More Than Just Coincidence

Оглавление

Julie Wassmer. More Than Just Coincidence

More than just Coincidence

Julie Wassmer

Copyright

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One Black Plimsolls Tied With Ribbon

Chapter Two The Number 8 Bus

Chapter Three By Hope, By Work, By Faith

Chapter Four Rebel Without a Cause

Chapter Five Keeping Secrets

Chapter Six Ten Short Days

Chapter Seven Afterbirth

Chapter Eight The Road Out

Chapter Nine Into the Westy

Chapter Ten A Clock Stops Ticking

Chapter Eleven Tramontana

Chapter Twelve A New Tack

Chapter Thirteen 18 Jermyn Street

Chapter Fourteen Three O’Clock at the Pagoda

Chapter Fifteen Emotional Journeys

Chapter Sixteen Full Circle

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Publisher

Отрывок из книги

The remarkable story of how a mother and daughter were reunited in one astonishing twist of fate

Margie and Bill

.....

So Aunt Carrie and Uncle Will Tolliday filled this family void. Described by all who knew them as ‘characters’, they were both frustrated entertainers. Carrie had a belting voice in the style of Gracie Fields and whatever Will lacked vocally he made up for with a terrifying and inventive act which involved an intricate and grotesque mask of rubber bands that covered every inch of his face. They would perform at the drop of a hat at various East End civic theatres, to patients trapped in hospital wards—any venue that would invite them.

The Bridge House, a little brown-tiled pub at the end of our street, was once treated to an impromptu show by Aunt Carrie while several of the notorious Kray twins’ henchmen were trying to enjoy a quiet drink. After a few rounds of rum and blackcurrant, Carrie swept through the saloon bar singing ‘It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie’ and swiped the glass from the impressive fist of a lantern-jawed villain. His eyes narrowed as she upbraided him in song in front of all the other customers. Finishing, bravely, on an astoundingly long note, she completed her performance by downing the man’s drink. A hush descended on the bar. My mother leaned in quickly and whispered to him, ‘She don’t mean no harm. She’s a relation of my husband’s so if you can see your way to forgive, I’d be grateful.’ She offered him her charming smile. After a slightly worrying pause, a low, rumbling chuckle could be heard. As it developed into a bellow of deep laughter everyone joined in. My mother had won him round.

.....