A Mother's Wish Read Free Page A

through the pub door like a whirlwind. He flung himself down on the settle and began to eat again, grumbling through each mouthful. ‘Miserable old bugger. I’ll kill him if he keeps hitting me with that stick.’
    ‘Hush, Tom,’ Effie said, glancing round anxiously to see if anyone had heard him. ‘You don’t mean that.’
    Tom swallowed hard. ‘Don’t I just? He’s an ungrateful old sod and I hate him.’
    Effie pushed her plate away, unable to eat another mouthful. ‘I know he’s difficult, Tom, but we have to put up with him for now at least.’
    ‘I could get a job, Effie. There’s the chemical works across the cut, and the match factory back along the river. There’s the gasworks and the alum factory, the glue works . . .’
    ‘Stop it, Tom. I know you mean well but it’s not as simple as that,’ Effie said in a low voice, reaching out to cover his hand with hers. ‘We would have to find a place to live and rents are high, wages are low. We would end up back in the workhouse or worse.’
    ‘But he’s a pig and a bully. I can’t bear the way he treats you.’ Tom wiped his sleeve across his face.
    Effie’s throat constricted at the sight of her brother’s eyes magnified by unshed tears and she squeezed his fingers. ‘I’ll think of something, Tom, but for the time being we’ve just got to put up with things as they are.’
    ‘Effie Sadler – or should I say Mrs Grey.’
    A familiar voice from behind her made Effie turn her head and she rose to her feet, holdingout her hand to the landlord. ‘Ben. It’s good to see you again. It’s been a long time.’
    ‘Too long, my girl. I’ve seen the
Margaret
pass us by on many an occasion and yet you never called in to see us.’ Ben Hawkins wiped his hands on his apron and took Effie’s outstretched hand in a large paw, pumping it up and down enthusiastically. ‘I’ve just seen Toby in the kitchen and he told me you were out here.’
    ‘We just stopped for a bite to eat,’ Effie explained hastily. ‘We don’t normally have the time and my father-in-law doesn’t drink, so that’s why . . .’
    Ben threw back his shaggy head and roared with laughter. ‘You don’t have to explain, ducks. Old man Grey is well known in these parts for being a bit of a miser. The other boatmen don’t have much time for him by all accounts.’ His craggy features smoothed to a look of deep concern. ‘I heard about your husband, Effie. It were a bad business, girl, and we was all sorry to hear of your loss.’
    Effie swallowed a lump in her throat and blinked as the ready tears stung her eyes. ‘Thank you, Ben. I appreciate that.’
    He turned to Tom, slapping him on the shoulder. ‘And you’ve grown, young fellow. I hardly recognise you now.’ He squeezed Tom’s arm playfully. ‘Look at them muscles! It’s easy to see who does all the work.’
    Tom flushed a rosy red beneath his freckles. ‘That’s right. I’m the one who leads the horse and works the locks where there’s no keeper to help. I dunno what Effie would do without me.’
    ‘You’re a good chap, Tom,’ Ben said, taking a silver threepenny bit from his pocket and pressing it into Tom’s hand.
    ‘What’s that for?’ Tom shot a sideways glance at his sister. ‘I suppose you’re going to say I shouldn’t take it when I done nothing to earn it.’
    ‘Then earn it you shall, my lad.’ Ben ruffled Tom’s curly hair. ‘There’s a delivery due any moment. You know the drill, Tom. Go and open the cellar door and make certain they drop off all the barrels as ordered.’
    ‘It’s like old times,’ Tom said, leaping to his feet. ‘They won’t pull a fast one on me, guv.’ He raced out of the door, shouting a greeting to the draymen.
    ‘He’s a good boy,’ Ben said, grinning. ‘And you know that you’ve always got a job back here, girl. I can find work for the pair of you, if you’ve a mind to take me up on my offer.’
    Effie met his grey eyes with a steady gaze. ‘Thank