A Place to Call Home

by Carole Matthews

  ‘Not the garden though.’

  ‘No,’ I concede, ‘not the garden. Have you given it any more thought?’

  Joy sighs and sips at her tea. ‘I’ve thought about nothing else, my dear.’

  ‘But you haven’t talked it through with your son?’

  She shakes her head. ‘I need to be clear in my mind what it is that I want to do. He’s told me to take all the time I need, but he’s also told me they’re looking for a house that has a separate annexe.’

  ‘They must be very keen for you to go.’

  ‘Is that enough to make me?’ she asks.

  ‘Only you can decide that,’ I tell her. Then, ‘Can I help you with your planting? Sabina’s fast asleep now, so I must pop back and check on her in a little while, but I’ve nothing else pressing to do.’

  ‘That would be nice.’

  So, when we’ve finished our tea, we work together in the garden and Joy shows me what to do. The soil is rich and black and we plant out in tidy rows together, not talking much. I can tell that Joy is a lady with a lot on her mind, but I don’t pry further. Instead I concentrate on the planting, and keep my mobile phone close to hand in case Hayden should call.

  Sometime later, when the sun is high in the sky, Crystal comes into the garden. She’s wearing a white vest with cut-off shorts and is yawning tiredly. Last night she was out with Edgar until very late.

  ‘What are you two up to?’ she says, propping herself up on the trellis that divides the vegetable plot from the rest of the garden.

  Joy leans on her spade. ‘I’m teaching Ayesha how to knit a jumper.’

  ‘Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Joy.’

  ‘Planting cabbages,’ I say with a smile. ‘Want to join us?’

  ‘Nails, darling, nails.’ She holds out her hands for me to inspect her immaculate manicure. Today Crystal’s nails are painted pure white, set with pink sparkly diamanté. ‘These are not working hands.’

  ‘They are not.’ Crystal, it is fair to say, has found her true vocation at Highly Polished. Already she’s the most popular manicurist, and her appointments book is always full. I don’t think that she misses her job at the club at all and I’m truly glad to see her blossoming. ‘Did you have a nice evening?’ I ask.

  ‘Yes,’ she sighs happily to herself. ‘Did I wake you up coming in?’

  ‘No. Sabina’s unwell. I was already up.’

  ‘Oh. Is she OK now?’

  ‘Tummy upset,’ I say. ‘I think she’s picked it up at school.’

  ‘They’ll be breaking up soon, right?’ Crystal says.

  ‘Yes. Next week.’

  ‘It will be fab if this summer continues. We can go for days out and stuff. Picnics. I love a picnic. Do you, Joy?’

  ‘I do,’ she says.

  ‘There you go. The whole summer can be picnic a-go-go.’ She yawns again. ‘I’m starving. I need a carb boost. Anyone fancy some toast?’

  ‘I could do with some more tea,’ I say. ‘This is thirsty work. What about you, Joy? Time for another little break?’

  ‘I think so.’

  I don’t like her to be working so hard in this heat.

  ‘I’ll do it,’ Crystal offers. ‘I wouldn’t like to think we’d run out of cabbage in November if I stopped you.’

  Joy tuts at her.

  ‘Perish the thought,’ I tease.

  ‘I’ll give you a call when it’s ready.’

  So Crystal flip-flops away in her high sandals and Joy and I plant out the last of the cauliflowers and leeks.

  Straightening up, Joy rubs her lower back, just as Crystal shouts to us from the French doors.

  ‘A very timely cup of tea, I think.’ I slip my arm through Joy’s, and together we walk back towards the house.

  Chapter Seventy-two

  Before I drink my tea, I go upstairs to see how Sabina is. I find her sitting up in bed, reading her latest book.

  ‘How are you, my sweet?’ I ask.

  She smiles at me, a little wanly, but swings her legs out of bed.

  ‘Do you want to come downstairs now? It’s a lovely warm day and Auntie Crystal is making toast for us all. Maybe you could manage a little?’

  My daughter nods at that.

  ‘Pop on your dressing gown and you can dress later, if you feel better.’

  She does as she’s told, as always, and belts her little pink dressing gown around her – another gift from Crystal, who loves to spoil her.

  As I take her hand she feels a little wobbly on her legs, but, other than that, seems much better. Her long sleep has done her good. Perhaps by tomorrow she’ll be well again.

  ‘Here she is!’ I say as we go into the kitchen. ‘The patient’s getting better.’

  ‘Bless you.’ Crystal kisses the top of Sabina’s head. ‘We can’t be having you poorly. Want a little piece of toast, Bean?’

  Sabina nods.

  ‘No butter,’ I say. ‘We have to see how settled your tummy is.’ I dilute some juice for her to drink, anxious to put some fluids back into her body. Her cheeks are brightening by the minute, and it’s a relief to see.

  ‘Go into the garden, both of you.’ Crystal ushers us towards the door. ‘It’s lovely out there. I’ll bring your toast out in a minute.’

  ‘Where’s Joy gone?’

  ‘She’s popped back down to the greenhouse. She’s picked some veg for tonight’s dinner and wants to bring it into the cool before she forgets.’

  I take Sabina outside and fuss with her. ‘Sit in the shade. Here on the deckchair under the tree.’ I pull it into the dappled shade for her. ‘It’s be too hot for you on the terrace. I don’t want your temperature to rise too much, so you must be still. I’m going to help Auntie Crystal, but I won’t be long.’

  Sabina settles back and closes her eyes.

  ‘She looks a little bit peaky,’ Crystal says when I go back into the kitchen, ‘but she seems OK.’

  ‘She does,’ I agree. ‘I think she’s over the worst. I just need to keep her cool and rested.’

  Crystal starts to load up two trays with cups of tea and a plate piled high with toast, the butter dish, a selection of jams and honey, plus crockery and cutlery for us all. It looks as if there are ten of us eating.

  ‘Bloody hell,’ she tuts. ‘I’ve snagged the end of my nail. Look at that.’ She shoves her nail under my nose. ‘I’ll get my file from my bag, otherwise it’ll drive me potty. If you grab one tray, I’ll take the other. Won’t be a sec.’

  Before I can do that, I hear my mobile phone ring in the distance. ‘Oh. I’ve left my phone upstairs and that’s probably Hayden.’ No one else has the number except the people in this household.

  ‘Quick,’ Crystal says. ‘Run and you’ll catch it.’

  So I dash up the stairs as fast as I can, watching Crystal as she follows me down the corridor and heads into the living room to look for her handbag.

  My phone’s on the bed in our room and the number is Hayden’s. I snatch it up on the last ring before the voicemail can cut in.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Hi,’ Hayden says. ‘How’s Sabina?’

  ‘She’s much improved,’ I tell him, still slightly breathless, and I hear him sigh with relief. ‘She’s just got out of bed and has gone into the garden for some fresh air.’

  ‘That’s good to know.’

  ‘How are things with you?’

  ‘Fine,’ he says. Hayden lowers his voice and I assume that his parents are nearby. ‘They’re so pleased to see me, and it’s so good to be home. I can’t believe I’ve left it so long. I won’t ever do that again. I’ve promised I’ll bring you both to meet them as soon as possible.’

  ‘That’ll be lovely.’

  ‘I’ll be home soon,’ he promises. ‘Missing me?’

  But before I can answer, I hear a high-pitched scream coming from the garden. It splits the warm summer air and my blood turns instantly to ice. It’s not Crystal or Joy. It’s Sabina. That’s my daughter’s voice crying
out.

  ‘Mama!’ I hear her scream. ‘Mama!’

  Throwing down the phone, I bolt for the door. Taking the stairs two at a time, I fly towards the kitchen. At the French doors, I reel with shock and every ounce of breath feels as if it’s been punched out of my body. Sabina is still screaming.

  In the garden, I see two burly men. Despite the hot weather, they have balaclavas over their faces and I know instantly that this isn’t good. Bile floods into my mouth. This is my very worst nightmare come true. Suresh has found us.

  The gate at the side of the house, usually locked, swings open freely and that’s obviously where they’ve gained access. At the bottom of the garden there’s a third man, and already he’s fast approaching Sabina, who is backed into the corner by the summerhouse. Dark spots swim in my eyes and my mind is struggling to take it all in. I want to collapse to the floor in terror, but I have to stay in control. There’s no one who can save my child but me.

  ‘Mama! Mama!’ she cries out again.

  ‘Sabina,’ I scream as I race outside towards her. ‘Run! Run as fast as you can.’

  But where to? All around the garden is a high wall. Our sanctuary has suddenly become our prison. How can she escape them? My only hope is to stop them.

  I see my daughter dodge one man as he lurches to grab her, making a break for freedom, but her legs are weak and she stumbles. Quickly, I look around for a weapon to grab. What can I possibly do? There are three of them and just one of me. Then, behind me, I hear Crystal run across the terrace to join me.

  ‘Fuck,’ she says, grabbing my arm. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘I don’t know. There are men, they’re trying to take Sabina.’

  ‘Over my dead body,’ she says.

  ‘And mine.’

  ‘Any of them your husband?’

  ‘No,’ I say. It’s hard to tell with their face masks. ‘I don’t think so.’ But surely Suresh must have sent them.

  Together we run towards them.

  At the same time, I see Joy out of the corner of my eye. She’s lying beside the terrace on the other side of the garden and there’s blood coming from a wound on her head. Nausea consumes me. It seems that she’s already encountered them.

  ‘I can’t let them take Sabina,’ I say to Crystal. ‘What can we do?’

  She turns to me, eyes bleak. ‘We’ve got to fight for our lives.’

  I see Joy crawling along the side of the garden, unseen by the men. When she nears the vegetable plot, she drags herself up and staggers behind the hedge. I can only hope that she has her phone down there and is able to call for help.

  Never in my life have I felt so very useless. Crystal charges at one of the men and he grabs her, but she manages to keep one arm free and pulls at his balaclava. Somehow she gets underneath it, and rakes deeply at his face with her long nails.

  ‘You bitch,’ he spits and pushes her aside.

  ‘Knee him in the bollocks!’ I shout out.

  Crystal looks at me agog, but flies back at him immediately. Before he knows what’s happening, she’s kneed him in the private parts and he falls to the ground, clutching at himself. While he’s down, she kicks him in the ribs and he doubles up again, gasping in pain.

  Now I know what I must do too. Sabina has tried to run, but already the man at the bottom of the garden has grabbed her and she’s tossed over his shoulder like a sack. My daughter is kicking and screaming like a demon and I run towards them with a speed I didn’t know I possessed.

  Taking Crystal’s lead, I launch myself at him and jump on to his back. In shock, he staggers forward and drops Sabina like a stone while I continue to slap and scratch at him with all my might. I tug at his balaclava and also manage to dislodge it. The man has a ponytail and I hold on to it while he tries spinning round and round to dislodge me.

  ‘Run,’ I shout to Sabina as I cling to him with the tenacity of a wasp. ‘Run away. Lock yourself in the bathroom.’

  Sabina scrabbles on the grass, but then I see her heading back towards the house. I’m being shaken like a rag doll and I don’t know how much longer I can cling on to this bear of a man. Should I leave him and run after my daughter, or continue to fight? The next thing I know, Crystal has joined me. She too grabs hold of the man’s head and tries to pull him over. Together we circle around and around until I’m feeling dizzy.

  ‘Scratch him,’ Crystal shouts. ‘Bite his ears!’

  I do as she says and feel his flesh tear beneath my fingernails. I clamp the top of his ear in my mouth and sink my teeth in. For my effort, I taste his blood. He shakes and shakes me and I feel my brain rattle in my skull. But still he stays upright.

  We’re losing and I don’t know what else to do. Then the man lets out a terrible cry. Finally he falls to the ground beneath me, clutching his leg. Behind him I see Joy. She has blood pouring down her face from her head wound and her eyes are wide, staring. It’s a terrifying sight. In her hand she’s holding a spade and she has it held high, ready to swing it again.

  ‘Not his head!’ Crystal cries. ‘You’ll kill him!’

  Joy lets fly with the spade and smacks the man soundly on the bottom with it. He shouts out in pain.

  ‘In the summerhouse,’ Joy gasps out, continuing to belt the man on his bottom. ‘There’s a fork and a rake.’

  Joy drops her spade and I see her pick up her wooden trug. The dazed man tries to struggle to his feet and, as he does, Joy swings her trug with both hands and hits him soundly on the head. The man sways slightly on his knees and then falls flat, face-first on the ground. I swear that it reverberates under my feet.

  Joy manages a grim smile at us. Stunned out of our shock, Crystal and I run to the summerhouse and pull open the door. We arm ourselves with the gardening equipment.

  ‘Do you think that Joy has called for help?’ I ask.

  ‘No,’ Crystal says. ‘She’d have said. I think we’re entirely on our own.’

  I don’t like the sound of this. The men are big bruisers, and it looks as if they’re well used to brawling. Beneath my raging anger, I feel near to tears. Why have they come to take my daughter? Why can’t they leave us in peace?

  ‘Come on,’ Crystal says. ‘We’ve not got a moment to lose.’

  We go back out and join Joy, ready to face our aggressors. Joy is breathing heavily but there’s a determined and slightly mad glint in her eye.

  ‘Let’s take these bastards down,’ she says.

  Chapter Seventy-three

  I can only see one man but, before I can scan the garden for the other, he charges us, letting out a blood-curdling cry. Surely one of our neighbours will hear the commotion and call the police? I can only hope so.

  The man barrels into us, sending me and Joy sprawling to the floor. It knocks the wind from my body. Crystal, however, withstands the force and flings herself on to his back, holding the handle of her rake across his throat until he makes choking noises.

  ‘We need to tie him up,’ Crystal says, panting. ‘Have we got any rope?’

  ‘The bunting!’ Joy says. ‘Use that.’

  So I pull down the pretty floral flags that we strung up between the trees for the barbecue.

  ‘Tie him up tight,’ Crystal instructs me.

  I bind the man’s hands behind his back, and then his ankles, trussing him up with the bunting. He’s swearing at us, using very bad words. Worse words than even Bridget Jones uses. He’s writhing across the grass, trying to get away from us. I raise my fork high and he screams as I bring it down, full force. The prongs go right through the material of his trousers and pin him to the ground.

  ‘Good grief!’ Crystal holds her heart. ‘I wondered what you were going to do for a minute there, Ayesha.’

  ‘It will keep him there while we go to get Sabina,’ I tell her. I’m worried that it’s taken all three of us to bring these men down and I can’t see Sabina anywhere.

  Together we rush back to the house. As we reach the French doors, the last man is coming through th
e living room. He has Sabina gripped tightly by her arm and is dragging her along as she tries her best to struggle against him.

  ‘Mama! Mama!’ she cries when she sees me.

  My daughter’s face is tear-stained, distraught, and my heart is ripped into a million pieces. I haven’t rescued her from her father’s temper for it to come to this. He’ll have to kill me first.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Joy moving to the side of the doors. She signals to me what I must do and I convey the message to Crystal with my eyes.

  ‘Back off, ladies,’ the man snarls, ‘and no one will get hurt.’

  ‘Leave my daughter alone,’ I warn him.

  He laughs at that and keeps advancing. Crystal and I back away on the terrace, giving him room to come outside.

  As he emerges from the door, he doesn’t notice that Joy has climbed up on the low wall beyond the doors. She’s holding a plant pot high above her head and, as soon as she has a clear shot, she brings it down on his head with all her might.

  The pot shatters, showering him with soil and a yellow chrysanthemum.

  The man is dazed enough to let go of Sabina, and she flies to sanctuary in my arms. We’re both trembling with fear and I hold her to me tightly, kissing her precious head. This is the last time that I’m ever letting her out of my sight.

  ‘You stay right where you are,’ Crystal snarls at the dazed man. ‘The police are on their way.’

  That’s obviously a step too far for our would-be abductor as, still covered in soil, he picks himself up and bolts for the gate. He collects the first man on his way and they help each other out.

  ‘Shall I chase after them?’ Crystal says.

  ‘No. I don’t want you getting hurt too. Let them go. We still have one.’ But even as I say that, the last man remaining rips his trouser leg free of the garden fork. My binding is clearly not as strong as it might be, as he loosens his bunting bonds and flees after his associates.

  Crystal, heedless for her own safety, races after him, but before she can catch him he’s out through the gate.

  ‘Let him go!’ I shout to her but she pays no attention.