Josephine Cox - A Woman’s Fortune

Upstairs was pretty grim, too, but there was an electric water heater over a wash basin, and even a working lavatory. The three bedrooms were bare of furniture, dusty and stuffy in the heat, but there would be room for all of them, as there had been in Shenty Street.

‘I think we’re staying, at least until we sort out summat better, don’t you?’ Sue asked her grandson.

‘I reckon you’re right, Grandma. Let’s go and tell Fergus we can start unloading the van. It’s going to be dark soon and I’m that hungry I can hear my tummy singing.’

‘Good thinking, young fella,’ said Sue. ‘I won’t put up with an unclean house, but just for tonight I think I may have to break that rule.’

The van was unloaded far quicker than it had been packed up that morning. Fergus and Michael took the bedsteads and then the mattresses upstairs between them while Jeanie and Evie carried in the chairs and the boxes for the kitchen. The mangle went into a corner of the kitchen.

Fergus was invited to stay the night, Peter agreeing to double up with Robert so as to leave his bed free for the helpful Irishman, but Fergus said he’d rather be getting home. He didn’t mind driving late at night if it meant his own bed at the end of it, and his wife, Kate, waiting for him, so Sue made him a cup of tea and gave him some of the cake left from earlier, and then the Carters waved him on his way with heartfelt thanks and love to be passed on to Brendan and the family.

The sun was setting in a red sky as the forlorn family watched the rear lights of Fergus’s van disappear down the road and they waved until he was out of sight. Then they filed back into the shop through the boarded-up door and Sue, Michael and the boys went to make up the beds.

‘We won’t unpack more than necessary,’ said Jeanie to Evie, leading her into the kitchen. ‘I don’t know as we’re staying, despite that Frederick Bailey’s letter.’

‘But it will be better when we’ve cleaned it up and got our things where we want them, I’m sure, Mum. And at least we’ve got Dad away from Mr Hopkins.’

‘Thank the Lord.’ Jeanie looked around the big filthy kitchen and shook her head. ‘You know, Evie love, I’m really trying to see this as the start of a new life, a hope that things will be good for us from now on in a different place. That’s what your grandma would be saying to you.’

‘And she’d be right, Mum. We’ve got somewhere to stay, at least for now, and Mr Bailey must be a good sort, don’t you think, as he thought to write that note and leave the tea and bread?’

‘Yes, love, but we don’t know him, do we? We’ve never even met Fergus’s friend Jack, who arranged this with Mr Bailey. And if we do stay here we’ll have to pay rent. Your grandma and I have a bit of money saved from the washing but it won’t go far. We’ve lost our laundry business now, and your dad’ll need to find a job straight away.’

‘I know, Mum, but didn’t Brendan say Jack Fletcher has an ear to the ground and might come up with something? And Dad can start looking tomorrow. I know he’s been a bit … daft with the betting, and then this card game with Mr Hopkins, but mebbe he’s learned his lesson.’

‘I want to think so, love, I honestly do. But somehow I can’t see your dad changing, and that’s what’s worrying me. I’ve seen the road he’s been going down for a while. Mebbe it’s too late for him to be any different.’

Evie wanted to argue that their lives would get better now they had a chance to start again, all of them together in a new place, but they’d lost so much by running away – all their friends, not least – and she couldn’t bring herself to lie to her mother. In her heart she knew that Mum was probably right: Dad would never change. She only hoped he wouldn’t drag them down further.

She thought about Billy – how he had kissed her farewell and told her he’d wait for her to come back. Was it only this morning? It seemed like days ago.

Quietly contemplating their new lives, she felt furious with her father. Stupid man! Stupid and selfish. His selfishness had caused his family to lose everyone they knew and cared for, everything Mum and Grandma Sue had worked for, and their little home in the town where they belonged. Now they had only each other.

For a moment she stood breathing deeply until her anger subsided.

‘We’ve got each other and we always will have,’ she said, trying for a smile. ‘Together, who knows what we can manage?’

As Evie woke up very early in a strange room, the light streaming through the uncurtained window, and remembered the upsets of the weekend and her parting from Billy, she was comforted to see the familiar bulk of Sue in her own sagging bed close by.

‘Awake, Evie?’ Sue smiled. ‘New home, new life, lass. Shall we be up and at it? I’m keen to see what that shop part is like. I had a few thoughts about it in the night. Let’s get your dad busy taking down the boards and we’ll see better what’s what.’

‘Gran, you always know how to make the best of things,’ Evie said, feeling less anxious. ‘So much to do … I’ll go down and make a pot of tea while you get up.’

It was impossible for Evie to feel miserable for long with Sue’s remarkable energy and enthusiasm rallying her.

Sue and Evie were up and making toast when Peter appeared, playing a cheery ditty on his penny whistle.

‘You’re in a good mood,’ Evie remarked to Peter, as he smiled at the music, quietly tapping his toes.

‘No school,’ said Peter simply.

‘But you’ll have to go sometime.’

‘Not for ages and ages. It’s the summer holidays from the end of this week. Mum and Dad won’t send Bob and me to school for one week, will they, Grandma?’

‘They haven’t even had the chance to think about school, Pete,’ Sue replied. ‘I reckon you’re safe now until September.’

‘Yippee! Though I won’t tell Bob just yet. Let him stew, like.’

‘Don’t be cruel,’ laughed Evie. Within five minutes it was smiles all round. The music was jolly and lifted their spirits.

‘You can help your dad with those boards and let some light into the front,’ said Sue, as Michael and Jeanie came running in.

Peter gave his father a look that said he’d rather not help him but his words belied that. ‘Of course,’ he said. ‘I’m good on ladders – if we have one, that is?’

‘Saw one round the side yesterday when I fetched the key,’ Michael told him. He took a piece of toast and went off with it to find the ladder and his tools. All their things had been unpacked so quickly from Fergus’s van the previous evening that it was difficult for everyone to remember where they’d put their belongings.

‘You sound keen to get on,’ said Jeanie to her mother, sounding anything but keen herself. She looked as if she hadn’t slept at all and her eyes were red.

‘No point in delaying,’ Sue replied. ‘You never know what you’ll find.’

‘You’re right, Mum, of course,’ Jeanie pulled herself up, ‘though it’ll have to be an awful lot better than I think it’s going to be if we’re to stay here. The place is rundown – and a shop, for goodness’ sake!’

‘I’ll have no defeatist talk,’ Sue answered, though she was smiling. ‘We don’t even know who owns it, and we’ve yet to meet Brendan’s friend Jack Fletcher, either. Or maybe he owns it? I’m confused about that, I admit.’

‘Me, too,’ said Jeanie. ‘I expect someone will appear to tell us – especially if they want some rent,’ she added.