Eve of the Isle (33 page)

Passers-by were staring at them. Eve knew that although she wouldn't admit it, Peg was embarrassed.

‘I don't need yer help, you interfering old cow.'

‘What are you going to do, sit there all afternoon?' screeched Peg at the end of her tether. ‘At this very moment, I could willingly put me hands round yer neck and squeeze.'

Joan suddenly began to cry. It was a soft moaning, not the loud wail that Eve was accustomed to. All the dramatics seemed to have left her and she looked a broken woman.

Suddenly a horn sounded and Eve looked round to see a van pulling up. It was Charlie's van, but it wasn't Charlie who jumped out. It was George. For a moment Eve wished that the earth would open up and she could fall into it.

Eve and Peg followed George as he assisted Joan into the front room. He wouldn't allow either Peg or herself to help, other than to close the van doors behind him. When they were inside, he lowered her to the couch, pulling a cushion behind her head. ‘There you are, my dear, you'll feel better soon.'

Peg quickly wiped a tear from her cheek. ‘God bless you, son.'

‘I hope so,' grinned George, giving her a big smile. ‘I can do with all the blessings I can get.'

‘I don't know what we'd have done if you hadn't passed by.'

‘Do you want me to get the doc?'

‘No,' said Eve quickly, ‘she just needs a good rest.'

Peg pulled a cover over Joan who had fallen asleep again exhausted by her efforts.

‘Come into the kitchen and I'll make you a cup of tea,' said Eve.

‘Oh, don't trouble on my behalf.'

‘It's no trouble.'

George followed Eve into the kitchen. ‘You've got a nice, cosy place here, Eve.'

She smiled as he sat down. ‘We've had a lot done to it after the flood.'

‘Charlie said you had to move out,' nodded George, smoothing back his dark hair which, Eve noticed, wasn't quite as dark as Charlie's. He was also very tall, and when he sat down, Eve stood only a little higher. His lean face was softened by gentle brown eyebrows above clear blue eyes.

‘Did he tell you that it was him that rescued us in the boat?'

‘Really?' George smiled. ‘Charlie don't talk much about his work. Don't know why, as he was very keen once, but these days it seems to have taken a back seat. However, he talks a lot about Samuel and Albert and how keen they are on football.' He looked round. ‘Ain't they about today?'

‘I expect Jimmy, our lodger, has taken them up to the park.'

‘Charlie says they could play well one day.'

‘Does he?' Eve was surprised George knew so much. ‘Charlie has been very good to them.'

‘They're twins, aren't they? Like me and Joe. And like us, look chalk and cheese. Was they the same at birth?'

‘No, Albert was the biggest and the first to be delivered.'

George was nodding. ‘Yeah, that's what happened to us. Mum says as the biggest I took up more space inside her and jumped the queue to get out.'

Eve looked into George's smiling gaze and laughed with him. She liked this easy going man very much. They seemed to have a lot in common.

‘Did Charlie tell you our sister-in-law Pam has just had her fifth?'

‘No, when?

‘Two days ago.'

‘I haven't seen Charlie this week. Was it a girl?'

‘Yes, and you know how much Pam and Joe wanted one as they've got all boys.'

Eve placed the tea in front of him and sat down. ‘Did the birth go well?'

‘Yes, I hear the baby weighs almost ten pounds and is going to be called after her gran, Dulcie. I'm just off over to see them now. Pam and Joe live in Blackheath so I have to cross the river. Which is why I was passing your way today.'

‘We would have been in trouble if you hadn't turned up,' Eve admitted. ‘You see Joan is Peg's sister and she lives at Blackwall. But her husband . . .' she hesitated, reluctant to share this with George whom she didn't
know well, but she felt he would understand, ‘. . . he took up with another woman.'

‘Oh, poor soul.'

‘So she came to live with us.'

George sipped his tea thoughtfully. ‘So what happened today to get her so upset?'

‘This morning she got up early before we were awake and went back to where she lived. We think it was because she wanted to – well, see this other woman. She's been thinking about Harold and I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't want to give him a piece of her mind.'

‘It's a wonder she didn't want to knock his block off.'

Eve smiled. George was easy to talk to. ‘Harold must have got her drunk and took her to the Sally Army.'

‘The scoundrel!'

Eve nodded. ‘We couldn't leave her there.'

George beamed her a smile. ‘Now is there anything else I can do for you?'

Eve was touched at his kindness. ‘Tell Pam I send me regards to her and the baby.'

He finished his tea and stood up. ‘Well, I'm sorry to have missed the nippers.'

‘They'll be sorry to have missed you too.'

She walked out with him. Eve couldn't hear Peg or Joan and hoped that the closed door of the front room meant that Joan was still sleeping and not being throttled by Peg.

‘Now, if ever you need a ride and Charlie ain't about,' said George as he stood on the pavement, ‘Joe and me or even me dad will help you out. Didn't like to see you in distress today.' He smiled and jumped in the van, waving from the window as he drove off.

Eve breathed a deep sigh as the peaceful Sunday afternoon settled round her. George Merritt was as nice a person as his brother, Charlie. He could have driven by today, but he'd stopped to help. Eve hadn't spoken much to him before and had thought he might be a bit stand-offish, but she knew now that he was quite the opposite

She had been embarrassed at the scene that she, Peg and Joan had presented on the pavement, but George had done everything to set her at ease, and had carried Joan in his big arms, laying her in the back of the van without commenting on the appearance or smell of her. Eve wondered, though, whether he had really meant it when he had offered to help whenever Charlie was absent. She hoped so.

Chapter Nineteen

C
harlie took Eve's arm and guided her through the sea of furs, satins and silk-covered female forms that crowded the entrance to the Diamond Club just off Piccadilly. He hadn't been here before, as the club was newly opened, but there was a buzz about it at work. He strongly suspected it was the Yard boys who had put the word about, as most of the beat coppers couldn't afford the West End prices. But Charlie had wanted to do something special for Eve's birthday and without her knowledge he had made arrangements for the night's entertainment. Though her birthday was the following day, the Saturday evening meant that they would be able to dine and dance and drink to the accompaniment of the singers and dancers.

Charlie glanced down at Eve as they walked into the reception lobby where a hat girl stood behind a small counter. He put his arm around Eve's shoulders and politely offered to take her scarf. He couldn't see a more attractive woman in the room, despite the obvious affluence. Eve had swept her lovely dark hair up and
curved a glossy wave over the side of her head. Since she was small, the style became her, as did the heels of her shoes that brought her another few inches higher. The sleek amber dress that she wore with slim cut straps that, despite their delicacy, seemed almost too heavy for her bone china skin, outshone every other woman around them. Her lovely eyes, always so expressive and wide, were a perfect match to the colour of her gown. They sparkled, their golden glints and dark purple flecks quite stunning. He couldn't believe that he was finally alone with her.

He gave their things to the attendant for safe keeping and received a ticket in exchange. He'd borrowed George's evening suit as he hadn't one of his own. George was a couple of inches taller, but the trousers fitted. The jacket was roomy, but quite well fitting. George had suggested the outfit when Charlie had told him they were going to the West End for Eve's birthday. It was then that Charlie had realized that Eve had made a big impression on his brother. As Charlie tried on the suit, George had told him about the day he'd given Eve, Joan and Peg a lift back to Isle Street. George and Eve had got on like a house on fire. This had reassured Charlie no end, as he'd had no real feedback from the family. He knew that his mother had been charmed by Samuel and Albert. But very little else had been said about the sudden blossoming of their son's love life.

Charlie smiled to himself. Love life indeed! He'd not
had much of one in the past few years. He'd had a few girls but nothing serious. He'd never wanted much more on a Saturday or Sunday than to play football. He adored his nieces and nephews, and was happy enough to share in their family life, without feeling the need for children of his own.

‘Is my hair all right?'

Charlie came quickly back to the present. He was looking into Eve's beautiful face, but he had been thinking about his love life. ‘Yes . . . yes, it's lovely.'

‘Only you're smiling and staring at me.'

‘Was I? Sorry. I was just thinking that it's a bit of a crush out here. Shall we go inside? Here take my arm.'

They made their way through the bow ties and glittering frocks to the big silver and gold doors where a girl in a very short skirt and pill box hat was taking the tickets. As Charlie had his tucked in his top pocket, he whipped them out and presented them.

‘Good evening, sir, madam,' the girl smiled. ‘Please go in and turn to your right. Table fifteen is up on the balcony, as you're having supper.'

Charlie smiled and led the way into the softly lit room with lights shining up onto the stage. The musical instruments were already there in front of a geometrically designed backdrop. The glass and chromium tables were decorated with ashtrays and fan shaped vases with a rose in each one. They ascended the stairs and together with the other diners, took their place above the rest of the room. There was music playing in the background
that he recognized as the new craze from America, jazz.

Charlie pulled out the leather dining chair and Eve took her place at the table. He ordered two cocktails from the waiter and asked Eve if she would like to smoke.

‘No thanks, Charlie.'

‘Are you comfortable?'

‘Very.'

Charlie noted that the women around them were conspicuously well heeled. With expensive clothes and jewellery, the affluence was obvious. But Eve had a breathtaking natural beauty that outshone them all. Her straight back and feminine figure caused many men to take quick glances in her direction. He felt jealous and proud all at once.

She whispered, ‘This is a lovely place, Charlie. Do you think I'm dressed up enough?'

‘Of course you are.'

The waiter brought the drinks. ‘What do you think of it?' he asked as they sipped the fizzy liquid with cherries on sticks. He wasn't a cocktails man, but thought it was the appropriate thing to drink as everyone else was too.

‘It's very nice.'

‘Should I have got something else?'

To his dismay, she began laughing. ‘Charlie, everything is wonderful.'

He wanted to please her and yet he felt a bit out of his depth. This was the place to come these days, but
in all honesty he'd prefer to be in the park, sitting on a green lawn, enjoying a picnic with the boys or playing football. It was as he caught himself thinking this that he realized how much his life had changed. How much his thoughts had changed. His career, his dreams, his existence seemed to have moved on their axes since he'd met Eve.

‘Charlie?'

He was doing it again, staring at her. ‘Sorry, I was wondering what you were thinking . . . I mean, I didn't give you a choice about coming here.'

Her reply was soft amongst the high pitched and sometimes affected loud voices. ‘It was a wonderful surprise. When you came round yesterday to tell me I couldn't believe it.'

‘I thought you was going to say no.'

‘Only because I wasn't sure if Peg could look after the boys. She has a lot on her hands with looking after Joan. But she seems to be better now after what happened.'

‘Is Joan drinking?'

‘No, just as long as we keep an eye on her.'

‘That must be difficult all the time.'

‘We're used to it now. Even the boys follow her around. And when Jimmy's here, he takes her up to Joseph's for a cup of tea to give Peg a break.'

‘Do you think you'll ever be able to trust her to go out on her own?'

‘Don't know. But we live in hope.' Eve laughed.

‘I've great respect for Peg,' said Charlie quietly. ‘Although we didn't hit it off at first.'

‘It was only because of what you are, not who you are.'

He chuckled. ‘A copper's lot is not a happy one, someone once said and I'm beginning to believe it.'

‘You know it doesn't matter to us now, Charlie.'

He nodded, but wondered just how being a policeman and perhaps achieving his aim to become a detective would seem to everyone then. His brothers were always teasing him about how they would have to behave themselves when he became a detective. But after meeting up with the Flying Squad, he admired the men who were a breed on their own. He had overheard some of the officers talking. Some of the most dangerous work was what they called pavement ambush, often tackling armed robbers at the scene of a crime. This had left Charlie wondering if he was capable of such heroic action, and whether that was the sort of career he really wanted.

A loud drum roll caused him to turn his thoughts back to the moment. For the next hour they enjoyed the entertainment from the musicians, singers and dancers. During a break when the lights went up, the waiters came round with the menus. Charlie and Eve chose their supper for the evening from a selection of fish and meat and any amount of salads. Those who hadn't been allocated a dining table adjourned to the bar next door where drinks and snacks were being
served. Both he and Eve chose the house recommendation: a salmon in sauce, followed by something called petits fours glacés. He also ordered wine, but was concerned when Eve wrinkled her nose at the taste.