Chapter Twenty-Four
The next week passed in a blur. So much so that Annie had little time to think of Nuneaton, let alone miss it.
The carpet was fitted; the sign was fixed above the door and looked very grand; the furniture was all in place; the rails and the shelves were stocked with clothes; and the mannequins stood in pride of place in the window.
But Annie’s funds were sadly depleted. Everything had cost much more than she’d thought it would, so all she could do was pray that the business would be a success.
‘It looks magnifique!’ Marie declared delightedly. She always tended to lapse into French when she got excited.
It was then that Annie put her idea to her.
‘I was wondering,’ she said cautiously, ‘if you might like to help out a couple of days a week while I go to the suppliers? Of course, I understand that you don’t need to work and you would have to ask John how he feels about it.
And I couldn’t pay you much to start with, so I won’t be at all offended if you don’t wish to. ’
Marie beamed. ‘I would love to ’elp,’ she said, crossing to the counter where a tray full of champagne glasses was waiting.
Every customer would get a free glass of champagne on opening day.
It had been Marie’s idea to tempt people in, and Annie thought it was a good one.
She took Annie’s arm and led her into the kitchen where she filled the kettle.
She was loving having Annie here. ‘John and I were thinking that now you are ready to open on Monday you should ’ave a day off tomorrow and we would like to take you all sightseeing.
I am sure little Adam and Nancy would enjoy it.
We could perhaps take you for a ride on the River Thames.
You must ’ave some time to yourself. You ’ave worked so ’ard. What do you think?’
‘I think it’s a wonderful idea,’ Annie agreed. She was feeling a little guilty because she’d seen so little of Nancy and Adam while she’d been getting the shop ready to open.
And so, bright and early the next morning, John and Marie picked them up in their motor car and gave them a guided tour of London, which had Nancy hopping up and down on the back seat with excitement as she saw the places she’d only ever read about in books.
They showed them Buckingham Palace and Nelson’s Column; Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London before ending the afternoon with a boat trip on the Thames.
Then they went back to Marie and John’s house where the cook had made them a beautiful meal.
As soon as it was over, Adam fell asleep and Nancy was yawning.
‘I think I’d better run you all home,’ John offered kindly as he ruffled Nancy’s hair. He’d loved spending the day with the children and hoped that he and Marie would have some of their own someday soon.
‘I will see you tomorrow at the opening,’ Marie promised as she waved them off.
On the stroke of nine o’clock the next morning Annie turned the sign on the door to ‘Open’ and silently prayed that her new venture would be a success.
Soon after the bell above the door tinkled for the first time and Marie appeared with some of her friends following closely behind her.
They looked along the rails, and it wasn’t long before Annie made her first sales.
Marie had been invaluable in helping Annie to choose the stock, for she knew exactly what the fashionable ladies in London were wearing.
‘I don’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done,’ Annie told her humbly.
Marie laughed. ‘It should be me thanking you. It ’as been great fun,’ she assured her. ‘And you can be certain that the ladies will spread the word. Just be patient and soon you will be busy.’
Annie hoped she was right.
The first few days were relatively quiet, but Annie had learnt to expect that from her experience with the shop in Nuneaton, and over the next weeks things started to pick up.
She’d received letters from Susan assuring her that all was going well, and she’d also had one from Peggy, who told her how much she and Levi were missing her.
It was this that made her say to Nancy one evening, ‘I think we might pay a visit to Nuneaton at the weekend. The Taylor-Lloyds will be wanting to see Adam, and we can spend some time with Peggy and Levi. I’ll see if Marie could manage the shop on Saturday and Monday then we can go on Friday evening. ’
The shop had been open for a month and custom was slowly picking up.
She knew it would have been better if she could have afforded a shop in the city centre, but they were too expensive to rent.
Even so her own shop had a reasonable amount of foot traffic passing by each day, and her sales had slightly improved, so she still had high hopes for it.
Nancy nodded. She didn’t really mind where she lived so long as she was with Annie, but she missed the people back home too.
And so, knowing that she was leaving the business in capable hands, they set off on Friday evening. Marie had offered to take Alfred home with her for the weekend as she’d taken a shine to him and hoped that having him there would help persuade John to have a dog of their own.
There had been no time to tell Peggy they were coming, so when they arrived on the doorstep both she and Levi were thrilled to see them.
‘How long can you stay?’ she asked as she almost hauled Annie over the doorstep.
‘Eeh, it’s grand to see you all. We’ve missed you.
But come an’ tell us how it’s goin’. Is the shop doing all right? ’
They spent the next hour chatting and once Nancy and Adam had been tucked into bed, Peggy and Annie set off to visit Susan and Tim.
‘I hope they won’t mind us calling so late,’ Annie fretted as they headed past St Nicholas Church towards Attleborough Road.
‘They’ll be as chuffed to see you as we are.’ Peggy tucked her arm through Annie’s and glanced nervously from side to side as they moved through the dark streets. They still hadn’t found the murderer and Peggy would never have dreamt of going out on her own after dark.
Susan and Tim were as delighted to see them as Peggy and Levi had been, and Susan insisted on showing Annie the shop ledgers. ‘I can hardly keep up with demand,’ Susan chuckled.
Annie was envious. ‘I wish I was doing this well in London,’ she admitted.
Susan tutted. ‘Hark at you being all impatient. Just remember it took a while for us to get established when we opened here. Give it time and it will happen. Oh, and by the way, I should tell you I’ve had Reggie in the shop a few times trying to get your address.
Don’t worry, I just tell him we keep in touch with you through Marie’s address.
The last thing you need is him coming there and hassling you. ’
A shiver ran up Annie’s spine at the mention of his name. He was certainly someone that she hadn’t missed since moving away.
‘Oh, and I don’t know if Peggy’s had time to tell you but the circus is here so we’ve had a visit from Barney and Mercy. They’ve just found out they’re going to have a baby.’
‘How lovely.’ Annie was thrilled for them, although again she couldn’t help but feel a little envious.
Susan and Tim were clearly happy together, and Peggy and Levi seemed to be very content as well.
There was also Marie and John, who were clearly devoted to each other, so it felt like everyone had someone special in their life except her.
‘But what about you?’ Susan asked as if she could read Annie’s mind. ‘Is there anyone who’s caught your eye yet?’
‘I had Monty,’ Annie pointed out, flushing.
Susan shook her head. ‘I know you did but he’s gone now, God bless his soul, and you’re still a beautiful young woman. He wouldn’t have wanted you to stay alone for the rest of your life.’
‘But I’ve got Adam and Nancy and the shop to think about,’ Annie blustered.
‘Of course you have, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have someone special to love.’ Seeing Annie was getting upset, she changed the subject. ‘Anyway, I thought perhaps you might take Adam and Nancy along to the circus. I’m sure they’d love it and you could see Barney and Mercy?’
‘That’s a good idea, actually,’ Annie agreed. ‘I could take them on Sunday afternoon.’
‘I’ll have to ask Tim if we can come with you with our girls,’ Susan said. She already loved her stepdaughters as if they were her own.
For the next hour, they caught up on each other’s news, until Peggy yawned and insisted it was time for bed.
‘Well, they certainly seem happy enough,’ Annie commented as she and Peggy set off for home.
‘Oh, they’re still on honeymoon,’ Peggy chuckled. ‘Tim can’t keep ’is eyes off ’er, which is just as it should be.’
‘I couldn’t help but notice that you and Levi seem to be getting on remarkably well too,’ Annie teased.
Peggy was glad the darkness hid her blushes. Annie still hadn’t given up hope of them getting together one day, but only time would tell.
On Sunday afternoon Annie set off with Nancy and Adam.
They called for Susan, Tim and their girls on the way, and walked to the circus.
Nancy was bubbling with excitement; she’d never been to a circus and could hardly wait.
She was sixteen now but seemed much younger thanks to being incarcerated in the workhouse for most of her life.
She was a constant joy to Annie as well as being an invaluable help and she’d never regretted taking her home.
It was a beautiful afternoon and Annie began to relax a little.
She’d spent an uncomfortable hour with the Taylor-Lloyds that morning when she had taken Adam to visit them.
Her mother-in-law had treated her with disdain, but Annie had expected that.
She’d never treated her any differently and Annie couldn’t see anything changing now.
‘It’s a poor lookout when a grandmother can only see her only grandchild when his mother sees fit to visit,’ Mrs Taylor-Lloyd had said coldly. ‘And why we can’t have your address is beyond me. At least then we could visit you and take Adam out.’
Annie had remained tight-lipped and used the excuse that she was still looking for more suitable premises, which hadn’t gone down at all well, and she’d been glad when she could make her escape.
The visit had been made even worse by the fact that Reggie had been there, hanging on her every word.
Just the sight of him made her skin crawl and she could hardly bear to even speak to him.
However, now she pushed it from her mind and as they approached the big top along with a crowd of other people queuing for tickets, Barney came out of the enormous tent and spotted them.
‘What a lovely surprise.’ He rushed over to them and gave Annie and Susan a hug. ‘Come along with me, you shall have ringside seats today.’
Annie tried to ignore the glares of the people waiting as Barney hurried them past and once inside, he led them to the best seats in the house.
‘I’m goin’ to see the girl that sells the toffee apples an’ sweets,’ he told them happily.
‘An’ she’ll ’ave instructions to give yer all as much as yer can eat on the ’ouse.
I’ll go an’ find Mercy an’ all, to tell ’er you’re ’ere.
She’ll be so pleased to see yer. You’ll see ’er up on the trapeze soon, but not fer much longer.
Now we’re expectin’ a baby, I don’t want her swingin’ about up there fer long. ’
As he shot away, Nancy and Tim’s two girls stared about the big top with wonder on their faces.
Adam was still a little young to understand where they were, but he’d picked up on the happy mood and was in fine spirits.
The afternoon that followed was magical and they were sad when the show was over.
‘Can we go on the rides now?’ Tim’s girls implored. ‘Oh please!’
‘I don’t see why not. It’s Sunday and we’ve nowt to rush home for,’ Tim told them as he led them outside.
Barney was working the swing boat and beckoned them over.
‘Come on, let’s see if we can touch the sky, eh?
’ He laughed as the girls and Nancy clambered in, but Adam was too small so Annie held on to him.
Soon Barney had the children soaring high and their laughter echoed around them.
They rode on the carousel next and while they were there Mercy approached them.
She looked radiant and gave Annie a hug.
They’d taken to each other the first time they’d met and they were always happy to see each other.
‘How long are you here for?’ Mercy asked.
‘Only until tomorrow morning, I’m afraid,’ Annie told her. ‘We have to catch the train back to London first thing then it’s back to work in my new shop on Tuesday.’
Suddenly Annie sensed someone standing behind her and she turned to see Reggie. Her stomach sank and all the joy went out of the day, and she just wanted to leave.
‘Here, let me hold my nephew for you. He’s getting heavy now.’ Without waiting for permission, Reggie lifted Adam from her arms.
Annie flushed. It would have sounded churlish to refuse him, but she felt like snatching the child back anyway. He seemed to have forgotten that not so long ago he’d told her that he didn’t believe Adam was his nephew.
‘I was going to suggest you come and meet my parents. It’s time you all got to know each other,’ Mercy said.
Annie shook her head, keeping a close eye on Adam.
‘Thank you. Perhaps next time? I’d have loved to meet them but I think it’s time I was getting Adam back to Peggy’s for his tea and bath.
’ Without another word she took Adam back from Reggie and the minute Nancy joined her she said, ‘Right, it’s time we were off now. ’
Nancy looked disappointed and Annie felt guilty for dragging her away, but she couldn’t stand to be in Reggie’s presence a moment longer.
‘In that case, I’ll walk back with you,’ Reggie volunteered.
Thankfully Susan heard him and arrived at Annie’s side. ‘It’s all right,’ she said coldly. ‘Me an’ Tim have had enough now so we’ll see her back.’
‘Yes, goodbye, Reggie,’ Tim said firmly, and after saying their goodbyes to Barney and Mercy they walked away leaving Reggie with a face as dark as a thundercloud.
Once they’d put a safe distance between them, Annie sighed. ‘Now I remember why I left for London,’ she said gloomily.
‘I just hope he didn’t hear you telling Mercy you were catching an early train,’ Susan said quietly. ‘I wouldn’t put it past that bugger to try to follow you.’
‘Oh, I don’t think even he would go to those lengths to find out where we’re living,’ Annie said, praying she was right.