Dream a Little Dream

by Joan Jonker

  Robert was uncompromising. He too had lain awake all night, and his thoughts had been with his two youngest children and Maureen. And as the night wore on, he had become determined that two foolish people, who were both out to satisfy themselves, were not going to spoil the happiness of the three people he loved most. ‘Under any other circumstances, George, I would say they got themselves into this mess, let them decide how best to get out of it. But they are not the only ones to consider – there is also an innocent child. And I would not want any grandchild of mine to bear the stigma of being a bastard.’

  This was something neither George nor his wife had considered. ‘It would also be my grandchild, Robert, don’t forget.’

  ‘I am well aware of that, and you are entitled to your own views on the matter. But I had to make my personal feelings known. For myself, I have to be truthful on all counts. I do not think Charles and Victoria would make good parents, they are both too selfish and too vain. But even a bad father is better than no father.’

  George took a while to consider this. Robert was right, of course; even Annabel would have to agree that their grandchild should not be born out of wedlock. ‘What about this idea of them eloping to Gretna Green? Are you in favour of it?’

  ‘It won’t stop tongues wagging in the long run, but at least they would be married and the child would bear the Chisholm name.’

  For a year or so now, George had been hoping his wayward son would settle down and eventually produce not only a grandchild for he and Annabel to love, but also an heir to the business. ‘I believe that is the best solution. I can’t say I’m overjoyed that things have worked out like this, or that I would have chosen your daughter as a proper wife for Charles. But we can’t turn the clock back so there’s nothing to be gained by saying what we would have liked. Shall we agree, then, Robert, to urge them to elope to Scotland as soon as possible? I believe they have to be in residence in the area for a certain period before they will be allowed to marry.’

  ‘There is another important detail we must discuss,’ Robert said, ‘and that is where they will live. I will not, under any circumstances, allow them to live under my roof.’

  The Chisholms’ home was nearly twice the size of the Dennisons’, but George knew no building was large enough to house both Annabel and Victoria. Certainly not in the present circumstances. Perhaps when the baby was born his wife might be more tolerant. ‘I agree that they should not live with either of us. I shall buy them a house which will serve until my son begins to earn enough to choose their own. As you are in the furniture business, would you be prepared to provide suitable furniture?’

  Robert nodded, the knots in his tummy beginning to unwind. ‘I will supply furniture, carpets and window drapes. Also ornaments, mirrors and paintings. And I will continue with Victoria’s allowance for six months to enable them to settle in.’ He emptied the glass before meeting and holding George’s eyes. ‘There is one more thing I would like to do, if you have no objection. I know my daughter will have no patience with a baby, and will soon tire of the novelty. So I would like to be the one to choose a nanny once the child is born. Someone kind, caring and loving. Three virtues sadly lacking in Victoria, which every child needs for a happy childhood. Would that meet with your approval?’

  ‘I would be grateful. And now I think the things we have discussed should be passed on to the two people concerned without delay. As soon as you leave, I will instruct one of my men to seek out any houses on the market he feels suitable. With a bit of luck this sorry business could soon be behind us, with our children married and living in their own home. It could be achieved in a couple of weeks if a house became available that is in good condition. I presume you will have no problem supplying the furniture?’

  ‘I could have all the furniture required in a day or two. It will be my choice, but that is unavoidable as I have no intention of asking Victoria to view that which I have in stock. She, and Charles, should consider themselves very lucky.’

  ‘They won’t have any choice in the residence, either, because that will be my choice. And I agree with you, they should consider themselves lucky. If they don’t they can bore each other stiff with moans and complaints.’ As Robert rose from his chair, George asked, ‘By the way, is your wife upset about this whole sorry mess?’

  Robert shook his head. ‘I would say she is delighted, George. You see, Edwina is an even bigger snob than Victoria, and equally as cold-hearted. Her daughter marrying a Chisholm will delight her no end. She won’t feel any shame that it is a shotgun wedding, for she wouldn’t allow shame to discommode her.’ He placed his bowler firmly on his head at the angle that was the most comfortable, and was pulling on his gloves when he remembered his manners. ‘George, I want to thank you for making this interview as painless as possible.’ He offered his hand and returned the strong handshake. ‘I appreciate the stance you have taken.’

  ‘Let me tell you something, Robert, that may ease your mind a little. Victoria was a virgin before my son got his hands on her. You could have come in here like a raging bull.’

  Relaxed enough now to smile, Robert said, ‘It’s a good job we both know our children are not angels. Anyway, I’ll go straight home now and pass on what we have decided. I would suggest that Charles should visit Victoria this afternoon and make arrangements for the journey to Scotland. The sooner it is over, the better.’

  ‘Yes, that’s one appointment I’ll make sure he keeps. And Robert, I’ll contact you as soon as a suitable house has been found. We’ll keep in touch, eh?’

  ‘Of course. None of this is our making, so there’s no earthly reason why there should be a change in our friendship. Goodbye for now, George, or as my old mam used to say, ta-ra.’

  Long after Robert left the office, George was still thinking of him. Asking himself how anyone as sound and honest as Robert Dennison had ended up with a wife and daughter who were cold-hearted, humourless and wicked. Then he remembered his own son wasn’t exactly perfect. But at least he himself had a loving wife to snuggle up to in bed at night. He doubted Robert had even that.

  Robert opened the drawing-room door and poked his head in. He ignored Victoria and nodded to his wife. ‘I want to speak to you upstairs, Edwina, now!’ He disappeared before she could protest, and there was little she could do but follow.

  ‘Sit down, please, and listen to what I’ve got to say.’ Robert quickly told what the outcome of his meeting with George had been. ‘Charles will be here this afternoon and he and Victoria will make arrangements to travel to Gretna Green. They will need to stay there a few days before being married.’

  There was a sly look on Edwina’s face. It was working out just as she’d hoped. But she still wasn’t satisfied. ‘I want to view any house George Chisholm finds. It might not be suitable or to our taste. So would you inform him of my wishes, please.’

  ‘You can go to hell, Edwina. Victoria will take what she’s given and be grateful. And if you try to rock the boat I will guarantee George Chisholm will withdraw his offer and wash his hands of the whole affair. He’ll pull the rug from under your feet, and rightly so.’ Robert stared hard at his wife of twenty-five years. There was no emotion in his heart for her, not even pity. ‘Am I to understand you will be moving out to live with Victoria?’

  ‘Yes, of course I am. You don’t think I’d stay here once she leaves, do you?’

  ‘Oh, I hope not, Edwina. With the two of you gone, this house will become a proper home and I can’t wait for the day. Now pass all the news on to your daughter, and warn her if she asks for more, she’ll end up with nothing. And so will you.’ He knew he was being childish but she’d hurt him so much over the years he couldn’t resist adding, ‘You could even end up back in Arthur Street. You remember Arthur Street, don’t you, Edie? The street you were born in and where your mother and father still live?’

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  ‘Mr Nigel, yer father said when yer’ve hung yer clothes up, will yer go straight to the stud
y, he wants a word with yer.’ The housekeeper kept her back to him, stirring a pot with a huge wooden ladle. ‘And Miss Abbie, she came in five minutes ago, so she’ll beat yer to the study.’

  Nigel raised his brows at her. ‘Is it good news, Agnes?’

  She pulled a face and shrugged her shoulders. It wasn’t up to her to tell him the best news she’d had in years. Much as she’d like to shout it from the roof-tops. ‘I wouldn’t know, Mr Nigel, yer’ll have to get yer skates on and find out.’

  Nigel raced up the stairs, threw his coat and leather briefcase on the bed and was out of the room and back down the stairs in seconds. He knocked on the study door then poked his head in to see Abbie sitting facing their dad. She looked happy and was telling him how her typing speed had increased since he bought her the typewriter.

  ‘Bragging again, are you?’ Nigel closed the door behind him and sat on the edge of the desk. ‘There’ll be no stopping her soon, Dad, she’ll be taking over from us.’

  His sister smiled at him. ‘That’s the idea, brother dear. You’ll have to watch yourself when I join the firm.’

  ‘Can I ask you to be serious for a short while? I have something to tell you.’ Robert didn’t know of an easy way to tell them, only what was the truth. ‘Your sister, Victoria, is marrying Charles Chisholm, and they’ve eloped to Scotland.’

  There was a deadly silence for a few seconds, then Nigel studied his father’s face to see if there was a hint he was pulling their legs. But he could read nothing from his expression. ‘I don’t think you’re joking, are you, Dad?’

  ‘It’s hardly something I would joke about, son. No, they left this morning and will be away about ten days. When they return they will be man and wife.’

  Abbie was leaning forward, her eyes wide. ‘But why? Why didn’t she tell us?’

  ‘When people elope, Abbie, the general idea is not to tell anyone. But people who elope usually do so because their parents won’t agree to the marriage.’

  Nigel looked puzzled. ‘I don’t understand, Dad. Why couldn’t they wait and have a proper wedding?’

  ‘It was their choice,’ Robert said. ‘And ours is not to reason why. Your mother and I have known since Sunday, and of course Charles’s parents were told at the same time. His father has instructed one of his managers to seek a suitable house for them, and indeed, this morning George rang me to say there are two available which we will both view tomorrow.’

  ‘You mean Victoria will not be coming back to live here?’ Abbie asked.

  ‘If a suitable house is found for them, then no, Victoria will not be coming back here. George is buying them the house as a wedding present, and I have promised to furnish it. We hope to have everything finalised before their return.’

  ‘Mother won’t be too happy about that, will she?’ Nigel said. ‘She will miss Victoria very much.’ He didn’t say what was really in his mind, that the only one in the house their mother had any feelings for, was his older sister. ‘Is she very upset?’

  ‘On the contrary, your mother is delighted. You see, she is going to live with them.’

  ‘I’ve got to say, Dad, I find it very odd.’ Nigel couldn’t believe what he was hearing was true. ‘I didn’t even think they were courting seriously. Victoria had designs on Charles, anyone could see that. But he is so fond of the women I thought it would be years before he finally decided to settle down.’

  ‘Nigel, no one was more surprised than I.’ Robert shook his head. ‘No, that’s not true, George and Annabel Chisholm were very surprised, to say the least. Still, it was Victoria’s and Charles’s choice, and they are the ones who will have to live together. Whether Charles realises he’s taking on my wife as well, I don’t know. But somehow I think that is one surprise still in store for him.’

  ‘Have you no objection to Mother leaving?’ Abbie asked in a low voice, not wanting her beloved father to be hurt. ‘Did she ask if you would allow her to leave?’

  ‘When has my wife ever asked my permission for anything? We haven’t even been civil to each other for years. But I certainly have no objection to either her or Victoria leaving this house. To say otherwise would be hypocritical.’

  ‘I understand, Dad,’ Nigel said, a picture of that lonely single bed flashing before his eyes. ‘Perhaps I shouldn’t say it about my own mother and sister, but I believe this house will be a lot happier without them.’

  ‘I’m not going to pretend, either,’ Abbie admitted. ‘There’s been nothing normal about our lives for as long as I can remember. I haven’t seen my friend Rowena since I left school as I’ve been afraid to invite her here because of Mother. And while I’m always made welcome at the Jamiesons’, I couldn’t be sure Milly would get the same welcome here. Even though Mother and Mrs Jamieson knew each other well when we were young and lived down there. And that’s no way of living, is it, Dad, when you can’t even invite your friends home? I don’t know why Mother and Victoria are the way they are, but they’ve spoilt my life since we came to live here.’

  ‘I know, my dear, and I blame myself for that. I should have put my foot down years ago. But in ten days’ time, please God, you will be able to invite all your friends. I want to see your grandparents here so they can sit in the garden and enjoy Pete’s labours. Milly, Bobby and their families you must invite whenever you like. And I can’t forget my friend and colleague of many years, Jeff. He’s only been here three or four times in the ten years we’ve lived here. He didn’t have to tell me why he began to make excuses for not coming, I didn’t need telling. You see, he knew your mother as Edie Brady, a nice-looking, happy girl who lived in the same street. He liked Edie Brady, but he couldn’t stomach the Edwina Dennison she became. It will be a proud day for me when he and his family sit at my table. And I have another friend who has always lent me a sympathetic ear; they will always be welcome.’

  Abbie jumped to her feet and put her arms around him. ‘You’re not upset, are you, Dad?’

  ‘No, I am not upset. To tell the truth, I am relieved. I seem to have been living on a knife-edge for years, trying to keep the peace and holding back what I really wanted to say. I know now I was wrong. I should have been more masterful, protected you more and made sure you were living in the sort of happy environment all normal children should have and are entitled to. But you must have known your mother wasn’t easy to live with. And I was so weary of the constant bickering and arguing, I threw myself into building up the business hoping the money I was bringing in would buy you the best, to make up for what was lacking in your lives. But all it brought was misery for you, and myself. And it went to your mother’s head, unfortunately, taking her into a fantasy world of makebelieve. She refuses to admit she has ever been poor, and, sad to say, she had a willing ally in Victoria.’

  ‘I’m glad they are both leaving,’ Abbie said defiantly. She’d suffered their taunts and snide remarks for as long as she could remember, just because she didn’t want to be as snobbish as they were. ‘Nigel and I will have you all to ourselves and we’ll spoil you rotten. You’ll see, in another ten days, how happy we’ll be.’

  ‘I’m sure I will, my dear. And now the divorce is under way, your mother should be out of my life within the next eighteen months. Then I can put the past behind me and start again.’

  ‘You’ll find yourself someone nice, Dad, someone to make you happy. You’re a very handsome man, and the women will be after you.’

  ‘I think not, Abbie, the days of courting are over for me. I need someone who loves me and will be there to listen to my ups and downs, who will be a good mother to you and Nigel and make our home a warm and cheerful place. A place and a woman we will be glad to come home to after a day’s work. Then I’ll be a happy and contented man.’

  Nigel had only been half-listening to the conversation. He wasn’t swallowing the story as Abbie was, being convinced there was more to the situation than met the eye. But he wasn’t going to express his doubts to his father because no matter what the truth of the m
atter was, his dad was better off without either his mother or sister. ‘Dad, does Agnes know?’

  ‘Yes, of course she had to be told because of the meals, and Victoria’s empty bedroom. Besides, I look on Agnes as a friend whom I know I can trust to confide in. Kitty and Jessie have also been told. I would love to have heard the conversation in the kitchen this morning – I bet the air was blue. But although they certainly had no reason to like your mother or sister, I bet things were said in fun, not malice.’ Robert smiled. ‘Now, poppy off and get ready for dinner.’

  ‘You go, Abbie, I want a quick word with Dad. You wouldn’t be interested, it’s only about something that happened in work.’

  Once his sister had closed the door behind her, Nigel looked at his father. ‘It’s nothing to do with work, Dad, I only said that to get Abbie out of the way. It’s a personal thing I wanted to talk about, but if you’ve enough on your mind it will keep until another day.’

  ‘Nonsense, I will always have time to listen to you. What is it?’

  ‘It’s about Bobby. I can’t teach him any more now, he’s an excellent driver. He’d been hoping his boss would promote him to a van driver, so he could earn better wages, but the man turned him down flat, saying he needed a driver skilled in heavy goods vehicles and he wasn’t about to spend time and money on letting one of the drivers teach him. Bobby was so disappointed, Dad, and I wondered if you had any ideas?’

  ‘You couldn’t have picked a better time to ask, because I might have an opening for him in the next week or so. I’m waiting for the delivery of a new removal van, and the driver will need a second man to help with the furniture. There’s no reason why he wouldn’t allow Bobby at the wheel when he thought it convenient and safe.’ When his son didn’t agree right away, Robert asked, ‘You don’t think that would go down well with Bobby? Perhaps he’d prefer to stay on at Owen Peck’s?’

  Nigel pursed his lips and blew out a low whistle. ‘This puts me in a very difficult position, I’m afraid. To do a good turn for two people I think the world of, I would have to betray their confidence. You see, each of them asked me not to repeat what they’d told me, and they might never forgive me if they found out.’