Free Sunlight on the Mersey by Lyn Andrews Page B

serious if he’d gone to the trouble of going to see her father. ‘What . . . what did he say, Charlie?’
    ‘He said it was fine by him, so . . . would you?’
    Florence put her hand to her cheek, which was flushed with both the sun and the emotions she was feeling. ‘I . . . I’d love to, Charlie.’
    He beamed at her, thinking how pretty she looked. ‘Then shall we say I’ll call for you on Tuesday evening and we’ll go for a walk? I don’t want to keep you out too late, not on a weekday. Then maybe on Saturday evening we could go into town and have a meal somewhere . . . nice.’ He wouldn’t mind spending money on a meal, as long as she didn’t expect itevery week. ‘I know you like to spend Sunday afternoons with our Iris.’
    ‘That would be lovely, Charlie,’ Florence replied, suddenly feeling very grown up.
    ‘Then I’ll call for you at seven o’clock,’ Charlie suggested and when she nodded her assent he offered her his arm, studiously ignoring the curious stares of the neighbours who were sitting or standing on their doorsteps trying to escape the heat of the small, over-crowded houses.
    Why not? she thought. She had her father’s permission, they were now officially walking out and as she took it she smiled happily at him, albeit a little shyly.
    Charlie felt a huge sense of satisfaction. He’d take her mam a little gift on Tuesday; he hadn’t met Mrs Taylor yet and he wanted her approval too. He’d have a word with his mam about it, see what she could suggest, for he’d have to announce to them all that he and Florence were now courting. He was sure his parents would approve, but he wondered how well Iris would take the news.

Chapter Seven

    K ATE HAD URGED IRIS to go and lie down after giving her two aspirins but Iris had refused, saying the bedroom would be like an oven having had the sun on it all day.
    ‘I’ll wait until later, Mam, when it’s cooled down a bit.’
    ‘All right, luv, but I can’t open the window any wider or we’ll be inundated with flies. I’ll have to get some more fly papers tomorrow. At least our Rose won’t be tormented with them like we are.’
    ‘I wouldn’t bank on that, Kate. They get plenty of flies in the country too,’ Bill had remarked.
    ‘Yes, but the houses all have plenty of space around them and no stinking, overflowing ashcans a few yards away in the jigger,’ Kate had replied, thinking of the rubbish in the entry that ran behind the houses.
    ‘Did Florence get her tram all right?’ Iris asked as her brother arrived home.
    ‘Of course she did. One arrived almost straight away,’ Charlie assured her, taking off his jacket and tie and loosening his collar. ‘Isn’t it warm? I can’t remember the last time it rained. I have to say I’d prefer it to be cooler than this.’
    ‘Wouldn’t we all?’ his father remarked tersely.
    ‘I’d prefer not to have the damned range lit but we’d have nothing to boil the kettle on or cook on either,’ Kate added.
    Charlie sat down at the table opposite his mother while Iris leaned back in the armchair, holding a damp cloth to her forehead. ‘I’ve got something to tell you all,’ he announced.
    ‘What? What have you and your mates been up to now?’ Kate demanded, pouring him a cup of tea.
    ‘Nothing and it’s got nothing to do with my mates either, it’s to do with Florence,’ Charlie replied quietly.
    Iris sat up and Kate stared at her son. ‘Florence? You mean Iris’s Florence?’
    Charlie proceeded to tell them of his visit to Cedar Grove and his conversation with Florence as he’d escorted her to the tram.
    As Iris listened the throbbing in her head increased. She couldn’t believe this. The nerve of him! He’d taken himself off to see Mr Taylor and then . . . then he’d asked Florence out! And Florence had accepted. She must be mad!
    ‘Well, I never thought you were that interested in her, Charlie. You’ve never said anything.’ Kate too was astonished. ‘And you hardly