Live the Dream

by Josephine Cox

  All eyes turned towards the door, and Amy walked in, to an appreciative gasp of admiration from all those gathered.

  'By! Doesn't she look grand?' That was old Ma Tooley, whose own wedding was reputed to be on the cards. 'She looks like a reg'lar little angel!'

  'Naw…' Maureen had tears in her eyes as she observed Amy in her long white gown decorated with forget-menots. The trailing, lacy veil was secured to her bouncy brown hair by an ornate mother-of-pearl pin that had belonged to Marie's own mammy. Her smile was wonderful and her eyes outshone the diamante necklace kindly lent to her by old Ma Tooley.

  'She looks just beautiful.' Marie choked back the tears.

  'Do I really look all right?' Amy asked shyly.

  'By!' Dave found his tongue. 'You look wonderful, lass,' he gasped. 'Every man in the land will envy me when I walk down that aisle with yer.' And his chest swelled at least another few inches as he walked her out the door.

  Marie and old Ma Tooley were ready, while Maureen applied the few finishing touches to the wedding tea.

  As Amy appeared at the front door the crowd that had gathered outside clapped and cheered, and only one person whispered, 'Why is that little lad the only attendant?'Johnny looked a proper little gent in his light grey suit and dicky bow. 'Why ain't there no bridesmaids?'

  Another neighbour had the answer. 'From what I know, she bought the dress and everything for her friend Daisy, hoping she might turn up, but she never did. Amy didn't want no other bridesmaid, only Daisy.'

  It was that which played on Amy's mind as she climbed into the little black car.

  'I wish Daisy had answered my letter,' she told her father sadly. 'I wish she was here to walk down the aisle with me.' As she turned to look at her father, the tears threatened. 'I miss her so much, Dad.'

  'I know, lass.' Taking her hand in his, Dave patted it softly. 'We can none of us mek other folks do what they don't want,' he said. 'All we can do is be there for them when they need us.'

  Amy gave him a fleeting kiss on the cheek. 'You're right,' she said, hiding her pain. 'You and Mam are here, and Jack will be waiting for me, and I know I'm luckier than most.'

  She resolved then not to think of Luke Hammond any more. What might have been- between them was a pipe dream. He was married, and very shortly she would be as well. She gave a little sigh, remembering the cabin in the woods, the gurgling brook, the pretty little tame deer and the kindness of that deeply troubled man. Well, let this be an end to it all. It had been only a dream anyway…

  Dave was looking at her curiously. 'All right, lass?'

  She turned to him and suddenly beamed. 'Yes, Dad. Better'n all right. Come on, let's go.'

  When they got to the church, there was another crowd of well-wishers to watch them in. The shouts of 'Good luck' and 'God bless' rang out, and, 'Ooh! Isn't she bonny!' 'Yer look lovely, lass!'

  Grateful for the good wishes, Amy waved and smiled, and her heart was full.

  When the music started and Jack, standing in the front pew, turned to look, his heart bounced inside his chest. Amy was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He loved her so much, it hurt.

  Roy stood beside him, attentive, and, like Jack, dressed smartly in a brand-new dark suit.

  The church was packed—with friends and neighbours and customers from the shop, and others who were there because they loved a wedding.

  Linking her arm with that of her proud father, Amy went down the aisle, her smile bathing the faces of the many as they winked and smiled back, and mouthed their good wishes.

  When she came to stand beside Jack, they exchanged glances and the love for each other in their eyes spoke more than words.

  Suddenly, tfiere was a fracas at the back of the church. When Amy turned, it was to the sound of people softly chuckling, and a breathless, dishevelled Daisy almost running down the aisle towards her. Dressed in the long blue gown that Amy had bought for her, she was tripping over the hem and trying to straighten her tiara as she ran.

  'I'm sorry, lass!' she called out. 'I almost didn't mek it!'

  Amy couldn't believe her eyes. 'Daisy!' Crying for joy, she ran to meet her. 'Oh, Daisy! You didn't let me down after all.' She could hardly see her darling friend for the blur of tears as they hugged and held each other, with Daisy doing a little dance in the middle of the aisle.

  'Hmm.' The vicar gave a little cough. 'Shall we get on?'

  They 'got on' and, during the service, Roy and Daisy exchanged glances and Roy winked knowingly, for it was he who had contacted Daisy and persuaded her to forget her sorrows and come home, where she would always be loved.

  Roy had been to speak to Nurse Rita, as Amy had suggested, and his pleading to be allowed to visit Daisy was relayed to the girl, but without success.

  Then, last week, Roy had received a letter from Nurse Rita, asking him to meet her on the Saturday and she would take him to see Daisy, who had agreed to meet him at last.

  They met in the room where Amy had seen Daisy. Roy stood in the doorway, twisting his cap in his hands, heart thumping, palms sweating and, maybe for the first time in his life, at a loss for words.

  Against the light from the window Daisy's form was silhouetted where she sat on the windowseat, turned away from him. Slowly she moved her head, but Roy could make out nothing of her expression though he was all too aware that his own mouth was agape and he was holding his breath.

  Then Daisy stood and walked slowly towards him, and as she approached him Roy saw tears spilling silently down Daisy's cheeks.

  'Oh, Roy…' she said simply.

  He gulped back his own threatening tears. 'Lass…' He reached a hand out towards her face.

  'Why do you want to come here? What do you want with me now, with this scar and —'

  Gently he placed his fing-ers over her mouth to silence her. 'Come home, lass,' he whispered. 'We all love you and miss you. And I love you most of all. Me, Amy, her mam all your friends—we want you back with us, where you belong. We want to tek care of you.'

  She looked at him for a long time with indecision in her face as more tears flowed.

  'All our plans, Daisy,' Roy reminded her, his eyes never moving from her. 'All the dreams we have—let's get on now and start living 'em. We've no more time to waste.' He saw her face change as she struggled to contain her fears as he persisted gently. 'There's a wedding to go to next Saturday and—if you'll still have me—another to plan. Come home, lass,' he urged her softly. 'Please…'

  ' 'Yes,' Daisy said. 'You're right, Roy. And I love you too. Always have.'

  'Oh, thank God, love.' With a sigh of relief he gathered her into his arms, kissing away her tears, holding her close and showing her she was indeed loved.

  'But-'

  'Shush, love. Put it all behind you. You were ill; now you're better and you're coming hcome.'

  'Home? But where's home for me now?'

  'You'll always have a home to go to, Daisy.' He laughed. 'Maureen and Marie are both desperate to welcome you into theirs. Come back for Amy and Jack's wedding and stay at Maureen's till then.'

  'Are you sure that's all right with her?'

  'O' course. She asked me to tell you, didn't she? By!' he grinned. 'Amy'll be made up when she sees you there to be her bridesmaid after all.'

  And so later that week Daisy had come to stay at Maureen's house before the wedding, where she was welcomed with such love by all her friends who were in on the secret that she felt her confidence growing with every passing hour, and by that evening she couldn't think why she'd stayed away so long.

  There was another unexpected guest at the wedding, but one Amy would never know about. Right at the back, hidden behind a wide stone column, Luke Hammond watched it all. He saw Amy go down the aisle, her arm linked with that of her proud father.

  He saw Daisy's comical entrance, and listened throughout the service and sung the hymns along with everyone else.

  But when it was over and Amy and Jack were pronounced man and wife, he waited
until they began the short walk to the vestry where they would sign the register, and then, as quietly as he arrived, he quickly left; unseen and alone.

  The wedding tea went down a treat and soon after that the music started, with old Ted Fogarty playing the piano left to Amy by her grandma. There wasn't much room in the parlour, but it was where Amy had insisted on having the festivities; not least because she had enjoyed some of the happiest moments of her life in that little room.

  Crowded though it was, there was dancing and laughter, and when Amy saw Roy waltzing with Daisy, with eyes only for each other, she was thrilled they were reunited at last.

  When the evening was over, Jack took Amy into the front shop. 'You'll never know how much I love you…Mrs Tomlinson,' he told her. And she thought that whatever happened from now on, she would never, in her whole life, forget this one, very special moment.

  'I love you too,' she whispered, and raised her mouth to his.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Towards the end of May, after working twelve- and fourteen-hour days, Luke had his business back on track. His considerable achievements were partly due to his admirable reputation and his own sheer force of character, and now, at long last, he had managed to reassure and retain all of his old customers, and even recruit a few new ones along the way.

  The insurance monies were through, and an even larger building than the old one was nearly completed at the factory site. As yet, there had been no breakthrough in the police investigation. It had been established that the fire had been started deliberately, but there was still no lead as to who might have been the culprit.

  Over the past few months Luke had been so busy that he was reluctantly obliged to forgo his usual Tuesday escape. Consequently he was on edge, but managing to hold together both his business and his home life until he was in calmer waters.

  Amy was married, and although this had happened several weeks ago now, the vision of her in her long white dress, the gauzy veil trailing behind her, beaming at her father, at Jack and at her friend Daisy, had stayed in his mind. Luke had, of course, been very pleased to see Daisy restored to health and vitality.

  Amy had been so obviously happy that the sense of loss he himself had experienced at her marriage had struck him like a personal rejection and he could not shake the feeling off.

  How he longed to escape to the cabin, to come to terms in solitude with this loss of Amy from his life. And how fate had conspired to deny him even that opportunity. Just to contemplate her portrait would provide some relief from his unhappiness. Maybe next week…

  Sometimes he felt this thought was all that kept him going.

  Throughout these difficult times, Sylvia had been unusually aggressive. As she was tonight. Her depression and mood swings were becoming more extreme, and her confidence reduced, so there was very little time now when her behaviour was normal.

  'You're late again! Where've you been this time?' The minute he walked through the door, wearied and hungry for his dinner, she was on to him, her face distorted with rage and her fists lashing out. 'You've been with her, that's the truth, isn't it? Don't lie to me!'

  Before he could even reply she was raising her arm, then she brought her nails down on his face, leaving a narrow river of blood where the tip of each cut his flesh. 'You bastard! Who is she?' Screeching like a banshee, she threw herself at him. 'TELL ME WHO SHE IS!'

  While he tried gently to fend her off, Edna came rushing down the stairs.

  'NO!' Taking hold of Sylvia by the shoulders, she tried to take control, but for once, Sylvia was too much for her.

  'It's all right, Edna.' Asking the housekeeper to move away, Luke forcibly took hold of Sylvia by the wrists. 'THERE IS NO WOMAN!' His angry voice, rising above the tirade of abuse, managed to calm her. 'Listen to me, Sylvia. There is no woman. There has never been anyone but you.'

  That was the truth, and yet in his mind, he saw Amy's lovely face and his heart dropped. If only…he thought, if only…

  Peering up at him with suspicious eyes, Sylvia allowed herself to listen, but even then she was not totally convinced. 'You do still love me, don't you?' she asked pitifully.

  'I always will,' he answered simply, too worn for this kind of argument. And God help him, that was also the truth.

  After a while, Sylvia was calm enough for Edna to lead her upstairs and put her to bed.

  Later she returned to the kitchen where Luke was enjoying a well-earned cup of tea.

  'Poor dear, she was worn out,' Edna informed him. 'Miss Georgina was here earlier, and they got very lively, trying on dresses and hats. I think Mrs Hammond's got rather excitable, but she's sleeping soundly now.'

  He thanked her. 'I really don't know what I would have done without you these past weeks,' he said, 'what with you helping out by staying with Sylvia so often, and hardly able to go home.' He gave a sorry little grin. 'It's a wonder your Harry doesn't come knocking at the door after me.'

  'Aw, don't worry. He's an understanding man. Anyway, me and Mrs Hammond find plenty to do.' She chuckled. 'Although maybe I should never have taken her to the market on Saturday.'

  Luke took a long, revitalising gulp of his tea. 'Maybe not,' he too was chuckling at the thought, 'especially after she had a fallout with the greengrocer and upturned his barrow in a temper.'

  Edna laughed. 'It were his own fault,' she declared. 'He should never have hit the dog with a stick when it peed over the leg of his barrow. It were that which set Mrs Hammond off:'

  'If you say so, Edna,' Luke conceded.

  Going to the oven Edna took out the cottage pie she'd made for him. 'I cooked it late,' she told him. 'It's still piping hot, and the gravy is nice and rich.' With his place already laid at the table, she set the meal before him. 'And don't dare tell me you're not hungry,' she chided, ' 'cause I know you don't stop to eat, and these past weeks I've seen the weight falling off yer.'

  He didn't argue. 'Thanks, Edna. And have you eaten—you and Sylvia?'

  'We have. So tuck in.'

  As he did, a voice called from the top of the stairs. 'Edna!' It was Sylvia, and she sounded like a frightened child. 'Edna, where are you?'

  Going to the door, Edna called back, 'It's all right, dear. You get back into bed. I'll be up in a minute.'

  Luke made to get out of his seat.I'll go,' he said. 'You sit and have your night-cap.' If there was one thing he'd learned, it was that Edna was very fond of her late night cup of chocolate.

  'You'll do no such thing!' she said firmly. 'You've been at work since seven o'clock this morning, and that was after a restless night because of Mrs Hammond and her nightmares. Besides, I had my chocolate only minutes afore you came in, so sit yourself down. I'll see to her. I'm ready for my own bed anyway.'

  She bade him good night and hurried across to the door. 'Happen I'll lie with her for a while, at least until I'm satisfied she's hard and fast asleep.'

  Luke was immensely grateful. 'Good night, Edna.'

  'Good night, sir.'

  She nodded and smiled, and was gone in an instant Luke ate his cottage pie and thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards he carried the used crockery to the sink, where he piled it up inside the porcelain bowl. Then he poured himself a small measure of brandy, which he downed in one gulp. He was not a drinking man, but lately there had been times when he'd felt the need of a drink; but never more than one, and never on a regular basis.

  Going to the sitting room, he dropped his weary body into the wide-armed, well-worn leather chair and, stretching out his legs, he closed his eyes and quietly reflected on the tumultuous events of these past weeks.

  How could he forget that heart-stopping moment when he stood before his burning factory, when everything he had worked and schemed for was being reduced to ashes before his eyes?

  Then, when news broke that there were two people inside the burning building, and then that those same two people were Daisy and Roy, it was one of the worst moments of his entire life.

  In fact, though he was working
all hours God sent to keep his business running in difficult conditions, he didn't think it was the long, back-breaking hours that wearied him to the bone. Instead he believed it was the trauma of that night, and the searing question: who had set fire to his business? And, more importantly, did they realise that Roy and Daisy were trapped inside?

  Luke could not imagine anyone setting that fire, for whatever reason. Time and again he had gone over the events of that night and the questions they raised with the police. How did they get in? Who else had access to keys? Why would anyone want to torch his business? Had he got enemies or competitors who might bear a grudge? Were there any former employees who might think they'd been badly treated?

  Luke answered their questions as best he could. He told them how he had no idea how the arsonist had got in, although Roy had already admitted how he and Daisy had climbed in through a small window that had inadvertently been left open. As far as keys were concerned, it was only trusted employees who had access, such as his clerk and his manager, and as far as he knew they had no reason to burn down the building and jeopardise their own incomes with it. They were trusted men. And no, he did not know of any former employee who might think he had been badly treated; but he gave them a list of people who had formerly worked for him anyway.

  He explained how his successful business would always have its fair share of competitors who might be pleased to see him cease trading, but he personally could not think of anyone who would stoop to such a terrible thing as burning down a factory.

  The watchman couldn't help either because as he already told them, 'I nodded off, but only for a minute or two! It must 'a been then, when the buggers sneaked past me!'

  And so the investigation was still ongoing.

  Questions, questions, and none of them yet answered. And now, made drowsy by the brandy, Luke fell asleep, and still the disturbing questions played on his mind.