Sadie Was A Lady (49 page)

Sarah came in carrying a cup of tea and gaped at the scene that met her eyes. ‘Okay, that’s enough, break it up now.’

When Peter raised his head he had the look on his face of someone who had just heard that a rich relative had died and left him a fortune. He didn’t have a rich relative of course, but if he had, and they were generous enough to leave him a fortune in their will, then that’s how his face would look. ‘Auntie Sarah, yer a spoil-sport. I was just enjoying meself then. Couldn’t yer go back out and come in again, in about half an hour?’

Sadie disentangled herself and gave him a kick on the
shin.
It wasn’t a hard kick, just enough to make him wince. ‘I’ll get you one day, Peter Townley, you just see if I don’t.’

‘If yer could make it down a dark entry one night, Sadie, I’d like that. In fact, if I was to speak the truth, and you all know what a truthful bloke I am, then I’d have to say, without doubt, I’d positively enjoy letting yer get me one day.’ He grinned into her face. ‘I don’t suppose yer could make it a week on Wednesday, by any chance? That would give me time to get meself in peak condition for the big moment.’

Sarah waved him to a chair. ‘Will yer sit down and give yer tongue a rest, Peter.’

‘Don’t yer mean give our ears a rest, Grandma?’ Sadie asked. ‘Honest, once he starts he forgets to finish. I can never get a word in edgeways with him.’

Peter waited until Sadie sat down then pulled out the chair next to her. ‘I promise I won’t open me mouth until yer’ve told me what Father Christmas brought for you and Mr and Mrs O’Hanlon.’

That suited Sadie down to the ground. It was with great pleasure she showed him all the presents. Then she pointed to the Christmas cards standing on the mantelpiece and sideboard. ‘See all the cards I got from me customers and friends at the market? I’ve never had so many cards in me life.’

‘Oh, strewth!’ Peter slapped an open palm on his forehead. ‘I nearly forgot, I’ve got two cards for yer.’ He pulled two crumpled envelopes out of his pocket and handed them to her. ‘One’s from me, and the other’s from that feller yer once told me yer were courting strong. Only yer couldn’t have been courting that strong, ’cos yer don’t go out with him now.’

Sadie looked surprised. ‘How did you get that?’

‘He gave it to me at the dance last week, when you were up dancing with Tommy. He said he didn’t like handing it to yer, and he couldn’t send it because you would never tell him where yer lived.’ Peter took advantage of Sadie’s bowed head and winked at Sarah. ‘He says on the card that he loves her, Auntie Sarah.’

Sadie gave out a loud cry. ‘Do you mean to tell me that Geoff gave yer a card for me, and you opened it?’

‘I didn’t have to open it – he hadn’t stuck it down.’

‘You had no right, that’s a sneaky thing to do.’ Sadie’s eyes were blazing. ‘Grandma, will you tell him off for me? If I start on him I’ll scratch his eyes out.’

‘Let’s get it straight first.’ Sarah squeezed her husband’s hand because she could hear him chuckling softly. ‘Peter, what’s the picture on the front of Geoff’s card?’

Peter was caught off-guard for a second; he hadn’t been expecting that. ‘Er, I didn’t look at the front of the card, only what was inside. I mean, I can’t have an ex-strongly courted bloke sending Sadie cards, can I? He still fancies her, yer see, Auntie Sarah, and I don’t want him blighting me life again. I’m getting nowhere fast with her as it is. If he comes back in the picture I’ll be out of the running altogether.’

‘You are not in the running, Peter Townley, I’ve told yer that often enough. You never have been and never will be. And neither is Geoff, even though he is more of a gentleman than you. At least he wouldn’t be sly enough to read a card belonging to someone else.’

Sarah tutted. ‘Peter, yer in deep water as it is, don’t make it worse for yerself. Tell us exactly what Geoff has written on the card.’

‘I don’t know, Auntie Sarah, I’m on tenterhooks waiting for Sadie to open it. But I’m saying now, in front of witnesses, that if the word “love” appears on that card I’ll set Tommy and Spike on to Geoff at the dance next week.’

While Sarah’s shoulders shook and Joe rocked back and forth in his chair with laughter, Sadie gaped. ‘Do you mean to tell me that we’ve gone all through this, Peter Townley, and you’ve only been pulling me leg?’

‘I’ve been havin’ yer on, Sadie, not pulling yer leg. If I ever got the chance to really pull one of your legs I’d have a look of pure bliss on me face ’cos I’d be in heaven. I hate to admit it in case yer get big-headed, but yer have got very shapely legs.’

‘That’s enough now.’ Sarah wiped the back of her hands
across
her eyes. ‘Yer startin’ to get too personal and I’ll not have it in my house.’

‘I’ve got to try every trick in the book, Auntie Sarah. Don’t forget I’m competing with Tommy and Spike, as well as this Geoff feller.’

Sarah couldn’t resist. ‘And Harry!’

‘Harry!’ Peter’s voice was shrill. ‘Who the hell is Harry when he’s out?’

Sadie’s heart had lurched when Sarah mentioned Harry’s name, but the expression of bewilderment on Peter’s face brought forth gales of laughter. He was flummoxed and she took great delight in the fact. ‘Harry’s an old friend of mine.’

Peter’s eyes narrowed. ‘How old? As old as Mr O’Hanlon?’

‘Just about.’ Sadie didn’t want to talk about Harry so she changed the subject. ‘Tell us what you got off Father Christmas.’

‘The same as I get every year – socks, hankies and tie. Nothing to get excited about.’

‘It’s not easy to buy for boys, though,’ Sadie said, making allowances for Mrs Townley. ‘There’s not the same selection as there is for girls.’

‘Sadie, before we get to discussing the price of fish, are yer goin’ to open yer cards?’

‘As soon as yer out of the door I’ll have them open and stood with the rest. While yer here they stay in the envelopes.’

This could go on all day, Sarah thought, and we’ve still got the veg and potatoes to see to. So she tried to hasten things along. ‘We’d better get started on the dinner, Sadie, or we’ll be having it at tea-time. And I’ve got some baking to do for tomorrow. Have yer told Peter that yer brother and sister are coming for tea?’

‘No, she didn’t tell me, Auntie Sarah.’ Peter got in first. ‘She’s a bit of a dark horse on the quiet, is our Sadie.’

‘I am
not
a dark horse! I just didn’t think yer’d be interested.’

Joe was sucking on his pipe, listening with a wily look
in
his eyes. ‘Why don’t yer invite Peter, queen? The more the merrier, make a party of it.’

‘No!’ Sadie shook her head vigorously. ‘Peter doesn’t want to be bothered coming to tea with children – he’d be bored stiff.’

‘On the contrary.’ Peter pushed his chair back. He intended getting out quickly before the invitation was withdrawn. ‘I’d be only too pleased. What time would you like me to be here, Sadie? Or should I be asking Auntie Sarah, seeing as it’s her house?’

‘Three o’clock, son, and now will yer get going. Sadie will see yer out.’

‘No!’ Peter could see by Sadie’s face she wasn’t too pleased, and if she got him on her own she’d tell him he needn’t bother putting in an appearance. ‘I’ll see meself out.’

As the Rotunda building loomed nearer and nearer, Sadie’s eyes were peeled for sight of her sister and brother. There were plenty of people out, all wrapped up against the cold wind as they made their way to visit family or friends for a Boxing Day celebration. But there was no sign of Ellen or Jimmy, and Sadie’s heart sank. Perhaps they hadn’t been able to get away, or maybe they’d got lost. She’d die of disappointment if they didn’t come, she was so looking forward to seeing them. And it would be a let-down for Sarah, who had got everything ready for a tea party. When Sadie had left the house, the old lady had been putting the finishing touches to the jelly creams, sprinkling colourful hundreds and thousands over the top of them.

Sadie was passing a row of shops when a hand reached out from a doorway and pulled her to a halt. ‘We’re in here, Sadie.’ Jimmy grinned, his cheeks whipped to a bright red by the wind. ‘We were freezing standing on that corner, weren’t we, Ellen?’

‘I’m not surprised.’ Sadie stared at them in dismay. Neither of them were wearing coats; their only protection from the cold were the woollen jumpers and gloves she had given them for Christmas. ‘Don’t either of yer possess a coat, or any sort of jacket?’

‘Nah, but we’re all right.’ Jimmy pulled on the cuff of a glove and spoke with bravado through chattering teeth.’ We’re used to the cold, aren’t we, Ellen?’

‘We might be used to it, but that doesn’t mean we don’t feel it.’ Ellen had her arms folded across her body with her hands tucked under her armpits for warmth. ‘I’m like
a
block of ice, our Sadie. Even with these gloves on me fingers feel cold enough to drop off.’

‘A quick five-minute walk and yer’ll soon be sitting in front of a nice big fire.’ Sadie undid the buttons on her coat and slipped it off. ‘Come here, Ellen, and we’ll put me coat across our shoulders. Cuddle up close and put yer arm around me waist.’ She pulled a face at her brother. ‘I’m sorry I can’t help you, Jimmy, but we’ll walk fast and that’ll warm us up.’

Sarah had been watching through the window and the door was opened before Sadie had time to knock. ‘In the name of heaven, they’ll catch their death of cold comin’ out in this weather without a coat on their backs.’

‘They didn’t have much choice, Grandma.’ Sadie’s glance told Sarah not to pursue the matter. ‘Come on, kids, get in the warmth.’

Jimmy didn’t need telling twice. He could smell the heat and made a beeline for the living room, but he pulled up sharp when he reached the door. He was expecting a fire, but not one that roared up the chimney, with dancing flames giving out both warmth and welcome. The few times they had a fire at home, it was just half a dozen pieces of coal lying so low in the grate there was no heat from it. And when he spotted the gaily decorated tree, his eyes became as round as saucers and his mouth gaped wide.

‘Come in, son, and get a warm.’ Joe beckoned the boy over. ‘Sit on the floor and yer’ll soon be as warm as toast.’

Jimmy saw the kindness shining from the old man’s eyes and a smile lit up his face. ‘That’s a fire and a half, that is, mister!’ He squatted on the floor and held his hands in front of the flickering flames. ‘Ooh, that doesn’t half feel good.’

Sadie had a job getting her sister to move, the girl was so shy. ‘Come on, our Ellen,’ she coaxed, ‘let’s get yer in the living room and I’ll introduce yer proper.’

‘I don’t like.’ The girl’s voice was a mere whisper. At thirteen years of age she hadn’t got a single friend and had never been in another house before. ‘I won’t know what to say.’

Sarah was closing the door behind them and couldn’t help but overhear. ‘We’ll not eat yer, sweetheart, and it won’t matter if yer don’t say a single word. Just go in and get yerself warm while I make a nice cup of tea.’

Sadie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jimmy sitting on the floor looking as though he felt perfectly at home. Thank goodness he wasn’t as shy as Ellen. ‘That’s our Jimmy on the floor, and this is our Ellen. Me brother will talk to yer until the cows come home, he’s a bit like Peter from next door. But me kid sister here, she’s the shy one. The cat seems to have got her tongue right now so we’ll just leave her until she gets it back.’

Sarah bustled out to the kitchen, saying, ‘Leave the girl to come around in her own time. It won’t do no good to rush her.’

Jimmy patted the rug in front of the fire. ‘Come and sit down here, Ellen, yer’ll soon get warm.’ He waited until she’d settled herself as close to him as it was possible to get, then grinned into her face. ‘How about that for a fire, eh? Ain’t it a smasher?’

Sadie tutted, ‘Jimmy, there’s no such word as ain’t, and yer should know better.’

‘Yes, there is.’ Jimmy drew his knees up to his chin. ‘It’s a slang word.’

‘Well, yer shouldn’t use slang words, should he, Grandad?’

Jimmy’s brows flew up to disappear under a lock of his unruly hair. ‘Grandad!’ His eyes settled on Joe. ‘Why is our Sadie callin’ yer Grandad?’

Sadie gasped. ‘Ay, our Jimmy, don’t be so blinkin’ hardfaced!’

‘I only want to know, an’ if I don’t ask I’ll never know, will I?’ Jimmy stared her out. ‘How can he be your Grandad and not ours?’

Joe chuckled as he sucked on his pipe. ‘There’s a lad after me own heart. Anyone that goes through life without being inquisitive usually ends up as thick as two short planks.’

‘In that case,’ Sadie said, ‘our Jimmy should end up a
real
brain box ’cos he never stops askin’ questions.’

‘I don’t always get answers, though, do I?’ The lad shuffled his bottom to move away from the heat of the fire. ‘I usually get fobbed off or told to mind me own business. That’s if I don’t get a clip around the ear. Anyone would think I was a two-year-old instead of twelve, going on thirteen.’

‘I won’t fob yer off, son, so you ask away.’ Joe smiled at him. ‘As long as yer don’t ask me for the loan of ten bob.’

Jimmy’s laugh filled the room. ‘Would I be in with a chance if I only asked yer for the loan of two bob?’

‘Yer’d have as much chance as a snowball in the fires of hell, son, I’m afraid. I’m what some would call financially embarrassed, or, in other words, stony broke.’

Sarah came through carrying a tray. ‘Here yer are, get a warm drink down yer. It’ll keep yer going until tea-time.’

Sadie jumped to her feet. ‘I think I’ll give Peter a knock, Grandma, and ask him to leave it until half-three. It’ll give the children a bit more time to get to know you and Grandad.’

The old lady cast a meaningful look at Ellen’s bowed head. ‘I think that’s a good idea, sweetheart. Run along now but don’t stay, I’ve poured yer a cup of tea out.’

Joe sat back in his chair watching as Ellen pulled on her brother’s pullover. He saw her mouth the words, ‘Go on, ask them.’

‘All right, give us a chance, will yer?’ Jimmy hissed, straightening the pullover that was his pride and joy before looking from Sarah to Joe. ‘Why is our Sadie callin’ you Grandma, an’ him Grandad?’