Across the Mersey - Annie Groves [77]
‘Tea for two and cakes,’ Teddy told the waitress firmly, winking at Grace.
As other smartly dressed cinemagoers filled the restaurant, Grace was glad that she had allowed the twins to persuade her into wearing her frock. Its soft mid-blue suited her and emphasised the colour of her hair and eyes, as well as emphasising her small waist.
She felt a bit self-conscious pouring the tea for them both, but Teddy was so relaxed and such fun to be with that she soon forgot her discomfort at being out on her first proper date, as she laughed at his jokes and enjoyed his company.
‘I hope there isn’t going to be too much soppy stuff in this film,’ Teddy joked as they left the restaurant, his hand protectively under her elbow. ‘Mind you, me mum gave me a clean hanky before I left, so you needn’t worry.’
He was carrying his overcoat, and just in front of the doors to the circle he paused and rummaged in his pocket, producing a box of chocolates for her.
Grace blushed and smiled, and thought she had never been so happy.
They were back in their own kitchen, Alan looking at her as though he couldn’t believe his luck in getting away with what he had.
‘I’ll have to go round and see Mummy now, Alan, seeing as we’re supposed to be going shopping together this afternoon. It’s a pity we haven’t got a telephone. I’m surprised your father doesn’t have one installed for us, seeing as you’re working for him. Perhaps I should say something about it to your mother.’
‘There’s no need for that. I’ll have a word with him. Look, Bella, what happened last night – well, it won’t happen again.’
She liked his hangdog look and the humble note in his voice, Bella decided.
‘No it won’t,’ she agreed coldly, ‘’cos if it does I shall tell your mother.’
‘It wasn’t all my fault.’ Alan was getting angry again now. ‘If you hadn’t said what you did—’
‘You’ll have to drive me round to Mummy’s, Alan,’ Bella told him, ignoring his accusation. ‘Oh, and if you want something to eat I’m sure your mother will have some tripe left.’
The film had kept Grace on the edge of her seat with fear for poor Maureen O’Hara, apart, that was, from those few brief occasions when Teddy had reached for her hand and held it comfortingly, drawing her closer to him.
Even her mother would have completely approved of the way he had behaved towards her, Grace acknowledged as they left the cinema.
‘That Maureen O’Hara is so beautiful,’ she said to Teddy as they emerged into the gloom of the late December afternoon.
‘She’s not a patch on you,’ Teddy told her stoutly, before asking, ‘What number bus do we want?’
‘We?’
‘Well, you don’t think I’m going to let you make your own way home, do you? I should have brought the ambulance, then we wouldn’t need a bus.’
‘There’s no need to see me home, Teddy.’
It was typical of him that he should offer, though, and Grace was pleased that he had done, even if by doing so he had inadvertently reminded her of another, very different, man, who had also wanted to see her home safely.
‘I suppose you and the other girls will already have made plans for New Year’s Eve?’
‘We have talked about it,’ Grace admitted.
‘You’ll be wanting to go dancing, I expect, somewhere like the Grafton,’ he guessed.
‘Lillian says it’s got the best dance floor in Liverpool, properly sprung and everything, and she’s going to get tickets for us all for New Year’s Eve.’
‘Happen I might get a ticket for meself, especially if a certain very special girl is going to agree to stand up and dance with me.’
‘I’m sure any girl would be happy to dance with you, Teddy,’ Grace told him, and meant it.
‘I’m not talking about any girl, just one girl … Promise you’ll save the last dance for me?’
Somehow or other he had taken hold of her hand without her realising it and now he was lacing his fingers between her own and she could feel a warm glow of happiness.
‘I … yes, I will,’ she told him breathlessly.
It had gone cold, and suddenly Teddy started to cough.
‘That sounds nasty,’ Grace sympathised when he had stopped.
Teddy shook his head. ‘It’s nothing, just got a bit of