by Kitty Neale
‘I don’t understand, Jack … they’ll be living with us, and Pamela.’
‘No, I don’t think so, Jen. I’m marrying you, not your brothers and sisters.’
‘Where do you expect them to go?’ Jenny asked, perplexed.
‘They can stay at your gran’s or your mother can look after them like she’s supposed to.’
‘No, sorry, Jack, they stay with me. My mother isn’t fit to look after them – she’s unreliable and drifts in and out of their lives. As for my gran, she isn’t well enough to take them on. If you want to marry me, then you need to understand that my family come as part of the package.’
Jack pulled his hand away from Jenny and walked in silence. This had been the last thing that she’d expected. Jack knew what had happened to them – surely he didn’t expect her to leave her family behind?
‘Are you telling me that if I want you to be my wife, I have to take on a ready-made family that ain’t mine?’
‘Yes,’ Jenny answered simply. It had never occurred to her that he’d think anything different.
‘I don’t think I can do that, Jenny. I love you, but that’s a big ask.’
‘I’m sorry, Jack, but that’s how it is. I can’t compromise.’
‘I don’t want to lose you, but I don’t want your brothers and sisters too. I thought that one day we’d start our own family and I don’t see how we will manage that if I’ve got to support your lot too. Anyway, I ain’t ready for kids yet.’
Jenny stopped walking and so did Jack. They turned to look at each other as a light drizzle began to fall. Tears slipped from Jenny’s eyes as she pulled the ring off her finger and held it out towards him. ‘In that case, I can’t marry you.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Jack said and took the ring.
She never thought for a moment that he’d accept the ring back. She was sure he’d change his mind, and she watched in disbelief as he walked away in the rain. Jenny caught a sob in her throat. He’d gone, leaving her in unimaginable sorrow and pain. Her heart, which he’d helped to mend, was once again broken, only this time she felt it was beyond repair.
Chapter 44
The moment Gloria walked into her gran’s flat, she could feel something wasn’t right. She expected to hear her brothers playing and smell the aroma of a Sunday dinner roasting in the oven. Instead, she walked into a silent lounge.
‘Hello, love,’ her gran said quietly.
‘Where is everyone?’
‘Pam has taken the boys to the swings and your sister is in the bedroom. She’s broken up with Jack and is ever so upset.’
‘Broken up with him? I don’t understand. I thought he was going to propose to her on Friday.’
‘He did, and she said yes, but then he said he wasn’t prepared to take on Pam and the boys.’
‘Surely he knew what he was getting into when he asked her to marry him?’
‘It seems not. She’s breaking her heart in there so go and talk to her.’
‘I will. Don’t worry, Gran, she’s got through worse than this,’ Gloria said and gave her gran’s shoulder a gentle squeeze as she passed.
Gloria tapped lightly on the bedroom door. ‘Jenny, it’s me – can I come in?’
She didn’t hear an answer, so slowly pushed the door open and saw Jenny face-down on the bed she shared with Pamela. Her shoulders were shaking but she wasn’t making a sound. Gloria walked across and sat on the edge of the bed. She gently rubbed Jenny’s back. ‘Are you all right, Sis?’
Jenny’s muffled answer came, ‘Yes … no … I love him …’
‘I know you do, but if he doesn’t know you well enough to know how important your family is to you, then he ain’t the bloke I thought he was.’
Jenny rolled to her side. Strands of her red hair were streaked across her pale face and stuck to her skin with tears. Her eyes were swollen and red and her nose looked sore. She looked as if she’d been crying for a long time.
‘Pamela asked me what’s wrong, but I couldn’t tell her I’d split with Jack because he didn’t want them.’
‘There’s no need to tell them the truth, but you can’t stay in here crying your eyes out. You’ve got work tomorrow and you don’t want to be going in with puffy eyes, do you?’
‘I suppose not. I don’t want them to ask me what’s wrong, though Tina will have heard by now.’
‘Yes, but Tina is your friend and she won’t be gossiping. I realise you’re upset, and I understand how much it hurts, but you’ve got to pull yourself together,’ Gloria said firmly.
Jenny swung her legs around so that she was sitting on the bed. ‘I know you’re right. I’m no good to anyone like this and need to put on a brave face. Sod him … I’m not going to waste any more tears over Jack, he’s not worth it.’
Gloria smiled at her sister and held her hand. ‘That’s the spirit, Jen, well done. Now, can you get dinner on? I’m starved.’
Jenny smiled weakly back and Gloria knew her sister would be OK. Unbeknown to Jenny, Gloria had an ulterior motive for trying to put a smile back on her sister’s face. If Jenny was out of action she might be lumbered with looking after her brothers, and she didn’t want that.
Owen was off to visit his mother, but after their altercation on Friday, Lizzie didn’t want to sit and eat Sunday lunch with the woman.
‘I won’t be late,’ Owen said as he left.
Be as late as you like, Lizzie thought to herself. In fact, the later the better. She couldn’t stand to be around him now and had reached the point where she found him absolutely repulsive. She’d made up some feeble excuses to avoid making love, but knew she’d have to give in soon. The thought of it made her shudder.
Now that Lizzie knew she wouldn’t be coming into any large sums of money, Owen had lost his appeal and she longed to be away from him. The trouble was, she had nowhere to go. She felt trapped, just like she had when she’d been married to Henry.
She drummed her fingers as she sat on the leather Chesterfield sofa and her eyes roamed the room. An idea began to form in her head. A way to make some money. Owen had many items of value, but she’d have to select wisely. She’d need to take something that he wouldn’t notice missing. She knew what he was like and had no doubt that he’d have the police on to her.
Her eyes fell on one of Owen’s paintings. She didn’t know anything about fine art, but he’d told her they were originals and insured. She couldn’t even remember who the artist was and wouldn’t have a clue where to sell them. Anyway, Owen was bound to notice an empty space on the wall.
She stood up and began to wander around. The silver tray, the large bronze hunting figurine, the ornate Chinese vase, all of them would be worth money, but not to the likes of Ten-Bob-Terry. He was the man everyone took their wares to. He didn’t care if he bought knocked-off goods, and never asked questions. Trouble was, Lizzie knew Ten-Bob-Terry wouldn’t be interested in upmarket gear like Owen’s that he wouldn’t be able to shift.
She ambled through to the bedroom, mentally clocking up the value of everything she saw, but quickly dismissed most things as unsuitable. Then it occurred to her. Owen’s late father’s watch. She knew he kept it in a secret drawer in the dresser, and quickly found the hidden compartment. ‘Silly old sod,’ she said aloud when she saw the gold watch, ‘you should have put it in the safe.’
Lizzie grabbed the watch and placed it in the bottom of her handbag. Ten-Bob-Terry was always interested in a bit of gold and she knew he’d pay her handsomely for something so valuable. It’d be enough to see her through for a while. She hastily packed her things, anxious to be gone before Owen returned. She doubted he’d immediately notice that the watch was missing, and by the time he did, she’d have sold it. He’d have no proof that she’d stolen it, so she didn’t have to worry about the police. She’d be in the clear and with a good few bob in her pocket.
Chapter 45
On Monday morning Jenny trudged to work, but she would rather have stayed in bed. She couldn’t pretend to
smile and be happy. She just hoped that if she kept her head down and got on with her work, nobody would notice how miserable she was feeling.
‘Jack told me what happened,’ Tina whispered. ‘I’m sorry it didn’t work out between you two.’
‘Yes, me too,’ Jenny answered.
‘He was ever so upset.’
‘It was his choice, Tina.’
‘Well, not really. In my opinion, it was your choice. He thinks you don’t love him enough and have chosen your brothers and Pam over him.’
‘He shouldn’t have made me choose,’ Jenny snapped. Her pain was slowly turning to anger as she realised how selfish Jack was being, and she couldn’t believe he was putting the blame on her.
‘You didn’t really expect him to take on your lot, did you?’
‘I never made any secret about how things are. Craig never had a problem with it.’
‘Jack isn’t Craig, and it’s unfair of you to compare them, especially as in your eyes Jack would never stand a chance against the perfect Craig.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘You put Craig so high on a pedestal that no man is ever going to be good enough. How do you think that makes Jack feel? He can’t compete with a dead man.’
Jenny’s heart pounded in her chest as anger coursed through her veins. ‘How dare you. You didn’t know Craig, and as a matter of fact, he was ten times the man Jack will ever be. I can see that now, and in fact I don’t know what I ever saw in your brother … he’s spoiled, childish and self-centred. I’m better off without him!’
‘Tina, love,’ Joan said, chipping in, ‘I know Jack is your brother, but Craig was bloody good to Jenny and her family. I don’t know what’s going on, but I think you should leave it.’
Jenny hadn’t realised how loud she’d been, but she saw now that a lot of the women were looking at her. She lowered her eyes, embarrassed at her outburst. ‘Are you all right, Jenny?’ one of them asked.
Jenny nodded, her face burning. She clenched her jaw and fought back tears as she continued with her work. Just hearing Craig’s name spoken cut her deeply. She missed him, and though she loved Jack, she was angry with him and knew she’d never miss him in the same way she did Craig.
Gloria had finished work for the day and as she walked along the road in the same direction as Jack, she kept her eyes fixed firmly ahead and ignored him.
‘Are you sending me to Coventry because of your sister?’ Jack asked.
Gloria remained tight-lipped.
‘You can’t put the blame on me. I ain’t done nothing wrong!’
‘How can you say that?’ Gloria asked sharply, ‘She’s really upset.’
‘So am I, but you can’t expect me to let your sister make a mug out of me.’
‘How was she doing that?’
‘Come off it, Gloria, how many blokes of my age do you know who’d want to take on a whole bloody family? It ain’t on that she thought I would. I reckon she was asking too much.’
Gloria was ready to jump in and defend her sister, but she thought Jack did have a point. After all, she’d walked away and left Jenny to get on with it. She shrugged her shoulders.
‘Does that mean I’m forgiven?’ Jack asked with his usual cheeky grin.
‘Yeah, I suppose, but you should have known how protective Jenny is over Pam and the boys.’
‘I get it, but I don’t see why they can’t stay at your gran’s or go back to your mum. I suggested that to her, but she was having none of it and gave me back the ring. What’s a bloke to do, eh?’
‘I don’t know, Jack. Would you reconsider?’
‘I’ve thought about it all weekend, and as much as I think the world of her, I can’t take on your brothers and sister too. Maybe I’m cutting off me nose to spite me face, but I’m only human, and not a bloody angel like that Craig.’
‘He really was a good bloke, but I think Craig’s memory is always going to be the problem,’ Gloria said.
‘I’m just glad me and you ain’t fallen out over it. Fancy a coffee? I’m buying.’
‘Come to mine and I’ll make us one. Gail is gonna be late again and I still don’t like being there by myself.’
‘You’re on, and thanks for not giving me too hard a time.’
Gloria glanced sideways at Jack. He was a good-looking bloke with a great sense of humour. He could be a bit irresponsible at times, and sometimes his jokes were irritating, but she’d always thought highly of him and reckoned her sister had lost out. Jenny was a fool to let Jack go, and Gloria had no doubt that some other lucky woman would soon snap him up.
Edith pulled her shawl around her as a draught of cold air whirled around her ankles. She’d heard the front door open and looked at the clock on the mantel to see if it was time for Jenny to come home. Her eyes were a blur and she tutted. ‘Damn blinkin’ mince pies,’ she moaned as she squinted, straining her eyes harder.
‘Hello, Gran, what’s the matter?’ Jenny asked as she came through the door.
‘Nothing, love, just being a silly old woman and talking to myself. How was your day?’
‘Not great. I had a bit of a fall-out with Tina.’
‘Over Jack?’
‘Yes, but it made me realise something. In comparison to how I felt about Craig, I don’t think I loved Jack enough.’
‘Maybe it was too soon, and you were on the rebound. I’m sorry I pushed you into going out with him, but I’m pleased to see you’ve pulled yourself together.’
‘I have, and I’ve been thinking … I don’t know where to start, but I’m going to see if I can be the kids’ legal guardian. If I can get that sorted, I can ask the council to house us. We’ve put on you for a long time now, and I bet you’ll be pleased to have your peace and quiet back.’
‘Not really. I enjoy you being here. I know it’s too much of a squeeze for you all, but I’ll be sorry to see you go.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really. I hadn’t realised how lonely I was until you moved in.’
‘Come with us then, Gran. We might be able to get a place that’s big enough for all of us.’
Edith didn’t need to think too hard about the offer and quickly answered, ‘Yes, I’d like that.’
‘Good. Well then, the sooner I get the legalities sorted out, the better.’
Edith sat back in her chair. She felt better knowing she wasn’t going to be alone, especially as her eyes were rapidly deteriorating. She wouldn’t tell anyone about them for now, but once they were all settled, she’d get her granddaughter to take her to an optician. A pair of glasses would sort her out, Edith mused, and she smiled, contemplating a happier future.
Chapter 46
October had rolled into November and brought a big drop in temperature. Lizzie was glad to be inside the warmth of her mother’s flat. She’d timed her visit well, ensuring that the children would be at school and Jenny at work.
‘Shall I put the kettle on, Mum?’ Lizzie asked, as she threw her expensive wool coat over the back of the chair.
‘Yes, and get us a piece of treacle tart while you’re out there.’
‘Oh, Mum, I can’t eat treacle tart. I’ve got to watch my figure, especially now that I’m a single young woman again.’
‘Don’t kid yourself, Lizzie, you’re far from young. What happened to Owen? See through you, did he?’
‘As a matter of fact, I left him,’ Lizzie answered, ignoring the remark about her age.
‘What’s the matter, did he write you out of his will?’
‘He never wrote me into it.’
‘Where are you staying now then?’
‘That’s the thing. I was with Brian, nice chap, but he’s gone back to his wife, so I’m sort of up the creek without a paddle.’
‘You needn’t think you can move in here. There’s barely room enough to swing a cat as it is.’
‘No, Mum, when Brian went back to his wife I took over his bedsit, but I’m a bit short on the rent money.’
‘I see … You want me to help you out?’
‘If you could, Mum, that’d be great. I’ll pay you back, promise.’
‘Yeah, of course you will, Lizzie, just like you always do,’ her mother answered cynically.
‘Please, Mum, I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate.’
‘Go and make that tea and bring me the old tin in the top drawer of my dresser.’
Lizzie put the kettle on the stove and then rummaged in the drawer. She soon found the tin and carefully opened it to sneak a peek inside. She was pleased when she saw there was a fair amount of money. She quietly sealed it again and took it to her mother.
Edith fumbled with the lid, and then asked Lizzie to open it. Lizzie obliged but was surprised when she saw her mother hold the notes close to her eyes. ‘Can you see what you’re doing, Mum?’ she asked.
‘Yes, of course I can,’ Edith answered, but Lizzie wasn’t convinced.
‘’Ere, but I want the money back,’ her mum said and handed Lizzie three one-pound notes.
‘Thanks, Mum,’ Lizzie said. ‘Shall I put the tin away?’
Her mum gave her back the tin and Lizzie took it through to the bedroom. Before she slipped in into the drawer, she quickly swapped the one-pound notes for fivers. She smiled to herself, thinking how clever she was. Her mum would never know, and if it ever came to light, Lizzie could blame the ‘mistake’ on her mother’s bad eyesight.
Jenny tried to concentrate and keep her mind on her work. It wasn’t easy, but she was just about managing to hold herself together.
‘Are you all right, Jenny? You don’t seem to be yourself today,’ Tina asked.
After the argument about Jack, their friendship had felt strained for a few days, but to Jenny’s pleasure they’d soon made up. ‘Yes, I’m fine, thanks. Take no notice of me, I’m just being maudlin. It’s coming up to the time when it would have been my and Craig’s first wedding anniversary.’
‘Times like that are always difficult to get through – birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas.’
