Stay as Sweet as You Are by Joan Jonker

Author:Joan Jonker [Jonker, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Sagas
ISBN: 9780755390298
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 1998-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

‘It’s a shame your Titch never got married,’ Olive said, walking between Aggie and Irene, their arms linking hers. ‘He loves kids and is so good with them.’

‘Yeah, I know. I keep telling meself it’s not too late, ’cos I’d like to see him settled down with a family. But he’s either too bleedin’ choosey or no one will have him.’

‘Your son would have no trouble finding a dozen girls who’d be more than willing to marry him,’ Irene said. ‘He’s a fine-looking man and if he was that way inclined he could have his pick.’

After much persuasion they’d finally talked Olive into coming to the pictures. She was worried because she didn’t have a decent coat to wear, so Aggie had lent her a black knitted shawl to wear over a thick cardigan. It was a cold winter’s night and there was a stiff breeze blowing, but cushioned between her friends, Olive was sheltered from the worst of it. ‘He’s got a lot of patience with kids. Just look at him now, they’re all over him and he’s lapping it up. Our Steve idolises him, I know that much.’

Titch was walking ahead with the youngsters, one hand holding Lucy’s while the three boys walked on his other side. Their laughter was carried on the wind, bringing smiles to the faces of the three women. ‘That’s our Jack,’ Irene said. ‘I don’t think he’s stopped talking since we left the house.’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Aggie said. ‘They’re all doing their fair share, even Lucy. She’s not behind the door when it comes to getting her twopennyworth in.’

Olive saw Lucy look up at Titch with a smile on her face. She couldn’t hear what the girl said, but loud laughter followed her words. ‘I see what yer mean, Aggie. She’s a beautiful-looking girl, I bet her parents are proud of her.’

There was no immediate reply to that, then Irene said, ‘I’ll tell yer what, Olive. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. If you say my two are handsome lads, I’ll say the same about your Steve. Then we’ll all be happy.’

‘Oh, no we won’t,’ Aggie tutted. ‘Yer seem to forget that I have a son, too. Now let’s hear it for Titch. Is he handsome, or is he not?’

‘Very, very handsome,’ was Olive’s verdict.

While Irene thought he was, ‘Film-star handsome.’

‘That’s better. He may be forty, but he’s still my little boy.’ They grinned at each other before quickening their steps to catch up with Titch and company outside the picturehouse. The children had all opted for a comedy, The Gay Divorcée, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. And it was hilarious. Jack got so carried away with mirth he kept banging his fist on the back of the seat in front of him, until the woman turned around and told him if he didn’t knock it off she’d knock his block off. Lucy was captivated by the dancing, Steve was captivated by the changing expressions on her face, and Greg was too busy enjoying himself to worry about anyone else.

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