by Nancy Revell
Vera huffed, shuffled back to the counter and started filling two big brown ceramic teapots with boiling water from her copper urn.
‘I see Rina’s settling in well, then,’ Rosie whispered to Gloria, who chuckled. They had visited the café a few times since Hannah’s aunty had started work there, but as it was always busy, they had never seen the two women interact much. Hannah had told them that they seemed to rub along well, much to Gloria’s surprise. She’d had her doubts when she and Rosie had secretly gone to ask Vera if she would employ Rina after hearing that her one-woman credit drapery business was itself in the hock and Hannah was working all hours to keep a roof over their heads.
‘Hiya!’ The door opened and the little bell tinkled as the front of a grey Silver Cross pram butted its way into the cafeteria.
Olly hurried over to hold the door open.
‘Hi, Bel.’ He smiled down at Hope, who was sitting up looking as bright as a button. ‘She looks like she’s ready for the party,’ he laughed.
‘I know, she’s been full of it today.’
‘Ahh, how’s my cheeky little Charlie been today?’ Gloria came over, hauled Hope out of the pram, and perched her on her hip.
‘This little one has had quite an eventful day today, haven’t you?’ Bel cupped Hope’s chubby face in her hands, causing her to squeal with excitement.
‘How’s that?’ Gloria asked.
‘Well, she managed a little stagger down the hallway just before we came here, didn’t you?’ Bel ruffled Hope’s thick mop of black hair.
Gloria’s heart dropped. She wanted to be the one to see her daughter’s first faltering steps.
‘I think it was because she was excited about seeing her mammy,’ Bel added, sensing Gloria’s disappointment.
‘Ahh. It’s my goddaughter!’ Dorothy shouted over.
Gloria turned round to see everyone’s faces light up on seeing Hope.
‘I’ll take her, Gloria,’ Bel offered. ‘You enjoy the party.’
Before she had time to answer, Bel had taken Hope.
‘No Lucille this evening?’ Gloria asked.
‘No, she was shattered when she came in. She’s been out with Maisie and my ma all afternoon.’
Bel raised Hope into the air, making the little girl squeal with laughter.
‘I can’t believe I’m going to say this.’ She lowered Hope back down. ‘But those two have been a godsend lately. They’ve helped out no end with Lucille.’
Gloria was surprised to hear Bel praise her half-sister as well as say something about her mother that was not derogatory.
‘Cor! Look!’ Angie’s eyes were out on stalks.
Rina smiled as she brought out a large, three-tiered cake.
Everyone sat down around a couple of tables that had been pushed together and covered with a white tablecloth.
‘I feel like it’s my birthday!’ Gloria was taken aback by the cake, which was beautifully decorated with delicately crafted roses. She wondered how the two women had managed to produce such a magnificent cake in these times of rationing.
As if in answer to her question, Vera announced:
‘We’ve Rosie’s friend Lily to thank fer some o’ the … how d’ya say it … harder to come by ingredients.’
‘And it was a joint effort,’ Rina said in her perfect King’s English. Anyone who didn’t know her would never have guessed that this was not her mother tongue. ‘I baked the cake, and Vera here did the wonderful, very intricate decorations.’
Everyone looked at Vera’s gnarled, arthritic hands as she carefully manoeuvred the two teapots from her tray onto the table.
Going back into the kitchen, Vera returned with a huge knife and handed it to Gloria.
‘Do I get to make a wish ’n all?’ Gloria exclaimed.
Everyone laughed and Vera and Rina sat down with the women to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
As Gloria went to plunge the knife into the middle of the cake and cut the first slice, Dorothy and Angie couldn’t contain themselves.
‘Pretend it’s Vinnie!’ they both cackled, causing their workmates to roll their eyes.
Vera tutted her disapproval.
After Gloria had sliced up the cake and Martha played waitress and handed out the plates, there was a comfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional ‘Delicious!’ and the licking of fingers.
‘Eee,’ Gloria spoke up, ‘I just want to say a really big thank you to Vera and Rina. This is really lovely. I wish I could repay yer both somehow, but unless yer need anything welding, I’m not sure I can!’
Rina laughed.
‘It was our pleasure,’ she said, nudging Vera, who forced a smile but was actually trying to think of anything that she might indeed need welding.
‘And,’ Gloria added, looking round at her workmates, ‘I want to thank you all fer being such a huge support. I know fer a fact if I hadn’t started at Thompson’s ’n made friends with yer all, I’d still be trapped in a marriage made in hell.’
Gloria tried to lighten her voice as she could feel herself becoming emotional. She looked across at Hope, who was being fed cake by Bel and looked in seventh heaven.
‘So,’ Polly asked, taking a quick sip of her tea, ‘I hate to even say that man’s name, but I’m guessing you’ve not heard anything from Vinnie?’
‘No, thank God,’ Gloria said. ‘And I don’t want to either.’
‘Do Gordon and Bobby know you’ve got divorced?’ Martha asked.
‘They’re Gloria’s sons,’ Hannah whispered to her aunty, who was sitting next to her.
‘They’ve no idea,’ Gloria said. ‘I want to tell them myself. Face-to-face. God willing.’
‘Do yer think they’d be upset?’ Angie asked, swallowing her last chunk of cake.
‘Nah,’ Gloria said, ‘I think they’d be shocked, but not upset. Neither of them really got on with their dad.’ It was on the tip of Gloria’s tongue to add that it had been because of Vinnie and his explosive temper that her boys had joined the navy well before the outbreak of war.
‘I’m just so glad that Peter’s old friend down in Portsmouth got Vinnie to sign the divorce papers before they set sail,’ Gloria added.
The women all looked at Rosie. They knew not to ask if she’d had any news about Peter as Gloria had told them that what he was doing was all very hush-hush, and it was unlikely Rosie would hear anything from her new husband unless it was bad news.
‘Eee, do you all know about that Sylvia from admin?’ Dorothy perked up.
‘No, but I think we’re gonna now,’ Martha chuckled.
‘Was she the one Helen kept having a go at because she was making spelling mistakes?’ Hannah asked.
‘That’s the one,’ Dorothy said. ‘Well, she’s gone! Left. Packed the job in. Didn’t even work her notice.’
‘What, because of Helen?’ Gloria asked, concerned.
‘No, although she probably would have done if she’d stayed much longer.’ Dorothy glared at Gloria. ‘No, her entire family have upped sticks and moved out to the country. They got bombed-out back in May – you know, the one that killed that poor couple in their air raid shelter in Fulwell, behind the Blue Bell?’
Everyone nodded sadly.
‘Well, Sylvia’s home was badly damaged and they’ve been living with relatives, but by the sounds of it, it’s been a right squash and they’ve had enough. Muriel from the canteen said the family just up and left. Moved out to a village near Middleton.’
‘Right out in the sticks!’ Angie chipped in.
‘So, I wonder what they’re going to do about replacing her?’ Rosie asked.
‘Well, whoever they take on better be a good speller, otherwise they’ll be feeling the sharp end of Helen’s tongue,’ Polly said.
Dorothy suddenly looked up at the clock on the wall above the entrance to the kitchen. It was ten past seven.
She nudged Angie.
‘We should be going soon. We said we’d be at the flat at half past.�
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Angie’s face dropped.
‘We need to help with the clearing-up first,’ she said, standing up and stacking the plates.
‘Get yourselves away,’ Rina said, just as Vera was handing Dorothy a tray.
‘Yes, go on, yer don’t want to keep George waiting,’ Gloria said, taking the tray off Vera.
‘I’ll do the dishes,’ Polly said.
‘I’ll give you a hand,’ Bel said, finally giving Hope back to Gloria.
‘Go on then, get yourselves off – and say hi to George,’ Rosie said as Dorothy and Angie made for the door. ‘Tell him I’ll see him later.’
‘And don’t worry about it being too posh, Ange!’ Gloria shouted after them as the door jangled shut.
Quarter of an hour later the plates, cups and saucers had been washed and dried and put away and everyone was getting ready to leave.
‘I can’t thank yer both enough,’ Gloria said. ‘I really can’t.’
‘Actually, Gloria,’ Rina’s voice was low so that their conversation could not be overheard, ‘it’s you and Rosie that really need to be thanked.’
Gloria shuffled Hope onto her other hip.
‘Why’s that?’
‘For getting me this job,’ Rina said.
Gloria was just opening her mouth to deny having any involvement in the matter when Vera butted in.
‘I didn’t tell her, if that’s what yer thinking. Rina’s not daft. Neither’s that niece of hers.’ The three women glanced across at Hannah, who was presently chatting away to Polly.
‘They worked it out,’ Vera explained.
‘If you and Rosie hadn’t got me this job,’ Rina continued, ‘I’d still be tearing my hair out trying to keep my little business afloat. And failing miserably … And Vera here,’ Rina looked down at her boss, who was half her size and almost twice as wide, ‘would still be run ragged and working herself into an early grave.’
Vera put her hands on her hips, and pressed her lips together, but didn’t object to the veracity of her new employee’s words.
Rina stepped forward, took Gloria’s free hand and clasped it for a short moment.
‘It won’t be forgotten,’ she said. ‘Nor what you have all done for my niece.’
Gloria was again just about to say something when Polly shouted over.
‘We’re off now!’
Rosie came over and gave Vera a big hug.
‘Aye, all of yer, bugger off!’ Vera said. ‘Leave me in peace.’
Everyone shouted their thanks and their goodbyes as Vera shooed them all away and closed the shop door, pulled down the blind and turned the lock.
As she shuffled her way through the café and towards the stairs out the back that led up to her living quarters, she allowed herself the slightest of smiles.
‘Rina said thanks.’ Gloria kept her voice low as she spoke to Rosie, who was walking next to her, leaning into the pram and adjusting Hope’s little sun hat.
The rest of their party were walking ahead.
Rosie looked at Gloria.
‘She’d worked it out. Or rather Hannah had,’ Gloria explained, casting a look ahead at their ‘little bird’ walking next to Martha. Just behind them was Rina, who was chatting away to Olly, and behind them were Polly and Bel, also deep in conversation.
‘I thought Hannah might have guessed,’ Rosie mused. ‘Remember the way she looked at us both when she was telling everyone how Vera had approached her aunty in the street that day and offered her a job?’
Gloria nodded.
‘I suppose we should have known she’d have guessed, with the café being yours and Peter’s regular meeting place.’ She thought for a moment. ‘I’m amazed Rina and Vera get on so well, though. I couldn’t see it happening myself. I mean, yer really couldn’t get two more different people.’
They both chuckled.
‘Talk about chalk and cheese.’
‘I know,’ Rosie said, ‘but I think it’s because Rina’s so different that it works so well. Vera couldn’t have abided anyone like herself.’
Gloria laughed out loud.
‘She’s a rare one, isn’t she?’
‘She is,’ Rosie agreed.
They walked for a while in silence. Rosie thinking about Peter and the many hours they had spent in the café, chatting away, drinking tea and falling in love. Gloria about all the things she wanted to say, but couldn’t.
‘Now, we just need to make sure Dorothy and Angie take this flat,’ Gloria said, still keeping her voice low.
Rosie agreed.
‘Definitely. I was thinking about Dorothy’s mam, with all this divorce talk.’
‘I know,’ Gloria said. ‘When we were chatting earlier on, I kept looking to gauge Dorothy’s reaction, but I didn’t pick up anything. Makes me think she doesn’t know her mam is – what do you call it again? A bigam—’
‘Bigamist,’ Rosie said. ‘Either that or she’s very good at keeping a secret. Have you noticed she rarely talks about her mum or her stepfather? And she never mentions her real dad.’
Gloria nodded. ‘But it’s Angie that I worry about most. I know her dad’s not quite in the same league as Vinnie, but he’s still got a short fuse on him.’
‘And a fuse that will explode if he finds out his wife is having it off with someone else.’
All of a sudden Rosie’s head turned as a bus passed them.
‘Oh, there’s the number seven!’ Rosie squeezed Gloria’s arm. ‘See you all tomorrow!’ she shouted out as she ran across the road.
Everyone chorused their goodbyes as the bus headed for Villette Road passed and Rina, Hannah, Martha and Olly hurried off to catch it.
Gloria was also just about to say her farewells, having reached the corner of Tatham Street, when she suddenly remembered something.
‘Oh, Bel, I almost forgot to give you this.’ Gloria rummaged around in her haversack and pulled out a box of soap powder. Since it had been rationed back in February, Gloria knew that Bel and Agnes had been pushed to make do with the paltry amount they had for the growing piles of laundry they were taking in.
‘Oh, thanks, Gloria. That really is much appreciated. Here, let me give you some money for it.’ Bel went to open her handbag.
‘Don’t you even dare suggest it,’ Gloria tutted loudly. ‘Not when you’ve refused to take a penny for looking after this little one for nearly a year now.’
Bel leant in and gave Hope a kiss on the cheek. ‘I can’t believe she’s nearly one.’
‘Me neither,’ Gloria said, watching how tender Bel was with Hope. It had never bothered Gloria before, but lately she had started to feel more than a little uncomfortable when she’d seen how much Bel adored Hope.
And also how much Hope clearly adored Bel.
‘So, it sounds like it’s all hands on deck at the moment at work?’ Bel asked Polly as they turned to walk down Tatham Street.
‘Even more so than normal,’ Polly said. ‘Was Rosie telling you that the yard’s on track to hit a thirty-six-year tonnage record?’
Bel nodded. ‘And Olly was saying that they’ve taken on more women at the yard?’
‘They’ve had to,’ Polly said. ‘Looks like all the yards have. Not just here but everywhere. Like Arthur says, it’s simple maths. If we’re going to stand a chance of winning this war we need to be able to build at least as many ships as are being destroyed.’
‘And now it looks like they’re in need of more clerical staff as well?’ Bel tried to make her question sound as casual as she could.
‘Looks that way,’ Polly said.
‘Clerical just really means filing and typing up letters?’ Bel asked.
‘Yeh, I think so,’ Polly said, but her mind was drifting. All she wanted to do now was have a wash, force some food down, and go to bed so she could think about Tommy and nurse her breaking heart.
Chapter Ten
‘George, mon cher!’
Rosie looked up from the ledger on hearing Lily’s less than dulc
et tones sounding out down the hallway of the bordello. Pushing her chair away from the large cherrywood desk that she spent most of her evenings hunched over, she strode across the plush, carpeted reception room that was now her office.
Stepping out into the hallway, Rosie caught George taking Lily into his arms and giving her the tenderest of kisses. Rosie felt herself blush. It was very rare to see the pair in such an intimate embrace. Lily liked to keep her hard, seemingly unsentimental veneer in place at all times.
Rosie turned to go back into the office, but her presence had been noted.
‘Rosie,’ George said as he and Lily took a step back from each other. ‘Come and have a catch-up. I’ve just got back from showing Dorothy and Angie the flat.’ He laughed. ‘What a pair, eh?’
‘They are indeed,’ Rosie said, as they all headed into the kitchen.
‘So, how did it go?’ she asked as George got a bottle of Rémy out of the armoire and set three glasses on the table.
‘Jolly good, jolly good,’ George said, sloshing brandy into the crystal tumblers.
‘A toast!’ he declared. ‘To my two new tenants. And jolly nice they are too!’
Rosie took a quick sip.
‘I think Angie was a little worried it might be too posh.’ George guffawed.
‘I think she still feels that way, but Dorothy wasn’t having any of it and pretty much bullied her into it. I’ve said if they don’t like it, or if it doesn’t suit, then that’s not a problem.’
‘You’re not going to make them sign some kind of contract?’ Lily looked at George.
‘Lily,’ George sighed. ‘Of all people, you should know I’m not the kind of chap to go around getting people to sign contracts and the like.’
‘Honestly, George, landlords always have tenancy agreements. Dorothy and Angie aren’t exactly what you’d call prim and proper by any stretch of the imagination. They might turn it into a den of iniquity, or damage it, or do a moonlight flit owing you lots of rent.’
‘Well, they’ll have me to deal with if they do!’ Rosie said.
‘Exactly – who needs a “tenancy agreement” when you’ve got a boss like Rosie!’ George chuckled and took a swig of his brandy. ‘They’ll be fine. They might both be as scatty as hell, but you can see they’re good girls. I can trust them.’