Читать книгу Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 2: The Loner, Born Bad, Three Letters - Josephine Cox - Страница 18

‘WHY DO YOU think Annie and her mam didn’t come?’ asked Judy as her dad drove home, relieved to be away from the oppressive atmosphere of the funeral.

Annie Needham and Judy had hit it off right away, from their very first day at Elm Grove Girls’ School. Although no one could take the place of Davie in Judy’s affections, it was grand to have another girl as a friend; someone to talk things through with – things that she would have been too shy to mention to Davie.

‘I’m not sure,’ answered Beth. ‘I think Mrs Needham helped Joseph out when his wife died some years ago – that was before Don and Rita and Davie moved back in with him. We heard she’d done a bit of shopping for him and the like. The Needhams rented a house in Jackson Street then. Oh well. May be she’s just too busy with her own family. She’s got an older boy, apart from Annie, hasn’t she?’

‘Yes – Philip. He’s a butcher’s apprentice and he’s horrible. Gives me the creeps,’ said Judy. ‘Mam, could I go and see Annie, just for a bit? I’ll come straight home on the bus, I promise.’

Annie was a strapping, dark-haired girl, the antithesis of Judy in many ways, being wild and rebellious, sometimes lazy and argumentative, and above all – flirtatious. But underneath all that, Judy had found her to be a caring and loyal friend. And when Annie wanted to fight the world, Judy’s quiet nature and wise observations had a calming influence on the girl. Like the hand and the glove, these two opposites seemed to fit together incredibly well. And just at this lonely, confused moment in her life, Judy longed for her friend’s no-nonsense approach.

‘Aye, lass, why not. Might do you a power of good.’ Beth thoroughly approved of Evie Needham, Annie’s mother, who was an ordinary, hardworking woman, content with her lot, much like Beth herself. Evie liked a good old chat and was always ready for a laugh, although her husband was much shyer. However, Beth was not so keen on Annie herself, considering her to be a difficult girl, cheeky and insolent. What on earth Judy saw in her, she couldn’t tell – but she liked to see her daughter being happy and so she kept quiet about her reservations.

‘Dad will let you off at the top of Derwent Street,’ she went on, ‘but you must catch the early evening bus home. I don’t want you wandering the streets alone at all hours.’

‘All right, Mam, I will – I promise.’ Judy decided to go into the corner shop later on and buy some toffee pincushions for her and Annie to share. The other girl loved them. She also had enough pocket money left to buy two bags of Smith’s crisps as well. She enjoyed opening the little blue twist of paper containing the salt, and sprinkling it over the crinkly brown crisps.

As Tom turned into Derwent Street, the car began coughing and spluttering. ‘It’s time you treated yourself to a new vehicle,’ Beth told him straight. ‘This contraption was a bad buy when you got it, and if you ask me, it’s on its last legs.’

‘Give over, woman. This’ll do me. Anyway, I can’t afford no new vehicle,’ he replied indignantly. ‘I’m a farmer, and a milkman, to earn a few extra bob. I’ve got no fancy money to be changing vehicles.’ He grinned wickedly. ‘Now, if you were to talk about a new young bull to serve the cows … well, happen if I were pushed, I might find the money for that.’

‘You’ll do no such thing!’ Beth gave him one of her stern looks. ‘If you’ve got money to spare, you can get me a new bathroom. That’s what’s most needed, never mind bulls and the like!’

Seated comfortably in the back, Judy was kept amused by her parents’ good-natured banter.

Annie Needham was playing hopscotch out on the pavement by herself when she saw them turn the corner. ‘Mam, it’s Judy!’ she called in through the front door. Running to the kerb, she waited for them to arrive.

‘This is a nice street, don’t you think, Tom?’ Beth had a liking for Derwent Street. Long and meandering, it was flanked by small square houses with high windows dressed in pretty lace curtains. There was a cast-iron lamp-post at either end; an ancient pub with bay windows on one corner, and a shop straddling the corner at the other end. ‘If I weren’t so happy on the farm, I reckon I wouldn’t mind living along here.’

Her husband smiled knowingly. ‘You’re as likely to leave the farm as I am to walk stark naked through a busy marketplace,’ he teased. ‘Anyway, why d’you think I married you, eh?’

Beth smiled at the idea of him walking naked past fat Lily on the fish-stall; bold as brass and twice as crude, she made no secret of her fancy for Tom. ‘I’ve no idea,’ she replied, ‘but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.’

‘I married you, because you have the same passion for the land as I have.’

‘Is that so?’ Beth feigned indignation. ‘So now the truth comes out, does it?’

‘What d’you mean?’

‘Well, here’s me thinking you married me because you loved me, and now I see how wrong I was.’ She winked at Judy, who knew her mammy was joshing anyway.

Tom, however, was completely wrong footed. ‘No … oh no! What I meant was … Oh dear,’ he stuttered, ‘it all came out wrong. I didn’t mean it like that.’

‘All right then. I forgive you.’ Her face relaxed into a cheeky grin, and he knew she had been toying with him.

‘Elizabeth Makepeace, you’re a right little madam, that’s what you are.’ Tom was visibly relieved. ‘You know very well I never wanted nobody but you … ever!’

‘I know that, you silly old fool! But happen that’s ’cause nobody else would have you.’ She gave him a sound kiss on the face, and all was well.

‘Hello, Mr Makepeace.’ Annie stepped forward as he wound down the window. ‘Mrs Makepeace.’ She peeped into the car at Beth. ‘All right are you?’

Beth thanked her kindly and said that yes, she was fine.

When Judy climbed out, still clad in her funeral clothes, Annie hugged her tight. ‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ she said. ‘Mam said you would have gone up to the church. I wanted to come too, but Mam wouldn’t let me. She said as how it would be hypocritical, as she didn’t approve of what Rita Adams had done to her family.’

‘Give my regards to your mam,’ Beth called as Tom pulled away, ‘and don’t forget what I said, Judy. You’re to get the early bus back.’

Evie Needham appeared at the door just then, covered in a dusting of flour and looking flustered. ‘Cheerio!’ She gave them a nod and a wave, showering the pavement with flour as she waved her hand.

‘Nice woman,’ Beth said as they chugged down the street. ‘Attractive in a quiet way’

‘Hmh.’ Tom gave her a sideways glance. ‘She’s only a little thing, isn’t she? Meks you wonder how she ever had such a lolloping great lump like young Annie.’

Beth rolled her eyes. ‘Tom! I must say, you have a wonderful way with words.’ But she had to chuckle, because he was right. As always.

When the two girls walked into the kitchen, Evie was up to her armpits in bread making. ‘We thought we might have a picnic down by the canal, Mam. Is there anything we can take with us?’ Going to the pantry, Annie began delving for treats. ‘Philip must have been in here,’ she grumbled. ‘The shelves are empty. I thought as there were a bit o’ bread pudding and some cold ham and egg pie.’

Evie apologised. ‘Your brother did take most of the food with him when he went to work this morning.’ Wiping her hands on a tea-towel, she dug into her pinnie pocket. ‘There’s two shillings.’ She gave the florin to Annie. ‘You should get a few treats with that. It can do for your tea. And don’t be back later than seven, Annie, or I’ll start to worry.’

‘OK, Mam – but I wish you wouldn’t treat me like a kid. I’m thirteen now – nearly old enough to leave school.’ All the way to the corner shop, Annie moaned about her older brother. ‘Greedy bugger! Phil doesn’t give a sod about anybody else but himself.’

‘We’ll be all right, Annie,’ Judy consoled her. ‘We’ll get a bottle of pop between us, and a couple of meat and tatty pies. With the sweets and crisps that’ll do us.’

Satisfied, Annie changed the subject. ‘How did it go at the church?’

‘All right, I suppose. Mam said there were more people there than she thought there’d be.’

‘So, who else went?’

‘Lots of Joseph’s workmates and some others I didn’t know. A few of his neighbours … Oh, and Ron and Patsy Reynolds.’

‘Ooh, I really fancy that Lenny Reynolds,’ Annie said wistfully, then she rolled her eyes, and gave a coy little grin. ‘D’you know he’s got his own market-stall, and the girls are all over him. He looks like a film star, and I bet he kisses really good.’ She feigned a swoon. ‘I’ll bet me and Lenny could show that Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable pair a thing or two.’

‘Behave yourself.’ Judy couldn’t help but smile. ‘It’s a good thing your mam didn’t hear you say that.’

‘Oh, I know. She would have given me one of her lectures, about not rushing my childhood and thinking of my future. She’d say I was too young to be worrying about boys and such.’ In a temper, she kicked a mound of grass into the canal. ‘I’m not too young! I’m fed up, that’s what I am. D’you know, I’ll be fourteen next year, and I’ve never had a boyfriend.’

Judy shuddered dramatically. ‘Don’t know as I want one.’

‘Liar! I bet you wouldn’t say no if it was Davie.’

With those tactless words echoing in the air, the conversation came to an abrupt end, with Annie wishing she could take back what she had just said, and the other girl feeling quietly bruised.

‘Sorry,’ Annie said awkwardly.

‘It’s all right.’ Judy shrugged her shoulders.

‘You think a lot of Davie, don’t you?’

Judy nodded silently.

‘And I’ve got a big mouth, which I always manage to put my foot in.’

‘I won’t argue with that.’ Judy laughed. Annie was Annie, and she said what she thought.

‘Was he there?’

‘Who?’

‘Davie!’

‘No … well, yes he was, only we didn’t see him at first. He must have sneaked into the back of the church before the service started.’

‘So, what’s happening with him? Has he gone back to his grandad?’

‘No.’ If only he had, Judy thought sadly. If only things could be the same as before, when Davie was never far away.

‘So where is he then?’ Annie doggedly pursued it.

‘Gone away.’

‘Where to?’

‘I don’t know … and neither does his grandad. I’m so worried about him, Annie.’ Her voice fell. ‘May be he won’t ever come back.’

‘Hmh!’ Annie had seen Davie and Judy together a few times and she had sensed the affection between them. She believed it was more than just friendship. Just occasionally, Annie had caught Davie looking at Judy in a certain way. ‘You do know that Davie loves you,’ she said casually. ‘I mean really loves you, and not like a brother neither.’

‘Don’t be daft!’ A warm blush spread over the other girl’s face and down her neck.

‘I’m not being daft.’ Annie turned into the corner shop and Judy followed. After Judy had bought the sweets and crisps, it was her friend’s turn. ‘A bottle of pop and two meat and tatty pies.’ She slapped the coin onto the counter. ‘And if there’s enough left over, we’ll have two ounces of jelly babies.’

‘Hey!’ Leaning forward, the big man spread the palms of his huge hands on the counter. ‘Lost your manners on the way here, did you?’ he asked sharply.

Seeing that he wasn’t about to serve them unless she asked politely, Annie grudgingly added, ‘Please.’

‘Hmh!’ Taking a bottle of pop from the shelf behind him, he placed it on the counter. ‘It really hurt you to say that, didn’t it?’

Ignoring his comment, Annie cheekily reminded him, ‘All I want are two meat and tatty pies – if you please. And some jelly babies.’

Delivering her a scathing glance, he served all of that, and a penny change into the bargain. ‘You’re a sullen little bugger,’ he said. ‘If you were mine you’d not stand for a week!’

‘Oh, yeah? Beat me black and blue, would you?’

‘Teach you a few manners, that’s what.’ He pointed to the door. ‘Go on, be off with you!’

As Judy and Annie went out the door, his wife sidled up behind him. ‘Right little madam, she is.’ His wife was usually the one who served Annie. ‘Such an angry child. I can’t make her out.’

‘She’s no child,’ he grunted. ‘More like a monster in the making.’

‘You’re right, love.’ Tutting and complaining, the little woman scurried away with a parting remark. ‘How that nice Mrs Needham ever gave birth to that one, I never will know.’

‘Why are you always so sharp with people, Annie?’ Carrying the bottle of pop under her arm, Judy followed her friend down the bank to the canal.

‘I’m not!’ Having got to the canal edge, Annie threw off her coat and spread it inside-out on the grass.

‘Yes, you are.’ Taking off her own smart jacket, Judy did the same. ‘Sometimes it’s as if you want to fight the world.’

Annie shrugged it off. ‘I bags first swig of the pop.’

Handing her the bottle of Tizer, Judy asked, ‘Is there anything wrong? ’Cause if there is, you know you can tell me.’

Judy couldn’t imagine there being anything wrong though, because Annie had a good home and a loving family. And as far as she knew, there was no one at school who gave Annie any trouble. In fact, they all seemed to steer clear of her, because of her trouble making antics.

‘There’s nothing wrong!’ Annie snapped, and she took a long drink from the bottle. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said lamely, handing the bottle back. ‘I don’t mean to moan and grumble, only sometimes I feel so trapped, I just want to take off.’

‘But why? And where would you go?’

There was a long pause before Annie answered, and for a moment it seemed as though she was ready to impart something; a secret that haunted her.

‘Annie, I know there’s something you want to tell me,’ Judy urged. ‘If it’s a secret, I won’t tell anyone – you know that.’

Shaking off the dark mood that threatened to envelop her, Annie took hold of Judy’s hand. ‘There is something I need to tell you,’ she said. ‘It’s just that – well, I want you to know that I could never be angry with you,’ she said quietly. ‘You’re the only friend I’ve got.’ Beyond that, she was not forthcoming.

Still convinced that Annie was harbouring something too painful to speak about, Judy made a last attempt to get it out of her. ‘Promise me, Annie,’ she urged. ‘If you’re ever worried about anything, you would tell me, wouldn’t you?’

Instead of giving a straightforward answer, Annie replied disarmingly, ‘What is there for me to worry about?’

Judy gave it a thought. ‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘You’re really lucky, Annie. You’ve got an older brother, and you seem such a close family. I wish I had a sister or brother, but there’s only me, now Davie’s gone. Sometimes it feels really lonely, especially at night when I go up to my bedroom, and there’s nobody to talk to. Oh, I know I’ve got me mam and dad, and I love them madly, but it would be nice to have a sister.’

Annie hugged her. ‘And instead you’ve got me,’ she laughed. ‘A loud-mouthed, miserable sod who wants to fight the world. Is that what you’re trying to say?’

‘You know that’s not what I’m saying.’

‘Well, consider me your sister. How’s that?’

‘That’s just fine.’ And now that it was settled, they sat down to enjoy their food.

For the next hour, they talked and laughed and exchanged confidences, about their favourite film stars and songs. Annie was dead smitten by Guy Mitchell, the handsome American vocalist. Both girls loved listening to Two-Way Family Favourites on a Sunday morning, when requests were played by Jean Metcalfe. You had to have someone in the Forces, though, to send in a request.

‘Ooh, I could listen to him all day,’ mooned Annie.

The two girls watched the barges go by, and waved to the man at the tiller, and when the food was finished, they picked up their coats and strolled along the canal towpath. ‘Hey, look lively, you two day dreamers! You’d best move, unless you want trampling to a pulp!’

Leading the horse along the towpath, the bargee had nowhere to go but onwards. Shafted to a wide strong harness, the huge powerful shire-horse was bent forward, using his great strength to draw the barge along in the water.

Leaping out of the way, the two girls went up on the bank and remained there, until the horse had pulled the barge to a wider part of the canal.

Suddenly, a brightly coloured ball came bouncing past with a little boy chasing it, and behind him ran a woman who caught the boy by the scruff of his neck. ‘What have I told you before, Charlie? You are not to run near the edge of the water.’

Her companion was obviously her husband and the boy’s father; tall and pleasant-looking, he appeared to be in his early forties and in his smart, double-breasted overcoat, he had the air of a successful businessman. ‘Charles! You listen to your mother and do what she tells you!’ Taking the ball from the child, he gave him a stern though not unkind scolding. ‘I intend keeping this until you learn to do as you’re told. It’s for your own good. Now get between me and your mammy.’ He tempered his rebuke with a forgiving smile. ‘You can still see the ducks without diving in amongst them.’

A moment later, with his mammy holding his hand on one side and his daddy holding his other hand, the small boy walked happily along the towpath.

Annie winked at Judy. ‘He’s a bit of all right, don’t you think?’ She gestured to the man. ‘I’ll bet he’s not short of a bob or two neither.’

Judy didn’t think the man was anything special. In fact, compared with Davie’s dad, Don, he wasn’t worth a second glance. Annie was right on one count though, because unlike Don, this man probably was worth a bob or two. But Don was far more good-looking for a man of his age; he was full of the Irish blarney, and he had a cheeky smile, just like Davie.

A fleeting thought crossed her mind. What if Don never found out what happened after he left, and what if he and Davie never saw each other again? She swallowed.

Annie linked her arm through her friend’s. ‘You don’t like the look of him, do you?’ she teased.

‘No, I don’t.’ Judy gave a shiver. ‘There’s something about him that gives me the creeps.’ A bit like your brother, she thought – but didn’t say so.

For a while the two girls just wandered and chatted, about this and that and nothing in particular, until Annie suddenly got very excited. ‘Look!’ She pointed to a spot on the other side of the river, surrounded by trees and away from the madding crowd; quiet and secluded, it was a favourite place with fishermen. ‘Isn’t that Lenny?’

Seated on a three-legged stool and lost in thought, Lenny didn’t see them. ‘Hey, Lenny!’ Annie’s distinctive voice sailed across the water. ‘Mind if we keep you company for a while?’

Looking up, Lenny waved them over. He had been feeling lonely, but the sight of the two friends brightened his day. He really liked Judy, though everyone knew she and Davie would be sweethearts one day. But now Davie was gone, and though he was sorry for what had happened to Davie, he was glad Judy was still here. And as she crossed the bridge towards him, his heart was lurching all over the place.

‘Is there really a need for them to shout like that?’ The woman and her son had heard Annie call out and their attention was drawn to Lenny. ‘Such vulgar behaviour!’

As the girls ran across the bridge and through the field towards Lenny, the man discreetly slowed his step to steal another look at Lenny.

Sensing the man’s eyes on him, Lenny raised his head. For an instant they exchanged glances until unnerved, the man quickly looked away.

‘Stuart?’ His wife’s voice cut through his thoughts.

‘What?’

‘Do you know that young man?’ She had seen him scrutinising Lenny from a distance.

‘Of course I don’t know him, Janette.’ The man was obviously irritated. ‘Why in God’s name would I know him?’

‘Do you know the two girls then?’ The woman’s intuition told her that something was untoward. She recalled various other unsettling instances, when her husband had given her reason to doubt his word.

He scowled at her. ‘What’s the matter with you? Sounds like a blasted inquisition! I don’t know that young man, and I don’t know those girls. All right?’

‘I expect so, yes. And there is no need to swear.’

‘Good. So now can we get off home?’

As they walked on, Janette Fitzwilliam gave the impression that she was satisfied with his answer. But she did not believe him. She knew her husband too well. She saw how the colour drained from his face when he looked across the water and suddenly, what had started as a leisurely Saturday afternoon stroll in the park now seemed a frantic rush to get away.

Twice the man discreetly glanced back; his mind alive with dark, intriguing thoughts. His wife had her suspicions, he was sure of it. But for now, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

As they approached Lenny, Annie and Judy slowed their pace. ‘I really like Lenny,’ Annie confessed. ‘I’ve always liked him.’

Judy was not surprised. Annie fancied every single boy she ever came across.

‘Does he know?’ she asked.

Annie shrugged her shoulders. ‘Don’t think so.’

‘Why don’t you tell him then?’

‘I will,’ Annie retorted, ‘when the time is right.’

‘If you really like him, don’t leave it too long, or some other girl will snatch him from under your nose,’ Judy warned.

‘Hmh!’ Annie showed her a bunched fist. ‘Just let them try, that’s all.’

‘You like him now, but I bet you’ll fancy somebody else before the week’s out.’ Judy had never met anyone more flippant than Annie.

‘I won’t!’

‘What about Ian Lacey?’

‘What about him? Ow!’ Tripping over a stone, Annie picked it up and slammed it into the water. ‘Damned thing, I’ve stubbed my toe now.’

‘I thought you and Ian had taken a shine to each other?’

‘Naw.’ She made a grimace. ‘He’s not my type, and anyway, it’s you he’s waiting for.’

Judy smiled. ‘He’ll wait a long time then!’

‘You’ll see,’ Annie chuckled. ‘One of these days, he’ll start making his move.’

‘Then he’s in for a disappointment, ’cause I’m not interested in him, or any other boy for that matter.’

‘Except Davie, eh?’ Annie wouldn’t let it go.

‘Davie is my friend,’ Judy answered loyally.

Annie sighed. ‘All right, if you say so.’

‘I do say so, and I don’t want to talk about it any more.’ She loved Annie. If need be, she would risk her own life to save her. But sometimes, like now, Annie could be really invasive. She didn’t mean to be: it was just her way.

As they closed the gap between Lenny and themselves, Annie lowered her voice. ‘Just look at him,’ she whispered excitedly. ‘Isn’t he gorgeous?’ Her eager eyes appraised Lenny’s strong physique, and the way his thick mop of brown hair fell haphazardly over one eye as he bent to retrieve the keepnet. ‘Who wants Ian Lacey when you can have Lenny Reynolds?’ Annie said dreamily. ‘Lenny’s already finished with school, and he’s really ambitious. He’s already got his own fruit and veg stall on the market.’

She leaned over and whispered in her friend’s ear, ‘I’ve seen him on a Saturday morning. I hide round the corner and watch him. He’s really good at selling. The customers like him … they keep coming back. One woman said she’ll never buy her cabbages from anybody else, ’cause his are the freshest she’s ever had, and the cheapest into the bargain. Oh, Jude, I really do like him!’

Judy was about to giggle about the cabbages, but was glad she didn’t, for just then, Annie fell into a sudden dark mood. ‘Lenny is kind and decent,’ she said harshly. ‘Different from some people who don’t give a bugger!’

Her face contorted with rage, she quickly stooped to collect a handful of stones, which she then impatiently threw one after the other into the water, sending the ducks swimming away in all directions. ‘Some people love to hurt others. They don’t deserve to walk about free … don’t deserve to live!’ The last stone was hurled with such viciousness, it frightened the ducks into the air.

Reaching out, Judy took hold of her hand. ‘Annie, please don’t.’ She saw how nervous the ducks were. ‘There’s no need to take it out on them.’

When she looked up, she was surprised to see that the other girl was actually crying. ‘Who’s hurting you?’ she asked worriedly. ‘What’s going on that you can’t talk to me about?’

‘I’ve already told you – there’s nothing going on.’ Wiping her face with the cuff of her sleeve, Annie took to her heels and ran to where Lenny was collecting his fishing gear. ‘Packing up already?’ she complained. ‘I was hoping you might show me how to catch a fish.’

‘I might have done, but you’ve frightened them all away,’ he chided light-heartedly. ‘The ducks too, by the looks of it.’ Like everyone else he knew how unpredictable Annie could be. Added to that, she had a frightening temper, which was why she had few friends, except for Judy, who was always there for her, loyal and protective. ‘All right, are you, Jude?’ His eager smile was for her and her alone.

Judy returned his smile. ‘Yes, thank you, Lenny.’ Curious, she looked into his keepnet. ‘Did you catch anything?’

‘A few tiddlers,’ he replied. ‘Nowt worth keeping.’ At which he tipped the net into the water and watched the small fish swim away.

For the next half hour, the three of them sat and talked about Lenny’s market-stall, and his plans to open a shop one day. ‘I know how to buy cheap stuff and sell it out for a profit,’ he said proudly. ‘I learn summat new every day.’ He helped himself to a couple of leftover jelly babies.

A short time later, the three of them took a lazy walk to the spinney, and when they came out the other end, they sat on a fallen tree by the river’s edge and dipped their bare toes in the water.

‘I love it out here,’ Lenny confided. ‘I’d like to build a house right in the middle of a field, somewhere nice and peaceful, with plenty of animals, and I’d put a great big fence round it, so no one can get in.’

‘Except me?’ Annie hinted hopefully.

He laughed. ‘All right, except you … and Judy.’ While he talked to Annie, he was thinking of Judy, and when they walked on again, he walked next to her, while Annie pushed up to him on his other side. But he didn’t mind that.

‘Has anyone heard from Davie?’ he wanted to know.

‘Not yet,’ Judy answered. ‘Although he was at his mam’s funeral today. I didn’t get a chance to speak to him, though. But I might be going to see his grandad tonight. Happen he’s heard something.’

‘I’ll walk you there if you like?’

‘I’ll come too,’ Annie offered. ‘We could have fish and chips on the way back.’

‘That would be nice,’ Judy agreed, ‘but I expect I’ll be going with Mam and Dad.’

As always, Annie never missed an opportunity. ‘You can walk me to the chippie later if you like?’ she told Lenny. ‘I might even buy you a bag o’ chips.’

He laughed. ‘All right, if you like. I’ve got nothing else to do, and I hate staying indoors.’ He had good reason for preferring to be outdoors. But he could not discuss that with anyone.

Annie continued to flirt shamelessly with him, while he kept glancing at Judy. Annie seemed too intent on Lenny to notice, and Judy was lost in thoughts about Davie.

At the mouth of the river they went their separate ways. ‘See you outside the corner shop on Derwent Street at six o’clock!’ Annie wasn’t about to let him forget. ‘You haven’t changed your mind, have you?’

‘I said I’d be there and I will.’ It would give him a chance to find out how Judy felt about Davie, he thought. Annie had a big gob on her, and she couldn’t keep a secret. He said his goodbyes and took his leave. With his fishing rod slung over his shoulder, and his wicker basket swinging from his fist, he made a fine figure of a young man.

‘He kept looking at you,’ Annie told Judy. ‘If I didn’t know how besotted you are with Davie, I might have to fight you for him.’

When Judy looked taken aback, Annie flung an arm round her shoulder. ‘Sorry. I wouldn’t fight you, not even if you were to rip out my eyes and leave me for the crows,’ she laughed. ‘All the same … hands off Lenny. He’s mine!’

‘Annie?’

‘What?’

‘Where do you think Davie is now?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Do you think he’s safe?’

Annie shrugged. ‘Dunno,’ she repeated. There followed a brief silence, before she added cheerfully, ‘Look, I know how fond you are of Davie, but there are plenty more fish in the sea. You’ll soon forget him.’

But having said it, Annie knew different.

Judy would never forget Davie.

Even if, in the whole of her life, she never saw him again.