MB06 - The Sunshine of your Smile, page 43
Nellie’s mouth drooped and Doreen felt a stab of guilt. Like all the Bennett children she loved the little fat woman who’d always been part of their lives, and who they associated with joy and laughter. ‘Give me a couple of days, and I’ll have them ready for yer to have a dress rehearsal. Like the posh mannequins do.’
Nellie beamed. ‘Did yer hear that, Molly? We’re to have a dress rehearsal like proper mannequins do. There’s no flies on us, eh? My God, we’ll be so proper posh there’ll be no stopping us.’
Lizzie was really enjoying herself. It was always a treat when Molly and Nellie came. ‘Yer won’t forget yer old friends when ye’re living the high life, will yer, queen? Fame goes to the head of some people and they forget where they came from.’
Molly sat back with a smile on her face as she waited for her mate to answer. It wouldn’t be a quick yes or no, not from Nellie. There was bound to be a laugh in it somewhere.
‘Of course I won’t forget yer, Lizzie, yer should know I’m not like that.’ Nellie was preening herself ready for the rest of her reply. ‘If I ever see yer on the street I’ll always wave to yer from me big posh car. Or it could be a carriage, yer never know.’
‘So, ye’re going to have driving lessons, are yer, sunshine? Well, I pity the poor bloke who has to teach you. And I think all drivers should be warned to stay off the roads because of the danger yer present.’
‘Nah, yer’ve got it all wrong, girl! It shows yer weren’t brought up, yer were dragged up. Yer see, I wouldn’t be driving the car meself, I’d have one of those fellers who sit in the front with a smart uniform on. I know who I mean, but I’ve forgotten what yer call them.’
‘Yer mean a chauffeur, do yer, sunshine?’
‘Yeah, one of them. I might even have two, one with blond hair and one dark. Just in case one makes me sick, like.’
Molly looked from Doreen to Jill. ‘If yer want anything from the shops, save yer going out, will yer write it down for us? Yer might think me mate is here for the duration, but I promise we’ll be out of here in fifteen minutes flat.’
‘I need potatoes and a cabbage, Mam, if yer don’t mind.’ Doreen looked at her sister.
‘Have yer got a bit of paper I can write on, Sis, ’cos I’ve just thought on I need bread and it’s going to be too much for me mam to remember.’
Jill took a pad and pencil from the sideboard drawer and passed them to Doreen. ‘I’ve got enough potatoes in, but if there’s any chance of a sheet of ribs I’d be made up.’
‘Just write it all down, sunshine, and I’ll do me best.’ Molly turned to where Nellie was telling Lizzie some far-fetched story about when she was a young girl, and Lizzie was lapping it up with eyes bulging, believing every word. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt, sunshine, but will yer put yer coat on and we can make our way to the shops.’
‘Okay, girl, I’m ready.’ Nellie lumbered to her feet. ‘I’ll finish telling yer the tale next time I come, Lizzie.’ She gave an impish grin. ‘I’ll have thought of another one by then, ’cos I make them up as I go along.’
‘Yer make all yer tales up as yer go along, sunshine. It’s hard to tell if anything yer say is truth or fiction.’ Molly pointed to the door. ‘Off yer go, we can’t stay out too long ’cos Jill needs to steep the ribs for an hour to get the salt out before she cooks them.’
Nellie stood to attention, tummy in as far as she could get it, and bosom a yard in front of her. ‘Aye, aye, boss! All present and accounted for.’
Getting a taxi was something new to Nellie, she’d only ever been in one in her life until Phil asked them to pick his mother up. So it was a novelty, and one which she wanted to show off to as many neighbours as she could. Much to Molly’s amusement, Nellie would watch through the window, and would be out of the door like a shot so she could shout at the top of her voice, ‘The taxi is here, girl!’ And she would stand beside it, smiling to anyone passing by and watching to see how many curtains twitched. Oh, how she loved an audience. And, oh, how Doreen and Victoria laughed as they watched from across the street. She even made Molly get inside the car first so she could show off for as long as possible.
She didn’t worry when they reached the Bradleys’ house for Frances was always watching for them and Molly made Nellie stay in the car while she walked Phil’s mam down the path. This didn’t upset the little woman ’cos she didn’t know anyone in the street anyway, so there was no point in swanking.
Molly helped Frances into the taxi before getting in herself. When they were settled, she asked, ‘How are yer today, sunshine?’
‘Not too bad, Molly. Same as usual, really. The doctor calls to see me every few weeks, and he came yesterday. He said I looked better than he was expecting, but he can’t really say much more except I’m to send for him if the pain gets any worse.’
Nellie asked, ‘Are yer in much pain, girl?’
‘Sometimes it’s worse than others. I take painkillers which help a lot, and funnily enough the pain is never as bad on days when I’m going to see me son. It’s probably because I’m looking forward to it, so excited it takes me mind off it.’
‘Well, Doreen and Victoria are looking forward to yer coming, and of course Phil won’t be able to get home quick enough. So yer have a lot of nice things happening in yer life now, sunshine, and I always think happiness is the best medicine yer can get.’
Doreen had the door open before the taxi had stopped, a big smile on her face. ‘Come on in, the kettle’s on the boil.’
As she helped Frances out of the car, Molly said, ‘We won’t come in today, sunshine, me and Nellie have got some shopping to do.’
Nellie was puffing and panting as she tried to get out of the taxi. ‘We’re not going to the shops, girl, we got everything we wanted early on.’
Molly held out a hand. ‘Come on, let me pull yer up.’ And in a very low voice, she warned, ‘Don’t make a scene, sunshine, but we are not going in Doreen’s today. Just for once, let them have some time on their own.’
Doreen helped Frances up the step and into the living room, then rushed back outside. ‘Mam, yer can come in for a cup of tea, surely?’
‘No, sunshine, yer’ve got enough on yer hands. Have a nice quiet afternoon, I think Frances will appreciate that.’ Molly gave a little sigh. ‘It’s taken ages for it to sink in that she’s yer mother-in-law, and yer need to get to know each other.’
‘I know! I don’t know what to call her, ’cos “Mrs Bradley” seems so stiff. And I can’t call her Frances, that would be disrespectful.’
‘Why don’t yer ask her if yer can call her “Mam”, sunshine? I’m sure she’d really like that and it would please Phil.’
‘I’ll see if I can bring up the subject this afternoon. I haven’t liked to before, but as yer say, she is Phil’s mam and my mother-in-law.’ Doreen flung her arms around Molly. ‘You’re the only mam for me, I do love yer.’
‘I know that, sunshine, but if those three little letters, M-AM, make someone happy, then it won’t hurt to use them. Otherwise we may well regret it later.’ Molly gave her daughter a gentle push. ‘Go in and see to her, sunshine, and I’ll talk to yer later.’
Doreen climbed the front step and closed the door. ‘Here, let me take yer coat and hang it up,’ she told Frances. ‘You sit by the fire and I’ll make yer a hot drink before Bobby wakes up. He’s only been asleep for half an hour so he won’t wake for another half hour at the earliest.’
While she was in the kitchen, Doreen could hear Victoria talking to Phil’s mam. ‘She’s a good little housewife in every way. There’s nothing she can’t turn her hand to. Yesterday she sat tacking together the dresses she’s making for Molly and Nellie for the wedding. And she makes my dresses, which are as good as any you’d buy in the shops.’
Listening to the conversation gave Doreen food for thought. When they were sitting with a cup of tea in their hands, she said, ‘You could come and see the wedding, yer know – er, yer know – oh, I can’t keep calling yer Mrs Bradley, it makes us sound like strangers. What would yer like me to call yer?’
Frances blushed. She really didn’t deserve to be sitting here, never mind being asked what name she would like to go by. ‘I don’t mind, love, whatever yer like.’
Doreen pretended to give it some thought. ‘Well, I keep hearing Phil calling yer “Mam”, ’cos of course that’s what yer are. But would yer mind if I did, too? It would make things a lot easier.’
‘Yes, I’d like that.’ In fact Frances was delighted. ‘As long as Molly doesn’t think I’m trying to push her out.’
‘Me mam wouldn’t think anything of the sort, she knows no one could ever take her place. So that’s settled now and I won’t be stuttering over what to call yer.’
Victoria had listened with interest, and she would have bet that Molly had had a hand in this. It sounded just like her, always thinking of someone less fortunate than herself. She nodded. ‘I think that’s a jolly good idea. And, Frances, why don’t yer call me Victoria instead of Miss Clegg? It makes me sound like a maiden aunt.’
‘As we’ve now settled things to everyone’s satisfaction, can we go back to what started it? And that is Lily and Archie’s wedding. The weather will be a lot better by then, and I’m sure yer’d enjoy it ’cos it’s going to be a lovely wedding from what I’ve heard. I believe the bride’s dress is out of this world, and the bridesmaid’s.’
Frances was shaking her head. The first thing that came to mind was that she might not be here in a couple of months. But she wasn’t going to tell them that and make them miserable. ‘I’d never make it, love, but it’s nice of yer to ask, and I’m sure I would enjoy it.’
‘Me and Phil would pick you up and take yer home again, and we’d sit with yer in the church. So I’m not taking no for an answer. It’ll be something for yer to look forward to, and I’ll make yer a dress so yer can swank with me mam and Auntie Nellie. Now, what’s yer favourite colour?’
Looking into the girl’s smiling face, alive with anticipation, Frances told herself it wouldn’t be fair to take away that smile, it would be cruel. ‘If yer insist, Doreen, I’ll try and make it to the wedding, but yer don’t have to make me a dress, I can buy one.’
Her eyes wide, Doreen said, ‘Why, you cheeky beggar! Here’s me, a fully qualified, sought-after dressmaker, offering you a masterpiece, and you say yer’d rather have a shop-bought dress! Well, I’m cut to the quick.’
Frances smiled. ‘I’ve always liked beige or a soft green. I’ll leave it to you and yer can surprise me. But let me pay for the material and cottons, I don’t want you forking out for me, it wouldn’t be right.’
Doreen learned forward. ‘Mam number two, yer’ll do as ye’re told. This is going to be my treat so don’t spoil it by being difficult.’
Victoria gave a sharp nod of the head. ‘Quite right, too! And I’m glad yer didn’t want French navy, Frances, ’cos that’s what I’m having.’
Chapter Twenty-Six
It was half-past nine in the morning when Doreen knocked on her mother’s window. Molly got a shock when she saw her. ‘Oh, my God, something must have happened.’
‘Don’t panic, Mam,’ Doreen said, seeing the colour had drained from her mam’s face. ‘I came over early so yer could organize yer day. I won’t be bringing the baby over for yer to mind ’cos he’s been sick after a couple of feeds and I’m not taking a chance on bringing him out in the cold.’
‘I should think not! The little feller might have got a cold on his tummy, bless him. But with you still feeding him, it could be something you ate that doesn’t agree with him.’
‘I haven’t had nothing out of the ordinary, Mam, I’m careful what I eat. I’d say he’s caught a cold in his tummy when I’ve been changing his nappy in the bedroom. I should have more sense, ’cos as yer know the bedrooms are freezing, but I only do that when there’s someone called and it’s not very pleasant changing a nappy in front of them. Whatever it is, he doesn’t seem bothered by it, he’s not crying or anything. But I’ll stay on the safe side and keep him indoors until he’s stopped being sick. If it carries on, Phil said I’ve got to call the doctor out.’
‘Yes, if ye’re not satisfied by Friday, and Bobby’s still being sick, yer best bet is to call the doctor out. He won’t mind because, touch wood, we’ve never had to trouble him over the years.’
‘I’d better get back because I’ve left him with Victoria. I’m sorry yer won’t be getting the dresses to try on, but yer will explain to Auntie Nellie, won’t yer?’
‘The last thing yer should be worrying about is those ruddy dresses! The world isn’t going to fall apart if we don’t get them until the week before the wedding. So you go back and see to the baby, he’s your main concern. If ye’re worried about him, don’t hesitate to give me a call. And if yer want any shopping, write it down and I’ll knock when me and Nellie are going to the shops. Now off yer go and see to the baby.’
Molly watched until Doreen was inside her house, then she stepped back and began to close the door after herself. But before the lock clicked into place, the door was flung back, sending Molly crashing against the wall, and in rushed Nellie. She didn’t see her friend flattened behind the door in her hurry to get to the living room. ‘I saw Doreen come over and wondered what was going on. Where are yer, girl?’
‘I’m stuck behind the front door, where yer pushed me. It’s no thanks to you that every bone in me body isn’t broken.’
Nellie came back out. ‘What in the name of God are yer doing there, girl? Yer look as though ye’re hiding from the rent man.’
As Molly pushed the door away from her, it flashed through her mind that what had just happened was like a scene from a Laurel and Hardy comedy. She would laugh about it later, but not now because her friend really could have caused her an injury. ‘Nellie McDonough, in all the years I’ve known yer, I’ve never come so near to belting yer one as I am right this minute. Yer just push yer way in, regardless.’
‘Well, how was I to know yer were hiding behind the bleeding door? There’s not many things I can’t do, but seeing through wood is one of them.’
Molly pushed the door closed, feeling more like Oliver Hardy every second. She had to stop herself from saying, ‘That’s another fine mess yer got me into.’ In fact she would have done if she’d been wearing a tie she could fiddle with, that would have completed the picture. ‘What are yer doing here this time of the morning, Nellie?’
‘Like I said, girl, I saw Doreen crossing over and wondered what was up.’ Nellie went to pull a chair out from the table but Molly put a hand on it and pushed it back. ‘What’s that for, girl? Can’t I even sit down now?’
‘No, yer cannot, Nellie McDonough! I’ve only just started on me housework. And talking of housework, can I ask when yer do yours? Nothing goes on in this street that yer don’t see, so I can only presume yer spend all yer time looking through the ruddy window!’
‘If we weren’t meant to look out of windows, then what the hell do they put them in for? I can’t help it if the clever bugger what made them put glass in. Although I’ve got to admit if he hadn’t put glass in we’d have been bumping into furniture and be black and blue.’ Nellie was eyeing the carver chair, and wasn’t happy at being made to stand. ‘Anyway, if I’m not welcome then I’ll go home as soon as yer tell me what Doreen wanted.’
‘She didn’t want anything, nosy poke! She came to say the baby wasn’t well and she wouldn’t be bringing him over today.’
Nellie’s whole body seemed to droop. ‘Ah, ay, girl, does that mean we won’t be having a dress rehearsal? That’s rotten that, ’cos I’d set me heart on it.’
It wasn’t often that Molly swore, but she did now. ‘That’s just too bloody bad, isn’t it? Not a word about the baby not being well – all yer think about is yerself. Don’t yer realize how selfish yer are?’
Nellie hung her head. ‘I know I might seem selfish on the outside, girl, but I’m not selfish inside. And if yer’d tell me what’s wrong with the baby then I’ll do me best not to think of meself and what I want, and I’ll show real, honest to goodness sympathy.’
‘Listen, sunshine, when someone has to ask for sympathy then it’s not worth having because it isn’t sincere and doesn’t come from the heart. So don’t be putting on a show when I tell yer the baby’s been sick a few times, ’cos I’ll know it’s not genuine.’
Nellie raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘If ye’re listening to this, God, will yer do me a favour and take my mate’s halo back? It doesn’t suit her, and it must be a very tight fit ’cos she’s in a real paddy this morning. She won’t even let me sit down, and it wouldn’t cost her nothing to let me rest me legs. I’ve been on the go since half-past seven, done all me housework, and I’m worn out. And to top it all, she’s got the cheek to say I’m selfish! Now I ask You, is that fair and deserving of a halo?’
Molly knew she was on a loser and wondered why she bothered. She could actually feel herself weakening as she watched the chubby face gazing up at the ceiling. So she decided it would be in her own interest to give in gracefully and she pulled out a chair. ‘Yer can sit for five minutes, sunshine, and then ye’re leaving, even if I have to carry yer out.’
Nellie was on the chair before her mate had finished speaking. She would have preferred the carver, ’cos then she’d be in with the chance of a cuppa, but she had the sense not to push her luck. ‘What’s wrong with the baby, girl, is he really sick?’
Molly gave in without a fight, pulled out a chair and sat down. With the best intentions and the strongest willpower in the world, she could never hold out against her mate. ‘Doreen said he’s been sick after his last few feeds and she doesn’t want to take a chance on bringing him out. Which I think is very sensible of her. So, we won’t be minding the baby today.’
When a knock came on the door, Molly screwed her eyes up tight. ‘In the name of God, who can this be now? It’s as busy as Lime Street station here today.’
‘D’yer want me to go, girl?’
