Love Letters in the Sand

by June Francis

  As she watched her brother, she noticed a packet changing hands. She groaned inwardly. What was Tommy up to now? She could not help but be suspicious after the trouble he’d been in before he disappeared. It occurred to her that the sensible thing to do would be to get in touch with Marty, because if she attempted to follow Tommy when he left, it wouldn’t be easy to keep up with him in her high heels.

  She felt inside her pocket for change and then opened the door of the telephone box. She dialled Bernie’s mother’s number and asked to speak to her brother.

  After she had finished talking to Marty, she checked whether Tommy was still outside the pub before going back inside the telephone box to keep out of the cold. Every few minutes she popped outside to see if he was still hanging around. It was just as well that she did because otherwise she would have missed him going inside the Red Lion. Should she follow him or stay right where she was until Marty turned up? She decided she must be bloody mad to do what she was doing. Her father had said that he wouldn’t allow Tommy inside the house if he ever dared show his face there again. This despite all their mother’s pleas for him to be lenient with their second son if the prodigal were to return.

  The longer she stood in the telephone box, the more Peggy wished she had not spotted her brother. She could have been at the party right now, saying sorry to Pete for ignoring him on the train. Surely he’d forgive her and they could have a slow, smoochy dance. Hopefully it wouldn’t be long before Marty turned up and she could dash off before the old year ended.

  Perhaps if Pete had been aware that Peggy was not far away and thinking of him, then he might have joined her in the telephone box. There had been dancing but the musicians were now taking a break. As it was, he was eyeing up Maggie who had certainly matured since she had left Liverpool for London to pursue a modelling course and career.

  He was trying to remember how old she was. Certainly younger than she looked but she must be eighteen at least. When he had entered the room, she had been talking to Jimmy in that carrying voice of hers about her favourite songs. One was ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love?’ which had been a hit a year or so ago. He thought how apt the words were when he considered his love life. Why hadn’t Peggy come to the party after saying she was planning to be here? Could she have had an accident? He felt as if a cold hand clutched his heart.

  ‘Is anyone sitting here, Pete?’ Maggie asked.

  He realized his thoughts had drifted, so he had not noticed her making a move. ‘Not that I’ve noticed,’ he said.

  ‘You seemed miles away.’ Maggie sat beside him, folding her legs elegantly so that her knees were together and her ankles displayed to an advantage. She was wearing sheer nylons and red patent-leather high-heeled court shoes. ‘I wondered what you were thinking,’ she added.

  ‘Did you have a good Christmas?’ he asked, having no intention of unburdening himself to her.

  She wrinkled her dainty nose. ‘I was supposed to be staying with Jared and family in Formby but I couldn’t make it here in time, so I spent it with some friends in London. How was your Christmas?’

  ‘Ma would have liked it better if our Norm could have been with us, but that’s—’

  ‘I saw your Norm not so long ago,’ she interrupted. ‘He came into London from the Isle of Grain. Apparently there’s an oil refinery there.’

  Pete had known his twin had visited the British Petroleum refinery in December but Norm had made no mention of seeing Maggie. ‘So how did he look?’ he asked.

  ‘Fit! Healthy! We had a coffee and caught up on news, nattering about family and friends back home in Liverpool.’ She glanced about her. ‘I thought Peggy might be here. Aren’t you two …?’

  ‘No,’ he said curtly. ‘So how come you heard about the party?’

  Maggie smiled and reached into her handbag and took out a posh-looking cigarette case and lighter. ‘I didn’t! Nobody was home when I arrived in Formby. Fortunately one of the neighbours had a key to our Jared’s house, so I was able to let myself in. Apparently my relatives have all gone north to Whalley.’

  She opened the cigarette case and offered it to him. He refused and so she took one herself and lit up. He watched her puff contentedly for a minute or so, thinking she still had not answered his question and wondering why Norm had made no mention of seeing her in his letter.

  ‘I remembered dear cousin Betty saying the New Year’s Eve party was a regular event at the Gianellis’ house,’ Maggie continued. ‘I found the phone number in a note pad by the telephone and so phoned up and explained I was all on my tod. I was told I was welcome to come and join in the fun. So far it’s been quite tame by London’s standards.’ She sounded bored.

  Pete’s only knowledge of the London scene came from what he had seen on the cinema screen and the television and he would admit he and Norm hadn’t been inclined to go haring off to the Big Smoke. It seemed his twin thought differently these days, however. Was Maggie the attraction? There was no getting away from it – she had grown into a beauty, even if she was a bit too skinny for his liking.

  ‘So when will you be going back to London?’ he asked.

  ‘Not for a few days. I’ve some modelling work in Chester. I like Chester, don’t you?’ She flicked him a glance from beneath luxuriously thick black eyelashes which seemed at odds with her fine blonde hair.

  ‘It’s not a place I visit,’ said Pete. ‘Too many steps to negotiate by train. I used to like the ferry but again it’s bus, boat, bus.’

  She looked at his outstretched leg. ‘You should buy a car. It would be easier for you to get about.’

  ‘Thanks for the advice,’ he said tersely.

  ‘No need to get touchy!’ She patted his thigh. ‘I was only trying to be helpful. Your Norm fancied the idea of a car.’

  What am I supposed to say to that? His twin would be earning a good screw when he worked his way up to being a chief marine engineer. Pete tried not to be envious as he struggled with the anger and depression that was always there in the background, threatening to overwhelm him, since the fall that changed his life.

  At that moment Lucia approached them. ‘The buffet will be served in the dining room in a quarter of an hour,’ she announced before hurrying over to where Jimmy, Tony and the three other musicians were talking in low voices in a corner of the room. She stayed for several minutes before sitting down close to them as Tony launched into ‘Love Me Tender’.

  ‘Did you see that film with Peter Egan and Elvis Presley playing brothers who are in love with the same girl?’ asked Maggie. ‘It’s a cowboy film! I love cowboy films. I’d love to be in one. It’s set just after the American Civil War, but Elvis sings in it. I think he’s fab but your Norm doesn’t. I told him he’s a real square.’

  ‘Shush!’ hissed Irene, who had come over and was now perching on the arm of the sofa next to Pete with a glass in her hand.

  Maggie scowled at her. ‘Oh, it’s you, Irene!’

  Irene said, ‘Who else? Now quiet, I want to listen to this and so does everyone else.’

  Maggie opened her mouth but she never got to say what she wanted because Pete put his hand across it, silencing her. She looked over his hand, her eyes wide with astonishment. He removed his hand and mouthed, ‘Not a word.’

  She remained silent but was obviously annoyed. When the song finished, she got up and went over to where Jimmy was talking to Lucia.

  ‘She’ll tell your Norm on you for shutting her up,’ joked Irene, placing her empty glass on a coffee table.

  ‘She met our Norm in London,’ said Pete.

  ‘So I believe. She mentioned it to our Jimmy,’ said Irene. ‘D’you think anything will come of them seeing each other? I’d have thought she’d have bigger fish to fry these days. No insult intended to your Norm,’ she added.

  Pete said bitterly, ‘He’s out in the world now and will be making his own decisions, not discussing them with me.’

  At that moment the buffet was announced. ‘I see Peggy hasn’t turned up
.’ Irene sighed. ‘Would you like me to bring you something to eat when I get mine?’

  ‘Thanks, kid.’ He forced a smile. ‘Sorry to sound such a grump.’

  ‘And shall we have that dance you promised me afterwards?’ she asked with a smile.

  He nodded and watched her go over to the table, thinking he could do worse than date Irene. It was obvious that Peggy had decided it would be a mistake to come to the party if he was going to be there. It seemed that their relationship could be over for good this time.

  Marty roared up on a motorbike with a sidecar, much to Peggy’s amazement, and came to a skidding halt. She was huddled inside her coat, standing on the corner outside the library because someone had wanted to use the public telephone and the tips of her ears and her toes were freezing.

  ‘What are you doing on that?’ she asked. ‘And why haven’t you got a crash helmet on?’

  ‘I came in a rush and Dougal couldn’t put his hand on his crash helmet right away. Would you believe he and his mother, sister and brother came over from Ireland all packed in this?’ Marty paused. ‘Are you absolutely sure it’s our Tommy?’

  ‘Of course! I wouldn’t have brought you out here on a wild goose chase. He’s still in the pub as far as I know.’ She jerked her head in the direction of the Red Lion. ‘It’s that way.’

  ‘All right, you skedaddle off to the party and I’ll go and take a look.’

  ‘OK, but if you’re going to park up there, then you might as well give me a lift that short distance.’

  ‘Hop on then.’

  She managed to perch on the pillion sideways, hooking a hand through the belt of the heavy gabardine coat he wore. She presumed this too belonged to Dougal. A minute later she was dismounting, wishing him luck with Tommy before heading towards the footbridge over the canal. Once she got walking, her ears and feet warmed up and it was not long before she arrived at the house.

  The door was opened by Nellie. ‘Sorry I’m late, Mrs Gianelli,’ said Peggy, smiling. ‘I hope it’s OK for me to arrive at this hour?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Nellie warmly. ‘Come on in. You look cold.’

  ‘I’m not as cold as I was,’ said Peggy, stepping over the threshold. ‘I’ve been hanging around by the library waiting for my brother to turn up.’

  Nellie looked at her questioningly.

  ‘It’s a long story,’ said Peggy.

  ‘Well, there’s a good fire in the dining room and there’s still some of the buffet left. Let me take your coat?’

  ‘I’d rather keep it on for a while if you don’t mind,’ said Peggy, followed Nellie into a back room which was deserted. She could hear the song ‘Chicka Boom’ coming from the parlour. Immediately she remembered it being a hit for American pop singer Guy Mitchell. ‘That’s an oldie. Tony’s in good voice.’

  ‘My niece requested it,’ said Nellie.

  ‘It’s still a catchy number,’ said Peggy.

  ‘I won’t argue with that. Would you like a Babycham?’

  Peggy thanked her and asked whether Pete was there.

  Nellie nodded. ‘I’ll tell him you’ve arrived, shall I?’

  ‘No, I can wait.’ Peggy would much rather surprise him. That way she’d know from his expression whether he was pleased to see her or not.

  She went over to the glowing fire and opened her coat, closing her eyes in sheer bliss as the heat began to penetrate her chilled body. It must be terrible to be homeless and have to sleep in doorways or park benches, she thought. One of her mother’s fears concerning Tommy was that he had ended up sleeping rough and died of exposure – that was if he hadn’t been stabbed in the back by some villain.

  Peggy and Marty had tried to reassure her that nobody was going to kill their brother. Tommy with his baby face and cherubic smile would manage to fool people into believing he was as angelic as he looked. Someone, most probably a woman, would take him in and feed him. Strangely that thought didn’t always reassure Mary McGrath.

  Now Peggy was warmer, she removed her coat and hung it on the back of a chair. She went over to the remains of the buffet and helped herself to some food. As she bit into a ham sandwich, Nellie brought in a glass of Babycham. They spoke for a few minutes about the weather and Peggy’s job with a shipping warehouse company and then Nellie excused herself and left the room.

  Peggy sat over by the fire, eating and drinking and thinking about her brothers, wondering what Marty was saying to Tommy right now. The door opened and in came a girl who Peggy vaguely recognized. ‘Aren’t you Maggie?’ she asked.

  ‘That’s right. You’re Peggy, aren’t you? Well, I tell you now if you’ve still got any interest in Pete Marshall you’d better get in there. He’s shuffling around the floor with Irene Miller.’ Maggie’s eyes hardened. ‘That girl! She’d steal anyone’s boyfriend if you ask me.’

  Peggy was taken aback. ‘I didn’t ask you!’

  ‘No, but you know what I mean.’

  ‘I’m not sure I do,’ said Peggy. ‘Irene’s always seemed a decent sort to me.’

  ‘I don’t understand you! You must be blind!’ said Maggie, and flounced out.

  Peggy shook her head, remembering that Maggie was the one who had fancied herself as a model and she had to admit she was good looking with a slender figure. She ate the last mouthful of Dundee cake, drained her glass and hurried from the room.

  In the lobby there were several people putting on hats and coats. She wondered what was happening because surely it wasn’t almost midnight yet. The music had stopped and the door to the other room was ajar. She crossed the lobby and pushed the door wide and peered inside.

  Irene was talking with Jimmy and Tony, and Pete was sitting on a sofa with his dark head resting against the back of it, with his eyes closed. All the tension, pain and anger was smoothed from his face. She felt a catch at her heart and wanted to go over and kiss him.

  As if sensing someone was watching him, he opened his eyes. In that moment she swore that his expression was one of relief and pleasure.

  ‘Bit late, aren’t you?’ he said.

  They were not the most welcoming words she had ever heard but at least the pair of them were on speaking terms. She crossed the room and sat next to him.

  ‘I would have been here earlier, only I spotted our Tommy outside the Red Lion, so I phoned our Marty from a telephone box.’

  Pete looked astounded. ‘After all this time! Are you sure it was him?’

  ‘Yes! I know my own brother! I kept a watch out until Marty arrived. Would you believe he was on a motorbike with a sidecar?

  ‘Who does it belong to?’

  ‘Bernie’s cousin, Dougal. I just hope Marty doesn’t go and hit a wall on the way home because he has no crash helmet.’

  ‘Has he ridden a motorbike before?’

  ‘When he was eighteen he bought a second-hand one but he came off it several times, so Mam nagged him into getting rid of it. He could be a bit of a daredevil at times but never did anything criminal, not like our Tommy.’ She darted him a sidelong look. ‘You won’t go mentioning him to your policeman brother, will you?’

  ‘What d’you think I am, a snout?’ Pete shifted uncomfortably on the sofa.

  Watching him, Peggy realized he was in pain and remembered what Maggie had told her. ‘Have you been dancing with Irene? I wish it had been with me,’ she said, slipping her arm through his. ‘Still, I think now you’d be better off at home. I’ll come with you, if you like? I can help you getting on and off the bus.’

  ‘But you’ve only just got here,’ Pete said.

  ‘I know but I’m really late for the party, aren’t I? I thought you could introduce me to your mother.’

  His expression softened. ‘Thanks for the offer, Peg, but I’ve to pick up Ma from Irene’s mam’s on the way. We might just get a taxi.’

  ‘Did I hear my name mentioned?’ asked Irene.

  Peggy looked up at her and experienced a moment of doubt. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ she said in a flat voice.<
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  ‘You don’t have to sound so pleased to see me,’ said Irene mildly. ‘I’m glad you made it.’

  ‘Really?’ Peggy continued to stare up at her with a doubtful look in her eyes.

  Irene frowned. ‘Honest to God! I’m glad you’re here to keep Pete company. I just came to say hello and tarrah! Some of the party are going outside, either to first-foot or so they can join the celebrations in the road. I want to hear the ships on the river sounding their hooters. I love that sound, as well as that of church bells. Then I’m nipping off home. I want to check that Mam’s all right.’

  ‘What’s wrong with your mam?’ asked Peggy. ‘Pete said his mother was with her.’

  ‘She’s had all her teeth out,’ Irene replied.

  Peggy shuddered. ‘Bloody hell!’

  Irene agreed that it was bloody hell, according to Maisie.

  Pete looked at the two girls and then said, ‘Let’s go!’ He reached for his stick.

  Irene offered her hand to help him to his feet but he shook his head. Peggy’s hand was still through Pete’s arm and she intended it staying there. She was going to stick close to him. This was the night she was going to meet his mother and she felt the need to hang on to him.

  Their progress along the pavement was not as fast as she would have liked and they only managed to reach the other side of the canal when church bells and ships’ hooters on the Mersey began to fill the air with sound, along with cheers and people singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

  ‘Happy New Year!’ Irene cried, turning to the other two.

  ‘Happy 1958!’ said Pete, pecking her cheek.

  ‘Do I get a kiss?’ asked Peggy, wishing the other girl to Timbuktu.

  Pete brushed her cheek with his lips. ‘Happy New Year.’