‘Mabel, it’s been two months since your roof was repaired, but there’s no sign of ours, or any others being done,’ Edna complained.
‘Yeah, I know, and what do you think about Winnie Morrison’s place being done up on the inside? It’s a bit funny if you ask me, especially as after fumigating Frank Cole’s place it hasn’t been touched.’
‘Samuel Jacobs has never been known to decorate his houses before he re-lets them. It’s usually a case of take it as you find it or leave it, so yeah, it’s a bit odd,’ Edna agreed.
‘I’ve got my suspicions, especially as Rose can twist Samuel Jacobs around her finger, but I won’t say anything until I’m sure. She’s even paying for Amy’s wedding reception.’
‘You and Phyllis aren’t talking, so how did you find out about that?’ Edna asked.
Mabel chuckled, winked and said, ‘Thin walls, that’s how.’
‘Yeah, they come in handy at times,’ Edna agreed, gesturing to the left. ‘You should have heard those two next door yesterday. Wilf lost a mint on the horses again and Pat was going ballistic.’
‘I’m glad I’m not married to a gambler,’ Mabel said. ‘I don’t know how Pat puts up with it.’
‘Nor me, or a drinker.’
‘They’re just as bad,’ Mabel agreed, nodding sagely. ‘Look what happened to Frank Cole.’
‘Yeah, and I’d like to know what happened to Carol. She wasn’t in the hairdressers when I went to have a perm. They said she’d left, moved away, but that was all the information I could get. Have you heard anything?’
Mabel was waiting for this and was pleased with her little snippet. ‘I’ve had my ear to the wall and it’s not only Carol who moved away, her brothers have gone too.’
‘Really? I wonder why?’
‘I know why. I heard Amy talking to Phyllis and it seems it’s down to the nasty gossip that’s been spread around about Carol,’ said Mabel, knowing that Edna had been the one who set it in motion.
‘Well, all I can say is good riddance to bad rubbish,’ Edna said defensively. ‘I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but my hubby had to give Frank Cole a hiding when he insulted me, and as for Carol, look how she turned out. Like mother like daughter, if your theory about Daphne running off with George is right.’
‘I’m sure it is,’ Mabel said, and as Edna poured her another cup of tea, they found a few more people to talk about.
Jeremy was aware of time passing too. It was now mid-February and though Tom had given him a job at the unit, he hated being treated like an apprentice. There was an uneasy truce now between him and Len Upwood, though it still annoyed Jeremy that Tom had taken the man’s side. He’d expected that as Tom’s brother, he’d be given some authority, but instead had been told that Len was the foreman and therefore the one who gave the orders.
On top of that, he’d done as his mother suggested and laid off Amy, but the more he saw her, the more his obsession was taking a hold. He wanted her – but in eight weeks’ time, Amy would be marrying his brother.
‘Mum, we’re getting nowhere,’ he said that evening. ‘There’s no sign of Tom coming to a decision about giving me a share in the business, and we haven’t even suggested that you should have a stake in it too.’
‘He’d baulk at that, and for now we should just concentrate on you.’
‘Yes, I suppose you’re right, but once I’m on board I’ll see that you get your share too,’ Jeremy lied.
‘I know you will, darling, and in the meantime I’ll go on speaking to Tom on your behalf. I hope you can see now how difficult things have been for me since your father left. With Thomas in control of the business, I have no say in anything, and I have to rely on him for my finances.’
‘You shouldn’t have to dance to his tune. It isn’t right, and though I’ve said nothing to Tom so far, maybe it’s time I stepped in. It’s Sunday tomorrow and we could sit him down for a family meeting. If you hint beforehand that I’m thinking of leaving the country again, it might make him a bit more amenable. If that doesn’t work, with time running out, we’ll have to go back to my first plan.’
‘I still think it’s too dangerous. You said you could discredit Amy; show her to be the tart she is, but if Tom sees you both in a compromising position, he might focus his jealousy and anger on you. If Amy convinces him that she’s the innocent party, you’ll never get a share in the business. In fact, any relationship you have with your brother will be over.’
Jeremy felt a surge of annoyance and frustration. All right, he’d carry on doing things his mother’s way; but there’d come a time when he’d get his hands on Amy and there was no way she’d be able to resist him.
For Amy, the first part of the New Year had been painful. She had gone to Frank Cole’s funeral with her parents, and though Carol had thanked them for coming, she seemed distant and cold. Worse was to come when she went to see Carol a few days later, only to be told that they were moving out of the area and with so much to arrange they were too busy for visitors. After so many years of friendship, for Amy it was like a slap in the face. She had kept her distance for over a week, but despite being given the cold shoulder, she didn’t want to lose touch with Carol and had tried again.
Amy stared absentmindedly at the television, remembering her last visit to Carol and the final blow. Carol said they’d be moving soon, and when Amy had asked for their new address, there had been the lame excuse that she couldn’t remember it, followed by an offhand remark that she would write when they were settled.
There was no point in calling again, Carol had said, but when they had said their goodbyes she had thawed a little. Carol had thanked her for being such a good friend, briefly hugged her, and Amy knew from that moment on that she would never hear from her again.
‘You’re miles away,’ Tommy said.
‘Sorry,’ she said, pushing away her unhappy thoughts.
‘It’s all right, I know you’re a bit preoccupied with sorting out the wedding.’
‘There isn’t much to do now, especially since Rose offered to lay on a reception. She told me to leave it all to her, though of course my mum is making sure she gets her say in everything.’
‘Now that’s not fair,’ Phyllis protested. ‘I just want to make sure that Rose gets it right, that’s all. Take the cake for instance. She was going to have one made with four tiers. Now what’s the point of that when there’s only going to be about a dozen or so of us to eat it?’
Amy smiled and said, ‘Rose certainly likes to do things in a big way. Take that dinner set she gave me. There’s eight of everything, plus the vegetable tureens. I’ll need a big kitchen with lots of cupboards to fit it in.’
‘Talking of that, I’d better get on with looking for a flat,’ Tommy said. ‘I’ve been snowed under with work since getting this new contract, but I can’t leave it any longer.’
‘No!’ Phyllis said sharply. ‘Don’t do that.’
‘Why not? With the wedding only eight weeks away I’ve got to find us somewhere to live.’
With a sigh, Phyllis glanced at Stan and stood up. ‘We’re going to have to tell them.’
‘Tell us what?’ Amy asked.
In answer to her question, Phyllis went over to the mantelpiece, and taking down a vase, she tipped something into her hand. ‘I wanted to keep it as a surprise, but of course I’m as daft as a brush and hadn’t thought about Tommy trying to find a flat. Here,’ she said, holding them out. ‘These are the keys to your new home.’
Bewildered Amy asked, ‘What new home?’
‘The one next door.’
‘What? Winnie Morrison’s place?’
‘It isn’t hers any more, love, and it’s been empty for a long time. Thanks to Rose and Samuel it’s now yours, and don’t worry, it’s all been done up for you.’
Amy couldn’t believe it. She was getting married, but she’d still be close to her parents and that was just perfect. She smiled with delight, grabbed Tommy’s hand and said excitedly, ‘Come on, let’s go and take a look at it.’
Celia was less than happy when Thomas came home that evening, full of the newly refurbished house they’d be renting when they got married.
‘I don’t know why you’re so pleased about it,’ she huffed. ‘It’s a pokey place at the lower end of the Rise, and hardly suitable for a man of your standing.’
‘My “standing”? I’m no better than anyone else.’
‘Of course you are,’ Celia said, thinking that Thomas sounded just like his father. ‘You have your own business and you employ eight men now, not including your brother.’
‘Yes, that’s me. Another employee,’ Jeremy said.
‘Yes, Thomas, and we were going to discuss that with you tomorrow. However, as you’re here now and as we’re still up, we might as well talk about it now.’
‘Mother, I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ Jeremy protested.
‘I think it is. Look at Thomas, he’s as pleased as punch with his life, and it’s about time he realised that we’re not. He waltzed in here, full of his so-called good news, and didn’t even notice that I’m dreadfully upset.’
Thomas frowned and sat down. ‘No, I’m sorry, I didn’t. What’s wrong?’
Celia pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes for effect. ‘Jeremy has just told me that after your wedding, he’s leaving. He’s going abroad again.’
‘But why?’ Thomas asked, looking at his brother now.
‘Jeremy won’t tell you why, but I will,’ Celia choked emotionally. ‘You need to put yourself in his place, imagine how it would feel if your brother owned a family business that should in part be yours.’
‘As I’ve said to you before, Jeremy wasn’t here when Dad left so he passed it on to me.’
‘I know, but in all fairness you can redress that now,’ Celia said.
‘It’s all right, Tom, I don’t expect you to give me a share of the business,’ Jeremy said. ‘You took it on, built it up, and you deserve to reap the profits. It’s just that I find it a little humiliating to be employed by my kid brother so decided it’s time I left.’
Thomas lowered his head, saying nothing, and putting a finger to her lips, Celia indicated to Jeremy that he should be quiet. It had been clever of him to say that he didn’t expect a share in the business, and from what she could see it had given Thomas food for thought.
At last he raised his head. ‘It would break Mum’s heart if you leave and I’d like you to stay too. If you do I’ll give you a share in the business, but none of the financial profit for this coming year because you’re right, they’re down to me. However, despite what Mum thinks, I have been giving some thought to your role as a salesman. You’ll have to learn more about the business to be able to give estimates, but next year you’ll get a share of the profits too.’
‘Thomas, that sounds wonderful,’ Celia enthused. ‘What do you think, Jeremy?’
‘Well, it’s certainly an incentive to stay,’ he said, then stayed quiet for a moment, as if mulling it over. ‘All right, Tom, I’m happy with your terms, and don’t worry, once I’ve learned the ropes I’ll bring in plenty of new business.’
‘With a share in the company, I won’t be able to sack you if you don’t,’ Tom said, though smiling.
‘What sort of share are we talking about?’ Jeremy asked.
‘How about thirty-three per cent?’
‘Thomas, it should be half,’ Celia protested.
‘No, Mother, I’m happy with that,’ Jeremy said.
‘Good,’ Thomas said, ‘but with the amount of work coming in at the moment, and my wedding looming, if you don’t mind waiting we’ll get the legal stuff sorted out after that.’
‘Yes, that’s fine,’ Jeremy agreed.
Celia was less than pleased. She’d have liked the formalities dealt with before the wedding, but she’d learned that Thomas wouldn’t be pushed, and if one tried he would stubbornly dig his heels in. That was something Amy would find out if she tried to put a stop to Jeremy getting a share of the business. Not that Celia was really worried, because despite the things she’d told Jeremy about Amy, in reality she saw the girl as weak, easily intimidated, and inferior.
Jeremy surreptitiously winked at her, and Celia wondered why he was content with less than fifty per cent of the business. It didn’t take her long to work it out and she was pleased by Jeremy’s cleverness, sure now that he could outwit Thomas. Given time Jeremy would ensure that she got a share in the firm, an equal one, and with sixty-six per cent between them they would gain control.
It was perfect, she thought, her financial future would be assured, and instead of Thomas lording it over them, he would have to dance to their tune.