by Kitty Neale
‘Yes, of course,’ Constance agreed, placing William in her outstretched arms.
Mary smiled down at William. He was the first baby she’d ever held and it made her feel all sort of warm inside.
‘Can I have a look at him?’ Helen asked.
‘Yeah, of course you can,’ Mary told her.
‘Now then, Helen, I don’t want you to get broody,’ Percy said as he joined them. ‘I don’t want to have to find another waitress.’
‘Leave it out, Percy. I’m not married yet and even when I am we want to wait a while before starting a family.’
‘Good, now let me have a look at the baby.’
‘It’s a boy,’ Mary enthused.
‘He’s a proper bonny boy too, and you look a picture holding him. Now then, as it’s time for your break, why don’t you all sit down.’
Unused to compliments, Mary flushed, and smiled up at Percy. ‘Thanks,’ she said.
Helen hurried away to serve another customer, and once the rest of them were seated, Percy asked, ‘What can I get you, ladies?’
‘Nothing for me, thanks,’ Ethel told him. ‘We had a cuppa a short while ago. What about you, Constance?’
‘Nothing for me too.’
Percy chuckled. ‘I’d soon be out of business if all my customers were like you, but I’m sure you’re hungry, Mary.’
‘Yes, a sausage sarnie and a cuppa, please.’
‘Right, coming up,’ Percy said, walking away.
‘Goodness, Mary, you can see he really likes you,’ Constance said as soon as Percy disappeared into the kitchen.
‘I know, but I’m still not sure. I like him a lot, but there’s still the age gap.’
‘Why don’t you stop worrying about it?’ Ethel said. ‘At least go out with him and see how it goes. Like can turn to love, and if it does I don’t think you’ll find it matters any more.’
‘I dunno. I’m still not sure,’ Mary said, her eyes once again settling on William. ‘He’s a lovely baby, Constance.’
‘He’s so good too,’ she replied, smiling fondly at her son.
‘What’s Albie like with him?’ Mary asked.
‘He barely takes any notice of him and I don’t think he’s held him since he was born.’
Percy returned with Mary’s sandwich and a cup of tea, and after placing them on the table he said, ‘Give me the baby and I’ll pass him back to his mother.’
Mary held William up and as Percy took him, he held him snugly in his arms, a soft, gentle smile on his face as he looked down on him. It was in that moment that Mary made up her mind. Percy was such a lovely man, and he’d make a wonderful father too, unlike Albie, who it seemed showed no interest in his son. Mary knew that Percy longed for a family, and she did too. She’d wait until he closed the café, and then she’d tell him – tell him that she’d love to go out with him, and who knows, as Ethel said, liking Percy might turn to love.
Chapter 30
It was Sunday afternoon, the first of June. Jill glanced out of the window and saw Connie going for a walk. She wished she could join her – wished that with Denis in a foul mood, she could get out of the house.
‘Get over here,’ he demanded.
‘Please, Denis …’
‘Please, Denis,’ he mimicked, in a mocking high-pitched voice.
‘I’ve got to feed the baby.’
‘He can wait. Now I said, get over here.’
Jill reluctantly did as she was told. She knew what was coming, and that there would be nothing she could do to stop it. It was a familiar pattern, and she lifted her skirt to allow Denis to fondle her. She hated this, hated the feel of his rough hands, and then he unzipped his fly, indicating that she should pleasure him. She knew it wouldn’t work – with the amount of alcohol he’d consumed it would be impossible to arouse him.
‘You’re fucking useless,’ he growled.
She’d once retaliated, telling him that it wasn’t her that had a problem, but that had been a big mistake, one that she had paid for dearly. It had been a bad beating, the worst she’d suffered at his hands, and nowadays, in fear of his anger, she remained meek.
Denis pushed her hand away and she braced herself. If he was going to hit her, it would be now. She cringed as he rose to his feet and then it came, a punch, this time close to her eye. She cried out and held both hands over her face, the next punch landing on her arm. ‘Please, please, stop,’ she begged.
Andrew woke up and began to cry and it seemed to bring Denis to his senses. ‘I’m going upstairs for a nap. See to the brat. I won’t get any sleep with him bawling.’
Jill ran to pick Andrew up and placate him. She’d got off lightly this time, but if Denis had marked her face, how was she going to hide the bruise?
When Connie went out, Dora suggested that Albie went with her. He refused, saying that this was his only day off and he just wanted to relax.
Dora thought Connie had looked relieved as she went to the kitchen to fetch some stale bread to feed the ducks. Albie had laughed at that, mocking that only kids fed the ducks, not grown women.
As soon as Connie left, Dora said, ‘You told me to be nice to her, but you don’t always make much of an effort.’
‘She gets on my nerves with her uppity manner, but I do my best.’
‘If you don’t want to lose her, you’ll have to try harder.’
‘Yeah, yeah, all right. Don’t nag.’
Dora watched out of the window as Connie wheeled the pram along the street and then turning the corner she went out of sight. Melvin left his house then, walking in the same direction. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d think that Connie and Melvin have arranged to meet.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Well, he hardly shows his face, but Connie has just gone out and he ain’t far behind her.’
Albie chuckled. ‘Don’t be daft, Connie wouldn’t be interested in that ugly git.’
‘Don’t be too sure. He might not be much to look at, but there’s a lot to be said for kindness and he certainly showed her plenty of that.’
‘Well, Mum, as long as that’s all he shows her, I don’t care.’
‘You wouldn’t say that if she ran off with him.’
‘You don’t really think that’s gonna happen, do you?’
‘All I’m saying is that the pair of them seem to like each other, and if you don’t want to lose Connie, you should nip it in the bud.’
‘All right, I’ll follow them to see if they’re up to anything, but I still think you’re wrong.’
Dora hoped she was. If Connie left Albie, she would take William with her and the thought of losing her grandson was agonising.
Constance had turned the corner into the next street when Melvin drew up alongside her. ‘Hello,’ she said. ‘Where are you off to?’
‘I’m going to the park. My mother and my sister are at it like fishwives again and it’s the only place to get a bit of peace and quiet.’
‘Oh, dear. Is it because Penny doesn’t want to be sent away?’
‘Yeah, and she wants to keep the baby.’
‘I can understand that.’
‘Mum won’t have it, though, hence the continuous arguments.’
‘What does your father say about it?’
‘Nothing. I have no idea how he feels. In our house, what my mum says goes.’
That didn’t surprise Constance. ‘I’m going to the park too. I love feeding the ducks and I’ve got some stale bread.’
‘I like them too. They’re comical to watch.’
Constance smiled at Melvin, feeling an affinity with him as they carried on walking and chatting. They found things in common. Like her, Melvin loved to read, though his taste in books was different – his was for thrillers and hers the classics.
‘Hardly anyone knows this, but I love writing too,’ Melvin said.
‘Do you? That’s wonderful. What do you write about?’
‘I’ve penned a good few short stories, but I haven’t done anyt
hing with them. I just enjoy the process of writing, creating the characters and the plots. It takes up most of my spare time.’
‘So that’s why I’ve hardly seen you.’
Melvin smiled ruefully. ‘I prefer my own company – present company excepted, that is.’
‘Thank you, I’m flattered.’
When they reached the park and the lake, Melvin pointed to a bench. ‘That’s where I usually sit and write when I’m driven out of the house.’
‘It looks like a nice secluded spot.’
‘Yes, it is, and I find that looking at the lake is relaxing.’
Constance walked up to the bench and sat down, the long fronds of a willow tree making her feel like she was enshrined in a magical place. ‘This is lovely,’ she enthused.
Melvin smiled as he sat beside her, and for a while they were silent, both happy just to gaze at the water and the majestic swans gliding past. Constance broke the spell by saying, ‘If you don’t mind, I’ll feed the ducks now.’
‘Of course I don’t mind.’
‘It’ll shatter the peace for a while.’
‘That’s all right. Once the bread is gone they’ll drift off again.’
Connie broke the bread and handed some to Melvin. The two of them laughed at the quacking ducks and their antics as they scrambled for a share.
‘Well, well, the two of you look very cosy,’ a voice said.
‘Albie, what are you doing here?’ Constance asked, her heart sinking.
‘I should have thought that was obvious. I’m seeing what you’re up to.’
‘We’re just feeding the ducks, that’s all.’
‘Do you need a nice little hideaway to do that?’ Albie asked sarcastically.
‘It’s just a bench, Albie, it’s obviously not a hideaway. After all, you saw us clearly enough.’
‘Yes, I did, and that means other people will too. If you aren’t careful the gossips are going to find out that you’re meeting another man.’
‘Hold on,’ Melvin said. ‘You make it sound like we arranged to meet up, but that’s not the case. We just bumped into each other on the way here, that’s all.’
‘I hope you’re telling me the truth.’
‘I am, but I must say if you really think I’m carrying on with your wife, you don’t seem very upset about it.’
‘Well, Lugs, it was actually my mother who had her suspicions, and I told her she’s wrong. After all, Connie would have to be desperate to have an affair with you.’
‘Albie, there’s no need to be nasty,’ Constance said sharply.
‘It’s all right, you don’t have to defend me,’ Melvin said, his eyes dark with anger. ‘You see, other than his pride, I know why Albie wouldn’t be upset to find out you’re having an affair.’
‘Really, why is that then?’ Constance asked.
‘It’s not for me to say, but you could ask Albie where he goes to in Soho.’
‘Shut your mouth, Melvin,’ Albie hissed.
‘I wouldn’t have opened it if you hadn’t been so quick to insult me. I may not have been blessed with good looks, but I’d never use a woman the way you do. It’s disgusting.’
‘I said shut up!’ Albie yelled.
‘What’s this all about, Melvin?’ Constance asked, bewildered. ‘I don’t understand.’
The air seemed to rush out of Melvin and he slumped. ‘Take no notice, Connie. It doesn’t mean anything. I saw Albie going into a strip club once, that’s all, but it was before he married you.’
Constance frowned. Albie looked visibly relieved and she was sure there was more to what Melvin had said. Perhaps Albie was still going to strip clubs, yet if he was it didn’t bother her. ‘Albie, I am not having an affair with Melvin, or any other man, and I think you owe him an apology.’
‘Yeah, sorry, mate,’ Albie said, unusually sheepish now.
Constance was surprised by his complicity, and after throwing the last of the bread to the ducks she said, ‘I think we should go home now and leave Melvin in peace.’
Albie nodded and joined her on the walk home. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken any notice of my mum and trusted you.’
‘That was the first time I’ve seen Melvin since we all thanked him for helping me. I can’t believe you thought we’re having an affair. I was so embarrassed.’
‘Yeah, all right. Don’t go on about it.’
‘What did he mean by you using a woman?’
‘You heard him, I went to see some strippers in a club and it ain’t something I’d want my mum to find out about.’
‘Oh, I see.’
‘Yeah, well, if don’t want people talking you should be careful not to be seen alone with another man.’
Constance had felt the sting of gossips and knew he was right. However, Dora had been the one to voice her suspicions and she felt a surge of anger. She had to live in the same house as the woman, and she hated it. Her longing to escape returned with vigour.
Albie was fuming, but managed to hold it together. He had thought his secret was safe, but from what Melvin had said, it was obvious that the man knew. Yet how? He had never seen him in the club, but maybe he too visited Soho and had spotted him. Just the thought that Melvin knew the truth was enough to send Albie into a panic. Somehow he had to ensure that he kept his mouth shut, but threats wouldn’t work. They’d probably just make Melvin spit out the truth to all and sundry.
‘So you’re back,’ his mother said as they walked in.
‘Yeah, and everything’s fine,’ Albie told her.
Connie parked the pram, and then said, ‘Are you referring to your mother’s unwarranted suspicions about me, Albie?’
‘Even you must be able to see that it did look a bit funny when you and Melvin went out at about the same time,’ Dora said, flustered.
‘And that’s enough for you to infer that I’m having an affair?’
‘Well, you can’t blame me for being suspicious …’
‘I didn’t realise that you’re so narrow-minded. On the other hand, most of the women in this street are the same. Nasty, narrow-minded gossips.’
‘I ain’t standing for this. You can’t talk to me like that.’
‘I’ve put up with a lot worse from you,’ Connie huffed.
‘All right, Connie, that’s enough,’ Albie said. ‘My mum made a mistake, and I’m sure she’s sorry. Ain’t that right, Mum?’
‘Yeah, I suppose so,’ she answered sulkily.
Albie just hoped that his mother wouldn’t sulk for too long. It would make them all living under the same roof a bit of a pain, but then again he was hardly there so it wouldn’t affect him. It would be Connie who bore the brunt, and he hoped she wouldn’t start thinking about leaving him again.
Chapter 31
Constance had been surprised that she’d found the courage to speak up to Dora, even going so far as to call her narrow-minded, but now, after a week of her mother-in-law being in a mood, she regretted it. It was fine when Dora was at work during the day, but the evenings were miserable, with the woman sitting in stony silence. Living in this house was like living on a roller coaster. Just a short time ago, Dora was being nice to her, but now she had turned again.
This weekend was hell, her only escape taking William for a walk. On Sunday afternoon, dreading going home, Constance came to the end of her tether. She was in the park, sitting on what she now thought of as Melvin’s bench, when he turned up and sat down beside her.
‘Hello, Connie.’
‘Hello, Melvin,’ she said, dashing tears from her cheeks.
‘Why are you crying?’
‘You don’t want to hear all my woes.’
‘Talking about them might help.’
Constance found herself spilling it all out, her unhappy marriage, her desperate need to escape, but how, with nowhere else to go, she felt so alone and stuck where she was.
‘I wish I could help,’ Melvin said sympathetically.
‘I’m
sorry, I shouldn’t have burdened you with all this. I think I’ll go to see my father. He hasn’t seen his grandson yet and it might just soften him enough to allow me to move back in with him.’
‘He would have to be a very hard man to turn you down.’
‘He can be implacable. Once he’s made his mind up, he rarely changes it.’
‘My mother is the same.’
With something else to focus on, Constance’s tears had dried and she asked, ‘Is she still refusing to let Penny keep her baby?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. I feel sorry for my sister. I feel that if she had some means of supporting herself and the baby, she’d leave home.’
‘She seems to be in the same position as me.’
‘Yes, you’re right, she does, though of course Penny isn’t married.’
‘I hope to get my marriage annulled.’
‘Annulled? Do you mean a divorce?’
‘If a marriage hasn’t been consummated you can be granted an annulment,’ Constance said, and then flushed. She felt so at ease and relaxed in Melvin’s company, but she shouldn’t have told him that.
‘I see,’ he said quietly with raised eyebrows.
Constance stood up and said hurriedly, ‘Thanks for listening, but I really should go now.’
‘Are you going to see your father now?’
‘No, I’ll go tomorrow.’
‘Good luck,’ Melvin said.
Constance knew she would have to go back to Kibble Street for now, but inwardly prayed it wouldn’t be for long.
Albie kept out of sight until Constance had left, and then walked up to the bench to sit beside Melvin. ‘We meet again,’ he said.
‘You might have seen Connie here a few minutes ago but I told you, there’s nothing going on between us.’
‘It’s all right. I’m not here to talk about that. I … I … erm … thought nobody knew about my other life, but it seems you do.’
‘Yes, I’ve known about it for some time.’
‘How did you find out?’
‘If you hadn’t been so promiscuous, it might never have come to light.’
‘I’m not sure I understand.’
‘I met someone you’d dropped, who was looking for a shoulder to cry on.’
