Sing as We Go by Margaret Dickinson Page A

informed her during the first week in April, as she opened a letter at the breakfast table. ‘I can’t imagine why the interest in visiting her maiden aunt all of a sudden,’ she said airily, but her eyes were twinkling with merriment.
    Kathy stared at her for a moment and then forced a smile. She had to appear delighted that her best friend was visiting, but in truth her heart was sinking at the thought that she wouldn’t be able to meet Tony if he should ask her.
    ‘Do you mind?’ she asked, hoping that Jemima would express irritation at yet another intrusion on her quiet, well-ordered life.
    ‘Of course not,’ Jemima replied spiritedly. ‘She’s my god-daughter as well as my niece.’ For a moment her eyes took on a faraway, dreamy expression. ‘You know, that was one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for me. Asking me to be godmother to their precious daughter. Especially . . .’ Her voice faded away and she shook herself and came back to the present with a jolt. Briskly, she added, ‘It’s nice to see the child, even if it is you she’s coming to see.’
    ‘I’m sure—’ Kathy began.
    ‘Now, now, no little white lies to make me feel better. I can’t abide being lied to, whatever the reason.’ There was a pause before she went on. ‘I thought I might treat the three of us to a day at the seaside on Monday. There’s an excursion with the local bus company to Saltershaven. Would you like that?’
    ‘The seaside?’ Kathy’s eyes shone. ‘Oh, I would. I’ve never been.’
    Jemima stared at her. ‘You mean to tell me you’ve never seen the sea?’
    Kathy bit her lip as she shook her head. It did sound ridiculous that a girl of nineteen had never seen the sea.
    Jemima shook her head slowly. ‘Your father—’ she began but then stopped and altered whatever it was she’d been going to say. ‘Then we’d better rectify that omission, my dear.’ She rose from the table. ‘But for now, we’d better get ready for work, else we’ll both be late and that would never do.’
    Kathy rose to clear away the breakfast things feeling yet another stab of guilt at the deceit she was practising on this good, kind woman.
    Maybe I should tell her the truth, she pondered, but although the romance with Tony was progressing, he’d left her in no doubt that he wanted it kept secret. As the days passed she had the niggling doubt that his reasons were more than just the impropriety of the manager going out with a lowly junior assistant. And to add to her worries, he’d made no mention of plans for the coming weekend.
    Very well then, Kathy tossed her head as she marched into work, I’ll make other arrangements.
    ‘Stella,’ she said when there was a break in the morning routine. ‘My friend Amy’s coming to stay this weekend. And I know she loves the pictures. Would you like to come with us on Saturday night?’
    ‘Why?’ Stella asked bluntly. ‘Lover boy not coming up to scratch? Not asked you out this week, then?’
    Kathy sighed, but forced a smile to her face. ‘No,’ she said carefully. ‘It’s time I kept my promise to you and I’d like you to meet Amy. You’ll like her. She’s bubbly and fun.’
    Stella’s prickliness dissolved and she said, ‘I’d love to. I’ll ask my dad tonight.’
    ‘Blimey!’ Stella greeted Kathy the following morning. ‘Talk about the third degree. My dad wanted to know where I was going, who with and what time I’d be home. Then he said what picture were we going to and was it “suitable” . . .’ She rolled her eyes. ‘And then he said “Are there any boys going, because I don’t want you consorting” – consorting if you please, that’s what he actually said – “with boys?” ’ She spread her hands helplessly. ‘How am I ever going to get married if I’m not allowed to “consort” with boys? I ask you!’
    Kathy laughed wryly. ‘Tell me about it. Why do you think I left home?’
    ‘Was that why? Because your dad wouldn’t let