Many a Tear Has to Fall, page 22
‘Of course, I’ll tell her. Do I mention Maggie Gregory in the letter? Jerry has spoken of her once or twice. He remembers seeing her in the church at our wedding and still calls her the lady on the train and thinks she might know where he is. I’m wondering if I should tell him that Tommy’s in hospital and show him the photo and article in the Echo that speaks of him being a hero.’
‘I suppose it wouldn’t do any harm. Although, I don’t know if you should mention Maggie to Tommy. Maybe you could write almost casually that she’s back in London? If he feels anything for her still, he’s best believing she’s completely out of his reach. She saw Norm in London, and for all we know they might get back together again.’ She relaxed her hold on his arm. ‘I’d better get cracking. I can’t trust Pete’s mother not to burn the potatoes, and Pete was taking Katherine for a walk in the park.’
‘OK! I’ll let you know if I hear back from Tommy,’ Marty said.
‘Thanks.’ With a clearer conscience, Peggy hurried off home.
Twenty-Five
Maggie stepped down from the train in Lime Street Station and drew in a painful breath. She had hoped never to suffer from bronchitis again, but her chest was feeling tight. Perhaps she would feel better once she was back in Formby. As she walked along the platform, she was praying that Jared had received her message and would be outside waiting for her with the van. She felt she just could not cope with sitting in another crowded train with people coughing and spluttering all over her.
To her disappointment, her brother’s work van was nowhere to be seen. Still, he might be late; with it being almost Christmas, the traffic was bad. She waited for ten minutes then decided she had no choice but to catch the Southport train before she froze to death. She had just started walking when she heard her name being called. She turned her head and saw a car pull up at the kerb and recognized the driver as her brother-in-law, Billy.
‘Get in and I’ll take you to Formby,’ he said.
‘Thanks. You’re a sight for sore eyes,’ she gasped, opening the front passenger door. She climbed inside and managed to heave her holdall in with her and drop it on to the back seat before settling herself comfortably.
‘Good journey?’ he asked.
‘The train was crowded, as is to be expected this time of year. I’ll be glad to flop out when I get home.’
‘Is that how you think of Jared’s and Emma’s house now?’
‘Until I get a place of my own, I suppose it is,’ Maggie answered. ‘Although I enjoy staying at the cottage if I’m feeling in need of a bit of peace and quiet.’
‘You’re not likely to get complete peace and quiet this spring. Apparently, Betty’s coming over with her bloke and little girl, and she said to Emma how she’d enjoy staying up there for a couple of weeks to do some painting.’
‘I thought they weren’t coming until the year after?’
‘Change of plan.’
Maggie was aware of mixed emotions, and realized that part of her had begun to consider the cottage her domain for most of the year. ‘What does she want to paint for when she has a husband to support her?’
Billy glanced at her. ‘You’re not still jealous of her, are you?’
‘I’ve never been jealous of her!’ Bright flags of pink flared in her cheeks.
‘I don’t think that’s quite true, but if you want to kid yourself, that’s your problem.’
The colour in her cheeks burned. ‘Why are you being so rude to me?’
‘Am I being rude? I thought we were just having a conversation. I don’t get a chance to talk to you alone that often.’
Maggie glanced at him. ‘If we’re being honest, I often felt you didn’t want to talk to me at all. I’ve always thought you didn’t like me and, as we don’t have much in common, that suited me.’
‘We share feelings for your sister, so we have that in common. But there have been times when I’ve thought you don’t appreciate her enough, and that annoys me.’
The colour that had begun to fade in Maggie’s cheeks flared up again. ‘What is this? Get-at-Maggie day?’
‘No, but Dot would appreciate your company at our house sometimes. Life hasn’t turned out the way she’d have liked, but she just keeps on going. Whereas you always seem to expect the family to rally round when your heart’s near to breaking.’
His words almost took her breath away and, for a moment, she could not speak. Then she managed to say in a low voice, ‘Are you saying our Dot’s heart is near to breaking?’
He nodded. ‘I know you’ve suffered in different ways, but she’d love a child of her own. It just hasn’t happened, though. I don’t mind for myself, but she does, and now Deirdre is having a baby—’
‘Deirdre’s pregnant!’ Maggie was shocked; could scarcely believe it. She had believed Deirdre had more sense than to get herself into trouble. ‘But she’s not married!’
‘It’s not obligatory to be married, but as it happens she and Jimmy were married last week.’
‘Why didn’t anyone let me know? I’d have sent a card.’
‘We thought you’d get to know soon enough. Anyway, Dot is going to feel even worse than when Emma gave birth to her second little one. Christmas is a particularly difficult time for Dot. It would be great if you asked her if you could have Christmas dinner with us. I know you prefer having it at Jared and Emma’s, but—’
‘I’ll have Christmas dinner at your house if that’s what she would like,’ Maggie interrupted. ‘Although I don’t see why we can’t all have Christmas dinner together. She could watch Owen opening his presents and …’ She stopped abruptly. ‘I’m not thinking, am I? Will she find that painful too?’
‘You’re getting the idea.’
Maggie said no more, but remembered Irene telling her about asking Dot to visit the children’s home with her. Surely Billy knew about that, and of her fondness for the handicapped boy, Georgie? Why didn’t they consider adoption? Unless Dot knew that her big, strong, ex-army husband would never countenance such a thing. She realized it took a special kind of person to take on someone else’s child. She found herself thinking of Irene and Marty, and wondered how they were coping with Jerry. What, if anything, had they told him about his father being in prison?
She felt that aching sadness, remembering watching Tommy and his son talking in the railway carriage, and how Jerry had wanted to play with his cars. She sighed and told herself to stop thinking of them. Her sister was more important. She had no problem believing Dot could cope with someone else’s child, but could the man next to her?
Maggie glanced at Billy and realized how little she knew about her brother-in-law. That he was perceptive where his wife was concerned was obvious, up to a point, but it seemed to her that both of them needed to get together and have a good discussion about what steps they could take if Dot was desperate to have a child to love that she could call her own.
‘“Christmas comes but once a year. When it comes it brings good cheer”,’ sang Emma, stirring the bowl of punch.
Maggie dropped in another slice of orange. ‘You don’t mind my spending Christmas day with our Dot and Billy?’
‘Of course not. You shouldn’t have to ask. Besides, I’ve other visitors coming.’
‘Who?’
‘My old friend, Lila, her husband, Dougie, Pete’s brother, their two kids and her dad. I’m really pleased about it. Lila and I used to see a lot of each other when we lived in Whalley, and I’m fond of her father. But since we married and moved, we don’t see each other as much as we would like. So when she phoned to say that she had broken her arm, I immediately thought, why not invite them here?’
‘Won’t you need help?’ asked Maggie.
Emma shook her head. ‘Don’t be daft. You’re forgetting I used to run the tearoom singlehanded. Cooking Christmas dinner for five adults and three little ones, not counting the baby, will be a doddle.’
‘I’ll peel all the vegetables for you before I go, as well as set the table,’ said Maggie, dropping a couple of sticks of cinnamon into the punch.
Emma smiled. ‘You really have changed, and I must say I appreciate all the help you’ve given me since you gave up modelling and came back north. Anyway, you won’t be on your own with Dot and Billy. I heard her telling Jared that she’s invited Jimmy and Deirdre.’ She hesitated. ‘You do know Deirdre’s pregnant?’
Maggie nodded. ‘That’s why I’m surprised Dot’s asked them to dinner.’
Emma frowned. ‘Why?’
‘Another person we know having a baby and our Dot shows no signs of getting pregnant. She must feel it.’
‘Of course, she does, but I didn’t think you’d give it any thought. Anyway, apparently Dot’s asked them because her parents are far from pleased about the situation and didn’t even attend the wedding. Jimmy’s name is mud in that household.’
‘Poor Deirdre and Jimmy.’
‘I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Her parents could change their attitude once their grandchild arrives. It’ll be their first,’ said Emma.
‘Anyway, they’ll be staying the night next door, too. Deirdre was on duty over Christmas and Boxing Day last year, so she’s off this year. It’ll be good for the newlyweds to have two days together and not have to worry about facing her parents.’
Maggie did feel sympathy for Deirdre, and could understand her not wanting her Christmas spoilt by having to run the gauntlet of her mother’s disapproval. Maggie knew that her own mother would have been horrified if she’d got pregnant out of wedlock. But she was going to feel a right gooseberry tomorrow, sitting with two couples at the dinner table. Still, she would make an effort and dress up and put on her best face, and at least she would have plenty to talk about to cover any awkward moments. After all, she had spent a couple of months on tour with a famous actress, finishing up in the West End of London.
Her brow puckered as she thought about Lenny having turned up in London to spend Christmas with Dorothy. It had come as a surprise to Maggie, who had been packing for her trip to Liverpool, and she’d had time only to exchange greetings with Lenny. She had wondered what she would do next if Dorothy decided to leave the play to have a well-deserved break in the New Year. Maggie did not fancy staying on in the theatre in London. Although she had enjoyed her time in rep, she had soon realized that it was not really the life for her.
Neither did she want to remain here in Formby, just helping Emma with the children and housework until Eastertide, when the tearoom and shop would open again. What she needed was to find something else to fill her time.
Twenty-Six
‘That is a fab dress,’ said Deirdre wistfully, gazing at Maggie and absently accepting a Babycham from Dot. ‘It must have cost you a bob or two.’
‘Not a penny,’ said Maggie, twirling round. ‘It was a gift.’
‘A hand-me-down from the other Dorothy,’ whispered Dot audibly in Deirdre’s ear.
Maggie pulled a face at her sister. ‘Do you have to tell everyone my secrets? I was going to pretend that I once modelled for Dior and he sends me a special gift of his latest creation every now and again because he has never forgotten me.’
Deirdre said, ‘I suppose, if that was true, you could almost call him your sugar daddy.’
‘I wish,’ said Maggie, smiling faintly. ‘I haven’t had any luck with younger men, so perhaps I should try an older one. There was a photographer, Charlie, who was at least forty – he fancied me. Maybe I should have taken him up on his offer to go to the Costa Blanca with him.’
‘What about Norm?’ Jimmy had been listening, and now sat beside Deirdre on the sofa with his arm across her shoulders. ‘Peggy mentioned him when she called at Irene’s and Marty’s yesterday. Apparently they heard from him and he said he’d seen you in London.’
‘He’s yesterday’s news,’ said Maggie firmly. ‘He might think we can get together again, but he’s mistaken.’
At that moment the front doorbell sounded. ‘Could you go and answer that for me, Mags?’ asked Dot.
‘OK.’ She wondered whether her sister was expecting someone else.
‘Hello, Maggie,’ said Josh, standing on the step, holding a bottle of champagne and a parcel wrapped in Christmas paper.
‘What are you doing here?’ she blurted out. ‘How did you get here?’
‘I was invited and I came by car. A new acquisition.’ He raised that mobile eyebrow of his. ‘May I come in?’
She stepped aside, wondering why Dot had not mentioned to her that she had invited Josh to Christmas dinner.
‘Is that Josh?’ called Billy, poking his head out of the living-room door.
‘Yes,’ replied Maggie. ‘Let me take your overcoat, Josh.’
He placed the champagne and parcel on the hall table, unbuttoned his tweed overcoat and handed it to her, before removing his trilby and giving that to her, too.
Then he bent his dark head and – to her astonishment – kissed her smack on the lips. His lips were cold and firm and slightly moist, and the kiss was definitely not unpleasant. But should it be happening? It was not so long ago that she had believed her heart was broken, thought Maggie. Yet here she was, enjoying being kissed. She told herself that there was nothing she could have done to prevent Josh from kissing her, what with her hands full of overcoat and hat, but she should be putting a stop to it right now. She did just that by taking a step backwards.
She gazed up at him and realized that his breathing was flurried and there was an expression in his brown eyes that confused her. She could feel her bosom heaving, and was glad that it was concealed by his overcoat.
Then he glanced up and her eyes followed his and she saw the mistletoe hanging from the hall light. ‘Happy Christmas, Maggie,’ he said, his eyes twinkling.
She managed a smile. ‘The same to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me.’ She carried his outdoor clothes upstairs and placed them on the bed in the spare room. Then she sat beside them and thought further about that kiss. Should she have said something? But what? She had come to the conclusion that she just might have been set up by Dot who had decided to do a bit of matchmaking. She felt annoyed that her sister should be interfering in her life. Although, Dot could not have arranged for that kiss to happen. Surely that was down to Josh, who had taken advantage of her standing beneath the mistletoe. He might even have thought she had stood there deliberately. She groaned.
‘Are you going to be up there long?’ shouted Dot. ‘Only I’ll be dishing up dinner any minute now!’
‘Coming!’ Maggie stood up and hurried downstairs.
She entered the living room just as Josh was opening the bottle of champagne. It made a satisfactory popping noise and, as if to the manner born, he swiftly began to pour the foaming wine into glasses.
Dot glanced at Maggie. ‘Josh was going to be spending Christmas all on his own at a time when he has something to celebrate.’
‘So you asked him here,’ Maggie murmured. ‘That was really thoughtful of you, sis.’
Dot gave her a sharp look and then glanced at her husband. ‘Actually, it was Billy’s idea.’
Maggie supposed that could be true, and said no more about it. She accepted a glass of champagne from Josh with a word of thanks. ‘So, what are we celebrating?’ she asked.
‘Me being demobbed and moving into Uncle Lenny’s flat. I’m going to be working at the coffee bar.’
‘Oh!’ Maggie supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised. ‘You can cook then?’
Billy laughed. ‘Of course he can cook. That was Josh’s job in the army. He was a chef and has cooked for hundreds of soldiers in his time, finishing up organizing special dinners for the officers.’
Maggie flushed. ‘Nobody told me. I presumed because you were tanned when we first met that you were just an ordinary soldier and spent a lot of time outdoors.’
‘I’d just returned from sunny Cyprus,’ said Josh, smiling.
‘Well, now you know,’ Dot said, raising her glass of champagne. ‘Here’s to Josh and his new venture. That it will be a success.’
Maggie echoed her words and raised her glass to Josh, thinking it looked as if they had more in common than she had thought.
Dot drained her glass and said, ‘Anyway, I’m ready to dish up, so take your seats at the table, folks. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving.’
They all trooped into the dining room and sat down, helping themselves from the tureens of vegetables in the middle of the table. Slices of turkey and ham along with stuffing were already on plates. For the next quarter of an hour, the conversation was desultory, and Maggie just listened as she ate, thinking it strange that Jimmy didn’t mention Tommy, as apparently he had been at his sister’s and Marty’s house yesterday. After all, Christmas was a time when families were inclined to reminisce about past Christmases. There was no way she was going to ask him about Tommy, though.
When the meal was over and the washing-up done, they listened to the Queen’s speech. Then glasses were refilled and they gathered around the log fire.
‘So are you going to tell us about being on tour with Dorothy Wilson, Mags?’ asked Jimmy. ‘I’ve never forgotten the first time I caught sight of her at Lenny’s. She looked really glamorous.’
‘I can tell you she never wears anything cheap. Not even when she’s relaxing. It’s as if she can never forget that she’s a star, or that once she was just a common Scouser,’ Maggie said.
‘She remembers my mother,’ said Josh.
‘How?’ Maggie asked, recalling that his name had barely cropped up in conversations between her and her employer whilst they were away.
‘Mam was Uncle Lenny’s sister and the two families lived close by.’
‘What about your dad?’
‘His parents had the corner shop, and Dad used to help out there. He and Mam met when she used to go in there for messages. They were both killed when a building collapsed near the end of the war. I was kicking a ball and had gone on ahead. It happened so unexpectedly. I heard this roar behind me and I looked back …’ Josh grimaced. ‘But enough about sad, faraway things.’
