by Kitty Neale
‘Good. I’ll talk to my solicitor tomorrow and get the papers drawn up. Once you’ve signed them and the annulment is granted, I’ll release the money.’
‘Make sure you do,’ Albie snapped with more bravado than he felt. He hated it that Connie knew, and would always fear she’d tell others though he couldn’t bring himself to ask her to keep his secret.
He turned on his heel and left, knowing that as soon as he had the money he’d leave Kibble Street. He’d give his mother enough to buy a new cooker, but the rest of the money would go to keeping his true love, Timothy, happy. As long as he had Timothy he’d be happy too, and maybe they could even think about living abroad. He’d heard that Thailand was liberal towards men like them, and that the cost of living was cheap.
Maybe one day homosexuality wouldn’t be illegal, and they wouldn’t be forced to live a lie, but for now, that seemed an impossible dream.
Dora listened to Ivy, pleased that she’d managed to mend bridges with her daughter. Once again Ivy was raving about how gorgeous her granddaughter was, and how she was going to see her regularly.
‘I should have listened to you, Dora. I shouldn’t have been so prejudiced or worried about what the neighbours might say. At the end of the day Kimberly is my own flesh and blood. She’s family and there’s nothing more important than that.’
The door opened and Albie walked in, his face pale.
‘Are you all right, love?’
‘Yeah, but I want to talk to you in private,’ he said, looking pointedly at Ivy.
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Ivy said, bustling off.
Dora called a goodbye, and as soon as the door closed behind her, Albie sat down heavily opposite her. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
‘Connie’s father is dead.’
‘Yes, well, I sort of guessed that when she took Penny and Jill in.’
‘I’ve been to see her and agreed to the annulment in return for two grand.’
‘You surprise me. Now that she must have inherited that house, I thought you’d be after more.’
‘No, Mum. We’ve been married for less than a year, so I think two grand is more than fair.’
Dora frowned. This was unlike Albie, but she was pleased that he wasn’t being greedy. ‘It’s a great deal of money, son, just don’t go blowing it like you did with the last lot.’
‘Yeah, well, that’s what I want to talk to you about. I think it’s about time I left home and found my own place.’
Dora’s heart sank, but she’d known that one day it would come to this, and she’d always vowed she wouldn’t make it hard for Albie. ‘If that’s what you want, love, it’s fine with me.’
‘When I get the money, I’ll see you’re all right before I go.’
‘There’s no need for that.’
‘I think there is,’ Albie said. ‘Now I’m off out again.’
‘All right, love. I’ll see you later,’ she said, hiding her emotions until he left. She had always dreaded the thought of Albie leaving and of living on her own, but now it was soon to happen.
As she fought back tears, Dora recalled Ivy’s words. She had said there was nothing more important than family, and with the shock of hearing that Albie was leaving home, she realised that her friend was right. She thought about her own mother and how she had never forgiven her, yet Penny had found it in her heart to forgive Ivy.
Dora was unable to control the tears any longer, and they slid down her cheeks as she made a big decision. One day soon she would find out where her mother was and go to see her. It was time for her to mend bridges too.
‘So you ain’t gonna tell us what this secret of Albie’s is about?’ Penny asked.
‘No, I’m sorry, I can’t. But suffice to say that we haven’t got anything to worry about now. The house is mine and Albie won’t be making a claim on it.’
‘Well, that’s a relief ’cos I’ve told my mother that I ain’t going home.’
‘I’ll tell Denis the same if and when he turns up again,’ Jill said.
‘I’m glad you’ve found a bit of bottle,’ Penny said, grinning.
‘I have, and that’s thanks to you.’
Constance sat listening with a smile on her face. It was lovely to know that her future was secure now and that she could go ahead with her plans, but first there was Christmas to think about. She hadn’t expected to feel anything close to hopeful at this time of the year, but celebrations were in order and she was determined to make this Christmas a good one. ‘I’m going to buy the biggest Christmas tree I can find, and we’ll have such fun decorating it. I’m also going shopping for presents.’
‘Don’t go mad, love. I haven’t got much money to spend on presents and I doubt Penny has either,’ Jill said.
‘You’re right there,’ Penny agreed.
‘Well, then, I’ll just buy things for the children!’ Constance said with a grin.
‘I’ll have to go back to Kibble Street soon to pick up the rest of my things,’ Jill said.
‘Yes, but I’ll come with you and we’ll get a taxi.’
‘I’ll look after the kids,’ Penny offered.
Once again, Constance smiled. She would be forever thankful to Melvin for telling her the truth about Albie, and putting his own secret at risk of exposure – a secret she vowed never to reveal. Because after a year of so much unhappiness, it was thanks to Melvin that she now had plenty to look forward to.
Next year it would be 1967, and the refuge would be officially opened. Then, in May, there was Mary’s wedding. It was time to put the painful past behind her and look forward to the future, a future that was, at last, in her own hands. And with her little boy William, and friends like Penny and Jill beside her, Constance had a feeling it was going to be a happy one.
Did you love A Daughter’s Ruin? Why not try another of Kitty’s gripping family sagas, the bestselling A Family’s Heartbreak? Click here to find out more.
Acknowledgements
As always, many thanks to my husband for bringing me endless cups of tea.
To my agent, Judith Murdoch for her continued support.
And to my editor, Katie Loughnane, and the wonderful team at Avon Books UK – thanks, guys, great work!
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About the Author
Kitty Neale was raised in South London and this working-class area became the inspiration for her novels. In the 1980s she moved to Surrey with her husband and two children, but in 1998 there was a catalyst in her life when her son died, aged just 27. After joining other bereaved parents in a support group, Kitty was inspired to take up writing and her books have been Sunday Times bestsellers. Kitty now lives in Spain with her husband.
To find out more about Kitty go to www.kittyneale.com
Also by Kitty Neale:
Nobody’s Girl
Sins of the Father
Family Betrayal
Desperate Measures
Lost and Found
Forgotten Child
Lost Angel
Mother’s Ruin
A Father’s Revenge
A Broken Family
Abandoned Child
A Daughter’s Disgrace
A Family Scandal
A Mother’s Sacrifice
A Daughter’s Courage
A Sister’s Sorrow
A Family’s Heartbreak
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