by Kitty Neale
Jenny walked beside her sister, thinking about her dad. At one time, she might have made excuses for him, but that was in the past. He had killed her baby, and as far as she was concerned he could drink himself to death.
Chapter 37
Lizzie sat on the beach with her knees tucked up to her chest. She sank her toes into the warm sand and adjusted her large-brimmed hat. As she looked out at the blue Mediterranean, she hugged her legs and sighed.
‘Are you all right, my dear?’ asked Owen. He’d made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of sunbathing on the beach but would tolerate an hour or so if it kept Lizzie happy.
‘Yes, it’s so nice here, I don’t want to leave,’ Lizzie answered, thinking about a damp and grey London.
‘I thought you’d be bored by now, but we still have a week of our holiday left.’
‘Bored? Are you joking? This is idyllic, Owen. I’m even getting used to Spanish food, though I’m still not sure about that octopus stuff,’ she said and wrinkled her nose.
‘We can come back again later on in the year, but I have to return to take care of some business.’
Lizzie wasn’t interested in whatever business Owen needed to attend to, but she did wonder if it had anything to do with Caroline Hancock. She still hadn’t broached the subject of his will and hadn’t worked out a way of asking about the woman without letting on that she’d been snooping. ‘What business is more important than soaking up this wonderful sunshine?’ she asked, hoping he’d shed some light on the mystery woman.
‘I have financial matters to attend to that can’t wait, papers that need signing and such.’
‘I thought your financial dealings were handled by your old accountancy firm?’
‘Mostly, but this is a personal matter I have to attend to.’
‘Is it your mother? Is she OK?’ Lizzie asked, pushing further for information.
‘As far as I know, she’s fine, although I think she’s terrorising that new young nurse she hired. No, this is about my niece.’
‘Your niece? But I thought you didn’t have any family?’
‘I don’t … well, apart from my niece. Her mother, my sister, was killed during the war. She was in an underground station when a bomb ruptured the water and gas mains. She and her husband didn’t survive, but their young daughter Caroline did, though she was left with devastating injuries.’
‘Oh, my goodness, Owen, why have you never mentioned this before?’ Lizzie asked. It was tragic, but she was pleased she’d finally discovered who the name on the will belonged to.
‘I find it hard to talk about. My sister and I were very close and dear Caroline is … well, she’s not very well.’
‘What’s wrong with her?’
‘Her injuries left her in a wheelchair and with brain damage. She’s unable to look after herself and needs constant care. The home she’s in have informed me that they can no longer provide the specialist attention she requires, so she’s moving to a new home, in Devon. Hence the need for me to return to London.’
‘Oh, the poor girl! I assume you’ll be going to see her?’
‘Yes, but it’s more to sign papers really. She doesn’t know who I am. I’m not even sure if she knows who she is. It’s awful, she was such a bright little thing and now she can’t so much as feed herself.’
Lizzie thought it would be a waste for Owen to leave everything to a girl who wasn’t able to appreciate it. Then it occurred to her that Owen was paying for her care and the money he was bequeathing would be for her continued expenses. It left Lizzie in a bit of a dilemma. She couldn’t see how she’d get Owen to change his will, but there had to be a way.
Gloria had stopped for a coffee in the ABC Café with Jack, a man she worked with in her new job as a sales assistant in Sainsbury’s. She arrived home later than usual and saw Pamela in the entrance. Her sister was laughing and enjoying the company of the old chap who worked in the lobby. It was nice to see the girl with a smile on her face, but Gloria was surprised to see her chatting away. Once she got indoors, she found Jenny in the kitchen tidying away the washing-up from dinner.
‘Hello, you’re late. I’ve saved you some dinner, it’s in the oven.’
‘Thanks, Jen, I’m starved. I went for a coffee with Jack. He’s a nice bloke, you’d like him.’
‘Is there romance in the air?’ Jenny asked.
‘No, not with Jack. He’s not my cup of tea but I do have a laugh with him.’
‘Please tell me he doesn’t have a wife.’
‘No, and even if he did, we’re just friends. He works on the butcher’s counter. He’d make someone a good husband but not me.’
‘Just watch you’re not leading him on. If you’re going out for coffees with him, he might get the wrong impression.’
‘Bloody hell, Jenny, give it a rest. I told you, we’re just friends. By the way, I saw Pamela on the way in. Blimey, she gets on great with the chap in the lobby. I’ve never known her to talk to anyone like she does with him,’ Gloria said with a little chuckle.
‘I know. She told me the other day that he said these blocks of flats were earmarked by Hitler to use as his headquarters. Good job the Germans didn’t win the war, or we’d be homeless.’
‘We will be in a week. Have you thought about what we’re gonna do when Mum and Owen are back?’
‘We can’t stay here, that’s for sure. Shame though, the boys love sharing their own room and, like you say, Pamela seems like a different girl.’
‘Back to Gran’s?’ Gloria asked.
Jenny pulled out a chair from the table and sat down as Gloria tucked into a warm plate of sausages and mash. ‘We might not have to go back to Gran’s. I’ve been saving as much as I can, and I hope you have too. I’ve seen a little house for rent off Bedford Hill. It’s only a two-bedroom and it hasn’t been modernised, but it’s cheap.’
‘What do you mean, not modernised? Don’t tell me it’s got an outside lavvy?’ Gloria asked, dismayed.
‘Yes, but that’s not the end of the world and I think between us we could easily afford it.’
‘I dunno about this, Jenny. I’m earning good wages at Sainsbury’s and I fancy finding myself a bedsit.’
‘But, Gloria, I couldn’t afford the rent by myself. Please, I thought we were doing this together,’ Jenny implored.
‘Yeah, well, I might have given you that impression, but I’ve changed my mind and I want my own place. Why don’t you ask Owen to help out?’
‘The kids aren’t Owen’s responsibility.’
‘Maybe not, but they aren’t mine either, or yours come to that.’
‘But we’re a family, we have to stick together … I can’t believe you would be so selfish!’ Jenny snapped.
‘You’re the one who’s being selfish by expecting me to put a roof over their heads!’
‘But if you don’t help me, you’ll force us back to Gran’s and that’s not fair on her. Please, have a think about it.’
‘Sorry, Jen, but there’s nothing for me to think about. Gran said she liked having you all there, and I reckon she’ll be happy as Larry if you all move back in.’
Gloria couldn’t fail to see the look of disgust that Jenny threw at her before she scraped her chair back and stormed out of the kitchen. Uncaring, Gloria shrugged her shoulders. If Jenny wanted to be lumbered with looking after Pam and the boys, then that was her lookout.
Chapter 38
Henry felt a sharp jab in his ribs and rolled over on the concrete step. He was vaguely aware of a man leaning over him, then he heard a gruff voice say, ‘Oi, get up, you can’t sleep ’ere!’
‘Piss off,’ Henry groaned with his eyes tightly closed.
‘Move on or I’ll get the Old Bill onto you,’ the man said.
Henry opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder. A short, stocky man was jabbing him in the side and scowling at him.
‘Did you hear me? I said sling your hook,’ the man shouted.
Henry squinted at the sun sett
ing behind the man and wondered where he was. He felt cold and shivered as he sat upright. That’s when he noticed the three steps in front of him and glanced behind to see a door.
‘That’s right, I live here, and I don’t want to be stepping over you to get to my front door. Bugger off, you dirty tramp.’
Henry felt unsteady as he stood up. ‘Sorry, mate,’ he said meekly and stumbled down the steps. He didn’t know how long he’d been sleeping or where he was, but he felt the strong desire for a drink. His mouth felt furry and dry, his stomach ached, and his hands were trembling. He felt in his trouser pocket but all he found was an old butt, a roll-up which he assumed he’d picked up off the street somewhere. He noticed he was wearing a black coat that was too short in the arms. He wasn’t sure where it had come from as he couldn’t remember the last few days. In fact, he could hardly recall the last few weeks.
He needed a drink. As he wandered aimlessly down the unfamiliar street, he tried not to think about the moment he’d kicked his pregnant daughter in the stomach.
‘We’re home,’ Lizzie called as she opened the front door to Owen’s flat. Two excited young boys ran towards her and Jenny appeared at the end of the hallway.
‘Hi, Mum,’ Jenny said, and Lizzie noticed that, for a change, her daughter looked genuinely pleased to see her.
‘Hello, darling. Would you make us a cup of tea, please? We’re parched, and Owen is coming up with our bags. I can’t wait to show you all the presents I’ve brought back and tell you about Spain!’
Lizzie walked into the lounge to see Gloria looking as unwelcoming as ever. ‘Hello, love. Where’s Pamela?’
‘She’s got a Saturday job in Harper’s.’
‘Oh, the haberdashery shop?’
‘Yes, that’s the one.’
‘Oh well, I’m sure I’ll see her soon. What do you think of my sun tan?’ Lizzie said and twirled around showing off her brown legs.
Gloria answered with a curt ‘Nice’.
‘Mummy, can we have our presents please?’ Timmy asked.
‘Yes, in a minute. Give Owen a chance to bring up the suitcases.’
Lizzie noticed there were two bags on the floor next to where Gloria was standing. That was a good sign. It meant her children had packed and were ready to leave, though she still expected her sons to ask if they could stay.
Jenny came into the room and Lizzie asked, ‘Did Peter and Pamela have good birthdays?’
‘Yes, Peter had a couple of friends over from school and Pam made him a lovely cake. Pamela’s birthday was on the first Saturday she started work in Harper’s, but she went to Linda’s house afterwards for tea.’
‘Good. And has everything been all right here?’
‘Yes, it’s been smashing. Pamela has made friends with the fella in the lobby and the boys have really enjoyed having a room to themselves.’
‘Can we stay, Mum?’ Timmy asked.
‘Please, Mummy, we will be really, really, really good,’ Peter pleaded.
‘Huh, I can’t wait to hear what excuses you’re going to come up with this time,’ Gloria muttered.
‘Gloria, this is Owen’s home and I’m just staying as a guest. I can hardly ask all and sundry to stay here too, now, can I?’
‘All and sundry … that’s a nice way to describe your children!’
‘Come on, Gloria – Mum’s just walked through the door. Why don’t you go and finish making the tea? It’ll give you a chance to calm down.’
Thankfully, Gloria stomped off and Lizzie immediately felt the atmosphere lighten. Then she heard Owen coming through the front door, huffing and moaning.
‘Christ, woman, I’m surprised the aeroplane could take off with the weight of your cases,’ he called.
Lizzie chuckled and even Jenny grinned.
Soon after, he walked into the room gasping for breath, his face glowing and perspiration running down his cheeks. Once he put the cases down, he drew a deep breath, and then said, ‘Hello, Jenny, Peter and Timmy.’
‘Can we have our presents now, please?’ Peter asked.
‘Don’t be rude, say hello to your Uncle Owen first,’ Lizzie told him.
‘Hello,’ the boys said quickly in unison.
‘That’s better,’ Lizzie said. ‘Owen, be a sweetie and put the cases on our bed.’
Gloria came in carrying a tray of tea in fine bone-china cups, and placed it on the long mahogany table that stretched the length of the windows.
‘Smashing, thanks, Gloria. I love Spain, but I’ve missed a good old-fashioned cup of English tea,’ Lizzie said and picked up a cup before sitting on the velvet-covered chaise longue. She pulled her skirt above her knees, once again showing off her tan. ‘If you give Owen a bit of time to recover from lugging my cases around, he’ll be happy to run you all back to your gran’s. I take it that’s where you’ll be going?’
‘We are, but Gloria’s found herself a room in a flat at the end of the High Road. She’ll be sharing with a girl she works with in Sainsbury’s,’ Jenny answered.
‘I want to stay here with you,’ Peter cried.
‘And me, please, Mummy?’ Timmy said.
‘I’ve already explained why you can’t, but now I’m settled here I’ll be able to come and see you more often. Stop snivelling, Peter, there’s a good boy,’ Lizzie said impatiently, then turned to Gloria and asked, ‘Sainsbury’s? I thought you were working with Jenny.’
‘I was, but now I’m not,’ Gloria answered flatly.
‘So, do you want to hear about Spain?’ Lizzie asked.
‘No, not really, and it’s a shame they can’t stay here with you,’ Gloria said. ‘Jenny was going to move us all to a little house, but I let her down and she can’t afford it. I think she’s mad. After all, Pam and the boys aren’t her responsibility, they’re yours.’
Lizzie, fearing Owen would hear, wished Gloria would shut her mouth. ‘As I said, I am only a guest here. If I had my own home, things might be different, but I’m sure your gran will be pleased to have you back.’
‘Is that it, Mother? That’s all you have?’ Gloria demanded.
‘Gloria, I don’t know what you expect from me.’
‘I expect you to house your own children, but you don’t seem to give a shit about them.’
Owen came back into the room, and barked, ‘I’ll thank you not to use that language, young lady, or to take that tone with your mother.’
‘Stay out of it, Uncle Owen. This has got nothing to do with you and I’ll speak to my mother how I see fit.’
‘That’s enough, Gloria,’ Jenny said, ‘Owen was good enough to let us stay.’
‘Come off it, it was no skin off his nose. They can’t wait to get rid of us now though, eh?’
‘You are a very petulant young woman, Gloria, and if you continue to upset your mother with your outbursts, I will ask you to leave … immediately.’
Gloria picked up her bags and shouted, ‘Don’t worry, I’m going. I can’t stand to be around this fiasco any longer.’
‘Wait …’ Jenny called.
Gloria ignored her and marched across the lounge. As she passed Owen, she sneered and said, ‘My mother only wants you for your money, but you’re too bloody stupid to see it.’
‘That’s enough,’ Owen said. ‘Get out!’
They heard the front door slam and then Peter burst into tears. ‘It’s all right, darling,’ Lizzie said placatingly, ‘take no notice of your sister, you know how moody she can be. Tell you what, shall we have a look in my cases for your presents?’
It worked. Peter stopped crying and she led him through to her bedroom. The gifts were a good distraction and put a smile back on her sons’ faces. She played with them for a while, and then when she returned to the lounge, Lizzie saw that Jenny had their bags.
It was such a relief. She loved her children, but they could ruin everything for her. As it was, Gloria had blatantly pointed out the obvious to Owen. She could only hope he hadn’t believed what her daughter had sa
id.
Chapter 39
Jenny yawned and shook her head, trying to wake herself up. She’d been back at her gran’s for nearly a week and, with Pamela fidgeting in bed beside her, she hadn’t been sleeping well. She was just grateful it was Friday and she had the weekend off to look forward to.
‘Are we keeping you up?’ Tina asked.
‘Sorry, I’m shattered. I can’t wait for six o’ clock and to get out of here.’
‘It can’t be easy for you, all living in a one-bedroom flat. Mind you, I’ve only got two bedrooms, so my three girls have to share. They’re always bickering, it drives me mad.’
‘Luckily, my lot don’t argue too much, but I think the boys are struggling with school because they’re not getting a good night’s kip on the sofa. I’m going to have to get on to the council and see if they’ll give us somewhere, but I’m worried they’ll want to take the boys into care.’
‘You’re old enough to be their legal guardian,’ Tina said.
‘Yes, but I don’t know how you go about sorting all that sort of stuff out. It’s not ideal at Gran’s, but maybe it’s better the devil you know. I dunno, I’ll see how it goes.’
‘Tell you what – why don’t you come over to mine tomorrow night? I’m having a little birthday bash, nothing fancy, just a few people, some drinks and nibbles. It’ll take your mind off things for a while.’
‘I didn’t know it was your birthday,’ Jenny answered, dodging the invitation.
‘Yes, on Sunday. I’ll be forty, so Terry said we should celebrate it. You’ll come, won’t you?’
Jenny didn’t want to, but she was so tired she couldn’t quickly think of a good excuse to get out of it. ‘I … erm … I …’
‘No excuses, Jenny Lombard! I shall expect to see you at seven and I’ll be ever so disappointed if you don’t turn up. You wouldn’t want to ruin my birthday?’
