Towards a Dark Horizon Page 20

  ‘No, I didn’t see it, Bill. Has he gone to the Hilltown or the Overgate, do you know?’ I’m not exactly sure why I didn’t mention Margot but I had the sneaking suspicion that this man didn’t know of the marriage.

  ‘He’s gone to the Hilltown because I offered to share my piece with him but he said he would go home and have his sandwiches there.’

  He was nowhere near the Hilltown, I thought. He knew I would try and see him and this missing piece bag was simply an excuse. He also knew I couldn’t keep asking for time off from Connie and he thought he was safe. Well, he was – at least until the party on Saturday when I would tackle him then. And that was another thing. What time was this party to take place? Morning, noon or night?

  I was determined to get this uncertainty settled and I would do so on Saturday – even if I had to kidnap him at his own wedding party. There was no way he was going to dodge me forever.

  Connie was concerned when I arrived back in my soaking wet clothes. ‘You’d better get those wet things off, Ann, and don’t bother coming back to work because I don’t think we’ll be very busy this afternoon.’

  I didn’t tell her I hadn’t seen Dad. That would have made her really mad.

  When I got home I found the house very cold and I quickly put a match to the fire. As I watched the flames shooting up the chimney, I glanced around the tiny kitchen. I loved this house with its brightly patterned curtains and the black-leaded grate with its wooden mantelpiece holding ornaments that had belonged to Mum. It wasn’t fancy or well furnished but it was ours.

  What would happen now with Dad away with his new wife? It hardly seemed real that it was barely forty-eight hours since he had sprung his surprise on us – and just when I thought the future looked brighter for us.

  Then I realised I was shivering violently so I went in search of dry clothes. I wasn’t looking forward to another soaking at the school gate so I made sure I was warmly wrapped up. May was turning out to be just as fickle as April but with the added problem of a blustery cold wind. April had been a wickedly deceiving month. One moment warm sunshine, the next freezing rain. And May was taking a leaf out of April’s book.

  That evening, we were sitting at our tea when Lily put into words all the things I was worried about. ‘Is Dad not going to live with us ever again, Ann?’ Her small face looked so innocent that I almost cried. ‘Will he not bother with us and is he going to forget us?’

  I looked her in the eye. ‘I don’t know what will happen, Lily, but you’ve always got me to look after you – no matter what happens.’

  The look of relief on her face was heartbreaking to watch. ‘You’ll always be with me, Ann, won’t you?’

  I made a great show of licking my finger and making a huge cross on my chest. ‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’

  She smiled and began to eat her meal.

  I was just thinking to myself that this was only Tuesday and already my anger was rising and wondering what I would be like by Saturday when, out of the blue, Dad bounced in the door. For a moment, I thought the wedding on Saturday had been a bad dream but it wasn’t because he was looking sheepish.

  ‘Bill was telling me you were at the work today, Ann. I had to go home because Margot likes me to have my dinner at home – at least for the time being.’

  I was annoyed. ‘You told Bill you were going home, Dad, and he thought that meant here. Have you not told your workmates yet about the wedding?’

  He blushed and tried to avoid my eyes but I was fed up with his evasiveness. He shuffled his feet. ‘Well, that’s the reason I went home at dinner-time because Margot doesn’t want the men to know just yet. She thinks they might be annoyed because Harry was so popular. The only people who know at the work are Mr and Mrs Pringle. Margot told them.’

  I was totally perplexed. ‘What has Harry’s popularity got to do with your wedding?’

  He didn’t answer at first. Then he said, ‘Well, it’s Margot’s idea and it’s just for the time being.’

  I hated cross-examining him in front of Lily but I had no choice. ‘And when is this party on Saturday? At what time?’

  He was looking at the pot on the stove. ‘Is that soup? I wouldn’t mind a bowl of it, Ann. Can I help myself?’

  He came over to the table with a huge bowl and three thick slices of bread. He said, ‘Margot has planned the party for the evening because she thinks most of you will manage then.’

  ‘Oh, by the way, I’ve asked Bella,’ I told him.

  His face fell. ‘Ann, you haven’t?’

  Undeterred I continued, ‘Well, Margot did say close family and she’s your old auntie so why not?’

  He shrugged. ‘Well, if you’ve asked her, there’s nothing I can say.’ He went over to the stove and refilled his bowl. ‘I’ll have another plate of this braw soup if you don’t mind.’

  It was time to tackle the thorny subject of money. ‘What about Lily and me Dad? What will we use for money now that your wages will be going to Margot?’

  He avoided my eye again but I wasn’t about to let him off the hook. ‘Well, then, Dad, what do I use for the bills?’

  He looked at me. ‘I know my marriage was a big shock for you both and believe me I had no intention of doing it like that but Margot wanted it to be quiet with the least bit of fuss. As it is, she doesn’t know that I’m here at this minute because she’s going to discuss everything with you after the party.’ He looked at Lily who was gazing wide-eyed at him. She looked worried and I could have hit him for all this upheaval in our lives – and all because of Margot.

  After a moment’s hesitation, he went on, ‘The thing is, Ann, you’ll have to give up this house and come and live with us.’

  ‘What?’ I shouted, unable to stop myself. ‘She’s only got the one bedroom in that flat or have you forgotten? Where are we going to sleep? In the lobby cupboard?’

  He looked at me sadly. ‘There’s no need to be sarcastic. It doesn’t suit you. No, she has a bed settee in the living room and you can both share it.’

  Lily began to cry. ‘I don’t want to live with her, Dad. I don’t want to sleep on a bed settee. I want my own bed here.’

  I glared at him. ‘Never you heed your dad, Lily. There’s no way we’re going to live with Margot.’ I went over and stood beside him, a fierce expression on my face. ‘I think you’d better get away home to your wife, Dad, and leave Lily and me alone.’

  He protested. ‘But you’ll not have enough money to live on – to pay the rent, the food and the bills. You’ll not manage all that on that paltry wage you get from Connie.’

  Suddenly a wave of tiredness swept over me. ‘Look Dad, away you go home to Margot and let me worry about the bills. Tell her thank you very much for her concern but we’ll manage on our own.’

  He looked defeated. ‘Well, for heaven’s sake, don’t tell her I was here. She’ll be speaking to you after the party about the arrangements she’s made for both of you.’

  He darted out the door before I could answer. I was so angry that I could barely speak so maybe it was just as well he wasn’t in the room. What right did Margot have for making arrangements for us behind our backs? I was a grown woman and, as far as Lily was concerned, she was my responsibility and not hers. And I would tell her that on Saturday.

  It took Granny and me ages to get Lily settled in her bed that night. She kept crying and saying she didn’t want to stay with Margot. All our reassurances didn’t help.

  Finally, in desperation, I took hold of her shoulders and looked directly at her. ‘Have I ever told you a lie, Lily?’

  Still sobbing she shook her head.

  ‘Well, there’s no way we’re going to live with Dad and Margot now. From now on, it’s just you, me, Granny and Grandad.’ That seemed to settle her and she was soon fast asleep.

  Meanwhile, Granny was seething. ‘You know something, Ann? I’m beginning to believe that it must have been your mum’s good sense that stopped your father becoming a prize idiot because that’
s what he’s been since she died.’

  I had to agree with her. I loved him dearly but, over the last seven years since mum’s death, he had been one huge problem. I couldn’t help but think how happy we would all have been if the blushing bride had been Rosie.

  ‘How is Rosie?’ I asked.

  Granny shook her head sadly. ‘The poor soul didn’t go to work today because she was so upset but Alice is trying to persuade her to go into the mill tomorrow.’

  I was filled with sadness at this news and hoped Rosie would soon get over her unrequited love for my father. Then I remembered the party. ‘It’s to be held in the evening, Granny, so I hope we’ll see you and Grandad there.’

  She didn’t look happy about it. ‘Well, I’m not looking forward to it but I suppose we’ll have to put in an appearance.’

  Quite honestly, I was glad to get to bed that night – I felt so weary. My mind went round in circles with permutations of how I could manage the bills. Even my dreams centred around money and I awoke the next morning with a sore throat, shivery and aching joints and a bad headache.

  Connie looked concerned and I began to think I was turning into a liability for her. She seemed to have this expression on her face whenever she looked at me and I hoped she didn’t think I was a burden in my job.

  Before she spoke, I said, ‘It’s just a cold I’ve got, Connie. I’ll feel better in a couple of days.’

  But, by the Thursday evening, I wasn’t feeling any better. I was sitting in Granny’s kitchen listening to Hattie. She was prattling on about the forthcoming party. She made it sound like a royal command. ‘I’ve not made up my mind what I’ll wear but I’d better look my best. We must keep our side of the family up and not give Margot the impression we’ve no style.’

  To be truthful, Granny and I couldn’t care less what Margot thought but we kept quiet about it.

  Then there was an almighty thump outside in the lobby. The door was flung open and Grandad stood on the threshold. He looked flushed. ‘I’ve just bought a wedding present for Johnny.’ He pulled a deep green pedestal into the room then hauled a huge flowerpot in beside it. ‘I got it from Jeemy’s Emporium and it came from a big house. It’s called a jardinière – whatever that is. It looks like a flowerpot to me. What do you think?’

  For a moment I experienced a feeling of déjà vu. It was similar to the time he brought the old pram home from Jeemy’s when Lily was a baby. Hattie had even been in the same chair then as she was now.

  We all gazed at him, speechless. The thing was enormous. Then, as she had done with the pram, Hattie spoke. ‘You can’t give that to Margot for a wedding present. It’s too garish and ugly.’

  Grandad was hurt. I could tell by his face. ‘Why not? It came from a big house and she likes flowers.’

  ‘They don’t have a big house now, Dad – just a one-bedroom flat.’

  He was in the huff. ‘I’m not in my dotage yet, Hattie. I’m not daft.’

  Granny went over and walked around it. ‘Actually I think it’s great and just what Margot would like.’ She gave me a huge wink behind both their backs and I could hardly keep my face straight. ‘Aye, Dad, you’ve made a grand purchase there and it can sit in her window with a bunch of flowers in it. It’ll be the toast of the tenement – you wait and see. The neighbours will be beating a path to Jeemy’s door in search of another one.’

  Grandad was pleased but Hattie wasn’t. ‘What on earth is she going to think when we turn up carrying that thing between us?’

  Grandad looked triumphant. He had the answer. ‘Jeemy said he would deliver it for me since I’m a good customer and it’ll not cost us a toss.’

  If this was meant to impress Hattie it failed miserably. In fact she looked enraged. ‘Don’t you let that grubby old man near Margot’s house!’ she stormed.

  It was now Grandad’s turn to be outraged. He spluttered, ‘Grubby man. What are you talking about Hattie? Jeemy’s maybe not the handsomest man around but he’s not grubby.’

  She retorted, ‘He’s filthy and his clothes smell of mothballs.’ She turned to Granny. ‘Don’t let him get it delivered from Jeemy.’

  Granny promised and, to our relief, Hattie left. We gazed at the green flowerpot. As a wedding present, it left much to be desired but, as I hadn’t thought of buying them one, then this jardinière would have to do.

  On the Saturday, Lily and I spent ages getting ready. We didn’t want to let Dad down by being dowdy. Lily was lucky because she had a new dress and shoes but I didn’t have anything fancy. I didn’t feel like going out because my cold wasn’t any better. I still felt shivery and my throat was very sore. Also an annoying cough that came in spasms seemed to attack me at the most awkward times.

  Earlier that afternoon, I had sent Lily to the chemist for a cough mixture. I had written it down for her. ‘Ask the chemist to make up tuppence worth of lemon, a pennyworth of glycerine and a ha’pennyworth of epickeky wine.’ This mixture had eased my throat but I still felt ill.

  I chose my best blue dress and black shoes while Lily looked a picture in her red woollen dress with its white lacy collar. I tied her hair up in a red and white polka dot ribbon and she was almost dancing for joy as we set off for the party.

  I hoped that Danny would manage after his work – if only for a short time. No doubt Hattie would be dressed to the nines.

  When we reached Victoria Road I warned Lily, ‘Now mind and not mention that you’ve been in the house before. Make it look like you’re seeing it for the first time.’

  She was so excited that I’m sure she would have agreed to anything.

  When Margot opened the door, Lily ran in. The living room seemed to be full of people – most of them our family. To my surprise, I saw Dad’s boss and his wife, Mr and Mrs Pringle, were also there. Granny, Grandad and Bella were all sitting together by the fire while Hattie sat beside the Pringles.

  Dad then appeared from the tiny kitchen. He was carrying a tray of sherry glasses. Each small glass holding an inch of wine-coloured liquid. I also noticed that Margot had prepared a small buffet on the table. Everything was small, dainty and delicious looking and she certainly had the knack of doing everything well.

  The room also looked different now that it was furnished and I recognised a few pieces of furniture from her previous house. The carpet was new – a lovely soft green which matched the wallpaper and lampshades. It was all so elegant that even Hattie was impressed.

  Margot handed me a glass of sherry and said, ‘Would you like some lemonade, Lily?’

  Lily nodded eagerly. ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘Well, go into the kitchen and see your dad because he has the bottle in there.’ After she left, Margot said, ‘Thank you for the lovely wedding present, Ann. It was just what we wanted and I’ve already thanked the rest of Johnny’s family.’

  I thought she was merely being polite but she pulled back the curtains and the jardinière stood beside the window. It looked so grand set against the deep green patterned curtains and she had placed a mass of yellow daffodils and green leaves in the pot. The effect was stunning.

  ‘It arrived yesterday from all the family so thank you again.’

  Surely Jeemy hadn’t delivered it. I went over to my grandparents and they looked like fish out of water. Bella gazed sourly at her empty glass. No doubt she had drained it in one go and, if there was a refill, then it wasn’t in sight.

  The Pringles and Hattie sat on the bed settee and I couldn’t imagine Margot letting anyone sleep in this elegant room – no matter what she said.

  Mrs Pringle looked bored and kept glancing at her watch. An extremely plain-looking woman, she had her hair very fashionably done in a Marcel wave but this scull-skimming style didn’t suit her heavy-jawed face. It also made her large nose look even larger but her eyes were beautiful. Deep pools set in quite a nice complexion, it was a pity her face was so solidly square. She was wearing a very understated dress which I’m sure cost her a lot of money but she looked dowdy compa
red to Margot or even Hattie.

  After an hour of this surreptitious watch glancing, Mr Pringle stood up. ‘Let us all drink a toast to the happy married couple – Mr and Mrs Neill.’

  We all raised our glasses. Margot looked amused while Dad looked besotted. To give her her due she was looking stunning tonight in a cream crêpe-de-Chine dress that skimmed her ankles and matched her strappy sandals. She was wearing pearls at her throat and ears and she was a study in monochrome but a glowing one.

  Hattie had tried to outdo her new sister-in-law but had failed by a hair’s breadth. She was also in an ankle-skimming dress but hers was a deep wine colour which suited her complexion and dark hair. She wore no jewellery but then she hardly ever did.

  Margot nodded regally. ‘Thank you for coming and making our wedding a happy occasion.’

  It was obvious she didn’t know the family’s true feelings but we raised our glasses again. To my amusement, I noticed Bella was still clutching her empty glass.

  Then there was a knock on the door. To my amazement Greg appeared with Danny. Margot gave them both an appraising look but she did that with all the male population.

  I had written to him after the wedding last Saturday but I hadn’t expected him to come. He put his arm around my shoulder. ‘I thought I’d better come to give you some support, Ann,’ he whispered. ‘I couldn’t remember the address so I waited on Danny at the shop.’

  ‘Oh, Greg, it’s good to see you! Are you here for the weekend?’

  His face fell. ‘No, Ann, I’ve got to go on a course on Monday which means leaving from Glasgow tomorrow so I’ll have to catch a late train back tonight.’

  This was the story of my life but it was good to see him even for a short time like this. In a perverse way I was glad he was returning that night because I felt terrible and not in the least bit sociable. I wasn’t sure if it was due to the heat from the fire or not but I was feeling woozy.

  Then the Pringles stood up. ‘We have to go, Mrs Neill. This is Dorothy’s bridge night,’ John Pringle said while Dorothy looked annoyed at him.

  Margot saw them to the door and I her murmuring seductively, ‘You must call me Margot.’