she felt?
It was time to go and as Pearl put on her coat, Nora arrived, beaming widely, her face holding the innocence of a child. For a moment Pearl’s fingers itched to sketch her again and she studied her features, trying to hold them in her mind, but was too worried about Derek to concentrate. Had Kevin told the truth? Had he really said nothing to Derek?
She called goodbye, leaving the café to walk slowly to his stall, the breath leaving her body with relief when he smiled warmly. Oh, he was such a lovely man, and though he didn’t arouse any feelings in her, she was safe with him.
Once again Pearl’s resolve hardened. Kevin was dangerous, unpredictable, and it was better to keep out of his way.
‘Hello, love, I just saw Nutty Nora charging through the market. She looked like a rag bag.’
‘Oh, don’t call her that. She may be slow, but she isn’t nutty.’
‘It’s a nickname she’s had for years.’
‘It seems so unkind.’
‘Yeah, you’re right, it is, and from now on I won’t use it. Mind you, I still think she could do with smartening herself up a bit. Sometimes she lets off an awful whiff.’
Pearl looked down at her own clothes. She desperately needed some new ones, and as the second-hand shop was at the end of the market she intended to see if she could find a couple of outfits.
Derek had the local paper and she picked it up. ‘Did you see any bedsits to rent?’
‘Yeah, a couple, but there’s no hurry for you to move out.’
‘I don’t think your gran would agree. I’m taking up her front room.’
‘It’s not her house, love, it’s mine. Gran had the tenancy transferred to my name years ago. She wanted to make sure that if anything happened to her, I wouldn’t get chucked out.’
Pearl smiled faintly. The house might be in Derek’s name, but it was obvious who ruled the roost. ‘It’s still time I found somewhere else to live.’ She stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss on the cheek, Derek gripping her hand for a moment before she hurried away.
Her heart was lighter as she opened the door to the second-hand shop, but was greeted by a musty smell that made her nose wrinkle. There was a mishmash of stuff for sale: old books, bits of china, a few pieces of furniture, all covered in dust. She was about to turn tail when an elderly lady came out of a back room, her heavily lined face breaking into a smile.
‘Hello, dear. Can I help you?’
‘I … I’m looking for a couple of outfits, but …’
‘Well, you’re in luck. I’ve just had some stuff in that’s in good nick and looks about your size.’ She shuffled over to a metal rack, her fingers gnarled and bent with arthritis. After riffling through the rail she pulled out a skirt and blouse. ‘Here they are and, as you can see, there ain’t a mark on them.’
Pearl reluctantly crossed the shop floor but when she got closer, she could see what the old lady meant. The blue skirt looked lovely, pleating from the waist into a flare, and the white blouse immaculate. When the old woman pulled out a dress, Pearl’s eyes widened. It was patterned with pink roses on a cream background, the material heavy and of good quality. The skirt flared from the waist too and there was also a matching bolero with short sleeves.
‘You can try them on, if you like.’
‘Oh, yes, please.’
She was led to the back room, finding it piled high with more clothes and old furniture, but there was a full-length mirror. The old lady left, and after trying on the skirt and blouse, finding them an almost perfect fit, Pearl reached for the dress. She twirled in front of the mirror, amazed at how lovely it looked, and now crossed her fingers that she could afford them. Quickly dressing, she then carried the outfits through to the shop. ‘How much are they?’
‘Well, now, let me see. You can have the skirt and blouse for a shilling, but I want two bob for the dress.’
Pearl gasped, unable to believe her luck. Both outfits would have cost pounds new. Afraid the woman would change her mind, she quickly pulled out her purse.
The clothes were shoved in an old brown-paper carrier bag, and as the old lady handed it over she cocked her head to one side, her eyes narrowing. ‘In the not too distant future, we’ll see each other again.’
‘Yes, I’ll definitely come here again.’
‘I know you will, but it may not be to buy clothes.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Don’t worry about it, duckie. It’s just that I know our paths were meant to cross and one day you and I will need each other.’
There was something all-knowing in the old woman’s dark eyes and Pearl shivered. ‘I … I don’t understand.’
‘You will when the time comes and—’ The door opened, a stout women coming in clutching a bag, garments spilling out of the top. ‘Hello, Maud. I can see you’ve got some stuff for me.’
‘Yeah, and it’s decent gear too. That fancy piece I clean for had a clear-out.’
‘Right, fetch it over here.’ And turning to Pearl she added, ‘No rest for the wicked.’
Pearl knew it was a dismissal, her mind turning as she left the shop. She played the old woman’s words over in her mind. Their paths were meant to cross. But what did that mean?
‘What have you got there?’ Connie asked as soon as Pearl arrived home.
‘I went to the second-hand shop.’
Pearl pulled out her outfits, gratified by Connie’s approval. ‘You’ve done well there, girl. How much did you pay for them?’
‘Only three shillings for both outfits.’
‘Blimey, old Bessie must be losing her marbles. She could have asked for more than that.’
‘Oh dear, do you think I should have offered more?’
‘Don’t be daft. Bessie Penfold has made a mint over the years. If she’s undercharging for stuff, she still won’t lose out. She buys it for next to nothing and, believe me, I should know. When my Derek was a nipper, things were really tight. My old man died and I had no choice but to flog his clothes. Bessie Penfold gave me a pittance for them, but I was desperate and had to take it. She was as tight as a duck’s arse, and it was only enough to feed us for a couple of days. I’ve never forgiven her and if she’s getting her comeuppance now, I’m glad.’
‘She said some funny things too.’
Connie’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Like what?’
‘She said our paths would cross and that we’d need each other.’
‘There’s people round here who think she’s got second sight. They say she’s from gypsy stock and can see into the future. Now me, I think it’s a load of old tosh. If you ask me you shouldn’t take any notice of anything she said.’
Pearl smiled with relief. ‘I don’t believe that anyone can foresee the future, but I must admit she unnerved me a bit.’
‘Yeah, well, she’s had years of practice. You’re lucky she didn’t ask you to cross her palm with silver. She’s conned a good few people over the years with her so-called predictions.’
Pearl was surprised. Despite her strange words, she had liked Bessie Penfold, and though she was obviously in a lot of arthritic pain, the woman had been kind and cheerful. Yet Connie made her sound mean and conniving, a woman who fooled people into parting with their money. Would their paths cross again, Pearl wondered, and if so, why?