Nobody’s Girl (14 page)

‘Are you all right, love?’ Derek asked.

‘Yes, I’m fine,’ she lied, forcing a smile as she stepped out of his arms.

With Derek she was safe, his home a haven, and with him her feelings were under control.

By three thirty they had enjoyed a delicious Sunday roast, but since she’d arrived Pearl could sense a strange atmosphere. Connie was unusually quiet, and Derek seemed on edge. She was been thrilled when Connie handed her a card and present, and though she thought it appalling, she thanked her profusely for the long, old-fashioned flannelette nightdress.

‘You’ll be needing that with winter coming along,’ Connie said.

‘Yes, I’m sure I will, and thanks again. It … it’s lovely.’

‘Here’s my card, Pearl. Come into the front room and I’ll give you your present.’

There was a grunt of displeasure from Connie, and Pearl frowned, wondering what was wrong as she followed Derek out of the room.

‘Sit down, love,’ Derek said, his face flushed.

Pearl sat, and at the same time Derek kneeled in front of her. With her heart beginning to thump she saw him pull a small box out of his pocket. Pearl guessed what was coming and gulped, her breath caught in her throat. He was going to propose, but now that the moment had arrived, she found herself wanting to jump up and run. Since moving in with Mo and Emma, she was enjoying life. She loved going dancing, loved being with girls close to her own age, loved the music, the excitement. If she accepted Derek’s proposal she would have to become a staid, married woman. Was she really ready for that?

‘Will … will you marry me?’

Pearl’s eyes fixed on the ring. She thought about Kevin, how she was still attracted to him, but an attraction that was over-shadowed by fear. Derek, though, was offering her what, until now, she thought she wanted: a home where she would be part of a family, cherished and loved for the first time in her life. Still she hesitated, but then Derek spoke again.

‘I don’t expect you to marry me right away, love. I thought maybe in about a year, when you’re eighteen.’

A year, they would wait a year, and she smiled with relief before saying, ‘Yes, all right, I’ll marry you.’

‘Oh, Pearl, that’s great.’ And, leaning forward, he pulled her into his arms. She closed her eyes tightly as he kissed her, but thankfully it was brief.

‘There’s only one thing, Pearl. It’s me gran. I’m all she’s got and I’d hate to leave her on her own. Would you mind moving in here with us when we get married?’

‘Of course I wouldn’t. It’s what I expected and what I want.’

He jumped to his feet and, taking her hand, he dragged her back to the kitchen. ‘She said yes, Gran,’ he cried, ‘and we’re getting married in a year.’

Connie smiled thinly. ‘Congratulations.’

There was a restraint in Connie’s manner and Pearl frowned. Perhaps she was worried about being left on her own. ‘I’m happy to move in here with you and Derek when we get married.’

Connie nodded, but she hardly spoke until Derek left the room half an hour later. After a quick look to ensure that the door was closed, she leaned forward. ‘You’ve changed lately, Pearl, and you’re not seeing much of Derek. You’re out and about with Emma Price, no doubt meeting lads of your own age. Derek’s a lot older than you, and the truth is I expected you to turn him down. A lot can happen in a year and I just hope you ain’t gonna change your mind.’

‘I won’t change my mind.’

‘I’ve told you before. I don’t want my Derek hurt.’

‘I won’t hurt him.’ As she said these words, Pearl really meant them. She would marry Derek and make him a good wife. She was just relieved that she had a year of freedom first.

Kevin banged on Nobby Clark’s door, still in a foul mood. He was smarting that Pearl had turned him down again. Since that first time, she felt like his property and his fists clenched at the thought of her sleeping with Derek Lewis. His jaws ground. Right, sod her, if she wanted Derek she could have him and he’d never ask her out again. In fact, he really would make a play for Emma Price. She wasn’t a bad-looking girl, but then again, she was a bit lippy. He remembered how she had intervened at the dance and he frowned. Emma wasn’t like Pearl; she seemed fearless and not the sort of girl he could control. In fact, he thought, changing his mind, it might be better to give her a wide berth.

His trips to Soho were costing him a lot of money, and that was something he was short of at the moment. Once again his fists clenched in anger. With Pearl as his girlfriend he would’ve had what he wanted on hand, and could have taught her a few tricks.

Nobby Clark opened the door, forcing Kevin’s thoughts to one side. ‘Hello, mate, can I come in?’

‘Yeah, I suppose so.’

As Kevin stepped inside he saw Dick Smedley, but the man offered no welcome.

‘Watcha, Dick, how’s things?’

‘What do you want, Kevin?’

‘I’ve come to see if you’ve got a job in the offing.’

‘I thought you didn’t want to work with amateurs again.’

‘Yeah, that’s what you called us,’ Nobby said as he sat at the table.

‘Look, I’ve told you before, I didn’t mean it. I was unnerved that night and you can’t blame me for that.’

‘Maybe, but you seem to forget that I’m the boss and I want a bit of respect.’

Kevin hid his feelings. If he wanted back in, he’d have to suck up to Nobby, but it went against the grain. The bloke was a loser and couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery, but the need for money was paramount. ‘I know you’re the boss, Nobby, and we couldn’t do the jobs without you. As I said, I lost it, but it won’t happen again.’

‘What do you think, Dick? Shall we let him back in?’

‘I still ain’t happy about that night. He was shit scared, and so keen to get away that he almost drove off without us.’

‘I didn’t. I’d never do that.’

‘I only just managed to get into the back of the van before you shot off.’

‘I admit I was keen to get away – that alarm was deafening – but I wouldn’t have left you behind.’

Dick’s eyes narrowed, but to Kevin’s relief he said, ‘All right, I suppose I’ll have to take your word for it.’

Nobby smiled tightly. ‘We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, Kevin. We need a driver so you’re in. Take a seat and we’ll tell you what we’ve got planned.’

When Pearl had shown her ring to Mo and Emma, their reactions hadn’t been favourable. Both thought she was too young to think about marriage, but Emma was most vociferous in her opinions. She told Pearl in no uncertain terms that she was mad, that Derek was too old for her, and that she should go out with other men, not settle on the first one to propose.

The costermongers had reacted differently, all of them loud in their congratulations, and though they had ribbed Derek at first, some even saying he was a cradle snatcher, they seemed genuinely pleased. Pearl was one of their own now, and none had forgotten her hand in finding Frank Hanswell’s son.

Three weeks had now passed since their engagement, and Pearl was enjoying life. She was still attending art classes, but going out and about with Emma for another couple of nights a week, it meant she was seeing less of Derek. He didn’t seem to mind, content that she was now wearing his ring, and whilst she was out dancing with Emma, he spent extra time at the gym in preparation for his next fight.

Pearl still suspected that Alice Freeman was pinching her tips, but so far hadn’t caught her. In her vigilance she noticed that Bernie was acting strangely too. He would leave the counter at odd times, Alice quickly stepping in to take his place, and though this put more work on to Pearl, she was coping well. Few customers had cause for complaint, but she still found it odd that Bernie chose to disappear at their busiest times.

Pearl was clearing a table when Kevin came downstairs. Since her engagement he hadn’t spoken to her, and this had led to her job hunting taking a back seat. She still flicked through the local paper each week, seeing jobs on offer in shops and factories, but none offered the perks of the café with free lunch every day. As long as Kevin stayed away from her she was able to keep her feeling under control, but when her heart lurched every time she saw him, she wasn’t sure if it was love she was feeling, or fear.

Before the lunchtime rush had stared, Dolly marched out of the kitchen, followed by Bernie. Her stance was stiff, her face red with anger. ‘Alice, come here,’ she yelled. ‘I want to talk to you.’

Bernie took Pearl’s arm. ‘Stay down this end for a while and out of the way.’

At first Pearl couldn’t hear what Dolly was saying to Alice, but then her voice rose to a roar. ‘Don’t take me for a fool, girl! We’ve been in this business too long and know all the tricks.’

‘It wasn’t me,’ Alice cried. ‘It must have been Pearl.’

‘No, lady, don’t try to pass the buck. My husband knew that money was going missing and it didn’t take him long to work out who was dipping in the till. We’ve a good mind to call the police and have you done for thieving.’

‘No. Oh, please don’t do that.’

Dolly’s hands flapped, her temper high. ‘Get your coat and get out. I don’t know how you got references from your last job, but you certainly won’t get any from me. In fact, I’ll make sure that word passes in the area that you’re a thief.’

White-faced, Alice grabbed her coat from the hook. She took her bag from under the counter, and then Pearl’s mouth gaped as Alice almost flung her out of the way in her haste to leave.

She regained her footing as the door crashed shut, Bernie shaking his head. ‘Alice thought she could take us for mugs, Pearl, but I knew what she was up to.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘She was fiddling the till. I noticed takings were down a bit weeks ago so I decided to keep an eye on her, and though I’m sorry to say it, Pearl, I had to check up on you too. It didn’t take me long to realise that Alice was always eager to take over the counter, and when I started to leave it more often, she got greedy.’

‘Well, Bernie, that’s got rid of her,’ Dolly said as she joined them. ‘You’d better stick a card in the window again and let’s hope we don’t have a long wait before someone applies for the job. It’s a bloody shame. I liked the girl and still can’t believe that she was robbing us.’

‘She was at it, all right, and for a good few bob too.’

‘Huh, well, at least you caught her out. The trouble is it ain’t the first time and I doubt it’ll be the last. Finding staff we can trust isn’t easy.’

‘We’ve got a good one in Pearl.’

‘Yes, you’re right,’ Dolly said, her face softening, and touching Pearl’s arm she added, ‘Until we find another waitress, I’m afraid you’ll have to cope on your own again.’

‘I don’t mind.’

‘You’re a good kid and I’ll stick a bit extra in your wages again. In fact, we’ll give you a rise too. I know you’re only seventeen, but good staff are hard to find and we don’t want to lose you.’

Pearl was happy and relieved. She hadn’t really wanted to find another job and it would be awful to leave the Dolbys in the lurch. She liked working in the café, and as long as Kevin left her alone it would be fine, especially as she’d be earning more money.

When the costermongers began to arrive they showed no surprise that Pearl was covering the tables on her own. Waitresses came and went frequently in the café, but it was nice when some said they hoped she wouldn’t be joining the exodus. She was coping with the rush, but only just, and wondered how long they would have to wait before finding a replacement for Alice.

‘What happened to Boadicea?’ Derek asked during a lull.

Pearl leaned forward, saying quietly, ‘She got the sack for fiddling the till.’

‘Huh, I ain’t surprised. You must have been right about her pocketing your tips too.’

‘Yes, and maybe I should have told Bernie.’

Neither noticed that Bernie had left the counter and Pearl jumped when he spoke from behind her. ‘So, she was diddling you too, and yes, you should have told me.’

‘I … I’m sorry, but I was too frightened to accuse her without proof.’

‘I tried to keep an eye on her too, but couldn’t catch her at it,’ Derek said.

‘She was a fly one, that’s for sure, but don’t worry, the word’s already going round.’

Derek chuckled. ‘Talk about jungle drums. I doubt the girl will get another job in this area.’

‘One of the factories might take her on.’

‘Yeah, maybe.’

Pearl saw customers waiting and, leaving Derek and Bernie chatting, she went to take their orders. Soon after, Frank Hanwell came in, and as he took a seat their eyes met. She had another customer to serve before going to his table, but was soon by his side.

‘Hello, Frank, what can I get you?’

‘I’ll have the sausages, onion and mash. I’ve got a bit of good news too. Eric seems to be coming round. He’s talking to me again, and last night he let me tuck him into bed.’

‘That’s wonderful.’

‘It’s a step forward, but I wonder if we’ll ever see him smile again. He’s still unnaturally quiet, and he won’t go to school. Not only that, my old woman wants us to move out of the area. Eric won’t come near the market and she thinks it would help if we make a fresh start somewhere else.’

‘Maybe she’s right.’

‘I’ve lived here all my life, and the stall was handed down to me from my father. It’s all I know.’

‘There are other markets, Frank.’

‘Yeah, I suppose so, but it’s still gonna be hard.’

‘If it helps Eric, it’ll be worth it.’

He nodded, but then three other costermongers sat at his table, bringing the conversation to an end. The pace slowed a little after that, but each time Pearl passed Frank’s table, she couldn’t help noticing how distant and distracted he looked. The other men were chatting, but Frank was picking at his food, his eyes faraway. Five minutes later he called Pearl over and, as though talking to her earlier had sealed his decision, his voice was lighter as he spoke.

‘Bring us all a cup of tea, would you, love? I’ve got something to tell this lot.’

Pearl saw the puzzled glances that passed between the men but hurried to the counter, returning with the teas to hear Frank telling them that he was leaving the market. ‘My stall’s up for grabs. If you know anyone who might be interested in taking the pitch, let me know.’

‘Blimey, Frank, what brought this on?’ Charlie Slater asked.

‘Her indoors thinks that Eric needs to get out of this area, and I reckon she’s right.’

They all nodded in understanding, Charlie saying, ‘I know a decent geezer who’s after a pitch. How much do you want for it?’

Pearl moved away, her face showing her confusion as she went to the counter.

‘What’s up?’ Bernie asked.

‘Frank’s moving out of the area and is giving up his stall. There’s talk of someone buying the pitch, but I thought they rented them from the council.’

‘You’re right, they don’t own their own pitches, but it’s a busy market and a spot rarely becomes available. They’re like gold dust, so when one comes up, someone who’s willing to pay is tipped the wink.’

‘But surely anyone can apply to the council for the empty spot?’

Bernie chuckled. ‘Yeah, that might be how it’s supposed to be, but the costermongers have got unwritten rules the council knows nothing about.’

Pearl shook her head, still bewildered as she walked away, but the lunchtime rush was almost over and it was time to finish clearing the tables.

Feeling tired and washed out, Pearl was glad when her shift ended. She had an art lesson that evening, but still hadn’t managed to get a grip on seascapes. Her efforts at painting the ocean lacked depth, colour, movement, and though she had studied other paintings on the subject, her own attempts looked flat.

As she walked through the market she was frowning, hardly aware that she had reached Derek’s stall.

‘Cheer up, it might never happen,’ he quipped. ‘What are you looking so down in the mouth about?’

‘It’s nothing really. It’s just that I’ve got art classes this evening and my attempts at painting the sea are dreadful.’

‘I can’t believe that.’

‘It doesn’t help that I’ve never seen the sea.’

‘Blimey, we can soon fix that. I tell you what, I’ll take you down to Brighton on Sunday.’

Pearl’s eyes lit up. ‘Really? Oh, I’d love that.’

‘You might not be so sure when we get there. It’s nearly the end of November and it’s bound to be a bit nippy.’

‘I don’t mind. In fact I hope the sea is rough and the waves huge.’

Derek grinned. ‘You’re a strange one, Pearl. Most people want sunshine when they go to the seaside.’

‘Yes, but then the ocean would be boring. Oh, Derek, I can’t wait to see it,’ she cried, giving a little skip of delight.

He smiled again, and as a customer walked up to the stall, showing an interest in a rather large teapot, Pearl said a hurried goodbye, her steps lighter as she made for home.

Derek was lovely, he really was, and her heart warmed towards him. He might not be an oil painting, but he had a heart of gold, and though she had at first baulked at the idea of marrying him, it might not be so bad after all.