by Joan Jonker
‘But I can’t bring meself to like him! I’ve got this feeling in me bones that there’s something fishy about him, and he’s not to be trusted.’
Molly was half-inclined to agree, but knew that to say so could only make things worse between Nellie and her daughter. ‘Even if ye’re right, sunshine, ye’re going about things in the wrong way. The more against Len you are, the more Lily will be for him. If there is something fishy about him, and he’s not to be trusted, it’ll come out sooner or later. Your daughter’s not soft, Nellie, so just let things take their course and let her find out for herself.’
‘But what if she marries him, then finds out he’s a scoundrel? It’ll be too ruddy late then, she’ll be lumbered with him for life.’
‘Nellie, take a bit of advice. Make friends with yer daughter, and if things do go wrong, she’ll have your shoulder to cry on.’
‘I know ye’re right, girl, and I’m being a stubborn bugger. But I had such high hopes for all me kids. They were all going to fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. The trouble is, try as I may, I can’t see Lily’s happiness being with that Len.’ Nellie squared her shoulders and sighed. ‘Still, I’d better try, or I’ll never hear the last of it from yer. So I’ll have a go and see if I can get more than three words out of him.’
With determination in every step, Nellie walked from the kitchen. She didn’t know it, but both her husband and eldest son, Steve, followed her every movement. ‘Hello, Len, how are yer, lad?’
‘I’m fine thanks, Mrs McDonough.’
Nellie waited for him to enlarge on that statement, but she waited in vain. In the end she turned to her daughter. ‘How are you, love? Are yer getting enough to eat? There’s plenty, so take as much as yer want.’
‘We’re all right, Mam, don’t worry. Len doesn’t eat much, but I’m making up for it by eating enough for the two of us.’
Watching from the sidelines, Steve could see his mother wasn’t getting very far in trying to start a conversation. So he put his plate on the mantelpiece and made his way over. ‘My sister seems to have forgotten her manners, so I’ll introduce myself. I’m Steve, and I presume you are Len?’ Steve stuck his hand out, making it impossible for his sister’s boyfriend to ignore the greeting. He found the hand he shook to be limp and weak, and one of his pet hates was a weak handshake. But he didn’t let his feelings show. If his mother was prepared to make the effort to be friendly, he’d help her out. ‘I believe yer were demobbed the same day as me?’
The reply was a curt nod and few words. ‘So Lily told me.’
Steve put his arm across his mother’s shoulders and persevered. ‘What regiment were yer with?’
‘The Royal Engineers.’ Len felt a sly dig in the back and knew Lily was asking him to be a little more forthcoming. He wasn’t very keen. He didn’t know these people and it wouldn’t bother him if he never saw them again. But he needed to keep Lily sweet. ‘What lot were you with, then?’
‘The King’s Regiment, Liverpool.’ Steve was wondering what his sister saw in this bloke. He wasn’t bad-looking, but he wasn’t very pleasant or friendly. Nor was he trying to hide the fact that he didn’t want to be here. ‘D’yer live local, then?’
‘Yeah, not far, in Walton.’ The questions were getting too personal for Len’s liking, so he took Lily’s empty glass from her, saying, ‘I’ll get yer a refill.’
‘I’m going to see if Molly needs a hand,’ Nellie said. ‘Otherwise she’ll tell me I’m shirking on the job.’
‘And I’m going to see if Uncle Corker wants any help with the drinks.’ Steve squeezed his sister’s shoulder. ‘I’ll bring Jill over after, kid, when the eats are out of the way.’
Nellie made straight for the kitchen and Molly. ‘I did better than you, girl! I actually got five words out of him.’ She ran the back of a hand across her brow. ‘I’ll tell yer what, though, he’s hard bloody going! My corns talk more than he does.’
‘Well, yer’ve made a start, sunshine, that’s something. Have another go when he’s had a few more drinks and yer might get six words out of him. Even if he doesn’t appreciate it, your Lily will.’
Nellie’s usual smile was missing as she shook her head. ‘I’d feel easier in me mind if I knew a bit more about him. He didn’t seem to like Steve asking him where he lived ’cos he made an excuse about getting Lily a drink. So, apart from him living somewhere in Walton, we’re none the wiser.’
Molly chuckled. ‘I’ll tell yer what, sunshine, and this should cheer yer up. You and me will follow him one night and find out where he lives.’
A conversation from years ago came to Nellie’s mind and she gripped hold of Molly’s arm. ‘Ay, girl, d’yer remember a few years back, when we were trying to find out where someone else lived? You said we should go into business together as two private detectives. I can hear it as plain as if it was yesterday. Partners, McDonough and Bennett. That’s what yer said.’
‘Like hell I did, yer crafty article! It’s ruddy amazing how yer can remember things the way yer want to remember them! Let’s just get this clear right now. If there’s to be any partnership it’ll be Bennett and McDonough, ’cos I’m the one what thought of it.’
‘But I’m bigger than you, girl!’
‘You are not! Yer might be wider, but I’m about six inches taller than yer! So put that in yer pipe and smoke it.’
‘Oh, go on, if yer want to be childish about it. Yer’ll be sucking yer thumb in a minute if yer don’t get yer own way. And I don’t really give a sod whose name goes first, as long as we’re successful. So, are we going into partnership or not?’
Molly suppressed a grin when she studied her friend. Not for anything in the world would she say anything to upset her, but how the hell did Nellie think they could follow anybody and not be seen? Then Molly couldn’t contain the laughter. ‘I can just see us trailing someone, hopping in and out of doorways and trying to hide behind lamp-posts! We’d look like two of the Marx Brothers! In fact, we’d look a damn sight funnier than them!’
‘I wouldn’t mind looking daft if it brought results. I’m not proud, girl.’
Jill came into the kitchen followed closely by Doreen. ‘That’s all the sandwiches gone, Mam, and I think everyone’s had enough.’
Doreen eyed the two women with curiosity. ‘What are you two cooking up?’
‘We’ve been discussing the price of fish, haven’t we, Nellie? But we’ll leave it for now and start collecting the dishes in. Then we’ll get the party going and have a sing-song.’
Doreen pulled a face. ‘Mam, yer make a lousy liar!’
‘Well, I’m sure yer wouldn’t want yer mam to be a good liar, would yer?’ Nellie asked. ‘Not like me, yer can’t believe a word I say! I don’t even believe meself half the time.’
‘That’s not true, Auntie Nellie.’ Jill put her arms around her future mother-in-law. ‘I know yer only tell fibs when yer want to make people laugh.’
‘Come on, break it up, we’ve got guests to see to.’ Molly put the plug in the sink before turning to take the boiling kettle off the stove. ‘Bring all the dirty dishes out and I’ll get cracking right away. There’s nothing greasy so we should have them done in no time.’
Molly gazed around to make sure everyone’s glass was full before asking, ‘Right, who’s going to give the first song?’
Rosie stepped forward. ‘Is it all right with yerself, Auntie Molly, if me and Tommy go first?’
Molly looked flabbergasted. ‘You and Tommy? Our Tommy can’t sing for peanuts!’
‘Well now, didn’t we have a little practice last night, and the night before?’ Rosie’s bonny face was beaming. ‘It’s yerself that’s in for a surprise, Auntie Molly.’
‘I’ll be more than surprised if yer even get him on the floor, sunshine, never mind sing!’
Rosie held out her hand. ‘Come on, Tommy, me darling, let’s show them how good we are together.’
Tommy was laughing as he got to his feet. �
�Rosie reminds me of the sergeant I had in the army. One word from him and we all jumped.’
Molly sat on Jack’s knee and whispered, ‘I don’t believe this!’
‘I’m having difficulty meself, love. I never thought the day would come when our Tommy got to his feet, willingly, to sing a song. In fact, I didn’t even know he could sing!’
But Tommy seemed to be enjoying himself and there was no sign of nerves. He was smiling down at Rosie as though she was the only person in the room. ‘Ready, sweetheart?’
The attractive couple harmonised beautifully as they sang ‘Girl of My Dreams’. And their obvious pleasure at being together brought a lump to more than one listener’s throat. The applause when they’d finished was thunderous and well-deserved. ‘Ye’re a dark horse, Tommy!’ Steve called. ‘I didn’t know yer could sing like that.’
‘I didn’t know meself,’ Tommy chuckled. ‘But Rosie can be very persuasive. She gave me an ultimatum. No singing, no kissing.’ He looked towards Bridie and Bob. ‘What did yer think of that, Nan and Grandad?’
‘It was grand,’ Bob said, his eyes moist. ‘Really grand.’
‘Sure, weren’t we lying in bed listening to yer practising?’ Bridie said. ‘Little did we know yer’d be so quick to learn, me darling.’
‘I had to, Nan. Like I said – no singing, no kisses! And I’d rather go without me dinner than forfeit one of Rosie’s kisses.’
‘Sensible man,’ Corker said. ‘But ye’re going to be a hard act to follow. The only one I know with the guts to do so is Nellie!’
‘Uh huh! They’re not drunk enough to appreciate me, Corker. I like me audience to be paralytic. There’s nothing worse for a performer of my standing than to be in the middle of a song and have a squashed tomato thrown in me face.’
‘I know someone who can sing,’ Tommy said. ‘Come on, Archie, give the old vocal cords an airing.’
‘No chance, mate.’ Archie grinned. ‘Unless one of the girls will sing with me.’
Jill moved even closer to Steve. ‘Don’t ask me. I can’t sing, and I’d die of embarrassment anyway.’
‘Our Tommy’s represented the Bennett family, so it’s the turn of the McDonoughs.’ Doreen spotted Lily. ‘I’ll tell yer what, me and Lily will both sing with Archie.’ Grabbing the unsuspecting girl by the arm, she dragged her into the empty spot in front of the fireplace. ‘What’s it to be, Archie?’
Lily looked anything but at ease when Archie put an arm around each of the girl’s waists. ‘I’m warning yer, I can’t sing!’
‘Don’t worry about that. Just relax and enjoy yerself.’ Archie whispered the title of the song and Doreen nodded, while Lily watched Len’s face getting redder and redder as they all launched into ‘Goodnight, Sweetheart’.
Archie, who had a good clear voice, was swaying from side to side in time with the tempo, and Lily began to enjoy herself. She loved music and dancing, and this was one of her favourite songs. It was a party after all, so there was no need for Len to get a cob on over her enjoying herself. So she swayed and sang in a voice that was passable.
Doreen caught Phil’s eye and remembered the times they’d danced to this tune. So she broke away and walked straight into her boyfriend’s arms to shuffle as best as they could in the crowded room.
There were calls for an encore when the song finished and Lily stayed, despite the dark looks coming her way from Len. To walk away now and leave Archie on his own would be churlish, and belittling to him.
The song was romantic and had a catchy melody. Bridie and Bob held hands and smiled at each other. Still so much in love after nearly fifty years of marriage. Molly had her arms around Jack’s neck and was crooning in his ear. Ellen was smiling as Corker serenaded her, while young Phoebe looked on, enthralled. Maisie and Alec were holding hands and singing at the top of their voices. Nellie was perched on the arm of George’s chair and had joined in the singing. And Jill and Doreen were wrapped in their boyfriends’ arms.
There were two men with no one to hold. But while Paul drank his beer, laughed and sang with the rest, Len stood stony-faced. In his mind, Lily had no right to make a fool of him by leaving his side to sing with some strange bloke. She wouldn’t get the chance to do it again, he’d make sure of that.
‘It’s your turn now, Nellie,’ Corker said when Archie returned to Paul’s side and Lily was back with Len. ‘Yer’ve got no excuse now.’
‘I don’t know why she needs all this coaxing,’ Molly said. ‘She’s been waiting for her big moment for the last few hours. Come on, Nellie, sunshine, let’s be having yer.’
Nellie gave a slight cough as she stood in front of the fireplace. Then she squared her shoulders and folded her hands across her tummy. ‘Can we have a bit of hush for the first song, please? It’s a classical one, as sung by Ivor Novello.’ She saw the surprise and lifting of eyebrows, and her inside was gurgling with laughter. Looking down at her hands, she cleared her throat. Then the room erupted with the power of her voice as she belted out:
‘Oh, Frankie and Johnny were lovers,
My gawd, how they could love,
Swore to be true to each other,
True as the stars above:
He was her man, but he done her wro-o-o-ng.’
Nellie’s whole body swayed as she sang, egged on by the clapping and loud cheers. She always did a song justice, and ‘Frankie and Johnny’ had never been sung with such gusto. Every eye in the room was on her, except for Lily’s and her very angry boyfriend.
‘Don’t yer ever make a fool of me like that again,’ he hissed. ‘I felt a right ruddy lemon standing here while me girlfriend cuddles up to another feller to make a fool of herself.’
Anger flared up in Lily, but she took a few deep breaths before speaking. She certainly didn’t want a stand-up row in front of all these people, but she wasn’t going to be spoken to like that. ‘This is supposed to be a celebration party, and the whole idea is to enjoy ourselves. If everyone stood like statues with a frown on their faces, it would be a very poor do. My family have been friends with these neighbours since before I was born. And they’re always there to help in time of trouble. And they like to have a sing-song and enjoy themselves. What harm is there in that?’
‘Like yer mother? Just look at the state of her! I don’t call that enjoyment.’
The worst thing he could have done was to criticise Nellie. Like her two brothers, Lily loved the bones of her mother. ‘If ye’re not enjoying yerself, and yer don’t like the company, then I suggest yer go home.’
Len knew he’d gone too far and opened his mouth to wheedle his way back into her good books. But he was too late. Nellie had just finished singing and was bowing to the applause when Lily stepped forward to say, ‘Len’s got a bad headache so I’ve advised him to go home, take a couple of tablets and go to bed.’
Words of sympathy were offered, and Nellie said, ‘It’s a pity about that, lad, but Lily’s right. Bed is the best place when yer’ve got a headache.’
In an effort to redeem himself, Len said, ‘I had it when I came, but it’s got worse now and me head is splitting.’
Without looking at him, Lily jerked her head. ‘Come on, I’ll see yer out. There’s no point in putting a damper on the party.’
As he stepped into the street, Len tried to put things right. ‘I’m sorry for what I said. But yer see, I really do have a headache. I didn’t mean any of the things I said and I’m sorry I spoiled things for yer. But I’ll make it up to yer tomorrow night, I promise.’
‘I won’t see yer tomorrow night. It’ll be all hours when I get to bed so I intend having a lie-in in the morning. Then I’m going to wash me hair and have a lazy day.’
‘I’ll meet yer on Monday night then, eh? Then I can tell yer how I get on about me job.’
‘If yer want to see me on Monday night, then you’ll have to call for me.’
‘I will, Lily, I’ll call for yer about eight. Now, don’t I get a goodnight kiss?’
Lil
y shook her head. ‘It’s funny, but I’ve just developed a splitting headache, too. I’m not going to let it spoil me enjoyment, though – it wouldn’t be fair on me family and friends. So I’ll get back in with them now and see if their friendliness and humour can cure me.’ She began to close the door. ‘Ta-ra.’
Chapter Eight
Molly yawned and stretched her arms over her head. ‘It’s a good job it’s Sunday, I’d never have been capable of getting up at six this morning.’
‘Yeah, that’s the best of having a party on a Saturday.’ Jack looked at his wife’s tousled hair and eyes still heavy with sleep. ‘Ay, it was some party, though, wasn’t it? They all enjoyed themselves.’
‘It was great! But then it always is when the gang get together.’ Molly chuckled. ‘I went to sleep thinking of Nellie strutting her stuff as Mae West. I had a stitch in me side and me voice was hoarse with laughing at her. They didn’t make many like Nellie, she’s one in a million.’
‘It’s George that tickles me. He’s as funny as Nellie in his own way. I was watching his face when she was giving us her version of the Black Bottom, and it was a picture. He doesn’t have much to say, but his expression speaks volumes. Like their children, he thinks the world of her.’
‘That’s only natural ’cos she’s a good wife and mother.’ Molly refrained from mentioning Len and his early departure. Jack didn’t like talking about anyone behind their back, and if she was to say what was in her mind, he’d tell her it was none of her business. ‘I was thinking last night, love, how lucky we are with our children. They’ve each chosen someone we love and get along with. It would be terrible if one of them was courting someone we didn’t like, I couldn’t bear it.’
‘I couldn’t see that happening, love, because you get along with anybody. But I agree, we are lucky with Steve, Phil and Rosie. To me they’re like me own children.’
‘I liked our Tommy’s friend, Archie. I thought he was a smasher. He’s a nice-looking bloke and has an open, honest face. When he said he didn’t have a steady girlfriend, I asked him if he’d wait for our Ruthie to grow up, but he said eight years was a long time to wait.’