Chapter Twenty-Two
Susan and Tim planned to marry in mid-April, after which Annie, Nancy, Adam and Alfred would take the evening train to Euston, where they would begin their new life, while Susan and Tim moved into the house in Attleborough Road.
It was an exciting time for all of them, although tinged with sadness.
Annie knew how much she was going to miss all the people she cared about.
But as Peggy had pointed out, London wasn’t the other side of the world, and it wasn’t as if they were never going to see each other again.
The Taylor-Lloyds had not been at all happy with her news, especially Reggie. Annie had promised she would bring Adam back regularly to see them, and although disgruntled, there was nothing they could do to stop her.
The weeks after she returned from London were hectic.
Annie packed up all their personal possessions to be sent ahead by train.
John and Marie had promised to pick them up and deliver them to the rooms above the shop.
Now the wedding was just two days away and Annie just hoped she’d thought of everything.
In the shop Susan was working her last day until after the wedding.
They’d agreed that all the shops would be closed for a few days while they celebrated with the happy couple.
Susan was a mixture of nerves and excitement.
Annie had insisted she should have a new gown as her gift to her, and it was now hanging in the rooms above the shop.
It was a lovely calf-length, ivory satin affair, and Susan could hardly wait to wear it and become Tim’s wife.
But her happiness was tinged with sadness as she thought of Constance, the daughter she had lost. How excited she would have been if she had been here.
Susan still missed her every single day, although Tim’s two little girls had gone some way to mending the hole Constance had left in her heart.
Susan was thinking of Constance as she tidied the dresses on the rails during a lull in customers.
She’d been quite busy that morning so was enjoying having a few quiet minutes.
However, it wasn’t long before the bell above the shop door tinkled and straightening her back, Susan turned to face her customer.
The smile froze on her face and for a second she thought she must be having a nightmare.
She blinked, but when she opened her eyes again, he was still there.
Theo. This was the man she had adored with every fibre of her being.
He had been the father of her daughter; the man she was sure she would marry.
It had been a long time since she’d last seen him and she’d been convinced that he was out of her life for good.
‘Th-Theo . . . what are you doing here?’ Her voice came out as a squeak and her heart was thumping so hard she was sure he would be able to hear it.
‘That’s not much of a greeting.’ He smiled the smile that had always been able to turn her legs to jelly.
‘What do you want?’
He turned the sign on the door to ‘Closed’ and frowned at her. ‘In a single word – you! I want you, Susanne.’
She shuddered to hear the name he had once called her. He was coming towards her with his arms outstretched and she wanted to back away, but her feet felt as if they’d taken root and she couldn’t move.
‘I’ve been such a fool,’ he rushed on as he grabbed her hands and looked deep into her eyes. ‘I know I’ve treated you abysmally, but all that is going to change.’
Susan shook her head and snatched her hands from his. ‘I have no wish to become your whore again, Theo,’ she said coldly. ‘Those days are behind me.’
‘I know that and that’s not what I want you for. I want you for me. We’ll get married if you like. That’s what you always wanted, isn’t it?’
The shock of seeing him was beginning to wear off and for the first time she noticed that he looked rather dishevelled and not at all his usual immaculate self. The cuffs of his shirt were frayed and his jacket was creased. His hair needed a good cut too.
‘And why the sudden urge to marry me after all this time?’ she asked coldly. ‘You didn’t even bother to attend our daughter’s funeral.’
He shrugged. ‘I know, and I’m sorry about that. I suppose I’ve realised how much I miss you.’
‘The rest of your girls found a new pimp, have they?’ Her voice was laced with hate. ‘I wondered how long it would take them to see through your lies. And if I married you, where would we live?’
‘Well, I thought I could move here to live with you.’
Susan laughed mirthlessly. ‘Oh, I see. You’ve lost the apartments as well, have you?
Too much gambling again?’ She’d always viewed Theo through rose-coloured spectacles, but finally she was seeing him in the harsh light of day, and she didn’t like what she saw.
He’d broken her heart and almost broken her spirit, but she was stronger now.
She walked to the door and held it open.
‘I suggest you leave immediately. And please don’t come back.
The part of my life that I shared with you is far behind me.
And you should know I am getting married the day after tomorrow to a decent, kind man. A man that is everything you aren’t.’
The smarmy smile slid from his face. ‘You’re getting married?’ He sounded incredulous. ‘But who would marry you? You’re nothing but a whore!’
‘My husband-to-be is quite aware of what I was in my past life,’ Susan replied calmly. ‘So once again I suggest you leave.’
With an effort Theo forced a smile back to his face. ‘How about you give me a loan then? Just for old times’ sake. I’m a bit down on my luck at present. Just a few hundred would tide me over.’
‘You’ll not take another penny from me!’ Susan’s eyes flashed angrily as she stared at this wreck of a man who had once meant the whole world to her. How could she have been such a fool?
He suddenly surged forward and took her arm in a vice-like grip and for the first time Susan felt a flutter of panic in her stomach.
‘All right, just a few pounds then? Surely you can manage that!’
At that second Peggy appeared and, recognising Theo and seeing how he was hurting Susan, she hurried forward.
‘Get your filthy bloody ’ands off ’er!’ she snarled, angry colour flooding into her cheeks.
‘An’ get out of ’ere right now else I’ll ’ave the coppers on yer!
Ain’t you caused this woman enough ’eartache?
Go on, clear off an’ find yerself some other poor unsuspecting soul to live off afore I put me foot up yer arse to ’elp yer on yer way!
’ Rushing across the shop she lifted a broom from behind the counter and advanced on him menacingly.
Seeing that he was wasting his time, Theo let go and sneered. ‘Don’t worry – I’m going,’ he spat. Then he looked back at Susan. ‘And just know that I never had any intention of marrying you, especially once you’d given birth to that . . . that—’
With a roar Peggy rushed forward and Theo slammed out of the door and strode along the street, his face red with rage.
Only when he was out of sight did Susan dare to breathe again as the tears came thick and fast.
‘Now that’s enough o’ that, my girl,’ Peggy scolded as she closed the door and led Susan to a chair. ‘If yer did but know it, he’s just done you a favour showin’ you ’is true colours like that. Think what a lucky escape you ’ad! Come on, we’ll ’ave us a nice strong cup o’ tea, eh?’
She bustled away to put the kettle on as Susan composed herself. Peggy stayed with her for the rest of the day just in case Theo returned, but when they turned the sign on the door to ‘Closed’ late that afternoon there had been no further sign of him.
‘Just put ’im from yer mind once an’ fer all,’ Peggy urged. ‘An’ look forward to yer weddin’. This will be a new start for yer wi’ a decent man.’
Susan nodded in agreement. Peggy was right; she’d had a very lucky escape.