One Step at a Time (14 page)

‘I agree, but we can’t force her to confide in us. When she knows us better she might talk more freely.’

‘You’re right, Ben. When she went back to work she was bright enough, so I expect I was making something out of nothing.’ Ted pulled a face and changed the subject. ‘Have you seen those drawings her grandmother did for her when she was teaching her to read?’

‘No, are they good?’

‘Yes, there was real talent there. She’s drawn the alphabet with a picture underneath for each letter. It would make a terrific children’s book.’

‘Are you thinking of doing something along those lines?’ Ben knew that the love of Ted’s life was books.

‘That’s a tempting idea, but much too expensive to produce with all those pictures. Pity though, because they are excellent.’

‘I’ll ask her to let me have a look at them. Perhaps Amy has inherited some of the talent?’ Ben leant
against the bench. ‘She’s an intriguing girl, isn’t she? I’m just dying to get her to sit for me, so I can study her properly.’

Nodding, Ted walked over to the portrait, standing in front of it with his head on one side. ‘I think you’ve captured her very well.’

‘Do you think so?’ Ben joined him and shook his head. ‘No, it isn’t right. I’ve a feeling there’s a lot more to her than I’ve shown.’

Ted laughed. ‘You’re a perfectionist, Ben. The picture is beautiful.’

‘Perhaps, but it can be better. Now she’s living here I think I’ll start all over again.’

‘I think you just like painting her, Ben.’

‘I do, it’s a real challenge. I was captivated by her unusual face as soon as I saw her.’ Ben’s smile was wry. ‘Perhaps one day I’ll do a painting worthy of her. I can’t wait to see what she looks like in three or four years’ time.’

‘I don’t think she’ll ever be what is classed a beauty.’ Ted looked up at Ben, a question in his eyes. ‘What do you think?’

‘You’re right, but she has something much more enduring than beauty.’

‘Ah, the artist’s eye. I’m going to get myself something to eat now.’ Ted lifted his hand in a wave and left the studio.

Ben stayed where he was, studying the sketches through narrowed eyes. Yes, he’d start all over again as soon as he could get her up here. And if she stayed
in the house he would do a sketch for every year of her life and see how much she changed as the years went by. That thought filled him with the kind of enthusiasm he’d felt when he had first met her sitting alone by the river with a dreamy expression on her face. He had wondered then what she had been thinking, and he was even more intrigued by her now. He was looking forward to delving below the surface and finding out what she was really like. And there was a great deal to find out, he was absolutely sure of that fact.

13

The buses were crowded and Amy had to let two go before she managed to squeeze on one. It was nearly seven when she reached home, where she made straight for the kitchen.

Ted was there. ‘Hello Amy, how did you get on this afternoon?’

‘I sold two pairs of shoes,’ she told him proudly, ‘and the manager told me I was good with the customers.’

He gave a quiet smile. ‘That’s good. Would you like a cup of tea?’

She nodded. ‘I’m gasping and I must get something to eat as well. All I’ve had were those jam sandwiches.’

‘That will never do. You must eat because you’re already too thin.’

‘Oh, I’ve always been skinny.’ She dismissed Ted’s concerns and opened the larder. ‘I’ll cook us both something for tea. Now, what have we got? Hmm, what about scrambled eggs on toast?’

‘That’ll do nicely.’

Amy spun round just as Ben and Howard sat at the table with expectant expressions on their faces.

‘Are you boys cadging again?’ Mrs Dalton swept in carrying a bowl full of eggs and holding them out for Amy. ‘Here, it looks as if you’re going to need
these, but don’t let them take advantage of you, Amy, they’re quite capable of getting their own food.’

There were at least a dozen eggs in the bowl and Amy took them gratefully. If she was going to feed the four of them, then they would be needed.

Ted took money out of his pocket. ‘How much do we owe you, Mrs Dalton?’

‘Nothing, Ted, I don’t mind giving you and my children a few eggs.’ Her smile was affectionate as she looked at Amy. ‘How did your first day at the shop go?’

‘Quite well. The manager was pleased with me.’

‘Good girl, I knew you’d do well.’

Praise was something Amy had had very little of in the past and she felt herself colour with pleasure. It made her all the more determined to make a success of the new job. ‘Would you like some tea as well, Mrs Dalton?’

‘No thank you, my dear. I’m visiting friends this evening so I’ll leave you to it.’ Giving everyone another broad smile, she left the kitchen.

‘Well!’ Ben’s eyebrows shot up. ‘I know she likes to mother us, but that’s the first time she’s ever called us her children.’

Howard sat back, balancing his chair on the back legs. ‘In that case, do you think she’ll let us off the rent this week?’

‘Why don’t you two make more effort to sell your work?’ Ted was shaking his head as he looked at the boys. ‘You’re both very talented.’

Ben shrugged his shoulders. ‘There’s a depression on, Ted. People aren’t spending money on luxuries, and that’s what we produce.’

‘I’m well aware of the economic situation, but those with money are still buying.’

‘If they are then they’re not coming our way.’ Howard ran his fingers over the contours of the cruet set in the middle of the table, his expression gloomy.

‘What about that gallery or shop you’re always talking about? You could probably rent premises quite reasonably at the moment.’

‘We still need money to do it though, Ted.’ Howard stood up and pulled out the linings of his pockets. ‘Look, I haven’t got a penny to my name.’

All the time the discussion was going on, Amy busied herself cooking their tea. When she served it up the boys attacked it as if they hadn’t eaten for a week, uttering moans of appreciation and making her smile.

‘You’re a lifesaver!’ Howard’s gloom had disappeared. ‘Will you paint me some more vases and I’ll see if I can sell them?’

‘All right.’

‘Amy, Ben would like to see the drawings your grandmother did for you.’ Ted said, pouring them all another cup of tea.

Ben cleared his plate and smiled. ‘Ted told me they’re very good.’

Seeing they had almost finished eating, she cleared a space on the table. ‘I’ll get them now.’

She was soon back with the precious sheets and spread them out so Ben could see them.

‘You’re right, Ted, they are good.’

Kneeling on a chair, elbows on the table, Amy beamed proudly. ‘My gran was ever so clever. She could draw, sew, and she knew lots about all sorts of things.’

‘Everyone’s clever at something or other, but we all have different talents.’ Ben winked at her. ‘You’re an excellent cook, and I’m sure you have many more talents.’

That made her giggle. ‘Scrambled eggs isn’t cooking. Anyone can do that.’

‘I can’t, and neither can Howard. Our eggs end up like rubber.’

‘They certainly do.’ Howard, frowning fiercely, picked up the drawing of the cat.

‘That’s my favourite.’ Amy ran her finger over the cat’s face. ‘It looks as if he’s laughing.’

‘Hmm.’ The frown disappeared. ‘If I make some of these, will you paint them for me, Amy? They might sell in that little odds and ends shop in the King’s Road.’

Ben lifted his hands in horror. ‘I know we’re desperate, Howard, but cats…?’

‘It’s worth a try.’ Howard picked up the sheet. ‘Can I borrow this? I’ll take good care of it.’

She hesitated, remembering the chaotic mess of his workroom. ‘All right, but don’t get it dirty, will you?’

‘Promise.’ He grabbed a biscuit from the plate
Amy had put on the table, and left the kitchen to start right away.

Ben also stood up then. ‘Don’t forget you promised to sit for me, Amy. When do you think you can come up to my studio? I’d like to finish your portrait. It must be in daylight though.’

‘I have Wednesday afternoons off, will that be all right?’

‘That will be perfect.’ He stopped at the door and turned his head. ‘Thanks for the food.’

Ted also disappeared quickly, and she knew why the kitchen had emptied so rapidly. There was a pile of washing-up to do. But she didn’t mind and it was soon all clean and packed neatly away.

It was such a pleasure each time she walked into her lovely room knowing it was all hers and she was safe here. It was early November now, the nights were drawing in, and there was a real nip in the air. Switching on the small electric fire she pulled up the armchair and was about to settle herself in front of the warmth when there was a plaintive meow at the door. When she opened it, Oscar slid in, sat by the fire and began to wash, paying special attention to his whiskers.

‘You’ve had your tea then, have you?’ He looked up when she spoke, rumbled nicely, then returned to his cleaning.

Amy sat down, wondering how Howard was getting on with the model of the cat, for she couldn’t help thinking that Oscar was rather like that cat in
the picture. Her musing brought her dear gran much closer and was comforting, but how she wished she were here now to talk to. Her first day at the shop had turned out all right, but she couldn’t keep pretending to lose her pen, or any of the other inventive ways she’d used to hide the fact that she couldn’t read or write very well. Still, what was it Mrs Dalton had said? Ah yes, one step at a time. That’s all she could do, get through one day at a time. She hadn’t done too badly so far. She gazed around the room, still not being able to believe her luck. She had a home, friends and a job. Everything was going to be all right.

As if in agreement with her, the cat jumped on to her lap, turned round a couple of times to find the most comfortable spot, then sat down, purring contentedly. Amy laid her head back and closed her eyes, letting the tension of the day drain away. She was too tired to practise her reading tonight, but she would try extra hard from now on. Perhaps on her way to work one day she could buy a magazine and try to read some of that. And if she went to the shop carrying that, they would believe she could read perfectly. She smiled to herself. That was a good idea; she hadn’t thought of that one before…

Oscar’s meow woke her up. He was standing by the door demanding to be let out. The room was lovely and warm now so she turned off the fire and opened the door for the cat, following him along the passage to the kitchen.

After giving him a saucer of milk, she made herself a cup of cocoa.

Mrs Dalton came in. ‘Ah, that’s a good idea. It’s cold out tonight and getting foggy. How I hate that stuff. No matter how well you know the road, it’s so easy to lose your way.’

‘Would you like some cocoa?’ Amy asked, admiring her coat. Fancy owning a real fur coat.

‘Yes please, dear. I’ll bring you some milk in the morning so you and Ted have enough for your breakfast.’ She sat down and removed her gloves.

‘Did you have a nice evening?’ Amy poured milk into the saucepan to heat for the drink.

‘It was very pleasant. Now, tell me how you’re getting on at the shop and if you think you’ll like it?’

‘Once I get used to it.’ Amy poured the hot milk into a cup and stirred the cocoa. ‘I worked in a factory before, and it’s quite different, but I enjoy talking to the customers.’

‘Give it a week and you’ll soon get used to it.’ She took the cup from Amy, smiling. ‘I know you’ve had a tough time losing both your parents when you’re so young, and I want you to come to me if you have any worries or problems, no matter what they are. Will you promise to do that?’

‘Yes, Mrs Dalton, and I’m ever so grateful to you for letting me live here. You’ve all been very kind.’

‘We’ve got a nice little family here and you make it complete.’ Mrs Dalton drank her cocoa. ‘You just consider yourself one of us now. We live our own
lives, but help each other out when needed. Benjamin and Howard threw away a good education to follow their desire to become artists. They are both very talented, but I can’t say I approve of what they’ve done. They are fine boys though.’

Amy nodded in agreement.

‘Ted is a steady dependable man and will go out of his way to help anyone in need. He came to live here when he lost his wife three years ago. It suits him; he has his independence but doesn’t have to live in a house on his own. I know how hard that is when you’ve had a long and happy marriage.’ She stood up. ‘You can come to any of us, Amy. You’re part of our family now.’

Amy smiled, her eyes misting slightly with emotion as she watched Mrs Dalton leave the kitchen. She hadn’t been close to her father, but it hurt her to know he ended up in such a terrible way, and she still missed her mother dreadfully. To be told she was now one of this made-up family was very comforting. She felt guilty about keeping a secret from them, but she couldn’t tell them about her difficulty with reading and writing. She just couldn’t. They would think she was stupid and that would hurt. It was very important to her that they liked her. So important that she knew she would do anything she could to stop them finding out.

She stayed through Tuesday without too many problems, and Wednesday was half-day, so Amy knew she only had to get through a few hours. Before going to
the shop she stopped at a newsagent’s and gazed at the array of magazines, wondering what to buy, when one with a film star on the cover caught her attention. Picking it up she traced the name with her finger, spelling the letters out in her head. Then she remembered: Claudette Colbert; she’d seen her when she used to go to the pictures with Gladys. Oh, how she had enjoyed their Saturday evenings. Gladys had been the first friend she’d ever had, but in the end she had deserted her, just like everyone else. She felt cold right through. That mustn’t happen where she was living now. It would be more than she could bear!

‘You going to buy that
Picturegoer?
’ the shopkeeper called to her from behind his counter.

‘Yes please.’ She hurried over to him, holding out the magazine. ‘I was just making sure I hadn’t read it.’