Chapter 22 #2
Both her sister and Tony were in Sunday clothes: Tony in a grey suit that was just beginning to grow shabby, and Lilian in her best sky-blue dress.
The finery looked a little out of place in the cow house, but Bobby was pleased to see they had made an effort to impress her father.
Tony looked rather nervous, as well he might, and was clutching a small brown paper parcel.
Lilian’s dress was decidedly snug, now her pregnancy had passed twenty weeks.
Bobby saw how her dad winced when he noticed.
However, he didn’t immediately run into the surgery and try to break into the cupboard where she had locked his shotgun away, which was something.
Not that she really believed he’d use it on any living thing other than mink and foxes, but she felt better knowing it was out of his reach.
Tony was looking at Lil, waiting for her to make introductions.
‘Um, good evening,’ Lilian said, uncharacteristically bashful. ‘Sorry we’re late. There were delays on the railway.’ She gave an awkward laugh. ‘When aren’t there these days?’
‘I can’t remember the last time I caught a train that arrived when it was supposed to,’ Bobby said, forcing a laugh too.
She went forward to embrace her sister, and felt some of the tension leave Lilian’s body.
‘Don’t worry,’ she whispered. ‘It’ll be all right. I’m here.’
‘Thanks, Bob,’ Lilian whispered back.
Bobby took her sister’s hand to lead her to their father, who still stood by his chair with an inscrutable expression on his face.
‘Dad, here’s our Lil.’ She summoned a smile. ‘Now you’ve got both your little whirlwinds at home again. Do you think you can stand it?’
Rob remained silent for a moment.
‘Aye,’ he said at last. ‘Aye, I reckon I can put up with the pair of you a spell.’ His eyes flickered to his daughter’s stomach, and Bobby noticed him flinch. ‘Come over to the fire, eh? You don’t want to catch a chill.’
Lilian beamed, and threw herself at him for a hug. ‘I missed you, Dad.’
‘All right. No need to make a fuss,’ he said, a smile flickering on his lips. ‘Good to see you, love.’
Lilian drew back, turning to Tony. ‘I, er, brought someone to meet you.’
Tony was still lingering by the door, looking uncertain what to do. Bobby gave him a nod of encouragement, hoping he’d remember her advice to turn on the charm when he came face to face with her dad.
He took the hint, and strode forward to shake his new father-in-law by the hand.
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you properly, sir,’ he said. ‘These are two fine girls you’ve raised.’
‘I know it.’ Rob regarded the younger man icily. ‘Found yoursen a job yet?’
‘Not yet, but soon, I hope.’ Tony suddenly remembered the parcel in his hand, and held it out. ‘I got these off a mate. Wills’ Whiffs – Lil said you enjoyed the occasional cigar. I thought after we’d had tea, we could leave the girls to chat and go to the pub for a smoke and a pint.’
Bobby smiled approvingly. He was really trying. Her dad still looked icy but he had taken the gift of cigars, and she was sure a slight thaw had crept in.
‘I’m buying,’ Tony said when Rob remained silent.
‘Huh. Wonder you can afford it, with a wife and a—’ He glanced again at Lilian’s stomach, and again Bobby noticed the obvious flinch. ‘With a wife to support and no money coming in.’
Tony’s shoulders sagged, and Bobby leapt to his rescue.
‘Oh, I don’t think Tony’s as destitute as all that,’ she said, as brightly as she could. ‘Go on, Dad, you’ll enjoy it. Besides, I want Lil to myself to help make up the bed in my room for her and Tony. I didn’t have time earlier.’
‘Hmm.’ Rob glanced at the cigars in his hand. ‘Well, happen a beer or two wouldn’t go amiss, since the womenfolk are determined to evict us.’
Bobby and Lilian both beamed at him. Tony, meanwhile, looked a combination of relieved and terrified.
It was clear that while he welcomed the thaw in his father-in-law’s attitude, an evening at the pub tête-à-tête was far from his idea of a good time.
The edge seemed to have been taken off the atmosphere, however, and Tony took a seat opposite Rob by the fire.
Lilian went to whisper something to him before following Bobby to the kitchen.
‘How’s your little godson: Don’s boy?’ they heard Tony ask. ‘I saw him and his dad last week. He’s a fine chap.’
‘Aye, he is that,’ Rob said, with a very small smile.
Bobby nudged Lilian. ‘Good choice of conversation topic,’ she whispered.
‘I was trying to remember what Bradford friends they had in common, and I remembered you saying Dad couldn’t get enough of hearing about Don’s baby,’ Lilian whispered back.
‘That went as well as we could have hoped, don’t you think?’
Lilian put an arm round her sister’s waist. ‘Thanks to you acting as our fifth column here. I’m sure without you speaking up for us, Dad would have barred the door and never let Tony over the threshold – or me.’
Bobby put a pan of stew she’d prepared the day before on the hob while Lilian took over tea-making duties. ‘He wouldn’t really do that, whatever he might threaten when he’s in a rage. He loves you, Lil.’
‘I know.’ She sighed. ‘But he can’t bear to look at me now I’m showing, or mention the baby.’
‘You know he’s always bashful about those things. He blushed fit for a beacon when I told him about little Robert Sykes being born, even though I barely mentioned any details of Joan’s labour.’
‘I hope he and Tony don’t get into any trouble at the pub,’ Lilian said. ‘Where are you sleeping if we’re in your room?’
‘In the box room at Moorside.’
‘And did you arrange for Tony to see Reg? He’s got some samples of his work in his overnight bag.’
‘Yes, Reg is going to talk to him over breakfast tomorrow morning.’
Bobby turned to look through the door at her dad and Tony by the fire, talking if not exactly animatedly, then at least with mutual forbearance and respect.
The cow house looked at its cosiest tonight, with the fire blazing, the chill in the air banished and the little vase of snowdrops giving a feel of spring.
As she watched the two men and felt the reassuring presence of her sister at her side, Bobby felt a warmth spread through her.
It felt, for the first time in a long time, as if perhaps everything would be all right.