Stay as Sweet as You Are (37 page)

‘Well, here is the sailor, home from the sea.’ Irene breezed in like a breath of fresh air. Her face was beaming and her
arms open wide. ‘Come and give us a kiss, sunshine. And seeing as my feller’s not here, yer can take as long as yer like.’

‘Oh, no he can’t,’ Aggie said, laughing. ‘We’ll have no hanky-panky in this house.’

Titch hugged Irene and pecked her cheek. ‘One of these days we’ll meet down a dark entry and I’ll finally get to give yer a proper kiss.’

‘In the meantime, will the pair of yer sit down while I pour the tea out?’ Aggie said. ‘Any longer and it won’t be fit to drink.’

When Irene sat down facing him, Titch asked, ‘Did Olive get the job when you packed it in?’

‘Yeah, she’s been there three months now.’ Irene’s brows drew together. ‘Apparently someone told Alec that if he didn’t give her the job he’d lose three good customers. Now I wonder who that could have been?’

‘Don’t be looking at me, I’ve been away for four months. I can only think it must have been your George, or Bob.’

Irene shook her head. ‘No, Alec said good customers, and yer could hardly say George or Bob were good customers. The pub would shut down if it was relying on their couple of pints a week.’ Again she shook her head. ‘No, I think Olive has got a secret admirer.’

‘Secret admirer or not, Alec isn’t the type to do someone a favour. If she wasn’t up to the job she’d be out on her ear.’

Aggie sipped her tea as she took it all in. It was funny that the first person her son should ask about was Olive. Was there an attraction there, or was he just asking out of interest for a friend? Well, he said he had three week’s leave, that was plenty of time to find out how the land lay.

‘She’s doing fine. I went with her for the first week to show her the ins and outs,’ Irene told him. ‘There’s so many jobs to do, I couldn’t see her thrown in at the deep end. But she’s taken to it like a duck to water and likes it. And the few extra bob a week certainly mean a lot to her. Her and Steve
are not living in the lap of luxury, but there’s a definite improvement in their standard of living. And it’s brought her out of her shell. Yer’ll notice a big difference to the last time yer saw her.’

‘And young Steve has been a godsend to me.’ Aggie nodded to emphasise her words. ‘Every night without fail he comes up to get me coal in and see I’m all right for paper and firewood for the next morning. I was glad of him when we had snow six inches deep, I can tell yer. And he’s never without a smile on his face. He’s a cracking lad, one in a million. And Olive calls in every morning on her way home from work and has a cuppa with me.’

‘So yer’ve not been short of company, Ma?’

‘What! Sometimes this house has been busier than Lime Street Station. But that’s the way I like it, son. Better that than sitting on me own looking at four bleedin’ walls and talking to meself. Not that I don’t enjoy a conversation with meself, ’cos as yer are well aware I can hold a very intelligent conversation with meself. The only thing is, it’s very difficult to tell yerself to sod off and mean it.’

Titch put a hand over hers. ‘I’ll do anything for yer, Ma, yer know that. But telling yer to sod off is the exception.’

‘I should think so!’ Aggie huffed. ‘That would be very disrespectful and would call for me to stand on a chair and box yer ears for yer.’

‘Knock it off, you two,’ Irene laughed. ‘Anyway, Titch, aren’t yer going to ask how I am?’

‘How are you, Irene?’

‘I’m fine, thank you. George is fine, Jack’s fine and Greg’s fine. Me new sideboard is beautiful and me new couch a dream. I was going to tell yer about me lovely new bedding, but I think Aggie would think it was disrespectful to mention the word “bed” and I wouldn’t want to end up getting
my
ears boxed.’

Titch sat back in his chair feeling very contented. It was good to be home. ‘So yer got everything yer were saving up for?’

‘Yes, Mr McBride, I’m very happy to say I did. When yer call for George tonight yer’ll think yer eyes are deceiving yer. Of course yer won’t be allowed to sit on me couch, or lean yer elbows on me sideboard. If I let you get away with it, the boys would complain about me making them sit on the floor. So while yer can look, sunshine, yer cannot touch. Those are the rules of the house now.’

Titch thought it was hilarious. ‘I’ll stand on the step and wait for George to come out. From the sound of things, yer’d lay a duck egg if me coat happened to brush against yer sideboard. I bet George is having a dog’s life.’

‘Don’t you believe it! He’s as happy as Larry in his old fireside chair. He wouldn’t part with that thing for all the money in the world. And my chair has been taken over by Jack. He says he’s a working man now, and his wages entitle him to the same comfort as his dad.’ Irene’s laughter ricocheted off the walls. ‘He’s asked me to buy him a whip for his birthday, so he can crack it when I don’t move fast enough for him.’

‘Ye’re well blessed with yer family, Irene. Good husband and good kids.’

‘She certainly is,’ Aggie said. ‘But then she’s a damn good mother.’ Under her breath, she muttered, ‘Not like some I could mention.’

‘Does Lucy still come in for a game of cards?’ Titch asked. ‘And if she does, does she still win all the time?’

If there was a slight hesitation before Irene answered, it went unnoticed. ‘Yeah, she still comes in, and much to Jack’s disgust, she’s still very lucky.’ Then she quickly took the conversation away from Lucy. ‘Yer won’t be seeing Bob tonight, by the way, ’cos he’s on afternoon shift. So it’s just you and George. And please don’t let my husband have too much to drink, he’s the very devil to get up in the mornings.’

‘Okay, we’ll just have a couple of jars and save the serious drinking until Saturday, when Bob’s with us.’

Lucy sat at the table and watched her mother combing her hair in front of the oval-shaped mirror over the mantelpiece. She knew if she said anything it would bring forth a load of abuse, but the burden of guilt she was carrying around with her was getting too heavy to bear. ‘Ye’re not going out again, are yer, Mam?’

Ruby swung around. ‘And what if I am?’

‘Me dad would go mad if he knew yer went out so often when he’s at work. The first time yer went out and left me, yer said it was only for that one night. But that was months ago and now ye’re going out more than ever. It’s not fair on me dad.’

‘The only way yer dad would know is if you told him.’ Ruby forced herself to remain calm. ‘And it would be daft to cause a row when I’m only going round to me mate’s. I’m not doing anything wrong.’

‘Then why don’t yer tell me dad? He wouldn’t mind if ye’re only going to yer mate’s, and I could go in next door instead of being in the house on me own.’

Ruby gritted her teeth. ‘If you want to cause a big row, then tell yer dad if yer want. But I can’t understand what all the fuss is about. I’m always in when he gets home from work and there’s always something ready for him to eat. And as for you being on yer own in the house, well, at thirteen years of age yer should be old enough to put yerself to bed.’

‘I’m not thirteen until next month. And yer know I’ve always been frightened on me own in the house. Why can’t I go next door and play cards with them?’

‘Because I say so, that’s why. I don’t want the whole bleedin’ street knowing me business.’ Ruby’s temper was reaching boiling point. Her hand was itching to lash out at Lucy. But she couldn’t take a chance on her daughter getting upset and running next door. If Irene Pollard found out what was happening, she could say goodbye to her nights out and to Wally Brown. ‘Look, I’ve promised me mate I’d go tonight, and I don’t want to let her down. But I won’t go out
again this week, honest. And as yer dad’s on nights next week, I won’t be able to get out at all, then.’

Lucy lowered her head, not knowing which way to turn. How could her mother look her straight in the face and tell barefaced lies? Lucy knew she went out when her dad was on nights because she’d heard her. Ten minutes after the front door closed on her dad, she’d hear the kitchen being closed and locked, footsteps down the yard, then the latch on the entry door being dropped. And it wasn’t only one night, it was at least two in each week. The knowledge Lucy carried around with her was making her ill. She didn’t know where her mother went or what she got up to, but she did know it was wrong for a married woman to behave in such a way. She also knew her mother was using her to deceive her father and that was the worst part because he didn’t deserve it and she loved him so much. Many times she’d been on the point of telling him, but was afraid of the consequences. What if it were the straw that broke the camel’s back and he walked out of the house for good? That didn’t bear thinking about because she couldn’t live without her father’s love.

‘Well, don’t just sit there,’ Ruby said, her hands on her hips. ‘Are yer going to take yerself off to bed, or not?’

‘Only if yer promise it will be the last night yer ever go out without me dad knowing. It’s not fair to expect me to go along with your lies and I won’t do it.’

‘But yer haven’t told any lies, have yer?’

‘Not telling the truth is just as bad as lying.’

Ruby looked at the clock. Wally would be arriving at the club on the dock road any minute now, and he didn’t like to be kept waiting. She’d promise anything rather than have him upset. ‘I’ve told yer this will be the last night, and I mean it.’

Lucy kept her head down; she couldn’t bear to look her mother in the face. ‘I’ll see meself to bed.’

Ruby’s sigh was one of relief and anger. Fancy having to kowtow to a chit of a girl. If it weren’t for the fact she had a sneaking feeling Lucy confided a lot in that cow next door,
and Irene Pollard and Bob were as thick as thieves, she’d give her a good hiding and kick her up the stairs.

Ruby gave one last pat to her hair before leaving the room without a word or a glance at her daughter, who was still seated at the table. Her head was bowed and tears were trickling down her cheeks.

Wally Brown didn’t look very pleased when Ruby hastened down to where he was sitting. ‘Where the hell have yer been? I felt like a right mug sat here on me own.’

‘I’m sorry, but me daughter kept me back. Yer know I wouldn’t be late if I could help it. But she wouldn’t go to bed and we had words.’

Wally wasn’t at all happy with the way the affair was progressing. They still met on a Saturday night in the pub and sat with the Armitages and the Bowlers, but they were careful not to let their friends know they were meeting twice a week on the quiet. This seedy little club, frequented by sailors and women of ill-repute, was their meeting place. Wally hadn’t expected to wait so long for what he was after from Ruby, but the furthest he’d got in four months was passionate kisses and fumbling down a dark entry. ‘I don’t know why yer won’t let me come to your house. Once yer daughter was in bed she wouldn’t know any different. I could come and go the back way so no one would see me, and I’d leave well before yer husband was due in from work. At least we’d have an hour to ourselves. I’m browned off coming to this dive, it gives me the willies.’

‘Ooh, I don’t know about that. Me neighbours are nosy buggers, and they wouldn’t think twice about telling Bob. Besides, if Lucy heard us talking she’d be down like a shot and that would really put the cat amongst the pigeons.’

‘I don’t want to come to talk, Ruby – we’ve done enough of that in the last four months.’ Wally resorted to flattery. ‘I’m not made of stone, yer know. I can’t be satisfied with the odd kiss, not the way I feel about yer. When we’re together, I can
hardly keep me hands off yer. I want to make love to yer and it’s driving me crazy.’ He ran a hand over her thigh. ‘Yer said yer wanted some excitement in yer life and I can give yer that, and more. But I’m beginning to think yer don’t feel the same about me.’

Ruby covered his hand. ‘I do feel the same about you, Wally, yer know that. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here tonight.’

‘Then find a place where we can be alone, even if it’s only for an hour. And let me make love to you like yer’ve never been made love to before.’

The nagging doubt in Ruby’s mind fled when she felt her whole body thrill to his words. He’d practically said he loved her. She couldn’t lose him now, she’d never find anyone else to please her the way he did. She’d be back to her boring life, with her boring husband and boring daughter. ‘I’ll do me best, Wally, I promise. Perhaps we can take a chance next week when Bob’s on nights. If yer came about ten, Lucy should be fast asleep.’

Although he was gloating inside, Wally managed one of his smarmy smiles. It wouldn’t have fooled any of the tough prostitutes sitting near them with sailors of every nationality, but it fooled Ruby. ‘Yer won’t be sorry, love, I promise. I’ll please and satisfy yer so much yer’ll be floating on air. And I’ll show yer how to make me happy.’

‘I’ll write the day down, and me address, on a piece of paper and slip it to yer on Saturday in the pub. The entry door’s got the number painted on it in white, so yer can’t miss it. And I’ll be watching and waiting for yer.’

Bob leaned across the canteen table. ‘How old is your daughter, Kate?’

‘Just a couple of weeks older than yours. Why?’

‘I was just wondering. Has she changed at all? I mean, has she gone quieter, more withdrawn, like?’

‘Not so I’ve noticed. She doesn’t act daft like she used to, but yer can expect that when they’re growing older. In twelve
months, Iris will be leaving school, same as your Lucy. They won’t be our little girls any more, they’ll be working young ladies.’ Kate could see this wasn’t what Bob wanted to hear. He was obviously worried about his daughter. ‘What is it? Is Lucy not well?’

‘Oh, she’s not sick or anything like that. It’s just that she doesn’t laugh as easily and is much quieter than she ever was.’

‘Well, haven’t yer asked her? That would be the best thing to do.’

Bob blushed. ‘I wondered if it was her age. You know, a girl’s body changes when she gets in her teens. And I couldn’t ask her that because she’d get embarrassed.’

‘I know things are not good at home, Bob, but surely it’s her mother’s place to tell her the facts of life. It shouldn’t be left to you.’