Lost & Found Read Free Page B

Sundays?’
    ‘Yeah, but she can’t start today. It’ll have to be tomorrow.’
    ‘That’s fine.’
    ‘I’ll send her round to see you later.’
    ‘Thank you,’ Edith said, but as she stood up a muscle spasm caused her to gasp in pain. For a moment her vision blurred and she felt off balance, but then thankfully the moment passed. She reached out to grasp her cane and walked slowly to the door, saying as she was shown out, ‘Goodbye, Mrs Jackson.’
    ‘Bye,’ Lily chirped back.
    When the door closed behind her, Edith heaved in a breath of fresh air. She’d done it. The first stage of her plan was in place. She just hoped Mavis was the perfect choice.
    Lily picked up the half-polished kettle, her mind full of the visit as she started to polish the other side. If Edith Pugh really could teach Mavis to be less clumsy, it would make all the difference. The woman had said she was forty-three, but dressed as though she was middle aged. Matronly, that was the only way to describe Edith Pugh; but she had sounded so sureof herself when talking about Mavis. Maybe she was right—maybe it
was
down to training.
    Lily knew she should have tried harder with Mavis but, busy trying to make ends meet, she just hadn’t had the time, or patience. When Mavis left school, she’d planned to put her to work, sending her out most days with the pram, and using her on other days to tart up any metal stuff. More stock would increase her profits, but now Lily decided there could be an alternative. She turned the idea over in her mind. Yes, it should work, but Lily didn’t want to count her chickens before they were hatched. Of course, if Ron would stop gambling they’d be in clover, but that was a pipe dream. However, if her future plans for Mavis worked out, she’d be able to take it easy—have a bit of time to put her feet up for a change.
    By the end of another hour, Lily’s arms were aching, but at last she had a pile of now shiny, if dented, saucepans to flog, not that she’d get much for them. Her sigh was heavy as she washed the muck off her hands, but then the door swung open and Lily spun around, her eyes widening. ‘Bloody hell, Ron! What are you doing home?’
    ‘We got laid off.’
    ‘Why? What did you do this time?’ Lily asked in exasperation as she hastily dried her hands.
    ‘I fell out with the foreman, but before you doyour nut, don’t worry. Pete’s already found us another job and the pay’s a lot better.’
    ‘Is it now? Knowing you, I doubt I’ll see any of it.’
    Ron moved closer, pulling her into his arms. ‘Yes you will, love. Things are going to change, you’ll see.’
    Lily stiffened at first as Ron’s lips caressed her neck, but sixteen years of marriage hadn’t dimmed her passion for this man. He might be a gambler, his wages gone most weeks before she saw a penny, but his body never failed to thrill her. She moved her hands over him, felt his muscles ripple, and melted. It was always the same. She would threaten to leave him, but then be left helpless with desire at his touch. Not this time, she thought, fighting her emotions and pulling away. ‘No, Ron.’
    ‘Come on, Lily, you know you don’t mean it,’ he urged, pulling her close again, the hardness of his desire obvious as he pressed against her.
    It was almost her undoing, but once again she fought her feelings. ‘I said no!’
    ‘Lily…Lily, we should make the most of this. When I’m working away we won’t see each other for months.’
    Ron’s words were like a dash of cold water. ‘Working away! What do you mean?’
    ‘Oh, shit, I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that.I’d planned to tell you when you were feeling all warm and cosy after a bit of slap and tickle.’
    ‘Oh, I see, soften me up first and then break the news. Well, forget it. You can tell me now.’
    Ron released her. ‘All right, but you ain’t gonna like it,’ he said, taking a seat before going on to tell her about the job in Bracknell.
    Lily sat