The Buffer Girls by Margaret Dickinson

Author:Margaret Dickinson [Margaret Dickinson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781447290872
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Five

Emily continued to meet Trip every Sunday. He was interested and excited to hear all about her venture, but he was apologetic about Josh having been sacked from Trippets’.

‘D’you know why?’ Emily asked him bluntly. ‘Was it because his work wasn’t up to standard?’

Trip shook his head and seemed, to Emily, to be avoiding meeting her gaze. ‘I don’t think so. George Bayes said he was getting on nicely.’

Emily thought she might know the reason after what her mother had admitted, but she didn’t want to tell Trip. She didn’t want to cause any trouble between him and his father, so instead she said brightly, ‘Anyway, Josh now has a good job at Waterfall’s and he really likes it.’ She forbore to say that he was happier there than he had been at Trippets’. ‘And our little business is doing very well.’

‘That’s my girl,’ he said, seeming relieved that she had adroitly changed the subject. He put his arm around her shoulders as they walked through Weston Park one late September afternoon. Already, there was an autumnal chill in the air. ‘I’m so proud of you. I hope the work keeps coming in for you, though, because times are hard. Mr Bayes had to lay off three women in our buffing shop only last week.’ Trip sighed. ‘I know it’s unfair, but he lays off the women first and gives their buffing jobs to men. He feels the men have families to support, whereas—’ He stopped and bit his lip.

‘Whereas,’ Emily went on, ‘you don’t think women have the same responsibilities as men.’

Trip sighed. ‘Some of them do, I know, but unfortunately there’s nothing I can do to influence Mr Bayes.’ He laughed ruefully as he added, ‘And certainly not my father.’

‘I know.’ Emily squeezed his arm. Trip was a kindly young man with none of his father’s ruthlessness in his nature.

‘Oh look,’ Trip said suddenly, ‘there are Josh and Lizzie. They’re talking to some woman sitting on that bench over there. Let’s go and say hello. I haven’t seen Josh for weeks.’

Emily sighed but before she could argue, Trip was leading her towards her brother and Lizzie. She was disappointed to see that Josh and Lizzie were still walking out together on a Sunday. The more they appeared together in public, the more people would think that they really were a couple. And this was something she could do nothing about either. She was beginning to think, after all this time with no word from Amy, that perhaps the girl had met someone else back in Ashford and if that was the case, then she really couldn’t blame Josh for keeping company with Lizzie.

As Emily and Trip approached, Josh looked up and waved. ‘Hey there, you two, come and meet our new friend, Mrs Beauman.’

Beside her, Emily felt Trip give a little start and she glanced at him to see that he was staring at the well-dressed, pretty woman sitting on the park bench. But he recovered quickly and together they went forward to greet her.

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