by June Francis
‘Sorry!’ She reached out a hand to him. ‘Why did he do it?’
Marty took her hand. ‘He’d found out that I’d seen Tommy and not told him about it, so he went searching for him.’
‘I see.’ Irene was intensely aware of the strength and warmth in Marty’s fingers. ‘So … so this happened in the Red Lion?’
‘No!’ Marty explained where he and Jimmy had ended up after the Red Lion. By the time he finished, they had reached the beach and he was still holding her hand. As if just realizing he was doing so, he slackened his grip and she, reluctantly, freed her hand. Neither of them spoke, only gazed across the sand.
The tide was on its way out, leaving stretches of wet glistening sand. Across the water to the left could be seen the Wirral peninsula and, in the far distance, Wales. To the right was sparkling sea stretching to the horizon where several ships were visible. Jimmy and Deirdre were walking towards the water’s edge. A couple of teenagers appeared to be writing with sticks in the sand which was starting to dry out in the sun.
Irene and Marty paused to see what was etched beneath two entwined hearts.
RONNIE JONES LOVES ELSIE MACINTOSH xxxxx
Irene and Marty smiled at each other and she felt her breath catch in her throat. For a moment neither spoke and then Marty broke the spell by muttering, ‘Love’s young dream.’
He turned and headed back towards the low-lying sandhills. She followed him and eventually caught up with him. ‘You don’t believe in young love, do you?’ she said.
‘When you’re that young, you can mistake it for the real thing,’ he said, not looking at her.
‘I wouldn’t argue. I fell in love with Richard Todd when he played Robin Hood and I still drooled over him as Rob Roy. I cried when he died in The Hasty Heart.’
Marty shook his head. ‘That’s different. You know he’s only playing a part and besides, he’s out of your reach and so you can fancy him from afar.’
‘I know that,’ she said, watching where she put her feet and avoiding a clump of marram grass. ‘But he is a real hero.’
He stopped and stared at her. ‘You’re thinking of him playing Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters.’
‘No, I’m not! Richard Todd fought in the Second World War. He was at the D-Day landings and later at Pegasus Bridge. I read about him in a film magazine.’
‘All right! There’s no need to get all worked up. I believe you but fancying a film star isn’t the same as falling in love with someone you meet in real life.’
‘I didn’t say it was but I do believe you can take to someone when you’re in your teens and they can be the one for you,’ said Irene, her blue eyes serious. ‘I mean I remember the other year Peggy and Pete doing what those teenagers were doing, writing love letters in the sand. I genuinely believe they still have strong feelings for each other. It’s just that when you’ve been brought up to believe your parents’ way is the only way and they convince you that you’re being selfish if you go ahead and defy them—’
‘You don’t have to say any more,’ Marty interrupted. ‘I know I’ve let my own experience sour me. I married too young and I have no one else to blame but myself if I’m regretting it now.’
He carried on trudging through the sand until he reached the road.
She followed him. ‘How old are you?’ she asked bluntly.
‘Twenty-five going on twenty-six.’
‘You weren’t that young! Weren’t you ever tempted to write love letters in the sand?’ she said lightly.
‘Can’t say I was. Maybe that’s because we only ever went to New Brighton beach and you’d have a job finding room to build even a sandcastle because the beach was generally jammed packed tight with day trippers from Liverpool.’
She nodded. ‘We scarcely ever went to New Brighton because we lived not far from Seaforth Sands and there was also Crosby beach.’ She gazed up at him. ‘I nearly drowned just up the coast from here last summer.’
‘Jimmy mentioned it earlier. You were lucky someone swam out and saved you.’
Irene nodded. ‘I wished he’d stayed round long enough for me to thank him. I don’t even know if I’d recognize him because I couldn’t see him properly. My eyes were all blurry with seawater.’
‘I’m sure he knew you were grateful,’ said Marty softly, taking her hand and placing it against his chest. ‘He knew you’d had a shock. Wasn’t your mother screaming fit to burst because your stepfather had tried to save you and died in the attempt? He was a true hero.’
Irene nodded and her fingers curled about his. ‘I suppose Jimmy told you that. It makes me sad to think that Mam seems to have forgotten Uncle Terence already and is planning on marrying someone else whom I feel will never match up to him.’
‘Would it do any good to tell her how you feel?’
Irene grimaced. ‘I doubt it.’
They were silent a moment and then there came a shout from Jimmy.
‘I’m going to have to make tracks.’ Marty sighed and released her hand. ‘I need to pick up the kids from Mam’s and tell her about Dad before going home.’
‘Perhaps he’ll be there when you reach your mother’s,’ said Irene brightly. ‘Do let me know if you hear anything from Peggy.’
‘I will.’
She thanked him and watched him go, knowing she had to suppress her feelings for him but she had found his touch oh-so comforting. She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and hurried to where she could see Jimmy and Deirdre waiting.
When Marty arrived at his mother’s house, it was to find only a flushed-faced Lil and her boyfriend there. It was obvious to him they’d been snogging on the sofa but he didn’t make a point of asking what his mother had been thinking of leaving the pair of them alone.
‘Where’s she gone?’ he asked.
‘She didn’t say. Bernie turned up and she took the kids home after having some dinner here,’ said Lil, smoothing her light brown hair. ‘Did you have any luck finding Dad?’
‘Last time I saw him he was heading along the dock road in this direction,’ said Marty. ‘He’d been drinking and he was on his own. Did Mam leave me any dinner?’
Lil nodded.
‘I’d best be going, Lil,’ said the boyfriend.
‘I’ll see you to the door,’ she said.
Marty guessed they’d be at least five or ten minutes saying tarrah, so he went and took his dinner out of the oven. He wasted no time getting the food down him and by the time his younger sister reappeared, he was on his way out again.
Bernie pounced on Marty as soon as he came through the front door. ‘So did yer find yer dad?’ she asked.
‘Let me get my coat off,’ said Marty, wishing she wouldn’t grab his arm so tightly with both hands.
‘What about Tommy?’ she asked, fixing him with a glistening stare.
His heart sank. ‘Mam told you?’
‘Lil did! Why didn’t you?’
‘What about a cup of tea?’ he asked, trying to forestall the moment when he would have to talk about his brother.
‘I want you to tell me exactly what you and Tommy said to each other.’
Marty frowned. ‘Why should I? Now what about that cup of tea?’
‘I’m your wife and I want to know,’ she said. ‘Why are you being so secretive?’
He stared at her wearily. ‘Because your mother might be listening at the keyhole and you know she hates our Tommy. You don’t need to know any more than Mam and Dad do. Trouble always follows in his wake, so I’d prefer it if he stayed out of our lives.’
‘But he’s your brother!’
‘And don’t I know it,’ said Marty grimly.
She stared at him. ‘Is he seeing anyone?’
‘What makes you ask that?’
‘I just wondered. I’ll make you that cup of tea and then I’m going out. I’ve promised Mam I’ll do a message for her. She’s gone to visit a neighbour who’s on her deathbed and everybody else is out.’
‘Where are the kids?’
&nb
sp; ‘Having a nap.’
Marty followed Bernie into the kitchen and washed his face and hands at the sink. He sensed her come up behind him. ‘You’ve got sand in yer hair!’ she said.
He stilled. ‘I went to Seaforth in my search for Dad and the wind was blowing sand all over the place.’ He picked up a towel and turned and faced her. ‘We had a bit of a disagreement and he took off.’
Bernie nodded. ‘I told your mam that she should get out and forget it all for a while.’
‘And she took notice of you?’
‘Why shouldn’t she? I told her to go to the pictures. It’ll do her good.’ Bernie smiled smugly. ‘I’ll see you later.’
‘Don’t be long. I might have to go out again.’
Her pencilled eyebrows shot up. ‘You’ve been out nearly all day on your own.’
‘You were out all last evening with your friend.’
‘Yeah, but you were at work all day and then you came in late.’ She tutted, fluttered her fingers at him and hurried out.
He went upstairs and found Josie lying with her eyes wide open, singing to herself. When she saw him, she dragged herself up on the bars of the cot and he lifted her out and kissed her cheek. ‘Have you been a good girl for your granny McGrath and your mam?’
‘I’m always a good girl, Daddy,’ she said.
He felt love well up inside him and hugged her close. Then he gazed down at Jerry who was just stirring. He opened his eyes and looked up at him sleepily. Marty hooked him up with one arm and took them both downstairs. It was while he was telling them a story that it struck him that his mother would never go to the cinema on a Sunday – so where was she? He decided he would have to visit his parents’ house again. Not wanting to take the children with him, he waited with mounting impatience for Bernie to come home.
She still had not arrived when Monica came in, dressed up to the nines and with smiling eyes. ‘You look like you’ve been enjoying yourself,’ he said. ‘Would you mind looking after the kids? Bernie’s gone out and I have to go and see Mam.’
When he arrived at his parents’ house he was aware that he was the focus of attention from several of the neighbours who were talking outside while keeping an eye on their children playing in the street. Marty smiled at the women and gave them the time of the day, knowing it would be a mistake to ignore their questioning about Peggy.
For a moment he felt angry with his sister, thinking she must have realized how fast the news would get round that she had left home. It would not surprise him if the neighbours knew exactly why she’d gone. It never failed to amaze him how news spread so fast.
He let himself into the house with his key and found his mother sitting in the back room, staring into space. ‘You all right, Mam?’ he asked, putting his arm about her shoulders.
‘He’s not come home yet,’ said his mother, resting her head against Marty’s arm. ‘I’m worried about him, son.’
‘I know. I’ll go looking for him again.’
‘He gets so worked up about things,’ she said, dabbing her eyes.
Marty nodded. ‘You make yourself a cup of tea. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’
This time, Marty visited several of his father’s old haunts along Scotland Road and in Liverpool centre but without any luck. He returned to his parents’ house but William had still not come home. Marty went out again and this time went to the church presbytery. The door was opened by the housekeeper, who told him that Father Francis had a visitor and unless it was really important, he should come back tomorrow.
‘It’s important,’ said Marty firmly. ‘Perhaps I could come in and wait?’
‘If you must,’ she said grudgingly. He was not put off by her tone but wiped his feet on the mat and went inside.
Their exchange must have been overheard because a door opened and Father Francis appeared. ‘Martin, I thought I recognized your voice. Perhaps you’d like to come in here.’ Marty followed him into the room and stopped just inside when he saw the woman sitting there. ‘Martin, this is my sister, Mrs Gianelli,’ said the priest.
Nellie smiled at Marty. ‘I had a flying visit a couple of hours ago from Irene Miller. It was mainly about her mother planning on getting married again, but for the rest I thought my brother might be interested in what she had to say.’
‘I suppose she told you that my father hit Jimmy?’ he said harshly, aware of feeling disappointed in Irene.
‘No she didn’t, as it happens. I knew Peggy was missing, of course, and your father must be very upset about that,’ said Nellie, ‘but I don’t see what it has to do with Jimmy. Now, if he’d gone in search of Pete Marshall …’
‘What happened with Jimmy and your father?’ asked Father Francis.
‘Dad was angry with me and Jimmy just got in the way. Last I saw of Dad he was heading along the dock road in this direction. He still hasn’t come home.’
‘You think he’s found Tommy?’ asked the priest.
‘Mam told you about my having seen Tommy!’
Father Francis nodded. ‘She was very upset when she came here. You don’t have to worry, Martin. I have no intention of informing the police.’
Marty sighed heavily and twiddled his thumbs. ‘Tommy knows Dad’s looking for him now. It could be that he’ll leave the area again and won’t come back.’
‘It’s a great pity,’ said Nellie, getting to her feet. ‘I’ll be going, Francis. My family will be wanting their supper. I’ll see myself out.’
She patted his arm and then turned and smiled at Marty and held out a hand. ‘I hope that Peggy gets in touch with you soon and that you’re reunited with your father even sooner.’
He murmured something indistinct and then she was gone.
‘Sit down, Martin,’ said Francis. ‘A cup of tea or perhaps something stronger?’
‘To tell you the truth, Father, I’d enjoy a drink but I’d best not. I just wanted to know whether Mam told you about the secret Dad’s kept from us for years?’
‘I can’t discuss that with you, Martin. I suggest that you concentrate on the here and now and tell me instead what you plan to do to find Peggy after your father turns up.’
Marty told him what Jeanette had suggested and talked of his plan to visit Butlin’s holiday camp in Wales as soon as he could. If she was not there, then he would try other seaside resorts.
‘You’ve set yourself quite a task,’ said the priest.
‘I know,’ said Marty soberly. ‘But Mam’s going to continue to worry herself sick not knowing where Peggy is, but at least now she knows that Tommy is alive.’
‘From her note, it was obviously not Peggy’s intention to cause your mother worry. It might be worth trusting your sister. A time of solitude and reflection could be just what she needs.’
Marty nodded. ‘So how is your own little family, Martin?’ asked Francis.
Marty’s face softened. ‘The children are doing fine, Father. Josie is getting to be a right chatterbox. I think Jerry is going to be the strong silent type.’
Francis smiled. ‘And Bernadette?’
Marty hesitated. ‘She finds the kids hard work and it’s true they can be a handful. Her niece Monica is a great help.’
‘It’s important that young couples find time to spend together,’ said Francis.
‘I think the ratio with us is about right, Father,’ said Marty firmly. ‘Anyway, it’s time I was going. I’m hoping Dad will have arrived home by now. Thanks for listening.’
‘Maybe we can pray before you go, Martin,’ said Francis.
Marty bowed his head, clasped his hands and gazed down at the carpet. A few minutes later he was on his way home. When he arrived at his mother’s house it was to find that there was still no sign of his father but Lil was keeping their mother company.
‘Where d’you think he’s got to?’ asked Mary, wringing her hands.
Marty wished he knew. He was feeling guilty, knowing that if he had kept his mouth shut, none of this would have happened. ‘I�
�ll go and search the dock road,’ he said.
‘It mightn’t be safe you going off there on your own at this time of night,’ said his mother.
Marty had been thinking the same thing himself but was not about to say so. His father had to be found and he decided a bit of help wouldn’t go amiss. He checked he had some coins in his pocket and, despite the rain, he headed for the nearest telephone box and phoned Jeanette’s half-brother, Detective Inspector Sam Walker, with whom he’d had dealings before. He made no mention of Tommy, just said that his father had not come home and had last been seen heading towards Liverpool along the dock road after leaving the Caradoc pub in Seaforth. Then he returned to his mother and sister and waited for news.
Just before dawn William McGrath was found in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, near Stanley Dock, by a dock gate policeman. When Marty heard the news that there was a bump the size of an egg on the back of his father’s head, he feared that maybe Tommy had seen him along the dock road, followed him and struck from behind to get rid of their father for good. Marty kept his thoughts to himself. The police had decided that, being drunk, William had slipped on the wet cobbles and banged his head before staggering to his feet and then falling again, this time into the canal. Marty found himself thinking of Peggy and wished he knew where she was so he could get in touch with her and let her know the news.
Fifteen
April 1st 1958, Blackpool
Peggy paused outside the Church of the Sacred Heart on Talbot Street. It was not far from the Clarendon Hotel where she was staying in company with commercial travellers and off-season, long-stay guests. Unbidden Pete came into her mind and she wondered what he would have made of this building founded by the Jesuits. He’d probably hate it. Her father, though, would love it, being an admirer of the all-male Order of the Society of Jesus which was zealous in its mission.
Just thinking of those two men made her chest feel tight with emotion. Needing to breathe, she walked on past the church in the direction of the small hotel, annoyed with herself for getting upset. She had more important things to attend to; it was time she looked for a job.
At least her emotions were no longer as chaotic as when she had first arrived in the resort. Torn between relief at having made the break from her family and Pete, and hurt and disappointment that the man she loved had let her down. At least she no longer lay awake half the night feeling bitter towards her father for his bigotry and lack of understanding. She had kept going over and over her conversations with Pete. Perhaps he hadn’t actually promised to convert to her faith but she would have sworn on her mother’s deathbed that he had given the impression he would if it meant they could marry at last. There were times when she still yearned to feel his arms around her and to taste his kisses; to hear him say that he loved her and would do anything to make her happy. Then she reminded herself of the times when they had broken up before and told herself that she had survived without him and was not going to die of a broken heart.