Sadie Was A Lady (62 page)

Peter took it all with good humour. After all, Ellen was looking good enough to eat in her new dress, with her lovely hair bouncing on her shoulders and her pretty face smiling. ‘Before I commit meself, I want to make sure she doesn’t have a points system, like her sister.’

There were only four people in the room who knew what he was talking about. Sarah and Joe were shaking with laughter and Sadie gasped. ‘Peter Townley, I’ll kill you!’

‘Well, I think we men must stick together,’ Peter said, his face serious. ‘And I think Harry should be warned that he probably won’t get to give Sadie a proper kiss until they’ve been out on a date six times. And even then he’ll have to have a letter from Our Lord.’

‘Is that how it works?’ Harry was leaning against the sideboard with his arm around Sadie’s waist. ‘This is goin’ to take some figuring out. Let me see, I haven’t seen Sadie for nearly a year, so at a rate of two dates a week, that’s a hundred kisses.’ He stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘I’ve only had fifty off her this afternoon, that’s all the time we had before you lot came. So she still owes me fifty kisses and I owe her a letter from Our Lord.’

Ellen was the other person to know of the points system. ‘I don’t have no system, Peter. I wouldn’t make yer kiss me chin or me forehead.’

Peter chuckled. ‘In that case I’ll ask me mam if I can dance with yer.’

‘There’s work to do before yer think of dancing, Peter, sweetheart,’ Sarah said. ‘I want yer to go next door with Tommy and Spike and fetch the crate of beer and the two bottles of port wine.’

‘Grandma, you haven’t been splashing out on drink, have yer!’ Sadie shook her head, worrying that her grandma and grandad would leave themselves short. ‘We don’t need drink to enjoy ourselves.’

‘You speak for yerself, Sadie.’ Tommy was already on his way to the door, followed by Spike and Peter. ‘Yer can’t have a proper knees-up without a drink. And this party is definitely goin’ to be a jars out, knees-up party.’

When they’d gone, Sarah told Sadie, ‘I haven’t paid a penny out, sweetheart. Mary Ann and Tom, Betty and Frank, and Tommy and Spike, it was their idea and they clubbed together for the drink. They wanted this to be a birthday party yer’ll never forget.’

Sadie was close to tears. ‘I’ll never forget this day as long as I live, Grandma. I keep thinking I’ll wake up and find it’s all a dream.’

‘Listen, girl,’ said Mary Ann, ‘don’t you start me off crying like yer usually do. This is a bleedin’ party, not a wake, and I intend to enjoy meself.’

Sadie sniffed up. ‘All right, I won’t start getting sloppy. But just tell me, Auntie Mary, where would I have been today if it weren’t for you and Grandma and Grandad?’

‘And me!’ Ellen knew how lucky she was and wanted everyone to know that she appreciated the new life she had. She might act childish in front of people, but that was only to make them laugh. In her mind she was grownup enough to know her happiness and good fortune had been brought about by the people in this room. ‘Where would I have been?’

‘Oh God, we’ve got two of them now!’ Mary Ann rolled her eyes. ‘One I can take, girl, but two, never on your life. Now go and gee those boys up with the drinks, me throat’s parched for want of a bottle of stout.’

‘I’ll go,’ Tom, her husband said, before looking across at Peter’s dad. ‘Are ye comin’ with me, Frank?’

‘Aye, I might as well.’

‘Don’t you be havin’ a drink on the sly,’ Mary Ann called after them. ‘Otherwise I’ll get the poker to yer.’

‘And I’ll get the rolling pin,’ Betty Townley shouted. ‘Tell our Peter.’

Dot cut a lonely figure standing by herself just inside the door. She was very like Ellen, same build and colouring. And she looked just as pretty in a pale pink blouse and navy-blue skirt. But she didn’t look at ease. She didn’t know anyone, only her sisters, and didn’t feel part of this happy group of friends. She would love to go over and talk to Sarah and Joe, but she couldn’t pluck up the courage. Perhaps later, when she got over her shyness.

One hour later the room was filled with talk and laughter.

‘It’s amazing what a few drinks can do, isn’t it?’ Mary Ann said between sips of her milk stout. ‘It certainly loosens the tongue.’

‘It seems to have more effect on your tongue than most, chick,’ Tom said. ‘I’m just waitin’ for it to reach yer legs and we get to see yer party piece.’

‘Oh, aye, Tom?’ Frank leaned forward. ‘What’s her party piece?’

‘It’s hard to describe, Frank. I can only say it’s a cross between the Irish jig, the Scottish reel and
Knees Up Mother Brown
.’

Betty winked at Mary Ann. ‘I’ll be yer partner, girl, when yer ready. I do a mean jig, even if I do say it meself.’

Sadie was standing close to Harry, his arm tight around her waist. ‘They all seem to be enjoying themselves, don’t they? The old ones are having a good natter, Peter is keeping Ellen and Jimmy amused, and look at the difference in our Dot now that Tommy and Spike are talking to her. I was worried before because she looked so lonely.’

Just then Tommy’s voice could be heard, saying, ‘Aren’t I right, Spike? Wasn’t the feller I had a fight with at the market about six foot six?’

‘If you say so, pal.’

‘Never mind if I say so, you saw him, and he was at least six foot six, wasn’t he?’

Dot was looking from one to the other, her pale face animated, her eyes sparkling with laughter.

‘I don’t think I saw that fight, pal,’ Spike said. ‘I must have been away at the time.’

Tommy snorted in disgust. ‘Yer were standin’ there, watching!’

‘I must need glasses, then, pal, ’cos the feller I saw yer fightin’ was about four foot ten.’

Harry chuckled. ‘They’re a pair of comics, those two.’ Then he whispered, ‘Let’s go in the kitchen so I can hold yer properly and kiss yer.’

Sadie blushed. ‘We can’t do that, everyone will know.’

‘I want everyone to know, everyone in the world.’

‘We’ll have plenty of time to ourselves tomorrow, about ten whole hours.’ Sadie smiled at the heavenly prospect. ‘What are we going to do?’

‘First we’re going to choose an engagement ring, that’s top priority so I’ll know for definite that yer belong to me. Then, if yer agree, we’ll go to New Brighton like we did last year.’

‘Ooh, yes, please! I’d love that, Harry.’

‘Sadie, are yer deaf, sweetheart?’ Sarah called. ‘There’s a knock at the door.’

‘Are yer expecting anyone, Grandma?’

‘No, it’ll only be one of the neighbours lookin’ for change for the gas. You go, there’s a good girl.’

Harry took her hand. ‘I’ll come with yer.’

He was teasing her as they walked along the hall, trying to steal a kiss, and Sadie was laughing as she opened the door. But when she saw his mother and father standing outside she became shy and dropped her head. She’d lived next door to them all her life but couldn’t remember having exchanged a single word with them.

Harry broke the silence. ‘Sadie, this is me mam and dad.’

‘Hello, Sadie,’ Florrie said. ‘Yer don’t mind us gate-crashing yer party, do yer?’

‘No, not at all.’ Sadie stood aside. ‘Come on in, yer very welcome.’

Florrie stepped into the hall and grasped Sadie’s outstretched hand. ‘I’ve got a lot of making up to do, love, if yer’ll let me.’

‘No, you haven’t, Mrs Young. I’d have been the same in your shoes. So shall we forget the past and start afresh?’

Harry put his arms around them. ‘I love both of you, and yer’ve no idea how happy it makes me to see you together.’

‘Excuse me,’ Jack said. ‘Don’t I get a look-in?’

Sadie grinned and put her arms around him. ‘Thank you for finding me and bringing me and Harry together again.’

‘Me wife hasn’t told yer, but I will. We’re both over the moon because we’re getting the daughter we always wanted.’

They hadn’t noticed the living room had gone very quiet. Sarah was standing at the door giving a running commentary on the proceedings. ‘Get the glasses ready, they’re coming in now.’

Sadie and Harry looked on in surprise as Florrie and Jack had a glass stuck in their hand. ‘Hey, don’t we get a drink?’ Harry asked.

‘Greedy, aren’t yer, pal?’ Spike grinned. ‘Yer’ve got the girl an’ now yer want a drink as well!’

‘Hey, hang on a minute.’ Sadie’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who gave our Dot and Ellen a drink? Ooh, and our Jimmy! They’re too young to drink!’

‘Don’t flap, Sadie,’ Tommy said, ‘it’s nearly all lemonade.’

Joe came to stand in front of Sadie. ‘I’m proud to do this, queen, ’cos yer’ve brought so much love into this house. So I want everyone to raise their glasses to wish the nicest girl in the world a happy birthday.’

Glasses were raised and cheers echoed to the rafters. The only one who couldn’t toast the birthday girl was
Harry.
‘Why haven’t I got a drink? She is my girlfriend, after all.’

Sarah moved to stand beside Florrie and Jack. ‘Are yer goin’ to make an announcement now yer mam and dad are here, Harry? We’re all waiting.’

Harry took a deep breath, pulled Sadie close and kissed the top of her head. ‘After seeing the three handsome men who have been looking after Sadie for me, I thought I’d better step in quick and claim her. So tomorrow we’re getting engaged.’

Once again the rafters rang to ‘For they are jolly good fellows, and so say all of us’. There were many kisses exchanged, hands shaken and backs slapped. Sadie was caught up in the excitement, never did she think she’d know such happiness. The only time she got a lump in her throat was when Harry pulled her over to where her two sisters and brother were standing, wide-eyed with wonder. Never had they known such warmth and friendliness. As she hugged and kissed them, she told them she loved them and getting engaged wouldn’t make any difference, she’d always be there for them. And when Harry hugged and kissed them they knew they hadn’t lost a sister, they’d found another brother.

The only difficult moment was facing Harry’s parents, even though he was gripping her hand tight to let her know that no one on earth had the power to separate them now. ‘I hope yer don’t mind me pinching yer son, do yer?’

‘Mind? I’m delighted. Only you could put that smile back on his face. He’s been as miserable as sin for the last year.’

Pleasantries over, the party started in earnest. Mary Ann and Betty did their jig, showing a great expanse of knickers in the process and bringing whistles and cheers from the men. Sarah and Joe sang a duet,
Just A Song At Twilight
, then Tommy, who had a fine, strong clear voice, sang a couple of smoochy songs,
Girl Of My Dreams
and
Who’s Taking You Home Tonight
. Sadie and Harry danced close together, wishing they were alone and could say the
things
they wanted to. Ellen partnered Peter, but they didn’t dance so close because his mam was watching. And Dot danced with Spike, much to the disgust of Tommy. When he’d finished singing he growled, ‘Hey, mate, why don’t you learn to sing? Yer not soft, yer not, leavin’ me flogging me guts out while you get the girl.’

‘Oh, I can sing, pal,’ Spike said, leading Dot to the side of the room. ‘But as yer’ve just said, I’m not soft.’

Soon it was time for the party to break up. It was an early rise the next morning, the start of a new week. Sadie was worried about Jimmy and Dot getting into trouble for being out late, but Tommy and Spike solved that problem by saying they were taking them home. When they were kissing good night, Sadie whispered in Dot’s ear, ‘Come to the market with Jimmy next Saturday – he’ll show yer where I am.’

But her voice hadn’t been low enough because Spike said, ‘Yer’ll be seeing her before then. She’s comin’ to Blair Hall with us on Wednesday.’

Soon after they’d gone, the Townleys left. And without Peter the party had lost its sparkle for Ellen and she took herself off to bed. ‘We’d better be on our way, too,’ Mary Ann said. ‘But we’ve really enjoyed ourselves.’

‘Yeah, we have as well.’ Florrie stood up and held out a hand to her husband. ‘Come on, love or I’ll never get yer up in the morning.’

‘Yer did say we could call and see yer, Sarah, didn’t yer?’ Jack said. ‘Otherwise we’ll never get to see our future daughter-in-law.’

‘You are welcome any time – aren’t they, sweetheart?’

‘We’ll be glad of yer company,’ Joe told them. ‘Any time yer like.’

Sadie stepped in and surprised even herself. ‘I can’t keep away from Harry’s family all me life, so yer will see me. Me parents ruined me childhood, I’ll not let them ruin the rest of me life.’

‘Good for you, queen.’ Joe’s face told of the pride he felt in her. ‘You walk down that street with yer head held high.’

As soon as all the guests had departed, Sarah gave her husband a knowing look as she stretched her arms and yawned. ‘I’m dead beat, sweetheart, I’m off to me bed.’

‘And I’ll be joining yer.’ Joe pushed himself up. His joints seemed to be getting stiffer every day, or perhaps it was because he wasn’t used to parties any more. He held out his hand to Harry, ‘Welcome to the family, son.’

The young couple listened as the old couple slowly climbed the stairs. ‘No wonder yer love them so much,’ Harry said. ‘I’ve fallen for them meself.’

Sadie drank in the face she had thought was lost to her for ever. Harry was smiling and his dimples showed, a lock of his dark hair had fallen over one eye and he was looking at her with an expression that sent ripples down her spine. They were going to be like Grandma and Grandad, she could tell. Their love wouldn’t go stale or lose its romance like some couples; they’d still be sweethearts in fifty years’ time.

‘I love you, Harry Young.’

‘And I love you, Sadie Wilson. I know it was your birthday celebration today, and I don’t want to steal your thunder, but this is a day I’ll remember all me life. You are so beautiful, in every way. I can’t believe me luck.’

‘Well, take me to our own special moon, Harry, and give me the fifty kisses yer owe me.’

‘I haven’t got the letter from Our Lord – does it matter?’

‘When you’re kissing me, nothing in the world matters.’

When his lips touched hers, she sighed with contentment. This was where she belonged, where she’d always belonged, with the boy next door.