Lily of Love Lane (19 page)

‘I met Flo Parks yesterday,’ said Josie, turning to look at Lily. ‘She asked how you were, as Hattie hadn’t met up with you last Sunday.’

‘I hope you told her I was well.’ Lily wasn’t going to say that she had fallen out with Hattie. She didn’t want to add to the depressing atmosphere at the table.

‘Yes, I did. Flo said that Hattie didn’t say much about the party. I would have thought you two girls would have wanted to chat about it.’

Lily shrugged. ‘We will when we’ve got time.’

‘Yes, I suppose that’s it. Your lives are very full.’

Lily didn’t reply but stood up to collect the plates.

‘Now, I’ve made a nice bowl of semolina,’ Josie said as she smiled at the two men. ‘And I’ve got half a teaspoon of jam for the top. That’ll be nice,
won’t it?’

Lily knew her mother was trying to change the men’s topic of conversation, but as Lily placed the pudding bowls on the draining board, she heard her father speaking angrily again. Her
heart began to sink. The strikes, unemployment and riots were discussed fervently in every household lately. Trouble, unrest and bitterness was on everyone’s tongue.

Lily wished that she and Hattie were speaking. Their long and enduring friendship seemed to be threatened too.

Suddenly she knew what to do. On Sunday she would call for Hattie. Her thoughts had all been centred on Charles, and her attention had slipped from her best friend. Their small fight was turning
into a war and after all she had learned from her elders, Lily was determined to put right her own world.

Late on Sunday morning Lily put on her coat and hat. She didn’t know what she was going to say to Hattie, but she would think of something.

It was a dull grey day and Lily stood on the pavement uncertainly, waiting for inspiration. But then the door of Hattie’s house opened. Her friend was pulling on her coat. It was the first
time they had met since the party.

‘Morning, Hat,’ Lily said brightly.

‘Oh, it’s you.’

As much as Lily wanted to repair the damage she felt that Hattie had said some hurtful things. Did she still feel the same? ‘Are you going out?’

‘Me dad wants a paper. There’s a seller by the Queen sometimes. Don’t know if he’s still there.’

‘Can I walk with you?’

‘If you like.’

Hattie was wearing a soft grey coat and gloves with a little grey scarf tied around the collar. Her hair, as usual, was shaped around her head into two kiss-curls.

‘I wondered if you was coming round this afternoon?’ said Lily as she pulled her old coat closer and wished that she looked as smart as Hattie did. Even with the money coming in to
the house since her dad had started work, there hadn’t been enough left over to buy anything from Vera Froud.

‘No, I’m a bit busy.’

‘What with?’

‘This and that.’

Lily tried to ignore her friend’s tone and the fact that Hattie was making it obvious she had not intended to see Lily.

‘Well, at least we can have a chat whilst we walk.’

Hattie merely shrugged, quickening her step.

Lily kept up with her. ‘Hattie, I’ve missed seeing you. It don’t seem the same any more.’

‘You don’t want to see the likes of me.’

‘I wish you’d stop saying that.’

‘It’s true, isn’t it?’

‘No, course not. Look, can’t we forget what happened at the party? We both said things we didn’t mean.’

Hattie stopped still. ‘You mean what you said about Ben—’

Lily shook her head. ‘No, I meant that. It was all a bit of a misunderstanding and Ben and me are friends again. We went for a walk and talked things over.’

‘So you’re just friends?’

Lily nodded. ‘Good friends, Hat. Like you and me. He understands that now.’

Hattie stared at her, her eyes narrowing. She began to walk again. ‘Well, that’s Ben for you. I suppose he’s not one to show his feelings.’

They walked on in silence, heads down against the wind. When they arrived at the Queen public house on the junction of East Ferry Road and Manchester Road, they stopped. Hattie sighed. ‘Me
dad’s out of luck. The newspaper seller’s gone.’

‘Why don’t we walk to the foot tunnel? It’s only a short way. There might be one there.’

‘All right.

Lily was beginning to wonder what she could say to Hattie to break the ice. As they walked by the river, a small boat chugged by, leaving its wake on the surface. The factories and warehouses
were closed, but the kids were still larking about in the mud, searching for wood and coal that had spilled from the boats. A strong, tarry essence blew off the water. A ship’s hooter sounded
and in reply came the bark of a dog.

Lily and Hattie both spoke at once. ‘You first,’ smiled Lily.

‘I was only going to say I was sorry about having a go at you. It was your birthday after all.’

‘And I’m sorry too.’

Hattie frowned. ‘It’s always been you and Ben, you see. We just took it for granted you would go on like that.’

‘We’ll all go on being friends I hope.’

Hattie looked thoughtful. ‘Perhaps he’ll find a nice girl.’

‘He deserves one.’

‘There was that girl who was always knocking on his door, with dark hair and a good figure. She was really keen on him. And there are plenty of girls he knows from the Dockland Settlement.
They all like him. Perhaps now he’ll ask one of them out.’

Lily smiled. Hattie hadn’t given up trying to make her jealous. ‘I don’t want us to fall out again, Hat.’

‘Neither do I.’ Hattie shuffled her feet. ‘I’m fed up with staying in on Sunday afternoons.’

They both laughed. ‘Well, you’d better tell me all the news about your new love,’ Hattie said after a while.

‘There’s nothing to tell,’ Lily said quietly. ‘I haven’t seen him although Pedro did say he called by the stall on me birthday.’

‘But he didn’t show up last week?’

Lily shook her head. ‘No.’

Hattie immediately linked her arm through Lily’s. ‘Never mind, you’ve got us.’

‘Yes,’ nodded Lily, aware of Hattie’s sudden change in mood. She was all smiles now.

‘I don’t want to break up with you, Lil. Like I wrote in me card, you’re my best friend.’

‘Yes, it’s all worked out for the best.’ Lily felt a big ache in her chest, as she felt herself being led along by Hattie. She knew that Hattie was pleased Charles hadn’t
turned up. She couldn’t know how it felt to have a heartache like this, as though someone was turning a knife inside you.

But at least they were on good terms again and had patched up their differences. She wasn’t going to think about what Hattie had said at the party about her having high faluting ideas and
that Charles only wanted one thing from her and she was too daft to see it. The home truths had hurt at the time, but bringing it all up now wouldn’t serve a purpose. It was better to forgive
and forget.

‘I’ve a couple of nice patterns I brought back from work, a dress with a V-shaped neckline with a skirt made from three panels. The other is a really beautiful long dress, just right
for a tea dance,’ Hattie said eagerly. ‘Do you want to come up to me bedroom and see?’

‘That would be nice.’

‘Come on then, let’s go home.’

Lily listened to Hattie as they walked. She told her about the fittings that had taken place for the aristocratic young bride. And how everything was even more hush-hush than it was before as
they tried to camouflage the weight she was rapidly putting on. Hattie thought it was hilarious and laughed as she was telling the story of the young girl as she was made to suffer the indignity of
Madame Nerys’ obvious disapproval when she had to let out the waistline even more than she’d planned. But Lily could only feel sympathy for the poor girl, even though she had wealth and
status on her side.

‘And I ain’t told you about me ring either,’ said Hattie excitedly.

‘The sapphire and diamond one in the shop at Aldgate?’

‘Yes. Reube’s going to buy it for me.’ Hattie did a little flounce, throwing back her head. ‘Ben’s gonna drive us up there. Why don’t you come to. And then we
can make a day of it.’

Lily guessed that Hattie was still trying to matchmake. She still hadn’t given up hope. ‘There’ll be no one to mind the stall,’ Lily pointed out.

‘Pedro can stand in,’ Hattie shrugged, a twinkle in her eye. ‘I’ll get Reube to ask him.’

As they walked down Love Lane Lily began to wonder if the price of Hattie’s friendship was too high. Would she ever give up trying to get her and Ben together?

A
t Easter, the market reflected the country’s Depression and even the barrows and fruit stalls were suffering. Lily knew her father had been
very lucky to get the timber job. Even the skin ships were now few and far between and the dockyards were in a state of deep gloom. Lily feared that the Blackshirts would seize the opportunity to
return to places like Cox Street but that would be a mistake as the traders dislike for the peddlers of fascism was even more intense. They had all paid more attention to the news after the last
visit and everyone knew that Mosley, their leader, was insisting the country go deeper into debt by borrowing from abroad. To the ordinary man’s thinking this was a fanatic’s theory,
and would make things even worse than they were.

No one wanted that.

In her quieter moments Lily wondered what Charles would have said about all this. He seemed to have influence over that Blackshirt, his quiet words having more effect than any weapon. She felt
that although he was an outsider to the island, he might have been able to help in some way. She didn’t know how, of course. And now it was weeks since she had seen him last. His face was
becoming a distant memory, as though she had dreamed it all.

One Saturday morning in May, Lily was alone at the stall whilst Reube went off for stock. They were getting very low on good items, whilst the junk was multiplying. Yesterday,
in desperation, Reube had visited the Caledonian Market. When he’d returned with only one broken clock, a box of bed knobs, a few screws, nuts, bolts, two sets of false teeth and a large reel
of bell wire, Lily had been disappointed.

‘I know ironmongery ain’t our line, Lil,’ Reube had said when he saw her expression, ‘but the bloke I bought it all from was at his wits’ end. He had this placard
round his neck. It said: “I know two trades and speak two languages. I have six children and haven’t worked for six months. But I only ask for one job.” ’ Reube had shaken
his head as he repeated these words, his voice thick with emotion. ‘So I gave him five bob for the lot.’

As Lily placed the bits and pieces out, she remembered the sad look in Reube’s eyes. He was a good man at heart and had done the poor man a service. Five shillings was generous, although
they would be lucky to get their money back. She was deep in thought as she was about to stand the wooden clock which had long ago lost its hands, on the top shelf. Five shillings must seem a great
deal but it wouldn’t go a long way to feeding six children. How would the man and his family survive when it was gone?

‘Excuse me, is the clock for sale?’

Lily turned and almost dropped the clock. Her mouth fell open. Charles’ tall figure was swathed in a light-coloured coat that was the height of fashion and elegance. He was hatless and his
dark hair was brushed back from his face, smoothed cleanly down to his collar. He looked even more handsome than she remembered.

He gave her one of his radiant smiles. ‘Lily, how wonderful it is to see you.’

She attempted to speak but her heart was beating too fast.

‘Please, let me help you.’ He relieved her of the clock and as he did so there were many rattles inside. He laughed. ‘Despite the noises this has a very nice case. How much is
it?’

Lily was trying to gather her thoughts. She felt faint and dizzy, as a wave of joy flowed through her at seeing him. ‘I’m not sure as Reube hasn’t priced it yet.’

‘Would he take ten shillings?’

‘Ten shillings!’ Lily exclaimed. For a broken clock it was a wonderful offer. ‘Are you sure? It won’t tell the time as it has no hands.’

‘No matter. I have a good watch mender.’

‘Is it for your house?’ She couldn’t resist asking. Had he bought any more things? Is that what he was here for today?

He smiled. ‘No, Lily. I have a client who I am sure would like it.’

Lily felt dismayed to learn this as it might mean that he still didn’t want her help. She reached under the stall. ‘I’ll wrap it in some newspaper for you.’

‘No, don’t bother, the car is close by. Here.’ He placed ten shillings in her hand.

Lily stood silently. She wanted to say so much, but mostly that she had missed him and had counted the days since they last saw each other.

‘How are you?’ he asked quietly.

‘Very well, thank you.’

‘You weren’t here the last time I called.’

‘It was my birthday, March the fifteenth.’ If only he knew how disappointed she had been when Pedro told her of his visit.

The smile slipped from his face. ‘Your birthday?’

‘Yes, I was twenty-one.’

‘Oh dear. It seems I missed a special occasion.’ He arched one dark eyebrow. ‘I hope you enjoyed yourself?’

‘Reube gave me the day off. I’ve never had a whole Saturday off before.’

‘And of course I chose that very one to call.’ He looked deeply into her eyes as he used to do and Lily felt transported with joy. It was as though they were alone in the world, just
the two of them, blocking out the sights and sounds of the market.

Suddenly another voice broke the spell. A woman had picked up a doorknob. ‘This’ll do me hubbie, love. Does it work?’

Lily saw Charles smile.

‘Yes,’ said Lily. ‘You can have it for tuppence.’

‘You couldn’t have made much profit on that sale,’ Charles observed when they were alone again.

‘I didn’t need to,’ Lily confessed. ‘I sold you the clock. The knobs and screws came with it for much less than you paid me. We’ve already taken a five shillings
profit and have the rest of the ironmongery still on display.’

‘That’s very honest of you to tell me,’ he nodded, a twinkle in his eyes.