Alice turned and ran back to the Morry as Kathleen edged closer to Peggy. ‘Peggy love, what are you doing there?’ she asked.
Peggy didn’t answer Kathleen; she appeared to be unaware that she was even there.
‘Peggy, Peggy love…’ Kathleen stepped closer and this time Peggy turned.
‘Go away, Kathleen,’ she said. ‘Leave me alone.’ She was shaking violently and her teeth chattered as she spoke.
‘I can’t do that, Peggy, I’ve got to take you back up – the kids need you and even that lazy oaf of a husband of yours needs you too.’
As Kathleen drew nearer she was stunned to see that Peggy’s feet were in the Mersey and that she was sitting on the very edge of the dock, inches away from the water. It would take just one move, one lunge, and she would be in. One of her slippers floated on the surface of the water while the other had sunk and was visible just below the waterline. Kathleen’s heart beat hard against her chest wall as she edged closer until she was behind Peggy, intending to hold on to the back of her blouse and thinking to herself, what use would that be?
Peggy was rambling incoherently; Kathleen tried again. ‘Peggy, Peggy love, come on, what are you doing down here? Little Paddy says your chips are cold and we’ve Maura and Tommy home. I’ll open a bottle of the Golden Knight sherry to celebrate – you love a glass of that, don’t you? Come on now, lift your legs up out of that water and let’s go and see Maura.’
Bending as best she could, Kathleen placed a hand on one shoulder and with her other grabbed a handful of fabric. This would be her leverage, all she had to help her if Peggy should slip over the edge – and if she wasn’t careful, take Kathleen with her into the Mersey.
‘Come on, Peggy, shuffle your bum back. I’ll feel much better when your feet are out of that water and you’re upright. Let’s get you home.’
Peggy shook her head. ‘There’s no home to go to, I’ve lost it. I’ve been a terrible mother. My kids deserve better and they’ll be better off without me. Leave me alone, Kathleen, just go away.’ She finished on a sob and, in the reflected light from the water, Kathleen could see the tears rolling down her cheeks.
Kathleen let Peggy cry it out for a few moments and then tried again. ‘Peggy, I know all about it. About the letter from Heartfelt, about the bailiffs coming – and you’ve got nothing to worry about; we are going to sort it all out for you, me and Maura. She has a plan to make everything right.’
Peggy stopped crying and, looking up at Kathleen, she said, ‘But Maura’s not here. I’m lost without her, I did it all wrong.’
Kathleen patted Peggy’s back. ‘No you didn’t, Peggy. It’s not your fault your Paddy never went down the docks, it’s all his fault, not yours. You were managing the best you could.’ Kathleen got down and sat next to Peggy, and took her hand in her own. ‘The thing is, Peggy, and it’s my fault. I should have taken better care of you – and Jerry, he should have been firmer with your Paddy. I’ll tell you a secret, shall I?’ She looked sideways and saw she had Peggy’s attention. ‘They are going to make our Jerry the new gaffer on this dock and you know what that means, don’t you? It means every man on the four streets will be in work because they will get priority, for that’s how it works. And Jerry, he is going to make sure your Paddy is down there with him, give him a bit of responsibility, like. Put him in charge of the sheds.’
Kathleen looked out across the Mersey, at the shimmering moon, allowed her words to sink in, and then looking to her right and down towards Liverpool, she said, ‘I never knew how lovely it was down here. Really lovely, isn’t it? And I’ve other news for you that’s going to put a smile on your face: Maura is home for good and between us, her and me are going to sort out your rent arrears. Don’t worry, it’s a loan; you can pay us a back a shilling a week so you don’t have to feel like you’re in our debt. We will sort it for you, Peggy, and we’ll go to the pawnshop and get the kids’ shoes and your mam’s clock back.’
Peggy’s hand felt like ice in her own and she was shaking so violently Kathleen was half afraid she would shake them both over the edge. Peggy was completely unresponsive and, worryingly, staring down at the water. The bore was in, the level was high and then, just as Kathleen thought, Alice, where the hell are you? she heard her daughter-in-law arrive at a trot, closely followed by Blinks pushing a trolley.
Then Peggy whispered something Kathleen thought she had misheard. ‘What did you say, Peggy love?’
‘Kathleen, I had a baby, can you save her? And I’m sorry, Kathleen, but I have to go. Even Paddy will be better off without me.’
Just as Peggy shook herself away from Kathleen and shuffled herself to the edge, to slip into the water, two arms caught her from behind and she found herself being hauled six feet backwards to the concrete floor of the dock. Before either woman had time to speak, Blinks said, ‘Right, now you, Kathleen,’ and before she knew what was happening, Blinks did the same to her and stood her on her feet.
‘By God, you’re strong,’ said Kathleen, impressed.
He grinned. ‘Come on now, Peggy,’ he said and bent down again. Then, as though he were guiding and lifting a load from a crane into
