Swansea Girls (45 page)

‘I’ve been told to ask you to stand somewhere less conspicuous when you pick me up in future, as the sight of a labourer offends the sensibilities of the refined Thomas and Butler staff, but I’ve decided to hell with Thomas and Butler, and their job.’

‘You’re leaving?’ he asked warily.

‘I’m not going back there to be told where my boyfriend can and can’t stand.’

‘You’ve been sacked?’

‘Threatened with it in two weeks if I don’t change my ways. It’s a foregone conclusion.’

‘So what do you do now?’

‘We’re getting married ...’

‘Not for a week or two and you’ll still work ...’

‘How can I? I’ll have the flat to look after. What difference does it make if I stop work now or a couple of weeks from now?’

‘I’d say at least twenty quid if you carry on until you start showing. And that will buy a lot of nappies.’

‘My father has all the nappies we need in his warehouse.’

‘I won’t have you running to him for every little thing after we’re married, Helen.’

‘You
won’t! And who are you to tell me what I can ask my own father for, Jack Clay?’

‘Your soon-to-be-husband.’

‘Talk to me like that again and you won’t be anything of the sort.’

‘If we’re going to make it on our own ...’

‘Why should we struggle when my father can help us?’

‘Because you’ll be my wife and that makes you my responsibility, not your father’s. Didn’t you hear what he said to us last night? We made the mess, it’s up to us to sort it out.’

‘And I thought you’d care enough about me to want me to stay home and rest until the baby’s born.’

‘Rest where, Helen? Your father wants to put a proper kitchen and bathroom into the basement. Even if everything goes to plan that’s going to take weeks and you’d be better off spending your days in a clean office until it’s finished.’

‘You don’t expect us to move in until it’s ready, do you?’

‘Where else?’

‘When my father has all those rooms ...’

‘Your father’s rooms, not ours.’

‘And in the meantime, you expect me to work.’

‘For pity’s sake, you’re pregnant, not incapacitated.’

‘You want me to make an exhibition of myself ...’

‘What exhibition? You won’t be showing for a couple of months, and in the meantime we can do with all the money we can lay our hands on to furnish the flat and buy the things we’ll need for the baby.’

‘My God, I can’t believe I’m hearing this!’

‘It’s not as if I’m suggesting you go down a coal mine, Helen. And it is only for the next couple of months. I wouldn’t expect you to carry on working when the baby’s born.’

‘That’s big of you.’ Turning, she stalked off up the hill.

‘Helen ... Helen ...’ He ran after her. ‘What’s got into you?’ he panted as he caught up with her.

‘You, Jack Clay. Expecting me to work in my condition.’

‘Your father was right, he has spoiled you.’

‘How dare you ...’

‘I dare because it’s the truth. And if we’re going to make a go of it ...’

‘Forget it, Jack. I wouldn’t marry you now if you were the last man on earth.’

‘So you’re going to run back to Daddy, is that it?’

‘It’s none of your business where I go.’

‘Go ahead, then,’ he taunted as she began to walk away. ‘But you can’t ignore what’s coming, and when you see sense I’ll be waiting.’

‘You’ll wait a long time if you expect me to come back to you after what you’ve just said, Jack Clay,’ she called over her shoulder.

‘And what have I said that’s so dreadful? That I expect you to pull your weight when we’re married?’

‘When I’m pregnant,’ she corrected.

‘For God’s sake, Helen, you can’t afford to be childish now we’ve a baby to consider.’

‘I’ve just told you. You have nothing to consider, Jack Clay. And if you think I’ll marry you or let you have anything to do with the baby after what you’ve just said, you have another think coming.’ Keeping her back firmly turned to him, she quickened her pace.

Chapter Twenty-four

‘Helen, Joe, anyone in?’ John walked from the deserted lounge through the dining room into the kitchen.

Helen was sitting alone on the window seat, apparently reading a novel. He might have been more convinced if it hadn’t been upside down.

‘You’re late, Dad.’

‘A few problems with deliveries,’ he hedged evasively, making a note to watch his timekeeping until she married Jack. ‘Joe not in?’

‘Playing engagement parties with Lily.’

‘Talking of which, have you and Jack fixed a date for your wedding? I think it will have to be Register Office ...’

‘I’m not marrying Jack.’

‘Oh?’ He lifted the lid on a pot of stew that Mrs Jones had left on the stove. It didn’t look as though it had been touched. Setting a match to the gas beneath it, he opened the cupboard and lifted down two soup bowls. ‘I take it you haven’t eaten.’

‘No.’

‘Shall we sit in here or the dining room?’

‘Wherever you like,’ she snapped in a brittle tone.

‘In that case let’s make it here.’ Laying the bowls on the table, he opened the cutlery drawer.

‘Aren’t you going to ask what happened?’

‘No.’

‘Don’t you care?’

‘Of course I care, Helen, I just assumed you had made other plans for yourself and the baby.’

‘No.’

‘I see.’ He stirred the stew with a wooden spoon before reaching for the bread bin.

‘Jack expects me to work until the baby is born.’

‘Until the day before it’s born?’

‘Until I begin to show.’

‘He’s probably thinking of the money. You could do with all you can get.’

‘That’s what he said.’

‘He’s right.’

‘You won’t help us?’

‘I’m helping you by employing Jack and converting the basement.’

‘I see.’ Tight-lipped, she left the seat.

‘You can’t run away from this one, Helen.’

‘So I have to marry Jack no matter what. Is that what you’re saying?’

‘No. You have other choices.’

‘An unmarried mothers’ home and adoption,’ she scoffed.

‘That’s one.’

‘You’d see your own grandchild put up for adoption?’

‘He or she might get a more mature mother that way.’ He was aware that she’d been about to slam the door. He’d even braced himself for the bang.

But instead she continued to stand and look at him. ‘I’m behaving like a spoiled brat, aren’t I?’

‘You said it, not me, love. Think about what you want. If you’re not sure marrying Jack is the right thing to do, then don’t. There’s nothing quite so heartbreaking or messy as divorce, especially when there’s a baby involved.’

Joy Hunt walked past Roy’s front door twice, before plucking up enough courage to ring the bell.

‘Mrs Hunt, how nice of you to call. Please come in.’ Lily ushered her through the hall into the parlour where she and Joe were sitting.

‘I came to see if I could help with the buffet on Saturday night,’ Joy prevaricated.

‘Thank you, but I think we have everything under control.’

‘Mrs Hunt, I thought I heard your voice.’ Roy stood in the doorway in his uniform.

‘Constable Williams.’ Joy knotted and unknotted the handkerchief she was holding.

‘I was just off to the station. Can I walk you home?’

‘Yes, thank you,’ she stammered.

Joe winked at Lily as Joy left the room. ‘There’s something going on there.’

‘Sh.’ Lily waited until the front door closed behind them. ‘It’s been going on for years. Auntie Norah said she’d given up waiting for an announcement. But perhaps now we’re getting married and Judy’s going off to London they’ll finally get together.’

‘Must be catching.’

‘What?’ she asked, snuggling closer to him.

‘Love.’ He smiled, kissing her.

‘Is Jack in?’

‘Yes.’ Brian eyed Helen suspiciously as she stepped into their basement kitchen.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your tea,’ she apologised as she saw Martin and Jack sitting at the table.

‘We’ve reached the Battenberg cake stage, so why don’t you join us?’ Brian pulled the chair alongside his, out from under the table.

‘No ... I ... only came to apologise to Jack.’

‘Sit down, Helen.’

To Martin’s amazement she obeyed Jack’s command.

‘Apologise for what?’ Martin asked, watching his brother.

‘Jack and I had a stupid row earlier,’ Helen divulged recklessly.

‘Over what?’

‘Wedding plans.’ Leaning back on his chair, Jack picked up a couple of clean side plates from the dresser. ‘Pass the cake, Brian.’

‘Wedding ... Jack, you bloody idiot. I warned you not to get mixed up with this one ...’

‘That’s your future sister-in-law you’re talking about.’ Cutting two slices of cake, Jack eased them on to plates and handed Helen one.

‘You’re pregnant?’ Martin asked Helen bluntly.

‘Yes.’

‘I have things to do in my bedroom.’

‘There’s no need to go on our account, Brian. Tea, everyone?’ Jack left the table and cleared his and Brian’s sandwich plates into the sink.

‘Where are you going to live and, more to the point, what are you going to live on?’ Martin demanded.

‘We’re going to live in our basement. My father’s doing it up for us and he’s given Jack a job in his warehouse.’

‘Your father knows.’

Helen nodded. ‘Jack told him last night.’

‘You told Mr Griffiths that you’d ...’

‘Made Helen pregnant. Yes.’

Brian glanced from Martin to Jack and Helen in the silence that followed. ‘In that case, all that’s left to be said, is congratulations.’ Brian shook Jack’s hand, then kissed Helen’s cheek. ‘I hope you’ll both be very happy.’

‘Martin?’ Jack looked to his brother.

‘You’ll have your work cut out keeping this one in order.’ Following Brian’s example, he kissed Helen’s cheek.

‘I think it’s more likely to be the other way round,’ she said seriously, giving Jack a small smile.

‘I telephoned Bill last night. He’s happy to furnish all the evidence of adultery I’ll need for a divorce and as we’ve been living apart for so long there shouldn’t be any problems. Of course it will take time.’

‘Of course.’

‘But if you want to get rid of Mrs Lannon I could move in as your housekeeper ...’

‘No, Joy. Let’s do this thing properly. We’ll start living together when you’ve my ring on your finger and not before. But’ – he glanced up and down Verandah Street – ‘if you’ve got your keys on you, we could finalise the details in the shop bedroom.’

‘You’re due at the station.’

He checked his watch. ‘Not for another two hours, I’m not.’

‘What a lovely old Edwardian house, Lily.’ Angela looked around the hall as she handed Helen her coat.

‘Thank you, it’s been in my guardian’s family for three generations. Helen, this is Angela Watkin Morgan. Angela, this is Joe’s sister Helen.’

‘How do you do.’ Angela kissed Helen’s cheek. ‘My friend and my brother Robin’s, Emily.’

‘That’s the car parked.’ Robin strode through the door. ‘Hello, beautiful.’ Following Angela’s example, he kissed Lily’s cheek. ‘And – I remember you.’ He had the grace to remain silent as he looked at Helen and remembered exactly where he’d seen her last and the state she’d been in.

‘My fiancé, Jack Clay.’

Robin pumped Jack’s hand up and down. ‘Joe told me his sister was getting married, you lucky fellow.’

‘There’s food and drink in the dining room.’ Lily indicated the way.

‘Thank you, where’s the second lucky man?’ Robin asked.

‘Pouring beer last time I saw him.’ Lily stepped forward to greet Adam as he walked in. After what had happened between him and Katie she hadn’t been certain that he’d turn up.

‘Judging by the noise, or lack of it, they seem an orderly bunch,’ John commented as Roy took the tops off two bottles of beer and handed one over.

‘Let’s hope they remain that way. Lily only agreed I could stay until Joe gives her the ring on condition I keep the door between this room and the dining room closed.’

‘Roy.’ Joy knocked on the door. ‘I brought the fruit punch and pasties Judy volunteered to make.’

‘And didn’t,’ Roy suggested, as he let her in.

‘I think she was a bit over-ambitious offering. Between work and her final examinations she didn’t have time.’

‘I hear she did very well.’

‘Top of her year in college.’ Joy made a conscious effort not to sound as though she was boasting.

‘That’s what I always say about the children in this street,’ Doris Jordan sang out from the sink where she was already washing glasses, ‘they all seem to be going as high as they can go.’

‘They seem to be doing well,’ Mrs Lannon concurred.

‘Yes, well, Roy.’ Joy glanced at the others and hesitated awkwardly. ‘Just thought I’d show my face and pass my good wishes on to the happy couple.’

‘Joe will be giving Lily the ring in a half hour or so. Why don’t you have a sherry and stay and watch? After that, John and I are going down the pub to hide.’

‘And the girls will have banished me and Mrs Lannon to my house,’ Doris chipped in. ‘You can join us if you like.’

‘Thank you but ...’ Joy tried to think of an excuse.

‘They insist they can cope, but I’m not so sure,’ Mrs Lannon pronounced, tight-lipped and evidently disapproving. ‘You know what girls are these days, too flighty by half to keep an eye on where the forks, plates and spoons go after people have finished eating.’

‘They can’t be too flighty. Lily and Helen will be married women before too long.’ John topped up his beer glass.

‘I only wish one of them was marrying my Adam. I thought him and that little Katie ...’ Doris turned round as someone hammered on the front door.

‘Who can that be, banging on the door like that? They’ll have the glass out of it,’ Mrs Lannon said tactlessly. Embarrassed lest she’d inadvertently stirred up traumatic memories of Ernie breaking down the door, she began to heap the glasses she’d dried on to a tray.

‘Don’t worry.’ Roy lined up the sherries he’d poured on the wooden draining board. ‘One of the boys will see to it and give them a good ticking off.’

Brian heard the knocking as he walked from the dining room into the parlour. Dumping his plate of food on Adam who was hovering close to Katie, he walked down the passage into the hall and opened the door.

‘Roy Williams live here?’

He stared in disbelief at the woman in front of him. He had patrolled Swansea long enough to recognise one of the prostitutes.

‘Gawped enough?’ Flicking back her tightly permed, improbably dyed red hair, she stepped towards him, widening a split in her tight skirt that revealed fist-sized holes in her fishnet stockings and a puckered expanse of grubby thigh.

‘Constable Williams is busy.’ Brian blocked her path.

‘Not too busy to see an old friend.’ She tried to push past him.

‘This is his niece’s engagement party.’ Brian half closed the door on her.

‘That’s why I’ve come, to congratulate the happy couple.’ Grabbing the lapel of Brian’s suit, she breathed gin and pep fumes into his face.

‘This is not the time ...’

‘I’m a close friend of the family, very close.’ She stamped her foot against the doorpost, preventing him from closing the door. ‘He’ll be glad to see me.’

‘And I think he’d prefer to see you later,’ Brian persisted, aware of whispering and movement behind him.

‘If you want “later”, boy, we can work something out.’ She grinned, exposing a row of crooked yellow teeth.

‘Please ...’

‘You want a taste now, I can give it.’ She lurched forward, making a grab for his crotch. He retreated, just as she’d expected him to, giving her the opening she’d been waiting for.

‘Can’t you come back tomorrow?’ he appealed as she finally succeeded in pushing past him.

‘No, I can’t. I warned Roy and that sister of his that I wanted my daughter back the minute she started earning and he wouldn’t listen. Norah was different, God rest her soul. She saw sense because she realised what a mother’s entitled to. I’m here to make sure I get my rights.’

‘Look ...’

‘Out of my way.’ She thrust him aside with a surprisingly strong hand. ‘I’ve stood here freezing my fanny long enough. Roy?’ she shouted. ‘Roy, where the hell are you?’

Roy’s face darkened as he stepped out of the kitchen into the passage. ‘What are you doing here, Mary?’

Brian had never seen Roy so angry, or heard his voice quite so cold.

‘What do you think? Looking after number one because no other bugger will.’

‘Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow. I’ll meet you wherever you want.’

‘Don’t want me dirtying up your nice, clean, respectable house, is that it? Well, tough, I’m here and I’m staying until you agree to pay me what I’m owed.’

‘I don’t owe you anything.’

‘Me and Norah had an agreement, thirty bob a week on the nail to cover my rent until my girl got married, then a hundred pounds pay-off. It’s no more than I’m entitled to, seeing as how you and her robbed me of my only child.’

‘Norah paid you!’ Roy stared at the woman in horror.

‘Like I said, thirty bob a week on the nail.’ Her voice rose to a screech and Brian realised she’d not only been drinking but was drunk. ‘I’m not daft, Roy, I know what my girl’s been earning in that bank. That was my money by right, not yours. But I’m not greedy, just want my rights. The hundred pay-off Norah promised.’

‘Uncle Roy.’

Lily was standing in the dining-room doorway next to Joe and half a dozen curious guests.

‘This is her, isn’t it?’

Roy stared helplessly, apparently rooted to the spot. Taking Roy’s silence as assent, Mary approached Lily. ‘You haven’t half grown up nice. I haven’t seen you in years, not to talk to. Snotty Roy and Norah thought you’d be better off not knowing your old mam. But I’m here now. Well, come on, ducks, give us a kiss.’

The silence that closed in on the hall buzzed, red-tinged, ringing hollowly in Lily’s ears.

John Griffiths was the first to react. Taking Mary by the shoulder, he muttered, ‘If it’s money you want you’d better come with me.’

‘It’s you again. Small world, innit ...’

‘You want paying – out.’ As John frogmarched the woman through the door, Lily looked at Joe. He met her gaze, hesitated, then, clearly embarrassed, averted his eyes. Even as he did so he sensed he was making the worst mistake of his life but he simply couldn’t help himself.