‘I think I can safely say, not well,’ Bobby muttered. ‘He was in a blind rage when I told him about you and Tony walking out, and by the time I broke the news of the marriage and the baby, I was getting seriously worried about the way he kept looking at his shotgun. Then when I said it was for his sake you’d started seeing Tony, he just went sort of… numb. He’s been like that ever since.’
‘Has he…’
‘Sometimes, in the evenings. No more than three. But he hasn’t tried to get any more, or drunk himself into a stupor.’
‘Then perhaps he’s not too bad.’
‘I don’t know. He’s not drinking heavily – yet – but I can tell he’s far from settled in his mind.’
‘Is he very angry with me?’ Lilian whispered.
‘I think he’s mostly angry with himself, after what I told him. With Tony a close second.’
‘Whatever are we going to do about him when you have to go? Mary can’t watch him constantly. She’s got her hands full in her own home. Besides, he isn’t her responsibility, kind as I know she is.’ Lilian rubbed her head. ‘I don’t suppose he’d agree to us hiring a housekeeper, even if we could afford it. He wouldn’t live with a stranger.’
‘I did have one idea.’ Bobby stood up so she could rest a hand on her sister’s shoulder. ‘Supposing I could help Tony into a job near Dad? You two could live with him in the cow house.’
Lil blinked. ‘The cow house?’
‘Yes. I know it’s cold and small and a far cry from perfect as a family home, but it has to be better than this place,’ Bobby said, glancing around the cramped, dingy little kitchen. ‘Or Liverpool, with bombing raids every other night. Don’t you think so?’
‘Well, I suppose so, but—’
‘And once the baby’s older, you might be able to earn a bit on the side too,’ Bobby went on, warming to her theme. ‘I’m sure Mary would mind the baby if you needed to go out to work a few hours a day. I don’t like to presume too much on favours from her and Reg, but she adores little ones.’
‘What is there for women to do out there? Charring?’ Lil said, curling her lip.
Bobby shrugged. ‘Better to get paid for it than stay here doing it for nowt, isn’t it? If you could only bring in a little extra then it might be enough to rent a more comfortable cottage, as long as Dad’s still able to work and Tony can hang on to a job. I’ll help out too.’
Lilian placed a palm on her forehead. ‘We’re getting ahead of ourselves, Bobby. I can’t keep a family on a few bob a week charring, and it’ll be a year or more until I can leave the baby. What’s Tony going to do? He’s the one who’ll have to support us.’
‘Isn’t it obvious? He’ll do my job, over atThe Tyke.’
Lilian blinked at her. ‘Your job? Aren’t you doing it?’
‘I’ll be off in April, won’t I? For who knows how long – years perhaps. Reg was going to advertise for a boy, but I asked if he’d hold off until I’d spoken to Tony.’
‘A quid a week though, Bobby. It’s no wage for the head of a family.’
‘Yes, but that includes the cottage,’ Bobby reminded her. ‘Mary will be around to help with the baby, and you’ll be there for Dad and him for you. I know it isn’t perfect, but I do think it’s the best answer.’
Lilian still looked dazed.
‘Reg has really said he’ll give this job to Tony?’ she asked. ‘Does he know him?’
‘Well, he knows of him,’ Bobby admitted. ‘But I spoke up in Tony’s favour, and Don’s written him a glowing reference. Reg said he couldn’t promise anything, but he’s soft-hearted. I do think if Tony applies, he’s got a good chance.’
A glimmer of light appeared in Lilian’s eyes as she caught a little of Bobby’s enthusiasm.
‘It isn’t a bad plan,’ she admitted. ‘Tony thinks he can earn forty or fifty bob a week in the shipyards, but rent isn’t cheap in Liverpool, and we might need to hire help while the baby’s small. We could be not much worse off at the end of the day.’
‘Where is Tony?’ Bobby asked. ‘I’d like to talk to him before the pair of you come on Wednesday, and persuade him he ought to apply. He can speak to Reg while he’s there.’
Lilian rolled her eyes. ‘He’s out “job-hunting”. Which means he’s at the pub around the corner, sobbing over the Situations Vacant page.’
‘Right. I’ll go find him.’
‘Be gentle, OK?’ Lilian said, standing up. ‘If he thinks you’re trying to do him a favour offering him a quid-a-week job – one a woman’s been doing as well – he’ll go all stuffy and refuse to consider it.’
