A Mother's Duty

by June Francis

  Teddy toyed with his fledgling moustache and said thoughtfully, ‘This makes you a stepmother like in Cinderella.’

  Kitty pulled a face. ‘I’m glad you missed out the word wicked.’

  He grinned. ‘It’s a good job we’re not girls.’ He struck a pose. ‘Sorry, Cinders, but you cannot go to the ball tonight. You’ve got our socks to darn and the kitchen floor to scrub.’

  ‘I don’t darn socks,’ said a female voice unfamiliar to his ears.

  Teddy turned with his hands in his pockets and froze as Jeannie’s heels tip-tapped on the tiled floor towards him. ‘I’m Jeannie McLeod. Which one are you?’

  ‘Teddy Ryan.’ He took the hand she offered and gripped it like a drowning man would a lifebelt, terribly conscious that in high heels she was at least four inches taller than him. ‘Er, welcome – to Liverpool. I hope you enjoy your stay.’

  ‘Thanks. You’re the one with the motorbike.’

  ‘Er, yes. Who told you?’ He glanced at his mother but she was putting the casseroles back in the oven.

  ‘Jack. Our half-brother.’ Jeannie’s smile was warm. ‘He said you make engines.’

  Teddy took a deep breath and tried to relax muscles which seemed to have gone into a coma. ‘Engine parts.’

  ‘You like your work?’ She sat on a spindle-backed chair.

  That’s better, thought Teddy, leaning against the table and looking down into eyes which caused sensations similar to those issued by the shock machine at a funfair. ‘Love it. D-do you work?’

  ‘Would you believe, in an hotel?’

  Teddy glanced at his mother. ‘Did you know that, Ma? It’s perfect, isn’t it? She’ll be able to help you.’

  ‘I didn’t say I was staying,’ said Jeannie, frowning. ‘Although, I read up on Liverpool in the library before I came. It’s had strong trading links with America for years in tobacco and cotton and—’

  ‘Don’t mention slaves,’ said a loud voice behind her. ‘They’re well gone and they never were that important to the economy of the port. It was cotton that was king. Still is important and so’s tobacco and a helluva lot of other commodities.’

  Teddy could have hit his elder brother who was standing in the doorway. Mick was tall, dark, good-looking and oozed confidence. ‘Hello. You must be Jeannie,’ he said as he strolled towards her. Following on his heels came Ben and Jack with Nelson.

  ‘She’s my sister,’ said Jack, trotting to keep up. ‘You didn’t know that did you, Ben? Pops told me she’s my sister.’ He gave his brother a superior smile.

  ‘Sister?’ Mick stared at Jeannie.

  ‘Half-sister.’ It was Teddy who answered. ‘She was the baby who died but it was all a lie.’

  ‘How come?’ asked Mick.

  ‘The grandmother lied,’ said Teddy.

  ‘I’ve proof,’ said Jeannie hastily.

  Mick looked down at her as he held her hand and Teddy swore inwardly. What chance had he with his brother around?

  John entered the kitchen. ‘So you’ve all met,’ he said.

  ‘Only just.’ With obvious reluctance Mick freed Jeannie’s hand.

  ‘I haven’t introduced meself,’ said Ben, poking Mick in the ribs with his elbow and looking up at Jeannie. He liked lovely things and she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever set eyes on.

  Mick said, ‘This is Ben, my bad-mannered brother. He can be trouble so watch him.’

  Ben smiled at her like an angel. ‘I’ve never had a sister before. Hiya!’

  ‘You did have a sister,’ said Kitty in sharp tones. ‘She never breathed but she was your sister for all that.’

  ‘I didn’t know that,’ piped up Jack. ‘When did it happen?’

  ‘Before you were born,’ said Teddy, glancing at his mother and stabbing at a guess what was riding her. His gaze slid to John who was staring at Kitty.

  ‘You can’t expect the boys to remember her the same as you, Kit,’ he said reasonably.

  Kitty stiffened. She knew he was trying his best to comfort her but his words were no comfort at all. How could he understand how she felt about her dead little girl anymore? His daughter had come back to life. She eased some air past the constriction in her throat and said, ‘I know that. Anyway, they can all get out my kitchen. I’ve work to do. Mick, Teddy, get changed. You’ll be needed to wait on table soon.’

  Both looked at her face and came to attention. ‘Right, Ma!’ They hurried out of the room.

  Jack and Ben went after them. ‘Stepsister,’ hissed Ben. ‘Can you believe it?’

  Teddy still found it difficult. He did not know how a stepbrother was supposed to feel towards a stepsister but he definitely did not feel brotherly towards her. He seldom took an interest in girls, preferring his mates and his motorbike, but now his equilibrium was disturbed; his breathing was all peculiar and his body felt as if it might float away.

  ‘What do you make of her?’ he asked Mick as they went upstairs. Girls seemed to like his brother and he had taken out at least a dozen in the past two years.

  ‘Gorgeous! But you won’t be allowed near her.’ Mick took the top two stairs in one stride and stood aside to let one of the guests past. His brothers squashed themselves against the wall and all said, ‘Good evening.’ After the guest had passed Teddy caught up with Mick.

  ‘What d’you mean?’ he demanded.

  ‘The big fella,’ said Mick. ‘You don’t think he’s going to let you touch her. Probably try and keep her away from me, too, for that matter. You know what some fathers are like with their daughters.’

  ‘Davy O’Neill says it’s terrible having sisters,’ said Ben, flicking back a hank of flaxen hair which had fallen into his eyes. ‘Especially one like Sarah who won’t do as he tells her and thinks she’s as good as a boy.’

  ‘You can’t compare Jeannie with Sarah O’Neill,’ said Mick, starting up the flight of stairs to the attics. ‘She’s not like an ordinary girl.’

  ‘She’s like that girl in the nursery rhyme. “When she’s good, she’s very, very good, and when she’s bad, she’s horrid.” Siobhan’s like the other one,’ said Ben. ‘“Sugar and spice and all things nice.”’

  ‘Who bloody well cares about the O’Neills!’ said Teddy, exasperated. ‘How are we supposed to behave towards Jeannie?’

  ‘Ma was funny before,’ said Ben.

  Teddy closed his eyes tightly and groaned. ‘You’re getting off the subject.’

  ‘She’s upset,’ said Mick. ‘Here’s this beautiful girl come on the scene, who turns out to be the big fella’s daughter. She’s bound to be funny about it.’

  ‘She wasn’t laughing,’ panted Jack, struggling to keep up with his big brothers.

  ‘Funny peculiar, not ha-ha,’ said Ben, hoisting him up the last step.

  ‘She wasn’t expecting a daughter,’ said Teddy moodily.

  ‘She’s not her daughter,’ said Ben.

  ‘Exactly,’ said Mick, turning the handle of their bedroom door. ‘And that’s what’s upsetting her.’

  There was a silence in the kitchen after the boys had gone and, needing to match her actions to her words, Kitty put on the saucepans of potatoes and carrots and turnips before going into the dining room where she found Hannah.

  ‘She’s upset thee.’ The old woman peered at Kitty from beneath overgrown greying eyebrows. ‘Give her the boot.’

  ‘You’ve been listening at keyholes,’ said Kitty, straightening a knife. ‘And she didn’t upset me. I upset myself. Where’s Monica? There’s no napkins on this table.’

  ‘She’s seeing to the fire in the Smoking Room. Plenty of them in there. All waiting for their dinnas.’

  ‘They’ll be fed. But be nice to them; I can’t right now. I’ve got a terrible headache.’ Kitty rubbed the area above her right eye.

  ‘Miss Esther used to get terrible headaches at thy age.’

  ‘My age!’ Kitty frowned at her and winced. ‘There’s nothing wrong with my age. I’m active. I’ve got me healt
h.’

  ‘Thou’s getting wrinkles.’

  ‘I am not!’ Kitty went over to the mirror above the sideboard and gazed at her reflection. Lord! She did have wrinkles! Only faint and not many but they were starting. She felt depressed and a nerve throbbed behind her eye. She tried to smile but it was too much of an effort. Damn that girl, she thought. He’s not going to be able to stop himself comparing her with me. Margaret has never grown old in his memory and now he has her daughter. She closed her eyes a moment wishing she could get that thought out of her mind but it was impossible.

  There were footsteps and her eyelids flicked open. Reflected in the mirror was Jeannie, looking nervously defiant. ‘Father explained. I didn’t know you had a daughter who died. I’m not trying to take her place,’ she said.

  ‘You haven’t.’ Kitty forced back her shoulders and ran a finger over her eyebrows. ‘Just don’t stand too close to me. You make me feel old.’

  The eyes so like John’s widened. ‘You’re not old! Jack’s only four.’

  There was a logic there somewhere and it made Kitty smile. ‘That’s twice you’ve said the right thing.’

  Jeannie heaved a sigh of relief. ‘I like your sons.’

  ‘Three ticks in your favour now,’ Kitty’s voice was grave. ‘Anything else you want to say?’

  ‘I just want to get to know my father,’ pleaded Jeannie.

  ‘Natural in the circumstances but that does mean getting to know us, too,’ said Kitty, turning to face her.

  ‘I know that,’ said Jeannie hastily. ‘I want to know you and Teddy – and Mick – and Ben and Jack.’

  Kitty nodded. ‘Let’s see how we go then. Where’s John?’ The word father still stuck in her throat.

  ‘He’s in the kitchen. He’s put on the soup. Is there anything I can do to help?’

  ‘Not this evening.’ Kitty did not want to spend time thinking what job to give the girl. Unless? She stared at her. The dress was a bit shabby but who was going to notice with that face. ‘You could go into the Smoking Room and mix with people. See if they want anything. Explain you’re your father’s daughter without going into details.’

  Jeannie hesitated before agreeing and leaving the room.

  ‘Thou was soft with her,’ said Hannah, giving one of her sniffs.

  Kitty ignored her and went to face her husband.

  John was stirring the soup as if it was made of mortar and she could not read his expression. ‘I’ve been as nice to her as I can,’ she said bluntly. ‘I’ve told her to go and mix with people. She could be an asset.’

  ‘I suppose you were right not taking her word for it,’ he said, not appearing to have heard her.

  ‘I thought she’d bewitched you. She’s so pretty. It makes me wonder why she’s not married.’

  ‘She’s only young. But it worries me.’ He placed the ladle on the table.

  ‘Worries you? Why?’ Kitty lowered the light under the vegetables.

  ‘How long before there’s a line of blokes queuing up at the door?’ he said, frowning. ‘She’ll be gone in a flash before I’ve got to know her.’

  Kitty had not thought of that. ‘You really think so?’

  ‘Well, you’ve just said it, haven’t you? You thought she should be married. She probably isn’t because she’s under age and Emily kept a strict watch over her. I’ll have to do the same.’ He ran a hand over his hair. ‘I should have gone and checked that grave.’

  ‘The past is the past and you can’t change it,’ said Kitty impatiently. ‘I don’t think she’s going to rush off anywhere. She wants to get to know you and I’m sure as her father she’ll respect what you have to say.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘I’m sure so,’ said Kitty, glancing at him and wishing he would not get himself worked up about a girl who was a stranger, whether she was his daughter or not. ‘Why else is she here?’ she added. ‘She’s missed having a father all her life and now she wants to make up for it. I don’t blame her. At her age I would have jumped at having a father like you.’

  He reddened and looked gratified. ‘You’re different about her now,’ he said, sounding surprised.

  ‘I’ve had a few minutes to think. I, at least, knew my father for a short while. I wish I’d known him longer.’

  The muscles of his face relaxed and he reached out and pulled her into his arms. ‘So you don’t mind her staying?’ His voice was muffled against her hair.

  ‘It depends how long. She hasn’t said it’s for keeps.’ Kitty relaxed against him. ‘Let’s wait and see, love. She seems a pleasant enough girl. Maybe she takes after her father.’

  ‘Or her paternal grandmother,’ he said, hugging her tightly. ‘I feel like celebrating. Let’s have a party.’

  She pulled away from him. ‘When?’

  ‘We’ll talk about it over supper. Now we’d better get down to work or the boys’ll be here and we won’t have anything ready.’

  Teddy opened the gate-legged table in the basement and Mick, who had been standing ready with a linen tablecloth, spread it over the table top. Ben took a handful of cutlery from a drawer and proceeded to set places, whilst Jack in his pyjamas played with a couple of cars on the rug. Then Teddy and Mick left the room to appear again ten minutes later with trays of food.

  Jeannie had watched their activities in silent wonder but now she spoke, ‘Do you always do this, Teddy?’

  ‘Normally,’ he said, flushing to the tips of his ears. ‘Ma’s always been busy with the hotel so we’ve had to muck in. It’s not that we’re cissies.’

  She nodded and a fall of her shiny chestnut hair brushed a cheek. ‘I understand. It’s a family business so you all have to help.’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Mick, pulling out a chair and indicating she sit down. ‘Ma would have liked us in it full time but Teddy and I had other ideas. That’s why she went a bit potty at the mention of our dead sister. She thinks a girl would have stuck with the business, unlike us.’

  ‘She’s never said that,’ said Teddy, dragging Jack up from the floor and seating him on a chair, whilst all the time keeping his eyes on Jeannie’s face.

  ‘No, but it makes sense. Running a hotel is like running an ordinary household except on a larger scale,’ said Mick, seating himself next to Jeannie.

  Teddy wished he had got there first but took a seat opposite his stepsister. ‘You can start eating,’ he said. ‘When we’re busy Ma and the big fella tell us to get on with it whilst it’s hot.’

  ‘There’s no soup,’ said Ben, picking up his knife and fork.

  ‘That’s because it all went.’ Mick flashed Jeannie a smiling sidelong glance. ‘That’s something you’ll have to get used to if you decide to stay. Guests come first and we have what’s left over.’

  She nodded. ‘I can cope with that. This smells good.’ She gazed across the table at Teddy. ‘Is that what you call my father – the big fella?’

  ‘Yeah! Dad kinda stuck in our throats.’ His eyes met hers across the table. ‘Me and Mick remember our dad, you see.’

  ‘That would make a difference. I didn’t know either of my parents.’

  Ben said, ‘I remember Dad. He wasn’t a bit like Pops. What’ll you call Ma?’ His clear blue eyes fixed on Jeannie’s face.

  ‘I haven’t thought about it. I’m only just getting used to the thought of having a father.’

  ‘It’s incredible,’ said Mick.

  ‘What d’you think of him?’ said Ben, addressing Jeannie.

  ‘You shouldn’t ask that.’ mumbled Teddy. ‘She’s only just met him. Eat your dinner.’

  There was almost complete silence whilst they ate. When they had finished Mick said, ‘I remember the first time I set eyes on the big fella. It was when you were hanging from that spike, Ted.’

  ‘Shut up,’ said Teddy, without looking up.

  ‘What spike?’ asked Jeannie, her eyes going from one to the other.

  ‘A railing spike in Roscoe Gardens. He had it stuck up his tro
user leg and couldn’t get down.’ Mick grinned.

  Teddy scowled. ‘I was only a kid.’

  ‘You were thirteen and nearly lost—’

  ‘Shut up!’ Teddy leaned across the table and rapped Mick across the knuckles with his fork.

  ‘I wasn’t going to tell her,’ hissed Mick, pushing back his chair and getting to his feet. ‘You want to learn—’

  ‘What’s going on?’ asked John, entering the basement.

  Immediately Mick sat down. ‘Nothing,’ he said.

  ‘We were just going to get the pudding,’ informed Teddy, reaching across the table and taking Jeannie’s plate.

  ‘That was good. Tell your mother it was good,’ she said, smiling up at him.

  Teddy flushed to his ears.

  John frowned at him. ‘Get upstairs with those dishes and help your mother with the puddings. There’s something we want to talk to you about in a minute.’

  ‘Something nice,’ said Jack, sleepily.

  ‘I’ll tell you when your mother gets here.’

  ‘A party!’ exclaimed Teddy, and groaned. He didn’t shine at parties.

  ‘Aye! A party,’ repeated John, smiling. ‘But you don’t have to be there if you don’t want to. It’s to celebrate Jeannie being here with us.’

  ‘I didn’t say I didn’t want to be there,’ said Teddy.

  ‘No, he didn’t,’ said Kitty, cuddling Jack who was falling asleep. ‘Stop jumping on him, John. The trouble is we’re all too tired to think about a party. It’s been a hectic day. Decide when we’re going to have this party and then let’s get to bed.’

  ‘We’ll have it next Saturday. Most of the guests will have gone by then and those that haven’t can join in. We’ll ask the O’Neills and Nancy and Malcolm, your Aunt Jane and her girls and some of the neighbours.’

  ‘You don’t have to do this for me,’ said Jeannie abruptly, resting back in her chair and staring at her father.

  ‘Why not?’ he said. ‘I want to show you off.’

  ‘It’ll be fun,’ said Mick, his eyes gleaming. ‘We haven’t had a party since – I can’t remember last.’

  ‘Since before Jack was born,’ said Teddy. ‘But perhaps Jeannie doesn’t like the idea. She mightn’t be a party person.’