Stay as Sweet as You Are (54 page)

‘Whoa, there, Ma, I can’t keep up with yer. Sit down and start at the very beginning.’

‘I’ll make yer a cup of tea first. I can’t have yer coming home without even a drink ready for yer. The dinner’s in the oven, it’ll be an hour yet.’

Titch leaned forward and rested his elbows on his legs, a cup and saucer in his hands. ‘I can’t believe it. Yer mean Ruby actually admitted she’d been sleeping with a bloke?’

Aggie nodded. ‘As bold as brass. And to see her walking up the street with her nose in the air – well, it’s enough to make yer sick. She’s had to take a part-time job in some laundry ’cos, although Bob pays the rent, he won’t give her any money.’

‘And what about Lucy in all this? Doesn’t Ruby take it out on her?’

‘Lucy has most of her meals in Irene’s. Bob pays her a few
shillings a week. And Ruby daren’t look sideways at Lucy because Bob threatened to stop paying the rent and she’d be turfed out. Besides, the girl isn’t the least bit frightened of her mother now. She’s turned out to be very strong-willed. She’s got it into her head that her dad will come home again one day, so she’s making sure the house is kept right for when he does.’

‘Bob won’t come back – he’d never be able to lift his head up if he did.’

‘No, he won’t come back if Ruby’s there, Lucy knows that. She’s of the opinion that her mother will up sticks and leave. And before yer say anything, I think the girl’s right. I don’t know why I think that, it’s just a gut feeling I’ve got. I pray to God every night that we’re both right. The whole sorry mess is taking its toll on Bob. He’s lost weight and his face is haggard. He’s pining for his daughter, which is only natural.’

‘Fancy me being away and missing all this.’ Titch shook his head slowly. ‘I’m sorry for Bob, he’s as nice a feller as yer’ll ever meet. And yer say he’s already put in for a divorce?’

Aggie nodded. ‘Someone related to Kate is a solicitor and he’s helped him with all the rigmarole. He wanted to know if Bob knew the name of the bloke Ruby’s been sleeping with, but no one knows that.’

‘It shouldn’t be too hard to find out. Someone could follow her one night. If it’s down on the divorce papers that she’s been unfaithful to Bob, he could be asked to prove it.’

Aggie sighed as she got to her feet. ‘What a bleedin’ awful life. I’ll be really upset if Bob and Lucy go to live miles away, I wouldn’t half miss them.’ She sniffed up. ‘I’ll get the dinner moving ’cos I suppose ye’re dying to see Olive.’

‘Yer could say that, Ma, seeing as she’s me intended. And I’d like to see young Lucy before the day’s out.’

‘She calls in here every afternoon after school, before she goes to Irene’s, so ye’re bound to see her. Anyway, if she
knows ye’re home yer won’t need to go looking for her, she’ll find you.’

Olive opened the door and held her arms wide. ‘Where’ve yer been all this time? I saw yer passing the window hours ago and I’ve been sitting on the edge of the chair waiting for yer.’

Titch held her tight, his kisses warm and eager. ‘Oh, this feels so good, sweetheart. I’ve really missed yer this trip. I only intended to call at me ma’s for five minutes, but she had so much news for me I couldn’t get away.’

Olive took his hand and led him through to the living room. ‘Yer’ve heard all about Bob’s troubles, then?’

‘Yeah, I only wish I’d been here.’ Titch sat close to her on the couch and slipped an arm across her shoulders. ‘Not that I could have done anything to prevent what happened, but at least I could have lent him an ear.’

‘From what I’ve heard, Kate and her mother are marvellous with him. Lucy is quite taken with them. She said Mrs Nellie, that’s what she calls Kate’s mother, is just like yer ma. Always ready to put the kettle on and forever telling jokes.’

‘I’m concerned for Lucy. I wouldn’t have thought it safe to leave her in the house with Ruby. The woman’s as mad as a hatter – she’s capable of anything.’

‘Don’t worry about Lucy, she’s being watched over night and day. She has her dinner with Irene and stays to play cards until it’s her bedtime. Steve goes there after he’s visited yer ma, and when it’s time for her to go home, he takes her and waits until she’s at the top of the stairs before closing the door. Then the Pollard boys take over. They sleep in the back room and it’s only a thin wall separating them from Lucy’s. Jack’s told her to give a knock at the least sign of trouble and they’ll be with her in seconds.’ Olive chuckled. ‘Greg said he’d come waving a rolling pin. Luckily, Bob gave Irene a spare key just in case, so they’d have no trouble getting in.’

‘To think a woman would cause so much heartache to her husband and family.’ Titch sounded disgusted. ‘And me ma
said she walks round as bold as brass.’

‘Oh, yeah! She goes out nearly every night, and she doesn’t bother using the back entry now. She walks up the street as though she owns it. Dolled up to the nines and enough make-up on to sink a ship.’

‘She’ll get what’s coming to her one of these days, mark my words. And I hope that day comes sooner rather than later.’ Titch removed his arm to take her hands in his. ‘Anyway, my love, tell me about how much yer’ve missed me.’

‘What? And give yer a big head! Not likely.’ Olive nestled closer and kissed his cheek. ‘I’ve missed yer more than yer’ll ever know, love.’

Titch blew little puffs of breath into her ear. ‘Have yer made up yer mind when ye’re going to marry me, then?’

The reply came quickly. ‘In six months’ time. That’s how long it’ll take to save up enough to get the house as I want it, and to buy the clothes to get married in.’

‘I’ve told yer over and over again yer don’t have to worry about money, love! I’ve got enough for everything yer need.’

‘And I’ve told yer over and over that after we get married, yer can keep me. Until then I’ll hang on to me pride and independence.’

Titch knew it would serve no purpose to argue. They’d been over this ground dozens of times. ‘Have it your own way, love. Six months it is.’

The knock on the door brought a look of surprise to Olive’s face. ‘I wonder who this can be? Steve’s not due in till after half-five.’

‘Only one way to find out.’ Titch got to his feet. ‘I’ll go and chase whoever it is away. How dare they interrupt us when I’ve just got home? Have they no tact?’

When Olive heard him say, ‘Hello, sweetheart,’ she knew who would be coming through the door clinging to Titch’s hand.

‘Mrs Aggie said if I didn’t get an answer the first time, I
wasn’t to knock again ’cos yer’d be kissing and cuddling.’ Lucy’s face was one big smile. ‘And she said I wasn’t to stay long ’cos yer had to make up for lost time.’

‘Oh, did she now?’ Titch put his hand around her waist and lifted her from the floor. Smiling up into her face, he asked, ‘And how’s my girl, then?’

‘I’m all right, Mr Titch, but I don’t half miss me dad. Mrs Aggie told yer what happened, didn’t she?’

‘Yes, she did, sweetheart, and I’m very sorry. But don’t be too unhappy – look on the bright side and tell yerself it won’t be for long.’

‘We keep telling her that,’ Olive said. ‘And I know something that will make her very happy. But ye’re to keep it to yerself, Lucy, until Titch tells Mrs Aggie himself.’

Lucy’s face was agog. ‘Cross my heart, Mrs Fletcher, I won’t say a dickie-bird.’

Olive glanced at Titch. ‘Do you want to tell her, or shall I?’

‘I’m sure you’ll do it much better than I would, love.’

‘Ye’re getting married.’ Lucy could barely contain herself as she clapped her hands. ‘Oh, I bet that’s what it is.’

‘Yes, we are getting married, but not for another six months.’ Olive wanted to give this young girl something to look forward to. ‘What I wanted to tell yer, or rather to ask yer, is would yer like to be me bridesmaid?’

Titch felt like hugging Olive for being so caring and thoughtful, but Lucy beat him to it. She threw herself at Steve’s mother, tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks. ‘Oh yes, yes, yes! And thank you, thank you, thank you! Wait until I tell me dad, he’ll be over the moon. I’ve never been to a wedding, never mind being a bridesmaid.’

‘I’ll tell yer what, sweetheart,’ Titch said. ‘I’ll ask me intended if she’ll come with me now to tell me ma. Then yer won’t have to keep it to yerself. Yer can tell the whole world if yer like.’

‘I wouldn’t tell the whole world, Mr Titch. Just everyone in the street and all the girls in me class at school. I’ll be that
proud there’ll be no keeping up with me.’

Titch was feeling excited himself now that arrangements were finally being made. He reached for Olive’s hand. ‘Let’s go and make me ma as happy as Lucy is. I can’t wait to see her face.’

Lucy walked between them, her arms linking theirs. ‘How long are yer home for, Mr Titch?’

‘Only a week, sweetheart.’

Olive brought them to a halt. ‘A week! Ye’re only on leave for a week?’

‘That’s the bad news, love. The good news is that I’ll only be away a month on the next trip, then it’s two weeks’ leave.’

Lucy’s mind went back to the wedding. ‘Six months isn’t long, it’ll soon pass. And I’ll be a working girl by then.’

‘It’s half-past nine, sunshine, time for you and Rhoda to be going to bed.’

‘I won’t be able to sleep, I’m that excited.’ Lucy began to gather the cards together. ‘Your mam is lovely, Steve, for asking me to be her bridesmaid.’

‘I’ve never been a bridesmaid,’ Rhoda said. ‘D’yer think if I asked her nicely she’d consider having two?’

‘No chance.’ Steve grinned. ‘It’s only going to be a quiet wedding.’

‘I’d fit in, ’cos I’m only a quiet girl.’

‘Just listen to her!’ Greg said. ‘She gabs more than anyone I know. I bet a pound to a pinch of snuff that she talks in her sleep.’

‘She wouldn’t be the only one, would she?’ Jack winked at Rhoda who was giving his brother daggers. ‘You talk in yer sleep every night.’

Irene banged her fist on the table. ‘That’s it for tonight. Come on, girls, take yerselves off home to bed.’

Jack scraped his chair back. ‘I’ll see Rhoda to her door while you see to Lucy, Steve.’

George looked up from his paper. ‘Remember, no goodnight kisses until the girls have left school.’

‘You’re awful, Mr Pollard,’ Lucy said, giggling. ‘But ye’re awful in a nice way.’ She pecked his cheek before flinging her arms around Irene. ‘I’ll see yer tomorrow.’

‘Goodnight, sunshine. And yer’ll make a lovely bridesmaid.’

When Lucy opened her front door, she said to Steve, ‘If me mam’s not in I won’t go straight upstairs, ’cos I want to wash me hands and face.’

‘I’ll wait here until yer make sure.’

Lucy was back within seconds. ‘She’s gone out. I’ll be all right now, Steve, thanks very much. I’ll see yer tomorrow.’

‘Okay, but don’t forget to knock next door if she comes in and tries anything.’

‘I won’t. Goodnight, Steve.’ Lucy closed the door and made her way through the living room to the kitchen. She had a headache with excitement and a swill in cold water might help shift it. She didn’t waste any time because she didn’t know when her mother would be in and she didn’t fancy coming face to face with Ruby. After what she’d done to her dad, the less she saw of her the better.

Lucy was halfway across the living room when she happened to glance at the fireplace. She stood with her chin in her hand, wondering why she thought it didn’t look right. Then it struck her. The carved wooden candlesticks were missing from the mantelpiece. She frowned as she tried to think where they could be. They’d been there this morning before she went to school. Then she spied the bag at the side of her mother’s chair. It was a big bag, one her mother took to work with her overall in.

Without thinking, Lucy did something she’d never done before; she lifted the bag on to the chair and moved the newspaper that was spread over the top. And there lay the candlesticks that she knew meant a lot to her dad because they’d belonged to his mother. What on earth were they doing
in the bag? Where was her mother taking them? She had no right to move them, they weren’t hers. There was only one way to find out, Lucy told herself, feeling very angry, and that was to ask.

Ruby came home at half-ten to find her daughter sat at the table with the candlesticks in front of her. ‘What the hell are you doing up at this time, yer little flamer?’

‘Waiting to ask yer where yer were taking these.’

‘I’m taking them to the pawnshop, yer hard-faced faggot. Now get up them stairs to bed and mind yer own business.’

‘It
is
my business. They are not yours to pawn, they belong to me dad.’ Lucy got to her feet and picked up the candlesticks. ‘I’m taking them upstairs with me so yer can’t get yer greedy hands on them.’

‘If yer bleedin’ father gave me enough to live on, I wouldn’t have to pawn anything.’

Lucy wrinkled her nose. ‘Yer smell of drink. It’s funny how yer can always find the money for that. But if yer take anything out of this house that you haven’t paid for, I’ll tell me dad on yer.’

There was rage on Ruby’s face, but she was crafty enough to know how far she could go. ‘One of these days I’ll give yer the hiding of yer bleedin’ life, yer snotty-nosed little faggot. It’s something I should have done years ago.’

‘There’s lots of things yer should have done years ago, but yer didn’t and it’s too late now. I used to pray that yer’d love me like a mother should, but I don’t bother any more. That’s because I’ve realised yer don’t know what the word love means. I suppose I should pity yer, really, but I can’t even bring meself to do that.’ Lucy turned on her heels and left the room.

Lucy jumped down from the step of Rhoda’s house then spun around to gaze up at her friend with a face that was full of excitement and joy. It had been a very hectic but happy day for both of them. It was their last day at school and they’d been allowed time off to go for an interview at Vernons Football Pools. To their delight they’d both been taken on and were to start work on Monday morning at the football pools office in Linacre Lane.

‘I can’t get over it, can you?’ Lucy asked, hugging herself. ‘I bet my dad will be as glad as your mam was that we’re going to be working together.’

‘Is yer dad coming down tonight?’