The Girl at Change Alley by Joanne Clague

Author:Joanne Clague
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2022-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Ginny dropped the bowl of peas onto the grass and her hands flew to her throat. A figure had appeared on the other side of the trellis, half concealed by the climbing plants.

Joe stuck his head around the frame. ‘Ey up, love.’

She gasped, at once elated and afraid. The last time she had seen Joe he had been furious with her, had shaken her so that her teeth rattled. But here he was, grinning at her, and nodding a greeting to Isaac who had run up from the bottom of the garden with the dog, skidding to a halt and sticking his thumb in his mouth. The boy regarded Joe solemnly. Ginny told him to say hello to Joe but he just continued to suck his thumb.

‘Gerroff me,’ Joe said, pushing Shandy down. He brushed his trousers. ‘Bleedin’ dog’s makin’ a reight mess o’ me.’

Ginny moved towards him, to touch him, to confirm he was really standing before her, but was halted by Isaac, who wrapped his arms around her skirt and almost toppled her. Joe reached out to take her elbows. ‘Steady on.’

Isaac said: ‘Mam, you dropped the peas.’

Joe laughed. ‘Tha looks flummoxed.’

‘Well, I am!’ She shook her head in disbelief. ‘I’ve been waiting, for you or Louisa, to come. It’s been hell. Oh! If Silas finds…’

‘Av been waiting an’ all, behind that wall,’ he gestured over his shoulder with his thumb, ‘an’ my patience ’as finally paid off. They’ve just gone out, both o’ em.’

‘Yes, they’ve gone to look at new premises, on Kelham Island.’

‘On shanks’ pony.’

Ginny squinted at him. ‘Yes, Harriet did mention it would be nice to go for a stroll in the sunshine.’

‘Mam, you dropped the peas,’ Isaac repeated more forcefully.

‘Pick them up then! Here.’ She bent to retrieve the bowl and shoved it into Isaac’s hands. She straightened, sweeping her hair back with both hands, then folding her arms over the old, stained blouse she wore to do the gardening. ‘I look a sight.’

‘A sight for sore eyes,’ said Joe.

Ginny put on a modest smile and looked down at Isaac. He was cramming more peas into his mouth than were going in the bowl. ‘Isaac. We’ll have none left for tea.’

Joe leaned closer and whispered deliciously in her ear. ‘Can we talk, me an’ thee, wi’out this little ’un earwiggin’?’

Ginny tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and played her fingers over her lower lip. Gratifyingly, Joe’s gaze dropped to her mouth, as she’d intended. She was thinking furiously. If Silas caught Joe there’d be ructions but she couldn’t bring herself to send him away. The sight of him was like unexpectedly coming across the first violets of spring, those blues and purples that warmed her right through. Isaac would tell his uncle, no doubt, that a man called Joe had turned up on the doorstep – or from behind the pea trellis – so she supposed the damage was already done.

‘Ginny, can I come in?’ Joe sounded impatient.

‘You can,’ she said. She took Joe’s hand.

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