The Sun Will Shine Tomorrow (13 page)

I nodded. ‘Aye, the doctor warned Granny right at the start that his lungs were damaged beyond help but he’s had bad doses of bronchitis before and I keep hoping against hope that there will be a miracle cure.’

She said nothing.

‘Granny hasn’t said any more to me about his condition, Maddie.’

Maddie slowly sipped her tea and gazed at the embers of the fire. ‘Perhaps she doesn’t want to worry you. She knows you always get all the family’s problems and she’s shielding you from this extra worry.’

Looking back on that night, I’ve often wondered why I wasn’t totally shocked by the thought of Grandad’s imminent death. It was as if I had accepted this fact over the many sleepless nights during the past months.

One night I told Maddie about Greg’s letter and the broken engagement. ‘I’ve put the ring back in its box, Maddie,’ I confided, ‘and I’ll send it to him when this war is over. I don’t like to send it through the post.’

Maddie was silent and I knew we were both remembering when Danny had broken his engagement to her – that awful time when he couldn’t forget how his late father had been part of a firing squad that had shot and killed a young deserter in the Great War. How Danny had anguished over that before finally coming to his senses and getting back with Maddie.

‘Is he really serious about this girl he’s met?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know, Maddie.’

‘But you were always such a lovely devoted couple – everyone said so.’

I tried not to sound bitter but it somehow crept into my words. ‘Well, it just goes to show how appearances are wrong. He couldn’t have cared for me very much if a simple letter asking him to put the marriage on hold for a while because Grandad is ill is enough to make him break our engagement and throw him into the arms of another girl.’

Maddie looked unhappy. ‘Write to him to explain how bad your Grandad’s illness is – he’ll understand.’

I was horrified. ‘What? Plead with him to have me back? Oh, I don’t think so, Maddie.’ I’d uttered brave words but I felt far from brave – in fact, I was almost on the verge of tears.

Maddie gave a loud sigh. ‘When is this terrible war going to end, Ann? Daniel is growing up and he’s never seen his father. Maybe Danny doesn’t even know he has a son.’ She was tearful as well.

I took her hand. ‘Danny knows he has a son, Maddie – I’m sure of that.’

Her face brightened up. ‘Oh, I do hope so! Do you feel that in your mind, Ann?’

I nodded. I did feel close to Danny some days but I was now wishing I had held my tongue. Why did I persist in coming out with statements based on thin air? At this rate, I should be sitting on the end of a pier with a crystal ball in my hand, charging sixpence a time for fortunes told.

Suddenly, Maddie laughed.

‘What are you laughing at?’ I asked.

‘I’m thinking about Hattie and Graham.’

I smiled. ‘She seems to be dotty about him. Granny says she’s in love.’

Maddie became serious. ‘Does she know anything about him Ann?’

‘Only that his house and office were both bombed in the Clydebank Blitz but surely your father knows something about his background?’

She shook her head. ‘He knows him professionally but knows nothing about his personal life.’

I smiled. ‘Och, well, as long as they’re both happy … I think we should all grab our chance of happiness if we get offered it during these dark times.’ I was thinking of Greg when I said this. Was he grabbing his chance of happiness with someone else?

I took the two cups over to the sink and washed them. It was time to go to my bed in my tiny room in the lobby. I had promised to do the early morning papers for Connie, to give her a Sunday off and a well-earned rest.

Granny and Alice appeared about six o’clock that morning and I left them with Maddie. It was a glorious morning as I quickly walked to the Hilltown. The sun had risen over the river as it met the North Sea, turning the water and the sky into a golden glow. I wished Grandad could see it with me.

Once again I marvelled at such peace in a world torn apart by warfare. The streets were almost deserted on this quiet Sunday, most of the workers no doubt having a long lie in after a busy working week.

Joe was waiting for the shop to open. Suppressing a feeling of irritation, I smiled.

‘How’s your grandad, Ann?’ he asked, lighting up one of his homemade cigarettes and coughing harshly from the smoke.

‘He’s still the same, Joe – no change.’

He followed me into the dim interior of the shop and gave me a hand to lift the bundles of papers on to the counter.

‘I’ll have my
Sunday Post
and
Sunday Pictorial
as usual, Ann,’ he said, throwing his cigarette end out of the open door. ‘I see the Allies are winning the U-boat war in the Atlantic – that’ll send them packing back to their own waters.’

Quite honestly, I was tired of hearing about the war but I tried to be polite and listen to him. I knew he was a lonely old man and he liked nothing better than a good chat with Connie every morning and I was her stand-in today so I was getting the chat.

I nodded vaguely while writing the customers’ names on the corners of various papers. The paper boy was late but I was a bit slower than Connie so I was grateful for the extra time.

I found myself wishing that Joe would go away but he seemed quite happy standing there and spouting about the headlines in the papers. ‘Aye, it’s just like I said – Allied shipping losses down to 18,000 tons last month and seventeen U-boats sunk – that’ll learn them.’

I wanted to tell him that the world was losing sons and husbands, no matter which country they belonged to. But I thought Joe would be shocked if I showed the tiniest bit of sympathy to those boats lost at sea. It didn’t matter what nationality – if you were drowned, then that was that. What a world.

Joe finally left and I managed to get well ahead before the paper laddie came in. He was rubbing his eyes when he appeared. ‘Sorry but I slept in.’

He picked up the canvas bag and dragged himself out of the shop into the brilliant morning sun, muttering about the weight of the bag – a complaint I totally ignored because the bag wasn’t as heavy as it used to be because of the restrictions on paper. He would have had something to complain about before the war when the papers were much thicker.

Then Lily appeared and she wasn’t looking very happy. When I asked the reason for her solemn face, she said, ‘It’s Jay. He throws his porridge all over my frock and I have to get changed.’

‘So Jay’s learning to feed himself?’ I said, trying to keep a straight face.

Lily nodded glumly. ‘I wish we were back at Roseangle, Ann. It’s not that I don’t like being with Rosie and Dad and Jay but I would rather be with you.’

‘When Grandad’s better, Lily, then we’ll go back to Roseangle. I promise.’ I didn’t mention that there was no getting better for poor Grandad.

To cheer her up, I said, ‘What about taking Jay for a trip on the tramcar to see Kit?’

Her face lit up. ‘I’ll run up and ask Rosie if we can take him this afternoon.’ She was gone in a flash only to reappear a few minutes later, slightly out of breath. ‘Rosie says we can take him out later, Ann.’

‘Right, then, I’ll see you at three o’clock.’

The shop normally closed early in the afternoon every Sunday so I just had time to hurry back to the Overgate and help Granny with the chores and Grandad’s dinner.

Dad, Rosie, Lily and Jay arrived soon after and we set off for our trip to Lochee. We left Rosie and Dad sitting by the bed, trying to have a conversation with Grandad – which wasn’t easy because he kept dropping off to sleep.

We left the sad faces behind and headed with the toddler towards the tram stop. Jay was excited when he saw the tramcar and he kept twisting around in my arms. Trying to see everything and everyone. It put me in mind of Lily when she was that age. Now she was growing up and would soon be at the secondary school after the summer holidays. She had passed her qualifying exams with flying colours and now Rockwell School beckoned along with a new chapter in her life.

As usual, Kit was pleased to see us and I was both surprised and delighted to see Kathleen. She was looking as lovely as ever in a soft powder blue jumper and smart navy blue skirt. There was no sign of Kitty.

Kit explained, ‘George has taken her out for a walk. What a pity we didn’t know you were coming with Jay. He could have gone as well.’

Jay, however, was quite content to toddle around, picking up Kitty’s books and thrusting them into Lily’s hands.

‘All right, Jay, I’ll read you a story but you have to sit down first,’ she said cheerfully.

We left them in their corner and sat down with our tea at the table which I noticed Kit had now moved to the window. A shaft of sunlight fell across its surface and I also noticed the room was much smarter than during the bad old days of unemployment. What a difference a couple of wage packets made to people’s lives.

We were having a great gossip until we saw Maggie on the street. By the way she was hurrying, it was clear she was heading for Kit’s house.

Kathleen groaned out loud. ‘For heaven’s sake, not another lecture.’

But Maggie was more irate than that as we were about to discover. She flounced into the room and, barely taking time to draw breath, she rounded on Kathleen. ‘What’s this I’m hearing about you giving up your house in Louis Square, Kathleen?’

A momentary glint of anger appeared in Kathleen’s eyes but her voice was quiet when she spoke. ‘So you’ve heard then, Maggie? Gossip fair gets around this part of the world.’

Kit looked embarrassed but said nothing.

Meanwhile Maggie was furious. ‘I’ve heard you’ve got a flat from that photo fellow and that he’s setting you up like some kept woman.’

At this point, Kit exploded. ‘Look here, Maggie Malloy, let’s get one thing clear – Kathleen is trying to get a better life for herself and Kitty and not end up like you and me. She’s not any kept woman but just a young mother earning a living. And another thing – she’s paying rent for her flat. She’s no’ biding in it for free.’

This was all news to me and I was puzzled by all the accusations flying around, as was Lily. I wished she hadn’t been in the room but it was too late to do anything now. Her face was a picture as she tried to read to Jay but look at the warring women at the same time. Maggie’s tirade won and even Jay fell silent.

Maggie didn’t look convinced. ‘Well, that’s not what I heard, Kit.’

Before Kit could answer, Kathleen said, ‘Well, Maggie, I really don’t care what you’ve heard.’

Maggie went white and I thought she was going to choke. Kit also looked shocked.

Maggie turned to Kit. ‘Do you hear her, Kit? She’s shameless and I just wished my Sammy was back here to sort her out.’

Kathleen went pale but it became apparent a few moments later that this was with anger and not fear of Sammy Malloy.

‘If what you’ve heard is that I’ve got a lovely flat above the studio for Kitty and myself then that’s true, Maggie, and that’s all it is – just a new flat with my new job – a business arrangement.’

Maggie snorted. It was a cross between a steam engine and a sledgehammer. ‘A business arrangement, my arse! I’ve heard about men like him that seduces young lassies – takes their photos and gives them posh flats.’ She stopped for more breath – or more venom. ‘There’s a special name for somebody like you Kathleen and as a respectable married woman I wouldn’t like to use it.’ She glanced over at Lily and Jay. ‘Especially not in front of bairns.’

Kathleen coolly picked up her cardigan which hung on the back of the kitchen chair and looked Maggie straight in the eye. ‘I’m going to say one thing before I go, Maggie. My boss is about sixty years old but if he ever did say one word of romance to me then I would feel it was a privilege and I might just respond. He’s oceans apart from your precious Sammy who thinks it’s a great idea to beat me up before going off to the army, just to leave me with his little message of who’s boss. Well, I’m not having him back – no matter where I work or where I live. So think that over and don’t come running back here every few days and spout about how wonderful your Sammy is. As far as I’m concerned he’s a wee thug and I rue the day I ever met him, let alone married him.’

There was silence in the room. Maggie looked as if Kathleen had physically hit her and Kit’s face went bright red with annoyance.

Maggie, who still had her Dinky curlers in her hair and was wearing her old slippers, tried to look undefeated, but failed. ‘Well, I’ve said my piece, Kathleen, and, if you make your bed, then you’ll have to lie on it.’ On that note, she opened the door and walked out.

Kit was furious – not with Maggie but with Kathleen. ‘That was a terrible thing to say to your mother-in-law. She didn’t deserve that.’

Kathleen looked chastised. ‘Well, I didn’t mean to say it, Mum, but she just got on my nerves. It’s Sammy this and Sammy that – anybody would think he was the King of Britain.’

‘He is her son, Kathleen, and it’s natural for a mother to think he’s wonderful.’

Kathleen spread out her arms in an appeal to her mother. ‘All I want is this chance to work with a great photographer and the flat goes with the job.’ She turned to me. ‘You’ll have to come and visit us, Ann. It’s a lovely flat and it’s got some really nice furniture in it. The only thing I’ve got to do is put in a bed for Kitty. I’m only wanting to better myself and give Kitty a better chance in life as well – not like these Malloy wives who are forever pregnant or hard up for money. Maggie seems to glorify their lifestyles but it’s not for me – or for Kitty.’

I said I understood and looked at Kit but she merely shrugged her shoulders. No doubt she had also spoken to her lovely headstrong daughter and lost – just like Maggie.

It was time for us to leave but not before promising to visit Kathleen’s flat the following Tuesday evening as this was one of my nights off from nursing Grandad. Lily was also invited and she could hardly wait to see the place.

As we travelled back in the tramcar, I was feeling quite weary from all the arguments I had just witnessed. On the one hand, I could understand Kathleen’s point of view but on the other I also sympathised with Kit and Maggie. They could see their old way of life changing and I don’t think they very much cared for this change. Oh, I knew they didn’t have wonderful lives with their husbands and children and money worries but it was the way it was always done. Childhood, marriage, motherhood and old age were the way their lives were mapped out. But now Kathleen and thousands of young women like her were challenging the old order – not for them the drudgery of a dead-end life.