A Mother's Duty

by June Francis

  ‘Mouse food, of course, silly,’ said Sarah.

  ‘You’ll have to go to the pet shop and get some and own up to what you’ve done,’ said Kitty severely.

  Ben forced up his nose with a finger, groaned, then plonked his forehead on the rug.

  The two mothers smiled and Sarah giggled. ‘I’ve never been in a pet shop,’ she said.

  Ben lifted his head and grinned at her. ‘Mick’ll take us next Saturday. He knows the way.’

  ‘Sorry, Ben, but Sarah can’t go,’ said Becky.

  ‘Why not?’ demanded the girl bouncing to her feet.

  ‘We’re going to Ireland.’

  Sarah stamped her foot. ‘Don’t want to go! Don’t like Uncle Shaun. He stamps around and frightens me.’

  ‘You make it obvious you don’t like him when you should be kind to him,’ said Becky crossly. ‘Honestly, Sarah, I’d leave you behind if I could!’

  Kitty, who had decided she would like nothing better than to have a little girl to stay, said, ‘Maybe Sarah would like to stay with us?’

  There was silence as mother and daughter stared at each other and Kitty almost retracted her offer. Then Sarah said, ‘Mummy, I’d like to stay.’

  ‘No. It would be too much for Mrs Ryan,’ said Becky firmly. ‘She has an hotel to run.’

  ‘Please, Mummy,’ she pleaded. ‘I won’t be any trouble.’

  ‘I’d like to have her,’ said Kitty. ‘Unless you’re worried because of Charley?’

  Becky cast Kitty a rueful glance. ‘He was the last person on my mind. I really was thinking about you. Girls can be a handful, too, you know. But it would a godsend if you really meant it. Sarah hates the farm and as it is Siobhan’s getting to be enough of a handful when there’s animals around.’

  ‘I can go then?’ said Sarah.

  ‘You can go.’

  Sarah smiled happily and slipped a hand into Kitty’s. ‘Honestly, Mrs Ryan. I will be good.’

  Kitty believed her and looked forward to having her company. She had forgotten that the following weekend was the one before horse racing began at Aintree.

  Chapter Eight

  Kitty was up to her eyes in work. There had been an influx of guests yesterday and more had arrived on the Irish boat early that morning. It lacked an hour to lunch time and Kitty was tired. Sarah was sharing her bed and she was a wriggler as well as a chatterbox; albeit an amusing chatterbox, but at two o’clock in the morning Kitty had been in no mood for laughter. Now the girl had reminded her of her promise and there was no way Kitty could see herself keeping it. She was all behind and still had shopping to do. She went into the kitchen and placed a breakfast tray on the draining board, noticing just how dead the potted hyacinth on the windowsill was and wondering where the big Scottie was now. She longed for him to return and for a moment dreamed of him being there with his arms around her.

  There were footsteps behind her and she glanced over her shoulder, thinking for a second that her dream had turned into reality, but it was only Mick. Only, she thought, and smiled. ‘Do me a favour, love, and take Sarah and Ben to the pet shop.’

  Immediately his dark eyes took on a haunted expression. ‘Do I have to?’

  ‘Yes, you do,’ she said crossly. ‘Who else is there? Teddy’s done a vanishing act and Annie’s helping me with the late breakfasts.’

  ‘Couldn’t one of the cousins do it?’

  ‘No! I’ve got them working upstairs. I did mean to take them myself but you’ll have to do. At least you won’t have to walk. Mrs O’Neill left money for the tram.’

  ‘OK!’ groaned Mick. ‘But what do I do about our Ben pinching the mouse?’

  ‘Just say sorry and pay for it. And I want you back here by three o’clock.’ She poured herself a cup of tea. ‘I’m going to need your help. The girls will have gone by then. I’ll want Teddy as well. Someone’s got to take hot water up to the guests’ rooms. I wish he’d say where he’s going when he disappears. He could be on the moon for all I know!’ She sipped her tea whilst standing and wished it had been any other weekend but this that Sarah came to stay.

  ‘You were mad having her,’ said Mick as if reading her mind. ‘She’s taken over the place. There’s dolls everywhere. And hair ribbons!’ He pulled a pink one from his pocket and dropped it on the table. ‘I found this in the lobby. She must have a hoard of them. And what about that doll’s pram? Mr Jones almost fell over it last night.’

  Kitty raised weary shoulders and let them drop. ‘He was very understanding. He thought it was nice for me to have a little girl about the place.’

  ‘As a change from us boys, you mean?’

  ‘I wouldn’t change you. But …’ she murmured, half to herself, ‘If my little girl had lived I could have dressed her in frilly things.’

  Mick shook his head incomprehensibly. ‘Having that kid here for the weekend’s enough. Seven! And she’s already planning on who she should marry.’

  ‘Someone rich,’ said Kitty, her eyes twinkling. ‘I know.’ She reached in a drawer and took out her purse.

  Mick grinned, seeing the funny side of it now. ‘And a lot older. She’d even thought of the big fella because he dragged her dad out of a burning car, but he’s a bit too old and hasn’t any money. Then she thought of me. Our Ben offered to marry her, but she said if he couldn’t afford a mouse then he was too poor.’

  ‘What did Ben say to that?’

  ‘That he could get richer.’

  ‘I’m glad he’s got ambitions.’ She handed him some money.

  Mick was about to open his mouth and tell her about his ambitions when Annie entered.

  ‘Men!’ she exclaimed and dropped the tray on the table with a crash.

  Mick took one look at her face and scarpered.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Kitty hurriedly checked that none of the crockery on the tray was broken.

  ‘Mr Jones pinched my bottom!’ Annie’s sharp little face was indignant.

  ‘He what?’ Kitty could not believe it. Mr Jones was a guest of long standing who came and stayed at this time every year.

  ‘He pinched my bottom!’ repeated Annie, her eyes filling with tears. ‘Is there something about me, Kit? Do I look different since that swine had his way with me? Mr Jones has never done anything like this before. In fact I always thought him a bit of a love.’

  ‘He is a love but he’s just lost his wife! I’m not making excuses for him,’ she added hastily. ‘It could have just turned him funny, though. Shall I have a word with him?’

  Annie rolled a napkin into a tight ball with restless fingers. ‘No,’ she muttered. ‘I’ll just keep out of his reach. I know you can’t afford to lose his custom and he just might leave.’

  ‘If he’s upsetting you I’ll tell him to go. I’m sure someone else’ll turn up.’

  Annie stared at her and shook her head. She squared her shoulders. ‘No. If I’m going to stay in the hotel business as I’m still hoping, I’ll have to learn to cope with difficult customers. Besides he’s a good tipper and I could do with the money.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’m sure,’ she said grimly.

  Kitty wished Annie’s period would come. She admired her cousin for the way she had coped so far and wondered how she would have felt about men if she had stood in Annie’s shoes. How did a woman scrub a man’s violation from her body and mind? There was no easy way. Good and evil left their mark for better and for worse.

  The bell went in reception and Kitty went to answer it. She had given up locking the front door since the night before because she could not be answering the doorbell all the time and there were not enough front door keys to go round all the guests.

  ‘Can I help—’ The words died on her lips as the big fella removed his cap. She stared at him, thinking he looked more tired and thinner than last time she had seen him, but there was still that air about him that had attracted her, almost from the beginning.

  ‘Hello, Kitty,’ he said quietly, placing his ruck
sack on the floor. ‘I came as soon as I could. How are you?’

  ‘I’m OK.’ She took a deep breath and moved to the chiffonier to give herself time to compose herself. She was glad of its support because her legs seemed to have turned to jelly. Her fingers trembled on the register and her voice quivered when she spoke, ‘And you?’

  ‘Fine. Worried about you, though. Did they get Charley?’

  So he had received Becky’s letter! Kitty cleared her throat. ‘Mr O’Neill thinks his men have scared him off. We haven’t seen hide nor tail of him. He thinks he’s left Liverpool, but who knows?’

  John nodded, looking grim-faced. ‘Can you give me a room?’

  Her expression must have shown her astonishment even before she spoke, ‘You want a room here?’

  He nodded, and rested an arm on the chiffonier. ‘If that’s all right with you?’

  ‘Actually we’re full up but—’

  ‘I understand.’ His expression was suddenly bleak and he bent and picked up his rucksack and turned away.

  Kitty moved swiftly to the other side of the chiffonier and grabbed his arm. ‘No, you don’t understand! We are full up! I was going to say you can have Jimmy’s old room and Annie can move in with me and Sarah, or go back to her mam’s. I’ll show you it. There’s nothing fancy about it but if you’re not fussy?’

  He looked relieved and took her hand from his arm and lifted it to his lips. She felt peculiarly breathless and experienced a need to swallow. ‘You’ll have to work,’ she said in a voice that was far from normal. ‘I’m overworked and understaffed and—’

  ‘You don’t have to say anymore. I get the message.’ He kissed her hand again and held it firmly, smiling down at her.

  She did not know how long they stood just looking at each other. It could have been seconds or half an hour. Then the grandmother clock on the wall chimed and he released her hand. She felt like she had woken from a long sleep. Her tiredness had vanished.

  ‘I’ve the market to go to and I’m running late,’ she said rapidly. ‘Will you come with me? I was going to take the sledge. It’s in the shed outside. There’s a lot I need.’

  ‘I’ll get it,’ said John. ‘I’ll dump my gear in the kitchen.’

  They were crossing the lobby when the vestibule door opened and Teddy came in. His clothes were filthy. There was a tear in a trouser leg and an oil smear across his left cheek.

  Kitty groaned.

  Teddy ignored her, only staring at John from unfriendly eyes. ‘So you’re back. We had a heap of trouble because of you.’

  ‘That’s enough!’ Kitty frowned at her son, vexed with him for more than one reason. ‘It’s rude.’

  Teddy’s ears reddened and his face was set as he walked past them and slammed some coins on the top of the chiffonier. ‘I earned some money. This is for you, Ma.’

  ‘Thanks. But I’m never going to get those clothes clean by the look of them.’

  ‘They won’t go to waste,’ muttered Teddy. ‘I’ll keep these for the yard. Jack said he can find me the odd job which’ll stand me in good stead when I leave school.’

  ‘I don’t care what Jack says.’ Kitty’s voice was firm. ‘I’ve told you there’s a job for you here when you finish.’

  ‘I like the work!’ he cried, suddenly looking desperate. ‘And I don’t see you needing me here if Mr McLeod’s back! Or will he up stakes and go off on his travels again like he did before?’ His gaze veered to the man standing at Kitty’s side.

  ‘Don’t push your luck, son,’ said Kitty. ‘Or I’ll land you a clout. Hurry and get changed and you can help Annie keep an eye on things.’

  Teddy’s lips compressed and he turned and took the stairs two at a time, almost colliding with Annie as she came down.

  ‘I thought I heard yer voice,’ she said to John. ‘I’m glad yer back. It means I can leave any time I want now.’ And she sailed past them into the kitchen.

  John stared at Kitty and raised an eyebrow. ‘Annie’s leaving?’

  ‘She might be.’ She took hold of his arm and hustled him towards the door not wanting him to get into conversation with her cousin right now. ‘Let’s go shopping. I told you I’m all behind.’

  John resisted. ‘What about the sledge you mentioned? And where’s your coat and hat?’

  Kitty pulled a face. ‘I was forgetting. You get it while I fetch my coat. And don’t waste time talking to Annie! I’ll meet you out front.’

  To Kitty’s relief she found John leaning against the wrought-iron railings when she came up the basement steps, which meant he hadn’t spoken to her cousin. He straightened as she approached. ‘The kitchen door’s sticking. I’ll fix it for you later.’

  ‘Thanks.’ She was keyed up in case he started to ask about Charley and the reason for Annie leaving.

  Sure as the tide came in on the Mersey, as they began to walk down the Mount, John said, ‘Why is Annie leaving?’

  Kitty had an answer ready. ‘She wants to see a bit of the world so she’s going to London.’

  He looked surprised. ‘I thought her a homebird.’

  ‘She surprised me!’ A sigh escaped her. ‘I don’t want her to go but she’s got it into her head that she must.’

  ‘You’ll miss her.’

  ‘I will.’ She decided to change the subject before it got complicated. ‘Did you see your grandfather?’

  ‘I saw him.’

  There was something in his voice that caused her to look up at him. ‘So he’s not dead.’

  ‘No. My uncle is, though.’

  ‘Your uncle! Oh, I am sorry.’ She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm in an attempt to comfort.

  He pressed her hand against his side. ‘I’m still having trouble believing it. We hadn’t seen each other in years but his letters meant a lot to me. He was a link with my grandmother.’ There was sadness in John’s face. ‘I should have gone back to Scotland sooner and taken care of him. He never married and I think he looked upon me as the son he never had.’

  ‘I’m sure your letters meant a lot to him, too,’ she said softly.

  ‘The solicitor said they did.’ He paused. ‘I intended writing to you.’

  ‘Why didn’t you?’ It pleased her that he had at least thought about writing.

  There was a shadow in his eyes. ‘I started several times but the past got in the way. Seeing my grandfather raked up memories, painful memories. But worse than that, was that he didn’t believe I’d made the journey to see him. He thought I was there purely because of Uncle Donald’s death.’

  ‘You told him the truth, though?’

  ‘Yes! And I asked for his forgiveness although God knows I hadn’t done anything that I was ashamed of where he was concerned! But it was a waste of time.’

  ‘It’s sad. But you tried and you couldn’t do more than that.’

  ‘I could have gone back and tried again but I’d had enough.’ His expression changed. ‘He was glad Uncle Donald was dead and didn’t utter a word of sympathy,’ he said harshly. ‘I doubt I’ll make the effort to see him again. Let’s change the subject.’

  She asked him about the journey and told him about her visit to the O’Neills’ house, about Ben and his white mouse and about Sarah’s comments, and was glad to see that he was amused. She was certain it was on the tip of his tongue to mention Charley again but by then they were at the hotel and she busied herself with making them some lunch. Afterwards, having found some tools in the outhouse, John set about planing a touch off the door, creating a heap of fragrant wood shavings. It was as if he had never been away, marvelled Kitty, as she got on with preparing the evening meal. It was served earlier on a Saturday because so many of the guests were going out to see a show, a play or a film.

  The inner door opened and Mick, Ben and Sarah entered. ‘Uncle John! What are you doing here?’ cried the girl, dropping her doll and bouncing over to where he knelt on the floor. One of her plaits had come loose and as she flung her arms about his neck almost throwing hi
m off balance, her long hair wrapped itself round his face.

  ‘Careful!’ He placed the plane on the tiles and removed hair from his mouth before hugging her.

  Kitty felt warm inside, thinking it said something about this man that Sarah was pleased to see him, but from Mick’s expression he obviously had mixed feelings about John’s return. Ben, though, was delighted. He went over to John, his face beaming. ‘Hello, Little John. We bought some proper mouse food. It’s got maize, sunflower seeds and peanuts in it.’

  ‘So you got your way, laddie,’ drawled John. ‘You want watching.’

  Sarah said, ‘I wanted to buy a mouse to keep Ben’s company but Mick wouldn’t let me. He said we could end up snowing in them. What does he mean by that, Uncle John? How can it snow mice?’

  John exchanged glances with Kitty. ‘Ask your mother when she comes home,’ he said.

  But Sarah was nothing if not persistent and, resting against his knee, she asked, ‘Is it the same as having two rabbits? Davy had rabbits and they had babies during the night but the daddy killed them.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Ben, wide-eyed.

  ‘The buck, that’s the daddy rabbit, should have been taken out as soon as we knew about the babies but we didn’t know until my daddy came back from America.’ She screwed up her face. ‘I wonder why the daddy killed his own babies?’

  ‘Perhaps he was jealous of them,’ said Ben.

  ‘I doubt rabbits feel jealousy,’ said Kitty thoughtfully. ‘They’re not like human beings.’

  ‘They act on instinct,’ said John. ‘It could have been that the buck was frightened when he smelt and felt something different moving in the straw in the dark. Perhaps he thought it was another buck and saw him as a threat to his mate.’

  Mick cleared his throat. ‘Did Ma tell you about the man who threatened her with a knife while you were away, Mr McLeod?’

  Kitty tensed, her eyes on John’s face. ‘I knew about it. That’s why I’m here,’ he said without emotion.

  ‘Are you going to stay forever?’ asked Ben, looking pleased.

  John said gravely, ‘Forever’s a long time.’

  ‘I’d like you to stay a long time,’ said Ben. ‘He was a bad man.’