I was glad for him. When he was telling me about this new venture, I could see glimpses of the old Danny shining through.
‘But, until I get everything sorted out, I’ll return to Lipton’s.’ He didn’t sound morose, thankfully.
He was on the point of leaving when he turned back suddenly. ‘I almost forgot the main reason why I came to see you, Ann. Maddie wondered if you and Lily would go back to live at Roseangle until we get Daniel sorted out?’
‘But, Danny, you’ll all be wanting to stay there yourselves in the near future so it’ll not be long empty till you and Daniel get together.’
‘Well, until then, will you stay and look after the place? Maddie likes to keep it aired and lived-in so she’s hoping you and Lily can move back in again – but just if you want to. Maybe you’ve found a flat for yourselves?’
The thought of returning to the lovely flat was tempting. I knew Granny would never put us out of her house but she was getting older and she liked the place to herself although she would be the last person to admit it.
‘All right, Danny, we would love to move back. Will the weekend be fine?’
He gave me a grin that was so like the old Danny that it gave me hope for his well-being. ‘That’ll be great, Ann. Maddie will be so pleased.’
If Maddie was pleased, then Lily was ecstatic. ‘We’re going back to live there?’ she said with joy. ‘After us saying cheerio to it as well!’
‘Well, I’m sure it’ll not be for long, Lily. It’s just to keep it aired until Maddie and Danny get organised.’ I didn’t want to mention Danny’s problems with his son.
We moved in that weekend and, once again, put all the wedding presents away. Lily sat on the settee. ‘Hullo, bed settee,’ she said, ‘we’re back again.’
This time we didn’t have to put up any blackout curtains and we sat at the table by the window to have our meals in the company of the river. It was as if we had returned to an old friend.
Back at work, Connie seemed to get tired quickly and she spent most of the day at home, leaving me to run the shop. It meant longer hours but, now that Lily was almost fifteen, she was able to look after herself most of the time.
Joe kept popping in to give me the usual rundown on the world’s events. ‘I see Churchill has warned the world that the Russians have pulled down an iron curtain over the countries they control. That Stalin is as bad as Hitler – just another bloody dictator. And have you read about the Nuremberg trials with Hitler’s henchmen trying to pretend they’re bloody innocent. Innocent? Innocent?’ he spouted. Spittle landed on his lips and he wiped it away with a huge hankie. ‘Innocent when they murdered all those poor Jews and Gypsies and loads of other folk? I know what I’d like to do to them,’ he said darkly.
However, I wasn’t to know what his solution would be because Rosie and Jay appeared.
Rosie looked flustered. ‘Your dad has gone away to work without his dinner-time pieces, Ann. Do you think you can hand them in to him on your way home?’
I was just about to tell her I couldn’t leave the shop when Connie appeared. Joe, who was on his way out, quickly retraced his steps back into the shop. He looked like a faithful dog and, if he’d had a tail, he would have wagged it.
‘I’m just telling Ann about the Nuremberg trials, Connie.’
Connie gave me a look that said she wished she had stayed at home but it now meant I could go home for a couple of hours before coming back to do the evening papers.
I couldn’t get over how big Jay was becoming. He was starting school later in the year and it was unbelievable how fast the years had gone in. The warehouse was now fully back in business with its fruit and vegetables. Bananas had been imported into the country but they were still in very short supply. Dad, however, had managed to get one for Jay who had gazed at it for ages before eating it. It was something he had only ever seen in his picture book and it was such a treat for him.
All these thoughts were going through my mind as I hurried to the warehouse with Dad’s sandwiches, feeling a bit annoyed that he would sometimes hurry out of the house without them. He must have something on his mind, I thought.
I was almost at the warehouse door when I saw the figure emerge from the exit further up the lane. To my astonishment and horror, I saw it was Margot. It was so like my previous encounter with her in this same lane that I experienced a feeling of déjà vu. I stopped and gazed at her retreating figure. What was she doing here? Surely she hadn’t come to see Dad.
Then, to my dismay, a few minutes after she disappeared, Dad appeared out of the same door with a barrow-load of boxes. He was whistling cheerfully. Thankfully he didn’t see me as he pushed his load over to the building across the lane and went inside.
My mind was in a whirl. It had to be Dad that Margot was seeing but surely he wouldn’t be so daft to start anything with her again? Would he? I wasn’t so sure. Then I had another thought. What if Rosie had brought the sandwiches to him? Was this the reason for his forgetfulness? Margot?
I headed for the main warehouse and met Bill who worked with Dad. I handed over the box and asked where Dad was, trying to keep my voice even and unemotional.
‘He were up in the other store a few minutes ago, Ann,’ he said, pointing with a gnarled finger towards where I had seen Dad and Margot both emerge. ‘I’ve no idea where he is now but I’ll give him his pieces when I see him.’
I walked slowly down the lane but neither Dad nor Margot appeared again. To be quite honest, I had almost forgotten about seeing her last year. Where was she staying? I wondered. And was she hankering after a reunion with him? Oh, God, I hope not, I said silently. She had caused enough trouble in our family during her short reign and she was the last person I ever wanted to see again. And as for Rosie and Jay … well, it didn’t bear thinking about.
I walked quickly to the Overgate and told Granny about this new sighting. ‘She must have been talking to Dad. She came out the same door a few minutes before him. He must have seen her and he’s the only reason she’ll be hanging about there. And maybe she has been going to see him all this time. I mean, I don’t often go down with his dinner box.’
Granny sounded thoughtful. ‘I wonder if it’s money she’s after?’
‘Money,’ I said. ‘Where would Dad get any significant money? I know I gave him Miss Hood’s money but that was years ago and he used some of it to pay the household bills when he had his accident in the Home Guard. He might have some of it left but not in the amounts that matter to a woman like Margot.’
Granny said not to worry. It would all come out in the open soon enough and we would cope with it when it did. However, I didn’t want Rosie and Jay to be distressed by Dad’s secrecy and I sincerely hoped it would never come out. Maybe Margot would disappear in a puff of smoke but these things only happened in children’s fairy tales and not in real life.
On leaving the house, I bumped into Danny. He was on his way to the infirmary to get his weekly check-up on his leg. I decided to accompany him. It was dry but there was a cold breeze and I was glad I had worn my tweed coat to work that morning.
We made our way up the steep brae to the Dundee Royal Infirmary and the main door. The last time I had been there had been the night of Jay’s birth – that awful breathtaking time of waiting in the darkness for news of Rosie’s delivery and the way Mum’s death had seemed to hang over Dad and me and how we had been convinced the same thing would happen to Rosie.
I recalled Greg and how annoyed he had been to start with but it had all come right in the end. Or had it? Had the seeds of his discontent been sown that night? Now I would never know.
I sat on a bench in Barrack Park, which was across the road from the infirmary, and waited on Danny.
He wasn’t long and he looked happy when he joined me. ‘The doctor is pleased with my leg. It’s finally healing like it should and my limp will soon be a thing of the past.’
‘That’s good news, Danny,’ I said.
His smile disapp
eared. ‘I just wish it was good news on the home front, Ann.’
‘Daniel?’ I asked.
He nodded, his face grey with worry. ‘He’ll still not come near me and he’ll be back at school in a few weeks’ time. What will all the other fathers think when it comes out that he doesn’t want anything to do with me?’
I didn’t know what to say. Instead I changed the subject. ‘Danny, what would you think if you knew Margot was back in Dundee?’
He gave me an amazed stare. ‘Margot? Back here?’
I nodded unhappily.
‘Well, Ann, that has me stumped, I must say. Was she not put in jail for stealing yon money from the retired judge? The one she went to work for?’
‘Maybe she’s got out on good behaviour or whatever term is used in the jail,’ I said. ‘But she’s certainly back here and what’s worse is that I’ve seen her twice coming out of the warehouse where Dad works.’
Danny gave a low whistle. ‘That’s bad news. What does your Dad say about it?’
‘Oh, I haven’t mentioned it to him. Granny says to keep quiet and maybe the whole thing will blow over.’
He gave this a moment’s thought. ‘Well, Granny’s advice is usually sound, Ann.’
We sat in silence for a moment, looking at the peaceful view. The park was almost empty except for a few women pushing their prams. Like me, they were well wrapped up in their thick serviceable coats. Everything was still on the ration and clothes coupons had to go to the children who soon grew out of their things.
Suddenly, Danny mentioned Kathleen. ‘Is she going back to live with Sammy?’
‘No, Danny, she’s not.’ I didn’t want to mention Chris.
‘Kit said she’s given up a good job in Mr Portland’s photographic studio.’
‘Yes, she has.’ I was still in a quandary about speaking of Kathleen’s private life. I felt it was up to her to tell Danny the whole story.
Danny was puzzled. ‘I can’t understand why she gave it up. Kit says she loves the work and it’s a good job with prospects.’
‘Well, Kathleen told me that Sammy’s father went to see Mr Portland and was very aggressive. Kathleen decided to give the job up rather than let the business suffer. You know what big mouths the Malloys have.’
He nodded grimly. ‘Why she ever married that wee thug is something we’ll never understand.’
We sat and looked at the view in silence. After a few moments he said, ‘What a strange world it’s turned out to be, Ann, hasn’t it? Who would have guessed that a few years ago the world would be turned upside down with the carnage and horror of another war? And now look at us – I’m married with a son who won’t be with me and you’ve lost Greg because you’ve been too dedicated to your family. Maddie is unhappy at Daniel’s behaviour and my mother has something hanging over her, I’m sure of that. The only two people full of life are Lily and Joy who are delighted to be going to the art college next year. They at least are happy.’
I took his hand. It was very cold. ‘Everything will work out for us Danny – if we’re patient. Is there any more news about your shop?’
He shook his head. ‘No, the owner hasn’t retired yet but that’s fine with me. The more money I can get together, the better it’ll be.’
He stood up. ‘Heavens, it’s chilly for June.’
I had to agree. I couldn’t feel my toes.
As that strange cool summer wore on, one bit of good news was Danny’s return to Lipton’s shop. It also took him out of the house and all the unhappiness of Daniel’s denial of his father. I honestly didn’t know what to say to him and I knew Maddie was becoming more desperate about the situation.
Daniel went back to school in August but it was Maddie who took him to the gate of the Harris Primary. He looked so smart in his wine blazer, white shirt and grey short trousers but, afterwards, when he had left, Danny confessed to me that he had cried like a child when he saw his son go away into the wide world.
Hattie was also worried about her grandson but she had other problems on her mind – namely Graham. He had returned to Clydebank and managed to rent an office and was now back in business as a solicitor in his home town, after the few years of being with Mr Pringle.
Granny told me that Hattie had tried to forget Graham, saying she had merely been a diversion for him while he was in Dundee but I didn’t believe this. Like Hattie, I had also thought he was truly smitten with her and something had happened over the years. But, whatever it was, Graham wasn’t saying a word.
There was also a war going on in Lochee between the Ryans and the Malloys. Sammy had insisted that his wife stay with him – or else.
Kit was furious at the ‘or else’ statement. One Sunday Danny, Maddie and I had gone to see them and we walked into a war zone.
Maggie was screeching in Kit’s kitchen. ‘I’ve put an extra bed in the room and Kathleen can bide with us. Kitty can sleep with me.’
Kathleen gave Danny a beseeching look but he obviously didn’t want to interfere in their married life – at least not at this early stage in his homecoming. Meanwhile, Sammy sat in the corner, a dark surly look on his face. He glowered at his mother and at his estranged wife. As for Kitty … well, she didn’t get a second look.
Maggie looked more demented than usual. Her hair was uncombed and she had stains on the front of her blue jumper. She was bare-legged and her thin, fire-scorched legs were thrust into a pair of tatty old slippers. Sammy, on the other hand, was smartly dressed and still as good-looking as ever.
He glanced at his mother, his face showing annoyance. ‘Listen, Ma, if she doesn’t want to come back to me … well, let’s forget about it.’
Maggie was stunned into silence as we all were, especially Kathleen.
‘Just leave it alone, Ma. I don’t want her back. She bores me. No, I’ve found another lassie that thinks I’m the bee’s knees and, when I get my divorce, I’m going to marry her.’
I thought Kathleen was going to strike him but she turned and went out of the door, taking Kitty with her.
Maggie howled at her son. ‘You can’t get a divorce, you daft bugger.’
On that note they both went outside but we could hear Maggie’s voice berating her son as they made their way home.
Kit sat down. ‘I feel as if I’ve been in the war, never mind Sammy. What a mess everything is these days.’
We didn’t stay long. It was obvious the Ryans had a lot of worry and, as Maddie said on our way home on the tramcar, hadn’t we all.
I gave a furtive look at Danny and he looked shattered.
At the end of October, the old man who owned the shop in the Hawkhill finally retired and Danny, Maddie and I went to see it. It was quite a large shop with a big window. Inside, the interior was roomy and there was also a decent-sized back shop. It had a dark dismal look, as if it hadn’t been painted from the previous century, and most of the walls were covered with cardboard adverts that looked as if they dated from the Great War. They were all advertising products that had long disappeared from the wartime shelves.
Danny, however, was optimistic. ‘When the rationing finally ends and we’re able to stock the shelves, I think we can do a roaring trade here, Maddie. What do you think?’
I thought Maddie looked pale and tired but she smiled. ‘I think you’ll make a go of it, Danny, and it’ll be our very own business.’
They both looked at me and I nodded. Although there was a lot to do to make the shop bright and cheerful, I knew, if anyone could do it, it was Danny. He was getting stronger every day and his face wasn’t as gaunt as it had been when he first arrived home. His eyes, however, were still sad. Daniel, although he no longer screamed when he saw his father, was still distant and cool with him.
I put Maddie’s paleness down to the strain of having the two most important men in her life not getting on with each other.
The following week, Danny put in his offer for the shop and it was accepted. Work would start at once and I offered my help should it be
needed. Danny was really exited about his new venture and Maddie and I smiled at the change in him. Every day he was becoming more like his old self.
He told us, ‘When the rationing ends, I’ll stock lots of products and the shop will have its shelves full.’
But the rationing didn’t end. In fact, the government put bread on the rationing – something which hadn’t even been done during the war. The women were becoming more militant as the queues grew longer each day. ‘It’s a bloody disgrace that we won the war but we’re still having to stand like the Three Stooges in these queues for a sliver of meat, a wee bit marge and two ounces of tea,’ was the general consensus of the population.
Another bone of contention was the fact that milk seemed to turn sour more quickly these days. ‘I blame yon atom bomb for this,’ said one wee woman who was never at a loss for words. A situation that had been remarked on early in the war years when a neighbour of hers had whispered to her pal in the queue, ‘It’s a pity they haven’t put her tongue on the ration then maybe we would get a bit of peace.’
Anyway, the atom bomb was being blamed for everything from the weather to bread not lasting as long as it used to.
Then one day, Jean Peters arrived at the shop, her face red and sweating as if she had run up the hill. I was surprised to see her. Normally Lily and I went to visit her at the Ferry and I couldn’t recall her ever coming to the shop.
Thankfully I was on my own. Jean was so puffed out that she had to sit down in the back shop in order to catch her breath. I put the kettle on the small gas ring and placed another tiny bit of coal on the fire. Fortunately the back shop was small so it soon warmed up.
When I was seated across from her with our cups of tea, I asked her what was wrong.
‘Och, there’s nothing wrong. I mean not really and terribly wrong but I was in the town this morning and I decided to go into a small cafe at the bus station and who did you think I saw?’
My heart sank and I knew what was coming.
‘I saw Margot. She was sitting as bold as brass in the corner but still trying to look as if she didn’t want anyone to see her. But it was her, Ann, I’m sure of it.’
The Sun Will Shine Tomorrow Page 22