Blood Brothers. Josephine Cox

      When Tom saw her quietly smiling, he reached over to hug her. ‘How could I not keep you,’ he chuckled. ‘You make the best apple pie a man could ever want.’

      Alice thought they were a delight to watch.

      She had never experienced such a family as this, and she told them so. ‘Mother is so fussy. Everything has to be in its place with every plate, cup and table cloth matching.’ She loved the way Nancy set out her table, with multi-coloured plates, old earthenware serving bowls and a blue table cloth, which she proudly confessed to making herself out of an old curtain. It was so perfect no one would ever have known.

      This was a happy table, she thought. A real family.

      The pleasure of sitting round a table with this family had proved to be a new experience to Alice. ‘We’re not allowed to even speak at meal times,’ she revealed, to everyone’s surprise, ‘let alone tease and laugh with each other.’

      Frank joked, ‘What with that and your mad relatives, I didn’t realise what I was letting myself in for.’

      Alice laughed at that.

      Draining the last dregs of his tea, Frank placed the mug in the sink. ‘Why do we have to wait for Joe anyway?’

      After the showdown with Joe he was not in the best of moods. ‘If he can’t get here like the rest of us, let’s just start without him. After all, if he wants to spend his time with that flea-ridden bird, that’s up to him. The rest of us don’t have to eat a cold dinner, do we, eh?’

      Believing that to be unfair, Alice protested, ‘We can’t start without him, Frank. It’s his first night back. Besides, he’s bound to be here soon.’

      Nancy agreed. ‘My sentiments exactly!’

      ‘Suit yourself then!’ Frank went off in a sulk.

      When Nancy went to look out the window, Alice followed her. At first she didn’t say anything. Instead she just stood beside Nancy, stretching her neck to peer out the same window.

      Being older and wiser, Nancy was well aware that Alice had something to disclose. Drawing her close in a hug, she asked quietly, ‘When I’ve got a worry on my mind I find it’s best to tell somebody, so what is it, child? Are you worried about your family, is that it?’

      ‘No, they always manage to sort themselves out.’ Alice assured her; though she had never really known what a proper, loving family was like, until Frank brought her home to this wonderful place.

      Nancy persisted. ‘Out with it,’ she demanded. ‘What’s troubling you? Was it something your father said?’

      Ashamed of the position her parents had put her in, Alice explained, ‘You’ve been so kind to me…letting me stay last night, and making me that lovely silk underskirt for my wedding dress.’

      Nancy laughed. ‘That dress has been hanging in my wardrobe since the day I got married. When I offered to make you an underskirt out of the lining, I knew I would have to take it in by a mile, so it was just as well you stayed over.’

      She regarded Alice’s slim figure against her own ample size. ‘Back then, when I was just a young kipper, I was never as tidy-built as you are,’ she exclaimed. ‘Even after making you a long underskirt, there’s still enough of that material over to make a barrage balloon!’

      Alice laughed. ‘That’s not true, I’m sure, but I really appreciate you making me that lovely underskirt.’

      ‘You’re very welcome, so now why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?’ Nancy asked.

      Alice told her, ‘Just now, when Father rang, he had a favour to ask.’

      ‘From me, or from you?’

      ‘From you.’

      ‘Well then, luv, I have a right to know what it is he’s asking, don’t you think?’

      ‘Yes, but I don’t like to say anything because you’ve already been so good to me.’

      She went on, ‘It’s just that…he wondered if I could stay here again tonight, because my sister Pauline’s gone to stay with her friend in Bedford. I don’t want to ask her not to go, because I know it’s a special visit, so her friend can help her choose her bridesmaid shoes. It means though, that I’ll be in the house without my parents.’

      Nancy was worried. ‘So your sister Pauline still hasn’t got her shoes? Dearie me! She’s left it a bit late, hasn’t she?’ Nancy thought she had never known such a disorganised wedding, and there were Alice’s parents supposed to be high-flying business people. Either they didn’t care enough about their youngest daughter’s wedding, or they had much higher priorities to manage.

      Alice explained about the shoes. ‘Pauline and Mother have been arguing for days over who would choose them. In the end Pauline won. She always does, but there’s not much time left, so that’s why I can’t ask her to stay in the house with me tonight, instead of visiting her friend.’

      Nancy put Alice’s concern to rest straight away. ‘Look here, child! You are about to become my daughter-in-law, and I couldn’t be more thrilled,’ she announced proudly. ‘My home is your home, and of course you’ll stay here, and that’s an end to it.’

      Alice kissed her on the cheek. ‘It’s me that’s thrilled,’ she whispered, ‘’cause I’m about to have another mum…the best in the world!’ Nancy flushed with delight.

      Just then Joe arrived. ‘Something smells good,’ he said rubbing his hands together.

      ‘Get your coat off and wash them mucky hands.’ Nancy could smell the oil from the tractor engine. ‘Your brother’s upstairs, so make sure the pair of you leave the bathroom as you found it!’

      While the brothers were away, Nancy and Alice put the finishing touches to the table.

      Alice thought she had never seen such an amazing spread. She felt proud of herself for having helped. Moreover, she had loved working in the kitchen with Nancy, because she taught her so much more than her mother had ever done.

      The table was laden with a feast. There was a plump joint of best beef waiting to be sliced by Tom, and various dishes of steaming-hot vegetables. There were roast potatoes golden brown and dripping with meat juices; boiled potatoes dressed with butter and herbs; fresh green peas, carrots and light, fluffy cauliflower. The baby Yorkshire puddings were all soft and melting on the inside, while the outsides were brown and crispy.

      A few minutes later everyone was round the table. Joe was about to start, when his mother caught his attention. ‘Not yet, son,’ she chided. ‘Have you forgotten your manners?’

      Joe was shocked. ‘I forgot!’ He apologised with a sheepish grin. ‘Looks like I’ve been away too long, eh?’

      Frank leapt at the opportunity to make a sly comment, ‘Shame on you, Joe.’ He gave him a knowing glance. ‘What kind of company have you been keeping? Don’t they say grace where you’ve been!’

      Joe might have made some discreet retaliation, but unwittingly his father did it for him. ‘Enough of that, Frank.’ He gave his eldest son a stern look. ‘I seem to recall a few weeks back, someone else forgot to wait for grace, didn’t you, Frank?’

      Reassuring Joe with an easy smile he admitted, ‘It’s not every family in the land gives thanks for what they’ve got, and that’s all right; but we’re farming stock, and throughout the generations it is something we care to do.’

      He then checked to make sure everyone was ready, before folding his hands on the table.

      It took only a moment for Tom to offer gratitude on all their behalfs. ‘We thank thee Lord for this plentiful food and the roof over our heads, and for bringing Joe home to us. Amen.’

      Afterwards, when they were all tucking in, Nancy asked Alice, ‘So, what else