Lily of Love Lane (22 page)

As they entered the foot tunnel to Greenwich, Hattie was strangely quiet. Usually their voices echoed out, bouncing from the tiled ceilings and walls along with the heavy drops of condensation.
But today, it was only their footsteps that could be heard and the whistle of a faint wind as it rustled round their skirts.

‘Is there something wrong?’ Lily asked after a while, as she drew only monosyllables from her friend.

‘I’ve got a feeling that Reube wants to get out of buying me that ring,’ Hattie confessed.

Lily laughed. ‘Don’t be daft. Course he will.’

‘He didn’t come round this morning,’ Hattie went on anxiously. ‘Sometimes he calls over as I’m leaving for work.’

‘He probably went off early,’ Lily suggested. ‘Before you was up.’

But Hattie shook her head fiercely. ‘No, I saw him outside his house waiting for Ben who brought the lorry round. Reube just jumped in it without so much as a backward glance.’

Lily didn’t know what to say. ‘I shouldn’t pay too much attention to that. They were in a rush I expect.’

Hattie sniffed. ‘Once upon a time he would have knocked on the door and given me a peck.’

‘You’re making a big thing of it, Hat.’

‘No, I’m not.’

‘You’re worrying too much,’ Lily assured her as they walked out into the bright sunshine. ‘After all, you’re getting married next year.’

‘I want to be engaged first, show everyone that we are a couple.’

‘Everyone knows that already.’

‘You don’t understand, Lil. I want to be engaged so badly. It’s such a disappointment not to have that ring on me finger today.’

‘As a matter of fact,’ Lily said quietly, ‘I do understand. Disappointment is a very painful thing to bear. It hurts for a long while, as though you swallowed a sweet and it
sticks in your throat and you just have to wait till it goes away.’

Hattie turned sharply to look at her. ‘That’s right. That’s just how it feels. But what makes you say that?’

‘I know what it is to want something, or rather someone, too.’

‘You don’t mean you’re still mooning over that bloke?’ Hattie gasped.

Lily turned slowly to face her friend. She couldn’t hide her feelings any longer. Hattie was upset over not having a ring, but it was only a ring! What if she was threatened with losing
Reube altogether? ‘Mooning’s not a very nice word, Hat. I try not to wear my heart on my sleeve.’

Hattie looked bewildered. ‘But as you’ve never said anything more, I thought you’d forgotten him.’

‘I wish I had. But that stuck sweet still hasn’t gone away.’

‘So you’ve seen him again?’ Hattie asked, looking taken aback.

Lily nodded. ‘Yes, last Sunday.’ She didn’t want to lie or hide anything now.

Hattie’s face was shocked. ‘You didn’t tell me.’

‘I thought it wouldn’t go down well.’

‘So all this time you’ve been keeping it a secret?’

‘I’ve wanted to discuss Charles with you so many times, Hat. I needed to get my feelings off my chest, but this is the first opportunity that’s come along with you saying what
you did about your ring.’

Hattie looked as though she was seeing Lily for the first time, her frown deepening as she gazed into Lily’s eyes. ‘Oh dear, that paints me as a bit of a selfish moo, don’t
it?’

‘Now you see, I have upset you,’ Lily replied exasperatedly. ‘I knew I would if I said the truth.’

‘No you ain’t.’

‘I can’t help feeling this way,’ Lily persevered, desperate to make Hattie understand.

‘No, I can see that now.’

‘Don’t let’s argue again, Hat.’

‘I don’t intend to,’ said Hattie taking Lily’s arm. ‘I’ve had more than my fair share of disagreements lately. You’ve touched on something that makes me
realize what a cow I can be at times. Come on, let’s go into the café, and I’ll tell you all about it.’

They sat in the café with coffee and scones, but it was Lily who was doing the talking. She explained how Pedro had told her that Charles had called by the stall on her
birthday and how she had waited, day after day, for him to return. And how, when she’d almost given up hope, he’d suddenly appeared and told her he had something important to ask
her.

‘So I arranged to meet him on the corner of Westferry Road,’ she continued as Hattie sat listening attentively. ‘I didn’t want Mum and Dad to see me getting into his car
as I know it would have caused trouble. It wasn’t only you who disapproved of him, Hat, it’s me mum and dad too.’

‘So you went round to his house on your own?’

‘I just knew he wouldn’t do anything to upset me, as he’s such a gentleman.’

Hattie smiled. ‘And you was curious.’

‘Of course I was.’

‘Describe his house again for me, Lil,’ Hattie said with enthusiasm. ‘I never paid attention before but now I am.’

Grateful for the opportunity of reliving the experience, Lily began from when she first went with Ben. She explained how Charles’ house had seemed a little neglected as they’d been
shown round, but on her second visit, how it looked quite the worse for wear, with even dirty crockery left in the drawing room. Hattie’s eyes grew wider and wider as Lily described how Annie
had begun to steal after Delia’s death and how Charles’ business and reputation depended on the utmost discretion.

‘And so,’ Lily said as she took a deep breath, ‘when Annie disappeared, he thought of me as a suitable replacement and came by the stall to offer me her job.’

Hattie’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You mean, he wants you as a maid?’

‘No, more like a housekeeper,’ Lily explained, deciding not to add that Charles had also asked her to perform some business duties, as this sounded rather grand.

‘Is there other staff there?’

‘He said he would take on a scullery maid to do the cleaning and lighting of fires.’

‘I hope he didn’t want you as a skivvy.’

Lily smiled. ‘Well, it’s beside the point now, as I said no.’

‘You did?’ Hattie frowned again. ‘I would have thought you’d have jumped at the chance.’

‘Half of me wanted to, but the other half was afraid to make any changes.’

Hattie turned her cup round thoughtfully. ‘Are you sorry now that you said no?’

Lily hesitated. ‘I sometimes think of how it might have been.’

‘And all this time I didn’t know.’

‘So you see, Hat, I do understand how you’re feeling. But at least you’ve got Reube and that’s the most important thing.’

Hattie looked under her lashes. ‘I don’t know about that.’

‘You love Reube and he loves you.’

Her friend now had a faraway look in her eyes. ‘You know, Lil, you’ll be surprised at this but I’ve never thought about marriage that much as I knew Reube and me was always
going to be together. It was just a question of time. And believe it or not, I never fancied another boy anyway. No one at school or the club, had what Reube had. See, after his dad died, his
future was mapped out at the market and looking after his mum and brother. I always admired Reube for getting on with it, doing what his old man would have wanted. That was the attraction, knowing
Reube was my rock, reliable, dependable, and even if he counted the pennies, I could forgive that, as he was always the man I was going to be with.’

‘Nothing’s happened to change that,’ Lily said quietly.

‘I thought I knew him so well,’ Hattie sighed, shaking her head as though she didn’t.

‘You do,’ Lily laughed but Hattie’s eyes narrowed.

‘Well, the truth is, Lil, we’ve broken up.’

Lily laughed again. ‘Stop kidding me.’

‘I’m not.’ Hattie’s expression was serious. ‘Reube said we wasn’t going out to buy the ring and this made me mad. I couldn’t keep me tongue still, could
I? So we had this dirty great row that couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Reube was still furious about being chucked in that cell and when I complained about the ring, I suppose it was
the last straw. You know what he called me?’

‘What?’ Lily murmured, almost afraid to hear the answer.

‘He said I was a spoilt kid. Told me I should grow up a bit before we got married.’

‘But everyone says things they don’t mean when they’re cross.’

‘He meant it all right.’

‘You’ve had words before and got over it,’ Lily was quick to point out.

‘Not like this. I told him that if he felt that way, the wedding was off. Course, I expected him to come round an hour later, cap in hand, like he usually does and we’d kiss and make
up. But as I told you, this morning he went off without so much as a glance over at our house. It upset me so much I couldn’t concentrate on me work. I cut out a bit of pattern that I should
have left in and all the way home on the bus, I kept thinking what am I gonna do without him?’

‘He’ll be round, just wait and see.’

‘What if he isn’t?’

‘Can’t see him staying away, Hat,’ Lily said, patting her friend’s hand. ‘Give it a week or two, and he’ll be breaking down your door with
frustration.’

Hattie made an effort to smile. ‘I wish it was like the old days when we were—’ Hattie stopped and groaned. ‘Here I go again down memory lane. But I’m supposed to
be turning over a new leaf, as I want you to be happy.’ She gave a quick laugh. ‘We’ve certainly drowned our sorrows today, ain’t we?’

As they walked home, the two girls talked together about old times. Lily felt certain it was only a lover’s tiff that was causing Hattie such heartache. Reube and Hattie were made for each
other. But Lily was dismayed that Hattie seemed certain it was the end of the affair.

At last they turned the corner into Love Lane. They were still deep in conversation when Hattie stopped. ‘There’s a car outside your house, Lil.’

‘It’s Charles,’ Lily gasped as she saw the ruby red car in the road.

Hattie squeezed her arm. ‘What does he want?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘What are you going to do?’

Lily shrugged. ‘Go in, I suppose.’ Her legs had gone weak and wobbly.

In the soft evening light, as the sun slowly faded, Hattie said softly, ‘He still hasn’t given up, Lil.’

‘But I refused.’

‘He obviously hasn’t taken no for an answer.’ Hattie give her a little push. ‘Go on, this is a second chance. You’d better grab it whilst you can.’

Lily looked into Hattie’s eyes. They were soft and understanding. Lily hugged her and then slowly walked on. Suddenly her world felt alive and full of happiness again. She felt like
clapping her hands and jumping for joy.

‘O
h, Lil, I’m glad you’re home.’ Her mother burst into tears.

‘What’s happened?’ Lily took her in her arms.

‘A lot’s happened since you went out.’

‘Is Charles here?’

Her mother nodded. ‘Look at me, I’m shaking.’

‘Come on,’ Lily said gently. ‘Let’s go and sit down.’

To Lily’s surprise the parlour was empty. Only the roaring fire crackled in the grate as Lily sat beside her mother and wondered where Charles was. What had gone on in her absence? Why was
her mother so upset?

‘Give me a minute to get my breath,’ Josie said as she closed her eyes, then opened them, giving a deep sigh. ‘After you’d left, there was a knock at the door. A young
boy stood there, about nine or ten and gave me a piece of paper. He said he’d come from the timber yard.’

Lily sat upright. All the happiness and excitement she had felt at seeing Charles’ car, suddenly evaporated. ‘Dad! It’s Dad, ain’t it?’

Josie nodded slowly, putting her hand on her heart. ‘The note was from Bob’s boss, Mr Drewitt, asking me to come as quickly as I could to the yard, where your dad had been taken
ill.’

‘Oh, Mum, not again.’

‘I’m afraid so. But this time there was no one to bring him home, all the vans were out. How in heaven’s name me and your uncle would have got there – and brought your
dad back – if Mr Grey hadn’t arrived, I don’t know.’

‘Charles took you to the yard?’

‘He pulled up in his car as the boy was leaving. I don’t mind telling you I was in a state of panic. Mr Grey asked what was wrong and I gave him the note. As calm as you like, he
told me to get your uncle and he would take us straight down. I didn’t even stop to thank him, or ask why he’d come, I was so upset. And when we got there, you should have seen your
father. He was white as a sheet and couldn’t speak properly for coughing. Mr Drewitt was very good and had done his best but I could see that a doctor was called for.’

‘Oh, Mum, what did you do?’ Lily felt terrible that she’d been away whilst all this had happened.

Josie dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. ‘It was Mr Grey who came to the rescue and suggested that we get your dad into the car and bring him home straight away so he could lie down
and rest. He told me he would then go round for the doctor if I told him where the surgery was.’ Josie blew her nose noisily. ‘Lil, I only had the money you gave me for medicine,
nothing put by for the doctor to call. I didn’t say anything then as I was too embarrassed, but your gentleman took it all out of me hands. After we got your dad upstairs, I tried to give Mr
Grey your five bob, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He took it upon himself to pay for everything, only the best medicines that I couldn’t afford. And, in fact, Doctor Tapper said his bill
is taken care of until your dad gets over this episode.’

Lily felt relief and yet full of shame that they had accepted Charles’ money, which must have been a considerable amount. What must he think of them? And how could they impose on his
goodwill?

‘Where is Charles now?’ Lily asked.

‘He’s been sitting upstairs with your dad and uncle. Although now Noah has gone out into the back yard for a smoke.’

‘What did the doctor say about Dad’s cough?’

Josie twisted the hanky between her fingers. ‘He’s got a bronchial fever because his chest is so bad. He won’t be able to work for a while, but then that don’t come as a
surprise. Mr Drewitt was kind enough but said your dad has been under the weather a lot. He said he’s a reliable worker, but not fit enough to move all that timber in the wind, rain and cold.
It really is a younger man’s job. If he’s off again this week, I doubt whether Mr Drewitt will have him back.’