Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

the question now, he thought. And, for many reasons, it was just as well.

      But it did not stop him from admiring her, and sneaking a glance whenever he thought she was not looking.

      He watched her now as she walked towards the cloakroom. He thought how easily she moved, with a kind of gentle sway and a proud, pretty manner. Her clothes were ordinary and well worn but she wore them with easy grace, and her girlish hairstyle complemented her happy, unmade-up face. The ease of her friendship with the brassy little waitress and her love for the angel-faced child shone through in her warm smile and laughing blue eyes. He so much wanted to know her better, to talk with her, and walk with her, and learn about the things she liked most.

      One thing was certain: he imagined she was not the kind to place much value on jewellery or material things. Not like Sylvia, who had always put them above all else, preferring jewels and furs, even more than the love and affection he had always generously given. Sylvia’s clothes were always stylish – they came from the smartest shops in Blackburn and Manchester – and her hair and face were immaculately maintained. But she lacked Amy’s natural warmth.

      While Amy was away, Daisy kept a wary eye on Johnny. But he had noticed Luke and was quick to recognise him.

      ‘There’s the nice man who helped me,’ he told Daisy, and Daisy mischievously suggested that he should ‘go and thank him’.

      To her astonishment, Johnny promptly ran across to Luke’s table. ‘Daisy said I have to thank you,’ he announced proudly. ‘She said I’m a lucky boy.’

      ‘Did she now?’ Breaking his own golden rule never to let anyone interfere with his Tuesday freedom, Luke invited the boy to sit beside him. ‘What name do you go by?’

      ‘Johnny.’

      ‘Well, Johnny, I’m glad I was able to help out back there, but you must remember in future, never to go into the road like that. You gave your mummy a terrible fright.’

      Confused, Johnny looked up. ‘She’s Amy,’ he said. ‘She’s my best friend, not my mummy.’

      ‘Really?’ Thrilled at the news, Luke told the boy, ‘Well, in that case you really are a lucky boy in more ways than one.’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Well, because it’s nice to have a best friend.’

      Wriggling in the chair, the boy warmed to the conversation. ‘Have you got a best friend?’

      ‘I suppose I have, yes, but she’s not like your Amy.’

      ‘What’s she like then?’

      ‘She’s very small and very beautiful, with big brown eyes, and she comes to see me every week.’

      ‘Where does she live?’

      ‘In the woods.’

      ‘What’s her name?’

      ‘I don’t know her real name, but I call her Velvet.’

      ‘When does your friend come to see you?’

      Folding his newspaper and laying it down, Luke concentrated on the boy. ‘It’s always on a Tuesday.’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Because every other day, I have too much work to do, but on Tuesday I can do whatever I like.’

      He thought about his precious hideaway, and for a moment he was tempted to explain to the boy, but as yet his privacy was too precious and instead he talked about his ‘friend’. ‘Sometimes, when I’m sitting on my steps, she comes and sits with me, and we talk for a while. Then she goes away, to be with her family. But she always comes back another time.’

      At that moment, Luke caught sight of Amy. ‘I think you’d best go back now,’ he suggested.

      Emerging from the cloakroom, Amy was intrigued to see Johnny and Luke in earnest conversation and, knowing how the stranger preferred to be left alone, she hurried across to them. ‘Johnny! Don’t pester the man.’

      When Johnny clambered off the chair and came to her side, she said to Luke, ‘It seems I owe you another apology. I didn’t know he might come over to you or I would never have left him.’ She felt herself blushing under his smile. ‘He’s not usually so friendly,’ she added. ‘He normally shies away from people.’

      ‘He’s good company.’ Luke thought she looked especially fetching when she blushed.

      Johnny piped up, ‘He’s got a best friend like you, and I want to see her.’ Without taking a breath he turned to Luke. ‘Can I see her, can I, please?’

      ‘Johnny!’ Amy was horrified. ‘Come on now. Your mammy will be back soon.’ Holding out her hand she waited for him, but ignoring her, he turned to Luke instead. ‘Can we see Velvet,’ he persisted, ‘me and Amy?’

      There was a moment of silence, when Luke wondered if this once it might not hurt to let someone like Amy and the boy into his special, secret world. But then it wouldn’t be secret any more, he cautioned himself.

      And yet, Amy was already there, in the painting he had hidden away, and she was in his heart too, another deep, wonderful secret that kept him sane when life was overwhelming.

      Looking from the boy to the man, Amy felt her emotions spinning. Something magical was happening, she thought, something she could not explain. She wanted to sit down with this man she hardly knew. She needed to talk with him, to know him, and yet she was half afraid, of him, and of herself.

      ‘I’ve never seen him take to a stranger the way he’s taken to you,’ she told Luke now. And to the boy she said, in a firm voice, ‘We have to go now, Johnny. Thank the man and say goodbye.’

      Some short time later, Luke left, leaving the money on the table, as usual.

      ‘You lost your chance there, lass,’ Daisy reprimanded. ‘I saw him looking at you, and I know he fancies you.’

      Amy laughed, but it was a quiet, hesitant laugh. ‘I thought you wanted him for yourself,’ she teased, ‘and here you are, trying to get me together with him.’

      ‘That’s because I’ve got my Roy now,’ Daisy said, all dreamy-eyed. ‘He’s what I’ve been looking for … somebody to make a home with, to have babies and make his dinner every night, and sit with him by the fireside of an evening.’

      Now, when Daisy looked up, Amy was amazed to see there were tears in her eyes. ‘All I want is a real family, and a home, where people don’t shout and scream at each other, and I need never be afraid.’ Her voice hardened. ‘That’s my dream, and I know in my heart of hearts Roy can make it come true for me – for us both.’

      Realising she was showing her deeper feelings, Daisy gave a nervous little laugh. ‘There! I’m getting carried away.’ She surreptitiously wiped away her tears.

      ‘I want to see Velvet,’ the boy declared. ‘She’s pretty, like Amy.’

      Amy shook her head. ‘I don’t suppose we’ll get any peace now,’ she told Daisy jokingly. ‘All he’ll go on about is Velvet – whoever she is!’

      Noticing a customer on the way into the café, Daisy stood up. ‘Well, whoever this Velvet is, I wouldn’t mind meeting her myself,’ she told Johnny.

      ‘But Daisy can’t see her. Only you and me can see her,’ he told Amy.

      Wisely dismissing his comment, Amy ruffled his hair, and they waved cheerio to Daisy and left. The rain had stopped and the wind seemed to be settling.

      ‘When’s Mammy coming home?’ Johnny skipped down the street; but having been frightened by the earlier incident, Amy was careful to keep him on her inside.

      ‘I expect she’ll be there when we get back,’ she promised, ‘and she’ll want to know all about your shopping trip, you’ll see.’

      Arnold