Winter on the Mersey(30)
She gave a little sigh as she recalled the polite but firm way he had said goodnight, looking at her as if he longed to take her in his arms and kiss her, but knowing he mustn’t go too far too soon. He cared for her feelings like that and she respected him for it. Next time maybe he would—
‘Something wrong, Nancy?’ asked Sarah.
Damn, thought Nancy, Sarah noticed everything and never cut her any slack. ‘No, no,’ she said, wafting her hand in front of her face, ‘just a bit hot in here. Stuffy with so many people, you know.’
‘Perhaps you should go out in the yard for some fresh air then,’ said Sarah, clearly not believing her excuse.
‘Perhaps I will an’ all,’ said Nancy, and she broke away from her sister and little niece. It was the perfect excuse. Now she could take a breath and have some blissful, uninterrupted moments to consider just what Gary might suggest the next time they met, and what she might agree to. There really wasn’t a much better way of spending a sunny afternoon. She leant against the back wall and gave herself over to the delicious memories of last night, and even more delicious ideas about what might happen next. If only she was careful this time, and didn’t let the likes of Sarah suspect what she was up to, she had the feeling that this relationship could go very well indeed. Gary wasn’t like the young American men she usually met, or local lads like Stan Hathaway, who’d led her on only to let her down. No, he was mature, a man of the world, who was tough but gentle, and who appreciated her like nobody else did.
Back inside she could hear the piano start up, which must mean that they’d persuaded Eddy to give them a tune. He was the best of them; he got his musical abilities from Pop. There was the sound of Kitty singing – they’d all like that. Good, that meant everyone would be watching them and she wouldn’t be missed out here. Because while she knew Eddy could tinkle the ivories with the best of them and Kitty had a lovely voice, it was so much more fun thinking about the strong, protective arms of Staff Sergeant Gary Trenton.
CHAPTER TEN
Violet was hoping she could shut the shop dead on time, if not even five minutes early, when the doorbell rang and Mrs Delaney came in, her eyes sharp and critical as ever. Vera Delaney had been one of Winnie Kennedy’s close friends, and the two of them had spent many hours together, pulling apart the character of everyone they knew. This was back in the days when it had been Winnie’s shop, and she’d spent her time indulging her beloved son Charlie and making his wife Rita’s life merry hell. Thankfully both Winnie and Charlie were no more and Rita was now happily married to Jack. Vera Delaney still popped in regularly, though, much to Violet’s regret. She forced herself to smile in welcome but she couldn’t stand the woman.
‘Good afternoon, Mrs Delaney. Well, almost evening. How can I help you?’
Vera sniffed. ‘No Rita today, then?’
Violet kept her smile in place with an effort. It was a small shop – it wasn’t as if Rita could be hiding anywhere. ‘No, she’s still taking it a bit easy now she’s got the baby. She’s over at Kitty’s.’
Vera nodded, as if this confirmed what was wrong with the world at large. ‘So she’s back, is she. I’d heard as much.’ She tugged at the sleeves of her jacket, and Violet could see the cuffs were frayed and heavily darned.
‘Yes, Kitty’s been posted back home,’ Violet told her. ‘Isn’t that lucky?’
‘Lucky? Is that what they call it?’ Vera’s expression would have curdled milk. ‘Bad luck for anyone who has to work with her, I’d say. Terrible family, those Callaghans. Their father was a dreadful one for the drink, you know – well, you might not know, being as what you aren’t from these parts, but he was a disgrace, wandering down the street half-cut at all hours, and those kids running about in rags.’
‘I don’t know about that, Mrs Delaney,’ said Violet briskly, ‘but she’s doing very well now. She’s been promoted several times.’
‘Wonders will never cease,’ snapped Vera. ‘Time was when she wouldn’t have said boo to a goose.’
Violet raised her eyebrows. That certainly didn’t sound much like the Kitty she knew now. That was the trouble with some people; they got one view of a person and refused to change it, despite what was staring them in the face. That was Vera Delaney to a T.
‘Anyway, Mrs Delaney, what was it you wanted?’ Violet asked.
Vera glanced around the shelves, which were as well stocked as Rita and Violet could manage, even if there wasn’t the variety of goods available before the war broke out. Despite the cheerful display of Camp coffee bottles and the bright tins of Ovaltine, she looked dissatisfied. ‘I’ve changed my mind,’ she snapped. ‘I’ll make do with a tin of soup for my tea, and I’ll write to my Alfie to let him know that Kitty’s back. He always took an interest in her. He’s good like that, has a heart of gold.’
Violet nodded dubiously, because that wasn’t the Alfie Delaney she remembered at all. He had a reputation as a conscription dodger and a coward, but he hadn’t been seen around for a while. Rumour had it that he’d offended a lot of people by selling contaminated meat which he’d obtained on the black market, and had had to make himself scarce when many of them fell seriously ill. ‘Where’s he now, then?’ she asked, trying to make pleasant conversation as it didn’t do to lose a regular customer, however unpleasant they were.