Sinners and Shadows (11 page)

‘I don't think so. Mrs Morgan seems to have everything in hand in the house. It's good of her and Victor's dad to move in with us. They said they don't mind staying as long as they are needed. Spring is a busy time. But Dad is a real help around the farm. Come in?' Megan called at a knock on the door.

Carrying the baby, Sali opened it. Lloyd, Victor and Joey stood in the doorway with Harry and Bella.

‘Hello, Megan.' Joey smiled at her, then looked at the baby Sali was holding. ‘One of my nephews, I presume?'

‘The youngest, Tom,' Victor said proudly after pulling back the shawl to check.

Joey glanced from the baby to the one Rhian was holding. ‘All babies look the same to me but these two are mirror images. How can you tell them apart?'

‘That's easy; Jack has a smaller nose and a fatter face.' Victor walked past Sali and sat beside Megan on the bed. ‘Want to come and look at your cousins, Harry, Bella?' He held out his hand to the children who were hanging back.

‘You'll have to teach them to play soldiers with us as soon as they're old enough, Harry.' Joey turned to Rhian. ‘If you want to be back at Llan House by ten, it's time we left.'

‘I'll get my coat.' She kissed the baby and, after a final cuddle, reluctantly handed him over to Lloyd.

‘When are you having the next two, Megan?' Joey asked.

‘We've done our bit to carry the Evans name into the next generation. It's your turn,' Megan answered. ‘And in case you thought no one had noticed, I spotted your new ring, Rhian. Congratulations, although if you don't mind me saying so, I think Joey's getting a better wife than he'll be a husband.'

‘Thank you, Megan. It's good to know that my sister-in-law thinks so well of me.' Joey made a face at her.

‘You two could have said something,' Lloyd remonstrated.

‘You could have noticed.' Joey shook the hand Lloyd offered him. ‘I finally convinced Rhian that we should get engaged this afternoon and I don't mind telling you, it's the hardest day's work that I've ever done.'

Sali shook her head at Bella who was trying to climb on to Megan's high bed. ‘I think we're wearing Auntie Megan out.' She tucked the baby she was holding into the crib beside the bed. ‘You'll have to make another one of these, Victor.'

‘I intend to, but the babies are so small they fit in nicely together.'

‘They won't be small for long,' Lloyd warned.

‘Take care of your family, Victor. I'll be up again before we go to say goodnight.' Sali blew a kiss to Megan and ushered the children from the room.

‘I can drive you and Rhian to Llan House, Joey.' Lloyd handed the other baby to Victor.

‘Thank you, but we'd prefer to walk.' Joey peered at the baby Sali had set down in the crib then at the one Victor was holding.

Megan laughed at the puzzled expression on his face. ‘If you keep looking, the difference between them will become obvious.'

Joey continued to glance from one to the other. ‘Not to me, it won't.'

‘When's the happy day?' Megan asked Rhian.

‘When these two can walk up the aisle as pageboys,' Rhian replied.

‘As I have no intention of waiting that long, they'll have to be carried. Can we call in on Rhian's day off next week?' Joey asked.

‘There'll be trouble if you don't.' Megan gripped Rhian's hand when she bent to kiss her goodbye. ‘I am so glad that you are going to be my second sister-in-law.'

‘So am I. You sure about next week? We don't want to make work for you.'

‘You won't, Rhian.' Betty Morgan pushed past the men, carrying a tray of soup and bread. ‘I've made some
cawl
for you, Megan. You need to get your strength back and when you get it, keep it. The rest of you,' she glowered at Joey and Lloyd, ‘out of here so mother and babies can get some peace and quiet. And that goes for you too, Victor. Give the poor girl a moment to herself.'

‘We're going. Night, Megan.' Joey kissed Megan's cheek but although he, Rhian, and Lloyd went to the door, Victor didn't attempt to move from the bed.

‘Your poor father is watching his supper get cold downstairs while he waits for you to join him,' Betty scolded.

‘I'm staying,' Victor said flatly.

‘You want him to?' Betty asked Megan.

‘Most definitely,' Megan answered.

‘In that case you can, but no tiring your wife or your sons.' Betty set down the tray and bustled out of the room.

‘You'll call in again?' Megan held out her hand to Lloyd.

‘Tomorrow, but just for ten minutes.' He glanced in Betty Morgan's direction. ‘Rest.'

‘As if I could do anything else with Betty and Victor bullying me.'

‘It really is no trouble to give you and Rhian a lift, Joey,' Lloyd offered again as they went down the stairs. ‘That way you can stay for supper.'

‘No thanks. We'll enjoy the walk and Rhian has supper waiting for her in Llan House.'

‘You're going back to an empty house,' Lloyd reminded his brother.

‘With a well-stocked pantry, and I'm not one of those men who don't know how to boil an egg or butter a slice of bread.'

‘Mrs Hopkins across the road said she'd keep the fire in for you and do whatever needs to be done around the house, including your washing.' Billy Evans joined them in the passageway.

‘There won't be much, I know how to look after myself,' Joey assured him.

Sali hugged Rhian. ‘Let me know as soon as you set the date. I'll help in any way I can and, if you can bear to be parted from Joey for an hour next Tuesday, I'll arrange for you to see some wedding dresses in the store.' She glanced slyly at Joey. ‘Pontypridd might be better. The manager in Tonypandy's quite nosy and it's bad luck for the groom to see the dress before the ceremony.'

‘Sali told me that congratulations are in order.' Billy Evans smiled at Rhian before kissing her. ‘I must say my sons were all born under lucky stars. I couldn't have wished for three nicer or prettier daughters-in-law. We'll organize an engagement party for you as soon as Betty and I leave here.'

‘It will be a wedding celebration by then.' Joey held out Rhian's coat and helped her on with it.

‘No, it won't,' Rhian contradicted.

‘Joey's a fortunate man. I only hope you know what you're taking on with him, Rhian.'

‘I do, Mr Evans.' Rhian gave Joey a sideways glance. ‘It's not going to be easy to keep him in line but I'll try.'

‘Did anyone else detect a cautious note when Rhian accepted our congratulations?' Lloyd gave a last wave before closing the kitchen door.

His father sat at the table. ‘Given our Joey's past exploits, any girl would be an idiot to be anything but cautious with him.'

‘If anyone can keep him on the straight and narrow, it's Rhian.' Sali picked up the ladle and moved behind the tureen. ‘Pass me the bowls, Harry, and I'll dish out supper.'

Chapter Six

The wind had dropped and thousands of tiny stars shone down from a cold and startlingly clear night sky.

‘So, when will you marry me?' Joey asked seriously after he and Rhian left the lights of the farmhouse behind them and headed down the mountain track towards the ribbons of street lamps that criss-crossed Tonypandy.

‘I told you, not before September.'

‘I can't persuade you to bring the date forward?'

‘No.'

‘August,' he suggested. ‘That's only four weeks sooner but it doesn't seem as far away as September. And don't say you'll think about it.'

‘If I agree to August, will you promise not to nag me to move it closer still?'

‘If I have to,' he conceded reluctantly.

‘It's only four months away. And there's so much still to be done. I'll need to save up to buy a dress and my bottom drawer –'

‘No, you won't, because I've all the savings we'll need and if we move in with my father the house is already furnished, so we won't have to buy a single thing.'

‘I'd at least like to get our own china and bedding. And, as I won't be wearing a uniform every day, I'll need more clothes. A trousseau! Don't brides have a trousseau?'

‘They do. I'll buy you one as a wedding present.'

‘No, you won't.'

‘Don't argue with me. This has been a magical evening, one that I'll want to remember all my life.' He took her in his arms and kissed her. ‘I have a beautiful fiancée, a wedding to plan and two new nephews.'

‘To teach how to be naughty like you have done Harry.'

‘Children don't need to be taught how to be naughty. They come that way naturally. And, after seeing those two and Edyth, Harry and Bella today, I hope we have babies. Lots of them and soon.'

‘Not too soon, I hope, and not two at a time.' They reached the town and she checked her watch under the light of a lamp. ‘We need to hurry.'

‘Your fault for dawdling.'

‘Yours for kissing me.'

‘Race you up the hill.' He gave her a head start.

They were both breathless when they reached the back door of Llan House. Joey opened his arms and Rhian practically fell into them.

‘How am I going to survive without you and your kisses until next Tuesday?' he whispered, when he finally summoned the willpower to tear his lips from hers.

‘If I'm sent on any errands I'll call in the store.'

‘I'll save up all my tea and lunch breaks on the off-chance, so we can sneak half an hour together.' He almost added ‘in the stockroom' then he remembered the scene he'd witnessed in Pontypridd.

The door opened and a shaft of harsh yellow light fell on them.

‘Joey Evans!'

‘I recognize that voice.' He turned to face the housekeeper. ‘Mrs Williams.' He lifted his hat, then pulled off Rhian's glove. ‘Before you get that carpet-beater you keep threatening to thrash me with, please note, Rhian's wearing my mother's ring and we've set the date for the first of August.'

‘I didn't agree to the first of August,' Rhian remonstrated.

‘You didn't disagree either and I just happen to know that the first is a Saturday. A good, traditional day to marry.'

‘How do you know?'

‘I checked the calendar in Megan and Victor's kitchen.' He looked to the housekeeper. ‘Don't tell me you're too speechless to wish us luck, Mrs Williams.'

‘I'll wish Rhian luck, Joey Evans. She'll need it; you won't, because you've already had more of that commodity than anyone man is entitled to in a lifetime. But what can I say? If the girl is fool enough to marry you, nothing I can say will stop her. But you're not just getting a girl who looks and behaves like an angel; you're also getting yourself a first-class cook and housekeeper. Of all the girls I've trained over the years, she's the best.'

‘And that, Mrs Williams, is why I asked her to become my wife.' Joey gave Rhian one last kiss on the cheek.

‘So much has happened today, I almost forgot.' Rhian opened her handbag and handed Joey an envelope.

‘What is it?'

‘My engagement present to you. Don't open it until you get home.'

Joey smiled cheekily at the housekeeper, lifted his hat a second time and walked back down the drive.

‘But you promised you'd tell us about Broncho Bill's Wild West Exhibition, Rhian,' Mair whined plaintively.

‘Rhian has more important things to think and talk about than the exhibition, Mair. And, as you're going to see it for yourself with your mam, you can tell us all about it at the supper table tomorrow night.' Mrs Williams collected the plates, cups and saucers from the table, effectively putting an end to the meal. ‘Come on, girl, up to bed.'

‘If you two want to go up, I'll help Mrs Williams with the supper dishes,' Rhian said to Bronwen and Cook.

‘Thanks. Here, you can have my apron to cover your suit.' Bronwen untied hers and handed it over.

‘Rhian, you're a pal.' Yawning, Cook followed Bronwen and Mair up the back staircase.

Mrs Williams stacked the dishes on the wooden draining board next to the Belfast sink.

‘You haven't said much other than “congratulations”,' Rhian ventured, anxious for Mrs Williams's blessing. She was the one woman she respected more than anyone else outside of Sali and Miss Julia.

‘You're marrying into a good family that's growing at quite a pace. Here we are only into April and there are three new little ones.' Mrs Williams filled two enamel bowls with water from the brass boiler set in the range and carried them to the sink before refilling the boiler.

‘Victor and Megan looked so proud – and happy.'

‘Poor Megan Evans has every right to be proud. It must be jolly hard work bringing twins into the world. But I must say I've never quite understood why a man is congratulated when he becomes a father. His part is easy.' The housekeeper tossed a handful of soda crystals into the water and plunged in the cleanest plates. ‘Do you want another cup of cocoa before going to bed?'

‘Yes, please.' Rhian was still hoping that the housekeeper would pass an opinion on her engagement.

‘I'll join you, so boil enough milk for two cups. It's been quite a day for you, hasn't it? Going to the exhibition, getting engaged, seeing newborn twins.'

‘It was a lovely day.' Rhian unhooked a tea towel from the rack and lifted the first plate from the rinsing bowl.

‘But you're still not sure you've done the right thing in getting engaged to Joey Evans?'

‘What makes you say that?' Rhian set the plate she'd dried on the dresser.

‘Because you're waiting for me to pass judgement on your choice.'

‘Joey promised me faithfully that he'd never so much as look at another woman again.'

‘Did he now?'

‘You don't believe him?' Rhian stacked the dishes on the dresser and watched the housekeeper's face carefully.

‘Whether
I
do or don't, doesn't matter. What does matter is that you believe him and he fulfils his promise. There, that's the last dish.' Mrs Williams smiled. ‘There's no need to look so serious; this should be the happiest time of your life. And, for what it's worth, I do believe that since January you've changed Mr Joseph Evans for the better. Not that there was a lot wrong with him before, other than his wandering eye when it came to girls who were no better than they should be. As I've already said, he has a lovely family. And a steady, well-paid job. You'll want for nothing. But then, with you for a wife, neither will he.'

‘Sali and everyone else in Joey's family were so happy when we told them tonight.' The milk began to boil; Rhian lifted the pan from the hob and poured it over the paste of cocoa powder and cold milk she'd mixed.

‘And so they should be.' Mrs Williams left the dishwater in the bowls, rinsed the dishcloth out in cold, running water, wrung it out and set it on the tap to dry. She pulled a chair from under the table and sat down. ‘Do you want to inform the master that you're engaged, or do you want me to tell him for you?'

‘Does he have to know so soon?' Rhian sat next to the housekeeper.

‘Yes, but for my sake not his. Mair is willing enough but she's young. I wouldn't like to take on another girl who needs training. Your replacement will have to be experienced and capable. Of course, it goes without saying that whoever she is, she won't be as good as you.'

‘But I won't be leaving for four months.'

‘The best staff go from the Labour Exchange within hours, and it wouldn't hurt to take someone on sooner so you could show them the ropes for a month or so. Although the master may not want to pay double wages for that long. I'll talk it over with him tomorrow.' She took Rhian's hand and admired the ring. ‘Very pretty, I had one just like it when I was your age.'

‘A regard ring,' Rhian said in surprise.

‘You know what it is.'

‘Joey told me.'

‘I may be old and fat now, but I've had my moments.' Mrs Williams looked back into a world she'd never mentioned to Rhian before. ‘Strange, at the time I believed I couldn't live without my sweetheart. Now, I've forgotten what he looked like.'

‘What happened?' Rhian asked.

‘We quarrelled. I can't even remember over what. He went away and I never saw him again.'

‘I'm sorry.'

‘I'm not.' Mrs Williams lifted her feet on to the fender to warm them. ‘He was a sailor. Probably with a wife in every port. And he was a drinker. If I had married him I would have led a miserable and poor existence. As it is, I've a comfortable home here and enough savings to see me through until God calls me.' She patted Rhian's hand. ‘Put that ring somewhere safe while you're working, we don't want the mistress accusing you of scratching any of her precious furniture.'

‘I will.' Rhian finished her cocoa.

‘I'll see to the cups. You go on up to bed. And sweet dreams.' Mrs Williams's eyes twinkled. ‘Your Joey may be a bit of a handful, but he is very good-looking. Some girls would give their eye-teeth and a full head of hair for a husband who's half as handsome. One more thing, wait until morning to give Miss Julia your news. And don't give me that innocent look; I know you two are as thick as thieves, even if no one else in the house does.'

Joey turned the key that was kept in his father's front door, whether anyone was in the house or not. He switched on the electric light that had been installed in the downstairs of the house, walked down the passage and opened the kitchen door.

‘Tonia!' Startled, he stepped back as his cousin rose from the easy chair next to the hearth. ‘What are you doing here at this time of night?' He looked around. ‘Is your mother with you?'

‘No.'

‘Don't tell me that you've been sitting here alone waiting for me?'

‘I have to see you.'

‘I want you out of here now.' Gripping her by the shoulders, he propelled her out of the kitchen.

‘No one knows I'm here. My mother thinks I went to bed early but I sneaked down the back staircase while she and Annie were listening to the gramophone.'

‘I hate to disappoint you, but at least half, if not all the women in the street know you're here. They've so little to do; they've been watching my comings and goings for years.'

‘I came in the back way, so no one would see me.'

‘That's even worse. All of the kitchen and most of the bedroom windows on this side of the street overlook our back garden.' He opened the door.

‘Let me at least get my coat,' she said crossly.

‘You have thirty seconds.' He stood on the doorstep while she walked back down the passage.

‘I have to talk to you.' She lifted her coat from the rack.

‘About what I saw this afternoon? I told you I wouldn't tell anyone, and I won't.'

‘Joey, Tonia, bit late to be visiting, isn't it?' Mrs Hopkins pushed past them and entered the house.

‘There's no need for you to come in, Mrs Hopkins,' Joey protested. ‘I've just this minute returned from Victor's. I'll see to whatever needs doing.'

Mrs Hopkins looked suspiciously from Joey to Tonia. ‘You seem to have your hands too full to see to anything beside your cousin at the moment, Joey.'

‘Tonia came up with a message from her mother. Megan has had twin boys. They're calling them Jack and Tom. I've just been up to see them.' Feeling unaccountably guilty, Joey was conscious that he was talking too quickly and saying more than necessary.

‘I heard she'd had twins. Both of you went to see her and the babies?' Mrs Hopkins blatantly fished for information.

‘Just me, Mrs Hopkins,' Joey answered uneasily.

‘I see. Well, it's late. If you're sure about the fire, Joey  …'

‘I am, Mrs Hopkins.' Joey held the front door open. ‘I'll see to it as soon as I've walked Tonia home.'

‘I can see myself home.' Tonia flounced out on to the pavement.

‘You've caused trouble enough for one day,' Joey muttered too low for Mrs Hopkins to hear. He jammed his hat back on his head and joined her. ‘Goodnight, Mrs Hopkins,' he called when she crossed the road.

‘Goodnight, Joey, Tonia.'

Joey was aware that Mrs Hopkins was standing on her doorstep watching their backs as they walked down the street.

‘I only –'

‘Not another word, Tonia,' Joey snapped. ‘The last thing I need is any gossip about you and me. I asked Rhian to marry me today.'

‘And she said yes?'

‘I managed to persuade her.' He found it difficult to ignore her sneering tone. ‘And if Mrs Hopkins, or anyone else, tells her that they saw us alone together in our house, I'll expect you to tell Rhian exactly why you thought it necessary to visit me at this hour of the night.'