Across a Summer Sea (8 page)
‘Well, like . . . that! And especially after the way he was going on last night when Mam and I met them.’
‘Just what do you mean by that, Nora?’ Frank demanded. He had no real liking for the girl but he wanted to get to the bottom of this.
‘He said he’d asked her to go for a drink with him in the Britannia. They’d been on the tram together
and
he was carrying her shopping.’
and
he was carrying her shopping.’
Frank’s face flushed red with rising anger. So, he’d been right in his suspicions last night. There had been more to it than ‘just meeting him on the way home’ as Mary had tried to explain it away. Why would he ask her to go for a drink with him if it had all been innocent and above board?
‘Did she go?’ he demanded.
‘No,’ Nora answered. ‘At least, I don’t
think
she did.’ She tried to look and sound thoughtful, as though perhaps she doubted Mary’s alleged refusal.
think
she did.’ She tried to look and sound thoughtful, as though perhaps she doubted Mary’s alleged refusal.
‘The bitch!’ Frank growled. The lying bitch. She
had
gone, that’s why she was so late. Well, he’d sort this out here and now.
had
gone, that’s why she was so late. Well, he’d sort this out here and now.
He was about to elbow his way towards her when Katie rushed in past him and dragged at Mary’s arm.
‘Mam! Mam! Come out into the yard, our Tommy’s sick!’
Mary sighed. She had been enjoying herself. ‘Oh, now what’s he been up to? I can’t take my eyes off that lad for five minutes lately! He’ll be the death of me. I’d better go and see to him. Sorry, Richie, it’s one of the penalties of being a mother, but I’m sure there are plenty of others just dying to dance with you. There’s one for a start.’ She looked over at Nora who was still standing by the door with longing plain in her face.
He laughed. ‘Oh, God! No thanks, I’ve only just got rid of her. She’s like a limpet.’
‘Oh, you’re cruel. She’s mad about you. Do your good deed for the day and dance with the poor girl.’
‘I’m not in the mood for good deeds, Mary.’
‘Mam, come
on
!’ Katie urged, pulling her mother towards the door.
on
!’ Katie urged, pulling her mother towards the door.
‘It’s our Tommy. Apparently he’s unwell,’ Mary said by way of an explanation as she passed Frank, hardly noticing the look on his face.
Out in Nellie’s back yard a small group of boys were looking guiltily at a pale and definitely ill-looking Tommy.
‘What’s the matter with you?’
‘They’ve eaten
all
the ice cream Mrs Jones bought in Fusco’s!’ Katie said peevishly yet with a note of triumph in her voice. She was greatly aggrieved at such greediness. It was a long time since she had tasted ice cream and she’d not had the chance of even a mouthful.
all
the ice cream Mrs Jones bought in Fusco’s!’ Katie said peevishly yet with a note of triumph in her voice. She was greatly aggrieved at such greediness. It was a long time since she had tasted ice cream and she’d not had the chance of even a mouthful.
‘That will do from you, miss! Go inside and find Mrs Price and tell her to come out here this minute. I
know
whose idea this was!’ She glared at young Georgie.
know
whose idea this was!’ She glared at young Georgie.
‘Oh, Mam, I feel shocking!’ Tommy wailed and was promptly and violently sick.
‘Serve you right! Now the lot of you can get buckets of water and the yard-brush and clean this mess up!’
‘Mam, I . . . I can’t!’ Tommy said, still looking green.
‘I didn’t make no mess,’ Georgie muttered sullenly.
Nellie, followed closely by Hetty, appeared in the yard.
‘This shower of greedy little pigs have scoffed all the ice cream, Nellie. I’m sorry but our Tommy’s just been sick. I’ve told them to clean up the yard.’ Mary glared at her son and Georgie Price.
‘Do you know how much that cost me?’ Nellie cried. ‘And I was saving it for later on.’
Sweeping up her new red skirt Hetty stepped forward and boxed her son firmly around the ears. ‘I’ve had more than enough of you and your antics these past few days, Georgie! Get home to your da. He won’t be very pleased to see you, I can tell you! Christmas Eve and a pub to run on his own and now you acting the fool! I can’t get five flaming minutes to enjoy myself. This is the first time I’ve been out for weeks and you have to ruin it!’
‘It’s the first time any of us has had something to enjoy for
months
, Hetty!’ Mary said irritably.
months
, Hetty!’ Mary said irritably.
‘Go on, get home! Here, give me that brush,’ Hetty demanded.
‘You’ll ruin your good skirt, Hetty, leave it to me,’ Nellie instructed.
‘
I’ll
do it. You’ve got guests to see to, Nellie. Then I’m taking my lot home to bed. They’ve had more than enough excitement for one day!’ Mary stated firmly. ‘Katie, go and find Lizzie and get your coats.’
I’ll
do it. You’ve got guests to see to, Nellie. Then I’m taking my lot home to bed. They’ve had more than enough excitement for one day!’ Mary stated firmly. ‘Katie, go and find Lizzie and get your coats.’
‘Thanks, Mary, luv. You will be back, won’t you?’
‘Of course. Now get back inside both of you.’
‘You’re a real pal, Mary, and I’m sorry about Georgie and all . . . this,’ Hetty said, pushing her son towards the yard door.
While Katie went to do her mother’s bidding and Tommy sat dejectedly on the upturned washtub, Mary grimly set to and swilled the yard. She had no new red skirt that might get ruined. The only consolation was that Hetty had at least meted out some punishment, which made a change.
She took the children home and saw them into bed, promising there would be treats for all of them in the morning if they went to sleep straight away - even Tommy who she felt had been punished enough. He was abjectly sorry and still looked awful. Nellie should have made sure that bowl of ice cream was well out of their reach, she thought as she ran quickly up the back jigger towards the party. She hoped it would still be in full swing; no doubt it would end up in Hetty’s husband’s pub when all the drink Nellie and Fred had provided was exhausted, and that wouldn’t be long now.
Richie was in the yard, smoking a Woodbine.
‘I was just going to come and look for you, Mary. Where’ve you been? What’s been going on? Hetty looks furious.’
Briefly Mary told him. ‘Well, now they’re safely in bed perhaps I can go back to enjoying myself,’ she finished.
‘So can I. I missed you.’
She pealed with laughter. ‘Oh, Richie! The place is coming down with pretty young girls! And you missed me! You’re a terrible flatterer!’
‘Mary, you
really
don’t know just how beautiful you are, do you? I’ve been noticing a lot of admiring glances in your direction all day and night.’
really
don’t know just how beautiful you are, do you? I’ve been noticing a lot of admiring glances in your direction all day and night.’
She blushed and laughed self-consciously. ‘Don’t be ridiculous! We’d better get inside.’ She turned away and in her embarrassment tripped over the head of the yard-brush.
Richie caught her before she fell but quickly she recovered her composure.
‘Oh, I’m getting so clumsy!’
‘So, this is where you are and what you’re up to!’ Frank’s bellowed accusation rang out over the yard.
‘Frank! I tripped over! It’s not what it seems.’
‘Don’t be telling me bloody lies, woman! I’ve got eyes in my head!’ He staggered towards them and Mary realised he was very drunk.
‘Tommy was sick so I took them all home and put them to bed. I came into the yard and saw Richie, then I tripped up. That’s the God’s honest truth, Frank. There’s nothing going on. I honestly don’t know what’s the matter with you lately.’
‘You expect me to believe that? The pair of you out here on your own and him with his arms around you! You brazen bitch! And I know all about where you were last night when you told me you’d been shopping. Shopping, my bloody arse!’
‘Frank, there’s no need for language like that and what Mary’s telling you is true—’
‘Oh, I know you were off drinking in the Britannia last night. Don’t you deny it! And that’s not all, I’ll bet!’
‘Who told you that?’ Mary demanded. The noise had already drawn a few of the guests outside.
‘Does it bloody matter? But it was young Nora Phelps, if you must know.’ He was livid. How dare she carry on like this? How dare she make a fool of him in front of the whole street?
‘And you believed
her
? She’s a stupid, jealous kid,’ Richie shouted back angrily.
her
? She’s a stupid, jealous kid,’ Richie shouted back angrily.
‘Yes, I believe her. Why the hell would she lie?’ Frank grabbed Mary roughly by the arm. ‘I’ll teach you, you bloody hussy!’
Mary screamed. Frank raised his fist but before he could bring it down Richie hit him hard on the side of his head and he stumbled and fell, cursing.
‘Frank! Richie! Stop this, both of you!’ Mary shrieked.
‘I won’t stand by and let him belt you for something you haven’t done, Mary!’ Richie stormed.
Frank was staggering to his feet. ‘I’ll swing for you, you bloody little upstart! I’ll teach you, both of you!’ He made a swipe at Mary but Richie hit him again and this time he lay sprawled out on the wet flagstones.
Within seconds a group of men had appeared. A few tried to get Frank to his feet, the rest gripped Richie’s arms.
‘That’s enough, the pair of yez!’ Fred Jones shouted.
Mary was near to tears. ‘Fred, I don’t know what got into Frank. He . . . he tried to hit me! Richie was only defending me. Oh, God! What a mess! I’m sorry, so sorry!’
‘All right, girl! He’s had a bellyful of ale. He’ll be all right when he’s sobered up.’
‘Oh, I’m mortified!’ Mary sobbed. She had never seen Frank like this - she had never known him to be capable of such unreasonable behaviour. And he’d never raised a hand to her before.
Nellie and Queenie joined the men.
‘Nellie, I’m sorry. Oh, what a family! First Tommy and now Frank.’
‘It’s not your fault, luv. He’s dead drunk.’
‘I know whose bloody fault it is! It’s ’im - an’ our flaming Nora’s got an ’and in it somewhere!’ Queenie interrupted. She’d found Nora crying on the stairs and had got a garbled tale out of her.
‘You want to keep an eye on her, Mrs Phelps. She’s a troublemaker,’ Richie warned.
‘I know, an’ she don’t need the likes of youse ter give ’er an ’and!’ Queenie shot back.
‘What do yer want ter do with ’im, Mary?’ Alfie Phelps asked. Having bodily heaved a now unconscious Frank to his feet, he had slung him over his shoulder. He wasn’t called ‘Big Alfie’ for nothing.
‘Best thing ter do with ’im, Alfie, is take ’im ’ome an’ let ’im sleep it off!’ Queenie advised.
Mary nodded. ‘I’d be grateful if you could get him home, Alfie, I really would.’
The big man nodded and Fred opened the yard door for him.
Mary turned to Nellie and Queenie. ‘I’m so sorry. I . . . I just don’t know what’s the matter with him.’
‘Neither do I,’ Nellie agreed.
‘I’d just keep away from this feller in future, Mary. ’E’s trouble with a capital T. Always ’as been an’ always will be. I’ve given our Nora a piece of me mind about ’im!’ Queenie glared at Richie who pushed past her and went inside the house, slamming the scullery door behind him.
Alfie deposited the prostrate Frank on the bed and then Mary took off his boots and pulled the blanket over him.
‘Let ’im sleep it off, luv. ’E’ll ’ave an ’ead as big as Birkenhead in the mornin’ - an’ a few bruises.’
‘Thanks again, Alfie. You get back now. Oh, we’ve ruined everyone’s enjoyment.’
He laughed. ‘Norra bit of it, luv! Just adds ter the night. Yer’ll laugh about it in a couple of weeks an’ everyone will remember young Vi’s weddin’ as the night Richie Seddon laid out Frank McGann.’
‘That’s what I’m afraid of!’ Mary said grimly.
‘You all right, girl?’
‘Yes, thanks. I’ve still got plenty of things to do so I’d better get on. I’ll probably sleep down here. Go on back before they all go to the pub without you!’
When Alfie had left she sank down by the fire and dropped her head in her hands. Oh, what a night! How humiliating! She pulled herself together. She
did
have a lot of things to do and she was determined this wasn’t going to ruin Christmas.
did
have a lot of things to do and she was determined this wasn’t going to ruin Christmas.
Some of her good humour returned as she put up the decorations and arranged sprigs of holly along the mantelshelf and above the door and window. Then she took the penny toys and the sweets from where she had hidden them, selected three apples and oranges from the dish and filled the three stockings that had been hung over the range. Then she made herself a cup of tea and sat down to admire the room. It
did
look bright and cheerful and festive and she couldn’t wait to see the children’s reactions when they came down, especially poor little Lizzie’s.
did
look bright and cheerful and festive and she couldn’t wait to see the children’s reactions when they came down, especially poor little Lizzie’s.
Chapter Five
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