The Girl From Number 22 (55 page)

Jenny watched the tram passing them. ‘What is so important about the tickets that we have to miss a tram while yer sort it out?’

‘Yer can’t talk sitting on a tram, ’cos the people sitting in the seat behind will be listening in. There’s some nosy beggars around.’

‘Why would it matter if they did listen in?’ Jenny was trying hard to keep her face straight. Danny was very like his mam, always acting the goat. ‘Yer said yer’d bought yer ticket last night, so it’s safe. Why worry about anyone knowing?’

‘My mam does that, yer know.’

‘Yer mam does what?’

‘Listens in to the conversation of people sitting in the seat in front of her.’

Jenny put a finger to his lips to shut him up. ‘Danny, will yer just tell me why we didn’t get on that tram? Was it because yer didn’t like the look of the driver? Or perhaps the conductor was an old school friend and yer didn’t feel like going over old times with him?’

Danny grinned. ‘That’s more like it. Now I know yer can be as daft as me, I’ll lay the whole thing out for yer. First, I’ve got yer a ticket for the dance on Christmas Eve, and I want to know that yer’ll come with me? Willingly would be nice. But I’m prepared to carry yer over me shoulder if all else fails.’

‘And yer couldn’t wait until we get to the dance hall before asking me this?’

‘I could have waited, yes, but I didn’t want to. Yer see, the stakes are too high. I know that as soon as Tony sets eyes on yer,
he’ll be over to ask yer up for a dance. And I’ll bet a pound to a pinch of snuff that he’ll also ask yer to go to the dance on Christmas Eve with him.’

‘Yer shouldn’t bet on something that’s not a certainty, Danny Fenwick. What makes yer think Tony will ask me?’

Danny’s chuckles came out at the same time as his dimples deepened. ‘Because he was in the queue behind me last night. And he bought two tickets.’

‘He could have bought them to take another girl. He wouldn’t buy a ticket for me without asking me first. That would be daft.’

‘Are you saying I’m daft, Jenny?’

‘Now yer’ve got me all confused, Danny Fenwick. What did yer tell me about Tony for?’

‘So yer’d be prepared, like, and not caught out by surprise. Now yer know, yer can turn him down gently.’

‘And what makes yer think I’d turn him down?’

‘Well, it stands to sense, doesn’t it? I mean, yer’d look daft going with both of us. And if yer tell him tonight, it’ll give him time to ask one of the other girls.’

‘Danny Fenwick, are yer always so sure of yerself, or does being big-headed come naturally to yer?’

‘I’ll be anything yer want me to be, Jenny. Yer see, I’ve set me heart on taking yer to Blair Hall on Christmas Eve.’

‘But yer’ve already got three dancing partners there, isn’t that enough for yer?’

‘I didn’t buy four tickets, Jenny, I only bought two. The other girls are partners, yes, and they’re smashing dancers. They’re like mates to me, as well. But it’s you I want to take to the dance with me on Christmas Eve. I’ve set me heart on it, and I know yer wouldn’t be cruel enough to turn me down when I’ve told yer me heart’s set on it.’

‘I can’t dance as well as the other girls, Danny, I’m a novice compared to them.’

‘I don’t care if yer’ve got a wooden leg, Jenny Phillips, I still want to take yer to the dance.’

Jenny was thinking she’d be over the moon to go to the dance with Danny, for he had certainly captured her heart. But she wasn’t going to let him know that. ‘I suppose I’ll have to go with yer, ’cos I don’t want to be responsible for breaking yer heart. Yer mam would have me life if I did that. Besides, yer’ll come in handy for carrying me wooden leg.’

When a tram came along, the couple were laughing as they climbed on board, bringing a smile to the driver’s face. What it was to be young, eh, he thought.

At the same time as Jenny and Danny were stepping on to the tram platform, Tom Phillips was stepping into Bella’s back yard. He wasn’t so concerned about being seen now, and didn’t worry about nosy pokes. Nor did he have to wait until Bella came for him, for he’d been given permission to go straight to the kitchen and she’d give him the wire when she was ready for him. The fact that she was a prostitute didn’t bother him one little bit. He considered himself to be the luckiest bloke alive to be so well catered for by Bella. He walked with a swagger these days, very cocky because she’d told him he was treated better than any of her other clients. And whatever Bella told him, he fell for. She could wrap him round her little finger. He’d even met her children twice, and the kids had been told he was their Uncle Tom. And he treated them far better than he’d ever treated his own children, Bella saw to that. He knew without being told that if he raised his hand or his voice to them, he’d be on his way out. And that would be the worst thing that could happen to
him. So he went out of his way to keep her sweet. Little did he know she was making her own plans.

Tom was lost in his thoughts when the kitchen door opened and Bella called, ‘Yer can come in now, Tom.’

He lost no time in taking his place on the couch, and soon his eyes were closed and he was groaning with pleasure as Bella’s hands worked their magic. She was watching his face, and although she was smiling, it was not a smile of pleasure, but of expectation. Her hands became still, and Tom’s eyes flew open. ‘Me time’s not up yet. What have yer stopped for?’

‘Don’t worry, yer won’t lose out. I’ll make sure yer get more than yer money’s worth. You are one man I’ll look after, ’cos yer look after me. No, I’d let me mind wander. I was asking meself what I’m going to do on Christmas Eve, ’cos I’ve got about eight clients booked in. The first is at four o’clock, then every half-hour after that. Business is always brisk around this time of the year. There’s a couple of punters asked if I’d cater for them on Christmas morning, while their wives are at church.’

Tom was restless but interested. ‘Ay, yer could make a few bob there.’

‘Yeah, I know, but I don’t know how I’d manage. Christmas Eve can be a bit frightening, ’cos some men have a few drinks before they come and I’m always afraid of one of them getting rough. I’m all right when I know you’re here, I feel safe then. But with you not here, I think I’m going to have to turn a few down. I know the money is good, but it can’t be helped.’

Tom lifted himself on his elbows. There was real interest in his eyes now. ‘Don’t be turning money away. I can be here for yer.’

Bella was crafty, and a damn good actress. No one would ever have known that her surprise wasn’t genuine. ‘Christmas Eve
and Christmas Day! Yer can’t be here then. What would yer family think? They’d wonder what the hell yer were up to.’

‘I don’t give a bugger what the family think. I’ve told yer I don’t get on with the wife or kids. And I know they’d be over the moon if I wasn’t there. If I left home tomorrow, and they never saw me again, they’d put the flags out.’ Tom’s mind was racing, as he imagined the extra he’d get from the woman who had become so important to him. ‘Just say the word, and I’ll be here as often as yer want me to be.’ He lowered his eyes. ‘I’d expect special treatment though.’

‘Yer’d be entitled to it, and I promise yer wouldn’t go short in that department.’ Bella had succeeded in her plan so far, but the next part needed a little extra coaxing. ‘It’s a pity we’ve only got two bedrooms, or yer could move in permanent. We’d be good for each other. With you working during the day, and looking out for me at night, I could take more punters on. Just think of the money we’d make. We’d be on easy street.’ She pushed him back gently, her mind on track. ‘I really shouldn’t be saying this when yer’ve got a wife, it isn’t fair. I know yer two children are working, but yer wife couldn’t manage a house on their money.’ Her hands were working now, and Tom’s eyes closed. ‘Unless yer give her a couple of bob a week to help her out. Then I wouldn’t feel so bad about taking yer away from her.’

Tom was at the stage where he would have promised her anything. She brought his senses alive in a way he had never thought possible, and he’d die rather than give her up. Bella had set a trap, and he’d walked straight into it. ‘I’ll do that. I’ll tell her tonight that I’ve met another woman, and I’ll move in here tomorrow, after work.’

‘Don’t forget to tell her yer’ll be giving her money every week. I don’t want to be the cause of a woman being left
penniless. Tell her she’ll get a half-crown postal order every week.’ And when Bella’s hands stopped for a few seconds, it was a warning that she meant what she said. If he didn’t do as he was told, he would suffer for it. ‘I’ll get the order from the post office, and to make sure she gets it, I’ll send it off to her meself. But don’t tell her who I am or where I live. I don’t want no angry woman coming down here and making a show of me.’

‘I’ve told yer, she’ll be glad to be shut of me.’

And Bella didn’t doubt him for one minute. He’d be a lousy husband and father if he was allowed to have his way. He’d probably given his wife and kids a dog’s life. Then again, she was hardly in a position to criticise anyone. She wasn’t a decent or respectable woman herself. Certainly not an upstanding member of the community.

While Bella’s hands worked, so did her mind. Her and Tom were two of a kind. Neither of them were angels.

Annie sighed when she heard the key turn in the lock of the front door. She left her chair and made her way to the kitchen, dreading having to face her husband. The very sight of him was enough to make her feel sick, never mind having to spend time in the same room as him. She turned the gas off and opened the oven door. The dinner she’d been keeping warm for him would be shrivelled up by now, but that was his own fault for coming home so late.

Tom Phillips threw his coat on the couch and pulled a chair out from the table. He wrinkled his nose when Annie put the plate down in front of him, but picked up his knife and fork and began eating without saying a word. It was only when he saw her walking towards the stairs that he broke the silence. ‘I want a word with yer.’

Annie turned to face him. ‘I’m tired, and I really don’t think we’ve got anything to say to each other.’

‘I’ve got something to say to yer, so shut up, sit down and listen.’

‘If yer intend shouting and bawling, then don’t bother, ’cos yer’ll be talking to an empty room. I’m off to bed.’

‘There’ll be no bawling or shouting, ’cos I’ve got things to do before I go to bed. Yer see, I’m packing me bag and getting out.’

Thinking it was a joke, Annie huffed. ‘That’ll be the day when I see the back of you, Tom Phillips. I should be so lucky.’

‘I’m telling yer, I’m packing me bag and leaving yer. I’ve found another woman, one who understands me needs, and I’m moving in with her.’

‘I’ll believe it when I see it,’ Annie said. ‘If it’s true, it’ll be one of the happiest days of me life, Tom Phillips. But is it true, or just a cruel joke?’

Tom pushed his plate away. ‘It’s no bleeding joke, yer silly cow. We’ve never been happy together, yer never catered to me needs. I’m leaving yer for a woman who gives me everything you wouldn’t. She’s got red blood in her veins, not bleeding ice.’ He waited for Annie to rant and rave, or at least show some signs of shock, but she just sat and stared at him. ‘I’ll be sending yer some money every week, to help out. Not as much as yer get now, ’cos I’ll need money for where I’m going. But there’ll be a half-crown postal order sent to yer every Saturday. Yer’ll get it through the letter box every Monday without fail.’ He waited, but there was still no sound from his wife. ‘What’s the matter with yer, have yer got no bleeding tongue? Don’t think yer can get me to change me mind by making me sorry for yer. Tears won’t cut no ice with me. I’m off tomorrow whether yer like it or not.’

Annie was having trouble with her conscience. One part was telling her she should tell him that she was working and earning three shillings a week. By not telling him she would be acting a lie. But another voice in her head was saying she’d be crazy to tell him. After the way he’d treated her and the children over the years, he didn’t deserve any sympathy or consideration. The half-crown he said he’d send every week would enable her to buy things for the house, make it nice, like Ada’s. And it would mean
no scrimping on food or clothes. She didn’t doubt he would send the money, for he’d be afraid of her turning up at his work and causing trouble. Not that she would, she had more pride than to go down to the docks and make an exhibition of herself. But Tom wouldn’t know that, for he didn’t know what the word pride meant.

‘There’ll be no tears, not from me, anyway. And if there are any tears from your two children, they’ll be tears of thankfulness. For yer’ve been a lousy husband and father, and this house will be a much happier place without yer.’ She left her chair, and making fists of her hands, she leaned on the table and looked down at him. ‘I’m going to bed now, and I’ll stay in bed in the morning until yer’ve left. Yer can see to yer own breakfast for once. And I won’t wake the children until I hear yer closing the front door. I bear yer no ill will, Tom Phillips, but I hope I never have to set eyes on yer again.’

With her back straight and her head held high, she left the room and climbed the stairs. But she had no intention of undressing or getting into bed, for her brain was over-excited. She would have to tell the children tonight. If she kept the news to herself until tomorrow she wouldn’t be able to get a wink of sleep. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined such a dramatic thing happening, and she couldn’t wait to see the faces of her two children as she broke the news to them.

Annie sat on the bed, her arms folded, and listened to her husband’s heavy footsteps on the stairs. Then she heard him walking the floor in the next bedroom, and the sound of drawers being opened and closed. In her mind’s eye she could see him getting his clothes together to take with him in the morning. Not that he had many clothes worth talking about. He preferred
to spend his money over the pub counter than buy himself any decent underwear. She’d often thought over the years that if he had an accident and ended up in hospital, she’d die of shame because of the state of his clothes.