The Street (30 page)

‘Here, is he?’ her mother asked dryly on seeing her daughter’s sunny expression.

Alice turned about. ‘Yes. He’s early.’

‘Going with him, are you?’ Tilly asked, eying Alice’s neat appearance and her coat on the chair all ready for her to don to go out.

‘Yes . . . I’m going with him.’ Alice knew that there was more significance in their conversation than her accompanying Josh on his tramp back to Wood Green with a piano on a cart. ‘You don’t have to stay around here now, Mum,’ Alice said. ‘When I move on I’ll keep helping out with money, I swear. Beth’ll do her best too, I know she will till it’s her time to get her own place. Why stay here now . . .?’

‘Ain’t going nowhere.’ Her mother cut her short. She sat down at the table. ‘The Bunk’s for me, cradle to grave.’ Tilly picked listlessly at a dirty fingernail. ‘Your dad wanted to get up the other end,’ she said softly. ‘It were always his ambition to get one o’ them better houses up the other end.’ She slanted a glance at Alice. ‘If I go anywhere . . . that’s where it’ll be.’ There was a rap at the door. ‘Off you go, then,’ Tilly said. She shoved her chair back from the table and went through into the other room without a backward glance.

‘Won’t be late back, promise,’ Alice said quietly to a closing door.

‘I didn’t know whether to offer to get the beast back inside your place last night before I set off home. I thought I might turn up this morning and find it’d been pinched from outside your door.’

Alice huffed a chuckle. She’d just sprinted up the stairs to hand over to her mother the five pounds that Josh had paid for the piano. Now she was back in the street, a little out of breath, standing by his side. ‘Me mum said she’d kip on top of it if needs be to make sure she got her fiver. She doesn’t often have a joke any more,’ she added wistfully. ‘Sorry she was so rude to you yesterday. It’s not just you,’ Alice stressed. ‘She can be nasty to anyone when she’s been at the whiskey.’

‘I’ve got a thick skin,’ Josh reassured her. ‘It passed over my head.’ He finished lashing the piano to the cart then handed the two brothers from across the road a handful of coppers for helping him lift and load it. He tested the ropes and, when satisfied they were strong and serviceable enough, he lifted the barrow by the handles and they set off.

‘I thought your brother might come with you to get it this morning,’ Alice remarked as they turned the corner. Josh was not struggling with the load but she could tell from the bulge of muscle in his forearms that it was no easy task he was undertaking.

‘Didn’t want him to. Thought if Matthew came you might not walk with me.’

‘Sure I would come with you, were you?’ Alice slanted him a challenging glance.

‘I hoped you would. But I know it’s quite a trek.’

‘I’m used to walking,’ Alice told him. ‘Me and Sophy used to go out and about with our mum and dad when we were little ’uns. Used to do a bit of busking for pennies.’ A faraway look was in her eyes. ‘I can still remember how weary me poor little legs would get.’

‘If you feel tired you can hop on the cart,’ Josh suggested. ‘There’s room and I don’t reckon you weigh much.’ He gave her petite figure an appreciative glance.

Alice blossomed beneath his admiration. ‘Thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it later. But I feel fine at the moment. Anyhow, we should have a little rest about halfway,’ she decided. ‘We could have a sit down and buy a cake to eat.’

‘Like a picnic,’ Josh said with a grin.

‘Yeah; a sort of picnic,’ Alice agreed. She glanced up at the grey winter sky. ‘Hope it doesn’t rain.’

‘I’ve brought along a tarpaulin for the piano, just in case,’ Josh said.

‘Never mind the ruddy piano, what about us?’ Alice protested with a giggle.

‘Well, we could dive under the tarpaulin too,’ Josh said. ‘I think I might like that.’

‘Daft!’ Alice scolded on a blush but she moved closer to him, feeling warm and content.

‘I know where we can get something to eat at Crouch End,’ Josh said. ‘There’s a place to sit and park the cart too.’

‘I’ve brought some money for a bite to eat.’

‘I’ll pay, Alice,’ Josh protested gently. ‘I wouldn’t be much of a gent otherwise, would I?’

‘Geoff used to say something like that,’ Alice blurted
.
‘“I’ll pay ’cos I’m a real gent”, he’d say, all mocking. He did use to make me laugh.’

‘I’m glad I’m like him. Even in just that small way,’ Josh said with simple sincerity.

‘You
are
like him,’ Alice said softly. ‘But you’re different too. And I’m glad about that ’cos Geoff was special and I think you are too but . . .’

‘I know what you mean, Alice,’ he said in a gentle voice.

She could feel Josh’s eyes on her profile and knew suddenly it was the right time to tell him a little bit more.

‘Geoff was the most loyal person ever and would do anything to help. We hadn’t been walking out together for long when he went off to fight. Geoff was more like my best friend than my sweetheart but I loved him dearly.’

‘Sweethearts can come and go.’ A long moment had passed before Josh started to reply, as though he’d carefully considered his words. ‘You can move on from a sweetheart and forget them. But a true friend like that you can’t replace, can’t forget either.’

‘That’s how I feel about him,’ Alice whispered. ‘I won’t ever forget him; won’t ever again be anyone like him in me life. I was so lucky to have known him.’

‘I wish . . . I hope I can mean as much to you,’ Josh said quietly. ‘Geoff was lucky too, Alice. He had you in his life . . .’

‘He wasn’t lucky in that!’ Alice choked. ‘Ruined his life, it did, knowing me and my family. He shouldn’t even have gone to fight. He wasn’t old enough. He was only eighteen when he was killed. He didn’t want to go but he had to get away, ’cos of us . . .’

Alice turned her head away from Josh’s puzzled look. ‘Don’t ask me. I can’t tell you. It’s bad . . . can’t tell you,’ she dully repeated and clamped together her lips.

‘That’s alright,’ Josh soothed. ‘We’ve all got secrets.’

‘Not like the ones I’ve got,’ Alice choked out with a grim laugh. Swiftly she changed the subject. ‘I always wanted to get away from The Bunk and get me own place. It was my dream and Geoff’s too. We both wanted to earn as much as we could and get on and get out.’ She stared solemnly into the distance. ‘Some of the girls working at Turner’s bought themselves fur coats with their wages. You could earn so well working nights in the munitions factories. Seemed like heaven to start. Now I’d give up every penny to turn back the clock to before the war and have me dad and Geoff home . . .’ Her words faltered and she swiped the heel of a hand over her wet face.

‘It meant a lot to the men to know their women and families were comfortable,’ Josh said. ‘It eased their minds; made them proud too.’

‘It’s all finished for us women now anyhow.’ Alice sniffed, twisted a little smile. ‘All the men who’re back and fit to work will take the good jobs. No more munitions needed, and it would only be the devil himself who’d be sorry about that.’ She suddenly winced as she felt a stone cut into the sole of her shoe.

‘Hop on the cart,’ Josh suggested. ‘We’re going on the straight so you might as well have a ride.’ He slowed right down to let Alice scramble aboard.

For a while they carried on their journey in silence. Alice unlaced her boot and tipped it up to see if a stone chip might fall out. ‘Have you got secrets?’ she finally murmured whilst still fiddling with her boot.

‘I’ve got things I’d rather not talk about.’

‘Horrible things?’

‘Yes.’

Alice raised her blue eyes to his face. He met her gaze squarely but she could see the distress moistening his eyes as he dwelled on private horrors. ‘Things that happened in the war?’ she guessed.

Josh nodded. ‘What I saw on the Somme,’ he explained gruffly. ‘Still gives me nightmares . . . sometimes I cry like a baby when I’m on my own.’

‘Have you spoken about it to your mum or dad?’

Josh shook his head. ‘Don’t want to tell anyone. Don’t want to speak about it.’

‘But you’d tell me.’

‘Yes,’ Josh said. ‘If you wanted to listen, I’d tell you.’ He gave Alice a searing look. ‘And when you’re ready, I’m willing to listen to whatever you’ve got to say. I won’t ever betray you, Alice. You can trust me, I swear.’

‘Thanks,’ Alice croaked, her eyes again glistening. After a quiet moment she took a deep breath and said, ‘Don’t think of you as my best friend yet but I reckon I will.’

‘Glad about that,’ Josh said with a smile. ‘’Cos I’ve a feeling I’d like it a lot if you did.’ He glanced down diffidently at one of his fists gripping a handle. ‘Got a bit of money left after giving your mum that fiver. I brought it with me specially ’cos I saw something a few days ago in a jeweller’s shop in Wood Green High Street. It’s a pretty little ring with three small diamonds. It’s not fancy, but I thought if you wanted something fancy then next year . . .’

‘Don’t want fancy,’ Alice gruffly interrupted. ‘And don’t show me just yet. Perhaps when we come this way again, you can show it to me then.’ She reached out a hand and placed it over one of his. She felt unable to speak. Her heart was thumping so hard she felt she might burst with happiness yet a feeling of serenity had settled on her too.

‘I’m glad you’ve come with me today, Alice. I thought if you did it would be a good omen and I must find the courage to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you.’

‘In a little while I reckon I’ll have that courage too,’ Alice replied, achingly softly. ‘But for now I just need a bit more time for the pain inside to go away . . .’

‘No rush . . .’ Josh said, smiling tenderly.

With a little hop she was off the cart. She slipped a hand through one of his arms, rubbed a cheek against the straining sinew she could feel beneath the material of his sleeve. Wordlessly she gripped one of the cart handles and added her strength to his as they walked on.

Summer 1922

Like a nesting bird she’d come back to claim from her kin what was her due. As the baby stirred in her womb Alice groaned and wished they’d be quiet. Their chattering was irritating, like the low buzzing of the flies outside the closed window.

Digging her elbows into the mattress she levered herself up to look at the trio of women congregated at the foot of the bed. The heat felt stifling and her dark hair draped aggravatingly on her perspiring brow. On hearing her whimper her mother came over to her. She perched on the side of the mattress, murmuring soothingly whilst holding a cold compress to Alice’s brow.

‘I’m too hot . . . it hurts . . .’ Alice complained and collapsed back with a groan as another contraction gripped her abdomen. She clutched at her mother’s forearm as a new, urgent sensation writhed in her pelvis. ‘Feels different now,’ she whimpered. ‘Something’s different.’

‘’Ere . . . Lou!’ Tilly summoned the woman standing with Beattie. ‘Think things are movin’ again. Take a look.’

Lou Perkins obligingly came to examine Alice. ‘Good gel!’ she praised. ‘You’re doing fine. Can see a head. Nearly there now. Soon have your baby. Now when I tell you to push, you push with all your might.’

Alice panted out her agreement as her mother and Beattie Evans took up position either side of her. She clutched gratefully at their sturdy hands.

‘Where is he?’ Alice gasped fretfully.

‘Well out of it, love, and leave him there,’ her mother bluntly said. ‘Only get in the way, he will. Besides, only one thing gets said to husbands at a time like this . . . “don’t you come near me no more”.’

Alice squeezed shut her eyes and bore down.

‘Will she get too hot?’ Alice looked at the tightly swaddled bundle laid against her shoulder. All that was visible of her daughter was a tiny, crumpled face. Alice touched a finger to a warm pink cheek then dipped her head to touch her lips to her daughter’s soft, musky skin.

‘She’s just right. Needs to be kept warm.’ Lou Perkins beamed at her. ‘Well, that weren’t too bad, were it? One of the easiest babes I’ve helped into the world.’ She came closer to peer at the tiny bundle. ‘Beauty, ain’t she?’ She looked over her shoulder at Tilly.

Tilly nodded and came closer to look at her first grandchild. ‘Ain’t she just,’ she choked, cuffing at her watering eyes. ‘I’ll call Josh up now for you. I’ll be back later to take a proper look at her,’ she said briskly. ‘Come on, you lot, let’s get shot of all this mess.’

The three women gathered together the soiled linen and pots and bowls.

A moment after they’d gone Josh appeared in the doorway, his expression a mix of joy and wonder. He came swiftly, quietly to the bed and bent to tenderly press his lips to Alice’s upturned face. He laid on her belly the crimson carnations he’d bought for her. Carefully he took his daughter from his wife and cradled her in his arms. With persistence he searched amid the sheet and found her tiny fingers and toes to stroke. ‘Have you decided on a name?’

‘Lilian,’ Alice said simply. She touched a red petal before lifting the posy to breathe in its scent. ‘I like it. Do you?’

Josh nodded, his gaze roving his daughter’s perfect features. Suddenly she opened her eyes and looked at him with solemn intensity. ‘Is she fair or dark?’ He touched the linen hiding the top of her head.

‘Don’t know,’ Alice said. ‘They’ve covered her right up tight.’

Josh eased back the cloth to take a look. He grinned when he saw the down on Lilian’s head. ‘She’s fair . . .’ He broke off and raised the baby’s chin very gently. For a moment he remained quite still, his voice suspended by a surge of emotion. Then he came back to the bed and gave Alice her daughter. ‘Look, Al.’ His gentle finger smoothed a fold of flesh so Alice could see a small freckled area of skin on her daughter’s throat.

Alice took in a shuddering breath, her forehead lowering to touch her daughter. ‘She’s got my dad’s birthmark,’ she sobbed. Tell Mum to come back,’ she gasped. ‘Tell her to come back now ’cos I’ve got something wonderful to show her.’

Easter 1987

‘Thanks for bringing me home, Beryl.’

‘That’s alright, Nan. Did you have a nice time?’

‘I did. Your mum always does a lovely tea. Now before you get off, I’ve got you some lettuce and spring onions you can take with you. They’re in the pantry; come through and I’ll just fetch them.’

Beryl followed her nan into the small kitchen and waited while Alice rummaged in the cupboard. She brought out jars as well as vegetables and put them on the scrubbed table.

‘We’re going to have a barbecue over ours for Dad’s birthday in a couple of months. You’ll come, won’t you?’

‘Ooh, yes, I’d like to,’ Alice said, sorting through her homemade jams to find the blackberry one.

‘It’d be nice if Aunt Sophy and Uncle Danny could come. Are they up to the journey from Essex?’

‘Well, your uncle Danny has a bit of trouble getting about now,’ Alice cautioned. ‘He’s almost ninety, you know. Perhaps they will. I’ll phone and find out. You know how they love seeing all of you children and your children.’

‘It’s a shame they didn’t have a family of their own,’ Beryl said.

‘It wasn’t to be,’ Alice answered simply. ‘But they’ve got all their nephews and nieces instead.’

‘If they don’t make our barbecue, perhaps another time we’ll take the barbecue to them. It’d be nice to visit them down at the coast again. The kids love it there. ’

‘They’d like that,’ Alice said enthusiastically.

‘What’s this, Nan?’ Beryl had wandered into the small front sitting room and held up a book she’d found in an open drawer.

‘Oh . . . that’s the book about the place I used to live in Islington when I was growing up; before I was married. Campbell Road, it was called. Or The Bunk as we all called it. Do you remember I told you a nice young man had come to interview me so he could put lots of past residents’ memories in a book he was writing?’

‘That’s where Uncle Danny grew up too, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘And his brother Geoff was killed in the Great War, wasn’t he?’

‘Yes. He was a smashing man; well, he wasn’t much more than a boy when he was killed. But he was lovely.’

‘I know you liked him . . . I’ve heard you say,’ Beryl said, eyes twinkling.

‘I did. I liked him a lot.’

‘Did Granddad know?’

‘He did,’ Alice said with a faraway look. ‘We didn’t have secrets.’

‘I miss Grandad,’ Beryl sighed wistfully.

‘Me too,’ Alice said. ‘But mustn’t complain because we had a good life together.’

Beryl flipped the book to read the back cover. ‘Can I borrow it, Nan?’

‘Yes . . . if you like.’

A child’s laughter could be heard followed by a wail.

‘Uh . . . oh,’ Alice said with a little grimace. ‘Sounds like someone’s come a cropper.’ She moved the voile curtain to peer out of the window. ‘Looks like your Martin has taken a tumble.’ She gazed fondly at the sight of two handsome blonde-haired boys being urged to get into a car by their father. The youngest of her great-grandsons was clutching at one of his knees as his father dabbed at it with a hanky.

Beryl sighed. ‘I told them to wait in the car.’

‘Ooh . . . Boys will be boys,’ Alice chuckled. ‘Graham’s getting tall.’

‘Off to football practice tomorrow,’ Beryl said. She took the vegetables and jam that her nan was handing over. A louder wail from outside drew her attention. ‘Time to get those two home, I think.’ Swiftly she bent and kissed her nan on the cheek and tried to hug her too without squashing the produce she’d been given.

Alice watched as her granddaughter hurried to the car to help her husband get the boys settled for the journey home. She waved out of the window as the car started to reverse along the cul-de-sac. A sudden breath of warm air lifted the voile curtain to silkily scarf her neck.

A smile touched Alice’s lips at the subtle caress. Then she picked up the book and made a move as though to go after Beryl. She knew they wouldn’t yet have turned out of the road. After a moment’s hesitation she slipped the book in the half-open drawer in the sideboard and pushed it shut.