Free Cockney Orphan by Carol Rivers Page A

house now and waiting on the corner with Lucky as arranged.
    Vic was standing in the middle of the front room, nodding and smiling at the full complement of the Marsh family. Even Billy’s presence was a rarity; Saturday mornings he usually vanished
before anyone was up.
    ‘Pleased to meet you all,’ Vic said several times again, beaming another smile as he looked slightly confused at the effusive greeting.
    ‘And we’re pleased to meet you – again – son.’ Ebbie winked at Connie as she held a freshly changed Lucky across her hip. ‘Used to watch you playing football
when you were knee high, but I don’t expect you remember me.’
    ‘I do as a matter of fact, Mr Marsh. It was a long time ago, but I know your face.’
    Vic was relieved of his coat and a tin of Jacob’s Assorted Biscuits was found and offered swiftly past the noses of the family, to linger in front of the visitor. Vic sat on the couch,
drinking more tea than Connie suspected he had ever drunk in his life before.
    She was relieved when all the questions were over and they were on their way out to the car. ‘Sorry you had to knock for me,’ Connie apologized as they climbed in. ‘I was late
getting Lucky ready otherwise I’d have been on the corner waiting.’
    ‘When you weren’t there,’ Vic said as he started the engine, ‘I thought you’d changed your mind.’
    ‘I wouldn’t have done that.’ She gestured to Lucky, who she had dressed in Dorrie’s rompers, a blue bonnet and a blue coat that Nan had picked up from the market.
‘As you can see, I didn’t go to the Welfare people. Do you mind if he comes with us?’
    Vic winked at the baby. ‘Course I don’t. He looks grand now he’s washed up. Look at them big eyes. Same as yours. As blue as a clear blue sky.’
    Connie blushed. ‘Yes, they were dark at first, but now they’ve changed.’
    ‘Did your Mum have him whilst you were at work?’
    ‘No, I had an unexpected offer of help from our neighbour, Nan Barnes. She’s wonderful, bless her heart, but does go on a bit. I don’t like to be rude so by the time I left her
house and got back home today it was almost two o’clock. I didn’t even have time to change.’
    ‘You look lovely.’
    Connie grinned. ‘I’m still in my working clothes.’ She hadn’t had time to put on a dress, or pin her hair up.
    He glanced at her. ‘Well, you still look lovely. The pair of you do.’ He looked back at the road. ‘I’ve checked all the missing lists, by the way. No one’s reported
a missing girl and her baby, not a whisper.’
    ‘But she must have an identity and so must he.’
    ‘If anything turns up, you’ll be the first to know.’
    Connie didn’t like to admit she was in no hurry for the baby to be claimed. Instead, she wound her fingers through his and looked into his eyes. It was very strange that he had her colour
eyes. She wondered what colour his hair would be when it grew.
    ‘I intended to drive up to town,’ Vic said thoughtfully. ‘But I’m undecided now.’
    ‘Because I brought Lucky, you mean?’ Connie asked worriedly.
    ‘No, it was something Gran said, not that I should take her seriously, but once she makes these predictions it’s hard to ignore them.’
    ‘Predictions?’ Connie repeated curiously.
    He paused for a moment. ‘I feel a bit of a twerp, really, repeating what seems like a load of cobblers. But this morning Gran knew about me taking you out.’
    Connie looked confused. ‘Did you tell her?’
    Vic’s dark eyebrows raised. ‘Never said a word.’
    ‘How did she know, then?’
    He drew the car into the gutter and pulled on the handbrake. Switching off the engine, he turned in his seat, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. ‘She said it was deduction, but she also
reads the tealeaves. Now don’t ask me how it works, ’cos I don’t know. It’s something I’ve grown up with from a kid and makes me a bit uncomfortable really. I always
try to get out of it.’
    Connie was