by Joan Jonker
Edna’s face lit up and her movements quickened, the fork ramming the food into her mouth. ‘I’m nearly finished, Nan.’
‘Don’t speak with your mouth full,’ Bill warned. ‘How many times do I have to tell you?’
Joan didn’t speak, but she was secretly pleased. None of her friends had seen the Abbott and Costello film so she’d be able to swank about it tomorrow.
‘I’m ready, Nan,’ Edna said.
‘Me too!’ Joan reached for her sister’s empty plate. ‘I’ll take these out.’
‘Leave the dishes,’ Bill told her, ‘I’ll wash them.’
Bill followed them to the door where he pressed a ten-bob note into Maggie’s hand. ‘Thanks, Ma! Buy them an ice cream in the interval.’
He walked back into the room and took Eileen’s plate from her knee. ‘I’ll see to the dishes before I sit down. Once I get comfortable I won’t feel like budging.’
Eileen listened to the clattering of the pots and pans, thinking it was wrong for Bill to have to do the washing up after working all day. Still, it wouldn’t be for long.
Bill stood in the doorway, a look of relief and happiness on his face. ‘Chick, you’ll never know how good it is to see you sitting on that couch. The last two weeks have seemed an eternity.’
‘Yer can say that again, Bill Gillmoss,’ Eileen said. ‘I thought it was never goin’ to end. But right now I feel so happy I could sing me ’ead off.’
Bill swung one of the dining chairs round and set it next to the couch. He took hold of Eileen’s hand and kissed it. ‘I love you, Eileen Gillmoss.’
Eileen fluttered her eyelashes. ‘Ooh, yer sound dead romantic! Tell me more, I’m all ears.’
‘Well, I haven’t got a voice like Issy Bon, but I’ll have a go.’ Bill cleared his throat, threw back his head and started singing a very passable rendition of the popular singer’s “I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire”. When he’d finished he bent forward to kiss Eileen on the cheek. ‘How was that?’
‘Yer sing better than Issy Bon,’ Eileen chuckled, ‘and yer better lookin’ than ’im too.’
‘That shows what good taste you’ve got.’
It was so unusual for Bill to act the goat, Eileen knew he was feeling as happy and as thankful as she herself was. ‘Aren’t we lucky, Bill?’
‘We can certainly count our blessings,’ Bill answered. ‘We’ve got each other, the children, Ma, and now a new baby. There’s not many as fortunate as us.’ Bill clasped his hands between his knees, his thumbs circling each other. Was it the right time to bring up the subject, he asked himself, or should he leave it until Eileen was on her feet? She might start getting upset and he didn’t want that. He’d have to be careful and choose the right words.
Bill cocked his head and looked into Eileen’s eyes. ‘There’s only one blot on the horizon, chick, and I think we should talk about it.’
Eileen’s brow furrowed. ‘What’s that?’
‘Now don’t start getting all het up,’ Bill said. ‘I wasn’t going to mention it until you were on your feet, but time isn’t on our side.’
Eileen knew immediately what he was getting at. ‘Yer mean about us movin’ to another ’ouse?’ When Bill nodded, Eileen groaned, ‘Oh, not that again, Bill! Yer know ’ow I feel about this house! We came ’ere the day we got married, remember? We didn’t ’ave a honeymoon because we couldn’t wait to get in our own little ’ouse.’
‘Yes, but there were only the two of us then,’ Bill reminded her, his voice soft. ‘When the baby comes, there’ll be seven. It’s only a two-up two-down, Eileen, not meant for so many. We had to divide one of the bedrooms into two when the girls came along, and you can’t swing a cat round in them. You certainly couldn’t put a baby’s cot in either of them.’
‘I thought we could ’ave the cot in our room.’ When Eileen saw the frown on Bill’s face, she went on quickly. ‘It wouldn’t be for all that long. Our Billy’s growin’ up an’ he’ll probably get married in a few years.’
‘He’s only just turned sixteen.’ Bill closed his eyes, his fingers pinching at his bottom lip. After a moment’s thought, he asked, ‘You do love me, don’t you?’
‘What a daft question! Yer know I love the bones of yer!’
‘That means we both love each other. And what do two people do when they’re in love? Have you thought about that, chick? With a growing child in our room, there wouldn’t be much loving going on, would there?’
Eileen pursed her lips. She hadn’t thought about that.
Bill saw the wavering and took advantage. ‘Unless you want me to go out and find myself another woman.’
‘Over my dead body, Bill Gillmoss!’
‘Then think about it, will you, for my sake? And while you’re about it, think of the girls and our Billy, too! When they start courting, where will they go to entertain their friends? They certainly wouldn’t have any privacy here.’
Eileen’s face was a study. None of these things had entered her mind. And the more she thought of it, the more she saw that Bill was right. But she loved this little house so much, she’d never be happy anywhere else. Bill could see Eileen’s brain ticking over. ‘We’ll have to make up our minds soon, Eileen. It could be months before we find a house we like.’
‘Let me sleep on it, will yer, Bill? It’s not a thing to decide on in a hurry.’
Bill could see the tiredness on Eileen’s face and took her hand in both of his. ‘It’s time you were going back to bed. You’ve been up long enough for your first day.’ He pulled her gently to her feet. ‘I’ll come and tuck you in.’
Bill drew the covers up to Eileen’s chin. ‘I’ll be as quiet as I can when I come up, so as not to wake you. So have a good night’s sleep. And don’t worry about moving, for heaven’s sake. If you’re dead set on staying here, then here we’ll stay. I only want what’s best for you.’
‘I know you do, love.’ Eileen felt drowsy as soon as her head touched the pillow. It had been a long day. She turned on her side and curled up. ‘I will think about it, Bill, honest . . .’ Her voice trailed off as she drifted into a deep sleep.
Bill stood looking down at her. He loved her very much and couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her. That’s why he had to get her away from here, to make life easier for her when the baby came.
Chapter Four
‘Ay, ay, Mam!’ Joan’s voice was high with indignation as she stood before her mother. ‘I can’t go for an interview in me school socks! I’d be a laughin’ stock and I wouldn’t get the job.’
‘I’m not made of money,’ Eileen answered. ‘I’ve already bought yer a new blouse an’ skirt, what more d’yer want?’
‘A pair of long stockings.’ Joan turned to Maggie, her pale face flushed, her eyes pleading for support. ‘Tell her, Nan, please? You must see how stupid I’d look in me short socks.’
Maggie looked up from the pram pillow case she was embroidering. She usually refused to be drawn into any argument between Eileen and the children, but this time she could see Joan’s point of view. ‘She’s right, lass. First impressions are always important.’
Eileen sighed. ‘Oh, all right. But yez’ll have me in the workhouse one of these days with wantin’ this, that an’ the other.’ She reached down to the side of the couch and took her purse from her bag. ‘How much d’yer want?’
‘Only a shilling.’ Joan looked down at her feet. She and her friend Dorothy were going for interviews at Vernon’s Pools in Aintree on Monday and Dorothy had been swanking about what her mother had bought her to wear for the big day. And Joan wasn’t going to be outdone by her friend if she could help it. ‘Can I ’ave a suspender belt as well, to keep the stockings up?’
‘What’s the matter with a pair of garters?’ Eileen asked.
‘Mam, they’re old fashioned! I can’t go for an interview with pieces of elastic keepin’ me stockings up.’
‘An’ who the ’ell is goin’ to see up yer clothes, might I ask?’ Eil
een looked up to the pleading in her daughter’s eyes and relented. ‘Oh, all right, you win. Run down to County Road and see what they’ve got.’
‘Dorothy got hers from T.J. Hughes.’ Joan’s heart was beginning to feel lighter. ‘She said they’re cheaper there.’
‘I’m not goin’ into town with yer, sunshine. It gets too packed, especially on a Saturday.’ Eileen was four months pregnant now, and after the scare last month she avoided buses like the plague. ‘Besides, yer dad and Billy will be ’ome from work about one o’clock an’ they’ll expect their dinner on the table.’
‘I’ll nip into Liverpool with her,’ Maggie offered. ‘Go and get yourself ready, Joan.’
‘Ooh, thanks, Nan!’ Joan kissed Maggie’s cheek in a rare show of affection before running up the stairs singing a tuneless song at the top of her voice.
‘I don’t know,’ Eileen tutted. ‘Fourteen an’ wantin’ a suspender belt. When I was ’er age it was either garters or a knot in the top of yer stocking.’
‘Children seem to be growing up quicker these days,’ Maggie said. ‘I think the war had a lot to do with it. All the men in the army and most women working, there was no discipline. The old saying, “spare the rod and spoil the child” is true, and we’ll find out to our cost. They’re like old men and women now before they’ve left school.’
‘I ain’t goin’ to argue with yer on that, missus! A clip round the ear ’ole is what some of them need.’ Eileen rummaged through the silver in her scruffy purse, then stretched her hand out, three half-crowns lying in the palm. ‘There should be enough ’ere for ’er stockings and those thingamajigs. It’s only a couple of coppers on the bus, so there might be enough to go mad an’ mug yerselves to a cup of tea in the cafeteria in T.J.’s.’
Young Billy put a cushion behind Eileen’s back, his face creased in a grin. ‘You take it easy, Mam, I’ll help me dad with the dishes.’
Eileen’s eyes were tender as she watched him walk to the kitchen. He was a good lad, was Billy. He was nearly as bad as his dad for fussing over her. When they were home, neither of them would let her lift a finger.
‘Put me mam’s and our Joan’s dinner in the oven with plates over them,’ Eileen called. ‘They shouldn’t be long now.’
A knock on the front door brought Eileen to the edge of the couch. But before she had time to stand up, Bill appeared, a tea towel in his hand. ‘Stay where you are, chick, I’ll get it.’
Eileen cocked her ear for the sound of voices, and when she heard Mary’s laugh, followed by Harry’s, her face lit up. ‘Hi-ya, kid!’
Eileen’s arms went across her tummy as two young bodies threw themselves at her. ‘Hey! Let me breathe, will yez?’
‘Come away at once.’ Mary had to drag the struggling children from their favourite auntie. ‘Behave yourselves or we’ll go home.’
‘Hello, Auntie Eileen.’ The two young voices spoke in unison.
‘Are you better now?’ asked five-year-old Emma. With her blonde curls and bright blue eyes, she was as pretty as a picture and the spitting image of Mary. ‘I missed you.’
Tony, a year younger, pushed his sister aside. He was as dark as she was fair, a miniature version of his handsome father. ‘I missed you too, Auntie Eileen. Mummy wouldn’t let us come to see you.’
‘Well, yer see,’ Eileen put an arm round each of them and pulled them towards her, ‘I haven’t been very well. But I’m all right now.’
Eileen looked up at Mary and noticed her eyes were twinkling with excitement. ‘You’re lookin’ very pleased with yerself. Have yez come up on the pools?’ Then a frown creased Eileen’s forehead. ‘Where’s Harry?’
‘Talking to Bill in the hall.’
‘What the ’ell are they standin’ out there for?’ Eileen raised her voice. ‘Hey, you two, get in ’ere! Don’t be whisperin’ behind our backs.’
She heard Harry’s loud guffaw before he marched into the room, stood to attention in front of her, clicked his heels and saluted. ‘Reporting for duty, Sir!’
‘I’ll just finish the dishes,’ Bill said, ‘I won’t be a tick.’
‘Eileen looked from Harry to Mary, her eyes like slits. ‘What ’ave you two been up to? Yez look as though yer’ve lost sixpence and found half-a-crown.’
‘All will be revealed in good time.’ Harry flopped down next to Eileen on the couch. ‘Where is everybody?’
‘Billy’s in the kitchen, me mam an’ Joan ’ave gone to town, and our Edna’s out playin’ somewhere.’ Eileen pulled a face at him. ‘What d’yer want to know for?’
‘Just idle curiosity.’ Harry drew Tony on his knee. ‘Shall we go and look for Edna and she can take you for some sweets?’
Tony’s deep brown eyes looked from Eileen to his father. He wanted to stay with this big woman he adored because she always made them laugh. But a bag of sweets was very tempting. ‘Yes, Daddy.’
‘Come on, then.’ Harry took the small hand in one of his and held the other out to Emma. ‘Let’s go and look for Edna.’
There’s something going on here, Eileen thought. But they’ll tell me in good time. ‘Give a knock next door, I think she’s playin’ in their yard.’
Liverpool were playing at home and Billy had gone off to the match with his mates, his red and white scarf worn with pride. Edna was playing hopscotch in the street with Emma and Tony, and Maggie’s and Joan’s dinners were still in the oven awaiting their return.
‘Well?’ Eileen asked. ‘Whatever it is that’s got you two on edge, spit it out before I die of curiosity.’
Mary looked at Bill. ‘Shall I tell her?’
Bill nodded, keeping his fingers crossed. Please God let Eileen be as pleased as I am.
‘D’you know Mrs Kenny, who lives next door but one?’ Mary asked. ‘You know, the old lady who lives on her own.’
‘Of course I know Mrs Kenny!’ Eileen was more confused than ever. ‘But what’s Mrs Kenny got to do with us?’
‘I was talking to her the other day,’ Mary told her, ‘and she said the house was getting too much for her and she was thinking of looking for a smaller place.’
Puzzled, Eileen asked, ‘So what?’
Bill couldn’t contain himself any longer and he spoke before Mary had time to answer. ‘Chick, she might do an exchange with us if the landlords don’t object.’
While his wife was digesting his words, Bill carried on. ‘Just think, a nice house and right by Mary and Harry.’
‘But, but . . . she might not want to come here,’ Eileen stuttered. ‘She’s not goin’ to move from a posh neighbourhood to here.’
Harry leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. ‘It’s worth a try, Eileen. If you don’t ask, you’ll never get.’
‘And we’d be able to see each other every day,’ Mary said. ‘I’d be able to help you when the baby comes.’
‘It’s the chance of a lifetime, we’ll never get another one like it.’ Bill ran his fingers through his mop of white hair. He’d been to see several houses but Eileen always found an excuse for not going with him. Either she didn’t like the area or it was too far from Edna’s school. He knew if it was left to her, they’d never move. ‘We’d be fools if we didn’t try. I know I’d move heaven and earth to get it if it was left to me.’
Eileen’s eyes travelled from Harry to Mary, then on to Bill. They were all waiting anxiously for her answer. It was the pleading in Bill’s eyes that finally broke her. ‘If that’s what yer want, love, then go an’ see what yer can do.’
Bill shot up straight in his chair as a sigh of relief left his lips. ‘You mean it, chick?’
When Eileen nodded, Mary clapped her hands in glee while Harry dropped back in the chair as the tension left his body. ‘Thank God for that!’
Bill stood in front of Eileen, cupped her face in his hands and gave her a noisy kiss. ‘That’s my girl.’ He turned to Harry. ‘What do we do now?’
‘I think the first thing is to ask Mrs Kenny to come and see this house and
ask her to let you look over hers. I don’t think there’d be any problem with the two landlords,’ Harry raised his bushy eyebrows, ‘as long as you’ve got a clear rent book.’
‘Go way, yer cheeky sod! Of course we’ve got a clear rent book!’ Eileen placed her two hands on her hips. ‘For two pennies I’d crack yer one, Harry Sedgemoor.’
‘That’s more like it,’ Harry grinned. ‘I was beginning to think you’d lost your spunk.’
‘Aye, well, yer know what thought did, don’t yer? Followed a muck cart and thought it was a weddin’. And any more cracks like that out of you, Harry Sedgemoor, an’ I’ll be throwin’ you on the back of a muck cart.’
‘Oh, aye, you and whose army?’
‘I don’t need an army,’ Eileen fluttered her lashes, ‘not when I’ve got my feller to protect me.’
Bill closed his eyes. It was like music to his ears to hear Eileen back to her old bubbly self. And if the house came off, he wouldn’t call the queen his aunt.
When there was a knock on the door, Bill cursed as he walked down the hall. The last thing they wanted now was visitors. ‘Hello, Vera! And how’s my little girlfriend?’ Bill looked down at Carol, Vera Jackson’s nine-year-old mongol daughter, who had her arms wrapped around his waist. He stroked the fair hair as the large, round eyes smiled up at him.
‘Come on in and see Auntie Eileen.’
‘Well, look what the wind’s blown in!’ Eileen held her arms out to Carol and crushed her in a bear-like grip. ‘Who’s a little smasher, then, eh?’
‘Me, Auntie Eileen.’ Carol rained kisses on Eileen’s face before making a bee-line for Harry and Mary.
Eileen eyed Vera up and down. ‘Yer lookin’ very well, Mrs Jackson. Gettin’ used to bein’ on yer own, now, are yer?’
‘Well, it’s a damn sight better than when Danny was there. At least I’m not living in fear all the time, worrying about him coming in drunk.’ Vera slipped out of her coat and held an arm out. ‘Look, Eileen, not a bruise in sight! Makes a change, doesn’t it?’