Stay as Sweet as You Are (53 page)

Nellie was lapping up the praise. ‘Well, queen, as I’ve told yer, there’s them what can, and there’s them what can’t.’

‘I’ve learned that the hard way, I’m afraid.’ Bob looked
across at Kate, but carried on talking to her mother. ‘D’yer know what, Nellie? Until yesterday, I didn’t know yer daughter had legs. I’ve only ever seen her from the waist up, across the canteen table.’

Iris began to giggle and it was like a knife turning in Bob’s heart. She sounded so like Lucy. What was his daughter doing now? How had Ruby been towards her? He wouldn’t be able to see her all week, with working afternoons and her being at school. The earliest would be Saturday morning before he went to work, and it seemed a lifetime away.

Nellie had seen Bob’s expression change, and although she wasn’t to know the cause of it, she did know his mind was elsewhere. ‘Come on, Kate, let’s get these dirty dishes out,’ she said briskly. ‘The rice pudding will be going dry in the oven.’

Kate was on pins. Her sister and her husband were due any minute, and she was worried about how to approach Howard regarding advice for Bob, when Audrey, her mam and Iris were sitting there listening. That was the worst of two-up two-down houses, there was never any privacy. She had been hoping to have a word with her brother-in-law before he met Bob, but things had happened so quickly it hadn’t been possible. Catching her mother’s eye, Kate nodded towards the kitchen.

‘I’ll start getting the dishes out, ready for tea,’ Nellie said. ‘Come and give us a hand, will yer, Kate?’

In the kitchen they went into a huddle. ‘Mam, I’m going to the corner of the street to wait for Howard’s car. I want to explain about Bob, ’cos yer can’t expect the poor man to pour his heart out in front of strangers. It won’t be so bad if Howard is put in the picture, and our Audrey knows what’s going on. So I’m going to tell a little fib to get out, is that okay?’

‘Of course it is, queen. Yer can tell a ruddy big whopper for all I care. You do what yer think best.’

Kate knew she couldn’t look someone in the eye and tell a lie without blushing, so she made sure it didn’t happen by walking straight through from the kitchen into the hall. ‘I’ve got a horrible feeling I’ve come out and left the stove on,’ she called over her shoulder. ‘I’m just nipping home to put me mind at rest.’

‘I’ll go for yer, Mam,’ Iris offered. ‘I can run there and back.’

‘No, it’s all right, love.’ Kate was gripping the round handle ready for pulling the door shut. ‘I’ll be back before yer know I’m gone.’ She waved as she passed the window, then pelted it hell for leather to the bottom of the street. Howard always came this way in his little black four-seater car, so she wouldn’t miss him. He’d caused quite a stir the first time he came in it, because cars were a rare sight in their street. The neighbours who didn’t come out to gape, peeped through their curtains. And the kids would have swarmed all over it if Howard hadn’t told them off in his posh voice.

When the car turned the corner Kate stepped into the gutter and waved both hands for it to stop. Howard wound the window down, a look of concern on his rather serious face. ‘Is there something wrong, Kate?’

‘No, I just want a word with yer before yer go in the house.’ Kate opened the back door and scrambled on to the seat. She found her sister twisted round and glaring at her.

‘You frightened the life out of me, I thought something terrible had happened to Mother.’ Audrey’s Liverpool accent had all but disappeared since she’d met Howard. The only time she allowed it to come to the fore was when she was angry and couldn’t help herself. But she wasn’t a snob. Born and raised in this narrow cobbled street, she never pretended to be anything she wasn’t. Two years younger than Kate, she loved her family and was always there to help. So far her marriage was a childless one, but whether that was due to nature, or a deliberate decision taken by her and Howard, she had never said. And her time for childbearing was running
out. ‘What is it, Kate, that’s so important we can’t talk in front of Mother?’

‘Oh, we can talk in front of me mam ’cos she knows all about it. But I want Howard to help a friend of mine with some advice and he’s in the house with me mam and Iris. Would yer mind if I tell yer the whole story, very quickly, so you and Howard don’t get it in bits and pieces?’

‘Is this person a good friend of yours, Kate?’ Howard asked.

Kate nodded. ‘He’s one hell of a nice feller and he desperately needs advice.’

‘Then carry on, Kate.’

Kate told them everything, from the first time Bob had sat facing her in the canteen. And she ended by saying, ‘Me mam offered him her spare room and he moved in yesterday.’

Audrey took a deep breath then blew it out. ‘Well, that’s some story. Are yer sure it’s all true, Kate, or is he taking advantage?’

‘It’s true – I’ve seen his hand scratched to pieces where his wife had gone for him. He’s a quiet man, and he’s put up with it for years. Anyway, Audrey, would yer say me mam was a good judge of character?’

Her sister nodded. ‘I’ve never known her to be wrong.’

‘And he wants advice on how to go about obtaining a divorce?’ Howard tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. ‘It’s a messy business, divorce, and it can take years.’

‘Would yer talk to him about it?’ Kate was gripping the back of his seat. ‘He’s only a working bloke and doesn’t know where to turn.’

‘I’ll be only too happy to help a friend of yours, Kate. But isn’t it going to be rather difficult in your mother’s house? I would need to ask very personal questions which the man would find hard to answer in front of Iris, Audrey and yourself.’

‘I know, but I can’t think of any other way.’ Kate sighed. ‘When yer meet him, and yer’ve been in his company for a
while, yer’ll understand why I want to help him.’

Howard was conscious of the fact that this was the first time Kate had ever asked him or Audrey for help. Several times they’d offered to help out financially when they knew she must have been desperate, but each time she’d smiled and said she could manage. It was because of this he was prompted to say, ‘Leave it to me, Kate, I’ll think of something.’

Bob was nervous at first because he thought solicitors were a cut above the rest, like teachers and doctors. But he soon learned that even if the King came to Nellie’s house he would be expected to muck in like everybody else. She didn’t stand on ceremony, did Mrs Carson. Howard might be a solicitor, and she thought the world of him, but when he was in her house he was treated the same as everyone else. Even when her tongue slipped and a swearword came out, she merely pulled a comical face and said, ‘That came out of its own accord, our Audrey. I had nothing to do with it, so don’t be giving me daggers.’

Bob happened to catch Howard’s eyes and they exchanged smiles. ‘Yer’ve been blessed with a good mother-in-law, Howard.’

‘Yes, I know. And I appreciate it. It was only when I met Nellie that I realised my teacher at school had taught me only half of the English language. It was Nellie who taught me the rest. I can’t use it, of course, but I’m indebted to her for widening my horizon.’

‘One good turn deserves another then, don’t yer think?’ Nellie asked. ‘Yer can come and help me get the plates ready for the tea while Iris sets the table.’

‘Mother!’ Audrey looked horrified. ‘That’s not a job for Howard! Kate and I will help you with the dishes, like we always do.’

But Howard knew there must be a motive behind the very strange, and unusual request. ‘Stay where you are, Audrey,
this should be interesting. I think your mother wants to widen my horizon still further.’ So in his immaculate navy-blue pinstripe suit, pure white shirt with stiff collar and a plain grey tie secured with a gold tie-pin, the man who spent most of his life behind a desk followed his mother-in-law into the tiny kitchen.

‘Well, I declare,’ Audrey said, then lapsed into her Liverpool accent. ‘What’s got into me mam? I mean, it’s not funny, is it?’

‘Don’t worry, he won’t reign long,’ Kate told her. ‘I’ll give him two minutes at the most.’

Bob took the chance to study the sisters. They had the same facial features, but there the resemblance ended. Audrey looked every inch the woman about town. Her clothes were expensive and fashionable and she carried them well. Her stockings were pure silk and her black court shoes boasted a two-inch heel. And her hair was perfectly waved, as though she’d just come from the hairdresser’s.

‘Oh, get back inside,’ Nellie said, pushing Howard into the room. ‘Ye’re about as much use as our cat.’

‘Mother, you haven’t got a cat.’

‘I know that, queen. But if I did have it would be more use in the kitchen than Howard. At least I could kick it out of me way if it got under me feet.’

It was while they were sitting around the table having their tea that the sisters understood the reason for their mother’s behaviour. With an angelic expression on her face, Nellie asked, ‘Have yer seen Howard’s car, Bob?’

‘I’ve glimpsed it through the window, that’s all.’

‘Yer’ll have to get him to show it to yer after. It’s his pride and joy, that car. He’d take it to bed with him at night if he could, wouldn’t yer, lad?’

Howard was of medium height and build, his complexion was pale through spending his working life in a stuffy office, and his hair was receding at the temples. But when he smiled he looked almost boyish and showed a set of strong white
teeth. ‘Before you drop me in deep water, Mother-in-law, may I say the car is my
second
pride and joy. Audrey is my first. And the car has a perfectly good garage to sleep in, where it’s safe and warm.’

‘It told yer that, did it?’

Iris giggled. ‘It would do if it could talk, wouldn’t it, Uncle Howard?’

‘It can talk, dear. Except you wouldn’t understand it because it’s more of a splutter. On a very cold morning, when I switch the engine on, it splutters to tell me it would much prefer to stay in the garage than venture out into the cold.’

‘Now I’ve heard everything.’ Nellie placed her palms on the table. ‘You go and show this amazing talking car to Bob, while me and the girls clear away and wash up.’

The men had only been out of the room for five minutes when Howard came back in. ‘I’m taking Bob for a short spin. We won’t be long.’

Nellie had a very satisfied smile on her face when she winked at Kate. Everything had worked out a treat.

Howard had stopped the car in a quiet spot and for half an hour he’d asked questions and listened carefully to Bob’s answers. ‘Your wife admitted to adultery, then?’

‘Oh yes, she sounded quite proud of herself.’

‘Do you know the name of the man she’s involved with?’

Bob shook his head. ‘I never asked because I knew she wouldn’t tell the truth. All I know is she goes out two or three nights a week and usually comes home the worse for drink.’

‘It would help if you could find out the man’s name in case she denies it. Proof is needed rather than hearsay. I can set the wheels in motion if you’ll come down to my office one day and fill in some forms. But I must warn you, it’s a very lengthy process.’

Bob flushed with embarrassment. ‘Howard, can we leave it for a short while? Yer see, I’m going to be strapped for cash with paying the rent on the house, my daughter’s keep and
my board and lodgings. I will start saving as much as I can, though, because I need to sort life out for meself and Lucy. I won’t be happy until I’ve got her with me again and Ruby’s out of our life for good. So if yer’ll give me an idea of what I’ll need to start the ball rolling, I’ll make an appointment to see you as soon as I’ve got the cash.’

‘You’re a friend of Kate’s, and I promised I would help you.’ Howard smiled. ‘She said when I met you I’d know you were a decent man, and she was right. So I’ll get the proceedings under way without you coming in to my office. I’ll ask Kate to bring you to my home one night and I’ll have the forms there ready for you to fill in. That way you will be making the application yourself and my partners need not be involved. There may be a legal charge in the future, but we’ll cross that hurdle when we come to it. At least you will have set the ball rolling.’

Bob hung his head. ‘I don’t know what to say. I seem to be asking so much and giving nothing in return. Kate has been a good friend to me, always ready to listen. Nellie has taken me, a complete stranger, into her home and is treating me like one of the family. And now you are offering to help a man yer have never seen in yer life before.’

Howard could see Bob was choked with emotion and hastened to say, ‘Bob, Kate needed someone she could confide in, and from what I hear she found that someone in you. And she really wants to help you. As for Nellie, she’s told me she’s over the moon having you to keep her company. Her actual words were, and I quote, “He’s the nicest and most handsome bleedin’ lodger I’ve ever had. The neighbours will be green with envy.”’

Bob raised his head and smiled. ‘I can just see her saying that.’

‘So, because these ladies are very dear to me, I want to make them happy by doing what I can for you. I’ll get Kate to bring you to my home one night, when it’s convenient for you, and we’ll start writing a new chapter to your life.’

Four weeks later, Aggie was sitting in her rocking chair when she heard the key turn in the lock. She jumped to her feet and was standing by the table when Titch came into the room. ‘Did yer call to Olive’s first?’

Titch dropped his seaman’s bag on the floor. ‘Now, Ma, I might be living in hope that Olive will become me intended, but until we’re married it’ll always be you I come to first.’

Aggie didn’t know where to start. ‘Yer’ll never believe what’s been happening while yer’ve been away.’

‘Ma, don’t I even get me welcome-home kiss?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, son, I’m all hot and bothered.’ She put her arms around him and kissed his cheek. ‘Bob’s left home.’

‘What!’ Titch held her away from him. ‘What did yer say?’

‘I said Bob’s left home. Four weeks ago it was. He found out Ruby had been sleeping with some bloke and he packed his bags and left. He’s down here nearly every day, though, except when he’s on afternoons. And Lucy goes to visit him. He’s got good digs with the mother of that Kate he told us about. And he’s started divorce proceedings as well.’