Mother’s Ruin

by Kitty Neale

  ‘Yes, it does, lassie, and your new nephew has red hair too.’

  ‘I can’t wait to see him.’

  ‘I’m ready,’ Ruth said, fluffing her hair as she looked in the mirror.

  Andrew kissed Sally’s cheek, saying goodbye to her and Sadie, but as he led Ruth outside, he found his stomach fluttering with nerves. It wouldn’t take long to reach the restaurant, and he was desperately trying to rehearse his words.

  They sat at a small table by the window, and as he took the menu, Andrew found his palms sweating.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Ruth asked.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine. Now what shall we have to eat?’

  They gave their order, and as the waiter walked away, Andrew gazed at Ruth. Should he ask her now, or perhaps wait until the final course? She was gazing back at him. Was that affection he saw in her eyes?

  Nerves held him back. For so many years his late wife had rejected him, scorned his affection, and he dreaded facing that again. Was he ready to risk marriage again? He toyed with his napkin, remembering how lonely he had felt in Scotland, and berated himself. Of course he was ready, but later, he’d ask her later.

  ‘You’re quiet, Andrew. Why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?’

  He grasped for something to say. ‘Sally has Tommy to look after while you’re at work now, as well as her grandmother. How is she coping?’

  ‘Oh my God!’ Ruth cried. ‘So that’s why you came rushing back again. You’re worried about Sally and want to tell me I’m a selfish mother again?’

  ‘No, of course not. I understand that you have to work, but I think I have the perfect solution. You see—’

  Ruth cut in, hand up, her palm facing him. ‘If you’ve travelled all the way from Scotland to offer me money again, you’ve wasted your time.’

  ‘That wasn’t what I had in mind. Please, Ruth, let me finish,’ Andrew urged. ‘I know you’re to be re-housed soon, but I think I have a better suggestion. You see I have a large house in Scotland, left to me by my grandparents. It has six bedrooms and a small annexe. There’s room enough for all of us, Tommy too if his father will agree. You could give up work to care for your mother, and Sally could live in the annexe with Angel.’

  ‘What! You want us to move to Scotland?’ Ruth stared at him in shock, but then her eyes narrowed. ‘What are you asking of me, Andrew? Am I to be your servant? Or perhaps your kept woman?’

  ‘No, no! For goodness’ sake, what do you take me for? Oh, hell, I’ve made a mess of this. What I’m trying to do is ask you to marry me.’

  ‘Ma . . . marry you?’

  ‘Yes and as soon as possible. It would solve all our problems. I can’t bear the thought of being so far away from you all, but I have to live in Scotland. As I said, you’re due to be re-housed, and Sally has no home of her own. Can’t you see it’s the most sensible solution?’

  Andrew watched the range of emotions that ran across Ruth’s face. When he’d proposed he thought he saw joy, but now he saw doubt, consternation, and then worry.

  ‘It isn’t that simple, Andrew. I’m not sure that either Sally, or my mother, would agree to move to Scotland.’

  ‘Why not? I live in a beautiful area with clean, fresh air, and plenty of space for Angel and Tommy to run around. Surely that’s better than the grim, dirty streets they play in now?’

  ‘When you put it like that it sounds wonderful, but my mother is a born and bred Londoner and would never leave.’

  ‘Ruth, it’s you I’m asking to marry, not your mother. If your answer is yes and she wants to continue to live with you, she’ll have to agree.’

  ‘Andrew, I know you see my mother as a difficult woman, but before her stroke she was a different person. Now though she’s in bad health and such a big move might be too much for her.’

  ‘Wouldn’t Scotland be better for her than the possibility of being stuck in a council tower block?’

  For a moment she stared at him, doubtfully, and as he reached out to grip her hand Andrew pleaded, ‘Ruth, I’m comfortably off, so much so that I can support you all. Please say yes.’

  She pulled her hand from his grasp. ‘You haven’t mentioned one very important thing.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘You’ve asked me to marry you, and have pointed out how sensible it would be, but . . . I need more than that.’

  Andrew gazed at her, saw her eyes lower, and then the penny dropped. He was a complete and utter fool. He’d forgotten the most important thing of all. ‘Ruth, finding you again seems like a miracle to me, and though we’ve only just got to know each other again, I can’t deny my feelings. I love you. In fact I don’t think I ever stopped loving you. Please say you’ll marry me.’

  She smiled at him now, joy in her eyes, ‘Oh, Andrew, I love you too . . . and . . . and my answer is yes.’

  Andrew grinned with delight, but then his face sobered as Ruth said, ‘I still don’t think my mother, or Sally, will move to Scotland.’

  ‘Well, darling, there’s only one way to find out. As soon as we’ve finished our meal we’ll go and ask them. Don’t worry, I can be very persuasive.’

  ‘I hope so,’ she said, relaxing a little, and for the next hour they excitedly discussed their wedding plans.

  When her parents arrived home, Sally saw they were holding hands, but her breath caught in her throat when her father announced they were getting married. With hardly time to take it in, her mother then told them that they could all move to Scotland.

  ‘Are you bleedin’ mad!’ Sadie spluttered. ‘Scotland! I ain’t living in Scotland.’

  Andrew crouched down by Sadie’s chair, speaking gently. ‘Please, don’t just dismiss it out of hand. I have a large house, in a lovely area, and Ruth will be able to give up work to look after you.’

  ‘I don’t need looking after and I’m sick of saying that. You go, Ruth, but I’m staying here.’

  ‘Sally,’ Andrew said, moving from Sadie’s side, ‘what about you? Would you like to live in Scotland?’

  ‘I . . . I don’t know. It’s all a bit sudden, but if my gran won’t go, then I can’t leave her.’

  ‘Lassie, I’ve only just found you, and I hate us being so far apart. When I travel back to Scotland I’d like you all to come with me.’

  ‘When are you leaving?’

  ‘As soon as possible.’

  ‘And when are you and Mum getting married?’

  ‘I’ve told your mother that I’d like my family in Scotland to be at our wedding, and she’s agreed to be married in Edinburgh. We haven’t set a date yet, but hopefully soon.’

  Sally’s mind was reeling. She was pleased that her parents were getting married, but moving to Scotland? A holiday, yes, but this was something else.

  ‘You go, Sally, but I’m staying put.’

  It was no good – with Sadie still protesting loudly Sally couldn’t get her thoughts into order. ‘Mum, Dad, I’m going to bed. We . . . we can talk about this again in the morning.’

  Andrew placed an arm around her shoulder. ‘Goodnight, my bonny lass. I’m sorry to spring this on you so suddenly, you too Sadie, but if you both decide to come, I promise you’ll be happy in Scotland.’

  Sally nodded, and after saying goodnight she made her way upstairs. If her gran wouldn’t go, there was no way she could leave her, but with the flat in her mother’s name, would the council re-house them?

  * * *

  Saturday morning dawned clear and sunny, but as Sally awoke, her eyes felt sticky. She rubbed at them impatiently, and seeing that Angel was asleep she crept downstairs. ‘Gran, you’re up early. It’s only six o’clock. Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m fine, but I didn’t sleep well.’

  ‘I thought Dad might stay here last night, but he must have gone next door.’

  ‘Yeah, he wanted a word with Denis.’ Sadie shifted in her chair, then said, ‘Sally, how do you feel about moving to Scotland?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I wouldn’t g
o without you.’

  ‘I tossed and turned all night, weighing things up, and then I came to a decision I didn’t expect to make.’

  ‘Really, and what decision is that?’

  ‘Nelly Cox has moved into Osborne House, and I rather fancy joining her.’

  ‘Gran, please, don’t do that. I’ll stay here and we can live together.’

  ‘No, I’ve made up my mind. Now then, let’s talk about you. I had hoped you and Arthur would get back together, but as you’re adamant that you won’t, then I think you should move to Scotland. I don’t like the thought of you living alone in London and your family will be there.’

  ‘You won’t be, nor will Aunt Mary.’

  ‘Scotland isn’t in Outer Mongolia. You’ll be able to travel down to visit. Flaming hell, Mary! She doesn’t even know that your mother is getting married again.’

  ‘Yes she does, I rang her last night before I went to bed,’ Ruth said, yawning as she walked into the room.

  ‘Gran said she’s going to move into Osborne House. Do something to talk her out of it, Mum.’

  ‘If you think I’m going to Scotland without you, Mum, you’ve got another think coming. In fact, I’m not going anywhere unless the pair of you agree to come too.’

  ‘Now you’re being silly.’

  ‘No I’m not. Now what’s it to be? Have I got to call off my wedding or are you coming with me?’

  ‘Now you’re resorting to emotional blackmail,’ Sadie complained, ‘but as Andrew seems a good man and you deserve a bit of happiness, I suppose I’ll have to move to Scotland with you. What about you, Sal?’

  ‘Yes, I’ll come too.’ Ruth grinned. ‘Thank goodness for that. Now I’m off to get dressed and then I’m going next door to tell Andrew the good news.’

  She hurried from the room, and half an hour later they heard the door close behind her. With a small shake of her head, Sadie said, ‘It’s nice to see my daughter so happy. I just wish I could say the same about you.’

  ‘I’m all right, Gran,’ Sally lied, as she looked out of the window. They were going to live in Scotland and it felt so unreal, like a dream.

  Ten minutes later, Ruth returned with Andrew, her eyes alight with pleasure. ‘Denis has agreed,’ she cried, ‘Tommy can come too.’

  Angel came into the room, her eyes sleepy, but they lit up when she saw Andrew. ‘Granddad!’ she cried, running up to him. ‘You’ve come back.’

  ‘Hello, my beauty,’ and turning to Sally, he added, ‘This one will have to be told too.’

  ‘Told what, Granddad?’

  Tommy appeared then, puzzled to see them all, and sitting both children down, Sally crouched in front of them as she tried to explain the move to Scotland as simply as possible.

  ‘My dad said that men wear skirts in Scotland. I’m not doing that,’ Tommy scowled.

  ‘They aren’t skirts, laddie. They’re kilts.’

  ‘Don’t care, I ain’t wearing one.’

  ‘Is my daddy coming with us?’ Angel asked.

  ‘No, darling, but you’ll still be able to see him. There’ll be weekends, and school holidays.’

  ‘What about my dad? Is he coming?’ Tommy asked. Ruth answered, ‘No, love, but I’m sure he’ll come to Scotland as often as he can, and like Angel, you’ll see him during school holidays.’

  ‘That’s all right then,’ Tommy said. ‘What’s for breakfast?’

  Ruth chuckled and went to pour out some cereal, whilst Sally, finding that her daughter had gone strangely quiet, gazed at her worriedly. Angel’s eyes looked unfocused and strangely distant, but just when Sally was about to give her a little shake, Angel’s head tipped to one side as though she was listening to something.

  Angel then smiled and gave a little nod before saying, ‘When are Nanny and Granddad leaving?’

  ‘We’ll all be leaving at the same time,’ Sally told her, ‘but I’m not sure when. You had better ask your granddad.’

  ‘Well now, let me see,’ Andrew said. ‘It’s Saturday today, so how about Tuesday?’

  ‘Andrew, that’s impossible,’ Ruth spluttered. ‘There’s too much to do.’

  ‘Like what? You’ll have no need to bring any furniture so will only have to pack your personal things.’

  ‘We’ll have to do more than that. There’s the house to close down, the meters to be read, and what about the children’s school?’

  ‘I live in a lovely little hamlet with a good school for the children, and they can go there when the new term starts in September. As for the utilities, I can sort those out by telephone.’

  ‘I ain’t leaving my bed behind,’ Sadie protested. ‘It’s all I’ve got left of my home with Charlie. I’ve slept in the same bed since the day I got married, and I ain’t going without it.’

  Andrew smiled gently. ‘In that case I’ll lay on a small removals van.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Sadie said. ‘Tuesday it is then.’ Andrew grinned with delight, and picking Ruth up he swung her round. ‘Start packing your cases, woman. We’re all going to Edinburgh.’

  At the thought of packing, it finally hit Sally. They were leaving on Tuesday, and she would have to tell Arthur.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  On Sunday things were still frantic. Ruth was in her bedroom, clothes strewn everywhere as she sorted her wardrobe, bemoaning having to discard things she had hoarded for years. She held up a halter neck dress; the style was too young for her now, but she hated to throw it away. With a last rueful look, Ruth threw it on the pile of rejects, and then began to empty her chest of drawers.

  Sally was glancing nervously at the clock. Arthur would be calling for Angel soon, and she would have to tell him. This was a meeting she wasn’t looking forward to and she was dreading his reaction.

  Soon after, when she heard Arthur’s knock, Sally straightened her shoulders, but despite the pretext of bravado, she was still trembling as she let him in. ‘Err . . . I need to talk to you in private. Would you come into my gran’s room?’

  He looked surprised, and as she stood aside to allow him to walk ahead of her, Sally saw no sign of a limp, no sign that he had an artificial leg. He turned to face her, looking tall and handsome, and her stomach lurched. Chiding herself, she fixed her mind on what he’d done, hardening her heart against her feelings.

  Tommy was next door with his father and Andrew, whilst Angel was in the yard, absorbed in a game of make-believe shop. Sally faced Arthur. ‘I . . . I have something important to tell you. We . . . we’re all going to live with my father in Scotland.’

  He frowned. ‘Scotland! No, Sally . . .’

  ‘My father and mother are getting married,’ Sally interrupted, suddenly aware of how strange that sounded. ‘He . . . he has a large house with room for all of us, and . . . and I’ve agreed to go. Angel and I will live in the annexe.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. You can’t take Angel to Scotland. When would I get to see her?’

  ‘Occasional weekends. School holidays.’

  Arthur’s face suffused with colour, his voice now rising in anger. ‘I’ll fight this, Sally. You have no right to take my daughter so far away.’

  Sally found her own anger mounting. If she remained in London it would mean finding a flat to rent, and bringing her daughter up alone. Instead her father had offered her a home, a wonderful place to live. ‘I have every right! You were the one who committed adultery and caused the break-up of our marriage. If you want to try to stop me, go ahead! I’ll see you in court!’

  The colour now drained from Arthur’s face, and instead of anger she saw pain. ‘One mistake, Sally. I made one mistake and I’ve told you it will never happen again, I swear it. Please, don’t go to Scotland. Come back to me and let’s make a fresh start.’

  There was the sound of footsteps, then Angel’s voice as she burst into the room. ‘Daddy!’ she cried, running up to him. ‘I thought I heard you.’

  Arthur swept her up, but his eyes were still on Sally. ‘Please,’ he whispered.
>
  Sally hesitated, but then shook her head decisively, ‘No. Never.’

  His face crumbled in defeat, and as he lowered Angel to the floor his voice sounded strangled. ‘Come on, I’ll find a taxi. We’re going to Wimbledon to see your nanna and granddad.’

  After kissing Angel goodbye, Sally watched them leave, trying to deny her feelings. It was no good, despite everything, she still loved Arthur. The question whirled in her mind. Could she go back to him?

  Sally went upstairs. She needed advice, someone to talk to, and went into her mother’s room.

  ‘Mum, Arthur’s just been to collect Angel and he’s asked me to go back to him again. What do you think?’

  ‘What! After what he’s done?’

  Sally sat on the side of her mother’s bed, her head low. ‘I still love him, Mum.’

  ‘Now you listen to me, my girl. Arthur had only been home from hospital for five minutes when he had it off with that tart. To top it all, when you left him, he didn’t even bother to come after you. No, instead he carried on sleeping with Patsy. Christ, Sally, you’d be mad to trust him again.’

  She took in her mother’s words and the pain of Arthur’s betrayal became fresh again. Yes, she still loved him, but what he’d done was unforgivable. ‘Yes, you’re right,’ Sally said, her shoulders slumped as she left the room.

  Had Sally looked back, she would have seen the look of triumph on her mother’s face.

  Elsie could see that something was wrong as soon as Arthur arrived, so after cuddling Angel for a while she then urged her into the garden with her grandfather.

  ‘Right, son. Tell me.’

  He did and Elsie was devastated. ‘Scotland,’ she cried. ‘They’re all going to Scotland! But it’s so far away!’

  ‘I tried to talk to Sally, but she wouldn’t listen. I blew it as usual.’

  ‘Arthur, start at the beginning. What have you said to Sally?’

  ‘The first time I tried to talk her into coming back to me, I made a right mess of it. I said it was her fault that I’d slept with Patsy again and that it wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t left me.’