It's Now or Never (33 page)

‘What parted them?'

He told her, finishing with the words, ‘The Blitz caused so much disruption and heartache but only those who lived through it know how truly bad it was.'

‘I met Robert in a shelter during the Blitz,' said Lynne softly.

Sam glanced at her with interest. ‘What was he like?'

‘Full of life and he made me laugh. It seems so long ago now and yet it isn't that long. I sometimes think that if I didn't have a photo of him then I'd forget what he looked like.'

‘I feel like that about Carol. She was my girlfriend and was killed in the Blitz. I was heartbroken.' He glanced at Lynne. ‘You know what it's like when you're young and in love.'

‘How old was she?'

‘Seventeen! And what made it more difficult was there was no need for her to die. If she'd stayed at her aunt's place in Ormskirk, she'd probably still be alive. Sometimes I think about how different my life would have been if she'd lived.' He stared at Lynne. ‘You must feel the same about your husband?'

Suddenly Lynne wanted to be honest with him. ‘We weren't married.'

Sam shot her a startled look but did not speak.

She took a deep breath. ‘I just pretended for my daughter's sake. We hadn't known each other long but we fell madly in love. We had such a short time together. Then his ship was torpedoed with the loss of all hands and I never saw him again. I had no contact with his family; they lived in Ireland and I didn't have their address.'

She glanced at him, wondering what he thought of her, but he was gazing straight ahead and so she could not read his expression. Then she watched him remove a hand from the steering wheel and he clasped her right hand and squeezed it gently.

They drove on in silence and, after a short while, Sam freed her hand. ‘I will give you dancing lessons. It will take you out of yourself and it's good exercise.'

‘You think I need exercise?' she asked, a smile in her voice.

‘If you're sitting at a sewing machine all day, you must get stiff, especially about the shoulders. I know I do when I'm at the desk too long, writing up reports. You don't have a radiogram or a record player, do you?'

She laughed. ‘Be serious! You've been in my house. You must know they're beyond my pocket. There's the wireless. Anyway, I thought you'd be teaching me at your house because of your Aunt Ethel needing an eye kept on her.'

He smiled. ‘You're right, of course. I'd forgotten. We could practise in the parlour and look in on her now and again.'

‘I could always look in on her during the day if that would help, if a neighbour couldn't do it?' she said seriously.

‘That would be great!' Sam's expression was warm. ‘Are you sure you don't mind?'

‘I'm used to old ladies,' she murmured.

They both fell silent but it was a comfortable silence as the car wended its way along a lane with hedgerows on each side and flowering honeysuckle and cow parsley in the narrow grass verges.

Eventually they arrived in Whalley and Sam drew up at the kerb outside a cottage. A notice was displayed in front of the house, saying open for teas and light meals. An arrow pointed in the direction of the side of the building.

The pair of them followed the arrow into a garden where tables and chairs were set out. A couple of tables had the convenience of a large umbrella. Several people were already taking advantage of what was on offer.

Lynne recognized Myra Jones who was serving a couple of customers. She spotted them and smiled and signalled to Hester who came over. ‘Hi, Lynne! So my brother managed to catch you before you left.'

‘She was already on her way but she hadn't gone far,' said Sam, kissing his sister on the cheek. ‘Didn't expect to find you so busy.'

‘The good weather brings people out to visit the abbey ruins or for a walk on the fells,' said Hester. ‘You've never seen the ruins, have you, Lynne?'

‘No,' she said, smiling.

‘I have,' said Sam, ‘but I don't mind showing them to Lynne. By the look of things we'd be best out of your way for a while.'

‘You've arrived at lunch time which is our busiest time of the day,' said Hester. ‘You'll probably be glad to stretch your legs after the journey. Come back in an hour or so and we'll be ready to give you lunch and have a chat. Ally will be here then.'

‘If you don't mind I need to use the facilities first and I bet Lynne wouldn't mind a cup of tea,' said Sam.

Lynne agreed. ‘I could make us both one if you don't mind, Hester? I won't get in your way.'

‘That's fine,' she said.

‘You go on ahead, Lynne,' said Sam. ‘I just want a word with my sister.'

Lynne went into the kitchen, expecting Sam to join her within a minute or so but the kettle had boiled before he came in. He excused himself and went to the newly installed downstairs lavatory. By the time he reappeared she was gazing out of the window and had finished her drink.

Sam picked up his cup and came and stood beside her. ‘Hester was just telling me that you knew Dorothy from years ago.'

Lynne stilled. ‘I suppose Emma told her.'

‘Yes. Are you annoyed? Is there something between you and Dorothy that the pair of you want kept quiet?'

Her heart began to thud. ‘Why should you think that?'

‘It's obvious I'd say. She's never mentioned having met you before.'

‘She could have easily forgotten me. I certainly didn't recognize her immediately when we met earlier this year. Although, having said that, I did think she looked familiar but I put that down to her being famous.'

He nodded. ‘That makes sense.'

‘Is that all you spoke about to Hester?' Lynne knew that she shouldn't really be so inquisitive.

Sam did not seem put out by the question. ‘No, I wanted to discuss a case with her. Hester was an excellent policewoman. She has a good head on her shoulders.'

‘A pity she had to give up her job when she married,' said Lynne.

‘You think that, too?' He drained his cup. ‘Anyway, she's been a help to me and I'll set my
leetle grey cells
to work on the suggestion she put forward.'

‘I thought real policemen found Hercules Poirot a pain in the neck.'

‘I read him when I was much younger,' said Sam, taking her cup from her. ‘So where did you have your baby, Lynne?'

The complete change of subject caught her by surprise and her mouth went dry. ‘What made you ask that?'

‘I suddenly thought about you not being married and Nick Rogers being adopted. No doubt his mother was unmarried as well.'

‘Probably.' Lynne looked down at her feet in their sensible shoes. ‘My mother threw me on the streets and Nan was on tour with a repertory company and I didn't know exactly where to find her. So Roberta was born in a home for unmarried mothers in Cheshire. I remember being at my wits' end, thinking that I'd have to give her up for adoption. Fortunately Nan turned up in the nick of time.'

‘Were many babies given up for adoption while you were there?'

‘The majority of them.' She felt fidgety. ‘Anyway, it's your day off. Can you stop behaving like a police detective for a few hours! I want to stretch my legs.'

‘OK!' He emptied the tea leaves from the cups into the waste bin before washing the cups under the tap and then placing them on the draining board. ‘You said that your grandmother was on tour …'

She clicked her tongue against her teeth. ‘Yes, that's right. She was a dresser and taught me a lot about what I know about dressmaking. When Bobby was a baby we used to travel around with her. I probably met Dorothy then,' she said lightly. ‘I'm sure I've told you all this before. Now shall we go?'

‘I'm sorry. Forgive me?' He smiled.

‘I suppose you can't help yourself but no more questions.' She rubbed her hands together and then clapped them. ‘Right! Are you ready for that walk?'

They went out the front way and made their way along the main street. ‘Do you really want to see the abbey ruins or would you prefer a walk along the river?' asked Sam. ‘I reckon we'd be falling over people at the ruins. There's a path behind the abbey grounds. It's a pleasant stroll.'

‘OK, I suppose I do need the exercise as much as you do,' teased Lynne, remembering what he said earlier. She twisted from the waist in an attempt to see the size of her bottom.

‘I wasn't saying you were fat! You've a neat little posterior.'

She blushed. ‘Are you sure about that?'

‘Sure I'm sure,' he said, grinning. ‘You've a trim figure and I like the colour of your hair as well.'

Her lips twitched. ‘You don't have to go overboard with the compliments.'

‘Why can't women take compliments gracefully?' he protested. ‘I was going to add I like the way you smile, too.'

She laughed. ‘Stop it!

They walked on in silence. Lynne's thoughts returned to thinking about the home in Cheshire and Dorothy and that meant she wasn't looking where she was going and stumbled over the root of a tree. Sam reached out a hand and grasped hers. He did not release it when she was steady but walked on. She was intensely aware of the feel of his fingers against hers but she did not drag her hand away. It was not as if he was kissing her; most likely he was simply making sure she did not slip again.

As they came to a bridge he released her hand and they both rested their elbows on the wall and gazed down at the water. ‘I noticed you have little indentions on the balls of your fingers,' said Sam idly.

‘I'm always pricking my fingers with pins and needles, that's why,' said Lynne. ‘Next time you have a murder suspect, if she has fingers like mine, then you'll know what her occupation is.'

He smiled. ‘I suppose I'd notice if I was taking her fingerprints.'

‘Do you do much of that?'

‘Years ago I did but it's something you don't forget.'

‘I suppose most criminals wear gloves now?'

‘If they've got any sense, but some still make mistakes.' He paused. ‘Did you see that rise?'

‘I saw a fish coming to the surface. Was it after a fly?'

He nodded. ‘I bet there's a few fish in here. I used to go fishing, but never have the time now.'

‘Where did you go?'

‘When I was very small, I'd take a net to the lake in Newsham Park. When Dad gave me my first rod, I'd go to Carr Mill Dam, by St Helens, for freshwater fishing. Then when I reached my twenties, sometimes I'd travel out to Conway or Anglesey for sea fishing.' He straightened up. ‘I took Dorothy fishing once but she hated it. It's a very restful hobby. I've always thought if I had a son, we could go fishing together.'

Lynne thought of Nick. She did not really want to believe that Dorothy could be his mother. Yet she and Sam had known each other a long time.

They left the bridge and walked on in silence. The sun was shining through the trees, dappling the surface of the river. She thought of what Hester's friend had said at the wedding.
Dorothy was taking a chance following her dream and leaving Sam to his own devices, so she only had herself to blame if they parted.
Suddenly Lynne felt such a sense of peace and happiness come over her. She had not felt such emotions for a long time and it was due to being with this man in this restful place. It was so easy just to be with him.

By the time they arrived back at the cottage, the lunchtime rush had abated and so they were able to eat outside in the sun. The two men talked about the merits of different cars whilst Lynne and Hester discussed clothes, youngsters, crime and houses and Emma's baby.

It was on the way home that Sam said, ‘I couldn't help overhearing part of your conversation with Hester. I hope what she said didn't frighten you, talking about young criminals. We are having some trouble with youths at the moment but most of them are no different from how we used to behave when we were young.'

‘Can you honestly say that about Teddy Boys?' asked Lynne.

‘Not all Teddy Boys are criminals and not all girls are ladylike. Some like to cause fights, egging on the lads for a bit of excitement. A lot of the powers that be blame the war but you can't blame it for everything. Yet the fact that so many haven't got fathers has to make a difference.' Sam glanced at Lynne. ‘Don't you agree?'

‘I wouldn't argue, although I don't think young Nick is the kind to get into trouble,' she said.

‘Strange, I was thinking of Nick, too.'

Her heart began to thud in that uncomfortable manner again. ‘Yes, but he has a foster father.'

‘That's true.' Sam sighed. ‘And a family now.'

‘And that will probably help to keep him on the straight and narrow,' said Lynne, her heartbeat steadying. ‘Thinking of girls, your sisters have been fortunate in having a father and a brother. It must have helped them understand men better. More so than myself.'

‘They can still make mistakes.'

‘We all make mistakes. We don't live in a perfect world,' murmured Lynne, closing her eyes.

‘Why don't you doze?' suggested Sam. ‘It's been quite a day.'

‘I will if you don't mind,' said Lynne, stifling a yawn. ‘I'm feeling really sleepy. It's all that fresh air.'

She drifted off and eventually found herself dreaming that she was waltzing with Sam to the Blue Danube and their steps were in complete harmony. Then suddenly she got into a muddle and began to tread on his toes and felt frightened. She couldn't think why until she sensed they were being watched and she just knew that it was Dorothy standing there, laughing.

Dorothy stepped off the train in Lime Street with her arm in a sling and headed towards the exit. Her forehead was damp with perspiration. She had not expected it to be so hot in Liverpool and could have coped with it better if she had not been dressed for a north of England summer. Still, she was here now, having phoned the hotel when she was in London to reserve a room for one night only and telling them about her accident.