The Sun Will Shine Tomorrow (17 page)

I also hated margarine but Lily didn’t mind it. I always spread it as thinly as possible on the grey slices of the national loaf. What a life.

Jean nodded to me and pointed to the back room. ‘Just you eat up, Lily. There’s something I want to say to Ann.’

Lily was quite happy to help herself to another scone and I followed Jean into the bedroom. It was a small room which was dwarfed by a huge double bed and a solid looking wardrobe which filled one entire wall. A tiny dressing table stood in front of the window and successfully eclipsed any light that may have filtered through.

Jean went over to the wardrobe and brought out two parcels wrapped in newspaper. ‘You know my man is a joiner, Ann, and, although he’s retired now, he still likes to make the odd thing or two. In fact, he lives in that workshop of his.’ She placed the two parcels in my hands. ‘This is a wee present for Jay for his Christmas when it comes and also a wee present for Lily.’

I was overwhelmed. Jay’s present was a beautiful wooden train and carriages. Each filled with small wooden people. Jean showed me the catch that opened the doors and the tiny passengers could be removed. It was lovely.

Lily’s present was smaller but still beautifully handcrafted. It was a large wooden pencil box with her name stencilled on the lid.

‘Oh, Jean, these are lovely. Lily and Jay will be thrilled with them and delighted to get them at Christmas. I’ll get Lily to write and thank you both later.’

Jean beamed. ‘Well, as long as they like them – that’s all that matters.’

Liking them was an understatement. Toys, like everything else, were in short supply and the toys that were available had the utility label which everything from clothes to furniture now had stamped on them. Although such things were adequately made, they were always a bit skimpy – not like these two glossy, handmade toys that spoke of a better time before the war.

Jean brought out the large message bag I remembered from our days together and she laughed. ‘You remember this bag?’

‘Yes, I do.’

She put the parcels into its cavernous depths and we went back to Lily who gazed at the bag with round eyes.

Before I could think up something to say, Jean said, ‘It’s just a wee present for Jay’s Christmas, Lily. You’ll no’ say anything, will you? We want him to think it comes from Santa Claus but you’re a big lassie now and you know better.’

‘Oh, no, Jean – cross my heart.’

We set off for Dundee and, as we made our way back, Lily said, ‘Jean’s a lovely woman, isn’t she, Ann? Imagine giving something to Jay from Santa.’

My mind went back twelve years to my time at Whitegate Lodge and what a great friend and ally she had been to me during my traumatic time there. I also thought of the lovely Mrs Barrie. They had been my two saviours. A lot had happened in my life since then but Jean was still a good friend to both Lily and me.

‘Yes she’s a great woman, Lily. A very special person and we’re lucky to know her and have her in our lives.’

Lily nodded. ‘Aye, we are.’

Rosie was looking forward to Christmas. Jay was two years old and able to understand the meaning of the day. Granny, on the other hand, was dreading it. This was her first Christmas and Hogmanay without Grandad.

Rosie was also over the moon with Mr Peters’ gift. She ran her hand over the polished wood and marvelled at how smoothly the wheels turned round. ‘He’s a lucky wee laddie to be getting this wonderful gift, Ann.’

I had hidden Lily’s present at the Overgate and I just knew she would be delighted with it. The box would hold all her pencils and crayons – her own art box with her name on it.

Rosie had asked us up on Christmas morning to see Jay unwrap his four presents. Granny, Lily and I had bought him a picture book with letters of the alphabet printed in it and Dad and Rosie had got him a little tinplate car while Alice gave him a set of building blocks with four different pictures on them. He certainly was a lucky little boy.

His face was a picture when he saw the three presents beside his stocking and I wished we could have captured the moment forever. He sat on the floor making vroom-vroom noises with the car then chugging noises with the train.

Dad sat and looked at him with pride in his eyes and I silently blessed Rosie for giving them a secure loving home.

I couldn’t help but remember that awful time when Dad had been married to Margot and how unhappy we had all been. Thankfully, it was a bigamous marriage and Dad had been able to escape her clutches. Now he was happy with the lovely, homely Rosie – he definitely knew a lot more about happiness than I did. Would I ever meet another man? Somehow I doubted it. I just never seemed to mix with any eligible males – and certainly not in Connie’s shop where the youngest male customer was about fifty. Still, it was Christmas and I tried to be cheerful – if not for myself then at least for the family.

Then it was time to go to work and I set off down the Hilltown with Dad. Joe was already in the shop but Dad only had time to give him a brief greeting as he didn’t want to be late for the warehouse.

‘I never see your dad these days, Ann. Is he keeping fine?’

I nodded happily. ‘Yes he is, Joe. He’s a family man again and that’s what he needs.’

‘Well, that’s another Christmas and we’re still at war,’ moaned Joe. ‘But never mind – it’ll soon be over, we hope.’

Connie looked up from her pile of papers. ‘And so say all of us.’ She gave me a wink. ‘Did Jay like his toys?’

‘Oh, Connie, you should have seen his wee face. It was a picture.’

She handed over four small parcels wrapped in brown paper. ‘Just a wee thing for Lily and Jay plus a wee thing for yourself and Granny.’

I was overcome with her generosity. ‘Oh, Connie, what can I say except thank you? You’re always so good to us.’

Connie looked modest. ‘Well, you’re such a good worker and you help me a lot.’

I put the parcels in my bag. ‘We’re going round to Hattie’s house tonight. She’s invited us because this is our first Christmas without Grandad. We’ll open the presents then but I’ll take Jay’s present up to the house when I finish work. Rosie has asked her mother to stay with them today.’

After work, I went back up to the house. Jay was now building his blocks but they kept falling down so he resorted to chewing them.

‘No, no, Jay,’ said Rosie, taking it from him. ‘Don’t chew them – you’ll have no pictures left.’

I handed over Connie’s gift and Rosie and Alice handed it to Jay. ‘Here’s another present from Santa.’

Jay’s chubby little fingers soon made short work of the parcel. Inside was the shiniest red apple I had ever seen. It looked as if Connie had polished it with Mansion furniture polish. There was also a small picture book which Jay opened with delight.

Rosie took the apple. ‘I’ll cut this up for your dinner, Jay.’ She smiled at me. ‘Are you all set for Hattie’s meal tonight?’

I nodded. ‘We’ve all put our meat coupons towards a steak pie but no doubt Hattie will dress it up beautifully – especially as Graham is going to be there.’

Rosie looked mischievous. ‘Will there be a wedding do you think?’

‘Well, I think Hattie is hoping for that, Rosie.’

Granny and Lily had already left for home so I set off alone for the Overgate. Lily pounced on her presents with glee while we unwrapped ours very carefully. Granny always saved the paper so we smoothed our wrapping paper out.

Granny got a lovely floral apron while Lily was delighted with a set of colouring pencils which were obviously pre-war and good quality. I got a jar of Ponds cold cream and a jar of vanishing cream – no doubt to make myself attractive.

I actually considered giving Granny the pots of cream in exchange for the apron until I realised what an old misery I was turning into. Then, when Lily opened Mr Peters’ present, she burst into tears. I was taken aback but she said the present was so lovely that she cried with joy.

We left her transferring all her pencils and bits and bobs into the wonderful box and I noticed she traced her name with her finger. Thank you, Mr and Mrs Peters I thought, for giving two children such wonderful presents – and I was sure they would treasure them for a long time.

Granny was making a pot of soup for our dinner and the rest would be taken to the Westport later. ‘Hattie said we’re having our meal at teatime because Graham has had to go to Clydebank on business,’ she said.

I stood and looked out the window. The street was abuzz with noise as children played with whatever toy had come their way. Most of these looked home-made but the children were shrieking with delight and it was a pleasure to listen to. Toys, like everything in this wartime world, were in short supply and it was a case of making do and mending.

At five o’clock, all dressed in our best frocks, we made our way to the Westport. Hattie’s house was a delight. She had put up paper garlands and, although they were a bit frayed in places because they were years old, they made the room cheerful.

A tempting smell emerged from her tiny scullery and the table was lovely with her best white cloth and sparkling china dishes.

There was no sign of Graham.

‘Oh, he shouldn’t be long now,’ she said when Granny asked.

Hattie, who was always so elegant, had surpassed herself that night. She looked incandescent in a blue crêpe-de-chine frock and a floaty blue scarf. She kept touching this scarf and I wondered if it had been a present from Graham.

She had managed to get a bottle of sherry from goodness knows where and a bottle of raspberry cordial for Lily. I went into the tiny scullery to give her a hand.

She turned and looked at me, a glowing expression on her face. ‘Can you keep a secret, Ann?’

I didn’t know what to say. What did she mean? A secret? I nodded dumbly.

She lowered her voice. ‘I think Graham is going to ask me to marry him.’

I was so pleased for her. ‘Oh, Hattie, that’s wonderful! Congratulations!’

She whispered, ‘Don’t mention it yet. I’ll let you all know tomorrow.’

We were sitting with our sherry, trying to feel cheerful. Granny, Lily and I had all shed a few tears before leaving the Overgate – tears of remembrance for Grandad.

Then Graham appeared and once again I was shocked by his appearance. Hattie, however, didn’t seem to notice and he smiled at us all.

‘You’re just in time, Graham – the soup and steak pie are ready,’ said Hattie, looking fondly at him.

We all sat round the elegant table, trying desperately not to spill a drop on the snowy white cloth.

Graham now seemed to have recovered from his journey and he was chatting to Granny. ‘Yes, although my office was demolished in the bombing, I still have clients in Clydebank who like me to go and see them personally – you know what some old people are like. It’s so difficult to travel but I get the train and then walk to their houses to see them. A lot of the houses on the outskirts weren’t hit so they are still habitable.’

At that moment two things hit me with suddenness. If the outskirts of the city were still standing, why had he not looked for an office nearer to his old one? And was I imagining a wariness in his eyes every time he mentioned the city? Oh, God, I hope not, I thought silently.

Hattie was now serving the steak pie and we all laughed when we saw how little meat it held. The entire pie was filled with vegetables.

Graham laughed. ‘Let’s have a “guess the amount of beef” competition!’

Hattie gazed at him with so much love that I was suddenly afraid. Of what I didn’t know and, quite honestly, I didn’t want to know.

But the evening went well. Granny put on a brave face for our sakes but I knew she was grieving for Grandad on this first Christmas alone so I think we all were glad when it was time to go home. Hattie and Graham saw us off and I could see Hattie was also glad we were leaving.

Would he propose tonight? I wondered. I sincerely hoped so but there was a little niggle of doubt in my mind and the worst thing was I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong. Graham had been cheerful all evening but I was sure there was something.

Lily and I had decided to stay at the Overgate and, when we reached the house, the first thing Granny did was put the kettle on. ‘One thing Hattie can’t make is a cup of tea – no’ the way I like to make it.’

Lily laughed. Granny’s tea was legendary – it was so strong and black and not at all like the weak amber liquid served up by Hattie. We sat with our cups of tea while Lily went upstairs to her friend’s house as she wanted to show her the great pencil box.

When she was gone, Granny asked me, ‘What do you think of Graham, Ann?’

It was such an unusual question that I almost dropped my cup. ‘Graham?’ I said.

She nodded. ‘Aye, Graham.’

‘I think he’s great and just what Hattie needs,’ I said truthfully. ‘Why do you ask, Granny?’

She shrugged. ‘It’s just that you were sitting at the table and you looked like you were summing him up – like there was something you couldn’t figure out.’

I tried to pass it off. ‘Och, Granny, I just think he looks like Arthur Askey and I keep thinking he’ll come out with a string of jokes.’

Granny seemed satisfied with my answer and, to be honest, so was I. Was it this discrepancy between his looks and his manner that was confusing me? Then another thought came to mind. Had he asked Hattie to marry him? On that note, I went to bed but I didn’t sleep. As usual there were too many thoughts whirling around in my mind – Greg and Granny, Hattie and Graham, even Maddie who had visited us on Christmas Eve.

‘That’s another year almost over, Ann,’ she had said. ‘Another year older for Daniel and he still hasn’t seen his daddy.’

She sounded down in the dumps and I had tried to cheer her up. ‘Joe says the war will be over by this time next year and Danny will be home with you both.’

She shook her head, her blonde curls swinging. ‘What does Joe know? He’s just guessing.’

‘Well, that’s all anybody can do, Maddie – just look to the future and hope.’

I think I fell asleep around three o’clock but my dreams were full of whirling images. Greg was walking towards me with his hand out but, before I could reach out and take it, another girl stepped in and they both walked off together, leaving me alone and feeling foolish.