When Wishes Come True (46 page)

‘Who is this friend of yours? I would very much like to meet her.’

Evelyn folded the piece of paper over and reached down for her handbag. It was all to buy her a few seconds in which to compose herself. This afternoon, after she’d dropped Amelia off at Bessie’s, while sitting on the tram into the city she had reached a decision. She could no longer put Philip off with lies, and wouldn’t give him up without a fight. So she had made up her mind to seek out Cyril Lister-Sinclair and throw herself on his mercy. And she would take Amelia, she’d decided, for when he saw her, he would know she was his son’s daughter. That was the only way she could see of standing a chance of keeping the man she adored.

‘You will meet her one day, my love, but it won’t be until after the holiday, she works every day. She has to earn a living, she’s not a wealthy woman.’ Evelyn stroked his cheek and smiled. ‘She is a spinster of fifty who has lived alone since her parents died many years ago. And she is not your type, otherwise I wouldn’t let her within a mile of you.’

‘She must be a very caring person to go to all this trouble to help people less fortunate than herself. It reflects badly on me to say this, being too lazy to follow her example, but it’s a good job there are people like her. If you think I can help ease her load with another donation, I will gladly give it. I have far more money than I need.’

Evelyn nodded. ‘You are quite right, she is a very caring person. Someone who would give you her last penny. But I don’t think you should offer more money, I’m sure she will manage very well on what she already has.’

Philip’s eyes were twinkling. ‘And what about your Christmas present? Have you given it any thought?’

She shook her head. ‘I would rather you gave me a surprise. Not an expensive one, though, or you will embarrass me. Perhaps perfume. That is a present I would appreciate for it is a long time since I had a bottle of French perfume on my dressing table.’

He pulled her closer. ‘You need have no worry about what to buy me, my adorable Evelyn, you have it already.’

She raised her brows. ‘But I haven’t bought any presents yet!’

‘You are my present, and there is nothing in the whole world that I would rather have. Two whole days alone with you will be like heaven. To wake up with you lying beside me, to make love to you before breakfast, before dinner, whenever we feel the need. For I believe your need is as great as mine.’

‘It is, my darling, it is.’ Evelyn was fervently hoping Bessie would come to her aid and have Amelia for the two days. She thought this very possible as her neighbour adored her daughter. ‘More so now than ever.’

‘Then why are we sitting here when there is a very comfortable bed awaiting us in the next room? I’ll set a tray with bottle and glasses while you retire to the bedroom. But don’t bother putting a nightdress on, my lovely, allow me to see what a beautiful body awaits me. And hurry, please. I’m eager to hold you and caress every inch of you. I love you so much, my lovely Evelyn, it hurts.’

As she undressed, she asked herself how she could possibly leave this man and never see him again? No, she couldn’t, it would break her heart. There must be a way she could keep him, and she intended to find that way.

Bessie sat on one side of her table, her two mates opposite. ‘I’ve made two lists out, one for each of yer, for groceries that will keep, like tea, sugar and tins of condensed milk. Oh, and I’ve put down a red jelly on each, and a packet of custard powder. We can get round Molly in the corner shop for some biscuits. She’ll throw in a few broken ones if I ask her nicely, and I’m sure whoever gets the hampers will be too happy to worry about a few broken biscuits. Anything is better than nothing when ye’re hungry.’

Aggie’s chins and hitched-up bosom agreed. ‘Ye’re not kiddin’, queen. There’s many a time broken biscuits have been a luxury in our house while Sam was out of work. And the same goes for Rita, doesn’t it, queen?’

She nodded. ‘I can remember us having half a biscuit each and thinking ourselves lucky to get that! No biscuit ever tasted so good.’ She grinned at Bessie. ‘Are yer going to tell the families who are on the list what they’re getting? It would take a load off their minds and stop them from worrying about not having anything for Christmas.’

It was Bessie’s turn to nod. ‘I’ve been in two minds what to do about that, but in bed last night I decided it would be best to tell them so they’re not worried sick. I’ll wait until yer’ve been to the market for the shoes, then I’ll tell them.’

‘We’re going for the shoes tomorrow, aren’t we, queen?’ Aggie felt really important. ‘We’ve found out the sizes we need, and the mothers almost kissed us to death they were so happy. We told them our lads had outgrown theirs, and one of Rita’s sisters has a lad who can’t get his feet into his any more. So that part of it is over and, please God, the kids will soon be able to go to school swanking with a pair of shoes on their feet.’

‘I’ve changed one of the fivers so I can give yer enough money to cover the food on the lists and the shoes. How much d’yer reckon yer’ll need?’ Bessie took her purse from the pocket in the wrap-around apron which would have wrapped around her twice, it was so big. ‘Add a bit on to what yer think, just to be on the safe side.’

‘Yer haven’t put how much tea or sugar,’ Rita said, fingering the list. ‘Is it two ounces of tea and half a pound of sugar?’

‘No, the money will run further than that, sweetheart, so make it a packet of tea and a pound of sugar. Two ounces of tea in a sweet bag looks paltry, we may as well go the whole hog and give them a real treat. God knows, they deserve it. Most of the women on that list look twenty years older than they are because of the worry. Their faces are haggard and careworn, and there isn’t an ounce of flesh on them. So while we’ve got the chance, let’s do what we can for them.’

‘I couldn’t agree with yer more, sunshine, it breaks my heart just looking at them. It takes me and Aggie all our time to keep our families going, but we’re not as badly off as some poor buggers. You, Mrs Sinclair, and the man who generously gave the money, are going to make a lot of people happy. I take me hat off to all of yer.’

Aggie nudged her friend. ‘I didn’t know yer had no hat, queen! I haven’t never seen yer in one in all the years I’ve known yer.’

‘No, yer wouldn’t, sunshine, ’cos I haven’t got no ruddy hat. But if yer want me to be precise, I’ll say that if I did have a hat I’d take it off to them. Now then, does that make yer feel better?’

Aggie put on a sad face and even made her lips quiver. ‘No, it doesn’t make me feel better, queen, it makes me feel sad. Fancy, a mate of mine with no hat. Well, that’s really touched my heart. If I wasn’t so bleeding skint, I’d fork out and buy yer one.’

‘Oh, that is kind of yer, sunshine, but yer needn’t worry about little old me. If the occasion arises, like say if our Jack ever decides to get married, I can always borrow yours.’

Aggie grinned. ‘Yer’d have a ruddy job, queen, ’cos I haven’t got no hat. But I have got a mobcap, and if yer stuck a feather in the side of that, it would go down a treat.’

Bessie banged her fist on the table. ‘Ladies, can we get our business sorted out, please? If there’s any money over, I’ll buy yer both a ruddy hat!’

Rita giggled as in her mind’s eye she could see herself and Aggie walking down the street in posh hats with huge ostrich feathers sticking up at the side. Oh, what a field day the neighbours would have! Her hat and feather were in two shades of blue, Aggie’s was bright red. ‘Aggie,’ she said now, ‘don’t ever wear red, sunshine, ’cos it doesn’t suit yer.’

Aggie frowned at Bessie. ‘What’s wrong with this one? She’s not having a funny turn, is she, not in the middle of a business meeting.’

‘If you two don’t stop acting the goat,’ Bessie told her, ‘this business meeting will never get off the ground. Now tell me how much yer think the shopping will come to, and I’ll give yer the money?’

‘Lend us yer pencil, then.’ Rita totted the money up in her head. ‘I can’t tell yer to the penny, sunshine, but I would hazard it’s at least a pound. And I’m going to be very cheeky now, Bessie, and ask, if I see a cheap coat in the market, would yer let me get it for Mrs Ponsonby? I worry meself to death about that woman. She always looks starved of food and heating. Yer never see a coalman there, so she must never have a fire lit. And at her age, God knows, she deserves some comfort. She’s out cleaning and scrubbing steps for people in all weathers, it’s a wonder she doesn’t catch pneumonia.’

Bessie nodded. ‘You get her a coat if yer can, sweetheart, and a pair of gloves and a scarf. We’ve got twenty pound to play with, and she’s as deserving as the rest. I’ll put her down for the coalman to drop her a bag in before Christmas, and yer can tell her the same tale as we’re going to tell all the others. That a very kind gentleman gave us some money to help people out, but wouldn’t give his name. We’ll all tell the same tale and then we won’t get ourselves mixed up.’

‘That’s a good idea, queen,’ Aggie said. ‘Yer know what my mouth is like for running away with itself. But what yer’ve just said is easy to remember, so I won’t get meself in a muddle.’

Bessie opened the back compartment of her purse and took out some pound notes she’d folded over. ‘There’s two pounds to pay for what’s on the list, the coat for Mrs Ponsonby, and the shoes.’ She passed the notes to Rita. ‘Seeing as ye’re going to the market, would yer like some of the money I’ve been saving for you? Yer might see something yer like for yerselves, or something for the kids.’

‘That would be marvellous, sunshine, ’cos both my boys could do with another pair of kecks. And I bet Aggie would be pleased, wouldn’t yer, sunshine?’

Aggie’s nod sent her chins swaying, her folded arms raised her bosom, and her tummy lifted the table off the floor. ‘Ooh, I’ll say I would! Our Kenny’s got no backside in his kecks. He was moaning last night because the wind was getting inside the patch I put on a couple of weeks ago, and is only hanging on by a thread.’

‘Well, I’ll give yer what I’ve saved for yer. And d’yer want the five shillings Mrs Sinclair told me to give yer? Yer can have it now if yer want to buy things for the kids for Christmas.’

Rita shook her head. ‘No! We want yer to keep that towards the party yer said we’re having. You hang on to it, Bessie, there’s a good girl.’

‘Ahem!’ Aggie put a hand to her mouth as she’d seen posh people do when they cough. ‘Don’t I get a say in this? You speak for yourself, Rita Wells, and let me do me own talking.’ She smiled sweetly at Bessie. ‘This is me what’s telling yer to keep the money for the party. I haven’t been to a real knees-up, jars-out party since me wedding, and I’m really looking forward to it.’

‘You’ll have the party even if yer take the money what I’ve got saved up for yer,’ Bessie said. ‘I’ve been doing a lot of working out in me head, and this money I’ve got will cover all I’m expecting it to, and a damn sight more. Yer have my word on that.’ She pushed another pound note over the table. ‘Take this, Rita, and if you and Aggie see something yer’d like for yerselves to wear at Christmas, then buy it. Yer might see some nice, decent, secondhand dresses, and yer can titivate yerselves up for the party. So spoil yerselves for once. It’s not often yer get the chance.’

‘And what about you, sunshine, what are you getting yerself for the party?’

‘I’m making a dress for meself, when I get the time to nip into town for material. I won’t leave meself out, don’t worry. And I’m making a dress for Milly, as a Christmas present.’

‘Will yer be having her over Christmas?’ Rita asked. ‘Or don’t yer know yet?’

‘It hasn’t been mentioned, but I’m keeping me fingers crossed. Milly keeps asking me, but I haven’t the nerve to bring the subject up with Evelyn. Not after she’s turned out to be a much nicer person than we thought. I’ll have to see how the land lies over the next few days. If she seems in a good mood when she calls one night, I might mention it to her.’ Bessie hadn’t told her mates anything about Evelyn’s private life, and had no intention of doing so. She was told in confidence, and that’s the way it would stay as far as she was concerned. As for having Milly for Christmas, her hopes were quite high for she thought Evelyn would want to spend time with her man friend. But it wouldn’t do to take anything for granted. To do that could mean heartache and disappointment, not only for herself but for Milly too. So best keep things close to her chest for the time being until she picked up the courage to ask Evelyn.

‘Look, we know ye’re rushed off yer feet, we can see that for ourselves,’ Aggie told the very flushed and irate stallholder. ‘Me and me mate aren’t blind, and we’re not bleeding well daft, either.’ She nodded her head vigorously to add weight to her words. ‘Of course yer think we are, otherwise yer wouldn’t be trying to tell us those shoes are worth two bob! No one will give yer that much for shoes what are well worn.’

The stallholder thought it best to do business with the one who hadn’t opened her mouth yet, for he knew he’d never win with the big woman. She was some size, and he wouldn’t stand an earthly if she clocked him one. ‘The shoes are not very well worn, missus,’ he said to Rita, ‘yer can see for yerself there’s still plenty of wear in them. I’m not trying to diddle yer into paying more than what they’re worth.’

‘Oh, I’m going to let me mate deal with yer, ’cos the shoes have nothing to do with me.’ Rita thought she’d go for the sympathy touch. ‘Yer see, she’s got a big family, her husband earns buttons, and she’s only got so much to spend. After all, she wants eight pair of shoes, and her money will only stretch to eighteen pence a pair at the very most. But if yer can’t do a deal with her, don’t worry, we’ll try another stall.’

Aggie’s mouth opened wide in surprise. What did her mate think she was doing? But a kick in the shin warned her to be quiet. It was a painful warning, and if anyone else had done it they’d have been flat out by now. But Rita had a way with people so Aggie told herself to go along with her. That was why, when the man turned to her, he thought he was looking at a different woman. There was no sign of the battleaxe of a few minutes ago. ‘Is it right that yer’ve got a big family, missus, and yer want eight pair of shoes?’