by Joan Jonker
‘Come on, up those steps.’ Mary guided the bemused Eileen to the beautiful, large lounge where afternoon tea was being served. But when Mary chose a table near the centre of the lounge, Eileen came to life. ‘Not ’ere,’ she hissed, ‘somewhere at the back.’
Vera and Mary looked around with interest at the people seated at the tables around them, many of the men in uniforms. They admired the beauty of the high ornate ceiling, and the plush curtains, but Eileen was speechless. It was only when the waitress brought a tray with their afternoon tea on, the big woman found her voice. Staring at the small plates, each holding a wafer-thin sandwich and a scone, Eileen spluttered, ‘Is this all yer get for three and six? Bloody daylight robbery.’ But although she wouldn’t admit it then, Eileen was impressed. As she was to tell her family later, ‘Fancy me in the Adelphi! An’ yer should ’ave seen the nobs in there! Honest, it’s beautiful … a real eye opener. We’ll go there one day, when we’ve got a few bob to spare, an’ yez can see it for yerselves. Give yez an idea of ’ow the other ’alf live.’
Mary refilled their cups from the round silver teapot and returned it to the tray, to stand beside the silver milk jug and sugar basin. ‘I wouldn’t like to have to clean this lot.’
‘Me neither!’ Eileen’s bulk completely hid the small delicate chair. ‘I’ll stick to me old brown teapot and pour the milk from the bottle. Bein’ posh is too much like hard work.’ She was relaxed now, and even if people were staring at her, she couldn’t have cared less. ‘But I’ve enjoyed it, kid, an’ thanks very much. Yer’d better thank Harry for us, too, seein’ as ’e paid for it.’
‘That goes for me, too.’ Vera smiled. ‘It certainly makes a change from our two-up-two-down, and it’s nice to see some cheerful faces.’
‘Danny came home yesterday, then?’ Mary asked. ‘How is he?’
Vera grimaced. ‘Ask Eileen.’
‘I’m not goin’ to swear, ’cos this place is too posh,’ Eileen said. ‘But he’s a miserable b … if I ever saw one. It took ’im all ’is time to let me over the door, an’ ’e looked real bad tempered. Honest to God, if ’e was my ’usband, I’d clock ’im one.’
‘I wish he was your husband,’ Vera said. ‘I wish he was anyone’s husband but mine. I’d made up my mind to make the best of it, try and get along with him, but it’s impossible. All he wants is a wife that he can order round and treat like a servant. He came home at six o’clock last night, threw his army bag in the room and went straight out to the pub. The boys weren’t home from work when he went out, and they were asleep in bed when he came in at midnight.’
‘Yer mean he didn’t stay in to see ’is sons?’ Eileen looked disgusted.
‘Uh, uh! They haven’t seen him yet! They leave for work at half seven, and he didn’t get up till ten.’ Vera let out a deep sigh. ‘I don’t know how he’s going to be with them, but they won’t put up with any nonsense from him. When Colin was only twelve, he told me that when he grew up he wouldn’t let his dad hit me. And even though he’s only sixteen, and Peter’s fourteen, they’re both big lads. Both taller than their dad.’
‘How was Carol with him?’ Mary asked. ‘Did she know him?’
‘I wasn’t exaggerating when I told you he went straight out last night. He didn’t say a word to her. And he’s ignored her this morning, just like he always did.’ Vera clasped and unclasped her hands. ‘I’m at me wits’ end, ’cos I know he’s gone right back to what he was … a big, violent bully. I’m terrified of him hurting Carol. And he’d do it to get back at me unless I toe the line. He practically told me so last night when he came in, tanked up to the eye balls, I was in bed pretending to be asleep, but that didn’t stop him from trying to force me to give him what he wanted. When I pushed him away, he threatened me with everything under the sun. It’s always me and Carol he picks on, he never mentions the boys.’ Vera was silent for a while, as she tried to control her emotions. ‘All Danny Jackson wants a wife for is to make his meals, use as a punch bag when he’s in a bad temper, and satisfy his sexual needs. If I’m not prepared to satisfy him, then me and Carol will suffer.’
Eileen and Mary didn’t speak. They shook their heads in sympathy but let Vera talk it all out of her system.
‘It’s wicked of me, and may God forgive me, but I keep asking meself why he couldn’t have been killed in the war. Thousands of good men were killed, but the devil looks after his own and Danny Jackson is alive and well.’ Vera ran a hand across her forehead, the fingers biting deep in a bid to relieve the pressure. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do, but if he ever lays a finger on Carol I’ll be out of that door for good, even though I’ve nowhere to go. I’d walk the streets before I’d let him harm her.’
‘Yer’ll not walk the streets while I’m ’ere!’ Eileen told her. ‘You come round to ours, an’ we’ll sort somethin’ out.’
‘Oh, what’s the good?’ Vera’s shoulders slumped. ‘It’s easy to talk, but how could I walk out and leave the boys? I love them, and they’re good kids.’
‘In an emergency, Vera, you walk out.’ It was Mary giving advice now. ‘If Danny gets violent, just pick up Carol and run. The boys can look after themselves until you find somewhere to live. And we’d all help you to do that, wouldn’t we, Eileen?’
‘It goes without sayin’,’ Eileen snorted. ‘But why the ’ell should you be the one to walk out? It’s the queer feller that should be thrown out! An’ if I ’ad my way, I’d get a couple of real men to do it.’
‘I’m sorry, Mary! You brought us out to celebrate your birthday, mugged us to a lovely tea, an’ you’ve had to sit and listen to my moans.’ Vera’s smile was a brave attempt, but it didn’t mask the worry in her eyes. ‘Let’s talk about something nice. Did Harry get the car?’
‘Yes! It’s an old one, you know, but Harry said it’s not in bad nick.’
Eileen, who knew Mary inside out, saw a spark in her friend’s eyes and waited expectantly. She wasn’t disappointed and smiled approvingly when Mary said, ‘We’re going up to Eileen’s on Saturday to let her and Bill see it. Harry managed to get hold of some petrol and he’s keeping it till then so he can take them for a run round the block. The car will hold six at a squeeze, so if I get Doris to mind Emma and Tony for us, there’d be room for you and Carol.’ Without giving Vera time to think about it, Mary went on, ‘We’ll pick you up about two, so be ready.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘Hurry up, Bill! They’ll be ’ere any minute,’ Eileen bawled up the stairs on her way to answer the knock on the front door.
‘I can’t find me stud,’ Bill called back. ‘It was on the tallboy, but I must have knocked it off.’
‘Then get on yer flippin’ knees an’ look for it! Honest to God, you men want fetchin’ and carryin’.’
Eileen opened the door to Arthur Kennedy who was wearing a broad smile.
‘What’s poor Bill done now?’ he asked.
‘Lost ’is stud, an’ probably expects me to go up an’ find it for him.’
Eileen closed the door and with a broad wink, she shouted loud enough for her voice to reach the bedroom. ‘He’ll be wantin’ me to blow ’is nose for ’im next.’
‘I must say you’re looking very smart today, Mrs Gillmoss!’ Arthur stood in the living room and gave a soft wolf whistle. ‘Very fetching.’
‘Flattery will get yer nowhere, Mr Kennedy.’ Eileen screwed her face up at him, but inside she felt very pleased. It wasn’t often anyone praised her appearance. ‘Don’t forget I’m a married woman.’
‘Just my luck.’ Arthur put a hand on his heart and a pained expression on his face. ‘I meet the woman of my dreams, and she belongs to another. My poor heart is broken.’
‘Go on with yer, yer daft ha’porth! Sounds like yer’ve been reading True Confessions, or somethin’.’
‘Yeah, I hide them under me pillow and read them in bed.’ Arthur chuckled as he glanced around. ‘Where is everybody?’
‘Me mam’s at the shop
s, young Billy’s out with ’is mates, and Bill’s upstairs gettin’ changed.’ Eileen’s excitement surfaced. ‘We’re expectin’ Mary an’ Harry. They’ve got a new car an’ they’re takin’ us out for a run.’
‘I know about Harry’s car. The bloke he bought it off works in our department.’
‘Look, sit down, Arthur, yer makin’ me nervous standin’ there.’
‘No, I’ll not stop if you’re going out.’
‘Don’t act so soft. Yer not comin’ all that way without gettin’ a cup of tea.’ Eileen glanced at the wrist watch she only wore for special occasions. ‘It’s only a quarter to two, so we’ve got time for a cuppa.’
While she was waiting for the kettle to boil, Eileen stood in the doorway. ‘We’ll only be out for ’alf an hour, so yer can stay ’ere till we get back an’ ’ave a bite of tea with us.’
Arthur’s hands were laced together, his thumbs circling each other. ‘Did Vera’s husband come home?’
Eileen’s mind clicked. So that’s why Arthur’s here, she told herself. He’s come for news of Vera. ‘Yeah, he’s ’ome.’ She heard Bill’s footsteps on the stairs and made her escape to the kitchen. It wasn’t up to her to discuss Vera’s private life with Arthur, so she’d better keep her mouth shut.
When Eileen carried the tea in, Bill and Arthur were deep in conversation about their jobs. They’d both grown in stature since they’d started work. It seemed to have given them the confidence they needed to face the world. Apart from his white hair, Bill looked almost the same as he had before he went away. He talked and laughed a lot, and was more patient with the kids, who had slowly revised their opinion of him. When he’d first come home, they’d kept out of his way, but now they told him everything that happened at school and were always at him to play Happy Families with them.
He was strict, and wouldn’t stand any nonsense, but he was fair, and always quick to praise when they got good marks at school. He still had nightmares, when Eileen knew he was reliving those horrific years, and her arms were always there to comfort him. But when this happened it was hard for Eileen to keep her feelings under control, because it was more like comforting one of the children, than her husband. Even while she whispered the soothing words, she knew that as soon as his fears had gone he would turn away from her and move to his side of the bed, leaving her to shed her tears in silence and wonder if he really no longer loved her.
‘I was tellin’ Arthur he might as well stay until we get back.’ Eileen handed the cups over. ‘We won’t be out all that long.’
‘Yes, that’s a good idea.’ Bill seemed pleased. ‘We can go for a pint when the pubs open.’
‘I’ve got to be home about eight, to see to the boys.’ Arthur didn’t bother making excuses for his wife not being there to mind them. These two were his friends and he’d kept nothing back from them. ‘They get frightened in the house on their own once it gets dark.’
Eileen tutted. ‘That wife of yours should try behavin’ like a mother instead of flyin’ ’er kite every night.’
‘Now, now, chick!’ Bill shot her a warning look. ‘It’s Arthur’s business, not ours.’
‘Well, it makes me blood boil. She gets away with murder.’
They could hear the excited shrieks of children, and Eileen bounced off the chair. ‘This’ll be them. The girls ’ave been waitin’ at the bottom of the street for them.’ Her round, fat face beamed. ‘They’ve been that excited, yer’d think it was us that ’ad a car. They’ll be swankin’ like mad in front of their mates.’
Bill stood up. ‘We’d better get out before they wreck the thing.’
‘Hello, Arthur!’ Mary’s face showed her surprise. ‘We didn’t expect to see you today.’
Arthur acknowledged Harry’s wave. ‘It’s a week or so since I saw Eileen, so I thought I’d better put in an appearance in case she thought I’d fallen out with her.’
‘Hey! Get off, the lot of yez.’ Eileen shooed the children away. There were dozens of them, all the kids from both ends of the street, climbing on the bonnet and bumper, and playing with the windscreen wipers. Harry was doing his best to move them, but he was too polite. It took Eileen’s loud, threatening voice to silence them. ‘Off! D’yez ’ear me, I said off!’ One by one the children moved to stand against the walls, just waiting for the grown-ups to move indoors so they could begin again. They didn’t see many cars, no one in their street had one, and it was a rare novelty.
‘Joan, Edna, you keep yer eyes peeled, an’ if anyone so much as lays a finger on it, give us a shout.’
Edna was shaking Harry’s arm. ‘Can we sit in it, Uncle Harry? We won’t touch anything, honest.’
Harry looked down into the pleading eyes, and grinned. ‘You and Joan can take turns a piece. Five minutes each, okay?’
‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Harry.’ Bill looked very doubtful. ‘They can’t do any harm, can they?’
‘They can’t drive it away, if that’s what you mean.’ Harry laughed. ‘I’ve got the key, and the handbrake is on.’
Eileen stayed behind when the others went inside, and her warning to Joan and Edna left nothing to the imagination. ‘Just one little thing wrong, me ladies, an’ yez won’t sit down for a month.’
The car stopped outside the Jacksons’. Eileen was in the front passenger seat because she took up too much room in the back, and Mary and Bill shared the back seat with enough room left for Vera. It was a big, roomy car, a 1933 Morris Oxford, and according to Harry, only went about eighteen miles to the gallon.
‘Shall I go in for Vera?’ Mary volunteered, but was glad when Harry shook his head and said, ‘No, I’ll go.’
The minutes ticked by and there was no sign of life from the Jacksons’ house. Eileen looked at her watch. ‘They’re a long time! I thought Vera would be ready.’
‘I hope everything’s all right.’ Mary’s face wore a frown. ‘There won’t be any trouble, will there?’
‘No, ’ere they are now.’ The door had opened and Harry, his face set, came out holding Carol’s hand. Then Vera followed and banged the door behind her.
Vera looked pale and nervous, but Carol’s face was a joy to behold when she saw who was in the car.
‘Come on, sweetheart, sit on my knee.’ Mary held her arms wide. ‘Mummy can sit next to us.’
Carol had never been in a car before and she jumped up and down with pleasure, pointing to everything they passed. Her happiness was infectious and soon everyone was laughing with her.
‘D’yer know, I feel like wavin’ me ’and like the King an’ Queen do.’ Eileen looked out of the car window, gave a limp wave with her chubby hand and bowed her head. Shaking with laughter, she turned to Harry. ‘Where’s yer chauffeur’s ’at? Trust you to let the side down. The trouble is, yer not used to travellin’ in style, like we are.’ She turned her head and winked at Bill, ‘It’s easy to see ’e wasn’t brought up proper, isn’t it, love?’
Harry parked the car in Barnston Road, at the side of the Aintree Palace picture house. ‘We’ll take Carol in the park and she can play on the swings.’
They saw a reminder of the war when they turned in the gates of Aintree park. The huge air raid shelter that had been built in the grounds was overgrown with weeds, but the sloping concrete path leading down to it was a grim reminder of those nights when people fled their homes and took refuge in the underground shelter.
Carol was in her apple cart. First she had a go on the swings, then the slide, and finally the roundabout, with Mary beside her. It was a small park, with a bowling green behind, and there were only a few children with their mothers. But everyone stopped what they were doing when Carol’s laugh rang out. Heads appeared over the hedge dividing the park from the bowling green, and there were smiles on the faces of young and old.
‘D’yer know, that kid’s a real treat to take out,’ Eileen whispered to Mary. ‘If she was mine, I’d love the bones of ’er.’
‘Vera does love her.’ Mary’s face looked
troubled. ‘Harry didn’t look very happy when he came out of their house, did he? I wonder what went on?’
Eileen saw Vera coming towards them, her hand on Carol’s shoulder. ‘We’ll find out later.’
‘Yer can come in for five minutes, surely?’ They’d piled out of the car outside Eileen’s, and she was now trying to coax Vera inside for a cuppa. She deliberately didn’t mention Arthur was inside, because she knew Vera would run like a scared rabbit. Then she grinned. ‘Yer’ve got no choice, ’cos Carol’s already gone in.’
‘Just for a few minutes, then.’
‘We’ll be in shortly,’ Bill called. ‘We’re just having a look over the car.’ Eileen pushed Vera along the hall, and Vera was laughing when she entered the room. But the smile faded when she saw Carol climbing on to Arthur’s knee.
‘Hello, Arthur, I didn’t know you were here.’
Eileen pushed Vera forward. ‘Will yer move, so we can all get in, missus?’ She bustled towards the kitchen. ‘Sit yerselves down while I stick the kettle on.’
‘Carol, you’re too big to be sitting on Uncle Arthur’s knee.’ Vera tried to coax her daughter down, but Carol wasn’t having any. ‘When she gets too heavy for you, Arthur, make her get down.’
‘Will you stop worrying, Vera?’ Arthur said with a smile. ‘She’s my girlfriend, aren’t you, darling?’
‘She’s certainly enjoyed herself.’ Mary pulled two chairs from the table. ‘Sit yourself down, Vera, and relax.’
But Vera couldn’t relax. She was filled with apprehension about what would happen when she got home. Danny had been livid when she’d told him she was going out. He’d stormed out to the pub, but instead of staying there until closing time like he usually did, he was back again at half past one. If anyone else but Harry had called for her, she knew Danny would have kicked up a stink and refused to let her out. But he was crafty enough not to cause a row in front of Harry. That would come when she got home, Vera was sure of that.