Live the Dream (16 page)

Daisy too was delighted with her find: a pink floating thing with low neckline, and also with belted waist, it fell to a swingy hem that kicked out as she walked.

'I feel like a film star,' she told Amy, and Amy was glad to see she had forgotten her troubles, at least for now.

When the dresses were parcelled and paid for, they thanked the little man and left.

'I'd best get the bus,' Daisy said. 'So, what time d'you want to meet at the Grand?'

Hearing a tone of regret in Daisy's voice, Amy told her, 'You don't have to go home if you don't want to.'

Daisy's smile returned. 'Really?'

Judging by the relief in Daisy's voice, Amy knew she had done the right thing. 'Yes, really. I'd love you to come home with me. By the time we've had a bite to eat, we'll need to get ready, and then it'll be time to make our way into town.'

'But what will your mam say?' Daisy knew what her own mother would say, if she took a friend home unexpectedly. 'Won't she be angry?'

'Course not! She'll say exactly what I've said—that it seems silly you spending money on the bus fare to go all the way home, when you're already here.'

'But I haven't got any lipstick. And I need to change my shoes and all that…' She would have gone on, but Amy stopped her.

'You take the same size shoes as me, so borrow a pair of mine. And I'm sure you'll find the right colour lipstick, because you've borrowed it often enough when we've been out. Oh, come on, Daisy, I promise you'll look beautiful…' She chuckled. 'Well, passable, anyway.'

She got a playful dig in the ribs for that cheeky remark, but Daisy was grateful that she wouldn't be going home just yet. 'By the time I get home tonight, they'll have calmed down,' she said, and if Amy needed any convincing that she had done the right thing, that remark did it.

Linking arms they walked home together, with Amy wishing she could change things for Daisy; and Daisy thanking her lucky stars, for having found the best friend in the whole wide world.

Amy was right. Marie and Dave welcomed Daisy with open arms. They had their tea: thick meat butties of home-made bread, and a delicious apple pie with ice-cream to follow.

'I'll be so full I'll not be able to dance,' Daisy groaned, tucking in happily none the less.

Afterwards the girls went up to Amy's room.

'Oh, Amy, I do like your room.' Daisy had seen it before, and never failed to admire it. Pretty as a picture, with its rose chintz curtains and a cream-coloured rug, the room was furnished with just a wardrobe, bed and dressing table. Being at the back of the house it was not the lightest of rooms, but the light painted walls and the lovingly chosen seascape paintings created a sense of space and light that belied the smallness.

'One of these days we'll decorate
your
room,' Amy promised, 'if your parents will let me through the door, that is.' Last time Daisy had taken her home, there had been a terrible row and ever since then, Amy had been reluctant to visit.

'Thanks all the same, but you needn't bother,' Daisy replied. 'As soon as I can afford a place of my own, I intend leaving that house for good.' And from the tone of her voice, Amy knew she meant it.

'Right then!' Taking Daisy by the arm, Amy propelled her towards the dressing table. 'You don't want your room decorated, so we'll have to see what we can do with your face instead.'

'I don't want to be looking like a clown,' Daisy declared fearfully.

'Now, would I do that?' Amy's mischievous little grin got Daisy worried.

'I mean it, Amy! If you make me look ridiculous, I won't set foot outside this room.'

Ignoring her protests, Amy found enough make-up to suit Daisy.

A few minutes and a lot of grumbling later, she looked especially pretty. Her lips were lightly painted in the softest pink so as not to clash with the vibrant colour of her hair; a thin coating of powder on her skin and just the merest touch of mascara against her lashes and she was finished.

'Now then, what do you think?' Amy asked. 'Have I made you look like a clown, or have I made you pretty as a picture?'

Daisy was delighted with the result of Amy's handiwork. 'It's lovely,' she said, 'but what can we do about this?' Pointing to the marks on her neck, she reminded Amy, 'The dress has a low neckline, so folks are bound to see the bruises.'

Amy had not realised the extent of Daisy's injuries until now. 'Oh God, Daisy. That looks nasty.' She lowered her voice, although no one would hear. 'Did your father do that?' she gasped. It beggared belief that a man could do that to his daughter.

Daisy nodded. 'He had me pinned to the wall with the crook of his arm.' Under her breath she uttered the word, 'Bastard!'

Amy knew about Mr Robertson's temper but hadn't realised he was so vicious. She squeezed Daisy's arm in silent but helpless sympathy. Then: 'Don't you worry, sunshine.' She had an idea. 'Stay there a minute.'

Going to the wardrobe, she took out a box and from that she withdrew a pretty necklace. It had been a present from her father, something to help cheer her after Don left. Thick- banded with dangling pink stones, it was perfect for what she had in mind. 'This will not only go with your frock, it'll hide the blemishes as well,' she pointed out.

Draping it round Daisy's neck she fastened it at the back. One look in the mirror told her that it had done the trick. 'There you are. Now stop your moaning!'

Daisy gave a sigh of relief. 'You're a clever little bugger, aren't you?'

Amy chuckled. 'I do my best. Now, come out of my seat and go and get your frock on. It's time for me to get myself ready.'

'I'll not be long.' Taking her frock with her, Daisy went away to the bathroom. When she returned a few minutes later, her wild, wavy hair was brushed to a golden shine, and she looked so lovely, Amy leaped out of the seat and, coming to turn Daisy round and round, she told her, 'By! Every bloke in the room will want to dance with you.' Tutting loudly, she grumbled, The rest of us won't even get a look in!'

'Are you telling me the truth, Amy?' Over the years Daisy's parents had dented her confidence until, now, she needed constant reassurance. 'Do I look nice? Do you really mean it?'

'Of course I mean it, Daisy,' Amy answered warmly. 'You look beautiful.'

She observed Daisy's bouncy mop of auburn hair and the pretty freckles that danced about her nose and eyes, and she meant every word.

At half-past seven, looking pretty as two pictures, they came down the stairs to a round of applause.

'You look a treat!' Dave was proud of them both.

Marie was so impressed, she vowed to visit the secondhand shop next time she went into town.

'Mind you behave yourselves!' Marie fussed as they went out the door. She made them put on a coat each and warned, 'It'll be chilly by the time you come out of there. And don't be back late,' she told Amy. Addressing Daisy she offered, 'If you want to come back and stay the night, you're very welcome, lass.'

'Better not,' Daisy declined gratefully. 'My dad might take it into his head to come looking for me, and I wouldn't wish his presence on anybody.' Staying out until the early hours was one thing, but staying out all night would cause trouble and she daren't risk it.

Chatting excitedly, the girls set off for the Grand. 'I wonder if there'll be any good-looking blokes there?' Daisy mused aloud. 'Somebody who's rolling in money and looking for a girl like me.'

'You'll not find anybody rolling in money in this town,' Amy declared, 'except the mill-owners and businessmen, and they're all fat, bald and married.'

'Not all,' Daisy corrected her. 'I've heard that Luke Hammond is a real knockout.'

Amy was surprised. 'Dad works for Hammonds, but he never talks too much about his work, or his boss.'

Then are useless!' Daisy declared scornfully. 'The poor devils just don't know how to gossip. All I know is what I were told, and they say he's a real good-looker.' Her eyes widening with anticipation she glanced about. 'D'you reckon he comes in here?'

'I shouldn't think the poor man goes anywhere, what with running the factory and then his wife to look after. Remember she was beaten up, and needs constant care?'

Daisy felt little sympathy. 'He's rich, isn't he? And if he's as caring as you say, I'm sure he's arranged for her to have the best of everything.'

'I'm sure he has.' Amy felt both sympathy and curiosity. 'It's a terrible thing, though, don't you think—him having such a burden, and for his wife too…It can't be easy for either of them.'

Daisy agreed, though she had to have the last word. 'It's a damned sight worse if you've not got money. My old grandad fell over one Friday night. Drunk as a lord he were…broke both his legs and lost his false teeth down the grating. Months he had to wait for a new pair. His sodding legs were mended afore he got his new teeth.' She laughed. Two crutches and no gnashers—what a state to be in!'

As always, Amy had to laugh. 'You're a wicked bugger!' she chuckled. 'Anyway, what were we saying?'

Daisy reminded her, 'We were saying how all the rich blokes are either fat, bald, or wed.'

'That's true, an' all,' Amy replied. 'So, even if they do cast an eye in your direction, they'd only be after one thing, and we all know what that is, don't we?'

Daisy gave a knowing wink. 'It means they'd be after a bit of "how's your father".'

'Right,' Amy confirmed.

'I'm not really sure I'd mind either,' Daisy answered. 'I'd mek the buggers pay top whack for their entertainment. Then I'd get my own place a damn sight sooner!'

'Behave yourself,' Amy told her. 'We both know you wouldn't sell yourself like that. Look, we're here now, and don't make eyes at every man in the room, or they'll get the wrong idea.'

'Trust me,' Daisy said.

Linking arms with Amy, she pushed her forward. 'I don't want no trouble. I'm just here for a good time. All right, lass?'

'So make sure you stick to that,' Amy said. She knew from experience that when she and Daisy went out together, the evening could end unpredictably.

As they went through the doors and into the bar, Amy glanced at Daisy, who was already casting her net for any good-looking, unattached young men.

She smiled inwardly. Daisy was Daisy and try as you might, you would never change her.

'By heck!' Daisy gave Amy a sly little dig with her elbow. 'Look, lass!' Grabbing Amy, she then drew her aside, at the same time pointing to the two young men at the bar. 'It's
them
!'

Following Daisy's gaze, Amy heart sank when she recognised the two blokes they'd tangled with last spring. 'You're right,' she whispered. 'It's them all right.'

Daisy began backing away. 'We'd best get out of here, before they see us.'

'No!' Standing her ground, Amy declared, 'We're not leaving. We've as much right to be here as they have.'

Daisy couldn't believe her ears. 'Bloody hell, lass,' she groaned. 'Have you forgotten what happened?'

'I haven't forgotten,' she replied defiantly, 'nor have I forgotten what that devious little squirt was up to when I interfered. For all I know he meant to have you by any means he could, and if I hadn't dived in, he probably would have done. No, Daisy. We're staying! If anybody needs to leave, it's them.' With that she marched forward to the bar, with Daisy clinging on to her arm for all she was worth.

In a strong, clear voice Amy ordered, 'Two sarsaparillas please, barman, and a packet of pork scratchings.'

Daisy whispered, 'What did you order them for?'

'Because we always have pork scratchings.'

Daisy groaned. 'Well, you can pay for 'em, and you can eat 'em. I ate enough food at your house to last me all week.'

Addressing the barman, Amy said, 'Forget the scratchings. We'll just have the sarsaparilla.'

Grumbling and groaning he replaced the packet of scratchings on the shelf. 'Women!' he muttered. 'Never can mek their mind up.'

Catching sight of the two young men out the corner of her eye, Daisy tugged at Amy's sleeve. 'Don't look now, lass, but they're coming this way!'

Wishing they had given the Grand a miss tonight, Amy told her, 'Ignore them, and they'll go away.'

But they didn't, and a moment later they were standing before the girls; the tall one looking unsure of himself, and the other one braving it out as though nothing had happened. Amy couldn't believe the nerve of them.

'Well! Would you believe it?' It was the short one who spoke first. 'We meet again, eh?' Encouraged by the twinkle in Daisy's eyes, he reminded her, I'm Roy Williams.' Gesturing to his friend, he addressed himself to Amy. 'This 'ere's my mate, Jack Tomlinson.'

Angered by his bare-faced cheek, Amy confronted him. 'I think you'd best clear off,' she answered haughtily, 'before I call somebody to have you thrown out.'

His mate quickly stepped forward. 'There were misunderstandings on both sides. What say we call a truce?' Looking from one to the other, he waited for an answer.

'Depends.' Daisy spoke out. It was clear she was still attracted to the other young man, who by now was giving her the wink.

'On what?' Appraising Daisy from head to toe, the smaller man smiled confidently.

'On two conditions.'

'And what might they be?'

'Firstly, you apologise for what you did.'

Looking uncomfortable, he dropped his gaze to the floor. 'I was carried away. I didn't mean anything by it.'

'That's not an apology!'

'All right! I'm sorry.' He turned to his friend. 'We're both sorry.'

'That's right,'Jack readily agreed. 'We're sorry about what happened. It ruined what seemed like the start of a good relationship.'

'Now then! Is that enough for you?' Roy asked Daisy.

'Yes. Your apology is accepted.'

'So we can be friends, can we?'

'Not yet,' Daisy reminded him. 'I said there were
two
conditions.'

'So, what's the second?'

Daisy surprised them all with her quick smile and her bold answer. 'Now that you've apologised, you can dance with me.'

'DAISY!' Drawing her aside, Amy was flabbergasted. 'What the devil are you playing at?'