Elm Tree Road by Anna Jacobs Read Free Book Online Page A

served as an altar. Turning, she laid one hand on the roughly made lectern and looked back at her sister.
    ‘This chapel’s only five minutes’ walk from our house,’ she said, trying to be cheerful. ‘It’ll be very easy to come here on Sundays.’
    Renie was still staring round. ‘It’s very plain and shabby, isn’t it?’
    ‘So am I.’ Nell cast an anguished look down at herself, then put one hand up to check her hat. ‘Is it straight?’
    ‘Yes. And you look nice. That hat really suits you.’
    Nell sighed and looked at the shabby leather-bound bible on the lectern. ‘The chapel’s just starting up, like me and Cliff. But oh, I wish we’d been able to afford a photograph!’
    There was a sound to one side, a door opened and Mr Garrett came out. ‘Hello! Nice to see a bride arrive early.’
    A woman followed him out. She was heavily pregnant and looked tired, but had a very sweet smile.
    ‘This is my wife, Dora.’
    Mrs Garrett came over to shake their hands, then looked from one to the other. ‘It’s very obvious you’re sisters.’ She focused on Nell. ‘I wish you happy, my dear.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    She produced a box camera. ‘I wondered if you’d like me to take a photograph of the wedding? It won’t be very big, but my dear Brownie takes excellent photos.’
    Nell burst into tears.
    Renie put an arm round her sister and smiled reassuringly at Mrs Garrett. ‘Nell was just saying she wished she could have a photo to remember the day by.’
    ‘I often take them at our weddings. It’s my hobby, photography. I take photos of babies and children too. You’ll have to wait till I’ve finished this roll of film, though, to see how the photo turns out.’
    Nell pulled herself together. ‘Sorry. I’m a bit … weepy lately. And thank you. Thank you so much.’
    ‘It’s the baby,’ Mrs Garrett said confidently. ‘I was just the same with my first.’
    Mr Garrett glanced up at the clock on the wall, a plain affair with a scratch across the glass covering its face.
    The second hand was broken off, but Nell was close enough to see its stump moving jerkily round the centre of the dial as the seconds ticked past. She kept glancing towards the door and then up at the clock.
    ‘He’s just been held up,’ Mr Garrett said soothingly. ‘I’m sure he’ll be here in a minute or two.’
    Renie said nothing, but she was scowling.
    Mrs Garrett fiddled with her camera.
    Another four minutes ticked slowly past.
     
    In the corner of Mr Rayner’s back room, Cliff washed his hands carefully and knotted his tie more neatly, leaning both hands on the sandy-coloured slopstone as he stared into the fly-specked mirror on the wall.
    He shook his head and closed his eyes in anguish. He didn’t want to get married. Not this way and not yet. He felt too young for all that responsibility.
    A wild desire to run away seized him, not for the firsttime. Hadn’t he proved that he could find a job easily? He could still get away if he really wanted. He’d only to collect his tools and put them in the box, then pick up his case which he’d brought over today from his cousins’ house. He could take a train to Manchester and it didn’t matter where he went after that. No one need ever find him.
    But if he did run away, he’d never dare see his parents in Swindon again. They might not approve of this marriage, but they’d be shocked if he didn’t give his child a name by marrying the mother. And Nell … Nell would be on her own, bearing a child in shame. And it was his fault. She’d been right about that. Only she was so pretty and fresh-looking , how could a man resist her?
    He left the house reluctantly, then passed a public house. On a sudden impulse he went inside and ordered half a pint of bitter. He stood at the bar sipping it. Not many people were here now, because most of the lunchtime drinkers had left.
    He stared down at the glass in surprise. It was empty.
    The barman came up to him. ‘Want