Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

he said, ‘but there’s really no need.’ It seemed too extreme a measure.

      Edna nodded. ‘All right, if you’re sure. But will you promise me … you’ll ask me to stay if you’re ever worried, or if she’s disturbed your sleep too often?’

      ‘She hardly ever disturbs my sleep, as you know, Edna. Once Sylvia goes to her bed, she usually sleeps soundly enough.’

      ‘Not lately she hasn’t.’

      ‘She’s going through a bad patch right now,’ Luke said. ‘I’m sure she’ll settle down.’ In fact things seemed to be getting worse, but he didn’t want to worry Edna unduly.

      ‘So, will you promise?’

      He gave her a kiss on the cheek. ‘You’re a bossy devil and no mistake,’ he said. ‘And, yes, I promise, if I find I can’t manage, we’ll talk about you staying over. Now, is it all right with you if I go and get my bath? I don’t want to be late this morning. We’ve a big delivery to get out to a new customer. It’s a huge order and could lead to more business, so I’d like to oversee it personally.’

      Edna was satisfied. ‘You get yersel’ ready,’ she told him. ‘Mrs Hammond’s still sleeping soundly, so I’ll start your breakfast. It’ll be on the table when you come down.’

      ‘What would I do without you?’ he asked, and she replied, ‘I’ve no doubt you’d manage. Meanwhile, shift yerself or you’ll be late.’

      As he went up the stairs he called out wryly, ‘Sometimes I wonder who’s the boss in this house, you or me!’

      ‘It’s me,’ she called back, ‘and just you remember that!’

      Luke went into the bathroom, chuckling. ‘Edna, you’re a gem, what are you?’

      She didn’t hear him. She was too busy throwing the bacon into the pan; followed by a handful of sliced tomatoes and a couple of mushrooms.

      Pretty soon the delicious aroma of bacon cooking filled the house. ‘Yer may be short on sleep,’ Edna chunnered to herself, ‘but while I’m about, you can be sure of a good breakfast afore you leave this house. A man in your situation needs feeding up. Haunted at home, haunted at work … By, it’s a wonder you’re not stark-staring mad!’

      ‘I hate Monday mornings!’ Roy always started the day shivering, whatever the weather. ‘Jesus! It’s bloody freezing in here!’ Having taken off his jacket he soon put it back on again. ‘It’s colder in here than it is outside.’

      Jack looked at his mate, a small, shivering wreck. ‘You could do with more fat on your bones,’ he said. ‘The sun’s shining and it looks like another glorious day, and here’s you shivering like a jelly. If you’re that cold, run up and down for a minute or two,’ he added with a grin.

      Roy wouldn’t have it. ‘The boiler can’t be on,’ he argued through chattering teeth.

      ‘Come here!’ Like a mother-cat with a kitten, Jack got the little fella by the scruff of the neck and marched him to the wall. Pointing to the large, round meter attached to an army of pipes, he said, ‘There y’are. Up and working and warming the place as we speak. Leave your coat on, give it half an hour, and you’ll be warm as toast.’

      Jack was right. Half an hour later the large open area was heated to the right temperature. The men were at work and Roy had taken off his coat and was looking much more comfortable.

      From his vantage point at the top of the stairs, Jack oversaw the workforce. To his left, the men were waiting by the lorries and to his right, the rows of machine-hands, producing the many different brushes to be quickly stacked, were ready for inspection.

      Deciding to take another look at the production line, he went down the stairs and across the loading bay, to where Amy’s father, Dave, along with two other drivers were waiting for the word.

      ‘Ready when you are, Jack.’ That was Dave. ‘We’re all back from the station run, and now we’re waiting on the brush delivery. The wagons are swept out and clean. All we need are the loads on, then we’ll be away.’

      ‘You did well getting the distribution orders out on time,’ Jack acknowledged. ‘I know Mr Hammond appreciates you all turning in extra early to get it done.’

      ‘So long as the appreciation shows up in us wage packets, that’s all right,’ Bert, Dave’s friend, who was a loader, laughed.

      ‘So, how long d’you think it might be afore we can be away with this new brush order?’ Dave asked.

      ‘Not too long,’ Jack promised. ‘Mr Hammond will be here shortly. As soon as he approves the quality, we’ll have them packed and loaded.’

      Since meeting Amy and realising Dave was her father, Jack had been amazed at how alike they were; not in looks but in mannerism – both homely creatures with no pretence about them, and bright, ready smiles. He didn’t want to let Dave know that he had met his daughter. That was up to Amy, but only if and when she wanted to.

      At the brush production line, the men were eager too.

      ‘He can examine ’em all he likes,’ an old work-hand told Jack, ‘but he’ll not find a single misshapen base or one loose bristle. Matter o’ fact, I’ll go so far as to say, me and the men have taken more care with this little lot than we’ve ever taken … and that’s not to say we’ve not allus been vigilant in turning out the best brushes in Lancashire.’

      ‘I already know that, Will,’ Jack assured him, ‘and so, I’m sure, does Mr Hammond. But you know how important this contract is – a new outlet, at top prices, and the promise of even more business to follow.’

      ‘Aye, we know that, Jack, and we’ll not let him down, ’cos if we do, it’ll be like letting ourselves down.’

      ‘You’re right!’ Jack agreed, ‘especially as Mr Hammond is pulling out all the stops – new machinery, new wagons and even a new boiler system. He intends taking us up and up. No matter how good we’ve already proven our merchandise to be, we’re on trial with every new customer. One shoddy piece of merchandise and it’s back to square one.’

      One of the newly started young men stepped forward. ‘He’ll not find any shoddy workmanship here.’ Unlike the other men, he did not appreciate the fact that Jack had come straight to Hammonds when not much more than a bairn. From the start, he had been a quick learner and dedicated to his work. He knew the business inside out, and was fast becoming Luke Hammond’s right-hand man.

      All this envious young upstart could see was that Jack was not much older than himself, yet he wore the foreman’s brown overall. ‘Like Will ’ere says, these brushes must be the best in the whole of Lancashire. Tek a look and see for yourself.’

      And because he knew Luke Hammond would do the very same, Jack did exactly that.

      A few moments later he told the men he was well satisfied. ‘But it’s not me who needs to be satisfied,’ he reminded them, ‘it’s the big man, and I’m sure he will be.’ That said, he thanked them and set off towards the office.

      ‘Cocky bugger!’ The young man’s envy was written all over his face. ‘It’s not right, somebody in his twenties telling you men what to do –’

      He would have gone on, but was interrupted. ‘You don’t know what yer talking about, son!’ A big ruddy-faced man spoke for all of them. ‘Jack deserves the foreman’s overall; he’s earned it. What’s more, he deserves a bit more respect from the likes of you. He knows more about these machines and this business than you’ll ever know! We might be older and wiser than him in many ways, but he’s been here longer than many of us and Mr Hammond knows his value.’

      The other men nodded in full agreement, but it was young Roy who spoke for them, ‘Aye, and it wouldn’t surprise any of us, if Jack weren’t running things round here one day.’

      Unaware