Kay Brellend 3-Book Collection: The Street, The Family, Coronation Day. Kay Brellend

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СКАЧАТЬ eyes narrowed. She hadn’t forgotten the Robertson family. How could she? They’d done a bunk with the blouse she’d loaned Jeannie for pawning, and with Mr Keane’s rent and furniture. But what really niggled Tilly was that she could have lost her job over it all.

      ‘Up there, is she?’ Tilly echoed and her mouth set in a grim line. ‘I’ll have her … the thieving cow.’

      ‘Hang on,’ Beattie whispered in shock. ‘Bleeding hell. Look! Here she comes. She’s heading straight for us.’

      Tilly turned to see that indeed Jeannie Robertson was marching purposefully in her direction. Tilly eyed her from head to toe. She didn’t appear to be in need of anything now. Dolled up hardly did justice to her elegant attire. She’d always been an attractive woman for her years – Tilly guessed Jeannie was about her own age, thirty-seven. It was the first time Tilly had seen her spruced up and she realised Jeannie Robertson wouldn’t have looked out of place sauntering along Bond Street. She certainly looked to be a misfit in Campbell Road, yet a few years ago she’d been glad to take a room in one of the worst houses to be had in this slum. A blue velvet hat was perched on Jeannie’s head and she was garbed in a smart dark outfit with a leather bag dangling from an elbow.

      ‘Got somethin’ fer yer,’ Jeannie stated as soon as she stopped. Her voice hadn’t undergone the same transformation and was as coarse as ever it had been.

      Tilly elevated her chin. ‘Well … let’s know quick what it is, ’cos I got something for you too.’ One of Tilly’s clenched fists was raised to hover by her waist.

      A small smile writhed over Jeannie’s lips then disappeared. ‘Can’t blame you for how you feel,’ she said simply. ‘Let’s go in there.’ She nodded to an open doorway close by. ‘Nobody else’s business anyhow what went on,’ she said, slinging a significant glance at Beattie who was listening to proceedings with slack-jawed avidity.

      A shrug confirmed Tilly’s willingness to speak with Jeannie in private. In the shelter of the doorway she swung about immediately to confront her.

      ‘Got a few things to say and this to do.’ Jeannie pulled out of her stylish handbag some bank notes. ‘Should be more’n enough there to cover what I took. Furniture were crap anyhow but it served a purpose. Blouse you let me have to pawn kept us fed when we had nothing. So I’m saying I’m obliged to you. I’m saying too that it’s up to you what you do with old man Keane’s share of that there cash.’

      Tilly continued staring at the fifteen pounds she held as though she couldn’t quite believe it was hers. A hint of floral perfume wafted from her fingers and Tilly was tempted to move her fist to her face to acquaint herself with the scent of plenty.

      ‘You want to pay Keane for his back rent and that pile o’ shit I carted off, that’s yer own business.’ Jeannie turned and walked away a few paces. ‘Another thing … you done me a good turn and I pay back favours.’ It seemed Tilly was intent on ignoring the offer so Jeannie turned away.

      ‘You done alright for yourself, then?’ Tilly rasped.

      ‘Doing better than I was,’ Jeannie answered wryly over a shoulder. She swung about. ‘Got hooked up again with a bloke I used to know out of Lorenco Road. He’s done alright. He’s got a few clubs now up west and he’s right generous. That’s enough for me for the time being.’

      A dry chuckle rolled in Tilly’s throat. ‘That’s enough for any of us, I reckon.’

      ‘I heard your husband’s gone to fight.’

      ‘Yeah … he’s in France. But he was back a few months ago.’ A smile tipped Tilly’s lips as she remembered the wonderful time they’d had on Lucy’s fifth birthday.

      ‘Well, as I said, you done me a good turn ‘n’ I won’t forget it. Both me sons joined up,’ Jeannie added as an afterthought. ‘One navy … one army, neither of ’em old enough ter go.’

      ‘’Spect you miss ’em,’ Tilly said, her fists finally relaxing at her sides.

      ‘Yeah … but not as much as they miss each other, I reckon.’ With that Jeannie turned and set off up Campbell Road.

      She’d got a few yards when Tilly hissed after her. ‘You mean it? You’ll not let on if I keep all o’ this?’ She discreetly wagged the cash, half-hidden in her skirt. ‘What if Mr Keane goes after you for it? He don’t forget nuthin’. If he sees you about he’ll have yer.’

      ‘He won’t … not when he finds out who my bloke is.’ Jeannie retraced her steps. ‘Keane might think he’s something round this poxy hole but he ain’t in the same league as Johnny Blake.’ Her top lip curled lightly. ‘I won’t have no trouble off him so you won’t have no trouble. I’ll make sure of it.’ Jeannie paused. Her shrewd eyes flitted over Tilly’s rough, faded clothing. ‘Might have a bit of business for you. I know you ‘n’ your husband used to do a bit of street selling from time to time. As I said, Johnny’s generous; buys me stuff I don’t pertickerly like. So, I got a few nice bits I got no use for … coats and boots ‘n’ so on. I’m looking to shift ’em so …’

      ‘Don’t want no charity off yer,’ Tilly butted in brusquely.

      ‘Ain’t giving yer no charity,’ Jeannie retorted. ‘I was going to offer to sell ’em to you. If you flog it on at a profit …’ She shrugged. ‘I ain’t bothered. I just want shot of it so’s I got room in me wardrobe for stuff that suits me.’

      Another discreet squint at Jeannie’s attire told Tilly that if the stuff were as good as what she had on it would be a payday. ‘I’ll take a look at it, if you like,’ she said with gruff nonchalance. ‘I don’t mind doing a bit of hawkin’ so I’ll have the lot off you if the price is right.’

      ‘Right,’ Jeannie said briskly. ‘I’ll be back one evening next week with it. Just so’s you know in advance, I’ll be wanting a guinea for the lot.’

      Tilly’s eyes slew to the velvet hat perched on top of Jeannie’s head. It looked to have cost all of that and more. Jeannie Robertson was doing her a good turn in the only way she could … by making out it wasn’t much good at all.

      This time when Jeannie set off Tilly watched her go then emerged from the doorway and walked in the opposite direction. Beattie hove immediately into view to trot after her. When Tilly continued to smile, but remained uncommunicative, curiosity got the better of Beattie’s usual caution with this woman.

      ‘What’s she want?’ she demanded.

      ‘To pay her dues.’ Tilly’s good mood remained unspoiled by her neighbour’s crude inquisitiveness. So she didn’t advise Beattie to keep her snout out.

      ‘Bleedin’ hell, Fran! Knock next time, will you?’ Tilly snatched up from the table the money that Jeannie had given her earlier in the week and thrust it into a pocket. But her sister had seen it and her eyes darted to the place into which the notes had just disappeared.

      ‘You done alright for yourself, then. Where d’you get that sort of cash?’ Fran came further into the room and closed the door that lead onto the landing.

      ‘Jeannie Robertson’s been by to pay back what she owed.’

      Fran’s eyes opened in wonderment. ‘She’s come back after all this СКАЧАТЬ