by Kitty Neale
‘It depends. Ask me and we’ll see.’
‘Did you enjoy sex?’
Mavis flushed. It wasn’t a subject she’d ever discussed with anyone and Rhona was only seventeen. Yet she’d been younger, sixteen when she married Alec, and had gone to bed with him with no idea what to expect. She knew that Rhona was on the pill, that she wasn’t a virgin, and, in fact, according to Lily, she was sex mad. But why? She countered the question with one of her own. ‘Do you?’
‘Enjoy sex? Yeah, with the right bloke it’s great.’
‘I just don’t see what there is to enjoy.’
‘Was your husband a virgin too?’
‘Well, yes, I think so.’
‘They’re the worst. They ain’t got a clue and it’s over before you can say bingo. There’s the selfish ones too, who although they aren’t virgins, are only interested in their own enjoyment and leave you wanting more.’
‘My…my husband was like that.’
‘You poor cow, but honestly, Mavis, you don’t know what you’re missing. You should get yourself another bloke, and with any luck he’ll be good in bed.’
‘No, thanks. I’m happy as I am.’
‘For now, maybe, but you’re only in your twenties. A bloke is sure to come along, one that you’ll fancy something rotten and then you’ll change your mind.’
‘No, I won’t,’ Mavis insisted. A man had come along, one who had haunted her dreams for years—Tommy. Yet she didn’t want him, or any other man in her life.
Rhona had said that sex was wonderful, but Mavis was sure that, despite the feelings Tommy aroused, it was something she could do without. She relished her independence, still loved making her own decisions, doing what she wanted, when she wanted.
The barriers she had managed to put in place whenever she saw Tommy would remain. The more Mavis lived alone, the more Mavis liked it, and there was no way on earth she was going to place her trust in a man again.
‘Pete, I’ve been thinking,’ Lily said.
‘Oh, yeah, about what?’
‘The future and what’s going to happen to Mavis if she doesn’t get her settlement.’
‘I know what you’re going to say, Lily.’
‘You do?’ she said, surprised by his foresight.
‘It’s obvious. Mavis will have to get a job to support them and you’re going to offer to have the kids.’
‘Would you mind?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘I’m worried about the house too. It isn’t big enough and though I suppose James and Grace can share that tiny bedroom for a while longer, there’ll come a time when they’ll need their own rooms again.’
‘Lots of kids have to share. It won’t do them any harm.’
‘Maybe not, but one day Mavis is going to want a bigger house. I dread the thought of her moving away from us.’
‘Blimey, Lily, talk about a worry guts. If Mavis doesn’t get her settlement she’s gonna find it hard enough to find the rent for a two bedroom house, let alone three. It’ll be years before she can think about moving.’
‘With a job and the money she earns from her sketches, it might not be out of reach.’
‘Yeah, maybe, but if you’re gonna look after the kids, she’ll have to stay in this area.’
Yes, Pete was right, Lily thought. Maybe she was worrying about nothing, but she loved having Mavis living next door and it wouldn’t be the same, even if she stayed in the same area.
‘It’s daft to worry about the future all the time, Lily. I mean, what’s to say that we won’t move one day?’
‘Move—but why would we?’
‘Peckham is changing, with lots of demolition and development going on. It means plenty of work for me, but who knows, one day it could be the houses in this street that are coming down.’
‘Pete, don’t say that. I love it here. I like this house, and it’s smashing to have a back garden instead of the concrete yard I had in Cullen Street.’
‘Sod it, now I’ve given you something else to worry about, and I wish I’d kept my mouth shut.’
‘Have you heard something? Is that it?’
‘No, Lily, it was just a passing thought, that’s all, but listen, if it’ll stop you worrying I’ll make you a promise. If the day ever comes that we have to move, I’ll do everything I can to make sure that I find two houses side by side, one for us and one for Mavis.’
‘Oh, Pete, I love you,’ Lily cried, and as the words left her mouth she knew that this time she meant them. She did love Pete, really loved him, and at last she could let Ron go.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
At one time, on her mother’s suggestion, Mavis had considered getting a full-time job, but, without any skills, cleaning was the only option open to her, and the pay would be hardly enough to pay the rent.
It was now August, and thankfully her ideas had paid off and Mavis was happy as she fulfilled yet another order. Her sketch of Grace had captured the child perfectly, the chubby cheeks and cheeky grin endearing. When she had shown it to the other mothers at nursery last month, she’d received a flood of orders, and thanks to Pete she could now offer a framing service too. He had found a company that sold frames in bulk, and though it had bitten into her funds they were proving popular, giving her a good profit on the investment.
There was still no news of Alec, but now that her worries about the future had eased, Mavis didn’t care. He was gone, out of their lives, and she was earning enough to support them. She never wanted to see Alec again, in court or anywhere else, and soon hoped to replace the money she had taken from her mother’s tin box. Despite her mother insisting that she wouldn’t take it back, Mavis had never really felt it was hers. She had hated feeling dependent, hated spending what she would always feel was her mother’s money, but at last she was living off her own earnings.
Mavis was hot, her face beaded with perspiration as she held up the latest order. She was pleased with it—pleased that somehow she always managed to capture the essence of every child she sketched.
A glance at the clock surprised her. It was time to collect the children from her mother’s. Mavis didn’t know what she would have done without her mother during the school summer holidays. She took the children off her hands every day from ten in the morning until three in the afternoon, giving her plenty of time to work.
‘Hello, Mum, have they behaved themselves?’ Mavis asked as she walked into her mother’s house.
‘Yeah, they’ve been in the garden most of the day, and it’s only this one who gives me any trouble,’ Lily said, though she was grinning as she looked at Bobby.
He chuckled, arms out as he toddled over to Mavis. She picked him up, planted a kiss on his cheek, and then hugged him to her. ‘Hello, you bruiser, and what have you been up to this time?’
‘He broke my doll,’ Grace complained, but then she said confidently, ‘Granddad will mend it.’
Mavis smiled. It hadn’t taken the children long to call Pete Granddad, but she didn’t mind. He was wonderful with them, the perfect man to have in their lives, and, yes, no doubt he’d be able to mend Grace’s doll. ‘Come on, let’s go,’ she said. ‘It’s time to give your gran a bit of peace.’
‘Yeah, and it’ll give me a chance to clear this lot and the garden up,’ Lily said, smiling ruefully at the toys strewn all over the living room floor.
‘I’ll do it if you like,’ Mavis offered.
‘No, just take Bobby as usual and without him around I’ll get it done in a jiffy.’
‘All right. I’ll bring him back in a couple of hours. See you later, Mum.’
‘See you, pet.’
With Bobby still in her arms, Mavis returned home. Like her mother’s, the house was stifling when she walked inside. ‘Why don’t you two play in the garden?’ she suggested to James and Grace.
‘And Bobby,’ Grace said.
‘Yes, all right, but let me get a chair and then I’ll sit outside too.’
It wasn’t mu
ch cooler in the garden, the heat making Mavis feel somnolent as she forced her eyes to remain open. Jenny was coming over again on Sunday, and Mavis loved it that they had remained friends.
She had a surprise waiting for Jenny when she arrived. In a spare moment she had done a sketch of Greg; and though she still loved pencil art, there were times when she longed to use another medium, especially oils.
Though still watching the children, Mavis found her mind wandering to the past and the portrait of her grandmother she had painted at school. It was the only oil on canvas she had painted, but Tommy had ruined it. Despite all this time, the memory of that day still had the power to upset her, and she wondered if that was why she still found it difficult to relax in Tommy’s company.
Thankfully he no longer pestered her for a date, but even that left her wondering. Had someone else caught his eye—yes, probably. A good-looking man like Tommy would have his pick.
Alec knew he was considered eccentric by most of the villagers, but he didn’t care. He loved living in the heart of Devon, loved the countryside, the long walks, his dog by his side. The Labrador was obedient, faithful, his constant companion and all the company he needed.
‘Morning, Mr Collier,’ someone called.
Alec just nodded as he continued on his way, leaving the village to climb Ham Hill. He was Charles Collier now, choosing initials that held no clue to his parentage. The shop brought in little money, but he didn’t care about that either. He had purchased the premises with living accommodation on the top floor, the price reasonable and leaving him sufficient funds from the sale of his mother’s house. There were also her investments, of course, ones that had passed to him and that provided a monthly income.
‘Hunter, fetch,’ Alec called as he threw a stick. The dog bounded off, soon returning with the stick in his mouth, which he dropped at Alec’s feet.
Alec threw it again, his mind still on his business. The location of the shop was wrong, he knew that, but what little custom he had was enough. He only opened the premises from ten till four, and the few customers who crossed the threshold were like-minded, fellow stamp enthusiasts, men like him who could talk for hours about their latest finds.
Yes, men, no women, and the first one who had dared to venture into his shop had soon found out that he didn’t welcome female customers, whether she wanted to purchase stamps for her husband’s collection or not. He had chased her out and word had soon spread in the small village, but that suited him just fine.
What did he care if there was gossip—if some villagers thought him mad? He didn’t need people, especially not women. He had his dog, his stamps and the comfort of his flat above the shop. His life was all he wanted now; unencumbered, and the only things that still had the power to unsettle him were thoughts of his wife and mother.
Hunter dropped the stick at Alec’s feet again and this time when he picked it up, Alec flung it in anger. He hoped Mavis was suffering, that she was back to living in the poverty she had come from.
Alec reached the top of the hill, where he stood for a while, his mind calming at last as he drank in the wonderful view, thoughts of his wife and mother safely tucked away again.
‘Hello, love,’ Lily greeted when Pete came home from work, but as he wrapped his arms around her she pulled a face. ‘Blimey, you stink.’
‘Working in this heat, what do you expect?’ he asked, then released her to swing Bobby up into his arms. ‘You’re not going to complain too, are you?’
As always when he saw his father, Bobby chuckled, and when he was then thrown up into the air to be caught in strong arms, he giggled with delight. ‘Your daddy has got some good news.’
‘Oh, yeah, and what’s that?’ Lily asked.
‘I’ve got a new contract, a big one.’
‘Have you now, and is it local?’
‘Yes, and you and me are gonna be in clover. In another year, maybe less, we should be able to think about buying our own house.’
‘But I can’t leave Mavis!’ Lily said, recoiling at the thought.
‘Who said anything about leaving her? I’ve got it all planned. We could find a big old house and divide it into two flats. Three bedrooms for Mavis, two for us. How would that suit you?’
‘I said I didn’t want to move from here—but our own house, that’d be smashing,’ Lily said, but then she sobered. ‘A place that size would cost a lot of money.’
‘I know, but I’ve looked at the profit margins and I reckon we can do it.’
‘Less than a year,’ Lily mused.
‘Yes, but don’t count your chickens yet. A lot can happen in a year. Tommy Wilson is still sniffing around Mavis, and eventually she might give in.’
‘No, Pete, he hasn’t asked her out for ages.’
‘Well, if not him, someone else might come along.’
‘I doubt it,’ Lily said confidently. ‘I know that Mavis is happy as she is, and she’s told me herself that she isn’t interested in having another man in her life. Not only that, even if she did meet someone, she can’t marry again, not until she can divorce Alec and, unless he’s found, she’ll have to wait seven years.’
‘Lily, we lived together and there’s nothing to stop Mavis from doing the same.’
‘It’s different for Mavis. She’s got the kids to think about and living with a man is still frowned on.’
‘If you say so. But for now, if I want another cuddle I’d better get cleaned up.’
‘Yes, do that,’ Lily said as Pete put Bobby onto the floor again. Their own house! All of them living under the same roof. It sounded wonderful and Lily couldn’t wait to tell Mavis.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
‘Tommy, you don’t seem keen about taking me to see Mavis again today.’
‘What do you expect, Jenny?’
‘Don’t give up. Mavis likes you. It’s been a while now since you asked her out, and you never know, she may feel differently now.’
‘All right, I’ll try again and if she says no, then that’s it, Jenny. I’m walking away.’
‘I don’t think you’ll have to.’
‘I hope you’re right, but somehow I doubt it,’ Tommy said, yet maybe Jenny was right. Maybe he’d been too impatient and had frightened Mavis off. He’d stepped back, given her more time, and hopefully that had done the trick.
Mavis was once again dwelling on her future. Her mother had said that in less than a year’s time she and Pete could be buying a house, and one in which there would be a flat for her and the children. It sounded ideal, and with three bedrooms James and Grace would have their own rooms again.
Of course, she’d be living under her mother’s roof again, but she could remain independent by insisting on paying rent. Her mother said that they intended to stay in Peckham and if they were close to where they were now that would be wonderful too. It would mean that James could stay in the same school, and by then Grace would be five, ready to start in the infant section.
The children were in the garden and after tidying up Mavis was taking a rare moment to relax before Jenny arrived with Greg and Tommy. It was hot and humid, and even though she had put on a clean cotton dress, it was already clinging damply to her body.
Mavis heard the van when it pulled up outside and, eager to see them, she quickly went to open the door. ‘Come on in,’ she greeted while swiftly wiping beads of perspiration from her forehead. ‘You all look as hot as me.’
‘Yes, it’s a scorcher,’ Jenny said as they all trooped inside.
‘James is in the garden,’ Mavis told Greg, smiling when the boy scooted off. She then turned to Tommy and Jenny again, saying, ‘Sit down and I’ll get us a cold drink.’
‘Smashing,’ Jenny said as she flopped onto the sofa.
When Mavis returned it was to find that Tommy was still on his feet and looking at an unfinished sketch. ‘It’s going to be good,’ he said.
‘That one you gave me of Greg is bloody marvellous,’ Jenny said as she took a glass of squash from th
e tray. ‘It’s got pride of place on my living room wall.’
‘Mavis, I know it was a long time ago,’ Tommy said, ‘but I can still remember a portrait you did of your gran.’
‘Yes, the one that you ruined,’ Mavis found herself saying sharply, the anger rising up and surprising her.
‘It sounds like you still haven’t forgiven me.’
Mavis tried to sound dismissive. ‘Of course I have. It was a long time ago and we were just kids.’
‘And as I’ve said before, I was a little sod,’ Tommy commented as he too took a glass before sitting on the sofa. ‘In fact, I can still recall how devastated you looked. It made me feel like a little shit and it was then I started to grow up. It might be a bit late, but I’m sorry, Mavis, sorry for ruining your painting.’
‘Tommy, if I remember rightly, you apologised when we were younger. Now I’ll just pop outside to give the children their drinks. I’ll be back in a tick,’ she said, surprised at the turn in the conversation. Only a couple of days ago she had been thinking about her gran’s portrait, and now Tommy had brought up the same subject. It was nice that he’d apologised again. As he said, they had just been kids and it was silly of her to still hold it against him.
‘You should get back to it, Mavis, painting with oils, I mean,’ Tommy said when she returned to the living room.
‘It isn’t that easy. I think the portrait was good, but in all honesty I doubt it was anything special. I was untrained then and still am, with an awful lot to learn.’
‘I think you’re a natural,’ Tommy said.
‘Thanks, and who knows, one day I might take up oils again,’ Mavis told him. ‘At the moment I haven’t got the time or the money.’
‘How are you doing for orders?’ Jenny asked.
‘Fine, but I’ve got a bit of news. It isn’t definite yet, but in less than a year I could be moving.’
‘Where to?’