Family Drama 4 E-Book Bundle

Bernie went into the café, locking the door behind him and then gazed around the dining room. For a moment it seemed to echo with memories – the customers, the waitresses that had come and gone – and seeing that the room looked dusty and unused, he smiled sadly as he thought about their cleaner, Nora. Like Madge and Gertie, they hadn’t given a thought to the poor woman and her wages, something he was ashamed of but had now put right.

With a shake of his head he headed for the stairs, hoping they had all managed to find jobs. Dolly was waiting, and he smiled, glad that he was able to give her some good news.

‘Pearl is letting us have Johnny for a couple of hours tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Well done, love,’ she said, and Bernie’s chest swelled. ‘In the meantime, let’s get this place on the market.’

Chapter Thirty-Seven (#ulink_bd42f43b-9321-5424-9bd3-483857b94c0a)

Pearl was enjoying herself as she reorganised the shop. Bessie was happy to give her a free rein, and with Johnny in his pram behind the counter, he got most of the old woman’s attention.

She had given the place a good clean, afterwards putting the stock into sections: clothes racks in one area, furniture in the other, arranged to resemble a room. Most had been improved with a good polish, and already they had managed to shift a dining-room table and a sideboard.

The clothes got her attention next, and Pearl made sure that everything on offer was clean and pressed. Bessie had moaned at the garments spread over lines in the upstairs flat to dry, but it resulted in more sales.

Pearl’s nose wrinkled. There was still a musty smell in the air and she knew it came from the piles of old blankets and quilts, but washing such large items presented a problem.

She turned to Bessie. ‘Maybe we should get rid of this lot. They won’t sell in this state.’

‘Get rid of them! Leave it out, girl. Not everyone is as fussy as you, and the blankets are worth a few bob each.’

‘In the two weeks I’ve been here they haven’t sold. Is there any way to wash them?’

‘I suppose you could take them to the laundry baths, but if you ask me it’s a waste of time.’

‘You said that about the clothes.’

‘Yeah, well, I must admit we’ve shifted a lot since you sorted them out, but look at you. All this washing is wearing you out and you’re up half the night ironing.’

‘It’s been worth it, and I’ve nearly finished now.’ Pearl frowned. ‘I suppose the laundry is the answer for these blankets, but I’d be stuck down there for hours.’

‘Well, I ain’t taking them. That place is full of gossiping old biddies and—’

The door opened, cutting Bessie off in mid sentence, and both smiled as Nora came in.

‘Hello,’ Pearl said.

‘Hello,’ she replied, her eyes puzzled. ‘What you doing here?’

‘I work here now. What about you? Have you found another job?’

‘No,’ she said, her eyes flicking to the pram. ‘That your baby?’

‘Yes, and his name is Johnny.’

Nora leaned over the counter, and as she pulled faces at him, he chuckled, dribble running from the corner of his mouth. ‘He likes you, Nora.’

‘What can we do for you, love?’ Bessie asked.

‘Want new coat. Mummy gave me this,’ she answered, holding out two shillings.

Involuntarily Pearl glanced out of the window. September was drawing to an end, but thankfully it was still mild. They didn’t have many winter coats, and with just two shillings Nora’s mother must be expecting a miracle. Moving across to the racks, she flicked through them, finding only one that might fit the short, chubby woman. Now that everything was priced, she checked the tag, but it was too expensive. ‘I’m sorry, Nora, but at the moment we’ve only got one that will fit you and you haven’t got enough money. We may get more in later.’

‘Mummy said get coat now.’

Pearl glanced at Bessie but, obviously reading her mind, the woman shook her head.

‘We can’t reduce it. I paid good money for that coat and there’d be no profit if we let it go for two bob.’

With an appeal in her eyes Pearl continued to look at Bessie, but to no avail.

‘Now don’t look at me like that. We’re not a charity and we’ve got to eat.’

With a sigh, Pearl put the coat back on the rack, but was then struck by an idea. ‘Nora, do you know how to use the machines at the laundry?’

‘Yes. I does our washing.’

‘Bessie, she could take the blankets. Freshly laundered, they’re sure to sell and we could let her have the coat for two shillings as payment.’

‘Oh, all right then. Gawd, if I ain’t careful I’ll end up as soft as you.’

‘I tell Mummy, then come back,’ Nora said.

‘What have you got us into now?’ Bessie complained as the door closed behind Nora. ‘If those blankets don’t shift we’ll have wasted money having them laundered, let alone letting Nora have that coat for two bob.’

‘Don’t worry, they’ll sell,’ Pearl assured her, praying she was right as she bent to the pile, selecting those in the best condition. ‘Poor Nora, it’s a shame she hasn’t found another job. Do you know her mother?’

‘Yes. Lily’s a nice woman. She had Nora late, when she was in her forties and must be getting on a bit now. Let me see, I’m sixty-six, so Lily must be coming up to seventy.’

Pearl looked at Bessie in surprise. Somehow she had thought her older, the woman’s skin lined and her hair grey. ‘What about Nora’s father?’

‘He died a few years ago.’ Her eyes took on a thoughtful look. ‘Lily was often in the market, but I ain’t seen her lately.’

‘Perhaps she’s ill.’

‘Yeah, that could be it. I’ll ask Nora when she comes back.’

Pearl tied the blankets into a bundle, and when Nora returned Bessie was quick to ask the question.

‘I haven’t seen your mum for a while, Nora. Is she all right?’

‘Yes,’ the woman said, taking the blankets from Pearl’s arms.

‘She’s not ill?’

‘No,’ she said brusquely.

With a sigh Bessie took some money from the till and, shoving it into her pocket, Nora bustled off.