Carmina gave a merry little laugh. ‘Don’t be naïve. Luc wouldn’t have allowed himself to be
seduced
, as you quaintly describe our
love-making
, if he hadn’t fancied me rotten.’
Gina winced. It seemed worse to think of it as love-making, rather than crude sex. ‘What made you do such a stupid thing, anyway? Why do you insist on behaving like a slut?’
Carmina almost snarled. ‘Don’t you dare call me a slut! Who do you think you are? You’d never make him happy, never in a million years. You’re pathetic with your limp, and your soppy doe-eyes, your anxious-to-please expression and your so-sweet nature. Girls like you make me sick. I’ve hated you all my life, even if you are my sister.’
Carmina almost spat the words at Gina, burning up with envy, the spiteful jealousy that had haunted her for years all came bubbling out at last. Once, she’d almost wished it had been her who was sick, so that their parents would shower attention upon her instead.
‘Just because you’ve been ill, you think you deserve extra pampering. You’ve had Momma and Papa, and
me
for that matter, waiting on you hand, foot and finger. No doubt you imagine you can get that kind of treatment from everybody, Luc included. You just love being the centre of everyone’s universe. Well, it’s time you stopped feeling sorry for yourself and got out into the real world where the rest of us live, instead of this cotton-wool paradise where Momma has kept you safe and warm!’
Gina sat immobile throughout this vicious attack, too shocked even to consider interrupting. She and Carmina had had some spats over the years, as all sisters do, but this one was the worst yet.
Finally, Carmina ran out of breath, and Gina quietly asked, ‘So that’s what you’ve thought of me all these years, is it? And I’d foolishly thought that you helped me through my illness out of love, because we were sisters.’
‘Huh, as if I cared. You’re a pathetic, self-pitying, useless, ugly
lump
!’ Carmina screamed, getting carried away now by her own invective. ‘Luc would have come round to the same conclusion in the end, believe me. I told you from the start he was only using you. Haven’t I been proved right?’
The door flung open and Momma stood there, eyes wide with alarm. ‘What’s going on here? What all this noise about?’
‘Nothing, Momma,’ Gina said. ‘Carmina has decided to move in with Antonia and Marta. At least until she and Luc get married. I can’t see how she can possibly continue to sleep in here with me.’
Carmina marched to the door. ‘An excellent idea. I’ll move my stuff out later.’
Carlotta cried, ‘Where you go, madam? Stay here, you and I need to talk. There are matters to be discussed, things to be done.’
‘Not now, Momma,’ Carmina snapped. ‘I need some air.’
Hugging herself with quiet glee Carmina left Gina to the ministrations of her frantic mother and walked out of the house. She really did feel in need of fresh air, to escape the stifling tension. Out in the market, it was a perfectly normal Monday morning, with the stallholders optimistically preparing for a good week’s trading ahead.
She had been Luc’s first love, Carmina told herself, rather romantically and inaccurately. So he belonged to her by right. It was unfortunate that Gina had become so attached to him, but it was her own stupid fault. Her sister should have kept well away. Seeing them together, kissing like that, Carmina had made up her mind instantly to win him back. And she meant to keep him all to herself from now on.
Old men in flat caps and mufflers stood in a huddle by the ancient horse trough as Carmina strolled over to buy a morning paper from Les, who was gossiping with them. He carried a placard, something about United losing in the cup final to Bolton Wanderers. Judging by the loud argument going on this news had upset many of the old men and she strolled away again, uncaring.
Carmina sat on a bench and opened the paper. Papa had told her not to come in to the ice cream parlour today, not until Momma had spoken to her. What he meant by that Carmina had no idea. Nothing her mother said now could make the slightest difference. The Fabrianis, and Luc, had accepted the inevitable.
Even Gina realised there could be no other solution.
Maybe she should start looking at flats, Carmina thought, glancing at the small ads. They’d need somewhere to live. She spotted Amy George across the market, looking plump and ripe as a fat plum, ready to give birth very soon by the look of her. Should she go over and talk to her, ask for some advice?
Carmina chuckled to herself at the very idea, deciding that would perhaps be a touch premature since the whole thing was a figment of her imagination. There was no baby, no pregnancy. How could there be when he’d never really touched her? The idea had come to her on the spur of the moment. She’d wanted to say something, anything, to spoil the sickening happiness of that pair of twittering love-birds.
Oh, but it had all worked out far better than she could have hoped for. She was feeling mighty pleased with herself as she wandered over to the hat stall to see Patsy. ‘You might be needing to make a hat for Momma soon,’ she said, a mischievous glint in her velvet brown eyes.
Patsy glanced up from sewing a veil on to a kingfisher blue felt. ‘Oh, is she going somewhere special?’
‘She might be going to a wedding. In fact, I’m certain she will be. I can say no more at present. I’m sure you’ll hear the whole story soon enough. That’s pretty, do you make bridal veils and stuff too?’
‘A Juliet cap you mean? I could, if someone wanted one,’ Patsy said, a crease forming on her brow as she tried to detect exactly what it was Carmina was hinting at.
‘Interesting, well, must dash. Momma is waiting for me back at the house.’
‘Not working today, then?’
Carmina gave a little smile that twisted one corner of her full mouth. ‘Not today, there are family matters to attend to. Which is why they wouldn’t concern you.’
Patsy smiled. ‘Like it or not, Carmina, I will be family soon.’
A customer appeared at that moment and Patsy was distracted, putting down her sewing to attend to the woman. Irritated by this response, Carmina moved quickly away and, as she passed a display, spotted a silk scarf draped beside a flowery hat in a pretty shade of blue, her favourite colour. Maybe she would buy it for herself? She deserved a treat after the strain of these last weeks. Glancing over her shoulder she saw that Patsy was busy helping the customer to try on hats.
She felt that familiar wave of jealousy towards her future sister-in-law. Marc was rarely around now to give Carmina the support she’d always been able to rely upon before that girl had appeared on the scene. More often than not he was with Patsy, deep in private conversation or gazing lovingly into her blue eyes.
Carmina recalled how the other girl was always on at her, criticising her over something or other. She’d warned her against speaking to Luc at the church, even accused her of flirting with Alec Hall. Which was the very reason she’d taken herself off for that walk and, as luck would have it, Alec had followed her. So Patsy was as much to blame as Gina for what had happened that day on the site of the old Roman fort. Interfering busybody!
Carmina slipped the scarf from its stand and tucked it quickly into her pocket. Yes indeed, she deserved a little treat. And why should she pay for it? If Patsy wanted to be a member of the family so badly, why should she need to?
Not that she’d know who had taken the scarf, if Carmina somehow forgot to mention it.
‘Bye, Patsy,’ she called, as she strolled away.
A boy careered past on a Vespa scooter; a young mum with two children in tow, each one carrying a placard around their necks which said:
Think of the children. No more bombs!
People jostled between the stalls, paying the protesters no attention.
Carmina thought, if she had a bomb, she’d blow her stupid sister out of existence. War! That’s exactly what this was.
Chapter Nineteen
Patsy noticed that a scarf had gone missing some time in the late afternoon but did not associate its disappearance with Carmina. She’d dismissed the girl’s visit from her mind along with the mysterious hints of some wedding or other. Then Marc arrived at closing time and told her the whole sorry tale, which instantly banished any lingering concern about the scarf. Dealing with shop-lifting was, after all, a familiar problem in retailing, and insignificant by comparison to losing the man you loved.
‘Oh, no, poor Gina. How has she taken it?’
‘How do you think? She and Luc had been seeing each other secretly for months apparently, since January. But then Carmina stuck her nose in, told some lies and upset the entire apple-cart. I don’t have all the details, but for some reason Luc believed Gina had dumped him and the damn fool couldn’t resist Carmina’s charms.’
Patsy said, ‘She’d make sure of that, the little minx.’
Marc frowned. ‘It’s not quite fair to put the blame entirely on Carmina. It takes two to tango.’
‘Yes, but what poor bloke could resist if Carmina offered herself on a plate? He’d need a will of iron and the sexual urge of a gnat.’
Marc smiled, put his arms about Patsy and hugged her. ‘My own sexual appetite is stirring again. Have you changed your mind yet about when
we
marry? I’m not sure I can wait until August, let alone the autumn. Give a chap a break, love,’ he said, nuzzling into her neck.
Patsy chuckled softly. ‘Down boy, down. There’s a great deal to be attended to besides that lovely wedding dress Carlotta is making. ‘Finding somewhere to live for a start.’
‘Let’s go and look at flats tomorrow. They’re building some new ones out Salford way.’
Patsy screwed up her nose. ‘That’s a bit too far from the market.’
‘It’s an easy walk over Princes Bridge, or we could take the bus.’
‘Tomorrow’s no good anyway. I’m off to Preston to see a new supplier. The scarves have been a great success so I’m keen to expand into other accessories: gloves, stockings, little evening bags perhaps. Seems the right way to go and Clara’s just letting me get on with it, not interfering in the slightest. At first I felt shy about making decisions and changing things, but I’m really getting the bit between my teeth now, trying out new lines, determined to make something of this business.’
Marc groaned. ‘Why does the hat stall always have to take precedent over anything to do with us?’
‘Because it’s how I earn my living. Stop grumbling and give me a kiss. You can eat at our place tonight, Clara is making macaroni cheese.’
‘They’re lovely those two. Real ladies. And I’m aware that they’ve been good to you, but I can’t wait for us to have a place of our own. It would be wonderful with just the two of us for supper,’ he said, running kisses behind her ear and making her giggle.
‘That’s because you’ve never tasted my cooking.’
‘It’s what comes after supper that’s important. Once we’re married,’ he murmured, pulling her tight against him so he could move his hands over her back and through her hair. ‘Then I could have my wicked way with you every single night. You wouldn’t fancy letting me have a little taster in advance, I don’t suppose?’
‘Don’t push your luck, mate. Anyway, I would think one shot-gun wedding in the family is quite enough. Come on, all this talk of food is making me hungry.’
It was Saturday afternoon and Thomas was listening to the Sports Report on the wireless. He was sitting with his eyes closed, his feet, encased in thick woollen socks caked with dried mud and grass, were propped on a stool before the fire. At first sight it might be imagined that he was asleep, but there was no sound of snoring and he didn’t miss a single result from the droning voice of the announcer.
Mavis, putting on her hat preparatory to visiting a friend for their usual Saturday afternoon tea and trip to the pictures, thought this an appropriate moment to announce her own news.
‘I’ve had a word with that friend of yours about the house next to the pawn shop and told him Chris won’t be wanting it after all.’
Doncaster - three, Manchester City – two
.
Thomas opened his eyes and stared at his wife. ‘What did you say?’
‘I see no reason for him to move out just now, not with the baby coming. How on earth would they manage?’ Mavis slid a long hat pin into her felt hat, anchoring it firmly to the tight marcel waves.
Thomas felt anger curl hot and sour through his veins. ‘What have you done now, you stupid woman? It’s got nowt to do with you.’
‘It’s got everything to do with me. I’m his mother.’
‘If you haven’t noticed, he’s a married man. He has a wife now. When did we ever ask
my
mother, or yours for that matter, in our younger days, afore we did owt?’
‘That is quite different.’
‘Oh, and why would that be?’
‘Because houses were easy come-by in those days. And I was extremely capable, from a good family, with standards to be proud of. Besides, your mother and father moved out of here and you moved me in, behind the bakery, promising at the time, I seem to remember, that one day you’d buy me a better house away from the business. I’m still waiting.’
‘And because I’ve let you down,
in your eyes
, you’ll punish my son, is that the way of it?’