The Fortune Tellers by Maggie Mason

Author:Maggie Mason [Mason, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Sagas, Historical, 20th Century, World War I, Women, Family Life, Marriage & Divorce, General
ISBN: 9781408728147
Google: 3Eh4EAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2023-08-30T23:00:00+00:00

By the time she’d finished reading, tears were streaming down her face. How would he be when he knew that she couldn’t give him children because of what she’d done? But then she straightened. Never would he part her and Sally. Nor would she ever let him hurt her. She would swing for him first.

Screwing the letter up, she threw it into the fire then watched it burst into flames. As the last of it was beginning to smoulder, the door opened.

‘Eeh, you didn’t stay long, Edna.’

‘Naw, she’s off to sleep now. I’ll leave her outside for a bit, babbies always sleep well in the fresh air. So? What did Bobby have to say? … By, it were that bad you’ve had to burn it! Well, that’ll be his ma and her nasty tongue, lass.’

Aye, Trisha thought, and you’re not above that yourself, Edna. But she bit her tongue and didn’t let herself say so.

‘He’ll be all right when he gets home. It was a shock to him, that’s all.’

‘Naw, lass, he won’t, this’ll fester in him and what about when he finds out what it’s brought on you? Men like to father a young ’un, even if they never take any further notice of their kids. A babby is testament to them being up to it. That they’re as manly as the next.’

Trisha felt defeated. She could see in Edna’s eyes and hear in her voice that she didn’t believe the lie about the rape. For a moment, she felt like confessing all as the strain on her was too much, but she knew she mustn’t ever do that.

‘Right, love, if you’re all right, I’ll leave you for a while. I put me copper on to boil before I came out – it’s me day for doing me whites. Babby’s fine, I’ll keep me eye on her.’ She opened the door. ‘Eeh, here’s Martha, and it looks like she’s been shopping … Hello, Martha. What you been buying then, lass?’

‘Oh, it is that it’s nothing, Edna. Just some material and I’ve had to go and pay me rent on me pitch. I’m hoping to get back to me work soon, so I am.’

‘You’ll be losing your powers at this rate, love. And what it is that you sew all the time, I don’t knaw. Sally’s the best dressed young ’un in Blackpool as it is. Let me take a look then.’

Trisha couldn’t see Martha, but judging by the way she reacted to this, it seemed that there was something she needed to hide.

‘No, that isn’t for being possible as it is a surprise that I am planning.’

Trisha heard Martha’s door open and then close in a hurry.

‘Well, did you hear that? What’s she up to, eh? … Surprise? A surprise for who, I’d like to knaw. Anyroad, me copper’ll boil over at this rate. I’ll see you later, Trisha, lass.’

Trisha didn’t have to wait long for Martha to appear. Her flushed face showed there was a secret. ‘Martha, love, you can share anything with me.

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