“Miss Murphy,” Liam shrugged. What was he supposed to say? He was sure everyone in The Lane had heard everything about him by now. His da hadn’t been exactly whispering when he’d cursed Liam up one side and down the other.
“I’m sorry about yer da, Ivy,” Conn Connelly said softly. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“You’re one of the few to say that to me, Conn.” Ivy could feel her eyes well up. She wanted to be alone. “I thank you.”
“Thanks for the help, lads.” Jem cuddled Emmy close. The little one was taking everything in. “Ivy wants some work done in here – are you two available?” He knew they were but it was polite to ask. They couldn’t continue to stand here like tailors’ dummies.
“What do yeh need?” Conn stared at Ivy. He’d do anything for the woman. Ivy took such good care of old Granny. Granny was a woman with a tongue that would slice you in half, a tongue that drove most of the neighbours away from her door. Besides that, Ivy made sure that if there was a job going that would earn a few bob she gave it to Conn.
“Come across the way, lads.” Jem could sense Ivy was at the end of her tether. He’d get this lot out of her way. “I’ll explain to you what’s needed.”
“Before we go,” Liam blushed slightly, “I could make a sign to put on the top gate. It would save you from having to answer any more questions tonight.”
“That’s a good idea, lad.” Jem opened the door. “Come across the way and we’ll discuss it.” Jem, with Emmy still on his hip, practically pushed the two young men out the door in front of him.
“Thanks, Jem,” Ivy said softly, “for everything.”
“We’ll see yeh tomorrow, Ivy.” The three men and the young girl called goodbyes softly. There was still a crowd gathered and gossiping in the open area by the livery.
Ivy sighed deeply and shut the door. She wanted time alone. She needed to think. She went to put the kettle on. The worst had been taken care of for the moment. She’d told everyone of her father’s death. She could only wait to see what happened now.
Chapter 18
“I can’t believe the change a couple of coats of whitewash have made to these rooms.” Ivy stood gazing around the changed rooms in sheer delight. The three men had worked like Trojans. Ivy had left the back and front doors standing wide open during the day which had refreshed the rooms further.
Even with both fires lighting it was cold in the rooms. A lot of the neighbours had seen the open door as an invitation to stop by. They demanded details of her da’s death from Ivy. She’d poured an ocean of tea and told the same story over and over again. Her da drowned – there was no body for burial. Ivy had been polite to everyone who stopped by. Fortunately, the men working to paint the rooms meant the curious neighbours didn’t stay long.
Ivy closed both doors now and stood admiring the sparkling white walls. The improvement opened up a house-proud side of Ivy she hadn’t known existed. With her hands clasped to her chest she walked slowly around her rooms, examining every angle. She took a minute to admire the shelves Jem was putting up in the nooks that framed either side of the chimneybreast in the front room. She grinned to see Conn giving the place a good going-over. He was applying a lot of elbow grease to remove all trace of paint droppings.
“I was hoping to find a chance to talk to you, Liam. Would you step down and tell your ma that you and Conn are eating here this evening?” Ivy didn’t want to cause any problems with her neighbours. “It’s only fair since Conn tells me your dog caught the rabbits we’re going to eat. Yeh might ask yer ma to give yeh a couple of plates and spoons. I don’t know where anything is.”
Ivy looked around at her belongings pushed into the centre of the room and covered with newspaper. She didn’t have enough plates but the mess gave her a good excuse for having to borrow the dishes she’d need.
“It sounds like you have your orders, Liam.” Jem grinned across at the young man.
Liam and Conn had worked really hard helping Jem get the ceiling and walls of the dark, grimy rooms sparkling white. The workers had stopped only for the many cups of tea and bread with bacon drippin’ Ivy prepared.
Emmy had been responsible for the care and watering of the dog, much to her delight. The little girl had met a large number of the local children – they’d all been fascinated by the strange girl and her dog. The ice was well and truly broken.
The smell of the rabbit stew Ivy kept simmering on the stove all day had stomachs rumbling as the light disappeared from the sky.
“I’ll just nip up and report in,” Liam sighed. His father would be home from work. Hopefully the silent treatment was still in effect. Liam much preferred it to the yells and slaps.
“I’ll go with him.” Conn glanced around to check he’d left nothing left to be done. “I’ll get cleaned up.”
The two young men left.
“All this talk about the stage takes a bit of getting used to, doesn’t it?” said Jem. While the two young men painted walls and ceiling, and pushed furniture around the room, Liam had filled Jem in on all of his plans. “Do you really think he has a chance of making a living on the stage with this dog act of his?”
“Thankfully, Jem, that’s not our problem.” Ivy sighed. “Liam is sixteen – at that age anything is possible. He has a lot to learn. Give us a hand bringing the table and chairs into the back room, will yeh? With the door shut the stove will soon warm that room up.” Ivy didn’t know how she was going to arrange her rooms but she’d figure it out when she was alone. “I only have the two chairs so you men will have to sit on upturned orange boxes.”
“We could shove your two fireside chairs in the back room as well,” Jem suggested, moving the table from under the window. Ivy carried the two chairs. “That would leave this room as your work area.”
“I need to tidy all of this up.” Ivy looked around at her rooms. She’d a lot of work in front of her. “Get the door, petal!” she called at the first knock on the back door.
“Come on in, lads,” Ivy called to the two brothers. “I’m afraid it will be rough and ready. I’m not organised yet but there is plenty of stew and I made dumplings so there should be full and plenty.” It thrilled Ivy to be able to say that.
“Right, everyone, let’s get organised!” Ivy clapped her hands. “Conn, if you’d be good enough to carry a bowl in for Granny I’d appreciate it. Tell her I’ll be in to see her later.”
Ivy filled Granny’s tin can full of the rich broth, setting three dumplings on top before replacing the lid.
“We’ll have everything ready by the time yeh get back.” Ivy watched Conn leave with a feeling of deep satisfaction. She might have had to run back and forth to Granny’s to prepare the stew out of the men’s way and borrow ingredients but by God she’d cooked it in her own home!
“I’ll serve up and leave the pot on the stove,” she said as soon as Conn returned. “There’s plenty for everyone so speak up if you want more.”
With enormous satisfaction she served the people sitting around her table. She might not have a dining room and fancy silver but the food was as good as you would get anywhere. Ivy knew she was a good cook and was enjoying this chance to show off.
“This is yummy, Auntie Ivy.” Emmy was almost ramming the spoon into her mouth. She’d never tasted anything like this stew.
“Thank you, petal.” Ivy smiled.
The men were silent but then everyone knew silence is the best compliment to a cook.
“It really is delicious.” Liam had almost cleared his plate. The dog was sitting under the table lapping up the old bread and stew Ivy put down for her.
Ivy waited until the men had finished their first bowls, then, without asking, she stood and refilled the bowls. Emmy was still working on hers.
“When I saw yeh last night, Liam, I was hoping to get a chance to talk to yeh.” Ivy put the refilled bowl on the table in front of Liam. She hated to have this conversation in front of others but she couldn’t afford to be embarrassed.
>
Liam slowly spooned the rich broth into his mouth. “About what?”
“I know your plans for the future, Liam.” Ivy wouldn’t be put off. She was determined to improve her lot in life.
“You’ve been listening to me blether on all day and I’m sure everyone in The Lane heard my father screaming my intentions to the world,” Liam shrugged.
“What do you plan to do while you wait for the dog to whelp?” Ivy looked down at the dog on the bare floor. It was a sweet-natured animal. “Conn will tell you there’s not that much work around. It will take time and money to train up the pups. You’ll need to feed them and take care of them.”
“I know and I know I’ve been foolish just jumping into this. But I really believe this is something I want to do.” Liam didn’t know how to explain his need to change his life. He wanted something he could do that would allow him to travel and earn while he did. He’d come home hoping to have somewhere safe where he could plan his next move. His father’s attitude shouldn’t have come as a surprise to him but it had. Having to avoid Father Leary as well was a nightmare.
“I have a job for you,” Ivy said slowly.
“I don’t know how to sew or knit.” Liam grinned then glared at his brother when Conn poked him in the ribs.
“I want you to teach me to read, write and do arithmetic,” Ivy said with a blush. She hated to admit her shame to the world but she refused to keep hiding her head in the sand. She needed to learn and this was her chance.
“If you want to improve your skills, Ivy, I don’t know how much use I can be to you.” Liam knew he’d had a better education then most of the people around the lane but he was sixteen years old not a college professor or anything like that.
“You misunderstood me, Liam.” Ivy took a deep breath. She had to say this. She’d never get a chance like this again. “I don’t know how to read.”
“Oh! What did the teachers at school say was wrong with you?” Liam asked with not a great deal of tact.
“In the name of God, Liam,” Conn wanted to punch his brother. “You didn’t become a priest, yeh know. People are not going to let yeh get away with that kind of rudeness. Will yeh for Christ’s sake think before yeh open that big mouth of yours!”
“I’ve never been to school.” Ivy was aware of Jem’s spoon pausing on the way to his mouth. She ignored the argument between the two brothers. “I need someone to teach me. I need to start at the baby level.” Ivy was mortified but determined.
“I can teach you, Auntie Ivy.” Emmy suddenly joined the conversation. “Bishop Troy says I’m a changeling child because I know too much.” The child looked under her eyelashes to see if she’d shocked her new family. “Bishop Troy says I’m the devil’s child because I learn too fast.”
“Bishop Troy –” Ivy bit back the words she wanted to say, “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” She leaned over and kissed Emmy on her little nose.
“I don’t understand, Ivy.” Liam didn’t know what to do. He knew Father Leary said Ivy Murphy was damned. Now he heard a bishop had said the child was a changeling. Was he keeping company with the devil?
Conn opened his mouth to say something. He could almost see the thoughts in his kid brother’s head. Jem beat him to it.
“You need to start thinking, Liam.” Jem wanted to knock some sense into the lad. “Isn’t that why you say you left the seminary? You want to learn to think for yourself. Make something different of your own life. Well, that new life starts now.” Jem glared at Liam.
“I’m sorry.” Liam blushed scarlet. “That was a knee-jerk reaction and I apologise heartily. You’ve been nothing but kindness itself to me.” Liam stared at Ivy with apology written across his young face.
“To return to the question you asked me . . .” Ivy wanted to let Liam off the hook. She didn’t care what he thought of her. She needed his help. “I’ve never been to school. Father Leary and me da decided that a girl child didn’t need to be taught such nonsense.” Ivy allowed her bitter feelings to show. Liam needed to realise that Ivy didn’t have a good word to say about Father Leary.
“That wasn’t very bright of either of them,” Jem remarked softly. “Especially since that particular girl child has been the family’s main provider for most of her life. And it should be noted that the same girl child has provided the meal for not just the humans here but for your dog as well, Liam.” Jem wanted to kick something, hard.
“I’d be happy to help you learn,” Liam said, abashed. He was eating the woman’s food, sitting by her fire and he’d been prepared to look down on her.
“I’ll help too, Auntie Ivy,” Emmy promised.
“Thank you, petal.” Ivy smiled at the little girl who’d wormed her way into her heart. “I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“We’ll need supplies. I’ll think about it and make a list.” Liam wanted time alone. He wanted to pray. Ask the Lord for advice. “I need to take my dog for a run now.”
“Where are you going to sleep tonight?” Jem asked before Liam could escape.
“On the stairs again, I suppose.” Liam shrugged.
“It would be more comfortable for you and the dog to sleep in the hayloft.” Jem offered. “Go for your walk now and call in to see me when you get back.”
“Thanks, both of you. Thanks very much.”
Liam almost ran out of Ivy’s home. These two people, virtual strangers to him had offered to share everything they had with him. He’d been prepared to pass judgement on them, find them lacking. He wasn’t proud of himself.
“Yeh can tell me brother isn’t used to taking care of himself.” Conn stood with a sigh. “I thank yeh kindly for the food, Ivy. It was wonderful, the best stew I’ve ever eaten. Please don’t tell me ma that.” Conn grinned and picked up the plates and utensils he’d carried into Ivy’s.
“Don’t worry – I won’t!” Ivy laughed.
Conn had his hand on the doorknob when he remembered the information his mother had asked him to pass on to Ivy and anyone else he met. “Willie McConnell is having a story night tonight, Ivy.”
“Really, Conn, what time?” Ivy loved story nights and tried never to miss one.
Story night was an old tradition in the tenements. People would meet up, adults would congregate in the rooms leading off the main hallway, children were usually arranged sitting on the staircase while the storyteller sat inside the closed front door of whichever building was hosting the event. If someone was in the money a few bottles of stout might be available.
‘Willie McConnell?” Jem said. “Him that plays his fiddle on Grafton Street?”
“He tells the best stories, Jem!” Ivy was giddy at the prospect. “Willie McConnell has travelled the world. He tells stories from around the world and he uses foreign words and plays music he learned in the places he visited. It will be a great night, Jem – you and Emmy have to come.”
“So I’ll see you later at McConnell’s place,” Conn said.
“Thanks for all your help, Conn,” Ivy said.
Jem was going to pay the two lads out of money Ivy would pass to him.
“I’ll give you a hand tidying this lot up.” Jem stood and began to help clear the table while Emmy ran over to sit in one of the comfortable chairs in front of the range.
Ivy made a mental note to herself to make a rag doll for the little girl. She’d do it when she was repairing those two porcelain dolls for sale. The child needed something to play with.
“Ivy, it seems to me Father Leary has it in for you,” Jem murmured while taking dishes off the table. “Are yeh sure you should be asking Liam to help yeh? You’re just giving the man more ammunition to use against yeh.” Jem wasn’t a deeply religious man. He went to Mass on a Sunday and when he remembered he said his prayers, but he was not devout. He lowered his voice further: “I didn’t like what the little one said about that bishop either.”
“She’s a grand little girl, Jem.” Ivy deliberately ignored Jem’s mention of Father Leary. The
re was nothing she could do about the parish priest and his attitude towards her. She didn’t want to talk about that man. She continued to fill the old basin with hot water. “I don’t think she could have been with the aunt or the bishop for long.” Ivy started laughing. “‘The Aunt and the Bishop’ sounds like a music-hall turn!”
“Liam would enjoy that.” Jem let the subject of the parish priest drop, for now. He took a cloth and began to dry the dishes as Ivy washed them.
“I’ll put the kettle on and we’ll have a cup of tea before we get ready to go out.”
“You do that.” Jem grinned. “You all right there with Ivy for a minute, Emmy?”
“Where you going?” Emmy glared at her new uncle. She didn’t want him to leave her. Everyone went away and left her.
“I’m running across to our place to fetch something.” Jem squatted down beside the chair and pulled one of Emmy’s curls. “I’ll be back lickety-split. All right?”
Emmy stared into Jem’s eyes for a long time. “All right,” she finally agreed.
“I’m borrowing one of your orange boxes, Ivy.” Jem grabbed the empty box he’d sat on. “You listen for my knock, Emmy, and let me back in!” he called back over his shoulder as he hurried from the room.
Through Streets Broad and Narrow (Ivy Rose Series Book 1) Page 20