Chapter 12 #2
‘For George’s sake, I hope they make an effort,’ Lilian said to Bobby when they were alone. ‘He’s been ever so anxious about introducing them.’
‘It sounds like he and his Miss Simpson are getting serious.’
‘Yes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was considering popping the question, between us.’
Bobby raised an eyebrow. ‘Already?’
‘It took him long enough to start courting again. I suppose now he has, he feels why waste time?’
Lilian sounded dreamy, gazing through the window towards the house.
Bobby was pleased to see that her sister was looking healthier.
Even in the week they hadn’t seen each other, some plumpness had returned to Lil’s cheeks.
There was none of the feverish sparkle that Bobby had come to dread seeing in her eyes, which meant Lilian had been bolstering her flagging spirits with tonic wine.
‘Have you met this Miss Simpson?’ Bobby asked.
‘Not properly, no. I must admit, I was surprised when I saw her that night at the pub. She didn’t seem the type to attract someone like George. Still, if he likes her, there must be something to her.’
‘Where’s our Annie?’
‘With her dad, sleeping. She was tired out after going shopping. The girls have been spoiling her rotten.’
Bobby raised an eyebrow. ‘So, what’s this “Aunty Lil” all about?’
‘Sorry,’ Lilian said, flushing. ‘I hope your feelings aren’t hurt, when you’ve known them longer. I was sure Mary looked a little upset over it.’
‘What brought it on?’
‘They asked if they could while we were shopping.’ Lil smiled.
‘It was touching really. We were in Woolworth’s, Florrie picking out her lipstick with me trying to nudge her towards the less garish shades.
She started talking about their Aunt Sadie – the one they were living with in London when their house was bombed. ’
‘Their late uncle’s wife,’ Bobby said. ‘Yes, I remember them telling us about her. She didn’t sound like much of a foster mother. Florrie said she was always leaving them alone to go out with boyfriends.’
‘That’s what she told me today. I could tell it hurt that this Sadie hadn’t loved them the way an aunt should.
For a year of their lives, she was all they had.
’ Lilian smiled slightly. ‘Poor souls, they did so crave a mother. I can see why George doesn’t want to waste any time with Miss Simpson.
Florrie starting her monthlies really opened his eyes to how much they miss out on without a female presence in the home. ’
‘What happened then?’
‘They asked if I’d ever been an aunty. I didn’t mention Marmaduke, of course, but I told them I had two little nieces in Bradford.
They asked what my nieces called me, and when I told them, Jess announced, “Well then we should get to call you that too, because you’re really as much our aunty as theirs, and anyhow, our real aunty doesn’t want us. ” You know, all defiant about it.’
‘I suppose they’re jealous any other little girls should have a claim on you.’
‘Yes, that was it,’ Lilian said. ‘It could as easily have been you, or Mary. I’m surprised it wasn’t Mary to be honest, when she’s been like a mam to them.
But mentioning Rosie and Sue got their jealousy fired up, so it was me.
I didn’t have the heart to tell them they couldn’t.
’ Lilian glanced outside, where the Athertons were walking back towards them.
‘We ought to be discreet in front of Mary though. I’d hate her to be hurt. ’
‘Yes, you’re right.’
They fell silent as Reg pushed open the door.
‘Happen you might have room for a couple of old folk now them tornadoes have disappeared,’ he said, holding the door for his wife.
Her boss sounded almost jovial, Bobby noticed as he limped in after Mary.
He looked healthier than a month ago too, and younger somehow.
She wondered if this was the effect of Tony’s cigarette smoke disappearing, or if – something she never would have suspected of Reg Atherton – semi-retirement actually suited him.
Mary had told her that now he had time on his hands, Reg had got back into his old hobby of birdwatching.
This was testified to by the binoculars hanging around his neck.
‘Well then, lass, how are things?’ he asked, glancing at the various papers on Bobby’s desk. ‘All set for deadline?’
Mary shook her head. ‘Now, Reg, must you always be talking shop? The poor girl’s not on the clock. She’d be on her way home if it weren’t for us.’
‘I’m in no hurry,’ Bobby said. ‘Charlie’s gone to Skipton for that bank interview so he won’t be back until later.’
‘Still, you don’t want to be hanging around cold sheds when you could be beside a warm hearth.’
‘Not at all. It’s nice to see you both. I do miss our little household at Moorside.’
‘Aye, it’s good to see you too.’ Mary came forward to embrace her, but Bobby held up a hand, conscious of the bump her broad skirt was barely concealing.
‘You’d better not hug me. I think I’m coming down with a cold.’
As if to prove this, Bobby took out her handkerchief and theatrically blew her nose.
‘I do feel guilty about evicting you,’ Mary said with a sigh. ‘It’s no wonder you’re catching cold in this old hut. It’s Reg’s lungs that had me worried. Those cigarettes young Tony smokes are the devil for bringing on his cough.’
‘Thought it was your precious parlour ceiling you were bothered about,’ Reg said.
Mary smiled. ‘Aye, that too. But I’m almost as fond of you as I am of the parlour ceiling, love. Happen even a mite more.’
‘Soft lass,’ Reg said, giving her a kiss. He turned to Bobby. ‘Well, is the February number done?’
‘Yes, we’re on schedule, assuming Tony’s report on the drama festival can be signed off on Monday,’ Bobby said. ‘We still need your editor’s report and some other bits, then I’ll take everything into Settle and have the printers make up a set of proofs. Do you want to take any copy home to check?’
‘Nay, you know your business.’ Reg paused, with a guilty glance at Mary. ‘Well, happen I might take a couple of pieces. Does no harm to get another pair of eyes on them.’
Mary shook her head. ‘I was a fool to myself thinking I could get this old man to retire. He’ll be subbing copy on his deathbed.’
‘Shall we go up to the house and meet this young lady of the captain’s?’ Bobby said. ‘He told me we wouldn’t be intruding if we stopped in to say hello.’
‘Rude not to pass the time of day, I suppose,’ Mary said. But Bobby noticed how her friend’s lips pursed, as they generally did when talk turned to the captain’s lady friend.
‘I’ll take Tony’s typewriter,’ Reg said. ‘Should be able to manage it and the stick, since it’s a portable. Bobby, can you carry yours?’
‘I’ll carry it,’ Lilian said. ‘You shouldn’t be lifting heavy things, Bob.’ She caught the look her sister gave her and hastily added, ‘Not if you’re getting a cold.’
Bobby allowed her sister to take the Remington. She locked the door while Lilian and Reg went ahead with the typewriters. Soft snow had started to fall.
Mary hung back, however. The look on her face suggested she was keen to have some confidential talk, which worried Bobby. Had her refusal of a hug given away her secret?
‘I thought you’d be running up to the house to get an introduction to this Miss Simpson,’ Bobby said brightly. ‘Aren’t you desperate to know what she’s like?’
‘Huh. I know what she’s like,’ Mary said, sniffing. ‘All fur coat and no drawers.’
Bobby was starting to feel quite sorry for poor Veronica Simpson. She didn’t have many friends in her suitor’s family circle, with both the Parry children and now Mary taking against her.
‘You don’t like her?’ Bobby said, taking her friend’s arm. In her overcoat with bump well concealed, she felt a lot more secure.
‘I’m only surprised George would be interested in such a flashy type.’
‘I thought you approved of him courting.’
‘Aye, with the right sort. Someone who’ll be a mam to them little girls. That one’s no good. Too young, too pretty and thinks far too well of herself. She’ll be out gadding every night, same way Violet was.’
‘Violet… Charlie’s mam?’
‘Yes, she was another such. Some women aren’t made to be mothers, Bobby.’
‘It was lucky he had you,’ Bobby said softly.
‘Lucky for both of us. I often wonder whether I’d have been able to pull myself out of the darkness after we lost Nancy, if there hadn’t been another little one who needed me.’ She glanced at Bobby. ‘Jess and Florrie have christened your sister with a new title, I see.’
Bobby flinched. ‘Yes. I’m sorry, Mary.’
‘What for? It’s good there’s a younger woman they feel is family to them.’ She pursed her lips again. ‘They’ll need it if their father decides to make an honest woman of that Miss Simpson.’
‘You don’t mind? I thought you might be hurt.’
‘Why would I be?’
‘Well, that they asked Lil and…’ Bobby hesitated, feeling awkward. ‘…and not you.’
It did seem strange that Mary had never earned any title from the pair.
They had bestowed an ‘Uncle’ on Charlie almost as soon as they had arrived, warming instantly to the fun-loving, carefree young man he had been then, who made up games for them and went out of his way to help them settle into their new home.
Everyone else, however, had remained as they were when they had first been introduced.
Bobby had never felt hurt by it – she was sure the children saw her as more of a big sister than anything, since she had never been responsible for their care – but she had been certain Mary would be upset at such a favour being conferred on Lil when it was Mary who had been mother to them for nearly two years now.
‘Are you really not hurt they didn’t ask you?’ Bobby asked.
Mary smiled a little sadly. ‘Well, and who says they didn’t?’
‘You mean they did?’
‘Aye, they asked. It were just after last Christmas that Jessie came to tell me she and her sister wanted to call me summat else, if I’d let them.’
‘Then why, um…’
‘Because I told them no is why.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘It wasn’t “Aunty” they wanted to call me.’ Mary sighed. ‘It was “Ma”.’
‘Oh. Oh!’ Bobby stared at her. ‘Goodness.’
‘Well, I had to say no. Not saying it didn’t cost me a tear to do it, mind.’
‘I never knew they’d asked you that.’
‘Aye, well, you had your own worries. I didn’t like to trouble you.
’ Mary fell into a thoughtful silence before speaking again.
‘I told them I thought their dad wouldn’t like it, because they’d a mam in heaven and he wouldn’t want a stranger acting like they were taking her place.
They saw the sense in that. I suppose I had in my head as well that they’d be taken away from me one day, so I oughtn’t to let them get too attached. But it wasn’t only that.’
‘It was Nancy,’ Bobby said softly. ‘Wasn’t it?’
Mary nodded. ‘And not the first time I’d had that conversation.
Your Charlie asked me the same thing at Jess’s age, and I’d to give him the same answer.
’ She swallowed. ‘I often wonder if that was wrong of me. Lord knows he needed a mother, poor lamb. But when you’ve lost a little one who was the only one ever to use that name, it can feel like…
a betrayal, I suppose. Like I was trying to fill her place with other women’s childer. ’
‘Oh, Mary.’ Bobby felt tears welling and pressed her friend’s hand tightly.
‘You understand?’
‘Of course. Grief is never simple, is it? And Charlie feels you’re just as much his mother no matter what he calls you. A name’s just a name, but family is in how we feel.’
‘You’re wise beyond your years, Bobby,’ Mary said, smiling.
Bobby smiled too. ‘Well, I’m certainly starting to feel every one of my years. Let’s go in, shall we?’ They had reached the house and were lingering by the back door.
‘We should. If you’ve a cold coming, hanging about in the snow won’t help.’ Mary gave Bobby’s arm a squeeze. ‘But I want you and Charlie to know that there’s one name I’d love to be known by, and that’s Nana. If it was what you pair wanted.’
‘Of course it is. You and Reg would always be Nana and Grandad to any bairns of ours. I mean, when the time comes.’
‘Aye,’ Mary said, smiling. ‘When the time comes.’