A Family Christmas (18 page)

When Jane came home from the dance one Saturday Lucy and John were already in bed. Jane knew how important it was to give the couple privacy, but she couldn’t wait to tell her sister the news. She listened outside the bedroom door but all was silent. She tapped gently on the door and waited.

Lucy wondered if something was wrong. ‘Hello.’

‘Lucy, it’s only me. Can I tell you something?’

Lucy hopped out of bed and opened the door. ‘Is something wrong?’

‘No, oh no. I haven’t interrupted anything, have I?’ Jane blushed.

‘No, no.’ The sisters came downstairs and Jane poured tea into two cups. ‘I’m getting married, Lucy. We’ve got a house.’

‘Oh Jane, where? That’s wonderful.’

‘The school house. Well, there’s a caretaking job to go with it but I don’t mind that. When I leave the mill I can do that instead, and James will help me with anything heavy. Oh Lucy, it’s a lovely little house and I shall be able to carry on with the work even if we start a family.’

‘Jane, that’s ideal. Besides, you like cleaning; you always preferred it to cooking.’

Jane wrinkled her nose. ‘Oh the cooking, I shan’t like that.’

Lucy hugged her sister and grinned, ‘It comes with marriage I’m afraid. So when will the wedding be?’

‘As soon as it can be arranged. Oh, isn’t it good of Reverend Goodman to let us have the house and the job? Oh Lucy, I love that school. I shall keep it spotless.’ She frowned. ‘Whoever did the cleaning before never cleaned the cloakroom properly. The sinks were always slimy and brown. Oh, I can’t wait.’

‘Hold on, we’ve a wedding to arrange first.’

‘You won’t mind if we don’t have a fancy wedding, will you? We just want the family, nothing posh.’

Lucy couldn’t believe how Jane had changed; she’d always been the one to go on about wedding dresses and bridesmaids. ‘But you always wanted a large wedding.’

‘Not now. I just want James. He’s all that matters to me. We’d much rather spend the money on the house.’

‘Right, but you are having a white dress; you’re the prettiest of the four of us and I can’t wait to see you in your finery.’

‘All right. I’ll have our Nellie and Dot for bridesmaids. After all, it looks as though Robbie and Dot are serious and she may well end up as our sister-in-law one day. But that’s all, just a family tea. We’ll ask our Nellie for some advice on the catering. James says we can have it in the school room.’

‘You shall have a lovely tea and our Mary’ll make your dress.’

‘Our Nellie may well be married herself by then; she’s spending a lot of time with Tom Johnson. I bet she won’t have to worry about paying for her wedding.’ Jane smiled. ‘I wouldn’t swap James for him though.’

‘Jane, if you’re short of cash there’s the money in the bank.’

‘No, that’s our Will’s. You have your share if you like but I don’t want any of it. We shall manage. After all, unlike in the mill, I shall have a job for life as a caretaker. How many women can say that?’

‘And I shall soon have a job for life too,’ Lucy
smiled
. ‘I’m having a baby. You’re not to tell anybody else yet though.’

Jane threw her arms round her sister, her eyes filling with tears. ‘Oh Lucy, can you remember when we were little girls and we used to wish for something nice to happen and it never did? Well now all the nice things are happening at once.’

Lucy turned to the mirror over the fire and saw their reflections: two sisters who had been through the dark times and were now coming out into the light. ‘It’s the mirror, Jane. It’s a wishing mirror, you see.’

The next day being Sunday, Nellie brought Tom on a visit to see her sisters. When the car turned the corner onto Top Row children seemed to come from all directions to admire the vehicle. Tom sat in the driving seat, fascinated. ‘Where’ve they all come from?’ he enquired of Nellie. ‘I feel like the pied piper.’

‘They all live here,’ Nellie laughed. ‘On the four rows.’

‘All of them?’

‘Oh I should imagine there’d have been a few more had it not been Sunday. Some of them’ll be out for a walk with parents or at Sunday school.’ By this time some of the men had come out to examine the car and Mrs Slater had come out to scrutinise Nellie’s young man. Mrs Slater wasn’t interested in the car, or the fact that the young man was obviously well
off
. It was his character she was bothered about. Nellie ran towards her mother’s friend. ‘Mrs Slater, I’d like you to meet my friend Tom Johnson.’

‘Ow do yer do.’ Mrs Slater shook him by the hand.

‘How do you do, Mrs Slater. I know you’ve been a good friend to Nellie’s family. It’s lovely to meet you.’

Mrs Slater liked a man with a firm handshake and she wasn’t disappointed. ‘I were only repaying Nellie’s mam for the help she gave me when times were hard.’

‘Well it’s good to help each other.’

‘Gi’ us a ride mester.’ A little boy with his jumper on back to front tugged at Tom’s trousers.

‘Not now love, go and play,’ Nellie told him kindly. ‘They’ll be queuing up all afternoon if you encourage them,’ she laughed.

Tom felt in his pocket and brought out a sixpence. He bent down and whispered in the boy’s ear, ‘Will you keep my car safe for sixpence?’

‘Sixpence?’ the lad’s eyes widened. ‘I sure will, mester.’ He sat himself down with his back resting on the bonnet. ‘Nobody’ll touch it or I’ll bash ’em.’ Tom followed Nellie, laughing, into the house.

‘Oh, Nellie, thank goodness you’ve come.’ Jane couldn’t wait to tell her sister the news. ‘Will you be my bridesmaid?’

‘Well I will if you insist, only I’d really like to buy something I can wear later. It’s just that I’m saving up for a wedding dress myself.’

‘Oh Nellie, that’s wonderful! I told you, Lucy: good things are happening to all of us. So shall I ask Kitty? To be my bridesmaid, I mean.’

‘Only if you don’t mind,’ Nellie replied.

‘I don’t mind. I just want to marry James. Nothing else matters. So when is your wedding to be?’

‘As soon as she’ll have me,’ Tom said. ‘And as soon as we find a house.’

‘Oh, Nellie, we shan’t see you once you move to Blackpool.’

Nellie felt a sadness pass over her but Tom said, ‘Of course you will. We can come over any time Nellie likes. Besides, you can come and stay with us. You’ll always be welcome.’

John looked questioningly at Lucy and Lucy nodded. ‘Actually, Lucy and me have some news too. Lucy’s having a baby.’ He placed an arm protectively round his wife.

Nellie kissed her sister, her eyes filling with tears. ‘Oh Lucy, that’s wonderful, but just when I’m thinking of going away! Oh Tom, I’m going to be an auntie.’

‘It’s all right, I’ll spoil it for you,’ Jane said. ‘Oh I wish our Mary was here. We could celebrate then.’

William came in at that moment. ‘Shall I fetch ’er? It’ll be quicker if Tom gives me a lift.’

Tom laughed at Will’s hint for a ride. ‘Come on then. You’re right, it will be quicker but you’ll have to show me the way.’

Will was out of the door like a shot, asking Tom
questions
about the car. ‘How many miles does it do to the gallon? How fast can it go on the flat?’ Tom answered as best he could and Will told him about Mr Brown’s truck. He was disappointed when they reached Mary’s and had to change the subject. ‘Our Nellie says you’ve to come cos we’re celebrating.’

Jacob asked Tom the same questions he had already answered on Will’s behalf but he didn’t mind. Just like Jacob, he was heartened to be included in Nellie’s family. He almost wished he was moving to Millington and becoming part of the Top Row community. However his livelihood was in Blackpool and, God willing, he might have children one day who would join him in the motor business. He followed his passengers into the house and took his place at the table as Lucy poured the tea. At home they would have toasted any celebration with sherry or port wine, but there was one thing for sure; it wouldn’t have tasted anywhere near as good as this cup of tea in the company of the Gabbitas family.

Tom parked as usual in the seclusion of the lane alongside the dam. It was unusually cold for October and the windows were opaque with steam. He drew Nellie into his arms, the need for her almost unbearable. ‘I can’t keep leaving you like this, Nellie.’ He kissed her hungrily then drew away. ‘We need to talk about the future, not keep putting things off.’

‘I know. It’s just that it’ll be such a wrench, leaving my family and the manor, and Mrs Cooper,’ she added.

‘Yes I know, but I want you with me. Don’t I count?’

‘Of course you do. You’re right. As soon as we find a house we’ll be married.’

‘Really?’

‘Really. I love you, Tom and I want to be married and be with you. I suppose it’s Mrs Cooper I regret leaving the most. She’s been like a mother to me. In fact she’s been kinder to me than my own mother was for years. The trouble is I don’t think she’ll be kept on at the manor for much longer.’

‘Well, I’m sorry for Mrs Cooper, but she really isn’t your responsibility, Nellie.’

‘I know, but while I’m there I can take some of her burden. But you’re absolutely right. Let’s go house hunting as soon as I get a day off.’

‘Actually I think I’ve found a house you might like.’

‘Oh Tom, where?’

‘Well, you wanted to be in the thick of things and you can’t get much more central than in a small square just behind the station.’

‘Oh, I can’t wait to see it. Though I don’t know what your parents will think. After all, we haven’t known each other for very long.’

‘Who cares?’

‘I do. I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.’

‘We won’t. My parents love you, they told me so.’

‘Tell me about the house.’ Nellie blushed with pleasure at Tom’s words.

‘Another time. I’ve other things on my mind right now.’

‘Hmm.’ Nellie was back in his arms and conversation forgotten.

In Blackpool, Margaret Johnson took off her scarf and removed her gardening gloves. She had been busy all day, trimming old branches from the shrubs and raspberry canes. ‘There.’ She flopped down on a kitchen chair. ‘I think that will be the last of the gardening for this year.’

‘I’ll make a bonfire tomorrow with the rubbish.’ Henry made two cups of cocoa and they sat companionably as darkness slowly gathered. He switched on the light and drew the pretty pink chintz curtains, adding a cosiness to the well-equipped room.

‘Do you think there’ll have been any developments in Yorkshire this weekend?’ Margaret asked.

‘Developments? Of what nature?’

‘Oh, don’t tell me you’re not waiting for news too.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Henry’s eyes sparkled. ‘Unless you’re thinking wedding bells at last.’

‘What do you mean, at last? She’s the first girl he’s brought home who’s been suitable. I just hope he doesn’t leave her alone all those miles away for too long, or someone else might find her.’

Henry laughed. ‘Perhaps he daren’t become too serious about the girl in case you frighten her away like you did the last one.’

‘Oh, Henry, you surely didn’t want our son to marry that silly scatterbrain of a girl.’

‘No, I didn’t, and I don’t think Tom had any intention of marrying her anyway. But you shouldn’t have interfered all the same.’

Margaret blushed. ‘I know, but I did it for the best. I’m sure Tom must realise that now.’

‘Well we’ll see, but you can’t blame him if he doesn’t include us in his plans this time.’

‘Oh, Henry, I do hope he marries Nellie. She’s exactly right for Tom.’

‘What, a miner’s daughter who cooks for a living?’

‘Yes, she’s all I ever wanted. She may be a working girl but she’s had a good upbringing, I can tell. Tom could take that girl anywhere and she’d do him proud.’

‘Well, just don’t interfere this time. Let him tell us in his own good time. That’s if there’s anything to tell. After all, it’s early days, and we’ve only met the girl a couple of times.’

‘Ah, but look how much time he’s spending travelling to Millington and back. What time do you think he’ll be home?’

‘Not until we’re both fast asleep in our beds.’

‘Oh, surely we can wait up and see if there are any further developments.’

‘There you go again, interfering. Curiosity killed the cat. He’ll let us know in his own time if he decides to marry the girl. Now I’m going to my bed with that very good book I’m reading. Coming?’

‘I suppose so.’ Margaret went to the window and lifted the curtain but there was no sign of the car. She sighed and followed her husband up the stairs. Henry was right as usual; she was an interfering busybody. She would curb it this time though – she had no desire to frighten Nellie away. She smiled to herself, proud of the fact that she had played a part in keeping her son free for the likes of Nellie Gabbitas.

Prudence Goodman was all sugary sweetness and light. ‘Your shoes are covered in sawdust, Robert. Take them off and I’ll clean them for you.’ Before he could refuse she had knelt down and was undoing the laces of his shoes. He could see down the bodice of her dress, of which she had left the buttons undone again. Robbie didn’t know why she bothered – there was hardly anything to see and what there was didn’t interest him. He wondered what it was about the girl that made his skin crawl. Fortunately he needn’t spend much time in her company, what with his work, and time spent at the farm. Robbie’s savings were gradually accumulating in the bank. He wished he was older so that he could marry Dot Greenwood, but of course they
were
too young and must wait until they could afford a home of their own.

The news that his brother James was to leave the vicarage as well as John had filled Robbie with dread. Although he was treated as a son by Louisa and Herbert, Prudence’s thoughts towards him were definitely not those of a sister and he felt uneasy at the thought of being without the protection of James. It was only when Prudence caught him alone that her feelings came to the fore. In the company of her parents she would humiliate him by treating him as an inferior being. A common, working-class woodworker was how she once described him. Of course Herbert had retaliated by saying that Jesus Christ was the son of a carpenter, but she had just stuck her nose in the air and looked at Robbie in that disdainful way she had. Robbie did his best to ignore her but it led to an uncomfortable atmosphere from which he couldn’t wait to escape. Secretly, Robbie thought Prudence was slightly unstable and seemed to be getting worse.