Homecoming (23 page)

‘Men in suits sell cars, not grease monkeys in overalls,' Martin declared, ‘and you can't service cars in a suit. Not if you want to wear it afterwards.'

‘So, I'll wear overalls over my suit – when I get one – when I work for you and take them off when I work for Brian.'

‘Have you any idea how filthy a mechanic's job is?'

‘After today, yes,' Jack said deprecatingly, ‘and oil-stained overalls will give the impression that I know what I'm talking about when I recommend a car to a customer.'

‘That might be difficult when you haven't a clue what's under the bonnet.'

‘How hard can it be to learn?'

‘It took me four years of hard graft to get my certificates,' Martin rejoined acidly. ‘And you've only ever driven army vehicles.'

‘And Helen's car for the last fortnight.'

‘And you didn't scrape it on the gate?' Martin crowed.

‘How did you find out about that?' Jack demanded. ‘Helen swore she wouldn't tell anyone.'

‘Lily saw the scratch when you pulled up tonight.'

‘Isn't there anything those girls don't tell one another?' Jack griped.

Martin recalled Judy sitting in their kitchen the day he and Lily had quarrelled and Lily's admission that they had discussed his reluctance to go into the garage. ‘Not much.'

‘I drove all sorts in the army,' Jack boasted. ‘Did I mention that I gained a HGV licence as well as –'

‘Yes. And please don't try to impress me with the skills you acquired in the army,' Martin implored. ‘I know exactly what they're worth and what army drivers are like. They jump in and out of the nearest empty vehicle and leave checking the oil, water, petrol and tyres to the grease wallah. There could be camels under the bonnet for all they know.'

‘I've talked to Brian …'

‘He has.' Brian joined them. ‘You're the one who's worried about money, Marty,' he reminded. ‘And what's the worst that can happen if Jack grafting for both of us doesn't work out? We'll have to bring in someone else.' He shrugged his shoulders as he answered his own question.

‘At practically no notice.'

‘That doesn't mean we won't find the right person for the job.'

‘And it will give me a chance to find out if I'm more suited to being a salesman or mechanic,' Jack pressed persuasively.

‘Stop worrying,' Brian slapped Martin's back. ‘Everything is going to work out just fine.'

Chapter Twelve

‘Judy, I'm sorry,' John apologised, as she entered the kitchen with an armful of empty bottles. ‘I meant to take more drinks in for you girls half an hour ago.' Relieving her of the bottles, he dropped them into a crate.

‘You have your work cut out looking after everyone here.' One glance at Sam had been sufficient for her to realise that he'd drunk more than was good for him. As he tried to put his arm around her, she deliberately turned her back on Brian, Martin and Jack, hoping to avoid arousing his jealousy as she had done the night of Jack's homecoming party.

‘It's strange how the women always end up in a separate room to the men at parties,' Martin observed, noticing the antagonistic looks Sam was sending Brian's way.

‘Not strange at all,' Judy answered lightly. ‘The men don't want their wives to know how much they're drinking, and the wives,' she curled her lip mischievously, ‘welcome the opportunity to hold an intelligent conversation with someone for a change.'

‘It's just as well it's Sam you're marrying, not me,' Jack bit back.

‘Here you go, Judy.' As John tried to hand her a dozen bottles in a crate, Brian intercepted it.

Brian swung away from Judy when she tried to relieve him of the load of Babychams and Ponys. ‘It's heavy and I need to exercise my muscles.'

‘In that case, after you.'

As Brian walked ahead of her down the passage, Judy saw Sam move from the corner of the kitchen to the sink so he could watch them. She opened the door to the living room and stood back to allow Brian to walk in ahead of her.

‘Someone's getting spoiled.' Brian lowered the crate to the floor and set the bottles out on a side table.

‘A gorgeous little man deserves all the love and attention he can get. Don't you, angel pudge.' Lily shifted Glyn further up in her arms so Brian could admire him.

‘By gorgeous I take it you mean he's not as red and wrinkled as most babies. Here, woman, hand him over.' Before Lily could protest, Brian had pushed the empty crate into a corner and swept the baby out of her arms and into his own. To the women's amazement, the baby looked up at Brian with round, wondrous eyes before settling contentedly.

‘I never suspected you were the paternal kind, Brian,' Helen teased.

‘I can't wait to tell Roy. He thinks he's the only man in the world who can nurse a baby.' Joy passed Katie her empty glass.

‘John is wonderful with him, but Martin and Jack hold Glyn as if he's a bomb that's about to explode at any moment.' Katie set about opening bottles and filling glasses.

‘Only because your brothers haven't had any practice since you were born. As soon as Glyn has a couple of playmates,' Joy looked significantly at Helen and Lily, ‘they'll become as proficient as Brian.'

‘There's nothing to it, is there, Glyn?' Brian addressed the baby solemnly as if he expected him to answer. ‘Babies are human; it's only women who don't realise it. That's why they talk to you in noises that even an animal would have trouble understanding.'

‘We do not,' Lily protested.

‘What's an “angel pudge” when it's at home?'

‘Glyn is, you only have to look at him,' Lily responded.

‘I rest my case. How is the poor chap ever going to learn English with you lot goo-ing and gaa-ing at him? And don't say you weren't, we could hear you from the kitchen.'

As Glyn continued to gurgle happily in Brian's arms, Judy asked, ‘Do you have a dozen babies hidden away somewhere that you practise on?'

‘Not quite.' As the baby kicked up his legs, Brian lifted him against his shoulder and rubbed his back. ‘Only eleven.'

‘Eleven?'

‘Nieces and nephews,' he explained, ‘although some of them are only a couple of years younger than me.'

‘I had no idea you came from such a large family,' Lily said in surprise.

‘Of course, none of them are as wonderful as me.'

‘Get out of here, this is a women only zone,' Judy interrupted. The comment she'd intended to be light-hearted, sounded anything but.

‘That's a vicious lady, Glyn. I think we should run away and hide in the kitchen with the men.'

‘Oh no, you don't.' Katie leapt to her feet.

‘Why not? I promise to have him back in five minutes and,' Brian gave her a wicked smile, ‘I won't allow him to drink anything stronger than beer.' Still nursing the baby, he wandered out of the room.

‘Glyn will be fine, Katie,' Joy advised, as Katie went to the door.

‘John's in the kitchen as well,' Lily reminded.

‘And my father has always been good with children, well, ever since I can remember,' Helen qualified.

‘I suppose so.' Katie didn't follow Brian, but she continued to hover in the doorway.

‘I can't get over how great you look, Katie,' Joy complimented. ‘You've always been thin but no one would think you had a baby two weeks ago. Not like me. A full month after Billy was born, Mrs Morgan asked me when he was due.'

‘It's the exercise.'

‘You exercise?' Judy asked in surprise.

‘I was joking. I can't even claim that I do much in the house. John's only worked mornings since I've come home from the hospital and between what he does and Mrs Jones, I'm almost a lady of leisure.'

‘No one with a baby can be that for long. You wait until Glyn starts crawling, he'll be into everything and always the things he shouldn't be.' Joy lifted her glass.

‘So, I've been dying to ask.' Helen sat forward on the edge of the sofa and looked at Judy. ‘How did the shopping go? Have you decided on a wedding dress?'

‘Yes.' Judy glanced over her shoulder. As the door was slightly ajar, she closed it before continuing. ‘No thanks to my future mother-in-law.'

‘Judy.' Joy sounded a cautious note.

‘Even Sam admits she's overbearing, Mam. When we went into the dress shop, she asked the assistant to bring out everything she had in ballerina-length, crinoline-skirted, white figured nylon.'

‘I thought you weren't keen on ballerina length wedding dresses,' Helen interposed. ‘When we helped Lily choose hers, you said you would never wear one.'

‘I wouldn't be seen dead in one!'

‘Sorry I asked.' Helen held up her hands as if to ward off a blow.

‘And I'm sorry I snapped like that, but the woman's a nightmare who believes there's only one point of view – hers. She wanted me to wear ballerina-length, crinoline-skirted, white figured nylon because she'd already picked out the bridesmaids and the material for their dresses and guess what, she wanted them all to wear ballerina length pink figured nylon, all six of them,' she finished caustically.

‘And that's what they are wearing?' Helen asked.

‘In my nightmares and her dreams,' Judy retorted.

‘With six bridesmaids you won't need a matron of honour,' Lily said easily. ‘And I won't be in the least offended.'

‘That woman is not running my wedding or my life,' Judy snapped. ‘And I most certainly will need you.'

‘Calm down, love, you're among friends and Ena is nowhere in sight,' Joy soothed.

‘I'm sorry,' Judy muttered, taking the glass Katie handed her. ‘It's just that every time I think about her I get so mad.'

‘Then don't think about her.' Helen helped herself to a sandwich.

‘Things became so bad on the shopping trip that Sam had to take his mother into Woolworth's restaurant and buy her a coffee,' Joy divulged.

‘At least Sam went with you to chose a dress. Martin would prefer to pull his own teeth than go shopping with me.' Lily set her full glass of sherry aside, hoping no one would notice that she hadn't touched it.

‘It was Sam's idea he come with us, not mine. He knows exactly how overbearing his mother can be. But as the one thing that we all managed to agree on was that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride's dress before the wedding, Sam sat on a chair next to the front door so he couldn't see into the back where I was trying on the dresses. But he could still hear us arguing.'

‘And that's when he stepped in and took his mother for a coffee,' Joy continued. ‘If nothing else, it gave Judy the chance to pick out a pattern for the bridesmaids' dresses that complemented the bridal gown she chose for herself.'

‘Which is?' Lily asked.

‘High Tudor collared and styled white satin and silk with a heavily embroidered white silk bodice and an under petticoat ornamented by teardrop pearls,' Judy revealed. ‘I know white on white doesn't sound very exciting …'

‘But it's elegant and absolutely stunning. I had no idea Judy could look so dazzlingly magnificent and that's a mother talking,' Joy enthused.

‘And the pink figured nylon?' Helen queried.

Judy made a face. ‘I gave in on the colour but not the material. We settled on pink satin, although Mrs Davies is going to buy it. Needless to say, with my money.'

‘She did say it was a shilling a yard cheaper in Neath,' Joy reminded.

‘And at least it won't be the same awful shade as the pink figured nylon. It was disgusting, like a Teddy boy's luminous socks.'

‘Look on pink satin as a compromise to get the bridesmaids' dresses cut to the pattern you wanted,' Joy advised.

‘Anything to keep the peace.'

‘One young man who's too tired to join us for a drink.' Jack walked in with Glyn in his arms.

‘You taking lessons from Brian?' Katie smiled in relief and went to retrieve her son.

‘Just playing pass the parcel. Glyn seems to like it. Here, it's Auntie Helen's turn to hold you.' Jack set the baby down gently in his wife's arms and continued to stand in front of her, blocking her from everyone's view as she struggled to control her emotions. ‘You having him christened, sis?' Jack asked, in an attempt to deflect the women's attention from Helen.

‘When we get around to arranging it.' Katie gave Judy and Joy an apologetic look. ‘The vicar insisted that we couldn't have more than three godfathers and two godmothers. John and I had terrible trouble choosing, but we thought that if we asked Roy, Martin and Jack to be Glyn's godfathers and Lily and Helen to be his godmothers, you two could be godparents along with Sam and Brian next time.'

‘I don't mind at all, as long as I can be an honorary aunt.' Judy wondered if the time it took Katie and John to have another child would be long enough for Sam to drop his antagonism towards Brian.

‘I can't believe you're already talking about the next one.' Joy shook her head in disbelief.

‘My mother always used to say that it was easier to look after three children than one because we played so well together.' Katie offered Jack a depleted plate of sausage rolls.

‘Not that she approved of all our games.' Jack sat on the arm of the sofa next to Helen.

‘Like?' Judy enquired.

‘When we took turns to bury her knives and forks in the garden, so we could pretend it was treasure. Whenever it was Katie's turn, she could never remember where she'd dug the hole, so if Martin and I hadn't found them by the time my mother called us in for the next meal we had to eat whatever it was with teaspoons.'

‘Which was nothing compared to the summer you and Martin tried to breed winkles in Mam's washing-up bowl under your bed.' Katie wrinkled her nose at the memory. ‘Your bedroom smelled fishy for a month.'

‘What about the time you four tried to dye your hair with household bleach?' Jack laughed.

‘That was Helen's idea. She wanted to be white not yellow blonde.' Judy took a sausage roll and passed on the plate.

‘It wasn't me at all, it was you,' Helen contradicted. ‘You were fed up with your red hair.'

‘I must admit, that does sound like you, Judy,' Joy agreed.

‘You two look good together,' Jack whispered, taking Glyn from Helen. He winked at her. ‘Roll on that appointment next Wednesday.'

‘I'd forgotten how good Swansea parties can be.' Brian pulled out a chair and sat at Lily's kitchen table.

‘Coffee, everyone?' Lily looked at Brian, Martin, Sam and Judy.

‘For me, please,' Brian accepted.

‘And me.' Martin reached for the mugs.

‘Not for me, it will keep me awake and tomorrow I start on mornings, six till two.' Sam glanced at the clock. ‘Which only gives me about four and half hours' sleep before I have to get up.' Pointedly ignoring Brian, he turned to Judy. ‘I'll walk you to your car.'

‘I'm staying for coffee, if it's all right with Lily?' Bypassing Brian's chair, Judy sat next to Martin.

‘As if you need an invitation.' Lily turned to Martin. ‘And a mug for me as well please, love.'

‘I thought you said you wanted an early night, Judy,' Sam snapped.

‘Why would I, when Sunday is the one day of the week that I can lie in?'

‘Coffee coming up.' Lily poured boiling water into the coffee pot.

‘As it's ready, I'll take you up on your offer, Lily,' Sam said tersely. ‘That's if you don't object to me changing my mind?'

‘Be my guest.' Lily glanced at Martin and rolled her eyes heavenwards. She brought the coffee to the table.

‘You lot don't know you're born.' Sam looked from Brian to Martin. ‘Tomorrow you'll all be lying in bed until midday.'

‘Hardly,' Lily interrupted. ‘Martin, Brian and Jack will all be in the garage early tomorrow morning to get it ready for the opening on Monday.'

‘And at two o'clock, when you are finishing for the day, they'll still be hard at it and I'll be sitting bored to death at a product demonstration.' Judy realised that Sam had crossed the line between pleasantly merry and argumentative drunk and wished she hadn't followed him into Martin and Lily's. She reached for the milk jug and poured half an inch of cold milk into her coffee to cool it so she could drink it quickly.