Across the Mersey - Annie Groves [8]
‘More cake, Sam?’
‘No, thanks, Vi. I’ve never bin keen on shop bought, not with my Jean being such a good cook.’
A small smile twitched at the corners of Jean’s mouth as she listened to her husband and saw her twin bridle slightly.
Jack was a bit too pale and quiet for her liking, Jean decided, watching her nephew as he sat on the grass and drank his lemonade. In looks he resembled her own twins and was therefore physically more like Vi than either of her other two children, but that similarity didn’t seem to endear him to her.
Suddenly, despite the smartness of her twin’s home and garden, Jean found that she was longing for the familiar comfort of her own much smaller and shabbier home.
‘It’s been lovely, Vi, but I think we’d better make a move. With it being such a nice day there are bound to be long queues for the ferry,’ she announced, causing Sam to look at her in both surprise and relief. ‘I’ll give you a hand washing the tea things first, though,’ she offered, ignoring Sam’s twinkling smile.
‘There’s no need for that. Bella will help me with them.’
They were both on their feet, equally aware of their eagerness to have the ritual sharing of their birthday over and done with.
There were already long queues waiting for the ferries back to Liverpool, but Jean didn’t mind. It gave her the opportunity to chat over the afternoon with Sam as they stood in line.
‘Vi was telling me that Edwin would like to have Jack evacuated if it does come to war. Poor little boy. Vi should never have had him really, and I blame myself that she did.’
Sam put his hand over hers. ‘You’ve nowt to blame yourself for, love. It is a shame that the poor little lad isn’t better thought of, but there’s nowt you could have done. You know what your Vi’s like. She’s never liked thinking that she’s being outdone.’
‘Especially not by me,’ Jean agreed ruefully. ‘She was determined to have Jack from the moment she knew I was pregnant.’
‘Aye.’ They shared a mutually understanding look that was tinged with pain and sadness.
‘It might have been different if our little Terry had lived,’ Jean said quietly. ‘He and Jack could have been good friends.’
‘Like our Luke and Grace are with your Vi’s Charlie and Isabelle, you mean?’ Sam asked her drily. ‘I could hear Charlie boasting to Luke about that ruddy car of his and how he spends his time driving about in it, showing off.’
‘Edwin won’t tolerate that. Vi told me herself that the only reason Edwin has given Charlie a car of his own is because he needs him in the business.’
‘You mean because he wants to keep him out of the army if it does come to war,’ Sam corrected her. ‘Mind, I can’t blame him. I don’t mind admitting that I’m relieved that Sid’s got a place waiting for our Luke with the Salvage Corps. What’s that look for?’
‘A lot of parents will have to see their sons go off to fight if it does come to war, Sam. Do you think that it will?’
‘Edwin reckons not, but I can’t agree with him. One thing’s for sure: if it does then we’ll bloody well have to win,’ he told her bluntly.
Jean shivered and moved closer to him. ‘The twins will be leaving school next summer. Maybe there’ll be some jobs going at Lewis’s that would suit them.’
‘I can’t see them two bowing and scraping to the posh women that our Grace has to serve,’ Sam chuckled.
Jean smiled as well. Grace worked in the À La Mode Gown Salon of the big store as a junior salesgirl and she often entertained her family over tea with tales of the well-to-do women who went there to buy their clothes.
‘Mum, did Auntie Vi say anything to you about this dance at the Tennis Club that Bella wants me to go to?’ Grace leaned over to ask, her face bright with excitement.
‘She did, love. I wasn’t sure that you’d want to go.’
‘Of course I do. Bella was telling me all about it. It sounds lovely. She says she’s going to ask Auntie Vi to buy her a new dress. She’s seen the one she wants. It’s pale blue silk embroidered with white marguerites.’
Some of the brightness faded from her face, and Jean knew exactly what she was