had left home, but not why, and thought perhaps Connie wanted to hear that she was coming back. Instead I had a sudden flash of intuition and knew she would never see her daughter again, but I also saw a child, one that would be living with Connie. Now there was the quandary. How could I tell the woman that she would never see her daughter again?’
‘What did you do?’
‘I just said that I saw a child and she might become a grandmother. Well, Connie went mad. She accused me of listening to gossip, said I had heard on the grapevine that her unmarried daughter was pregnant. She said I’m a fake, a shyster, one who takes money from people who can’t afford it. With that she marched out, and has never spoken to me since.’
‘So you saw into the future and knew her daughter was going to die?’
‘Yes, but not the details. It doesn’t work like that, but I saw the darkness.’
‘Do you always see bad things?’
‘No, thank goodness.’
‘How often does it happen?’
‘Blimey, I don’t know. Sometimes every few days, but then it might be weeks before I get another one. Now enough. This is becoming like an inquisition. Put some milk on and we’ll have a cup of cocoa before going to bed.’
Pearl made the drinks, thinking about Bessie and her fortune-telling. She wasn’t sure that she approved of her methods, but surely it was all right to offer people hope when they were in despair.
Her mind gave her no answer, yet Pearl knew as she poured milk into two cups that she had clutched at this problem to avoid thinking about the café. It wasn’t only Dolly she didn’t want to face, it was the others too. There was Gertie, Madge, Mo, and worse, Derek. She would have to see him every day – see the hurt she had caused him – and it was going to be awful. The costermongers, the locals, had taken her to their heart, but what would they think of her now?
She and Kevin were to be married, and she was happy about that, but she wished Bessie could turn on her second sight to tell her what the future had in store.
Pearl still hadn’t gone to Mo’s to collect her things; instead she spent the whole of Sunday indoors. She felt ill with nerves, her stomach churning every time she thought about returning to the café and, after a restless night, woke heavy-eyed on Monday morning.
She forced herself to get ready, Bessie sympathetic and telling her she could still change her mind. Finally, with her head down, she emerged from the shop, feeling as though every costermonger in the market was looking at her. She didn’t look towards Derek’s stall, couldn’t bear to see his face, and was relieved to scuttle into the cafe.
‘Morning, love,’ Bernie said. ‘Dolly wants to talk to you before the others arrive, but listen, there’s something I want to ask you first. Kevin said that you threw yourself at him. Is that right?’
Pearl’s eyes rounded. ‘No, I … I didn’t throw myself at Kevin, but I do like him. When I was living in my bedsit, he came up to my room and … and it just sort of happened.’
‘Did he force you?’
She shook her head in denial, but then Dolly’s head emerged from behind the kitchen door. ‘Pearl, get in here!’
With a swift, frightened look at Bernie, Pearl hurried to do her bidding, but instead of yelling in anger, Dolly’s voice was surprisingly calm. ‘Right, to start with I’ve managed to talk Derek Lewis into keeping his hands off Kevin.’
‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that, but I … I didn’t tell him the baby was Kevin’s.’
‘Well, he knows now, and if it wasn’t for me he’d be looking for blood.’
‘What … what did you say to him?’
‘I had to convince him that my son isn’t to blame.’
‘But—’
‘If Derek thinks that Kevin took you down against your will, he’ll give him a beating. Anyway, the truth of the matter is that Kevin didn’t force you, and you can’t deny that.’
Pearl lowered her head. Dolly was right. She had allowed it to happen. She should have been more forceful in her protest, yet in reality she hadn’t really wanted Kevin to stop. She had given in too easily, and what did that make her? Self-loathing made her stomach twist. ‘No, Kevin didn’t force me, and I don’t want Derek to hurt him.
‘I should think not. Derek knows you weren’t forced, but he still wants to give Kevin a hiding. I had to concoct a story, lay the blame on you, and if you want to keep Kevin safe, you’ll just have to go along with it. It ain’t gonna be easy for you. Derek is well liked around here and you’ll probably face some aggravation, but for Kevin’s sake, keep your mouth shut.’
‘All right,’ Pearl whispered, wondering what story Dolly had come up with. She was about to ask when the woman spoke again.
‘Now, there are other things to sort out. A lot of people around here would like to see me brought low, so I don’t want them thinking I’m against this marriage.’ Her lips tightened. ‘I ain’t happy about it, but nevertheless we will all put on a happy front. Is that clear?’
Pearl bent her head in acquiescence, but then, hearing voices, Dolly spoke quickly. ‘That sounds like Madge and, despite being my cousin, she’s another one who would like to see me brought low. Mind you, I know how to put her straight. Now get that look off your face and replace it with a smile. We’re about to put on the show of our lives and make sure you follow my lead.’
With that, Dolly beckoned Pearl to follow her, and together they emerged into the dining room. ‘Morning, Madge. Have you heard the wonderful news?’
‘What news is that?’
‘Blimey, you must be the only one around here who hasn’t heard that I’m to be a grandmother. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. Of course, it’s a shame that Pearl and Kevin aren’t married yet, but that’s the way things seem to be happening nowadays and can soon be remedied.’
‘What … you’re pleased?’ Madge sputtered.
‘Why shouldn’t I be? I’m dead chuffed that Pearl is to be my daughter-in-law and, as I said, I can’t wait to be a grandmother.’
‘Well, stone the crows. I thought you’d go barmy.’
‘Oh, so you had heard?
‘Well … yeah … and I can’t believe you’re taking it so well. After all, Pearl’s engaged to Derek Lewis.’
‘Oh, that was just a fleeting thing,’ Dolly said, beaming as she placed an arm around Pearl’s shoulders, hugging her with affection as she told a few more lies. ‘You see, Pearl went out with Kevin first – in fact she threw herself at him, but they had a falling out. She didn’t think he’d take her back and that’s why she agreed to go out with Derek. Isn’t that right, Pearl?’
‘Er … yes.’
Madge frowned. ‘Going out with him is one thing, but getting engaged is another. If you ask me, it was a bit quick.’
‘Pearl tells me that she was heartbroken when she and Kevin broke up and she agreed to marry Derek on the rebound.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ Madge said, her voice registering disbelief.
Dolly’s face darkened. ‘Madge, you of all people should understand. After all, when that bloke you were courting ran off, you married Eddie almost immediately.’
Madge reddened, but before she could say anything, Dolly spoke again. ‘When Pearl found out she was carrying Kevin’s baby, she told