by Carol Rivers
‘Shh!’ Lizzie put her finger to her mouth. ‘I promised Murphy I’d never repeat to anyone what happened at the inn.’
Flo pouted. ‘I can keep a secret. Do you think Murphy left Leonard Savage in the well?’
Lizzie shivered at the thought. ‘I haven’t asked him.’
‘Have you seen him, then?’ Flo’s eyebrows shot up.
‘Who, Murphy?’ Lizzie shrugged. ‘He’s called by the shop a few times.’
Flo’s mouth opened on an indrawn breath. ‘Oh, I see!’
‘No you don’t. He was just seeing we was all right, that’s all.’
‘If you say so.’
Lizzie sat up straight, eager to change the subject. ‘Flo, all I want now is to forget the past and for us to get on with our lives.’
‘Does that mean you’re ready to move in with Danny?’
‘It means,’ said Lizzie firmly, determined to avoid any more leading questions, ‘that I’m going to open Mr James’s old shop as a cooperative for women.’
Flo’s frown deepened. ‘A cooperative?’
‘A shop where women can bring their goods and put them on sale. We’ll take a percentage, or buy from them immediately if they’re hard up.’
‘No one does that around here.’
‘Well, I’m going to.’
‘You might lose a lot of money.’
Lizzie nodded. ‘Or I could make us all some too.’
‘But what about your love life?’ replied Flo reproachfully, unwilling to be sidetracked. ‘You could lose Danny if you’re not careful. According to Polly, he’s well in with his landlady, Mrs Williams.’
‘When did Polly say that?’ Lizzie felt her heart jump.
‘Oh, you’d be surprised what our Pol tells us. She don’t miss a trick, that kid. Me and Lil think this Mrs Williams is after Danny.’
‘So you and Lil are on speaking terms again?’ Lizzie tried to divert the conversation.
‘Yes, course we are. Now about this Mrs Williams—’
‘I don’t know anything about her,’ Lizzie said abruptly. ‘Except that she seems a very nice person.’
Flo shook her head despairingly. ‘Don’t you see Danny’s pride is hurt? Bloody Frank’s still in the picture and then this Irishman turns up on the scene.’
Lizzie closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them, she said slowly and clearly, ‘I’m grateful to Murphy for what he did, but that’s where it ends. As for Frank, you’ll be pleased to hear that he’s had his marching orders.’
Now it was Flo’s turn to sit up, a look of disbelief on her face. ‘You have? When?’
Lizzie took another patient breath. ‘I went to the hospital and asked them if they would give him his job back. And they agreed.’
Flo gasped. ‘I can’t believe you did that. What did Frank say?’
‘He didn’t like the idea but I reminded him of our arrangement. That he was to leave as soon as he was well.’ Lizzie put up her hand as Flo was about to interrupt. ‘I also pointed out that Polly needs to know he’s a decent, hard-working person and, as Bill and Gertie are prepared to put him up, on the understanding he’ll be bringing in a wage, she can see him as often as she likes.’
Flo’s jaw fell open. ‘Well, I’m blowed!’ She flopped back on the pillow, shaking her head. ‘I’ll never stop being surprised at you, Lizzie.’
‘Nor me at you.’ Lizzie gazed at her sister with pride. Then slowly her gaze fell on the baby. Nelson was fast asleep blowing bubbles that popped out from his tiny Cupid lips. Despite all her talk of independence, there was an unsettling tug deep inside her. When she’d held Nelson in her arms, with his new-baby smell on her skin, she hadn’t wanted to let him go. She hadn’t thought about shops, or fighting her corner. Instead, she’d envied the warmth and contentment of motherhood that Flo had accomplished.
‘We’ll always be here for you. Me, Syd and Nelson, whatever you do in life,’ Flo said, and Lizzie nodded.
‘Thanks, little sister.’ Lizzie gently fussed with the pillows, trying to stem the tears that now felt so close. ‘I’ve put a stew on to simmer and left a suet pudding that Syd can steam. I couldn’t find any currants, but I’ve made the custard and—’
Flo caught hold of her wrist. ‘You’ve done more than enough. Wake Syd and tell him to drive you home. Off you go to Polly, and that’s an order.’
‘All right,’ Lizzie agreed doubtfully. ‘But I’ll leave Syd to sleep. I could do with some fresh air.’
Flo smiled, her liquid brown eyes shining. ‘You’ve brought my baby into this world and I’ll never forget that. You and Ma.’
As Lizzie left Langley Street that afternoon, with the soft breeze on her face, she felt very different. She wondered if what Flo had said was true and Ma had been with them at Nelson’s birth.
All the Allens had been born at No. 82; Vinnie, Bert, Lizzie, Babs and Flo. Langley Street was the Allens’ turf. And perhaps one day, Babs and Vinnie would return to the East End and old wounds would be healed with the help of the new generation.
Lizzie liked to think so. She wouldn’t give up hope.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Autumn, 1933
The smell of newly applied distemper stung her nose as Lizzie slid the key into the lock and opened the door. In just one week, the decorators had painted all the walls in a soft cream colour and the carpenter had built shelves on either side of the floor space. The dark brown linoleum, her greatest expense and perhaps extravagance, had yet to be laid.
She could see at a glance where she would position the greengrocery and the shining new glass cabinet. No more browned caulis or wilted greens; this time, she was buying from Covent Garden, choice merchandise, together with fresh flowers, a welcome splash of colour.
As Bill followed her in, they stood together in the middle of the room. In silent admiration of what was now a transformed selling space, complete with two storerooms at the rear and rooms above, Lizzie surveyed her new kingdom.
Her heart raced a little as she thought of the investment she was making, the risks she was taking.
‘You’ve ideas above yourself, Lizzie girl,’ Bill said as he leaned heavily on his walking stick, shrugging his shoulders under his old navy-blue greatcoat. ‘And I like ’em.’
Lizzie laughed with relief. ‘I was afraid you wouldn’t.’ Lizzie anxiously pulled the soft curves of her jacket around her, her long black hair falling across the delicate cloth. ‘Every halfpenny counts, don’t it?’
‘You’re a pioneer, girl,’ Bill said thoughtfully. ‘Breaking the mould, that’s what you’re doing. You’re giving the power back to the people. Letting the women think and bake for themselves. That’s how we’ll survive the next depression.’
‘I hope that’s a long way off.’
‘You was with me in ’28 when all the small shops went under. But you kept us afloat, gel, you was canny.’
She smiled gratefully at the elderly man. They had survived the roughest of times together, celebrated the best, and today was no different. ‘Do you really think I can do this, Bill?’
For a moment he paused and Lizzie’s heart stood still as she waited for his reply. ‘I wouldn’t be standing here now if I didn’t,’ he told her. ‘I only wish I was young again and could join you.’
‘You’ve taught me everything. You’ll always be in my head, telling me which way to go.’
Bill nodded contentedly. ‘That’s good enough for me, Lizzie girl.’ He shuffled slowly across the floor to frown out of the window. Saying over his shoulder, ‘You’ll be interested to know Frank’s toeing the line. He’s started at the hospital, Gawd help the patients. Doing his bit about the house. Gertie fusses over him like an old mother hen. I reckon she deserves a bit of consideration after all these years.’
‘So do you, Bill.’
He laughed softly, turning slowly to gaze at her. ‘We’ll see how long it lasts. And then when he buggers everything up, Danny can have the satisfaction of saying I told you so.’
Lizzie shook her head. ‘He wouldn’t do that.’
‘My young ’un still in the picture?’ The question came unexpectedly and Lizzie felt her cheeks grow warm.
‘I ain’t seen him, Bill.’
‘Won’t take ten minutes to drive over to there.’
‘He could come to me.’ Lizzie lifted her chin and continued to look steadily at the old man.
He nodded again, his shoulders sagging even more as a horse-drawn cart arrived outside. The young driver pulled hard on the reins and then, frowning in, raised his cloth cap to Bill.
‘That’s my ride,’ he puffed, indicating the cart. ‘The kid next door said he’d call and take me home.’
‘I’d like to drive you, Bill.’
‘Good excuse to get some air.’ With a wry smile, he nodded. ‘Take care of yourself, girl. And show the world your mettle.’
‘I will,’ she said, trying to hide the catch in her voice.
A moment later, the young man was helping Bill to climb aboard the cart. Settled under a blanket, Bill looked happy as he took the leather reins in his hands. The cart clattered off and, in silence, Lizzie gazed about her.
Could she believe it? This shop was hers. In a month’s time its doors would open and a new chapter of her life would begin. Unbidden, her thoughts flew to Ethel, from whom she’d not heard in many weeks. ‘It’s time you were here with me, Ethel. We’ve work to do,’ she told the cloudy grey sky that stretched over the roofs of the terraced houses on the opposite side of the street. ‘There’s a future here for you, making our dreams come true.’
In answer, the sun burst out from the clouds, lighting up the interior of the shop. ‘Small steps,’ she whispered knowingly. ‘And today is the first of many.’
Taking the key from her pocket she glanced one more time around the spacious room, a smile of confidence on her lips. Then, pulling her shoulders back determinedly, she left the shop, eager to embark on the next step of her journey, beginning with the drive to Lewisham.