Lily of Love Lane (18 page)

‘Have you a minute to spare?’ He looked tired and cold as he stood with his hands in his overcoat pockets.

She quickly glanced behind her. ‘I’m helping Mum to cook the dinner.’

‘It’s about last night.’

‘Oh.’ Lily was afraid of what he might say. Was he still angry and upset? How could she explain her feelings without upsetting him again?

‘Who’s at the door?’ Josie shouted from the kitchen. She came along the hall. ‘Oh, hello, son. Did you have a good time at the party?’

‘Yes, thanks, Mrs Bright.’

‘That was a lovely dance you two did,’ Josie smiled at them both. All morning she had been hinting to Lily that after seeing Ben kiss her, she thought he was the right man for her
daughter.

‘Can you spare Lil for a moment?’ asked Ben quickly. ‘I won’t keep her long.’

‘You two go off and enjoy yourselves,’ Josie said eagerly. ‘Lily, wrap up well as those winds are still biting.’

Lily didn’t want to go out. She wanted to wait in for Charles. After speaking to Uncle Noah she had decided to give Ben and Hattie a wide berth this week, hoping they would have time to
forgive and forget. But now she couldn’t refuse Ben.

Five minutes later they were walking towards Island Gardens. Neither of them said much until they arrived in the green space and sat down on a bench overlooking the river. It was cold, but a
bright morning sun broke through. The white puffs of clouds were scudding joyfully along and there was evidence of spring everywhere. Little green shoots had appeared overnight, the birds were
flying from the trees to the glistening rooftops. Across the water the oval dome of Greenwich Observatory shone like a jewel in a crown. Being Sunday, the river traffic had ceased, the tugs and
barges, lined up for tomorrow. But there were children playing on them, despite the dangers of falling in, as they jumped from one to the other. Their cries rose up in the air and travelled up to
where they sat.

‘Me and Reube couldn’t resist a challenge like that,’ Ben said suddenly as he sat with his hands in his overcoat pockets. ‘Before Dad was called up he tanned our hides
something rotten when he found out we jumped the barges. It was our aim to jump three in a row.’

‘Me and Hattie used to watch you,’ Lily nodded. She couldn’t recall Mr James very well, only that he looked like an older version of Reube. When he had died in the war, he had
left his good friend Pedro, who was too old to be called up, to take charge of the stall. But Reube had left school at fourteen, eager to help. Ben had joined him a year later. The James brothers
had grown up quickly after that.

‘We were only about six or seven,’ Lily smiled, ‘and nearly died holding our breath as we watched you.’

‘They was good days, Lil.’

‘I never thought they were going to end. I never thought Samson would die or we’d lose the yard or that we’d grow up.’ She turned to him. ‘But we did.’

He nodded and looking at her said softly, ‘Lil, I know I’ve lost you. And I know it’s me own fault.’

‘Why didn’t you say something before?’

‘I was too busy showing off, pretending to be Rudolph Valentino.’

‘I always thought you was funny.’

He sighed. ‘Is that all?’

Lily blushed. ‘I never really thought about it. You’ve been like me brother—’ She went to continue but he held up his hand.

‘Listen a minute, because what I’ve got to say is important. If I don’t say it now, I might lose me courage and never say it all.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Last
night I caused you a lot of embarrassment, and made meself look a right clown into the bargain. It was me own daft fault, waiting too long. I suppose I never grew out of being that kid jumping the
barges, showing off to the girls. Now I know I should have grown up a bit faster. I managed to run a market stall all right, but inside there was this kid, still trying to impress.’ His soft
grey eyes looked deeply into hers. ‘Anyway, that’s enough about number one. What I want most, right this minute, and for always is to keep what we had once, our friendship.’

‘We’ll always have that, Ben.’

‘Are you sure? I ain’t spoiled things forever?’

‘It’s not your fault what happened,’ Lily fumbled. ‘I . . . I just met someone . . .’

‘I know.’ His face looked tight. ‘And I don’t want you to get hurt.’

Lily looked away as she remembered the words of her friend. ‘That’s what Hattie said to me once.’

Suddenly Ben chuckled. ‘Old Hat is the fount of eternal wisdom, ain’t she?’

They both laughed and Lily felt a relief from the tension.

Ben seemed on the point of saying something, but then stood up. ‘Come on, let’s have a gander at the water.’

They walked to the river and looked over it. On the South Bank, a picturesque dome was a dazzling, burnished gold. ‘Lil, if ever you need me, I’ll be there, right across the road,
all right?’

She felt close to tears. ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you, Ben.’

He gave her a big grin, and put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Me? You couldn’t hurt me. This skin is as tough as one of them wild animals with a big horn on their nose.’

Lily smiled into his gentle gaze. Had their heart to heart now resolved their problems? As they walked home, Ben told her enthusiastically about the work he had arranged for the charabanc. She
was happy that he seemed to have a bright future.

When he left her at the door, he gave a cheery wave goodbye.

But Lily was not convinced that everything was really all right again.

It was barely light when Ben heard a noise at the window the following morning. Yawning and stretching he got out of bed and drew the curtain. A figure was standing in the
road. Lifting the sash, he called softly, ‘Who’s there?’

‘It’s me. Sweetsy.’ The man came closer. ‘Got a minute?’

‘What do you want at this time of the morning?’

‘Come down and I’ll tell you.’

Ben closed the sash and pulled on his trousers. Careful not to disturb his brother, he crept downstairs.

‘Cripes, Sweetsy, what’s all this in aid of?’ Ben grasped the young man’s sleeve and pulled him in.

‘I thought knocking would wake everyone. So I threw a stone.’

‘Well, I’m up now. What do you want?’

‘There’s a job going.’

Ben knew Johnny Sweet to be a bit of a flyboy. But he was harmless enough and he’d always got a few quid in his pocket, ready to do a deal. Swathed in a coat, scarf and hat, the early
visitor smiled. ‘I always give you first refusal, my friend.’

‘Is it kosher?’

‘As kosher as my old mum.’

‘Your mum died years ago.’

‘Yeah, but she ain’t forgotten.’

Ben smiled. ‘Get on with it, then.’

‘The goods have gotta go out today. This moment to be precise.’

Ben frowned suspiciously. ‘What’s all the rush?’

‘I’ve important customers waiting.’

Ben nodded thoughtfully. ‘How long’s it gonna take me?’

‘A week, in that old crate of yours. It’s all up north.’

‘Don’t knock my lorry,’ Ben grinned. ‘It’s done you a good turn in the past. How much is on the line?’

‘Ten readies. Five up front, five on your return.’

It was a nice offer but Ben shook his head. ‘Ten readies now and ten when I come back.’

Johnny Sweet let out a groan. ‘My friend, you drive a hard bargain.’

‘Seven days on the road with no prior booking comes at a price.’

‘All right, you’re on. Here, I’ve drawn you a map, and written the names and places on the back.’

Ben took the crumpled paper and laughed. ‘Is this Chinese?’

‘I was in a rush. Now, what did we agree on the figures?’

Ben grinned. ‘Ten smackers in my palm right this minute or you’re gone.’

Reluctantly the visitor reached inside his coat. He brought out a wad of notes.

Ben pushed the money in his pocket. ‘What’s the stuff I’m carrying?’

‘Peanuts.’

‘And I’m a monkey’s uncle.’

‘I told you, this is straight up, my son. Now go to Pointer’s warehouse. Two of my men are waiting to help you load if you’re there within the hour.’

They arranged a further meeting and Ben closed the front door. He washed, resisted a shave, stoked the range and prepared a plate of bread and dripping. Quietly he returned to the bedroom.
Pulling on old clothes, a thick jumper, heavy trousers and boots, he made certain he was prepared for all weathers.

‘Wake up, lazy bones,’ he whispered in his snoring brother’s ear. ‘You’re late for market.’

Reube yawned as he lowered his feet to the floor. ‘Where are you off to in that getup?’

‘I’m on a job for Sweetsy. It’ll take about a week.’

Reube shrugged and began to dress. ‘So where did you disappear to all day yesterday?’

‘Come on downstairs and I’ll tell you.’

‘What’s all the rush? I thought you was dying of a broken heart?’ Reube grunted as they made their way to the kitchen.

‘The ten nicker I’ve just earned has helped cure it.’

‘Ten nicker?’

‘And ten more to follow.’

‘Blimey, that’s tasty.’

The two men ate silently together until finally Reube asked, ‘So what did happen yesterday, then?’

‘Me and Lil walked to Island Gardens.’

‘And?’

‘And no surprises for guessing what happened.’

Reube scratched his head. ‘Go on then, enlighten me.’

Ben rolled his eyes. ‘What could I say to her? An apology was in order, I think.’

‘You didn’t do anything wrong, except kiss her.’

‘I had a lot more than that in mind.’

Reube pasted another slice of bread with dripping. ‘So what’s gonna happen now?’

‘Nothin’ as far as I know. I’m a free man, and I’m gonna enjoy me liberty.’

‘So there ain’t no hard feelings?’

‘None at all.’

‘Well, you’re a better man than me, ’cos I’d be really choked if Hattie ditched me.’

‘Lil didn’t ditch me. It just never got started.’

Reube sat back in his chair and shook his head. ‘If you say so, bruv.’ He smiled as he drank his tea. ‘Well, today I don’t need to inform Lil that me brother’s
about to jump off London Bridge then?’

Ben laughed and waved the joke aside. ‘You can tell her that I went off to work with a big smile on me face.’

‘I’ll do just that.’

‘You finished your rosie?’

‘Yeah. I’m gonna pay me dues to the khazi.’

Ben stood up. ‘Tell Mum I’ll see her in a week’s time.’ He smiled as his brother left the kitchen. When the back door closed and Reube disappeared into the washhouse, he
let out a long, relieved sigh. At least he had recovered a little pride. A week away from Love Lane was just what he needed to let the dust settle.

Ben took the two remaining slices of bread and wrapped them in newspaper; they’d make a nice bite on the journey.

Outside he was relieved to find a cold, bright Monday dawning. He liked driving through the countryside early and seeing all the villages along the way.

As he hopped over the wall of the Quarry public house where he stationed his vehicles, he looked forward to smelling the pigs and cows and country air. With his window down and his consignment
safely on the back, seven days would be a doddle.

This job would give him a chance to make plans. He was going to turn his business into a real cracker. Though he might not talk with a cut glass accent he intended to show the island what he was
made of.

An hour later, with the help of Sweetsy’s two men, Ben was on his way, without any lifting bridges to delay him.

As he drove, he was relieved for once, to leave the city well and truly behind him.

All week Lily listened to the depressing news of the growing unemployment. There were riots and demonstrations throughout the East End. Though her father kept saying how lucky
he was to be at the timber yard, she knew he felt guilty. Even though he came home each day with bleeding hands and an aching back from carry all the rough timber, he was envied by his old mates.
They still stood on the stones all day, with no prospect of work in sight.

The newspapers said that the latest figure was one and a half million out of work, with no indication of it decreasing and most men on the island were now fighting each other for the few jobs
there were.

‘Since they come into power nine months ago, Labour have made a right pig’s ear of the country,’ Uncle Noah complained as they ate supper on Friday night.

‘Between them and that Oswald Mosley promising us wealth through borrowing, they want their brains tested,’ agreed Bob Bright. ‘Stands to reason if you take from Peter, you
gotta give it back to Paul. Those Blackshirts would get us in a worse muddle than Labour if they got in.’

‘They won’t, will they?’ asked Lily.

‘Mosley wants to form what he calls a New Party. It’s sure to attract some attention.’

‘Only from the cranks, surely?’ said her mother.

Lily suddenly remembered that Charles had mentioned a New Party on the day he saved her from the Blackshirt. He had threatened to expose the group to their leader. Did Charles know about all
this then?

‘I dunno,’ said her dad worriedly. ‘There’s a feeling of unrest everywhere and you can’t blame the blokes when they have a go.’

‘I wish the fighting would stop,’ said Lily, putting down her knife and fork.

Everyone looked at her. ‘We’re fighting for our rights,’ pointed out her father. ‘We have to, or we’ll be trodden over.’

‘But isn’t that how wars start?’ Lily was upset. Was it because she was growing older that she felt this way? Once, her dad’s word was law. But now she was beginning to
think other kinds of thoughts. Why couldn’t people resolve problems through talking and not hurting each other?

‘Wars are going on all the time, Lil. I heard the coppers arrested four of the blokes I used to work with,’ her father continued, coughing and hitting his chest as he became angry.
‘Blokes just the same as me, who would do anything for a crust, and were willing to wait in the cold and wet every day, from dawn to nightfall. Them buggers carted ’em off by the scruff
of their necks, just ’cos they waved a few placards. No wonder there’s anarchy and wars start.’

Lily could see her dad was upset. He was getting very angry as all the men seemed to be lately. Reube had been on edge all week, walking over to Ted and Samuel, waving the stick as though he
wanted to use it again. Even the women were on the lookout for trouble, egging their men on.