It's Now or Never

by June Francis

  ‘Of course.’ Lynne sighed.

  There was a silence and Roberta entered the room carrying a tray. ‘I made cocoa. I believe there’s few things as comforting as a decent mug of cocoa.’

  Betty agreed and after drinking half her cocoa began to talk about the different places they had visited in Italy. By the time she paused to draw breath, it was doubly obvious to Lynne that she was a much happier person than last time she had seen her.

  After exhausting the subject of Italy, they talked about Emma’s expected baby and whether it would be a boy or a girl. ‘As long as it’s healthy is the main thing,’ said Lynne. ‘At least Emma won’t have to worry about diphtheria, whooping cough and consumption and paying doctor’s fees the way I did. Vaccination is a wonderful thing.’

  ‘You’re forgetting about polio, Mam,’ said Roberta. ‘That’s still around.’

  ‘Not for much longer. I read the other day in the Echo that there’s a hope of protection against that scourge too.’ She gave her attention to Betty once more. ‘So you’ll be staying in Liverpool until after Emma’s had her baby and Stuart returns?’

  Betty nodded. ‘Yes, I know she’d rather I was staying here but she wants me to be happy.’

  ‘Of course she does,’ said Lynne warmly.

  Betty sighed. ‘I’ll have to be going soon.’

  ‘I’ll get that box for you.’ Lynne left the room.

  Roberta smiled at Betty. ‘I wish I could go with you to California. I’d fill my sketch book.’

  ‘How are you getting on with your drawing?’ asked Betty.

  Roberta went over to the sideboard and took her pad from it and handed it to Betty. ‘See what you think?’

  Betty flipped open the cover and began to turn the leaves of the pad, making comments about the different sketches and then she came to one that gave her cause to pause. ‘This is of Hester’s brother.’

  ‘Yes, it’s Sergeant Sam eating fish and chips. Mam likes him. I can tell the way she looks at him.’

  ‘Yes, he’s a very attractive man. I notice you have several drawings of Nick.’

  ‘And a couple of Tony,’ said Roberta hastily. ‘And even one of Chris, although his face is so mobile, it’s difficult to catch the actual expression I was after.’

  Betty closed the pad. ‘You’re good.’

  Roberta flushed with pleasure. ‘Thanks, tell Mam that.’

  ‘What’s Betty to tell me?’ asked Lynne, entering the room. She handed the large chocolate box of memorabilia to their guest.

  ‘That I’ve talent, Mam!’ cried Roberta.

  ‘I know that,’ said Lynne, giving her daughter a hug. ‘Anyway, we must let Betty go. She’ll be wanting to get back to her flat.’

  ‘Yes, I must go,’ said Betty, jumping to her feet.

  ‘Give my love to Emma when you see her. I have written but you might see her before she gets my letter,’ said Lynne. ‘I’ll be praying that the birth goes smoothly.’

  ‘So will I,’ said Betty, hugging her. ‘I’m so looking forward to being an aunt.’ She did not know how she had managed to resist drawing Lynne’s attention to the sketches of Sam and Nick. At the same time she wondered how Bobby had not noticed the likeness between the two either. Maybe it was because it had not occurred to her to look for it?

  Betty would not have done so if Lenny had not made a comment when she had told him that Nick was adopted. Apparently Lenny had been looking out some old photographs and come across one of the schoolboy Sam playing in the street with some other lads. He had not drawn any conclusions, just commented on it.

  What of Lynne? Surely she must have seen the drawings and should have noticed the similarities between them? And what of Sam – how was it he had not noticed it? Could it simply be because he was one of those men who spent scarcely any time looking at themselves in a mirror?

  Anyway, it really was none of her business what Sam Walker had got up to during the war – if he had got up to anything! Who was to say Nick’s father wasn’t a relative of his?

  Twenty-Five

  ‘I hope you don’t miss the train, Mam! You keep fiddling about,’ said Roberta. ‘What you’re wearing is fine.’

  Lynne glanced in the mirror once more and then at her daughter. ‘If I miss the train, I’ll just have to get the next one. At least all the strikes appear to be over.’

  The recent disputes on the railways and docks had disrupted everything. She wondered if it had anything to do with the Conservatives having done so well in the elections throughout the country.

  ‘But that would make you late for the connection at Manchester,’ said Roberta.

  Lynne raised her eyebrows. ‘Stop worrying about me! If the worst comes to the worst, I’ll just have to ring Hester and tell her I can’t make it and return home.’

  She picked up her bag and left the house, thinking of Sam and how he had cancelled their dancing lessons, apparently due to pressure of work. She had to confess that she had been deeply disappointed. Still, that was life.

  She hurried up the street towards West Derby Road and it was while she was waiting to cross to the bus stop on the other side of the main road that she heard the beep of a horn and then her name being called. She glanced in the direction of a car nearby. The driver signalled to her and she realized it was Sam. She went over to see what he wanted.

  ‘I believe you’re going to Hester’s! D’you want a lift?’ he asked.

  ‘You mean to Lime Street station?’

  He smiled. ‘No, to Whalley! I’m going there, too.’

  She hesitated and he coaxed, ‘Come on, Lynne. I’d like to make up for letting you down over the dancing lessons I promised you but, honestly, I have been up to my eyes in work. My inspector is retiring any day now and I’m in line for promotion after catching those responsible for the break-ins that have been going on.’

  ‘OK!’ She smiled and walked round to the passenger side and got in. ‘This really is good of you.’

  ‘No, it isn’t. I’m going that way, so it’s no hardship for me to take you as well.’ He moved out into the traffic. ‘And, as I said, I want to make up for those dance lessons we never had.’

  ‘How did you know I was going?’

  ‘Our Hester mentioned it when she phoned to tell me that Emma had given birth to a baby boy.’

  Lynne’s face lit up. ‘That’s wonderful news! Are they both well?’

  ‘Yes! Anyway, I now have a day off, so I invited myself to our Hester’s, saying I could do with a trip to the country.’

  Lynne smiled. ‘I really appreciate the lift.’

  ‘It’s a bit of a journey having to change trains three times.’

  Lynne agreed. ‘But I’ve been wanting to accept Hester’s invitation to see the cottage for ages.’

  He glanced at her. ‘The outing will do you good after what you’ve been through losing your gran.’

  She agreed. ‘I thought she’d die at home with me at her bedside, not on a park bench.’

  ‘There’s worse ways to go,’ said Sam, his expression sombre.

  Lynne agreed, thinking of Robert and her mother and the murder victims Sam must have seen. ‘Have you had any news about Dennis Rogers?’

  Sam frowned but did not say anything, giving the traffic all his attention. Once they were moving swiftly again he said, ‘No, and I wish they’d find him.’

  ‘Canada’s a big country,’ she murmured.

  ‘Yes, and with great swathes of wilderness where a fugitive can lose himself.’

  ‘But is he the kind of man who could cope in such wilderness?’

  He glanced at her. ‘Whether he is or isn’t we might never get to know.’

  Lynne thought that Sam did not have to spell out what he meant because she had a mental image of her mother being killed by a bear. No doubt there was other wildlife in Canada that could prove dangerous to an unwary traveller.

  Sam’s voice broke into her reverie. ‘Of course, he could be in a big city somewhere doing casual w
ork with no questions asked.’

  ‘Or he could be killed by a snake or a hungry pack of wolves.’

  Sam grinned. ‘I wonder if Nick has thought of that.’

  ‘He might think it a fitting end but perhaps he’d rather just forget him,’ said Lynne.

  Sam’s expression changed. ‘No, Nick believes he killed his adoptive father and wants him punished. I can understand that because I would feel the same.’

  Lynne glanced at him. ‘I think that’s understandable but perhaps I’d best let you concentrate on your driving until we’re out of the city.’

  He nodded. ‘And you can relax. We’ve a fair way to go yet.’

  Lynne leaned back in the seat and tried to do what he suggested but she could not deny that being in his company was having a disturbing effect on her. Especially with them talking about Nick and her suspecting he could be Dorothy’s son. A sigh escaped her.

  ‘What’s the sigh for?’

  ‘Contentment,’ she lied, adding, ‘It’s so good to have a day out. I can’t remember when last I had a whole day off.’

  ‘Last time I was in Whalley was with Dorothy before the wedding. It wasn’t really her scene. She’d have preferred to go to Blackpool to see a show and check out the shops. Although, thinking about it, I couldn’t see her doing much of that when she’s shopped in Bond Street.’

  What a fool Dorothy is, letting him see that she didn’t share his liking for the countryside, thought Lynne. ‘Have you ever been to London?’ she asked.

  ‘Once. I had this yen to see Scotland Yard for myself, not just on the screen in black and white.’ He smiled. ‘Is there anywhere you’d really like to visit?’

  ‘Yes, Paris. I’d like to sit outside a cafe and watch people go by. See if the Parisian women are dressed as stylishly as I’ve read about in magazines and newspapers.’

  He chuckled. ‘That makes sense because it’s your business. When our Jeanette mentions Paris it’s in connection with romance. I took her to see that film American in Paris with Gene Kelly a few years back and she loved it.’

  ‘He’s a great dancer,’ said Lynne.

  ‘I much prefer him to Fred Astaire.’

  ‘And he’s better looking,’ said Lynne. ‘Does Dorothy like dancing as much as you do? Will there be music in this film she’s making?’

  He pulled a face. ‘I’m pretty sure it’s not a musical because she’s not famed for her singing voice. I suppose I should have asked more questions but I don’t have a place in her acting world. She laments that I’m not there with her but the truth is that if I did as she suggested and had a week over there, I’d be hanging around having to amuse myself while she worked most of the time.’

  ‘When is she due back?’

  ‘August maybe. I’ll see her briefly and then she’ll be shooting up to Scotland and then more filming in the studios down south.’ He paused. ‘My stepmother is looking forward to seeing her again because Grace is convinced that the film Dorothy wants to produce will get made. Dorothy also interviewed Aunt Ethel for it but I doubt she’ll remember who she is when she gets back.’

  ‘The woman with the magic box that took pictures,’ murmured Lynne.

  ‘What’s that?’ asked Sam, slanting her a gaze.

  ‘Just something your Aunt Ethel said to me.’

  He grimaced. ‘You and Bobby are good with her. Dad feels guilty about leaving her to live on the Wirral.’

  ‘Couldn’t your father take her to the Wirral with him?’

  ‘Not a chance! He’s been parted from Grace since 1941 and now they’ve found each other again, I think he’s entitled to some happiness.’

  ‘What parted them?’

  He told her, finishing with the words, ‘The Blitz caused so much disruption and heartache but only those who lived through it know how truly bad it was.’

  ‘I met Robert in a shelter during the Blitz,’ said Lynne softly.

  Sam glanced at her with interest. ‘What was he like?’

  ‘Full of life and he made me laugh. It seems so long ago now and yet it isn’t that long. I sometimes think that if I didn’t have a photo of him then I’d forget what he looked like.’

  ‘I feel like that about Carol. She was my girlfriend and was killed in the Blitz. I was heartbroken.’ He glanced at Lynne. ‘You know what it’s like when you’re young and in love.’

  ‘How old was she?’

  ‘Seventeen! And what made it more difficult was there was no need for her to die. If she’d stayed at her aunt’s place in Ormskirk, she’d probably still be alive. Sometimes I think about how different my life would have been if she’d lived.’ He stared at Lynne. ‘You must feel the same about your husband?’

  Suddenly Lynne wanted to be honest with him. ‘We weren’t married.’

  Sam shot her a startled look but did not speak.

  She took a deep breath. ‘I just pretended for my daughter’s sake. We hadn’t known each other long but we fell madly in love. We had such a short time together. Then his ship was torpedoed with the loss of all hands and I never saw him again. I had no contact with his family; they lived in Ireland and I didn’t have their address.’

  She glanced at him, wondering what he thought of her, but he was gazing straight ahead and so she could not read his expression. Then she watched him remove a hand from the steering wheel and he clasped her right hand and squeezed it gently.

  They drove on in silence and, after a short while, Sam freed her hand. ‘I will give you dancing lessons. It will take you out of yourself and it’s good exercise.’

  ‘You think I need exercise?’ she asked, a smile in her voice.

  ‘If you’re sitting at a sewing machine all day, you must get stiff, especially about the shoulders. I know I do when I’m at the desk too long, writing up reports. You don’t have a radiogram or a record player, do you?’

  She laughed. ‘Be serious! You’ve been in my house. You must know they’re beyond my pocket. There’s the wireless. Anyway, I thought you’d be teaching me at your house because of your Aunt Ethel needing an eye kept on her.’

  He smiled. ‘You’re right, of course. I’d forgotten. We could practise in the parlour and look in on her now and again.’

  ‘I could always look in on her during the day if that would help, if a neighbour couldn’t do it?’ she said seriously.

  ‘That would be great!’ Sam’s expression was warm. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’

  ‘I’m used to old ladies,’ she murmured.

  They both fell silent but it was a comfortable silence as the car wended its way along a lane with hedgerows on each side and flowering honeysuckle and cow parsley in the narrow grass verges.

  Eventually they arrived in Whalley and Sam drew up at the kerb outside a cottage. A notice was displayed in front of the house, saying open for teas and light meals. An arrow pointed in the direction of the side of the building.

  The pair of them followed the arrow into a garden where tables and chairs were set out. A couple of tables had the convenience of a large umbrella. Several people were already taking advantage of what was on offer.

  Lynne recognized Myra Jones who was serving a couple of customers. She spotted them and smiled and signalled to Hester who came over. ‘Hi, Lynne! So my brother managed to catch you before you left.’

  ‘She was already on her way but she hadn’t gone far,’ said Sam, kissing his sister on the cheek. ‘Didn’t expect to find you so busy.’

  ‘The good weather brings people out to visit the abbey ruins or for a walk on the fells,’ said Hester. ‘You’ve never seen the ruins, have you, Lynne?’

  ‘No,’ she said, smiling.

  ‘I have,’ said Sam, ‘but I don’t mind showing them to Lynne. By the look of things we’d be best out of your way for a while.’

  ‘You’ve arrived at lunch time which is our busiest time of the day,’ said Hester. ‘You’ll probably be glad to stretch your legs after the journey. Come back in an hour or so and we’ll be ready t
o give you lunch and have a chat. Ally will be here then.’

  ‘If you don’t mind I need to use the facilities first and I bet Lynne wouldn’t mind a cup of tea,’ said Sam.

  Lynne agreed. ‘I could make us both one if you don’t mind, Hester? I won’t get in your way.’

  ‘That’s fine,’ she said.

  ‘You go on ahead, Lynne,’ said Sam. ‘I just want a word with my sister.’

  Lynne went into the kitchen, expecting Sam to join her within a minute or so but the kettle had boiled before he came in. He excused himself and went to the newly installed downstairs lavatory. By the time he reappeared she was gazing out of the window and had finished her drink.

  Sam picked up his cup and came and stood beside her. ‘Hester was just telling me that you knew Dorothy from years ago.’

  Lynne stilled. ‘I suppose Emma told her.’

  ‘Yes. Are you annoyed? Is there something between you and Dorothy that the pair of you want kept quiet?’

  Her heart began to thud. ‘Why should you think that?’

  ‘It’s obvious I’d say. She’s never mentioned having met you before.’

  ‘She could have easily forgotten me. I certainly didn’t recognize her immediately when we met earlier this year. Although, having said that, I did think she looked familiar but I put that down to her being famous.’

  He nodded. ‘That makes sense.’

  ‘Is that all you spoke about to Hester?’ Lynne knew that she shouldn’t really be so inquisitive.

  Sam did not seem put out by the question. ‘No, I wanted to discuss a case with her. Hester was an excellent policewoman. She has a good head on her shoulders.’

  ‘A pity she had to give up her job when she married,’ said Lynne.

  ‘You think that, too?’ He drained his cup. ‘Anyway, she’s been a help to me and I’ll set my leetle grey cells to work on the suggestion she put forward.’

  ‘I thought real policemen found Hercules Poirot a pain in the neck.’

  ‘I read him when I was much younger,’ said Sam, taking her cup from her. ‘So where did you have your baby, Lynne?’