Jazz Baby

by Téa Cooper

  Her mouth opened in surprise. ‘Oh!’ Covering her lips with her hand she smothered the giggle building in her throat. ‘Oh my!’ Mrs Mack’s boarding house was no such thing. It was nothing more than an up-market version of the two rooms out the back of Wollombi Post Office.

  Stifling a snort she laid the purple confection on the bed. That’s why there were so many girls living here, why Alice had said she'd got a step up, why Mrs Mack had been so interested in her bones. Oh goodness gracious! A deep flush of heat swarmed up her body. Alf must have known where he was sending her. And who else? No wonder Jack had been so adamant she shouldn’t work here. Thank goodness she didn’t have to explain to Ted. He wouldn’t have asked any questions, he’d just have skinned her alive. She let out a huge belly laugh at her own naivety.

  ‘Dolly. Have you got that room done yet?’ Annie called from the stairwell.

  Dolly sprang to her feet and stuck her head around the door. ‘Very nearly. I’ll be about five more minutes.’

  ‘Get a move on. There are more rooms up there for you to do, never mind downstairs, and I want to get the copper going.’

  ‘I won’t be long.’ Dolly scuttled across the room and began pulling off the sheets, sniggering at the wafts of perfume billowing around her. She bundled all the bedding into the pail and without glancing in any of the other rooms she bolted along the long Persian runner gracing the landing, down the stairs and out to the scullery.

  ‘Here are the first ones,’ she said as she pushed her way through the door into the steaming outhouse.

  Annie grunted and gestured at the huge copper.

  ‘Shall I put them straight in?’

  ‘They’re not going to wash themselves, are they?’ Annie plonked her hands on her hips and grinned. ‘Got a bit side-tracked, did you?’

  ‘I was just…’ As soon as Dolly dropped the sheets into the copper she covered her flaming cheeks with her hands, grimaced then burst out laughing.

  Annie’s eyes twinkled. ‘Wondered how long it would take you. You don’t look like a stupid girl to me.’

  ‘So Mrs Mack’s…’ Dolly spluttered. ‘So Mrs Mack’s isn’t exactly a boarding house,’ she managed at last.

  ‘No, not exactly. More like an up-market bawdy house, actually. She’s good to her girls though, not like those dirty places in Darlo.’

  ‘You’re right, Annie. I’m not as silly as I look, just more concerned with getting to Sydney and finding a job. I hadn’t given much thought to anything else.’ The bubble of excitement swelled in Dolly’s chest. It was too good to be true. Now she definitely wanted this job. Oh yes! She’d promised herself she’d go places she’d never been before, experience every sensation, and this was just the beginning. Humming the words to one of the songs she’d heard last night she waltzed across the room.

  ‘Better get yourself back upstairs and sort the rest of the rooms,’ Annie said, handing her a pile of clean sheets, ‘and no trying on any of the finery while you’re there.’ She winked at Dolly then shooed her out of the scullery.

  Chapter 6

  Jack paced the parquetry floor of his sitting room, turned abruptly on his heel and stalked back in the opposite direction. The glorious view of Sydney from the brand new sixth floor apartment overlooking Kings Cross did little to improve his frame of mind. The enormity of the sprawling city brought home the impossibility of the task he’d set himself. Ted had disappeared into thin air. Hardly surprising.

  With a population of over one million the sprawling city and suburbs reached all around the harbour. Finding Ted was like looking for water in the outback. He could be holed up anywhere. He might even have fled to Melbourne; Jack doubted it somehow. Sydney was home turf and despite flight training in Victoria the brash excitement of Australia’s first city would still appeal. Ted knew Sydney and all its haunts. No matter how long he’d been back this is where he would be.

  Pressing his forehead against the cool glass Jack closed his eyes, reliving the moment he had last seen Ted in France. Ted had nodded to him from his cockpit and given him a jaunty thumbs up, paying no attention to the orders he had been given, then peeled his single engine plane away and dived down below the clouds without a second thought. He had no right to take matters into his own hands. Jack intended to lead the way, but no, Ted knew best. Determined to rack up one more on his tally and get to the top of the list. The German plane came out of nowhere. The blast of machine gun fire and the scream of Ted’s engines as he’d spiralled down into the picturesque countryside rang in Jack’s ears, blocking out the sounds from the street below.

  With a loud sigh he limped over to the chair and sank down, massaging his thigh. He could go days without the lump of shrapnel bothering him. Half his luck. Ted must see his injuries mirrored in every person’s face the moment they clapped eyes on him. He shuddered. Facial injuries — the worst of all.

  Shrugging out of his jacket he unfastened his cravat. In the last two weeks he’d covered every square inch of Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo and Surry Hills. Every sly-grog shop, every alleyway, and he’d spoken to every bookie he could find. In a rough work shirt and trousers with a cloth cap pulled low over his head he no longer stuck out amongst the crowds in the pubs and grog shops; however, the days of searching had eaten away at what little hope he had left. The ridiculous coincidence of stumbling upon Ted had left him lost for words. In many ways he understood why Ted didn’t want to be found, nevertheless Dolly deserved to know at least that her brother was alive. Jack had steered clear of her, just checking every few days with Millie to make sure she was coping, but he was hoping against hope that eventually he’d have something positive to tell her. To go now and tell her Ted was alive but he couldn’t find him wasn’t an option.

  As Jack pulled the checked shirt over his head and fastened the buttons on his braces he decided to give it one more week before he told Dolly. In fact, he’d go and run it past Millie right now. Ask her opinion, and that way he’d have the opportunity to check up on Dolly as well. Make sure she hadn’t been led astray by any of Millie’s shenanigans.

  ‘If you can’t leave ’em, drink ’em. And if you can’t drink ’em, leave ’em.’ The publicans’ voices mingled with the odour of stale beer, fish and chips, and meat pies as Jack picked his way through the overcrowded streets. By the time he reached Number Fifty-Four the last rays of sun were slanting across the busy road. Jack steered clear of the front doors and dodged into the back alley and through the gate. As he ducked under the rows of bed sheets hanging on the lines strung across the yard he spotted Dolly sitting on the back doorstep. With her skirt pulled up above her knees she rocked backwards and forwards, laughing uproariously at the scrawny girl leaning against the fence.

  The scene stopped him in his tracks. She didn’t quite make beautiful in the popular sense of the word, yet the wild mane of black hair coupled with her startling blue eyes created a face he could never forget. The sheer joy in her laughter made him smile and threw him back to a time before the war and all the heartbreak, before he knew what lay beyond the simple life they’d led in Wollombi.

  He pushed aside the dangling bed sheets and Dolly’s expression changed, sending a shiver of pleasure through him, her rapturous smile warming him from the inside out. She jumped to her feet and covered the short distance between them, reached for his hands and squeezed them tight.

  ‘Jack! I am so pleased to see you. I was telling Alice all about the games we used to play down at the creek. Do you remember the day the rope broke and I landed in the water?’

  He slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, inhaling her scent of clean washing, baking and memories. He wanted nothing more than to press her against his chest and keep her there forever, safe.

  ‘Yes, I remember, Dolly-girl. You were always trouble. Have you managed to stay in Millie’s favour or have you blotted your copybook already?’

  She spun away from him spreading her arms wide. ‘No. I have been picture perfect. Take a look aro
und. All those sheets, the rooms all tidy and ready for tonight’s…’ She paused and wriggled her eyebrows. ‘Guests.’ Her lips formed a moue. ‘You didn’t tell me the truth. You knew I thought Mrs Mack’s was a boarding house and it’s nothing of the sort.’

  Jack cleared his throat. ‘Ah yes. Well, obviously you know now. As long as you stick to your role and let the other girls take care of the guests you’ll come to no harm. I spoke to Millie and she — ’

  ‘Why? What did you say? I like working here. Don’t interfere.’

  ‘Slow down, Dolly. I haven’t interfered, I just asked Millie to keep an eye on you and keep you out of trouble.’

  ‘Jack, it is none of your business.’ She gave a small stamp and her hands flew to her hips, eyes glittering. ‘I told you I’m old enough to look after myself.’

  ‘I’m just looking out for you. Ted would want me to.’ Jack resisted the urge to slap his hand over his mouth. Whatever had made him mention Ted? Speaking her brother’s name aloud was the last thing he’d meant to do. Seeing her blue eyes blazing at him had reminded him so much of Ted.

  ‘Ted’s not here and I’ll thank you to mind your own business.’ She nodded firmly at him and then ran an appraising eye over his body. The tiny tip of her tongue appeared between her teeth and her forehead puckered in a frown. ‘Why are you dressed like that? You look as though you’ve been out playing in the back streets.’

  A surge of heat rocked his body and Jack dragged his eyes away from Dolly’s mouth. The desire to lavish something more than brotherly love on her terrified him. He shook his head to try to clear his outrageous thoughts.

  ‘Jack?’

  ‘Oh…I…I’ve been doing some work and I have to meet some people tonight. I just wanted to check up on you and make sure everything was going well. Is Millie in?’

  Alice stepped up next to Dolly and her eyes told him she hadn’t missed his reaction even if Dolly had. ‘Yes, she got back early. She’s in her office.’ Alice cocked her head to the door. ‘You know the way?’

  ‘Yes, thanks. I’ll see you soon, Dolly.’ Taking one last quick glance at Dolly, Jack took the steps two at a time and pushed the back door open.

  ‘Bye, Jack.’ Dolly’s singsong words dissolved into giggles and he didn’t dare look back or imagine what Alice might have said. He rubbed his hand over his face trying to hide the colour burning his cheeks. What was the matter with him? Slumping against the wall he dragged in two massive breaths and exhaled slowly, willing his body to relax and his mind to settle. He was in enough shit with Ted already without adding lustful thoughts for the man’s sister into the mix.

  Jack rapped his knuckles on the door to the office and pushed it open. ‘You got a minute, Millie?’

  ‘For you — always,’ Millie said, nodding to a chair at the side of her desk. ‘Take a pew. What can I do for you?’

  ‘I dropped in to see how Dolly was doing and…’ He scrubbed at his chin, the heat surging through his body again as Millie stared intently at him.

  ‘Yes?’ she asked.

  Raking his hand through his hair he rested his elbow on the corner of her desk. ‘I’ve got a problem and I need some advice.’

  ‘Fire away.’ The sparkle in Millie’s eyes annoyed the hell out of him. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to talk to her about Ted but he didn’t know who else to ask; he certainly couldn’t discuss this with Dolly.

  He took a deep breath. ‘Dolly’s got a brother.’

  Millie raised her eyebrows, her stare never leaving his face.

  ‘And he’s still listed as missing in action, presumed dead. The other night I bumped into him.’ Jack still hardly believed it was true and if it wasn’t for the fact he’d been stone cold sober he’d doubt it even happened.

  ‘You sure it was him?’

  Jack nodded and rubbed his nose. He wouldn’t lower his guard for anyone other than Ted.

  ‘And have you told Dolly?’

  ‘No, of course I haven’t.’ He leant back in the chair and stretched his leg out under the desk, studying the sickly pale green walls and trying not to think about Ted’s plane exploding like a firecracker.

  ‘And has this got anything to do with the way you feel about Dolly?’ Millie asked, raising a thinly plucked eyebrow.

  Her comment made him sit bolt upright and he stared at her in surprise. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘Come on, Jack. Since when have you cared enough about anyone to check up on them three times a week? Who are you trying to fool?’

  ‘She’s my best mate’s little sister. I owe him. What do you expect me to do?’

  ‘Rubbish! You’re carrying a torch for the girl. Otherwise, why would Cynthia be moaning about the fact you haven’t been around for three weeks?’

  Millie’s words rolled around in his mind. It couldn’t possibly have been that long since he’d spent an evening at Millie’s. Surely he hadn’t been searching for Ted for three weeks. ‘I’ve been looking for Ted. First time I found him he flattened me and told me to bugger off and mind my own business. He doesn’t want to see Dolly or me,’ he said, lowering his voice as he spotted Dolly and Alice through the window pulling the remaining sheets off the line.

  ‘So that’s what you’ve been up to. I presume this Ted’s not living in the lap of luxury judging by the way you’re dressed.’

  He twisted his face in a grimace. ‘It’s worse.’

  ‘Worse?’

  ‘Yes, bloody worse. Half his face is cobbled back together and his eye’s missing.’

  Millie let out a whistle and swivelled her chair around to face him. ‘Another airman?’

  ‘He was with me. Got shot down over France. Plane caught fire and we thought he’d bitten the dust.’

  ‘And he doesn’t want to have anything to do with his old life and you’ve got a guilty conscience because you hold yourself responsible. Now with Dolly on the scene it’s complicated the issue.’

  ‘That’s about it.’ Jack dropped his head into his hands. At least he’d been right about one thing. Millie had got to the bottom of the problem — like a knife through warm butter straight to the dish — the bit about Ted anyway. As far as carrying a torch for Dolly she couldn’t be further from the mark. Dolly was like a younger sister to him and to suggest there was anything more to his concern was nonsense.

  Millie pulled the pencil from behind her ear and patted down her hair. ‘Seems to me you need to find the bloke. Or at least find out what happened and how he got back here. Where did you see him?’

  ‘Susie’s. Playing two-up.’

  ‘Right. Get back there and ask to talk to Blue the Ringy. You can’t miss him. He’s built like a brick shithouse. Tell him Millie sent you and it’s payback time. He knows everyone and he owes me.’

  Jack stood up. Millie was right. He had to find Ted and then he’d be able to make a decision about how to tell Dolly. There was no point in getting her hopes up, especially if Ted had truly gone to ground. ‘Thanks, Millie. I appreciate it.’ He delved deep into his pocket. ‘I was wondering if you could do me another favour?’

  ‘Hmm?’ She rolled her eyes.

  Jack pulled a crumpled note out of his pocket. ‘Can you give this to Dolly? Just so she’s got some money. Let her think you gave it to her. Tell her it’s to buy something nice. She deserves it.’

  Millie winked and took the five pound note Jack held out.

  ‘I’ll let you know how things pan out,’ he said, ‘and thanks.’

  ‘My pleasure. And in the meantime I’ll keep an eye on your bit of fluff for you.’

  ‘Bullshit,’ Jack muttered under his breath as he left.

  Chapter 7

  Dolly sat on the bed staring down in disbelief at her lapful of money. Not just coins — paper money too. She held up the five pound note to the window and turned it over and over. Never before in all her life had she had money of her very own. Not just one note — more, and a whole load of coins. Gathering her apron together she made a pou
ch and weighed it in her hand, loving the sound of the coins clinking together. Mrs Mack offered to pay her every week but she’d asked her to look after her wages until today, and then she’d given her all this money and the five pound note. Five quid! She decided she’d do what Mrs Mack suggested and buy something pretty.

  Today she was going shopping with Alice — if Alice ever woke up. At the crack of dawn she’d got up as usual and raced through all of her jobs. They were going to walk all the way along Oxford Street and go to the new department stores and she was going to buy a step-in, a petticoat and some stockings and, if she had some money left over, a new frock and…she squeezed the little round pouch of money. How far would it go?

  ‘I suppose you’re champing at the bit. Ready to go, are you?’ Alice yawned, her voice still thick with sleep.

  ‘I would like to soon.’ She tried to resist the temptation to shake Alice fully awake. ‘In fact, now. I want to go now. I don’t think I can wait a moment longer.’

  Her newfound wealth pocketed, Dolly stripped off her apron and pulled on her hat and coat. ‘I’ll wait outside for you.’ She closed the door behind her, ignoring Rosa’s muffled protests from the other bed.

  A quick glance at the clock in the kitchen made her want to scream in frustration. While she waited for Alice to appear she dawdled up and down the hallway, examining the gold framed pictures. Three weeks ago the assortment of naked women posing for the camera had shocked her, but now they intrigued her. She studied her favourite picture. The woman wearing high-heeled shoes, rolled stockings and not much else lounged against a piano with such a satisfied look in her eye.