Constance placed William in his pram and then walked along to Jill’s house. She knocked on the door and it was immediately thrown open, her friend grinning widely. ‘It’s about time you got out of that house. Come in.’
‘It’s been good of you to call in to see me all the time, but I must admit it’s nice to come to you for a change,’ Constance replied.
‘You haven’t been well, so I didn’t mind.’
‘I know, but luckily I’m feeling much better now.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. Sit yourself down and I’ll make us a drink.’
Constance gratefully sat on the sofa. She’d been ill for a week with a bladder infection, but now she was feeling back to normal she was going to see Ethel the next day. However, other than maternity clothes, she had nothing to wear. The clothes she had brought with her were all ruined, stretched out of shape with many of the seams gaping. When Jill returned with a tray she said, ‘Jill, I need to buy some new clothes, but I don’t want to pay a lot for them. Can you recommend anywhere?’
‘If you don’t mind secondhand, I know a place along Battersea High Street.’
‘I’m not sure about secondhand if I don’t know where they came from.’
‘You’ll be surprised. All the stock is clean, and very good quality. The woman who owns the shop only buys good stuff. Look, drink your tea, and then I’ll get Andrew ready and we can go and take a look. If you don’t like anything, fine, but it’s worth checking out before you spend your money on cheap new clothes.’
It wasn’t long before they were pushing their prams side by side to the shop. Constance doubted she’d find anything, but when they arrived and went inside, she was pleasantly surprised. She searched the racks, finding labels she recognised, and soon had a small pile of clothes. She hated breaking into her savings, but she had no other choice, and asked, ‘Can I try these on, please?’
‘Of course you can, ducks,’ the small, neat, woman said. ‘There’s a changing room over there.’
For the next twenty minutes Constance paraded the clothes she’d selected, Jill giving the thumbs up or down, and then replacing the discarded ones with others. Finally, she settled on two dresses, a couple of just-above-the-knee skirts and two blouses. It wouldn’t give her a large wardrobe but she was reluctant to spend any more money, so she paid for the goods. ‘Thanks, Jill,’ she said on their way back home. ‘It’ll be good to get out of my maternity clothes.’
‘I’ll give your hair a bit of a trim too.’
‘Well, now, what have we here?’ Susan Porter said as they were about to pass her on Kibble Street. ‘The new mum. Let’s have a look at the sprog then.’
Connie didn’t want to antagonise the woman, so pulled back the blankets covering William. ‘He’s asleep,’ she said.
‘Yeah, I can see that, and at least he’s white. Which is more than you can say for another baby that’s going to be born from this street.’
‘The colour of its skin shouldn’t matter,’ Constance snapped curtly.
‘Let’s go,’ Jill urged.
‘Yeah, go on, bugger off, you stuck-up cow.’ Susan scowled.
‘You’ve no right to call her that, you nasty-minded bitch,’ Jill retorted.
‘I speak as I find.’
Constance had felt the sting of nasty remarks from Susan Porter and was annoyed that she’d now turned on Jill. ‘You might call us stuck-up, but if we’re up, that makes you beneath us, down in the sewers where you belong.’
‘You … you … I’ve a good mind to give you a slap,’ Susan ground out.
‘Mrs Porter, if you continue to make slanderous remarks to myself and my friend, along with threats, I will have no other recourse than to consult a lawyer and you will find yourself in court. Now good day to you.’
With that, Constance marched off, Jill beside her almost choking with laughter. ‘My God, did you see her face when you talked about a lawyer? She actually looked worried.’
‘Good, and with any luck she’ll leave us alone for the foreseeable future.’
‘I doubt anyone has put the wind up her like that before, so you never know. Now come on, let’s get indoors and have something to drink before I trim your hair.’
Constance smiled at Jill, loving having her as a friend. Tomorrow she’d go to see Ethel looking presentable in one of her new outfits. She still wasn’t happy being married to Albie, but at least living on Kibble Street was bearable now, though one day she still hoped to escape.
It was after one in the afternoon. Albie tossed and turned, finding it difficult to sleep. He’d over-indulged last night and was now suffering for it. He was living in two worlds: one that he loved, where he enjoyed his job in the club and the rest of the time he spent in Soho, and the other that he hated, where he was expected to pay attention to a baby that did nothing but suckle and fill his nappy. It turned his stomach, but his other world offered him pleasure. If it wasn’t for his expectations, he’d leave Battersea and his life here for good. However, for Burton Blake’s house and the money that would one day be his, he’d stay. He just hoped the man wouldn’t live to a ripe old age.
Albie heard Connie pottering about downstairs, and he decided to get up. She could make him a cup of tea and something to eat, which, with any luck, would then help him to sleep. However, when he walked into the front room, his eyes widened. Connie was wearing a pale blue dress he hadn’t seen before and it suited her. Her hair was shining and framed her face. Her eyes looked skilfully made up, and her lips were painted pink. She actually looked a lot nicer, but even if she was a doppelgänger for Marilyn Monroe, he wouldn’t fancy her. ‘Where the hell are you going dressed up like that?’
‘To see your grandmother.’
‘I don’t know why you bother but you can make me a cup of tea and a sandwich first.’
‘Surely you can do that yourself?’
‘I can, but I won’t. Why have a dog and bark yourself?’
‘How dare you,’ she hissed.
‘All right, don’t get on your high horse, I was only joking,’ Albie said placatingly, knowing that if he wanted Connie to stay he had to be nice to her. He forced himself to put his arms around her and as he’d come up with another excuse for staying out of her bed, he said, ‘I know I said I’d consummate our marriage after the baby was born, but I can’t. Not while you’re breastfeeding. The thought of copping hold of your breast and getting covered in milk turns my stomach.’
‘Albie, I don’t care if you never consummate our marriage. I don’t want you to make love to me. I’m happy to leave things as they are.’
He was chuffed with that and said, ‘Fine, I ain’t going anywhere where I ain’t wanted. You can get off now, if you like. I’ll make my own tea and a sandwich.’
‘Thanks,’ Connie said, and wrapping William in a shawl she quickly left.
Albie heaved a sigh of relief. He didn’t have to worry about getting it up for Connie any more. He’d married a cold fish, and that suited him well.
Constance held William in her arms while she waited for a bus. She also carried a bag containing his spare nappies and cream. What she really needed was one of those folding pushchairs, but he wasn’t big enough to go in one yet. Thankfully she didn’t have long to wait for a bus, and was soon alighting at the market. The familiar sounds assailed her ears, but none seemed to bother William as he remained soundly asleep in her arms. She made the short walk to Ethel’s flat and rang the bell. The old woman’s eyes lit up when she saw her.
‘Constance, you’ve had the baby. Come in and let me take a look. Is it a boy or a girl?’
‘A boy. His name is William,’ Constance told her as they walked into the sitting room.
For a moment Ethel’s eyes clouded, but as soon as she looked at the baby she recovered. ‘Oh, my great-grandson. He’s gorgeous.’
‘Sit down and I’ll hand him to you while I make us a cup of tea, if that’s all right?’
‘Of course it is,’ Ethel said, taking a seat and holding out her arms.
Constance left her smiling down at William while she went to the kitchen to fill the kettle at the Belfast sink. The window overlooked a yard, but they had managed to make it look cheerful with pots of colourful flowers. While waiting for the kettle to boil, her thoughts drifted back to her conversation with Albie. It was true she didn’t want to make love to him, but she still craved affection, someone to really care for her, and didn’t want to remain in a loveless marriage. There had to be a way out.
‘When we’ve had these drinks, how do you feel about going to see Mary in the café? I know she’d love to see the baby.’
‘That’s fine with me.’
‘How are you out and about already? Did you have William early?’
‘Yes, I did. The last time I visited you I had a bit of an accident and fell off a bus.’
‘Oh, my goodness …’
‘The fall brought the baby on but I only suffered a few bruises.’
‘Well, you were lucky by the sound of it. I’m glad you are both all right. And how are things at home?’
‘Albie is working nights in a factory and sleeps all day so I don’t see much of him. He’s not that interested in his son, but Dora adores him.’
‘I guessed she would, but reading between the lines you don’t sound any happier with Albie.’
‘I must admit I can’t forgive him for the way he treated me, or you, and the lies he’s told. I just wish I could get out of this farce of a marriage.’
‘You could try to talking to your father. When he sees the baby it might make a difference, soften him enough to allow you to return home.’
‘I suppose I could give it a try, but even if he refuses I could beg him to give me an allowance, enough to rent a small flat with a bit of an income to live on.’
‘I wouldn’t bank on it. Though I hate to say it, your father isn’t a generous man.’
‘You’re probably right, but I still have to ask.’
‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as the saying goes. Now come on, Constance. If you’ve finished your drink let’s go and show my gorgeous great-grandson to Mary.’
She leaned down to take the baby from Ethel, wrapped him in his shawl and realised again that when here she was Constance, her diction accepted along with her name. They walked along the market and one of the stall-holders shouted, ‘Wotcher, Ethel, nice to see you up and about again. Who’s that you’ve got with you?’
‘This is my grandson’s wife, and the baby she’s carrying is my great-grandson,’ Ethel answered proudly.
‘Blimey, gal, you don’t look old enough.’
‘Thanks, but you need to get your eyesight checked.’
‘No, I don’t. I’ve got twenty-twenty vision, but come over here, love, and let’s take a look at the nipper.’
Constance walked up to the man and said, ‘How do you do, and this is William.’
‘Bloody hell, you sound like a duchess. Here, Ethel, I didn’t know you’re related to royalty.’
‘I’m not, you soppy sod. Constance just speaks nicely, that’s all.’
Constance was smiling as they walked on. It seemed she was collecting titles. First the Queen of Clapham, and now the Duchess again. It was a shame she didn’t have the wealth associated with them; if she did, she’d leave Albie like a shot.
Mary glanced round as the door opened, smiling widely when she saw Ethel and Constance walking in. She hurried up to them, her eyes on the bundle in Constance’s arms. ‘Oh, you’ve had the baby!’
‘Yes, meet William,’ Constance said.
‘Cor, what a smasher. Can I hold him?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Constance agreed, placing William in her outstretched arms.
Mary smiled down at William. He was the first baby she’d ever held and it made her feel all sort of warm inside.
‘Can I have a look at him?’ Helen asked.
‘Yeah, of course you can,’ Mary told her.
‘Now then, Helen, I don’t want you to get broody,’ Percy said as he joined them. ‘I don’t want to have to find another waitress.’
‘Leave it out, Percy. I’m not married yet and even when I am we want to wait a while before starting a family.’
‘Good, now let me have a look at the baby.’
‘It’s a boy,’ Mary enthused.
‘He’s a proper bonny boy too, and you look a picture holding him. Now then, as it’s time for your break, why don’t you all sit down.’
Unused to compliments, Mary flushed, and smiled up at Percy. ‘Thanks,’ she said.
Helen hurried away to serve another customer, and once the rest of them were seated, Percy asked, ‘What can I get you, ladies?’
‘Nothing for me, thanks,’ Ethel told him. ‘We had a cuppa a short while ago. What about you, Constance?’
‘Nothing for me too.’
Percy chuckled. ‘I’d soon be out of business if all my customers were like you, but I’m sure you’re hungry, Mary.’
‘Yes, a sausage sarnie and a cuppa, please.’
‘Right, coming up,’ Percy said, walking away.
‘Goodness, Mary, you can see he really likes you,’ Constance said as soon as Percy disappeared into the kitchen.
‘I know, but I’m still not sure. I like him a lot, but there’s still the age gap.’
‘Why don’t you stop worrying about it?’ Ethel said. ‘At least go out with him and see how it goes. Like can turn to love, and if it does I don’t think you’ll find it matters any more.’
‘I dunno. I’m still not sure,’ Mary said, her eyes once again settling on William. ‘He’s a lovely baby, Constance.’
‘He’s so good too,’ she replied, smiling fondly at her son.
‘What’s Albie like with him?’ Mary asked.
‘He barely takes any notice of him and I don’t think he’s held him since he was born.’
Percy returned with Mary’s sandwich and a cup of tea, and after placing them on the table he said, ‘Give me the baby and I’ll pass him back to his mother.’
Mary held William up and as Percy took him, he held him snugly in his arms, a soft, gentle smile on his face as he looked down on him. It was in that moment that Mary made up her mind. Percy was such a lovely man, and he’d make a wonderful father too, unlike Albie, who it seemed showed no interest in his son. Mary knew that Percy longed for a family, and she did too. She’d wait until he closed the café, and then she’d tell him – tell him that she’d love to go out with him, and who knows, as Ethel said, liking Percy might turn to love.