Stormy Days On Mulberry Lane

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘I would like the fried chicken, chips, peas and a side salad,’ the husband said, looking as if he relished the food just thinking about it. ‘Just a small ham salad and some bread and butter for my wife – and could we have a pot of tea now please?’

  ‘Yes, of course you can,’ Shirley said and wrote down their order. She gave it to the cook’s assistant and then fetched a pot of tea from the end of the service station, where they were being constantly pushed out on a bar. She carried it to the elderly couple’s table. She was looking for her purse and took out a strip of what looked like headache pills. ‘Would you like some water to take that?’ she asked and the lady smiled at her.

  ‘How thoughtful. I have a little headache…’

  Shirley went straight back to the kitchen and fetched a small jug of water and two glasses, returning to their table. She left them and went back to fetch the afters for another family, who had decided they wanted double helpings and were on their second sherry trifle of the day.

  It was as she stood surveying her tables to see if anything was needed that Rita sidled up to her. ‘Don’t think I didn’t see you pinch my customers,’ she said nastily. ‘I’ll get even, don’t you worry…’

  Shirley ignored her and went to fetch the mains for her elderly couple from the kitchen. She’d done nothing to entice them to her table, but Rita was an unpleasant person and she’d clearly got on the wrong side of her.

  When she went to deliver their bill, the gentleman put two shillings into her hand and thanked her for her service that day.

  ‘It is too much,’ Shirley told him, feeling guilty at taking such a big tip from them. ‘People usually just give me sixpence…’

  ‘Your smile is worth a fiver at least,’ he told her with a pat of her hand. ‘You keep it, young lady. We may never have another holiday together and we’re enjoying being able to give a girl like you a nice tip.’

  Shirley smiled again and thanked him. She put it in her pocket and went off to clear the last of her tables, finding a sixpence under a plate. That made four shillings and sixpence today, which was the most she’d been given – and would more than pay for her and Richard’s fish and chips that evening on the seafront.

  ‘We’ll go halves,’ Richard insisted when Shirley got her purse out to pay for their chips. ‘You work hard for your money and the idea is to save as much as you can for when you’re at medical school.’

  ‘I was given two shillings by one customer today so it’s my treat,’ she insisted. ‘You’ve treated me twice, Richard. You don’t get much more than I do anyway.’ Richard certainly couldn’t afford to pay for everything they had to eat in the evenings.

  ‘You’re a sweet girl,’ he replied and kissed her on the mouth in a way that made Shirley feel good inside. ‘I’ll allow it this once since it’s what you want, but after that it’s halves – or I pay…’

  ‘All right,’ she agreed and snuggled up to his arm.

  Richard smiled down into her eyes. ‘Shall we go for a walk on the beach first? I want to kiss you – and I’d rather not taste of fish and chips and pickled onions.’

  Shirley giggled and clung to him as he pulled her in close. Their beach walks were becoming more and more passionate and she knew Richard wanted to stroke and touch her as well as kiss her. As yet he hadn’t asked for anything more than some intimate caresses, but she’d been as aroused as he and she wondered how long it would be before he wanted to be her lover…

  Later that evening as she lay in bed, Shirley remembered the pleasure of lying side by side with Richard on the sandy beach. He’d put his jacket and hers down to lie on and they’d cuddled each other, kissing passionately and exploring the different ways of giving each other pleasure without actually doing it. Shirley squirmed in bed as she felt again the lovely release Richard had given her with his stroking tongue and his hands, but he hadn’t gone too far or done anything she didn’t like.

  ‘It isn’t as good as going all the way,’ he’d murmured afterwards, ‘but it doesn’t risk your career – and we shan’t have to rush into marriage because we were stupid, Shirley.’ He’d smiled down at her, touching the tip of her nose with his forefinger. ‘I love your nose and your mouth… and every little bit of you downwards,’ he’d murmured huskily. ‘One day I’ll marry you and then we’ll be able to do everything we want together.’

  Shirley had just cuddled up to him and let him talk.

  She’d rung her parents after work and spoken to both her mother and father, telling them all about work, but nothing about her and Richard. She felt content and happy and the worry of what he might ask of her had disappeared. She knew that technically she was doing things her father and mother would not approve of, but if she and Richard were sensible, they could have fun and pleasure and not get into bother that would affect both their careers and make Shirley’s father look at her with disappointment. She sensed Richard wanted more than she could give so she went as far as she dared, but it was too risky to give more. Her medical training was too important to her and her family.

  11

  Peggy answered the phone and heard a sound halfway between relief and exasperation from her daughter Janet on the other end.

  ‘At last! I’ve been trying to get you for days, Mum. I thought you would ring me back—’

  ‘I didn’t know you’d rung me,’ Peggy said, puzzled. ‘I’ve been out a few times with Able and the twins, but no one told me you’d rung me, Janet – is something wrong?’

  ‘Apart from the fact that I was worried about you? No, not really. I just fancied a chat with my mother – and all that girl would say was that you were out before putting the phone down. I don’t know who she is, Mum? It wasn’t Alice or Pearl…’

  ‘It must have been Gillian. I did tell you about her, I’m sure – unless one of the guests answered—’ Peggy frowned. She thought it unlikely a guest would answer her phone in the reception area, but young children sometimes did it for fun. ‘How many times have you telephoned?’

  ‘Three,’ Janet said. ‘Twice yesterday and once the day before. I remember you saying you’d taken an urchin in off the streets, but I thought she would have gone by now?’

  ‘She is still frightened of going far from her room and she behaves oddly at times,’ Peggy said. ‘I dare say she will move on eventually. Anyway, I wasn’t told you’d rung, Janet.’ She sighed. ‘I was going to ring you this evening – we’ve been taking Fay to the pool because she bruised her ankle quite badly. She can’t skate for the moment and the doctor advised exercise in the swimming pool. It seems to be working. Her pain has gone and it seems to be getting stronger.’

  ‘Good – you’ll have no peace if she can’t skate, Mum.’

  ‘I know,’ Peggy laughed. ‘Perhaps this will teach her a lesson. She fell badly on her ankle through being overambitious and this was the result – but I shan’t hold my breath. Anyway, how are you, my love? Are Ryan and Maggie well?’

  ‘We’re all well and enjoying our time up here, Mum. We go for lots of walks and Maggie and Ryan cycle together and they ride their horses – pony in Maggie’s case. She loves that animal and spends ages grooming it.’

  ‘As long as you’re all well and happy,’ Peggy said. ‘Are you still expecting me to come up the last week in September for the birth?’

  ‘Yes, please, Mum – if you can?’

  ‘Wild horses wouldn’t keep me away,’ Peggy told her. ‘Sheila should be over her confinement by then and she’ll have Maureen and Pip to fuss over her, so I shan’t be needed here.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re always needed, Mum.’ Janet’s smile was in her voice.

  ‘You know what I mean, love. They can spare me for a few weeks. Alice likes helping out here and she gets on well with Pearl – and, of course, she adores Able. She will probably make a big fuss of him while I’m away.’

  ‘I’m sure. Oh, while I think of it, thank you for the baby dresses you sent, Mum. White is good because it will work for either a boy or a girl �
�� but I’m still hoping for a boy. Sometimes he kicks for England!’

  ‘That’s a good sign,’ Peggy said and laughed again. ‘I’m so glad I was here when you rang this time.’ A flash of blue caught the corner of Peggy’s eyes and she turned to look. Gillian was watching and listening to her from the foot of the back stairs. There were two extensions in the boarding house; one here, one in Peggy’s bedroom and the main phone in the reception. ‘Well, this must be costing you a fortune, Janet love. I’ll ring you tomorrow evening – and I’ll write to you..’

  ‘All right, Mum. Love you – Ryan and Maggie send their love. We’re off to see Nessie this afternoon.’

  ‘You wish,’ Peggy said and heard her daughter chuckle as the call ended. Maggie was convinced she’d seen the fabulous monster the previous year on their holiday prior to moving up to Scotland for Ryan’s new job. She turned to face Gillian a smile on her face. ‘That was my daughter Janet telephoning me from Scotland. She says she tried twice yesterday, but someone just told her I was out and replaced the receiver – was that you, Gillian?’

  ‘Oh no, Peggy. I wouldn’t do that,’ Gillian replied, her eyes wide and without guilt. She looked the picture of innocence, but Peggy was getting used to that look and it didn’t fool her as much as it had at the start.

  ‘I think it was you,’ Peggy said. ‘I am going to tell you once, Gillian, and I shan’t tell you again. It is not your place to answer my phone. Pearl or Able will answer if I am busy or not here – and otherwise please just let it ring. My daughter was worried and it is expensive to waste her calls – so please don’t answer it.’

  Gillian’s eyes filled with tears. She turned and ran up the stairs and Peggy heard her bedroom door shut with a snap. Resisting the urge to go after her, Peggy went into the kitchen. Pearl was making a pot of tea and there was a tray set for six people.

  ‘I’m taking this through to the guests’ sitting room,’ she said. ‘I’ll make one for us when I get back.’

  ‘I can put the kettle on,’ Peggy assured her. ‘Just one thing, Pearl – did you hear the phone ring twice yesterday while we were out?’

  ‘Yes, I heard it. I went through to the kitchen extension, but Gillian had answered it. She told me it was a wrong number both times. I meant to tell you – perhaps we should report it? Have they got the lines crossed, do you think?’

  Peggy shook her head. ‘Janet rang me twice yesterday. A girl she didn’t know answered and said that I wasn’t here and put it straight down – but Gillian said it wasn’t her when I asked and ran off in tears.’

  Pearl frowned. ‘That girl! She is a liar – and I wonder what else, Peggy. I know you don’t like to hear bad of her, and I know she has suffered, but she makes me uneasy. There’s something not quite right with her in my opinion.’

  ‘Yes, she certainly behaves badly at times,’ Peggy agreed. ‘I’ll speak to Able about it this evening when he gets home. He was going to make some enquires with various people – but it isn’t easy when she won’t tell us her second name.’

  ‘And why won’t she?’ Pearl asked. ‘I think she has something to hide, Peggy—’

  ‘Yes, perhaps.’ Peggy sighed deeply. It was difficult to think badly of the child she’d rescued because she’d looked so fragile and so innocent – but Peggy was beginning to realise that she was neither a child nor innocent. Still a little fragile after her ordeal, yes, but old enough to make trouble and was there a touch of malice in her nature?

  The answer was all too clear if Peggy allowed herself to see it. It was a nasty thing to do if she’d put salt in the coffee cake deliberately and Peggy couldn’t for the life of her see how it could possibly have been an accident. Then there were the phone calls, deliberately aborted and not reported to Peggy. Why had Gillian done such a thing? What was she hoping to gain from it?

  Sighing deeply, Peggy put the problem from her mind. The post had just arrived and she picked up her letters. Two official-looking ones for Able, two small bills that Pearl would pay for her out of the office funds and one addressed to Peggy personally and handwritten. She opened that one and read it through and then gave a little cry of pleasure.

  Pearl looked at her as she entered the kitchen. ‘Something wrong, Peggy?’

  ‘No, just the opposite.’ She beamed at her friend. ‘We’ve been entered for an award as the landlady of the year!’

  ‘How did that happen?’ Pearl asked. ‘Did you or Able apply?’

  ‘I certainly didn’t and I think Able would have told me.’

  ‘Told you what, hon?’ Able asked. He had just come in, looking pleased with himself. Peggy handed him the letter and he smiled broadly. ‘That’s great, Peggy – but I didn’t know anything about it.’ He continued to read, turning the page. ‘It says here that you have to be entered by a customer – someone who has stayed here.’

  ‘That’s nice.’ Peggy felt a pleasant warmth inside. ‘It means one of our guests was really pleased and put my name forward.’

  ‘You deserve it,’ Able and Pearl both said together. He went over to the stove and took up the pot of coffee that was always ready, pouring some into a mug for himself. ‘Anyone else want a cup?’

  ‘We’re having tea and a piece of pear upside-down cake,’ Peggy said. ‘I wonder who put my name forward.’

  ‘You may never know,’ Able said. ‘I think it is great, hon – and I’ve got some more good news.’

  ‘I’ve just heard from the council that my plans for a block of flats on that old bomb site have been approved – and Tom has agreed to take on the project with me. He will find the workmen to do the job, men he knows and trusts. I’ll see to the architect’s side of things and put up the funds and we’ve got a sixty-forty partnership. I offered fifty-fifty, but Tom said he couldn’t put any cash in so I should have the controlling interest and we agreed on the contract with the lawyers today.’

  ‘That is wonderful, Able!’ Peggy looked at him in excitement. He’d spoken about it before but didn’t say much and she’d been too busy to think about the details. ‘It seems like a huge undertaking – how many flats will there be?’

  ‘Just six, but luxury ones,’ Able told her. ‘It isn’t a huge project, Peggy, but it should make a bit of money for us all and it gives me something to do. You run the boarding house with Pearl’s help and I wanted to do my share to help out.’

  ‘You help out in lots of ways,’ Peggy said, frowning slightly. ‘This is our business, not mine, Able.’

  ‘I think of it as yours,’ he said with his easy smile. ‘I’ve done well with property so far, Peggy, and this could be good for us as a family.’

  Peggy nodded. It didn’t seem the right time to bring up the subject of Gillian so she didn’t – time enough later. Able was feeling pleased with his deal and she was pleased with her nomination as the landlady of the year; they said more details would be sent at a later date, but Peggy hadn’t bothered to read it all. Able had come in and his news was too good to think about the competition and there was certainly no need to spoil it with petty worries over that girl.

  It wasn’t until they were getting ready for bed that evening that Peggy told Able what Janet had experienced. He frowned and turned to look at her, eyebrows raised.

  ‘I wasn’t going to tell you yet, because you were pleased with being nominated as the landlady of the year,’ Able said. ‘I spoke to the Sally Army about her. They said they would take her temporarily and help her to find work and a room of her own.’

  ‘I think that might be the best for all of us,’ Peggy said and went to put her arms about his waist, looking up at him. ‘Are you excited about your partnership with Tom?’

  ‘Yes, I am.’ He smiled at her, making her stomach clench with love and desire. ‘He is a nice lad, Peggy. This deal is a one-off – but if we make a profit and get on well together, I’d like to make it a permanent thing – only it will be fifty-fifty next time. I shall insist.’

  ‘I think that would be lovely.’ Peggy lifted her
face for his kiss. ‘Have I ever told you how much I love you?’

  ‘A few times,’ he said and held her close. ‘Love you more…’ He kissed her on the mouth, then drew back looking anxious. ‘That girl, Peggy. There’s something wrong with her. I’ve been watching her for a while now and I’m sure of it. I think I shall go to the police in the morning and ask if they know anything about her.’

  ‘The police?’ Peggy felt chilled. ‘That’s harsh, Able. I told you what happened to her.’

  ‘She isn’t in trouble if she hasn’t done anything wrong – and if her story is true, that man should be arrested for his crimes.’

  ‘Yes, that is true. I wanted to report it to them at the start, but she got upset.’

  Able nodded, his look serious. ‘Supposing that her story was a lie? Supposing she is hiding something, Peggy? The more I study her, the more I think she might not be who you think she is – she might even be dangerous…’

  ‘Oh, Able…’ A little shiver went through Peggy. ‘Pearl thinks the same – and I must admit she makes me feel uneasy sometimes and her behaviour is strange. I’d hate to do anything to harm her, and I believe she has been through a terrible time – but if she is a risk to us or our family, especially the children…’

  Able’s mouth firmed. ‘If I have the slightest reason to suspect her, she goes, Peggy. Normally, I would let you decide, you know that – but this may be too hard for you. I shall have no qualms at all if I think her a threat to you, the kids – or indeed the staff or customers. Tomorrow, I’m going to speak to the police and ask if a girl of her description has been reported missing.’

  ‘Yes, I think you should,’ Peggy agreed. ‘She is much better now and I shall suggest to her that she should think about letting the Sally Army find her a place in their homes – and a little job.’ She nodded her head. ‘I won’t turn her out immediately, but I’ll give her until the end of the month – and that’s another two weeks. She has been with us more than a month and the doctor said there was never anything much wrong with her, except a few bruises and exhaustion from lack of food and drink.’