Read Online Across a Summer Sea by Lyn Andrews - Free Book Online Page B

 
    ‘It’s not your fault, luv. He’s dead drunk.’  
    ‘I know whose bloody fault it is! It’s ’im - an’ our flaming Nora’s got an ’and in it somewhere!’ Queenie interrupted. She’d found Nora crying on the stairs and had got a garbled tale out of her.  
    ‘You want to keep an eye on her, Mrs Phelps. She’s a troublemaker,’ Richie warned.  
    ‘I know, an’ she don’t need the likes of youse ter give ’er an ’and!’ Queenie shot back.  
    ‘What do yer want ter do with ’im, Mary?’ Alfie Phelps asked. Having bodily heaved a now unconscious Frank to his feet, he had slung him over his shoulder. He wasn’t called ‘Big Alfie’ for nothing.  
    ‘Best thing ter do with ’im, Alfie, is take ’im ’ome an’ let ’im sleep it off!’ Queenie advised.  
    Mary nodded. ‘I’d be grateful if you could get him home, Alfie, I really would.’  
    The big man nodded and Fred opened the yard door for him.  
    Mary turned to Nellie and Queenie. ‘I’m so sorry. I . . . I just don’t know what’s the matter with him.’  
    ‘Neither do I,’ Nellie agreed.  
    ‘I’d just keep away from this feller in future, Mary. ’E’s trouble with a capital T. Always ’as been an’ always will be. I’ve given our Nora a piece of me mind about ’im!’ Queenie glared at Richie who pushed past her and went inside the house, slamming the scullery door behind him.  
    Alfie deposited the prostrate Frank on the bed and then Mary took off his boots and pulled the blanket over him.  
    ‘Let ’im sleep it off, luv. ’E’ll ’ave an ’ead as big as Birkenhead in the mornin’ - an’ a few bruises.’  
    ‘Thanks again, Alfie. You get back now. Oh, we’ve ruined everyone’s enjoyment.’  
    He laughed. ‘Norra bit of it, luv! Just adds ter the night. Yer’ll laugh about it in a couple of weeks an’ everyone will remember young Vi’s weddin’ as the night Richie Seddon laid out Frank McGann.’  
    ‘That’s what I’m afraid of!’ Mary said grimly.  
    ‘You all right, girl?’  
    ‘Yes, thanks. I’ve still got plenty of things to do so I’d better get on. I’ll probably sleep down here. Go on back before they all go to the pub without you!’  
    When Alfie had left she sank down by the fire and dropped her head in her hands. Oh, what a night! How humiliating! She pulled herself together. She did have a lot of things to do and she was determined this wasn’t going to ruin Christmas.  
    Some of her good humour returned as she put up the decorations and arranged sprigs of holly along the mantelshelf and above the door and window. Then she took the penny toys and the sweets from where she had hidden them, selected three apples and oranges from the dish and filled the three stockings that had been hung over the range. Then she made herself a cup of tea and sat down to admire the room. It did look bright and cheerful and festive and she couldn’t wait to see the children’s reactions when they came down, especially poor little Lizzie’s.  

Chapter Five
     

     
    N EXT MORNING MARY FORGOT the events of the previous night and her lack of sleep as soon as she saw the wondering expressions on the faces of the children and heard the excited cries of delight from Katie and Tommy. Lizzie’s eyes were shining and she held up the little wood and paper dolls for Mary to exclaim over.  
    ‘Dolls. Pretty dolls. Father Christmas brought them for you, Lizzie,’ Mary mouthed slowly.  
    Lizzie nodded and stroked Mary’s cheek as an added sign that she understood. It was a gesture Mary had taught her and now it brought tears to Mary’s eyes; she hugged Lizzie’s thin little body to her, wishing for the thousandth time that Lizzie could have been born like her brother and sister. She swallowed hard. ‘I told you Father Christmas would come. And we’re going to have a lovely big dinner. Doesn’t the room look great?’  
    ‘He must have been here for ages to have put all those