It's Now or Never (3 page)

‘I'll walk with you down to the milk bar just to make certain that you're OK,' said Constable Walker. ‘See you, Lenny!'

He raised a hand and said, ‘See you around, Hester.'

‘You'll tell Betty I'm sorry to have missed her,' said Roberta.

‘Sure, kid,' he said.

Roberta thanked him and then turned to Hester. ‘I really appreciate this, Constable.'

‘Right, shall we go?' Hester set off in the direction of the Philharmonic Hall and Roberta fell into step beside her. ‘Tell me what you and your mother are doing in town?' asked Hester.

‘I'm celebrating my thirteenth birthday, so Mam's giving me a treat. We don't often get the chance to go out together because we don't like leaving Nan alone. She hasn't been well recently but she insisted – and seeing as how Mam was feeling flush because several customers have paid their bills, we're going to the flicks. A neighbour is going to keep Nan company while we're out.'

‘What does your mother do?'

‘She's a dressmaker – a really good one! She gets that from Nan who used to be a dresser in the theatre because she was mad about the stage. But Mum's always been handy with a needle and she also designs stuff as well as use other people's patterns. She actually started out as a seamstress for one of the costumiers in Bold Street. Anyway, if you're ever in need of a new outfit, styled individually at a decent price, then you know where to come,' said Roberta, a hint of pride in her voice.

Hester chuckled. ‘You're not one to miss an opportunity, are you, Roberta?'

‘My friends call me Bobby. Mum's name is Lynne.' She changed the subject. ‘I love art, myself. Have you seen Betty's paintings on the walls of the coffee bar? I'd like to study art, just like her. Do you know that she's going to Italy?'

Hester smiled. ‘Yes, I do. I'm friends with her half-sister, Emma. Also Betty is a friend of my half-sister, Jeanette. She told me all about how excited Betty is about her trip to Italy because Betty wants someone to take over her flat while she's away and Jeanette wants to be that person. She's visiting Betty this evening, along with the music group who will hopefully be playing at my wedding. One of the members is Italian and he sings like a dream.'

‘I'd like to hear him and I'd love to go to Italy and study art,' murmured Roberta dreamily. ‘I like portraits best but I'd enjoy seeing sculptures as well as the architecture. Rome, Venice, Florence.'

‘I believe Betty is hoping to visit all those cities but she's going to be based in a seaside town called Castellammare di Stabia on the Bay of Naples.'

‘So she told me.' Roberta's expression was rapt. ‘Apparently it's about ten miles from Sorrento and has archaeological sites and spas and a castle. I've been told the scenery is sensational. Mount Vesuvius is the other side of the bay. We have a copy of a painting on a classroom wall called “Faithful unto Death”. The original painting by Edward Poynter is in the Walker Art Gallery.' She drew breath. ‘I tried to copy the Roman soldier's expression but it gave me nightmares! I dreamt I was trying to escape when the volcano erupted and Pompeii was destroyed.' She stopped abruptly. ‘I'm babbling, aren't I? But you have to admit that coping with snow seems pretty tame in comparison.'

Hester smiled. ‘You're certainly enthusiastic. I suppose Betty told you that there's a painting by her father in the Walker?'

‘Yes, it's of the Mersey and shipping. It's interesting but I prefer paintings of people,' said Roberta with a shrug. ‘But don't go telling Betty that. She thinks her father's the bees' knees and wishes he hadn't been killed at Dunkirk.'

‘She believes she takes after him,' said Hester, and changed the subject. ‘Do you have any brothers and sisters?'

‘No, I'm an only child. Mum's a widow, same as Nan. My father was a sailor and his ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic. We share a house in Lombard Street, off West Derby Road. We were lucky getting it. Nan's cousin lived there so we moved in with her after the war. She died not so long ago. Do you know the area?'

Hester smiled. ‘Yes, as it happens. I live within five minutes' walk of Lombard Street. How's that for a coincidence? Also, our Jeanette works part-time at the milk bar where you're meeting your mum. It's a small world.' She came to a halt on the corner outside the Philharmonic Hall. ‘Can you see any sign of the man who might have followed you?' she asked.

Roberta gazed about her for any sign of a man in a raincoat wearing a black trilby who might look suspiciously like the one she had seen. ‘I can't really say. There are several men about, but …' She sighed. ‘You must consider me terribly indecisive.'

‘Don't worry about it,' said Hester. ‘I'll have a word with your mum and make a couple of suggestions. It's possible your suspicions could be right, little as we'd like that to be true.'

Roberta thanked her and they turned and headed down towards Lycee Street. ‘Mum's not in favour of me going to Art School after I finish grammar school. She'd like me to do teacher training. She sees it as being a respectable and well-paid career.'

‘Thinks artists aren't respectable, I suppose,' said Hester seriously. ‘There are those who regard women being in the police force as unacceptable.'

‘Well, they're wrong,' said Roberta firmly.

For several moments they walked on in silence and then the girl asked, ‘Have you seen the film
Three Coins in the Fountain
?'

Hester said that she had and they continued to talk about films, Italy and art. What with being engrossed in their conversation, Roberta didn't notice if they were being followed or not. It seemed to take no time at all to reach their destination.

They entered the milk bar and a woman immediately stood up, leaving an empty plate and cup and saucer on the table where she had been sitting. She clutched a handbag and a book. ‘Where have you been, Bobby?' she asked, hurrying towards them. ‘What's happened?' She gazed in alarm at Hester.

Her daughter did not reply but smiled delightedly at Lynne, pleased with her because she was wearing her favourite coat of russet tweed, flecked with green and styled in the new A-line. On her neat little head she wore a mustard-coloured felt hat with a cream artificial flower tucked in the brim. What Roberta did not approve of was the metal-rimmed spectacles which made Lynne look older and studious and concealed eyes which were a stunning blue.

‘Constable Walker, this is my mother, Lynne Donegan,' said Roberta.

‘Mrs Donegan,' said Hester, offering a hand. ‘Don't you be worrying. Your daughter hasn't done anything wrong.'

‘I'm glad to hear it,' said Lynne, looking relieved. ‘Not that I thought for one moment that she'd broken the law.' She shook Hester's hand. ‘Perhaps you'd like to explain, Constable Walker?'

They dropped hands. ‘Your daughter thought she was being followed, so I decided I'd best keep her company and deliver her to you,' said Hester.

Lynne stared at her daughter in dismay. ‘What does Constable Walker mean
followed
? Who was following you? It's not a lad, is it? You're far too young to get involved with boys. What about your schooling?'

Bright colour flooded Roberta's face. ‘You're obsessed with the idea of me getting involved with boys, Mam. Cross my heart, it was a man and I don't know where he went but I reckon he was scared off by the sight of Constable Walker.' She darted a smile at Hester. ‘You don't know this but she lives near us and knows Betty Booth and is a friend of her half-sister, Emma.'

Lynne sighed. ‘I'm confused. Where did you meet Constable Walker? What's all this about Betty Booth?'

‘We met outside the coffee bar where Betty works,' said Hester. ‘Your daughter told me that she thought she had seen a man loitering outside her school and that he might have followed her. I suggest, Mrs Donegan, that you have a word with the headmistress. Better to be safe than sorry.'

‘Thank you, Constable Walker. I'll do that,' said Lynne, her brow knitting. ‘I thought Liverpool would be a safer place once the war was over but it seems I'm wrong, what with these Teddy Boys to worry about, and recently I've heard of several shops being broken into. I think I'll have to resort to doing what we did in the war and carry a hat pin with me.'

Hester smiled. ‘Roberta told me you're a widow.'

‘Yes, that's right,' said Lynne smoothly. ‘I presume you're not married, Constable Walker, or you wouldn't be in the police force, doing an excellent job, no doubt.'

‘It's good of you to say so. I followed in my father's and brother's footsteps. They're both in the force, although Dad will be retiring soon and I'll be leaving as I'm getting married at Easter.'

‘How lovely!' exclaimed Lynne. ‘And where will you be living? It's so difficult to get a house, what with so many being destroyed during the bombing.'

‘I'll be moving to Whalley, a village further north. My mother died when I was only young and I was evacuated there for part of the war. That's where I first met Emma and my future husband and I will be renting her cottage as she married Betty's cousin and has moved to Formby.'

‘I've never lived in a village,' said Lynne. ‘It'll be a big change for you.'

Hester agreed. ‘I have been spending a lot of time up there recently due to the cottage being renovated and I've had no time to do anything about my wedding gown.' Hester paused. ‘Roberta told me that you're a dressmaker.'

‘Yes!' Lynne hesitated. ‘Perhaps you'd like one of my business cards. I know a lot more brides-to-be are buying their gowns off the peg these days but if you'd like—'

‘Something special!' Hester smiled. ‘Yes, I'll take one of your business cards, Mrs Donegan.'

Lynne rummaged in her handbag and produced a card and handed it to Hester. ‘Just drop by any time. I'm home most days and if I'm not there my grandmother will be. You can leave a message with her and let me know if I can be of help to you. Just be patient if she can't get to the door quick enough. She's not been well recently.'

‘Thank you,' said Hester, pocketing the card. ‘Did you make the coat you're wearing?'

‘Yes,' said Lynne, smiling. ‘Do you like it?'

‘I do. I like the cut and the material.'

‘It's a favourite of mine,' put in Roberta, winking at her mother. ‘I keep telling you that you're talented, Mam.'

‘She certainly is,' said Hester, her eyes twinkling. ‘It's been a pleasure meeting you both.'

‘And you, too. Thank you for helping my daughter.' Lynne glanced at Roberta. ‘And now we'd better get a move on, Bobby. It's later than I planned for us to be going to the pictures.'

‘But I haven't eaten,' protested Roberta.

‘You'll have to put up with having some popcorn in the pictures,' said Lynne firmly. ‘Think of Nan. She'll worry if we're late getting home.'

The three left the milk bar together but parted outside with a tarrah.

Roberta thought that her mother was now bound to ask her about the man, but to her surprise Lynne only said, ‘Not now, later. We're going to have to rush if we want to get to the pictures before the big film starts.'

‘So can you describe this man?' asked Lynne when the lights went up for the interval at the cinema.

The question took Roberta by surprise, as she'd expected her mother to discuss the film they had just seen. She wanted to forget about the man and drool instead over Rossano Brazzi who had played the Conte in
The Barefoot Contessa
. It had been such a sad and dramatic story which had ended with him killing the wife he'd believed to be unfaithful, unaware that she was actually carrying his child. Sometimes Roberta felt sad about her mother having been widowed during the war at such a young age. It would be fine with her if Lynne were to meet someone else and marry again but the years were passing and it had not happened.

‘Well, cat got your tongue?' said Lynne.

Roberta offered the packet of Butterkist to her mother and considered what to say. Her fear had vanished and it was difficult to recapture her earlier mood when she had caught sight of the man in Myrtle Street.

Lynne took only a few pieces of the toffee popcorn as it had nearly all gone. ‘I'm starting to think you made it up.'

‘That's not true!' Roberta's voice was indignant. ‘He wore a black trilby and I tell you what, Mam, it reminded me of the black Stetsons worn by the baddies in cowboy films.'

‘He didn't have a six-shooter strapped to his hip, did he?' asked Lynne drily.

Roberta grinned and hunched down in her seat. ‘You're making a joke of it but it wasn't funny at the time. Anyway, I told you I didn't get a close enough look at his face to describe him. Constable Walker took me seriously, anyway.'

‘I liked her,' said Lynne.

‘You'll like her even more if she decides to employ you to make her wedding gown.'

Lynne could not deny it. ‘The money would come in very handy. I wonder how many bridesmaids she's having and whether she'll consider me making their dresses, as well?'

‘It would be great if she did. Maybe there'd be enough money for me to go to Italy, just like Betty Booth.'

‘You can forget that for a start,' said Lynne firmly. ‘If you were going to go, I'd want to go too and we can't afford it. You'll have to wait until you're working and earning. Besides, right now Nan has to be our priority. She's been good to us both, so we couldn't leave her.'

Roberta looked into the empty packet of Butterkist. ‘The popcorn's all gone and I'm still hungry.' She glanced at those queuing up to buy ice cream from the usherette at the front of the stalls. ‘Can I have an ice cream?'