One Rainy Day (47 page)

Poppy and David roared with laughter. ‘Oh, Mam,’ Poppy said, ‘you sounded just like Marg.’

‘I’m going to tell her what you said,’ David grinned, ‘and I’ll add that we don’t like bad language in this house.’

Eva carried the plates out to the kitchen, saying over her shoulder, ‘I wouldn’t bother if I were you. She’ll only tell you to sod off.’

Poppy jerked her head sideways. ‘Let’s give Mam a hand, or we’ll not be ready when Sarah comes. I’ll help with the dishes if you’ll shake the tablecloth in the yard and put the chenille one on. Then if you intend getting shaved do it after you’ve cleared in here. I’ll get washed and clean my teeth in the kitchen, to save time, and then I want to show you and Mam the dresses.’

David stood to attention, clicked his heels and saluted. ‘Yes, sir, three bags full, sir.’

Poppy rounded the table and threw her arms round his neck. ‘If you weren’t my brother, I’d marry you. If I can find someone like you, I’ll consider myself the luckiest girl in the world.’

‘You will, Poppy. It’s just a case of waiting for the right one. It could happen tomorrow, or in a year’s time. Cupid is very busy, but he’ll get round to both of us eventually.’

Eva came to the door of the kitchen, holding her wet hands in front of her. ‘I thought you two were in a hurry? Sarah will be here before we have a chance to see those new dresses. So will you get a move on, please?’

Poppy hurried out to help dry the dishes and put them away, while David joined the four corners of the tablecloth together and took it into the yard to shake the crumbs off.
Then it was all systems go, and in twenty minutes the room was tidy and Eva and David were sitting on the couch waiting for Poppy to come out of the front sitting room wearing one of her new dresses. And their wait was worth it. For the dress, in a medium beige, fitted her perfectly, and the colour set off the gold of her hair.

‘Oh, sweetheart, it looks a treat on you. It fits perfect, as though you’d had it tailor made.’

David nodded. How proud he was of his beautiful sister. In his eyes, she knocked every film star into a cocked hat. Her figure was perfect, and the dress showed it off. ‘You’ll have every bloke in the Grafton after you tonight, and every girl green with envy.’

‘Both dresses are quite plain,’ Poppy told them. ‘I had to remember they were to wear for going to job interviews, not to a dance. But they’ll do for both, really, don’t you think?’

‘We haven’t seen the other one, sweetheart, so we can’t really say. That one looks lovely on you. It’s very smart, and attractive. But let’s see the other one, and we’ll choose what you should wear tonight. That’s only fair, isn’t it, son?’

‘I should be the one to choose,’ David said, giving his mother a sly wink. ‘Seeing as I’m the one taking her to the dance. But your opinion will be taken into account.’

Poppy disappeared to the sitting room, and mother and son spoke in whispers. ‘Your sister is so beautiful, son. I just wish your dad could see her, and you. He would be so proud of you both.’

‘Mam, you have always told us that when people die and go to heaven, well, only their body dies, not their soul. So you should know that our dad is looking down on us all the time, and he’ll know that you are the one who has made me and Poppy what we are. Not in looks, because looks are not
everything. Nice to have, but not the be all and end all. It’s what’s inside that counts.’

Poppy interrupted David’s outlook on life by entering the room wearing a dress in a deep maroon colour, quite plain like the beige one, but fitting Poppy’s figure like a glove. It had long sleeves and a fitted waist, and where the beige one had a round collar, the neck on the maroon one was square, without a collar, but with rows of stitching to set it off.

‘That’s the one to wear tonight, Poppy’ David said, nodding for emphasis. ‘Don’t bother taking it off. You look lovely in it. Don’t you agree, Mam? The colour is perfect, and gives her a warm glow.’

‘I agree she suits it, and the dress suits her. That is the most poetical I can get.’ Eva smiled at her daughter. ‘Turn round, sweetheart, and let’s see it from the back.’ She nodded. ‘The calf length is just right for dancing, and also reserved enough to face a potential boss.’ She chuckled. ‘If he’s young, and has got any sense, he’ll offer you his hand in marriage, as well as a job.’

‘I’ll leave this on then,’ Poppy said, ‘seeing as you both approve. I’ll take the other one upstairs to put on a hanger, and I’ll put some make-up on while I’m up there. I’ll be as quick as I can, ’cos Sarah will be knocking any minute.’

In the cloakroom at the Grafton, Sarah gazed in admiration when Poppy took her coat off. ‘Ay, that’s a smashing dress, Poppy. Is it new?’

‘Yes, I only bought it this afternoon. My mam and David treated me. Does it look all right?’

‘I’ll say! It looks more than all right, it really suits yer.’ Sarah put out a hand to feel the material. ‘I’ll have to get round me mam to treat me.’

‘Wouldn’t you be better getting round your dad?’

Sarah, who took after her mother in looks, grinned. ‘It doesn’t work that way in our house, Poppy. Me and our Lucy get round me mam, and she gets round me dad. And it never fails. I think he gives in to her to shut her up. Anything for a quiet life, that’s my dad.’

Poppy gave her hair one last comb, then closed her bag. ‘I can hear the music and my toes are tingling. Let’s go before I do a slow-fox on my own in the cloakroom.’

Poppy was linking Sarah’s arm as they walked towards the dance hall, but she stopped in her tracks when she saw Andrew standing by the door. ‘What on earth are you doing here, Andrew? Don’t tell me that sister of yours has dragged you along again?’

‘Yes, Charlotte wanted to come. She’s in there now, dancing with your brother. And she didn’t have to drag me along. I enjoyed myself last week. My only concern is that we may be imposing on you. Interfering in your life.’

Poppy was grinning. ‘So Charlotte is in there dancing with David? She’s a little minx, she really is. Full of mischief and fun. But you can’t fall out with her – she won’t let you. Not that I want to – I’m really very fond of her. Anyway, what are you doing out here? Surely you don’t intend to stand here all night?’

‘Your friends Peter and Kate are here, and I really don’t think I should intrude. I’m a complete stranger to them.’

Poppy pushed Sarah towards the door. ‘You go in, Sarah. I’ll only be a minute, then I’ll introduce you.’ When the door had closed on Sarah, Poppy looked up at Andrew. ‘Do you want to stand out here all night? Is that what you prefer to do?’

‘No, of course not. It’s just that I’m not as outgoing as my
sister, and not as pushy. I would like to be more like her because she has a lot more fun than I do. But one can’t help the way one is made.’

‘You can’t help it, no, but you can at least try to change it.’ Poppy held out her hand. ‘Come on, you can dance with me until you see someone you take a fancy to.’

Andrew would have kissed his sister, had she been there. For she had set the wheels in motion for tonight. She even had their father encouraging him to get out and enjoy himself. And he could think of nothing he would enjoy more in the whole world than to have Poppy Meadows in his arms.

‘You seem a lot more relaxed now, Andrew. Your dancing is smoother.’ Poppy looked up and found him staring down at her with what looked like a half-smile on his face. She caught his eyes and quickly lowered hers, while at the same time asking herself why he had this effect on her. She didn’t feel uncomfortable with any other bloke, so why? He had never said anything out of place to her; in fact he was a perfect gentleman. Then in a flash she believed she had the answer to her problem. And it was what had been bothering her since the day he’d knocked her over. He had been wearing a suit and overcoat that she could tell were handmade, while she was wearing a raincoat that had seen better days.

‘What are you thinking about, Poppy? You’re miles away.’ Andrew squeezed her hand. ‘I’ve been talking to you but you don’t answer.’

Poppy pulled herself together. ‘I’m sorry. I had something on my mind and didn’t hear you. What were you saying?’

‘It’s too late now,’ Andrew told her. ‘Charlotte has been waving to you, trying to catch your attention, but her dance is over now, so she can tell you herself what she wanted you for.’
He hesitated. ‘Do you mind my standing with your friends? My sister has taken a liking to your brother – they both enjoy telling and playing jokes. I’m not like Charlotte, I’m not good with strangers. I never know what to say. I’ll look stupid standing on my own, so may I join you?’

‘Of course you can! You don’t have to ask.’ In her head she was reminding herself of what her mother once said, that money didn’t always bring happiness. ‘You know Peter and Kate, and my next-door neighbour, Sarah. Who I see is having a conversation with Jim, who you’ll remember from last week. So come on, and don’t be shy.’

The next dance was a slow foxtrot, and Jim and Sarah were the first couple on the floor, followed by Charlotte, pulling a laughing David with her. Peter couldn’t resist, and asked Andrew if he would partner Kate, just for this dance.

‘That’s naughty of you, Peter,’ Poppy told him as he put his arm round her waist. ‘It’s an insult to Kate.’

‘No it isn’t, babe, because I’d already asked her if she’d mind me dancing with you. You said we’d always be friends, and Kate is quite happy about that. And there’s nothing wrong with friends dancing together.’

‘Have you and Kate made it up then, Peter? Oh, I do hope so, for anyone can see she is very much in love with you.’

‘We’re getting there, babe, slowly but surely. But you are still my slow foxtrot girl, and always will be. And as I said, there’s nothing wrong in dancing with a friend. And talking of friends, where does Andrew fit in? Have you known him long, or is he new on the scene?’

‘I’ve known him roughly as long as I’ve known you, and his sister, Charlotte. Actually, she is more my friend than he is.’

‘Not a very talkative bloke, is he? He hardly says a word unless someone talks to him.’

Poppy found herself coming to Andrew’s defence. ‘He’s probably quiet with strangers, but he talks to me all right, and to David. He hadn’t danced for a long time until last week, and he’s out of practice. So I’ll be having the next slow-fox with him. I promised Charlotte I’d help him get his dancing feet back, ’cos, as she said, being his sister she can’t tell him off if he doesn’t follow her steps.’

‘She seems a nice kid, always laughing. I’d say they come from a wealthy family. They both speak and dress very well.’

‘I don’t know about that, Peter. I don’t even know where they live, though their father’s firm is in Castle Street. I know Charlotte through bumping into her one day. Now we often meet up around lunchtime, and she and Jean and I have lunch together. Apart from that I don’t know any more about Charlotte and Andrew. Except I get on with them and like them.’

The next dance was a waltz, and Sarah and Jim were once again first on the dance floor. They certainly seemed to have hit it off together. David paired off with Charlotte, and after giving himself a good talking to Andrew plucked up the courage to ask Poppy. He started to apologize for his lack of dancing skill, and she cut him short. ‘Andrew, will you stop making apologies for your dancing? And why are you so shy around me? I’m not going to eat you. Why are you so different from your sister, who I get on fine with?’

‘I thought you had made it quite clear you didn’t wish to know me. Ever since that unfortunate accident, when you flatly refused to let me help, you have made it obvious I am not your favourite person. Several times I’ve met you in Castle Street and tried to strike up a conversation, and you have refused to even stop and talk to me. I’m not a shy person normally, Poppy, my job wouldn’t allow me to be. But I can’t
get through to you. Even a simple invitation to my office for a cup of tea was turned down. So can you expect me to be anything but shy with you?’

‘I fully intend to come to your office for a cup of tea. I promised I would and I don’t break a promise. But you know I’ve been taking lessons in shorthand for nearly three months, and swotting at home for a few hours every day. Then to top everything, as I told you last Friday, I’ve packed my job in.’

‘Yes, I remember. What is happening now?’

‘Well, I leave on Friday, then I start job hunting.’ Poppy didn’t want him to think she was feeling sorry for herself, so she put some enthusiasm in her voice. ‘I finished the shorthand course with flying colours, and received a very glowing reference. I am now qualified to apply for a position as a secretary, but I’ll be lucky to find someone willing to employ a secretary without any experience.’

Andrew was holding her hand to his chest now, and was wishing the dance would go on for ever, he felt so contented. ‘Every secretary had to start at the position you’re in now, and they all found jobs. And seeing as we are speaking to each other in a friendly way, would you object to a compliment?’

Poppy chuckled. ‘There’s not a girl breathing who would object to a compliment.’

‘Then may I say you look very beautiful tonight. The dress really suits you.’

‘Thank you, Andrew, your compliment is very welcome.’ Poppy looked up and saw a look in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. She was lost for words, and was glad when the dance came to an end. They were walking off the floor, Andrew with his arm round her waist, when he asked, ‘Can we call a truce now, and be friends?’

Oh, dear, Poppy thought, I must be going soppy all of a sudden. ‘Okay, truce called, and we are friends.’

Charlotte came to join them, pulling David behind her. ‘I haven’t had a chance to talk to you, Poppy, because your brother insists on dancing every dance with me.’

David’s jaw dropped. ‘Aren’t you getting your facts mixed up, you little devil? I’m quite worn out, and will be glad when the interval comes.’

‘He has no stamina, your brother. He tires very easily.’ Charlotte, as always, was smiling and looking very happy. She was really enjoying her newfound freedom. ‘You look very nice tonight, Poppy. That is a lovely dress.’