reached the café, rushing inside to see Bernie behind the counter as usual. ‘Hello, love,’ he said cheerfully. ‘I’ve just made a pot so do you want a cuppa before you start?’
‘Yes, please,’ she said, taking her apron from the hook and tying it around her waist.
‘Here you are then, and take this one through to Dolly.’
Pearl took the cup, careful not to slop any tea in the saucers. It was something she knew Dolly Dolby hated, and had felt the sting of her tongue the first time the tea had over-spilled.
Gertie didn’t start work until seven, and Mo nine, so there was only her employer in the kitchen.
‘Good morning, Mrs Dolby,’ she said, hoping that the woman was in a good mood.
‘Morning,’ Dolly said shortly, adding, ‘I thought I told you to tie your hair back.’
‘I’m just about to do it,’ Pearl said, hurriedly fishing for the elastic band in her apron pocket.
‘Get it done and go back to the dining room. It won’t be long before the breakfast rush starts.’
Pearl scrapped her hair back, hopes dashed. Mrs Dolby was obviously in a foul humour, and she dreaded the rest of the day. When her employer was in a good mood – if any of her moods could be called good – the job was easier, but when bad-tempered, like today, she would build mountains out of molehills, making all their lives a misery.
She went back to the dining room, and as she swiftly drank her tea, Bernie gave her a sympathetic smile.
‘I can see by your face that you’ve found Dolly with the hump. It’s Kevin’s fault. He didn’t come home until one in the morning on Saturday and he was out all hours last night too. Dolly was out of her mind with worry.’
‘One o’clock in the morning! My goodness.’
‘Yeah, and God knows what the young tyke was up to.’
Pearl wondered too, but then the café began to fill with costermongers, all ready for large breakfasts. They took it in turns, watching each other’s pitches, but even so, the café was soon packed.
Derek Lewis came in at eight, but ordered only two bacon sandwiches to take away.
‘No breakfast this morning?’ Pearl asked.
‘My gran’s a bit under the weather so I’m popping home to give her one of these. Frank’s keeping an eye on my stall.’
Pearl watched him leave, wondering if she could tell him about her landlord and his threat on Saturday night. She was frightened of Nobby Clark, needed someone to protect her, but didn’t feel she knew Derek well enough yet. This was a tight-knit community and she knew she had a long way to go before she was accepted. Until then, it might be more prudent to keep her mouth shut.
Pearl was taking her break, tucking into her meal, when Kevin came down from the upstairs flat.
His eyes flicked around the dining room, but then he walked towards her table. Pearl’s stomach fluttered and she quickly lowered her head.
‘Hello. Pearl, isn’t it? How are you getting on?’
‘F … fine, thanks,’ she said, amazed and gratified that he had spoken to her.
Her eyes rose, and as they fastened momentarily on his, she flushed. God, he was gorgeous, yet why did he look so anxious?
‘Do you live around here?’
‘Er … yes, I live over the empty shop further along the High Street.’
‘All right, is it?’
‘Yes, it’s fine.’
‘Who’s your landlord?’
‘Mr Clark. Nobby Clark. Do you know him?’
He smiled, perfectly even, white teeth flashing. ‘No, not really. See you,’ he said abruptly, walking away.
Pearl was thrilled that Kevin had spoken to her, but puzzled by the strange conversation.
Gertie then dashed out of the kitchen, looking harassed. ‘One of the ovens isn’t working and Dolly’s doing her nut,’ she told Bernie.
‘All right, I’m coming,’ he said. ‘Keep an eye on things out here, Pearl.’
She rose to her feet, unable now to think about Kevin’s strange behaviour as three young women came in, asking for teas.
Kevin was still smiling as he strolled along the High Street. Christ, he’d been shit scared that the new waitress had clocked him on Saturday night, but a short conversation had allayed his fears. When Pearl had asked if he knew Nobby Clark, it was obvious that she hadn’t seen him in the shop. If she had, she wouldn’t have asked the question.
‘Watcha, Kevin. With that smile on your face you must’ve got your leg over last night.’
‘Morning, Frank, and yes, I did,’ he lied.
‘You jammy young git. My old woman had a headache as usual.’
‘So much for marriage,’ Kevin quipped back.
‘It’s got its compensations, and she ain’t always under the weather.’
Kevin pictured Frank’s wife and shuddered. Like his mother, she looked a right battle-axe and he wouldn’t fancy waking up alongside her every morning.
‘Morning, Derek,’ he called as he reached the next stall.
‘Watcha, Kevin. How’s the new waitress? She ain’t fainted again, has she?’
Kevin frowned. Fainted? It was the first he’d heard of it. ‘I don’t know what you’re on about and as far as I know she’s fine.’
‘She passed out cold on her first day and I had to carry her through to the kitchen. Ain’t she a pretty little thing?’
Kevin’s eyes widened. Pretty! Blimey, Derek must need his eyes tested. Pearl was thin, pale and insipid, without an ounce of femininity. ‘Can’t say I think much of your taste, mate. Still, if you like her, as far as I’m concerned, she’s all yours.’
For a moment Derek’s face saddened. ‘She wouldn’t want me, Kevin.’
‘You don’t know that. Give it a go, mate.’
‘Nah, it’d be a waste of time.’
Kevin called goodbye, sauntering along the High Street, his arm lifting to acknowledge other stall-holders. He was still smiling happily, thinking about the money in his pocket. Yeah, he had plenty of dosh now, and would take another trip to Soho tonight.
During
