Home Is Where the Heart Is (20 page)

‘Oh, my goodness, that’s dreadful!’ Brenda said, giving the baby a comforting pat and kiss.

‘Don’t worry, I’ve no intention of allowing that to happen. I just can’t understand why he would imagine it to be a good idea.’

Brenda gave a sad shake of her head, her normally cheerful face looking doleful. ‘I doubt he’s thinking things through properly. The psychological effects of war can be very damaging.’

‘I do realise that. Aunt Evie was telling me about my dad, and how the First World War affected him so badly that he couldn’t settle, then disappeared to explore the world, never to be seen or heard from again. I’m wondering if that is partly the reason why my mother became such a selfish queen. Being locked up with her husband’s problems obviously didn’t appeal.’ Cathie was silent for a moment
as the possible truth of this notion hit home. Maybe she should show more compassion towards her mother. Rona can’t have had an easy life, losing a husband and having to bring up her daughters alone, then losing Sal whom she loved so much. Her losses in life had sadly turned her into a bitter and selfish woman. How Cathie hoped and prayed the same things wouldn’t happen to her.

‘Has Alex found employment yet?’ Brenda asked, interrupting her troubled thoughts.

‘Not that I’m aware of.’

‘That’s a shame. I believe the British Legion has been attempting to achieve priority for ex-servicemen in getting jobs, so far with little success as the new Labour government insists on equality for all. They say this is because civilians too have been on the fighting line.’

‘That’s a fair point, but I still think ex-servicemen deserve better treatment than they’re getting. As for Alex, oddly enough he doesn’t seem to be short of money, which is a bit of a puzzle to me, particularly considering how he keeps demanding I hand over little Heather’s inheritance, which I refuse to do.’

‘And what’s happened to Davina is a mystery too, but then that girl always was. Maybe I’ll ask around, see if anyone knows where she’s living now,’ Brenda said.

A
lex was eating his breakfast in peace and quiet one morning, as he so liked to do after both women had gone off to work, when to his horror he found a piece in the
Manchester Guardian
reporting a theft at a jewellery shop. He quickly read it, instantly recognising the story as that of his own. To his great relief, the description given by the shopkeeper of the person he suspected of the crime was of a man with a beard, who wore spectacles and a bowler hat. Alex chuckled to himself as he recalled how easily he’d disposed of this simple disguise. It was highly unlikely that he would ever be recognised or implicated as the thief responsible.

The word ‘thief’ resounded momentarily in his head. Is that what he’d turned into, as a consequence of this dratted war and a need for hard cash? Dismissing the crime as unimportant, as was what he’d been obliged to do to Davina, he tossed the newspaper aside. His family had largely disowned him because his fancy public school had never regarded him worthy of high regard. Nor had the army. His future now lay very firmly in his own hands, and
allowing his plans to be ruined by some tart was never on the cards. He was not the idiot people might think.

He’d also attempted to dispose of that irritating child, but had sadly failed, which annoyed him enormously. Nor had he yet managed to lure Cathie back into his arms, as she was still resisting him with obstinate stubborness. He would need to exercise his charms a little more in order to completely win her over. Maybe he could begin tonight by taking her out for the evening. Didn’t he deserve to enjoy life after years of hard work, not to mention bullying from army commanding officers as well as his own father? Now it was his turn to rule the roost.

Before he left the house that morning on his usual round of factories and deals in the black marketing world, he tore the offending page from the paper and threw it in the fire, just to make sure that Cathie never saw it.

That evening, Alex took her to the Ritz dance hall, their favourite place, leaving the child in her grandmother’s care. He’d made it very plain to Rona that if she really wanted him to ever get back together with her daughter, she would need to play her part. Happily, she’d agreed. He so enjoyed holding Cathie in his arms, smoothing his hand over her slender back and waistline and gently kissing her soft cheeks and lips. Even though he longed to go much further, he carefully held himself in check. There would be ample opportunity to explore her delightful body once he’d got a ring back on her finger.

A few days later, they went to the Palais on Rochdale
Road, and the following Saturday to see ‘The Harvey Girls’ at the Odeon. Life was looking up, so far as Alex was concerned. He had a pocket full of cash and a girl on his arm. What could be better? Having her in his bed, of course, which was the next and most important step.

But Cathie was not Davina, and would never entertain such a move until she’d agreed they had a future together. And before that could happen he needed to appear to reconcile himself to this so-called niece of hers.

‘How about a visit to Belle Vue?’ he suggested one Sunday. ‘The sun is shining as summer is almost here. I thought perhaps the little one might enjoy a day out to see the elephants and monkeys.’

‘Oh, that would be lovely,’ Cathie cried, clapping her hands with joy. ‘You’d love that, wouldn’t you, sweetheart?’ she asked Heather, who giggled and laughed with a nod of her little head, shouting “Yes, yes,” not knowing what she was agreeing to but loved to join in the fun. Cathie felt a surge of joy that at last Alex was beginning to take a proper interest in the child.

They caught the number thirty-four tram to Belle Vue, and Heather did indeed squeal with delight at seeing the monkeys playing on their rocky hill. She was utterly entranced by the way they cuddled and groomed each other, pointing first at one monkey and then another, her chubby little face aglow with happiness.

‘Look, look. Want a cuddle.’

‘What about taking her for an elephant ride?’ Alex suggested with a smile.

‘Ooh no, I think she’s far too young to sit on such a huge animal, but perhaps on a donkey.’ And keeping a firm hold around her tiny waist, with the donkey’s owner controlling the animal, it worked a treat with Heather chuckling with excitement.

It was a wonderful day. The sun shone, the sight of bombed factories, rows of damaged houses and shops not evident for once. Belle Vue felt like a magical wonderland of fun and entertainment with its zoological gardens and amusement park, musical concerts, dancing and even a circus at Christmas time. Today there was a band playing out on the lawns, and they sat for some time listening to ‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?’ Alex held her hand, gazing deeply into her eyes as he sang along with the music. And when he put his arm about her to give her a tender kiss, she felt as if her heart was melting. Perhaps she did still love him. How could she not?

Cathie even raised no objections to him taking them to watch the racing on the track at the corner of Hyde Road and Hunter’s Lane, even though the sound of the engines roared in her ears as the bikes tore around the track. Surprisingly, they didn’t seem to bother him, despite his protests that he hated noise.

‘It must be a hugely dangerous sport,’ she said. ‘How very brave those men must be.’

‘Or maybe a bit mad,’ he laughed. ‘You get that way after fighting a war.’

Alex bought some candy floss for the toddler, and a dish of vanilla ice cream each for Cathie and himself. What a generous and kind man he was turning into, she thought, as later he took her to a tea dance at Joe Taylor’s Dance Hall, where he held the baby in his arms while they danced together. Cathie smiled up at him with delight. He must be on the road to recovery at last, and soon everything would be just fine between them.

‘At one time we could have taken this little one to see the fireworks,’ he said, as they enjoyed ham sandwiches, tea and cakes together. ‘Unfortunately, they haven’t started yet, all because of that dratted war.’

‘I wonder sometimes if we’ll ever get over it,’ Cathie groaned, taking a sip of the sparkling wine he’d also ordered as a treat, and feeling her cheeks glow with happiness.

‘Of course we will, sweetie. You and I are meant to enjoy a wonderful life together. Which reminds me of the rather special reason I invited you out today.’ He placed a small box on the table before her. Cathie’s eyebrows lifted in startled surprise as she looked at it, a part of her guessing what it might be. ‘Go on, open it.’

After taking it gently in her hands, she did so, and stared in disbelief at the beautiful solitaire diamond ring set within a pad of blue velvet. ‘What is this?’

‘What do you think? A brand new engagement ring to replace the cheap second-hand one I got you during the
war.’ He took it from the box and slid it on to the third finger of her left hand. He had to push it slightly, but it did go on. ‘Wonderful, it fits perfectly. A new ring for a new life between us.’

‘Oh, it’s beautiful. Are you sure you can afford it as you don’t even have a job yet, do you?’

The smile slid from his face as his eyes flickered with annoyance. ‘What are you suggesting? That I don’t have two pennies to rub together, let alone buy you a mark of my love?’

‘No, no, sorry.’

‘So will you marry me, darling?’

Gazing up into his eyes and still feeling joy at the kind and loving way he’d treated little Heather, who was even now sitting on his lap, how could she refuse? She’d forgiven him for his past misdemeanours, and did still love him, didn’t she? Even as she told herself this, an image of Steve drifted into her head, as if challenging that belief. Stifling a sigh, she blocked it out. Steve had gone and, according to his parents, would be unlikely ever to return to Manchester. Besides, this man was her future, not Steve, who had been a good friend to her, once they’d got over their childhood battles, but never any more than that.

Cathie felt so delighted that at last things were as they should be between them. Alex’s profound apologies had helped, but now he’d gone a step further by proving
his acceptance of her lovely niece. The future suddenly looked bright. Perhaps it was the happiness on her smiling face that did the trick when a day or two later she called at the Christmas card factory to ask about a job. The forewoman, who introduced herself as Mrs Woolton, said that she did happen to have one or two vacancies available.

‘Summer is our busiest time of year as we have all the orders coming in for Christmas, so aye, we are looking to take on new recruits. Some of the work involves collating cards into boxes; other tasks are dropping said boxes on to a conveyer belt to be filled. We set a limit and if you go beyond that number of cards, you win a bit of a bonus,’ she said with a wink. ‘How would you feel about that?’

Cathie’s eyes shone with new hope. ‘I’m a hard worker, Mrs Woolton, but there is just one problem. I have a small niece to care for, as her parents are not with us any more, thanks to the war, and her nursery has closed down so I’ll need to find someone to mind her.’

‘Ah yes, that’s been happening to all our women workers. The government is good at ignoring us ladies, despite all our hard labour throughout the war, so we’ve set up a crèche here. Bring her along, she’ll be very welcome.’

‘Oh, thank you so much. That would be wonderful!’ All her problems resolved in one go, thanks to this lovely lady. ‘You can rely on me to do my best to try and meet those targets.’

Mrs Woolton chuckled. ‘I’m sure you will, love. And
if you make good progress, there are other tasks such as using machines to add glitter or gold dust to the cards, which are more demanding but better paid. You just have to prove yourself first.’

‘I’d love to do that.’

‘Right then, chuck. You’re on. We’ll give you a month’s trial, if that’s agreeable to you.’

Cathie assured her that it was, even though it meant giving notice to her cleaning job without absolute proof that this one would last. But she had every hope it would. The chance of being back working in a factory again with the opportunity to be part of a team and make new friends felt like a joy to her heart. How she’d missed all of that. On top of which she’d be earning much better wages, and with the chance to improve them over time.

Cathie went straight to Brenda’s flat to tell her the good news, mentioning that there appeared to be more than one vacancy. ‘Why don’t you apply too?’

‘Really? I’ll go and speak to the lady right now,’ her friend said, jumping up and grabbing her coat from the hook behind the door.

‘I’ll come with you and wait outside while you go in and ask.’

By good fortune, Brenda too was offered a job, and the two friends did a little jig together on the pavement outside. Life was looking up for them both, at last.

The pair of them quickly settled in to their new job, being used to a factory system of clocking in, targets to be
met and a long working day. Cathie loved every minute of it. She couldn’t remember feeling this happy in months. The task of dropping the boxes on to a conveyor belt was rather boring but she would hum little tunes to herself as she worked. She soon got the hang of sitting at a bench collating the Christmas cards, counting and sliding off a dozen from the various piles and popping them into the boxes.

By the end of the first week both were suffering from an aching back, and would rub liniment into each other’s shoulders, giggling as they did so.

‘Are we turning into old women?’ Cathie chortled.

‘Never.’

But over the coming weeks the pain eased and her speed gradually improved. Cathie felt quite certain she would soon reach the required target to ensure she kept the job. Getting beyond that level to earn a bonus might take considerably longer but she was delighted to be employed again and happy with the progress she was making.

Alex, however, was less impressed. ‘You won’t need to work at all once we are wed,’ he said, watching with a sniff of disapproval as she left off peeling potatoes to set little Heather on her potty; then gave her shoulders a quick massage before dashing to check the sausages in the oven. ‘There’s no reason to wait, and you could then devote your time to being a good wife and mother instead of running round in circles like a mad thing.’

Cathie stifled a sigh. She’d been thrilled by his change of
attitude towards little Heather, and his loving proposal. But because of all the ups and downs in their relationship, and remembering what Steve and Brenda had both said about the effects of separation during war, felt the need to take things slowly. Perhaps a month or so to allow herself time to be absolutely certain she was making the right decision.

‘I’m happy to be engaged to you, Alex, but still have no desire to rush you to the altar, or give up work even when we do marry. We agreed we needed time to save up. Beside which, I do like my independence.’ And pecking his cheek with a kiss to brush away the sour expression on his face, Cathie then bustled off to pin a clean nappy on the toddler, wash her hands, and go back to peeling the potatoes.

Saturday was now the only time Cathie could take little Heather out in her pram, although at eighteen months old, it was obvious that the child was itching to be free of such confinement. But not here, or right now, as Cathie was walking along Oldham Street, which as usual was thronged with people milling about. The area was a strange mix of cheap bargain stalls and a most prosperous range of fine shops. She loved browsing at the hawkers’ barrows that jostled the length of the street as far as Stevenson Square.

Hearing the sound of an organ grinder, she strolled over to listen. He was playing a Perry Como hit: ‘Prisoner Of Love’. She understood perfectly how that felt. Hadn’t she
been trapped by her feelings for Alex, even when there was no proof that he felt the same way about her? Now there was, following that wonderful day out together at Belle Vue, and his proposal. Happiness soared through her at the memory and her dream for a happy future together about to be fulfilled. Everything was looking wonderful, at last. The war was over and even Alex was beginning to settle.