up for ’is nibs an’ all,’ he snarled. ‘Well, that cocky little bleeder’s not coming here expecting a ready-made ’ome for ’imself and that woman.’ He banged his fist on the table. ‘I won’t ’ave it.’
Mary thumped the iron down. ‘I already told you, Bert. He’s no intention of living with us.’ She gave a short laugh, which quickly turned to a strangled sob. ‘He couldn’t wait to get away, if you must know. Anyway, he’s decided to stay in the army – make a career out of it. He’ll only be home for a few days, then he’s been posted to Sheerness.’
Ellie noticed that her mother didn’t mention Gerda. Mum was just as unhappy about Harry’s impending marriage as she was – if for different reasons.
Bert gave a little grunt and sat down. ‘That’s good – ’cause I wouldn’t ’ave ’im ’ere anyway,’ he said, determined to have the last word.
But Mary wouldn’t let it rest. ‘Besides, we might not have a home ourselves for long. I told you Solly’s been given notice to quit when the lease runs out. So it might be a good idea to get off your backside and start looking for another flat,’ she said.
Ellie gasped. Mum must be really upset to talk to Dad like that. She stepped forward, heart thumping, as Bert leapt up and raised his bunched fist towards her mother.
He must have seen her quick move of protest and his hand fell to his side. He smiled sheepishly at her. ‘I keep telling yer mother not ter worry, Angel. I know who’s bought this place and they’ve said we can stay on after Solly goes. Besides, our name’s on the council list, so if it comes to the worst, we’ll get a place.’
Ellie hoped they would get a council flat. She’d been looking forward to moving out of the draughty old house and having a decent kitchen and bathroom. And wouldn’t it be smashing if they got a place in the same block as Gran? Then, when things got difficult at home, she could pop in and keep the old lady company.
To her relief, Dad dropped the subject, asking Mary how much longer she’d be ironing his shirt. ‘I got an important meeting with my business associates,’ he said, thrusting out his puny chest.
Ellie couldn’t help smiling inwardly but the smile soon faded when her father turned to her.
‘They’ve finished work on the new club. Grand opening tomorrer and Tommy wants you there – all dressed up in your new finery. You lookin’ forward to it?’
When Ellie hesitated, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. She glanced anxiously at her mother but Mary carried on ironing, all her attention apparently on getting the minutest creases out of Bert’s shirt collar.
Bert stroked her hair. ‘Looks nice like that,’ he said. ‘But you don’t look like my little girl any more.’ He pushed her away. ‘Still, it’s a good chance for yer so make the most of it. You’ll do all right for yerself – just like Sheila.’
The iron thumped down again. Mum always got upset at any mention of Sheila. Getting involved with a married man, and a criminal at that, wasn’t what Mary thought of as doing all right. Ellie agreed with her. She resolved that she would just do the job until she could afford to get away – by her own efforts, not the influence of some rich man.
She was about to say so but Mary shook her head, handing the shirt to her husband. He let go of Ellie’s wrist and shrugged into it, grabbed his jacket and left the room.
When he’d gone, Mary hugged her daughter wordlessly. Ellie knew Mum was on her side, but she was too frightened of Bert’s temper to stand up for either of them. She’d just have to do what she was told – for the time being, that was.
She went back up to her room and opened the wardrobe door, trying to imagine herself all dressed up in the clothes which now hung there – long dresses in black, midnight blue or dark green, with matching stole and gloves, as elegant as anything the guests at the club might wear. The shopping trip
Mary thumped the iron down. ‘I already told you, Bert. He’s no intention of living with us.’ She gave a short laugh, which quickly turned to a strangled sob. ‘He couldn’t wait to get away, if you must know. Anyway, he’s decided to stay in the army – make a career out of it. He’ll only be home for a few days, then he’s been posted to Sheerness.’
Ellie noticed that her mother didn’t mention Gerda. Mum was just as unhappy about Harry’s impending marriage as she was – if for different reasons.
Bert gave a little grunt and sat down. ‘That’s good – ’cause I wouldn’t ’ave ’im ’ere anyway,’ he said, determined to have the last word.
But Mary wouldn’t let it rest. ‘Besides, we might not have a home ourselves for long. I told you Solly’s been given notice to quit when the lease runs out. So it might be a good idea to get off your backside and start looking for another flat,’ she said.
Ellie gasped. Mum must be really upset to talk to Dad like that. She stepped forward, heart thumping, as Bert leapt up and raised his bunched fist towards her mother.
He must have seen her quick move of protest and his hand fell to his side. He smiled sheepishly at her. ‘I keep telling yer mother not ter worry, Angel. I know who’s bought this place and they’ve said we can stay on after Solly goes. Besides, our name’s on the council list, so if it comes to the worst, we’ll get a place.’
Ellie hoped they would get a council flat. She’d been looking forward to moving out of the draughty old house and having a decent kitchen and bathroom. And wouldn’t it be smashing if they got a place in the same block as Gran? Then, when things got difficult at home, she could pop in and keep the old lady company.
To her relief, Dad dropped the subject, asking Mary how much longer she’d be ironing his shirt. ‘I got an important meeting with my business associates,’ he said, thrusting out his puny chest.
Ellie couldn’t help smiling inwardly but the smile soon faded when her father turned to her.
‘They’ve finished work on the new club. Grand opening tomorrer and Tommy wants you there – all dressed up in your new finery. You lookin’ forward to it?’
When Ellie hesitated, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. She glanced anxiously at her mother but Mary carried on ironing, all her attention apparently on getting the minutest creases out of Bert’s shirt collar.
Bert stroked her hair. ‘Looks nice like that,’ he said. ‘But you don’t look like my little girl any more.’ He pushed her away. ‘Still, it’s a good chance for yer so make the most of it. You’ll do all right for yerself – just like Sheila.’
The iron thumped down again. Mum always got upset at any mention of Sheila. Getting involved with a married man, and a criminal at that, wasn’t what Mary thought of as doing all right. Ellie agreed with her. She resolved that she would just do the job until she could afford to get away – by her own efforts, not the influence of some rich man.
She was about to say so but Mary shook her head, handing the shirt to her husband. He let go of Ellie’s wrist and shrugged into it, grabbed his jacket and left the room.
When he’d gone, Mary hugged her daughter wordlessly. Ellie knew Mum was on her side, but she was too frightened of Bert’s temper to stand up for either of them. She’d just have to do what she was told – for the time being, that was.
She went back up to her room and opened the wardrobe door, trying to imagine herself all dressed up in the clothes which now hung there – long dresses in black, midnight blue or dark green, with matching stole and gloves, as elegant as anything the guests at the club might wear. The shopping trip
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