Try a Little Tenderness (50 page)

‘What about yer mate? I thought you and John went everywhere together.’

‘Yer’ve got eyes in yer head, Jenny, and yer know that me and John both feel the same about yer. We’ve been rivals for years, even though we’re the best of pals. But the time has come, for me at least, to put me claim in before someone
else comes along. It’s up to John to decide what he wants to do. If he asks yer, and yer would rather have him, then that’s the way it is. Me and him will always be pals, no matter what.’

Jenny lapsed into thought. There was no way she would choose between the two boys; it wouldn’t be fair. It would ruin their friendship no matter what they thought now. And she didn’t want to be the cause of that, even though her heart lay with one of them – and always had. She heard John’s familiar laugh and turned her head to see him acting the goat with fancy footwork, and Janet was lapping it up.

‘Mick, shall I ask me mam if we can go to the pictures one night as a foursome? I’ve never had a boyfriend, never even been out with a boy. And I think I should get out and about a bit before I say I’ll be someone’s girlfriend. Don’t yer agree?’

‘Yeah, I suppose ye’re right.’ Mick was disappointed, but at least he’d made a start, put his cards on the table. ‘But don’t forget, I’ve got a lot to offer.’

‘What have yer got to offer, Mick?’

Mick’s dimples appeared. ‘Meself, for a kick-off. And I know self-praise is no recommendation, but yer’ll not get anyone better. Then there’s me mam and dad, they’re definitely an asset. Oh, and I almost forgot, there’s next door’s cat.’

Jenny giggled. ‘Mick Moynihan, ye’re as daft as a brush.’

‘Don’t tell yer mam that, or she won’t let yer come to the pictures with us.’

‘Come on, girl, out with it. What’s wrong with yer?’ There was concern on Amy’s face as she sat across from her friend. ‘For the past few days yer’ve had a face on yer like a wet week. It’s a wonder the bleedin’ milk isn’t curdled.’

Mary sighed. She’d kept her worry bottled up inside her until it was nearly choking her. If she didn’t tell someone and get it off her chest, she’d go nuts. And who better to
confide in than her best mate? ‘Not a word leaves this room, sunshine, okay?’

Amy stiffened a finger and made a cross on her chest. ‘Cross my heart and hope to die, if this day I tell a lie.’ Hoping to lighten the gloom, she asked, ‘Yer haven’t got yerself a fancy man, have yer?’

‘I’m sorry, Amy, but I haven’t got a laugh left in me. I’m drained. I can’t eat or sleep, or even think straight.’ She came straight to the point. ‘Celia’s expecting a baby.’

Amy’s jaw dropped and she sagged back against the chair. ‘Yer what! Christ, girl, yer’ve got to be joking.’

‘I wish I was. I wish to God I was.’

‘What’s the man thinking of? Has he lost the run of his senses? Blimey, girl, he must be sixty! And he’s got a slut of a wife!’ Amy’s eyes narrowed. ‘Is he sure he’s the father? I wouldn’t put anything past that one; she’s a real trollop if ever there was one.’

‘Me dad’s not that soft, he’d know if it wasn’t his. He’s not happy about it, yer can tell, but as he said, what’s done is done. He looks terrible and I feel heartily sorry for him. I’m afraid I told him what I thought, and I’m sorry now. He’s got enough on his plate without me turning against him.’

‘You’d never turn against yer dad, girl, and he knows it. But he couldn’t expect yer to welcome news like that, not from a man of his age.’

‘Well, he didn’t come last night and Wednesday’s his usual night to call. I must have really upset him and I’m worried sick.’

‘What does Stan have to say about all this?’

‘He’s not said much because he knows how bad I feel about it. His feelings are that it’s done and we can’t do anything about it.’

‘Do the girls know?’

Mary shook her head. ‘I couldn’t tell them, I’d be too ashamed. How could I explain that to two young girls? If it
was me expecting I’d be too embarrassed to tell them, never mind their grandad. They’ll have to know sometime, but me dad said not to say anything to them yet. I think he’s dreading the thought of facing them. And I’m such a coward, Amy, I’d rather they never had to know.’

Amy’s huge bosom rose and fell as she let out a deep sigh. ‘I’m sorry for yer dad, ’cos I think the world of him. But I’ve got to say, girl, I think he’s been a stupid old bugger. Yer’d think, at his age, he’d be past that sort of thing now.’

‘Yeah, but don’t forget he’s got a young wife.’ Mary picked nervously at the plush of the chenille tablecloth. ‘Whatever I think, I’ve got to stand by me dad ’cos I love the bones of him. He’s been hurt enough, I’ll not add to that hurt. So even if it kills me, I’ll not upset him any more. But one thing I’m determined on, I’ll never visit that house while she’s in it, baby or no baby.’

‘I dunno, girl, life can be a bugger, can’t it? But I know how yer feel about telling the girls because I couldn’t tell my kids if I was in your shoes.’ Amy stretched her chubby arm across the table and patted her best mate’s hand. ‘The world keeps on turning, girl, and yer can’t stop it. It won’t do no good sitting in the house feeling miserable. So come on, get yer coat on and let’s get down to the shops. The fresh air will blow the cobwebs away and yer’ll feel better. And don’t faint when I say the cream slices are on me today.’

Celia was waiting for her as usual. Leaning against the wall, cigarette smouldering between her fingers, she studied Laura’s face. ‘Ye’re a bit late tonight, kid, I was getting worried. I thought there might be trouble at home.’

Laura was in a fighting mood. Last night, when John and Mick had brought her sister home, they’d been full of how much they’d enjoyed themselves. And because of this woman, she wasn’t able to bring her boyfriend home. Well,
something had to be done about it, she’d had enough. ‘I can be late if I want, can’t I? And why should there be trouble at home?’

‘All right, keep yer hair on, I only asked.’ Celia blew the cigarette smoke straight into Laura’s face. ‘I worry about yer, yer see.’

‘Yer must have better things to do than worry about me, Celia. Yer see, I’m quite capable of looking after meself.’

Gary came through the double doors of the dance hall and heard Laura’s words. He hesitated just for a second, then walked towards her. ‘Come on, babe, don’t be standing here nattering when we could be dancing.’

Laura couldn’t help her face lighting up when she saw him. ‘I’ll just stick me coat in the cloakroom, I won’t be a tick.’

Putting her cloakroom ticket in her bag, she passed Celia without a glance. One wrong word out of her grandad’s wife, and she knew she’d clock her one. So she walked through the doors and into Gary’s arms. ‘I’ll kill her one of these days, Gary, I really will. Who the hell does she think she is?’

Gary put a finger to his lips. ‘Yer never know who she’s got listening out for her.’ He waited for her to put her bag under a chair, then pulled her on to the dance floor. ‘Come on, babe, it seems like an eternity since I had me arms around yer.’

‘I’m not putting up with it any longer, Gary. I’ve had a bellyful of this once-a-week lark. Me kid sister can bring her boyfriend home, but not me. So I’m telling yer straight – either yer start taking me out proper, or I’m not coming here any more. And I mean it.’

‘Yer might not have to put up with it any longer, babe. I think our Celia has overstepped the mark this time. She’s confident she’ll get away with it, but I can’t see it meself.’ His bright blue eyes met her deep brown ones. ‘Has there been anything out of the ordinary happened at your house? Any news of anything?’
Laura looked puzzled. ‘What’s going on? Celia said something about trouble at home, but there’s been nothing that I know of.’

‘I think you and I are going to have to have a very serious talk tonight.’ Gary put his cheek next to hers. ‘I want to be yer proper boyfriend. I want to take yer home to meet me mam, and I want to meet your folks. I want to sit on the back row of the pictures with yer, go on the ferry to New Brighton – all the things courting couples do. And I think that between us we can make it happen. All it will take is our sticking together, come what may, and having the guts to tell her to her face to get off our backs. We can turn the tables now, because we’ve really got something on her.’

‘I’ll do anything if it means we can see each other as often as we like – but what have we got on her?’

‘When Celia and Charlie do their disappearing act, we’ll go outside and I’ll tell yer what I know. We’ll see what yer think, and take it from there.’

They walked a little way from the dance hall so they couldn’t be seen or heard, and stood against a wall. Laura shivered. ‘I should have got me coat out of the cloakroom, I’m freezing.’

Gary slipped off his navy-blue jacket and draped it across her shoulders. ‘That’ll keep yer nice and warm.’

Laura snuggled into the jacket and grinned up at him. ‘I’ve never been as close to yer as I am now.’ She sniffed up. ‘I can even smell yer on it. I think I’ll take it home with me so I’ll always feel ye’re near me.’

‘Yer’ll be sick of the sight of me pretty soon, if all goes to plan. I’ll be knocking on yer door every night.’

‘Yer seem very sure of yerself tonight, Gary, and very secretive. What is it that yer’ve found out about Celia? I hope it’s something really bad, so we can tell her to go and jump in the Mersey.’

‘She’s expecting a baby.’

Laura screwed up her eyes as a dozen thoughts came into her head. And with the thoughts came a picture of her grandad’s face. ‘Are yer sure?’

‘I got it right from the horse’s mouth, babe. Celia and Charlie told me themselves. I think I was happier than they were.’

‘I don’t get it! What’s it got to do with Charlie?’

‘Well, it’s his baby, isn’t it? But she was laughing her head off when she said her husband has agreed to let everyone think it’s his. She called him all the fools going. But she still never mentioned anything about her husband being yer grandad. Even Charlie hasn’t got a clue about that. They’re both in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to see their faces when we tell them we’ll blow them up if Celia doesn’t leave us alone.’

‘Maybe I’m thick, Gary, but I don’t get it.’ Laura’s temper was rising. ‘D’yer mean yer expect me to let her get away with pulling a stunt like that on me grandad? If yer do, then you’re in for a rude awakening, too! I love me grandad, and I’ll not go along with her lies just to get me and you off the hook. If I did that I’d be worse than she is – nothing more than a scheming, brazen, lying bitch.’

‘What else can we do, babe? If we tell yer grandad, then Celia will get her own back by telling all sorts of lies about us. What we did would be magnified a thousand times to my mam and your family.’

Laura dropped her head. She’d got herself into this mess for the sake of one lousy underskirt. But she knew Gary was right. When Celia told her tale, it wouldn’t be just about an underskirt; she’d add a lot more on to it. Like her smoking, even though she’d only ever had that one cigarette. And that she’d lied about going to the dance with Cynthia.

‘I’ll have to have time to think it over, Gary. After all, it’s not your grandad she’s lied to and cheated, it’s mine. He’s a lovely, gentle man, and he doesn’t deserve what she’s doing to him. If yer could meet him, yer’d know what I mean. I
couldn’t stand back and let him be made a fool of, just so we get what we want. And me mam would hate me if I let someone hurt him without me lifting a finger to help.’

‘What shall we do, then, babe? I’ll go along with whatever you decide because, as yer said, it’s not my family.’

‘I’m not thinking straight, Gary, so I don’t want to do anything hasty. I mean, where does Charlie fit into this? He’s laughing sacks, isn’t he? What sort of a man would get a married woman pregnant and then pass the baby off as someone else’s? He’s a good match for Celia, they’re both rotten.’ Laura shook her head as though bewildered by it all. ‘Will yer give me until next Thursday to think it over? By that time I’ll know exactly what I should do for the best.’

‘That suits me, babe, as long as we can sort ourselves out. We need to make the most of what we know because we may never get another chance. You’re my girl and I want the whole world to know. If yer think we should throw ourselves on the mercy of our families, then I’ll go along with that. But please don’t let anything keep us apart for much longer, babe, I couldn’t stand it.’

Laura stood on tiptoe to kiss him. ‘I won’t let anyone keep us apart, Gary, I promise. Especially Celia. Somehow I’ll pay her back for laughing at my grandad behind his back.’

Laura was looking in the bedroom mirror as she ran a brush through her hair, but her mind was so occupied she didn’t even see her reflection. Nor did she feel the stiff bristles of the brush scraping her scalp as she put her strength behind the strokes. She was trying to cover one pain with another but it wasn’t working. Last night had been a nightmare and she was no further forward. For hours she’d lain on her back staring up at the ceiling, seeking a solution that would not only help her grandad, but also her and Gary. She knew she was being selfish, and for the first time in her life wasn’t proud of herself. She had the solution in her hands but was too cowardly to use it. All she had to do was go downstairs now and tell her mam and dad everything. But she didn’t have the courage to do it because suddenly it mattered to her what her mam and dad thought of her. She couldn’t bear the prospect of them turning their heads from her in disgust.

She heard footsteps running up the stairs and quickly slipped the brush into a drawer. She hoped Jenny would get what she wanted and go; the last thing Laura needed was to have to listen to her going on about how good life was. She must have been born under a lucky star, her sister, because everything had always gone her way.

Jenny bounced in, her face wearing a big smile and her whole body exuding happiness. ‘Are yer going out tonight, Laura?’

‘Only down to Cynthia’s for an hour.’ Laura cringed
inside when she heard the bedsprings creak as her sister sat on the side of the bed. Oh Lord, she wants to be matey and this is the wrong time. ‘I’m going to have an early night for a change.’