by Joan Jonker
‘If looks are anything to go by, she’s feeling bloody awful. She went into work, even though I told her she should take the morning off. She’s going to be at a loose end, having no friends to go out with. I do feel sorry for her, but I hope to God she sticks it out. If she gets back with that swine, I’ll go mad, because I know in me heart she wouldn’t find happiness with him.’
‘Is she in the house now?’
‘Yeah, she was reading a magazine when I came out. At least she was pretending to. She’s got the house to herself because Liverpool are playing at home and George and Steve have gone to the match. Paul went out right after he’d had his dinner, heaven knows where to, so Lily is on her lonesome.’
‘My two girls have gone to town to buy the material for the bridesmaids’ dresses. Doreen is cutting one out tonight, and she said when she’s got it tacked she’ll ask Lily to try it on for size. D’yer think I should tell her to leave it, ’cos Lily’s not feeling well?’
‘No, don’t do that, girl. She’ll sit and mope for ever if she’s let! The best thing we can all do is treat her as we normally would. Let Doreen ask her to try the dress on – at least it will take her mind off things for a while.’
‘Does she know that yer’ve told me about her falling-out with Len?’
Nellie started to shake her head before she remembered the curls she’d suffered all night for; she didn’t want them to fall out. ‘I haven’t said nothing, girl. I thought it best to keep me mouth shut and say nowt.’
Molly had a thought. ‘How about if I give a knock and tell her about the dress? I can’t see her saying she won’t try it on, that wouldn’t be like Lily. And she might mention about her and Len, so I can pass it on and she won’t have the embarrassment of having to tell everyone herself. D’yer think that’s a good idea, or not?’
‘It’ll be a good idea if she opens the door to yer. But I’ve got a feeling she won’t, in case it’s the queer feller himself.’
Molly needed to see Lily for her own sake. To make sure she wasn’t responsible for the girl doing something she didn’t really want to do. Perhaps she would have stood by the bloke, even knowing what he was, if she thought nobody else knew. It was possible she’d packed him in to save face, and that wouldn’t be right. ‘I’ll give a knock and see. But you stay outside, Nellie, because she won’t say anything if you’re there.’
‘OK, girl, but don’t be all day, will yer? I’ll look a right nit standing outside me own house. The neighbours will think George has thrown me out.’
‘Well, stand on my step if it makes yer feel better.’
There was no answer to Molly’s first knock, so she lifted the letter box and called through. ‘It’s Molly Bennett, sunshine!’
The door was opened just enough for Lily’s ashen face to be seen. ‘Me mam’s not in, Auntie Molly.’
‘I know that, she’s standing on my front step calling me for everything for keeping her waiting. But I wanted a word with yer, so can I come in?’
Lily hesitated briefly, then stepped aside. ‘Come in.’
‘I won’t come right in, sunshine, or yer mam will be spitting feathers. Let’s just stand in the hall.’ Molly leaned back and felt pity for the girl who looked as though the bottom had dropped out of her world. ‘Our Doreen’s getting the material for the dresses today, and she’s hoping to have one cut out tonight. She mentioned she was going to ask you to try it on when it’s tacked, but when I told yer mam, she said yer weren’t feeling too well.’
‘I feel ruddy awful, Auntie Molly, and that’s putting it mildly. Yer see, I finished with Len and it’s really upset me.’
‘I’ll be quick about this, sunshine, or yer mam will be coming for me. It’s something I’ve got to get off me chest. If you really love Len, then take no notice of what I told yer about him. You follow your own heart, Lily; don’t be put off by what others say.’
‘This is between you and me, Auntie Molly, and I’m trusting yer to let it go no further. As far as anyone else is concerned, I packed Len up because we were always rowing. That’s what I want them to think. But the truth is, I wasn’t put off by what you told me, I found out for meself. I went to his house and saw his mother. She was a lovely woman, not the hard person he’d told me she was. That was the first lie I found him out in. Then she told me about the girl, Joan, and the baby she has that is the spitting image of Len. There was a lot more said, Auntie Molly, and perhaps I’ll tell yer when we’ve more time. But don’t you go on thinking this is all your fault, because it isn’t. The blame lies with the man I thought I was in love with for two years. But I’ve found out that man doesn’t exist, and while I’ll miss him for a while, I hate him for stringing me along with his lies.’
To say that Molly was surprised would be an understatement. ‘That took some spunk, sunshine, and I take me hat off to yer. It was a very brave thing to do. And if yer keep thinking along those lines, yer’ll get him out of yer system in no time. He’ll just be a distant memory.’ Molly put her hand on the door latch. ‘I’ll have to go, but we’ll have a good talk sometime. Now, can I tell Doreen yer’ll act as her model when she’s got the dress ready for trying on?’
Lily managed a weak smile. ‘Of course yer can. Tell her to give me a shout when she wants me.’ As Molly began to open the door, Lily put out her hand. ‘Will yer tell the girls and everyone I’ve finished with Len, please, Auntie Molly, to save me having to do it?’
Molly gave her a quick hug and a kiss. ‘Of course I will, sunshine. And take my word for it, it’ll be a nine days’ wonder.’
Nellie snorted when Molly walked towards her. ‘I’ve taken root here! I’ve been expecting the neighbours to come out and water me.’
‘Shut me front door, sunshine, and stop yer moaning.’ Molly waited until her friend had closed the door and they began to walk down the street. But she shook her head when Nellie tried to link arms. ‘Not today, sunshine, I ain’t cleaning any windowsills with me coat.’
‘What did our Lily have to say?’
‘She told me she’d finished with Len, but she didn’t say why and I didn’t ask. And she said of course she’ll help Doreen with the fitting.’
‘That’s all she said?’
‘Well, I’ve made it brief for you, but that was about the size of it, yeah.’
Nellie held an open hand out and began to tick off her fingers. ‘I’ve finished with Len. That’s four words. Of course I’ll help Doreen with the fitting. That’s another eight words. So it took yer half an hour to listen to her saying twelve words. There must be something very wrong with your ears, girl, ’cos ye’re obviously hearing everything in slow motion. Unless our Lily has suddenly developed a stutter.’
Molly chuckled. ‘Yer hate to miss anything, don’t yer, Nellie McDonough? And yer don’t half exaggerate. I was no longer than five or six minutes. I didn’t even go in yer living room – me and Lily stood in the hall. I’ve a good mind not to tell yer what I think now, seeing as ye’re so blinking bad-tempered.’
‘Bad-tempered! Me – bad-tempered? Never on your life, Molly Bennett, and well you know it. I’m noted for me sweet and even temper. Mind you, I think I could get really mad if someone upset me enough. Like, for instance, one of me so-called friends refusing to tell me what she thinks about me loving daughter’s situation.’
‘Yer so-called friend is of the opinion that yer daughter has no intention of ever making it up with Len Lofthouse. And the same so-called friend believes that if the girl is not asked too many questions, nor treated as though some great sadness has befallen her, then she’ll get over it in her own sweet time.’
‘Yer really don’t think she’ll get back with him, then?’
‘Nellie, don’t take what I say as gospel. I’m only giving yer my opinion for what it’s worth. Don’t you come after me with the rolling pin if I’m wrong.’
But Nellie trusted her friend’s instinct. And with her heart lighter, her hair in curls and the seams of her lisle stockings straight, s
he felt well satisfied with her lot in life. ‘I can’t wait to see me hat again, can you, girl?’
‘Oh, let me give yer some money off mine.’ Molly fished in her bag for the well-worn purse. ‘I’ve paid ten bob deposit, so that means there’s three pound fourteen shillings to pay on it. If I give you fourteen shillings now, that’ll mean I owe yer three pound.’
‘Listen, girl, yer’ve no need to pay anything until after the wedding. You hang on to yer money to pay all the other bills yer’ll have coming in.’
‘No, I’ll pay yer the fourteen shillings and I’ll know where I’m working.’ Molly took a ten-shilling note and two two-bob pieces from her purse and handed them over. ‘That’s three pound I owe yer, and I’ll pay it back as soon as I can. Out of debt, out of danger, as me ma always says.’
‘OK, girl, have it yer own way. But if yer find yerself skint, yer know where to knock. There’s many a time in the past when I’ve been glad to borrow off you.’
‘And vice versa, sunshine, don’t forget. It’s always been share and share alike.’
Nellie smiled and winked. ‘Aye, we’ve been good mates, girl, no doubt.’
Molly had not long gone when there was a knock on the McDonoughs’ door. Thinking her auntie had forgotten to tell her something, Lily had no qualms about opening the door. But she gasped in dismay when she saw Len standing there. ‘What do you want? I asked yer mother to tell yer I didn’t want to see yer again.’
‘I don’t know what me mam told yer, but it must have been a load of lies. I’d warned yer what me parents were like, so I’m surprised yer took any notice of her.’ Len knew Lily was alone; he’d been watching the house from an entry a bit higher up the road and had seen all the family going out. ‘Can I come in and talk to yer?’
Lily moved to stand in the middle of the doorway, with her arms folded. ‘No, yer can’t come in. I don’t want to hear anything yer’ve got to say because I know it’ll be lies. And I don’t know how yer’ve got the nerve to face me, anyway!’
‘Why shouldn’t I face yer? I’ve done nothing wrong. Just give me five minutes to tell yer my side of the story.’
‘Ye’re not getting in this house, Len Lofthouse, so yer’d best be on yer way. I know the truth about yer now, and just looking at yer makes me sick. Yer get a young girl into trouble, then deny ye’re the father of her child and leave her to face the shame. If yer were a man, yer’d face up to yer responsibilities and marry her. But ye’re not a man, just a poor excuse for one. And I’m only glad I found out in time what ye’re really like. And when I look at yer now I wonder what the hell I ever saw in yer. I must have been blind and stupid.’ Lily watched the effect her words were having and for a second was afraid of him. His face was red with temper and his eyes were blazing because things weren’t going the way he’d planned. ‘Do yerself a favour and get away from this front door.’
Len was so used to her believing everything he said, he was convinced he could talk her around if he got the chance to hold her in his arms and sweet talk her. He’d always got away with it before. So he moved fast: so fast he almost succeeded in getting past Lily. But she anticipated his action, and with her two hands flat on his chest, she pushed with every bit of strength she possessed. ‘If yer don’t go, I’ll scream at the top of me voice.’
He now realised that this time she wasn’t going to be talked round, and his temper flared. Like a child who’d had his pet toy taken from him, he wanted to smash his fist in her face. ‘You won’t scream, Lily, ’cos yer’d be too frightened of what the neighbours would say.’
‘Go away!’ Lily, close to tears, stepped back and tried to close the door. But she wasn’t quick enough and his foot shot out to keep it open. ‘Please go, Len, I don’t want any trouble.’
The fear on her face pleased him, and filled him with a sense of power. ‘Ye’re a stupid bitch, d’yer know that? A stupid cow and as cold as a bleedin’ iceberg.’ There followed a string of obscenities that had Lily reeling and clinging to the door for support. ‘You and me have got some unfinished business to sort out. I’ll leave when I’m good and ready, bitch, and not a second before.’
Len was so incensed his vision was blurred, and he didn’t see the figure come up behind him. Before he knew what was happening, he was lifted off his feet and held in a vice-like grip around his waist. His arms and legs thrashing, he tried to turn his head to see who was behind him, but he was being held so tightly his movement was restricted.
‘I heard Miss McDonough asking yer to leave, son,’ Corker said. ‘And I think yer should do just that. Not when ye’re good and ready, but right now. And unless Miss McDonough tells me otherwise, I’m here to make sure you do.’
‘I want him to go away, Uncle Corker. I don’t want him here now, or ever again.’
‘Yer heard what the lady said, so I suggest yer start walking unless yer want me to carry yer.’ Corker set Len down on the pavement. ‘I want yer to walk up this street with a warning ringing in yer ears. If I ever see yer walking down it again, I’ll give yer the hiding of yer life. And if I hear yer’ve tried to contact Miss McDonough, or give her any grief, I’ll come looking for yer. And I promise if I do that, yer’ll regret the day yer were born. Now have I made myself clear?’
Len was shaking like a leaf, his arrogance and bravado gone. Bullying women was one thing, he thought that was all they were fit for. But tackling a man, especially one built like Corker, was an entirely different proposition. Pulling his jacket back into shape, he began to slink away. But the big man stepped in front of him. ‘I asked if I’ve made myself clear?’
‘Yes!’ The word came out through teeth Len couldn’t stop from chattering. ‘I heard yer.’
Lily moved back into the shadow of the hall, praying no one had witnessed the incident. She’d die of humiliation if her family found out. ‘Will yer come in, Uncle Corker?’
‘Just for a minute, me darlin’.’ Corker seemed to fill the living room with his huge frame. He patted his pocket. ‘I’d been down to the shop to get some meat off Ellen for our tea, and I couldn’t help hearing your young man. I didn’t know whether to interfere or not, but he seemed to be in a right temper. And when I heard yer asking him to leave, and he wasn’t inclined to do so, I thought I’d come to the rescue of a damsel in distress. I hope I did the right thing?’
‘He’s not me young man any more, Uncle Corker, I’ve finished with him. But he came down to try and talk me round, like he always does. I’ve fallen for it time and time again, but not any more.’
Corker feigned ignorance of the whole situation. ‘Well, it’s not for me to pass judgement, me darlin’, but from what I’ve just seen and heard, I’d say ye’re well rid of him. I can’t abide a man who doesn’t treat a lady with respect. And if he doesn’t treat yer with respect now, he certainly wouldn’t if yer married him. D’yer remember Ellen’s late husband, Nobby Clarke? I know I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, but he was a rotter. A violent drunkard who used to beat her and the children. Well, from the little I heard coming from Len, I’d say he was another Nobby Clarke in the making.’
Lily sighed. ‘I know. I’ve been a fool. No man will ever treat me like that again, Uncle Corker, I can promise yer that.’
‘Oh, don’t let him put yer off men, me darlin’, because there’s more good ones than bad ones. You shouldn’t need me to tell yer that, living in a house with three of the best. They don’t come any better than yer dad and yer two brothers.’
‘I know that, they’re smashers.’ Lily’s heart had stopped pounding and the trace of a smile played around her lips. ‘I’d marry me dad, but me mam won’t part with him.’
Corker chuckled. ‘Yer mam acts daft, but she’s far from it. She knows when she’s on to a good thing. They’re well matched, yer mam and dad.’
Lily had to rid herself of the niggling worry in her head. ‘Uncle Corker, were there any neighbours in the street when Len was acting up?’
‘No, there were a few kids playing at t
he top of the street, that’s all. None of the neighbours were out.’
‘I don’t want the family to know he’s been, yer see. None of them liked him, which shows they’re better judges of character than I am. Especially me mam. She couldn’t stand the sight of him and was always telling me he was no good. I wish I’d listened to her.’
‘Sometimes when Cupid fires his arrow, he hits the wrong target. He won’t make the same mistake with yer again, though. Next time he takes aim, he’ll make sure it goes straight through the heart of Mr Right.’
‘It’ll be a long time before I trust another man.’ Lily’s head was still hearing the dreadful words that had been hurled at her by a man she’d thought loved her as she loved him. Oh, how wrong she’d been, and how gullible. ‘I’ll not be made a fool of again.’
‘I don’t think yer’ve been a fool, me darlin’. I think yer’ve been very sensible in finishing with someone you found yer didn’t like any more. Put it down to a bad experience, a mistake, and get on with yer life.’ Corker chucked her under the chin. ‘Ye’re a lovely looking girl, Lily, and there’ll be no shortage of boys wanting to date yer. And one of those boys might turn out to be Mr Right. Yer’ll know him when yer meet him, ’cos yer’ll go to bed at night with a smile on yer face and dream of him.’
‘Uncle Corker, ye’re an old romantic.’
His deep guffaw filled the room. ‘I’ll also be a dead romantic if I don’t get home and put this meat on. Ellen will have me guts for garters.’ He tilted his head and looked into her face. ‘Are yer feeling all right now, me darlin’?’
‘Yes. Thanks to you, I feel a lot better. Heaven knows what would have happened if you hadn’t come along. I thought he was going to hit me.’
‘When yer let me out of the front door, Lily, I want yer to let Len, and everything he stood for, out of your head for good. Will yer do that for me?’
‘Yes, and thank you for everything. Yer’ve been an angel.’
Corker made his way down the hall. ‘It’s a good imagination yer have. I don’t think they make angels in my size, they’d take up too much room in heaven.’