The Fight for Lizzie Flowers by Carol Rivers Page B

birth.’
    Lizzie laughed. ‘At least you’ve broken the ice.’
    ‘Yes, a day with the Millers is memorable.’
    ‘You’ll soon be the Missus’s daughter-in-law.’
    ‘I just hope Syd can steer clear of Walter and Clifford. They kept trying to talk him into the family business.’
    ‘What does Syd have to say about all this?’
    ‘Oh, you know Syd.’ Flo wrinkled her nose under her fringe. ‘He sees a redeeming feature in each one of his brothers. And only puts distance between them and us because he
knows I won’t go along with any old hanky-panky. But the baby coming along means that not only will we have to get spliced, but I’ll have to swallow my pride too.’
    ‘If you love a man, then you love his family.’
    Flo’s curved dark eyebrows arched sharply. ‘Like that, is it? Love one, love ’em all?’
    Lizzie frowned at her sister. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘From what you’ve told me today you sound as if it’s all happy families with Frank again.’
    Lizzie knew that Flo was not going to let her off lightly. She’d tried to tell Flo in as few details as possible about Frank’s return to the fold. But Flo was like a dog with a bone.
‘Bill has given him another chance is all I said.’
    ‘And you’re siding with Bill?’
    ‘I didn’t say that. Bill’s made up his own mind.’
    ‘You know you’re asking for trouble, don’t you?’ Flo’s look of disgust was plain.
    ‘After what you’ve told me about the Millers, I’d say the pot was calling the kettle black.’
    ‘Syd is a good bloke, unlike your husband. Do you really believe this cock and bull story about a loony bin?’
    ‘I don’t know what to believe. But Bill has been like a father to me. And he’s happier than he’s been in a long while. When he calls in the shop, it’s just like old
times. He cracks a joke and talks to the customers as if he was still running the business. Gertie is willing to believe what Frank says, because he is having a healthy influence on his
dad.’
    ‘Do you want my opinion?’ Flo asked impatiently.
    Lizzie thought she knew Flo’s opinion but she wasn’t prepared for what her sister said next.
    ‘I think you’re still Mrs Frank Flowers at heart. Frank is a shrewd operator. Always was. I remember how even I was taken in as a kid. Until the night of Bill’s Christmas party
before Danny went away. And then I saw what you didn’t see. Or perhaps you didn’t want to see. I saw him looking at Babs in a way that he never looked at you. Unlike you, our Babs was
easy but she was lazy. Whereas Frank saw the potential in you, a hard worker and good earner. Now he appears again like the Angel Gabriel, his debauched and villainous nature having undergone a
miraculous change. He’ll have polished his fallen halo until it blinds you and you forgive him everything.’
    ‘That’s not true, Flo. I’ll never take him back.’
    ‘You’re a soft touch when it comes to family,’ Flo replied with a shrug. ‘Oh, you told that thug Ferreter to sling his hook, never flinched as you faced him down. But
closer to home you’re easily fooled. After Mum and Dad left us it was the end of the Allens. The end of an era. You should have married Danny and left the East End behind you.’ Flo
stopped, adding accusingly, ‘God knows you and Danny are entitled to some happiness after all these years.’
    ‘I want that happiness too.’
    ‘Then take it. The sooner the better.’
    ‘I have to work this out in my own way.’
    ‘By which time Danny will have finally decided to bugger off.’
    At this, Lizzie looked away.
    ‘I’m sorry.’ Flo touched her shoulder. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
    Lizzie swallowed, taken aback at the pain she felt as Flo’s words struck home. ‘I saw Danny on Friday. There was a burglary at the workshop.’
    ‘Who did that?’
    ‘Danny thinks it was Frank.’
    ‘You can’t blame him,’ Flo replied unhelpfully. ‘But really, gel, what about you two?’
    ‘What