by Joan Jonker
She shook her head. ‘No, I went through a bad patch when I lost him and for years I wasn’t interested in life. I’m fine now, though, I’ve got loads of friends and have such a busy social life I think I’m going to have to buy a diary to keep up with meself. And I’ve got one woman to thank for the good life I have now, and that’s Kate Spencer. Yer know her, it was her house yer were in on Monday.’
‘The one with looks like a film star?’
‘That’s her, Charlie, and she’s the only one who doesn’t know how beautiful she is. If I had her looks I’d be walking around swanking. But not Kate, she’s one of the nicest people yer could ever meet. I don’t know what I would have done without her.’
‘How do you manage for money, Winnie? Do you have to struggle?’
Her pride came to the fore. ‘Certainly not! I’m not loaded, but I manage very well. I certainly don’t go short of anything.’
‘In that case, can I call on you again, in the hope you’ve baked a pie?’
‘Charlie, ye’re always welcome here. And perhaps I’ll make an apple pie next time, just for a change, so yer’ll know I have more strings to me bow. But yer’ll have to give me notice, like I’ve said.’
‘I can slip away any day in my dinner break, so how about Monday?’
‘Ay, yer’ll have the neighbours talking! They’re probably wondering now what ye’re doing here. And some of them have terrible minds.’
‘And does that worry you?’
Winnie huffed. ‘Ay, Charlie, they’re the last ones to worry me. It’s your reputation I’m thinking of.’
‘Have no fear over that, Winnie, I’m a free man and can do as I wish. So I’ll call on Monday, same time, to sample your apple pie. And to repay you for your hospitality, you must allow me to take you to lunch one day. Say the Rose Restaurant in Lewis’s?’
Winnie chuckled. ‘Yer’ll be getting me a name like a mad dog, Charlie, but what the hell? Yer only live once.’
Monica nudged Kate’s arm as they turned into the street. ‘The landlord’s car is still outside Winnie’s. I think they were more friendly all those years ago than she’s letting on.’
Kate tutted. ‘Ye’re the limit, you are, Monica Parry! Ten minutes ago yer loved her like a mother, now ye’re calling her underhanded!’
‘I don’t mean nothing, girl, it’s just that yer know how nosy I am. I won’t rest until she tells us everything that went on.’ This time Monica’s nudge accompanied an increase in pace. ‘Ay, girl, the postman’s just put a letter through yer letter box. Come on, let’s see who it’s from.’
Kate could feel herself being propelled forward. ‘Just in case yer’ve forgotten, sunshine, it’s my letter box he’s put the letter through. So what makes yer think I’m going to tell yer who it’s from?’
‘Yer won’t need to, girl, ’cos I’ll be reading it over yer shoulder to save time and your breath.’
When they got in Kate’s house, the baskets were dumped on the floor and there was a mad scramble for the letter. Kate had no intention of being beaten in her own house so she elbowed Monica out of the way and reached the letter first. ‘Ooh, it must be from Miss Parkinson ’cos it’s got an Essex postmark. I was beginning to think she’d forgotten us.’ She tore at the envelope and as she pulled out two sheets of paper, some photographs fell out with them. ‘Oh, look, sunshine, what she’s sent us.’
‘You read the letter, girl, while I look at the snaps,’ Monica said. ‘Then we can swap over.’ She picked up a snap of Miss Parkinson sitting in a chair in a beautiful garden, surrounded by flowers and trees. ‘Oh, wait until yer see these, girl, yer’ll probably cry yer bleeding eyes out. I’m not far from tears meself.’
‘I’ll read you the letter first. Miss Parkinson says she’s very sorry she hasn’t written to thank us for the marvellous photographs which she will always cherish, and how kind we were to have thought of it. The reason for her not writing before now is that she wanted to send us some snaps of herself in her new home and had to wait for them to be developed. She says she thinks of us very often and misses us.’ Kate passed the letter over. ‘Here, read it for yerself before I start bawling. I keep thinking of how gentle and kind she was, and how sad she’d be if she knew what had happened to her little house.’
Monica sniffed all the way through the letter. ‘I still miss her, yer know. But just look at where she’s living now, she’s much better off. And she’s not half pleased with those photographs, girl, I’m glad yer had that brain wave.’
‘We’ll have to show these to Winnie and Maggie, they’ll be made up. And we’ll take turns in writing to her. Even though she’s with her family, and being well looked after, it would be nice for her to have friends to keep in touch with. So as I wrote the last one, I think Winnie should answer this letter because they were very good friends. And Miss Parkinson has mentioned every one of us by name.’
‘Shall we take the letter and photographs to Winnie’s now? I’m sure she’d love to know we’ve had them.’ Monica sat back and waited for the outcry. She didn’t have to wait long.
‘Don’t you dare go to Winnie’s while Mr Coburn’s there! Ye’re a nosy article, Monica Parry, but I’ll not . . .’ Kate broke off when she saw the smile in Monica’s eyes. ‘I fell for it again, didn’t I? When will I ever learn?’
‘The day you learn, girl, will be the day we stop laughing. So keep on being naive, for heaven’s sake, or life won’t be worth living.’
Chapter Twenty-Nine
As the months passed by, and winter set in, Kate was happier than she’d been for a long time. She didn’t have to struggle now, wondering what to buy every day that would be cheapest, and an extra bag of coal wasn’t considered a luxury. Not that she was well off, mind, not by a long chalk. But she was a damn’ sight better off than she had been before John got his new job. Out of the extra seven and six a week in his wage packet, which he always passed over unopened, Kate gave him back an extra one and six for cigarettes and an occasional pint with Tom. The children got their tuppence pocket money, and an extra sixpence a week went on her Christmas clubs in the butcher’s, sweet shop, confectioner’s and greengrocer’s. There’d be no penny pinching this year, and to Kate that was real luxury. Oh, and now and again she went to the pictures with John, but they didn’t always sit on the back row. The first time they’d tried it, they found themselves sitting with young couples to either side who hadn’t the slightest interest in the film. Their antics were embarrassing to a man and wife who had been married for over sixteen years. They’d had a laugh about it, but had never tried the back row since.
These things were running through Kate’s head as she plumped the cushions on the sofa. Life was good now, no doubt about that. It always had been, of course, because health, happiness and love came before money, and her family had those in abundance. But she wouldn’t argue that a few bob extra every week was the icing on the cake.
When the knock came on the wall to warn her Monica was on her way, Kate was grinning as she went to open the door. She was very heavy-handed, her mate, and one of these days she’d knock a hole in the wall. Mind you, if you told her that, she’d just shrug her shoulders and say it would save her the bother of closing her front door and having to wait on Kate’s step until the slow-coach decided to open hers.
‘Morning, girl!’ Monica was rubbing her hands together. ‘It’s a bit nippy out there, yer need yer fleecy-lined on today.’
‘I knew yer’d be cold, sunshine, that’s why I’ve got a nice fire going for yer. Sit in my chair and warm the cockles of yer heart.’
‘Ye’re in a very generous mood today, girl, and very chirpy. Did Robin Hood pay yer a visit last night?’ Monica spread her hands in front of the fire. ‘If he did, he was very quiet about it. I didn’t hear no bedsprings going.’
Kate tutted. ‘You and flaming Robin Hood! I don’t know how yer dreamed him up. Yer must have a hankering for Errol Flynn.’
Monica pushed a finger under the headscarf
she was wearing and scratched her head. ‘Nah, I couldn’t see my feller being Errol Flynn, me imagination’s not that good.’
‘Poor Tom! He’s a smashing husband, gives yer everything yer want, and yet yer still pull him down. Yer don’t know how lucky yer are, sunshine.’
‘Oh, but I do, girl, I’m not that daft. I wouldn’t swap him for all the tea in China. Not even for Robin Hood. But I’m not going to tell him that or he’ll be getting big-headed.’
Kate gave a last glance around the room to make sure everything was in its place and the highly polished sideboard and grate, lit by the dancing flames from the fire, were shining. ‘Shall I put the kettle on, sunshine, or shall we wait for Winnie?’
‘Let’s wait for Winnie, see if she’s got any news for us. Mind you, she doesn’t half play her cards close to her chest. The whole street is talking about how Mr Coburn calls to her house once a week, sometimes twice, but she never cracks on to anyone. He picks her up in his car every Wednesday afternoon, and although we know she goes for lunch with him to Lewis’s Rose Restaurant, or on occasion the Adelphi, none of the other neighbours know where she goes. She waves to them as she’s getting in the car but doesn’t mention where she’s going or where she’s been, and none of them like to ask because of him being their landlord. They’ve got this cockeyed idea that if they rub Winnie up the wrong way, she’ll tell Mr Coburn and he’ll throw them out of their houses.’
‘That’s stupid, that is!’ Kate sat on the end of the sofa near the fire. ‘As though she’d do anything like that! She minds her own business, and I admire her for it. Yer never hear her bragging about being friends with the landlord, do yer? No, he’s just a good friend and they get on well together. Two lonely people who are company for each other.’
‘D’yer really believe that, girl? I find it hard to swallow a tale like that. I’m not saying any hanky-panky is going on, because Winnie’s not like that, but they must like each other a lot to keep seeing each other. And she feeds him up when he comes, it’s not just a cup of tea and a piece of pie any more.’
‘None of our business, sunshine, Winnie doesn’t have to tell us anything. And although I’ve got to admit to being a bit curious meself, I don’t blame her. I’m just glad that she seems happier now she has someone her own age she can look forward to seeing and having a good chat with. They’ve known each other for donkey’s years so they’ve plenty in common. We’ve got our husbands to look forward to seeing every night, Winnie hasn’t had anyone for a long time. So let’s be glad for her, eh?’
‘You’re too bloody good to be true, you are, girl. If I’d known her as long as you have, I’d have wheedled everything out of her by now.’
‘And what good would it have done me?’
‘Well, it might not have done you any good, but it would have done me a power of good, wheedling it out of you.’
‘I never betray a confidence, sunshine, yer should know that by now. Not a really private thing like Winnie’s friendship with Mr Coburn anyway. Little trivial things that don’t matter, yes, I might, but then everybody does.’
‘It’s definitely the front row for you when yer get to heaven. And I wouldn’t be surprised if yer didn’t have a halo and harp.’ Monica’s throaty chuckle ended in a cough. ‘I nearly choked meself then. I opened me mouth to speak and got a frog in me throat.’
‘I heard that chuckle of yours,’ Kate said. ‘Ye’re the only person I know who has a dirty laugh. So, come on, what were yer going to say before yer decided to choke yerself instead?’
‘It was just that I’d never find out if yer get yer halo and harp, ’cos the likelihood of me ever getting to the pearly gates is very remote.’
‘Don’t be acting the goat! Yer stand as much chance as anyone. Ye’re not a bad person who does lots of horrible things, like the family that were in Miss Parkinson’s house and ruined it. Your only fault, apart from being nosy, is the bad language yer sometimes use. And if yer put yer mind to it, yer could be back on the path of righteousness in no time.’
‘It’s no good yer trying to change me, girl, ’cos I’m not going to. Me ma swore like a ruddy trooper, and I take after her.’ Monica grinned at her friend. ‘Anyway, let’s leave the state of my soul and talk about something else. Like how much nicer it is to look over at Miss Parkinson’s house and see clean windows and pure white nets. The window sill and step are probably the cleanest in the street now, and they’re a nice, friendly family.’
Kate nodded. ‘Winnie said Mr Coburn, or Charlie as she calls him, was much more careful over choosing tenants this time. No more rotters will get past him.’
‘Yer didn’t tell me that Winnie told yer that! Look, girl, if we’re supposed to be best mates, yer can’t be keeping things from me.’
‘That came out without me realizing, so don’t start making anything out of it. It was just a chance remark she made, nothing more.’
‘I know, girl, keep yer hair on! I was here when she said it, I was only pulling yer leg.’
‘Seeing as we’re on the subject of Winnie, I’m wondering where she’s got to. She’s usually here by now. I wonder if she’s all right, sunshine. Shall we walk down and see?’
‘Yeah, we better had, ’cos she’s always here before me. Get yer coat on, girl. But if we meet her coming up, we’re coming back in here for a cuppa. And she’ll get a piece of me mind for keeping us waiting.’
Kate felt in her pocket to make sure she had the key with her, then pulled the door shut. After a glance down the street, she said, ‘There’s no sign of her coming up, perhaps she’s feeling a bit off colour. We’d better make sure she’s all right.’
Monica rapped on Winnie’s knocker, and the friends waited. When there was no answer, they peeped through the net curtains. ‘That’s funny, there’s no sign of life.’
‘Then there’s something wrong,’ Kate said. ‘Because she wouldn’t go off to the shops on her own, that’s a dead cert.’
‘She may be down the yard, girl, so we’ll give it a few minutes then knock again. She’s probably on a call of nature, it happens to the best of people.’
But five minutes and half a dozen knocks later, there was still no sign of life. Kate said, ‘Let’s try next door and see if Peggy Hastings knows anything. She may have seen her going out.’
When Peggy opened the door, Kate asked, ‘Have yer seen anything of Winnie? She should have been at my house half an hour ago.’
‘Oh, Winnie went out at half-past eight. I was up making me beds when I heard this loud knocking and commotion so I came down to see what was going on. It was Betty Blackmore and she was in a terrible state. Apparently the two men left for work at half-seven, and half an hour later her daughter Margaret went into labour. So Betty rushes round to the midwife’s to be told she’d been called out on an emergency call. Winnie was the first one Betty thought of. She really was a bundle of nerves, ’cos she’d had to leave her daughter alone in the house when she was having labour pains. Anyway, Winnie dropped everything and went with Betty. As I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her since, I can’t tell yer what’s happening now.’
‘Ooh, we’d better get round to Betty’s to see if we can help,’ Kate said. ‘Don’t yer agree, Monica?’
‘Yeah, definitely! The shopping can wait, Margaret is more important.’ Monica touched Peggy’s arm. ‘Ay, girl, would yer mind if we went through your house to the entry? It would save us going all the way round.’
‘Of course yer can, lass, as long as yer keep yer eyes closed. I haven’t put a hand to me living room yet, it’s like a muck midden.’
‘Ay, yer should see the state of mine, girl,’ Monica said, to make the woman feel better. ‘I haven’t even made me beds yet.’
Kate was shaking her head as she followed the two women through the living room and down the yard. To hear her mate talk, anyone would think her house was a mess. And as for coming out and leaving her beds unmade, well, she wouldn’t dream of it. Kate knew for certain that her beds ha
d been made at half-eight because she was making hers at the same time and could hear Monica through the dividing wall. Still, that little white lie was told for a good cause and could be a point in her favour when she came face to face with Saint Peter.
‘Thank you, sunshine,’ Kate said when they stepped into the entry with Betty’s door only yards away. ‘Yer saved us the walk round.’
‘Let’s know if there’s any news, lass, won’t yer?’ Peggy had known Margaret since she was a baby in a pram. ‘And tell them I hope it’s soon over.’
The Blackmores’ entry door was only on the latch. The two friends were soon up the yard and knocking on the kitchen door. It was opened by Betty. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked very agitated. ‘Come in, I’m glad ye’re here. I’ve had to leave Winnie with Margaret while I came down to make us a drink. What a morning it’s been! I wouldn’t want another one like it. We were eating our breakfast, and Margaret was fine. Then she suddenly clutched her tummy and let out a moan. I’ve prayed more in the last hour than I’ve prayed in all me life.’
‘What about the midwife, sunshine, is she coming?’ Kate asked. ‘I know yer booked her months ago to come when Margaret went into labour.’
‘Well, it seems my daughter isn’t the only one because the midwife was called out in the early hours of the morning. She wasn’t expecting to be needed here because Margaret isn’t due for another couple of weeks.’
‘My ma used to say a first baby will come when it feels like it,’ Monica said. ‘Two weeks early or two weeks late. Nurse Griffith is bound to come as soon as she can. Yer did leave word with her husband, didn’t yer, girl?’
Betty nodded. ‘He said as soon as she got home, he’d send her round. Anyway, if yer want to help, would yer make a pot of tea and I’ll go back upstairs? Margaret is terrified, and I’m not a ha’porth of good at times like this. But Winnie’s been brilliant, trying to keep our minds occupied and even making us laugh. Still, I can’t leave her on her own, I’ll get back up there. Yer’ll find everything yer want in the pantry, a tray as well. Yer may as well have a cup of tea with us, it’ll take Margaret’s mind off things.’