Lizzie was about to cut in but she had to bite her lip to stop it quivering.
‘No, I’m afraid not.’ It was Cora who answered, the hint of her Irish brogue still apparent. ‘He’ll not be coming home no more, at all.’
Elsie’s cheeks coloured. ‘Me and my big mouth. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to …’
‘No, it’s all right,’ Cora said softly. ‘You weren’t to know. And it’s something we’re all learning to live with since we got one of those dreaded letters from his captain. It was at Christmas, would you believe,’ Cora said, looking away as she tried to stop her voice trembling. ‘It was filled with all the usual nonsense. Died bravely, didn’t suffer, blah, blah, blah. I’m sure everyone’s told the same thing.’
‘And just so’s you know, my Joe was taken the year before,’ Lizzie added quietly and she couldn’t look at Elsie either as she struggled to control her breathing.
It was Seamus who broke the momentary silence. ‘But that wasn’t the same as losing me dad. Yous wasn’t even wed yet, so it doesn’t count.’
Lizzie’s cheeks flamed.
‘And he was American.’ Tommy joined in now.
‘Actually, he was Canadian,’ Lizzie said, her voice cold. ‘And let me tell you, every single person who fights for us counts when there’s a war on.’
‘But it wasn’t as though he was like, one of us,’ Tommy said.
‘No, he was a whole lot better than either of you two! Honestly, you do say some of the most idiotic things Tommy Doyle.’ Lizzie’s voice had begun to rise.
‘Will you shut up, both of you!’ Cora suddenly shouted. She pointed a shaking finger at the twins. ‘As you two don’t know what you are talking about, as usual, I’ll thank you to keep quiet and to show a bit of respect to your sister. You were far more interested in going out to play and causing havoc than paying much attention to Joe. Not that you saw much of your da either for that matter, except when he was home on leave, which was hardly ever.’
‘You always say that,’ Seamus said with an angry toss of his head, though his eyes were filling as he spoke. ‘But you’d be surprised what I remember.’ He scowled at Lizzie, who stared at him in alarm while Cora glowered angrily. ‘I’ll thank you two boys not to interfere in grown-ups’ conversations, so sit down and be quiet.’
‘But you always said Joe wasn’t really—’ Tommy persisted.
‘Enough!’ Cora cut in, her voice sharp now. ‘Mrs Tanner doesn’t want to be hearing any more of your nonsense and I won’t have you upsetting our Lizzie.’
‘I suppose we’ve all had it tough,’ Elsie said. ‘One way or another, we’ve all lost loved ones at some point.’ Elsie sighed. Then her lips twisted into a smile. ‘Though as far as I’m concerned, I can’t pretend I’m sorry my man is overseas. I don’t care if he stays there. I’m lucky I’ve got my kids. They make up for a hell of a lot.’
‘Yes, they do,’ Cora said, suddenly hugging Sammy close to her. ‘When they’re not trying to get above themselves,’ she added rubbing her finger under her eyelids.
‘But it’s because of my dad that we’ve been able to move here,’ Lizzie said. This time she was unable to stop the tremor in her voice. ‘We couldn’t pay the rent at our old place without my dad’s wages coming in.’
‘Then we found out that we were due something through the benevolent fund at Hardcastle’s Mill,’ Cora added. ‘Archie had worked there since he were a lad, so they said on account of that they could offer us number nine Coronation Street at a much lower rent. We could hardly say no, we was getting that desperate.’
Lizzie put her hands out to Sammy, who began cooing with delight. He struggled to sit up in Cora’s lap and stretched his arms towards Lizzie. She gathered him up and held him aloft, her arms high over her head. Then she lowered him back down into her lap and repeated the game several times until Sammy was beside himself with excitement.
‘I don’t imagine you’ve been able to go out to work since he was born?’ Elsie said.
Lizzie opened her mouth as if to say something, but it was Cora who shook her head and then spoke. ‘I can’t be getting a job on account of having to look after this little one all day.’ She stroked the top of Sammy’s head. ‘So Lizzie’s the one that’ll be looking for work. I used to work while she was at college and we all had such high hopes …’ Her eyes momentarily flashed with pride. ‘She was training to be a teacher, you know, before all this war business got in the way, but of course, these last few months what with the baby and all, I’ve had to stay home to look after him, same as I looked after the other two.’
Lizzie bit her lip. ‘College was a long time ago, Ma,’ she said. ‘I reckon I’ve earned my keep well enough since I stopped going.’ She turned to Elsie. ‘I was last working in a dress shop near to where we were living on the other side of Weatherfield,’ she said, ‘but it’s too far to get to from here.’
‘How would you fancy working behind a bar?’ Elsie asked.
‘I don’t mind what I do so long as it’s local and pays me a wage that’ll help to keep us all going.’ Lizzie sat up.
‘Then you might want to try the Tripe Dresser’s Arms,’ Elsie said.
‘Come again?’ Cora laughed.
‘Seriously, it’s the pub at the other end of Rosamund Street and it’s called the Tripe Dresser’s Arms.’ Elsie laughed too. ‘For now, at any rate, though probably not for much longer.’
‘Why’s that then?’ Lizzie asked.
‘It’s been taken over by Warner’s brewery and it’s being done up. Rumour has it they’ll be changing the name and I reckon they’ll be looking for new staff pretty soon too; before they open, at any rate, which shouldn’t be too long from what I hear. And then sparks will fly.’
‘How come?’
‘It’ll be in direct competition with the Rovers Return, the main pub on the corner of Rosamund and Coronation Street. Once the war ends, folk will be looking for bright new places to have some fun. A newly done over pub should fill the bill – and won’t that be one in the eye for the lardy dah Lady Walker.’ Elsie gave a self-satisfied smile.
‘Who’s she then when she’s at home?’ Lizzie wanted to know.
‘Annie Walker is the landlady at the Rovers. And let me tell you, a spot of competition won’t do her any harm. Mind, she’s done a good job keeping things going while her husband Jack’s been away in the army, I’ll give her that. But the trouble is she thinks she’s the bee’s knees – conveniently forgets we’ve all had to pull our weight, one way or another. It’ll do her good to be taken down a peg or two.’
‘Why wasn’t the Tripe’s Arms, or whatever you call it, competition enough?’ Lizzie was interested.
‘I suppose you could say it was a bit rough. Far rougher than the Rovers. Though I would never have admitted that to Annie Walker. She liked to think the Tripe wasn’t in the same league as the Rovers. Spit-and-sawdust they call it round here. But it wasn’t so bad. I’ve drunk there on occasion. But now there’s to be a new landlord and I’ve heard he wants to smarten it up some, so there could be fireworks between him and Mrs Walker.’ She rubbed her hands together. ‘Bit of rivalry could be good for business.’
‘Sounds like it might even do us a bit of good too,’ Cora said. ‘So?’ she said and turned to Lizzie. ‘You’d best get in there quick if you’ve half a mind to land yourself a job. What do you think?’
Lizzie nodded