MB06 - The Sunshine of your Smile, page 49
‘If ye’re so bleeding fussy, girl, why don’t yer wash the tea leaves before yer put them in the ruddy pot? Yer must count the leaves, otherwise how would yer know how many cups of tea I’ve had? So, while ye’re counting the bleeding things, wash ’em at the same time.’ Nellie shook her head slowly, inspiring her chins to break into a nice slow foxtrot. ‘If anyone could hear you, they’d think I was a dirty beggar.’
‘No, sunshine, if I thought yer were dirty yer wouldn’t be sitting at me table. I’d say the word to describe you was untidy, rather than dirty. Or that yer eyesight isn’t what it used to be and yer don’t always see things clearly.’ Molly could see her mate’s brain working to find a good answer to that, so she got in while she had the chance. ‘Another thing, Helen Theresa McDonough, yer’ve used the swear word twice in the space of ten seconds. Now that word wouldn’t go with yer posh wedding hat, but it would be a very suitable word for this ruddy bag.’
‘For crying out loud, girl, will yer shut up about the bag? Ye’re not putting it in the teapot, so why harp on the bl—er, the blinking thing? I’ll tell yer what, it’ll be a long time before I ever feel good-natured enough to bring me own tea leaves with me again.’
Molly was in fact in a much better mood by now as she glanced at the clock. In two hours’ time, please God, she’d be able to hug and kiss Jill and the new baby. And the main reason for the time going by quickly, and her feeling happier, was her little friend Nellie whose facial expressions would be hard to describe and impossible to impersonate. ‘There’s one way out of all this argument over a ruddy pot of tea, yer know, sunshine, but of course it would never occur to you.’
‘Oh, ay, girl, and what’s that?’
‘Yer could invite me to your house for tea, and perhaps yer could even run to a custard cream biscuit. That would save any cursing and swearing, and it would make the time go quicker.’
‘Sod off with yer big ideas, Molly Bennett, I’m out of me house now and I ain’t going back in it until I’ve seen me grandchild and had a little nurse of her.’ Nellie’s nostrils flared and she glared. ‘I’m going to watch you like a hawk, girl, so that yer don’t see more of her than I do. I’ll make sure she knows I’m granny, just like you.’ Once again she pulled a face. ‘When I ask her where her grandma is, it’s me I want her to run to, not you. You’ve already got one grandchild, so don’t be so ruddy greedy.’
‘I’m in two minds now, Nellie, and I don’t know what to do.’
Nellie’s bosom was laid on the table and her arms encircled it as she leaned forward looking interested. ‘What is it, girl? Tell me, I might be able to help yer out.’
‘Well, it’s a choice between making a pot of tea, or emptying the bag of leaves over your ruddy head! The first proposition would help pass the time and be very enjoyable. The second would be to teach yer not to be so bad-minded.’
Nellie cupped her chin. ‘Mmm, that’s a hard one, girl, I don’t think I can help yer out there.’
Molly chuckled as she pushed her chair back. ‘That’s passed half an hour away, sunshine, and by the time we have a cup of tea, maybe two, we can start thinking of getting ready for the hospital. I can’t wait to see them!’
‘No, me neither, girl.’ Nellie put her hands flat on the table and pushed herself up. ‘You put the kettle on and I’ll get the cups ready. And before I go into the kitchen I may as well warn yer I’ll be looking in yer pantry for the biscuit tin. Yer never know, there might just be a few custard creams yer forgot yer had, or some broken arrowroot biscuits. I don’t mind which, I’m not fussy, just as long as there’s something I can put in me mouth to keep me tummy happy.’
Molly moved her aside and stood in front of the kitchen door. ‘Keep out of me pantry, sunshine, I’ll pass a few biscuits out to yer. If I let you loose in there, there’d be nothing left for Jack or Ruthie. And my feller likes a biscuit to dunk in his tea, especially ginger snaps, they’re his favourites.’
Nellie shook her head and tutted. ‘D’yer know what I think, girl? I think by the time I get this cup of tea, our granddaughter will be starting school.’
The hospital corridor seemed to be a flurry of activity when Molly and Nellie walked down it hoping to catch a nurse to ask where they could find Jill and the baby. But each nurse they came across seemed to have a definite destination in mind and looked as though she wouldn’t appreciate being kept away from the job in hand. Until Nellie said, ‘Ay, girl, isn’t that the nurse we saw last year, when Doreen was in?’
‘Oh, yeah, let’s get to her before she disappears.’ Molly was just in the nick of time as the nurse turned to enter one of the wards. ‘Excuse me, Nurse, but d’yer think yer could help us out?’
There was a smile of recognition. ‘You’re Jill’s mother, I remember you. Only because she’s so much like your other daughter. At first I thought it was Doreen, and she was having another baby, until I realized the timing wasn’t right. Anyway, I believe Jill is waiting for you in the next ward down on your right. She’s all dressed ready for the off, and the baby is well wrapped up.’
‘Thank you.’ Molly could feel the butterflies in her tummy. ‘I can’t wait to see them.’
Nellie felt she had to say something too or the nurse would think she was dumb. ‘We’ll try not to make a habit of it, Nurse. At least not until next year, and then it might be the turn of my daughter.’
Molly pulled on her arm and dragged her away. ‘Nellie McDonough, how can yer say such a thing when Lily isn’t even married yet?’
Nellie pulled her arm free. ‘She’ll be married by tomorrow night, girl.’ She was dying to laugh at the look of horror on her mate’s face, and couldn’t wait for her reaction to what was coming up next. ‘And all things being equal, she could be pregnant by Sunday morning.’
‘Nellie McDonough, ye’re past redemption and I give up on yer. If ye’re saying these things to shock me, then yer’ll be happy to know yer’ve succeeded. So will yer give over now because here’s our Jill coming out of the ward with the baby and a nurse carrying her case.’
Jill’s face was aglow with happiness. ‘Oh, Mam, Auntie Nellie, it’s so good to see yer. They’ve been wonderful to me here, and I’ve made friends with the other women, but now I know what they mean when they say there’s no place like home.’
Nellie was fussing around, trying to stand on tiptoe to see the baby, but all she could see was a blanket and shawl. ‘Can I have a peep, girl, before we go? Don’t forget this is me first grandchild and it’s only natural I’ll be thrilled and excited.’
‘She’s asleep, so don’t touch her, Auntie Nellie, please.’ Jill moved the blanket just a little, and the sight of the tiny face, so perfect, had the little woman wiping away tears. ‘Oh, Molly, will yer just look at her, she’s lovely! We’ve done well, haven’t we?’
Molly smiled at the nurse before saying, ‘I don’t know what part we played in it, sunshine, but I agree that Jill and Steve have done well.’
‘Of course we played a part in it, girl, what’s wrong with yer memory? If it weren’t for you and me, Jill and Steve wouldn’t be here.’
‘Oh, dear, don’t let’s go into that, Nellie, for heaven’s sake.’ Molly stretched her hand out to the nurse. ‘I’ll take the case, sunshine, and will yer thank everyone for looking after my daughter and granddaughter, please? We’ll be on our way now, before my mate tells anyone who wants to listen that if it weren’t for our parents, none of us would be here today.’
‘Before you go, Mrs Bennett, the doctor did ask me to tell you that Jill must take it easy for a while. We know it’s a family wedding tomorrow, but it would be very unwise for her to overdo things. However, I’m sure you’re quite capable of knowing when to call a halt.’
‘You need have no worries there, Nurse, because family and friends have it all worked out. Only immediate family to call to see the baby today, then tomorrow Jill will go straight home after the wedding ceremony. Depending how she’s feeling later, she could go to the reception for half an hour because it’s only at the bottom of the street, but it all depends on whether her husband and I think she’s getting tired. If so she’ll be whisked off home right away. We’ll not let her take any chances, even if she wants to.’
Moving the case to her other hand, Molly said, ‘Thanks again, Nurse,’ before taking her daughter’s arm. ‘Come on, sunshine, let’s get yer home where yer belong. We’ll get a taxi outside, so yer can ride in comfort.’
There were plenty of taxis driving past, but most of them were taking fares into the city centre. ‘There’ll be one along in a minute, sunshine,’ Molly said. ‘All those going into town will be coming back empty.’
‘Don’t worry about me, Mam, I’m all right. The nurses have you up and about after the first day, so I don’t feel weak or anything.’
Nellie had something on her mind and it was worrying her like a dog worries a bone. ‘Ay, girl, don’t blow yer top at me, but I think my George and your Jack need a mention here. I mean, without them you and me couldn’t have had any babies.’
‘Nellie, if yer keep this up, we’ll be going back hundreds of years to our great-great-great grandparents. And I’m sure that if they’re looking down on us now they’ll be wondering why they bothered. Come to think of it, in the case of your forebears, if you take after them, then they’ll be looking up at us, not down.’
Jill, who loved her mother-in-law, smiled down at her. ‘Take no notice of me mam, Auntie Nellie, she’s only joking. We all know she loves the bones of yer.’
The chubby cheeks moved upwards as she smiled and almost covered her eyes. ‘I know that, girl, but I get a kick out of winding her up. She’d fall for the ruddy cat, she would.’
‘Let’s discuss the cat another time, here’s a taxi.’ Molly stood aside to let Jill take her time getting in, while the driver took the case and put it in the space next to the driver’s seat. ‘You get in now, Nellie, ’cos I’m feeling polite. Age before beauty, and all that.’
‘I’ll get me own back on yer for that, girl, when me mind is clear. After I’ve had a cup of tea from the pot I know ye’re going to make when we get to Lizzie’s.’
‘Don’t think ye’re going to take up residence at Lizzie’s, Nellie McDonough, ’cos yer’ve got another think coming. Jill and the baby want a bit of peace, time to settle down. I’ll make a pot of tea because we could all do with one, but after that you and me are going to leave them to it.’
Molly was sitting facing the long back seat, and smiled at her daughter. ‘I’ve made a rota out for visitors, otherwise yer would have had a full house all day because everyone is dying to see you and the baby. So today yer grandma and granda are coming round this afternoon about three o’clock, but they won’t outstay their welcome. They were so excited I didn’t have the heart to tell them to leave it for today. Then tonight Tommy will be calling to see yer – I couldn’t talk him out of it, he’s over the moon. But Rosie understood when I said yer’d be tired today, and said to give yer a kiss, tell yer she loved yer and she’d see yer at the wedding tomorrow. And Doreen will be coming on her own.’
‘I hope they don’t mind, Mam? I’d hate them to think I don’t want to see them.’
‘Of course they don’t! Yer shouldn’t even be out of hospital yet, so it would be crazy to overdo things, and the family and friends understand that. And I’m not doing this off me own bat, yer know, sunshine, Steve was a bit worried that the house would be full tonight and yer’d be tired out.’
Nellie patted Jill’s knee. ‘Don’t you worry, girl, none of our gang are bad-minded enough to think yer were turning yer nose up at them. Yer Mam and Steve are right, yer should take it easy for a while. And as soon as I’ve seen me grandchild without all the shawls and things, and I’ve had a little hold of her, I’ll be off and leave yer to settle down. That’s after I’ve had a cup of tea, like, ’cos yer mam would think I was ignorant if I left without having a drink. And we wouldn’t want her to think I was higorant, would we?’
Molly twisted in her seat to talk to the driver. ‘It’s the second street on yer right, sunshine, and we’re going to the top half of the street, number seventy-eight, on yer left.’
As soon as the taxi stopped outside, Lizzie was at the front door. ‘Oh, it does me heart good to see yer, queen, I haven’t half missed yer.’
‘And I’ve missed you, Auntie Lizzie. I never thought it possible to miss me home as much as I did. I cried meself to sleep the first two nights.’
‘You go inside with the baby, sunshine,’ Molly said, ‘I’ll see to the driver.’ When she saw Nellie stepping up into the hall, she called, ‘Put the kettle on, Nellie, and get the cups ready, me throat is parched.’ But after paying the driver three and sixpence for the fare, and picking up the case from the pavement, Molly entered the house to find Nellie sitting on the couch, smiling happily, with the baby lying on her lap looking the picture of contentment. ‘Oh, she likes you, sunshine, and your lap must be very comfortable for her.’
Nellie was feeling very emotional and could only manage a weak grin. ‘I didn’t hurry in deliberately so I could have the first nurse, girl, honest! I would have made the tea but Lizzie had beaten me to it. Come and sit down and you can have a cuddle now.’
Molly shook her head. ‘It would be a shame to move her, she looks so happy. I think you two are going to get on well together.’
That pleased the little woman. ‘D’yer really think so, girl?’
‘Yer can tell by looking at her that she’s found a spot she likes. Your lap is going to come in very handy, I can see that.’
‘Mam, I’ve been thinking.’ Jill put her cup on the table and leaned over to stroke the baby’s face before going on. ‘What about me dad and Uncle George? Surely yer haven’t told them they can’t come tonight?’
‘It would have been a waste of breath, sunshine, ’cos nothing will keep the pair of them away. They’re both walking around with smiles on their faces and their chests sticking out a mile. Anyone would think they were the only grandfathers in Liverpool. They’ll be here about half-seven, but they’ve got orders not to outstay their welcome. And as for the rest of the clan, yer’ll see them all tomorrow at the church.’
‘Yer’ll get a big surprise when yer see me and yer mam in all our finery. And Archie’s mam.’ Nellie was thinking how wonderful life was. ‘I hope we don’t put the bride in the shade.’
‘I won’t have anything new to wear,’ Jill said. ‘But I should be able to squeeze into one of last year’s summer dresses. And I’ll have a coat on, anyway.’
‘Would yer like me to come up in the morning to give yer a hand?’ Molly asked. ‘I could see to the baby while you get yerself ready.’
Jill shook her head. ‘Thanks all the same, Mam, but I can manage as long as I take me time. And Steve will be here to help out.’
‘Okay, sunshine, but yer know where I am if needs be. Me and Nellie have made the cot up, and it looks lovely. And Steve knows all the arrangements regarding one of the wedding cars coming for yer. So me and my mate will love yer and leave yer now, and we’ll see yer at the church.’
Lizzie saw the friends out, and couldn’t get back into the living room quick enough. ‘Now perhaps I can get a look in. Wait till I settle meself in me chair, sweetheart, then put the baby in my arms. While I’m rocking her, we can get to know each other and it will give you a chance to empty the case and do what yer have to.’
When Jill was halfway up the stairs with the case in her hand, she heard Lizzie talking to the baby and stopped to listen. ‘Now I know yer’ve got two grannies already, but it wouldn’t hurt to have another one. In fact, it would be very good. So I’d like to put meself forward as grandma number three. Yer see, yer live here, and yer’ll be growing up here. And we can’t have yer calling me Mrs Corkhill, can we, ’cos it sounds like we’re strangers. So, in the right order, there’ll be Grandma Molly, Grandma Nellie, and meself, Grandma Lizzie. We’ll all get on like a house on fire, and we’ll take good care of yer and give yer all the love in our hearts. And that, sweetheart, is a whole lot of love.’
Molly was awake early the next morning, and rather than lie tossing and turning, she decided to go down and make herself a drink. She slipped her legs over the side of the bed as carefully as she could, so as not to disturb Jack, and crept across the room stepping over the floorboard she knew would creak. Treading softly on each stair, she made her way down to the living room and closed the door behind her. She didn’t want to wake her daughter because this was Ruthie’s big day and she’d be so full of excitement there’d be no stopping her talking her head off.
Leaning back against the door, Molly asked herself if she should clean the grate out first or make herself a cuppa? The thought of a drink was most appealing, but would she enjoy it while staring at a grate that needed raking out and cleaning? Molly had a conversation with the empty room. ‘I could kill two birds with one stone by putting the kettle on and clearing the grate while I’m waiting for it to boil.’ Then she answered herself, ‘Good idea, Molly, if yer put a move on yer could have the grate done by the time the water boils.’
Fifteen minutes later she was sitting on the couch with a much appreciated cup of sweet tea. And in the peace and quiet she allowed her mind to reflect on the past few years. When the three eldest children were little and at school, she never gave a thought to whether time was passing by slowly or quickly. One day was very much like another. Then Jill left school and found a job, making life a little easier financially. A year later Doreen left school and went to work in Johnson’s, and Tommy the year after. Then the war started with years of food and coal shortages, and the dread of air-raids. Steve was called up for the army first, Phil didn’t wait to be called up but volunteered to get away from his family, and then her beloved Tommy got his call-up papers and that nearly broke her heart. But all three were amongst the lucky ones who came home safely.
It all seemed just like yesterday, the memories were so vivid. And yet her two daughters and her son were married now, and she was a grandma twice over. It was hard to take in that her girls were now mothers themselves. But she was lucky they lived so close and hadn’t moved miles away, she’d have pined something terrible for them if they had.
