Sister's Trio Squad

Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Ellen, too, had borne the brunt of her sister's wrath, for as usual Ellen had been eavesdropping and when Elizabeth had flung open the door and found her outside, she lashed out at Ellen, hitting her viciously across the head. That more than anything had aroused Margaret's langer. She could have forgiven Elizabeth almost anything, except that.

Ellen hadn't cried. She'd just stared after her sis ter's retreating back, her face white with shock, her eyes cold and hard as flint, exactly like her father's, and Margaret had realized that Ellen really did hate Elizabeth.

Over the matter of the girls' inheritance, Lewis had finally relented.

'Elizabeth shall have the deeds to the house she lives in and Ellen shall have three houses in Rawcliffe Road. The rest goes to Jamie.'

And so the matter had been settled.

Margaret's thoughts returned to the present as she heard Ellen ask, 'Shall I get Jamie ready and take him over to the park for an hour before he goes to bed, Ma? A little fresh air might make him sleep.'

'Would you? I've not even read Lisa's or Ma's letters yet and they came in the lunchtime post! You'd better wipe his face and hands first. What have you been giving him?"

'Chocolate,'

Oh, Ellen, you spoil him worse than your Pa does! He'll be sick and look at his suit, you'll have to change him. You can't take him out like that.' That's all right, after all it's my fault he's so messy.

Ugh! He's got it in my hair now.' Maybe that will teach you. You'll have to wash your hair.'

Margaret smiled at Ellen who had picked up the child. He was endeavouring to wriggle free and was covering Ellen in a sticky mess in the process. She hadn't wanted a girl, not solely because Lewis desperately wanted a son, but because she had worried that Ellen would have seen a baby sister as a threat. And Ellen was very dear to her, she was the only daughter she ever wanted.

'I'll read these letters, then I'll help Vi prepare supper. I don't know where the time goes these days, there's so much to do.'

Ellen took Jamie to clean him up and Margaret sat down. She did seem to spend a lot of time rushing about these days, but she didn't mind that. The business was doing very well and Lewis had acquired four more houses. She still did the books as well as running the household and she was grateful for Ellen's help when she wasn't at school. Vi's mother, who had helped out in the later days of pregnancy, no longer came, since she had a home of her own to run. She couldn't have been more contented, she thought. She had everything she wished for and she even found that she did care for Lewis, although she still wasn't at ease when he made love to her. That was the one cross she must bear, although after the arrival of Jamie and now that the business was taking so much of his time, his demands on her were less frequent. Margaret decided to take a few, quiet minutes to read

her letters in the peace of the parlour. A rare treat for her. At last Ireland was at peace. The troubles were over and everyone was trying to pick up the pieces of their lives and forgive and forget, although for some the bitterness would always be there. Fortunately, Matty had managed to stay out of trouble and the farm was thriving. They were lucky. Others had been ruined, the Feeheys amongst them. With their home and business gone and no sign nor word of Michael, the worry had killed both his ailing mother and father. And there were others, even Mrs O'Hagan who had lost two sons. They were the tragedies of Clonmel. But things were returning to normal. When the photographs of Bernie's wedding had arrived, Mrs O'Hagan had livened herself up and done the rounds of the town, displaying them to everyone, starting with Father Maguire. The poor soul was so proud of Bernie that it was pitiful to see, Sarah had written. But Bernie had done well for herself, that she had, which was more than could be said for the rest of that family!

Margaret scanned the lines. The weather was holding fair and Uncle Richard said the crops should do well this year, so well they might have to hire a few men to help with the harvest. However, all the money was to be spent on buying more land and wasn't that altogether just like Matty, when she wanted a new carpet for the front parlour as the old one was so shabby that she was ashamed to invite Father Maguire in when he called. More land meant more work and more wages to be paid out, and she'd told the pair of them that but, as usual, they wouldn't listen to her. She was writing to Nancy as she hadn't heard from her for over a month and she was sure she was working herself into the ground with that musical and she wasn't at all sure she approved of this Helen person that Nancy kept mentioning. Did Margaret think the girl was leading Nancy astray?

Margaret smiled at that. No one 'led' Nancy! Mrs Butler-Power had asked after her but sure, she was only interested in how the business was doing and how much money Lewis had, she couldn't fool her! There was talk of Mrs O'Leary marrying Mr Ryan, the solicitor, but that rumour had been going around since Bryan Boru was a boy and she'd believe it when she saw the ring on Mrs O'Leary's finger and the name over the shop changed. Would Margaret kindly send her a photograph of her grandson, the one she had was nearly a year old now and anyway, when was she ever going to bring him to see his Grandma at all? It wasn't right that she hadn't even seen her only grandchild or been able to show him off to her friends. But she must close now or else she would miss the post, but having said that the good Lord above alone knew when Margaret would receive the letter. The posts were a disgrace and if they didn't improve she was going to write to the Da about it. At least when the post had been the 'Royal Mail' it had arrived on time!

Margaret folded the letter and smiled. Ma never changed. She was an institution. War and death had swept over her but had never succeeded in breaking her. She had a photo of Jamie, Ellen and herself that she would send, but when she was ever going to find the time to take them to Ireland, she didn't know.

She turned Lisa's letter over in her hand. The quality of the paper was good and the address was printed on the top right-hand corner. It was a far cry from the small sheets of cheap, coarse paper Lisa had once used.

Lisa was well and she had been promoted. After years of being a confirmed spinster, Agnes Walker had announced she was getting married, to a man she had met on holiday of all things! Could Margaret believe that? Miss Whyte had called her into the office and told her she was to replace Agnes as Senior Assistant. Of course, she'd been thrilled and the increase in salary would be more than welcome, but she'd also felt guilty and awkward about being promoted over the heads of the other two girls. But she would have to see how things progressed. She was worried about Ian. Since he'd come back from

his last holiday with David, he'd been strangely quieter and more moody than usual and David's visits had become less frequent. She'd asked him if they had had an argument but he'd assured her they hadn't. Yet it wasn't like him at all. Mrs Duncan was well, although she was becoming more frail and often irascible as she depended on Lisa quite a lot and that seemed to annoy her. But Lisa didn't mind, since she was fond of the old tartar, as Margaret knew well. Eileen Dalrymple was being trained as Manageress by Mrs Craig and Archie himself had called and thanked her for, as Margaret knew, she had put the idea into her former employer's mind. Bernie was also fine but now she was worrying that she hadn't yet become pregnant and wasn't that just the most contrary thing? Most girls worried in case they were, but Bernie was getting very upset about it. She was even thinking of going to see some doctor who knew about these things, but Lisa had told her to save her money and not fret. It would happen, given time. She'd had a letter from Ma, full of gossip, and a brief, scrawled note from Nancy, who seemed to be living the life of Riley in London. Her name was known in Glasgow now, thanks to the newspapers, and Lisa felt quite proud of the fact. One of these days she would go down and see Nancy, when she had more time.

Margaret sighed as she folded the letter. Time! When would there ever be enough time for any of them to do all the things they promised themselves they would do - one day?

Wh they returned from the park Ellen helped Margaret to feed and bath Jamie and put him to bed and then they both went down to have supper with Lewis.

'Have you finished that maths homework yet, Ellen?' Lewis asked.

Ellen shook her head. 'Oh, I'll never be any good at algebra, Pa! I just don't understand it and I don't understand what use it is either, not for girls anyway. Most girls get married and have children when they grow up.

Is that what you want to do?'

'No!'

Why not? I thought you loved children. You love Jamie, Margaret asked, surprised.

Jamie's different, he's my brother.' Margaret looked at her step-daughter from beneath lowered lashes, praying she wasn't going to announce she

wanted to follow Nancy and go into the theatre.

'What do you want to do, then?' Lewis persisted. Ellen shrugged. 'I don't really know.'

Margaret laughed. Neither did I at your age, but persevere with your maths, it may come in useful one day, even if it's only to take over the books from me!'

Will you help me, Pa, please?'

Lewis nodded.

Margaret helped Vi to clear the dishes while Lewis took Ellen, with the much hated homework, into the library.

"That's it for tonight, Vi, thank you."