Dream a Little Dream (40 page)

‘I hope we’re good enough to go dancing on Monday, now we’ve promised,’ Abbie said as they were driving home. ‘I’d hate to make a fool of myself.’

‘We’ve got a lesson tomorrow night, one on Saturday afternoon and another on Sunday. If we haven’t learned enough by then to give a good account of ourselves, we never will.’

‘Are we going to tell Milly and Bobby we’ve taken lessons? They’ll think it funny that all of a sudden we can dance, after telling them we couldn’t.’

‘Yes, we’ll tell them.’ Nigel began to chuckle. ‘But only after we’ve surprised them. I can’t wait to see the look on Bobby’s face.’

‘I’ve got mixed feelings about that, Nigel. He was so happy tonight, and so grateful to you for giving him driving lessons, he might think we’ve been underhanded. It’s almost like saying we don’t need him to teach us anything. If I was in his place, I think I’d be hurt.’

Nigel was thoughtful for a while, then he said, ‘You’re right, Abbie. I hadn’t thought of it that way. It would look as though we were showing off, bragging that we could afford to
take
private lessons, and didn’t need him. What we could do, is go to the lesson we’ve booked for tomorrow night, then when it’s over, go through to the dancing class. And the same on Saturday. It wouldn’t sound so bad saying we’ve been to dancing classes.’

‘That’s an idea! I like Bobby, and wouldn’t like him to think we were making a fool out of him. And did you notice that Grandma and Granda took a real shine to him? When I was in the kitchen, helping Grandma with the tea, she said, “He’s a cracker, he is. A lad after me own heart”.’

‘He’s a character, all right. He can turn anything into a laugh. Tonight I was showing him how and when to change gear, how to use the clutch so the car didn’t jump forward, and all the time he had me in stitches. He talks so much, you think he’s not taking anything in, but I soon found out how wrong I was. When I suggested he try and drive the car a short distance, just far enough to get the speed up to change gear, he did it perfectly. In the end, he was driving so well I let him get into top gear, and it was as smooth as a driver who’d been driving for years. A bit more practice on the roads and he’ll be able to take a car out on his own.’

Abbie giggled and lowered her voice to a growl. ‘Only one thing wrong with that, Nige, I haven’t got a car.’

Nigel turned his head to smile at his sister. ‘I’ve reached the opinion that if Bobby wants anything bad enough, he’ll get it. Unless it’s Milly, of course – she’d give him a run for his money.’

‘According to her, there’s definitely nothing between them. They’re just very good friends. Which is a pity because they’d make a fine couple. Milly would make a good wife.’

‘Who knows who would make a good wife or husband?’ Nigel was thinking of his parents. They must have thought they were made for each other, yet look how that marriage had turned out. And how would his sister take the news that they were to divorce? ‘You have to live with a person to really know them.’

‘Yes, you and I have seen a good example of that.’ Abbie folded her hands in her lap, and brother and sister lapsed into a silence that lasted until they reached home.

‘You poor darling, you really are having a bad time.’ Maureen ran a finger down his cheek. ‘And none of it is your fault, so you have no cause to feel bad about it. I have never really criticised your wife before because I didn’t think it was my place. But she is a very silly woman not to have appreciated how well-off she was.’

‘I’ve told Nigel about the divorce, but I haven’t had the chance to talk to Abbie yet. Then I’ll have to break it to Ada and Joe, my mother- and father-in-law. I don’t believe they’ll think badly of me for it, they know I haven’t had an easy life with their daughter. The fact that she’s been absent from their lives for the last seventeen years speaks for itself. I have never gone into depth with them regarding the state of affairs between me and Edwina, because I didn’t want to upset them. And I certainly won’t do it now. But I am of the firm opinion that my wife is mentally disturbed. It’s the only conclusion I can reach which would explain her strange behaviour.’

‘What will happen now? Will you buy a house for her and Victoria?’

‘I’ll let the dust settle first. I’m certainly not going to force them to leave quickly. I’ll give them time to consider, and even choose a house themselves. Victoria is giving a dinner party next week, so I won’t do anything until after that.’ Robert pulled her closer. ‘I feel tons better after talking to you. I know I have no right to use you, but there’s no one else I can unburden myself to – at least, no one I feel comfortable talking to, who understands as you do. That’s why I need to know I can see you more often. If it meets with your approval, I would like to call at least once a week.’ He was heartened by her nod. ‘And in time, would you be prepared to leave this house to come to me?’

‘You know my views, Robert. I would never be your
mistress
. I love you dearly, but I would not live with you if there was no ring on my finger. My conscience would not allow me to live in sin.’

‘I wouldn’t ask, or expect you to. I just want you to tell me you will be my wife when I am a free man. Your promise alone, my dear, dear Maureen, would help me through whatever time we have to wait.’

‘You have my promise, Robert. You see, my love is as great as yours.’

‘I’ve told yer about that nosy cow what lives opposite to me, haven’t I? Ivy Simpson her name is, her husband’s Derek and she’s got a son of seventeen called Danny.’ Kitty was swinging her legs under the chair and talking through a mouthful of cheese sandwich. ‘Everyone in the street has got her decked, she knows everything what goes on in the neighbourhood. Sometimes she knows about things before they bleedin’ happen!’

‘What’s she been up to this time, sunshine?’ Agnes, like Pete and Jessie, was ready for a piece of gossip, it brightened the day. ‘She’s not having it off with the coalman, is she?’

‘Nah, she’s too ugly to get a feller. Unless they put a bag over her head, or took her down a dark entry. But she thinks everybody else is. Not all with the coalman, like, she’s got her beady eyes on the milkman and the rentman. According to her, they’re all having it off with the woman who lives next door-but-one to me. Now Josie, that’s the woman’s name, she’s younger than most of us and hasn’t been married very long. Nice-looking woman, too.’ Kitty reached for another sandwich and began to chew. ‘I think that’s why Ivy Simpson picks on her ’cos she’s jealous. Anyway, this Ivy was in the corner shop one day and was telling everyone who cared to listen, that she’d seen the milkman slipping in next door-but-one after he’d finished his round. She’s a real troublemaker, and I’ll show yer how she talks.’ The cleaner put down her sandwich and stood up. ‘She’s twice my size, so use yer imagination.’ Folding her arms, and hitching up an imaginary large bosom,
Kitty
pursed her lips and nodded her head as though she knew something they’d all be amazed at. ‘This is what she said to the women in the corner shop. “Three times I saw the milkman going in there last week and he was there over an hour ’cos I timed him. Brazen hussy, that’s what she is. Someone should tell her husband, ’cos if she has a baby, ten to one it won’t be his. And not content with the milkman, she’s having it off with the bleedin’ rentman! We all pay him at the door, but not her, oh no, he’s invited in. And he’s there long enough to be up to no good”.’

‘Someone should tell this Josie what’s being said behind her back,’ Agnes said. ‘It could get back to her husband and if he believed it, it would cause trouble.’

‘Oh, the neighbours have sorted it out.’ Kitty took her seat and picked up her sandwich. ‘That’s what I was starting to tell yer.’

Agnes gasped. ‘D’yer mean all that was just a warm-up to what ye’re going to tell us? In the name of God, sunshine, we’ll be here all day!’

‘No we won’t, if yer listen quick.’

Jessie giggled, thinking that was really funny, but Pete, in his slow controlled voice, said, ‘We can only listen as quick as you talk, Kitty.’

‘It’s you what’s slow on the uptake, Pete, so get yer brain moving ’cos my tongue will be going fifteen to the bleedin’ dozen. I’ll finish this tale if it kills me.’ She glanced across at the housekeeper. ‘All right, queen?’

‘Go ahead, sunshine, but it had better be good.’

‘First I’ll give yer a quick run-down on the nosy sod what lives opposite. She spends the whole day standing on her step or peeping through her curtains. Her window is facing ours and she can see right through. I bet she could tell me how many times my Alf goes down the yard to the lavvy. Anyway, the neighbours decided to teach her a lesson, and this is what they did. They told Josie what had been said about her, the milkman and the rentman. And then they told the men. They
were
all blazing at first, wanted to go and choke her. But they thought of a better way to get their own back. So yesterday, the milkman called on Josie about two o’clock, and they did no more than draw the front-room curtains over! Well, yer can imagine what this did to nosy Ivy! She stood on the front step hopping from one foot to the other, waiting for one of the neighbours to pass so she could have a good gossip. But everyone in the street was in on it, and not one came out of their houses. She was still standing on the step when Dave, Josie’s husband, came walking up on his way home from his six-to-two shift. Everyone was behind their curtains, watching what was going on, and they said she nearly fell over herself to get to Dave before he knocked. They couldn’t hear what was said, but they found out afterwards. Nosy poke said, “I think yer should know that there’s something fishy going on between yer wife and the milkman. He’s been here a few afternoons this week, he’s here now, and look, they’ve got the curtains drawn so no one can see in. There’s dirty work going on, and you have a right to know.” Dave, all innocent like, said, “Oh dear, what can they be up to? Would yer come in with me, in case I lose my temper and kill him?”.’

Kitty gazed at the three people who were hanging on to her every word. ‘Ay, it’s not half exciting, isn’t it?’

‘Get on with it, buggerlugs,’ Agnes said. ‘And if this is one of yer jokes, so help me, I’ll swing for yer.’

‘Now would I do that to you, me best mate? Too bloody true I would!’ Kitty held up her hand. ‘Only kidding, queen, only kidding. Yer’ll like the next part, it’s dead funny.’ Her eyes sparkling, she asked, ‘Is there another cup of tea in the pot?’

Agnes put her hand on top of the teapot. ‘Yer’ll get nothing until yer’ve finished this very long tale. I’ve been patient with yer, sunshine, but don’t push me too far.’

‘Right, queen!’ Kitty leaned her elbows on the table and cupped her face. ‘Yer can imagine Ivy being over the moon, being invited in to see murder committed. She practically
pushed
Dave out of the way to get in the house first. And what did they find? Josie was setting the table and Jerry, the milkman, was in the kitchen fitting new shelves on the wall. Apparently he’s a friend of Dave’s, and he’d offered to come an hour each afternoon, as a favour, to whitewash the kitchen and fit new shelves. Of course Ivy didn’t want to believe them, so she was soft enough to say if that’s all they were up to, why had they drawn the curtains. Josie didn’t answer her, but Dave did, he wiped the floor with her. Said if he heard she’d even used his wife’s name again, he’d be over like a shot. He wouldn’t hit a woman, but he’d knock hell out of her husband and he in turn could do what he liked to punish her. He escorted her to the door, and as she was stepping down on to the pavement, he said, “Oh, the rentman comes here for a cup of tea to drink with the sandwiches his wife gives him. I’ll see him meself next week ’cos I’ll be on afternoon shift, so I’ll tell him ye’re keeping an eye on him. Now bugger off, and don’t even look sideways at my wife, ever again”.’

‘My God, sunshine, yer didn’t half stretch that story out. I could have told it in half the time.’

‘Shall I tell yer about the pregnant woman in half the time, then, queen?’

‘What pregnant woman?’

‘The one in our street!’

‘What about the pregnant woman in your street? She didn’t have the same milkman as Josie, did she?’

‘If ye’re going to be sarky, queen, I won’t bother telling yer about her.’

‘Good!’ Agnes rubbed a finger in circles on the fat on her elbows. Then curiosity got the better of her. She’d never rest if she didn’t find out. ‘What happened to the pregnant woman?’

But Kitty wasn’t going to be won over so easily. ‘No, yer wouldn’t be interested, queen, even if I did tell it quick.’

Agnes banged her clenched fist on the table so hard, it had the cups rattling in the saucers. ‘Tell me about the ruddy pregnant woman, sunshine, or I’ll come round this table and
throttle
the living daylights out of yer.’

‘Keep yer hair on, queen, it won’t do yer heart no good getting excited like that.’ Kitty was really enjoying herself and intended to milk the situation for all it was worth. Pushing her cup across the table, she said, ‘Pour me a cup of tea out, Aggie, ’cos me throat’s dry with all the talking.’

Pete and Jessie watched with interest. They knew Agnes and Kitty would never fall out so there was no fear of a real fight. By the time the end of their break came, they’d all go about their work laughing their heads off.

Agnes narrowed her lips into a straight line and flared her nostrils. ‘This had better be good, sunshine, or you and me are going to come to fisticuffs.’ She pushed the refilled cup back across the table. ‘Now, about this pregnant woman.’

The cleaner laced her fingers and formed a protective wall around the cup so it couldn’t be whipped away from her. ‘Well, she wasn’t really pregnant, queen, not really.’

‘How d’yer mean, not really? She was either in the puddin’ club, or she wasn’t. It’s not something yer can be half-hearted about.’

‘Well, it’s like this, queen. Her name’s Alma, and her husband goes away to sea. He’s away sometimes for as long as six months. Anyway, didn’t the bold Ivy pick on Alma. Said she had a fancy man what called to see her two or three times a week when her husband was away. Well, it got back to Alma and she decided to give the bad-minded so-and-so something to talk about. So she started to put things down her knickers to make her look as though she was in the family way. Every week or two she added a bit more, and Ivy Simpson was having a field day. She was telling everyone that the husband had been away five and a half months, and she was certain of that because she’d seen him going down the street with his sailor’s bag slung over his shoulder. A Wednesday it was, ten o’clock in the morning. Now, wasn’t he in for a shock when he came home to find his wife four months’ pregnant with another feller’s baby. But it was her what was in for a shock, and made
to
look a fool in front of the whole neighbourhood. Alma’s husband came home, and of course Ivy was expecting there to be murder. She actually stood outside their front door waiting for the fireworks to go off. Can yer imagine her disappointment when Alma came out on her husband’s arm, all lovely and slim? It was such a shock to Ivy’s system, she didn’t speak to a soul for weeks. But once people stopped laughing every time they saw her, she was back to her old tricks.’