Chapter 8 #2
‘Look, let me handle it, all right? I don’t want to get your hopes up if it comes to nothing.’ He hesitated, then planted an awkward kiss on her cheek. Lilian flinched slightly. ‘I’ll see you soon. Um, dear.’
He headed for the door. Bobby cast a look at Lilian, who shrugged, before following him.
‘You’re a piece of work, aren’t you?’ she said when they were on the empty street outside. ‘My sister, Tony!’
He sighed, with no trace of his usual cockiness or swagger. He looked so weary, she might almost feel sorry for him in other circumstances – almost.
‘All right, I know,’ he said. ‘I never meant… but it doesn’t matter now. Go on, fly at me and scratch my eyes out or whatever it is you’re going to do. Call me all the names you like. Let’s get it out of the way.’
‘You’re just lucky it’s me here and not my dad.’ She glared at him. ‘Well? What have you got to say for yourself?’
‘It was an accident, OK? I thought we could have a bit of fun. She’s a laugh, your sister. I never meant for this to happen, did I?’
‘That’s the thing about actions, Tony. They so often come with consequences – something you’ve never quite managed to grasp, have you?’
‘It was an accident,’ he repeated helplessly, as if he was a naughty boy who’d broken his mother’s favourite ornament.
‘Couldn’t you have…’ Bobby lowered her voice. ‘You know, used something? You know what I mean.’
‘What, and have her think I make a habit of it?’
‘She’d better be the first,’ Bobby said. ‘Or is there already an army of little Tonys running around the city? Don told me about your tricks, using the paper to blackmail women into dates.’
‘I didn’t blackmail them. It was a way to meet girls, that’s all.’ He met her eyes, and she had to give him credit for at least looking like he meant it when he said, ‘Those days are over, Bob. I swear it.’
Bobby laughed, turning away from him. ‘You know, the worst thing is that it was me who introduced you. Actually thought that despite what you might be capable of with other girls, our Lil was safe. Because whatever else I knew you to be, I did genuinely believe you were my friend.’
Tony had the decency to look shamefaced. ‘All right, I deserve that. But I’m not a complete swine, I promise. I mean, I did like her. I love her.’
‘Don’t be absurd. You barely know one another.’
‘Well, I love what I do know and I’m working on finding out the rest.’
Bobby thought about how she had found the two of them, sitting in silence, just going through the motions of being lovers, and a small sigh escaped.
Tony put a hand on her arm. ‘I fouled up, Bobby. Happy to admit that like a man. But I’m doing the right thing now, aren’t I?’
‘The right thing was not to do it in the first place.’
‘I can’t change that. But I do want to be a good husband, and a good dad to the baby.’ He rubbed his head. ‘Which is pretty bloody difficult when no one in this town will so much as spit on me, let alone give me a job.’
‘You’re struggling that much? I thought employers were desperate for men. The fact you can’t be called up ought to be a qualification in itself.’
He let out a mirthless laugh. ‘You might say my reputation precedes me when it comes to getting work in this city. Don point-blank refused to write me a reference as well.’
‘How are you keeping yourself then?’
‘With difficulty. Odd jobs here and there, that’s all.’
‘Well, what are you going to do? Lil’s relying on you, Tony.’
‘Lilian will move in with me at my mam’s for now,’ he said. ‘There isn’t much room, but it doesn’t cost. Then I guess we’ll start again somewhere – maybe Liverpool. Mate of mine says there’s all the work you want in the shipyards. Not much money but plenty of hours.’
Bobby frowned. ‘Liverpool?’
‘What’s wrong with Liverpool?’
‘Nothing, just… there’s been so much bombing there. They’ve had it nearly as bad as London.’
‘Seems to be easing up now Jerry’s busy with Uncle Joe.’
‘Easing up isn’t stopping. Just last week there was another blitz on the place.’
‘What choice do I have?’ Tony asked. ‘A man’s got to work.’
Bobby smiled dryly. ‘You really have turned over a new leaf. I just hope it lasts.’
‘It will,’ he said, with at least the impression of determination.
‘Still, Tony, Lil ought to stay close to her family. She’ll need support when the baby comes. I’d hate to think of her so far from everyone she knows, with a newborn to care for and the bombs falling.’
He put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Then you can do your new brother-in-law a favour and talk to Don for me. That was what I wanted to ask you.’
She frowned. ‘Talk to Don?’
‘That’s right.’ Tony took out one of his smelly cigarettes and lit it clumsily, his ungloved fingers stiff from the cold.
‘You were always his pet. Tell him I’ve turned over a new leaf – he won’t believe it coming from me but he listens to you.
Tell him about the baby if you think it’ll help.
If he gives me my old job back, I promise he won’t regret it.
Must admit, I have missed the old place since he hoofed me out. ’
‘What, didn’t you hear? Don’s not there. He got his call-up right before Christmas. He’s going this week.’
Tony frowned. ‘Then who’s in charge?’
‘Clarky. The trustees got him out of retirement for the duration.’
Tony groaned. ‘Oh Lord. I’ll never get back in if Clarky’s editor. He always did think I was a waste of space.’
Bobby raised an eyebrow. ‘And whose fault is that?’
‘All right, all right, enough with the Sunday School homilies. I said I was going to do better, didn’t I?’ He exhaled a thoughtful stream of blue smoke, making Bobby cough. ‘Clarky might listen to Don though. If he were to put in a good word for me.’
‘So you want me to talk to Don to ask him to talk to Clarky about taking you back?’ Bobby said. ‘I don’t fancy your odds much.’
‘It’s the best I’ve got. No one else in this town wants to hire me. You might at least see if Don would write me a reference.’
Bobby sighed. ‘All right, I’ll ask. But for Lilian’s sake, not yours. If it wasn’t that my sister needed you, you’d be lucky to get me to spit on you if you were on fire. And when my dad finds out about all this…’
Tony looked worried. ‘Old soldier, isn’t he?’
‘Very much so. And he’s also a gamekeeper, which means he always keeps a loaded shotgun in the house. Thanks to his time in the trenches, he’s a crack shot.’
Bobby enjoyed watching Tony squirm, but eventually she took pity on him.
‘Oh, don’t worry,’ she said. ‘He isn’t going to shoot you. Don’t think he won’t thump you though. Honestly, when Lil told me what you’d done I almost jumped on the train so I could thump you myself.’
‘How long are you going to be like this about it? We’ll be family next week.’
‘I can still be angry with you once we’re related. Expect at least another thirty years’ worth.’ She hugged herself, shivering. ‘I’m going back inside.’
‘You won’t forget though? About asking Don?’
‘I won’t forget. I’m going round to see him later. I’ll have a word then – not that you deserve it.’
Bobby turned to go back into the guest house, but Tony put a hand on her shoulder.
‘Hey,’ he said. ‘I really am sorry, Bob.’
Bobby pushed away the hand and marched inside without looking back.