by Joan Jonker
It was Alicia who answered. ‘Yes, of course, we understand it might not be convenient. If your parents agree to your coming out with us one night, we can pick you up from home and meet them then. I would very much like to make their acquaintance.’
After being treated so kindly in this beautiful house, and plied with delicious food made solely for her to celebrate her birthday, what could Ginny do but nod her head in agreement?
‘The next street on the right is where I live,’ Ginny said as they drove along County Road. ‘You can drop me at the bottom and I’ll walk up, it’s not very far.’
Charles turned in and immediately drew into the kerb. He was surprised at how narrow the cobbled street was, and the terraced houses to either side looked very small. Too small to bring up a family in. He turned off the ignition and faced the girl who was so obviously eager to be off and away. ‘Before you go, I just want to say that you made Aunt Alicia very happy today. She often talks about you, and I know she is very fond of you.’
‘I like her, too!’ Ginny told him. ‘She’s always been nice and friendly towards me and shown me nothing but kindness. It was really thoughtful of her to invite me to tea and I am very grateful.’ Then she quickly added, ‘And to you of course for bringing me home.’
‘I hope you will stay her friend, Virginia. You see, although I call to see her as often as I can, I know she is sometimes very lonely. Having a young friend really would mean a lot to her.’ But Charles was thinking of himself as much as his aunt. As well as being pretty, Virginia was good company and he’d like to see more of her.
‘Of course I’ll always be her friend. I never forget people who are good to me and treat me proper. And I do see her a couple of times a week when she comes in the shop.’
‘I was hoping you could perhaps see her sometimes away from the shop. As a young companion to call for tea now and again, or, as Aunt Alicia suggested, an occasional night at the theatre? I would run you home afterwards so you’d be perfectly safe. Would you ask your parents for permission?’
Ginny nodded. ‘Yeah, I’ll ask them. And I’ll let Miss Meadows know what they say when she comes in the shop. But it won’t be in the next few weeks because of Christmas and New Year. I think the family should all be together at times like that.’ She felt for the handle on the car door. ‘How do I get out?’
Charles guffawed. ‘Now if anyone was listening they’d get the impression I was holding you captive, Virginia. The car door is quite easy to open when you know how. Just push the handle up. But please let me drive you to your door because my aunt stipulated that I must see you enter your house safely.’
‘Yes, okay.’ He’ll think I’m a right baby if I insist upon getting out of the car now, she realised. And after him being so good to me. Anyone would think I was doing him a favour, instead of the other way round. ‘Our house is halfway up on the opposite side. I’ll tell yer when we get there.’
Charles made no effort to get out of the car when he stopped outside Virginia’s home. He was of the opinion, and quite rightly, that if he pushed too hard he’d frighten the girl off. ‘Sleep well, Virginia, and I hope to see you again very soon.’ With a wave of his hand he set the car in motion and drove away.
Ginny waited until the car was out of sight before knocking at the door. Her face was beaming when her dad answered her knock. ‘Yer’ll never believe it, Dad, but I’ve just been brought right to our door in a car.’ She brushed past him and entered the living room where Beth and Joey were waiting wide-eyed. ‘Did yer hear that, Mam? I got brought home in a car by Miss Meadows’ nephew. He dropped me right outside the door.’ She slipped her coat off and flung it on the couch. ‘I was sorry it was dark and nobody saw me. Can yer imagine the state of the neighbours’ faces if they’d seen me stepping out of a posh car?’
Beth put down the shirt she was sewing a button on. ‘Who did yer say brought yer home, sunshine?’
‘Miss Meadows’ nephew, and guess what his name is? Charles Moore-Latimer!’
‘Ooh, ay, a double-barrelled name!’ Beth was suitably impressed. ‘I bet he’s posh, is he?’
‘I’ll say! He’s only seventeen, and his dad bought him the car for his birthday. But he’s very nice, and Miss Meadows did a lovely spread for me.’
‘Seventeen and he’s got a car!’ Joey’s voice was high-pitched with surprise. ‘The lucky blighter! I’ll be lucky if I’ve got a car by the time I’m seventy, never mind seventeen.’
Ginny went on to describe the house and furniture in detail. ‘And there were carpets in every room, right from skirting board to skirting board, and they were so thick me feet sank into them. Honest, Mam, yer wouldn’t believe it unless yer saw it.’
‘I believe yer, sunshine, and I’m glad yer enjoyed yerself. But don’t start getting big ideas ’cos they must be loaded and we’re not. But we’re happy all the same.’ She tilted her head. ‘This lad Charles, did yer take a fancy to him?’
Ginny blushed. ‘Ah, ay, Mam, of course I didn’t! I thought he was a nice lad, but that’s about all.’ Shall I mention it now or leave it? she asked herself. Then decided it was best to get it over with. ‘Miss Meadows asked me to ask yer if yer’d let me go to the theatre with her one night?’
It was Andy who voiced what was on his and his wife’s mind. ‘Why would an older woman want to take a young girl to the theatre, love? Hasn’t she got any family or friends of her own?’
Ginny shook her head. ‘Charles told me she gets very lonely. Yer see, she never got married so she’s got no family. She’s a nice woman, Mam, honest, yer’d like her. I could always invite her here so yer could see for yerselves. Charles would run her down one night if it would make yer feel better.’
‘I don’t doubt that she’s a lovely lady, sunshine, ’cos that’s the impression I got when yer first told us about her. But she is from a different class than us and we could never keep up with her. And I’m frightened that she might show you a life we could never give yer.’
Ginny ran to sit next to Beth on the couch. She put her arm around her mother and hugged her. ‘Oh, Mam! No one could ever make me any different from how I am now. I don’t want to have pots of money and fancy clothes. I just want to be happy with the mates I’ve always had. My own kind of people.’
‘So yer don’t want to go to the theatre with Miss Meadows?’ Beth asked. ‘And don’t be afraid to say what yer really think.’
‘I would go to the theatre with Miss Meadows for her sake, if it made her happy. I’ve never forgotten how she went out of her way to stick up for me. Not many people would have done that, they’d have just walked away rather than put themselves out. But as for me going to the theatre because I really want to, then to be honest I’d have to say it wasn’t something I really wanted to do. When I’m older perhaps and can afford to treat meself, well, that would be different, but not now. I’m more interested in going to me first dance next week, with me mates.’
Beth breathed a sigh of relief. She should have known her daughter was too down to earth to want something that was beyond her. ‘I’ll leave it to you, sunshine. If yer want to please Miss Meadows, then do so by all means. Me and yer dad would have no objection, would we, love?’
‘None at all, as long as she doesn’t keep you out till all hours,’ Andy said. ‘There’ll be no objection from me.’
Joey grunted, ‘I still think she should tell this posh woman that she’s got a brother. I’ve missed out on all that food Ginny told us about, and a ride in a blinking car!’
Beth grinned. ‘It’s a hard life, isn’t it, son?’
‘It sure is, Mam, it sure is.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ginny was surprised on the Monday morning when she arrived at the counter to find Miss Sutherland on her haunches sorting the stock out. ‘Ye’re early, aren’t yer? I could have come in earlier if yer’d asked me to.’
‘I haven’t been here that long, pet, so don’t worry your head about it. I wanted to make a list of the st
ock we’ll need, and have it ready for when Miss Halliday comes. I won’t have time when we start getting busy.’ She grinned at her junior. ‘If you think we were busy last week, then all I can say is you haven’t seen anything yet. Five shopping days left, including Christmas Eve, and we’ll be run off our feet.’
‘I know what to expect now, and so do me feet. They didn’t half kick up a stink last week, but after a soak in a bucket of water they were quite happy.’
Dorothy Sutherland put a hand on the counter and pulled herself up. ‘How did your two parties go? I was thinking of you over the weekend, telling myself you were a lucky blighter.’
‘It was only one party, really, and that was on Saturday night. We had a marvellous time, laughing ourselves sick at the state of us trying to learn the steps to a waltz. I don’t think we learned anything, but it was dead funny. I enjoyed going to Miss Meadows’, too, she’d made a lovely spread for me. Half the cakes she had I’d never seen in me life before, but they were delicious.’ Ginny told herself it wouldn’t be right for her to tell anyone what a wonderful home Miss Meadows had. It had nothing to do with her or anyone else. ‘It was very kind of her and I appreciated it. And, just listen to this, her nephew drove me home in his car. Right to me own door.’
Dorothy managed to look suitably impressed. ‘My goodness, you’ll never forget your fifteenth birthday, will you! And how old was this nephew, if I might ask?’
‘He was only seventeen and a half, but he looked older.’ Ginny blushed at the knowing look on Dorothy’s face. ‘He’s a very good driver, I didn’t feel a bit frightened.’
‘Any chance of a romance there?’ Dorothy asked, jokingly. ‘I wish I could meet a man who had his own car, I’d grab him with both hands.’
‘No, he’s way out of my league. He’s too posh, I’m too common. But he’s a nice bloke and it was good of him to drive me home. It was a thrill for me ’cos I’ve never been in a car before.’
That was all the time they had for conversation because people were out early, and they were out in force. All of the counters were busy, but those selling Christmas decorations or anything that would pass as a present were literally run off their feet. When Miss Halliday came, with Mr Sanderson, Dorothy had a long list of stock needed. ‘It’s pretty urgent, Miss Halliday, we’re almost out of purses and comb sets.’
Mary, usually so calm and composed, looked flustered. ‘All the counters are running low, but I’ll get them down as soon as I can. As you can imagine, the stock room is busy too.’
As she bustled away, Clive followed her for a few yards, then touched her arm. ‘Let me go straight to the stock room. You’ve taught me all about the running of the shop over the last few months, things I wouldn’t have a clue about but for you. I am quite capable of getting the stock Miss Sutherland has asked for, and getting it down to her.’
‘I can’t allow you to do that, Mr Sanderson, what would the staff think?’
‘I imagine they’ll be only too glad to get the necessary stock before they have to start refusing customers. Now give me the lists from Miss Bleasedale’s haberdashery and Miss Sutherland’s leather goods. That will be two less for you to worry about.’ He saw she was about to protest, and lifted a hand. ‘I have two orders for you, Miss Halliday, and I want them carried out to the letter. First, give me the two lists I’ve asked for.’ They were handed over without a word. ‘And now, my other order is that you bring yourself to my office at eleven-thirty prompt where there will be a well-deserved pot of tea waiting. Is that understood, Miss Halliday?’
Mary nodded. ‘Yes, Mr Sanderson.’ She watched him turn in the direction of the stock room before looking at her watch. And after that, she glanced at it every five minutes until eleven-thirty-one, when she was knocking on his office door.
‘Ah, Mary, sit yourself down for that well-earned rest. The tea is being brought up now.’ Clive sat down and looked across his desk at the woman who had brought meaning into his life. He wished he wasn’t as shy as he was for there were things he would like to say to her, to ask her. ‘I have mentioned once before that you need an assistant. You were against the idea then, and I foolishly gave in to your wishes. But after the last few hours, I can see it is essential that you have help before you make yourself ill.’ There was a knock on the door before it was opened by one of the waitresses from the cafe on the top floor. ‘Thank you, please set it down and leave us to pour.’
‘I’ll do that.’ Mary was glad of something to do other than looking into his face, which lately she found unnerving. ‘I think we are going to have a bumper Christmas. Sales are well up on the last two years.’
‘Mary, can we set work aside for just twenty minutes? You, above anyone, need a break from it. Tell me what you’re doing on Christmas Day?’
‘Spending it at home, as I usually do. I have several good friends who invite me each year without fail. But they are married with children and I always feel as though I don’t belong there on that particular day. Other days, yes, but not Christmas Day.’
‘I would invite you to my house and we could be two lonely people together, but unfortunately my housekeeper doesn’t work Christmas Day. If I had the slightest idea of how to cook I would ask her to prepare the food the day before, then I would only need to put it on the stove and warm it. But I am quite helpless and hopeless.’
‘You can come to mine if you wish.’ There, it was out! Mary felt weak in the knees. ‘I always make a roast dinner even though I eat it alone.’ She made herself look busy putting milk and sugar in the cups so she wouldn’t have to see the expression on his face. ‘My house is a very modest one, but it is big enough for me. You are welcome to share my Christmas dinner if you wish.’
Clive didn’t answer until she was handing him his cup and was forced to look him in the face. And what she saw there filled her with relief. She was afraid she’d made a fool of herself, but his expression told her otherwise. ‘Mary, I would be delighted and am looking forward to it already. But I will only come if you will let me repay you by taking you for a meal on New Year’s Day. Perhaps at the Adelphi or the State?’
Her head was in a whirl, wondering if she had the right clothes for those places. Then she thought, Blow it, I’ll worry about that later. There’s nothing to stop me looking for something suitable in my dinner hour. She could try Blackler’s or Owen Owen’s. Oh, what did it matter? She could dip into her savings and buy something really attractive. She wanted him to be proud of her. ‘That would be lovely, Clive.’ And his slow, gentle smile almost had her swooning like a young girl.
When Beth heard the knock on her door, she thought it would be Flo ready to go to the shops. And it was Flo, but she wasn’t alone – Dot was with her. Without waiting to be asked in, the little woman pushed Beth aside and bounced into the living room. She looked at each of the wooden dining chairs, trying to remember which one she could expect the least objection from. ‘Blow it, they’re all the bleedin’ same,’ she said aloud, before plonking herself on one that wasn’t prepared for her eighteen stone and groaned like mad. ‘You can just shut up while we find out what shenanigans our so-called friend’s been up to.’
Beth shrugged her shoulders at Dot. ‘What’s she on about?’
‘Well, I’ve got to admit to being as curious as her,’ Dot said, sitting on the arm of the couch. ‘I mean, it’s not often yer see a car in this street, and certainly not one that stops outside anyone’s door.’
The light dawned, and Beth tutted. ‘Oh, my God, have yer both got nothing better to worry about? And how come anyone saw it, because I didn’t.’
‘It’s just as well we did see it ’cos you wouldn’t have told us!’ Flo started plucking at the chenille tablecloth. ‘If I hadn’t been looking out for our Amy, who’d been told to be home by nine o’clock, then I’d have been none the wiser.’
‘I heard it stopping,’ Dot said, ‘and peeped through the curtain.’
‘Well, I’ll put yer out of yer misery quickly, ’cos I wa
nt to get to the shops as soon as I can. I’ve promised meself to go and see me mam and dad this afternoon in case I don’t get another chance. And Hannah’s coming with me ’cos she hasn’t seen them for years.’ Beth pulled out a chair facing Flo. ‘Yer know our Ginny was going to tea with a woman who often comes in the shop, that she’s got friendly with? Well, this woman’s nephew offered to drive Ginny home so she wouldn’t have to travel on her own in the dark. And that’s all there is to it.’
‘Ye’re coming up in the world, aren’t yer, girl?’ Flo said, plucking away at the tablecloth. ‘Yer’ll be too big-headed to speak to us common people, what yer used to call yer best mates.’
‘I don’t know why ye’re making a big thing out of my daughter getting a lift home in a car.’ Beth was privately asking herself why her two neighbours had seen the car and she hadn’t. Not that a car was anything to get excited about, but she’d have liked to have seen it all the same. ‘And will yer stop pulling at those tufts in me tablecloth, sunshine, before yer have them all out? It’s the only chenille cloth I’ve got to me name.’ She was beginning to see the funny side, but she wasn’t going to let her two mates know. ‘Just out of curiosity, why didn’t you two knock for Lizzie? She won’t think much of yer when she finds yer’ve left her out.’