Annie Groves - Across the Mersey

‘I wouldn’t have thought that your father would approve of that,’ Luke told him.

‘No, I dare say he wouldn’t – if he knew.’

In the kitchen Jean dutifully admired the new linoleum floor Vi was pointing out to her.

‘It’s all very nice, Vi – I mean Vivienne – but I don’t know how I’d feel about not having an outhouse to do me washing in.’

‘Oh well, as to that, Edwin insists that we send everything to the laundry. He can’t abide having wet washing hanging all over the place. He’s even talked about getting someone in to do the heavy cleaning, especially now that I’m getting so involved with the WI and the WVS. Mrs Lawson has good as said that she wants me to be her second in command.’

‘I don’t know,’ Jean marvelled, shaking her head. ‘Remember how our nan used to carrying her washing down to the wash house?’

Vi’s face changed colour and she looked over her shoulder before pushing the door to and saying quickly, ‘I’m surprised at you bringing something like that up, Jean. It was a long time ago and it’s best forgotten.’

‘Well, I’m surprised at you, our Vi. Anyone would think you were ashamed of Nan now that you’ve moved to Wallasey. A hard worker she was, and proud as well, even if she and Granddad were poor.’

‘Your Luke will be getting his papers soon,’ Vi announced, changing the subject as the kettle came to the boil.

Jean’s face creased with maternal concern. ‘That’s right. Sam’s got a place waiting for him in the Salvage Corps and once he’s in it he’ll be in a reserved occupation but he isn’t out of his apprenticeship yet.’

‘Well, I can understand that you’d want to keep him safe,’ Vi agreed, ‘but for myself I can’t help feeling that it’s a young man’s duty to serve his country. My Charlie joined the TA the minute he could.’ She gave her twin a lofty look. ‘Of course, we fully support him,’ she added untruthfully, conveniently forgetting how furious Edwin had been when he heard what Charlie had done, and how he’d said that Charlie should have waited until he had a few words in the right ears before jumping the gun like he had.

‘As busy as he is, Edwin’s still volunteered to oversee our local ARP unit and of course now that he’s on the local council he’ll be expected to take on a more managerial role. I dare say he’ll be put in charge of something or other – not that he believes for one minute that there’s going to be a war.’

‘Sam thinks there will.’

Vi gave her twin a superior smile. ‘Well, I rather think that my Edwin is in more of a position to know what’s going on than your Sam, Jean. After all, he’s got important men from the War Office and the navy coming down to see him all the time, on account of the work that’s needed to be done refitting so many Merchant Navy ships.’

‘But surely that means that there’s more likely to be a war than not be one?’ Jean argued valiantly.

‘It might look that way but, take it from me, the Government is just taking precautionary measures, that’s all. Now I think we’ve got everything. Will you bring the milk and the hot-water jug for me?’

Outside in the garden Sam and Edwin were standing together looking awkward whilst Luke and Charlie were laughing at something and the twins, Jean was glad to see, were playing with Jack, who had obviously been allowed to escape from his homework.

‘I had a letter from Francine yesterday wishing us both a happy birthday,’ she told Vi. ‘She’s still in America singing with Gracie Fields. She said that she misses Liverpool but I don’t expect she’ll be coming back now with all this talk of war.’

‘Well, I certainly hope that she doesn’t. I haven’t forgotten all the trouble she caused, and now that Edwin’s moving up in the world, the last thing he needs is a sister-in-law who’s on the stage parading herself all over the place.’

‘Vi,’ Jean objected, ‘that’s not very nice. And not very fair either. Our Francine’s done really well for herself.’

‘Yes, and we all know how,’ Vi retorted darkly. ‘Edwin refuses to so much as have her name mentioned, and no wonder. America’s the best place for her. I don’t want her coming back and showing us all up, especially not now, with Isabella joining the Tennis Club and mixing with such a smart set. Did I tell you about the young man she’s seeing? His father is on the council, and his mother comes from a very well-to-do family. He’s taking Bella to the big Tennis Club dance next weekend. Bella is so generous. She wants your Grace to make up a foursome with her and Alan and Alan’s cousin. Of course, I told her that poor Grace would probably feel a bit out of her depth, what with all the other young people at the Tennis Club either working for their parents or, like Bella, working in an office, but no, she’s determined that Grace should be included. She’ll have to spend the night here, of course, and I dare say that Bella will have a dress she can borrow.’

There was no chance for Jean to make any response because they were now within earshot of the men, but she could feel her heart burning with indignation on her daughter’s behalf.

As she put the milk jug and the hot water down on the table next to the cups and saucers already laid out with military neatness, Jean tried not to feel envious of her twin’s pretty Royal Albert china, with its roses and its gold edging, nor to compare it with her own far more practical and robust cups and saucers, oddments, in the main, bought from the market. Every time she saw Vi’s tea set she felt envious, and then cross with herself for being so silly. What did a few cups and saucers matter, after all?

‘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.