old and not worldly-wise? I only want what is best for them – especially Flora. You see I owe her, and so does Bobby.’
Lois nodded but stayed silent.
With no other option other than to continue, Sally added, ‘Your professional fees I will meet. Please don’t worry them about them.’
This time Lois’s nod was accompanied with a smile.
Two hours later Sally and Luke were driving towards the Four Marys pub. Sally had asked Luke to stop there as she wished to make sure that Margo had locked up properly. They were just crossing over from Ferry Road on to Coburg Street which would lead them towards the Shore when Sally said, ‘Did you ask Bobby about Irish?’
Luke nodded. ‘Aye. Clever laddie we’ve got there.’
We’ve, Sally thought disdainfully. He’s mine not ours . Unaware of how Sally was seeing things Luke blundered on, ‘Mind you, as a boy I gave him every encouragement.’ Sally in no uncertain terms was about to put Luke right about who was responsible for Bobby’s success when Luke continued, ‘Bobby thinks it might be too difficult to have Irish proved innocent. On the other hand he did say he would take up an appeal if I could get some evidence that Irish’s conviction might be unsafe. But Sally, where would I find any such proof?’
The car had now drawn up at the front door of the Four Marys and Sally was dismayed to see the lights were still on. ‘Right,’ she said to Luke. ‘You and I had better get ourselves in there and see what’s happening.’
Hammering on the stout wooden door brought a dishevelled Margo with a worried looking Johnny in tow to the door.
‘Why are you not locked up?’ Sally asked, pushing herself into the bar. She stood back and gasped. Normally when Margo was left in charge she left all the dirty glasses on the tables and she made no effort to tidy up. Mice hovering in the vicinity could have a good feed on the dinner scraps which were left lying about. Tonight it was as if she had had a cleaning squad in. Everything was sparkling, except Margo who was obviously worn out. Sally grinned as she acknowledged to herself that she and Rita would have an easy morning because everything was in its place.
‘Oh, Mum,’ Margo puffed before dropping down on a seat, ‘please don’t tell me you’re not pleased.’ Margo began to cry and through her sobs she continued, ‘Johnny and I are so grateful to you for helping us that we’ve done all we can to make life a bit easier for you until Aunty Josie comes back.’
‘Josie’s away gallivanting again?’ Luke shrieked, his eyes darting between Sally and Margo while awaiting an answer.
Margo and Sally looked at each other and shrugged. ‘How do I get the feeling that you two are sidestepping me?’ Luke continued.
Sally flicked her hair out of her eyes that were now on Luke. ‘She was doing so well. Honestly, since you left for Hong Kong she has been such a great support to me. Seemed to have settled down.’ Sally stopped and she bit on her lip before she blurted, ‘But yesterday, oh dear …’
‘See the word but … when it’s said by you, Sally, it usually means things have gone belly up.’
Sally leaned forward to pat Luke on the arm. ‘I’m sorry but Josie has got herself mixed up with a man again.’
‘What’s wrong with that, Sally?’
‘Just that she found him through a lonely hearts column and I think he’s taking her for a hurl.’
‘Not necessarily. He could be genuine, and what would be wrong with her getting married and finding happiness?’
‘Luke, she told me she was going to move him in here to run my bar. She also had the nerve to say that she’s her own woman now and no longer can I exploit her.’
‘Oh,’ was Luke’s reluctant response.
‘Aye, oh. And I wouldn’t care but she says he owns and runs a restaurant up town so if that’s right why would he wish to come down here?’
Luke pondered awhile. Then rubbing his hand under his nose he said, ‘Let me look into
Lois nodded but stayed silent.
With no other option other than to continue, Sally added, ‘Your professional fees I will meet. Please don’t worry them about them.’
This time Lois’s nod was accompanied with a smile.
Two hours later Sally and Luke were driving towards the Four Marys pub. Sally had asked Luke to stop there as she wished to make sure that Margo had locked up properly. They were just crossing over from Ferry Road on to Coburg Street which would lead them towards the Shore when Sally said, ‘Did you ask Bobby about Irish?’
Luke nodded. ‘Aye. Clever laddie we’ve got there.’
We’ve, Sally thought disdainfully. He’s mine not ours . Unaware of how Sally was seeing things Luke blundered on, ‘Mind you, as a boy I gave him every encouragement.’ Sally in no uncertain terms was about to put Luke right about who was responsible for Bobby’s success when Luke continued, ‘Bobby thinks it might be too difficult to have Irish proved innocent. On the other hand he did say he would take up an appeal if I could get some evidence that Irish’s conviction might be unsafe. But Sally, where would I find any such proof?’
The car had now drawn up at the front door of the Four Marys and Sally was dismayed to see the lights were still on. ‘Right,’ she said to Luke. ‘You and I had better get ourselves in there and see what’s happening.’
Hammering on the stout wooden door brought a dishevelled Margo with a worried looking Johnny in tow to the door.
‘Why are you not locked up?’ Sally asked, pushing herself into the bar. She stood back and gasped. Normally when Margo was left in charge she left all the dirty glasses on the tables and she made no effort to tidy up. Mice hovering in the vicinity could have a good feed on the dinner scraps which were left lying about. Tonight it was as if she had had a cleaning squad in. Everything was sparkling, except Margo who was obviously worn out. Sally grinned as she acknowledged to herself that she and Rita would have an easy morning because everything was in its place.
‘Oh, Mum,’ Margo puffed before dropping down on a seat, ‘please don’t tell me you’re not pleased.’ Margo began to cry and through her sobs she continued, ‘Johnny and I are so grateful to you for helping us that we’ve done all we can to make life a bit easier for you until Aunty Josie comes back.’
‘Josie’s away gallivanting again?’ Luke shrieked, his eyes darting between Sally and Margo while awaiting an answer.
Margo and Sally looked at each other and shrugged. ‘How do I get the feeling that you two are sidestepping me?’ Luke continued.
Sally flicked her hair out of her eyes that were now on Luke. ‘She was doing so well. Honestly, since you left for Hong Kong she has been such a great support to me. Seemed to have settled down.’ Sally stopped and she bit on her lip before she blurted, ‘But yesterday, oh dear …’
‘See the word but … when it’s said by you, Sally, it usually means things have gone belly up.’
Sally leaned forward to pat Luke on the arm. ‘I’m sorry but Josie has got herself mixed up with a man again.’
‘What’s wrong with that, Sally?’
‘Just that she found him through a lonely hearts column and I think he’s taking her for a hurl.’
‘Not necessarily. He could be genuine, and what would be wrong with her getting married and finding happiness?’
‘Luke, she told me she was going to move him in here to run my bar. She also had the nerve to say that she’s her own woman now and no longer can I exploit her.’
‘Oh,’ was Luke’s reluctant response.
‘Aye, oh. And I wouldn’t care but she says he owns and runs a restaurant up town so if that’s right why would he wish to come down here?’
Luke pondered awhile. Then rubbing his hand under his nose he said, ‘Let me look into
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