by Kitty Neale
Tommy grinned. Amy hadn’t said anything yet, but he’d seen the signs. ‘Don’t mention this to Mum yet because it isn’t official, but I think there’s going to be another addition.’
‘You’re giving Mum some shares too?’
‘No, that’s not what I’m talking about. Amy hasn’t told me yet, but I think she’s pregnant.’
Jeremy looked stunned and asked, ‘Are you sure?’
‘Well, not really, but she’s got a little bulge in her tummy.’
Jeremy lowered his eyes, quiet for a moment, but then said, ‘Well, in that case, congratulations.’
‘Let’s not jump the gun, and as I asked, keep it quiet until I know for sure.’
‘All right,’ Jeremy agreed, but then said, ‘Well, I’d better get back on the road.’
‘Is the car running all right?’
‘It’s fine.’
‘Mine’s all right too,’ Tommy said. ‘I think we made a good choice in buying Austins.’
‘When are we going to the solicitors?’
‘I’m a bit snowed under today, so how about tomorrow morning?’
‘Righto,’ Jeremy said. ‘I’m off then and I’ll see you later.’
‘Yes, see you,’ Tommy said. He wondered when Amy was going to tell him that he was going to be a dad, but with a pile of paperwork on his desk to get through, he had to concentrate on the task.
Jeremy’s grip on the steering wheel was tight. He didn’t know much about women having babies, but if Amy already had a bulge in her tummy it could mean that the kid was his. Of course Amy would never admit to it, but he’d know for sure if the baby was born a month early.
If it was his, Jeremy knew there was only so much he could stand. Tom already had Amy, and the thought of him taking over his kid too made his teeth grind in anger. Without thought he drove to Lark Rise and uncaring if anyone saw him or not, he thumped on Amy’s door.
When it was opened, he pushed his way inside, grinding out, ‘It’s mine, isn’t it? The baby’s mine.’
‘I … I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Don’t give me that. Tom told me that you’re pregnant.’
‘Tommy told you?’ Amy said, paling.
‘Yes, that’s right, so don’t try to deny it.’
‘I’m not, but the baby isn’t yours.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, I’m sure,’ she said firmly.
Jeremy wanted to reach out – to drag Amy into his arms – to feel her body next to his again. God, he wanted her! She must have seen something in his eyes and began to back away.
‘No! Don’t come near me!’
Jeremy saw her fear and came to his senses He didn’t want Amy to be frightened of him. He wanted her to love him, but she only wanted one man, and that was his brother. ‘It’s all right. I’m going,’ he said and quickly left, unaware that a curtain was twitching on the opposite side of the road.
Edna scowled as she watched the car driving off. There were only a few people who had cars on Lark Rise, but now the Frosts had two. Some people seemed to have all the luck. Amy had married a bloke with a good few bob, but at least it hadn’t turned her into a stuck-up cow like Celia Frost.
Of course Tommy wasn’t a patch on his brother when it came to looks, and Edna wondered why Jeremy had been to see Amy. It had only been a short visit, but she had seen the expression on his face when he left. The man actually looked to be in anguish, and it was odd.
There was no point in asking Mabel if she knew what was going on. Mabel had changed, becoming all high and mighty, with no interest in sharing a bit of tittle-tattle now. There was more activity over the road, with Phyllis leaving her house in a hurry to go into Amy’s. Edna wished she could be a fly on the wall to hear the conversation between mother and daughter.
‘Amy, I thought I heard you shouting and I just saw Jeremy driving off.’
Amy was still trembling, but gripped her hands together as she thought quickly. ‘You must have been hearing things. Jeremy just called in to pick up some papers that Tommy forgot to take to work this morning.’
‘Oh, right, but you look a bit pale.’
‘I’ve been throwing up again,’ Amy said.
‘You poor thing. I had morning sickness with you, but it eases off when you get past three months.’
‘That’s something to look forward to,’ Amy said, trying to sound calm.
‘Yes, but then later you get heartburn,’ Phyllis said, grinning.
‘Thanks, Mum, you really know how to cheer me up,’ Amy said, forcing a smile.
‘It’s worth it though and there’s nothing like that moment when you first hold your baby in your arms. Anyway, as long as you’re all right, I’ll get on with giving my place a turnout.’
‘You’re supposed to be having a week’s holiday.’
‘I know, Rose insisted, but it’s daft if you ask me. I can’t sit around all day doing nothing. It would drive me up the wall, but I tell you what, we could go out tomorrow to look at prams and things.’
‘Yes, let’s do that,’ Amy said, trying to sound enthusiastic and relieved when her mother left. She then flopped onto a chair and buried her face in her hands. It had already started, the lies, the deceit; but had she managed to convince Jeremy that the baby wasn’t his?
Chapter Forty-Two
On a cold Monday morning in December, a fire blazing in her grate, Mabel stared at the woman in horror. ‘But you can’t take Peter away from us now. He’s so excited about Christmas and … and he helped me to decorate the tree. I … I’ve got all his Christmas presents too.’
‘Mrs Povis, it won’t be immediate, but I did warn you that the placing would be temporary.’
‘I know you did, but as he came to us when his mother died, I didn’t think he had anyone else.’
‘We’ve managed to trace Peter’s father and he’s applied for custody.’
‘But he’s never said anything about his dad. He’s only ever talked about his mum.’
‘Peter hasn’t seen him since he was two years old.’
‘That means it’ll be like handing the poor kid over to a stranger.’
‘That’s one of the things I’ve come to discuss. We feel that it would make the transition easier for Peter if his father comes here just to visit him at first, perhaps on a regular basis for a few weeks. It will give Peter a chance to get to know him before he goes permanently into his custody.’
‘I’m not sure about that. You’re asking me to let a strange man who I know nothing about into my house.’
‘He won’t be alone. Myself, or one of my colleagues will be with him.’
Mabel’s head sank down. She knew on applying to become a foster parent that this would happen, but this was her first time and it was heart-wrenching. With no other choice, Mabel knew she would have to let Peter go, and knowing he’d be upset too, she had to somehow make it easier for him. ‘All right then, his dad can come here,’ she agreed.
With a smile of approval the woman said, ‘I’ll make the arrangements and be in touch.’
As the social worker left, Mabel felt some consolation in knowing that Peter would still be with them for Christmas, yet tears flooded her eyes at the thought of losing him soon afterwards. Alone now, she let them flow.
Amy and Carol were sitting in a café on the King’s Road. Carol always had Mondays off and they often met up for a chat.
‘What are you doing for Christmas?’ Amy asked.
‘We’ll just be staying at home, but my boyfriend will be joining us.’
Amy smiled, glad that Carol had met someone and said, ‘It sounds like things are getting serious with Eddy.’
‘It’s early days yet, but yes, I think they are. Eddy passed muster with the boys and my mum likes him too.’
‘How’s your mum these days?’ Amy asked.
‘She’s as happy as a lark. She works in Sloane Square now, in Peter Jones, the department store.’
‘What
about your gran? Is she spending Christmas with you?’
‘No, thank goodness,’ Carol replied. ‘Mum goes to see her every Sunday, but I mostly keep away. She’s such a miserable old cow and all she does is moan.’
‘I can’t believe Christmas is less than two weeks away. We’re going to Rose’s with my parents, though Tommy had to placate his mother by saying we’d spend Boxing Day with her. I’m not looking forward to that.’
‘I suppose that’s because Jeremy will be there.’
‘Yes, and as much as I try to avoid him, Jeremy makes it impossible. He’s in our house at least two evenings a week and it’s driving me mad. You’re the only person who knows the truth and if I hadn’t found the courage to confide in you, I think I’d have gone out of my mind.’
‘That’s what friends are for.’
‘I know that I can trust you, but sometimes I wish I’d had the courage now to have an abortion.’
‘I’m glad you didn’t,’ Carol said. ‘Mine was botched and I could have died.’
‘But look at the size of me! I’m so huge my mum thinks I might be having twins. Oh Carol, how am I going to explain it when I give birth in January instead of February?’
‘Stop worrying. It’s rare to have a baby at the given date. Some come a bit early and others late.’
‘How do you know that?’ Amy asked.
‘This hairdresser’s no different to the last – you’d be surprised what I overhear when women are having their hair done.’
‘This baby needs to be born late, yet even that won’t be enough to convince Jeremy that he isn’t the father.’
‘When I met him at your wedding, good looking or not, I didn’t like him. He was too full of himself, but in this case I still don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about. Think about it. Jeremy can’t claim the baby is his. If he does he’d have to admit to raping you.’
‘Jeremy would never do that. He’s more likely to say that I threw myself at him, that it was consensual, and sometimes I still wonder if it was.’
‘Amy, we’ve been over and over this, and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve told you that it wasn’t. Just because you gave up fighting, it doesn’t mean you wanted it to happen. He overpowered you and I know what that’s like because the same thing happened to me.’
‘We grew up together, went to school together, but it still seems unbelievable that we’ve both been raped.’
‘I know. It angers me sometimes that Roy got away with it, but if I don’t let it go it will be like he’s beaten me, ruined the rest of my life and I’m not going to let him do that. You’ve got to put it behind you too and instead think about that gorgeous baby you’re going to have.’
‘But what if I can’t love it, Carol?’
‘The baby will be a part of you, and my biggest regret is that I had an abortion. I know that had it been born I’d have loved my baby, and you will too.’
Amy cupped her stomach, hoping and praying that Carol was right.
Celia was Christmas shopping, and looking at baby clothes. Since the day she had been told that Amy was pregnant, she’d felt left out. Of course with Phyllis living next door to Amy, she had a hand in everything, and anyone would think she was the only grandmother to be. Huffily she continued to look at baby clothes and when a white woollen pram set caught her eye, Celia decided to buy it.
‘Celia, my dear. How are you?’
‘Oh hello, Libby,’ Celia said, faking a warm smile. ‘I’m very well thank you.’
‘I see you’re buying baby clothes.’
Celia tried to avoid Libby as much as possible nowadays, and living next door to her remained a trial. However, the smile remained fixed on her face as she said, ‘Yes, it’s rather fun shopping for one’s coming grandchild.’
‘It must be nice to have Thomas and his wife living so close, even if they are at the bottom of the Rise.’
The inference was there, but Celia managed not to bite. ‘It’s only a temporary measure. Thomas ploughed all our profits back into the business for expansion and we employ a large workforce now. As we’ve made such huge profits this year Thomas will soon be buying a property, and of course, in a far superior area.’
‘How nice,’ Libby said, ‘but I must get on. I’ve still got so many presents to buy. Goodbye, my dear.’
Celia nodded a goodbye in return. Thomas wasn’t going to buy a house, but because Libby had got her back up she’d wanted to wipe the sanctimonious smile off her face. Now though, if Thomas remained at the bottom of the Rise she’d be made to look a fool, and in due course no doubt Libby would find great satisfaction in rubbing that fact in her face.
‘Everything’s on track to move into the larger unit,’ Tom said. ‘We certainly need the extra capacity, and talking about size, Amy is absolutely blooming.’
‘When did you say the baby is due?’ Jeremy asked, though he’d already worked it out.
‘Amy said around mid-February and then I’ll be a dad,’ Tom said, grinning.
She’s clever, Jeremy thought. Amy had already knocked off about a week, but he knew the baby would arrive a lot earlier than that. Amy had denied it, but Jeremy was sure he was right. Amy was carrying his child, but he’d have no claim on it.
‘I hope it’s a boy, but on the other hand, a daughter might be nice,’ Tom mused. ‘I keep swinging from one to the other.’
‘Can we get back to this quote now?’ Jeremy said impatiently.
‘You’re in a bit of a mood this morning. What’s up?’
‘Nothing,’ Jeremy said, but in truth when Tom was looking as chuffed with life as he was now, Jeremy hated it.
The baby was his; Amy should be his – but Tom had it all.
Chapter Forty-Three
In January, Amy had done all she could to take it easy and so far the baby was five days late. If she could just hang on for another week, she might get away with it, but that now seemed unlikely.
‘Hello, love,’ her mother said as she came in through the back door. ‘You’ve got your feet up I see.’
‘Yes, my ankles keep swelling.’
‘What did the midwife say this morning?’
‘Oh, nothing much, just that everything is fine,’ Amy said offhandedly. In truth, the midwife said she was sure the baby’s head was in position, which meant the birth was probably imminent.
‘You look tired.’
‘I am, and I think I’ll have a little nap.’
‘All right, I’ll leave you in peace.’
Amy managed a smile and then her mother was gone, leaving her to feel sick at the lies she was forced to tell. Only half an hour later, the pains started, small twinges at first that didn’t last long, but as they increased, Amy knew she was in labour. She cupped her tummy in despair. How was she going to explain that the baby, who wasn’t supposed to be born until February, was about to be born now?
It was then that Amy was struck by an idea, and though she hated what she was going to do, it was the only thing she could think of. She stood up and moved to the bottom of the stairs, where after lying on the floor she forced herself to scream, and she kept screaming and shouting until her mother appeared.
‘That was Amy’s mother,’ Tom said frantically as he replaced the receiver. ‘Amy’s had a fall and she might have gone into labour. I’ve got to go! I’ve got to get to the hospital!’
‘You’re in no fit state to drive,’ Jeremy said. ‘Come on, I’ll take you.’
‘Yes, yes, all right,’ Tommy agreed, running from the office.
As they raced through the unit, Jeremy called, ‘Len, we’ve got a bit of an emergency. You’ll have to hold the fort and if we’re not back, lock up.’
Tom seemed oblivious to everything as he ran to the car, and soon they were speeding off. ‘Where have they taken Amy?’ Jeremy asked.
‘To St Thomas’, and get a move on!’
‘I’m going as fast as I can,’ Jeremy said, screeching around a corner, as anxious as Tom to get to the hospi
tal.
‘Yes, sorry,’ Tom said. ‘It’s just that I’m nearly going out of my mind! Oh, God, I hope Amy’s all right.’
At last they arrived, and after parking up Jeremy found he was once again racing after Tom. Inside at the desk they were given directions, and found when they followed them that Amy’s mother was pacing in the corridor.
‘Phyllis, how is she? Where is she?’ Tom asked anxiously.
‘She’s in there, but we can’t go in. The doctors are with her and …’
Tom didn’t wait for Phyllis to finish the sentence as he pushed open the door she had indicated and went inside, while Jeremy asked Phyllis, ‘What happened? Tom only said something about Amy having a fall.’
Phyllis sat down on a chair and Jeremy perched next to her as she said, ‘I … I hadn’t long been with her and she was going to have a nap when I went home, but then about an hour later I heard this awful scream. I dashed back to Amy’s and found her on the floor. She … she had fallen down the stairs.’
Phyllis was crying, tears rolling down her cheeks, and Jeremy had just placed a comforting arm around her when Tom came out of the room with a sheepish look on his face. ‘I got chased out,’ he said.
They both jumped to their feet, Phyllis asking, ‘How is she?’
‘They’re making sure that Amy hasn’t sustained any injuries from the fall, but the doctor said so far everything looks fine.’
‘And the baby! What about the baby?’ Jeremy asked.
‘There don’t seem to be any problems. They’re going to closely monitor the birth, and once they’ve finished examining Amy, I can go back in.’
This proved to be true when shortly afterwards the doctor came out and echoed what Tom had told them, along with saying that Amy was in the early stages of labour.
‘What does that mean?’ Tom asked Phyllis when the doctor walked away.
‘It means it could be hours and hours before the baby is born.’
‘So we could be here for a long time,’ Jeremy said.
Tom shook his head. ‘There’s no need for you to stay, Jeremy. I’ll ring you and Mum, when there’s any news.’
‘All right,’ Jeremy reluctantly agreed, though inside his guts were churning. He should be there. Amy was going to have his baby, yet Tom would be named as the father.
