One Rainy Day (23 page)

When the meal was over, Poppy took the plates back to the counter and ordered a pot of tea for two, which the waitress said she would bring to the table. ‘Tea is on its way,’ she told Jean when she got back to her chair. ‘The staff are run off their feet, so we may have to wait a while.’

‘We’re all right for time, don’t worry.’ Jean had laid the notebook flat, and she tapped a finger on it. ‘What I’m going to do, Poppy, which I think will be the best thing for you, is translate this shorthand the teacher has written into longhand. Keep going over what I have written and then read the shorthand. Try a sentence at a time, and keep at it. I promise you it’s the quickest way to learn. If you bring it in on Monday, I’ll give you a short test to see how you’ve done.’

‘Jean, you’re an angel,’ Poppy said. ‘I can’t tell you how grateful I am. But I will make it up to you, I promise, even though it may take a while.’

‘I wish you wouldn’t keep on about it, Poppy. I’d be a poor one if I didn’t help a friend. It’s not costing me anything, and I am really hoping things work out for you. Actually, you’ve done more for me than I’ve done for you. Having your company every lunchtime has meant a lot to me. I’ve never made friends with any of the staff because I’m older than
most of them and they’ve sort of formed a clique. I have friends where I live, though, women who have been neighbours for years, so I’m not what you’d call a loner, or a recluse.’

‘I never for one minute thought you were,’ Poppy told her. ‘The only reason we’ve been slow in becoming friends lies in the office of Mr John. He certainly doesn’t agree with anyone being happy in their work. You never see a smile on his face, and a hearty laugh would kill him. He’s a miserable so and so, and he makes everyone else miserable. If I do manage to get meself another job, the only person I’d miss from there would be you.’ She frowned, then asked, ‘Jean, did I just say meself, instead of myself?’

‘Yes, you did, Poppy, but I wouldn’t worry about it. Your shorthand won’t suffer, you’ll see. That is the main thing to concentrate on. Except for the pot of tea which is now coming our way. You can pour while I start writing. I’m not going to do much here, for by the time we’ve drunk our tea it’ll be time to scoot back to the office. But if you’ll let me take the book with me, I can slip out to the washroom and finish it off.’

‘Don’t get into trouble on my account, Jean, or I’ll worry myself to death. Helping me is one thing, getting the sack for it is another. Don’t take any chances. It’s not worth it.’

‘Drink your tea and stop fretting,’ Jean told her. ‘Ten minutes’ writing, that’s all. And I’ll pass it to you at the end of the day. Now I can only advise you to take it slowly. Take a sentence at a time, comparing mine with your teacher’s. It may seem like a foreign language at first, but with patience it will fall into place. If you find you can’t make head or tail of it, bring the book in on Monday and I’ll see if I can help you, before you show it to your teacher.’

The friends put on their scarves, paid at the counter for the pot of tea, and then linked arms for the walk back to the office. Poppy was in a happy frame of mind, feeling more positive about her ability to reach her goal. And it was all down to Jean. A woman who had devoted her life to her elderly mother, and who worked for a man who didn’t appreciate her skill and loyalty. A man who treated her with scorn. Jean deserved better than that, and Poppy vowed that she would find a way to repay her, and let her know that she was appreciated. And no matter what happened, she would always keep in touch.

‘You don’t have to chaperon me, David,’ Poppy told her brother as she combed her mass of golden, glossy curls. ‘Peter will think you’re being nosy, or that you don’t believe I’m capable of looking after meself … er … myself. I’m nineteen, going on for twenty, not a child.’

‘You can talk until you’re blue in the face, Poppy, but I’m still coming with you. I’m sure Peter is a fine upstanding man, but you’ve only known him a matter of weeks. And I’m not going to give him the third degree by asking how much he’s got in the bank, or what his intentions are towards you.’

Poppy’s mouth gaped in horror. ‘Don’t you dare, David Meadows, or I’ll never speak to you again. And I mean that!’

‘Oh, come on, sis, where’s your sense of humour? I was only joking.’ David stood behind her and spoke to her reflection in the mirror. ‘I’ll just introduce myself, shake his hand, then leave you in his care.’

However, his sister wasn’t satisfied. ‘I still don’t see any need for you to come with me. It’s early evening and there’ll be plenty of people about, so I’ll be safe enough. Anyway,
David, put yourself in Peter’s shoes. How would you feel if one of your dates turned up with a brother in tow?’

‘I’d tell him he could come to the pictures with us, as long as he paid for himself.’

Eva, who was sitting at the table listening, chuckled. ‘Why don’t you pick your girl up on the way, David, and make it a foursome?’

Poppy tutted. ‘Don’t you egg him on, Mam, he’s crazy enough as it is.’ She put the comb in her handbag and reached for her raincoat, which was draped over the arm of the couch. ‘Thank goodness I’ll have a decent coat to wear tomorrow. I’m not half looking forward to walking down the street dressed to the nines and looking like Lady Muck. What about you, Mam?’

‘Oh, I don’t fancy looking like Lady Muck, sweetheart. Mae West, perhaps, but that’s where I’d draw a line.’

‘Mam, you’re only half the size of Mae West,’ David said. ‘She’d eat you for dinner. How about Jean Harlow? She’s more your size.’

Poppy gave one more glance in the mirror, turned up the collar on the raincoat, and picked up her handbag. ‘I’m off, David, and if you insist on coming with me, then put a move on. And don’t forget, not one word about what happened last night. You’re just on your way to the shops for a packet of cigarettes.’

David followed her out of the door, saying, ‘But you know I don’t smoke.’

‘You do for tonight, brother. I’ll make that the excuse, you just shake hands with Peter, give him a big smile and then be on your way.’

Eva called after them, ‘I’m going next door for a game of cards. But don’t worry, I don’t need a chaperon either.’

Peter was standing in front of a sweetshop window when he saw Poppy crossing the road. She was linking a tall, good-looking bloke, and Peter’s heart sank. Then he curled a fist and punched it hard into the palm of his other hand, telling himself that’s what he’d like to do to the bloke who was laughing down at Poppy.

‘I’m sorry if you’ve been waiting long, Peter,’ Poppy said, ‘but you can blame it on David here. He kept me talking.’

David held his hand out. ‘David Meadows, this young lady’s big brother.’

Peter let out the breath he’d been holding in. ‘Peter Broadhurst. For a minute I thought she had come to tell me she was sorry but she’d double-dated and I was the loser.’

David chortled. ‘I’m not brave enough to walk a girl to meet a bloke she was letting down. No, I’ve got a date myself and I’d better be on my way. It was nice meeting you, Peter, and no doubt I’ll see you again.’ The men shook hands and David hurried away.

‘You caused my heart to stop beating for a minute, babe, and I hope you don’t make a habit of it.’ Peter cupped her elbow. ‘Dance, or back row of the stalls?’

‘I’m not dressed for a dance, and I haven’t brought shoes with me. So it’s the back row of the stalls, if you promise to behave yourself.’

‘I’ll be as good as gold.’ Peter’s heart was back to normal and he felt ten feet tall. ‘I mean, holding your hand, or putting my arm round you, that couldn’t come under misbehaving, could it?’

‘It could if I stretched my imagination,’ Poppy told him. ‘But because I was late for our date, I’ll let you off.’

‘Your brother seems an easy bloke to get along with. Is
your mother as easy-going, or will I have to wait until you introduce us to find out?’

They were nearing the picture house when Poppy said, ‘Don’t rush things, Peter. I’m keeping my priorities in order. Or at least I’m trying to. And my first priority is my career – if I’m going to have one. But it won’t be for want of trying if I don’t.’

‘I wouldn’t care if you scrubbed steps for a living, Poppy. You’ll suit me whatever you do.’

They walked into the foyer, and Poppy waited as Peter went to the kiosk for the tickets and a box of Cadbury’s Milk Tray. He chuckled when he handed her the box. ‘These are to take your mind off me stealing kisses.’

The usherette was shining her torch on two vacant seats on the back row when she heard Poppy answer, ‘This girl is not one to be bought with a box of chocolates, Peter Broadhurst. A mink coat, perhaps, but nothing as ordinary as a chocolate. Even if it is Cadbury’s.’

In the light from the torch, Peter saw the usherette smile, and he whispered, ‘My girlfriend is playing hard to get, but deep down she loves me.’

‘I heard that,’ Poppy said as she pulled the seat down. ‘You’ll be getting me a bad name.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it. Poppy Meadows is a wonderful name, and it suits you.’

She gave him a dig, and whispered, ‘The people in front are giving you daggers, so be quiet and let us all enjoy the picture.’

Peter’s right arm went across her shoulders, and his left hand covered hers. In a very low voice, he said, ‘Let’s go dancing tomorrow night, babe. I can hold you tight without you telling me off. Is that a date?’

Poppy nodded. She was looking forward to going into town with her mother tomorrow, to buy the coats they’d waited so long for. But she wasn’t going to tell Peter; she wanted it to be a surprise. He’d only ever seen her in the raincoat that had seen better days, and she hoped he’d be pleasantly surprised.

‘Where shall we try first, Mam? London Road, or Church Street?’

Eva smiled at her daughter, whose face was alive with excitement and anticipation. ‘We could try TJs first; it’s probably the cheapest. Then we could walk down to Lewis’s and Owen Owen’s. We’ve nothing to hurry back for, so we may as well look around.’

‘Okay, we’ll get off the bus in London Road. We can compare quality, choice and price, then decide which shop offers the best value for the money we’ve got.’ Poppy saw a bus coming and squeezed her mother’s arm. ‘Here we go, Mam, and the best of luck to both of us.’

Two hours later, tired and weary, mother and daughter faced each other. ‘No luck so far, sweetheart,’ Eva said. ‘I can’t go on much longer without resting me feet. They’re nearly dropping off.’

They were standing in Lime Street after having traipsed round all the big stores. They’d seen coats they’d liked, but they’d been well over their budget. ‘There’s a little café over the road, Mam. Let’s go and get a cup of tea. Take the weight off our feet for a while.’ Poppy grabbed her mother’s arm as she was stepping off the pavement. ‘Mam, there’s a bus coming! You should look both ways before crossing a busy road. You nearly got run over.’

‘Don’t blame me, sweetheart, blame me feet. They heard yer mention a sit-down, and they were all for it.’

Poppy’s heart was all of a flutter, thinking of what the consequences could have been if she hadn’t acted quickly. ‘It’s not funny, Mam. Yer gave me the fright of me life.’

‘I’m sorry I gave yer a fright, sweetheart, but I wasn’t thinking straight. Me feet are giving me gyp.’

‘Oh, I’ll let you off this time.’ Poppy led her mother across the street and into the nice warm café. It wasn’t a posh place, but it served the purpose, and Eva’s feet were very grateful to have the weight lifted from them. When the tea came, with two scones, mother and daughter began to feel decidedly more cheerful. ‘You can’t beat a cup of tea, can you, Mam? It’s a cure for all ills.’ Poppy was looking out of the window at the row of shops facing. ‘Look at that shop opposite, Mam. There’s some lovely bride’s dresses in the window.’

‘It’s been there some years, that shop,’ Eva said. ‘They seem to do well.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘I’m sure there’s a clothes shop a bit further along. Can you see from where you’re sitting?’

Poppy craned her neck. ‘I can see the shops, but I can’t see what’s in the window, not from this chair.’

‘When we’ve finished here, it wouldn’t hurt to cross over and look in the windows. Yer never know yer luck in a big city. We might just find what we’re looking for.’

‘Could be, Mam. It’s worth a try. But hadn’t you better ask your feet if they’re up to it?’

‘I’ll give them another five minutes, sweetheart, just to show there’s no ill feeling. We’ll finish the tea off, then make a move.’ Eva lowered her voice. ‘Have you paid the bill?’

‘Yeah, I paid when I put the order in. It was only one and six for the both of us. You couldn’t fall out with that, could you?’

Eva nodded. ‘Cheap at half the price, sweetheart. Let’s hope that luck stays with us.’

And luck did indeed stay with them. For two shops past the one selling bride’s dresses, they found a gem of a shop which cheered mother and daughter no end, and even improved the mood of Eva’s feet.

There was only one assistant in the shop, and she proved to be both friendly and efficient. Poppy expected the smile to fall from the woman’s face when they told her they only had four pound each to spend on a coat, but instead the assistant told them she was sure she could find something they’d like within their price range.

Eva tried on a navy blue coat in a warm wool material, with collar, wide revers, and deep cuffs. She felt so comfortable in it, after seeing herself in the full-length mirror, that she declared she didn’t want to look any further, as she was perfectly satisfied. And Poppy didn’t try to coax her to look at others the assistant was willing to show, for she thought her mother looked very smart. The coat really suited her.

‘And now you, my dear,’ the assistant said. ‘Have you a style or colour in mind?’

Poppy shook her head. ‘A friend told me I’d know the coat I really want as soon as I set eyes on it. So perhaps if you would be kind enough to show me what you have in stock, I’ll see if my friend was right.’

‘With your colouring, my dear, I’d say you want a warm colour. Not vivid, but not dull either. I have two in stock which I think you might like. I’m not going to suggest or persuade, because I’m sure your friend was right when she said you’d know the coat you’re looking for as soon as you see it. They’re in the back room, so do you want to come through, or shall I bring them in one at a time?’