Chapter Ten
Annie sat with her swollen feet in a bowl of warm water one evening, Monty watching her with a worried frown. She was still sneaking into the shop whenever she could but recently her ankles and feet had begun to swell alarmingly and she was suffering from severe bouts of heartburn.
‘I’m going to have to put my foot down with you,’ he scolded gently as he passed her a cup of tea.
‘I’m aware that you’ve been going to the shop, even though I asked you not to some time ago.
But from now on I want you to leave the running of the shop to Susan until after the birth.
She’s more than capable, as you know perfectly well. ’
‘But—’
Monty glared at her and held his hand up.
‘I don’t want to hear any more about it.
You can still go buying once a week if needs be, so long as Peggy goes with you on the train, but you are not to go serving in the shop and that’s the end of it.
Do you hear me? The midwife told you over two weeks ago that you should be resting and you wouldn’t listen to her, but they don’t tell you these things for nothing. ’
It was so unlike Monty to be firm with her that Annie was quite taken aback. She clamped her lips together; she knew deep down he was right. She had struggled over the last few weeks and by mid-afternoon she was usually exhausted.
‘I was also thinking it might be a good idea to get someone in to help with the housework – for the time being at least,’ he went on. At the look of horror on her face, he smiled.
‘If I can’t go to the shop and I have no housework, what am I supposed to do all day?’ she said petulantly. ‘I’ll die of boredom!’
‘All right, we won’t get a cleaner . . . not yet at least. But you’re to promise me that you’ll sit down regularly and put your feet up.’
Looking glum, she nodded, although she was bored just thinking about it.
Monty went round to speak to Susan later that evening. She was more than ready to take over the reins and in total agreement with him.
‘I can pop the takings round to you to put in the bank each evening,’ she offered. ‘And I’ll keep a close record of everything I sell so Annie knows what to restock.’ And just like that it was agreed.
Over the following week, Annie was sure she would die of boredom, although Peggy took to popping in as regularly as she could.
She was still very busy in the two second-hand shops, which were continuing to do well.
So much so that Levi had now decided to employ another chap to take over his collection round in Bedworth so that he could concentrate on sorting everything that came into the yard.
Tim Fellows was a nice man in his early forties who had been widowed some years before, leaving him with two small daughters to bring up.
Peggy had taken an instant liking to him, and commented to Levi one evening, ‘He’s a nice bloke, Tim is, ain’t he? It’s such a shame he’s all on his own. I’d ’ave thought some woman would ’ave snapped ’im up ages ago.’
‘Aye, he’s straight as a die,’ Levi agreed. Narrowing his eyes at Peggy, he grinned – he could read her like a book. ‘So what are yer thinkin’, woman?’
‘Well . . . it occurred to me that ’im an’ Susan would make a lovely match.’
Levi threw his head back and laughed aloud. ‘Whatever makes yer say that?’
She shrugged. ‘He were in the yard the other day when Susan called in fer a cup o’ tea an’ Tim could ’ardly take his eyes off of ’er. They’re the right age fer one another an’ we know ’ow good Susan were wi’ Constance, God bless ’er little soul, so she’d be good wi’ ’is girls.’
‘I’m not so sure about that,’ Levi answered. ‘What I mean is, Tim is about as far away from Theo as yer could get. He’s a down-to-earth, workin’-class bloke whereas Theo were a toff.’
‘Yes, a toff who knocked ’er about an’ forced ’er to go on the game,’ Peggy said scathingly. ‘I thought it might be a nice idea to invite ’em both round fer a bit o’ supper one evenin’.’
‘Now ’old on wi’ yer matchmakin’.’ Levi shook his head. ‘Yer could be barkin’ up entirely the wrong tree.’
‘So?’ Peggy shrugged as she dried her hands on an old piece of huckaback. ‘It’d be nice to ’ave somethin’ to dress up for an’ ’ave a bit o’ company.’
Levi knew when he was beaten. ‘Go ahead an’ invite ’em, then, but don’t be surprised if either of ’em turn the invite down.’
Much to Peggy’s delight, Susan and Tim agreed to have supper with them one evening the following week.
Annie chuckled when Peggy told her what she’d done. ‘You wouldn’t be trying to play Cupid by any chance, would you, Peggy?’
‘Well . . .’ Peggy sniffed. ‘Poor Susan ain’t been the same since she lost Constance an’ that lousy bastard she ’ad in London. I reckon it would be nice fer ’er to meet a decent bloke, an’ from what I’ve seen of ’im, Tim is a catch.’
Annie could only nod in agreement. Susan was still a fine-looking woman and, like Peggy, she had taken to Tim.
He seemed decent and honourable, and was devoted to his two little girls.
Their grandmother looked after them while Tim was at work but it would be wonderful for them to have a replacement mother.
On the day of the meal, Eve took over the running of the two shops so Peggy could prepare for the dinner.
First she went to the butcher and bought a large piece of sirloin beef, which she cooked in a slow oven for hours so that it would be tender, then she cleaned the cottage from top to bottom, so that by the time the guests were due to arrive it was gleaming and the table had been set as if for royalty.
She had made Levi bathe in the tin bath in front of the fire when he finished his day’s work, and she had laid out a starched white shirt and his best trousers for him.
‘Crikey, woman, we ain’t got landed gentry comin’, yer know,’ he teased, and she blushed prettily.
Sometimes, in fact more and more of late, he wondered how he would survive without her.
He had loved Maggie dearly for all their married life, although there had been times when she had sorely tried him.
But Peggy . . . well, she was just Peggy, always there to see to his every need and making no demands, which he had to admit made a welcome change.
‘I just want them to have a nice evening,’ she told him quietly. ‘They’ve both been through so much one way or another. They deserve a little spoiling.’
‘You’ve been through the mill yourself, hinny,’ he answered. ‘And I don’t see anybody waiting on you.’
Peggy shrugged. ‘I like lookin’ after people. Now come on, get that fire lit. It’s gettin’ cold of an evenin’.’
Levi was only too happy to do as he was told, and their guests appeared soon after.
The meal was delicious. Peggy had made a thick vegetable soup to start followed by roast beef with all the trimmings. For dessert they had a cream trifle, one of Levi’s favourites, after which Peggy served coffee.
‘That was the best meal I’ve had since . . .’ Tim flushed. He had been about to say since his wife had died but he quickly corrected himself. ‘Well, in a long time. Thanks, Peggy.’
‘It certainly was,’ Susan agreed patting her lips with her napkin. ‘The trouble is I’m so full I don’t think I can move.’
Both Peggy and Levi had noticed that their guests hadn’t stopped chatting since they’d arrived, and as far as Peggy was concerned, the evening couldn’t have gone any better.
She was sure Susan rarely bothered to cook for just herself and she had lost weight, so it was nice to see her tuck in.
She had made an effort with her hair and dress too, and Tim had hardly been able to take his eyes off her all evening, much to Peggy’s delight.
Everything had gone even better than she had hoped it would.
‘I’d love to return the favour an’ invite you to my place but I’m afraid I ain’t much of a cook,’ Tim apologised.
‘And there’s not room to swing a cat around in my little rooms,’ Susan told them.
They left an hour later with Tim insisting on seeing Susan to her door, and once they’d gone Peggy beamed at Levi.
‘Did you notice ’ow he watched her all evenin’?’ She had refused to let the visitors help with the clearing up and began to carry the dirty pots to the sink ready for washing.
Levi chuckled as he started to help her. ‘Aye, I did, an’ I reckon yer could be right. There’s certainly a spark between ’em.’
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Peggy had made an effort with her appearance, too, and he couldn’t help but notice how attractive she looked, although he didn’t want to embarrass her by saying anything.
‘I’m surprised some chap ain’t snapped you up before now an’ all,’ he commented.
Peggy frowned. ‘I don’t want to be snapped up, thank you very much,’ she said primly as she started to wash the pots.
Lifting a towel Levi started to dry them. ‘But yer know, you’re still a young woman, Peggy,’ Levi said. ‘An’ if ever yer felt yer wanted to remarry I’d be more than ’appy to move out.’
Peggy had the urge to smack him. He was as blind as a bat and clearly had no idea that it was him that she loved. But she would never let him know it. He had been her best friend’s husband and she would feel that she was betraying Maggie’s memory.
‘I’m quite happy as I am. Now, can we change the subject, please,’ she said a little peevishly.
Wondering what he had said to upset her Levi fell silent.
When Susan delivered the shop takings to Annie the following afternoon, she looked brighter than she had for some long time. She wondered if it had anything to do with the dinner at Peggy and Levi’s. She didn’t have to wait long to find out.
‘Another good day’s sales,’ Susan told her. ‘People are starting to look for their winter wardrobe so you could perhaps bear that in mind when you next go buying.’
Annie nodded. ‘Right you are. Have you got time for a cup of tea?’
‘It will have to be a quick one,’ Susan said, blushing. ‘Tim said he might pop in to see me after he’s dropped his load off at the yard.’
‘Oh . . . I gather the evening at Peggy’s went well, then?’
‘Oh, it really did,’ Susan said enthusiastically as she sat down at the kitchen table. ‘Peggy cooked us the most delicious meal and Tim walked me home afterwards.’
‘And you got on well, did you?’ Annie asked innocently, as she put the kettle on. It was so nice to see Susan smiling again.
‘Oh yes, he’s a lovely chap. He has two little girls, you know? Elsie, who is nine, and Laura, who is seven. It was so nice to meet a man who is so devoted to his children after . . .’ She blinked to stop the tears from falling.
‘After Theo?’
Susan nodded. ‘Yes, you know he never showed any interest in Constance.’
‘But not all men are like him,’ Annie pointed out. ‘As you’ve discovered with Tim. You like him, don’t you?’
‘I do but . . .’ Susan chewed on her lip. ‘I suppose after Theo I’m just afraid to trust another man.’
‘But you shouldn’t be.’ Annie patted her hand. ‘You have so much more life to live and you’re too young to spend it alone. Constance wouldn’t want you to, she would want you to be happy, so give him a chance, eh?’
Susan smiled. ‘I will. Now tell me how you’re getting along.’
‘I’m bored.’ Annie sighed. ‘Monty has all but wrapped me in cotton wool. I wouldn’t lift anything heavier than a teacup if it was left to him. I keep telling him I’m just having a baby, I’m not ill, but he still fusses.’
‘Then you should think yourself lucky. All Theo did when I was having Constance was try to persuade me to go to a back street abortionist and get rid of her. I’m so glad that I didn’t.’
They spoke of Constance until it was time for Susan to leave. Her life with them had been too short but neither would have missed it for the world and they would always treasure the memories they had of her.
Later that evening, once Monty was home, Annie said pensively, ‘All this time sitting about is doing me no good at all. I have far too much time to think. I worry about what I will tell the baby when it’s old enough to ask about its grandparents.
How can I tell him or her that I was abandoned shortly after being born? ’
Monty knew how much Annie wanted to find out who her birth parents were, and unknown to her he had already made tentative enquiries of anyone who had worked at the workhouse at the time, including Peggy.
The problem was, every time he so much as mentioned it to Peggy, she closed up like a clam and told him to let sleeping dogs lie, much as she did to Annie.
‘We’ll find them one of these days,’ he told her with a confidence he was far from feeling. ‘Meantime perhaps me and the baby will be enough for you?’
‘Of course you will,’ she assured him, laying her head on his shoulder. And it was true, she was extremely lucky to have such a kind husband. So she closed her eyes and counted her blessings.