Private Sorrow, A (2 page)

Edna was amused by all this banter and she knew she would miss it. Later, when she went round to Dolly’s flat for her dinner-time bowl of soup, they both had a laugh at Sal’s accurate description of Nancy.

Dolly said, ‘I heard she wasn’t a Redcoat but was working in the dining hall, serving the meals and clearing up the dirty dishes. The couple from the next close went to Butlin’s at Ayr and they told me. But I’ve never mentioned this to Sal because you know what she’s like.’

Edna laughed. ‘My lips are sealed, Dolly.’

‘Now tell me what’s on the agenda for you now,’ said Dolly.

‘Mr Knox, you remember I mentioned him, well he’s writing another engineering book and I’m going to be working for him again, plus other jobs that come in. Molly has added a domestic side to the agency so I hope it’s successful.’

Dolly gave Edna a shrewd look. ‘You like this Mr Knox, don’t you?’

Edna tried hard not to blush. ‘We’re friends and we’ve been out quite a lot over the year. I think he just likes company.’

Dolly gave her another cool look. ‘Well you watch your step young Edna. You never know what it will lead to. Have you heard anything about Eddie now that he’s running Albert’s new shop on the Hawkhill? Do you ever see him these days?’

Edna shook her head. ‘I haven’t seen him for a few weeks. I’ll always be grateful to him for saving my life and I did hear he’s making a grand job of the new shop.’

Dolly nodded. ‘Aye, I heard that as well.’

On that note, it was time to go back to work.

Sal appeared back in the shop a few minutes before closing time. Albert gave her a big smile. ‘Mrs Little, what can I get you?’

‘Two ounces of tea and a quarter pound of butter and I’ll maybe treat myself to a half pound of biscuits in yon box over there. Make sure none of them are broken.’

When she came to the cash desk to pay for her purchases she said, ‘I thought I’d better get my messages today instead of next week because I don’t like that Nancy.’ She leaned closer to Edna. ‘I heard she was just a glorified dishwasher at Butlin’s. I mean I ask you – can you see yon streak of misery entertaining holiday-makers?’

Edna very wisely said nothing but she felt a pang of sorrow that she probably wouldn’t see Albert, Dolly, Sally or any of the customers for some time. She had grown fond of them all. They had become good friends and she knew she would miss them all very much, especially Eddie and Dolly.

Molly was pleased with her flat. Ronnie had made a good job and all the woodwork was freshly painted and the walls papered. The small kitchen area with the new sink, cooker and cupboards was partially hidden by a room divider with shelves that held her favourite books, photo frames and ornaments. The new studio couch, which folded down into a bed, and the two comfy armchairs had arrived yesterday and the large colourful carpet had been laid earlier this morning. The new bed, sideboard, table and four chairs would be coming later from Henderson’s furniture shop at the top of the Wellgate, and the flat would be complete.

She had been very lucky with the couch and chairs. She had seen them advertised in the
Courier
and they had been a bargain, especially as the owner had hardly used them. Molly was grateful to her parents for helping her out financially. Living above the office would save long hours travelling back and forth across the river. Just thinking about the river made her shiver.

There was one small surprise with the flat. When Ronnie was painting the cupboard in what was now her bedroom, he discovered it led to another door, which opened onto a narrow stone staircase that led onto Baltic Street. The key had been hanging on a hook in the cupboard but Molly, apart from using the place as a staffroom, hadn’t really looked at the two rooms above the office and this had been a huge surprise. ‘This must have been the main entrance at one time,’ Ronnie had said. Molly was delighted with this extra entrance; it would save her opening the office door every time she wanted into the flat. She was looking forward to the small party tonight when she planned to show off her new home to her family and friends.

She went downstairs. Jean was busy behind the desk and she knew Mary would be finishing her job later. Edna was starting back with John Knox on Monday while Mary had another two weeks with her placement in a city centre office. As for the three new cleaners, well, it was fortunate that there were jobs waiting for them. Thank goodness. She sincerely hoped this new venture would be profitable and successful.

She smiled to herself as she thought about Edna and John. Was there a romance there she wondered? Then there was Deanna. How would such a glamorous creature cope with the hard domestic work, which was part and parcel of this job? The sight of Henderson’s delivery van brought these thoughts to an end and she led the way back to the flat as the two men expertly manoeuvred the furniture up the stair.

Later, her mother and father arrived with their neighbour, Marigold, followed soon after by Mary, Edna and her mother Irene, and a few of her friends who worked part-time when they were needed. Jean couldn’t manage because she had a prior invitation with her own family; a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary party.

Molly had organised a small buffet with sandwiches, sausage rolls and crisps with tea and coffee. Everyone was complimentary about the flat. ‘It looks so cosy,’ said Edna. ‘It hardly looks like the two rooms you had last year and I like the way you’ve decorated it.’

‘Well I had to warm the rooms up because I hardly get any sunlight in here as this window looks onto the Wellgate and the bedroom looks onto Baltic Street. I’m glad your mum could come with you, Edna. Did you get someone to look after Billy?’

‘John is looking after him. Billy loves going to his house because John has kept all his toys from when he was a boy and you should see them Molly – all pre-war. He’s got loads of Dinky cars with a super wooden garage, toy soldiers and a marvellous train set, plus lots of books and jigsaws.’ She laughed. ‘I might not manage to get him away from all those toys.’

Molly said, ‘He seems to be getting bigger every time I see him.’

Edna agreed. ‘He’s coming up for seven now and I think he’s going to be as tall as his father.’ Molly nodded. Edna was barely five feet in height but she had heard that Edna’s late husband Will had been almost six feet tall.

Marigold came over. ‘You’ve transformed this place, Molly, but I’ll miss you when Archie and Nancy go away back to Australia. But I do understand your reasons for not wanting to cross the river every day. This will be really handy for you.’

Molly was pleased by all the compliments. ‘If you want to come over to do any shopping or whatever, Marigold, you can stay here for the night. The studio couch makes a grand bed.’ She turned to Edna. ‘I’ve got Marigold to thank for the lovely wallpaper.’

‘Well’ said Marigold. ‘I’ve had it in my cupboard since 1932. There was never enough to do my own rooms but I’m glad to see Ronnie has had enough to do all the walls in here.’

Edna was impressed with the quality. ‘It’s lovely and expensive looking. I like the creamy background with those bright gold leaves, and the narrow border at the top matches the colour. You can’t buy wallpaper like this nowadays with everything still having the quality control mark.’

Mary came over with Irene. ‘I hear you’ve hired an actress on the domestic side,’ said Irene. ‘Is she very glamorous?’

Molly said she was. ‘Her name is Deanna Dunn and she just wants some work in between looking for her next big part in the theatre.’

Mary looked impressed. ‘Imagine, a real-life actress working alongside us.’ Molly just smiled and hoped she had done the right thing adding this domestic side to the agency. Still, time would tell.

Archie and Nancy came over to say goodbye. ‘We’ve got to catch the last ferry, Molly. The place is looking great and we hope you settle in.’ Nancy turned as she was putting her coat on. ‘Mind and come over for your dinner tomorrow, Molly, and you can maybe stay for the afternoon.’

Marigold was leaving as well. She laughed. ‘You had better come over to see Sabby. She’s missing you.’ Sabby was the McQueen’s cat and it was a family joke that she had never taken to Molly.

With the departure of her parents and Marigold, the other guests slowly dispersed and by half-past ten Molly was clearing up the plates and cups. She was tired and ready for her bed. The noise from the street carried up to her window and she found it hard to go to sleep in spite of her weariness. Her bedroom in Newport looked over the back garden and everything was silent at this time of night. Still, this was her home now and she would have to get used to it.

The next day turned out to be quite warm and sunny. Molly loved autumn. She loved the trees when they were beginning to turn to gorgeous shades of brown, russet and gold and, although winter wasn’t far away, on a sunny day like today it felt as if summer was still clinging on.

Thankfully, the river was calm and she found her parents sitting out in a sheltered spot in the garden. Marigold was tidying up a huge mound of leaves and she called out over the garden fence, ‘I hate all these leaves, they get everywhere.’

‘The dinner won’t be long,’ said Nancy. ‘I’ve made a steak pie and rice and stewed apples for pudding.’ Molly, who had made a cup of tea and a slice of toast for her breakfast, was starving as the aroma of the cooking wafted out. Suddenly she felt bereft. Her parents were leaving for Australia in ten days’ time and although she had planned this move to the new flat and, indeed, had been looking forward to it, she now realised how lonely she might be living all alone. She was going to miss her parents very much and for one brief moment she wished they weren’t going away but were staying to look after her and protect her. Feeling childish and silly, she put these thoughts out of her mind as they went in to have their dinner. Sabby was sitting on the window seat in the sunshine but she turned her back and swished her tail as Molly passed by. ‘Hello, Sabby,’ said Molly sweetly. ‘Still as snobby as usual.’

Molly was pleased to see the three new cleaners were all on time and waiting for their instructions. Deanna looked a bit sleepy and Molly hoped she would be a good timekeeper. Standing beside her, Alice still had the raw looking face and in the early morning light she looked years older than her age. Molly saw Deanna glance at Alice then quickly look away in case she noticed the scrutiny. Alice was going to do some housework for a family in Blackness Road. It was just for the morning and then she had another assignment for the afternoon. Molly had said she would give them all their tram fares in order to move around the different jobs. Deanna was going to a Professor Lyon, who lived in Windsor Street, and Maisie had drawn the short straw with Mrs Jankowski, who lived above the ice cream shop on Constitution Street. Before Molly had decided on starting this new venture, Mrs Jankowski’s neighbour had been in the shop almost every day looking for some help for her. Molly got the impression the woman was run off her feet by her neighbour.

They all looked so smart in their new blue overalls with the agency crest on the breast pocket and Molly was amused to see that Deanna had customised hers with a thin silver belt. It looked very fetching, but Maisie just glowered at it.

Deanna and Alice made their way to the tramcar stop at the top of the Wellgate steps as they were both going in the same direction. A few men who were seated in the tram turned round to admire Deanna as she climbed the stairs, followed by Alice who would rather have sat downstairs.

Deanna took out her cigarettes and offered Alice one. ‘I don’t smoke,’ Alice said, then turned to look out of the window. Deanna shrugged her slim shoulders and lit her cigarette. ‘I really should give up as well and I’m going to make it my new year’s resolution to stop.’

Deanna glanced at the woman beside her. She had never seen such a plain looking woman, she thought, but she could improve herself if she wore some powder and lipstick and got her hair cut and styled. Alice’s straight brown hair looked clean but it was limp and dull looking.

Deanna said, ‘Did you start at the agency this morning as well?’ Alice nodded and Deanna smoked her cigarette in silence until the tram reached the stop on Blackness Road. Alice looked at her slip of paper with her address and Deanna set off for Windsor Street. The house lay at the bottom of the road and she discovered that Professor Lyon lived in the top floor flat.

When he opened the door, Deanna was surprised to see a very old man. He was smoking a pipe. ‘Ah, come in, come in,’ he said, looking quite astounded at the pretty young woman standing on his doorstep.

‘I’m from McQueen’s Agency,’ said Deanna, in her sweetest voice.

The flat felt stuffy with the smoke from the man’s pipe. Professor Lyon led the way into the living room. ‘I’m just finishing my coffee. Sit down and have a cup before you start work,’ he said, leading the way to a table by the big window.

When they were both sitting down on the comfy sofa, he said, ‘What’s a pretty young girl like you doing in a cleaning job like this?’

‘I’m really an actress but I’m resting at the moment. Still, I’m hoping to get an audition soon.’

‘Well, I hope you do,’ he said. Deanna asked him what work needed done. ‘Oh, just a general tidy up. The kitchen needs some cleaning and this room needs dusting.’ He led the way into the kitchen and Deanna saw that it did indeed need some cleaning. The basin in the sink was full of dirty dishes and the entire room was untidy.

‘I’ll tell you what we’ll do,’ said the professor. ‘I’ll wash up if you dry the dishes and we’ll tidy up the room together.’ Deanna wasn’t too sure about his arrangement. Surely she was meant to do all the work and she said so. ‘Rubbish,’ he said. ‘We’ll get the work done quicker if I help.’

Later, Deanna went around the living room with a feather duster while the professor cleaned the bathroom and at dinner time he made another cup of coffee before she finished her shift. When she was leaving, he said, ‘I’ll speak to Miss McQueen and book you every Monday morning to give the house a clean.’

As she waited at the tram stop, she was bemused by the morning’s events. She hadn’t even got her hands wet and if this was all there was to this job, then she was well pleased.