Read Online When Sorry Is Not Enough by Millie Gray - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Millie Gray
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year since then, come rain or shine, Josie was at least once on a transatlantic flight.
The front doors of the Four Marys were open wide and Sally’s meanderings were brought to a halt by Rita’s rendering of ‘Galway Bay’ assaulting her ears. Rita did so like to sing. The only problem with that was Rita was so tuneless that if the rat catcher hadn’t got rid of all the rats, then her singing would certainly have had them throwing themselves into the water that lapped the Shore.
‘Morning,’ Sally shouted. But Rita had decided to ignore everyone until the last line of the song was belted out and all in hearing distance knew that she hoped in her closing seconds of life she would see the sun going down on ‘Galway Bay’.
‘Rita, before you launch into “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”,’ Sally hollered in the kitchen door, ‘could you stop and have a cup of tea and a chat with me?’
‘Och, it’s yourself, Sally,’ Rita responded while flicking the switch on the kettle down. ‘Now would you like a wee bit of toast to go with your cuppa?’
Sally nodded. ‘What time are you expecting Josie?’
‘Oh, you’ve just missed her. But she’ll be back shortly. Just went over to the Post Office to mail a letter to … to …’
‘America?’
‘Naw. That would be far too sensible.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Just that she’s got in with that halfwit Senga … you ken her that drinks a double malt through a straw and can only smoke her fags if they’re in a long holder … anyway the two of them have been writing to a lonely hearts column.’
‘A what?’
‘Ye ken. They newspaper folk that charge you for putting in an advert like … well in Josie’s case it read … “Sophisticated intelligent born again virgin who runs her own lucrative business seeks mature gentleman for companionship. Likes travel, including American and Continental holidays, music and drama.” ’
‘What? And as to drama I hope she said it wasn’t that she liked watching them but that she bleeding well creates them.’
‘Oh, Sally, if you think Josie went over the top with her advert you should have read Senga’s.’
‘No thanks. I just have to allow the picture of the last time I saw fifty-year-old Senga in her hot pants to flash into my conscious mind and I get the general idea – and also the boak.’
Before Rita could respond, Josie rushed into the bar with a large bag of morning rolls. ‘Thought I would save you a journey, Rita, so here are the lunchtime rolls.’
Josie then became aware of Sally. ‘Oh, Sally, how’s your face? David Stock was just telling me that he had seen you since I had and that it was so much better.’ Josie laid the rolls on the bar, then lowering her voice and cocking her head to the side she confided, ‘And here, do you ken his wife is really poorly? Taken her into the infirmary, they have.’ She sucked in her breath before continuing, ‘Seems there’s no much they can do for her.’ She exhaled and clucked before adding, ‘Mind you she has lasted longer than anybody thought she would. I mean Sally, how long have you been hanging on for David?’
Sally gasped. ‘Josie,’ she exclaimed, ‘I have not been twiddling my thumbs waiting for David. I have got on with my life.’
‘Aye, but you’ve always been waiting in the wings for Elspeth to fall off her perch.’
‘Oh!’ shrieked Sally, who was appalled that people may have seen the relationship between her and David that way. ‘We have only ever been very good friends who have occasionally gone out to the theatre or had a bite of supper together.’
‘Bite of supper you call it,’ mocked Josie. ‘Here Rita, go on and be brave and tell her what you think a bite of supper is in her case.’
Rita started for the kitchen. ‘Leave me out of this. I ken nothing. And I’m pleased to ken nothing.’
Once Rita was safely in the kitchen Sally turned her full attention onto Josie. ‘What on earth has got into
The front doors of the Four Marys were open wide and Sally’s meanderings were brought to a halt by Rita’s rendering of ‘Galway Bay’ assaulting her ears. Rita did so like to sing. The only problem with that was Rita was so tuneless that if the rat catcher hadn’t got rid of all the rats, then her singing would certainly have had them throwing themselves into the water that lapped the Shore.
‘Morning,’ Sally shouted. But Rita had decided to ignore everyone until the last line of the song was belted out and all in hearing distance knew that she hoped in her closing seconds of life she would see the sun going down on ‘Galway Bay’.
‘Rita, before you launch into “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”,’ Sally hollered in the kitchen door, ‘could you stop and have a cup of tea and a chat with me?’
‘Och, it’s yourself, Sally,’ Rita responded while flicking the switch on the kettle down. ‘Now would you like a wee bit of toast to go with your cuppa?’
Sally nodded. ‘What time are you expecting Josie?’
‘Oh, you’ve just missed her. But she’ll be back shortly. Just went over to the Post Office to mail a letter to … to …’
‘America?’
‘Naw. That would be far too sensible.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Just that she’s got in with that halfwit Senga … you ken her that drinks a double malt through a straw and can only smoke her fags if they’re in a long holder … anyway the two of them have been writing to a lonely hearts column.’
‘A what?’
‘Ye ken. They newspaper folk that charge you for putting in an advert like … well in Josie’s case it read … “Sophisticated intelligent born again virgin who runs her own lucrative business seeks mature gentleman for companionship. Likes travel, including American and Continental holidays, music and drama.” ’
‘What? And as to drama I hope she said it wasn’t that she liked watching them but that she bleeding well creates them.’
‘Oh, Sally, if you think Josie went over the top with her advert you should have read Senga’s.’
‘No thanks. I just have to allow the picture of the last time I saw fifty-year-old Senga in her hot pants to flash into my conscious mind and I get the general idea – and also the boak.’
Before Rita could respond, Josie rushed into the bar with a large bag of morning rolls. ‘Thought I would save you a journey, Rita, so here are the lunchtime rolls.’
Josie then became aware of Sally. ‘Oh, Sally, how’s your face? David Stock was just telling me that he had seen you since I had and that it was so much better.’ Josie laid the rolls on the bar, then lowering her voice and cocking her head to the side she confided, ‘And here, do you ken his wife is really poorly? Taken her into the infirmary, they have.’ She sucked in her breath before continuing, ‘Seems there’s no much they can do for her.’ She exhaled and clucked before adding, ‘Mind you she has lasted longer than anybody thought she would. I mean Sally, how long have you been hanging on for David?’
Sally gasped. ‘Josie,’ she exclaimed, ‘I have not been twiddling my thumbs waiting for David. I have got on with my life.’
‘Aye, but you’ve always been waiting in the wings for Elspeth to fall off her perch.’
‘Oh!’ shrieked Sally, who was appalled that people may have seen the relationship between her and David that way. ‘We have only ever been very good friends who have occasionally gone out to the theatre or had a bite of supper together.’
‘Bite of supper you call it,’ mocked Josie. ‘Here Rita, go on and be brave and tell her what you think a bite of supper is in her case.’
Rita started for the kitchen. ‘Leave me out of this. I ken nothing. And I’m pleased to ken nothing.’
Once Rita was safely in the kitchen Sally turned her full attention onto Josie. ‘What on earth has got into
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