life, love,’ Jack said. ‘Yer always look very contented and satisfied.’
‘That’s because I am, soft lad. And I didn’t start this conversation off, it was you! I’m fine, happy with me lot in life. I’ve got the best family and friends in the world, and I know how lucky I am. Now, if that satisfies yer, get on with yer dinner so I can wash up and then nip over to Doreen’s to check on her state of health.’
‘She’s all right, Mam,’ Ruthie said, her legs swinging as usual. ‘I called in from school before I came home. Her and Miss Clegg were having tea and biscuits.’
‘Good for her, she needs to rest during the day. But I still want to see her for meself so I’m going over when I’ve cleared away and tidied up.’
‘I’m going to Bella’s, Mam, remember?’ Ruthie had something else on her mind but didn’t know how to get the words out or whether this was the right time. ‘She’s going to the first house pictures on Saturday night with her mam and dad. They said I could go with them but I had to ask you first.’
‘It’s a wonder Mary Watson isn’t sick of the sight of yer, yer spend more time in there than yer do in yer own house.’
‘I said that to Mrs Watson, but she said it’s her way of saying thanks for asking Bella to all the parties we have. So can I go to the pictures with them?’
‘As long as Mary will let yer pay for yerself. I’ll give yer half the money and yer can get around yer dad for the other half.’
They seemed to be taking ages over their meal and Molly felt like telling them to hurry. But it was no different from any other night, except that she couldn’t wait for them to go out so she could slip ove
r the road. She didn’t think she could hold it in much longer. Then Tommy laid down his knife and fork and pushed his plate away. ‘I was ready for that, Mam, and I really enjoyed it. You stay where yer are and I’ll see to the dishes.’
Molly shook her head. ‘Thanks for offering, sunshine, but I’ll do them. Yer’ve done a full day’s work as it is, yer’ve done yer whack. Get yerself washed while the sink’s not in use.’
‘I’ll help yer, Mam.’ Ruthie was feeling very benevolent now she’d been given permission to go to the flicks on Saturday. Maureen O’Sullivan was on and she was the girl’s very favourite film star. ‘You wash, I’ll dry, and me dad can put the tablecloth away.’
‘There’s no need, sunshine, I can have it done in half the time by meself. So finish that potato and then go and see yer mate.’
When both Tommy and Ruthie had left, Jack raised his brows at his wife. ‘Yer can’t fool me, love, I’ve known yer too long. There’s something on yer mind, it’s sticking out a mile, so come on, own up, what is it?’
Molly put the dirty plates back on the table and leaned over to face her husband. ‘I should have known I wouldn’t get away with it, yer know me too well. And, yes, ye’re right, there is something on me mind. But I’m not going to tell yer yet, not for about half an hour. It’s nothing for yer to worry about. In fact, yer’ll be delighted when yer know.’
Jack watched his wife pick up the plates and walk towards the kitchen door. ‘Hey, Missus, yer can’t just leave me up in the air! What’s going on?’
‘Half an hour’s not long to wait, love, and when yer know what it is, yer’ll understand why I couldn’t tell yer before. Yer could do me a favour while I’m washing the dishes, though. Yer could nip over the road and ask Doreen and Phil to come over. Tell them to give me twenty minutes, to see to the dishes and tidy around.’
‘What d’yer want them for?’
‘Yer’ll find out when they come.’
‘But they’re bound to ask what yer want them for.’ Jack looked puzzled. ‘What’s the big mystery?’
‘Jack, yer’ll find out soon enough. It isn’t a mystery, it’s something wonderful.’
‘Well, why aren’t yer asking Jill and Steve down? And why didn’t yer tell us when Tommy and Ruthie were in?’
‘Because it doesn’t concern them, that’s why.’
He took his coat down from the peg and slipped his arms into the sleeves. ‘I dunno, yer live with a woman for nearly twenty-five years and still can’t get to the bottom of her. If yer were a man, yer wouldn’t be able to keep something to yerself like this. Men aren’t as melodramatic as you women.’
‘Will yer get going, sunshine, or it’ll be time for bed.’
‘I may as well stay over there and come back with them. It’s not very often I get to see Miss Clegg. And if they ask me what yer want them for, I’m just going to shrug me shoulders and pretend I haven’t got a clue. Which I haven’t.’
Molly moved like greased lightning. When she heard Jack’s key in the door, the dishes were away and the living room tidy.
Doreen came in first and walked into her mother’s outstretched arms. ‘Dad said yer wanted to see us. I hope it’s something nice, I like surprises.’
‘Hi-ya, Mrs B.’ Phil kissed her cheek. ‘Don’t tell me yer want to ask for yer daughter back? If that’s it, ye’re out of luck, I wouldn’t part with her for all the money in the world.’
‘I know I’d be wasting me breath, sunshine, ’cos she’s more than happy where she is. No, what I wanted to see yer for is very important. So sit yerselves down and I’ll tell yer a story. Doreen, you sit in my chair, it’ll be more comfortable for yer.’
Her daughter shook her head. If it was something important, she wanted to be near her husband. ‘I’ll sit at the table with Phil.’
‘We’ll all sit at the table,’ Jack said, his eyes going to the packet of Woodbines he’d left on the mantelpiece. He’d forgotten to take them with him and he was dying for a cigarette. Molly hadn’t given him time to have his after-dinner smoke and he was gasping.
She grinned. ‘Yer’ve got ten seconds to get them and light one up.’
‘Blimey!’ Jack said, hopping to it. ‘It must be important.’
Molly waited until the first puff of smoke swirled its way upward, then she turned her eyes to Phil. He was holding Doreen’s hand and stroking the soft skin with his thumb. If ever a couple were made for each other, it was these two. ‘Phil, this is going to come as a shock, and it might bring back some painful memories, but if yer bear with me I can promise the story has a happy ending.’
‘Ah, ay, Mam, I hope ye’re not going to drag up things we’d rather forget?’ Doreen squeezed Phil’s hand. ‘Because I can’t see how that would have a happy ending.’
‘Let yer mam say what she has to, sweetheart, she would only ever do what is best for us. You go ahead, Mrs B.’
A voice in Molly’s head told her to get right to the point, so she did. ‘Remember the day yer mother met you outside work and told yer all about yer real father? When she told yer his name and gave yer the photograph?’ Molly looked down at the table so she wouldn’t see the expression of hurt on Phil’s face. She would do anything rather than hurt him, but she had to start at the beginning to make sense of what she and Nellie had done. ‘Well, around that time, my mate Nellie said we should turn detective and try and trace any of yer dad’s family. Anyway, you went into the army and as time went by we forgot about it ’cos we really didn’t have anything to go on. All we had was yer dad’s name and I thought yer’d mentioned Bullen’s Terrace in Bootle.’ Molly stopped to draw breath. ‘It was when we found out Doreen was expecting a baby that Nellie mentioned it again. I won’t go into any of the details now, we can do that later, but we set out today, Phil, with real determination, and I’m happy to say we found Mrs Mitchell, yer grandma.’
His face drained of colour. ‘Yer found out where she lives?’
‘We did more than that, sunshine, we went to her house and had a cup of tea with her!’
Tears welled up in Phil’s eyes, Doreen had a hand to her mouth and Jack had let his cigarette burn down to his fingers. ‘Yer saw my grandma?’ The lad’s voice was thick with emotion. ‘Yer mean, yer spoke to her?’
Molly nodded. ‘She didn’t know about yer mam being pregnant, so she didn’t know she had a grandson. And yer’ve got two uncles, an auntie and five cousins!’
Phil had been biting on the inside of his mouth to keep the tears back because grown men weren’t supposed to cry but this news was something he’d dreamed of for years. Only he’d never expected those dreams to come true. So with tears rolling down his cheeks, he asked, ‘Does she want to see me?’
‘She can’t wait, sunshine. She’s getting all the family together tonight, to tell them. None of them had any idea yer existed, yer mam never told them. And I’ll tell yer what, yer’ll love your grandma ’cos she’s a real sweetheart.’
Doreen put her arms around her husband’s neck and rained kisses on his tear-stained face. ‘Don’t cry, love, or yer’ll make me cry.’
He wiped his cheeks and sniffed. ‘I’ve shed some tears in me life, mostly because I’d been battered by Tom Bradley or hurt when he kept throwing it up at me that I wasn’t his child. But I’m happy to be shedding these tears and I don’t care who knows.’ He took his wife’s arms from his neck, stood up and went around the table to Molly. ‘Yer’ve always been like a mother to me, Mrs B, and I’ve loved yer for it. But never as much as I love yer right this minute.’
Molly got to her feet and held her arms wide. ‘Come here, yer daft ha’porth, and give us a kiss. Then yer can sit down and I’ll go through a day in the life of the Bennett and McDonough Detective Agency. Or maybe I’ll make a cup of tea first, I think we could all do with a drink.’
Jack, full of pride and admiration for his wife, waved her down. ‘I’ll make the tea, you’ve done enough. And if we had a bottle of something in, I’d lift my glass in a toast to
yer. Miracle worker and mender of hearts.’
‘I didn’t do it on me own, love, and I don’t deserve all the praise. Nellie did as much as me and I hope yer’ll all remember that when yer see her. She’s the one what spurred me on. I’d still be thinking about it if it wasn’t for her. And she encourages yer by being so funny. On the way home she said we were better detectives than Charlie Chan.’
‘I won’t forget her, Mrs B,’ Phil said. ‘I’ll never forget her. If she was here now I’d kiss and hug her to death.’
‘Oh, and wouldn’t she love that! She’d tell all the shopkeepers, and anyone else she could get hold of, that yer were after her voluptuous body.’ The smile left Molly’s face as she thought of her best mate. ‘She’ll be sitting at home now on pins, driving herself mad ’cos she doesn’t know what’s going on in here.’
‘Well, there’s no need for that!’ Jack said. ‘There’s no reason why she can’t be here, it’s the least she deserves. So while I’m giving yer mam a hand to make a pot of tea, Doreen, why don’t yer slip to Nellie’s and invite her down?’
