by Kitty Neale
‘Of course, and that’s such a relief. Who is he going to sell it to?’
‘You don’t need to know, but if you’re happy about it, give me the stone and he’ll shift it tonight.’
Jenny pulled the tissue from her bag and couldn’t pass it to Tina fast enough. It was like a heavy weight lifting from her shoulders. She’d felt uncomfortable carrying the diamond around with her, and though she’d just passed on a potential small fortune, she trusted her friend.
Tina glanced around her and stuffed the tissue into her bra. ‘There’s no chance of anyone getting their hands on it in there,’ she said with a laugh. ‘Now relax, and tomorrow you’ll be a lot richer than you are today.’
The money would make such a difference to them, and for Jenny tomorrow couldn’t come quickly enough.
Jack’s mother opened the front door and eyed Gloria up and down. She’d made no secret that she’d didn’t like her, and since Jack had probably moaned to her about being trapped, Gloria guessed the woman liked her even less. ‘Is Jack there?’
‘Yes, but he doesn’t want to see you. He needs time to think.’
‘There isn’t time for him to think. This baby is coming whether he likes it or not and I won’t be able to hide it for much longer.’
‘Keep your voice down and get inside. I won’t have my family’s dirty washing being aired in public.’
Gloria walked in and saw Jack looking at her sheepishly from behind the kitchen door.
‘Go on then, speak to him, but don’t expect me to back you up. You should have kept your legs shut and not been such a dirty tart!’
Gloria gave Jack’s mother a filthy look as she passed her and quickly closed the kitchen door behind her. She had no doubt that the woman would be standing on the other side with her ear to the wood, listening to every word.
‘All right, Gloria,’ Jack said. He spoke casually, but this was belied by the way he shifted uncomfortably from one leg to another.
‘No, Jack, I’m not all right. You’ve been avoiding me, and because you haven’t bothered going to work, you’ve lost your job.’
‘I didn’t like it there anyway,’ Jack said with a shrug.
‘That’s not the bloody point, is it? We have a child on the way and need your wages. I was so upset when the manager told me that I walked out, which probably means I’ve lost my job too. Not that it really matters because soon I’ll be showing, and I doubt they’d keep me on.’
‘Yeah, well, I’ve been thinking, and I’m not sure I can handle all this. I’ll support you and the baby, you know, pay for things and that, but I can’t marry you,’ Jack said and lowered his head.
Gloria had a feeling he’d try and worm his way out of the marriage, but she wasn’t having any of it. ‘Look at me, Jack,’ she demanded.
Jack scuffed the kitchen linoleum with his shoe and kept his head down.
‘I said, look at me!’
He did, and as their eyes locked, Gloria stabbed her finger into his chest. ‘You got me into this situation, and you know it. I am not giving birth to a bastard, so, like it or not, you’ve got to marry me.’
‘You can’t make me, Gloria,’ Jack told her harshly as he stepped back from her jabbing finger.
Gloria quickly realised that being aggressive wasn’t going to work. She managed to squeeze a tear from her eye, and snivelled. ‘No, I can’t force you, but I know you are a decent man and will do the right thing. I get it, you’re scared, and so am I, but we can do this together. I love you, Jack, and so will your baby. Please, don’t abandon us.’
Jack’s eyes softened, and he said, ‘Look, Gloria, I don’t want to do that, but well, we once had fun and … and this isn’t fun any more.’
‘It can be. Just because we’re having a baby doesn’t mean the fun has to stop,’ Gloria purred as she ran her hand up his chest and over his shoulder.
Jack smiled and gazed down at her. ‘Your tits have got bigger,’ he said with a laugh.
‘Trust you to notice,’ Gloria said, and smiled as she stood on tiptoes to reach his lips. Their kiss was long, and left Gloria feeling breathless as she husked, ‘Are you coming home?’
‘Yes, but let’s stop at the jeweller’s on the way and look at getting you a ring.’
Chapter 55
The next day, Jenny took her bag into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. It was the one place she could have any privacy. She took out the wad of notes and sat on the edge of the bathtub to count the money again. ‘Unbelievable,’ she muttered, still unable to comprehend that one small diamond could fetch two hundred pounds. Tina’s husband had taken his cut which left her with twenty-five quid less, but it still felt like a fortune.
Tina said the diamond had been worth a lot more, but it was all her husband could get for it on the black market. Jenny put the money back in her bag, and though she still felt incredibly guilty, she was pleased she didn’t have to worry about the council demanding her gran’s tenancy back.
She sneaked through to the bedroom and pulled open the drawer in her gran’s bedside table. The money would be safe in there; no one ever went in that drawer. As she was about to stuff the money to the back, she saw a piece of paper, folded in half with her name on it. She took it out and instantly recognised her gran’s handwriting. Jenny was curious to know what her gran had written to her, but she sat staring at her name, unable to open the folded piece of paper.
‘Jenny, Timmy’s got my fire engine and won’t give it back,’ Peter shouted from the front room.
Jenny was momentarily distracted, but walked over to the bedroom door and quietly pushed it shut. She sat back on her gran’s bed and again looked at the piece of paper. If her gran had wanted her to have the letter, surely she would have given it to her? Maybe she shouldn’t read it? No, it was addressed to her, her gran had left it for her to find.
With her hands shaking, Jenny slowly opened the paper and began to read. The writing was unclear, probably because her gran’s eyes had been bad, but Jenny was able to understand it. As she read the first line, ‘To my dearest Jenny,’ a tear fell from her eye and landed on the end of the letter. It went on to explain about Edith’s mother’s wedding ring on the dressing table and how much sentimental value the ring held. The words spoke from the page almost as if Jenny could hear her gran’s voice. The letter went on to say how proud her gran was of her, and as Jenny read the last line, ‘with all my love forever,’ she felt her throat tighten as she tried to stifle her sobs.
Through eyes blurred with tears, she read the letter again, savouring every word. Then she placed it carefully beside her and pulled a handkerchief from her bag and blew her nose. She went to her gran’s dressing table, took the glass lid off the trinket box, found the precious ring and slipped it on. It fitted perfectly. Her gran had once worn this ring and her great-grandmother before her. Somehow, it made her feel closer to her gran and she knew she’d never remove it.
The bedroom door opened and Pamela popped her head around.
‘Are you OK?’ she asked.
Jenny smiled warmly and answered, ‘Yes, I am. Look at this,’ and held out her hand and the piece of paper.
Pamela sat next to her on the bed and read the letter. She had tears in her eyes when she spoke. ‘Oh, Jenny, that’s lovely.’
‘It is, isn’t it? This ring meant the world to Gran so I’m going to treasure it as she did. It’s worth more than all the diamonds in the world.’
Jenny took a deep breath and looked lovingly at the ring on her hand, then joined her brothers in the front room. Timmy was squabbling with Peter about something, and Pamela had walked back to the table and was looking out of the window, probably day-dreaming again.
‘What are you thinking about?’ Jenny asked her sister as she pulled a chair out to sit opposite her.
‘Faraway places,’ Pamela said and sighed. ‘Linda is going on holiday to Cornwall next month. They go every year to a caravan park. She said it’s beautiful down there.’
&
nbsp; ‘That’s nice,’ Jenny answered. ‘I feel like I could do with a holiday and I bet you do too.’
‘Yes, I’d love one. The last time we went anywhere nice was to Owen’s flat in Du Cane Court but that was hardly a holiday.’
‘If you could have a holiday, where would you like to go?’ Jenny asked.
‘I don’t really know. One of my ladies in the salon was talking about Butlin’s Holiday Camp in Bognor. She said it was the best holiday she’d ever had.’
‘I’ve read about the place. It looks good fun and something Timmy and Peter would enjoy.’
‘What about you, Jenny? Where would go, if you could?’
‘I quite like the sound of Bognor too,’ Jenny answered, and smiled.
She went into the kitchen to prepare their dinner, wondering if a holiday to Butlin’s was possible. She had the proceeds from the sale of the diamond but they needed it to secure a home. There could be enough for a holiday too, but then she’d have no savings, no security. Her gran had told her in the letter to be happy. To live life to the full and only ever regret the things she didn’t do. It would be reckless to spend the money at Butlin’s, frivolous even, but it was only money and money couldn’t buy happiness. Jenny glanced again at the wedding ring. It held so many happy memories for the women who had worn it. Perhaps that’s what Jenny and her family needed – happy memories – but in that case, new memories had to be made.
Gloria was pleased that she’d made amends with her sister, even though it was in devastating circumstances. She still owned a key to her gran’s flat but hadn’t been there since the funeral. ‘Helloooooo,’ she called as she let herself in.
Peter came running up to her first, and when she saw the gravy around her brother’s mouth, she quickly stretched her arms out and grabbed his shoulders. ‘You, young man, can’t have a cuddle until you’ve washed your face, you mucky pup. I don’t want your dinner on my nice white blouse.’
‘Don’t want one, so there,’ Peter said, running ahead of her into the front room.
‘Hi, Gloria. I’m afraid you’re too late for dinner,’ Jenny said as she cleared away the dinner plates.
‘I wasn’t expecting any. I came round because I’ve got something to tell all of you.’
‘Go on then, spit it out,’ Jenny urged.
‘You are all invited to my wedding.’
‘I’ve never been to a wedding,’ Timmy said.
‘Nor me.’ This from Peter.
‘Congratulations,’ Pamela said though she sounded flat.
‘When is the happy day?’ Jenny asked.
‘Next month, May the twenty-fifth. It’s only going to be in a register office, but we gave notice today and managed to book a cancellation. I’m so excited, I’m fit to burst!’
‘Is that … my ring you’re wearing?’ Jenny asked, frowning.
‘Oh, this,’ Gloria answered flippantly as she held out her hand, ‘yes, it is. We haven’t got a lot of money to spare, so it seemed silly to buy another one when we need to save every penny we can for our coming baby. In the circumstances, I didn’t think you’d mind, especially as you only wore the ring for half an hour.’
‘That’s not the point and it would have been nice to be asked, before you just went ahead and wore it.’
‘Not this again. I thought you were over the whole Jack and me thing.’
‘I’m happy for you, but I don’t want my face rubbed in it, and as for my ring … you’re welcome to my hand-me-downs!’ Jenny stopped talking as her voice began to break and she dashed from the room.
‘Yeah, well, I’m used to them,’ Gloria called. ‘I’ve had your hand-me-downs all my life, so this is nothing new.’
‘Why have you made Jenny cry?’ Peter asked, his eyes filling up too.
‘I didn’t mean to. She’s just a bit soft. Anyway, I’ve got something else to tell you. You’re both going to be uncles.’
‘Why?’ Timmy asked.
‘Because I’m having a baby and you’ll be its uncle. Both of you will!’
Pamela stood up abruptly and said, ‘I’m going to see if Jenny is all right.’
‘Don’t worry about her, she’ll be fine. How do you feel about being an auntie?’
‘How am I supposed to feel?’
‘Well, at least happy about it.’
Pam shrugged, and sounding very grown-up she said, ‘I’m more concerned that you’ve upset Jenny, and that, worse, you don’t even seem to care. I think it might be for the best if you leave.’
‘Fine, if that’s how you feel I’ll go,’ Gloria snapped. She’d called round expecting them all to be happy about her news, but instead Jenny had got the hump, and, as far as she was concerned, over nothing.
Gloria stormed off down the road, fuming that her sister had spoiled her good news. She didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Yes, Jenny had momentarily worn the ring, but it was hers now and so was Jack, so Jenny had better get used to it.
Chapter 56
‘Have you changed your mind about going to your sister’s wedding?’ Tina asked quietly.
‘Nope. I’ve booked us a holiday instead. A week at Butlin’s in Bognor.’
‘Good for you,’ Tina said. ‘The kids will love it there. When are you off?’
‘Saturday, five days to go. The rest of the week is going to drag.’
‘How are you getting there?’
‘By train. Pamela knows about it, but I haven’t told the boys yet. It’ll be a nice surprise for them when they find out they won’t be going to school next week.’
‘You kept that quiet. When I talked to you on Friday about what I should wear for the register office, you never said anything about a holiday.’
‘I know. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing, but then I finally made up my mind and booked it on Saturday. I know I should be there for Gloria’s wedding, but I just can’t face it.’
‘Nobody can blame you, love. I ain’t keen on going myself, but Jack’s my little brother. Our mum has been walking about with a face like a smacked arse, so I don’t think she’s happy about it either, but I think she’ll come round once the baby is born.’
Jenny thought she probably would. After all, the baby would be her grandchild. Try as she might, she couldn’t see Gloria as a mother. Her sister had such a selfish streak, but maybe having a baby would change her. She hoped it would, for the child’s sake, but though Jack was irresponsible, at least he’d never hurt his child, like her father had her.
Selling the diamonds hadn’t been as easy as Lizzie had expected. Ten-Bob-Terry had laughed in her face, and the pawnshop had eyed her suspiciously. She’d walked out quickly in case they called the police, so she was still stuck with the stones and, unfortunately, with Brian too. She could understand now why the diamonds had been hidden away – her father probably couldn’t shift them either. He’d only been a petty thief and she was still dumbfounded that he’d acquired such a haul.
Lizzie sat on the edge of the bed in Brian’s grubby bedsit and drummed her fingers on her thigh as she smoked her last cigarette. She hated that she’d come down to this standard of living and now wished she hadn’t been so quick to leave Owen. Granted, he was boring and finicky, but at least she could have anything she wanted and not have to worry about where she’d find the money for another packet of cigarettes. Brian gave her what he could afford, but with the rent on his house and his wife and kids to look after, it wasn’t much. She drew a long last drag on the cigarette then stubbed it out in the ashtray before rising to her feet.
The diamonds were concealed in the back of her underwear drawer, and after a quick rummage she held them in her hand to gaze at them. They had so much potential to change her life, but, like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, the wealth was just out of her grasp.
Lizzie hid the stones away again. She felt so frustrated and gritted her teeth as she paced the small room. If only she could sell them! She racked her brains but quickly dismissed any idea
s that sprang to mind. Then she had a thought and stopped pacing. Had Jenny sold her diamond? Her eldest daughter had always been resourceful, and Lizzie wondered if she could hold the key to unlocking her small fortune.
Gloria stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, wearing the outfit she had bought for her wedding, and looked at her reflection. It was a smart cream two-piece suit with a matching pillbox hat and when she’d tried it on, it had fitted her well. Now though, because she couldn’t fully zip up the skirt, it hung wrong. Not only that, but the jacket emphasised her expanding waistline.
‘Gloria,’ she heard Jack shout from the kitchen.
She glanced at the alarm clock on the table next to their bed. It was three-thirty. Jack shouldn’t be home from work this early.
‘Hang on, don’t come in, I’ll be out in a tick,’ she called back and speedily changed her outfit.
‘What are you doing home so early?’ she asked Jack as she walked into the kitchen.
‘It didn’t work out for me at Rowland’s.’
‘What, has he sacked you?’
‘No, I walked out.’
‘Well, you can bloody well walk back in,’ Gloria snapped. It was less than a week to their wedding and they were expecting a child, yet here Jack was without a job – again.
‘I can’t. I told him where he could stick his job, but don’t worry. You know me, I ain’t work-shy and I’ll soon find another job for a talented butcher like me.’
‘It’s a shame you ain’t talented at holding on to jobs when you get them. We’re getting married on Saturday, and you seem to forget we’ve got to pay for the buffet that you ordered at the pub.’
‘We’ll manage and I’m sure my mum will help out.’
‘I don’t want to be beholden to her, thank you very much, and I told you not to go splashing your cash on a buffet that’s just a waste of money.’
‘For fuck’s sake, woman, give it a rest, will ya!’
‘Give it a rest? I ain’t bloody started yet!’ Gloria snarled.
