Chapter 5
Bobby found Charlie and her father sitting by the fire, smoking companionably. Her dad often called on them when he had finished work in the patch of woodland where Bobby’s friend Topsy employed him as gamekeeper.
Bobby greeted Charlie with a kiss, then went to plant another on her dad’s bald crown.
‘It’s nice to see you here,’ she said. ‘Have you had a cup of tea?’
Rob smiled complacently at her. ‘Aye, your young man were good enough to brew up. Quite domesticated now, isn’t he?’
Charlie smiled at the good-natured teasing, but it looked rather forced. Rob noticed this too.
‘Oh, no offence meant, son,’ he said, standing up and clapping Charlie on the shoulder. ‘No one knows better than me what a beggar it is to get work when a war spits you out.’
‘None taken, Rob.’ Charlie stood too. ‘Come again, eh? Next time, I won’t neglect my duties as househusband by failing to have some beer in the pantry.’
‘Aye, a half pint wouldn’t go amiss after work. You’re a good lad.’ Rob shouldered his shotgun, which was resting on the fireplace. ‘Tell you what, Charlie. If you want to earn yourself a few bob, come out with me Monday afternoon and help me lay some stoat traps. I could use a big, strong lad.’
Charlie hesitated, glancing at his leg.
‘Don’t worry about that,’ Rob said. ‘I’m none so quick on my feet nowadays either. We’ll walk nice and slow.’
‘You don’t need to do me any favours.’
‘I’m talking about you doing me a favour. Not as young as I used to be. I ought to speak to Her Ladyship about hiring a lad to help, I suppose, but I don’t want her to think the work’s getting beyond me.’
‘Well… all right. If you really think I can be useful.’
‘Good man.’ Rob turned to Bobby. ‘How was work then, daughter o’ mine?’
‘Rather good actually,’ Bobby said. ‘Reg told me he’s promoting me to deputy editor. Mary’s persuaded him to take a step back from the mag, so I’ll have a lot more creative control in future. He’s moving me and Tony into new premises near the Parrys’ place.’
Rob put his arm around her shoulders. ‘Well done, lass. Your mam always said you’d do great things wi’ that writing brain of thine.’
‘Thanks, Dad.’
Charlie raised an eyebrow. ‘Reggie’s promoting you to deputy editor?’
Bobby laughed. ‘You sound surprised.’
‘I am, but not because I don’t know what a clever, talented wife I’ve got. I’m just amazed my brother’s letting someone else take control of his precious magazine.’
‘I know, I didn’t see it coming either. It’ll mean a few shillings more in my pay packet too.’ She pulled a face. ‘I just hope Tony isn’t going to make life difficult. He was sulking all morning about having to play second fiddle to a woman.’
‘Hurt pride, that’s all,’ Rob said. ‘Thinks too much of his pride, that lad. Your sister’ll sort him out.’
Charlie nodded to a letter on the coffee table. ‘That came for you, Bob. It’s addressed to Athy Atherton.’
‘That’ll be from Scarlet then,’ she said, smiling. ‘Was that all?’
‘Yes. Why, were you expecting something?’
‘Thought I might hear from our Jake. His letter writing’s been shocking lately.’ She turned to her father. ‘Have you or Lil had anything?’
‘Nay, not recently.’
‘I hope there’s nothing wrong at his barracks.’ Bobby’s youngest brother was a sapper with the Royal Engineers, defusing bombs down in London.
‘Oh, you know what the lad’s like,’ her dad said. ‘Walking out wi’ a new lass, I shouldn’t wonder, and no time for writing home.’
‘You’re probably right.’ Bobby grimaced. ‘I almost forgot, I’ve got bad news for you, Charlie. As a peace offering, I said we’d take Tony and Lil to the pub tonight. I know we can’t really afford nights out, but it’ll be worth parting with a few bob to make my life easier at work.’
Charlie, who found Tony Scott difficult company when the man was awash with beer, pulled a face. ‘Oh, all right. If it’s for the sake of your career.’
‘Dad, I’m afraid I volunteered you to mind Annie,’ Bobby told him. ‘Do you mind? We wouldn’t be late.’
‘Always happy with a bit o’ grandad time,’ Rob said jovially. ‘Might as well get some in while I can.’
Bobby frowned. ‘How do you mean? Are they increasing the Home Guard parades?’
‘Nay, nowt like that.’ Her dad started putting his macintosh on. ‘I was thinking it were time to be flitting, that’s all. Your sister and young Scott don’t need me taking up space in that little barn, especially if they’re minded to add more bodies to it.’
‘You’re moving out of Cow House Cottage?’ Bobby said, blinking.
‘Well, you and Lil have got your own lives to lead. Husbands to mind, and more bairns to come for both of thee, I hope. Your sister’s a good girl to want to look after me and Tony’s not nearly the rum lad I once believed, but it don’t stop me feeling rather surplus to requirements.’
Bobby cast Charlie a worried look.
‘Where would you go?’ she asked her dad. ‘Not back to Bradford?’
‘Nay, not when I’ve a good job here. I was thinking I might as well put the house in Bradford up for sale. I’ve been too thoroughly countryfied to want to be back in a city now.’
‘You’d sell our house?’
‘Well, it’s not needed by t’ family, is it? Must be worth a few bob. Enough to get me set up somewhere, and happen wi’ a bit left over to share out among you bairns.’
Bobby framed her next question carefully.
‘Um, are you sure you ought to live alone, Dad?’ she asked. ‘Lil and me could take your washing, but we can only do so much with our own homes to run. You’d have to get a woman in to cook and clean for you.’
‘Who said I’d be alone?’ Rob jammed his cloth cap on. ‘I’ve a friend in a similar boat. A daughter grown up, with not enough room in t’ house for elderly relatives. We thought, why not throw our lot in together? Two can live as cheaply as one, they say, and we’d be company for one another.’
‘A friend? Who?’
‘Someone from the pub – but I’ll not say more till it’s settled. Just know you don’t need to worry about me, eh, our Bobby? Sithee both at dinner tomorrow.’
With a kiss for his stunned daughter and a handshake for his equally stunned son-in-law, Rob left.
‘Well!’ Bobby said to Charlie. ‘What do you make of that?’
‘It’s… good, isn’t it?’ Charlie said. ‘Your dad’s right – the cow house is small for a young family and him too, and we’re no better placed to offer him a home.
I know you’ve always worried about him living alone, but if he’s got a pal willing to share then that solves everybody’s problems. He can have independence without being left by himself. ’
‘I suppose so,’ Bobby said cautiously. ‘Certainly I don’t feel nearly so worried as I would have done a year ago. Oh, but selling our house! I was born in that house. I… I lost my mam in that house.’
‘I know it’ll be emotional for you, darling. But realistically, were you ever going to live there?’
‘Well, no. It’s like my dad said – I’ve been too countryfied to want to live anywhere but here.
Lil and our Ray have their own homes, and I don’t suppose Jake will want to settle there.
’ She sighed. ‘It’s just… as long as we had a family home, even with no Bancrofts living in it, it felt like our memories had a place that went with them.
It’s strange to think of another family making it theirs.
Still, you’re right, Charlie. Better for it to be sold, and the money used to help the family. ’
‘I wonder if he’s said anything to your sister about moving out.’
‘I don’t think so, otherwise she’d have mentioned it.’
Bobby thought about how Lilian had looked that morning – so tired and drained. She looked that way far too often nowadays.
Bobby knew her sister was struggling with the life she was leading. Struggling with her responsibilities as a mother to Annie, and her grief over Georgia. Struggling to sleep. Struggling to be the wife of a man who, try as she might, she found it hard to love.
Yes, perhaps this would be for the best. It would be better for Tony and Lilian’s marriage to have their home to themselves. Lil would be less tired without her father to wash and cook for in addition to a husband and child. No longer weary and harassed constantly, she and Tony might grow closer.
‘I wish I knew who this friend is Dad’s considering moving in with,’ Bobby said to Charlie.
‘It needs to be someone who understands… how he is. His nightmares and everything. And someone who won’t encourage bad habits either.
He’s been doing so well, I’d hate for him to fall into that state where he starts relying on spirits. ’
‘He said it was someone from the Hart,’ Charlie said thoughtfully.
‘Maybe it’s Stan Henderson. He’s been at a loose end since his old woman died, and I did hear he was keen to move out of his place now his daughter’s expecting a second baby.
He was in the trenches too. They could be good company for each other. ’
‘Yes. Perhaps.’
‘It’ll be all right.’ Charlie smiled. ‘And now, Mrs Atherton, I insist you stop looking so worried and sit yourself down on my lap.’
Bobby allowed him to pull her on to his knee, where she treated him to a long kiss.
‘You should get promoted more often,’ he said breathlessly when she released his lips again. ‘I never realised these deputy editors were so amorous.’
‘That was to say thanks for spending time with my dad,’ she said, smiling. ‘He likes your company, and I know it does him good.’
‘I think he feels sorry for me,’ Charlie said with a sigh. ‘Poor washed-up Charlie Atherton, stuck at home playing housewife with his bad arm and his bad leg and his…’ He held up one trembling hand. ‘You know.’
‘You remind him of himself, I suppose. Don’t be offended by it.’
‘I’m not offended – not when it’s him.’ He scowled. ‘If it was anyone else, I’d make them eat their damn pity. But your dad understands.’
‘I’m glad the two of you have got each other to talk to.’ She looked into his face. ‘Do you talk? I mean, do you talk about the wars and your injuries and… you know, things like that?’
‘Not really. He just likes to share a smoke and read the paper.’
‘He certainly seems jolly these days,’ Bobby observed. ‘I’ve never seen him happier than he’s been since I came back from the WAAF. And he adores the baby.’
‘Being a grandfather does seem to agree with him.’
‘He’s always loved little ones.’ Bobby wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck.
‘I can’t wait until we can tell him about Marmaduke, darling,’ she said softly.
‘You know I don’t care what the baby turns out to be so long as it’s healthy, but with Ray’s girls and little Annie already in the family, my dad would be thrilled to have a grandson. ’
‘Well, if it’s a girl then we’ll just have to start trying right away for another, won’t we?’ Charlie kissed her nose. ‘We can start practising now if you like.’
Bobby smiled. ‘I wondered how long it would be until the conversation took a turn in that direction.’
‘I do seem to remember a certain promise you made this morning. You can’t go back on your word now you’re a deputy editor, you know. It would undermine your journalistic integrity.’
‘Would it now?’
‘Oh, absolutely.’
‘Don’t you want to hear about my eventful day?’
‘I want to hear all about it, in…’ Charlie looked at his wristwatch. ‘…no less than an hour. Come on.’
Laughing, Bobby let him lead her to the bedroom.