The Melody Girls (15 page)

Only a few minutes later, the letter was written and Lorna was flying out to the post box. She pictured Flo's delighted surprise at the news she was sending, and of all they could now do to turn their plans into reality. She was so grateful to her mother, so glad of the money, and for the first time since saying goodbye to Rod, felt the pain of loss might one day ease.

Twenty-Six

At first, it seemed as though everything was going to be so easy. The insurance money – four hundred pounds – turned out to be more than expected and would certainly be enough to pay rent for premises until money could be made; wages, too, though they would have to be low at first.

‘There was far too much for just a wedding,' Lorna pointed out. ‘I mean, what were you planning? Something in St Giles's Cathedral?'

Tilly shook her head. ‘I suppose we always thought there'd be some over for you to start married life with. So, now you can have it to start something else.' She sighed a little. ‘Just hope it's successful.'

‘It will be, Ma, it will be. Flo and me – we know we can do it. Isn't that right?' Lorna appealed to Flo, who had come rushing over from Glasgow specially to thank Tilly.

‘Oh, that's right, Mrs Fernie,' Flo said earnestly. ‘All we needed was some help and you've given it to us. We couldn't be more grateful.'

‘The money was never meant for me, so no need to thank me. I know you'll both make the best use of it you can.'

She could be sure of that they told her.

Euphoric days, then, to begin with, when the two young women felt they were walking on air and that everything was going their way. Until they met the problems.

First, it took some time to release the money, and even when it was in Lorna's new bank account, it looked as if it wouldn't be used, for she couldn't find anywhere to rent for their studio. All they needed was somewhere to rehearse and do the paper work, but finding properties to rent in post-war Edinburgh was, it seemed, almost impossible. Everyone was looking for houses, flats, rooms – anything – but those few that were available were too expensive for most people.

‘I give up!' Lorna cried, after some weeks of searching had gone by without success. ‘I don't think we're ever going to find anything.'

‘Looks that way,' Flo agreed gloomily, who came over from Glasgow when she could to help in the search. ‘It's lucky I have my typing job.'

‘Oh, don't say that!' Lorna cried. ‘To think of you typing, and me in the bakery, instead of running our band! It's heartbreaking. I mean, we can't even advertise for any players until we get premises, and we haven't even got Ina now.'

Flo sighed. ‘She said she felt pretty sad about letting us down, but I always had the feeling she wouldn't want to leave Dickie.'

‘Can't blame her for that,' Lorna said quietly. ‘If she's found the right one, good luck to her.'

Flo put a sympathetic hand on Lorna's arm.

The breakthrough came in the end from Ewen, who arrived at Tilly's flat one June evening with great news.

‘Got the very place, Lorna! Come on, I'll take you to see it. I've got the keys.'

‘Where is it?' she cried, leaping up. ‘Ewen, tell me!'

‘Aye, tell her,' Tilly ordered. ‘She's been like a wet weekend lately, with no' finding anywhere.'

‘Well, don't expect too much, but a pal of mine told me there are some disused premises off the Leith Walk, back of one of the cinemas. Used to be a boys' club, but it's no' been used for years and hasn't got planning permission for housing, so nobody's bought it and it's still for rent.'

‘Would it do for rehearsals?'

‘Be ideal. Nobody around to hear you.' Ewen hesitated. ‘Need a ton of paint, though, to smarten it up, and I don't know what else.'

‘I can do painting. But what's the rent?'

‘No' bad. But there might be others in for it, so better come round now and have a look at it.'

‘I'm on my way.' Lorna was already scrambling into her jacket. ‘Ma, do you want to come too? It's a lovely light evening.'

‘No, pet, you decide if it's what you want.'

It was exactly what she wanted. The electricity was not connected, of course, and the grime-encrusted windows made it difficult to see the place clearly, but potential screamed out to Lorna as soon as Ewen opened the door. There was a large main room that would do for rehearsals, plus a smaller room that would serve as an office. There was a tiny kitchenette with a sink and a gas ring, a terrible lavatory, a stack of old chairs, a table tennis table on its side, and waste paper rolling in the corners.

‘Plenty to do,' Ewen observed.

‘It's perfect. Oh, Ewen, you're another saviour, eh? Give me the agent's details. I'll go round first thing in the morning.' Lorna stood very still, her hands clasped together. ‘Oh, but what'll I do if I don't get it?'

‘I have a feeling you will. Everybody's luck turns some time. It's your turn.'

Impulsively, she kissed him and he flushed, but made no attempt to embrace her.

‘Here, take the keys. You can return 'em tomorrow.'

‘I'm so grateful, Ewen.'

‘Aye, well, wait until it's all sealed, signed and delivered.'

‘Then we can have a celebration.'

‘Then we can start buying paint.'

In the event, they did both, for Lorna, sending up prayers of thanksgiving, got the lease of the premises, and a celebratory meal was fixed up at a restaurant they couldn't normally afford. Flo came over from Glasgow and Cissie from Musselburgh to join Tilly, Ewen and Lorna, and if the food was only the usual post-war fare, everyone was so cheerful it tasted far better.

‘Didn't I always tell you, Lorna would do something like this?' Cissie cried, her face flushed with excitement for her niece. ‘A law unto herself, eh? Well, I think it's wonderful. When do you want me to come over with my paintbrush, then?'

‘Be careful, Aunt Cissie,' Lorna cried happily. ‘We might just take you up on that!'

Later, when the party was over and she was preparing for bed, she reflected on how rapidly things could change for people. One day down, the next up, then down again, up again. If only she and Flo could now stay up, not floating above the clouds, but doing well, achieving what they wanted. At least, now they had their studio, there was hope of that. Next job would be to advertise for players. Oh, and find a name for themselves. So far, they'd thought of nothing suitable.

It was only as sleep began to claim her that another little worry crept into her mind, but it wasn't enough to keep her awake and in the morning, she had work to do.

Twenty-Seven

‘Talk about transformation scene!' Flo cried, when at last their restoration work was done and the new studio had risen from the ruin of the old club. ‘Who'd have thought such a wreck of a place could look like this?'

The little team of Lorna, Ewen and Flo stood looking round at their handiwork with deep satisfaction, though, of course, it hadn't all been theirs. They'd had to employ a builder and a roof firm to make the club really habitable, and professional cleaners to make inroads on the years of accumulated dirt, before they could begin on the decoration themselves. Then, however, the place had really begun to shine, and with its gleaming walls and windows, its polished floor and brightened chairs, it represented all that Lorna and Flo could have wanted.

‘If you ask me, the owners should be jolly grateful to us for doing all this,' Flo remarked, dropping into one of the chairs. ‘If they want to try to sell it again, they'll have better luck, eh?'

‘Who's going to let them try to sell it?' Lorna asked sharply. ‘We've got our lease and we're going to stay.'

‘Sure, I was just talking.' Flo glanced at her watch. ‘Say, are you folks hungry? How about getting some fish and chips?'

‘Terrific,' Ewen answered. ‘I'm starving. Have to do one last wash of the brushes, though.' He grinned. ‘Then tomorrow you two can start thinking about finding some girls for your band, eh?'

‘I'll just have to have my piano brought over,' Lorna said, sitting next to Flo. ‘And find a second-hand desk for the office.' She yawned and coughed a little. ‘I don't think I'll have any fish and chips, though – the smell of the paint is getting to me.'

‘I know, it hangs, doesn't it?' Flo leaped up and joined Ewen in the washroom to clean her brushes. ‘It's really nice of your ma to put me up tonight, Lorna. I'm so glad I haven't to go back to Glasgow till tomorrow.'

‘We'll have to think about getting you a place to live here, now that we're ready to advertise for players.' Lorna was yawning again, her face rather pale. ‘Shall we all go to Ma's, then? You could have your fish and chips there.'

‘Fine, I'll lock up for you,' Ewen said cheerfully. He stood, smiling, taking a last look round the studio. ‘Looks grand, eh? All ready for the lassies. You girls decided what to call yourselves, then? Flo and Lorna's Band, or what?'

‘We're still thinking.' Flo was putting on her cardigan. ‘Got any ideas? Apart from Flo and Lorna's Band, which doesn't exactly appeal!'

‘Ivy Benson calls her band the Ladies' Dance Orchestra,' Lorna said thoughtfully. ‘I can't think what we should be.'

‘I think we should go for girls in the title,' Flo suggested. ‘But Rhythm Girls, that's been used, and All Girls Band as well.'

‘I know!' Lorna cried. ‘How about the Melody Girls?'

‘Inspired!' Flo cried.

‘The Melody Girls it is,' Ewen said. ‘But, like I said, you'd better get on with finding other people to play. You're going to need more than two Melody Girls to get your show on the road. Wish I could've joined you somehow.'

‘Wrong sex, Ewen!'

‘And then there's the little problem that I can't play anything, either.'

‘Shall we go?' Lorna asked, leaning against the door. But as the others came up and she took a step away, she seemed for a moment to waver.

‘Hey, are you all right?' Ewen was grasping her arm.

‘Oh yes, thanks. I just need to get some fresh air.'

‘You're right, it's the paint,' Flo said, opening the door. ‘Might be a few days before the smell clears.'

Both she and Ewen watched anxiously as Lorna stood taking deep breaths of the fine summer air, until her colour returned and she smiled at them. ‘Told you, I feel much better now. Come on, let's go for the tram.'

‘Wouldn't like to take a taxi?' Ewen asked, rattling coins in his pocket. ‘My treat.'

‘A taxi? What a piece of nonsense! No point in wasting money. You know what, I might even have some fish and chips when we get back. There's quite a good shop near us.'

They had a very pleasant evening at Tilly's, all four eating excellent fish and chips with bread and Tilly's butter ration, and afterwards sat talking of plans for the Melody Girls until Ewen reluctantly took himself home and the others prepared for bed.

‘Sure you'll be all right there?' Lorna asked Flo on the sofa, to which Flo of course answered that she was fine.

‘It's been a grand day, eh?'

‘Lovely. I feel we've really done well. Goodnight, Lorna.'

‘Goodnight, Flo. We'll write the advertisement for the girls tomorrow, shall we?'

‘Can't wait to see what replies we get!'

But in the morning, when Lorna came to breakfast she was not looking well. Seemed she had been quite sick.

‘Must have been the fish and chips,' she muttered. ‘I shouldn't have had them.'

‘Never did suit you,' her mother said, fixing her with a thoughtful gaze.

‘We needn't do the advert today, if you don't feel up to it,' Flo suggested. ‘I've got to go back to Glasgow, but you could maybe put something in the paper later?'

‘Yes, I'll do that.' Lorna drank some tea and cautiously ate some toast. ‘I'll go with you to the station.'

‘No work today?' Tilly asked, still watching her.

‘No, we took a couple of days off to finish the painting.'

‘Grand that it's all done, eh?'

‘Yes.' Lorna rose. ‘What time do you want to leave, Flo?'

‘Any time now. I'm catching an early train. Mrs Fernie, I'd like to thank you again, for putting me up. And for everything.'

‘Get on with you!' Tilly answered, smiling. ‘Always glad to see you. And I'll be seeing you again, when the band gets going.'

‘I'm looking forward to that.'

As soon as they were outside, Lorna grasped Flo's arm with strong fingers. ‘Oh, Flo, something's happened. Something awful.'

Flo's dark eyes widened. ‘What? What are you talking about?'

‘I don't know how to tell you . . .'

‘For God's sake, spit it out! What is it? What's wrong?'

‘I think I'm going to have a baby.'

Flo stopped in her tracks. ‘Lorna, that's nonsense. Heavens above, you're sick once and you think you're in the club? Come on, be sensible!'

‘I was already worried before I was sick. Thing is, I've missed two.'

‘Oh.' Flo looked away.

‘Yes, oh.' Lorna smiled drearily. ‘I felt pretty odd yesterday, but I kept telling myself no' to worry, I'd be OK, but then this morning, when I was sick – Flo, I just knew.'

‘You can't know until you've seen a doctor. I mean, for sure.'

‘I tell you, I feel it in my bones. I'm no' mistaken.'