by June Francis
‘Well, you forget about Cedric for now and buy a new dress that will knock the socks off all the men there,’ said Jeanette, relishing the thought of Hester finding another bloke to take her out.
Eleven
‘I’m in a dancing mood. A gay romantic mood,’ sang Sam as he fastened his tie.
Hester met her brother’s eyes in the mirror above the fireplace and rolled a bit more Max Factor pan stick over the redness about her nose. ‘I must admit I’m looking forward to this evening more than I was the other day.’
‘You be careful your skirt doesn’t catch fire,’ warned Ethel, glowering at Hester who was wearing a turquoise taffeta dress with a sweetheart neckline and full skirt, under which she wore a pale blue, starched nylon underskirt.
‘Leave her alone,’ said George, rustling the newspaper. ‘She’s not daft. The fireguard’s in place.’
Ethel said, ‘You can’t be too careful. I remember a young girl’s nightdress catching fire years ago and she burnt to death.’
‘Go on, Aunt Ethel, cheer us up,’ muttered Hester, outlining her lips with a coral lipstick.
‘Where’s Jeanette?’ asked Ethel, glancing about her. ‘I wanted her to do something for me. I have something to show her.’
‘Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already that she’s gone to the pictures with her friend Peggy?’ said George, wishing he was in his son’s shoes and looking forward to spending the evening dancing with a young woman in his arms. Instead, he was going to have to keep his aunt company because, according to Hester and Jeanette, Ethel could be going senile. He hoped not. Lately he had begun to look forward to retiring from the police force and putting in a bit of detective work trying to find out what had happened to Grace. But if his aunt was starting to lose her marbles, that meant he was going to have to be around to keep his eye on her.
Ethel sniffed. ‘I can’t be expected to remember everything at my age. I hope she gets home at a decent hour or there’ll be trouble. Where’s she been this afternoon, that’s what I’d like to know?’
Sam and Hester exchanged looks. ‘How old are you, Aunt Ethel?’ asked the latter, placing her lipstick in a black patent leather handbag along with a clean handkerchief and her purse.
‘The same age as my hair and younger than my teeth and that’s all I’m saying,’ answered Ethel, sitting down and switching on the wireless. ‘I wish you’d hurry up and go out, so me and our George can have a bit of peace. I’m getting a headache with all this chatter.’
‘We’re going,’ said Sam, shrugging on his overcoat and heading for the door, where he paused. ‘Pity you couldn’t have come too, Dad. You could do with having a bit of fun.’
‘I’m OK, son. You go and enjoy yourself,’ said George, his face softening as, with an ache in his heart, he gazed at his only son, of whom he was so proud. If only Sam could find someone who could make him happy for the rest of his life.
‘Bye, Dad. See you later.’ Hester kissed the top of his head before tying a headscarf carefully over her newly set hair and grabbing her coat.
‘No one ever bloody kisses me,’ grumbled Ethel.
That’s because you don’t deserve it! thought Hester as she followed her brother out of the house. As they walked up the street to the main road, she said, ‘I thought Dad looked a bit down.’
‘Well, he would, wouldn’t he? Stuck in with the old witch while we’re out enjoying ourselves,’ said Sam.
Hester glanced at him. ‘I’m glad you’re convinced we’re going to have a good time.’
Sam hesitated. ‘I’m going to tell you something that you’re not going to like, but hopefully it’ll make you determined to enjoy yourself.’
She stopped in her tracks. ‘It’s about Cedric, isn’t it?’
‘Yeah. I’ve made a few enquiries about him, and one of the men remembers him from when he first started with the force in Liverpool. He didn’t trust him, especially around women. Cedric’s beat was the area around Canning Street and you know what that’s known for. Another bloke mentioned Cedric not being married but living with his mother. He remembers him taking time off to attend her funeral.’
Hester was shocked and baffled. ‘Why lie to me about her?’
‘Exactly. Why does he feel he needs an alibi for the other Thursday?’
‘You mean the day he supposedly took his mother to the hospital?’
‘You’re not the only one he lied to. I spoke to his sergeant and Cedric gave him the same reason for asking for the day off. It’s not the first time he’s used his mother as an excuse since he’s been there.’
‘Oh!’ Hester began walking very fast. ‘It doesn’t say he’s been up to mischief. And he could have lied about his mother’s funeral years ago.’
‘Accept, Hester, that she’s dead,’ said Sam. ‘His sergeant is keeping an eye on him because he has a feeling Cedric is up to something and he wants to find out what it is. I don’t have the time to investigate him any further. After all, he’s Bootle’s responsibility now. I suggest you have nothing more to do with him.’
Hester was silent, thinking about what her brother had told her. She felt angry and sick at heart and knew she was going to have to decide herself how to deal with Cedric.
They took the bus to Tunnel Road and walked the rest of the way to Lodge Lane. Hester had been at the wedding ceremony earlier but had returned home to have a rest and change for the evening do. The sound of a band, the buzz of conversation and bursts of laughter could be heard coming from upstairs in the Co-op hall as they paused on the pavement below. A man stood watch in the doorway, smoking a cigarette. Hester recognized him as a member of her division. For a few moments he and Sam discussed the football match at Goodison Park earlier that day, before Hester and Sam climbed the stairs to the function room above.
Almost immediately they were spotted. Wendy, still wearing her white satin and lace wedding gown, hurried over to them. ‘Dorothy’s here, Sam,’ she blurted out. ‘I told her I didn’t think you’d keep her waiting. She’s been signing autographs. Quite a few people recognized her from that telly programme she was in not so long ago – and, of course, some had seen her at the Playhouse.’
His gaze swept the hall for Dorothy.
‘Let’s both go and say hello to her,’ said Hester.
‘No, no,’ said Wendy hastily, seizing her friend’s arm. ‘I’ve someone else I want you to meet.’
‘If it’s a bloke—’ began Hester.
‘Of course it’s a bloke,’ said Wendy, her eyes sparkling. ‘And I’ve been told he’s a great dancer. One thing is for certain, he won’t trample on your feet in size thirteens like some men I could mention.’
‘I’ll see you later,’ said Sam, and walked away.
Hester thought, What the hell! She had come here to dance. She allowed herself to be hustled to the other side of the hall where several people were grouped around two tables that were almost covered in glasses, some empty, some half full.
‘Who is this bloke?’ she asked in a low voice.
‘He’s a mate of Charley’s cousin and came home from Germany only two days ago. He popped in to see the cousin’s family in Blackburn and they twisted his arm to drive them here.’
‘Is he in the army?’
‘Yes, but he’ll be getting demobbed soon. He’s not half bad looking and I’ve been told that he’ll be putting money into a garage when he finishes. Apparently he served his time as a mechanic and built his own car out of old spare parts before doing his national service later than usual.’
‘OK, you don’t have to sell him to me,’ murmured Hester, her eyes running swiftly over the men in the group they were approaching. ‘Which one is he?’
‘The one laughing with the reddish brown hair and the dimple in his chin.’
Hester spotted him and thought he must have been at the wedding that afternoon because he seemed familiar. There was something infectious about his laugh, and she wondered what the joke was because he was not the only one wh
o looked amused. ‘At least he’s cheerful,’ she said.
Wendy agreed. ‘I like happy faces around me. Come on, let me introduce you.’
Hester allowed herself to be led forward and shook hands all round. One or two said they remembered seeing her earlier at the church. Wendy managed to persuade them to shift around to make room for Hester between the soldier, introduced to her as Ally, and Marion, one of Charley’s cousins.
‘So you’re in the police force as well,’ Marion said, once Hester was settled.
‘That’s right,’ murmured Hester. ‘What do you do?’
‘I’m married. My husband’s stationed in Germany and I’m hoping to go and join him soon.’
Hester glanced at Ally. ‘Are you and he both in the same unit?’
He shook his head. ‘I’m in the Lancashire Fusiliers, and so was my father. He fought in the trenches during the Great War but was lucky enough to survive because he was sent home just before the big push.’ All signs of laughter had vanished from his eyes. ‘They wanted him to train men for the front, which he had mixed feelings about. Still, it saved his life and he died only recently.’
‘Let’s talk about something more cheerful,’ said Marion. ‘This is a wedding after all.’
He nodded and turned again to Hester. ‘Do you dance?’
‘I’m no expert, but if asked I do my best,’ she said lightly.
‘They’re playing a quickstep. Would you dance with me?’ He stood up and she realized they were much of a height, which made a change from very tall policemen.
She rose to her feet and her skirts swirled round her calves. ‘I hope I don’t let you down. Wendy told me you’re a good dancer.’
He smiled ruefully. ‘I suppose Charley’s sister told her that and she had it from my sister.’
She returned his smile. ‘I’ve no idea. Why, isn’t it true?’
‘What a question to ask me,’ he said, taking her hand and leading her on to the dance floor. She could feel his palm rough against hers and remembered what Wendy had said about his working as a mechanic.
They began to dance and did not speak for a minute or two. Then he said, ‘Tell me, how was it I missed you at the reception?’
‘Probably you had more important people to talk to,’ said Hester.
‘I wouldn’t say that.’ He stared at her intently. ‘Although I must have noticed you because you seem familiar.’
Her eyes met his. ‘I thought the same about you. What’s Ally short for?’
‘Alexander.’ He grimaced. ‘A bit of a mouthful. It was my sister who first called me Ally when we were kids because she couldn’t get her tongue round it and it stuck.’
‘Wendy said you drove Charley’s family here from Blackburn. Are you staying with your sister whilst you’re on leave?’
He nodded. ‘She’s determined to see me settled and thinks dancing is one way of capturing a woman’s heart.’
Hester smiled. ‘I have a sister who’s the same, but I enjoy my job too much to give it up for marriage just yet.’
‘Ah, a career girl! I’ve met a few of them in the army and sooner or later they change their minds about staying single.’
‘I’ve met other men who think like that,’ she said, an edge to her voice. ‘And I suppose I have to agree with you that lots of women do change their mind when they meet the right man. But I bet it’s the same with men, or are you planning on remaining a bachelor, despite what your sister says?’
‘No, I want to get married,’ he said firmly, drawing her closer.
She was surprised by the frisson of excitement that pulsed through her as their bodies brushed with the movement of the dance. Why should he make her feel like this? It was not as if he was as handsome as Cedric, but she felt much more at ease with Ally. There seemed to be an instant rapport that had been missing with her fellow policeman, and talking to him was so easy.
‘So what do you do in the police force?’ asked Ally after they had circled the dance floor once again.
‘I’m attached to the CID. I occasionally go on raids,’ she said slightly breathlessly, for he was an energetic dancer.
‘So you’re a detective?’
‘I wouldn’t say that exactly. It’s my brother who’s the detective.’ She glanced about her but could not see Sam amongst the swirling couples. ‘He’s here somewhere. He’s a good dancer, too.’
‘He must have been told the same as me, that it was the way to attract the girls,’ said Ally, twirling her around.
‘If he was then it wasn’t me who said it,’ gasped Hester. ‘Don’t you think it’s possible he just might enjoy dancing?’
‘An excuse to hold a pretty girl in his arms? It’s one way to get close up and have an almost private conversation. My mother was a great Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers fan. She used to take me and my sister to see all their movies.’
‘Sam and I enjoyed their films too. Top Hat, Swing Time, Flying down to Rio!’ Hester named a few of the famous couple’s hits.
‘I wish they’d show them again. The films today seem much more serious,’ said Ally.
‘No, you’re wrong,’ said Hester firmly. ‘There are still some good musicals and comedies out there.’
‘Name one.’
‘Calamity Jane came out last year and that was good. I haven’t seen Seven Brides for Seven Brothers yet, but Howard Keel is in it and he can really belt out a song.’
‘All right, I’ll give you Calamity Jane because I’ve heard Doris Day’s “Secret Love” played plenty of times, even in Germany, but I don’t think she was much into dancing.’
‘No, but—’ Hester got no further because the music came to an end.
Some couples began to leave the dance floor, but her partner made no move to do so. He stood there, holding her and swaying slightly as if the music was still playing. ‘I wouldn’t mind seeing the Howard Keel movie you mentioned,’ he said.
‘It might be showing somewhere in Liverpool,’ she responded, ‘although I presume you’ll be returning to your sister’s farm this evening?’
‘Not until Monday. The family would like to make the most of the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping while they’re here and I don’t blame them. If you’re free tomorrow we could go to the pictures.’
‘But I don’t know if the film is showing anywhere,’ said Hester, flustered by the unexpected invitation, ‘and besides—’
‘Besides what?’ His eyes held hers and she could not look away. ‘You hardly know me,’ he added softly.
‘Yes, but I wasn’t going to say that.’
‘What were you going to say?’ asked Ally.
How could she say that she enjoyed dancing with him even more than she liked dancing with Cedric? He was bound to ask who Cedric was, and he was the last person she wanted to discuss right now. No doubt Ally would soon be returning to his unit; she would enjoy getting to know him better before he left.
‘That there are other films,’ she said at last.
The band launched into another number.
Ally smiled and raised his eyebrows. ‘How d’you feel about the polka?’ He did not wait for her answer, but caught her close to him and then they were dancing in wild abandon. It was such fun she wanted to laugh and laugh. The other couples on the floor passed by in a blur and it was only when the music ended and he brought her to a swinging halt, that she saw her brother a few feet away with his arm around Dorothy Wilson’s waist.
He winked at Hester and she gave him a smiling nod.
‘Hello, Hester,’ said Dorothy, who looked as flushed and sweaty as Hester felt, but who Hester considered much prettier. ‘That was a fast dance.’
Hester gasped. ‘I’ve never danced like that in all my life.’
‘Perhaps we should put in a request for the next one to be a waltz,’ said Ally, his hazel eyes amused as he gazed down into her face.
‘Good idea,’ said Sam. ‘I’m Hester’s brother, by the way.’
Ally nodded in his direct
ion. ‘Pleased to meet you. I’m Ally Green, a mate of Charley’s cousin. I’ve just asked your sister if she would like to go to the pictures with me tomorrow. You don’t have any objections, do you?’
Sam said, ‘She’s over twenty-one and doesn’t need my permission.’
‘I should think not,’ said Dorothy, tapping the side of his face gently. ‘If I’d waited for permission to leave home to become an actress, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’
‘Sam encouraged me to join the police force,’ said Hester swiftly, ‘so I have a lot to thank him for. And Dad supported me, too.’
‘No need to leap to my defence, our kid,’ said Sam, taking Dorothy’s hand and kissing it. ‘I believe you’re in the army, mate?’
‘Be getting demobbed at the end of the year,’ said Ally.
The band suddenly struck up and Sam said, ‘Good for you. By the way, I think we’re getting what we asked for. Unless I’m mistaken they’re playing the “Tennessee Waltz”.’
Ally turned to Hester. ‘Shall we?’
She nodded, thinking that she could happily dance all night with him.
All too soon the evening came to an end and Ally asked if he could see her home. As it had gone midnight and there were no buses running, she was about to say that it was a bit of a walk when Sam approached.
‘I’ve ordered a taxi, Hester. It’ll be here in ten minutes. We’ll drop Dorothy off at her hotel and then go home.’
Hester turned to Ally and said regretfully, ‘I’m sorry, but it will save you the walk.’
He shrugged. ‘You’ve nothing to be sorry for. Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow.’
She nodded. ‘What time?’
He suggested that they meet under the clock in Lime Street station at four thirty and she agreed. For a moment longer they stood there, looking at each other, then he said, ‘Goodnight!’ and walked away.
‘Goodnight!’ she echoed, and then let out a sigh.
Sam looked down at her. ‘I think Ally is definitely a better bet than Cedric.’
‘I wouldn’t argue. I’ll go and get my coat and meet you and Dorothy out front. I must thank Wendy and Charley and their parents for a great evening first.’