One Step at a Time (19 page)

Before she had a chance to say anything, the elderly woman beckoned her over.

‘Come here, girl, let me have a look at you.’

The appraisal was thorough and Amy felt the corners of her mouth turn up in amusement. This was just the sort of thing her own grandmother used to do when she met someone for the first time.

‘Humph.’ The grandmother spoke at last. ‘You’ll do. You can kiss my cheek.’

Amy did so and her smile spread. ‘I’m pleased to meet Ben’s grandmother.’

‘If you’ve quite finished, Mother?’ Ben’s father raised his eyebrows. ‘We’d like to greet our guest as well.’

The father was as tall as his son. They were both big men, but the aura of strength was tempered by the amusement showing in their eyes. The mother was also quite tall and towered over Amy, but then just about everyone did, she thought wryly. Mrs Scott had a determined air about her, but when she smiled Amy was instantly reassured. She had been worried
about meeting Ben and Howard’s parents but, much to her relief, they were all nice people and made her feel welcome.

It turned out to be the happiest Christmas she could remember. After spending Christmas Eve with Ben’s family, he brought her back and she had a lovely time with Ted and Mrs Dalton.

The boys didn’t return until the New Year, and then the three of them set about the business of selling paintings, pots and sculptures. They were all determined to make 1935 a more profitable year.

17

‘Happy birthday for tomorrow, Amy.’

She glanced up as Ben and Howard came into the workshop, and the pot she was attempting to throw collapsed in a wet mess as she shook with laughter. They were standing in the doorway each holding out a chrysanthemum, one of her favourite flowers for painting, but even more amazing was the fact that they were wearing suits and ties!

‘Why thank you, kind sirs.’ She stood up as they came towards her, reaching out for the flowers with hands caked in clay. They had been speeding through the year of 1935 and she hadn’t even noticed December arriving. ‘What are you all dressed up for?’

‘We’ve decided it’s time for us to open our own shop.’ Howard’s eyes were gleaming in anticipation.

‘Oh, that’s wonderful!’ When it looked as if she was going to come near them with her muddy hands they stepped back in alarm.

‘Get cleaned up, Amy,’ Ben instructed, making sure she didn’t touch his one and only good suit. ‘The shop next to Ted’s is empty and we’re going to have a look at it.’

‘That should be perfect.’ She knew it well, and it was bigger than Ted’s bookshop.

‘Don’t just stand there.’ Howard turned her towards the sink. ‘Wash the mess off and change.’

‘You want me to come with you?’

The friends looked at each other and sighed dramatically, then turned their attention back to Amy.

It was Ben who spoke. ‘We’re going into business – the
three
of us: Scott, Palmer and Carter. And you and Howard have got to learn to drive.’

Amy’s headlong flight towards the sink came to a sudden halt and she turned her head. ‘I can’t learn to drive, can I?’

‘Not legally until next year when you’re seventeen, but I’ll start showing you how to drive now, and then you will be ready to take your test when you’re old enough.’

‘I’d like to be able to drive.’ The idea excited Amy. ‘So you’re going to teach us?’

‘I am.’

Howard held his hands up in horror. ‘No fear, Ben. Ted will teach us.’

‘Coward.’ Ben didn’t seem at all put out by the refusal. ‘You can ask Ted, but I’m teaching Amy, and it’s not the slightest bit of good you arguing about it.’

‘I wouldn’t dare.’ Amy grinned. ‘Perhaps I’ll end up as a racing driver.’

Howard pulled a face. ‘That’s a possibility if Ben teaches you.’

Continuing over to the sink she washed her hands. ‘I think it will be fun.’

‘That’s my girl.’ Ben shot Howard a smug glance. ‘Amy’s not so easily frightened.’

After a quick wash and change of clothes they were on their way to see if the shop would be suitable. They had all been working very hard over the last few months and sales of everything they produced had increased markedly. Ben’s paintings were becoming quite popular. The word going round was that this was an artist who was going places, and his work would increase in value. Some people were buying as investments. Amy didn’t know how the talk had started, but she had her suspicions that Ben and Howard might have started the rumour themselves. They were a couple of very enterprising young men. It was the same with Howard’s beautiful sculptures, and the pots painted by Amy were selling as fast as she could produce them. This was the right time for them to branch out, and she was thrilled to be a part of their success.

As soon as they arrived, Ted joined them. ‘The keys have been left with me so you can take your time looking around.’

In fact it didn’t take them long to decide. There was good window space, and a large room upstairs just perfect for a gallery. The downstairs would be ideal for Howard and Amy’s work. The whole place would need a good clean, walls painted and shelves fitted downstairs.

They were fired up with enthusiasm when they
went to the letting agency to sign the agreement. After Ben and Howard had signed, Ben handed Amy the pen, pointing to the place where she should put her signature as well, his expression telling her plainly that they were in this together.

She signed, very pleased that she had practised how to do this all that time ago. She wouldn’t have to embarrass herself, or them, by putting a cross for her name. Her life was very happy and full now and it was hard to remember when it had been different.

Ben pocketed the keys, they shook hands with the agent and made their way back to Ted’s. They were surprised to see Mrs Dalton there wearing her best hat.

‘All settled?’

Ben rattled the keys. ‘The shop is ours.’

‘Good, it’s about time you did this.’ She ushered a customer out as soon as he’d paid for his purchase and locked the door. ‘You’re closing early today, Ted, because I’m taking you all out for a double celebration: Amy’s birthday tomorrow and the new business.’

‘Marvellous!’ Howard rubbed his hands together. ‘Where are we going?’

‘To the Lyons Corner House in Marble Arch. It’s a wonderful place to have afternoon tea.’

They couldn’t all get in Ben’s car, so Mrs Dalton went with Ted in his van.

Amy was speechless when they arrived. The place was huge, with sparkling chandeliers, tall plants and music playing in the background. It was also crowded.

They had a table where they could see everything clearly and Amy watched, turning this way and that way, not wanting to miss anything. There was a big plant behind her, and after examining it carefully she swivelled back to the table and caught a glint of amusement in Ben’s eyes.

‘What is it?’ she whispered.

‘A palm tree.’

‘Never!’

He nodded.

Satisfied with that bit of information she focused on the waitresses. They were really smart in their white aprons and funny little hats. Leaning towards Ben, she whispered again, ‘Don’t they move fast?’

‘That’s why they’re called “Nippies”.’ He spoke quietly close to her ear. ‘Why are we whispering?’

She hit his arm. ‘Stop teasing. I’ve never been anywhere like this before.’

And she had never seen so many cakes. They tried them all until they couldn’t eat another crumb. Amy sighed, eyeing the one remaining iced cake on the stand. It was a shame to leave it but she would burst if she tried to eat anything else. ‘That was lovely; thank you so much, Mrs Dalton. This has been a wonderful birthday celebration.’

When she looked back to the centre of the table, the cake had disappeared. ‘Who had the cake?’

Ben and Howard looked innocent, but it was a sure bet that one of them had eaten it. There wasn’t much of her to fill up, but it seemed impossible to
satisfy either of the two of them. Growing boys, Mrs Dalton always declared. Amy studied them under lowered lashes, her mouth twitching at the corners. She hoped they didn’t grow any more!

Ted stood up. ‘The celebration isn’t over yet. Come back to the shop.’

They piled back into the cars and headed for Chelsea again, only to find that Ted had gone mad and bought a bottle of champagne.

It was sacrilege but they drank it out of mugs, laughing and making plans for the future. Amy had never tried champagne before, but thought it was a bit like lemonade. ‘Ben said we’ve got to learn to drive,’ she told Ted, grinning as the bubbles tickled her nose.

‘Yes, it would be a good idea.’ Ted emptied the bottle by refilling everyone’s mugs.

‘I hope you’ll teach me, Ted.’ Howard smirked. ‘Ben’s a good driver, but he’s too fast for my liking.’

‘I don’t mind doing that.’ Ted glanced at Amy. ‘And what about you?’

‘I’m teaching her. She’s not afraid of me, are you?’

‘No, Ben,’ she said meekly, and then burst into laughter as if it was the funniest joke she’d ever heard.

‘Oh dear.’ Ben rested his arm on Ted’s shoulder. ‘I think the drink has gone to her head.’

Mrs Dalton peered at Amy, looking quite flushed herself. ‘Perhaps we shouldn’t have let her have strong drink.’

‘It’s only like lemonade.’ Amy thought that was a huge joke as well.

‘I think you’d better take her home, boys.’ Ted shook his head. ‘And don’t let her behind a wheel in that state.’

‘I’m not drunk!’ She looked in her mug and tipped it upside down. ‘Oh dear, it’s all gone.’

In one swift movement, Ben whipped the mug out of her hands, lifted her off the floor and tossed her over his shoulder, making her squeal. Beating on his back with her small fists, she cried through her giggles, ‘Put me down, you fool!’

Ignoring her remonstrations, he marched out to the car with her in this undignified position.

She couldn’t think what all the fuss was about. She felt fine!

The next week flew by as they scrubbed, painted walls and made the shop ready for the Christmas trade. Ben and Howard’s fathers came along to try out their carpentry skills by building shelves to display the pottery, and they were delighted with the upstairs when paintings were lining the walls. The mothers were often there to make tea and offer encouragement; in fact it was turning out to be quite a family affair. Even Grandmother came to see if she approved, and when she did, Ben declared that nothing could stop them now. Amy knew them all quite well now, and her respect for them grew. They must have been very worried when their sons dropped out of university, but they had given them the freedom to pursue their dream. She had judged Howard’s
family as uncaring, but that quite clearly wasn’t true. They had believed that his desire to make it as a sculptor had merely been a whim and had expected him to give up quickly. As soon as they’d realized that wasn’t the case they had rallied round to help. But Amy knew that neither Howard nor Ben would take money from their parents. They wanted to make it on their own and everyone respected that desire.

One week before Christmas they opened the shop, hoping they hadn’t made a terrible mistake. All the time they had been working to get it ready they had been buoyant with enthusiasm, but once the doors were opened to the public the doubts crept in. Trade, however, proved to be slow but steady; a good number of people came into the shop – and a pleasing proportion of them even bought things! Ted and Mrs Dalton, who were so proud of the three of them, had done a good job with publicity by telling all their friends and neighbours about the shop.

‘Right, Amy.’ Ben slipped her coat around her shoulders as they locked up for the night. ‘We’ve been too busy for driving lessons, but you must start now. Howard can go home with Ted and you can have a drive.’

‘What?’ Pushing her arms into the coat she blinked at him. ‘I’m not old enough, Ben. Suppose a policeman catches us?’

‘Don’t worry, I know a quiet piece of spare ground.’

‘Good luck,’ Howard called out as he disappeared into Ted’s shop.

Amy was relieved to see that the place Ben took her to wasn’t a road. The ground was rough and uneven but it was a large enough space to drive around. The first problem was the seat. Ben was so tall he had it pushed back as far as it would go. Quite the reverse was needed for Amy, and even with it right forward she could only just reach the pedals.

Ben studied her driving position, frowning. ‘We’ll have to put a cushion behind you. That should solve the problem, but for the moment sit well forward in the seat.’

She wriggled until she was comfortable. ‘Now what do I do?’

Following his instructions carefully they started to move. Her steering wasn’t too good so Ben kept one hand on the wheel to guide her. The gears were tricky, but she quickly learned that you had to push the clutch down twice to get into first gear. Double-declutch, Ben explained.

It came as a surprise but she discovered she loved it and was sorry when he took over again and drove them home.

When the engine had been turned off, Ben gave her a playful tap on the chin with his large fist, looking highly delighted. ‘You’re a natural, Amy, and will be driving on your own in no time at all.’

‘Do you think so? I really enjoyed it. When can I try again? I’ve got to steer better, haven’t I?’

‘You’ll soon get the feel of that. We’ll have another go after work tomorrow.’ He got out, came round
and held open the door for her. ‘Come on, that’s enough excitement for one day. I’m starving.’

Mrs Dalton called them into her dining room as soon as they walked in the door. Howard and Ted were already there. ‘You’ve all been working very hard this week, so I’ve cooked you a dinner tonight.’

Ben kissed her cheek. ‘You spoil us, Mrs Dalton.’

‘Get away with your flattery, Benjamin.’ She pushed him towards a chair, flushed with pleasure. ‘I’m proud of my family and I like to give you a decent meal now and again. I’m sure you’re all too busy to eat properly.’

‘How did you get on with the driving, Amy?’

Before she could answer Howard, Ben said, ‘She took to it as if she’s always been behind a wheel of a car. By the time she’s ready to take her test she’ll be an excellent driver.’