East End Jubilee (11 page)

‘Wait here,’ she was told as the prison officer took the permit. Rose stood in line behind the other women, some of them with young children and babies. They all had an air of defeat
about them, as though they had been waiting in the same queue for years.

Rose kept her gaze ahead. The conversation mostly consisted of four-letter words. She tried not to inhale the odour of soiled nappies and cheap perfume.

Finally they were led into a courtyard. The main prison doors were unlocked and locked behind them, shutting them well away from the living world. Here in the claustrophobic atmosphere there was
an absence of colour, light and fresh air. The visitors’ room smelt of tobacco as it reeked from the old, peeling walls. Combined with the disinfectant and the odour of unwashed clothing, the
stench was stomach churning.

Some women were already seated at the small tables, talking to inmates. Rose sat on an empty chair and held her breath, trying not to feel faint. She drew her tongue over her lips and dabbed a
handkerchief on her forehead.

She waited, heart pounding as more prisoners filed into the room. Their eyes searched the crowd anxiously. Women reached across the tables trying to take their men’s hands. The children
were restless and clambered everywhere making an unbearable noise.

Where was Eddie? Rose craned her neck to look for him. Why hadn’t he appeared?

Then suddenly he stepped through the door, his gaze going over the gathering of wives, mothers and children filling up every inch of the room. Rose sat up, smiling at him, her heart pounding
inside her chest. As he walked towards her, she saw him pull back his shoulders and beam that wide and wonderful smile at her. It diminished the shock of the rough grey uniform that covered his
tall, slim body. As he sat down she saw the collar of the jacket was frayed and his shirt was crumpled and a wave of panic swept over her. Eddie was a smart dresser and would never be caught dead
in such clothes. But his lovely dark hair, which was always immaculate, was still combed neatly over his head, the rich thickness tapering down his neck making her want to reach out and stroke
it.

‘Eddie . . . Eddie . . .’ was all she could say, reaching for his hands.

He grasped them tightly. ‘You got here then,’ he said as his continuing smile lit up every lonely corner inside her.

‘It took me longer than I thought. I should have started earlier.’

‘It doesn’t matter. You’re here now. It’s good to see you, sweetheart.’

She couldn’t speak. They held hands across the table and looked at each other with tears in their eyes. Rose knew she had to be strong.

‘I don’t know where to start,’ she whispered breathlessly.

He laughed softly. ‘That’s unusual for you.’ He still had his sense of humour. ‘How are you and the girls? Tell me everything.’

‘We’re all right. We miss you.’

‘And don’t I bloody miss you!’ He didn’t speak for a moment, then it all came out in a rush. ‘That custard and jelly was kosher, honest.’

‘Yes, but where did you get it?’

‘I bought it off a bloke called Syd who was drinking at the pub. He said he had some stuff in his van and I went out to have a look. All he wanted for the telly was twenty quid ’cos
he needed the cash quick. So I got him down to ten and asked Ted, the landlord, if I could keep the telly in his lockup out the back. Well, the following night, when I was walking home from the
rub-a-dub I saw Leslie Parker. Talking we were, about this and that, and I happened to mention the telly. He said he’d buy it for Olga to keep her sweet. And that was that.’

‘No it wasn’t,’ Rose said in a hurt tone. ‘I tried to persuade you not to get involved.’

‘I know. And I regret I didn’t listen. It just seemed too good to pass up. That telly was a big mistake.’

A fifty-pound mistake she was about to add but didn’t as he looked at her with contrite eyes. ‘I couldn’t get to the magistrates’ court,’ she said regretfully.
‘The girls were home from school.’

‘I didn’t expect you to be there,’ he said with a sudden urgency. ‘I got meself into this mess and I’ll get meself out. Not that I’ll get much help from that
copper Williams who objected to bail because, he said, of the seriousness of the assault charge. But it wasn’t assault, at least not on my part. I’d just gone back to the house after
leaving you at Olga’s and there was a dirty great thump on the door. When I opened it, they were all over me like a rash.’

‘Did you tell the magistrate that?’

‘No, this was just a hearing. You have to wait until you go before a proper judge and jury and then you can speak your piece. Meanwhile, me solicitor is trying for holy nail
again.’

‘Does he think he can get you bail this time?’ Rose asked hopefully.

‘Yeah, while I’m waiting for me case to come up.’

‘When will that be?’

‘Dunno. There’s a bloke in here called Christie. The one that killed all them women? They expect his trial to last weeks, even months. It’s messed up a lot of dates. Me
solicitor is on the case.’

‘How much does a solicitor cost?’

‘If you ain’t got no money, they can’t get blood out of a stone, can they? And you’ve got to have legal representation, so they give you one. I told him I was innocent
and I intend to speak me mind before the old Barnaby Rudge.’

She looked at him and imagined having him close against her, nuzzling his face into her neck as he loved to do and telling her silly but lovely things that made her feel a beautiful and wanted
woman. She couldn’t wait until they were reunited again and she promised herself she would buy something new to wear on his release. Then the thought of money brought her back to reality.

‘Eddie, I understand about the telly,’ she hesitated, ‘but well, one night I looked under the gram—’

He leaned forward suddenly, giving a little shake of his head. ‘Sh, Rose!’ She watched his eyes swivel as a prison officer walked past. They waited until he was gone and he breathed
out slowly. ‘They’ve got ears like magnets round here.’

Rose glanced discreetly around, her eyes coming back to rest on his face. ‘I found
it
,’ she whispered, her gaze full of meaning.

He gave her a slow nod. ‘Well I never. What made you look there?’

Rose shrugged. ‘I was gonna dust underneath and suddenly remembered what you used it for years ago. I can tell you, I had a shock.’

He gave a funny little smile. ‘What the eyes don’t see the heart don’t grieve over, don’t they say?’

‘But what if the police had found the floorboards?’

‘My point entirely,’ he agreed. ‘I didn’t want you implicated. You could look the coppers in the eye with a clear conscience.’

‘What do you mean clear conscience?’ Rose asked in dismay.

‘Just a figure of speech, love. The money’s all legit.’

‘But where did it come from?’

He drew back a little as though shocked she should ask such a question. ‘Where do you think? Me business of course.’

‘But five hundred pounds—’

‘Sh! Keep your voice down,’ he warned, glancing round again. ‘Sweetheart, trading ain’t like the old days when you could barter and swap your stuff to make a few bob, now
everyone wants cash up front.’

Rose hesitated. ‘Like you asked Leslie Parker for fifty pounds?’

He shrugged casually at her intended sarcasm. ‘Yeah, well, he got his money’s worth. Do you know that some of them newfangled models go for as much as a ton?’

‘But the telly was stolen, Eddie!’

He rolled his eyes. ‘How was I to know that? The deal was done in good faith.’

Rose sighed. ‘Oh, Eddie, you always come up with an answer.’

He reached over to tilt her chin. ‘What’s the matter, Rose sweetheart, don’t you trust me?’

She melted, as usual. ‘Of course I do, but so much has happened lately. And with you being in here—’

‘What matters is you,’ he cut her short as his fingers dropped away. ‘A monkey will see you over till I’m back on me feet. And there’ll be enough for me bail,
too.’

Rose thought how hard it was going to be to tell him about giving Olga her money back now.

Eddie glanced at the big clock on the wall. ‘The bugger is, time’s almost up.’

‘There must be something I can do to help,’ she said as she searched his face. ‘Can’t you remember anything more about Syd?’

Eddie thought for a moment. ‘Only that he works the markets. Watches and stuff is his line, but he never had a stall. Nothing regular like. Sells out of his Peter Pan.’

‘Weren’t you suspicious when he told you that?’

‘Why should I be? Look at me, I don’t have a stall, do I?’

Rose was tempted to point out that not having a legitimate place of work was what had caused all the trouble in the first place. ‘What did he look like?’ she asked instead.

‘Well . . .’ Eddie screwed up his eyes thoughtfully. ‘My height. Older than me, forties I’d say. Long camel overcoat and titfer. Yeah, and a fistful of rings, whopping
great knuckle-dusters and a massive bottle of Scotch on his wrist.’

‘What make was the van?’

‘Humber was it, or Morris? Darkish, could be brown – or blue. Or dark grey. To be honest, I didn’t take much notice. I was keen to do the business.’ Before she could ask
another question, he leaned forward. ‘Have the coppers been worrying you?’

She shook her head. ‘No one’s come round.’

‘Was it in the papers?’

‘Only the
Evening Gazette
, but it was just two lines,’ Rose dismissed as she didn’t want to reveal the trouble at school and add to his worries. ‘No one was
interested in anything except the Coronation.’ Before he could ask more she said quickly, ‘I miss you, Eddie.’

He swallowed. ‘Me too.’

‘Look at these.’ Rose took Marlene’s drawing and Donnie’s note from her pocket and spread them on the table. ‘They took ages doing them. Don’t Marlene draw
well and look at Donnie’s lovely handwriting.’

He looked at them, pain and pride written over his face. ‘Tell them,’ he said hoarsely, ‘I love them to bits and I’ll stick ’em up in me cell. Well, you’d
better tell them I’ve got me own room.’ He grinned.

But she couldn’t laugh. ‘Oh Eddie. You shouldn’t be here, locked up like this.’

‘My feelings exactly,’ he joked.

‘I want to put my arms round you and cuddle you.’

‘Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse.’

‘I’ve been counting the hours till today. Your letter was so short. I was worried about you.’

‘You know me, love, I can’t think of what to say. ’Sides, they censor everything so watch what you write and don’t ever mention the bees and honey.’ He tapped the
side of his nose and Rose knew he was referring to the five hundred pounds.

‘When will I see you again?’

‘I’ll send you a permit in the post, but don’t bring the girls.’

‘Don’t you want to see them?’

He reached for her hands. ‘’Course I do, but not like this. It’s degrading. I don’t want them here, as much as I long to see them. And anyway, it won’t be long
before I’m out.’

‘I hope so.’ Rose’s eyes were filled with deep longing.

‘I’ll come when you send for me,’ she assured him.

A loud buzzer sounded. ‘That’s it,’ he sighed heavily.

‘Oh Eddie, don’t go!’

‘I have to, sweetheart.’ He quickly bent to press his lips against hers, all the pain of parting written in his eyes. She yearned to hold on to him but he stood up and walked away,
his tall body clad in the unfamiliar grey prison garb. All the women and children filed out, eager to return to freedom.

Eddie disappeared through the door and she remained alone, knowing that she wouldn’t be properly alive again until they were reunited.

‘Mummy, did you see Daddy?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is he coming home?’

‘He sends you his love and sends a cuddle. Like this.’ She wrapped her daughters in her arms and kissed the tops of their heads, hoping they wouldn’t ask again if he was coming
home. She was lucky. They didn’t.

‘Did he like me picture?’ Marlene asked.

‘And my letter?’ Donnie cried as she sat beside her sister at Rose’s feet.

‘Yes. He’s going to stick them up on the wall.’ Rose drew in a deep breath, relieved to be home. Or at least, almost home. They were sitting in Anita’s front room; Alan
and David on the couch and Benny in the chair by the fire. Anita had gone out to the kitchen to prepare supper.

‘Auntie Anita made us a cake. A chocolate one. It was lovely.’

‘I hope you said thank you.’

Marlene nodded. ‘We had seconds too.’

‘Go and see if you can help Auntie Anita in the kitchen.’

The girls ran off and Rose, seated on one of the wooden dining chairs, looked at Benny and the boys. ‘Thank you for looking after them.’

‘How’s Eddie doing?’ Benny asked looking at her solemnly with his dark, almost black eyes. His wiry black hair was beginning to recede, but he was still a handsome man.

‘He’s trying to get bail until his case comes up.’

‘So he might be home soon?’

‘I hope so.’

‘It’s a long way over by bus. I would have taken you in me lorry if I’d been local.’

She smiled. Benny was kind, but she couldn’t impose. Today had been an education. Her heels were still smarting where she had worn no stockings and the shoes had rubbed holes in her skin.
The buses had been slow or full up, forcing her to change several times. She had arrived late in spite of starting off before midday. All in all, it was an uncomfortable experience but she would go
through it all again for Eddie.

‘I wouldn’t want to bother you, Benny.’

‘It ain’t no bother if I’m working this way.’

‘What’s the prison like, Auntie Rose?’ David asked.

Rose glanced at Benny. Did he want his sons involved in knowing about such things? But they were all looking at her and she felt obliged to answer.

‘Prison is not nice at all,’ she said quickly. ‘It’s the last place on earth anyone would want to be.’

‘What did Eddie say about the television?’ Benny wanted to know.

‘He said he bought it from a man called Syd at The Lock and Key and had no idea it was stolen.’

‘But if that’s the case,’ Benny pointed out, ‘the police should trace this Syd.’