“Darling, your metaphors are mixing again,” Clara said with a smile.
“Oh, pipe down,” Courtney responded. “I’m excited.”
The doorbell rang again and Jos descended the stairs to admit Dorothy and her friend, Florence, whom Jos had only met on one or two occasions but was happy to welcome into her flat. Dorothy was an odd character, Jos found, and rather inconsistent in her friendships, but she enjoyed her company, recognising her intelligence and wit.
When she reached the top of the stairs, Dorothy’s usual immovable demeanour was broken for a moment. “Evelyn Hopkins! I don’t see you for what seems like weeks and then I find you here?” Thankfully, her exclamation ended in a smile.
Evelyn rose to her feet to welcome Dorothy. “Dorothy! I’m sorry I haven’t seen you—”
“Oh, I know it’s all Lilian’s fault. She’s stopped inviting you out with her, hasn’t she? Very fickle woman, that she is.”
Dorothy was nothing if not brutally honest. It was something about her Jos appreciated. She had once thought there was a possibility of a relationship between her and Dorothy, who professed that she could be seduced by men and women equally and sought no kind of commitment from either. However, when she discovered Dorothy leaving Vernon’s bedroom one morning, all possibility of that was put out of her mind. She still liked Dorothy and was certainly the last one to judge her.
Evelyn, meanwhile, looked a little taken aback at Dorothy’s understanding. “Has Lilian said anything to you?” she asked.
Clara rolled her eyes, “I still don’t really understand why we all pay so much attention to Lilian. She’s awfully foolish, don’t you think?”
“She’s been very kind to me,” Evelyn responded. Jos admired the sense of honour that made Evelyn defend Lilian. “She’s let me stay with her rent-free and she’s been very helpful. Until recently.”
“I don’t say she’s a bad person, not deep down,” Clara replied. “Just quite a difficult one to spend time with. Wouldn’t you say, Vernon?”
Courtney giggled at Vernon’s brief discomfort and even Jos was amused. Her brother could handle the teasing. He shrugged. “Don’t expect me to defend her. Of course, chivalry dictates that I should, being as the lady isn’t here to defend herself. But our attachment is rather at an end, so I’m the last one to disagree with you all.”
“I’m one of her better friends and I can’t really defend her myself,” Dorothy added. “Not that she’s not entertaining company and she’s an excellent source of gossip. But no, Evie, she’s not really mentioned you. Which is what made me suspicious, if I’m honest. Lilian talks about everybody, all the time. I can’t think what you’ve done to her. Unless it’s your new friends she objects to, of course.” Dorothy winked and looked at Jos.
“Lilian doesn’t know about Evie and me,” Jos said, understanding the implication.
“Oh, so there is an Evie and you, then?” Dorothy said.
“Yes, there is,” Evelyn said. Jos heard a certain pride in her voice that made her heart glad. Evelyn seemed to like their relationship being known to their friends. That was an excellent sign.
“How wonderful! And I was the first to predict it.” Dorothy’s tone was entirely self-satisfied. “Of course, Lilian thinks it’s Vernon you’ve got a crack on for, by the way, Evie.”
Evelyn flushed and Vernon grinned. “Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if she had, it would be entirely understandable,” Vernon said. “You know I’m here, Evie, if that’s where your heart really lies.”
“Shut up, Vernon,” Jos told him, in the way that only a sister could.
“Does she really think that?” Evelyn asked, looking concerned. Jos understood that she was still keen to keep Lilian’s good opinion, despite the recent turn their friendship had taken.
“She did, a week or so ago, which is when we last spoke about you. Was awfully suspicious of you, especially since our dear Vernon hasn’t been treating her so well just lately.”
“I’m a terrible person,” Vernon said.
“Yes, you are,” Dorothy said, “but I don’t think I blame you. Lilian’s been very difficult in recent times.”
“Hasn’t she just?” he agreed.
“Why are we all talking about someone who isn’t here, anyway?” Courtney said. “How about we put a record on the gramophone and drink some more sherry? It’s Christmas!”
Jos was glad of her interuption. She could see the tension rising in Evelyn’s expression and did not want her to dwell on Lilian, or what was being said about her. She went over to her gramophone and selected one that began with Jelly Roll Morton’s “Black Bottom Stomp,” guaranteed to lighten the mood and bring some festive spirit to the occasion. Then she went to stand by Evelyn, holding her fingers lightly, to reassure. Evelyn squeezed her hand back and turned to look into her eyes. She saw nothing but happiness there, reflecting the feeling in her own heart.
*
Evelyn felt Jos’s hand grasping hers and her heart soared. Yes, she was a little frightened of what Lilian thought about her, of being the subject of gossip. But it was difficult to mind anything much with Jos by her side, with Jos so open about their relationship. To be in a room full of people who knew that there was something between them, and who were happy about it, was a rather wonderful feeling. She felt like a butterfly spreading its wings after emerging from the crysallis. The happiness in this room was sunshine; she needed to overcome any fears and to fly.
The afternoon was so delightful that she almost forgot to miss her family and her home. She ate far too much delicious food, drank too much sherry, and found she could hold her own in conversation, even with the likes of Clara and Vernon, who delighted in making sport of their words. She was pleased to see Dorothy relaxed and laughing and thought her new friend, Florence, though rather quiet, seemed very interesting. In the middle of the afternoon, they were briefly joined by Abigail and Gisela, the latter of whom insisted on sharing
