Across a Summer Sea Read Online Free PDF

the doorway.  
    ‘I found him staggering down the street with this,’ Maggie said, dumping the small sack of coal on the floor by the range.  
    ‘Thanks, Maggie. Tommy, make yourself useful and build up that fire, your da’s cold and tired.’  
    Maggie sensed the tenseness in the atmosphere and looked pointedly at Mary. ‘Nellie said to thank you for all your help today, luv. She said she doesn’t know how she’d have managed otherwise.’  
    Frank shot a glance at his wife. So that’s what she’d been doing all day when she should have been at home seeing to her own family. ‘This wedding’s getting out of all proportion!’ he muttered.  
    Maggie raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Can I help you with anything, Mary, before I go and see to my own fire and tea and then the washing?’   
    Mary smiled at her. ‘No thanks, Maggie. Everything is nearly done now and Katie will help out. You must be tired too.’  
    ‘Aye, it’s been a long day for everyone,’ Maggie said meaningfully. Frank McGann had a bad-tempered look on his face and he was home early. That wasn’t a good sign. ‘Kids all all right?’ she enquired, glancing at a subdued Tommy.  
    ‘Fine,’ Mary replied firmly. She had no intention of mentioning Tommy’s misdemeanours to Frank now. He would blame her and she was determined there wasn’t going to be a row tonight. Maggie had spoken the truth. It had indeed been a long and tiring day and there was still the washing to sort and fold. She prayed no one would call for it early.
    It was after eight o’clock when the last load of laundry had been collected and she and Maggie sat at the table dividing the money between them.  
    ‘Two and sixpence for a week’s back-breaking work!’ Maggie said irritably, thinking of the long cold hours spent fetching and heating water, scrubbing, rinsing, mangling and pegging out.  
    ‘Every little helps,’ Mary reminded her, casting a quick glance at Frank who was reading the Echo . All three children were amusing themselves by scribbling notes to Father Christmas on the backs of old cigarette packets that Tommy had found. She wondered just how much Lizzie really understood about Christmas and its traditions, although both she and Katie had tried their best, with great patience, using pictures she’d cut from newspaper advertisements.  
    ‘Will you come with me to the market tomorrow night?’  
    ‘Maybe,’ Maggie mused.  
    ‘I might need you to help me carry things—’  
    Frank looked up. ‘How much do you intend to buy? I’ve told you there’s only a half-day tomorrow and we finished early tonight.’  
    ‘As much as I can,’ Mary answered firmly. ‘Maggie will be having her dinner with us, won’t you, luv?’  
    ‘Like always, Mary.’ She shot a look at Frank. ‘And like always I’ll chip in with the cost of it.’ Suddenly she felt angry at the way Frank was treating Mary. ‘Here, you take it all. Get yourself something to wear for Vi’s wedding. You’re a fine-looking girl and it’s years since you’ve had anything decent to wear.’  
    ‘Maggie, I couldn’t! I couldn’t spend it on myself when . . .’ Mary looked in the direction of the children.  
    ‘You worked hard for it, luv. You more than do your fair share. I insist. Otherwise I . . . I’ll give it all to Father Heggarty!’  
    ‘Take it, Mary, there’s enough given to the clergy at this time of year. They’ll not feel the want of it,’ Frank interjected. He had little time for religion. Any religion. His views were more in line with the Socialists than the Church.
    ‘I’ll take it, Maggie, but not for myself.’  
    Maggie’s anger had evaporated. She felt tired. Very tired. ‘Just take it, Mary, that’s all I ask.’  
    Mary turned the coins over in her hand, tears springing to her eyes. It was a long time since anyone had been so generous. Well, she’d make sure there was a slap-up dinner and a small gift for Maggie. Maybe a pair of