by Joan Jonker
Edna Hanley and her daughter had been waiting in the background. Once the speeches were over they moved in to clear the tables while the guests formed small groups to go over the events of the day. They’d be drifting off now, going home to freshen up and maybe put on a change of clothes. But they’d be back, with more guests, at half-seven for drinks, a buffet and dancing to records on the gramophone the Hanleys had kindly provided.
Molly was sitting with Tommy, Rosie and her parents, and they were having a good natter when Molly nodded to the dance floor where Nellie, complete with hat, was pretending to be holding an imaginary partner while she waltzed around the room. She kept looking up and saying, ‘Ye’re standing on me ruddy foot, yer awkward so-and-so.’
‘What would yer do with that mate of mine? I’m sure she’ll go to bed in that ruddy hat tonight.’ Molly covered her mouth with one hand when she took a fit of the giggles. ‘I’ll tell yer something funny about that hat – she bought it when Jill and Doreen got married last year, and it was too big for her. Every time she turned her head, the hat stood still. It was so comical it took me all me time to keep me face straight. She’d look sideways to talk to me and the hat would still be facing the altar. Anyway, she bought a hat pin last week and it anchored the blinking hat to her head and it’s been as good as gold today. But she must have forgotten it tonight ’cos just look at it. She’s danced straight down the room, on her lonesome, and when she got to the bottom she spun around to come back. But as yer can see, she’s facing north while the hat is still facing south.’
Monica and Mick thought this was hilarious. ‘Oh, Molly, me darlin’, she’s a broth of a woman, so she is,’ Monica said. ‘It’s lucky yer are to have a friend like her, and that’s the truth of it.’
Just then Jill and Steve sauntered over. ‘Have yer seen me mam?’ When Steve smiled his deep dimples showed. ‘I suppose I should go and ask her for a dance, save her making a fool of herself, but I don’t think the hat would like me taking her away from it.’
‘Leave her alone, sunshine, she’s enjoying herself.’ Molly glanced towards the door. ‘Have Doreen and Phil not arrived yet?’
‘We knocked for them, but Doreen was upstairs feeding Bobby. Phil said the baby would sleep for a couple of hours once he’s been fed so he was walking Mrs Mitchell to the bus stop so she wouldn’t be out too late. He said they shouldn’t be long.’
‘Will you two sit with me ma and da while I take Monica and Mick to meet the Watsons? They’re sleeping there tonight, and I’d like to introduce them to break the ice.’
‘Yeah, we’ll sit with nan and granda. They seem to be enjoying themselves watching the dancers.’ Jill grinned. ‘One thing about my mother-in-law, she can keep everybody happy.’
Molly pushed herself from the chair. ‘Yer’ve got a smashing mother-in-law, and Steve’s got the best mam he could have.’ She reached for Monica’s arm. ‘Come on, sunshine, I want yer to meet the people who are putting yer up for the next two nights.’
Jill sat down beside Bridie and linked her arm. ‘It’s been a lovely day, hasn’t it, Nan? It went like clockwork, not a hitch anywhere. And didn’t Rosie look a picture in that dress?’
‘Just like you and Doreen looked pictures in your wedding dresses a year ago.’ Bridie patted her hand. ‘It’s been a wonderful year all round for me and Bob. Three of our grandchildren married and our first great-grandchild born. Not many people at our time of life have so much, or so many people to love. It’s lucky we are, and we thank God every day.’
Jill noticed her sister coming through the door. ‘Here’s Doreen and Phil, I’ll call them over.’
Doreen waved aside the offer of a chair. ‘Nan, I haven’t had a dance for over a year so I’m going to make up for it tonight.’ She reached for Phil’s hand. ‘Come on, love, let’s make the best of it while we’ve got the chance.’
After the O’Gradys had had a chat with Mary and Harry Watson, Molly took them to sit with her parents. She thought they would feel more comfortable with someone who came from their country. All the young ones were on the floor dancing, and it was with a feeling of contentment and a job well done that Molly sat down next to her husband. ‘A lot’s happened since last year, hasn’t it, love? Just looking on the dance floor. There’s Archie now engaged to Lily, our Doreen with a baby, Ginger engaged and getting married soon. And I’ve heard a whisper that Paul and Phoebe are getting engaged next week.’ She leaned sideways to kiss his cheek. ‘And, of course, there’s our Tommy and Rosie.’
‘It’s not only the young ones dancing, love, look at Corker and Ellen. He’s not half light on his feet for such a big feller. And Maisie and Alec aren’t making a bad job of it, either.’ Jack leaned forward to rest his arms on his knees. ‘Now there’s a sight I never thought I’d see. George is up dancing with Nellie! Ay, we can’t be the only ones left out or we’ll never hear the last of it. Come on, love, let’s give it a go.’
‘Jack, me feet are nearly dropping off, I’d never make it.’
‘I’ll prop yer up, love, just for this one dance. Go on, be a sport.’
‘Oh, okay, but it’s only ’cos I love yer, Jack Bennett. I wouldn’t put up with the pain for anyone else.’ When the record finished, Molly made for the nearest chair. ‘Be an angel, Jack, and get me a glass of sherry, will yer? Then yer can go and have a chin wag with George and Corker.’
Her husband had no sooner walked away than Jill and Steve came to sit by her. ‘Are yer very tired, Mam?’
‘Yer can say that again, sunshine, me feet are killing me.’
‘Never mind, Mrs B, yer can have a lie in in the morning,’ Steve said. ‘Yer deserve it after the hard work yer’ve put in today. But it was well worth it ’cos it’s been one great day.’
Then Molly said something she’d had no intention of saying, and to this day she doesn’t know why she did. ‘By the way, sunshine, I’m going to tell our Doreen to put the christening shawl away safely in tissue paper. So it’ll be as good as new when you and Steve need it.’
Jill’s mouth gaped. ‘Yer know! How did yer know?’
‘How did I know what, sunshine?’
‘That I’m expecting a baby! I only went to the doctor’s on Thursday, and I didn’t want to tell yer until after the wedding ’cos yer looked so tired.’
Molly looked at her daughter blankly for a few seconds, and then she saw the huge smile on Steve’s face and her tummy lurched with a mixture of love, excitement and happiness. ‘Will yer bring yer mam over, Steve, ’cos she’ll go mad if she thinks yer’ve told me and not her?’
Nellie came waddling towards her. ‘What is it, girl?’
‘Your son’s got something to tell yer, sunshine.’
‘Mam,’ Steve said, ‘me and Jill are expecting a baby.’
Nellie looked at her mate to see if she was having her leg pulled, but Molly’s moist eyes told her this was no joke. A few seconds ticked by while she digested the news and then the little woman erupted. She dashed into the middle of the dance floor, lifted her skirts to reveal stocking tops, elastic garters, an expanse of bare leg and a couple of inches of light blue fleecy knickers, and broke into an Irish jig. And in a voice with no tune in it, she began to sing, ‘I’m going to be a grandma, a grandma, a grandma, I’m going to be a grandma and what d’yer think of that!’ Twirling around she kept singing, ‘I’ll have to learn to brag now, to brag now, to brag now, I’ll have to learn to brag now, to keep up with me mate.’
George shook his head as he looked on. ‘What’s she up to now?’ He put his glass down and walked across to his wife. ‘Nellie, will yer behave yerself, please? And what brought all this on, for heaven’s sake?’
Someone had turned the gramophone off and everyone was watching with interest when Nellie grinned up at her husband. ‘I’m going to be a grandma, love, and unless I’m very much mistaken, that means you’ll be a granddad. But if yer don’t want to celebrate, I’ll do it on me own.’
George looked over to where St
eve was standing, and when his son nodded, he punched the air as he covered the space between them. Then, of course, the hall came alive with chatter, back-slapping, congratulations and laughter. The couple were surrounded by family and friends, and only Corker stood on the fringes looking on. He waited until most people had drifted off for a drink then he approached Jill and lifted her in the air. The eldest of Molly’s children, she’d always been special to him and there was a bond between them. Looking up at her with eyes twinkling, he said, ‘My princess has gone and grown up on me. But I’ll love yer baby as I’ve always loved you. Except that no one but you could ever be my princess.’
It was eleven o’clock and still the youngsters danced on while the older guests sat talking in small groups. Molly and Nellie sat together as they surveyed the scene. ‘It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it, sunshine?’
‘Yer can say that again, girl! And it looks like another busy one ahead, for me anyway. Archie and Lily have decided on an Easter wedding, and I’ve a feeling our Paul and Phoebe won’t be far behind. But I’m really looking forward to being a grandma, girl, I’m thrilled to bits. So is George, he’s cock-a-hoop.’
‘No more than Jack, he’s never had a smile off his face since he heard. And me poor ma and pa don’t know what’s hit them, they look dazed. It’ll be a few days before it all sinks in with them.’ Molly put a hand on her mate’s arm. ‘We’re both very lucky with our husbands and our families, sunshine, they don’t come any better.’
‘And we’re lucky being mates, aren’t we, girl? It’s not many people have best mates as good as us.’ Nellie’s chins jumped up and down in agreement as she nodded her head. ‘And we always will be, won’t we, girl?’
‘Nellie, I wouldn’t swap you for all the tea in China or the biggest clock ever made. You’re irreplaceable.’
‘What does that mean, girl?’
‘It means no one could ever take yer place and I love yer. And after this dance is over, you and me are going to stand in the middle of the floor and thank our husbands, our children and our friends, just for being who they are.’
