house of women by Yelena Kopylova Read Free Book Online Page B

door, and there, looking at Lizzie, he won her over just a mite by saying, "I'm sorry for the carry-on. I'm ... I'm sorry for
    everything."
    She paused on the step and, looking at him, she said, "Well, the future will prove how sorry you are. However' she swallowed 'we'll give you all the help we can. Come along, Peggy."
    Peggy paused for a moment, too, and looked at her future husband and what she said to him now surprised not only her mother and the boy, but also herself, as she said, "You want to stand on your own feet."
    "May I come in, Mrs. Conway?"
    "Oh, my dear, you've never had to ask to come in before." May pulled open the door, adding, "I've been wondering when you would make the trip; it's a fortnight since I've seen any of you."
    "Mam misses you. I know she does; she looks lost at times."
    "Well, she knows where I am. There's been other times when we haven't seen eye to eye but she's never stayed away. Sit down; I've just brewed some coffee. Funny' she laughed 'that's my one extravagance, real coffee. Can't stand ersatz." She turned to a side table, switched off the percolator and poured out two cups, saying, "I don't really know how you like it; you've never been here at this time in the morning before."
    "I don't like it very strong ... milky."
    "Milky it shall be."
    A minute later, when she placed the cup on the table before Peggy, she asked quietly, "How did your father take it?"
    Peggy looked down into her cup, then picked up the spoon and ladled two spoonfuls of sugar into it before she said, "I think he would have killed me if Great-Gran hadn't hooked him off."
    "Hooked him off? He attacked you?"
    "Yes, and she dragged him off me with the handle of a walking stick.
    He's never spoken to me since. " The spoon moved slowly now in the cup as she added, " I'm to be married a fortnight today. "
    "A fortnight? Well' May raised her eyebrows 'the sooner the better, I suppose. Where's it to be?"
    "A registry office. Father apparently won't hear of my going to the church."
    "Have you met his people? Well, I suppose you have by now."
    "Yes; yes, I've met them, but only the once."
    "What were they like?"
    Peggy took a sip of her coffee, then returned the cup to her saucer before saying, "Very ordinary. I could have liked the father, he ...
    he seemed a sort of fair man, understanding. But the mother, Andrew's mother, no! He has a sister. She could be a bit of a rebel, I
    think.
    She was on her father's side. "
    "Well, I don't suppose they'll trouble you. It goes without saying, you'll be living next door."
    "Yes, it goes without saying. They're making it nice, though, the annexe."
    "Oh, in the annexe? Oh, yes; that could be very nice. And you'll be on your own ... well, pretty much."
    "Mrs. Conway."
    "Yes, lass? By the way, wouldn't it be nice if you called me Auntie May."
    Peggy smiled now, saying, "I've always wanted to, but... well, you know."
    "I know, lass, but we're on our own now. and you'll soon be a married woman and we'll be neighbours; well, you'll be closer to me than they are in the house. And you know' the smile faded from her face'I want you to believe this, lass, I'll always be here if you need me in any way. You've just got to remember that."
    "Thank you." There was a catch in Peggy's voice now and it was a moment or so before she added, "Well... Auntie May, I need you now because from what I can gather Dad's not going to come to the
    wedding.
    Candidly, I don't want him there, but. but there's no other male relative and I know Mam would like to ask you and Mr. Conway to stand in. Would you? "
    "Like a shot, girl, like a shot. The only thing I'll say is ... oh no, I won't say it." No, she couldn't say, "You should be married in a church in a lovely white dress with a train." No, she couldn't say that to the girl. Instead she said on a laugh, "I would
    like to kick your father's backside. " And Peggy's smile, too, was as wide as she agreed, " You're not the. only one. "
    "But I have to say this," May