after making the tea, Mo led her into the living room. Like Connie’s, it was stuffed with furniture, most looking faded and old, but again it was immaculately clean.
‘I know you’re courting Derek Lewis, but I’m afraid I can’t allow him in your room. My Emma ain’t allowed to bring boys home either, so the same rule applies to both of you.’
‘That’s fine with me.’
‘Oh, that’s good. I was a bit worried about laying down the law and my Emma says I’m old-fashioned. Old-fashioned! I let Emma stay out until ten thirty, but she still complains. My old dad would have skinned me alive if I wasn’t home by nine thirty in the evening, and that was when I was engaged.’
‘With having to get up so early in the morning, I’m mostly in bed by ten. Where does Emma work?’
‘She’s got a job in Prices, the candle factory. She’s been there since she left school and seems to like it. Of course, with our surname being Price, she got a bit of ribbing at first, but that soon wore off.’
Pearl found herself totally at ease in Mo’s company and they chatted for another half-hour. Then, glancing at the clock on the mantelpiece, she rose to her feet. ‘I’d best be off, Mo, and thanks again for letting me have the room. I’ll move in on Saturday night, if that’s all right.’
‘That’s fine, and I’ll see you at work in the morning.’
Pearl hurried along the road, pleased that she had found somewhere so nice to live. It would be easier to leave Derek and Connie now, and she would be living with a small family again. It was odd really. Both Connie and Mo were without husbands and had struggled to bring up a child on their own.
Pearl’s mind shied away from her next thought. If Mo and Connie could do it – why had her own mother left her on the orphanage steps?
On Friday, Derek was late coming into the café for his breakfast, and with a few minutes to spare Pearl was standing by his table chatting to him when Kevin appeared.
His eyes flicked round the room and, seeing them together, he strolled over. Pearl held her breath, but he smiled pleasantly.
‘Are you fighting again on Saturday night, Derek?’
‘No, not this time.’
‘That’s a shame. Nobby Clark says it’s always safe to put a bet on you.’
‘There’s no such thing as a safe bet. Nobby should have learned that by now.’
‘He loses most of his money on the horses, and it’s a mug’s game. He’ll never learn and I think most of the nags he’s bet on are still running.’
Pearl listened to the exchange, and as her heart thumped in her chest she cursed that Kevin still had this effect on her. He winked, and she flushed.
‘I hear you’re moving in with Mo Price and her daughter. I must say, that Emma’s a bit of all right.’
‘Have you been out with her?’ Derek asked.
‘No, but I might just sample the goods. What do you think, Pearl?’
Pearl felt a surge of jealousy, but managed a nonchalant shrug. ‘Please yourself. Anyway, I’d best get on,’ she said, hurrying away and hiding her feelings behind a bright smile as she approached a customer. The order taken, she cast a glance at Derek, glad to see that Kevin had left. He grinned and she couldn’t help but return it. He was like a big, cuddly bear, warm, safe. Kevin was the opposite, a handsome sleek panther, dark, predatory. She shivered, at last realising that she didn’t want to be his prey. Oh, if only Derek would propose soon.
Pearl was surprised at how hard it was to leave Derek’s on Saturday evening. She had tried not to grow too fond of them, but still found the parting a wrench, particularly with Connie. It had been like having a mother: a woman who cared about her welfare, showed her affection, and greeted her with pleasure when she came home from work. Now she was moving out and there would be no quick hugs at bedtime, no lovely meals, and no cosy evenings sitting in front of the television.
‘Well, ’bye then,’ Pearl choked, picking up her bags, only for Derek to take them out of her hands.
‘’Bye, love. See you tomorrow,’ Connie said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
‘Tomorrow?’
‘Well, yes. You’ll be round for dinner, won’t you?’
‘Oh, yes, I’d love to,’ Pearl said, her heart lifting.
‘Blimey, I thought we’d sorted this out. You’re moving to Pennington Street, not Outer Mongolia, and can come round as often as you like. If you want to pop in to see me after work each day, that’d be lovely, and you can share our meals as usual.’
‘Oh, Connie.’
‘Well, let’s face it; you’ll become as skinny as a rake again if I don’t feed you. Now off you go, and don’t worry, you’ll be fine with Mo. She’s a good sort.’
Pearl nodded, following Derek outside. She was on the move again, but this time reluctantly. It hadn’t been hard to leave the orphanage, the hostel, or her first bedsit, but leaving Derek’s was like leaving home.
‘You can always change your mind,’ Derek said as if reading her thoughts. ‘You’re welcome to stay at my place.’
‘No, Connie’s right. It’s time I moved out.’
‘What do you mean? What’s Gran got to do with it?’
‘Well … er … she sort of said I should try harder to find a bedsit.’
‘She what? When?’
‘We had a chat when you were at the gym on Tuesday. She’s right, though,’ Pearl said hurriedly. ‘I couldn’t sleep on the sofa indefinitely.’
‘She had no right to force you out without discussing it with me. Wait till I get back. I’ll have a few words to say to her.’
‘No, Derek, please don’t fall out over me. She’s only doing what she thinks is for the best.’
‘Huh, best for who?’
Pearl glanced up at Derek’s face, seeing anger, and decided that this might be the ideal opportunity to hint about marriage. ‘Connie’s concerned about you. We … we’re courting and it isn’t right that we were living under the same roof. I don’t know about you, but it kept me awake, knowing that you were in the bedroom above me.’ Pearl’s face reddened with shame as she told the lie, but consoled herself with the thought that it was only a little white one. If Derek loved her and proposed, she’d do her best to be a good wife. She couldn’t love him in return, but she liked him, and surely that was a good basis for marriage?
‘Bloody hell, I had no idea you were laying awake, and I must admit it was the same for me.’
‘Yes, Connie told me that she heard you tossing and turning.’
Derek suddenly stopped walking and, dropping her bags on the pavement, he turned to face her. ‘I ain’t much good at fancy words, Pearl, but I think a lot of you. In fact, more than a lot.’
Pearl’s breath caught in her throat. Was this it? Was he going to propose? ‘I … I think a lot of you too.’
His huge arms reached out, enfolding her, crushing her to his chest. ‘You’ve made me a very happy man. I can’t say I’m pleased that you’re moving out, but if both of us aren’t getting any kip, perhaps Gran’s right. We’ll still see each other every day, but if you ain’t happy at Mo’s, just say the word.’
No proposal, Pearl thought, disappointed as she pulled herself out of Derek’s arms. ‘I’m sure I’ll be fine,’ she whispered, and as he picked up the bags again, they continued their journey to Pennington Street.