‘Oh dear, I’m so sorry. Have I really slept through it all?’
Vera was mortified when Bob nodded. ‘I’m afraid so,’ he said, ‘you missed a good film.’
‘I really am sorry for wasting the ticket,’ Vera said.
‘You didn’t waste it, you sat in the seat all the time, didn’t you?’ Bob said with a chuckle. ‘You looked very comfortable. But I tell you what, you can pay for the tickets next time.’
Vera felt a rush of warmth to her cheeks. ‘If you would really like there to be a next time, Bob,’ she said coyly, and while the theatre was still dark she leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. When the main lights came up she could see that he was blushing too.
‘I would like there to be a next time,’ he said, ‘only I don’t know what your mother would have to say about that. I feel like she’s always trying to get rid of me.’
Vera giggled. ‘Well, I’m not going to let her do that any more,’ she said. ‘In fact, why don’t you come in for a cup of tea when we get back to the Mission tonight. She can’t shoo you away if I’ve invited you,’ she said remembering Elsie Tanner’s advice once more.
‘I’ve asked Bob to come in for a drink.’ Vera spoke up as soon as she put her foot inside the vestry door. ‘I want to thank him for all the times he’s walked me home from work.’
Bob followed her inside, and Vera could see Ena’s startled face. ‘He can have my tea ration, so you don’t have to worry,’ Vera said, ‘and I think we might have a couple of biscuits left in the box.’ Vera immediately began to busy herself with the hot water before Ena could protest. ‘Shall I make one for you, Mam?’ she asked.
Ena looked at Vera and then frowned at their visitor. Whatever diversions for Vera she had been planning while they were out certainly hadn’t involved Bob Lomax. She could see that she would have to get a move on, but there was nothing she could do about it right now.
Lily was pleased to see Vera at the cinema as she hadn’t seen her for some time and she was surprised how much she had missed her friend. I’m sure Vera understands that I’ve been very busy, she thought with a grin, and she snuggled down in the back row on the seat next to Johnny. She always tried to get as close as she could under the cover of the coat he threw over the two of them. She and Johnny went to the cinema regularly, though neither of them knew much about the films that had been showing as they always sat on the back row and Johnny only seemed to be interested in one thing. She had quickly learned what to expect, though she felt safe in the knowledge that in such a public place he could only go so far. It had been fun at first although she now feared the novelty was wearing off, for Johnny was demanding more. She was worried that he seemed to be losing interest and she was desperately trying to work out what she could do to win him back. The more she hated the situation at home, the more she had seen Johnny as her ticket out of Weatherfield and she couldn’t afford to lose him, even if that meant that she had to give in to him completely.
Ena was relieved when Vera finally announced that she was ready to give up working overtime because she was too exhausted to continue, though she stopped short of reminding Vera that that was what she had predicted. But she was alarmed to see that by then Vera and Bob had established a new routine. Almost without her realizing how it had happened, Bob had become a frequent visitor to the Mission and Ena no longer seemed able to scare him away. Vera would regularly invite him in to the flat to share her tea ration or a cup of Camp coffee, without so much as a by-your-leave. Ena knew she had to act fast and do something drastic if she wanted to assert her power and reintroduce Eric Bowman into Vera’s life and not allow her to refuse. She was pondering her options when Vera announced that she and Bob wished to talk to her – together.
Vera had unsuccessfully confronted Ena in the caretaker’s flat at the Mission of Glad Tidings on many occasions, but this was different. Now she felt there was even more at stake as they came together face to face one more time. She had never felt quite so intimidated, but having Bob beside her gave her courage. She glanced at him standing beside her and saw that his cheeks had reddened. He squeezed her hand, though he refused to look at her directly. She squeezed his cold fingers back and then spoke up as they’d agreed.
‘Mam, we’ve got something to tell you, Bob and me,’ she said with a slight quaver in her voice.
Ena was at the belfast sink and was wiping her hands on a flimsy looking towel. She threw it over her shoulder and turned to face the young couple.
She took up a frightening stance with her legs apart and her arms akimbo and glared at her daughter. For a moment Vera was tongue-tied.
‘Bob’s asked me to marry him,’ Vera said eventually. She saw Ena’s eyebrows shoot up, then was unable to hold her gaze and she had to work hard in order to keep her voice steady.
‘Have you now?’ Ena had been startled but now she looked at Bob sceptically. ‘And whatever happened to “asking my permission”, eh?’
Vera felt another squeeze from Bob’s cold hand. ‘I’m over 21, Mam,’ she felt emboldened to say, though her voice lacked confidence and the words came out in a rush.
‘That’s as may be in the eyes of the law,’ Ena snarled, ‘but you’re my daughter.’
Vera shrank back for a moment. ‘Naturally we’re hoping we’ll have your blessing,’ she said, and this time she turned to Bob and grinned.
‘What you’re hoping for and what you get might be two different things,’ Ena said. ‘Ever think of that?’
‘Yes, we realize …’ Vera began, momentarily deflated, though determined not to show it, but Ena cut across her and addressed Bob. ‘What does your mam think?’ She shot the question at him.
Bob spent so long gazing down at the boots he’d spent half of the previous evening polishing that Ena turned to Vera.
‘Have you told his mam yet?’
Vera shook her head. ‘Not yet. We wanted to tell you first.’
‘And what have you got to offer my daughter if I was to say yes?’ Ena turned again to Bob. ‘As you know, she’s used to a decent home and she needs looking after. What can you provide for her? Have you thought about that?’
Finally Bob opened his mouth. ‘Of course I have,’ he said defensively. ‘I – I earn a steady wage as you know,’ he stammered, ‘and I’m sure we could live with my parents until we find somewhere to rent.’
‘If you live anywhere you’ll live here at the Mission. There’s plenty of room!’ Ena snapped at him, and Vera gasped but she knew better than to intervene at this point. ‘And if you ever do get wed I trust you realize that the ceremony will be here too.’
‘Oh, but I’m not sure my folks would want to come to a service in—’ Bob began, but Ena cut him off.
‘It’ll be that or nothing, laddie,’ Ena said, thinking how much easier the Bowmans would have been to deal with. ‘That won’t be up for discussion,’ she said firmly and she glared at him until he had to look away.
Vera’s head was beginning to ache and she wished that they had sat down before they had begun to talk as she was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
‘So, let’s talk weddings,’ Ena said, suddenly sitting down at the table. Vera took the opportunity and grabbed a chair, indicating Bob should do so too. ‘Can I ask who’s going to pay for this wedding, should it ever go ahead?’ Ena looked from one to the other.
Vera couldn’t avoid a sigh escaping. She knew that now was the time to ask about what had happened to the pay packets she’d given up to her mother so readily every week on the understanding that Ena would save for Vera’s future. But her bravery didn’t stretch that far, and she didn’t dare to ask.
‘We – we haven’t got that far as to talk about payment,’ Bob said uncertainly, ‘but I did get a ring and now might be as good a time as any to give it to you, Vera.’ And he brought out from his breast pocket what looked like a brass curtain ring with a claw in the middle holding a small piece of colourless glass in place. He turned to Vera now and she beamed back at
him, but before he could put it on her finger, Ena seized it out of his hand and held it up, making a show of briefly examining it.
‘Whatever you paid for it, it was too much,’ she said scornfully, then she looked at Vera.
‘You wouldn’t want to be wearing something that would turn your finger green, now would you?’ she said. ‘She wants something she can show off, don’t you, love?’
‘But it would do,’ Vera began, ‘till I can get a proper one.’ And she reached out for it, but Ena tossed it onto the table.
‘Have you told him what kind of a ring you’d really like?’ Ena asked Vera.
‘Well, no …’
‘Then I suggest that you do. Then we’ll see how good his intentions are. I tell you what, laddie,’ Ena said, her voice suddenly sounding reasonable, ‘why don’t you come back with a proper ring, and then maybe we can talk again?’ she said, though her mind was already working on other ways that she could use the situation to nip this unwelcome development in the bud.
Ena banged the brass knocker louder than was necessary and was about to knock again when she heard the sound of slippers shuffling towards the door.
‘Mrs Sharples?’ a small voice asked as the door was opened a crack.
‘Aye, Pat Lomax, I presume. I think you’re expecting me.’ Ena put out her foot to widen the gap and pushed her way inside.
‘I’m in the kitchen,’ Pat Lomax said, pointing to the open door at the end of the narrow hallway. The small voice belonged to a small woman with sparse, mousey-coloured hair and a slight stoop who barely came up to Ena’s shoulder. ‘I hope that’s all right?’
Ena sat down at the kitchen table without waiting to be asked and looked around the small room, taking in the pans suspended from hooks on the ceiling and the blackened kettle that was hanging over the hearth. She folded her arms across her chest.
‘Is our Bob your Vera’s first boyfriend?’ Pat Lomax asked timidly as she sat down opposite.
‘Of course he is,’ Ena all but snorted. ‘You don’t think I’d let her go courting just anyone who happened to turn up on the doorstep, do you? At least she knows him from work.’
‘Then you know she could go further and fare far worse,’ Pat said. ‘My lad comes from a very respectable home, as you can see. He’s a good lad and a good worker and we have high hopes for him. Do you know, he practically runs that repair shop down at the factory?’
She half rose as she spoke, leaning forward, and she punctuated her words by prodding the well-marked wooden table with her finger. Then she seemed to deflate as she sat down again.
‘I don’t reckon she’s his first girlfriend,’ Ena said.
‘Happen not, but there’s nowt wrong with that. He’s a healthy young lad and I don’t always make it my business to know what he gets up to. Lads have to do what lads have to do and I say it’s best for them to do it as well away from home as possible. His dad’s always told him: you don’t want to be messing about on your own doorstep.’
‘Aye and if you had a daughter I can tell you that you wouldn’t want her messing about on anyone else’s doorstep either! Now, I suppose you know that they’re talking about getting wed?’
‘Well, yes, so they said, though I did think as much. Vera’s the first girl he’s brought home,’ Pat said, ‘so he must think a lot of her.’
‘That’s as maybe, but we need to get down to business,’ Ena said. ‘For whatever reason, my Vera seems keen to marry your Bob and no matter what I say I can’t shake her off it.’
Pat looked taken aback. ‘Why would you want to do that?’ she asked. ‘Are you not keen then?’ Pat frowned and looked confused. She stiffened slightly as she said, ‘What seems to be the problem?’
‘My problem is how can either of them really know what they want? I mean, what does your Bob know of the world?’
‘Or your Vera for that matter!’ Pat retorted quickly, and Ena pounced.
‘That’s exactly my point,’ Ena said with a satisfied smile. ‘I think they need a chance to get to know each other. They need to take their time and not rush into anything.’
‘Hmm … I suppose waiting a bit would do no harm,’ Pat said.
‘There’s no real hurry now, is there? It’s not as though he’s waiting to be sent off to the front line or anything. He’s not even on the list waiting for his call-up papers, as I understand,’ Ena said.
‘No, well, that’s unfortunate.’ Pat looked embarrassed. ‘That’s on account of his … er … medical problems.’
‘That he’s a bit deaf you mean? And his flat feet?’ Ena said and she couldn’t resist a slight sneer. ‘I want you to know that I’ve told them they’ll have to wait to get engaged at least till they can afford to get a decent ring. Summat Vera can show off.’ She paused and leaned forward across the table. ‘But then I would suggest that we both encourage them to have a long engagement.’ She sat back with a self-satisfied smile.
‘If you really think that’s for the best, I suppose it wouldn’t do any harm,’ Pat said, though she did feel a little bemused.
‘Good, then that’s sorted.’ And Ena scraped her chair back on the tiles as she prepared to leave. ‘Oh, and just so’s you know, if and when they do eventually tie the knot,’ she said, ‘it will be at the Mission of Glad Tidings down by the viaduct.’
Pat’s hand fluttered to her cheeks which suddenly looked as if they had been smeared with lipstick.
‘Oh dear, no, I don’t think so,’ she said apologetically but firmly. ‘We regularly attend our own church down the road here and that’s where we’d like our son to be married.’
Ena glared. ‘The Mission is not only our church but it’s home to me and Vera as well – and we can have it for free,’ she said and she set her face into a determined expression and looked Pat straight in the eye.
Pat slowly got out of the chair but Ena was already standing. ‘Thank you for coming, it’s been nice to meet you,’ Pat said rather formally and she put out her hand, but Ena looked distracted as she shook it limply. She was already planning how she might use a lengthy engagement to prove to Vera that she could do far better in the matrimonial market than Bob Lomax.
‘And where do you think you’re going, miss, all done up like a dog’s dinner?’
Lily shook her hand free of her father’s grasp with more than her usual irritation, for she was keen to get off.
‘If you must know I’m going to see Vera. I’ve not been there for ages,’ she replied.
‘That’s good,’ Martha intervened, ‘because I’m going to meet Ena in the Rovers shortly and she always likes it when she knows you’re with Vera.’ Lily was surprised when her mother backed her up. Then, ‘Between you and me, Vera should have lots to tell you,’ she said, though she didn’t elaborate.
‘If she’s only going to Vera’s, then why is she all got up like that, eh?’ Percy Longhurst barked at Martha as if Lily wasn’t there. ‘All that black stuff round her eyes?’ He came closer to Lily to get a good look at her make-up.
Lily took a step back. She hadn’t been feeling well all day so she had added a touch of rouge to her pale cheeks in an attempt to look brighter and she’d been experimenting on her eyes with the kohl Elsie Tanner had given her. Johnny always seemed to be attracted to girls who wore it and Lily wanted to see if Vera thought it had the right effect on her. It was too bad her father had noticed it first.
Lily sighed. She knew better than to bring Johnny’s name into this conversation. ‘It’s what everybody’s wearing,’ she said. ‘You’re out of touch.’
‘Really?’ Martha joined in again. ‘The only person I’ve seen wearing it is Elsie Tanner – and we all know what kind of a woman she is. Are you fooling around with someone we don’t know about?’
‘No, I’m not,’ Lily lied, ‘but it would serve you right if I was.’
‘What did you say?’ Percy squared up to confront her and Lily could feel her anger beginning to flare, all this because her mother thought the Bradwell family
was beneath her.
‘Oh, Lily, it’s not as though we’ve kept you on a chain like poor Vera,’ Martha appealed to her. ‘We only want what’s best for you, you know that; we worry about you.’
‘Well you won’t have to worry about me much longer cos I intend to be off and out of your hair as soon as I possibly can!’ Lily’s temper snapped and the words slipped out before she could stop them though she wished she could claw them back as soon as they were out of her mouth. The irony was, they were true. With any luck she’d be able to leave home sooner than planned. Hadn’t Johnny promised to marry her when she’d finally given in to him in the deserted Anderson shelter near the Field, the recreation ground where they often liked to go. The only problem was that she hadn’t meant to share her secret so soon. Her words were met by a moment of stunned silence. Then both her parents spoke at once.
‘And where do you think you’ll be going?’ Martha cried.
‘Why, you ungrateful little madam!’ Percy said.
Lily was scared for a moment when she saw their faces and wondered what they’d say when she told them the whole truth. Taking a deep breath she turned to run out of the house. She had no intentions of telling them more right now, at least not until she had seen Johnny.
‘I believe you’ve got lots to tell me! Are you and Bob stepping out or something? Don’t tell me your mother’s agreed to let him come near?’ Lily came bursting into the kitchen as soon as Vera opened the front door and both girls fell upon each other with screams of delight.
Vera giggled. ‘It’s more than that,’ she said and Lily’s eyes opened wide.
‘My mam’s been hinting,’ Lily said, ‘though she hasn’t gone into details, ‘but she’s off to meet your mam in the Rovers right now. So, what’s the latest?’
Wartime on Coronation Street Page 7