A Cuckoo in Candle Lane (22 page)

‘What’s up? You look a bit down,’ Nelly said, spooning condensed milk from an encrusted tin into her tea.

Sally averted her eyes from the dirty cup, and balked at the thought of drinking from it. ‘Nothing’s up, Nelly, I’m fine. I’ve just had a hard day, that’s all.’

‘How’s that boyfriend of yours?’ she asked shrewdly. ‘Is he treating yer right?’

‘Yes, of course he is.’

‘Well, I hope he turns out to be a good husband like my George. Do you know, we hardly had an argument in nearly fifty years.’

Sally touched the old lady’s hand where it lay on the table, remembering the day when she had apologised for using healing powers on her husband. Nelly had been so kind, dismissing her apology and saying that it had made his last few weeks less painful. It was obvious that she was just trying to make her feel better, and Sally had come to love this brave old lady.

Realising that Nelly wanted to talk about him now, she settled back in her chair to listen patiently. ‘Yes, he was a lovely man,’ she told her.

‘My only regret is that we didn’t ’ave children, Sally. I know he’d ’ave been a smashing father, he loved kids.’ She chuckled, adding, ‘Blimey, we tried hard enough. Thank God there was nothing wrong in
that
department, if you know what I mean.’

Feeling her cheeks burning, Sally lowered her head. Fancy Nelly saying a thing like that.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you, it just sort of slipped out. Though I’m surprised to see you blushing. I thought you youngsters knew it all nowadays.’ She grinned at Sally across the table. ‘Things were different in my day. When George and me got married I knew nothing about – well, you know, sex. My mother just told me to lie back and to think of England until my husband’s base desires were satisfied. Base desires, I ask you! I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. Still, it was fun finding out,’ she added with a saucy little wink.

Sally felt a lump in her throat. Somehow, as Nelly talked about her marriage it increased her worries about John, making her realise even more strongly that something was missing in their relationship.

‘Come on, Sally, spit it out. I can see you’re upset. Is it me talking about my George?’

Shaking her head vigorously, she said, ‘No, Nelly, of course not. It’s just … well, you see … I don’t think my boyfriend really loves me.’

‘Now why would you think that? He’s asked you to marry him, ain’t he, and surely he wouldn’t do that unless he loves you?’

‘Yes, maybe, but he never really shows me any affection and sometimes there’s a strange expression on his face when he looks at me, almost as if he finds me distasteful.’

‘Are you sure you’re not imagining things? I seem to remember yer mum telling me that he’s a very religious chap, is that right?’

‘Yes, he is,’ Sally told her.

Nelly smiled in satisfaction, folding her arms under her drooping bust. ‘There’s yer answer then. He probably doesn’t trust himself. You see, once men get started, it’s sort of difficult for them to stop. I mean, just look at you – you’d be a temptation to any man. Perhaps he’s frightened that he might go too far before you get married.’

Sally gazed across the table, feeling a surge of hope. ‘Do you really think that’s what it is, Nelly?’

‘Of course. You should count yourself lucky, my girl. After all, more and more girls are getting pregnant before they’ve got a wedding ring on their finger. Look at that Judy Wilson at number ten, for instance. Six months gone by the look of her, and no sign of the father. I don’t know what things are coming to, I really don’t,’ she added, shaking her head.

‘Oh Nelly, I’m so glad that I’ve talked to you,’ Sally said, a smile on her face. ‘You have really eased my mind.’

‘That’s nice to hear, ducks. Perhaps I ain’t so useless after all. Now how about another cuppa?’

Sally, happier now, glanced at the clock. ‘I’m sorry, but I really must go. Mum will be wondering where I am.’

She kissed Nelly gently on the cheek, pleased to see that a little spark had returned to her eyes. Perhaps our talk has done us both good, she thought, as she hurried home.

Sally had just sat down when the back door flew open and Elsie staggered into the room, her face white and drawn.

‘What is it?’ Ruth asked anxiously, rushing forward, her arms outstretched as though she expected Elsie to collapse into them.

‘Oh, God … Oh, God,’ she sobbed as Ruth led her to a chair. ‘It’s my Arthur,’ she wailed.

‘Arthur? What’s wrong with him?’ Sally gasped, feeling her heart thumping in her chest.

‘He’s going away, emigrating.’ Their neighbour pulled at her hair in anguish, adding, ‘And I’ll never see him again.’

‘Now slow down and start at the beginning,’ Ruth urged, rubbing her hands gently across her friend’s bent shoulders.

Elsie drew in long shuddering breaths in an effort to compose herself, then raised pain-filled eyes. ‘It’s that Jenny’s family. They’re all emigrating to Australia and my Arthur’s decided to go with them. Oh, I can’t bear it,’ she sobbed, fresh tears filling her eyes.

‘I can’t believe it,’ Sally whispered.

‘No, neither could I at first,’ Elsie said, and with a trace of venom now evident in her voice, she added, ‘I’ve never liked that bloody Jenny. She’s a right flighty piece and I’ve tried to warn Arthur about her antics, but he won’t have it, and now she’s taking my son away from me.’ She reached up, grasping Ruth’s hand. ‘Oh, what am I going to do? How can I stop him?’

Sally stared at Elsie’s bent head as only her snuffling sobs filled the silence in the room. It was the first time she had ever heard her say a bad word about anyone, and she was shocked at her opinion of Jenny. She fumbled in her mind for something to say, unable to think of any words of comfort. ‘Perhaps he’ll change his mind,’ she stammered ineffectually.

‘Yeah, Sally’s right,’ Ruth agreed. ‘That family in the next street waited for over a year before they emigrated. Don’t you remember, they had all sorts of formalities to go through first. Anything can happen in that time, Elsie.’

‘I didn’t see it in the cards,’ the woman cried, her face twisted with anguish. ‘There was nothing there, I’m sure there wasn’t. Oh yes,’ she nodded her head, ‘I saw travel, but then that’s to be expected when he works for his father.’ Hope glimmered suddenly in her eyes. ‘I didn’t see a sea voyage – do you think that’s a good sign, Sally?’

She shook her head. ‘I don’t know, Elsie. I don’t believe in using the cards now, you know that.’

She jumped back in surprise when Elsie suddenly reared to her feet. ‘Yes, you’ve made that perfectly clear, haven’t you! You even had the nerve to tell my Ann that I’m being misled by the devil. Well, it isn’t me who’s being misled, miss. It’s you!’ She shook her head indignantly. ‘How can you stand by and let your gran suffer so much pain when you’ve got the power to help her? Jesus healed the sick, yet you and your hoity-toity boyfriend seem to have forgotten that. I’ll tell you something else, my girl. This is all your fault, and you needn’t look at me like that. My Arthur has loved you for years, but you didn’t want to know, did you? What’s the matter – wasn’t he good enough for you? And now look what’s happened. Because of you he’s going to bloody Australia.’

Sally was stiff with shock. How could Elsie blame her? She had never given Arthur any encouragement; in fact, she was always nervous when he came near her and avoided him as much as possible. She threw her mum an agonised glance before dashing out of the room, and was only halfway up the stairs when she heard Elsie’s shout. ‘Wait, Sally, please wait.’

Ignoring the call she stumbled into her room, slamming the door behind her, and finding her knees shaking as reaction set in, she slumped onto her bed.

‘Please, Sally, can I come in?’ Elsie begged, opening the door a few inches. ‘Honestly, love, I didn’t mean it,’ she said, edging further into the room. ‘I don’t know what came over me. I’m ashamed of myself, I really am.’ She sat down on the bed beside her. ‘I had no right to use you as a scapegoat or to vent my anger on you.’ She sighed deeply. ‘Sometimes it’s easier to blame someone else when things go wrong. Look, I’m really sorry. Can you forgive me?’

Sally nodded mutely, picking at a loose thread on her jumper as Elsie started talking again.

‘You see, I’ve always had this dream that you and Arthur would marry one day. I’m so fond of you and it would have been wonderful to have you for a daughter-in-law. No, it’s all right,’ she said, stopping Sally’s reply. ‘It seems it just wasn’t meant to be.’

‘I’m sorry, Elsie.’

‘No, love, it’s me that’s sorry. I know things haven’t been right between us lately, and I must admit I think it’s a shame that your spiritual gifts are being wasted.’ She shook her head sadly. ‘But it’s your decision and I’ve no right to interfere.’

‘I didn’t mean it when I said that you’re misled by the devil, Elsie. It’s just that I was upset at the time and it sort of came out all wrong.’

‘Come on now, let’s forget it, shall we?’ she said, squeezing Sally’s hand. ‘And who knows, perhaps I can bring Ann round too.’

Sally turned her head sharply. ‘Oh, I hope you can, Elsie. I miss her so much.’

‘I know you do, just like I’m going to miss my Arthur.’

They sat quietly for a while, each with their own thoughts, until Sally felt the mattress lift as Elsie stood up, her eyes brimming with tears again. ‘Oh God,’ she choked, as she left the room. ‘How will I be able to bear it when he goes to Australia?’

The following morning dawned cold, but clear and bright. Sally was just towelling her hair dry when her mum called out that someone wanted to see her. She frowned, wondering who would call so early, and wrapping the towel turban-style around her head, went to the top of the stairs.

‘Hello, Sally, I just popped round to see if you fancy walking to work with me,’ Ann said, looking up at her from the bottom of the stairs.

‘Yes, of course I would,’ she told her, beaming with delight. ‘Give me about half an hour.’

‘Right,’ Ann smiled back. ‘See you later then.’

Sally rushed back into her bedroom and hastily pulled on a skirt and blouse, unable to believe that Elsie had managed to talk Ann around so quickly. Oh, it was wonderful, she thought, feeling a surge of happiness. She had her friend back.

She bolted her breakfast, listening with half an ear to the radio. Lonnie Donegan was belting out ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’ and her mum was obviously enjoying it as she sat opposite, humming the tune and tapping her feet.

‘It’s about time you and Ann came to your senses. Are you happy now, love?’ she asked.

‘Of course I am,’ Sally grinned, scrambling from the table. Then, throwing her coat on and tying a scarf around her neck, she said goodbye to her mother and went to knock on Ann’s door.

At first as they walked along there was still a touch of constraint between them, but as they turned into Falcon Road it was dispelled when Sally asked Ann if her mum was any better.

‘Not really. She cried nearly all evening and then started again as soon as Arthur came down this morning. Somehow I can’t help feeling sorry for him. It’s obvious he’s really keen to go, but Mum is making him feel so guilty about it. His face was as white as a sheet when he left for work.’

‘Will he marry Jenny before they emigrate?’ Sally asked.

‘No. Apparently their first priority is to save as much money as they can to take with them. Jenny’s not prepared to compromise on a big white wedding with all the trimmings and is prepared to wait until they’re settled in Australia.’ Ann snorted derisively. ‘Though how she’s got the cheek to get married in white I’ll never know. She’s had more blokes than I’ve had hot dinners.’

‘It sounds like you don’t think much of her, Ann.’

‘No, I don’t,’ she said emphatically. ‘I saw her once in the pictures with another bloke and you should have seen her face when she spotted me. She tried to give me some waffle about him being her cousin.’

Sally stared at her friend in surprise. ‘What did Arthur say about it?’

‘He believed her story and had a go at me for trying to cause trouble.’ She shrugged. ‘Since then I’ve kept my mouth shut.’

‘I had no idea that Jenny was like that. Why would she go out with other men when she’s got Arthur?’

‘’Cos she’s a tart,’ Ann retorted. ‘God, I could kill her for taking my brother away.’

‘You’re all going to miss him so much,’ Sally said sympathetically.

‘I know, but I can’t believe that he’s really going. It’s too much to take in, and I don’t think it’s hit me yet.’

Sally hooked her arm through Ann’s. ‘Yes, I know what you mean. It seems unreal somehow.’

They walked along quietly for a while in a companionable silence. Then Sally, feeling a surge of relief, squeezed her friend’s arm, saying, ‘Ann, I’m so glad that things are all right between us again. I’ve really missed you.’

‘I’ve missed you too, but please, Sally, don’t ever say anything about my mum again.’

‘I won’t, I promise.’

Ann smiled. ‘Right then, let’s put it all behind us and start again. Now come on, I know you got engaged, so how about showing me your ring?’

Taking off her glove, Sally held out her hand.