by David Barry
Nigel grinned suddenly, and his eyes lit up mischievously. ‘As long as he doesn’t find salvation at the church we attend.’
***
Mary had just got the children to bed when the phone rang. She hurried to answer it, thinking it might be Dave to see if she had arrived safely. It was Ronnie.
‘Just got the kids to bed, sweetheart?’
She felt herself grow numb with fear.
‘You there, sweetheart? I hope you liked the song. Our song. Remember?’
Mary’s voice was hoarse once she started to speak. ‘Ronnie, can’t you get it into your head, we are finished. A long time ago.’
‘Oh come on, sweetheart. I saw the way you looked at me, when I came round. Like you was in love all over again. Loads of couples realise they’ve made a mistake by splitting up. And I can’t get you out of my mind. You can’t deny we had something special going for us.’ His voice dropped to a whisper. ‘And tonight, I know you’ll be lying in bed thinking of me. But I’ll be with you sweetheart. I’ll be right by your side. I don’t mind if you touch yourself, in those places you liked to be touched by me. Goodnight, sweetheart. I’ll be there with you.’
She was about to hang up, but Ronnie anticipated it and the line went dead. She stood in the hall, numb with shock and fear, wondering what to do next. She stared at the telephone, wondering how soon she could get the number changed.
Thirty
Vanessa and Nicky sat at the kitchen table, their postures signifying boredom. Vanessa actually yawned noisily, which irritated Jackie.
‘You might make more of an effort,’ she snapped, her voice husky from tension.
‘Effort?’ questioned Vanessa, giving her mother a confused frown. ‘What are we supposed to do? Jump up and down?’
Nicky giggled.
‘You might at least say something nice.’ Jackie’s voice rose a notch. ‘Something encouraging, instead of just sitting there criticising.’
‘I haven’t said a word,’ Vanessa said.
‘Exactly.’
Nicky looked at her sister and grinned. ‘We can’t win.’
Jackie glanced at the microwave clock. ‘Nigel’s cutting it fine. We’re supposed to be at the registry office in less than an hour. And we’ve got to find somewhere to park.’
‘Maybe he’s done a bunk,’ said Nicky. Then, seeing the pain in her mother’s eyes, added: ‘Only joking. He’s probably stuck in traffic.’
Vanessa grinned maliciously. ‘Yes, Tunbridge Wells is the car jam capital of the south east. He could be gone hours.’
Jackie ignored this obvious wind-up, walked over to the sink, squeezed out the dishcloth and wiped the draining board, which already gleamed from her recent state of obsessive cleaning and tidying. Vanessa recognised her mother’s behaviour as an obvious displacement activity, and felt slightly guilty for the attempted inappropriate tease.
‘When is his son due here?’ she said.
‘Well, he should have been here by now. Nigel’s picking him up at Tonbridge station, because there’s more choice of trains.’
‘What happens if the trains are delayed?’ said Nicky.
‘Then we’ll just have to get married without him,’ said Jackie more forcefully than she intended.
A key rattled in the front door. Vanessa, frowning, stared at her mother. ‘Since when has he had his own front door key?’
Jackie glared at Vanessa. ‘Since I agreed to marry him,’ she hissed.
‘He’s always rung the doorbell before.’
‘Yes, well, now things are different. So you’d better get used to it.’
Nigel came into the kitchen, wearing an expensive suit with a red carnation in the buttonhole. His eyes looked tired, bloodshot and hurt.
‘Darling! What’s wrong,’ said Jackie, fearing the worst.
‘Martin’s not coming. He called me on my mobile. Said he couldn’t make it. Something unexpected has turned up the last minute.’
‘Oh, darling. I’m sorry.’
‘Yes, well, you’d think he could have made an effort.’ Nigel waved his hands about helplessly. ‘And why didn’t he call me at home. Why did he have to wait until I got to the station, almost as if it was deliberate?’
Jackie tried to sound sympathetic, but she was more concerned for her own situation as the impending marriage drew closer. ‘I’m sure it couldn’t be helped. Can’t he make the wedding breakfast either?’
Nigel shrugged.
‘Shame,’ said Vanessa. ‘I was dying to meet him.’
Nicky sniggered. ‘You’d go for anything in trousers.’
Vanessa smiled knowingly. ‘Or even without trousers.’
‘Especially without trousers,’ added Nicky.
‘I think we’d better be off,’ said Jackie, hastily.
***
Clutching a small, plastic bag containing a sweet treat from Marks & Spencer’s, Marjorie dashed indoors to answer the telephone before the caller hung up. It was her friend Freda, ringing with gossip about her neighbour, who had just been prosecuted for indecent exposure in Dunorlan Park.
‘Guess what I’ve just heard,’ she began. ‘You know the family who moved into your old house, Robbie and Angela Barings...’
Getting no response, other than heavy breathing, Freda stopped to ask: ‘You all right, Marj?’
Marjorie felt her whole body pounding, like a pulse beating out a giant rhythm . ‘It’s that hill,’ she wheezed. ‘It’s really done me in.’
Freda, who had always been jealous of her friend’s change of circumstances, couldn’t resist the opportunity to get in a friendly dig. ‘Serves you right for hob-nobbing with all them rich people.’
‘It’s not our fault, Freda. We inherited it.’
‘Well, if you’re not happy, you could always sell it.’
‘I might just do that, after the baby’s born.’
‘Does Ted know?’
‘Not yet.’
Freda chuckled. ‘Poor sod’s not got much say in it, I don’t s’pose.’
‘Well, it is my house, Freda.’
‘That’s what I mean.’
Marjorie placed a hand on her stomach and rubbed gently. ‘Still, there’ll be plenty of time to think about that after it’s born.’
Freda cackled dirtily. ‘Fancy Ted getting you up the duff at your age. He’s a dark horse, that one. Alec thinks it’s for stirring his tea with. We only do it about three times a year. Ted’ll have to come round to give ‘im lessons. Oh yes: I was telling you about Robbie Barings. He’s been done for flashing to some French students in Dunorlan Park.’ Freda sniggered. ‘They was in a boat on the lake. So they was what you might call a captive audience, Alec said. Robbie Barings stood on the bank, took it out and - you know - he was doing it to himself. So one of the students...’
Noticing the lack of response from Marjorie’s end, Freda stopped relating her story to ask: ‘Marj? You still there?’
Marjorie looked down. She felt peculiar but quite calm. ‘Would you do me a favour, Freda? Would you hang up and make two phone calls for me?’
‘Why? What’s happened?’
‘Me waters’ve broken.’
‘Oh my God!’ yelled Freda. ‘Alec! She’s having the baby. Try not to panic, Marj.’
‘I’m not. Would you call an ambulance for me, then call Ted on his mobile? He’s at work.’
‘You must try and keep calm,’ shouted Freda.
Marjorie felt her heart pumping hard. She tried not to let her friend’s sense of urgency and near panic get to her. She was determined to stay in control.
‘Freda,’ she said, her voice tremulous. ‘I’ll be all right if you phone. I’m just bloody annoyed, that’s all.’
‘Annoyed,’ Freda repeated. ‘
What you annoyed about?’
‘That me waters never broke in Marks and Sparks. I’ve heard they give you all kinds of maternity clothes free of charge if that happens.
Thirty - One
As soon as Marjorie was helped onto the bed in the delivery room, she was overcome with fear and regret. Her eyes had the fearful expression of a cornered animal, and her breathing was shallow and quick.
‘Try to breathe deeply and slowly,’ the staff nurse advised.
‘Where’s Ted?’ Marjorie demanded.
‘Your husband?’
‘Of course.’
‘I think he’s on his way.’
‘But where is he? I want him here.’
The staff nurse sighed, then smiled comfortingly at Marjorie as she propped up her pillows. ‘I expect he’ll be here any minute now.’
‘Huh!’ Marjorie exclaimed loudly, deliberately showing the staff nurse what she thought of her husband.
The nurse turned away to conceal an amused smile.
***
Ted was at Charing Cross station when he received news that his wife had gone into labour. He immediately telephoned Donald at the antique shop to share the news, but Bamber answered. Ted paused, pressing the mobile close to his ear, then asked if he could speak to Donald.
‘Who wants him?’ Bamber enunciated carefully, as if demanding a password.
Ted paused again. ‘It’s Ted here.’
‘Ah,’ Bamber chuckled. ‘I thought I could hear trains being announced in the background. Are you Donald’s Shakespeare friend?’
‘Er - ye-es,’ said Ted, guardedly.
‘Sorry? You’ll have to speak up. All I heard was a loudspeaker announcing the next train for Dover.’
‘Yes!’ yelled Ted, looking around foolishly at the people milling about him on the platform. ‘I’m Donald’s Shakespeare friend.’
Bamber sniggered. ‘But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the East and Donald is the sun. D’you like that, Ted?’
Ted was at a loss. ‘Um - I have some news to tell Donald. Can I speak to him, please?’
‘He’s not here. He’s gone out buying.’
‘Could you give him a message for me? Can you tell him my wife’s gone into labour?’
‘I’ll tell him on one condition.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Come round soon and let’s have that threesome.’
Ted was about to speak, to tell Bamber he had to get back on his train, but he was numbed by the thoughts running through his head. Intriguing and deliciously tempting, an invitation to explore things which he had only fantasized about. He was brought back to reality by Bamber’s harsh laugh.
‘Didn’t my partner tell you? I asked him to.’
Ted cleared his throat. ‘I think he may have mentioned it.’
Bamber chuckled delightedly. ‘Well?’
‘Yes. All right. But I really do have to get back on this train. Be sure to give Donald my message.’
‘I will. And I look forward to meeting you properly, Ted.’
Ted hung up quickly and boarded the train.
***
‘Say cheese for a cheesy grin,’ giggled Nigel, his arm round Jackie’s waist. She snuggled up to him and sighed contentedly.
‘Oh, Nigel.’
Vanessa and Nicky exchanged pained expressions, which the photographer caught as he took the picture. ‘Just one more like that,’ he coaxed. ‘And could the girls try to look happy this time.’
Several of Jackie’s relatives and friends stopped smiling and stared at Vanessa and Nicky with enquiring expressions. Nigel sniggered. He was too full of his own satisfaction to worry about his wife’s daughters. The ceremony had gone well, and he had managed to banish the disappointment he felt at his own son not attending, and hadn’t given it another thought since they had arrived at the registry office.
‘Come on, you two,’ he said, heartily. ‘Don’t be miserable all your life. Have a day off.’
Jackie smacked him playfully on the bottom. ‘Behave yourself, you.’
Vanessa, not wanting to be thought of as a complete killjoy, grinned artificially and said, ‘I think he’s got over-excited.’
The photographer gritted his teeth. He had a far more interesting assignment to attend soon and he was becoming anxious. He clapped his hands together and shouted: ‘Come on now, everyone! Big smile! Here we go!’
They all posed, grinning at the lens. Even Nigel’s uncle, who was well into his eighties, and not known for his high spirits, managed a lopsided grin. Unfortunately the camera was unable to capture evidence of this rare smile. The instant was lost as he raised a hand in front of his face to wipe a dew drop from his nose.
***
As soon as Ted walked into the delivery room, Marjorie took the mask away from her face. ‘You took your time,’ she panted. ‘Where’ve you been?’
‘I didn’t think you’d want me here in uniform,’ he said. ‘So I went home to change first.’
‘You’ve got about as much sense as...’ she began. Then, unable to think of a suitable analogy, she smacked the mask back over her mouth and inhaled deeply.
Ted sank unobtrusively into a chair by her bedside.
‘I’ll leave you to it for a minute,’ said the nurse.
Ted looked panic stricken at her departure. ‘But what about...’
The nurse turned at the door and smiled. ‘I don’t think anything’s likely to happen for a while. I won’t be far away if you need me.’
As soon as they were alone, Marjorie glared at her husband over the top of the mask. Ted felt he had to make some sort of gesture of affection, so he stroked her hand gently, but she found his touch feeble, more irritating than comforting, and snatched it away.
‘I’m sorry,’ Ted said.
***
Jackie held Nigel’s hand under the table and beamed at her guests; but as she looked around the table, the smile faded, giving way to a puzzled frown. She hadn’t thought about it up until now, but why did Nigel only have one decrepit old uncle attending? It was odd to go through life without making any friends. No wonder he had moaned about her having eleven guests, not counting Vanessa and Nicky, to attend the wedding. It wasn’t so much a reluctance to pay a hefty bill for the wedding breakfast, she realised, more a feeling of inadequacy. It showed him to lack popularity. She had been going out for almost a year with a man who had no friends, and she had never noticed up until now
Nigel smiled at the waiter who had taken all the orders except for the bride and groom. ‘My wife...’ He stopped to give Jackie a possessively loving glance before continuing. ‘Will have prawn cocktail, followed by the Dover sole. And I’ll have the prawn cocktail to start off with, followed by a sirloin steak.’
Jackie frowned. ‘Is that wise, darling?’
‘Is what wise?’
‘Steak.’
Nigel frowned back at her. ‘What’s wrong with steak?’ He looked pointedly at some of Jackie’s other guests, the ones who had ordered steak.
‘Well...’ Jackie dropped her voice, and glanced shyly up at the waiter, hoping he would come to her rescue.
‘Nothing wrong with the beef, madam,’ he said. ‘Only the best. We’ve never had any complaints.’
Jackie coloured slightly. ‘No, I’m sure it’s perfectly ... but we don’t normally eat red meat.’
Nigel snorted. ‘Speak for yourself.’ He followed this with a bellowing laugh, lest others thought him serious.
‘I mean,’ Jackie went on, becoming more flustered, ‘that fish is far healthier. And Nicky’s practically vegetarian. Aren’t you, Nicky?’
‘I don’t mind fish,’ said Nicky.
‘Oh, well,’ Nigel said, reluctantly, ‘I seem to be
outnumbered. I may as well have the sole too. But I warn you, I’m going to be hungry again by dinner time.’
After the orders had been taken, Vanessa stood up and raised her champagne glass, inviting the guests to toast the happy couple. Gratefully, Jackie smiled warmly at her daughter as they all raised their glasses and wished them happiness. And then she noticed that Nicky, who was sitting opposite her, was staring pensively at her glass and hadn’t joined in with the toast. Jackie leaned forward and asked her if anything was wrong.
‘I was just thinking...’ said Nicky.
‘I thought I could smell burning,’ laughed Nigel.
Nicky gave him a withering glance before continuing. ‘I wondered where we’re going to live now you’re both married.’
‘Well,’ said Jackie, taking a delicate sip of champagne, ‘Nigel and I have talked about selling our house and moving into his house.’
‘But what about us?’ demanded Nicky, rather forcefully.
‘There’s enough room for all of us.’
Without warning, Nicky burst into tears. ‘But I’m going to miss my room. I’ve always lived where we are now. I don’t want to move. And you can’t make me.’
She pushed her chair back from the table and ran out of the dining room. The other guests offered Jackie expressions of concern and sympathy, some of them shaking their heads disapprovingly at her daughter’s behaviour. The only one not to have noticed anything was amiss was Nigel’s uncle, who had busied himself with blowing his nose loudly during the exchange, and was now closely examining the discharge in his handkerchief.
Thirty - Two
Ted flinched as Marjorie dug her nails into the back of his hand. He wanted to understand, to be sympathetic, but he felt nauseated by her stale, sweat-drenched smell, which occasionally made him want to heave.
A young Australian doctor leant forward between Marjorie’s legs and peered closely. ‘Meconium,’ he told the nurse. ‘The baby’s in distress.’
