The Girl from the Docklands Café

by June Tate

  ‘Hello, Jessie. Had a busy day?’

  ‘Yes, just catching up and there were some letters to answer, new information to be filed.’ She was about to continue when he picked up the papers and walked towards the door.

  ‘Good. I’ll see you in the morning.’ And he was gone.

  She was astonished and totally deflated. Knowing she’d done him such a disservice with her remarks on Saturday, she’d been desperate to put things right, but now, she’d been coldly dismissed. She felt as if she’d been slapped!

  Locking up the office, she walked slowly home, wondering how on earth she could make amends. Larry Forbes was as stubborn as she was. Once someone had disappointed you, it was difficult to forgive.

  While Jessie was trying to find a way to get through to him, Larry Forbes had arrived home. He removed his coat, put his papers on a table in the living room and poured himself a large whisky and soda. Sitting in a sofa beside the fire, he sipped his drink. ‘Women!’ he said to the empty room. ‘Bloody women! Who can ever understand them? Certainly not me.’ He just couldn’t fathom Jessie McGonigall. This woman whom he’d searched for, who had been so happy to be found, to have been taken care of. Who had, for once, dropped her air of independence and allowed him … to care for her. She’d thrown it all back in his face. ‘Kindness and hospitality! Was that all it really was to her?’ He continued to question himself aloud. ‘No. I don’t believe it. Under all that blustering, she was vulnerable.’ He’d seen it for himself. He poured another drink. He thought of how she reacted when she came round in the hospital and told him she thought she was going to die, chastising him for taking so long to find her – but she’d also said she knew he’d be the one to do so. He gazed across at the other sofa where she’d sat when she had stayed. He hated that it was now empty.

  Jessie climbed into her bed, in sheets warmed with a stone hot-water bottle and snuggled under her blankets. Never had she felt more alone apart from the time that Conor had died. Tomorrow she’d go downstairs to a solitary breakfast, unlike before when Larry would cook for them and they’d sit together in the kitchen and eat their meal together. Well, it had been her decision to return home, get back to reality, but already she was regretting it. However, she was determined to talk to Larry in the morning. Come what may.

  Jessie arrived early in the office after sending a messenger boy to Helen’s house, giving her the morning off so she wouldn’t be disturbed. She sat at Larry’s desk and waited for him after making a cup of tea in the staff room.

  Larry walked into his office and looked with surprise at the figure sitting at his desk.

  ‘Good morning, Mrs McGonigall. Have you taken over my company?’ But there was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes as he asked the question.

  ‘Only for half an hour, Mr Forbes. Kindly take a chair!’ She motioned to the one on the opposite side of the desk.

  He removed his overcoat and sat down. ‘This had better be good,’ he said.

  ‘I need first to apologise for the thoughtless remark I made to you about your kindness and hospitality. It belittled what you had done for me and was unforgivable. You took me into your home when Briggs was on the loose; you rescued me when I thought I was going to die and you stayed with me in hospital and cared for me afterwards. Yes, you were kind and you were hospitable, but, Larry, you were so much more.’ She felt emotional and struggled to maintain her equilibrium, but she continued.

  ‘You were a rock. I had no fight left in me when you found me and you took over. I felt safe and secure and for once I didn’t have to find my own way out of trouble. You did it for me and I want to thank you. I only hope you can forgive me,’ she hesitated, ‘for my thoughtlessness – oh, whatever the hell it was that made me so stupid!’ She sat back in the chair, gazing across at Larry, searching for his reaction.

  He sat for a moment, shaking his head. ‘Jessie McGonigall, you are the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met!’

  Grinning, she asked, ‘Does that mean I’m forgiven?’

  His eyes narrowed as he considered her question. ‘For what you said, yes, and I accept your apology. But we just can’t carry on as we are.’

  ‘Whatever do you mean?’

  ‘In the hospital, when you were unconscious, I promised that if you recovered I would take care of you, that you would never have to worry again. That promise still stands.’

  ‘I think you’d better explain,’ said Jessie, now completely puzzled.

  ‘It means that you vacate your house and move into mine. There you’ll be comfortable, taken care of without a worry about the future.’

  ‘I’m not a piece of merchandise, you know! You can’t own me. I’m not to be moved about at will.’

  Seeing her outrage, Larry started to laugh, which annoyed Jessie even more.

  ‘This is no laughing matter, Larry!’

  ‘No, indeed it isn’t, but if you would climb down from your high horse for a moment, I’ll explain.’ He waited, but as Jessie remained silent he continued. ‘Answer me this. Have you enjoyed staying at my house?’

  ‘But of course, why wouldn’t I?’

  ‘Did you feel at home there?’

  ‘Yes, completely.’

  ‘Be honest with me, Jessie. How did you feel when you returned to your house in Union Street?’

  This took her by surprise. She remembered how she felt a stranger when she walked through the door. How devoid of comfort it was after her previous accommodation and how lonely she felt after Larry had gone. But how could she tell him her innermost thoughts?

  Seeing her hesitation and knowing her reluctance to show her vulnerability, he spoke for her. ‘You hated it! You didn’t feel at home, you weren’t comfortable. There was no joy in you, Jessie. You were not at all thrilled to be back there, I saw that, so don’t tell me I’m wrong.’

  Taking a deep breath, she answered. ‘No, you’re right. That’s exactly how I felt.’

  His tone softened. ‘I miss you not sharing my home. Let’s face it, Jessie, we are two lonely people, we get along … most of the time’ – he grinned at her – ‘when you come out of hiding from behind that barrier. It isn’t a sin, you know, to let someone else hold the reins, to make decisions … to take care of you.’ He sat back and with a smile said, ‘To be honest, I quite enjoyed it!’

  She was at a loss for words. ‘So, what are you suggesting?’

  ‘Stay with me as you did before. It’s that simple. You can still work and run my office, but you’ll have a comfortable home, nice food cooked for you and you’ll no longer be lonely, neither will I.’

  It was a very tempting offer, but Jessie had some reservations. ‘Won’t people talk? I mean, working for you is one thing, but living in the same house permanently, well, think about it, the gossip it will cause.’

  ‘There’s a very simple solution to that.’

  ‘Really? And what is that, may I ask?’

  ‘Marry me.’

  She was shocked. ‘What?’

  ‘I said, marry me. Oh, for God’s sake, Jessie! Why do you think I searched high and low looking for you? Why do you think I stayed with you in the hospital? Despite being the most difficult woman I’ve ever met … I’m in love with you!’

  ‘You are? Oh my God!’ She looked at him in astonishment.

  He just sat looking at her, waiting for her to recover. ‘Does that “Oh my God!” mean “What a terrible idea” – or is it just surprise? I really need to know.’

  ‘No, no, it’s not a terrible idea, it’s just unexpected. I hadn’t realised, that’s all.’

  ‘Do you think you could give it some thought? You don’t have to give me an answer now about marrying me, but I would like to take you out of that miserable house in Union Street and back to mine. Sod the gossips! Then maybe you’ll find an answer. What do you say?’

  Having recovered somewhat, Jessie gazed across the desk and remembered how happy she’d been to see Larry at her bedside when she came to in the hospital, how tender he�
�d been and how much she’d liked it. With a wicked twinkle in her eye, she answered, ‘Well, I do need to find out if we could get along together. It would be like a trial run.’

  He started to chuckle. ‘You are such a wicked woman! A trial run it is! When we close the office, I’ll take you to your house and you can pack some clothes, then we’ll go home … together.’ He rose to his feet and walked round the desk. ‘My chair, I think.’

  Jessie vacated it immediately.

  ‘There is just one more thing.’ He took her into his arms and kissed her.

  Feeling his arms around her and his mouth on hers, Jessie felt her legs weaken as she found herself returning his kiss. He, eventually, released her gently.

  ‘Not at all bad for a trial run, Mrs McGonigall!’

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Jessie was packing her clothes into a couple of cases, while Larry waited for her downstairs. She looked out of the window. Across the road was the Builders Arms, hers and Conor’s local. The other familiar two-up two-down houses. Her neighbours next door, including the house where she found old Iris passed away in her chair on Christmas Day. She was leaving her memories behind, and yet she didn’t feel any guilt or remorse. She now had a chance to move on and she’d be a fool not to take it. She would know soon enough if it was to be permanent. It was one thing to share Larry’s home as a refuge and after the hospital to recover. This time the reason was even more serious. It could be her future.

  Sitting on a chair, she recalled how Larry sat by her bed in the hospital and held her hand and how when she was upset he climbed onto the bed, held her and told her he would have searched the ends of the earth to find her. How blind she had been not to recognise his feelings for her. But how did she feel about him? She was shaken when he’d kissed her and even more so at her response. The last man to do so had been Conor and that had seemed a lifetime ago. Conor had been the love of her life. She could never feel the same again for anyone, but she did like Larry, found him fascinating, but also a puzzle. These next few weeks were going to be interesting! She picked up her bags and, with a struggle, went downstairs.

  ‘Why on earth didn’t you call me, Jessie? I’d have come up for your luggage,’ Larry protested.

  ‘I managed, thank you.’

  ‘Of course you did, why would you ask for help? It’s against your religion!’

  Jessie ignored the sarcasm, but she did stop to make a point. ‘Oh, by the way, there is one thing before we go.’

  ‘Oh really, and what is that?’

  ‘I’ll be sleeping alone in the same room as before. There is no test run in the bedroom, in case you had any plans!’

  ‘Oh my, how you do ruin a man’s dreams.’ But he was grinning broadly as he spoke. ‘Come along, Saint Jessie, let’s go home.’

  They soon settled into a routine: Larry cooked the breakfast, they worked during the day, and dined together in the evenings. They would sit and chat after, or Larry would go into his study to work, leaving Jessie to her own devices. She would read the papers, keep up with the latest wartime news. The Allies fighting the Turks in Gallipoli, the taking of ground in some places and the loss in others, the terrible number of casualties. She wondered how many of the troops marching through the town had survived. It was a dreadful time, yet those at home continued their own war against survival with the shortage of food. Jessie was lost in admiration for the meals Mrs Jenkins, the housekeeper, produced and had told her so.

  The woman was friendly enough, but a little reticent and Jessie imagined it was because she was here living in the same house as Larry. She, a widow, although the housekeeper would know they didn’t share the same bedroom. But she didn’t let it bother her. The woman was not the type to gossip. It wouldn’t pay her to be if she wanted to maintain her position.

  One morning before they left for the office, Larry told her they would be going out to a dinner that night, held by the Ministry of Defence at the Dolphin Hotel. He was invited as the owner of the factory making uniforms for the army.

  ‘You want me to come with you?’

  ‘Of course. Who else would I take as my partner? So, get out your glad rags, Jessie. There will be dancing, so let’s go and have some fun!’

  During the day, Jessie tried to hide her excitement. It had been a very long time since she’d been out to a posh do. At the hotel as the manageress, she’d organised many, but had never been in a position to attend one as a customer. She was also curious to see how Larry would introduce her.

  Since she’d moved in with him, he’d been friendly. They had many a laugh together and apart from kissing her on her forehead as he bade her goodnight, he’d not kissed her properly again. As she dressed for the evening, Jessie admitted to herself that she was a little disappointed. Then she laughed. ‘You bad girl, Jessie,’ she muttered. Preening herself before the mirror, she wondered if this evening Larry would still keep his distance, knowing how attractive she looked. ‘Now who is the one playing games?’ she asked herself and with one final twirl, she left her room.

  Larry was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for her, looking resplendent in full evening dress. Jessie stopped halfway and looked at him. He was, indeed, a handsome man. He held out his hand to her.

  ‘You look simply wonderful, Jessie. I’ll be the envy of all the men.’

  ‘So you will be, Mr Forbes. I’m pleased you realise how very lucky you are!’

  ‘I hope that I live up to your expectations?’

  She looked him up and down. ‘You’ll do very nicely,’ she said, her eyes full of mischief.

  ‘Are you flirting with me by any chance?’

  With a toss of her head, she grinned at him. ‘Shall we go?’

  A taxi took them to the hotel and as they stepped out, Jessie looked at the other guests and realised that they were probably the youngest couple there. There were some men wearing officers’ uniforms with a lot of brass on the epaulettes and she remembered that, of course, this was to do with the war effort.

  Two uniformed army officers and their ladies stood together to welcome the guests. They recognised Larry and greeted him warmly. ‘This is Mrs Jessie McGonigall, a good friend of mine,’ he said. She shook hands with the people, and then walked into the dining room, checking the list to see where they were to sit.

  There was a top table for the top brass, but around the dance floor, smaller tables were set, which seated four couples at each. Jessie was relieved because this made it less formal. At their table, the men were in evening dress, not uniforms, which was a bit of a relief as it made it seem more friendly. Introductions were made and the conversation flowed easily enough as the dinner was served.

  In these difficult times, the menu was sufficient. Soup to start with, roast chicken as a main course and chocolate mousse for dessert, and there was wine with each course.

  At the end of the meal, an army colonel gave a speech, thanking those who were helping the war effort, stressing just how important their input was to the troops fighting the enemy. It was a rousing speech, short and to the point. He ended by saying, ‘Now, ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the dancing, you’ve earned it!’

  The band started to play a waltz. Larry stood up, held out his hand to Jessie and said, ‘You heard what the colonel said! We must obey orders.’

  He led her onto the dance floor and took her firmly into his arms. He was an excellent dancer and they travelled across the floor together with ease. Jessie followed his lead, enjoying every moment. When the music stopped, he still held her, waiting for the next tune to begin. It was a slow foxtrot and he pulled her even closer.

  ‘The last time you were in my arms was in a hospital bed,’ he said. ‘I’m so very pleased that this time it’s in more comfortable surroundings.’

  ‘This time I’m not crying all over you,’ she retorted.

  ‘Oh, Jessie, you can cry over me anytime you want to; in fact, I’d be very upset if you did that with any other man.’

  She looked up into his eye
s and saw that tenderness in his expression that she’d seen in the hospital and realised just how much he cared for her. It brought a lump to her throat and she began to realise that she really did have feelings for this man.

  ‘There is no reason for you to be upset. I don’t think I could cry over anyone else.’

  ‘Oh, Jessie McGonigall, be very careful what you say. I may get the wrong idea!’

  The music stopped and they walked back to the table.

  The rest of the evening was enjoyable. The men changed partners so that everyone danced with each other. Conversation was light, no talk of war, no details about each other. It was most enjoyable. Then the band started to play the last waltz and everyone took to the floor.

  Larry held Jessie close to him, his head against hers. The floor was crowded, but nobody minded, and at the end the dancers applauded the band, and then stood to attention as the national anthem was played.

  A taxi waited outside to take them home. He helped her into the back of the vehicle, climbed in beside her and took her hand. ‘I do hope you enjoyed the evening, Jessie.’

  ‘Oh, I did! It made such a nice change. The food was good, the company was enjoyable and I love to dance. I don’t remember the last time that I did.’

  ‘I’m delighted that you’re so happy. I enjoyed it too.’

  When they arrived at their destination, Larry paid off the driver and opened the front door. Once inside he asked, ‘Do you want a hot drink before you go to bed or a nightcap?’

  Shaking her head, she said, ‘No, I’m really tired. If I’m to get up for work tomorrow, I’d better get some rest. You too, or we’ll be late in the office and what would Helen think then?’