The Woolworths Girls (15 page)

To Sarah’s utmost embarrassment, Alan went down on one knee in front of her. All around her she could hear people sighing. Sarah just wanted to dig a big hole and hide in it. Whatever would Mr Benfield say about this?

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small, square box. Taking a ring from the box, he held it out to her. ‘Miss Sarah Caselton, will you do me the honour of taking my hand in marriage? I may not have much to offer you, but I swear to love you my whole life through and never give you cause to question me.’

‘I’d be worried already if a man surprised me in Woolies like that,’ someone shouted from the back of the crowd.

‘Ignore them – say yes,’ Maisie urged from nearby.

‘Yes, yes, yes!’ Freda exclaimed.

Sarah closed her eyes. Was this really happening? It had been a strange day and she hadn’t slept properly since the weekend. Perhaps it was a dream? She opened her eyes. Alan was still there, waiting for an answer. It wasn’t a dream after all.

‘Oh, Alan, of course I’ll marry you.’

As the crowd cheered, Alan took Sarah in his arms and swung her round before kissing her tenderly. A cough from Mr Benfield made the happy couple step apart.

‘Sorry, Mr Benfield. I don’t know what came over me. I knew that if I didn’t propose to Sarah there and then, I’d lose the confidence to ask her.’

‘Don’t you be so sure, Alan. Her friends would have encouraged you,’ Maisie called out to much laughter from the customers.

Mr Benfield stepped to the front of the cheering crowd. ‘Well, well. I’m not sure quite what the protocol is when a man proposes to his young lady in an F. W. Woolworth store. However, being a forward-thinking company, I’m sure I can speak for the owners when I wish our employees the very best for the future. Also, as our saucepan counter played such a big part in this auspicious occasion, I shall make sure that the happy couple are presented with a full set with the compliments of their employers.’

‘Blimey,’ Maisie called out. ‘It’s a shame Woolies doesn’t have a diamond counter!’

11

‘Happy, darling?’

Sarah snuggled up to Alan as he put his arm around her. Even though it was only mid-afternoon, the sun was hiding behind a few grey clouds and there was a chill in the air as they left Woolworths and headed towards Alexandra Road. ‘I couldn’t be happier if I tried. I want to pinch myself to check I’m not dreaming.’

‘If you’re dreaming, then so am I. I must say it was pretty good of old Benfield to let us off work this afternoon, don’t you think?’

‘He’s a sweetheart. How many other bosses would put up with what happened in the store today, then give us both the rest of the afternoon off?’

‘Don’t forget the set of saucepans.’

Sarah giggled. ‘I’ll never forget the saucepans. It’s been an unusual day.’

‘I should hope so. How often does a man propose to his girl?’

‘I didn’t mean that, silly. I was thinking about Miss Billington. It’s her we have to thank for bringing us together. Did you know that she was almost married but her intended was killed in the war? She told me that she would never marry another man and would always respect his memory. That is true love . . . Would you?’

‘Would I what? Marry Bossy Billington?’

‘No, marry someone else if anything happened to me.’

‘But we’re not married yet, you silly thing. Speaking of which, when do you want to get married?’

Sarah stopped and turned to Alan. ‘Do you know what I’d really like?’

‘Another kiss?’ Alan said, pulling her into his arms.

Sarah pushed him away but held on to his hand. ‘Not here in the street. People will talk. I meant when I’d like to get married.’

‘Tomorrow wouldn’t be soon enough for me,’ Alan said as he steered her across the busy road towards number thirteen.

‘Me neither,’ Sarah sighed as they reached the gate, ‘but we have to be practical. Weddings need to be planned. What I’d really love is to be married on my twenty-first birthday.’

Alan frowned. ‘I don’t believe I’ve ever asked you when your birthday is. I hope it’s soon.’

‘It’s 3 September and she will be twenty-one, so until then you’d best not make any plans until you’ve spoken to her father, young man.’

Sarah was startled and turned to see Ruby on her knees scrubbing the doorstep. ‘I didn’t see you down there, Nan. Do you want a hand?’

Ruby rose to her feet, holding on to the wide concrete ledge of the bay window for support. ‘I’m all done. I think the pair of you have someone else you should be speaking to. Don’t you?’

‘Nan?’

‘Your dad’s indoors. Don’t forget there are ways of doing things, Alan. I gather from what I overheard that the two of you are making plans. I’m pleased for you both, but you should have spoken to Sarah’s dad first. You’d best do it now before he hears it from someone else in the street. They’ve only got to look at the pair of you to guess what’s happening. Now, you get yourself in there and ask for Sarah’s hand, and when I’ve shaken this doormat out, I’ll go fetch the sherry.’

Alan turned pale but headed for the front door. Sarah went to follow.

‘You stay here, my girl. That talk is for men only. You can help me wipe down the window ledge. I curse those pigeons. Why men want to keep them in the backyard I’ll never know. It just makes more work for us women.’

George puffed on his pipe thoughtfully. ‘You’ve placed me in a bit of a quandary, Alan.’

Alan ran his finger round his collar. He felt as though he was being choked, and the room felt extremely warm for March. ‘I’m sorry, sir. I love Sarah and I wouldn’t do a thing to harm her.’

‘I’m sure you wouldn’t, son, but we have another problem.’

‘Sir?’

George tapped his pipe into the ashtray on the arm of his chair. ‘Sarah’s mother is the problem.’

Alan frowned. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘It may be customary for the man to ask his girlfriend’s father for her hand in marriage, but in reality it is the mother who has the final say. Mrs Caselton, as you know, is in Devon. She would be most hurt to know that such an important decision in her only child’s life was being discussed without her.’ George knew his life would be unbearable if Irene was not in control of the situation.

Alan breathed a sigh of relief. At least George had not sent him packing with a flea in his ear. He’d heard talk of Sarah’s mother always wanting the best for her family. Would she want him, a shop boy from Erith, as a son-in-law?

George cleared his throat. ‘I think it’s time to call Sarah and her nan in. They’ve been polishing that window for the past ten minutes. If it’s not clean by now, it’ll never be,’ he smiled as he beckoned to Ruby through the heavy net curtain.

Ruby stuck her head round the front parlour door. ‘Do I fetch the sherry?’

‘In a minute, Mum. Come in and sit yourself down. You too, Sarah.’

Sarah walked in behind Ruby. She glanced from Alan to her dad, but wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. What had been said to make Dad look so serious? She sat on the edge of the sofa next to Alan. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Ruby took one of the hard upright chairs and fiddled with the polishing cloth she still held in her hand. She had a feeling she knew what George was about to say.

George looked at Alan and how tenderly he held Sarah’s hand. He knew that this man would care for his daughter long after he and his wife weren’t around.

Ruby nodded, encouraging George to speak. ‘Come on, son, spit it out.’

‘I’m pleased, very pleased that Alan feels he wants to marry our Sarah.’

‘Oh, Dad, don’t make it sound like you never thought I’d have a husband,’ Sarah exclaimed.

Alan shushed Sarah. ‘Let your dad speak, love.’

‘As I was saying, I’m pleased that Alan wants to marry Sarah. I’m grateful that he came to ask for her hand in marriage. There’s nothing wrong in doing things the right way. However, we have to consider your mother, Sarah.’ He held up his hand for silence as Sarah tried to interrupt him. ‘Sarah, one day you will be a mother. How would you feel if your own daughter became engaged to be married and you were hundreds of miles away and couldn’t contribute to the discussion? So, I’ve made a decision.’

Sarah chewed her lip and waited for George to have his say. Please don’t let him say no.

‘I’ve decided that we should keep your engagement a secret until you have visited your mother and made your request to us both. Do you think you can manage that? I’d hate your mother to feel left out.’

‘That seems fair to me,’ Ruby nodded. ‘You don’t want to leave your mum out of things, do you? Why not go down on Sunday, see your mum for a few hours and get back here in the evening? We can have a little party here next week and tell your friends at the same time.’

Sarah and Alan looked at each other. ‘That does sound like a good idea, Mrs Caselton, but there’s one problem,’ Alan said.

Sarah continued. ‘It’s just that when Alan proposed to me, a few people overheard. So it’s not quite our little secret.’

‘I’m sure a few people won’t make any difference to your mum knowing. After all, you do have friends in Erith,’ George said.

Ruby frowned as she looked at Alan and Sarah’s serious faces. ‘How many people, exactly?’

Sarah looked down in embarrassment. ‘All the staff in Woolies and the customers. Alan stood on the saucepan counter and did it.’

George and Ruby burst out laughing.

‘Oh my, I’ve never heard anything like it,’ Ruby gasped as she wiped her eyes on the cloth she’d been using to clean the window ledge, leaving a large black smudge on her cheek.

‘Oh, Nan, you look as though someone’s given you a right old shiner.’

Ruby stood to look at her face in the large mirror placed over the fireplace. The more she rubbed her eye, the blacker it became. ‘I’ll go wash my face and get the sherry. I’m sure everything’ll come out in the wash. You two aren’t to worry. We’ll sort it out.’

‘Irene, Irene, where are you? Come and see who I’ve brought home with me.’ George hung his coat on the carved wooden coat stand, placing his suitcase neatly against the wall. He ushered a nervous Sarah and Alan through to the lounge.

Sarah felt as though she was visiting a stranger’s house. It didn’t feel like the home she had left only months ago. ‘Give me your coat, Alan. You’ll not feel the benefit when you go out otherwise.’ She clapped her hand to her mouth. ‘Goodness, I’m turning into my nan. I’ve never said anything like that before. It just shows how nervous I am.’

Alan brushed her cheek with his finger. ‘You’re probably tired as well. Leaving home when it was still dark has made it a long day.’

‘It’s only just midday and I’m ready for my bed. I don’t know how you can make this journey every other week, Dad.’

George had already made himself comfortable in his armchair and was pulling out his pipe. ‘The difference is, love, that I’ve never arrived and departed on the same day. It’s such a shame you couldn’t get time off to stay for a few days. It’s a fair train journey down to Devon from home.’

It’s not just me who thinks of Erith as home, then, and Dad’s been living here since I was a kid, Sarah thought.

‘Hello, darling. What a lovely surprise.’ Irene Caselton kissed Sarah lightly on the cheek, taking care not to smudge her perfectly made-up face. Sarah hugged her mum back, although Irene stood still, not returning the embrace. She spotted Alan and frowned slightly. ‘Who do we have here?’

Alan stood up and shook hands with his future mother-in-law. ‘Good afternoon, Mrs Caselton.’

Before he could speak further, George took control of the conversation. ‘Sit yourself down for a few minutes, Rene. We have some news for you.’

Irene almost flinched as George used the shortened version of her name, but did as she was told, a questioning look on her face. ‘I wish I’d known you were visiting, as I have an afternoon committee meeting I just can’t miss. Can this keep until later?’

‘No, dear, it can’t. Sarah has to get back to Erith, as does Alan.’

‘Why the rushed visit? It’s the first I’ve seen of you since you left to live with your grandmother.’ She suddenly put a hand to her mouth in shock. ‘My goodness, you’re not . . . ?’

Sarah opened her mouth to reply. How dare she think she was expecting a child? Did her mum not even trust her own daughter?

Again, George took control. ‘Don’t jump to conclusions, Rene. Young Alan here has been courting our Sarah for a while now. With the future so uncertain, they are determined to marry, but they want to do it properly. They’ve come to ask us both to give them our blessing. It made sense, what with their work commitments, to travel down with me. They intend to catch the five-o’clock train back.’

The frown on Irene’s brow deepened. ‘Sarah’s far too young.’ She waved her hand in Alan’s direction. ‘We know nothing about this young man.’

Sarah wanted to speak out and protect the man she loved. Her mum was reacting just as she had feared.

George tapped his pipe carefully into the ashtray. ‘Now, now, Rene. Let’s keep calm, shall we? Sarah will be celebrating her twenty-first birthday in September; she’ll be able to make up her own mind about her life. Aren’t you pleased that both she and Alan want our approval?’