One Rainy Day (52 page)

Poppy came down the stairs on the Saturday morning rubbing the sleep from her eyes. ‘Ooh, you should have called me, Mam. I didn’t hear the alarm going off.’ Yawning, and stretching her arms over her head, she said, ‘I slept like a log. I don’t even remember putting my head down on the pillow.’

‘It was an exciting day for yer yesterday, sweetheart,’ Eva said. ‘And you were late getting to bed.’ Bustling into the kitchen, she called, ‘I did look in on yer earlier, but yer were sleeping like a baby and I didn’t have the heart to disturb yer. Sit yerself down and I’ll make yer a cup of tea before yer get washed and dressed.’

Poppy pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. ‘David must be in a good sleep. There’s no sound from his room.’

Eva came to stand at the kitchen door. ‘David went out at half past seven this morning, sweetheart. You remember him telling us his boss was planning on opening a new depot? Well, they’ve been a while getting it ready, but there’s some equipment being delivered today, and his boss asked David if he’d work this morning to organize the setting up of the office. Once it’s open, and the depot stocked, then David will be in charge.’

The kettle began to whistle, and Eva hurried to turn the gas off. ‘I’ll make the tea, then we can talk.’

Poppy went to stand by the kitchen door. ‘It’s been a good week for the Meadows family, Mam.’ She yawned again, before chuckling. ‘The way we’re going on, we’ll be able to afford a television
and
have a telephone installed. That would give Tilly Mint across the road something to talk about.’

‘I don’t care what Florrie Lawson says about us, as long as she doesn’t knock and ask to use the phone, or come and watch television.’ Eva poured milk into the cups, then passed one to her daughter. ‘Sit down, and we can have a natter. It’ll do you good to wind down after the hectic day yer had yesterday. You enjoyed yerself last night, I could tell when yer came in. And I got to thinking how funny it was that after being knocked over by a bloke, and calling him for everything, yer should end up being friends with him and his sister. Life can be very unpredictable when fate steps in.’

Poppy nodded. ‘The day it happened, and my raincoat got torn, I was as mad as hell with both brother and sister. But I have to admit that my vanity brought on the temper. They were dressed like toffs, and they’d ruined the only coat I possessed. My pride was hurt. And if anyone had told me then that I would one day be friends with them, I’d have said they were mad.’ Poppy smiled as she continued, ‘How Charlotte wormed her way into my life, I will never understand. But I’m glad she did, for she’s a little love, and I’m very fond of her. You would love her, for she’s always got a smile on her face, and her eyes are filled with mischief.’

‘And her brother, Andrew?’ Eva had heard from David that there was romance in the air. ‘Do you get on as well with him as you do with his sister?’

There was a slight hesitation before Poppy answered. ‘I was wrong about both of them, Mam. They are toffs, and they do wear clothes we could never afford, but they are not snobs.’
She drained her cup before steering the conversation in a different direction. ‘Do you feel like coming into town with me? I want to look around the shops and I don’t fancy walking round on my own. I’ll mug you to a cup of tea in Reece’s.’

‘What do yer want in town?’

‘I was thinking I’ll need a couple of skirts and blouses to start my new job. I need to look smart all the time, and ring in the changes every few days. At the moment I haven’t got a skirt to my name, or a decent blouse. So will you come with me for company? And two heads are always better than one.’

Eva nodded as she reached for her daughter’s cup and saucer. ‘Yeah, it’ll be a change for me, and the fresh air will do me good. You get ready, sweetheart, while I make us a couple of rounds of toast. They’ll keep us going until dinnertime. But I don’t want to be out too long, for David will want a meal when he gets home. We’re having bacon, sausage and egg today, a nice quick meal. And I’ve got a piece of lamb for tomorrow.’

‘I’d better put my skates on then,’ Poppy said. ‘I’ll just have a wash and clean my teeth. I can have a bath and wash my hair later.’

Eva went to the bottom of the stairs and called up, ‘Have yer got enough money for the things yer need to buy? If not, I can let yer have a few bob.’

‘I’ve got plenty, Mam. I don’t intend buying any expensive clothes. More along the lines of cheap clothes that look expensive.’ Poppy came out on to the landing, and was laughing as she looked down on her mother. ‘As long as I look like Miss Efficiency, no one will know my clothes came from a stall in Paddy’s market.’

‘Don’t knock Paddy’s market, sweetheart, because I was
glad of it when money was tight.’ Eva waved a hand. ‘Will yer stop talking or we’ll never get out.’

David heard the key in the door and quickly sat down and opened the paper he’d bought on the way home. He’d only been in five minutes, but he was going to pretend otherwise, for a bit of fun. ‘Where on earth have you two been? I’ve been home for ages, and I’m starving with hunger. It’s coming to something when a working man’s been slogging his guts out for hours, and he comes home to an empty house.’

‘I’m sorry, son.’ Eva slipped her coat off and hung it up in the hall. ‘I went into town with Poppy, and we didn’t notice the time flying over. But I’ll soon have the dinner on the go, and as we’re having an easy meal, with bacon, sausage and egg, it’ll be ready in no time.’

Poppy gripped her mother’s arm. ‘Just a second, Mam. I think someone is pulling our legs.’ She raised her brows at her brother. ‘Don’t you be having Mam feeling sorry for you. I can read you like a book. It’s the twinkle in your eyes that gives the game away. Just how long have you been home?’

David chuckled. ‘Five minutes before you.’ He folded the paper and threw it on the couch. ‘If you can read my face, Poppy, why can’t I read yours?’

‘Because I’ve got an open and honest face, that’s why. And for your cheek, you can make me and Mam a cup of tea. I’ve been dragging her all round town, and I bet her feet are killing her. So be a gentleman, and make the ladies a cup of tea.’

‘No, I’ll make the tea,’ Eva said. ‘David’s been out since half seven this morning. He must be worn out.’

David was out of his chair like a shot. ‘I’m not tired, Mam, honest. When the equipment was delivered, all I had to do
was tell the men where to put it. It was more boring than tiring. So let me wait on you. I’ll make the tea while you put your weary feet up. Then we can sit for half an hour, talk about life in general, and Poppy’s shopping in particular. I can’t wait to see what’s in the bags.’ David hesitated at the kitchen door, then turned to face his sister. ‘And I want to know what she got up to last night. What with the promotion, and coming home in posh cars, well, I’m having trouble keeping up with my sister.’

‘I’m not the only one on the ladder of success, dear brother. I was saying to Mam this morning that the Meadows family are on the way up. So, on the bus going into town, we decided that we should start to enjoy our first taste of luxury. Beginning, perhaps, with a television, then following on with having a telephone installed so we can keep in touch with our friends.’

David looked blank. ‘But we don’t have any friends who have a telephone.’

‘Oh, but we will have. When your office is up and running, I can ring you. And we can both ring home to ask Mam what we’re having for dinner.’

‘Don’t mind me,’ Eva said, ‘pretend I’m not here. I won’t be here to answer the phone when you ring up to ask what’s for dinner. Because like you two, I’ll be at work. I’m not packing my job in just to answer a blinking phone! I’ve made up my mind I want to keep my job on because I enjoy it, and I’d miss the women I work with. And also because I want to have some money of my own. I’m determined to have a holiday this year, come what may. I’ve never had a holiday in me life, and neither have you. There was never any money for such a luxury.’

Poppy met David’s eyes, and they silently agreed what the
answer to that should be. ‘Now that is the best idea you’ve had yet, Mam,’ Poppy said. ‘Better than a television or a telephone. Let’s have a family holiday, eh? You say where you’d like to go, Mam, and me and David will go along with wherever you fancy.’

‘I wouldn’t know where to start, sweetheart, since Liverpool is the only place I’ve ever known. The women in work talk about going to Wales, or Blackpool.’ Eva shrugged her shoulders. ‘You choose, and I’ll fit in with you. But don’t forget, it might be difficult for us to get the same weeks off. The big factories close every year for the last week in July and the first week in August, but I can take a week any time, as long as I give plenty of notice.’

‘I don’t think working for Mr Sutherland Senior will make any difference to the holidays,’ Poppy said. ‘The office doesn’t close down, as you know, and the staff stagger their holidays. I suppose being solicitors they can’t shut down completely. So that only leaves you, David, but I’m sure you can fix it so we can all go away together.’

‘I’ll work something out, don’t worry,’ David said. ‘And now, before I finally make that much talked of pot of tea, can I make a little suggestion?’

‘We are all equal in this house, brother, and we all have a say. So out with it, what is this little suggestion?’

‘Why don’t we have a weekend away next week? There’s nothing to stop us, and it would be a nice break. We have never been outside Liverpool, and now we can afford to spread our wings a little, let’s go mad and have a weekend in Blackpool. We could get the train there on Friday night straight from work, and come home on the Sunday night. We could go to the Tower, where there is the best dance floor in the country, and Reginald Dixon plays the organ.’

‘But where would we stay for the two nights?’ Eva asked.

‘Mam, the
Echo
is full of adverts every night for bed and breakfast houses,’ David told her. ‘And there’s always a phone number for them, so I could ring from work and make enquiries. Anyway, I’ll see to the tea while you two make up your minds. I’d be delighted to go away for a break, but it’s up to you.’

‘I’d be happy with Blackpool, Mam,’ Poppy said. ‘I believe there’s plenty to do there, with the Tower and the fun fair. And the sea air will do us good, blow all the cobwebs away.’

Eva nodded. ‘Yeah, let’s go mad and let our hair down, eh? As you say, it will do the three of us good to have a change.’

David had a huge grin on his face as he carried the tray in. ‘I can’t wait to get on that dance floor and trip the light fantastic.’

‘I believe they’ve got a zoo in there, as well,’ Poppy said. ‘That should be interesting. We won’t be short of something to do to pass the time.’

David handed the cups round, then sat down at the table. ‘Last but not least, Poppy, what have you got in those bags? I presume it’s clothes, and I’m surprised you’ve let them stay in the bags for so long. Aren’t you pleased with your purchases?’

Poppy jumped to her feet. ‘D’you know, I’d forgotten about them.’ She took two blouses out of one of the bags, and opened them up for her mother and brother to see. One was in white cotton, with pearl buttons down the front and two on each sleeve. It was tailored, ideal for a secretary. The other was in a light beige, with a winged collar, pearl buttons and three-quarter-length sleeves: also ideal for a secretary. Then came the skirts, one in black, the other in navy. Straight, calf length, and held against the blouses they matched up well.

‘I know I’m a male, and supposed to be stupid where
women’s clothes are concerned,’ David said, ‘but I can see they are going to look very smart, Poppy. Your new boss will think himself very lucky.’

Eva nodded, her heart filled with pride. How lucky she was with her children. Her beloved husband had left her a wonderful legacy. ‘Are yer going out tonight, sweetheart?’

‘No, I’m having a night in, Mam. I’m going to brush up on my shorthand, ready for Monday.’ Poppy tilted her head as she smiled at her brother. ‘I’m hoping you’re not going out, David, because I’d like you to give me some dictation. Just a paragraph out of the paper would do, then see if I can read it back without making a mistake. It wouldn’t take very long, and you could still go out if you’ve made arrangements.’

‘I’ve nothing planned, so I don’t mind helping you. Then we could have a game of cards to pass the time.’ His handsome face lit up. ‘I know, why don’t we start living the high life tonight? I’ll go to the shops when we’ve had our dinner, and get a bottle of sherry and a big slab of Cadbury’s chocolate. How does that sound?’

‘Sounds like the best thing you’ve said today,’ Poppy told him as she laid the new skirts and blouses over her arm. ‘I’ll hang these up, then give you a hand with the dinner, Mam.’

‘When are you seeing Charlotte and Andrew again?’ David asked.

From the bottom stair, Poppy told him, ‘I’m seeing Charlotte on Monday for lunch. She’ll want to find out how my first morning has gone. Then I suppose she and Andrew will be at the Grafton on Tuesday.’

‘Just out of interest,’ Eva said, ‘will Peter be there?’

‘I don’t know that, Mam.’ Poppy stepped down off the bottom stair and came back in the room. ‘I can’t hold a conversation from out there. But as for Peter, I imagine he
and Kate will be there. And I’ve got a feeling Sarah will, as well. I can see a romance blossoming between her and Jim. I hope so, because they seem good for each other.’ She looked from her mother to David. ‘Now have either of you got any more questions before I go upstairs to hang these clothes up?’

‘I can’t think of anything, our kid,’ David said. ‘If I do, I’ll write it down.’

‘Do I look all right, Mam?’ Poppy was wearing the new black skirt and white blouse. ‘Is the skirt too tight, d’you think?’

‘You look a treat, sweetheart, so don’t be worrying.’

‘My nerves are shattered. I can’t stop my hands from shaking.’

‘You’ll be fine,’ Eva told her. ‘David said to tell you to walk into your office as though you haven’t a care in the world. And he told me to give you this.’ Eva stretched her neck to plant a kiss on her daughter’s cheek. ‘He was sorry he couldn’t wait to see you, but he’s in a new job himself and he didn’t want to be late.’