Freda thought for a moment before bursting into tears. ‘I’ve just realized that at long last, Tony is going to have a family,’ she sobbed.
‘It’s so good of you to come with me, Ruby,’ Freda said as they walked up the high street to Maisie’s Modes. ‘With you and Maisie advising me on what to wear for my wedding, I shouldn’t go far wrong.’
‘I deem it an honour, my love. You’re like family, so it’s only right I give you all the help I can. Besides, you know I like a wedding and a party afterwards. Even at my age I can manage a knees-up,’ she grinned, before thanking a woman who held the door to the shop for them as she walked out. ‘Put the kettle on, the bride is here,’ she called to where Maisie was handing a parcel to her last customer of the day.
‘Blimey, you’re in good spirits,’ Maisie grinned. ‘I take it someone has booked the date?’
Freda removed her coat and hat and hung them on a hook on the wall. ‘Things have moved on a bit since we last saw you,’ she said, rolling her eyes skywards.
‘Don’t tell me – you’ve changed your plans and want a gold coach to take you ter the registry office?’ Maisie said, roaring with laughter at her own joke.
‘It’s almost as bad as that,’ Ruby said as she went to where Maisie kept her kettle and shook it to check it contained enough water for their drink. ‘I’ve brought some biscuits, as no doubt you’re out of them.’
‘I didn’t stop for anything to eat midday, if that’s what yer mean,’ Maisie grinned. ‘Now stop fiddling with that kettle and sit down, so you can both bring me up to date wiv what’s been ’appening.’
‘There’s not to be a registry office wedding,’ Freda said, waiting to see her friend’s expression.
‘Oh, bloody ’ell, has he changed his mind? I ’ope it wasn’t my fault as I told Tony when he marries you, he takes on all of us as well as the local Brownie and Girl Guide groups.’
‘Oh, Maisie, he’d love all of that. He’s already talking about helping out with the local youth club to teach the kids how to maintain their bikes as well as take them for rides at the weekend. No, it’s something bigger than that . . .’
‘Come one, Freda. Don’t keep me in suspense,’ Maisie all but screamed. ‘Are you up the duff and putting it all off until after the birth?’ She knew just how to embarrass her young friend, and succeeded as she saw Freda blush a deep red.
‘No, be serious,’ she scolded. ‘As my brother Lenny is away until September, we plan to have the wedding then. And . . .’ she stopped and smiled. ‘And it’s going to be a church wedding at St Paulinus, just like many of you have had,’ she grinned.
Maisie clapped her hands together in delight. ‘Now, that’s more like it. I never saw you as someone who would dash off to do it on the quick dressed in a suit.’
Ruby smiled. Maisie had some blunt ways of speaking, but she’d hit the nail on the head with that comment. ‘I’m here in my official capacity as honorary grandmother, and after having a word with Bob we both decided we wanted to pay for the wedding gown and all the bridesmaids’ dresses,’ she said, looking at Freda’s shocked face. ‘And I don’t want any arguments. This’ll be the last big wedding for a while until all the grandkids grow up, so I want to spoil you.’
Freda burst into tears and threw herself into Ruby’s arms. ‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ she sobbed. ‘I came here thinking Maisie may have something second-hand that could be altered, and to ask her to be my chief bridesmaid, what with you being the eldest,’ she added with a cheeky grin. ‘I never expected to be told you’d be treating me like a granddaughter.’
‘Blimey, you can stop these tears fer a start. It’s like ’aving Sarah here. She’s usually the first to start blubbing. Crikey, talk of the devil and she will appear. Here she comes,’ Maisie laughed as Sarah let herself into the shop.
‘Hello everyone,’ Sarah said as she went to kiss her nan’s cheek.
‘I’m glad you could get here, love,’ Ruby said. ‘I thought it was time you and Freda made things up, considering she’s going to be getting married soon and needs all the help we can give her.’
Freda gave Sarah a shy look, not sure how she would take Ruby’s advice. ‘I’d like us to be friends,’ she said quietly. ‘At no time did I want to hurt you.’
‘Yer could say she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. In a way, Alan shouldn’t have made her promise not ter say anything. Like a bloody fool, she did his bidding. He’s got a lot ter answer for,’ Maisie said pointedly.
Sarah and Freda looked at each other, both observing how the other was reacting to Maisie’s words.
‘Well, someone speak, we can’t stand here all day,’ Ruby said, looking at the three women who meant so much to her. The kettle started to whistle. ‘I’ll get that, shall I?’
‘I want you to be one of my bridesmaids, along with Georgina,’ Freda said, trying the break the ice. ‘Tony and I are going to get married in a church now we have time to plan. Lenny’s ship’s not back until the end of August so we’ve booked St Paulinus for the third Saturday in September. Please say we can be friends again,’ she begged, holding out her hand to Sarah.
‘Yer supposed ter say something now,’ Maisie said as she nudged Sarah. ‘Oh, bloody ’ell, I just knew she was going ter cry – and now you’ve got me starting,’ she sniffed, before holding her arms wide. The three of them hugged tightly before breaking apart and laughing.
‘I just want to say one thing,’ Sarah said.
‘Please do. Get it out in the open,’ Freda urged.
‘First, I feel as though we should be making a toast in champagne,’ Sarah said, giving a small smile.
‘We’ll have to make do with tea,’ Ruby said, appearing with a tray and handing out the mugs.
‘What are we toasting, apart from friendship?’ Maisie asked.
Sarah raised her mug into the air. ‘Bloody men!’ she declared. ‘And in particular, bloody Alan.’
‘Sarah Gilbert, I’ve never heard you swear before. Whatever would your mother have said?’ Ruby gasped.
The four women fell about laughing, as they knew only too well what the late Irene Caselton would have said to women swearing.
‘Bloody Alan,’ Freda said, clinking her mug against Sarah’s. ‘Here’s to friendship.’
Once Ruby’s stash of biscuits had been consumed, Maisie pulled out a notebook and licked the end of her pencil. ‘Right, let’s get this show on the road. Shall we make a list of bridesmaids?’
‘I want you two. Oh, and Sadie and our Sally. Then there’s Georgina, your four girls, Myfi, and I suppose I should ask Gwyneth and Betty’s older two girls . . .’
‘Blimey. You’re going to have more people walking down the aisle than in the congregation at this rate. I make that unlucky for some, thirteen,’ Maisie said. This wedding will look more like a circus act than a serious occasion.’
‘But I want all of you to be with me when I marry my Tony. I want it to be a perfect day that we will remember forever.’
‘And I agree, it would be a marvellous idea. Do you have any suggestions, Nan?’
Ruby had wandered away from where the girls were standing and was rooting though a pile of fabric. ‘You’ve been busy, Maisie. Is this earmarked for anything?’ she asked, holding up a bolt of cream-coloured cotton.
‘I bought it wiv a job lot of furnishing fabric from a company that went out of business. That’s curtain lining. Why, d’yer want some curtains made up?’
‘No, but the little girls would look very pretty in matching cotton frocks. You could have some pretty sashes made from whatever fabric you chose for the adult attendants.’
Freda was thrilled. ‘It’s a marvellous idea, and the children can wear the frocks afterwards. What do you think?’ she asked her two friends as her eyes shone with excitement.
‘That’s a blinder of an idea, Ruby,’ Maisie said. ‘Hang on a minute, I’ve had a thought,’ she said, pulling open a cardboard box. ‘These old frocks came in – don
’t ask from where,’ she grinned. ‘I spotted a monstrosity that must have come from the last war but, picked apart, it might just do to trim the little ones’ frocks.’ She pulled out dress after dress until she gave a yell of success. ‘Here it is. Look, a hideous thing, but the embroidered overskirt would make very pretty sashes.’
‘Oh my, I see what you mean,’ Sarah said as she shook out the old dress and held it up for them all to approve. ‘I’ll come over in the evenings and help you with the dresses, Maisie. How about you, Freda? Perhaps we could take a trip up to Woolwich market together to look for some fabric for the adult bridesmaids.’
‘I’d like that,’ Freda said. ‘And perhaps we could just have the grown-ups escort me, and the little ones can sit in the congregation, so it doesn’t look too much like a circus,’ she grinned.
‘Better still – why not just have the little ones? There’s nothing nicer than to see a young bride surrounded by small children on her wedding day.’
‘Ruby’s right, you know,’ Maisie said as she picked at the biscuit crumbs left on the plate. We can be there to ’elp you but it would be wonderful ter see you with our kiddies as you get married.’
‘Then I agree,’ Freda said. ‘Although I want you both close by my side in case I get cold feet or something,’ she added nervously.
‘The three musketeers,’ Ruby smiled. ‘It’s good to see you all friends again.’
‘I want to apologize for being so horrid to you, Freda,’ Sarah said. ‘I should have known that you’d be loyal to Alan as a friend and would never have an affair with him. I don’t know what possessed me to think that.’
‘I’d have been the same in your position,’ Freda answered. ‘I lost count of the number of times I wanted to tell you what was going on, but he made me promise. If I’d said anything, I would have been the one to break bad news and see you split up.’
‘That’s all down to Alan, and look where it’s got him. He lives alone in his mother’s house while his wife and children are streets away.’
‘Will you take him back?’ Maisie asked.
‘Oh, yes, I’d have him back like a shot, but first Alan has got to realize he misses me and loves me. And I’ve got to know we can trust each other. I’ve seen a few glimmers of the old Alan when he’s come to collect the children, and I know that if I bide my time, he will come back to me.’
‘Blimey, Sarah, it sounds as though you’ve got it all planned,’ Maisie grinned. ‘You’re a tough cookie, as the Yanks say in those crime movies. If you didn’t cry at the drop of a hat you could be scary.’
‘That’s my girl,’ Ruby said as she reached for her coat. ‘I’m going to love you and leave you, or my old man will have bought up a whole litter of puppies if left to his own devices.’
‘Don’t tell me you’ve caved in over the greyhound puppy?’ Sarah laughed.
‘I have, but I’ve given Mike and George strict instructions that if anything should happen to Bob then it’s theirs, as I want nothing to do with it.’
‘Oh, Nan, don’t talk like that,’ Sarah exclaimed.
‘It’ll happen to us all sooner or later, my love, so don’t you go fretting. I just don’t see myself as a greyhound trainer, that’s all,’ Ruby laughed as she swung her coat over her shoulders before doubling up in pain.
‘Nan,’ Sarah shouted. Maisie reached the older woman first.
‘Now, it’s about time yer told us all what’s the matter wiv yer. I’ve seen yer in pain a few times now, and it’s about time yer confessed so that we can ’elp.’
‘I don’t know. I get these jabbing pains sometimes. They come and go, but I’m all right at night when I’m lying down – and I’m all right now, so you’ve no need to worry about me,’ Ruby said, brushing Maisie aside.
‘Oh, no, you don’t, Mrs Jackson,’ Maisie said, taking Ruby’s coat from her and laying it down. ‘Now, you tell me where it hurts,’ she said as she ran her hands carefully up Ruby’s back before frowning and feeling her waist. ‘What the bloody ’ell ’ave you got on under yer frock?’
‘Just my undergarments,’ Ruby said, struggling away from her. ‘There’s no need to fuss.’
‘I am fussing, whether you like it or not. Now tell me again what you have on under that frock.’
Ruby looked embarrassed. ‘It don’t seem right me telling you what’s under my clothes.’
‘If you don’t tell me I’ll take a look,’ Maisie threatened, much to the horror of Freda and Sarah.
‘It’s just my corset,’ Ruby said, looking embarrassed.
‘And you wear it every day until you go ter bed?’
‘What if I do? A woman wants to look good for her husband.’
‘Not by wearing a heavy-duty corset every bloody day. Wiv all those whale bones in it, you must be in agony,’ Maisie scolded her.
‘Have you been doing this for Bob?’ Sarah asked, trying not to smile.
‘Yes,’ Ruby said, looking miserable. ‘He never saw me as a young girl, and I thought if I could get my figure back, he’d be proud of me.’
‘God, Ruby, there’s not a prouder man than your Bob,’ Maisie scolded her. Now, do me a favour, will you?’
Ruby nodded her head, looking ashamed.
‘Get yourself into that back room and take off your corset, and promise me you’ll never wear it again.’
Ruby hurried off as Maisie pulled out her wedding dress patterns. ‘Tell me what takes yer fancy, and we can start to get cracking on the most important dress of yer life,’ she said, spreading them over her worktable.
Freda scanned the envelopes, with their line drawings of elegant models wearing full-length bridal gowns. It took only seconds for her to point to one design. ‘That’s the one I like. It’s the dress I’ve dreamt of wearing.’
Ruby appeared, holding out a salmon-pink bundle with lacy edges. ‘Here, you take it, then I’ll not be trying to truss myself up in it ever again. I must say it’s nice to feel loose and free again.’
Maisie took the corset and guffawed. ‘Bloody heck, Ruby, you’ve got half a whale in this corset. Look at the number of bones sticking out of it. No wonder you’ve been in pain. I promise I’ll find it a good ’ome,’ she said, throwing it into a nearby box. ‘Now, come here and see the dress design that Freda’s chosen.’
‘Oh my, that will look lovely on you. Do you think you can run this up for her in time, Maisie? We’ve only got a few weeks to go,’ Ruby said as she lifted the pattern closer to her face to look at the detail on the flowing skirt and bodice. ‘You’ll look a treat, and your Tony will have eyes only for you.’
Maisie gave Sarah a wink and went to where her tailor’s dummy was covered in a sheet. ‘Ta-da!’ she exclaimed, pulling the sheet away to show the very same gown. ‘It was one I was making as a sample. What do you think?’
As Freda and Ruby exclaimed at the design, Sarah felt a shiver run through her body as she recalled the splash of blood on the fabric. The hairs stood up on her neck as she whispered to herself, ‘Blood and tears.’
17
September 18th, 1948
‘It is traditional to have a couple of pints before the wedding ceremony,’ Alan said as he slid a glass of best bitter across the table to Tony, who was looking particularly nervous as he loosened his tie. ‘We wait here for the others, then head off to the church in plenty of time to see your blushing bride arrive on the arm of her brother.’
Tony nodded, too nervous to speak, and took a gulp of his beer. ‘I’m not a drinker as a rule, but I’d not want to spoil a tradition,’ he said.
Alan raised his hand as he spotted Douglas Billington walk into the Prince of Wales alongside Bob Jackson and David Carlisle. ‘Over here, lads. Where’s Mike?’
‘He’ll be along shortly after he’s dropped Gwyneth at St Paulinus,’ David said, as he checked who wanted drinks.
Tony jumped to his feet. ‘I’m supposed to be there first. The vicar told me not to be late,’ he said as David grabbed his arm.
; ‘Hold your horses,’ David laughed. ‘They are going early to check the flowers and take the buttonholes. The women spent last night preparing them, freshly delivered from Bob’s allotment. They roped me in as well. If I ever see another chrysanthemum it will be too soon,’ he grinned. ‘Here are yours,’ he said, holding out a small cardboard box to the groom, and to Alan, who was the best man.
‘And you an undertaker,’ Alan laughed. ‘I’d have thought you were used to flowers.’
The men settled down to give Tony advice about married life, which was all taken in good sport. Mike added his views on babies now that he was a proud father to their six-month-old baby son, Robert.
‘I wished I’d been told this,’ Alan said ruefully, as he accepted a second pint. ‘At least then my wife wouldn’t be living under a different roof to me.’
Bob shook his head. ‘Son, we’ve all been over this a hundred times. You did what you thought was right at the time. However, you should have confided in your wife before it all got out of hand.’
‘Is there a chance you’ll get back together again?’ Douglas Billington asked. ‘I know my Betty’s been most supportive of Sarah, to the point I was threatened never to keep a secret. I almost caved in and told her what gift I’d bought her for our wedding anniversary, when she sensed I was up to something. I’m not a fan of secrets. Wasn’t it your wedding anniversary recently, Alan? How did you handle that, what with living in different houses?’
Alan gave them all a blank look before slapping his hand against his forehead. ‘Bugger me, I’ve messed up again. Here’s me thinking that if I play my cards right today, she might start to look at me favourably – and I forgot not only our anniversary, but also her birthday. We married on Sarah’s twenty-first birthday, the day war broke out,’ he explained to Tony.
Bob started to grin. ‘You can thank your step-grandfather-in-law for saving your bacon. Ruby reminded me of the day. We picked some flowers, and I forged your signature on a couple of cards. Ruby had the two kiddies make their own cards, so all’s right with the world there.’
Wedding Bells for Woolworths Page 29