Part 30 (1/2)

Lucy thanked him. 'I'll leave you to it then.' She went quickly out of the room.

'I have no idea what's going on here and, to be honest, I really don't want to hear what you have to say,' Martin informed Kathleen. 'Lucy was wrong to discuss our business with you, but, like I say, I've let her down once, and I don't mean to let her down again. I will never sell this house while Lucy needs a home, and I will never allow her to become a lodger in someone else's house not even yours. And that's an end to it!'

Kathleen handed him an envelope. 'Please, Martin, before you say any more, just read this. It should explain everything.'

In the kitchen, Lucy realised that Martin must be reading the letter, and she was made increasingly anxious. A moment later, having made the tea, she brought the tray into the sitting room and placed it on the table.

Martin was still perusing the letter.

Lucy remained by the table, waiting. Hoping he would understand and go along with her plan.

Suddenly, Martin looked up, his gaze falling on Lucy. 'Well, I never!' He smiled. 'You crafty little b.u.g.g.e.r, and you never said a word.'

'It was not my place to tell you,' Lucy replied. 'It was for Kathleen to explain. And, like you, my mind was on Paula. There was so much going on, I needed to put it on the back burner.'

Martin understood. 'And now?'

'Well, if you agree, I'd like to spread my wings at last. That's why I thought we could sell the house. That way, you could help Paula, and I could have a sum of money from the sale of the house and include myself in Kathleen's plans. Maybe even work my way up to being a businesswoman. I'm ready, Martin. The children are grown up, and what's happened to us recently has taught me that life is very short, and events often creep up on us, and make us realise how very vulnerable we all are. It's time, Martin. I need to get out there and be a part of it, and, thanks to Kathleen, I now have that chance. So ... what do you say? Will you sell the house, help Paula to buy hers, and let me go to find my place, at this new point in my life?'

Martin was silent. The words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat, though his respect and love for Lucy were never greater than now.

When at last he spoke, there was a tremble in his voice, and tears of grat.i.tude in his eyes. 'My dear Lucy, I promise I will move heaven and earth to help make you happy.'

Over the next hour, Kathleen and Lucy outlined their plans.

'With the money my great-aunt has left me, I intend moving away to the coast, preferably,' Kathleen told Martin.

Lucy explained excitedly, 'Kathleen has asked me to go with her, and be a partner in the business she buys maybe a little tea-room, or a small boarding house for holidaymakers. So, if you are able to give me a sum of money when the house is sold, that will go towards me buying into Kathleen's business, whatever business she might choose.'

Kathleen stopped her right there. 'Not what business I choose!' she reminded Lucy. 'When we see the right opportunity, you will have as much say as me in what we go for.'

So, now that the air was cleared, and the tea had gone stone cold, Lucy went away to make another pot of tea.

'You will look after her, won't you?' Martin asked Kathleen.

'We'll look after each other,' Kathleen replied softly. 'And, who knows, each of us might just find a new man to light up our lives.'

'So where exactly are you thinking of going to?' Martin was curious.

'I'm not altogether sure yet. I do have a little place in mind, though. It's a place I believe Lucy will like. Yes, I'm sure that when she sees it, she will be pleasantly surprised.'

A sense of mischief made her look away and smile.

PART FIVE.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.

ON A WARM afternoon in July, Lucy and Kathleen switched off their machines at the plastics factory, and the entire eighteen-strong workforce raised their voices and sang a merry song to send their friends on their way.

While their workmates sang, the two friends stood side by side smiling, but feeling a little sad to be leaving.

When the song was done, everyone cheered, and the boss came forward to address them all. 'Seeing as these two have given me more grey hairs than anyone, I really should be delighted to see them go.'

There was a roar of approval and a volley of cheeky calls: 'Fling 'em out!'; 'Make them work another fortnight with no pay! The b.u.g.g.e.rs have had more holidays than the rest of us put together!'

When the cheering raised the roof, Lucy and Kathleen had tears in their eyes. When the boss presented them each with a bouquet of flowers, their tears began to fall. 'We love you all!' Kathleen told them, and Lucy was too filled with emotion to speak, so she simply put up her hand and waved a thank you.

When the blower screamed out, telling everyone that the day was over, one by one the workers came to say their goodbyes to Kathleen and Lucy, and when they were all gone, the boss led the two of them to the office, where she gave them their last pay packets, and wished them well.

'I hope your business venture works out for you both,' she said, and gave them each a hug. 'Keep in touch. Don't forget us.'

Kathleen and Lucy thanked her and bade her goodbye. 'I don't know how you ever put up with us ... me in particular,' Lucy told her.

'I put up with you because you are two of the best workers I've got,' the boss a.s.sured Lucy. 'And I know what difficulties you have had to deal with.'

A few moments later, the two went away to start their new lives.

They walked together as far as the corner, then Lucy went one way and Kathleen the other. 'I'll be round later to help you pack up the last of your stuff,' Lucy promised.

Kathleen told her not to worry too much. 'You have your own packing to do,' she said, 'and you still have to tie up all the loose ends with Martin.'

'When did you say you hand the house key in?' Lucy asked.

'Tomorrow morning. I have to finalise everything with the solicitor. He's already tied up all the loose ends with the buyers, and managed to get me a few days' grace into the bargain. So now it's just a matter of dotting the i's and crossing the t's.' Clapping her hands, she laughed out loud. 'And then, Lucy girl, we are on our merry way! Off with the old and on with the new. See you later.'

She went away down the street, whistling like a drunken navvy.

Lucy chuckled to herself, 'Kathleen Riley, what am I going to do with you, eh?'

Her heart was so light, she might have whistled, but she didn't know how, so instead she sang softly in grat.i.tude for the way things had turned out. 'A new life, eh, Lucy girl?' She shook her head as though in disbelief. 'Well, it's about time, an' all!'

Martin had been watching for her, and opened the door to let her in.

'Paula wants to show you something,' he said excitedly, leading her down to the sitting room.

When Lucy entered the room, she saw Paula seated in her chair the way she had been for these past weeks. 'Hi, Sis! Martin says you've got something to show me?'

'Yes, I have,' Paula said. 'So, do you want to see?'

'Of course I do.'