The Woman Who Kept Everything Page 18

  ‘What’s he mean?’ Gloria whispered to Tilsbury. But Tilsbury just winked at her, smiled and took Gloria’s arm.

  ‘Let’s just get married, my love, like we should’ve done a long time ago.’

  * * *

  Gloria was thrilled that Joe and Vittori and the girls, Florence, Freda and Dot had been able to come along. They were all her new best friends now.

  ‘Well you never know when yer number’s up, Gloria. Gotta make the most of life, don’t you, love,’ said Dot, holding on to Florence’s arm. ‘Gives the rest of us hope, though, when we see how you’ve turned your life around from what it was like.’

  ‘I treated myself to a new dress for your wedding!’ Freda smiled, giving the pale lemon chiffon dress a twirl.

  ‘And we’ll all be at the hotel on yer honeymoon, as usual, like you said you hoped for. Hope you don’t really mind all us rabble joining in with you on your special holiday, though,’ said Florence grinning.

  Joe had taken Gloria to one side. ‘I’m really pleased you included my necklace as your something old, Gloria. You do look beautiful today, I must say,’ said Joe, dabbing at his own eyes. He said he had a speck of dust in them.

  ‘It was perfect as my something old, Joe. Thank you for treating me in the first place. And how are you doing these days, anyway?’

  ‘Much better since meeting you, Gloria. You’re always so upbeat. Put a bit of a spring in my step, it has. Plus, well, I’m starting to get used to the fact that there’s a bit more life for me now my Carol’s passed. It’s not the same without her, though. Not as fulfilling. But I can see that one can exist and have a few laughs from time to time while you, um, while you wait for that other day … And I’ve been asked to join our local Sudoku team, full-time.’

  Gloria smiled broadly and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Ah, well that’s great, Joe. That’s great news. I always think as long as you’ve got summat to look forward to then there’s a reason to carry on. Good for you. And how are you Vittori?’

  ‘I very happy to be here. Very warm and inviting. Like the Italians. And you very pretty lady,’ Vittori said, raising his glass. ‘And very nice foods.’

  The buffet the Sheringham hotel had put on for their wedding luncheon was indeed very nice and even surpassed the one they put on for Gloria’s eightieth birthday party.

  Gloria was relieved that Cleggy had behaved himself, as he and Val had promised. She walked over to him and clinked glasses with them both.

  ‘Well this is a far cry from the state of play a few months back. Wouldn’t you say so, son?’ she said.

  She noted that Val nudged Cleggy’s arm.

  ‘Well, yes it is, Mother. I guess we thought it was only going to be YOU that we sorted out. Then turns out it was a problem I probably created for us all.’

  Gloria nodded. ‘Probably was a bit of both. We’re a very proud family, I suppose.’

  ‘Aye we are that. But, um, talking of proud … I have to say that I’m, er, I’m very proud of you today, too, Mother. I really can’t believe your incredible turnaround. I thought, in a way, we were finished as a family. And I know that’s a strong thing to say. But I couldn’t cope back then and I thought you couldn’t either. So I thought there was no way back for either of us. But you’re built of sterner stuff than I am, Mother; I will say that. And just look at you now. You’re married. You’ve found a lovely new home. Our kids adore you. Oh and I can’t wait to be introduced properly to all your very lovely new friends.’

  Tears misted Gloria’s eyes. ‘Well, I’m thrilled you think so, Cleggy. Now come here. About time we had a bit of a hug, isn’t it, son. That’s one of the things I’ve most wanted out of all this. A bit of love and acceptance from you.’

  But it was Clegg who reached out to her first, without Val nudging him, and he drew Gloria into a tight hug.

  Chapter 49

  Tears bubbled in Tilsbury’s eyes as he clinked champagne glasses with Gloria, after they’d eaten their fill at the buffet table. He looked so smart in his new wedding suit that Gloria had fallen in love with him all over again. They’d had the first dance, care of Malcolm, the pub singer who’d crooned Tilsbury’s favourite Elvis Presley song, ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’.

  ‘So how does it feel to no longer be Mrs Frensham, eh, Mrs Hunter?’ Tilsbury had whispered.

  ‘It actually feels quite wonderful, Mr Hunter. Mmm, Gloria Hunter. Got a rather nice ring to it, hasn’t it?’

  ‘How ya doin’, bruv?’ said Marvin, coming up behind Tilsbury and mock punching him.

  ‘Really good, thanks, mate!’

  ‘Shoulda done this years ago but you did like pissin’ yer life up against the wall, back then.’

  ‘Well cheers for that fond me’mry, Marv. By the way, I’ve got summat for you later.’

  ‘Oh yeah? A fight out back over summat?’

  ‘No, you daft oaf. Just summat needs sorting is all.’

  ‘Catch you later then. Just goin’ for a walk down the front with Jocelyn to ease me waistline after all that good grub.’

  Gloria was talking to her grandchildren in a corner. The cut of Jessie’s turquoise dress was perfect, set against her long dark hair. A proper little stunner she was now, Gloria thought, as she handed her the envelope.

  ‘W-what’s this gran?’ Jessie said slowly.

  She handed a similar envelope to the surprised Adam.

  Gloria looked into her granddaughter’s eyes. Fiercely stubborn when she wanted something, yet as proud as her father, the inimitable Clegg. Gloria even saw herself in her.

  ‘I’m giving you and Adam a lump sum of £15,000 each. I did tell you something would be forthcoming from me when I sold me house. What you do with it’s up to yourselves. There’s loads of worthwhile things you could do with it, like put a deposit on your first home or whatever. Although if you buy yourselves nice houses, don’t go cluttering them up like I did. Ha, ha. Oh and I was hoping, though, Adam, that you might want to put yours towards that Sport and Exercise Management degree course you wanted to do at uni. But like I said, it’s up to yourselves. It gives you both a little start in life, like my family did for me and Arthur by leaving us their house. So this is just me giving you both a little summat for your futures, if you choose to use it for that. But no pressure.’

  Jessie had tears in her eyes. She opened her arms to Gloria and Adam crept inside that hug too. The three of them stood like that for a while and Gloria realised she couldn’t be any happier than she was at that very moment in time.

  Gloria left the surprised youngsters discussing what just happened.

  ‘So what were you and Cleggy talking about in the church then, Tils?’

  Tilbury looked sheepish.

  ‘Did you know they can have visitors at that Marley’s place? Well I spoke to Val and went up with her one day, to see Cleggy, when I thought the time might be right. Just thought I’d try summat, Glor. Wasn’t sure we’d ever get on, me and Clegg, after all our bad history. And I still can’t get over the shock of knowing that he’s mine. Seems bloody unreal, in fact. But it is what it is and we’ve put all that to rest now, haven’t we, love. So anyways before I went to see him, I had a chat with the manager here and you know how Val’s talking about sellin’ up and downsizing and moving nearer to us, somewhere outside Sheringham, once the kids are sorted with the rest of their education and whatnot? Well I thought I’d see if Charlie, here, might just have a bit of pot washing and glass collecting here on the weekends for Cleggy to do. Start him off on a different tack and getting him to mix with folk instead of workin’ by himself.’

  ‘What? My Cleggy a pot washer? Have you lost the bloody plot now, Tils?’ Gloria retorted, pulling away from him.

  Tilsbury giggled at her indignation.

  ‘Nah. But it did all right for me in Edinburgh and paid for most of our weddin’ and all, didn’t it. Anyway, it’s just a start. Get him out of himself a bit. Mixing with lots of different people, you know, as well as him tryin’ summat
new. Like the rest of us,’ Tilsbury explained. ‘Anyways, Charlie seemed to think it’d work for them. Plus he reckoned if Cleggy proved himself by working in the kitchen, he might be promoted to working in the bar or on front of house. He’d get to mix with lots more people then. Plus he’d have a new career to boot, in catering, if that’s what he decided he wanted to do!’

  Gloria shook her head. But just at that moment Val and Clegg approached them.

  ‘Here, Cleggy. Sorry about Tilsbury trying to get you a job here. I didn’t know he’d got in touch with Charlie, here. Sorry love.’

  ‘No, it’s all right, Mum. And Val thinks it’s a wonderful idea, too. Just to ease me back into things – and it’s a completely different kind of job. You might not think it worthy. But it’s still a job that somebody has to do, isn’t it? Plus you never know what might lead on from it.’

  Gloria looked uncertain but shrugged, anyway. ‘Yeah, well I suppose. Like you say, it could be a new start of sorts. Adam tells me you gave up work at your old company. Did you?’

  ‘I did, Mother. They gave me a nice little payoff for all the years I put in, so that’s something. But I felt I couldn’t go back there. I think it was the start of most of my problems you see. I couldn’t take the stress. Anyway, I think it’s very kind of Tilsbury to think of me. Stops me sittin’ and mopin’ at home. And one day we might just move to these parts. It’s lovely here. Not stressful at all. We’d fancy something like a two-bed cottage on the outskirts, subject to us sellin’ ours in the future, of course.’

  ‘Yeah, we all fancy that idea, Gloria.’ Val smiled. ‘It’d be a complete change for us. Because I think we’re ready to face up to some changes, now, with the kids on the verge of movin’ out and the rest. Plus we’d be near to you if you ever got in the position where you’d need us to be near to you. And please, please forget your worry about us putting you into an old people’s home at some point later in the day. We know you don’t want that and neither do we, love, so it won’t be happening. When the time comes we’ll get you a carer, or we can look at other options to help you both to continue living in your own new home. Oh and, er, thank you SO much for the kids’ envelopes. They were completely gobsmacked. And Adam will be using his for uni.’

  ‘Yes thanks, Mum,’ Clegg cut in. ‘Thanks for everything. I’ve been a twat. Sorry. My life was collapsin’ before. But I think I’m on the right road now, thanks to you and, um, thanks to Tilsbury as well.’

  Jocelyn came rushing over to Gloria, showering her with hugs and kisses.

  ‘Cor thanks, Glor. Thanks from the bottom of me heart for your gift of a holiday. Thanks, Tils, old fruit. You’re a star! And yes, we do accept this lovely gift. Can’t get over it, actually, love. Didn’t think we’d ever get there. All that talk about holidays and I was thinking we’ll never be able to afford it! And now we can and especially on yer honeymoon, which will be totally amazin’, my lovelies. Just can’t wait and it’ll be so much fun. Just like the good old days.’

  Gloria then picked up a spoon and banged it on a stainless steel serving bowl to get everybody’s attention.

  ‘Right, everyone, well me and Tils are toddling off home now. We’ve done what we came to do. We love you all lots and want you to stay and have fun. But we’re tired now. You can only party for so long at eighty, you know. But, anyways, c’mon, ladies! Get together. I’m gonna throw me bouquet. Oh crikey! Don’t know if I can throw it backwards like you see people doin’.’

  ‘Just chuck it, Glor!’ shouted Jocelyn.

  Tilsbury steadied her as she turned with her back to the wedding party. She bent forward and then launched her arm backwards in the air.

  There was a little gasp when someone caught her bouquet. Gloria turned to see who’d caught it.

  Florence. ‘Oh my! Oh my! They’re lovely! But I haven’t had a man in YEARS!’ Florence blushed.

  ‘Well, you’re not missin’ much!’ someone quipped.

  ‘Best get a move on then, love!’ joked someone else.

  Gloria and Tilsbury marched out of the door, amidst raucous laughter and cheering, as confetti and rice were chucked over them by the bucket-load.

  Chapter 50

  Blue skies with wispy, fluffy clouds and a turquoise sea welcomed the recent newly-weds, Gloria and Tilsbury, as well as Jocelyn and Marvin, as they arrived at the Eastbourne hotel, on their late shared honeymoon cum holiday. It was a deliciously warm twenty-two degrees for the middle of July.

  ‘Cor, will ya look at that sea, Joss!’ exclaimed Marvin. ‘Quite a diff’rent colour to the Ganges, that’s for sure. Eh, bruv?’

  ‘Aye, it is that, Marv,’ said Tilsbury. ‘It’s a cracker. And I think this place could grow on me. Well, let’s go get settled in, folks. Then we’ll hit the prom and find a nice boozer someplace, eh?’

  That evening they enjoyed a cracking celebratory party, care of Lily’s wedding money she’d bequeathed them. Most of the usual crowd were there for the happy couple’s special celebrations, which thrilled Gloria, and she spent half the night introducing everybody.

  ‘Great to see you folks again.’ Joe grinned, shaking hands with the four of them.

  ‘Buonasera, Mrs Hunter!’ said Vittori, breaking off from chatting to Florence, and raising his glass to them.

  ‘Hello! Hello, Gloria! Oh but you give us something to look forward to, each time we meet,’ said Dot.

  ‘Yeah,’ said Jocelyn. ‘Well, that’s our Gloria for ya. Grass don’t grow under her feet. That’s for sure!’

  Gloria loved catching up with everyone’s news, especially the ones who hadn’t made it to her eightieth or her wedding. And there was lots of laughter and jokes about Gloria getting married again at her ‘time of life’. She handed out photos of both her celebrations.

  At the end of that night and before anyone else actually fell asleep at their table, as one old lady had, Gloria and Tilsbury were presented with one large card, signed by everyone, both for Gloria’s eightieth and their wedding, with hundreds of tiny shiny gold star-shaped sprinkles inside the card, which ended up all over the floor in the restaurant.

  ‘Thank you! Thank you, everybody! Thank you so much for your kind wishes!’ said Gloria. ‘See? I told you I’d be back!’

  ‘Yes but we didn’t think it would be for your honeymoon, old girl!’

  Everybody’d roared with laughter.

  ‘You’re mad, bad people, you four, you are!’ said someone. ‘But you sure know how to party. Come back, any time!’

  ‘Can’t actually remember the last time I had this much fun, Glor!’ said Jocelyn, grinning ear to ear. ‘Well this won’t be our last time in Eastbourne, either, once Marv sells Lily’s car that he can’t ruddy get into, the fat sod!’

  There were a few sore heads, at breakfast, the next day.

  ‘Ooo, can’t be doin’ this at my time of life,’ Jocelyn admitted, laughingly. ‘Hurts too much!’

  But then Florence appeared with sad news that Freda had suddenly taken ill and been rushed into hospital. Florence, who was close friends with Freda and always shared rooms with her on holiday, had dialled 999, then rang Freda’s son, Michael. He said he was coming down as soon as. Freda was said to be stable at the hospital but no one actually knew what was wrong with her. She hadn’t been suffering with anything serious as far as anyone knew.

  On the sightseeing trip around Eastbourne, later that morning, Gloria was feeling a little out of sorts.

  ‘I do feel a bit guilty, about things, though. Hope our partyin’ hasn’t upset Freda’s system or anything. Someone says they’re keepin’ her in for a few days to do some tests before they let her go home with Michael. He’s gone back home for now because he’s in the middle of something important at work. But he’s coming back at the weekend to see what’s what.’

  ‘Yeah, Glor, but at our age ANYTHING could happen, at any time and for any reason! It’s got to be expected. She wouldn’t be in hospital for a hangover, though, Glor. So it can’t’ve been our party,’
reasoned Jocelyn. ‘Must’ve been summat more serious or what they call an underlyin’ problem.’

  ‘That’s right! Leave it to Joss to dampen the mood,’ said Marvin, shooting her a ‘shut-your-mouth’ glance.

  ‘Yeah but she’s right though, Marv,’ said Gloria. ‘Like I keep sayin’, you’ve got to grab what’s left of life now and enjoy every turn. We always need summat to look forward to. Anyways, what do you think, new husband?’

  Tilsbury could be heard snoring lightly, in his seat.

  ‘Bloody hell, bruv! Are we all that borin’?’

  ‘Gawd, ducks. Is this what I have to contend with from now on? Him fallin’ asleep every time he sits down? Think I want a divorce!’ Gloria chuckled.

  * * *

  The shock about Freda taking ill, however, had turned into mass relief when everybody discovered, later that day, that she’d actually choked on one of her tablets earlier that morning, and then passed out, gasping for breath. She hadn’t drunk enough water with it. So – okay – thankfully it hadn’t been anything serious on this occasion but her son was driving all the way back down to Eastbourne again, the following morning, to take her back home from the hospital.

  ‘He says he’s taking her home to rest after all her excitement. Least he can keep an eye on her that way,’ Florence explained.

  Michael had to return with Freda to the hotel to collect the rest of her things. She also wanted to say cheerio to all her friends before she went home. She’d waved them all a sad goodbye, from her son’s car, because she couldn’t finish her holiday with them on this occasion.

  ‘Ta-ra, love! See you next time!’ said Florence, who’d helped her son pack her suitcase and get her ready for the off. Joe and Vittori stood next to her, waving goodbye to her friend.

  ‘Bye, everyone!’

  ‘Bye, Freda!’

  It was a shame to see her go. But she was in the most caring of hands to be going back home with her loving son.