Secrets of the Jam Factory Girls by Mary Wood

Author:Mary Wood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Chapter Nineteen

Elsie

Once Elsie had steeled herself to return to the party, Jim caught up with her. ‘I missed you, you’ve been gone for ages. I wanted to ask if you would have dinner with me tonight – no pie and mash, but dinner, somewhere quiet. I think we need to talk.’

‘Oh?’ Elsie looked round. She could see Len, his arm around Millie, his head back, laughing. Had he said anything?

‘Elsie? Elsie, please say yes. I feel that you . . . well, may have second thoughts about us? Am I right?’

Relief washed over her. She looked up at him. Good, trustworthy Jim. ‘Yes. You’re right.’

‘Oh, Elsie.’ Jim looked down at her and then frowned. ‘Elsie, is there something wrong?’

‘I – I, no. I had a moment in the bathroom, that’s all. You know: the wedding, Dot . . . seeing my lovely brother looking so lost. Missing Dot so much. And, well, wondering what the hell me and Cess are doing here. Little Bert’s all right, he’s young enough to take everything in his stride, but this . . .’ She spread her arms out. ‘It’s all so strange to us. We don’t fit. I just want us to go back to Rene. Back where we belong.’

‘Dear Elsie, I understand. Millie should never have put you in this position to salve her own loneliness. I know you love her very much, but it would have been far better if she’d bought you a house very near her, where she could visit when she wanted to, or stay over when she needed to.’

‘You’re right, mate. That would have been better for me and me brovvers.’

‘We’ll talk tonight, Elsie. You will come, won’t you?’

‘Yes, I will. I’ll put me best frock on and . . . Oh, Jim. Ta for being you, and standing by me.’

Jim whispered, ‘Always.’ Then found her hand and held it.

A flurry of activity changed this. Millie and Len were ready to set off. Everyone was crowding around them, when Millie suddenly broke free and ran over to Elsie. Her arms were open. ‘Oh, Elsie, I wish you were coming with me.’

Elsie, comforted, and warmed by Jim’s assurance, laughed. ‘On your honeymoon! You daft thing. Besides, me and Jim have a date, don’t we Jim?’

Millie looked from one to the other. ‘You mean . . .?’

‘Yes. Well, we haven’t spoken to each other yet, but we know.’

Jim stepped forward and put his arm round Elsie. She leaned into him, feeling loved and protected. She’d thought she would feel shame when she spoke to Millie, but that hadn’t happened. Nothing that had gone on had been her fault – not the initiating of it, anyway. So she held her head high.

‘But when did this happen? You said you were only mates!’

‘Today. On your wedding day. You and . . . Len made it happen. Your love triggered something in me. I’m so happy, Millie. Really happy. You go and have a lovely second wedding and honeymoon. We will see yer when we come back and tell you all about it then .

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