by Joan Jonker
‘Ye’re welcome, yer know, Jim! There’s enough grub to go round.’
‘No, we decided weeks ago it was too much to expect.’ Jim had only met Molly and her family twice but they were people he knew he could get on with. ‘One of these days we’ll hire a hall and have one big do. A real knees-up, jars out, old-fashioned do.’
Corker, who had heard what was said, slapped him on the back. ‘That’s a very good idea, Jim, and one we’ll give some thought to. Molly here knows of a place that would do just fine, and around Christmas would be an ideal time for us all to get together.’
‘It sounds good to me,’ she said. ‘But the ladies have already started walking home so I think those who are coming back should follow on. We’ll see yer soon, though, Jim, and yer brother and wives. Look after yerself now, ta-ra.’
When Molly caught up with the women, Nellie glared and flared her nostrils. ‘Trust you to make a bee-line for the men. Man mad, that’s what yer are.’
‘Nothing yer say can affect me today, sunshine.’ Molly waved a hand in the air. ‘Today is a milestone in me life and I intend to enjoy it.’
‘Ye’re having too many ruddy milestones in yer life lately, it’s going to yer head.’ Nellie waddled on, keeping up with the younger ones in front. ‘There’s no living with yer these days.’
‘Are yer giving yer notice in, Nellie? Resigning from yer job as deputy hostess?’
‘No, smart arse, I wouldn’t let Doreen down by doing that.’ Nellie’s short legs moved faster. ‘It’s not her fault her mother’s a big-head.’
Jill turned around at that moment and called, ‘I’ll hurry on ahead with Maureen, Mam, and we can start getting the cups and saucers ready, and the plates. Doreen’s given me her key so Miss Clegg won’t have to answer the door.’
‘Victoria will be looking out of the window, sunshine, waiting for us. It would have been too much for her coming to the church, but I bet she’s dying to see the baby in all his finery. She only got a quick look before we came out.’ As the girls began to race ahead, Molly called after them, ‘Tell her we’re right behind yer.’
‘Me and Bob haven’t seen anything of the baby.’ Bridie and her husband had gone straight to the church with Tommy and Rosie. ‘I did notice that the shawl looked brand new, though. No one would dream it was forty odd years old.’
‘Yer were being kind to me there, Ma,’ Molly laughed. ‘Forty odd sounds much better than forty-six.’
‘Forty-six and a half, girl,’ Nellie grinned. ‘Don’t forget the half.’
‘I’d have a job to forget it when yer keep reminding me, wouldn’t I?’ Molly turned to see where the rest of the gang were. Not far away were the young couples who didn’t want to be separated. Rosie was laughing up into Tommy’s face, Lily and Archie were holding hands and swinging their arms between them. They hadn’t mentioned the engagement ring, except to their mam and dad who had been sworn to secrecy. Behind them came Paul and Phoebe, linking arms and whispering sweet words to each other. They didn’t have their ring yet, but they had the thrill of knowing that in two weeks they’d be officially pledged to each other.
The older men were lagging behind: Jack, George, Corker and Beth Mitchell’s husband, Noel. Molly swore to herself that Jack had grown six inches in height since the baby was born, he was so proud to be a granddad. She could tell, even from this distance, that he was bragging to his mates.
‘Look, Mam, Aunt Vicky’s standing at the door,’ Doreen said, as they turned into the street. ‘She’s talking to that Mrs Mowbray, I hope she’s not tiring herself out.’
‘Jill and Maureen are there now, sunshine, and I think they’re taking her in. Besides, Victoria isn’t daft enough to overdo things. She knows her limitations.’ Molly put her hand under Nellie’s elbow and urged her forward. ‘I don’t know about anyone else but I’m dying for a cuppa. Me mouth thinks me throat’s been cut.’
It wasn’t like any other party the Bennetts had ever had, there was no singing or dancing and no party piece from Nellie. But after the food had been eaten, and the dishes cleared away, Steve helped Phil to pass the drinks around and very soon the conversation became lively and laugher was in good supply. Ruthie was the only young one there. She soon got fed up not being able to join in so she asked her mam if she could go down to Bella’s. When Molly gave her consent, the young girl was out of the door like a shot.
The baby had been fed and put down to sleep in his cot at three o’clock. They hadn’t heard a peep out of him since. Doreen and Phil were taking turns to go up and see if he was all right, but Molly said it had been a tiring day for the child. What with the christening, then everyone wanting to hold him, he’d been passed from one to the other and was bound to be tired out.
It was seven o’clock when Bobby finally woke up. Doreen said she’d change his nappy and feed him upstairs. It was then Maggie Mitchell decided it was time to go. ‘We’ll be on our way now, love, but I’ll be up again in a few days. It’s been a lovely day and I’m really happy and proud. The christening went off very well, thank you for inviting us all.’
Beth agreed. ‘Me and Noel have just been saying how much we’ve enjoyed it. The occasion was great, and so was the company. But we’ll get me mam home ’cos she’s beginning to look tired.’
Phil showed his relations out while Doreen took the stairs two at a time, shouting over her shoulder, ‘Mam, will yer bring a clean nappy up, please? Oh, and the baby’s bucket, if yer would.’
Molly chuckled. ‘Ay, Jack, doesn’t this take yer back a few years? Up every few hours through the night and nappies everywhere.’ Her laughter grew louder. ‘I can remember me digging yer in the ribs one night and saying it was your turn to get up. But would yer? Would yer hell! Yer flatly refused, and I was told in no uncertain terms that it was your job to go out to work to earn the money to keep us, mine to see to the house and family.’
‘Molly, I think that’s a slight exaggeration ’cos I can’t remember refusing to get up to see to any of the kids when they were babies. Especially when they were teething and crying with the pain. Many’s the night I sat on the side of the bed nursing them.’
‘Yes, I know, sunshine, but what yer seemed to forget was that babies don’t only have teething pains, during the night, they have them all day as well.’
‘Excuse me,’ Tommy said, removing Rosie’s arm from around his neck so he could speak. ‘Are yer saying that me and me sisters cried day and night? That neither of yer could get any sleep because we were bawling our heads off?’
‘Not all in one go, son,’ Jack told him. ‘We did have a year’s grace in between. In fact, after you we had seven years’ grace.’
Bridie leaned forward to say, ‘I may be telling tales out of school, but yer mam could do her share of crying when she was a baby.’ And pinching her dear husband’s hand to let him know that what she was about to say was in fun, she said, ‘In fact, the neighbours used to complain, she cried that loud.’
A voice came floating down the stairs. ‘Mam, are yer bringing that nappy up or not?’
‘Oh, dear, I’d forgotten about the poor thing.’ Molly reached across Corker to the cupboard in the recess for a nappy. ‘Don’t any of yer dare to talk about me while I’m upstairs.’
‘I’ll talk about yer,’ Nellie said. ‘I’ll tell them a few tales that’ll make their hair curl.’
Molly turned with her foot on the bottom stair. ‘I don’t mind you talking about me, sunshine, ’cos no one believes a word yer say.’
She was near the tiny landing when she heard her mate say, ‘Well, did yer hear that? She’s got a ruddy cheek, she has. Here’s me, a God-fearing woman what never talks about anyone and wouldn’t do no one a bad turn.’
‘Nellie,’ George said through a haze of cigarette smoke, ‘how can yer say yer never talk about anyone when ye’re pulling Molly to pieces?’
‘Pulling her to pieces? I said she had a ruddy cheek, that’s all!’ Nellie was getting red in the face with the i
njustice. ‘And I don’t call that pulling someone to pieces.’
Steve knew one surefire way of calming his mother down, and seeing as Phil was still at the door with his relatives, he decided to take over as barman. ‘Are yer ready for a milk stout, Mam?’
Nellie’s expression changed so quickly to one of sweetness and light it brought forth gales of laughter. ‘Oh, that’s nice of yer, son, a milk stout will go down very well. And while ye’re at it, bring one for me mate ’cos she’ll be down in a minute. She’d do her nut if yer left her out.’
‘I know that, Mam, and I want to keep on the right side of me mother-in-law. So it’s two milk stouts coming up.’
When Doreen came down after getting the baby off to sleep, Victoria told her there’d been two visitors for her. ‘Maisie came down with a present for the baby, sweetheart. I didn’t tell yer before because there was so much going on. She was sorry she couldn’t get to the church but the shop was busy and she didn’t like to leave Alec on his own. I put the present in the right-hand drawer of the sideboard.’
‘Ooh, that was nice of her,’ Doreen said, making a dive for the drawer. Her eyes widened when she saw the square, flat parcel which was beautifully wrapped in paper which had teddy-bears all over it and a big satin bow on the top. ‘Oh, just look at it! I’m dying to see what’s inside, but it seems a shame to tear the paper.’
‘There’s no other way of finding out, love,’ Phil said, coming to stand beside her. ‘Let me open it and I’ll be as careful as I can and not tear the paper too much.’
Inside there was a silver-plated picture frame with a leaf pattern running down both sides. And there was a card enclosed which said it came with love from Auntie Maisie and Uncle Alec for baby Bobby’s first photograph. It was too much for Doreen, and while Phil passed the frame around for everyone to admire, his wife stood sniffing into a handkerchief.
After praising Maisie’s present, Nellie sat up straight and folded her arms under her bosom. There was very little she ever missed, and now she wanted to know, ‘Who was the other visitor, Victoria? Yer said there were two.’
‘She lives in Vera Harwick’s old house, I think she said her name was Beryl Mowbray. Anyway, she said it was a custom to give something silver to a new baby, so she gave me two half-crowns for his money box. They’re on the mantelpiece, I thought you’d like to put them in the piggy bank.’
‘That was neighbourly of her,’ Jack said, to nods from everyone present. ‘Considering the Mowbrays don’t know us very well, it was a thoughtful gesture.’
‘The father, Dave, has always struck me as being a decent bloke when he’s been in our company in the pub,’ George said. ‘Always friendly and never shirks paying his way.’
Corker nodded. ‘Yes, they seem a decent family. I thought the young girl, Joanne, was a bit of a hard case at first, but I was talking to Dave yesterday and he said there’s been a big change in her.’ What he was saying now was for Phoebe and Paul’s benefit. ‘Apparently she met some bloke at a dance about six weeks ago and they’re courting now. She brought him home to meet the family and Dave said him and the missus are delighted ’cos he’s a nice bloke and has certainly tamed Joanne.’
The conversation was general after that until Molly noticed Archie and Lily had their heads together and were whispering. ‘Ay, no secrets are allowed tonight. If yer’ve anything to say, let’s all hear it.’
Archie’s face was one huge grin while Lily went the colour of beetroot. ‘Thanks for the opening, Mrs B. Lily’s gone all shy on me.’ He dipped into his pocket and brought out a dark red square box. ‘In here is an engagement ring, I would very much like to put it on her finger while all her family and friends are around us.’
The news livened up the proceedings somewhat. There was clapping and laughter as Archie dropped down on one knee in front of Lily. ‘Miss McDonough, would you do me the honour of becoming my fiancée, with a view to marriage in the not too distant future?’
There was so much laughter and happiness around her, Lily’s shyness disappeared. How lucky she was to have found a man as good as Archie. She spread out the fingers of her left hand, and said, ‘I would be honoured, Mr Higgins.’
After the ring had been slipped on her finger, Tommy shouted, ‘Do the job properly, Archie, and give her a kiss.’
Rosie caused a fresh burst of laughter when she poked Tommy in the chest. ‘Never tell anyone to do something yer won’t do yerself, me dearly beloved intended. I’m sitting here with me lips all ready and willing, so what are yer waiting for?’
Steve claimed Jill’s lips without waiting to be asked, and Maureen pulled her boyfriend Sammy towards her. ‘Blow that for a joke, I’m not going to be left out.’
Phoebe tapped her father on his shoulder. ‘Dad, is it all right if Paul kisses me?’
‘Of course it is, sweetheart! And as it seems to be catching, I’ll be partaking of a kiss from yer mam.’
Nellie was tutting when she saw Phil give Doreen the eye and they made for the privacy of the kitchen. ‘Bloody hell!’ Her chins tried to keep up with her shaking head but gave it up as an impossibility. ‘It must have been something they ate.’ She cast her eyes on Bridie and Bob who were sitting on the couch holding hands. ‘Don’t you two start or I’ll pack me case and sign in at the lunatic asylum. They say there’s more nutters outside than there are in.’
‘I may as well come with yer, sunshine,’ Molly said, ‘’cos my feller can’t be bothered getting off his backside to cross the room to give me a kiss.’ She saw Jack making a move and held up her hand. ‘No, don’t bother, yer’ve left it too late. A thing is not worth having if yer’ve got to ask for it.’ Then she slapped her forehead with an open palm. ‘Oh, I’ve just thought on, Nellie, I won’t be able to come to the asylum with yer! I haven’t got a ruddy case!’
Chapter 27
It was the Thursday evening before Tommy and Rosie’s wedding, and all those taking an active part in the ceremony were sitting round Molly’s table. ‘We’ll go over everything tonight because it’ll be the last chance we get. With Rosie’s mam and dad coming tomorrow, it’s going to be a very busy day.’
‘What time are they getting here, Rosie?’ Ginger asked. ‘And is someone going to meet them?’
Rosie’s excitement was proving too much for her and her usually pink cheeks were pale. ‘Me and Auntie Molly are going to meet them, so we are. I’m due for a week’s holiday from work so I’m off from today which means I can spend as much time as possible with me mammy and daddy. Tommy’s on holiday as well so they’ll have time to get to know him, and then they’ll understand why I think he’s the foinest man in the whole world.’
Molly looked at her future daughter-in-law with concern. The girl was a nervous wreck, and although it was understandable as she’d be seeing her parents for the first time in six years, it was happening before the biggest day of her life – her wedding day! That was enough to try the nerves of anyone, let alone one who was already sick with anticipation and excitement. ‘Rosie, sunshine, if yer don’t try and calm down, yer’ll not only make yerself sick, yer’ll feel like a wet rag on Saturday and won’t have the energy to enjoy yer wedding.’
‘Oh, not at all, Auntie Molly! Won’t I be as bright as a button on Saturday when I marry the man of me dreams?’
‘Well, promise me yer’ll go to bed very early tonight and try and get a good night’s sleep? We’ve to be down at the Prince’s Dock by eight o’clock at the latest in the morning. The boat might even get in a bit earlier if the crossing has been smooth.’
‘As soon as we’ve finished here I’ll take Rosie home and me nan can make sure she goes straight to bed.’ Tommy’s love was plain for all to see. ‘I don’t want me bride to have bags under her eyes.’
‘Then can we go through the details now and get it over with?’ Molly lifted a sheet of paper from the table. ‘The four bridesmaids are to be here for twelve o’clock to have plenty of time to get ready. And at twelve Tommy’s going up to G
inger’s and getting changed there. One of the cars will be picking him and Ginger up at half-past one, and calling for me ma and pa and Mrs O’Grady. After dropping them off at the church, the car will come back for me and Jack, Nellie, George, Doreen and Miss Clegg. At half-past one the bridesmaids will be collected, and a quarter of an hour later Rosie and her dad.’ Molly folded the piece of paper. Everyone else is making their own way to the church.’
Ruthie was like a cat on hot bricks. ‘Mr and Mrs Watson are coming to the church with Bella. I wish they could come to the reception.’
‘Don’t keep on about that,’ Molly said, ‘we couldn’t invite everyone to the reception, it wouldn’t run to it. But they’ve been invited to come in the evening and Mary was very happy with that.’
‘I don’t know about Rosie being a nervous wreck, Mam,’ Jill said. ‘You look tired yerself. And hot and bothered.’
‘I’ve had a lot on me mind, sunshine, but I’ll be all right. I was worried about where Mr and Mrs O’Grady were going to sleep, but Lizzie Corkhill helped sort out that problem. It was her suggestion that Jill comes back here for the night, and Steve goes back to his old bed, while Rosie’s mam and dad have their room. Otherwise we’d have been in a right pickle.’
It was Ginger’s turn to air his worries. ‘Apart from getting Tommy to the church on time, and having the ring in me pocket, am I down for anything else?’
‘Yer’ve got to give a speech, soft lad,’ Lily said. ‘That’s the main job of a best man.’
Ginger gave a nervous laugh. ‘In the last month I’ve written six speeches and I don’t think any of them are any good.’
Molly looked at the freckled face beneath a mop of red hair and the years rolled back. Ginger at five years of age knocking on the door asking if Tommy could play out. He always had a runny nose in those days, and was never without a tidemark. But he’d been a good mate to her son and she was very fond of him. ‘Ginger, you are the best person to give a speech because yer know Tommy better than anyone. And yer’ve known Rosie for six years. All yer have to do is remember the laughs and the good times, and tell us all about them. I recall yer’ve always been very good with jokes so, as long as they’re clean ones, tell them. It’s a wedding and everyone will be happy so yer have a head start.’