Sunlight on the Mersey (34 page)

As Charlie alighted from the tram and headed towards Cedar Grove he was thankful that the snow was rapidly melting. It had made life very difficult for everyone. Tom had struggled
to get to and from the market and Iris had forbidden Kate to go over the doorstep in case she slipped; he hadn’t been able to get to see Florence for a few days as the trams had virtually stopped running.

He was feeling very disgruntled for Florence had succumbed to Ethel’s hints about the house they had and was now wondering if they should keep on looking. Well, he’d had enough. He intended to enlist Edward’s help in putting a stop to this dithering. He’d paid a deposit to secure the house and he didn’t intend to lose it.

When Florence had first told him – months ago now – that her mother intended that the business be sold and that they move away from Liverpool he’d been very upset. Getting rid of the business certainly hadn’t been any part of his plan but thankfully Florence had caused such a fuss that Ethel had postponed everything, at least until after the wedding. Charlie frowned: that was something else that was getting completely out of hand. Well, he’d let her have her way over that – he wasn’t paying for it – but he was going to put his foot down over the house, he thought as he knocked on the door.

Thankfully Florence was distracted about something else that appeared to have gone wrong and after giving him a quick kiss had ushered him straight into Edward’s study and hastened back to her discussions with Ethel. Edward was at his desk, his shirt sleeves rolled up and a pile of papers in front of him.

‘I take it the trams are getting back to normal now,’ Edward greeted him.

‘Yes, the snow has virtually gone. It’s been nothing but a damned nuisance. I thought that bloke you took on was supposed to sort all those out?’ Charlie indicated the cluttered desk.

‘He is but like a lot of people he couldn’t get to work. It’s the coldest weather we’ve had this winter, my customers wanted and needed coal and my lorries have been stuck in the yard because the roads were so treacherous. Two of the drivers managed to make it in but then couldn’t work because of the conditions,’ Edward replied. He looked harassed.

‘Things should get back to normal in the morning. Do you want me to sort that lot out for you?’ Charlie offered.

‘No, Charlie, you’ve already done a day’s work and it’s what I employ Mellor for, except that he’ll be short of a couple of days’ pay this week.’

Charlie nodded his agreement. ‘You’ve got more than enough on your plate as it is, but . . .’ He hesitated.

‘But what?’ Edward asked. ‘Not more fuss over this wedding?’

‘No, not that – for a change. It’s the house we’re going to rent.’

Edward sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair. Charlie was being very tolerant with both Florence and Ethel, he thought, which was more than he could say for himself. ‘I’ve heard the odd bit of conversation about it between Ethel and Florence. What’s the matter with it?’

‘Apparently it’s not in the
right
area. I hate to ask this but . . . I wonder if you could give me a bit of moral support
on this. It’s not a bad house, I doubt we’ll get anything better for the rent they’re asking and I’ve paid a deposit. The area seems reasonable enough to me, far better than some we’ve seen. It’s in Walton, in one of those streets opposite the hospital gates.’

Edward nodded his agreement. ‘I know them. It’s convenient for all the amenities and they’re quite substantially built houses. You know, we haven’t always lived in this house, in fact we started married life in a small terraced property and Florence can’t expect to—’ Suddenly he leaned forward, his features contorted with pain, fighting for breath.

‘Oh, my God! What’s wrong?’ Charlie cried, jumping to his feet. ‘Is it your heart? What can I do? Edward! Edward!’

Edward was clutching at his throat. ‘Pills . . . pills . . .’ he gasped.

‘Where? Where are they?’ Charlie cried, scattering the papers on the desk.

Edward tried to indicate a drawer and Charlie wrenched it open and rummaged around inside until he found the small round box. Charlie’s hands were shaking for it was obvious that the older man was in agony and struggling to breathe. ‘Damn! Damn!’ he cursed as he finally got the lid off. The box was empty. He threw it down, hesitated for a second and then ran into the hall and burst into the morning room.

‘Pills! His heart pills! The box is empty! For God’s sake, he can hardly breathe!’

Florence screamed and Ethel went white and jumped to her feet and uttered, ‘My bag!’ in a strangled voice.

She ran from the room in search of her handbag and Charlie and Florence both dashed back to the study. Edward was lying face down across the desk and Florence started to cry hysterically as Charlie tried to lift her father.

Ethel, looking as if she were about to faint, stumbled in clutching the small pill box tightly in her hand. ‘I . . . I picked them up today but I . . . I . . . forgot . . . ! Edward! Oh, Edward!’ she cried for Charlie was sadly shaking his head.

‘It’s too late. He’s gone,’ he said. He’d seen death often enough to know that pills would be of little use now. Edward Taylor had breathed his last and he felt a wave of sadness wash over him for he’d liked, respected and admired the man.

The trams had long since stopped running by the time Charlie was able to leave Cedar Grove. He’d called the doctor, who had arrived quickly and confirmed that Edward had died of a massive heart attack. He had assured Ethel that there was little anyone could have done, the pills would have been ineffective, and he’d administered a sedative to both Ethel and Florence. He’d then asked Charlie if he was able to manage the formalities. Charlie, although very shaken, had said he could and had contacted the funeral director’s. Florence and her mother were both asleep when they arrived; they agreed with Charlie that it would be best if they took Edward to the mortuary.

‘Much better if his wife . . . widow . . . and daughter see him tomorrow in the chapel of rest,’ Mr Coyne had said gravely.
‘Terrible shock for everyone. My deepest condolences,’ he’d added respectfully.

Tom was already up and preparing to leave for the market when Charlie finally arrived home for he’d had to walk – the first tram had passed him at the bottom of the street. Taking in his brother-in-law’s expression he knew something tragic had occurred. ‘Mr Taylor?’

‘He died in front of me, Tom. There was nothing I could do. It was his heart,’ Charlie said, collapsing into an armchair. It had been a gruelling day and one that had brought back memories of the shock of his father’s death and the horror of his experiences during the war. Dealing with it all had drained him.

Tom immediately poured him a small brandy. ‘Drink this. I’ll go and wake Iris and Kate. Florence and her mam, are they all right? I mean how . . . how are they coping?’

‘They’re both sleeping now, Tom. When the doctor came he gave them something. I’ll grab a few hours then I’ll go back. They’re going to need me now. We’re all going to have to manage . . . somehow,’ Charlie said, gulping down the liquid, which seemed to burn his throat. All thoughts of weddings, houses and businesses were far from his mind. He was just too exhausted now to think about anything.

K
ATE AND IRIS WERE
both deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Edward Taylor’s sudden death.

‘He was such a nice man! Oh, poor, poor Florence!’ Iris cried, shaking her head and wiping away a tear. She had grown fond of her friend’s father.

Kate nodded. ‘I feel very sorry for them both. I liked him, he was a decent man with no side to him. And even though that doctor said there was nothing anyone could have done Ethel will never forgive herself for forgetting to make sure those pills were close to hand when he needed them.’ She sighed sadly. ‘Even now I blame myself for insisting your da go to the bank that day.’

‘I hope Florence doesn’t start blaming herself because of all the fuss she’s been causing lately. I wonder will she postpone
the wedding now?’ Iris mused aloud.

‘It’s still almost two months away,’ Charlie reminded them wearily.

‘But Ethel might insist on the year of formal mourning – you know what she’s like. And it will have to be a much quieter affair too, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing,’ Kate added. ‘You’re taking on a lot of responsibilities, Charlie.’

Charlie nodded slowly. ‘I’m becoming aware of that, Mam. Ethel can’t run that business, she doesn’t have a clue and I doubt she’ll have either the interest or the heart to try. She’ll need someone to look after everything in the coming weeks and months too because she’s in no fit state to cope. Edward did everything for her.’

‘I’ll go back with you, Charlie. Tom will see to the shop and it’s the least I can do for poor Florence,’ Iris offered.

‘Thanks, Iris. I’ll have to close for the next couple of days. Things are not going to be easy for anyone,’ Charlie replied grimly.

‘Go and get a few hours’ sleep, lad, you look terrible,’ Kate urged, thinking that you never knew what fate had in store from one minute to the next. She felt heartily sorry for Ethel Taylor: she knew how it felt to be so suddenly bereaved.

After Charlie had gone upstairs Iris put the kettle on. ‘Mr Taylor’s death is going to affect us all in time, Mam,’ she said gravely.

Kate frowned. ‘In what way, luv? Charlie and Florence will get married eventually. It will of course be very hard for Florence to have to get through that day without her da and
they won’t be able to hold on to that rented property, but they’ll find somewhere else. You and Tom are managing well enough and I’m all right, as long as I’m careful and watch what I do.’

‘But if our Charlie is going to take over Mr Taylor’s business, which I’m sure he intends to do on a permanent basis, what will happen to the pawnbroker’s? He can’t be responsible for two businesses and Tom and I can’t manage both shops.’ Tom did most of the work now, she thought, leaving her free to look after her mother, but she did not remind Kate of that fact.

Kate looked perplexed. ‘I hadn’t thought of that and I don’t think Charlie has either – yet. No one can divide their time in that way, it’s a recipe for trouble. Eventually both businesses will start to suffer. Oh, if only I didn’t have this damned condition!’ she finished exasperatedly.

‘Well, you have, Mam, so it’s no use getting upset about it,’ Iris said flatly, although she understood Kate’s frustration.

‘But if I was well enough we could easily manage the two businesses between the three of us and leave Charlie free to see to Ethel and Florence. Your grandfather started that business and your da worked in it all his life, I’d hate to have to let it go.’

Iris nodded. ‘And I think that if they postpone the wedding, then when they do get married Charlie intends to move into Cedar Grove.’

Kate considered this. ‘Ethel might not be very happy with that arrangement, she’s never really had much time for
Charlie. It is a very big house, though, and she might find it lonely living there alone. She might decide eventually that she wants to sell the business. I presume it rightfully belongs to her now.’

Iris nodded, wondering if Charlie had thought of that.

‘And she may feel she doesn’t want to go on living in that house and look for something smaller. She was talking about moving out of Liverpool. These are all decisions she has to make but not for a good while yet, she’s in no frame of mind to think clearly. She’ll be dazed and confused; I know I was.’

Iris handed her mother a cup of tea. ‘I think I know what our Charlie will suggest when he does realise that he can’t be in two places at once. He’ll say that there’s no other option but to bring Rose home.’ Indeed the way things were looking it seemed the only possible solution to the problem but she knew her sister would be far from happy, even though she wouldn’t have to work in the greengrocer’s. Iris would do that, Tom would take over in Charlie’s shop and Rose could look after Mam.

Kate sighed heavily as she finished her tea. ‘We’ll have to let Rose know about Mr Taylor. I’ll get Charlie to telephone Gwen and ask her to tell Rose the sad news but I don’t think we should mention any of these . . . problems to her just yet. It’s very early days.’

Iris accompanied her brother when he returned to Cedar Grove later that morning. She was determined that beside trying to comfort her friend she would also think of the
practical things, like contacting relatives and preparing a meal and trying to get Florence and her mother to eat. Charlie was going to spend the night if Ethel had no objections for he felt that they shouldn’t be alone and would need someone to deal with any problems that might arise.

Both women were still very tearful and a little dazed and Charlie was very considerate with both his fiancée and her mother.

‘Charlie, I . . . I still can’t believe he . . . he’s . . . gone!’ Florence said as she clung to her fiancé.

‘I know, luv. It will be a while before it really sinks in. I speak from experience. But I’ll be here to help you through it all. You know you can always rely on me,’ he comforted her. He meant it for he had now realised that he did indeed love her. What had started out as ambition and affection had deepened into love and as he held her he vowed that he would always take care of both Florence and her mother. He owed it to the memory of a man he had come to feel great affection for as well as respect and admiration.