Try a Little Tenderness (38 page)

When Stan saw Laura make a dive towards Jenny, he banged his fist hard on the table and stopped her in her tracks. ‘I’ve warned yer once and I’ll not do it again. Any more of this and there’ll be no presents under that tree in the morning. And don’t make the mistake of thinking I don’t mean it, because I damn-well do.’

As the sisters moved in different directions, their emotions were poles apart. Laura was filled with anger as she bounded up the stairs. She’ll not get away with making fun of me, the little upstart. One of these days, she vowed, I’ll knock that smile off her face.

Jenny was angry, too, but the anger was directed at herself. She should have kept her mouth shut instead of letting Laura get to her. Now, between them, they’d spoilt the night for their parents. But for years she’d put up with her sister’s sarcastic remarks and taunts, and there had to
come a time when she gave back as good as she got. She wasn’t a child any more, nor was she worthless as Laura tried to make out. But she shouldn’t have made her stand tonight, in front of her parents. Her mam had had a trying day as it was, without her daughters adding to the pressure.

As Jenny hung a silver ball on the tree, she glanced over at her father, who was reading the
Echo
. He didn’t look relaxed, or at ease with himself, and Jenny knew she was partly responsible for putting that look on his face. And it wasn’t fair, he was a good father and didn’t deserve to be upset. The least she could do was try and make amends. She crossed to where he was sitting and knelt in front of him. ‘I’m sorry, Dad, I shouldn’t have taken off like that. It was childish of me.’

Stan lowered the paper and put out a hand to stroke the long blonde hair. ‘You had reason to, sweetheart. Laura would try the patience of a saint.’

‘I know, but I should be used to it now and ignore her. When I stand up to her, it makes matters ten times worse. So I’ll take anything she wants to throw at me, at least until after the Christmas holiday.’ Jenny scrambled to her feet and kissed his forehead. ‘I’ll go and say sorry to me mam, then get back to the tree. We can’t have Father Christmas coming down the chimney and the place not ready for him. He’d take all our presents back.’

When Mary answered the door to John, he came in rubbing his hands. ‘I’ve come with a message from me mam. Actually she gave me two messages, but I told her one was too cheeky, and I wouldn’t pass it on in case yer slapped me face.’

‘She’s not coming to Midnight Mass?’

‘Oh yeah, that’s one of the messages.’ John nodded to Stan and gave Jenny a wide smile. ‘Her and me dad have gone on, so she can take her time walking.’

‘She’s as stubborn as a mule, your mam,’ Mary laughed.
‘But I’m glad, because it wouldn’t have been the same without her.’

Jenny noticed John was shivering and she pointed to the fire. ‘Get a warm, John, yer look like a block of ice. How come yer got so cold coming from next door?’

‘I walked down to the bottom of the street with me mam, to make sure she was all right. Me and me dad took an arm each and half carried her. She’ll make it, because our Eddy took over from me, and our Edna’s with them, as well.’

Mary narrowed her eyes. ‘What was the other message, sunshine?’

John’s chuckle was loud. ‘Promise yer won’t hit me?’

‘I’ll try not to, sunshine, so spit it out.’

‘Me mam said will yer leave a decent fire going, and a full kettle on the hob so there’ll be a cup of hot tea for everyone when we get back from church.’

Mary’s mouth gaped. ‘Holy suffering ducks! That’s cheek for yer, even by yer mam’s standards. D’yer know there’ll be about twelve people? I don’t have enough cups for that many! Does she think I’ve got a ruddy cafe?’

John moved to stand beside Stan’s chair. ‘I’m keeping out of yer way while I pass on the rest of the message.’ With his whole body filled with laughter that was yet to come, he went on. ‘So help me, Mrs Nightingale, this is word for word. Me mam said if yer moaned about not having enough cups, I was to tell yer she’d lend yer some out of the goodness of her heart. Only ones with cracks and chips in, though, ’cos she knows how rough some of yer friends are and she’s not having none of her best china broke by no hoodlums.’

The room filled with laughter. Stan was beating his fists on the arm of his chair, Jenny’s arms were holding her tummy as she bent double, and Mary made no attempt to wipe the tears away. Even when she wasn’t here, her mate Amy had the knack of filling her heart with happiness. ‘She is one corker, your mam.’

‘She is that, Mrs Nightingale. The best mother anyone
could have, and that’s why we all love her to bits.’ John suddenly snapped his finger and thumb. ‘Oh, I almost forgot. She said something about custard creams.’

‘Are we all present and accounted for?’ Seamus asked as Mary banged the door behind her. ‘I hope ye’re all well wrapped up, ’cos it’s a night the divil himself wouldn’t venture out in.’

‘Amy went on early to give herself plenty of time to walk there slowly. But Jenny’s friend and her brother haven’t arrived yet.’

‘It’s no good hanging around waiting for them,’ Stan said. ‘They may have gone straight there with it being so bad underfoot.’

‘But I promised them,’ Jenny said, ‘and I’d feel mean if they came all the way around here and we’d gone without them.’

‘If we leave it any longer, sunshine, we’ll not get seats.’ Mary linked her arm through Stan’s. ‘I’m not going without yer, and it’s their own fault for not being here on time. So come on, grab hold of John and Mick so yer don’t slip.’

The boys had always liked Mary, but right now they thought she was wonderful. Taking up positions either side of Jenny, they bent their elbows. ‘Stick yer leg in, Jenny,’ John said, feeling very grown-up and protective. ‘We’ll make sure yer stay upright.’

‘Yeah.’ Mick felt a thrill run through his whole body as Jenny slipped her hand through his arm. This was a mighty step forward in his quest and he wanted to jump for joy. ‘Yer’ve got two escorts tonight and I hope yer know how lucky yer are. There’s not a girl in the neighbourhood who wouldn’t swap places with yer right this minute.’

John ground his teeth. He’s talking too much, he is. If he keeps that up I’ll never get a word in edgeways. ‘It’s true, Jenny, me and me mate are very much sought after by every beauty from here to Glaxton.’

Mick looked over Jenny’s head. ‘Where’s Glaxton when it’s out? I’ve never heard of the flippin’ place.’

‘Ah well, yer see, that just shows how far our reputation has spread. If yer’ve never heard of the place it must be hundreds of miles away.’

The grown-ups, walking ahead, were listening to the two lads with smiles on their faces. Now Seamus decided to add his twopennyworth. ‘If I’m not mistaken, John, I’ve seen the name Glaxton on the map. And if me memory isn’t playing tricks on me, it’s in South Africa.’

‘Oh well, that puts those girls out of the running, doesn’t it? I feel sorry for them, ’cos they’ll be really heartbroken. But, sadly for them, yer can’t get to South Africa on the twenty-two tram for tuppence.’

Mary turned her head. ‘Here’s Janet and her brother, Jenny.’

‘I’m sorry we’re late, Jenny,’ Janet said breathlessly, ‘but the clock was slow.’ She smiled at John. ‘Can I walk beside me mate?’

By silent, mutual consent, John and Mick put their hand over Jenny’s and held it tight. Oh no, this was their night, they’d put a lot of organisation into it. So neither Janet nor her big brother were going to spoil it. ‘Ah, not now, Janet,’ John said, returning her smile. ‘We’re just nice and comfortable.’

‘Go on, yer big soft nit, let me next to her.’ When there was no move made to accommodate her, Janet appealed to her friend. ‘Make him move, Jenny.’

But much to Jenny’s surprise, she found she was enjoying having a boy either side of her holding her hand. Especially when those two boys were making her laugh. ‘Leave it for now, Jan, I’m all nice and warm and these two are making sure I don’t slip.’

‘You hang on to me, Jan,’ Bill said, not liking the situation any more than his sister did. ‘We can swap over on the way home.’

Mick’s lips were moving as he talked to himself. ‘On yer bike, pal, this is definitely not your night.’

While John muttered silently, ‘What a hope you’ve got, mate. This is one night ye’re not walking Jenny home. I know it’s Christmas, but ye’re not getting a present off me!’

Janet, oblivious to the thoughts of the three boys, linked one arm through her brother’s and the other through John’s. ‘There yer are, we’ll all be nice and warm now. All pals together, eh, isn’t that nice?’

They’d just finished their dinner when the knock on the door came, and Mary tutted loudly. ‘Just look at the state of the place; what a time for visitors to come.’ She pushed her chair back. ‘Jenny, will you clear the plates away, and you, Laura, pick up all the wrapping paper? Be quick!’ As she walked to the door, she muttered, ‘I hope it’s no one important – the room looks like a pigsty.’

‘I don’t know what ye’re worrying about, love,’ Stan called. ‘Every house in the country will look the same – it’s to be expected.’

When Mary opened the door her misgivings fled. ‘Dad! Oh, it’s lovely to see yer.’ They held each other close and didn’t speak for a while. Then, after wishing each other the compliments of the season, she said, ‘I expected yer last night, same as usual. We waited until half eleven and then had to leave. I was worried when yer didn’t come because it’s not like you to miss Midnight Mass. I thought yer were ill or something.’

‘No, sweetheart, I went for a few drinks with the men from work and by the time I got home the weather put me off going out again.’

Mary pushed the living-room door open. ‘Come in and get a warm.’

Stan jumped to his feet, his face beaming, and shook his father-in-law’s hand. ‘It’s good to see yer, Joe, all the best.’

Jenny ran in from the kitchen and took a flying leap to put her arms around Joe’s neck. ‘Grandad, a Merry
Christmas.’ She rained kisses on his cheeks. ‘I’m glad yer’ve made it, ’cos me mam was worried when yer didn’t come last night. I told her I’d walk to yours this afternoon to see what was wrong.’

Laura watched with the fear she always felt when her grandad came these days. She wouldn’t put it past Celia to let the cat out of the bag if she got in a temper. But today, mixed with the fear of being caught out, was another emotion – one of guilt. She knew the woman he’d married wasn’t a nice person, and that Celia was cheating on him.

‘What’s wrong with yer, sweetheart, have yer fallen out with yer old grandad?’ Joe bent to look in Laura’s eyes. ‘I thought yer’d be glad to see me.’

Laura dropped the papers she’d been picking up and walked into his arms. And as he hugged her tight and kissed her, she kept telling herself it wasn’t fair, it just wasn’t fair. And she was as much to blame for deceiving him as Celia. In fact, she was more to blame because he was her grandad. He’d always loved her and it would kill him if he knew what she’d been doing behind his back.

‘Come on, break it up.’ Mary slapped her daughter’s bottom. ‘Anyone would think yer hadn’t seen yer grandad for years.’ She plumped a cushion on the fireside chair facing Stan, the one that she usually sat in. ‘We’ve just finished our dinner, Dad, and there’s plenty over. So sit yerself down while I rustle a meal up for yer.’

‘Give me yer coat, Grandad and I’ll hang it up for yer,’ Jenny said, smiling up into his face. ‘Then yer’ll look as though ye’re at home.’

‘Wait until I empty me pockets, sweetheart, I’ve got some presents for yer. They’re not much, mind, but it shows I was thinking of yer.’

Mary watched him take the badly wrapped packets from his pocket and sighed. Who would have thought her dad would come down to this? He’d lost so much weight his shirt collar was miles too big for him, and the shirt looked
as though it had never seen an iron. And she’d noticed when she followed him in from the hall that he had a hole in the heel of his sock.

Joe handed the girls a packet each, gave Stan his, then with a smile that held a tinge of sadness, he offered the last one to Mary. ‘As I said, sweetheart, they’re not much. I haven’t been getting any overtime in, so I haven’t been exactly flushed for money.’

‘Dad, I wouldn’t care if there was only fresh air in this paper, as long as you’re here. That’s all the present I want.’

Laura was thoughtful as she began to unwrap the paper. No wonder her grandad had no money; his wife spent it all. Celia never seemed short, and she had something new on nearly every week. And Thursday night wasn’t the only night she went out, either. Laura had heard Charlie talking to her when they were leaving the dance one night. He’d said, ‘I’ll see yer tomorrow night, my lovely, and we’ll have more time on our own.’

Jenny’s shriek of delight brought Laura away from her thoughts. ‘Oh Grandad, it’s beautiful! Look, Mam, a bracelet with red stones in.’ She rushed to her grandfather and knelt in front of his chair. ‘It’s the best present I ever had and I love it. I love you, too, ye’re the best grandad in the whole world.’

Laura looked down at her hand and nestling in the palm was a bracelet identical to the one her sister was holding high, except the stones in hers were blue. The guilt she felt almost brought tears to her eyes. They weren’t good bracelets, they probably came from Woolworth’s, but he must have left himself skint to buy them. ‘Move over, Sis, give someone else a chance.’ She pushed Jenny out of the way and took her place. ‘Thank you, Grandad, it’s lovely. I haven’t got any jewellery worth speaking of, so I won’t half swank with this on me wrist. Just wait until Cynthia sees it, she’ll be green with envy.’

‘Yer did well all round, Dad,’ Mary said. ‘The girls are
over the moon, I’m always glad of a pair of stockings and Stan’s already opened his packet of ciggies. Now while I see to some dinner for yer, the girls will get your presents off the tree.’

Mary spooned potatoes and carrot and turnip on to a plate, and covering it with another plate, she put it in the oven to heat up. Then she lit the gas under the pan of gravy and gave it a stir before picking up the carving knife. As she cut into the turkey, Mary’s sadness turned to anger. Not for one moment did she believe her dad’s story about not working overtime. For as long as she could remember, he’d always worked late at least three times a week. He wasn’t on a bad wage, so why was he still wearing the same shabby overcoat and shoes that were down-at-heel? She sighed and said softly, ‘Do I really have to ask that question? It’s that bitch he’s married to, she probably bleeds him dry. And if this was a three-bedroomed house, I’d persuade him to leave her and come and live with us. No one would blame him. She’s not a proper wife, never has been and never will be.’