Mother’s Ruin

by Kitty Neale

  ‘I meant for cheering Arthur up.’

  ‘I didn’t do anything, really. Arthur’s a fighter and won’t let this beat him.’

  ‘I know, but it was good to see him laughing. I think he needed that.’

  ‘Losing a leg below the knee isn’t the end of the world, and I’m sure he realises that.’

  Sally smiled at Joe. He was a lovely man, not only Arthur’s partner, but also a good friend. She sighed and leaned back in the seat, thinking that the future looked brighter than it had for what seemed such a long, long time.

  Joe dropped Sally off and she walked in to find that Tommy was still there. It was eleven o’clock before they heard noises coming from next door, Tommy’s father obviously home now, but Ruth had already put the boy to bed.

  ‘I ain’t waking the kid up now,’ she complained.

  ‘All right, but his father needs to know what’s going on. I’ll go and tell him,’ Sally offered.

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Ruth insisted, but when Denis Walters opened the door he was drunk, bleary-eyed and barely able to take in what they were telling him.

  ‘You wanna see my wife? What for?’

  Ruth sighed with exasperation. ‘We don’t want to see her. We’re telling you she’s in hospital.’

  He swayed and clutched the stanchion for support. ‘Hospital? She ain’t in hospital.’

  ‘Oh, this is hopeless. Let’s leave him to sleep it off and we’ll come round in the morning.’

  ‘All right,’ Sally agreed and, talking as though to a child, she enunciated her words, ‘Tommy’s in our house, Mr Walters.’

  ‘Wh . . . what?’

  ‘This is a waste of time. Come on, Sally, let’s go.’

  ‘Oi, jush . . . jusht a minute,’ Denis Walters slurred. ‘What was you shaying about an ’ospital?’

  ‘For Gawd’s sake go to bed,’ Ruth shouted and taking Sally’s arm she ushered her away.

  ‘What are we going to do, Mum?’ Sally asked when they were back home again. ‘Denis Walters doesn’t seem fit to look after the boy, and we have no idea how long his mother will be in hospital.’

  ‘They may have family in the area he can go to. If not, he’ll just have to stay with us,’ and seeing the worried expression on her daughter’s face, she added, ‘It won’t be so bad. He’ll be at school all day.’

  ‘Yes, but what about when he isn’t in school? He’s used to running the streets and I’m not sure I could control him.’

  ‘Of course you can. He isn’t a bad kid, just one that craves a bit of love and attention, that’s all. I’ll have a word with him and I’m sure he’ll do as you say.’

  ‘But what about Gran? She won’t be happy about this.’

  ‘Until Laura Walters comes home she’ll just have to put up with it.’

  ‘Mum, we still have to be careful that we don’t upset her too much. I feel sorry for Tommy, I really do, but Gran has to come first.’

  ‘Sally, your gran is all wind and water. Once she knows the circumstances, she won’t mind, you’ll see. I’ll give the lad a good talking to. He’ll behave, you wait and see.’

  ‘I hope you’re right, but I’m off to bed. Let’s hope we can get more sense out of Mr Walters in the morning.’

  ‘All right. Night, love.’

  Sally kissed her mother on the cheek before going upstairs. The bathroom was freezing and she shivered as she washed, glad to jump into bed. Oh, how she wished she could cuddle up to Arthur. She missed the warmth of his body, but surely he’d be home soon, and then there would be the joy of moving into their own flat. It would make things a bit difficult if Laura Walters was still in hospital, but as long as her mum got Tommy ready for school before she left for work, it should be all right.

  In the light of a full moon, Sally looked at her daughter. It was odd really. From the day they had moved back to Candle Lane, Angel had taken to Tommy, and though older, the boy in turn had taken her under his wing. Then there was the dream Angel had had, the one in which she saw Tommy living with them. It was strange, and once again Sally wondered if her daughter’s gifts were manifesting.

  At last Sally settled down, pulling the blankets up to her chin. Tommy wasn’t living with them, just staying for the time being. Angel’s dream wasn’t accurate, but maybe as she grew older, her abilities would develop. On this thought, Sally at last fell asleep.

  Chapter Twenty

  At eight o’clock the following morning Sally was busy getting Angel ready so it was Ruth, with Tommy hovering behind her, thumping on Denis Walters’ front door.

  ‘Wassa matter,’ he said gruffly, his eyes fuddled with tiredness as he opened the door.

  ‘Mum’s in ’ospital,’ Tommy said, darting forward.

  Denis Walters shook his head in bewilderment, but managed to focus on his son. ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Mum was ill and she went in an amlance.’

  ‘Ambulance, Tommy,’ Ruth corrected. ‘I did try to tell you last night, Mr Walters, but you obviously don’t remember.’

  ‘Did you? Look, you had better come in.’

  Ruth followed the man inside and though Sally had described it, she was still shocked by the state of the place. The sink was piled high with dirty dishes, the table strewn with all kinds of rubbish; old newspapers, an empty jam-jar, crushed cigarette packets, and an overflowing ashtray. The hearth was as bad with old ashes thick under the grate, and carelessly thrown fag-ends.

  ‘Why was my wife taken to hospital?’ Denis asked, at least sounding sober now.

  ‘She had a heart attack.’

  ‘No! Where did they take her?’

  ‘I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the doctor. Anyway, it’s Tommy I’ve come to see you about. Have you got anyone who can look after him?’

  ‘There’s only my wife’s brother, but he lives in the North and we haven’t seen him for years. Still, I suppose I could send Tommy there.’

  ‘No, Dad, I wanna stay here.’

  Ruth watched as Denis sank into a chair. Placing both hands over his face, he groaned softly. ‘I can’t seem to think straight.’

  Deciding to take him in hand, Ruth said, ‘It hardly seems worth sending the boy away until you know how long Laura’s going to be in hospital, so in the meantime he can stay with me. Why don’t you find out where she was taken to, and for the moment my daughter will see that Tommy goes to school.’

  ‘Yes . . . yes, good idea.’

  Ruth studied the man’s face, realising that if it wasn’t for the effects of alcohol, he could be good-looking. But, as it was, she could see his hands trembling, a sure sign of a heavy drinker, and so said briskly, ‘Say goodbye to your father, Tommy. He’ll come round later to tell you how your mum is. That’s right isn’t it, Mr Walters?’

  ‘Yes, I’ll do that, and thanks.’

  ‘Dad, can I come with you to see Mum?’

  ‘No . . . you get yourself off to school.’

  ‘But . . .’

  ‘You’ll be able to see her soon,’ Ruth consoled, taking the boy’s hand. ‘Perhaps this evening if you’re a good boy.’

  ‘Is that right? Will you take me later, Dad?’

  ‘I dunno, maybe.’

  Before Tommy could protest, Ruth said, ‘We’re off, Mr Walters, and if there’s anything else I can do, let me know.’

  ‘Yes, thanks, and you’d better behave yourself, Tommy, or else.’

  Tommy nodded, reluctantly following Ruth outside, where out of his father’s hearing he said, ‘He won’t take me to see her, he’ll be too pissed.’

  ‘Tommy! What have I told you about your language?’

  ‘But he won’t!’ he cried, and Ruth saw tears welling in his eyes.

  ‘Listen, darling, I know you’re worried about your mum, but if your dad doesn’t take you to see her, I will. That’s a promise. Now come on, you don’t want Angel to see you crying, do you?’

  The boy cuffed his face with his sleeve and sniffing loudly, he shook his he
ad. Smiling gently and ruffling his hair, Ruth led him back to her house.

  ‘What did he say?’ Sally asked as soon as they walked in.

  ‘He said there’s only a brother up North somewhere and agreed that Tommy should stay with us for the time being.’

  ‘So we’re stuck with him,’ Sadie commented.

  ‘Yes, Mum, we are, and try to be nice for a change. The boy won’t be any trouble.’

  ‘Huh!’

  Ruth shook her head, but said nothing further. Crouching down she pulled Tommy into her arms. ‘Sally will take you to school, and bring you back here afterwards. I’ve got to go now, but I’ll see you later.’

  She felt Tommy’s arms snaking around her neck, and felt tears forming in her own eyes when he said, ‘I don’t want you to go.’

  ‘You’ll be all right with Sally. She’ll look after you.’

  ‘I . . . I want me mum.’

  ‘I know you do, love, and I’m sure she’ll be home soon.’

  ‘Kiss me too, Nanny!’ Angel cried.

  ‘Come here then, pet.’

  Angel ran across and, as she disengaged Tommy’s arms, Ruth cuddled her granddaughter. ‘I’ll see you later too.’

  ‘You’re my nanny, not his,’ Angel said petulantly.

  ‘Of course I am, and I always will be.’

  ‘See, she’s my nanny, not yours!’ Angel said, scowling at Tommy.

  Ruth was surprised by Angel’s behaviour. This was the first time she had shown jealousy towards Tommy, and she hoped it wasn’t going to be a problem. She glanced up at Sally and saw the worried expression on her face. Letting go of Angel, Ruth rose to her feet. ‘It’ll be all right, don’t worry,’ she told her daughter.

  ‘If you say so,’ Sally replied doubtfully.

  ‘I must go. Denis Walters may call round after he’s been to see his wife. If he does, tell him to take Tommy with him when he goes to see Laura again this evening.’

  ‘Yes, all right. Bye, Mum.’

  Ruth left, worried by her promise to Tommy. If his father didn’t take him to the hospital, she would have to do it, but with Sally going to visit Arthur, she had no idea how.

  When her mother left, Sally piled the breakfast dishes in the sink, all the while keeping an eye on the children. Angel had been the centre of attention for so long, and was now seeing Tommy as a usurper. It would make matters worse if she fussed over him too, so though she felt sorry for the boy, Sally decided to keep her distance. ‘Right, you two, it’s time for school,’ she said briskly.

  ‘I don’t want him to come with us,’ Angel said.

  ‘Now then, that’s enough of that. Have you forgotten who stands up for you in the playground? Tommy stops you being bullied.’

  For a moment Angel hung her head. She then looked at the boy from under her lashes. ‘Sorry, Tommy. You can share my nanny if you want to.’

  ‘Fanks,’ Tommy said, a smile lighting his face at last.

  Sally buttoned her daughter’s coat, saying gently, ‘Good girl. Now say goodbye to Gamma.’

  Angel ran across the room, gave Sadie a quick hug, and then said, ‘Tommy, you can cuddle my gamma too if you like.’

  Tommy looked momentarily panic stricken as he stammered, ‘No . . . no, I don’t fink so.’

  ‘And why not, young man?’ Sadie asked.

  ‘Err . . . err . . .’

  Sadie held out her arms. ‘Come on, I don’t bite.’

  ‘Go on, Tommy. I don’t mind,’ Angel urged.

  Looking decidedly reluctant, the boy walked towards Sadie, his little body stiff as he gave her the briefest of hugs.

  ‘See, I told you I don’t bite. Here, have a Fox’s Glacier Mint,’ she said, pulling one out of her apron pocket. ‘Here’s one for you too, Angela.’

  ‘Fanks, missus,’ Tommy said, his eyes wide.

  Sally saw his surprise. Angel was used to her great-grandmother’s mood swings and mostly took them in her stride. Tommy, however, was new to them. She called a quick goodbye, bundled the children out in front of her, and soon they were safely in school.

  For the rest of the morning, Sally kept busy by doing the housework, and it was two-thirty before Denis Walters knocked on the door, grinning crookedly and obviously drunk. ‘I’ve been to see me wife. She’s in Bolingbroke Hospital.’

  ‘Will you be taking Tommy when you go to see her this evening?’

  ‘Nah, he doesn’t need to go.’

  ‘He’s upset and I think it would help if he could see that his mother is all right.’

  ‘I’m not going again this evening. I’m meeting a mate in the King’s Arms.’

  Sally could see it would be pointless to argue with the man. He could hardly stand, let alone take in what she was saying. Her temper flared at his selfishness. ‘Go to the flaming pub then, and we’ll look after your son.’

  When Ruth arrived home to find that Tommy’s father wasn’t taking the boy to see his mother, she had to ask Sally to forgo her usual visit to Arthur. Thankfully Sally had guessed as much and had rung Elsie, asking her mother-in-law to take her place. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind, love?’ Ruth asked after sprucing Tommy up as best as she could.

  ‘Arthur is a lot better now, and I’m sure he won’t mind if I miss just one visit.’

  ‘Right then, come on, Tommy, we’re off,’ Ruth said, rewarded by the delighted smile on the boy’s face.

  It wasn’t far to go to catch a bus, though Tommy was un - usually quiet during the journey. When they got off, Ruth held his hand and in no time they were walking into the old Victorian hospital.

  Ruth had to ask what ward to go to, and as they walked in Laura saw them almost immediately. Tommy let go of Ruth’s hand to run up to her.

  ‘Hello, love, I wasn’t expecting to see you.’

  ‘Are you all right, Mum?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ and looking sheepish she smiled hesitantly at Ruth. ‘After the way I’ve behaved towards you it’s good of you to bring him, and I know I owe you an apology.’

  Ruth could scarcely believe her ears. Sober, Laura Walters was like a different woman. ‘Yeah, well, that’s in the past and I ain’t one to bear grudges.’

  ‘Denis told me that you took Tommy in and I’m very grateful.’

  ‘That’s all right. He’s a good kid and we don’t mind having him.’

  ‘When are you coming home, Mum?’

  ‘Soon, love. But until I do, be a good boy.’

  Ruth took a seat at the side of the bed. ‘Is there anything you need?’

  ‘No, but it’s kind of you to ask.’

  ‘Here, Mum,’ Tommy said, obviously anxious to get her attention, ‘Angel’s dad’s had his leg cut off.’

  ‘Is this true, Mrs Marchant?’

  ‘I’m afraid it is.’

  ‘How awful. Did he have an accident?’

  Obviously events in Candle Lane had passed Laura Walters by so Ruth told her about the car crash. Tommy scrambled up onto the bed, and as Laura cuddled him his little face lit up with pleasure until the ward sister sourly told him to get down.

  He looked sulky, but his mother held his hand until visiting time was over. They were just about to leave when Laura took Ruth’s hand too, pulling her forward until their faces were almost touching as she whispered, ‘This heart attack has made me take stock of myself. I’ll stay off the booze from now on.’

  ‘For Tommy’s sake, as well as your own, I hope you mean that.’

  ‘I do. I wasn’t always like this you know, but after losing my little girl to polio, the pain was so bad that I turned to drink.’

  Ruth saw the agony in the woman’s eyes. She couldn’t imagine how awful it must be to lose a child. ‘Oh, I didn’t know, Laura, I’m so sorry. When did it happen?’

  ‘How could you know? It was over a year ago, just before we moved to Battersea. Bessie was a beautiful little girl, and the youngest. When . . . when we lost her, I just didn’t want to go on.’ She smiled wanly at her son. ‘Poor Tommy, he’s had
it rough since then, and when I think about my behaviour . . .’ Pausing she let go of Ruth’s hand to hold out her arms. ‘Come here, son, and give me a hug.’

  Tommy looked worried for a moment, but seeing that the ward sister wasn’t in sight he scrambled onto the bed again and wrapped his arms around his mother’s neck. She buried her face in his hair, saying, ‘I haven’t been much of a mother to you lately, but that’s all going to change.’

  Ruth watched the scene, saw the love on Laura’s face, and hoped to God that this was the start of a new chapter in the woman’s life.

  During the journey home, Ruth said gently, ‘You’ve never said that you once had a little sister, Tommy.’

  ‘Mum doesn’t like to talk about her so I’ve learned to keep me mouth shut. She was pretty though, like Angel.’

  So that’s it, Ruth thought. That’s why Tommy was so protective of Angel. She reminded him of his little sister and putting an arm around the boy she hugged him tightly.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Days had passed and Denis Walters had only called to see his son once, until at last he turned up after eleven one morning. Though slurring his words, Denis managed to tell Ruth that his wife was coming home the next day. She was surprised that Laura was coming home so soon after being admitted, but Denis said that she’d refused to have any tests and was therefore being discharged.

  Ruth went to bed after that, sick at the thought of Tommy going home to that filthy house, a house that wasn’t fit for a sick woman to return to either. Her mind turned until at last she decided on a plan of action.

  When Ruth awoke the next morning she rang in sick, telling her boss she had an upset stomach. He didn’t sound too pleased, but Ruth didn’t care. What she had to do was far more important. She waited until Sally returned from taking the kids to school before breaking the news.

  ‘Why didn’t you say something earlier?’ Sally asked.

  ‘If Tommy knew his mother was coming home you’d never have got him to school and we’ve got a lot to do without having him under our feet.’ Ruth told her, going on to say what she had in mind.

  ‘What about Gran?’

  ‘Sally, we’ll only be next door and one of us can pop back every half an hour or so.’