by June Francis
‘Exactly! And it’s possible their womenfolk might have already persuaded them to strip off and get rid of what they were wearing.’ Sam frowned. ‘I’m off.’
‘Keep me posted,’ Tim shouted after Sam as he went through a doorway, calling out a few orders.
Tim was aware of a sense of anti-climax, then he remembered he needed to take care of Fang as well as go to the hospital. Even if he was not allowed to see Michael, he could ask after him before going on to visit Marjorie. It was at this point that Tim wished anew he had the use of a vehicle. Was it possible the works van was parked round the back, or even in the next street? He expressed his thanks to the sergeant and constable for their assistance and then left to look for the works van, glad that it had not been parked in the garage.
He found the van parked round the back and was relieved that he had ordered a spare set of keys, which he had kept himself in case Michael happened to misplace his set. He opened the door on the driver’s side and managed to climb up into the van without too much difficulty, having placed Fang in the well of the van on the passenger side first. He sat unmoving for a few moments just gazing at the steering wheel, gearstick, and the instrument panel, before doing what had once been almost as natural as breathing to him, and drove off in the direction of Smithdown Road. Fortunately he had renewed his driving licence as soon as he had decided to teach Michael to drive.
It was as he had thought – he was not allowed to see Michael – but he had left a note for Tim, which was passed over to him. He did not read it until he was back in the van; when he did so there were tears in his eyes, because Michael’s thoughts were not for himself at all but for his wife and his siblings and even for Fang.
As Tim parked outside Marjorie’s mother’s house, he felt a mixture of satisfaction and apprehension. Fang whined as he climbed out of the van so Tim walked round to the other side, opened the passenger door and patted the dog on the head. ‘I’ll be back soon,’ he said.
Then he walked up the path, aware that a curtain twitched in the front window. The door opened before he could knock and Marjorie stood in the doorway, an anxious expression on her comely face. ‘What’s happened?’ she asked, her voice choking.
‘Can I come in?’ asked Tim.
‘Of course,’ she held the door wide and stood to one side.
Tim stepped over the threshold and followed her into a back room.
Adele got up from the sofa. ‘Is Michael all right?’
‘He’ll be all right. There was a break-in at the garage. Michael was hit over the head but he’d already regained consciousness before I got there. It was Michael who phoned me to tell me what had happened.’
‘Where is Michael?’ asked Marjorie, sitting down.
Her mother put an arm around her shoulders and invited Tim to be seated.
He did so and briefly told them the gist of what had happened.
Marjorie wept quietly and her mother patted her shoulder. ‘There, there, duck. He’s all right. He’ll be sitting with you here tomorrow evening.’
‘I know,’ said Marjorie. ‘But he’s going to be out of a job. What will we do for money? What with the baby, we need every penny.’
‘Don’t you be worrying about money for the baby. I’ve a little nest egg tucked away,’ said Adele.
Tim groaned inwardly, thinking that he could not see Michael being happy to be dependent on his mother-in-law for financial support for his little family. He had been so proud of having a job and being able to do that himself. But Marjorie was right about him being out of a job. There was no way the garage could be used as a motor repair business as things stood. He could not chance putting Michael’s life at risk. He was going to lose money as it was and, although there could be some insurance money, it would take time to sort matters out.
He would also have to replace the customer’s car that had been damaged, and he wanted to do what he could for the young couple. He proposed paying Michael sick money until he was completely well again. He would also try and help Michael get a job in another garage if that was what Michael wanted until he felt it was safe to start up in business again. For now he would reassure Marjorie that Michael would be paid for at least a month.
Tim aimed to discuss matters with the lad as soon as possible. For now he needed to be on his way. Hopefully Jerry was still in the Land of Nod, unaware that Tim was absent. He said his farewells to Marjorie and her mother and made his way to the van, only remembering when he climbed into the driving seat that he still had to see to Fang. He would have to take him to a vet, but that would have to wait until morning. Hopefully Mrs Hudson wouldn’t mind having a dog under her roof for now.
‘Poor boy,’ he whispered, stroking the dog before starting the engine.
There were lights on in the lobby and his sitting room, but all was quiet as he put his latchkey in the lock and opened the front door. He was trying to make as little noise as he could, but he knew he would have to let Mrs Hudson know he had returned, so really there was little point in worrying too much about it. He opened the door to his sitting room and saw his landlady on the sofa, where she had been lying with a blanket over her. She sat up and looked at the clock on the mantelshelf.
‘Just gone midnight,’ she whispered. ‘Time I was in bed. There hasn’t been a peep out of Jerry. Did you sort out everything you were wanted for?’
‘As much as I could. I had to bring my dog home. The garage was broken into and he was injured.’
‘Poor doggie. He can stay here as long as he keeps off the furniture and doesn’t go making messes. You’ll need to brush the carpet every day, otherwise you’ll never get rid of the dog hairs. I’ll find you a cardboard box for him to sleep in.’
‘Will do,’ said Tim, understanding that the old woman had to think about the future when he and Jerry moved out and she would want to let the apartment to another tenant. He was relieved that she hadn’t said the dog couldn’t stay.
‘Was much taken?’ she asked on returning with the box.
‘No, they wrecked the place and poured fuel everywhere, but the worst thing was that they knocked Michael out. He was only saved by the bobby on the beat turning up and frightening them off before they could start a fire.’
‘That’s terrible. Will Michael be all right?’
‘Yes, I’m sure he will. He has been taken to hospital, though, just to make sure all is OK.’
‘Well, I’ll say a prayer for him,’ said Mrs Hudson. ‘It’ll come as a shock to the family next door.’
Tim agreed, thinking he would let Lucia know what had happened first thing tomorrow. What he needed now was a good night’s sleep, although it would be a miracle if he was able to nod off with all that was going on in his head. But first he had to tend Fang’s wound. While he did so, uppermost in his mind was who could have informed those released from prison that he was still involved with the garage business. Maybe it could have been one of the two men in the car that had almost hit them on Boxing Day?
When he did finally fall asleep, it was to dream of masked dark dancing figures silhouetted against leaping flames, and through all this he could hear barking and Michael shouting for help. Only Tim couldn’t reach him, and he woke in a sweat, but within minutes he remembered that Michael was alive, and so was Fang, whose yelping he could now hear.
Tim felt something land on his bed and a voice in his ear said, ‘Dad, what’s Fang doing here? He’s wearing a bandage. How did he get hurt?’
‘Get off the bed!’ ordered Tim. ‘Let me get up! I’ve a lot to see to today.’
‘But you haven’t answered my question – and I’m going to have to go to school.’
‘As soon as you’re dressed, go next door and tell Lucia I need to speak to her.’
‘OK, is it about Fang?’
‘You’ll know soon enough.’
‘I’ll put more water in his bowl,’ said Jerry.
‘Good lad! But he’ll need to be put outside for a piddle.’
‘But
he’s hurt,’ Jerry said. ‘And he’s too heavy for me to lift.’
‘I’ll do it.’ Tim dived into his clothes and carried Fang out to the garden in his bare feet. He stood watching the dog and, as soon as he had relieved himself, Tim cleaned up after Fang and flushed the mess down the outside lavatory. He removed the bandage and was inspecting the dog’s wound and telling him he was a good dog when a head popped over the fence and a feminine voice asked, ‘Is that you, Tim?’
He gazed in Lucia’s direction. ‘Who else? I have something to tell you that you’re not going to like.’
‘It can’t be about the dog because I like dogs.’
‘Perhaps I should come round and tell you,’ Tim said.
‘Why, is it that bad you think I might faint? Is it to do with Jerry?’
‘No, it’s Michael.’
Lucia’s fingers clenched on the picket fence. ‘What’s happened? Have you sacked him?’
‘No, just be quiet and listen.’ Tim told her everything that had happened last evening in a voice that quivered slightly.
‘You swear that he’s all right?’ said Lucia in a tight voice, her arms wrapped round her as if she was feeling cold.
‘I swear. I’m confident he’ll be sent home today. There’s nothing stopping you phoning the hospital, though. You’re family, so they’re bound to tell you how he is. Or you could phone Marjorie; no doubt she’ll have already been in touch with the hospital.’
‘I’ll do that,’ Lucia said.
‘Lucia!’ he called her back. ‘Don’t take this amiss, but I’m thinking that perhaps we should keep some distance between us. It seems I’m a dangerous person to get too close to.’
She almost burst out that she was prepared to take the risk, but instead said, ‘If that’s what you want, but what about Jerry? Won’t he still want to go to school with Joseph and to play with him?’
‘There’s a thought – but I should think they’ll be all right. Those responsible must have sussed out that I was still involved with the garage and decided to get at me there. Anyway, I’ve been in touch with Detective Inspector Walker, so he’s working on the case.’
‘I’m relieved to hear it,’ Lucia said. ‘Now I’ll have to get a move on.’ She was about to say ‘see you later’ when she remembered he wouldn’t be calling round. She went indoors quickly, feeling near to tears.
Lucia phoned the hospital after all and was reassured as to her brother’s wellbeing. She was feeling more herself by the time she arrived at the coffee bar but, as she explained to Maggie and Josh what had happened the previous day, she could see that they were as shocked as she had been.
‘Crime certainly doesn’t pay,’ said Maggie.
‘No, but Tim is doing his best to put the past behind him and go straight,’ Lucia retorted. ‘And he was really upset about Michael.’
‘Understandable,’ said Josh. ‘Remember me getting coshed by Monica’s uncle as a way of getting back at me for my throwing him out of here for slapping her?’
‘I’ll never forget it,’ said Maggie. ‘I thought you might die.’
‘I’ve a hard skull. Anyway Sam Walker was soon on the case and put him behind bars.’
‘Tim told me that DI Walker is involved in this one too,’ Lucia said.
‘Well, he’ll catch them and they’ll get their just deserts,’ said Josh.
Lucia found comfort in those words. She put her worries behind her and got on with her work, looking forward to summer and the arrival of Aunt Babs.
During the weeks that followed she saw little of Tim, despite Chris informing her via Nick that those responsible for wrecking the garage and injuring Michael and Fang had been caught. If he had not told her first, she would have had it from Michael who was a witness at the trial. She was hurt that Tim had not been in touch, but came to the conclusion that he had decided to carry on keeping his distance. It was from Jerry that she learned that his father had finished his book, but that the publisher wanted some rewrites. She presumed that they were not happy with the ending.
Whit weekend arrived. Nellie handed two bags over to Lucia containing several frocks for Gabrielle, which had once fitted Nellie’s daughters. They showed little wear, despite being second-hand, and Lucia was extremely grateful. When she was a girl, her mother had always seen to it that Lucia and Theresa had new frocks for Easter, Whit and Christmas. Lucia longed to be able to do the same for her sisters, but it was beyond her pocket. Decent hand-me-downs were the next best thing.
One bright morning, towards the end of June, when Lucia arrived at Nellie’s house, the front door was opened by her aunt Babs. Lucia had not expected to see her so early in the day and, although she knew that she could not linger as she did not want to be late for work, she stayed long enough to meet Babs’s mother-in-law, who had blue-rinsed hair and was smartly dressed. Lucia felt slightly in awe of her and, having little time to get better acquainted with her at that moment, carried away with her an image of a haughty rich American matron, as seen in many a film on the silver screen.
Lucia arrived at the coffee bar to be greeted by a smiling Maggie with the words, ‘What’s wrong with your face?’
‘Aunt Babs has arrived from America, I saw her at Aunt Nellie’s.’
‘I thought you couldn’t wait for her to come,’ Maggie said.
‘I couldn’t. But don’t you remember me telling you that she was bringing her mother-in-law with her? Well, she did, and I’m thinking already that she’s not going to approve of me or the kids.’
‘Why?’
‘Just the way she looks and her manner.’
‘How does she look?’
‘Posh! She looked down her nose at me.’
‘Maybe she can’t help that – she’s probably nervous. After all, she’s come all the way from America and is having to cope with meeting Babs’s kinsfolk, who are all strangers to her.’
‘She comes over as being standoffish, but I bet she’s used to meeting all kinds of people without it bothering her.’
‘I bet she won’t have met many Liverpudlians, and there are those who think we’re a rough lot. She may be a bit shy. And she’s had sadness in her life, hasn’t she? Babs is a widow, which means her mother-in-law has lost her son. It could be that she hasn’t yet got over her loss and coming here is a big deal for her.’
‘I hadn’t thought of that,’ said Lucia.
‘If she’s had boys and has grandsons, then I’m sure she’ll soon get accustomed to your brothers. By the way, I’ve something to tell you that means I’ll probably need you to come in a bit earlier mornings,’ said Maggie, with an air of suppressed excitement.
Lucia stared at her. ‘You’re having a baby.’
‘How did you guess?’
‘I’ve been wondering when it would happen – and it’s the only thing I could imagine you getting excited about. I suppose you’re suffering from morning sickness and that’s why you’d like me here earlier?’
‘It would help, and you could knock off earlier unless we’re really busy.’
‘No problem,’ said Lucia.
Twelve
Lucia was pleased when Irene, Tim’s sister-in-law, turned up an hour later with her little boy. Lucia asked after her husband, Tim’s brother, Marty, and his little girl, Josie, and also whether they had seen anything of Tim.
‘I’m surprised at you asking about Tim when you live right next door to him,’ said Irene.
‘We don’t meet often,’ Lucia said, remembering how – not so long ago – Tim’s plan had been for them to see more of each other. ‘After what happened at the garage, he thought it best if he kept his distance. He didn’t want any more of my family getting hurt.’
‘Thoughtful of him,’ mused Irene. ‘Shame, though, because Marty thinks you and your family are good for him and Jerry.’
‘Jerry still comes round to play with Joseph. We didn’t think it fair to interfere with their friendship.’
‘Too right! Anyway, sorry to disappoint yo
u, but we have seen hardly anything of Tim. Maybe he’s busy rewriting his book. I did hear that the publisher wasn’t completely happy with it.’
Lucia was in the middle of saying she knew that when Maggie came over, so she took Irene’s order and left the two older women to catch up on each other’s news.
When Lucia dropped in on Nellie later that day, it was to discover her siblings in the back garden, having afternoon tea.
‘What are you all doing here?’ Lucia asked.
‘Tony dropped by and told us Aunt Babs was here,’ said Theresa. ‘Gabrielle immediately nagged me to come and see her straightaway.’
Lucia looked to where Gabrielle was sitting cross-legged on the grass by Babs’s mother-in-law’s deckchair, holding up her Barbie doll to her. She wondered if she should go over and tell her sister not to be bothering her. Then she saw the middle-aged woman smile and speak to Gabrielle, so Lucia stayed where she was, thinking that perhaps Gabrielle might be good for her.
Nellie beckoned Lucia over and asked her to come into the kitchen as she had something to tell her, so Lucia followed her aunt indoors. She was thinking surely it couldn’t be anything upsetting because Nellie was looking pleased.
‘What’s this about?’ asked Lucia, as her aunt put the kettle on.
Nellie said, ‘I thought I’d better prepare you for when Babs approaches you with a scheme she has.’
‘What kind of scheme?’ Lucia asked, looking puzzled.
‘Perhaps I’d better explain: Babs has always wanted to give you a helping hand with the children since she first heard about our Lottie and David’s accident.’
‘I never expected her help,’ said Lucia. ‘What with her being a widow and living in America.’
‘Well, her mind remained fixed on helping you, and it just needs you and me to agree to her plan.’
‘What is it?’
‘You won’t find it easy, but you’ve got to think about whether it would turn out best for the children.’
‘Aunt Nellie, will you stop keeping me in suspense? Cut the cackle and get to the point?’
‘She wants to take two of the children to live with her in America.’
