‘Violet, are you sure you should lift that?’ asked Ruby anxiously from behind the counter of the shop. ‘Here, you come and check the change in the till and I’ll do it. You must be careful.’
Violet straightened up slowly, rubbing her back. ‘Maybe you’re right. Thanks, Ruby. It’s getting so that I can’t bend over properly any more. It’s all I can do to kick my shoes off.’ She made her way heavily to the counter as Ruby slipped out into the aisle, and found she could hardly fit in her usual space. She moved the stool to give herself a bit more room and collapsed on to it. ‘I’m sure Rita was never this big. She didn’t have this trouble.’
‘I suppose everyone’s different,’ said Ruby uncertainly, rubbing her hands and then plunging them into the patch pockets of her faded apron. Growing up with only mean Elsie Lowe for company, she hadn’t known any expectant mothers. Rita was the only person she had to go by, and she’d carried Ellen in a neat bump, managing to work almost up to the birth. Violet was struggling in comparison.
‘That’s what they say,’ Violet huffed. She’d seen her own mother carry four children, and she didn’t remember her ever being as big as this, but then again Violet was much taller than her mother had been, so perhaps it followed that her bump would be bigger too. She didn’t know. Dolly, Rita and Sarah kept reassuring her that she had no need to worry, and so she tried to take comfort from them. Between them they’d carried eight babies and tended to more births than they could count, so they should know what they were talking about. All the same, she could do without the nights of interrupted sleep and constant heartburn. It made her uncharacteristically tetchy.
Ruby crouched down to try to shift the big box on the floor. She was not used to doing much of the heavy work around the shop, as Rita and Violet had always done everything between them. Even during the recent stages of her pregnancy, Violet had managed, as Rita was back at the hospital most of the time, but now it was physically impossible for her to get her arms around a bulky box as her bump was always in the way. Ruby tried to lift the box before her in the way she’d seen Violet do it, but nothing happened. Her arms were shorter and weaker. She hadn’t had a lifetime of building up her muscles, and the sheer weight of the box defeated her.
‘Oh, Violet, what are we going to do?’ She began rubbing her hands again. ‘We can’t leave it there, someone might trip over it.’
Violet sighed. She should have known Ruby wouldn’t be able to move the box. It wasn’t the young woman’s fault; she’d just never had the practice. The spirit was willing but the flesh just wasn’t up to it.
‘We could see if anyone’s around in the street,’ Violet suggested. ‘Maybe Pop or Tommy.’
Ruby shook her head of blonde hair, so pale it was almost white. ‘No, they left already. I saw them earlier this morning.’ She looked on the verge of tears, distraught at failing to help.
‘We could open the box and move the contents tin by tin,’ Violet said. ‘It might take a long time, but we’ll get there in the end.’
Ruby looked dubious. There were a lot of tins in the box, but she couldn’t come up with an alternative. ‘All right.’ She struggled to open it, and Violet could do nothing but watch.
Ruby had managed to rip back half of the lid when the door jangled. She looked flustered at being interrupted, but then her expression changed when she saw who it was. Reggie James stepped around the end of the shelves and saw what was going on.
‘Hello, Mr James,’ said Violet brightly. ‘Chilly morning, isn’t it? Don’t tell me you’ve got vegetables to sell after last week’s frost.’
‘It’s good for the parsnips,’ he smiled. Then he turned to Ruby and her predicament. ‘Now, what is the trouble?’
Ruby shrugged. ‘It’s this box, it’s too heavy for me to lift,’ she said, ‘and Violet can’t do it any more.’
‘Allow me,’ said Reggie. ‘Where do you want it?’
‘But your leg …’ protested Ruby.
Mr James ignored her, bending and lifting the big box with ease. ‘Do you want it back in the stock room?’
‘Yes please,’ said Violet, swinging open the internal door, realising that Ruby’s fear was groundless. If the man could work an allotment he was probably safe to lift a box, she reasoned. She certainly wasn’t going to turn down the offer.
Mr James manoeuvred the box out of the way as if it contained nothing but feathers. As he took it through, Violet could see his muscles working through the fabric of his coat, stretched tightly across his back. She’d never really noticed before but, even though one of his legs was damaged, there was obviously nothing wrong with the rest of him. He was fit and strong, and had come along at just the right moment.
Ruby was beaming with pleasure. ‘Thank you, thank you,’ she said as he came back into the shop, wiping his hands on a handkerchief. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’
‘And we could break open a packet of biscuits to show our appreciation,’ Violet said. ‘Tell you what, Ruby, why don’t you take Reggie through to the kitchen? I’ll hold the fort here. I don’t want any biscuits now I come to think of it, they’ll just make my heartburn worse.’
‘That’s very kind of you,’ said Reggie, but his eyes kept straying to Ruby. ‘I only stopped by to take orders for Christmas vegetables. We’ll have plenty if you are interested.’
‘Why don’t you sort that out with Ruby; she knows more about ordering than I do,’ Violet admitted honestly. Adding up figures had never been her strong point and now she was getting by on just a few hours’ sleep a night, she was worse at them than ever. ‘I trust her to make all the right decisions, you know.’
‘I’m sure you’re right,’ said Reggie, his eyes alight as Ruby led him back through to the little kitchen.
Violet sighed as she gently shut the door on them. They deserved a bit of privacy. He really was a very pleasant man and he seemed genuinely fond of Ruby. She felt mean that she’d made fun of him a little before. If he brought Ruby happiness, who was she to mock him? Ruby came to life in his presence in a way she’d never seen before. Violet shut her eyes, cross with herself. The trouble was they’d all believed Winnie, who’d put it about that Ruby was simple and wrong in the head. Even when they’d seen for themselves that it wasn’t true and Winnie had been saying it out of meanness and as a way of putting everyone off the scent to cover her own sin, the damage had been done. Yet Ruby was a young woman who deserved love as much as any other. Perhaps Reggie James was just the right man for her.
The door bell went again and in came Mrs Mawdsley, obviously in a hurry. ‘Good morning, dear. I won’t keep you, just let me buy a paper.’
Violet smiled and then grimaced as a twinge shot through her. She rallied and tried to sound cheerful as she handed it over. ‘Here you are. Chilly out, isn’t it?’
Mrs Mawdsley regarded her carefully. ‘Yes, Christmas isn’t far off now. When are you due, my dear? Not long to go now, by the looks of you.’
From anyone else, Violet might have bristled at the intrusive comment, but she knew the woman’s heart was in the right place. ‘Early January,’ she replied. ‘Dolly says first ones can often be late, but that I’m doing well.’
‘And she should know,’ Mrs Mawdsley agreed. ‘All the same, you must take care, my dear.’ She shook her head. The poor young woman looked as if she was going to pop at any moment.
‘Oh, I will,’ Violet assured her, keeping her smile in place until her customer had left. Then she collapsed back on to the stool with a groan. January couldn’t come soon enough for her, Christmas or no Christmas.
‘Don’t you think you’re asking a bit much of Tommy?’ Sarah demanded as Nancy breezed through the kitchen of their parents’ house. ‘He’ll have done a full day’s work, he’ll be tired, though he’d never admit that to you. But you have to remember he’s only fourteen.’
Nancy shrugged. ‘Don’t be such a killjoy, Sarah. He’ll love it. He enjoys looking after Georgie. And Georgie loves it, don’t you?’
The little boy nodded. ‘Can I stay with Tommy?’ he asked.
‘It’ll only be for a couple of hours, and then he can take you back to Granny Kerrigan and she’ll give you your tea,’ Nancy assured him.
George’s face fell. ‘Don’t like Granny Kerrigan’s tea.’
Nancy couldn’t very well say that she knew exactly what he meant. ‘Don’t be silly, there’s nothing wrong with her tea. If you’re good she might give you a treat.’ Even as she said it, Nancy knew there was fat chance of that, but she had to get away with this somehow.
George made a face as if he knew it too.
‘So, Gloria’s back in town on one of her whistle-stop tours, then?’ Sarah tried to sound as if she wasn’t impressed, even if she was secretly pleased that she had a connection to one of the nation’s favourite entertainers.
‘That’s right,’ Nancy gushed. ‘She’ll do one big concert before Christmas, then go up to Scotland, and then do one more in Liverpool on her way back to London. After that she’s off on some ENSA trip and I don’t know when I’ll see her again. So it’s tonight or never, really.’
Georgie looked up. ‘Can I see Auntie Gloria?’
Nancy bent down to his level. ‘Georgie, you’d be bored silly. Mummy and Auntie Gloria will just be sitting and chatting and there’ll be nothing for you to do. You’ll have much more fun with Tommy.’ She felt a little guilty but not enough to make her change her plans.
George didn’t look too unhappy about being told no. He was used to it, after all. He scuffed his shoe along the edge of the rag rug and wondered if Tommy might let him have a go on the back of his bike. He decided to keep this idea to himself.
‘Well, it’s certainly put you in a good mood,’ Sarah observed, picking up her warm scarf and looping it around her neck as she got ready to set off for the hospital. She was in a good mood herself; Kitty had told her that Danny would be coming back for Christmas. She was full of anticipation at seeing him again, and yet it was tinged with dread, wondering if he would be different, or if he’d have met someone else. She couldn’t even say that they were a couple though, so it wasn’t a question of ‘else’. It was too complicated to think about. She had to concentrate on being ready for whatever her next shift might throw at her.
Nancy nodded cheerfully, and kept smiling broadly as her sister let herself out. The thought of seeing Gloria always pepped her up, that was true. But it wasn’t the only reason for her happiness. Tonight she had two tickets to the show, and she’d be going there with Gary. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, remembering the electric connection between them when he’d got back a few days ago. She’d made an excuse to miss her WVS shift and had gone with him to a discreet hotel room. It had been everything she’d dreamt of and more. The separation had made things even better between them, and the long, passionate afternoon had filled her with delight and a keen desire for more. The illicit nature of their meeting just added to the excitement. She knew she shouldn’t set too much stock by promises made under such circumstances, but the flame of hope had been relit, that she might escape her gloomy life as her in-laws’ tenant, break free of the whole grey, depressing existence she led now. How or when she didn’t know, but that hope buoyed her up, made her tremble with emotion every time she got a quiet moment to think about it. Very occasionally she felt a flash of guilt, such as the rare occasions when one of Sid’s clumsy and brief letters tumbled through the letterbox, but usually she managed very successfully to overcome it.
Tonight she was going to introduce Gary to her best friend. They would share the evening, and then with luck they’d have time to run back to the hotel room and spend some proper time together before she had to sneak back home and avoid the baleful gaze of her mother-in-law. She shivered with the thrill of it all.
‘Are you cold, Mummy?’ Georgie asked, bringing her back down to earth with a bump.
‘Not a bit,’ said Nancy truthfully. She was still in her sensible coat, flat shoes and practical knitted twin-set. But later tonight she’d sneak into the theatre toilets and change into her beautiful silk frock and daring silk underwear, which wouldn’t keep her warm at all. Never mind. Gary would.
‘So I’m meeting him by the stage door at quarter to, because it’s quieter and we’re less likely to see anyone who knows us,’ Nancy said later that evening as Gloria expertly applied her lipstick in the dressing room before the show.
‘Surely if you’re going to sit with him in the front row, then it won’t matter how discreet you try to be beforehand,’ Gloria pointed out. She dusted her nose with the powder puff, then turned her head to the left and the right to check there were no shiny patches on her face. It was important to look the part; her audience expected it of her and she couldn’t let them down. Her beautiful bias-cut silver dress sparkled in the lights ranged around the somewhat tarnished mirror.
‘No, but I can always say he came in with the people sitting on the other side of him and we just got chatting,’ Nancy said quickly. She’d had the bus journey to get her alibi straight if it was needed. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do. She was thrilled to bits to have the chance of sitting with Gary in the prime seats, watching her best friend perform.
‘All right, I’ll back you up,’ Gloria said at once without having to be asked. ‘I do like that frock, Nancy. Where did you find it? Do you want to leave your other things in here?’ She pointed to the shabby canvas bag in which Nancy had stuffed the sensible clothes she’d been wearing earlier.
‘Oh, could I? Thanks, Glor.’ Nancy shoved the bag under a chair, once resplendent in gold paint but now very chipped. ‘Gary got it for me, of course. It was my little present – well, it was more like his welcome home present if you get what I mean.’ She rolled her eyes.
Gloria shook her head. ‘You just be careful, Nancy Kerrigan. You’ve been caught out before, remember. We don’t want anything like that to happen again.’
‘Of course I’m being careful,’ Nancy snapped, not wanting to think about the miscarriage that only she and Gloria knew about. ‘This isn’t some wet-behind-the-ears young lad trying it on. Gary’s very mature. He’s a real man.’
‘Keep your hair on, I was only checking,’ said Gloria, not rising to the bait. She couldn’t afford to get het up before singing. Her breathing wouldn’t be right. ‘Well, off you go and meet lover boy, and I’ll see you backstage afterwards.’
‘Break a leg!’ called Nancy brightly, as she hurried from the dingy little room towards the stage door.
‘Don’t you think she’s good?’ Nancy hissed in Gary’s ear, as she hung on to his arm.
‘She sure is,’ said Gary, eyeing Gloria appreciatively from their excellent view in the front row. ‘How did you say you know her?’
‘We grew up on the same street,’ said Nancy proudly. ‘We were in the same class at school and have been best friends ever since we can remember.’
Gary nodded but couldn’t say anything as Gloria started singing her encore, ‘We’ll Meet Again’, and everyone joined in. She sang it as if it was the first time she’d ever done so, giving it all the energy and belief that she knew her audience wanted. People were openly crying by the end, but standing proudly, clapping and cheering as Gloria smiled and smiled, turning and waving to everyone.
Nancy almost burst with pride at her friend’s performance. Having the chance to show her off to Gary was the most special thing she’d ever done. ‘Let’s go while they’re all still applauding,’ she muttered, leading him out of the row and swiftly down some back stairs.
‘I see you know all the secret routes,’ he laughed as he moved quickly after her. Nancy neatly zigzagged around some clothes rails and pushed through a door marked ‘Artists Only’.
‘Of course.’ She turned to face him now they were alone in the cold little corridor, paint peeling from the walls and the lino on the floor cracked and stained. ‘I used to come here with Gloria all the time.’ She flung her arms around his neck.
‘Mixing with the great and the good,’ he teased.
‘I wouldn’t like to say how good we were,’ she said cheekily, taking his arm once more and leading him to Gloria’s dressing room.
‘You sure she won’t mind my being here?’
‘No, she particularly told me to bring you,’ Nancy assured him. ‘She’s very keen to meet you.’
‘Well, likewise,’ said Gary affably, looking around the place. It definitely didn’t match the glamour of the front of house. It could have done with some heating and brighter light bulbs.
The door swung open and in came Gloria, still in performance mode. ‘You must be Gary,’ she said, coming forward to shake his hand. Her smile was radiant and for a moment he was at a loss for words.
‘Gary, this is Gloria,’ said Nancy unnecessarily.
‘De … delighted to meet you,’ he said, finding his voice at last. ‘You were mighty good out there, Miss Arden.’
‘Why thank you,’ Gloria said prettily. ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it.’ She batted her eyelashes a little, but was watching him carefully.
‘Say, can I get you girls a drink?’ Gary offered. ‘I guess the bar will still be open.’
‘Oh, it will, but no need to go so far,’ Gloria said. ‘The management are very generous with their backstage supplies. We like a cocktail, don’t we, Nancy?’
‘I’ll make them,’ Nancy offered, knowing where everything was. She turned her back and went to the little cupboard that was almost in darkness in the corner of the room, fetching three mismatched glasses and the silver shaker. Carefully she mixed the drinks the way she had seen Gloria do it, adding a twist of lemon. She concentrated hard, not wanting to drop the glasses, which looked as if they were high-quality cut crystal, and tuned out the low buzz of idle conversation between Gary and her friend. This was the height of sophistication, she decided, as she took back two glasses and then returned for her own.
‘Cheers, Gloria,’ she said, thinking she’d never been happier.
Gary’s eyes twinkled. ‘To the two most beautiful ladies in Liverpool,’ he said, and Nancy laughed affectionately at him.
‘You’re very kind,’ Gloria said gracefully. ‘Nancy’s told me so much about you. You’ve just got back from France, haven’t you?’
‘He’s been so brave,’ Nancy couldn’t resist saying. ‘He led his boys on Omaha Beach, and he’s been fighting ever since.’
‘Me and many thousands of others,’ Gary pointed out. ‘Yeah, it wasn’t a pretty business but we did what we had to do. We didn’t come all the way over here for a tea party; we knew what we were in for.’
‘Well, we’re very glad you did,’ said Gloria, serious now. ‘Without you GIs we’d be in a whole lot of trouble. As it is, it looks as if things are going our way at last.’
‘To victory,’ said Gary boldly, raising his glass. ‘It’s within our grasp at last, ladies.’
Nancy gazed at him with adoration. He was her hero and she would deny him nothing. She waited until he had finished his drink and then said, ‘Gloria, you must be tired after your long evening.’
Gloria took the hint. ‘Just a little, maybe. Don’t let me keep you, Nancy. It’s been lovely meeting you, Gary.’ She smiled once more as the handsome soldier held Nancy’s coat for her and then held the door open.
‘It’s been swell talking to you,’ he said.
‘And you,’ said Gloria. As Gary moved to leave, she quickly took hold of Nancy and gave her a hug. ‘Remember, be careful,’ she whispered in her friend’s ear.
Nancy tapped her playfully on the shoulder as she broke away. ‘Of course. See you when you’re next in town, Glor.’
Gloria stood at the door to her shabby dressing room and waved goodbye to the couple, so visibly excited to be back in each other’s company. She hoped Nancy knew what she was doing. She didn’t want to spoil her friend’s enjoyment, but if she were in her shoes she’d be a little more cautious. Something about Gary Trenton had put her on the alert, but she couldn’t say what it was. Maybe he’d been just that little bit too flirty while Nancy’s back was turned as she sorted out the drinks.
Or maybe it was because she was getting older and more cynical, Gloria told herself. She couldn’t begrudge Nancy some fun. She could see her friend was falling hard for this man – and yet she herself didn’t trust him one inch.