Riches of the Heart by June Tate Page B

Cohen’s face as he watched them that day. He didn’t trust the sod. If Manny touched his Lily, he would be sorry. If any man touched his Lily, they’d rue the day.
    On their way home from the cinema the following evening, Tom and Lily had their first disagreement.
    ‘But I don’t want you to pay for a room for me. If I can’t afford my own, then I’ll stay at Mrs Cohen’s shop.’
    Tom ran his hands through his hair in frustration. ‘I don’t understand. Why won’t you let me do this for you?’
    ‘It’s like being a kept woman – it’s not respectable.’
    ‘Oh, for goodness sake! I’m not renting a love nest, somewhere we can run to for sex.’
    ‘Tom!’ Lily glared at him, shock in her eyes.
    ‘What’s the matter, Lily? There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Sex is a wonderful thing between two people in love. How do you think we got born? Our parents had to do it.’
    Lily’s face was white. All she could think of was her father’s heaving body on top of hers. The pain – the disgrace. There was so very much to be ashamed of. She couldn’t speak.
    ‘Lily.’ Tom’s voice softened. He stopped walking, pulling her into a shop doorway. ‘Come here.’ He held her in his arms, feeling her resistance. ‘Relax, darlin’. I’m not going to hurt you, I’d never do that. Now listen to me. If we were married, we’d share the same bed, and I’d take you in my arms and love you. Would that be such a terrible thing?’
    She snuggled up against him. His arms held her in a close embrace. ‘No, that wouldn’t be terrible.’
    Putting a finger under her chin, he tilted her head, looking into her eyes. Why were they so full of fear? ‘Are you frightened of me, Lily?’ She shook her head. ‘Then what is it?’
    How could she tell him? He thought of her as pure. Untouched. If he made love to her, he would know and she’d have to tell him her guilty secret. It would disgust him. He wouldn’t want her after that.
    ‘Let’s not rush into anything, Tom. We can wait a while, get to know one another better.’
    ‘Don’t you like me, Lily?’
    ‘I do, Tom. A lot. I can’t imagine my life without you now.’
    ‘Then why do we have to wait? I’ve fallen in love with you. I never thought the day would come when I’d say that – well, not for some time. But you, Lily, you’ve crept into me heart. Let’s get married. I can afford to rent a two-up and two-down. We’ll have a nice little house, then you won’t be a kept woman – you’ll be Mrs Tom McCann.’
    Lily’s heart was heavy. Here was everything she had ever wanted. A good man to love her, the chance of a husband earning decent money, a home, respectability. All her aspirations. Her chance at a good life, and she couldn’t take it.
    She didn’t want to lose this wonderful Irishman. What could she do? Who could she ask? Certainly not Tom.
    ‘It’s too soon, Tom,’ she said evasively. ‘You’re rushing me. I’m too used to being on my own, I need time to think about it.’ She could see the anger in his eyes. His pride had been hurt. Here he was offering her everything and she’d turned him down.
    ‘I do love you, Tom.’ She felt a warm glow as she uttered the words. She did love him, but it wasn’t as simple as that. ‘We have our whole lives in front of us. Let’s not rush things.’
    ‘The trouble with you, Lily Pickford, is you’re too bloody independent!’
    The following day, Lily saw Amy standing outside the pub. She left the shop and walked up to her.
    ‘Hello, ducks. Decided to go on the game, have yer?’
    ‘No, of course not!’
    ‘It was a joke, Lily. A joke. What’s on your mind, girl?’
    Suddenly feeling shy, Lily said quietly, ‘I need to ask you something personal. In private.’
    Seeing the worried expression on the young girl’s face, Amy realised that, to Lily, this was a serious matter.
    ‘All right. How about I come to the shop later tonight when old mother Cohen has gone home?’
    ‘Would you