Doris had been on tenterhooks all Friday, for although John’s back seemed much better, she was terrified he’d overdo things and not be right for Saturday. She’d forbidden him to come into the office today as it involved a bit of a walk and a steep climb up wooden stairs to get to it, and had ordered him firmly not to do any gardening or heavy lifting.
Yet try as she might, she was finding it hard to concentrate on her work, for not only was she preoccupied with John, the purchase of her bungalow, her wedding and the delightful thought of having her son Anthony at home for a while, but she was also facing the imminent arrival of her younger sister, Doreen.
Doris wasn’t really looking forward to seeing her again, for they’d never really got on, and the last time they’d met, Doreen had been insufferably rude and insensitive, which had properly put Doris’s back up. But two years had passed and they were both more settled in their personal lives than before, so maybe it was time to mend fences.
However, she certainly wouldn’t put up with any nonsense from Doreen, who to her mind wasn’t leading an altogether respectable life. She might have a good secretarial job down in Wales, and be a loving mother to her children, but she was divorced; the baby she was raising was the illegitimate offspring of some seaman she’d been having an affair with; and now, by all accounts, Doreen was carrying on with one of the schoolmasters. Archie Blake’s death had been unfortunate, and Doreen had been very cut up about it, but that was no excuse, really, for getting pregnant without a wedding ring on her finger, and behaving like a trollop.
Feeling a bit better after her inner rant, Doris had managed to get through the most pressing issues that had crossed her desk, then she shot home at lunchtime to make sure John was behaving himself, and to take charge of her wedding outfit which the seamstress delivered to her door at one o’clock. On her return to the office she’d instructed the temporary secretary on how things should be done during their absence, and as the woman seemed very capable, she left the factory estate at four o’clock feeling content that the office would be in good hands.
Doris walked home slowly, enjoying the warmth of this late summer day and the smell of newly cut grass. The sky was clear blue, the horizon shimmering where the sky met the sparkling sea, and the gulls hovered almost lazily over the hills and the town. It was a perfect day, and if it was like this tomorrow, then she and John would be blessed.
She came to a halt outside John’s bungalow and gave an exasperated sigh. The pocket handkerchief lawns in front of both bungalows had been mowed despite all she’d said, and if John’s back had suffered, then he’d really get the sharp edge of her tongue. She marched up the path and let herself into his bungalow.
‘I told you not to exert yourself,’ she said crossly.
He came out of the kitchen grinning. ‘It wasn’t me, Doris. I promise.’
‘Then who …?’
‘Hello, Mother,’ said Anthony, coming from the sitting room and swamping her in a hug. ‘We thought we’d come a bit earlier than planned, and as I had nothing better to do, I cut the grass.’
Doris hugged him tightly. ‘Oh, Anthony, dear boy, how kind.’ She pulled back from him as she heard childish laughter coming from the sitting room. ‘Is that my Teddy?’
Without waiting for an answer, she dashed in to find Suzy in an armchair with little Teddy at her feet playing with a wooden truck on the hearthrug.
‘Hello, Susan,’ she said distractedly as she bent to scoop the small boy into her arms and smother his face in kisses. ‘Oh, Teddy, darling,’ she murmured, holding him close and breathing in the deliciousness of his thick fair hair and baby skin. ‘What a big, beautiful boy you are for your grandma.’
Teddy squirmed and pushed away from her, his little face scrunching up as if he was about to wail in protest. Doris quickly put him down, her heart aching that her only grandchild didn’t know her.
‘He’ll be all right once he’s settled in,’ said Suzy, rising from her chair to coolly kiss Doris’s cheek before picking up her son to soothe him. ‘It’s been a long journey down from Cambridge and everything’s a bit new and daunting.’
Doris bit down on a sharp reply, for reminding them that she’d hardly seen any of them since they’d moved away would only make the situation more awkward. She forced a smile. ‘Well, it’s lovely to see you all,’ she managed. ‘You’re looking well, Susan.’
Suzy smiled and put Teddy back down on the floor with his truck. ‘I’m feeling very much better, thank you, Doris, and really looking forward to catching up with everyone tonight. It’s such a shame Fran’s not well enough to come, but she telephoned this morning and asked me to give you her love and best wishes.’
‘That was very kind of her,’ Doris muttered. Actually, she was bitterly disappointed that Fran couldn’t play the violin at her wedding. ‘Tonight will be a very quiet affair. We’re just meeting for a few drinks at the Officers’ Club,’ she continued stiffly. ‘My sister Doreen is due to arrive from Swansea very soon, and Rosie has kindly offered to babysit for a couple of hours while Ron takes charge at the Anchor.’
She gave a little sniff of disapproval. ‘Ron blotted his copybook the last time he was left to look after the children, so he won’t be asked again.’
‘Oh dear,’ said Suzy with laughter in her blue eyes. ‘Poor Ron will never learn, will he?’
‘It seems not,’ Doris replied, unwilling to discuss Ron’s unedifying behaviour with her daughter-in-law. She glanced at her watch, and then headed out to the kitchen where Anthony and John were in deep discussion about the Japanese surrender.
‘I wouldn’t put it past the Japs to renege on the whole thing,’ said Anthony. ‘It’s highly suspicious that they’re taking so long to sign the surrender, and I suspect they’re plotting something.’
‘Surely not?’ said John. ‘They’ve been thoroughly beaten throughout the Pacific, and after those atomic bombs – which must have killed hundreds of thousands of their people – surely they won’t want to risk another being dropped.’
Anthony shrugged and turned to his mother. ‘Sorry about being so gloomy on the eve of your wedding, Mother, but we got talking and …’ He kissed her and put his arm round her waist. ‘John and I will spend a quiet evening at your place with Teddy while you girls paint the town red. I brought some fillet steak and a good bottle of wine, so we’ll be quite content.’
Doris giggled girlishly. ‘We won’t be painting the town red – but perhaps with a tinge of pink. I’ll need my wits about me tomorrow.’
‘John told me about your plans to turn the two bungalows into one. It’s a splendid idea, Mother.’
‘Yes, isn’t it? We’re both very excited about it. Work won’t start until we get back from our honeymoon, but we hope to have it all finished by Christmas.’
‘It’ll be our best Christmas ever,’ murmured John, kissing Doris’s hand.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Doris blushed. ‘I’ve made up my spare room for you, Anthony, and borrowed a cot for Teddy. So here’s a spare key. Come and go as you please.’
‘Thank you, Mother. Now I propose we have a cup of tea and a slice of Suzy’s lovely Victoria sponge before you girls get all dolled up for your evening out.’
Doris had to reluctantly admit that Suzy’s baking skills were as good as her own, and when it was time to return to her bungalow to put Teddy to bed, the girl had asked her if she’d like to bath him and read him a story. Doris was beginning to warm to Suzy, but to her chagrin, there was still a tiny nub of jealousy that niggled away at her, for her son was committed wholeheartedly to the girl and would never really be her boy again.
Doreen climbed down from the train with Archie junior on her hip, the girls leaping out before her onto the platform. It was lovely to be home again, even if her last memories of Cliffehaven and Beach View had been overshadowed by Archie’s father’s tragic death in that London tube station.
She took a deep breath of the warm, salty air to banish the awful memories of that day. ‘Stay together and don’t wander off,’ she ordered the girls. ‘I have to get the pram and suitcase out of the guard’s van.’
‘I’ll do that, Doreen,’ said Stan jovially.
‘Uncle Stan!’ she exclaimed in delight, giving the stationmaster a hug. ‘How lovely that you’re still here. I thought you must have retired by now.’
He hugged her back and then looked down at her with sad eyes. ‘I’m afraid I won’t have much choice in the matter soon,’ he said. ‘But I’ll tell you more once we’ve got your things out of the van.’
Doreen watched him lumber down the length of the train and frowned. She’d known Stan all her life, and he was so much a part of this station that she couldn’t imagine him anywhere else, so why was he retiring?
Stan carried the suitcase and wheeled the large pram down the platform. He took charge of nine-month-old Archie, who grinned and made a grab for his peaked hat. ‘Goodness me,’ he chuckled. ‘He’s a lovely big chap, isn’t he?’
‘As handsome and sweet-tempered as his father,’ said Doreen proudly. ‘Heavy too,’ she added with a grunt as she took him from Stan to plonk him into the pram and strap him in. ‘You were saying about maybe having to retire,’ she prompted.
‘There’s talk they’ll be closing this branch line,’ he said sadly. ‘Now the troop trains and special services are no longer running, the railway company deems it unprofitable.’
‘But what about your lovely cottage?’ she asked in horror. ‘Surely they aren’t just going to pension you off and leave you homeless?’
He smiled down at her. ‘I’ll get a good pension, and they’ve promised they’ll only charge me a peppercorn rent for the cottage until I turn up my toes. Then it will either be sold off or pulled down to make way for new housing.’
He gave a deep sigh. ‘Which means my niece, April, and her little Paula will have to find their own place to live. I had hoped she could just carry on renting it, but the rail company won’t hear of it.’
‘Oh, Stan, I’m so sorry,’ Doreen commiserated. ‘It’s been your family home ever since your father was stationmaster.’
‘Aye, well, at least I can live out my last days there, and I’ve got a bit of money put by, so I can help April out when it comes to getting her own place.’
Doreen caught sight of her girls wandering off in boredom to inspect Stan’s large tubs of flowers. ‘I’d better get on, Stan. Peggy’s expecting me, and I don’t want to be late for Doris’s drinks tonight.’
Stan’s eyes twinkled. ‘I bet you never thought you’d see the day your sister got wed again,’ he said. ‘A lot of things have changed around here during the past few years, but none so much as Doris. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.’
‘I’m sure I will,’ said Doreen, now eager to be on her way. ‘I’m here for a few days, Stan, so I’ll pop up and see you for a chat and one of your lovely rock buns. You are still making them, aren’t you?’
‘Not as many as before, because I have to watch my weight. But for you, Doreen, I’ll bake a special batch.’ He patted her shoulder, tweaked Archie under the chin and winked. ‘It’s good to have you home, lass, even if it is only for a short while.’
Doreen grinned back at him, then called the girls to her. Balancing the suitcase across the end of the large, coach-built pram, she hurried out of the station.
As they walked down the High Street, Doreen was shocked by the number of bomb craters and empty spaces that had once been shops, the cinema and the old Mermaid pub. She noted that the Crown was still standing but looking a bit worse for wear, and that a new restaurant had opened up since she’d last been home. It looked very smart, and a quick glance at the menu board in the window told her it catered only for those with deep pockets.
‘Why can’t we go on the beach, Mum?’ asked Evelyn.
‘Because there isn’t time today,’ she said, wheeling the pram into Camden Road.
‘But I wanna go to the beach,’ whined Joyce, scuffing the toes of her shoes on the pavement.
‘Well you can’t,’ said Doreen firmly. ‘And stop damaging those new and very expensive shoes.’
She ignored their moans and groans as Archie clapped his hands and beamed at everyone they passed. As she approached the Anchor, she saw Ron and Rosie standing in the doorway with welcoming smiles.
‘To be sure, it’s grand to see you, wee Doreen,’ said Ron, giving her a bear hug.
Doreen had always loved Ron and she hugged him back before kissing Rosie’s cheek. ‘How’s married life, you two? I have to say, you both look well on it.’
‘We’re doing fine, Doreen,’ said Ron. ‘Are ye looking forward to seeing your sisters again?’ he asked with a naughty twinkle in his eyes.
‘Peggy definitely, but I’m not so sure about Doris. We parted on bad terms back in ’43, so it could be a bit awkward.’
‘Ach, she’ll have forgotten all about that by now,’ he said airily.
Doreen wasn’t so sure, but she made no comment. ‘I’d better get on. I promised Peggy I’d get to her by five, and it’s almost half past now. Will I see you tonight, Rosie?’
‘Only for a few minutes. I’m babysitting at Beach View so you and Peggy can go out and have some fun. Doris is holding her drinks party at the Officers’ Club, so you should have a good time.’
Doreen rolled her eyes. ‘Typical. I suppose the Anchor isn’t good enough for her?’
Rosie didn’t look at all put out. ‘I think she wanted a quiet evening. This place gets quite rowdy on a Friday night now we’ve got a new piano.’
Doreen set off again, pointing out the new school that was almost finished in the footprint of the old one which she and her sisters had attended, and then the shops that had been there for as long as she could remember. She waved to Fred the Fish and Alf the butcher and hurried on across the main road leading up from the seafront and into the twitten behind Beach View.
‘What’s this place?’ asked Evelyn, her nose wrinkling as she turned to look at the bomb site and then regarded Beach View’s vegetable plot, the outside lav and the chicken coop.
Doreen realised her daughter had become accustomed to the manicured playing fields and formal grounds of the boarding school, and used to living in part of a gracious old manor house, so wasn’t really surprised by her shock at seeing poor old battered Beach View.
‘This is the house I was born in.’ Doreen opened the gate and pushed the pram onto the path. ‘And it’s where we’ll be staying with my sister Peggy, so I don’t want you turning up your nose like that, young lady. It’s rude and hurtful.’
Evelyn had the grace to look ashamed and ducked her chin as Doreen opened the back door and called out to Peggy.
Peggy had been restless with anticipation as the time had ticked away, but at the sound of her sister’s voice, she leapt to her feet and ran down the cellar steps to greet her.
Doreen was looking stunning with a bright blue hat on her wavy brown hair, a matching jacket and a sprigged cotton dress. She threw her arms about her.
‘It’s so lovely to see you again,’ she said breathlessly after they’d hugged and kissed. Turning to the girls, her eyes widened as she took in their neat plaits and pretty appearance and the coltish limbs of Evelyn who was looking more like her mother than ever. ‘My goodness, haven’t you both grown? The last time I saw you, you were tiny tots.’
Evelyn and Joyce withstood Peggy’s effusive greeting with awkward grace.
‘And this must be Archie,’ sighed Peggy, drinking in the sight of the smiling, chubby little boy. She quickly unstrapped him and took him in her arms. ‘Oh, my, he’s quite a weight, isn’t he?’ she giggled as Daisy came out to see what all the noise was about.
‘This is Daisy,’ Peggy said proudly. ‘Daisy, these are your cousins, Evelyn and Joyce, and they’ll be staying with us for a while.’
As the girls eyed each other warily, Peggy turned to Doreen. ‘I do hope you’ll be staying for more than just the weekend,’ she murmured. ‘It’ll be so lovely to have you home again. I’ve missed you and we have so much to catch up on.’
‘I know, and I’ve missed you too. But let’s get indoors,’ said Doreen, lifting the case from the pram. ‘I hope you’ve got the kettle on, Peggy, because I’m gagging for a proper cuppa after that awful stewed offering at Euston Station.’
The pram proved to be too big to wheel into the scullery, so once they’d had a cup of tea and been shown their rooms, Peggy helped Doreen lug it up the front steps and into the hall.
‘Whew,’ breathed Doreen. ‘I don’t fancy doing that too often – especially once Archie’s in it.’
‘I could lend you Daisy’s pushchair,’ said Peggy. ‘She’s happy to walk everywhere now as long as it’s not too far.’
Doreen grinned with delight and headed back into the kitchen, where Daisy and Joyce were helping Cordelia find her glasses so she could read them a story.
Evelyn clearly thought she was a bit old for such things, and had gone off to find something to read on her own. She returned from the basement with Charlie’s copy of Black Beauty and settled down quite happily.
‘I don’t know what he’ll say about her borrowing that,’ murmured Peggy. ‘He’s very protective of his books.’
‘She’ll be careful with it,’ Doreen assured her. ‘She’s an avid reader and has great respect for books.’ She lit a cigarette and then grinned. ‘So, tell me about Doris and this chap she’s marrying tomorrow. Has she really changed that much?’
‘Indeed she has, and she’s much happier for it,’ said Peggy. ‘John’s a lovely man – a true gentleman, handsome, too, with a bit of money behind him by all accounts.’ She went on to tell Doreen about their plans for the bungalows, and her worries over John’s son.
‘If you’re that worried about it, you should have a quiet word with her, Peg. After all she’s been through, she’d be very silly to jump in feet first without giving it a great deal of thought.’
‘I thought I might broach the subject this evening, but it’s hardly a happy topic on the eve of her wedding, is it?’
‘I could have a word if you’d prefer,’ said Doreen.
‘Oh, I don’t think that would be wise,’ said Peggy hastily. ‘You didn’t exactly part on friendly terms, and she might still hold a bit of a grudge.’
‘So she hasn’t changed that much then,’ said Doreen waspishly. ‘It’s all water under the bridge as far as I’m concerned, and if she’s willing to make up, then so am I. But I’m not putting up with any of her snooty nonsense, Peg. I’ve had more than enough of that over the years.’
Peggy heaved a sigh. ‘Oh, Doreen, do try not to wind her up.’
Doreen giggled. ‘Me? Wind my dearest older sister up? As if I would.’
Peggy chuckled. ‘You know damned well you would. Honestly, Doreen, you haven’t changed in thirty-seven years.’
‘Who else is coming tonight, Peg? Please tell me that awful Pauline hasn’t been invited, because I’d rather stay at home if she has.’
Peggy shook her head, still smiling. ‘She and Doris don’t get on, so she hasn’t been invited even though she’s family. Anne will meet us there. She’ll be driving in with Brendon’s wife, Betty, and then there’s you, me, Suzy, Cordelia, Sarah, Danuta – and of course Doris.’
‘A good number, then. I’m looking forward to meeting Betty after all you’ve said in your letters – and to seeing Anne again. It’s been years since we’ve been in the same place. I feel as if I already know Danuta and Sarah from your letters, so it will be lovely to see them in the flesh as it were.’
She picked up a grizzling Archie. ‘This one needs his nappy changed and a feed. I’ll be back down in a minute.’
During a supper of fish cakes, salad and new potatoes fresh from the garden, Doreen tried to come to terms with how much Charlie had grown since she’d last seen him, how old and frail Cordelia had become despite her lively spirit – and how very little had changed at Beach View since Peggy had taken over from their parents. But hearing all of Peggy’s plans to refurbish and renovate, she offered enthusiastic encouragement and urged her to do it before all her ideas went off the boil.
As Charlie had delivered her car earlier, Doris had driven Suzy up to the Officers’ Club, and they were already settled in the members’ lounge with drinks when the others arrived. She was rather surprised that Peggy had come by taxi, but then she supposed Cordelia would never have managed the hill otherwise.
‘Hello, Doris,’ said Doreen with a bright smile, but making no attempt to kiss or hug her. ‘What a lovely venue. Are you having your reception here as well?’
‘We’re having it in the private reception room at the golf club, actually. John is up for the captaincy next year, and they think most highly of him there.’
Doris didn’t see Doreen’s expression harden as she turned to wave rather imperiously at a waiter who came to take their drink orders, then settled back in the comfortable chair, curious to discover more about Doreen’s life in Swansea and the lover Peggy had hinted at.
‘I’m just the headmaster’s secretary,’ Doreen replied, aware that Peggy had tensed beside her. ‘But the job comes with a lovely ground-floor flat in the school grounds, and there’s a generous discount on the girls’ fees, so I’m extremely lucky.’
‘Indeed you are,’ said Doris. ‘Your girls are the first in our family to have the privilege of going to a private school. I hope they are taking full advantage of it – seeing as how intimate you seem to have become with a particular member of staff.’
Doreen ignored the sly jibe, having absolutely no intention of talking about her new man to Doris. ‘They’re both bright, and Evelyn is at the top of her year, so they’ll do all right, Doris.’ She changed the subject by raising her glass. ‘I’d like to propose a toast to Doris and wish her all the very best for her new life with John.’
The toast was drunk, Peggy relaxed, and as Doris chatted to Anne, she turned to Suzy for a lovely long catch-up.
‘Ladies! How wonderful to find so many beautiful ladies all in one place!’
Doris twisted round and glared at the enormous man with the waxed moustache who was making his way slowly into the room on two walking sticks. ‘This is a private party,’ she said frostily.
He ignored her admonishment completely, took her hand and kissed it, his brown eyes regarding her with great amusement. ‘Baron Stanislaw Kowalcyzk at your humble service, dear lady.’
There were stifled giggles from the others and Doris went scarlet. ‘I doubt you were ever humble, Baron,’ she stuttered, retrieving her hand and not daring to look him in the eye. She’d heard rumours about this man, and it was clear he was an absolute terror with women.
‘That is probably so,’ he agreed and smiled. ‘But I have come to wish the bride the very best of happiness for tomorrow and all her life – and to buy you all champagne.’
Doris cleared her throat. ‘That’s very kind of you, Baron, but it’s really not necessary.’
His dark eyes widened and he clasped her hand again. ‘Oh but it is, and for such a beautiful bride only the very best champagne will do.’
He nodded to the hovering waiter who popped the cork expertly and began to pour the champagne into glasses.
Once everyone had a glass, he took one for himself. ‘To the future Mrs White. Long life and much happiness,’ he bellowed before downing it in one, and only just resisting the time-honoured ritual of smashing the glass onto the floor.
Danuta tutted and rolled her eyes, Doris blushed an even deeper scarlet and the others just about managed to stifle their giggles enough to return the toast and sip the delicious champagne.
‘I will leave you now,’ he said grandly, before winking at Danuta. ‘But I shall see you again.’
‘Good heavens,’ breathed a flustered Doris once he was out of earshot. ‘Who on earth was that? Is he really a baron?’
‘He is Polish baron,’ said Danuta, her eyes twinkling with mirth. ‘He is very loud, I think, but has good heart and the manners of all Polish gentlemen.’
‘Gosh,’ said Doris, hugely impressed. ‘A real baron living in Cliffehaven. Who would have thought it?’ She eyed Danuta sharply. ‘How did you get to meet him?’
‘At Rita’s wedding,’ said Danuta rather coolly. ‘He is my friend.’
‘Well, I never,’ sighed Doris before taking another sip of champagne to steady her racing pulse. She’d never met a baron before, and to think that he was Danuta’s friend was quite extraordinary, for the girl didn’t have much going for her. She would invite him to dinner once they’d returned from their honeymoon, she decided. But what on earth did one feed Polish royalty? She’d have to go to the library and do some research.
The mood lightened and once the bottle of champagne was empty, they were presented with another, compliments of the baron, who they could hear talking and laughing in the bar.
Consequently, Doris was a bit squiffy by the time they had to go home, so Suzy drove the car back and then went to bed leaving poor Anthony to listen to his mother’s excited chatter about the baron. It seemed that Doris could still have her head turned by a title, so not that much had changed, after all.
Jack had delivered Peggy’s car earlier that morning, before hurrying back to make inroads on the number of vehicles still waiting to be serviced and repaired. Even with Rita and Peter doing their bit, they were inundated with work. He’d told Peggy that when Jim came back there was a job waiting for him, as he couldn’t manage on his own once Rita and Peter had left for Australia.
Peggy was delighted to think that Jim could walk straight into a good job on his return home, and her spirits were high as she carefully drove her lovely, shining car up to the Town Hall with Doreen and the children in the back and Cordelia in the front.
Martin had left earlier with Anne and their two children because he was John’s best man and needed to be there to keep him steady should he need steadying. Peggy smiled at this thought as she helped Cordelia out and up the Town Hall steps, for it was probably Doris who would need steadying after her run-in with Stanislaw last night.
It was almost midday, the sun was shining, and although there were a couple of clouds in the sky they didn’t look too threatening, so it was very possible they could hold the start of the reception in the golf club garden. She made sure Cordelia was safely in the lift with Evelyn, who’d clearly decided she needed to look after her, and then they trooped up the stairs to the familiar wedding room.
John and Martin were in their best suits and John looked remarkably calm as he chatted to Bertie Double-Barrelled and gave everyone a welcoming smile. Brendon and Betty came in with baby Joseph, followed by Frank and a rather sour-faced Pauline who glared at Doreen and then blatantly snubbed her by turning her back to talk to the registrar.
All the little girls looked very sweet in their best dresses, and Archie was utterly adorable in his blue romper suit and matching sunhat – although that didn’t stay on for long as he preferred to chew it rather than wear it.
Peggy doubted she’d cry at this particular wedding, but she’d brought several handkerchiefs just in case. There were lollipops in her handbag should the children start to fidget, and Doreen had brought a bottle and several clean nappies for Archie. Peggy sat down next to Cordelia and smiled at Danuta and Sarah as they quickly took their places in the row behind them.
Ron turned up without Harvey for once, but with a very glamorous Rosie on his arm. ‘We’ve left the dogs at home,’ he told Peggy, who’d been worried that something might have happened to them. ‘They’ve had their walk, and the mayor made it very plain that Harvey was no longer welcome. To be sure, I’ll be having a word with that man, so I will.’
Rosie tugged his arm and pulled him down to sit beside her. ‘Don’t keep on, Ron,’ she sighed. ‘Honestly, Peggy, anyone would think his dog was royalty the way he pampers that animal.’
‘Well, it looks as if everyone’s here,’ said Peggy as Suzy came in with little Teddy, and sat next to Sarah and Danuta. ‘All we need now is the bride. I hope she isn’t going to be late like Ivy was.’
‘She’ll be waiting to make a grand entrance, so she will,’ muttered Ron.
‘Well, it is her wedding day, and all brides want to make an entrance,’ defended Peggy.
Ron waggled his brows. ‘Aye, and none more so than your sister,’ he said with a grin.
The registrar switched on the piped music as the doors opened and Doris appeared on her son’s arm. She held him back for a long moment to make sure everyone had realised they’d arrived, and then they slowly made their way down towards John and Martin.
Peggy didn’t think she’d ever seen her sister look as lovely or as radiantly happy as she did today. The beautiful cream linen coat and jacket were discreetly piped with the same navy blue as her broad-brimmed hat, and her slender, well-shaped legs were enhanced by the navy peep-toed high heels. She carried a small bouquet of cream roses that were nestled into dark green ferns, and there were pearls in her ears and round her neck.
John’s gaze never left her as she walked slowly towards him, and it was clear to all that he simply adored her.
Peggy felt the prick of happy tears, for her sister deserved to be well loved after all she’d been through with duplicitous Ted, and she had the feeling that John would cherish her until his last breath – and that they would have a long and very happy life together.
Much later that night when Peggy had finally fallen into bed ready for sleep, she sighed with pleasure at the feel of lovely clean sheets and pillowcases. Doris’s wedding had gone off without a hitch. The reception had been very grand even though it had started to rain this afternoon – and a ruckus had been avoided between Doreen and Pauline when Pauline complained of having one of her headaches and ordered poor Frank to drive her home. Doreen had resisted teasing Doris and managed to avoid the subject of the schoolmaster she was walking out with, which she’d known would be an irritant to her nosy elder sister, and cause unpleasantness between them.
Peggy snuggled down beneath the blanket, thinking of John and Doris who were already on their way to the Lake District, and realising yet again that she hadn’t had a proper talk with her sister about her finances. She nestled her head into the pillow and after blowing a kiss to Jim’s photograph, turned out the bedside light. She would have to leave it now until Doris came back from her honeymoon.