by Joan Jonker
Sadie gasped before squealing with delight as she lifted the blouse from its wrapping. It was in a fine, soft material, with a pink background patterned with splashes of pale blue. It had long wide sleeves gathered into a tightfitting cuff, and a wide frill set off the round neck. And it was brand new; it still had the label attached. ‘Grandma, this is the prettiest blouse I’ve ever seen.’ Sadie was overcome. ‘I don’t know what to say, except that yer shouldn’t have spent so much on me, but I’m glad yer did ’cos I love it.’
‘You can put it on when yer’ve opened yer other present. Me and Joe are dying to see what yer look like in it.’
‘I’ll wear it today, and tomorrow for when our Ellen and Jimmy come. Ooh, I could kiss yer both to death, and I will when I’ve opened this.’ The slippers were just what Sadie had been promising to buy herself, and she was over the moon. ‘As me Auntie Mary would say, there’s no flies on me, not today there isn’t. I’m so happy I could dance in the street.’
‘Well, forget about dancing in the street, sweetheart, and go upstairs and put yer new blouse on. I’ll rinse the few dishes through and then make us a nice cuppa before I start on the vegetables and potatoes.’
‘I’ll do all those,’ Sadie said, on her way to the door. ‘I’m going to wait on you today so yer can both take it easy.’
When Sadie came downstairs, Joe gazed at her for several seconds before calling, ‘Sarah, come in here and see this.’
Sarah’s hand went to her mouth. No matter what Sadie wore, she would always look beautiful. But they had never seen her looking as beautiful as she did in that blouse. It was a perfect fit, the style suited her and the colours brought out the vivid blue of her eyes. ‘Child, yer look like an angel.’
‘She looks like a film star.’ Joe had never seen an angel but he had seen Jean Harlow and Constance Bennett. ‘In fact, she looks better than a film star.’
A loud knock on the front door brought a look of surprise to Sadie’s face. ‘Who’ll this be, on Christmas Day?’
Sarah kept her face straight as she shrugged her shoulders. ‘It’ll be one of the neighbours come to wish us the compliments of the season. I’ll see to the door while you pour the tea out.’
As Sadie walked into the living room with two steaming hot cups of tea in her hands, Peter was coming in through the other door. ‘Was that you knockin’ on the door?’
‘Well, it wasn’t all of me, Sadie, just me hand. It’s very impetuous, me hand, has a mind of it’s own an’ I can’t do a thing with it. If it wants to knock on a door then it will do, no matter what I say.’
Still holding the cups, Sadie asked, ‘What are yer doing here on Christmas Day?’
Peter turned to Sarah. ‘This niece of yours is very rude, Auntie Sarah; she’s got no manners at all.’ He winked broadly at the old lady. ‘But I’ve got to say she looks very delectable today – she even beats the fairy on top of the tree. D’yer think I should forget she’s been rude to me and wish her a Merry Christmas?’
Joe had noticed Peter’s hand behind his back and chuckled. ‘Yes, son, wish her the compliments of the season like it should be done.’
Sadie was wary. She didn’t trust Peter when he was in this mood. But before she even had time to put the cups down, he was standing between her and the table with a huge cheeky grin on his face and a piece of mistletoe in his hand. ‘Don’t you dare, Peter Townley, I’m warning yer.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t miss this chance for the world.’ Holding the mistletoe over her head Peter planted a kiss on her cheek. ‘Have a happy day, Sadie Wilson. I know I’ve caught yer on the hop, with yer hands full, so to speak. But yer must admit that if I’d been a gentleman and asked yer permission to kiss yer, I’d have got me face slapped good and proper. And as I’m not partial to having me face slapped I decided to strike while the iron was hot and sneak one in. Mind you, I’d have risked it for a proper kiss ’cos it must be said that yer do have very kissable lips. Not that yer don’t have kissable cheeks, or a kissable neck, but a peck on the cheek is not worth getting a slap across the face for.’
Sadie’s face was red with embarrassment. Fancy him doing that in front of her grandma and grandad! She looked at the cups in her hand and had the desire to throw the tea all over him. He deserved it for what he’d done. Then she heard Joe’s hearty chortle and it was as if a light had been switched on in her head. Why was she being so miserable? Peter had come in all bright and cheerful, and here she was putting a damper on things. It was supposed to be a day of joy and happiness, for goodness sake! Where was her sense of humour? ‘I’ll get you for this, Peter Townley,’ she said, setting the cups down. ‘I’ll pay yer back double, you see if I don’t.’
After a sly wink at Joe, Peter handed her the mistletoe. ‘Oh, yes please, Sadie. But instead of a double kiss on me cheek, can I swap it for just one kiss on me lips? I think that would be a very fair exchange, don’t you, Auntie Sarah?’
‘I’m saying nothing. You two young ones must fight it out between yerselves,’ Sarah said, finding the whole incident hilarious. ‘I’ll see to a cup of tea for yer.’
‘Yer not leaving this room until I have me Christmas kiss, Auntie Sarah.’ When Peter took the old lady in his arms Sadie noted how gentle he was with her. It wasn’t often he showed his serious side, but behind the jokes and the laughter, he was a kind and considerate boy.
Joe tugged at Sadie’s skirt, and when she looked down at him and saw the mischievous glint in his eyes, her heart swelled with love for him. ‘What d’yer want, Grandad?’
Joe nodded at Peter and pointed to the mistletoe before mouthing, ‘I dare yer.’
Sadie’s eyes flew open. Much as she’d like to give the old man a laugh, she couldn’t bring herself to do as he asked. Or could she? It was only in fun, after all.
‘Can I borrow yer mistletoe, Peter, so I can give me grandad a kiss?’
‘Yer a lucky man, Mr O’Hanlon,’ Peter said as he handed it over. ‘From the looks of things I’m goin’ to have to wait until I’m your age before she gives me a kiss.’
‘Ah, me heart bleeds for yer. I couldn’t be so cruel as to keep yer waiting all that time.’ Sadie grinned and held the mistletoe over her head. ‘Yer can have yer kiss, Peter Townley, but I’m not givin’ it to yer, yer’ll have to take it.’
Peter was flabbergasted. ‘Oh aye, what’s the catch? Yer teasing me, aren’t yer?’
‘Take it while it’s on offer, son,’ Joe laughed. ‘If I was your age I wouldn’t give her time to change her mind.’
The look of bewilderment on Peter’s face was enough to chase away Sadie’s doubts and embarrassment. At last she’d got the better of him and was giving him a taste of his own medicine. He wouldn’t have the nerve to kiss her now.
‘I’m going to count to ten, then the offer will be withdrawn.’ She turned to Joe. ‘He’s scared, Grandad, ’cos I’ve called his bluff.’
While she was turned away from him, Peter seized the opportunity. ‘I’ll show yer whether I’m scared or not.’ He pulled her to him, put one arm around her waist, a hand behind her head so she couldn’t struggle, and before she knew what had hit her, his lips were covering hers.
Sarah came in carrying a cup of tea and gaped at the scene that met her eyes. ‘Okay, that’s enough, break it up now.’
When Peter raised his head he had the look on his face of someone who had just heard that a rich relative had died and left him a fortune. He didn’t have a rich relative of course, but if he had, and they were generous enough to leave him a fortune in their will, then that’s how his face would look. ‘Auntie Sarah, yer a spoil-sport. I was just enjoying meself then. Couldn’t yer go back out and come in again, in about half an hour?’
Sadie disentangled herself and gave him a kick on the shin. It wasn’t a hard kick, just enough to make him wince. ‘I’ll get you one day, Peter Townley, you just see if I don’t.’
‘If yer could make it down a dark entry one night, Sadie, I’d like that. In fact, if
I was to speak the truth, and you all know what a truthful bloke I am, then I’d have to say, without doubt, I’d positively enjoy letting yer get me one day.’ He grinned into her face. ‘I don’t suppose yer could make it a week on Wednesday, by any chance? That would give me time to get meself in peak condition for the big moment.’
Sarah waved him to a chair. ‘Will yer sit down and give yer tongue a rest, Peter.’
‘Don’t yer mean give our ears a rest, Grandma?’ Sadie asked. ‘Honest, once he starts he forgets to finish. I can never get a word in edgeways with him.’
Peter waited until Sadie sat down then pulled out the chair next to her. ‘I promise I won’t open me mouth until yer’ve told me what Father Christmas brought for you and Mr and Mrs O’Hanlon.’
That suited Sadie down to the ground. It was with great pleasure she showed him all the presents. Then she pointed to the Christmas cards standing on the mantelpiece and sideboard. ‘See all the cards I got from me customers and friends at the market? I’ve never had so many cards in me life.’
‘Oh, strewth!’ Peter slapped an open palm on his forehead. ‘I nearly forgot, I’ve got two cards for yer.’ He pulled two crumpled envelopes out of his pocket and handed them to her. ‘One’s from me, and the other’s from that feller yer once told me yer were courting strong. Only yer couldn’t have been courting that strong, ’cos yer don’t go out with him now.’
Sadie looked surprised. ‘How did you get that?’
‘He gave it to me at the dance last week, when you were up dancing with Tommy. He said he didn’t like handing it to yer, and he couldn’t send it because you would never tell him where yer lived.’ Peter took advantage of Sadie’s bowed head and winked at Sarah. ‘He says on the card that he loves her, Auntie Sarah.’
Sadie gave out a loud cry. ‘Do you mean to tell me that Geoff gave yer a card for me, and you opened it?’
‘I didn’t have to open it – he hadn’t stuck it down.’
‘You had no right, that’s a sneaky thing to do.’ Sadie’s eyes were blazing. ‘Grandma, will you tell him off for me? If I start on him I’ll scratch his eyes out.’
‘Let’s get it straight first.’ Sarah squeezed her husband’s hand because she could hear him chuckling softly. ‘Peter, what’s the picture on the front of Geoff’s card?’
Peter was caught off-guard for a second; he hadn’t been expecting that. ‘Er, I didn’t look at the front of the card, only what was inside. I mean, I can’t have an ex-strongly courted bloke sending Sadie cards, can I? He still fancies her, yer see, Auntie Sarah, and I don’t want him blighting me life again. I’m getting nowhere fast with her as it is. If he comes back in the picture I’ll be out of the running altogether.’
‘You are not in the running, Peter Townley, I’ve told yer that often enough. You never have been and never will be. And neither is Geoff, even though he is more of a gentleman than you. At least he wouldn’t be sly enough to read a card belonging to someone else.’
Sarah tutted. ‘Peter, yer in deep water as it is, don’t make it worse for yerself. Tell us exactly what Geoff has written on the card.’
‘I don’t know, Auntie Sarah, I’m on tenterhooks waiting for Sadie to open it. But I’m saying now, in front of witnesses, that if the word “love” appears on that card I’ll set Tommy and Spike on to Geoff at the dance next week.’
While Sarah’s shoulders shook and Joe rocked back and forth in his chair with laughter, Sadie gaped. ‘Do you mean to tell me that we’ve gone all through this, Peter Townley, and you’ve only been pulling me leg?’
‘I’ve been havin’ yer on, Sadie, not pulling yer leg. If I ever got the chance to really pull one of your legs I’d have a look of pure bliss on me face ’cos I’d be in heaven. I hate to admit it in case yer get big-headed, but yer have got very shapely legs.’
‘That’s enough now.’ Sarah wiped the back of her hands across her eyes. ‘Yer startin’ to get too personal and I’ll not have it in my house.’
‘I’ve got to try every trick in the book, Auntie Sarah. Don’t forget I’m competing with Tommy and Spike, as well as this Geoff feller.’
Sarah couldn’t resist. ‘And Harry!’
‘Harry!’ Peter’s voice was shrill. ‘Who the hell is Harry when he’s out?’
Sadie’s heart had lurched when Sarah mentioned Harry’s name, but the expression of bewilderment on Peter’s face brought forth gales of laughter. He was flummoxed and she took great delight in the fact. ‘Harry’s an old friend of mine.’
Peter’s eyes narrowed. ‘How old? As old as Mr O’Hanlon?’
‘Just about.’ Sadie didn’t want to talk about Harry so she changed the subject. ‘Tell us what you got off Father Christmas.’
‘The same as I get every year – socks, hankies and tie. Nothing to get excited about.’
‘It’s not easy to buy for boys, though,’ Sadie said, making allowances for Mrs Townley. ‘There’s not the same selection as there is for girls.’
‘Sadie, before we get to discussing the price of fish, are yer goin’ to open yer cards?’
‘As soon as yer out of the door I’ll have them open and stood with the rest. While yer here they stay in the envelopes.’
This could go on all day, Sarah thought, and we’ve still got the veg and potatoes to see to. So she tried to hasten things along. ‘We’d better get started on the dinner, Sadie, or we’ll be having it at tea-time. And I’ve got some baking to do for tomorrow. Have yer told Peter that yer brother and sister are coming for tea?’
‘No, she didn’t tell me, Auntie Sarah.’ Peter got in first. ‘She’s a bit of a dark horse on the quiet, is our Sadie.’
‘I am not a dark horse! I just didn’t think yer’d be interested.’
Joe was sucking on his pipe, listening with a wily look in his eyes. ‘Why don’t yer invite Peter, queen? The more the merrier, make a party of it.’
‘No!’ Sadie shook her head vigorously. ‘Peter doesn’t want to be bothered coming to tea with children – he’d be bored stiff.’
‘On the contrary.’ Peter pushed his chair back. He intended getting out quickly before the invitation was withdrawn. ‘I’d be only too pleased. What time would you like me to be here, Sadie? Or should I be asking Auntie Sarah, seeing as it’s her house?’
‘Three o’clock, son, and now will yer get going. Sadie will see yer out.’
‘No!’ Peter could see by Sadie’s face she wasn’t too pleased, and if she got him on her own she’d tell him he needn’t bother putting in an appearance. ‘I’ll see meself out.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
As the Rotunda building loomed nearer and nearer, Sadie’s eyes were peeled for sight of her sister and brother. There were plenty of people out, all wrapped up against the cold wind as they made their way to visit family or friends for a Boxing Day celebration. But there was no sign of Ellen or Jimmy, and Sadie’s heart sank. Perhaps they hadn’t been able to get away, or maybe they’d got lost. She’d die of disappointment if they didn’t come, she was so looking forward to seeing them. And it would be a let-down for Sarah, who had got everything ready for a tea party. When Sadie had left the house, the old lady had been putting the finishing touches to the jelly creams, sprinkling colourful hundreds and thousands over the top of them.
Sadie was passing a row of shops when a hand reached out from a doorway and pulled her to a halt. ‘We’re in here, Sadie.’ Jimmy grinned, his cheeks whipped to a bright red by the wind. ‘We were freezing standing on that corner, weren’t we, Ellen?’
‘I’m not surprised.’ Sadie stared at them in dismay. Neither of them were wearing coats; their only protection from the cold were the woollen jumpers and gloves she had given them for Christmas. ‘Don’t either of yer possess a coat, or any sort of jacket?’
‘Nah, but we’re all right.’ Jimmy pulled on the cuff of a glove and spoke with bravado through chattering teeth.’ We’re used to the cold, aren’t we, Ellen?’
‘We might be used to
it, but that doesn’t mean we don’t feel it.’ Ellen had her arms folded across her body with her hands tucked under her armpits for warmth. ‘I’m like a block of ice, our Sadie. Even with these gloves on me fingers feel cold enough to drop off.’
‘A quick five-minute walk and yer’ll soon be sitting in front of a nice big fire.’ Sadie undid the buttons on her coat and slipped it off. ‘Come here, Ellen, and we’ll put me coat across our shoulders. Cuddle up close and put yer arm around me waist.’ She pulled a face at her brother. ‘I’m sorry I can’t help you, Jimmy, but we’ll walk fast and that’ll warm us up.’
Sarah had been watching through the window and the door was opened before Sadie had time to knock. ‘In the name of heaven, they’ll catch their death of cold comin’ out in this weather without a coat on their backs.’
‘They didn’t have much choice, Grandma.’ Sadie’s glance told Sarah not to pursue the matter. ‘Come on, kids, get in the warmth.’
Jimmy didn’t need telling twice. He could smell the heat and made a beeline for the living room, but he pulled up sharp when he reached the door. He was expecting a fire, but not one that roared up the chimney, with dancing flames giving out both warmth and welcome. The few times they had a fire at home, it was just half a dozen pieces of coal lying so low in the grate there was no heat from it. And when he spotted the gaily decorated tree, his eyes became as round as saucers and his mouth gaped wide.
‘Come in, son, and get a warm.’ Joe beckoned the boy over. ‘Sit on the floor and yer’ll soon be as warm as toast.’
Jimmy saw the kindness shining from the old man’s eyes and a smile lit up his face. ‘That’s a fire and a half, that is, mister!’ He squatted on the floor and held his hands in front of the flickering flames. ‘Ooh, that doesn’t half feel good.’
Sadie had a job getting her sister to move, the girl was so shy. ‘Come on, our Ellen,’ she coaxed, ‘let’s get yer in the living room and I’ll introduce yer proper.’