by June Francis
The idea of someone else making her something to eat really appealed, so Peggy accepted the offer. Soon she was settled comfortably in Nellie’s kitchen. A pan of home-made soup simmered on the stove which smelled delicious. From a window she could keep a watch on the children playing in the garden with some of the Gianelli children’s old toys.
‘I don’t suppose you’ve heard from Irene?’ asked Nellie, refilling Peggy’s teacup.
‘Marty had a postcard from her as he’s taken over her old house, but I doubt she knows I’m back in Liverpool. You’ll have heard from her, of course.’
‘Yes, me and our lodger, Deirdre. She worked with Irene but now has a job at Litherland Nursery. As it happens I wrote to Irene only yesterday. I’d had a letter from her, telling me all her news. Betty’s baby is due this month.’ Nellie smiled. ‘She’s also been in touch with my widowed sister who’s keeping Bobby, Lynette Walker’s daughter, company on the voyage back to England.’
‘Doesn’t she have a brother, Nick?’
‘Not her real brother. Sam and Lynne adopted him.’
‘I remember now hearing the story from Jeanette,’ said Peggy. ‘His original adoptive father was murdered by his brother who disappeared to Canada and has yet to be found.’ She sighed. ‘It’s surprising how easy it is to disappear but it’s not fair on your family and friends.’
They were silent a moment.
‘You do know that Jeanette and Davy have moved to New Brighton, don’t you? Their baby’s due around the same time as Betty’s.’
Peggy almost dropped her cup. ‘I’d forgotten that Jeanette was having a baby! And no, I didn’t know she’d moved. We were such good friends when we worked in the Cunard building. We used to go the pictures together a lot until she was reunited with Davy. I remember I was talking to Pete when …’ Her voice trailed off.
‘I can get Jeanette’s address for you if you like?’
‘Thanks, I would like that.’
‘I’m sure she’ll be delighted to hear from you. You could drop her a line or even give her a ring,’ suggested Nellie.
Twenty-Six
Pete glanced at the calendar on his desk as he shrugged on his jacket. September! It was almost a month since he had last seen Peggy and he had been asking himself how long he should wait before getting in touch with her. He sighed. She could have contacted him but what if she’d decided she didn’t really want to see him again?
He said tarrah to the others in the office and left. Outside, it was a lovely evening, the sky washed a clear blue with light fluffy clouds tinged with peach and gold. He had not come in the car that morning because it was having a service and, on impulse, he decided not to catch the bus straight home but to visit the landing stage for a breath of fresh air and watch the ships coming and going.
He took his time, deciding that way he would miss the rush-hour crowds and it was much less strain on his lame leg. He had forgotten there would be plenty of commuters who worked in Liverpool, catching the ferry to their homes on the Wirral, and so he sat on a bench and rested. It was while he was there that he spotted Jeanette’s husband, Davy, who worked on the Isle of Man boats, standing in the queue for the New Brighton ferry.
Pete called out to him. Davy turned his head and came over to him.
‘How are you doing?’ asked Pete. ‘Haven’t seen you for ages. How’s Jeanette?’
They talked for several minutes until there was the bump and grinding noise of the ferry boat tying up alongside the landing stage. ‘I’d better get going,’ said Davy.
‘Let me know when Jeanette has the baby,’ said Pete.
Davy nodded, then said unexpectedly, ‘Why don’t you come and visit us before then? It’ll be like a madhouse after the baby’s born. Come to Sunday dinner this weekend! Most of the holiday crowds will be gone by then, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a ferry. We have an old friend of Jeanette’s coming too, whom you know.’ He did not wait for Pete’s answer but vanished into the crowd making their way to the ferry as the gangplank hit the ground.
Pete stared after him, wondering who Jeanette’s old friend might be. Could it possibly be Peggy? After all, she and Jeanette had been friends when they had both worked in the Cunard building.
Twenty-Seven
Peggy banged down the casserole dish and stared across at Marty. ‘I’m taking Sunday off,’ she said. ‘I’ve been in touch with Jeanette and I’ve been invited to dinner.’
He glanced across at her and said mildly, ‘You don’t have to make a song and dance of it, Peg. You do what you want. I’ll take the kids to Mam’s. Our Lil wants Josie to have a second fitting for her bridesmaid’s frock. I’m not looking forward to this wedding. Aren’t you lucky that you’re not a bridesmaid because you went missing?’
His words took the wind out of her sail. ‘Yes, but I’ll still be glad when it’s over. Our Lil is younger than me and I feel big sisters should get married first. I’m glad she’s having her best friend for her chief bridesmaid. I take it the main reason you don’t want to go is because Lil insists on you giving her away?’ said Peggy, taking the lid off the casserole.
Steam weaved its way up from the stewing steak and carrots in onion gravy. ‘Your cooking’s improved,’ said Marty, breathing deeply of the delicious smell. ‘You’ll make some man a good wife one day.’
‘If I get the chance,’ she said beneath her breath.
He stared at her. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I think you know,’ said Peggy, beginning to dish out their supper. The children had already had theirs and were asleep. Marty had been working late on a job in West Derby, hence them only having theirs now.
‘Guess who I saw today,’ he said, seemingly changing the subject.
‘I don’t want to guess, so tell me,’ she retorted.
‘Pete’s mother. I suppose she was visiting Irene’s mother who lives in West Derby.’
Peggy sat down abruptly. ‘Did she see you?’
‘If she had, I would have spoken to her. She was coming out of a house and looked upset.’
‘Why d’you think that is?’
He shrugged. ‘How am I supposed to know? Could be that she’d had bad news or was wishing that there was going to be a wedding in her family.’
‘Very funny,’ muttered Peggy, picking up her own plate of food and cutlery and leaving the kitchen.
Peggy rested her elbows on the side of the boat and gazed across the choppy surface of the Mersey towards the clock on the Liver building as the Princes landing stage and the line of Liverpool docks receded into the distance. The boat was going up and down and she thought there could be a storm brewing. She remained there for several minutes before turning and moving towards the other side of the boat as it forged its way towards New Brighton. She remembered many a happy day spent at the seaside resort when she was younger. Her mother would pack plenty of butties and home-made cake but she had always sent Marty to fetch a pot of tea from a café in the resort and they would picnic on the beach. They would build sandcastles or go crabbing amongst the rocks or paddle in the paddling pool. When they were a bit older they would swim in the open-air baths where the Miss New Brighton beauty contest was held or they might visit the fair. Sometimes they would walk along the promenade, watching what was happening on the beach. When their legs grew tired, they would sit on a bench and she would eye up the fellas.
‘Hello, Peggy!’
The voice startled her and caused her to turn and stare at its owner in amazement. ‘Jimmy Miller! What are you doing here?’
‘I’m taking the ferry across the Mersey.’ His teeth gleamed white in his tanned face. ‘How are you?’
‘I only went as far as Blackpool, unlike you. When did you get back?’
‘About a week ago. I went to see my mam in West Derby. I was surprised by my welcome.’ A shadow crossed his face. ‘She was dead pleased to see me but I wasn’t asked to stay. I was shocked by her appearance to be honest. She’s lost a heck of
a lot of weight. I think she made a big mistake marrying again and taking on someone else’s children. It’s proving too much for her but she’s not going to admit it.’
‘My dad died while I was away,’ Peggy blurted out. ‘And Tommy has gone missing again.’
‘So I heard.’
She frowned. ‘I suppose Pete told you.’
‘Haven’t see Pete. It was Tony Gianelli.’
‘I see.’ She began to walk along the deck, pulling her tent coat tightly about her.
Jimmy fell into step beside her. ‘I thought I might try for the Canada run in the spring.’
‘That’s a few months away.’
‘Yeah. I thought I’d stay in Liverpool until then. The group have lost one of their guitarists and so I’m going to take his place. I’ve enough money to get by for a while.’
‘So where are you staying?’ asked Peggy.
‘I’m lodging with the Gianellis.’
There was a pause. ‘I thought they had a lodger and Mrs Gianelli’s sister was coming to stay,’ said Peggy, surprised.
‘Her sister is staying but Deirdre decided that working at the day nursery wasn’t for her and applied for a position in the children’s home in Formby when it came up. Apparently some of the children that she and our Irene used to care for were sent there and she missed them.’ He paused. ‘I thought I might drop in there when I give my stepbrother, Billy, a visit. At the moment I’m dossing down in Tony’s room on a mattress and it could be that Billy and his wife will put me up for the odd couple of days.’ He glanced at her. ‘So what are you doing on the New Brighton ferry? You wouldn’t be visiting Jeanette and Davy by any chance?’
‘Is that where you’re going?’
‘I thought I’d surprise them.’
‘D’you think it’s right to surprise people on a Sunday? What if they’ve catered for only so many people? One extra could prove too much. You have to also think about Jeanette’s baby being due soon.’
His face fell. ‘I never thought of that.’
‘Most men wouldn’t,’ she said drily.
‘OK, you’ve made your point. I’ll go and see them another time,’ said Jimmy.
‘You can always drop in at your old address and visit our Marty and me if you’re at a loose end.’
He smiled. ‘Thanks.’
They carried on walking around the deck, staggering slightly. Then suddenly Peggy saw Pete. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Jimmy had also noticed him. ‘Hey, there’s Pete,’ he said.
‘So it is,’ said Peggy, knowing she would have to speak to him now. Was she ready for a serious conversation?
They walked towards him.
But it was Pete who spoke first. ‘I was hoping it would be you.’
‘What d’you mean?’ asked Peggy.
‘Davy said they had someone else coming to dinner - an old friend of Jeanette’s that I knew.’
Peggy could not conceal her pleasure. It was obvious that Pete was pleased about that. ‘So it was Davy who invited you to Sunday dinner?’
‘I met him the other evening on the landing stage,’ he said, smiling. ‘How are things?’
‘I’m managing. Bernie could be out of hospital in a week or so. It’s our Lil’s wedding next Saturday, so I don’t know how things will go if the doctor decides she could come home that day,’ said Peggy, grimacing. ‘Marty’s giving Lil away. I wish …’
‘So do I,’ said Pete, reaching out a hand.
Peggy took it.
Jimmy cleared his throat. ‘Perhaps I should make myself scarce.’
Pete glanced at him. ‘I’d heard you were back.’
‘Who from?’ asked Jimmy.
‘Ma! She visits your mother.’
‘How did she think Mam seemed?’ asked Jimmy. ‘I thought she didn’t look well. Has she said anything to your mam about him working her too hard?’
Pete hesitated.
Peggy looked at him and suddenly felt uneasy, remembering something her older brother had said the other evening. ‘Marty saw your mother the other day, Pete. She was coming out of a house in West Derby. He thought she looked upset.’
‘There you are then!’ said Jimmy, almost triumphantly. ‘Mam’s having a lousy time with him.’
‘Wake up, Jimmy,’ said Pete, looking unhappy. ‘Your ma’s ill. If Irene was my sister, I’d be getting in touch with her and suggesting she came home.’
Jimmy stared at him wordlessly and then turned and walked away.
‘Should we go after him?’ Peggy asked huskily.
‘No,’ said Pete. ‘He’s best left alone. He saw that his mother didn’t look well but he didn’t want to believe that she could be seriously ill.’
‘Jimmy’s mother told your mother that?’
Pete nodded.
‘Poor Jimmy! Poor Irene!’
Pete squeezed Peggy’s hand. ‘I know! There’s always something to pull you down, isn’t there? You just start believing things can get better, when someone you know has something lousy happening in their life.’
She agreed. ‘But things can get better! I’ve just thought of something.’
‘What?’ asked Pete, gazing into her animated features. ‘The best thing that can happen to me is that you and I get married.’
Peggy smiled. ‘And you think that can’t happen because I’m tied up with Marty’s children?’
‘Aren’t you? Or is it that you think Bernie won’t be able to cope with them when she comes out of hospital?’
Peggy frowned. ‘I don’t know if she can or not.’ She paused and changed the subject, gazing towards where she could see the New Brighton landing stage. ‘The boat will be tying up soon. I know that it looks a bit rough but are you up to a walk on the beach before we go looking for the house?’
He smiled. ‘If that’s what you want.’
White-capped waves were rolling way up on to the beach but there was still room for them to walk on the sand. Across the expanse of sea they could make out the Lancashire coastline.
‘D’you remember that day when we wrote in the sand at Formby?’ asked Pete.
She nodded. ‘I was thinking about it only the other day. It was also the day Irene nearly drowned and we knew nothing about it at the time. We were so wrapped up in each other.’
‘I meant every word I wrote,’ said Pete, drawing her close.
‘Me, too,’ she whispered, her throat tight with emotion.
‘So us getting married?’ he said, brushing her lips with his. ‘Is it on? And if so, when? Because to be honest, I feel we’ve waited long enough and we can have the ceremony wherever you want.’
‘You’re on,’ said Peggy happily, putting her arms about his waist and pressing her lips against his. ‘Just give me a little time to make some arrangements.’
After that they did not speak for a long time.
Monday morning came and, despite it being blowy again, Peggy was out with her niece and nephew shortly after nine o’clock. She was guessing Nellie would have seen her children across the main road to school and most likely would be having a second cup of tea or even coffee with her sister from America now. Fingers crossed, she would not mind being disturbed. Peggy wanted Nellie’s advice before she took a step that could bring her wedding day that little bit nearer.
There was no answer to Peggy’s ring at the bell and she felt deeply disappointed. She so wanted to put her plan into operation. Then she heard female voices and at the same time could smell a bonfire burning. She pushed the pram around the side of the house.
There were three women. Two had their hands cupped around mugs while Nellie had a stick which she was using to poke at something in the fire.
‘Hello!’ called Peggy. ‘I hope I’m not disturbing you.’
Nellie turned and smiled before saying, ‘Girls, this is Peggy and she has her hands full taking care of her brother’s children while their mother is in hospital.’
‘Now that’s what I call really heroic,’ said the youngest an
d most fashionably dressed of the women. ‘You must be Irene’s friend who vanished; Marty’s sister.’
Peggy was taken aback and did not know quite what to say.
‘This is my sister, Babs,’ said Nellie. ‘She came to Liverpool on the liner with Bobby.’
‘Bobby likes to talk,’ said Babs, shaking hands with Peggy. ‘There’s nothing I don’t know about you all.’ Her eyes twinkled.
‘She’s teasing you,’ said Nellie. ‘Your secrets are safe.’
‘I also have a book for a little girl called Josie,’ said Babs.
Josie, who had been attempting to climb out of the pram, said, ‘My name’s Josie.’
‘Why should you have a book for Josie?’ asked Peggy, feeling slightly embarrassed as she forced her niece back into the pram.
‘It’s from Irene and a big hit in America,’ said Babs. ‘I’ll go and fetch it.’
‘Cup of tea, Peggy?’ asked Nellie.
‘I won’t, thanks. I’d just like to ask your advice about something.’
Nellie handed her stick to the other woman who was dumpy and dressed plainly except for an ornate crucifix. ‘This is my sister, Lottie, Lucia’s mother.’
Peggy and Lottie said hello to each other.
‘Keep your eye on the bonfire, Lottie,’ said Nellie, linking her arm through Peggy’s and drawing her aside. ‘Now what is it?’ she asked in a low voice.
‘What chance do you think there is of Josie and Jerry being accepted for a free place at the day nursery?’
Nellie answered immediately. ‘I think they have a fair chance. Are you asking this because you’d like to get a paid job once their mother leaves hospital?’
‘Yes and no. Pete and I have decided to get married and I think some of the pressure would be off me when it comes to helping Bernie after I’m married. We’ll be living with his mother in Bootle, so not too far away,’ said Peggy.
Nellie hugged Peggy’s arm. ‘Well, I’m really pleased to hear you and Pete are together again. What does your mother have to say?’
Peggy pulled a face. ‘She doesn’t know and neither does Marty.’