Try a Little Tenderness (21 page)

Mary lifted the two cups of tea and nodded towards the door. ‘Go on, and I’ll bring these through. And I think I’ve just got two custard creams left.’

‘Ay, this is the life, isn’t it, girl? Ladies of leisure.’ Amy picked up her cup by the handle as though it was delicate porcelain, and stuck her little finger out. ‘This is how the posh people hold their cups, girl, did yer know?’

‘I’ll have to take your word for it, sunshine, ’cos I haven’t got any posh friends.’

‘Neither have I, girl, but yer know, it’s funny how I seem to know how they behave. I think hundreds of years ago my ancestors must have been very rich because I’ve always felt I was destined for a better life than this.’ Amy’s chubby fingers were having difficulty holding the handle of the cup so she reverted to curling her hands around it. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d been of the nobility.’

‘Somebody must have squandered all the money, sunshine, for you to end up in a two-up two-down terrace house in a cobbled street in Kirkdale.’

‘I know, girl. Someone’s got a lot to answer for, dragging me down from riches to rags. One of me great-great uncles must have been a bugger for wine, women and song, and spent me bleedin’ inheritance enjoying himself.’

The two women looked at each other across the table and burst out laughing. ‘Ye’re two sheets to the wind, Amy Hanley, but if thinking these things keeps yer happy, then you just carry on,’ Mary said. ‘But can we forget yer fancies for now, and see what we can do to repair the damage yer’ve caused?’

‘What damage, girl? I haven’t done no damage.’

‘I’m talking about Annie Baxter.’

‘Annie Baxter! I didn’t do her no damage, I didn’t lay a finger on her.’

‘Amy, will yer be serious for once? I know most people will take what she says with a pinch of salt, but there’s some bad-minded folk around here who’d believe her because they want to.’

‘Believe what, girl?’

Mary blew out her breath in frustration. ‘What yer told her about yer wanting your John to make yer a grandmother by the time he’s eighteen.’

‘Is that what the cow is saying? Well, she’s a bleedin’ liar, and if I get me hands on her I’ll break her scrawny neck.’

‘But yer told me yer did say it.’

‘Yeah, well, I told you ’cos ye’re me mate. But I haven’t told no one else. And if anyone mentions it, I’ll say she’s a bleedin’ liar and I’ll have her up for slander.’

‘I give up on yer, I really do. Just don’t get me involved, that’s all. And don’t yer dare mention it to your John, either. You might think it’s funny but I don’t think he’d appreciate being the butt of one of yer jokes. He’s a nice lad and I wouldn’t want to see him embarrassed or upset. He’d be frightened of showing his face in the street.’

Amy’s face was dead serious. ‘Yeah, well, it stands to sense he would be, if it was true.’

Mary stared, unblinking, for several seconds. Then she said, ‘It’s like leading a lamb to the slaughter, isn’t it? Proper muggins, I am. But how was I to know that even you, with all the tricks yer get up to, would make up such a tale?’

‘I didn’t make it all up, girl.’ Amy looked really put out. ‘Annie Baxter did stop me, and she did say what I told yer. I only made up the bit about what I said to her to give yer a laugh. But ye’re not laughing, are yer, girl?’

‘I’ll make up me mind when yer tell me what yer really did say to her. And can we have the truth, this time, please?’

‘Oh, yeah!’

‘Go on, then.’

‘Go on what, girl?’

‘So help me, Amy, I’ll flatten yer in a minute. What did yer say to Annie Baxter?’

‘I’ve just told yer!’ Amy was red in the face. ‘“Oh, yeah,” that’s what I said to the nosy bleedin’ cow. Yer didn’t think I was going to be all matey and hold a conversation with the woman, did yer? I can’t stand the sight of her, she gets on me wick.’

‘Well, before I split me sides laughing, can I just ask yer never to say anything like that in front of my girls? Or your kids for that matter.’

Amy’s cheeks moved upwards and there was a glint of devilment in her eyes. ‘Now, as if I would do that, girl.’

Jenny was bursting with excitement as she ran into the kitchen waving a paper bag. ‘Mam, wait until yer see me dress, it’s out of this world.’

Mary turned the gas low under the frying pan. ‘Keep away from here, sunshine, the fat’s spurting out all over the place. Let’s go in the living room, otherwise yer dress will be ruined before yer’ve even had it on.’

‘I knew as soon as I set eyes on it that it was the one I wanted.’ The words poured out as Jenny took the dress from the bag. ‘I didn’t look at any other, I really fell for this one.’

‘Oh, sweetheart, what a beautiful colour.’ Mary’s heart filled with love and pride as her daughter held the dress in front of her, her eyes bright with happiness. In a shade of mauve, the dress had three-quarter sleeves, a plain round neck, was shaped to the hips then fell in soft folds. ‘It’ll go lovely with yer blonde hair.’

‘I’m dead chuffed with meself, Mam, honest. The women in work were pulling me leg because I’ve had a smile on me face all afternoon.’

‘That beats having a face on yer like a wet week, sunshine.’ Mary smiled, delighted to see her daughter so happy. ‘Yer did well, it’s a lovely dress.’

‘I can’t wait to show it to Janet.’ Jenny folded the dress carefully and put it back in the bag. ‘I asked the woman who served me if they’d still have some on Saturday when we go into town, and she said it was more than likely.’

Laura stood in the hall listening. She’d come through the door Jenny had left open in her haste to show off her dress, and heard every word. Her top lip curled as, under her breath, she mimicked her mother’s voice. ‘Oh, sweetheart, what a beautiful colour. It’ll go lovely with yer blonde hair.’ They’d make you sick, fussing over a five and eleven dress. To listen to them talk, anyone would think she’d gone to Lewis’s and paid a fortune for it.

Afraid that her father might come in and catch her, Laura pushed the living-room door open and walked through as though she’d just come in. ‘Yer want to be careful in future, leaving that front door wide open. Anyone could walk in.’

‘I must have forgot, I was in such a hurry.’ Jenny smiled at her sister. ‘D’yer want to see me new dress, Laura?’

As Jenny bent her head to open the bag, Mary caught the expression on Laura’s face and felt a cold hand cup her heart. She’d always known her eldest daughter held no affection for her sister, but what she saw in the brown eyes that were staring at Jenny’s bent head frightened her. She doesn’t like her, Mary thought. Her own sister and she doesn’t even like her.

‘Don’t bother getting it out,’ Laura said, ‘I’ll see it when yer’ve got it on.’ She ignored the hurt in Jenny’s eyes and turned to her mother. ‘Will the dinner be long, Mam? I promised to go down to Cynthia’s early.’

‘I’ll put it out when yer dad gets in, and not before.’ Mary felt like taking her by the shoulders and giving her a good shake. Why did she always put a damper on things
when someone was happy? ‘We eat together, not in dribs and drabs.’

Laura tossed her head. ‘Well, I hope he puts a move on.’

‘Whether he puts a move on or not, we wait for him.’ Mary went into the kitchen and vented her sadness, anger and frustration on the pan lid. She’d bent over backwards with Laura to form the same loving bond there was between her and Jenny. Her youngest daughter always showed her love with spontaneous hugs and kisses, both to her and Stan. But Laura didn’t welcome, or give, hugs and kisses. She didn’t join in the light-hearted conversations that went on around the table when they were having their meals, and when she did smile there was no warmth in it.

Mary heard Stan’s voice and reached up to take four plates from the shelf. And as she spooned mashed potato on to the plates, her mind went back to when Laura was a child. She’d been less than eighteen months old when Jenny was born, and although Mary had her hands full she’d always tried to share her time between the two children so Laura wouldn’t think her nose was being pushed out. Stan made a great fuss of her for the same reason, but his overindulgence was a source of worry and caused arguments between man and wife. Still, lots of children were spoilt by doting parents, but they didn’t grow up to be surly, impudent and lacking in humour.

Stan came up behind her and put his arms around her waist. ‘All right, love?’

She took a deep breath. There was no point in passing her anxiety on to Stan; it wouldn’t solve anything and would only worry him needlessly. So when she twisted her head, there was a smile on her face. ‘Everything’s under control, sunshine.’

He tightened his hold, pulling her closer. Kissing her neck, he murmured, ‘When I hold yer like this, I’m not in control.’

Mary slapped his hands which were laced together across
her waist. ‘Give over, soft lad.’ Her eyes darted to the living-room door, afraid the girls might have heard. ‘There’s a time and place for everything, and this is neither.’ She relaxed a little, her body enjoying the nearness of him. She loved him as much now as she had the day she’d walked down the aisle on her father’s arm and Stan, standing in the front pew with his best man, had turned his head. His eyes had been full of admiration and love, and she recalled now how that look had chased away the butterflies in her tummy. So when she looked up at him, her eyes were bright and teasing as he nuzzled her neck. ‘But if you’ve got the time, big boy, I know the place.’

He nipped her ear gently before releasing her. ‘The girls have said they’re going out at half seven. After that I’m all yours.’

Cynthia put a finger to her lips before closing the door behind her. ‘Not a word until we’re out of earshot.’

Laura linked her arm and contained her curiosity until they turned the corner of the street. ‘Well, how did yer get on?’

‘What d’yer mean, how did I get on?’ Cynthia stared straight ahead. ‘I met Larry and we went for a drink.’

‘And after that, what did yer do?’

Cynthia shrugged her shoulders. ‘Went somewhere dark for a kiss and a cuddle.’

‘Oh, come off it, Cyn, yer got more than a kiss and a cuddle. He’s not going to spend money on yer just for that. Yer did promise to tell me all.’

‘Larry gave me a message for yer, from Jeff. He wants to see yer again. I’m meeting Larry on Friday night, and he’s asked me to bring yer along one night to make a foursome.’

Laura pulled her to a halt. ‘Not bloomin’ likely! I’m not seeing him again, he frightened the life out of me. If I ever set eyes on him I’ll run a mile.’

When Cynthia turned to her friend, there was a look of
scorn on her face. ‘Ye’re not half childish, Laura. Yer let young lads kiss yer, but when it comes to a grown man, yer run scared, like a little rabbit.’

‘That Jeff was after more than a kiss, and you know it. And that goes for his mate, Larry. Yer can’t tell me he didn’t try anything.’

‘He didn’t do anything I didn’t want him to do, and that’s all I’m telling yer. I’m still here, aren’t I, and still in one piece. And if I didn’t like it, well, I wouldn’t be seeing him again. He’s a real man, not like the kids we’ve been knocking around with.’

‘Ay, yer didn’t tell him where we lived, did yer?’

Cynthia shook her head. ‘No, me dad would have a fit if he turned up on the doorstep. But I’m not stopping seeing him, I don’t care what anyone says. And if you had any sense, yer’d come with us and make up a foursome, with Jeff. Start living, kid, instead of messing around with kids. Honest, yer don’t know what ye’re missing.’

Laura was torn. If she didn’t go, she risked losing the only friend she had. But she didn’t like the idea of being down a dark entry with Jeff. ‘I’m not saying I’ll come, like, but if I did, would we stay together? Not split up like we did last time?’

Cynthia turned her head so Laura didn’t see the gloating in her eyes. She knew she’d be able to talk her friend round. Like she’d told Larry, Laura wouldn’t want to miss out on anything. ‘No, we won’t split up.’

Still Laura wasn’t convinced. ‘I will come, but not for a week or two. I’ll see how you get on first, and if ye’re still seeing Larry in two weeks I’ll come with yer. But I’ll bet yer any money he’s married with a few kids. He’s too old to be single.’

‘So what? I don’t care if he’s got dozens of kids, as long as I’m enjoying meself. From now on that’s going to be my motto in life. Get as much out of it as I can and to hell with everyone.’

‘Yeah, I agree with yer,’ Laura said. ‘That’ll be my motto, too. So yer can tell Larry to pass the message on to his friend. I’ll come with yer one night the week after next, as long as we all stick together.’

‘Sixteen tomorrow, eh, Laura?’ Stan smiled across the breakfast table. ‘Ye’re a young lady now.’

‘Does that mean I can stay out later?’ Laura spread the jam liberally on her toast. ‘I’d like to go to second-house pictures, or go dancing, and yer can’t do either when yer eyes are on the clock all the time.’

Mary came through from the kitchen with a fresh pot of tea. ‘Me and yer dad have talked about this, and yer can stay out until eleven as long as yer tell us where ye’re going.’

‘Yeah, I’ll do that.’ Laura wagged her shoulders from side to side, looking very pleased with herself. ‘That’s the gear, that is.’

‘Would yer rather we bought yer a present, or gave yer the money?’ Mary sat down next to Stan, facing her daughters. ‘It’s up to you.’

‘Ooh, I’ll have the money, please.’ Laura’s green eyes were shining. ‘How much?’

‘Half-a-crown off me, half-a-crown off yer dad, and a shilling off Jenny. That’s six bob, so yer should be able to buy yerself something nice.’

‘Yer could try T.J. Hughes, Laura,’ Jenny said, ‘they might have some of those dresses left from the sale.’

Laura didn’t bother turning her head to look at her sister. ‘I’m going to save up for a winter coat. The one I’ve got is all right to go to work in, but I’d be ashamed to go anywhere nice in it. Cynthia’s got a new one, and I look like a tramp next to her.’

Mary had seen Cynthia’s mother at the shops yesterday, and if anyone looked like a tramp it was that poor woman. The coat she had on looked as though it had been a dark green at one time, but it was faded with age and frayed at the cuffs and pockets. While Cynthia was forever getting new clothes, her mother always looked shabby and down-at-heel. And she never spoke to a soul, not even to pass the time of day. Most of the neighbours had given up on her and never bothered to let on, but Mary felt sorry for her and never passed her without a nod or a smile of acknowledgement. However now wasn’t the time to voice her thoughts on Cynthia’s hard-done-by mother. She’d gone out of her way to be nice to Laura over the last week or so, and she didn’t want to spoil things by criticising her friend and chance a row developing. ‘That’s a very sensible idea, sunshine, because the winter is setting in now.’