The Nightingale Girls - By Donna Douglas Page 0,48

as he wrapped the other half of the pie in the handkerchief and tried to stuff it in his trouser pocket.

He noticed them all watching him, and a deep flush spread up his face. ‘It’s for Nick,’ he explained in a quiet, fearful voice.

‘It’s all right, ducks, you can finish that one. We’ll give one to Nick when he gets in,’ Dora reassured him.

Danny ate the rest of his pie happily while he watched Bea and Little Alfie play schools.

‘Do you want to play?’ Bea asked.

Danny eyed the piece of slate she offered him and shook his head. ‘I’m not g-good at reading or writing,’ he stammered.

‘I’ll teach you,’ she said.

‘Why don’t we play something else?’ Dora suggested quickly, seeing his look of fear. The last thing a timid boy like Danny needed was her bold as brass sister bullying him. ‘How about Snakes and Ladders?’

Dora sat with Danny and helped him. He liked rolling the dice and watched her with round, curious eyes as she carefully counted out the squares for him. Every time anyone reached a snake or a ladder he would let out a bellowing laugh and clap his hands.

As he began to relax, he started to chatter.

‘My brother is going to fight Max Baer,’ he whispered to Dora.

‘Oh, yes? Who’s he when he’s at home?’ Dora rattled the dice in her hands. Probably some local lad who’d caused offence, if she knew Nick Riley.

‘He’s a boxer. The best in the world, Nick s-says. Except f-for him.’ He beamed proudly.

‘Your Nick’s good with his fists, I’ll give him that.’ There weren’t many men who would willingly take him on in a fight. She threw the dice. ‘Another six,’ she said. ‘You must be lucky, Danny.’

‘And we’re going to live in a big house in America, and we’ll have a car, and Nick’s going to pay a doctor to get me straight. But it’s a secret so you’re not allowed to tell Mum,’ Danny confided in a loud whisper.

‘Right. Best not say any more then, eh, ducks?’ Dora whispered back, as Bea leant in closer to listen.

The game was almost over when they heard the Rileys’ front door bang, followed by Nick’s heavy footsteps thundering down the passage next door.

‘These walls are like paper,’ Nanna Winnie grumbled. ‘You can hear everyone’s business.’

‘As if that that ever worried you!’ Rose laughed.

‘Sounds like your brother’s home.’ Dora got to her feet. ‘Better go and let him know where you are.’

She went out into the yard just as Nick came flying out of his back door, his face white. ‘Have you see Danny?’

‘He’s with us. He was sitting out in the rain, so we brought him in—’

But Nick had already vaulted the broken-down fence between them and shouldered past her into their kitchen.

Danny saw his brother and his face split into a big grin. ‘I’m playing a game. I’m winning, look!’

‘Never mind that. What have I told you about wandering off on your own?’ Nick snapped.

‘He was safe with us,’ Dora said.

Nick ignored her, his gaze focused on his brother.

‘Come on, we’ve got to go,’ he ordered.

Danny’s grin turned into a stubborn pout. ‘I’m playing,’ he insisted.

‘And I’m saying come home now!’

‘It’s all right, love,’ Dora said quickly, seeing Nick’s frown. ‘We’ve got to pack it away, anyway. Let’s say you won, shall we?’

There was a flurry of activity as they packed up the game and helped Danny back into his almost dry jersey. Nick watched, unsmiling, from the doorway. Dora couldn’t imagine two brothers more different. While Danny was so happy, childlike and trusting, Nick seemed permanently guarded and watchful. Physically they were very different too: Danny pale and slight, Nick dark-haired and muscled like a fighting dog.

They were already in the yard before Dora remembered the pies her mother had wrapped up for them.

‘Wait!’ She caught up with them. ‘These are for you.’

She tried to hand Nick the package, but he eyed it suspiciously. ‘What is it?’

‘Don’t worry, it’s not a gun, it won’t go off in your hand!’ She laughed at his wary expression. ‘It’s just a couple of mince pies Mum promised Danny.’

‘We don’t need hand-outs,’ Nick said gruffly.

‘It’s not a hand-out. Call it a Christmas present. Anyway, they’re not for you, they’re for your brother.’ Dora turned, smiling, to Danny. ‘You’ll take them, won’t you love?’

Nick scowled as his brother grabbed the parcel eagerly.

‘Th-thank you,’ he stammered.

‘You’re welcome. Happy Christmas, ducks.’

Dora watched Nick lift Danny over the broken fence and propel him back into their house,