The Girl from the Docklands Café

by June Tate

But as he walked away, Larry Forbes began to wonder if Jessie’s rise in the world of business was a problem for her husband. Would her marriage suffer because of it and if it did, what would she do? Only time would tell, but he knew that she was so enamoured with this opportunity that she’d fight for her right to better herself.

  Chapter Nineteen

  In a few days it would be December and the opening of the Grosvenor Hotel, as it was now called. With only hours to spare, the workmen had finished and removed all their paraphernalia. Jessie and Larry Forbes walked round every square inch of the place inspecting it, making sure it was perfect for opening.

  Jessie had interviewed and hired the staff, except for the chef – Forbes had seen to that. The staff were now setting the tables in the dining room, giving the rooms a final dusting and tweak, and the florist had arrived with various arrangements for the reception and dining room. The barman was cleaning the glasses and checking the barrels in the cellar. On the second of the month there was to be a grand opening with drinks and canapés served. Forbes had informed the press, sent invitations to all the top businessmen in the area and their wives, and he’d hired a small ensemble to play softly in the reception area.

  ‘Come along, Jessie. I think we deserve a drink and who better than us to be the first to use the bar?’

  They sat on a couple of bar stools as the barman opened a bottle of champagne.

  Holding up his glass, Forbes made a toast. ‘Here’s to the hotel and to us, may it all be a success!’ He clinked her glass.

  Jessie sipped her drink, then looked around. ‘It does look amazing, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it does. I think between us we’ve chosen the right decor. Sitting here, I like the feel of the place. It’s elegant, yet comfortable – but with a definite air of class. I’ve advertised it in the national newspapers too.’

  ‘You have?’ Jessie looked surprised.

  ‘Why ever not? First of all, we are offering an alternative to the Great Western Hotel for those people taking passage who want to stay overnight before embarking the next day. It’s close to the docks and some would prefer a smaller hotel – and here we are. Then there are the business people who come down from London. I certainly am not contemplating our clientele being just local, dear me, no. There’s not enough profit in that! I’ve had cards printed and taken to various gentlemen’s clubs in the city, I’ve left some with a few people I know to hand out to some of their influential friends, and I’ve advertised in a couple of magazines. Publicity is so important.’

  She gazed at him in admiration. She had so much to learn.

  ‘Are you happy with your staff?’

  ‘So far. I’ll see how they perform when we open, but I’m certain I’ve chosen well.’

  Without her knowledge, Forbes had listened in to one or two of her interviews and had been impressed. She’d laid out exactly what she expected of them and had made it very clear if they didn’t meet her standards they would go.

  ‘I’m sure you have.’

  ‘I’ve hired a slightly older woman as the receptionist. She’s experienced, has worked in London, and has excellent references, which I’ve checked. She’s smart in appearance, has an elegance about her and she has a cultured voice. I felt that was important.’

  ‘Absolutely! It’s the first contact the client has, so it’s essential that the impression is favourable. Well done.’

  ‘Tomorrow is my last day in the cafe. None of my customers know I’m leaving and, without their knowledge, Nancy has been cooking the meals for the past two weeks and no one has noticed the difference. I’ve increased Nancy’s wages, which is only right, and have already hired a young girl to serve who’s been fine, so nothing much will change apart from my not being there.’

  ‘That was clever of you to let Nancy cook, but you’ll find the men will be sad at your leaving. Be prepared because it will be emotional; I don’t think you realise this. The cafe has been an important part of your life for a very long time. It will be like saying goodbye to a dear friend.’

  ‘You never cease to surprise me,’ Jessie said.

  ‘Why, because I have a heart? I’ve told you often enough, you don’t know me at all.’ He got to his feet. ‘Good luck tomorrow. Don’t bother coming in here after, take the rest of the day to get your things together for moving in. I suggest you move as soon as possible so you can be settled.’

  As she watched Forbes walk away, she suddenly had a sinking feeling. It wasn’t just the opening making her nervous, it was moving out of her marital home without Conor! It just didn’t feel right – but she had no choice.

  The following morning, Jessie and Nancy sat down to plan for when Nancy finally took over. Nancy was au fait with the ordering and knew that if she had any worries, she was to ring Jessie at the hotel. She admitted she was nervous.

  Jessie caught hold of her hand. ‘No need for that! You are perfectly competent and you know it. You’ve been in charge these past two weeks really, doing the cooking, the preparation and some of the ordering. I’m on the end of a telephone not that far away. You’ll be fine. I’m telling the men today and from tomorrow, it’s yours to run!’

  The two women had worked together for a very long time and had formed a great bond. Nancy looked at her friend. ‘My God, Jessie! Who’d have thought it when years ago we worked for old George we’d be in this position. Me in charge here and you running a hotel.’ She shook her head slowly. ‘If only my dear old mum was alive to see the day.’

  ‘Mine too. I was only nineteen when she went back to Ireland and I didn’t see her again. That I bitterly regret.’

  ‘Never mind, love. I bet they’re up there looking down and having a good old gossip about their girls.’

  Jessie chuckled. ‘We’d better not let them down, then! Come on, let’s get started.’

  Later in the day when the dining room was full, Jessie stood by the cash desk and banged on it loudly. There was a surprised silence. ‘Sorry to interrupt your meal, gents, but I’ve an announcement. This is my last day here.’ There was a loud murmur from her diners. ‘Now there’s no need to get excited, the cafe remains open and Nancy will be in charge.’

  ‘But you won’t be cooking!’ one man complained.

  ‘That’s right, Stan. You’ve been in every day. How was the food?’

  ‘Great, but then you’ve been here.’

  ‘Correct, I have, but I’ve not been cooking these past two weeks, Nancy has.’

  ‘She’s done it all?’ asked one man suspiciously.

  ‘Every bit and none of you noticed a difference, did you? Be honest!’

  They all had to agree that this was the truth. ‘Why are you leaving, Jessie?’

  ‘I’m going to be the manageress of the new hotel, The Grosvenor, which opens in a few days’ time.’

  ‘Bloody hell, Jess, that’s moving up the ladder, girl!’

  She laughed loudly. ‘I guess so, but I’ll miss every one of you and I want to thank you all for your custom over the years. I ask you one favour: please keep coming. It’s still the best workman’s cafe in Southampton and I still own it, so don’t put me out of business.’

  One man stood up. ‘Well, Jessie McGonigall, I’ve got to hand it to you, you deserve to go up in the world. We’ve seen how hard you’ve worked and, Nancy, we’ll still come, won’t we, lads?’ There was a loud cheer at this and Jessie felt the tears fill her eyes. He picked up his mug of tea. ‘A toast, to Jessie McGonigall!’ The diners rose as one and echoed the toast.

  Jessie couldn’t stop the tears rolling down her cheeks. She was too full to speak. She put her hands to her lips, blew them a kiss and fled into the kitchen.

  Today she was at home before Conor, which lately was unusual. She put the pans of water on the stove in preparation for his bath, put a pie in the oven to warm, peeled some potatoes and put them on to boil, and quickly made a pot of tea. Then she went upstairs to start packing her clothes. As she placed every garment into her suitcase she was f
illed with guilt. Was she letting her ambition come before her marriage? she asked herself. No, what she was doing was for both of them, for their future, for their own house – their old age. It didn’t matter who earned what, their wages were for the two of them and if Conor found he couldn’t work eventually because of his leg, which had been her constant concern, it wouldn’t matter because financially they would be secure. She had a quick wash when she’d finished packing and went downstairs to await Conor’s return.

  Putting the key into his front door, Conor was feeling dejected. It had been a long day, he was tired and his leg was aching. The idea of boiling water, then dragging the tin bath into the living room was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had to remove the daily grime. He hated returning to an empty house and soon he’d be doing it every day.

  He opened the door and stepped into the living room. To his surprise, Jessie was sitting by the fire. ‘Hello, this is a nice change,’ he said as he leant over and kissed her.

  She poured him a cup of tea. ‘Here, drink this and relax, then I’ll get your bath ready.’ She saw how weary he looked. ‘Busy day?’

  ‘Yes, we had a cargo ship to load, but it’s all done now.’ He sipped his tea. ‘And you? How was your day?’

  Jessie had told him days before that she was handing the cafe over for Nancy to run; he’d been very non-committal.

  ‘I handed over to Nancy today. I told the men at lunchtime.’

  ‘How did that go?’

  ‘A lot better when I explained she’d been doing the cooking for the past two weeks! But they were all very kind and said they’d still come every day, which was a relief.’

  ‘When will you be moving out?’

  ‘Don’t say it like that, Conor, you make it sound as if I’m leaving you.’

  He grimaced. ‘Well you are, in a way.’

  ‘No, I’m not! I have a new job, is all, and I need to be on the premises, but here is my home. Here with you.’

  He let out a deep sigh. ‘I know, it just seems strange that you won’t be here when I get home or in my bed at night. You might get to like your new world better, mixing with the toffs. I’m just an ordinary bloke working in the docks. I can never compete with them.’

  Jessie rose to her feet, eyes blazing. ‘How dare you even suggest that I’d get carried away like that, forgetting who I am and where we came from? How bloody dare you!’ He made to intervene, but she carried on. ‘What happened to the wild Irishman I married? You know, the one who was full of himself, the one who couldn’t give a shit for anyone else, who indeed thought he was a cut above everybody. Where the hell did he go?’ She stood, hands on hips, glaring at him. ‘Well don’t just sit there, answer me!’

  Conor sat looking at his wife. Suddenly, the sides of his mouth began to twitch and he started to laugh, which infuriated Jessie.

  ‘What’s so bloody funny, then?’

  He leant forward and grabbed her, pulling her onto his knee. ‘Jesus, darlin’, when you blow, you really go. I love it when you’re angry. Those green eyes flash, and you’re like a bloody tiger, so you are and I love it. It’s very sexy; it makes me feel like the hunter of old and I desperately want to conquer this raging female. Here, feel this.’ He took her hand and placed it on his crotch.

  She felt his hardness and, looking into his eyes, saw the desire, then she, too, started to laugh. ‘You’re not touching me, covered in filth from the docks!’

  ‘Then after my bath I’ll show you just how great a man I feel and you’ll be glad of it!’

  She got to her feet and grinned at him. ‘Now there’s the man I used to know. I’ll get the bath ready.’ She flicked her skirt at him and went to the kitchen.

  Later, as she lay in Conor’s arms she tried to explain how she felt. ‘In this life we have to grab every opportunity, like you did after your accident when you had to join the call-on. That took courage. I’m only doing the same and I’m doing it for both of us. If we can save enough for our old age between us, we can have that house we’ve dreamt of one day, maybe take a trip home to Ireland. I don’t want to stay in the hotel, I want to be with you, but it’s the price we have to pay. That’s all.’ She paused. ‘Will you come to the opening?’

  ‘No, darlin’, you’ll be busy and I’ll be standing around feeling out of place. It’s your night; you’ve worked hard for it, so go and enjoy it!’

  She turned his face to hers and, looking at him, she threatened, ‘There’s just one more thing: don’t you dare go looking at another woman while I’m not around or I’ll cut off your balls!’

  He grinned broadly. ‘I believe you would, too.’

  ‘That’s no idle threat, Conor McGonigall, it’s a bloody promise!’

  He pulled her to him. ‘I might say the same about your boss, the smooth Larry Forbes. If he tries to get close to you, I’ll castrate him, too!’

  She looked at him in astonishment. ‘You are out of your mind to even consider such a thing. Mr Forbes is only interested in making money. Besides, he isn’t my type, you are.’

  He became serious. ‘Just be careful, darlin’. You are not only bright and competent, but you are a very desirable woman. He’s a man, for God’s sake! He’d be crazy not to want you, especially when you’re spending so much time together. Just take care to keep your relationship on a business level, is all.’

  She snuggled into him. ‘You’ve no reason to worry, I can assure you, but I take your point. Now can we get some sleep, you’ve worn me out.’

  He chuckled. ‘That good, was it?’

  ‘Looking for compliments again, are you?’ she teased. ‘You know what they say, any port in a storm!’ As he went to grab her she cried out. ‘Alright, you were bloody marvellous, now let me go, I’m tired.’

  As he snuggled up to her Conor kissed the back of her neck. ‘I love you, you crazy woman. Don’t ever change or then we’ll really have a problem.’

  As they settled down, Jessie sighed. Tomorrow she would move out of her home into the hotel. A new beginning in many ways and she knew that there would be difficulties to begin with, until she found a routine that would satisfy her work ethic that wouldn’t encroach on her marriage. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but she was determined to make it work.

  Chapter Twenty

  The next morning after seeing Conor on his way, Jessie made the bed, washed and dressed, made up the fire and eventually, somewhat reluctantly, picked up her suitcase and walked to the hotel. Once there she took the lift to the top floor and into her flat. The sitting room was small but comfortably furnished with a two-seater settee, a couple of armchairs, a coffee table and against one wall a fold-down table with two chairs. The bedroom had a double bed, a wardrobe and chest of drawers with a triple mirror on the top. The bathroom held a bath and toilet with a small washbasin beside it. She stood looking at it with great satisfaction, then gleefully pulled the chain. As the water flushed in the lavatory bowl, she smiled to herself. Now this was living! She left her case in the bedroom and took the lift back to the ground floor and went to check on the dining room.

  ‘Good morning, Mrs McGonigall,’ said one of the waitresses. ‘Is there anything I can do for you?’

  ‘No, I’m just looking to see that everything has been done. Any problems?’

  ‘No, madam, everything is fine.’

  Jessie walked round checking and not finding any fault. She then went in search of the two chambermaids. Together they inspected every bedroom. One was without a hand towel beside the small washbasin and she asked where it was.

  The two girls were very apologetic as they’d forgotten it.

  She looked at them with an expression of displeasure. ‘This will not do, ladies. For heaven’s sake it’s not as if you have any clients to worry you. Don’t let it happen again; there are no second chances in my book!’ She walked out of the room.

  ‘Blimey!’ said one. ‘We’d best not cross her again or we’ll be out on our ears.’

  Jessie looked at the re
st of the rooms, then made her way to the kitchen.

  ‘Everything alright with you, Chef? Any problems?’

  ‘No, thank you, Mrs McGonigall. Here are the menus for the first week.’

  She read through them and handed them back. ‘Excellent! If it tastes as good as it reads, we should soon have a full dining room. Have you everything that you need for the canapés on opening night?’

  ‘Yes, everything is at hand.’

  ‘Then I’ll leave you to get on.’ Finally, she went to the bar to check on James the barman. The huge mirror behind the bar was lined with shelves full of glasses and bottles of spirit. The beer pumps were brightly polished and the ashtrays clean. Small lights beneath the shelves made everything gleam.

  ‘The bar looks lovely, James. Congratulations!’

  He looked delighted. ‘Thank you, Mrs McGonigall. I must say I’m looking forward to opening night.’

  She smiled. ‘So am I. It should be really exciting. If everyone who has been invited comes, we should be pretty full.’

  Behind the reception desk was a small office that was hers. There was a filing cabinet, shelves ready to be filled and her desk was already stocked with pens, pencils and hotel notepaper; on the wall, a phone that had lines to the kitchen and the housekeeper in the linen room. This would be her working place. She sat in her chair and looked about her. Well, Jessie McGonigall, she thought, welcome to your new world! There was a knock on the open door and Larry Forbes walked in.

  ‘Good morning, nice to see you already working.’

  She gave a quizzical look ‘What else would I be doing? I’ve checked everywhere and so far there are no problems.’

  ‘Have you moved in yet?’

  ‘Yes, this morning, so for now I’m on call. Can I do something for you? I want to go over these accounts.’

  ‘I feel as if I’m dismissed,’ he said sarcastically.