‘Nay, not recently.’
‘I hope there’s nothing wrong at his barracks.’ Bobby’s youngest brother was a sapper with the Royal Engineers, defusing bombs down in London.
‘Oh, you know what the lad’s like,’ her dad said. ‘Walking out wi’ a new lass, I shouldn’t wonder, and no time for writing home.’
‘You’re probably right.’ Bobby grimaced. ‘I almost forgot, I’ve got bad news for you, Charlie. As a peace offering, I said we’d take Tony and Lil to the pub tonight. I know we can’t really afford nights out, but it’ll be worth parting with a few bob to make my life easier at work.’
Charlie, who found Tony Scott difficult company when the man was awash with beer, pulled a face. ‘Oh, all right. If it’s for the sake of your career.’
‘Dad, I’m afraid I volunteered you to mind Annie,’ Bobby told him. ‘Do you mind? We wouldn’t be late.’
‘Always happy with a bit o’ grandad time,’ Rob said jovially. ‘Might as well get some in while I can.’
Bobby frowned. ‘How do you mean? Are they increasing the Home Guard parades?’
‘Nay, nowt like that.’ Her dad started putting his macintosh on. ‘I was thinking it were time to be flitting, that’s all. Your sister and young Scott don’t need me taking up space in that little barn, especially if they’re minded to add more bodies to it.’
‘You’re moving out of Cow House Cottage?’ Bobby said, blinking.
‘Well, you and Lil have got your own lives to lead. Husbands to mind, and more bairns to come for both of thee, I hope. Your sister’s a good girl to want to look after me and Tony’s not nearly the rum lad I once believed, but it don’t stop me feeling rather surplus to requirements.’
Bobby cast Charlie a worried look.
‘Where would you go?’ she asked her dad. ‘Not back to Bradford?’
‘Nay, not when I’ve a good job here. I was thinking I might as well put the house in Bradford up for sale. I’ve been too thoroughly countryfied to want to be back in a city now.’
‘You’d sell our house?’
‘Well, it’s not needed by t’ family, is it? Must be worth a few bob. Enough to get me set up somewhere, and happen wi’ a bit left over to share out among you bairns.’
Bobby framed her next question carefully.
‘Um, are you sure you ought to live alone, Dad?’ she asked. ‘Lil and me could take your washing, but we can only do so much with our own homes to run. You’d have to get a woman in to cook and clean for you.’
‘Who said I’d be alone?’ Rob jammed his cloth cap on. ‘I’ve a friend in a similar boat. A daughter grown up, with not enough room in t’ house for elderly relatives. We thought, why not throw our lot in together? Two can live as cheaply as one, they say, and we’d be company for one another.’
‘A friend? Who?’
‘Someone from the pub – but I’ll not say more till it’s settled. Just know you don’t need to worry about me, eh, our Bobby? Sithee both at dinner tomorrow.’
With a kiss for his stunned daughter and a handshake for his equally stunned son-in-law, Rob left.
‘Well!’ Bobby said to Charlie. ‘What do you make of that?’
‘It’s… good, isn’t it?’ Charlie said. ‘Your dad’s right – the cow house is small for a young family and him too, and we’re no better placed to offer him a home. I know you’ve always worried about him living alone, but if he’s got a pal willing to share then that solves everybody’s problems. He can have independence without being left by himself.’
‘I suppose so,’ Bobby said cautiously. ‘Certainly I don’t feel nearly so worried as I would have done a year ago. Oh, but selling our house! I was born in that house. I… I lost my mam in that house.’
‘I know it’ll be emotional for you, darling. But realistically, were you ever going to live there?’
‘Well, no. It’s like my dad said – I’ve been too countryfied to want to live anywhere but here. Lil and our Ray have their own homes, and I don’t suppose Jake will want to settle there.’ She sighed. ‘It’s just… as long as we had a family home, even with no Bancrofts living in it, it felt like our memories had a place that went with them. It’s strange to think of another family making it theirs. Still, you’re right, Charlie. Better for it to be sold, and the money used to help the family.’
‘I wonder if he’s said anything to your sister about moving out.’
‘I don’t think so, otherwise she’d have mentioned it.’
Bobby thought about how Lilian had looked that morning – so tired and drained. She looked that way far too often nowadays.
