Many a Tear Has to Fall, page 20
Peggy and Pete left soon after, and Irene produced a jigsaw and a toy tram as well as sticks of Blackpool rock. She told them they could only have a small piece each before cleaning their teeth and getting ready for bed.
‘But we want to see Daddy,’ said Josie, jumping up and down.
Irene promised that, as soon as he arrived, he’d be up the stairs to read them a story, but if they went to bed in half an hour like good children, she would read them a story then.
Irene settled down to await Marty’s return. By nine o’clock he had still not arrived home, and she was just considering phoning his mother’s house when the telephone rang. She picked up the receiver and recognized Dot’s voice.
‘Hi, Dot!’
‘You arrived back safely then,’ said Dot.
‘Yes, what can I do for you?’
‘Nothing! I was just ringing to see that you’d got back all right and to ask if everything’s okay.’
Irene hesitated, wondering what Dot and Billy knew, although Peggy had not mentioned having spoken to them. ‘Have you seen this evening’s Echo?’
‘No, we only get the Formby Times. Why, is there something interesting in it?’
Irene cleared her throat and read out the article over the phone. Dot gave a low whistle. ‘Wow! Who’d have believed it!’
‘My thoughts exactly.’ Irene told her that Marty had gone to the hospital, and of his fears. ‘If someone does snitch on Tommy, then you can bet it’ll be leaked and be in all the newspapers tomorrow.’ Irene ad-libbed: ‘Hero who saves child’s life is man wanted by the police in connection with driving the getaway car in a robbery five years ago.’
‘You’re not thinking that Maggie would shop him because he’s lied his head off to her?’ said Dot.
‘No, I wasn’t thinking that at all,’ she said. ‘But I’m hoping she doesn’t read the Echo. Don’t you think it would be best for her if she doesn’t start feeling sorry for him? At the moment there are those who really do think he’s a hero.’
‘You mean she’s better forgetting all about him?’
‘Don’t you? I know I’ve never really had a good word to say about Tommy in the past, and I don’t believe him doing one good deed wipes away all the selfish stuff he’s done but …’
‘I won’t mention any of this to our Maggie. If she finds out herself, that’s different. As it is, she’s starting a new life.’
‘Doing what?’ Irene asked.
‘As Dorothy Wilson’s dresser and assistant. Maggie’s brilliant with clothes, style and make-up. She might even get to do some acting. They’ll be travelling in some play around the country and will probably end up in London. After that, who knows? Maggie has told me that Dorothy is going to Hollywood next year. Who’s to say she mightn’t end up going with her? Give our best to Marty,’ added Dot, and rang off.
Marty was not having a good time of it that evening. His first port of call had been to the hospital in the hope of seeing Tommy, only to be told that visiting hours were over and a policeman was with his brother. That information was enough to send Marty to his mother’s house. He arrived to find his youngest sister feeding her baby, and was told not to worry about their mother as Lily would take care of her. Peggy and Pete had been there already and had told them what had happened with Tommy.
‘Me and Mam and the baby are going to have a nice little holiday in Ireland, away from the gossip, with some old friend of Mam’s. By the time we get back, hopefully it will all have blown over,’ said Lil. ‘It’s not as if we’ve been sheltering him and have broken the law.’
Marty could see his younger sister’s point of view, but did not think his mother would cast aside her younger son as quickly as his sister was prepared to do. He left and went to visit Father Francis, who had already seen the article in the newspaper and had planned to call on Tommy in hospital, as well as visit his mother.
‘If someone does identify our Tommy from that photograph, I’d like to know who it is,’ said Marty, grim-faced.
‘Have you any ideas who might do so?’ asked Father Francis.
‘I did wonder about Maggie Gregory. Apparently Pete said she was knocked sideways when she discovered that he had lied about his name and a lot of other stuff.’
The priest frowned. ‘I know Maggie. She’s one of those young people who used to visit my sister’s house for their musical evenings. I wouldn’t have thought she’d get involved with the police. Anyone else?’
‘Bernie’s family. Especially her mother and brothers. They would be cock-a-hoop if he was arrested and sent to prison.’
Father Francis sighed. ‘Of course, there are others who would be pleased to see your brother behind bars. The crooks who were jailed, for instance.’
‘But they’re still in prison.’
‘They have family, no doubt, who just might want revenge,’ Father Francis said heavily, getting to his feet. ‘Anyway, Marty, I’ll have to see you out. I have a sick parishioner I must visit. Keep in touch.’
Marty thanked him and left.
He paused outside the presbytery, wondering whether to get in touch with Inspector Walker, who knew Tommy’s background. If his brother was arrested, Sam Walker was the person most likely to know what would happen to him next. Might he be moved to a prison hospital, or would they leave him where he was and keep an eye on him until his case came to trial? And what kind of prison sentence was he likely to be given? Marty wished he was back in Blackpool on his honeymoon. Then he squared his shoulders and decided to visit Sam Walker tomorrow.
Irene had his supper on the table within minutes of Marty entering the house. ‘How did things go?’ she asked.
He told her.
She went over to the sideboard and took out a bottle and poured a glass of port apiece. ‘I wonder how many years inside Tommy is looking at if he is arrested.’
‘I wonder.’ Marty downed the contents of the glass in one go. ‘By the way, don’t talk about this in front of the kids. I don’t want Jerry getting upset.’
Irene said indignantly, ‘As if I would, love. I do know something about kids, you know. I think the poor lad has been through enough already.’
‘I’m sorry! I know you’re great with kids.’ Marty covered her hand with his. ‘I just wish Tommy had stayed in London and not brought his problems here. I feel sorry, too, for young Maggie.’
Irene’s fingers laced through her husband’s. ‘Dot phoned me. She told me that Maggie has got herself a whole new life already, working for Dorothy Wilson. You know, the actress?’
‘Of course I know who she is.’
‘Maggie’s going to be travelling around the country with her and the rest of the theatre group, with some play that will most likely end up in London. Then our famous actress is off to Hollywood in the spring and, who knows, Maggie just might go with her. So don’t be worrying about her. She’ll get over it.’
Twenty-Three
London: November 1959
Maggie experienced stirrings of apprehension mixed with pleasure as she and Dorothy stepped out of a taxi and climbed the steps to the front door of Mrs Cooling’s lodging house. She recalled the thrill of those first months in London, when everything was new and exciting. But those happy memories were tinged with sadness and disappointment that things hadn’t entirely worked out the way she would have liked. She also found herself thinking of Tommy, remembering how he had helped her when she’d collapsed in the smog, and then again outside the corner shop when he had lit her cigarette, and that fateful meeting on the train to Liverpool.
She sighed inwardly, thinking she had done a good job of putting him out of her mind while on her travels, despite Lenny mentioning an article in the Echo about Tommy before she had left Liverpool. She had thought of asking her family if any of them had seen it, only then decided to see if they would mention it to her. But nobody had, and she could only believe that was because they thought she had been hurt enough by Tommy. She wondered, not for the first time, who had recognized him and reported him to the police. Could it have been Monica? The thought made her feel uncomfortable, but she told herself that he had taken the risk of being recognized when he returned to Liverpool, and she was not going to blame herself or the other girl for his arrest. He had caused her enough pain as it was; she had to continue focusing on what she was doing now.
It had occurred to Maggie earlier, when the train pulled into Paddington, that she was most likely going to pay a price for returning to London. November was not the best time to arrive in the Big Smoke. The play had been a success in Liverpool, Manchester, Doncaster, Birmingham, Coventry and Oxford. In fact, wherever it had played, Dorothy had received standing ovations for her performance. It was possible the play might run and run through winter.
Maggie was not only worrying about her own health, but feeling more than a little concerned about that of her employer. Having worked closely with her, she was aware just how much of herself Dorothy gave to each performance. She would not admit it, but Maggie could recognize the signs of strain and weariness, and guessed that the actress was in need of a damn good rest. The difficulty about Dorothy taking time out was that, although her understudy knew her stuff, those who had bought tickets for the play in advance wanted to watch Dorothy Wilson in the starring role. Maggie guessed there was going to be no easy solution to the problem if it arose.
Mrs Cooling welcomed them both with obvious pleasure. ‘You look as lovely as ever, Dorothy. As for you, Maggie, I’m glad to see you’ve filled out.’ Immediately Maggie felt as if she had blown up like a balloon. ‘Now come and have afternoon tea with me,’ added their landlady. ‘And you can tell me all your news.’
It was not until after a good natter over tea and buttered toasted teacakes that they were able to escape to their rooms and relax. Dorothy said they would visit the theatre tomorrow morning, so Maggie had the rest of the day off today. Opening night was in three days’ time. Maggie knew a few changes had been made to the script, especially for the London audiences, but nothing that altered the theme of the play. Their landlady would be coming to the first performance, and to the party afterwards. Fingers crossed, thought Maggie, all would go well, and the London critics would love it as much as those in the provinces had done.
She decided to make the most of this leisure time and go and visit some of her old haunts. She made her way to Soho and the 2 I’s coffee bar on Old Compton Street, humming the hit song ‘Singing the Blues’.
She was enjoying an espresso, as well as reliving the experience of being in the very place where Tommy Steele had first been spotted, when she suddenly noticed a familiar face outside the window. Her heart began to thud and she half rose in her seat. For a moment she felt quite dizzy, so she sat down quickly. Norm. Did she really want to speak to him after all the hurt he had caused? On the other hand, she had moved on, and they had been friends a long time, so perhaps she should be magnanimous and forgive him.
She finished her espresso and left the coffee bar, having noticed Norm heading in the direction of Dean Street. She was curious to see if he was meeting anyone. Perhaps the woman for whom he had ditched her. He was still in sight, and she watched him cross into Shaftsbury Avenue, home of the wonderful Edwardian Apollo Theatre. This area was a magnet for theatregoers, she thought with a thrill of excitement. If Norm had gone in a different direction, he would have eventually come to the colourful Covent Garden. As it was, she had a shrewd idea he was heading for Leicester Square.
Good guess, she thought a few minutes later, watching as he gazed at the stills of the film showing at the Odeon. Perhaps he was meeting his lady love, planning on taking her to the cinema. Maggie had stopped a few yards away, prepared to wait a short while to see if his date arrived.
Suddenly he turned; as his eyes scanned the faces of the people milling about the square, his gaze suddenly fixed on Maggie.
Knowing she had been spotted, she walked slowly towards him. ‘I thought I recognized you, Norm,’ she said.
He screwed up his face. ‘Is it really you, Maggie?’
‘Of course it’s me,’ she replied, exasperated. ‘I know it’s a while since we’ve seen each other, but I haven’t changed that much.’
‘You’ve filled out.’
She felt like sinking through the ground, wondering why that was the first thing people noticed about her these days? ‘I’m no longer modelling,’ she said.
He looked astonished. ‘I thought you had your heart set on having your face and figure on the front page of Vogue.’
‘I did, but times change. Anyway, there are those who think my being this shape suits me.’
‘You do look good.’
‘Thanks a bunch for your charming compliment,’ she said sweetly. ‘Anyway, what are you doing here? Meeting someone important?’
He reddened and blurted out, ‘I’m sorry for my last letter. I eventually received yours and it made me feel a bit of a rotter.’
‘At least you now realize that it was a lousy way to finish with me.’
‘Yes, I should have thought a bit more about what I scribbled down.’
‘I found it cruel.’
He nodded. ‘I didn’t mean to be cruel.’
‘I don’t suppose you did.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Anyway, it was better to find out that we don’t suit before we did anything stupid, such as getting married.’
‘Yeah, you’re right,’ he said in a low voice.
She waited for him to tell her about his fiancée, but all he said was, ‘So, what are you doing now you’re no longer modelling?’
‘You haven’t been in touch with your mother or Pete?’
He hesitated. ‘No.’
She looked at him in disgust. ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself.’
He frowned. ‘Never mind me. You haven’t answered my question.’
She said quietly, ‘And you haven’t answered mine! As it happens, I’ve only just come back to London. I had to leave on health grounds. I’ve been living at Emma and Jared’s cottage, working in the tearoom and shop during the summer.’ She paused. ‘So, how is married life?’
‘It didn’t work out,’ he said shortly.
Yippee! She felt a tremendous sense of satisfaction, but adopted a sympathetic expression. ‘Oh, I am sorry. What happened? Assuming you want to talk about it?’
He shrugged. ‘She wasn’t the person I thought she was.’
‘That must have been a big disappointment to you.’
‘You can say that again. Women!’ He shook his head.
She felt another twinge of annoyance. ‘Well, it takes two, Norm, but you are probably better off without us. I feel like that about some men, truth be told. It rather puts you off having anything to do with any of them.’
He looked taken aback by her seeming challenge. ‘Are you blaming me for putting you off men?’
‘Well, if the cap fits … But, as it happens, I also met someone else after you but I dropped him when I discovered he’d been lying to me. So, yes, I’m right off men. I’m happy being single and doing exactly what I want.’
‘You mean working in the tearoom and shop up north?’ There was a derisive note in his voice that really got on her nerves.
‘No. At the moment I’m working in the theatre. Do you remember Dorothy Wilson?’
He nodded. ‘She’s a Liverpudlian actress who’s made it big.’
‘That’s right. She’s really famous. Although not so famous that she’s not prepared to give a fellow Liverpudlian a helping hand up the ladder.’
He stared at her in astonishment. ‘You’re not telling me you’ve gone on the stage and are appearing in a play with her?’
‘We spend a lot of time working together. The play is really proving popular. It’s been performed in theatres all round the country and now it’s going to be showing in London.’
‘Wow! I’d like to see it,’ he said, smiling. ‘I’m really impressed.’
She said softly, ‘You’d never get a ticket. It’s completely sold out.’
He looked disappointed. ‘Couldn’t you get me a freebie for tonight? My ship sails tomorrow.’
‘Sorry, there’s no performance this evening.’ She sounded regretful but was in truth relieved.
He frowned. ‘What a bloody shame! I’d have loved to have seen you up on the stage with Dorothy Wilson. You’re really going up in the world. Modelling, what’s that compared to being on the stage and in films?’
She decided to ignore that slur on the career she had once set her heart on. ‘I’d better get going. I thought I might go and see a film and then have something to eat.’
He surprised her by saying, ‘How d’you feel about going to the matinee here at the Odeon? Afterwards we could have a meal. My treat.’
Maggie considered throwing his invitation in his face, but those two words ‘My treat’ caused her to change her mind. ‘All right! For old time’s sake.’
‘Then let’s go.’ He offered her his arm and she slipped her hand through his, and they went inside the Odeon.
It was not until a few hours later when they were sitting at a table in the restaurant in Chinatown that Maggie said, ‘I heard Pete and Peggy have a daughter.’
‘Have they? That’s quick.’ He looked slightly put out.
‘And a car,’ she murmured, reaching for her glass of wine as he perused the menu. ‘I remember you saying that’s what Pete needed, and you talked about the car you’d like when you finish with the sea. I don’t suppose that’s on the cards, is it?’
He glanced at her over the menu. ‘I’m surprised at you asking that, Maggie. You know the sea is my life. You were always so understanding about my being away so much in the past.’
‘I thought you might have been prepared to give it up for her.’
Norm appeared not to have heard and was gazing down at the menu again. ‘I presume you’re having your favourite duck, or special chow mein?’
‘Yes, please.’ Suddenly she was reminded of Tommy and of the time he had taken her to the Cathay on Renshaw Street. A tide of emotion swept over her. She forced down the lump in her throat and reminded herself that he was a deceiving, no-good rat.
