Sunlight on the Mersey by Lyn Andrews Page A

that I often get off the tram two or three stops early to save a few coppers?’
    Kate had intervened then and firmly told them she didn’t want to hear another word on the subject. She had resolved to speak to her daughter later: a conversation he’d heard part of through the scullery door.
    ‘Iris, luv, you must stop accusing Charlie of being devious. You’re just going to have to accept that, whether you like it or not, Florence and Charlie seem to love each other,’ Kate had said gently but firmly.
    ‘Mam, I can’t help it. He wasn’t in the least bit interested in Florence until the day she came here to meet Rose,’ Iris had protested.
    ‘He hadn’t met her until then. He’d only ever heard you talk about her,’ Kate had reminded her.
    ‘Yes, well, but after that he wanted to know where she lived and then after I’d been for tea and I’d described their house to you, doesn’t he take himself off to see her father and the next thing is they are courting,’ Iris protested stubbornly. She just couldn’t rid herself of the feeling that Charlie had some kind of ulterior motive.
    ‘I think you’re making something out of nothing, Iris,’ Kate had sighed.
    ‘Her mother doesn’t like him. Florence has told me that,’ Iris had persisted.
    ‘She obviously wanted better for Florence. If they do eventually get married, Florence is going to have to accept that she’s not going to be able to live in the style she does now, but if she loves him, they’ll manage. She’s got a decent enough job. Now, let the subject drop, Iris, please. I hate to see you and Charlie at loggerheads.’
    He hadn’t heard clearly what reply his sister had given, but then the conversation had turned to Rose and he’d moved away from the door.
    He’d left the office and had walked down to the Pier Head to catch the tram home and was deep in thought about his sister’s animosity towards his courtship of Florence as the vehicle made its way through the streets of the city centre and out towards Scotland Road. As it reached St Anthony’s Church there seemed to be some sort of hold-up, which brought him out of his reverie. Passengers asked the conductor what was wrong. Was there a problem with the overhead trolley? How long did he think they would be stuck here?
    ‘I’ll have a word with the driver, hang on a minute,’ the man replied. He went to confer with the tram driver and was back in a few seconds. ‘Looks as though there’s been an accident. My mate up front says he can see an ambulance, a bit of a crowd and plenty of bobbies but he hopes we won’t be held up for long.’
    ‘Probably another bloody horse that’s bolted. Cause mayhem they do, stupid animals, you’ve only got to sneeze and they’re off!’ someone remarked caustically.
    It was fifteen minutes before the traffic began to moveagain but as he alighted at his stop Charlie thought that at least the women would be busy getting the evening meal organised and wouldn’t be on their doorsteps gossiping, so at least he wouldn’t get waylaid and have to stop and be asked questions, the answers to which they most probably already knew. They did it just to make certain they had the facts right before passing on any information they’d gleaned.
    Iris was already home and his mam was shutting up the shop so his sister was setting the table.
    ‘What’s for tea?’ he asked, taking off his jacket and cap.
    ‘There’s a pie in the oven,’ Iris answered curtly.
    Charlie noticed the envelope on the dresser. ‘I see our Rose’s weekly letter has arrived. No doubt full of gossip about what’s going on in Tregarron, as if we’re really interested.’
    ‘Speak for yourself. I think her letters are very interesting and often amusing and so does Mam.’
    ‘What is amusing?’ Kate asked as she came into the kitchen, catching the end of Iris’s conversation.
    ‘Our Rose’s letters,’ Iris supplied.
    ‘I have to say I really look forward to them. When she