‘I told Steve and me mam last night about – about – well, you know.’
‘And were they pleased?’
Nell smiled, suddenly strangely self-conscious. ‘Steve’s happy as a pig in muck, as you say, though I’m not so sure about me mam. She’s not good on her legs at all now. Lucy’s growing up and is a real help about the house, but I don’t think mam could cope with a baby now.’
‘Baby?’ Lizzie’s sharp ears had overheard. ‘Who’s having a baby? Is it you, Emily?’
Emily didn’t answer so Nell was forced to say, ‘No. It’s me.’
Lizzie’s face was a picture and then she flung her arms around Nell. ‘How lovely.’ She drew back and stared into Nell’s face. ‘What is it? Aren’t you happy about it? Oh, Nell, there’s nothing wrong with you or the baby, is there?’
‘No, it’s just that I can’t afford not to work and Mam’s not as young as she was. She’ll never cope with a young baby.’
‘But my mam could. She’s never been so fit since we moved – thanks to Emily.’
Nell shot a look at Emily, but said nothing.
‘And she loves looking after little ones. She’s hanging her hat up for Emily to get cracking and have another one and as for me, you should hear her going on at Billy. It gets quite embarrassing at times. You’d think no one in the world had ever had a grandchild before.’
Since their marriage, Billy had moved in with Lizzie and her mother in Cromwell Street, though he had been reluctant to leave his mother alone in the court off Garden Street. But it seemed Ruth was quite content. ‘Eddie comes round almost every night. I’m not lonely, I promise you, and you’re better off with Bess. It’s a nice house she’s got.’ There’d been a wistful note in her tone and silently Billy wished that Eddie Crossland would get on with it and propose to Ruth. That way she, too, could leave the back-street court.
‘So, think about it, Nell. When you have the baby, you could pay my mam a bit to look after it. Is that what you and Emily have been whispering about?’
‘Sort of,’ Emily said carefully.
Nell sighed. ‘You’d better tell her. She’s got ears like an elephant when it comes to secrets. In fact, you’d better tell all of ’em.’
Machines slowed and Ida and Flo joined them. Their faces were solemn, as if they were expecting bad news. There was so much of it just now in their city, where work was concerned. But as Emily explained swiftly, their expressions lightened. ‘If Nell does go to Creswick Street, can you carry on teaching Winifred between you?’
The three women glanced at each other and then chorused, ‘Yes.’
‘You’d be daft not to take up Emily’s offer, Nell,’ Lizzie added bluntly.
‘But I don’t need mollycoddling. I worked up to the very last day when I had Lucy.’
Lizzie laughed. ‘She did. Her waters broke as she was standing at her machine. We had a right job to get her home.’
Nell had the grace to smile wryly. ‘All right, then, Emily, you win.’
Emily touched her arm. ‘It’s not a case of winning, Nell. This is something I want to do and you’re the best person to help me.’
And if, at the same time, it eased Nell’s workload over the next few weeks and months, then that would be a bonus. But Emily kept these thoughts to herself. She’d got Nell’s agreement and – for the moment – that was all she wanted.
During the August school holidays, Harry came to stay. Two days after his arrival, Nell and Lucy arrived at Emily’s door early one evening. ‘We’ve come to take Harry to the pictures,’ Nell said. ‘There’s a Laurel and Hardy on at the Palace in Union Street. We thought he’d love that.’
‘He would,’ Emily said, but added doubtfully, ‘What’s the rest of the programme, though? Is it suitable for a nine-year-old?’
‘Oh phooey, Emily, don’t be such a sobersides. I know the manager there. He’ll let us in.’
‘That’s not what I’m worried about, Nell. It’s what Amy and Josh would say if I let him see something – well, inappropriate when he’s in my care.’
Nell grinned. ‘You can put all the blame on me. If I don’t tell you about the other film or films, you can’t be held responsible, can you?’
‘You’re impossible, Nell,’ Emily laughed. ‘All right, then.’ She turned and called him. ‘You’ve got visitors, Harry, and they’ve come to take you to the cinema.’
‘Lucy!’ The boy’s pleasure at the sight of the friend he had made in Ashford was plain for them all to see. Politely, he added, ‘And Aunty Nell.’
‘We need a gentleman to escort us, you see,’ Nell’s eyes twinkled. ‘And we thought of you.’
‘May I go, Aunty Emily?’
‘Yes, of course.’
As they walked away, with Harry between them, Emily heard Lucy say, ‘Get ready for a surprise, Harry. It’s quite a shock when you hear the talkies for the first time, but it’s a nice surprise.’
Emily shook her head, a little unsure as to whether she had done the right thing. But she needn’t have worried. When Harry returned later, he was vague about the other films he had seen, and their story line, but he enthused about the Laurel and Hardy and recounted all their antics in detail. Emily was forced to wonder if Nell had primed him to say little about the other films on the programme.
‘Did you have a good time, Harry?’ Trip asked.
‘It was great, Uncle Trip.’
‘We have another treat for you. Next week, Amy Johnson’s new Gipsy Moth aeroplane is on display at Coles in town. We’ll take you to see it, if you’d like,’ Trip told him.
The boy’s eyes shone. ‘Oh Uncle Trip, that would be wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.’
Trip laughed and ruffled his hair. At nine, Harry was growing into a very handsome boy and a nice one too. He was well mannered and patient with his younger cousin, Lewis. No doubt it had to do with having a younger sister and brother.
‘Wait until you hear what else we’ve got lined up for you,’ Emily said, laughing at the boy’s delight. ‘If you can stay long enough, we’ll take you to Sheffield’s Aviation Week. It starts at the beginning of September.’
Harry’s face fell. ‘I have to go back to school then.’
‘I’ll write to your mam and dad and see if they’ll let you stay.’
Josh wrote back at once to say, ‘I’m sure the head teacher won’t mind for once. After all, it could be regarded as educational!’
It was a merry family party that set out on Saturday, 23 August. Harry could hardly contain his excitement at seeing the famous Amy Johnson’s plane close to and Lewis, infected by his cousin’s enthusiasm, kept asking questions non-stop.
‘Is it a real moth, Daddy?’
‘No, no, Lewis. It’s just the name of a make of aeroplane.’
‘Is it going to fly today?’
‘I don’t think so. It’s just for everyone to look at.’
They queued to see the aircraft and it took them over an hour to reach the display. Harry stood in awe. ‘It’s so big, isn’t it?’ he whispered.
‘We’ll have to move on. I’m sorry, Harry, but other people are waiting to see it too. You know how long we had to wait.’
But Harry dragged his feet, his gaze still on the aeroplane until at last he had to leave.
‘I’ll buy you a photograph of it,’ Trip promised. ‘I’m sure there will be some on sale. You can keep it as a memento of your visit. And in a few days’ time we’ll be going to the air show. That’s something to look forward to, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, Uncle Trip,’ Harry said dutifully, but they could see he was bitterly disappointed not to be allowed to stay longer, just drinking in the sight of the Gipsy Moth.
At the beginning of September, Harry’s excitement rose again at the promised visit to the air show at Coal Aston, several miles south of the city. Trip drove them all there and paid the admission fee.
‘I see they’re offering flights,’ Trip said quietly to Emily. ‘What do you think? Would Josh or Amy mind if I took him up, d’you think?’
‘No, but just you and Harry go. I think Lewis is a bit too young. He might be airsick.’
‘Right.’ He touched Harry’s shoulder. ‘Come on, Harry, let’s go flying.’
The boy looked up with wide eyes. ‘Really, Uncle Trip?’
‘Yes, really.’
Emily watched them go. Inside, she was a little fearful. She didn’t think Amy would be too happy, though she believed that Josh would have agreed. A little while later, she watched as the little plane lifted into the air. She watched it climb into the clouds and bank away to fly over the city. In the plane, Harry twisted and turned in his seat to get the best view.
‘Uncle Trip, it’s fantastic. Look, we’re above the clouds. They really do look like cotton wool, don’t they? And everything’s so tiny on the ground. The people look like ants. I can’t even see Aunty Emily and Lewis now. Oh, it’s wonderful. When I’m older, I’m going to learn to fly.’
Trip nodded. He was feeling a little queasy. Obviously, flying wasn’t for him, but there was no way he was going to admit it. Back on the ground, he walked unsteadily towards Emily and Lewis. Emily convulsed with laughter. ‘You look positively green, Trip. Was it that bad?’
‘Not really, but I’m obviously not cut out for flying, whereas Harry is. Now, let’s go and watch the stunt flying, shall we?’
‘I could eat a hot dog,’ Emily said mischievously. ‘How about you, Trip?’
Trip heaved, turned away and ran across the field, whilst Emily bent double with laughter.
‘Aunty Emily, you’re cruel,’ Harry said, but he was laughing too.
‘Come on, boys,’ Emily said, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes. ‘I’ll buy us a hot dog each. I really don’t think Uncle Trip wants one, do you?’
They found a good vantage point to watch the stunt displays and Trip joined them, looking sheepish.
‘Sorry, Trip,’ Emily said, still hardly able to keep the laughter from her voice. ‘I’ve been scolded by my nephew for being cruel.’
‘Thanks, old chap,’ Trip said and winked at Harry. He was looking much better now. ‘Tell you what, I’ll pay for a second trip for you, but this time your aunty is going with you.’
At once Emily’s merriment died. ‘Oh, I don’t think . . .’
‘Please, Aunty Emily. It’s great. You’ll love it.’
‘All right, you’re on,’ she said.
‘Can’t I go up, Mummy?’ Lewis begged, but Emily was firm. ‘No, you’re too young. But in a few years’ time, when Harry’s older, he’ll take you up. Now then, let’s watch the rest of the display and then we’ll go and pay for another flight.’
To everyone’s surprise, not least her own, Emily loved the flight and was as thrilled as Harry when they landed. Trip had the good grace to laugh wryly. ‘Serves me right for trying to get my own back.’
He linked arms with his wife and together they walked back to where they had left the car, with the two boys chattering excitedly about everything they had seen that day. Harry just couldn’t stop talking about the two flights he’d had.
‘You know, Trip,’ Emily said thoughtfully, ‘I think Harry is born to fly.’