“Oh, I think it would be lovely,” said Nesta. “Have you seen her recently? She’s not moving much, but all her colour’s come back.”
This was at the bus stop, in the rain. Nesta in a see-through headscarf. “She looks like a princess.”
Fran thought that was going too far. She hoped it wouldn’t be Nesta there when Liz returned. She’d need proper medical care. Someone sensible should be on hand. Nesta would be sentimental, excitable. She would fall on the floor, weeping and praying. She’d carry on as if it was ET. Liz the traveller returned from the brink.
“I wouldn’t want to see Liz wake,” Fran said. “Poor thing! She’s been looked at enough, these past few months. She’ll feel funny.”
Fran could imagine that being looked at in your sleep would be like being interfered with.
“I think it’s lovely.” Nesta smiled. “It’s made me feel happy. Good news, for once.”
“Mm.”
That was true, mind. Good news at last.
Last week Penny burst into Fran’s kitchen.
“They reckon Mam’s coming back!”
Fran’s lot were having their tea.
“Who reckons? Sit down, pet. Get your breath.”
“The doctors.” She couldn’t sit. Pacing up and down the kitchen. “They say she’s coming back to us!”
Fran and Nesta went to sit on the back seat.
“Remember the sexy bus driver that Liz ran away with?” asked Fran.
“Ay, I do.” Nesta nodded. “He was a hunk.”
Fran hated this expression. As though men were edible.
Nesta said, “When Liz is back, she can tell us what she did with him!” She looked slyly at Fran. “Just shows, you should never get involved with a younger man.”
“My Frank’s a younger man.”
“Just shows.”
Fran pursed her lips.
“Penny should think about selling her story to Take a Break magazine,” Nesta said. “You get hundreds of pounds for writing up your true-life tales.”
“You could mention it to her.”
“Somebody should.” Nesta stared at the rainy streets. “People like real escapes and returns to life.”
Nesta thought of J.R. Ewing, of Bobby Ewing. All the Ewings of Southfork, Dallas, were shot dead at one time or another. Easy to go and come back. Easy to come back with a new actress in your shoes. A new, more beautiful and younger actress. Like when they ditched Miss Ellie on Dallas and brought a new one in. It was easy coming back, Nesta knew.
On Monday morning Penny took a deep breath and went to the spastics shop. At one level she thought it was tempting fate, telling people so soon. They said, when you were having a bairn, you should wait a little while before telling, before buying things. This was the same. Yet she wanted to tell everyone. She was thrilled by this news.
Elsie looked up from the counter, straight at her, when she walked in. There was that smell of starch and softener and spray-on deodorant. The shop was gloomy.
“Elsie, I’ve got something to tell you.”
Elsie just looked at her.
“I know we’ve not been seeing eye to eye these past few months…”
The older woman snorted.
“I’ve got some news about Mam.”
“Oh?” To conceal her interest, Elsie started folding cardigans on the counter, rapidly, making a mess of them.
“You’ve not been for a while to the hospital, I know. You don’t know the latest.”
Elsie’s eyes flashed. “Can you blame me for losing interest in the doings of your family?”
“Elsie! Me and Craig split up! I’m sorry! But it was a two-sided thing!”
Elsie tutted. “Little madam,” she muttered.
Actually, thought Penny, I do sound like a little madam, coming in here, telling her things she doesn’t want to hear. “All right. go. I wish I’d never bothered.”
“Hang on, you,” Elsie said, coming round the counter.
God, she’s going to punch me, thought Penny. She’d heard about Elsie in the old days, drunk in the factory and starting fights.
“I don’t care what you say,” Elsie said. “It’s your fault our Craig’s gone off to Edinburgh and left us. He had to get away so he wasn’t haunted by the sight of you. You’ve driven away my only son!”
“Oh, get away! He’s only gone on a trip.”
“He’s never left me before,” Elsie said. “What does he need with being away?”
“He’s just gone away to visit his mate Andy.”
“Oh, him,” snapped Elsie.
“What do you mean, oh, him?”
Elsie was red in the face. “That shirt lifter. Why’s our Craig staying with a ponce?”
Penny looked around. All the shop’s browsers and Elsie’s elderly colleague Charlotte were watching now.
“What, are you saying that I’ve turned your son? I’ve turned him into a queer?”
Elsie bridled. Penny was jeering at her. ”I wouldn’t put anything past you, you minx. That Andy was your boyfriend and he turned —”
“He was never my boyfriend —”
“And you’re carrying on behind Craig’s back with the tattooed man and… and!” Elsie laughed harshly, preparing to deliver her suddenly decided upon killing blow. “I could tell you a few home truths about your precious, lovely Mark Kelly.”
“Oh, don’t bother,” Penny muttered, heading for the door.
“I think you should hear this. You’re in deep waters with all these queers, Penny Robinson. You should know the man you’re sleeping with now is a queer as well. I saw him on New Year’s Eve!”
Penny laughed. “Kissing Santa Claus?”
“Kissing Andy! Where the coats were hung up!”
“So?”
“Oh, you brazen thing, you!”
“Elsie, to be honest, I don’t care what men get up to. They always get up to things. They’re dirty beasts. You know that.”
“I’m sure I don’t!”
“Yes, you bloody well do. So don’t blame me if your Craig isn’t here to be mothered just now. I don’t know and I don’t care what he’s doing in Edinburgh. I hope the poor lad’s having the time of his life.” With that, Penny opened the door.
Elsie called out, chastened. “What was your news?”
“Are you sure you want to hear?”
Elsie looked around at Charlotte and the customers. They had heard everything. Elsie felt stripped bare. ‘You know me.” She held her chin up, trembling. “I don’t like not knowing.”
“My mam’s coming back to the land of the living.” Penny gave
