Across the Mersey - Annie Groves [76]
‘Perhaps you could say something to Mr Parker about how hard Alan’s having to work, Mother-in-law. He’s coming home at all hours.’
Alan stiffened.
‘I’m sure Alan won’t want me to worry his father when he’s got so much on his plate with all this extra war work that the council is needing to get done.’
The familiar frostiness was back in her mother-in-law’s voice, but Bella didn’t care. She had made her point and satisfied herself that neither Alan nor his mother wanted Alan’s behaviour to get back to his father’s, or her parents’, ears.
When Teddy had asked Grace what film she would like to see she had told him Wuthering Heights with Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier. She had seen it once already with her mother, but she knew she would enjoy seeing it again, because it was so deliciously spine-tingling and sad. A real girl’s film, Luke had scoffed, which it was. Not that she was testing Teddy or anything by choosing it, of course. No, not for one minute. But she had been pleased by the way he had smiled at her and immediately agreed that he’d like to see it as well, even though she was pretty sure he had only said so to please her. And then soft-heartedly she had told him that really she’d just as soon see JamaicaInn, and his eyes had lit up like a kiddie’s at the thought of pirates and fighting, his relief making her laugh.
They’d arranged to meet outside the Odeon on London Road in the city centre, and although she was on time, Grace was pleased to see that Teddy was there ahead of her, smiling broadly at her when he saw her.
‘I wasn’t sure I’d recognise you out of uniform,’ he teased her, giving her an openly appreciative look, which was nevertheless still respectful.
He was wearing a smart navy-blue suit and an equally smart shirt and tie. Beneath the hat he’d removed when he came over to her and was now replacing, his hair was flattened into obedience with Brylcreem. Grace felt proud to be with him as he guided her towards the Odeon.
She’d taken care with her own appearance, brushing the hair she had washed the previous night until her curls gleamed, her toilette critically overseen by the twins, who had shaken their heads over her first choice of last year’s sensible heavy tweed skirt, insisting instead that she wore her ‘best’ woollen dress, also from last year, and giving their approval to her silk stockings and smart court shoes.
Grace had banished them before carefully applying the new dark pink Max Factor lipstick she’d been experimenting with in the privacy of her room all week, worrying that it might be just a bit too racy. But not even her mother had said anything when she had finally gone downstairs, the pretty scarf that had been a Christmas present from Luke last year tucked into the neck of the raincoat she had decided to wear ‘just in case’.
Because they were early there wasn’t a queue. Teddy headed straight for the shining chrome box office set between the two pairs of doors.
Grace’s eyes widened when she heard him asking for front circle seats. She hadn’t expected that!
‘Seeing as we’re a bit early we could go up and have a bit of something in the restaurant before the film starts, if you fancy it?’ Teddy suggested once he had paid.
Grace shook her head. He’d spent enough already. But as though he guessed why she was holding back he told her, ‘I wouldn’t mind a bit o’ summat meself.’
‘Oh, well, yes, then that would be lovely,’ Grace agreed.
‘It’s you who is that,’ Teddy told her boldly as he guided her through the foyer and up the stairs to the lounge.
Grace could remember only one previous occasion when she’d sat in the front circle and that had been as a treat for her sixteenth birthday.
The carpet beneath her feet was so thick that she could feel herself sinking into it, and although she was trying hard not to look impressed, she couldn’t help studying the elegant décor.
A smartly dressed waitress showed them to a table in the restaurant.
‘Just tea for me, please,’ Grace told her, not daring to think what the prices were