Starlight (33 page)

‘It's me for retirement,' Fred declared. ‘Mebbe do odd jobs when I feel like it, eh?'

‘And I've worked in a nice place too long,' Edie whispered, wiping her eyes. ‘There are no picture houses like this one, I might retire, too.'

‘How about you, Jess?' Joan asked Jess. ‘You got anything in mind?'

‘Nothing at all,' Jess answered flatly. ‘I can't even think about it.'

‘You'll find something good!' someone shouted, and other voices agreed.

‘Somebody'll snap you up, Jess!'

‘Who would that be?' She laughed briefly. ‘Edie, shall we serve the tea now? There's tea and coffee in the staffroom, everyone, if you'd like to make your way there.'

‘And coconut biscuits!' Edie cried, brightening. ‘Used my own points to get them.'

‘Never find anyone else like you, Edie,' Jess told her. ‘And isn't it time those biscuits came off the ration?

‘Thanks very much for coming, everyone. And I wish you all good luck for the future.'

‘Too late to wish the Princes good luck,' Ben said, drinking his coffee. ‘Ah, what a world we live in, don't we? Everything good seems to go to the wall.'

‘Aye, and all those folk in the future buying their undies at Keys and Keys will never know what they're missing,' Renie said with a crooked little grin. ‘But what are you going to do now, Ben? Look for something here?'

‘Dunno,' he answered, his brown-black eyes fixed on Jess, who was advancing with the teapot. ‘I wouldn't mind Glasgow, to tell you the truth. I'm footloose and fancy free now, you know. Or will be, one day.'

‘Shame we're not, eh, Jess?' Renie laughed. ‘Only joking, of course.'

‘Of course,' Ben said, still looking at Jess, but her thoughts were far away.

Sixty-One

‘It's a disgrace!' Addie cried, when given the news of what was going to happen to the Princes. ‘It's a scandal! To pull down that lovely place just for another shop. Whatever were the owners thinking of?'

‘The money, Ma,' Marguerite told her. ‘What else?'

She turned her eyes to Jess, who had thought by now, a couple of days later, that she'd be feeling better, but was in fact feeling worse. Only now was the reality of the situation beginning to sink in. The Princes to go, her job to go, perhaps her marriage, too, in spite of Rusty's occasional sympathetic moments.

At least people who knew the Princes felt as she did. Poor George Hawthorne, of course. He'd been so upset over the news, Daisy said it had almost set him back. As though they needed another department store! Mind you, Keys and Keys, she'd heard, did have some very nice things, but to say that they were replacing the Princes, well, George would never get over it.

‘You will find something else?' he'd asked Jess anxiously. ‘Mustn't let your talents go to waste, you know. There's that nice art deco place in Leith – you could try there. Not quite the same as the Princes, but might suit?'

‘Nothing is the same as the Princes,' she had declared. ‘I'm no' sure yet what I want to do.'

‘What about Ben?' Marguerite was asking quietly. ‘What's he going to do?'

‘He'll have to hope someone wants a projectionist. He did once mention retraining as a television engineer, but I don't think he was serious.'

‘And Rusty?' asked Addie. ‘Is he going to stick with projection work?'

‘I don't know about Rusty,' Jess answered, after a pause. ‘We haven't discussed the future.'

Her mother and sister studied her for a moment, saying nothing, but thinking a lot, Jess knew. She picked up her jacket and bag, and said she'd better get back to the cinema – had only looked in to give her mother the bad news.

‘And I'd better get back to my flat,' Marguerite said, rising. ‘I've got Guy coming round with his sister for a little supper.'

‘You should've said,' her mother exclaimed. ‘I could've rustled up something nice.'

Marguerite shook her head. ‘Got to show what I can do, Ma, thanks all the same. Especially as Rowena's coming. She's an expert on everything.'

‘Lucky you to be moving into that family,' Addie said acidly. ‘That's if you ever do.'

‘Oh, I'll move in, all right,' Marguerite retorted. ‘I'll get my divorce one of these days.'

Addie, shaking her head dolefully, put her hand on Jess's arm.

‘You tell that fellow in Glasgow you want a good job out of him, it's the least he can do. Did you say you were going over tomorrow?'

‘Yes, tomorrow, but I don't want a job out of Mr Syme.' Jess kissed her mother's cheek. ‘Don't know what I want yet. Look, I'll let you know how things go.'

‘Aye, keep in touch. Both of you, eh?'

She'd no need to worry about that, the sisters told her, as they gave her a last hug, and left the flat for the tram stop.

‘When you see Ben, tell him I'm sorry,' Marguerite murmured to Jess. ‘About his job.'

‘You think he'd want to hear that from you?'

‘Of course. I still care about what happens to him, you know. In fact, I feel pretty bad about this latest blow. I mean, losing his job as well as me.'

‘I think he'll survive, Marguerite.'

‘Well, I just wish there was something I could do.'

‘I'm afraid there's nothing you can do.'

As her tram came thundering up and halted, Jess climbed aboard.

‘For any of us!' she shouted. And was borne away.

Sixty-Two

The meeting with John Syme was exactly the ordeal Jess had feared. He was very pleasant, very assiduous in seeing that she was comfortable in his office, had coffee, everything she wanted, but had no idea at all of how painful she was finding the details of the demise of the Princes.

Of course, he didn't tell her how much the department store would be paying for the cinema, only that the deal would be finalized by the autumn and that work would probably begin on the demolition by early next year. When the building of the new store would begin was not yet clear, as the owners were considering various plans, but it would certainly incorporate all the latest designs and be, as John said again, with a smile, a wonderful asset to Princes Street.

‘And what about us?' Jess asked coldly. ‘The staff? When do we get our cards?'

‘Oh, not before Christmas, Jess. No need to worry about that. We hope that everyone will stay in post until then.'

‘To make it easier for you, you mean?' Jess drew her brows together. ‘I really don't think you can expect people to stay on if they see some job they want to try for.'

‘Perhaps not, but as I explained, there will be a good chance of placing them elsewhere in our organization.' John's smile was still pleasant, but his eyes were steely. ‘It would therefore be in their interest to stay on, I think you'll agree.'

Jess looked down at the notebook on her knee, deciding she needn't explain that several members of his staff had already decided not to work for him again. As for herself, she hoped he wouldn't offer her anything, but he was already passing her details of an assistant manager's job at the Citadel, a cinema on the outskirts of Glasgow, which might become vacant later in the year.

‘You should really consider this,' he urged. ‘Even as an interim thing. It's bigger than the Princes, there'd be plenty for you to do – maybe better experience.'

‘It's kind of you, John, to tell me about it, but I'm no' interested in travelling to Glasgow.'

‘Jess, you may not have the choice.'

‘Who knows what my choices will be?' she asked, rising. ‘I've no plans to move before the Princes closes, though, if that's any consolation to you.'

‘I'd be very grateful,' he said hastily, walking with her to the door. ‘Now, can I offer you tea before your train?'

‘No, thanks, I'd like to be on my way.'

The stood, exchanging glances, then John put out his hand, which after a moment she shook.

‘I'm truly sorry about the way things have worked out,' he murmured. ‘But you do understand why we had to make our decision, don't you?'

‘Oh, yes, I understand.'

‘Change is a part of life, you know. Nothing stays the same.'

‘I know that‘s true.'

‘We'll need to meet again, of course, but I'll be in touch. Thanks for coming in today.'

‘Thanks for all your information. Goodbye, John.'

‘Goodbye for now, Jess.'

After doing a little window-shopping, to take her mind off her troubles, Jess arrived at the station to find the Edinburgh train already at the platform and already full. She should have remembered, it was the first of the commuter trains; should have dispensed with the shopping and taken something earlier. Oh, well! It was all on a par with her dismal day, wasn't it? At least there was a corridor with a rail where she could stand.

‘Jess!' called a tall, dark-haired man already leaning there.

‘Ben!' she cried. And immediately felt her spirits lift. What a bit of luck, to find Ben on the train! Company all the way home, even if they had to stand, and from the smile on his face, he was as pleased to see her as she to see him. But, then, he seemed happy, anyway.

‘What have you been doing in Glasgow?' she asked, as the train started and they stood swaying together, hanging on to the brass window rail. ‘And looking so smart!'

‘Wearing this jacket?' He laughed. ‘Happens to be pre-war, like most of my clothes. But that's good, if you think I look smart. I've been to an interview.'

‘Ben, you never said! Where?'

‘I told Rusty, had to ask him to do my shifts. Should have checked with you this morning if it was OK, but you'd disappeared.'

‘To see John Syme.' Her face darkened a little. ‘Oh, it was so awful, Ben, so sad. But you know you needn't get my OK to swap shifts with Rusty. He never told me, anyway. So, where was this interview?'

‘At the New Emperor. Head Projectionist is the job, and it's a big concern, Jess. I'm really keen.'

‘The New Emperor? Is that anywhere near the Citadel?'

‘Hell, no, that's way out in the sticks. No, the New Emperor's bang in the middle of town. Very big, very up to date, and willing to spend a bomb on doing what it takes to make it very, very different from television.'

As she met his shining eyes, Jess was surprised by his enthusiasm, for he was the downbeat man, not one to show too much feeling. Except, of course, when he'd been in love with Marguerite.

‘I can see you were impressed,' she said slowly. ‘But what exactly do they want to do?'

‘Well, you know there's talk of wider screens coming one day? They'll not be here for some time, but eventually they'll show the sort of spectacle TV just won't be able to match. What the Emperor is doing is salting away funds to be able to adapt the cinema as soon as the new screens come. And in the meantime, spending money on better equipment, better seats, better facilities, everything to make the cinema more attractive. I just wish you could have seen the projection room, Jess. Was I impressed? I'll say!'

He grasped her hand. ‘I tell you, this is the future we're looking at and I want in! Don't you?'

‘You know what I want,' she said shortly.

‘Yes, and I understand, of course I do. I mean, I love the Princes as much as anyone. But if I have to move on, well, the Emperor's where I want to go.'

‘Have you been offered the job, then?'

He gave a rueful grin. ‘Not so far. There were several candidates – well, there would be, of course, for a job like that. And the money's good – more than I'm getting.'

‘So, they'll be letting you know?'

‘Yes.' He released her hand and shrugged. ‘In the lap of the gods, as they say. Oh, I don't suppose I have a snowball's chance in hell, but at least I've seen what I want and know what to look for.'

‘If you got it, I was going to say we'd miss you,' she said in a low voice. ‘But, of course, we'll all of us soon be gone ourselves, won't we?'

‘How long have we got? Did Symes say?'

‘Till Christmas. Demolition will probably start in the New Year.'

Quietly, he drew her towards him and held her for a moment. ‘Ah, Jess, I'm sorry. It's such a bolt from the blue, eh? None of us could ever have expected it.'

‘I suppose I'll get used to it, eventually.'

‘Listen . . .' As she left his arms, he caught at her hand again. ‘How about you and me having something to eat when we arrive? I'm getting a wee bit tired of my culinary efforts.'

‘I was thinking of going back to the Princes.'

‘No need to do that. They can manage without you, and they won't know what time you got back from Glasgow, anyway. Come on, cheer me up.'

‘You're cheered up, already,' she said with a smile. ‘I'm the one who needs cheering up.'

‘And I'm the man to do it. I know a place where they might just have something good on the menu.'

‘You weren't thinking of the cinema cafe?'

His eyes sharpened. ‘Why, are you?'

‘Just thought it'd be handy.'

‘You really want folk to see us together?'

Her eyes widened. ‘You're thinking about Rusty? He won't mind if we have a meal. You are my brother-in-law.'

‘For now.' He pressed her hand. ‘Ah, come on, Jess, let's push the boat out! In case I don't have anything to celebrate, eh?

She laughed and for a moment lost the saddened look that had clung to her of late. ‘All right, Ben, let's go to this place you've found. It's a long time since I've been out anywhere, to be honest.'

Sixty-Three

Ben's restaurant was as good as he'd promised, even offering steaks with sauces Jess hadn't seen in years, and Scottish desserts with cream.

‘Is this meal really in the price limit we used to have?' Jess whispered. ‘Or have they scrapped that five bob rule?'