by Kitty Neale
He was glad he’d suggested this drive. It had lifted all their moods, and when they went to see Pearl again later, it would be with smiling faces. She was right – after all they’d been through, what his gran had done, though rotten, wouldn’t ruin their lives. The gossip would soon die down and they would be able to get on with their lives.
Derek looked up at the sky, hoping that nothing else would go wrong – that nothing else would stand in the way of a brighter future.
Chapter Fifty-Six
The visit had been a good one, and though there should only have been two of them in the ward, none of the nurses had protested when all three of them went in together.
They had all driven home, happy but tired nonetheless. As John was going back to school in the morning, both he and Nora were in bed and asleep by ten.
Derek was still up, but by ten forty-five he was yawning. He decided to turn in, but then heard a short ring on the doorbell. He tensed, wondering who on earth would be calling at this time of night. Dreading more bad news he went downstairs.
When Derek cautiously opened the door, he peered into the gloom at the figure of a man. ‘Yeah, what do you want?’
‘It’s me. Can I come in before somebody sees me?’
Derek reeled back in shock. He knew that voice, but it couldn’t be him! It was impossible … but even as the thought crossed his mind, the man stepped inside and swiftly closed the door.
‘I read the newspapers and had to come.’
‘B … Bernie,’ Derek gasped. ‘You’re not … not dead.’
‘No, though I made it look that way.’
‘But they found your body!’
‘As you can see, it couldn’t have been mine.’
‘Bloody hell, I can’t believe this,’ Derek said, still unable to believe that his eyes weren’t deceiving him.
‘I’m desperate to know how Pearl is,’ Bernie said. ‘I took a risk and went to the hospital, but a dragon of a nurse thought I was a reporter and threatened to call security. How is she, Derek?’
‘Pearl had a rough time of it, but she’s on the mend now,’ Derek told him, though his mind was all over the place. This was like talking to a ghost, but Bernie was solid. Alive!
‘I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that,’ Bernie said, taking his hat off and running a hand over his face.
‘Bernie, come upstairs. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.’
Nothing was said then until they were in the living room, and after shutting the door Derek went to the sideboard. He took out a bottle of whisky, poured two glasses and downed his measure.
‘I needed that,’ he said, passing the other one to Bernie who did the same.
Derek then poured two more and they sat down.
‘How is John?’ Bernie asked.
‘How do you think? He fell apart when he heard what happened to you. How could you do that to him, Bernie?’
‘I just lost it, Derek. I couldn’t take any more and was too wrapped up in myself to think about the consequences.’
‘I don’t get it? Take what?’
Bernie told Derek how he’d thought he was going senile until he’d found out that Dolly was slipping him her pills. He’d been sure too that Kevin was involved, that they were planning to get rid of him. He ended with how he had cut his hand to leave blood in the car, hoping it would be enough to convince the police that he was dead.
‘Yeah, well, it worked,’ Derek said dryly.
‘I shouldn’t have done it. I know that now. I should have gone to the police, told them what Dolly was up to.’
‘She’s lost her mind again,’ Derek said. ‘She had to be taken away.’
Bernie’s eyebrows shot up, but then he said bluntly, ‘Don’t expect me to feel sorry for her.’
‘I don’t, but it was followed by what happened here – Pearl getting shot and Kevin dying in that fire at your cottage.’
‘I should be mourning my son, but in all honesty I can’t feel anything, just relief that he’s not going to ruin any more lives. I don’t know what sort of man that makes me, but Kevin meant everything to Dolly so it’s no surprise she lost her mind.’
‘As far as I know, she’s hasn’t been told that Kevin died. She lost it before then, and though I can’t get much out of the psychiatrists, it seems she’s in no fit state to be told.’
‘I see,’ Bernie mused, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
‘What are you going to do now?’ Derek asked.
‘Now I know that Pearl’s going to be all right, I’ll disappear again.’
Derek felt a surge of anger. ‘No, Bernie. I know you’re alive now and I’m not prepared to keep up the pretence that you’re dead. John thought the world of you and felt partly to blame when you supposedly took your own life. He needs to know you’re alive, and though it’ll be a shock, he’ll be over the moon.’
Bernie hung his head for a moment, but then said, ‘All right, Derek, for John’s sake I’ll stay, but I might end up in prison.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I didn’t have any life insurance policies, so fraud doesn’t come into it, but I still faked my own death.’
‘From what you’ve told me, you were in fear of your life. Dolly was giving you her drugs and no doubt they played with your mind. In the circumstances, I doubt it’ll come to prison.’
‘I hope you’re right. I’ll get some legal advice, but not until I’ve seen my grandson, and with your permission, Pearl too.’
‘They’re going to be as shocked as me and I think I’ll have to prepare them first,’ Derek told him. ‘Can you come back tomorrow?’
‘Yes, but if I’m spotted, someone might tell the police. I don’t want to be arrested before I’ve seen them.’
‘Bernie, you’re hardly a criminal. All right, you faked your own death, but if anyone recognises you, I doubt it would occur to them to tell the police.’
‘Maybe I am being overcautious, but as I said, I’m not ready to hand myself in yet.’
‘If you’re worried, make it after dark – around nine o’clock. By then I’ll have told John and Pearl.’
‘Yes, all right,’ Bernie agreed.
‘Where did you go after shoving your car over that cliff?’
‘I went to Guernsey. I had money in a numbered account there and didn’t really fancy going abroad.’
‘I should think that’s about the closest you could get to it,’ Derek said.
‘Maybe, but it’s a lovely island.’
They spoke a little more and then Derek showed Bernie out. He went to bed, but found sleep impossible, his mind still unsettled.
At last Derek drifted off; his last thoughts as he did so that he’d tell Pearl about Bernie when he went to see her tomorrow lunchtime. He wouldn’t say anything to John until he’d spoken to her.
Bernie slunk back to the boarding house, and after thinking deeply he woke the next morning with a sense of purpose. What Dolly had tried to do to him still played on his mind and now that he wasn’t going to disappear again, he had to sort something out before handing himself in.
He’d hurt John badly, Bernie knew that, but now the boy’s safety was paramount in his mind.
There had been a train journey first, then a taxi, but at last Bernie walked into the hospital and up to the reception desk. ‘Good morning,’ he said pleasantly. ‘My name is Bernard Dolby and my wife is a patient here. I’d like to speak to her psychiatrist.’
‘What is your wife’s name?’ the middle-aged woman asked.
‘Dolores Dolby, but she’s never used her full name. She’s known as Dolly.’
‘Please take a seat over there,’ she pointed, ‘while I find someone to talk to you.’
Bernie did as she asked and after watching her make an internal call, it wasn’t long before a man appeared.
‘Mr Dolby?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘My name is Doctor Alcott. You had better come to my office,’ he said, leadi
ng Bernie down a corridor and into a room where he sat behind a desk, indicating a chair opposite. Without preamble, he then said, ‘I was given to understand that Mrs Dolby’s husband had died.’
‘My wife was trying to kill me so I had to disappear, but as you can see, I’m very much alive.’
The doctor’s eyes widened imperceptibly. He asked for some proof of identity, and then after opening a folder he scanned it before saying, ‘Mrs Dolby was admitted after an assault on a bank manager, but since then she hasn’t shown any signs of violence.’
‘Yeah, well no doubt you’ve got her on medication again. She’d stopped taking any, and instead she was feeding her pills to me. She’s a dangerous woman and shouldn’t be released.’
‘Mr Dolby, at the moment your wife isn’t responding to treatment, nor is she cognitive. You should talk to the police, and I can assure you that if it’s felt she’s a danger to society, she won’t be released.’
‘I’ll do that, but before I go, can I see her?’
‘It would have to be under supervision.’
‘I’d still like to see her.’
The man pursed his lips for a moment, but then said, ‘Very well, come with me.’
Once again Bernie was following the psychiatrist, this time to a large room where he saw patients sitting on chairs, some rocking back and forth, some mumbling, and others pacing. Surprised, Bernie said, ‘Dolly’s in here?’
‘We felt that putting her amongst other patients might stimulate a response,’ Doctor Alcott said.
Bernie scanned the room and his eyes came to rest on Dolly. She was another one sitting in a chair, but as he drew closer, he saw that her face was void of any animation and her eyes looked vacant.
‘Mrs Dolby, Dolly, there’s someone here to see you,’ Doctor Alcott said.
Bernie crouched down in front of her, ‘Hello, Dolly.’
Nothing, not a flicker of recognition, but then one of the other patients began to play up and a nurse called out to the doctor. ‘I won’t be a moment, Mr Dolby,’ he said.
Bernie felt that he was probably wasting his time, but nevertheless he hoped that somehow his words would get through. ‘Dolly,’ he hissed as soon as the man was out of earshot, ‘Kevin is dead. Did you hear me? Your precious son is dead!’
For a brief moment Bernie thought he saw something in Dolly’s eyes, but then it was gone and there was no other response. Had she heard him? He hoped so. His knees ached from crouching, but before he left, Bernie had one last thing to say. ‘I’m going now, and I won’t be back. Goodbye, Dolly.’
With John at school, and Lucy keeping an eye on Nora, Derek was alone when he arrived at the hospital to see Pearl.
He found her sitting in a chair by the side of her bed, but she rose to her feet when she saw him, her eyes shining as she said, ‘Guess what? I saw the consultant this morning and he said I can come home on Friday.’
‘Pearl, that’s great news,’ he said, and fearful of hurting her back, his hug was gentle. ‘Do you feel all right about coming back to the flat?’
‘Surprisingly, yes, and anyway, I haven’t got a lot of choice. We agreed to abide by Bessie’s will, made it our home now and there’s the shop. I’ve got to take it easy for a while, but Lucy can look after it for me, and I’ve also got to attend outpatients regularly.’
‘I’ll make sure you do, but sit down again, love. I’ve got a bit of news too.’
‘Not bad, I hope.’
‘No, but you’re going to be shocked. I certainly was,’ he said as he drew up another chair. ‘I … err … I had a visitor late last night. You know we thought that Bernie took his own life? Well … err … he didn’t. He’s still alive.’
‘What!’ Pearl cried, her eyes rounding. ‘Who told you? Are they sure?’
‘Bernie was the visitor, love.’
‘Oh my God,’ Pearl gasped. ‘But it was ages ago when he drove over that cliff. How on earth did he survive?’
‘He wasn’t in the car. He faked his death.’
‘But why?’ Pearl asked.
Derek repeated what Bernie had told him, and Pearl listened without interruption, finally saying, ‘So the body they found, or part of one, wasn’t his?’
‘No, it must have been some other poor sod.’
‘Derek, did John see Bernie?’
‘No, he was in bed and asleep. I didn’t tell him this morning, thought it best to speak to you first. I told Bernie not to come back until nine this evening. Now it’s up to you, love. I can tell John when he comes home from school, or wait until we visit you and we can break it to him together.’
‘I think we should do it together, but when he finds out why Bernie faked his own death, I don’t know how he’s going to feel about Dolly.’
‘She has a lot to answer for. John doesn’t know what she did to you either, but I think it’s about time the whole truth came out.’
‘No, Derek,’ Pearl said firmly. ‘That’s all in the past and best left there. John’s had enough to cope with, but at least he’ll have his grandfather back in his life again and I think that’s going to make him very happy.’
‘Yes, I’m sure you’re right, and he’ll be even happier when he hears that you’re coming home on Friday.’
When John came home from school, Derek saw the bruises and his torn school blazer.
‘What happened to you? he asked.
‘I got into a fight. A couple of boys said some nasty things about my mum and I wasn’t going to stand for that.’
‘Fair enough, but try not to make a habit of it,’ Derek said. He’d have done the same and was inwardly proud of John.
‘Is John a naughty boy?’ Nora asked.
‘No, he’s just normal.’
‘I thought you’d go potty, Dad.’
‘I’m in much too good a mood, son,’ Derek said, smiling.
‘Why?’
‘You’ll find out soon enough. For now, get cleaned up, and after dinner we’re off to see your mum.’
‘Me come too?’
‘No, sorry, love, but I’ll take you tomorrow. I’m going to drop you off at Lucy’s and you can play with Clive,’ Derek told her, glad that he’d had the forethought to arrange this with Lucy. He’d only told her that he and Pearl needed to talk to John alone, and thankfully she hadn’t probed.
Later, when they dropped Nora off, she didn’t complain, and soon they were at the hospital. They both hugged Pearl, and then Derek said, ‘Well, what shall we tell John first?’
Pearl smiled. ‘That I’m coming home on Friday.’
‘You are? Mum, that’s great,’ John said beaming with delight.
‘Now you know why I was in such a good mood,’ Derek said as they both sat down.
‘John, we have something else to tell you. It’s good news too, though you’ll be shocked at first. I certainly was,’ Pearl said, but then hesitated as though to gather her thoughts. ‘John, your dad had a visitor last night, and … and … Well, I’ll let him tell you who it was.’
Derek took over, relating the story as he had to Pearl, and though initially stunned, by the time he came to an end, John was clutching Pearl’s hand and blinking back tears.
‘I can’t believe it,’ he gasped.
‘It’s come as a shock to all of us,’ Pearl said, ‘but don’t you think it’s a nice one?’
‘Yes, yes, it’s great … but how could my gran do that to him?’
‘Darling, you have to remember that she’s mentally ill and unstable.’
John nodded, but then his eyes brightened as he looked at Derek. ‘Where is my granddad? I want to see him.’
‘You’ll be doing that not long after we get home. I told him to come round at nine o’clock.’
John looked overjoyed at that, and Derek was looking forward to seeing their reunion. Bernie would still have a few problems to face, interviews with the police and so on, but at least John would have his grandfather back in his life again.
Pearl grinned at him a
nd Derek leaned forward to kiss her. They may have been through hell, but they’d come out the other side able to smile again. ‘I love you, Mrs Lewis.’
‘And I love you,’ she whispered back.
Derek squeezed her free hand, feeling as though a new chapter was beginning. Pearl would be home soon and they had the rest of their lives to look forward to – a life he hoped would be filled with love and laughter.
Acknowledgements
To Georgina Baskerville, for kindly suggesting the character Adrianna, and sparking my imagination.
Also to Judith Broadbent, a journalist and kindred spirit whom I met when she travelled to Spain to join us in a charity event in aid of Help for Heroes.
And not forgetting my husband for his support while I’m writing, along with checking the manuscript; and my daughter, Samantha Hurren, who brings so much sunshine into my life.
About the Author
Kitty Neale was raised in South London and this working class area became the inspiration for her novels. In the 1980s she moved to Surrey with her husband and two children, but in 1998 there was a catalyst in her life when her son died, aged just 27.
After working for 2 years with other bereaved parents in a support group, Kitty took up writing as a form of catharsis, and now lives in Spain with her husband.
By the same author:
Sins of the Father
Family Betrayal
Desperate Measures
Lost and Found
Forgotten Child
Lost Angel
Mother’s Ruin
Copyright
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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