Memories Are Made of This (16 page)

He frowned. ‘It's a bit short notice. Is Wendy her friend who's also a policewoman?'

‘That's right. No doubt there'll be several members of the force there. My brother's going. You know he's a detective sergeant?'

‘Yes,' he said shortly. ‘I doubt I'll be able to make it. My mother wants me to take her to see an old friend. You'll give Hester my best wishes and tell her that I hope she is up and bouncing about soon. I'll be in touch.'

‘I'll tell her,' said Jeanette, thinking her sister was going to be very disappointed. Suddenly she remembered something else she was to ask him. ‘Oh, she mentioned your mother. She wanted to know how she was after her trip to the hospital.'

For a moment he stared at her blankly and then said hastily, ‘She's not as bad as we feared, but she's got to have treatment.'

‘I'll tell her.
Tarrah
!' She hurried away in the direction of the bus stop, not really knowing what to make of him. He might be tall, dark and good looking, but fancy asking her to go to the pictures with him? Perhaps she had better not mention that bit to Hester. She did not want her thinking that any female would do to keep him company. It was a pity he hadn't thought of sending Hester his love.
My best wishes
sounded a bit formal. It would also have been kind of him to offer to escort her home, so that he could see how Hester was for himself.

As soon as Jeanette saw Hester's expectant face, she wanted to hit Cedric. He could have come home with her, but she bet a pound to a penny that he had gone to see that film he mentioned.

‘Well, was he there?' she asked eagerly.

‘You feeling better?' said Jeanette, sitting across the table to her.

‘Yes! But was he there?' whispered Hester, glancing towards the door.

‘Yes, he was there.' Jeanette glanced at the door. ‘Is Aunt Ethel in?'

‘No, she's out, but one never knows when she's going to suddenly appear like the wicked witch in a pantomime.' She smiled at Jeanette. ‘Anyway, what did he have to say? Was he disappointed I didn't turn up?'

‘Of course he was disappointed. He'd been planning on taking you to the pictures.'

Hester sighed. ‘We were going to see
Valley of the Kings
with Robert Taylor.'

A voice from behind Jeanette said, ‘I remember when our Jeanette had a crush on Robert Taylor.'

She swivelled round. ‘Where did you spring from, Sam?'

‘Came in the back way.' He took his dinner from the oven.

‘It's ages since I fancied Robert Taylor,' said Jeanette.

‘It was last year,' said Sam. ‘There's another dinner in here. Is it yours, Jeanette?'

She nodded, getting up and going over to the oven. ‘This looks good.'

‘I cooked it so you're safe,' said Hester.

‘You must be feeling better if you made supper,' said Jeanette.

‘Never mind that now,' said Hester. ‘I want to know what Cedric said about Wendy's wedding. Can he go?'

‘Cedric! I still think it's an unusual name for a policeman,' said Sam.

Hester flushed. ‘It's just uncommon. Whereas Sam is really common.'

‘Thanks very much,' said Sam, grinning. ‘It's the same as David Jones. Really popular.'

‘I wish you'd shut up about names,' said Jeanette severely. ‘I want to say what I have to say.' She paused. ‘Sorry, Hester. He can't go. He has to take his mother to see an old friend. His mother, by the way, turned out to be not as bad as they thought when he took her to the hospital, but she's got to have treatment. He said he'd be in touch.'

‘His mother?' Sam slowly reached for the pepper.

‘Yes, he has a mother,' said Hester, pulling a face at him. ‘Not a couple of wives hidden away.'

Sam raised his eyebrows. ‘Why should I think he's a bigamist? Anyway, when are we going to meet him?'

‘It's early days for you needing to meet him. Although you could have met him at the wedding,' said Hester. ‘By the way, I meant to tell you that when I went to the Playhouse with Cedric the other evening, Dorothy Wilson was in the play.'

‘I know she was,' said Sam casually, sprinkling pepper over his food. ‘It's the second time she's appeared in a play in Liverpool in the last year.'

His sisters stared at him. ‘Did you go and see her?' asked Hester.

‘Yep. And she's hoping to come to Wendy's evening do with me.'

‘Wow! You're a quick worker,' said Jeanette.

Sam grinned. ‘I always did like Dorothy. Pity about Cedric.'

Hester frowned. ‘Now what do you mean by that?'

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Pity he has to let you down.'

‘It can't be helped.'

‘No, of course not,' murmured Sam, forking more food into his mouth. ‘He seems to do a lot for his mother.'

Hester stared at him. ‘I find it rather touching that he's so solicitous about his elderly mother. I'd hope you'd be the same if our mother hadn't died.' She got up and walked out of the kitchen.

Jeanette stared at Sam. ‘Why did you go on about Cedric and his mother?'

Sam was quiet.

‘You don't think he's good enough for our Hester, do you?'

‘No.'

‘But why? You've never met him – or have you? I have and I think he's odd. He asked me to go to the pictures with him in Hester's place.'

Sam lifted his head. ‘Did he now!'

She nodded. ‘I haven't told her.'

‘Perhaps you should have. It would have really had her questioning what kind of man he is.'

Jeanette frowned in thought. ‘I've just remembered something. I know these twins who come into the milk bar. I'm sure their brother's in the Bootle division. D'you want me to ask if he knows Cedric and what he thinks about him?'

‘No! I have my own methods of gathering information. Don't you worry about it. I'll sort Cedric.'

‘OK, I was only trying to help.'

They were silent as they finished their meal. Then as she gathered their plates and cutlery, she said, ‘I'm glad you're going out with Dorothy Wilson.'

He smiled. ‘I'm glad you're glad.'

‘Does it mean you're over Carol? I still feel something for Davy Jones, although I scarcely know him. Strange, isn't it?'

‘Not if it's gratitude for his coming to your rescue,' said Sam, reaching for a cigarette. ‘I don't suppose you'll stop mooning over this Jones bloke until you see him again and realize you've built up a picture of him that proves false.'

‘Thanks for spoiling my fantasy!' said Jeanette drily. ‘I think I'll leave you to drink your tea alone, while I have a bath and daydream of Robert Taylor,' she added mischievously. ‘I wonder where the old witch has gone? She's been going out a lot in the evenings lately. Perhaps she's found herself a fancy man.'

‘That'll be the day,' drawled Sam.

Jeanette grinned, trying to imagine Ethel made up to the eyeballs, billing and cooing on the back row of the pictures with a mustachioed elderly gentleman.

Later, as she turned on the bath taps and reached for Hester's jar of lavender-scented bath salts, she wondered if David Jones really would turn out to be a disappointment if she did meet him again. Somehow she didn't think so.

She drowsed up to her neck in the warm, scented water. It was the sound of footsteps on the stairs that roused her and instantly she was on full alert. They stopped outside the door and she was glad that she had locked it. She watched the doorknob turn before being rattled.

‘Who's in there?' demanded Ethel. ‘I'm armed if you're a burglar.'

Jeanette stifled a laugh. ‘What burglar locks himself in the bathroom, Aunt Ethel? I'm having a bath and won't be long.'

‘You damn well better hadn't be long, whoever you are.'

‘It's me, Jeanette,' she called, wondering if the old woman really was going senile.

‘Well, you can get out of there! Using up all the hot water is selfish,' grumbled Ethel. ‘You girls don't know you're born! If it weren't for George, I'd make you take cold showers as I did my other girls. I'm going downstairs to make myself a cup of cocoa and if you're not out by the time I get back, you'll have a taste of the birch.'

The birch!
Jeanette wondered if her great-aunt had been drinking. She waited until she heard her go downstairs before getting out of the bath. Once dressed, she unlocked the door and ran along the landing to Hester's bedroom. She knocked on the door. ‘Can I come in? The old witch threatened me with cold showers and the birch.'

The door opened and Hester grabbed Jeanette by the front of her nightdress and dragged her inside. ‘I wonder where she's been this evening,' said Hester.

‘We should try asking her.'

Hester shook her head. ‘Let's not bother. I've enough on my mind right now without worrying about her.'

‘Cedric,' said Jeanette, then wished she had not mentioned him because her half-sister looked so fed up. She had been going to tell her about his asking her to go to the pictures with him but changed her mind.

‘I'd planned on buying a new dress. A real fancy one.'

‘Well, what's stopping you from still doing that? You are still going to go to the wedding, aren't you?'

Hester hesitated, then nodded. ‘Of course! Wendy would be upset if I wasn't there. We've been friends since we joined the force.'

‘Well, you forget about Cedric for now and buy a new dress that will knock the socks off all the men there,' said Jeanette, relishing the thought of Hester finding another bloke to take her out.

‘I'm in a dancing mood. A gay romantic mood,' sang Sam as he fastened his tie.

Hester met her brother's eyes in the mirror above the fireplace and rolled a bit more Max Factor pan stick over the redness about her nose. ‘I must admit I'm looking forward to this evening more than I was the other day.'

‘You be careful your skirt doesn't catch fire,' warned Ethel, glowering at Hester who was wearing a turquoise taffeta dress with a sweetheart neckline and full skirt, under which she wore a pale blue, starched nylon underskirt.

‘Leave her alone,' said George, rustling the newspaper. ‘She's not daft. The fireguard's in place.'

Ethel said, ‘You can't be too careful. I remember a young girl's nightdress catching fire years ago and she burnt to death.'

‘Go on, Aunt Ethel, cheer us up,' muttered Hester, outlining her lips with a coral lipstick.

‘Where's Jeanette?' asked Ethel, glancing about her. ‘I wanted her to do something for me. I have something to show her.'

‘Don't tell me you've forgotten already that she's gone to the pictures with her friend Peggy?' said George, wishing he was in his son's shoes and looking forward to spending the evening dancing with a young woman in his arms. Instead, he was going to have to keep his aunt company because, according to Hester and Jeanette, Ethel could be going senile. He hoped not. Lately he had begun to look forward to retiring from the police force and putting in a bit of detective work trying to find out what had happened to Grace. But if his aunt was starting to lose her marbles, that meant he was going to have to be around to keep his eye on her.

Ethel sniffed. ‘I can't be expected to remember everything at my age. I hope she gets home at a decent hour or there'll be trouble. Where's she been this afternoon, that's what I'd like to know?'

Sam and Hester exchanged looks. ‘How old are you, Aunt Ethel?' asked the latter, placing her lipstick in a black patent leather handbag along with a clean handkerchief and her purse.

‘The same age as my hair and younger than my teeth and that's all I'm saying,' answered Ethel, sitting down and switching on the wireless. ‘I wish you'd hurry up and go out, so me and our George can have a bit of peace. I'm getting a headache with all this chatter.'

‘We're going,' said Sam, shrugging on his overcoat and heading for the door, where he paused. ‘Pity you couldn't have come too, Dad. You could do with having a bit of fun.'

‘I'm OK, son. You go and enjoy yourself,' said George, his face softening as, with an ache in his heart, he gazed at his only son, of whom he was so proud. If only Sam could find someone who could make him happy for the rest of his life.

‘Bye, Dad. See you later.' Hester kissed the top of his head before tying a headscarf carefully over her newly set hair and grabbing her coat.

‘No one ever bloody kisses me,' grumbled Ethel.

That's because you don't deserve it
! thought Hester as she followed her brother out of the house. As they walked up the street to the main road, she said, ‘I thought Dad looked a bit down.'

‘Well, he would, wouldn't he? Stuck in with the old witch while we're out enjoying ourselves,' said Sam.

Hester glanced at him. ‘I'm glad you're convinced we're going to have a good time.'

Sam hesitated. ‘I'm going to tell you something that you're not going to like, but hopefully it'll make you determined to enjoy yourself.'

She stopped in her tracks. ‘It's about Cedric, isn't it?'

‘Yeah. I've made a few enquiries about him, and one of the men remembers him from when he first started with the force in Liverpool. He didn't trust him, especially around women. Cedric's beat was the area around Canning Street and you know what that's known for. Another bloke mentioned Cedric not being married but living with his mother. He remembers him taking time off to attend her funeral.'

Hester was shocked and baffled. ‘Why lie to me about her?'

‘Exactly. Why does he feel he needs an alibi for the other Thursday?'

‘You mean the day he supposedly took his mother to the hospital?'

‘You're not the only one he lied to. I spoke to his sergeant and Cedric gave him the same reason for asking for the day off. It's not the first time he's used his mother as an excuse since he's been there.'