MB05 - After the Dance is Over

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Goodnight, sweetheart.’ Ellen had a feeling that all was not well. Paul was someone who laughed and joked a lot, but there’d been no sound of laughter tonight. Not that she heard, anyway. But the young couple couldn’t have fallen out, they hadn’t seen each other for three days so there wasn’t anything to fall out over. ‘I’m imagining things,’ she said to the empty room as she lowered herself on to the fireside chair. ‘It must be me age.’

  Paul walked to the bottom of the street and stood on the corner, wondering what to do. He was seething with anger, his hands clenched so tight his nails were digging into his palms. He was angry with Joanne for telling tales, and more angry with Phoebe for believing them. Well, he wasn’t going to go crawling to her, not until she’d apologised. And if she wouldn’t do that, then blow her. If you didn’t have trust in a relationship, then you had nothing. He didn’t fancy spending the rest of his life defending himself when he was innocent.

  For a few seconds he toyed with the idea of going home where Lily and Archie were playing cards with his parents. He was so mad, he wanted to tell his sister what he’d been accused of. She’d soon put Phoebe straight, but why should she be brought into it? Better forget the whole thing instead of dragging the two families into something they couldn’t do anything about. But he wouldn’t be calling for Phoebe any more, of that he was certain. If she wanted him then she could do the running.

  He saw a tram coming towards him, the indicator showing it was going to the Pier Head. As he didn’t fancy going home and having questions thrown at him, he jumped on board. The fresh wind down by the Mersey would clear his mind and it would help pass a couple of hours. He might even feel different when his anger abated.

  It was eleven o’clock when Paul came back up his street. He walked slowly, his shoulders drooping. The anger had gone, but it had been replaced with sadness. Although his head was telling him one thing, his heart was telling him another. He didn’t want to fall out with Phoebe, he wanted her to be his girlfriend, he really loved her. But his pride wasn’t going to let him give in. She’d believed Joanne’s lies instead of asking for his version of events, and that was something he couldn’t stomach. No, unless she came to him and apologised, then they were through.

  The following night, when the dinner was over and the three young ones had gone out, Ellen eyed her eldest daughter. ‘As yer look a bit better today, I suppose yer’ll be going out tonight with Paul?’

  Phoebe sighed. It was no good putting it off, it was better to get it over with. ‘I won’t be going out, Mam, me and Paul have had a falling out.’

  Ellen’s face showed her surprise. ‘Yer haven’t seen him for three days, how can yer have fallen out?’

  ‘It was something daft, Mam, but I’d rather not say. Anyway, he won’t be calling here any more, and that’s that.’

  The surprise on Ellen’s face turned to astonishment. ‘But I don’t understand, love! Yer were like two love-birds on Sunday, and yer haven’t been out since. So how could yer have had a row? Besides which, Paul would never row with anyone, he’s not the type.’

  ‘It wasn’t a row, Mam, just a difference of opinion. But yer can take it from me that he won’t be calling tonight or any other night.’

  ‘Oh, come on, love, it couldn’t have been that bad! Ye’re a bit down at the moment, that’s what it is. But it’ll all blow over, you mark my words.’

  ‘It won’t, Mam, and I’d rather not talk about it any more if yer don’t mind.’

  ‘Phoebe, yer can’t not talk about it! The McDonoughs are our close friends, they’re bound to wonder what’s going on. Nellie’s in the shop every day, d’yer think she’s not going to mention it and ask questions?’

  ‘Paul will tell her what he wants to, it’s not for me to speak for him. What happened was probably my fault, I wasn’t feeling well and not thinking straight. But that’s as much as I’m going to tell yer. And I don’t want to talk about it any more.’

  ‘That’s a nice homecoming for yer dad, isn’t it? He’s very fond of Paul and will be really disappointed and upset. I just hope yer come to yer senses before he arrives.’

  ‘Don’t pin yer hopes on that, ’cos it’s not going to happen.’ Phoebe sighed and pushed herself up from her chair. ‘I’m going to get stripped and have a good wash down. Then I’m having an early night in bed.’

  Two doors away, Paul was suffering the same fate. ‘What d’yer mean, yer’ve packed up with Phoebe?’ Nellie wasn’t very happy about what she’d heard and didn’t care who knew it. ‘Surely to God ye’re not childish enough to pack her in ’cos the girl’s had a cold and couldn’t go jazzing with yer?’

  ‘I didn’t pack her in, Mam, we both agreed we didn’t want to go out together any more.’ Paul couldn’t think of anything else to say. ‘It was mutual.’

  ‘That was a bit sudden, wasn’t it?’ George asked. ‘I thought the pair of yer got on like a house on fire. She’s a nice girl, is Phoebe.’

  ‘I know that, Dad, she’s a smashing girl. It’s just that we didn’t see eye to eye on some things and decided to call it a day.’

  Lily had been listening intently while she ate her meal. There was something fishy going on here, it didn’t ring true. ‘Yer never said anything when we were at the dance the other night, how come? I mean, Phoebe was supposed to be coming with yer so everything in the garden must have been rosy then.’

  ‘Blimey!’ Paul was exasperated. ‘Didn’t you ever fall out with a boy when yer were young, Mam? Or you, Dad? Was me mam the only girl yer ever went out with?’

  ‘No, I went out with a couple of girls, but it was never serious. Yer mam is the only one I ever courted. The others were just dates, nothing more. But we all thought you and Phoebe were courting proper like.’

  ‘Well, yer were wrong, weren’t yer?’ Paul pushed his chair back. ‘I’ll get washed at the sink before yer start on the dishes.’

  ‘Are yer going out?’

  ‘Yes, I’m going out,’ he said, disappearing into the kitchen and running the tap in the hope of drowning out any further questions. He wasn’t feeling very happy and could do without all this hassle.

  But Nellie wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily. ‘Where are yer off to?’

  Paul’s head appeared around the door. ‘I haven’t made up my mind yet, there’s dozens of places to choose from.’

  George caught his wife’s attention. ‘Leave it, Nellie, we’ll find out eventually.’

  ‘I’ll find out tomorrow.’ She mouthed the words. ‘I’ll ask Ellen when I go to the butcher’s, she’s bound to know.’

  But to Nellie’s surprise and dismay, Ellen didn’t know any more than she did. ‘She must have said something to yer, explained why she wasn’t going out with him? Girls talk more to their mothers than boys do.’

  Ellen shook her head. ‘I know as much as you, Nellie, she just clammed up on me.’

  ‘Perhaps if the pair of yer left them alone, they’d sort themselves out,’ Molly said. ‘All it needs is for them to pass in the street, and one look at each other should do the trick. And God knows, they’d have a hard job not meeting when they only live two doors away.’

  ‘I’ve told Ellen that, Molly, but she will worry,’ Tony said, his eyes on the scales as he weighed out three-quarters of stewing steak. ‘True love never runs smooth.’

  ‘I know that, soft lad.’ Nellie jerked her head as if to say she wasn’t stupid. ‘But when they fell out is the mystery. They were all lovey-dovey one day, then they don’t see each other for three days but manage to have a row and fall out! It beats me.’

  ‘Corker’s home the day after tomorrow, he might have more luck than me.’ Ellen wrapped up their meat and passed it over the counter. ‘Phoebe thinks the world of him and might just open up her heart. I hope so, anyway, I don’t want her and Paul to be out of friends.’

  Chapter 21

  Molly wiped the floorcloth over the hearth several times, her finger stiffened to make sure she captured
every trace of soot from the corners. Then she sat back on her heels and spoke to the empty room. ‘That’s me lot, thank goodness. Washing done, beds made and rooms dusted and tidied. I’m feeling quite pleased with meself.’ Pressing her hands down on the floor she scrambled to her feet. ‘I’ll just rinse this cloth out and then get meself ready before Tilly Mint comes.’ She straightened up with a hand pressed to her back, and pulled a face. ‘I can’t get up as easy as I used to, me age is beginning to tell.’ She grinned as she made her way to the kitchen. ‘If anyone heard me talking to meself they’d have me certified.’

  She was rinsing the floor cloth out in the sink when she saw a shadow pass the kitchen window. ‘Oh, no, not Nellie, it’s too early.’ With hot words on her lips, she opened the door. But it wasn’t Nellie, it was Mary Watson, Bella’s Mam, who lived opposite. ‘What on earth are yer doing at me back door, Mary? I thought it was me mate and was going to tell her to go home for half an hour ’cos I’m not ready.’

  Mary stepped into the kitchen. ‘I know it looks like a cloak and dagger mystery, but I didn’t want to be seen knocking at yer front door. And don’t start panicking when I tell yer what I’m here for ’cos there’s no need.’

  ‘If yer tell me quick, Mary, then I won’t panic. But keeping me waiting has got me heart in me mouth, so out with it.’

  ‘Well, yer know I slip next door to see Victoria a few times a week, don’t yer? I called this morning and sat having a little natter to her. I happened to notice your Doreen rubbing her tummy a couple of times and I asked her if she was all right. She said she was fine, and she certainly looked it, but Victoria said she’d got pains in her stomach. Doreen said it was nothing, and she’s probably right, but I thought I’d better let yer know. Don’t tell her I told yer, Molly, I don’t want her to think I’m a nosy poke.’

  ‘It can’t be the baby, it’s not due for another two months.’ Molly usually kept a cool head in a time of crisis, but not when it concerned one of her own children. ‘I’d better get meself ready and slip over to see her for meself. Everything’s been going so well for her and Phil, what with him just finding his dad’s family and all. I pray to God there’s nothing wrong now, it would devastate them. It would devastate all of us.’

  ‘Molly, it’s probably what Doreen said, just a pain in the tummy. Yer know what a worry wart I am, yer’ve told me often enough over the years about wrapping our Bella in cotton wool. But I can’t help me nature, it’s the way I was born. So don’t go dashing over thinking the worst, ’cos yer’ll only upset the girl. Just call there, as yer do every morning and don’t let on I said anything. Perhaps I shouldn’t have, but I thought it best to be on the safe side.’

  ‘Yer did the right thing, sunshine, and this is one time I’m glad ye’re a worry wart. Our Doreen’s only a kid herself, she might be worried sick inside but afraid of saying anything in case we think she’s stupid. Anyway, I’ll tidy meself up, give Nellie a knock and let her know where I am in case she has the street up looking for me. But I’ll do everything on the double and be over the road in ten minutes.’

  Mary stepped down into the yard. ‘D’yer want me to give Nellie a knock for yer, save yer time?’

  ‘That would be a help, if yer don’t mind. Tell her to stay put in her own house until I call for her. She’s not to follow me over, ’cos if Doreen thinks we’re all worried, it’ll put the fear of God into her.’

  ‘I’ll tell her, Molly, but yer know Nellie is so unpredictable I can’t guarantee she’ll take a ha’porth of notice of me. She’ll probably tell me to mind me own business and bugger off!’ Mary began to walk down the yard. ‘I hope I’m not worrying yer for nothing, but if I hadn’t got it off me chest I’d have been on pins all day.’

  ‘I’m glad yer came, sunshine, ’cos knowing our Doreen, she wouldn’t have said a dickie bird to me and worried herself to death until Phil came home from work. Anyway, I’ll let yer know if there’s anything wrong, and thanks once again for telling me.’

  Her heart and tummy reacting to her anxiety, Molly gave her face a cat’s lick and a promise before pulling her coat on. After making sure she had the front door key with her, she let herself out and made haste across the cobbles.

  ‘Hello, Mam!’ Doreen peeped either side of her. ‘On yer own this morning? Where’s me Auntie Nellie?’

  ‘She wasn’t quite ready.’ Molly kissed her daughter’s cheek as she squeezed past. ‘I was feeling full of beans and got me work over with early.’

  Victoria leaned forward in her chair and dispensed with formalities. ‘I’m glad to see yer, Molly, ’cos Doreen doesn’t feel very well.’

  ‘It’s just a tummy ache, that’s all.’ Doreen’s face flushed. She felt embarrassed whenever she discussed the baby with her mother or Aunt Vicky. She didn’t mind with Jill ’cos they were the same age and neither had a clue about what happened when yer had a baby. ‘There’s no need to fuss, it’ll go away soon.’

  ‘Sit down, sunshine.’ Molly knew exactly how Doreen was feeling because she remembered how difficult she’d found it to tell her own mother that she was expecting. ‘There’s no need to blush or feel shy because don’t forget I’m the one what gave birth to you. I know all about the birds and bees. So be sensible and tell me what sort of pain it is, where it is and when did it start?’

  ‘It started when I was getting out of bed this morning. And it’s not really a pain, it’s just a funny feeling in me tummy.’

  ‘It wasn’t the baby kicking to let yer know it’s still there?’

  Doreen shook her head. ‘I’d know if it was that. I can’t explain properly, Mam, it’s just that I feel different, as though I want to vomit.’

  Molly took her hand. ‘Listen, sunshine, it’s probably nothing at all to worry about. But to be on the safe side, I’m taking yer to the doctor’s. If Phil was here, it’s what he would do. And it’s no good yer shaking yer head at me like that because we’re going right now, before he leaves to go on his rounds. So get yerself ready while I nip over for Nellie. She can sit with Victoria until we come back.’

  There were only two patients in the waiting room besides themselves, and Molly hoped Doctor Greenshields wouldn’t be called out on an emergency before they were attended to. That had happened to her once before and she’d had to sit for an hour until he got back. And not only her but about ten other patients, too. She’d been fidgety with impatience for the whole hour until she was told later he’d been called out to a dying man.

  ‘Will yer be able to come in with me, Mam?’ Doreen asked, her nerves getting worse the longer they sat there. She’d only been to the doctor’s twice in her life, and that was in the last six months to make sure the pregnancy was going as it should. ‘He’s very nice, the doctor, but I’d feel better if you were there.’

  ‘We’ll see, sunshine,’ Molly said, patting her knee. ‘If he wants to examine yer, I think yer’d be less embarrassed if I wasn’t there. Anyway, we’ll see what he has to say.’

  Twenty minutes later they were the only ones in the waiting room. ‘Not long now, sunshine, and we’ll be in and out in no time.’

  The door opened and a voice called, ‘Next, please.’

  Molly took her daughter’s arm and held her tight. ‘I’ll come with yer, sunshine, but I can’t promise he’ll let me stay.’

  The doctor was a small thin man with sandy hair. Some people said he was an eccentric because of the old-fashioned clothes he wore, but no one doubted he was the best doctor in the area. He sat behind a desk cluttered with papers, and raised his brows when he saw both mother and daughter. Molly quickly explained why they were there. After he’d asked Doreen a few questions he nodded his head. ‘I’ll have to examine you, Mrs Bradley, so if you’ll go behind the screen and strip from the waist down, I’ll be with you in a minute.’

  ‘D’yer want me to leave, Doctor?’ Molly asked.

  Doctor Greenshields had known the family for years although he’d never had much cause to call on them. But he knew
them to be a caring family, and understood Molly’s anxiety. ‘No, you can stay, it won’t take long.’

  When the doctor disappeared behind the screen, Molly started to bite her nails. When she heard a low moan from Doreen she had the urge to run to her daughter. Instead, she closed her eyes and said a little prayer that everything would be all right and that the tummy upset had nothing to do with the baby. Then she heard the doctor saying, ‘You can get dressed now, Mrs Bradley.’

  He came from behind the screen and walked to a small sink in the corner of the room where he washed his hands. He didn’t speak and Molly was too afraid to question him. After drying his hands, he sat behind his desk and smiled at her. ‘We’ll wait for your daughter, save me having to repeat myself.’

  When Doreen appeared she was shaking all over with nerves. She had her lips clamped together because she couldn’t control them. Molly wanted to run to her and hold her but was conscious that the doctor would be wanting to be out and about on his calls. He was a kindly man but noted for not wasting words. ‘The reason for your discomfort is because the baby has turned. It hasn’t come to any harm, I could feel its arms and feet moving. But for your wellbeing, and that of the baby, it needs to be turned back as soon as possible.’

  Doreen licked her lips. ‘How can that be done, Doctor? And I know my husband will want to know what yer mean by the baby’s turned, so could yer explain it to me and tell me how yer can turn it back? And if the baby’s going to be all right?’

  ‘It isn’t unusual for a baby to move, my dear, and while it might be an unpleasant procedure for you, it should have no ill effect on your unborn child. I’ll arrange an appointment with a specialist at Walton Hospital as soon as possible.’

  The colour drained from Doreen’s face. ‘I won’t have to stay in hospital, will I?’