Family Connections

by Family Connections (retail) (epub)

  As Hartley’s hands bunched into fists again and his face turned dark red, Jake stepped forward hastily. ‘Go into the house, Peggy love. I’ll see him off the premises.’

  She nodded. ‘Thank you.’ She still had her arms wrapped round herself and her shoulders hunched as she turned away and walked quickly towards the house.

  ‘I’m going straight to my lawyer about this,’ Hartley yelled after her. ‘You’ll be sorry, Peggy Wilkes!’

  She didn’t turn around or respond in any way as she disappeared from view.

  Letting his breath out slowly in relief, Jake gestured towards the side gate and repeated, ‘Please leave my property now.’

  ‘You’ll be sorry as well.’

  ‘Not as sorry as I was the day she married you. I’ve been sorry about that every time I’ve seen her since. You’re a bully, Hartley Wilkes, and you don’t deserve a nice, gentle lass like my sister. Why the hell she’s stayed with you, I’ve never understood. Go and consult your damned lawyer. We’ll get one for Peggy and I think you’ll find she has rights, too.’

  He stood and watched the intruder leave, then went to slide the bolt at the bottom of the side gate, so that it couldn’t be opened from outside.

  From his post by the fence Bob said chattily, ‘He’s a nasty piece of work, that one.’

  ‘Aye. Thanks for joining in.’

  ‘My pleasure. You’ll want to watch your back from now on, though.’

  ‘What can he do to me? But if he does go to the police…?’

  ‘I’ve only to tell the truth about him attacking you. But he won’t do it. They’re cowards underneath, that sort are. Bullies, I mean.’

  ‘I’d better go and see our Peggy now.’

  Inside the house Jake found her standing by the sink with a kettle under the tap. She didn’t seem to have noticed that it was full and the water was overflowing.

  ‘I’ll see to that.’ He took it out of her hand and turned off the tap, then hesitated before putting an arm round her. They weren’t a demonstrative lot, the Everetts, but if ever there was a time for showing affection, he reckoned this was it.

  She stood rigidly.

  ‘Am I being stupid?’ she asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

  ‘No. I think you’ve come to your senses.’

  He guided her to a chair then put the kettle on and rinsed out the mugs they’d used at breakfast.

  ‘I am stupid, though,’ she announced as he handed her the tea.

  ‘Don’t say that, love.’

  ‘But I am. I’ve let him bully me all these years. Anything for peace, that’s me. A real coward.’

  He sat down opposite her and said earnestly, ‘You’re just a gentle soul, always have been. But you have let him ride roughshod over you all your married life.’

  ‘He wasn’t so bad at first.’

  ‘That’s a matter of opinion.’

  She looked at him in surprise.

  ‘He always had to be top dog and he put you down right from the start. That upset me.’

  She took a sip, brow furrowed in thought. ‘I never knew you felt like that. Why didn’t you say something?’

  ‘I didn’t like to come between man and wife. And who was I to advise about marriage when my own wife had left me?’

  She stared into her mug, cradling it in her hands. ‘Hartley’s got much worse since Cheryl left home. He idolizes her, you know. So he left me alone while she was around – well, more or less. But now… I can’t do anything right and he’s getting worse. When he retires I can’t face it, Jake, I just can’t.’

  ‘Well, I reckon you’re doing the right thing, going to see Gillah.’

  His sister nodded, but her expression was bleak.

  ‘She’ll know your legal position – about the house and other things.’

  ‘I was hoping she might help me persuade him to get some counselling, try to change. I don’t really want to break up my marriage – well, I don’t think I do. I don’t want to leave my home. I just want things to be different, easier.’

  Jake didn’t comment on that. He felt there was about as much chance of Hartley Wilkes changing as there was of a rocket full of purple aliens landing on the beach at Blackpool. ‘You can stay here with me till you’ve got things sorted out, if you like.’

  ‘Thanks, Jake. I’ll try not to be a nuisance.’

  That made him feel angry. ‘Just be yourself, Peggy. No creeping around on tiptoe here.’

  Then he thought of something positive. ‘I’ll enjoy your cooking. You’re a splendid cook. Can you still make that apricot cake?’

  A faint smile crossed her face. ‘Yes. Can you still eat as much of it?’

  He grinned. ‘I certainly can.’

  She leaned across to kiss his cheek. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘It’s what family are for, helping one another.’

  CHAPTER 17

  Australia

  Gina heard the car pull into the drive and went to open the front door, staring avidly at the girl who got out of it – bounced out would have been a more accurate description. Her heart was beating and she was both excited and nervous at the same time. She held out one hand and the girl clasped it with a beaming smile.

  ‘Gosh, you look so like my auntie Peggy when she was younger! Mind you, she always looked a bit nervous, but you don’t.’ She laughed. ‘What a way to introduce myself. It is lovely to meet you. Can I call you Auntie Gina?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Gina smiled at her and turned to shake hands with the tall young man who followed her to the door. ‘You must be Rick. Won’t you come in?’

  Lou beamed and followed her inside. ‘Wow, this is a gorgeous house!’

  ‘It’s my daughter Mel’s, and it’s her pride and joy. She’s in hospital at the moment so I’m helping Simon look after the kids.’ She led the way into the family room and gestured to the seats. ‘Won’t you sit down?’

  But Lou had gone straight to the window to stare out at the back garden with its swimming pool and matching outdoor furniture. She whistled in amazement. ‘It’s like a Hollywood set.’

  Gina smiled. ‘Mel’s put a lot of effort into getting the house just right. I’ll show you round afterwards, if you like.’

  ‘Is she very ill?’

  ‘She’s pregnant and so sick she can’t keep anything down. She was bad when she was carrying Emma, but she’s much worse this time. She collapsed a couple of days ago.’

  ‘Poor thing. One of my cousins on Dad’s side was like that. I felt so sorry for her. Has Mel tried ginger beer first thing in the morning?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘It helped my other cousin.’

  ‘I’ll tell Mel, then. Or you can do that yourself if you’re staying long enough to meet her. Coffee?’

  Gina got them mugs of coffee and cut slices of the cake she’d baked early this morning when she couldn’t stay in bed for excitement.

  Rick took a huge bite and beamed at her. ‘I’d love the recipe for this. It’s delish.’

  ‘You cook?’ she asked in surprise.

  ‘When I can get Mum out of the kitchen, yeah. I enjoy it. But I wouldn’t like to make my living from it, as Lou does.’

  Gina could hold back her curiosity no longer. ‘Tell me about them, Lou, my half-brother and sister. Just before he died, Dad had a detective looking for his relatives over there, but I only found out that I had any when I cleared out his house. He never told me anything about his first family, not a single word. In fact, I didn’t even know he’d been married before.’

  Her voice went shaky as she said that and she felt a hand on hers, looking down to see Lou’s slender fingers. She clasped them for a minute then said, ‘A great-niece. Goodness, that makes me feel old.’

  ‘Well, you don’t look old enough to be a great-aunt. You must be nearer Mum’s age than Gramps’.’

  ‘Tell Gina about your family, Lou,’ Rick prompted, smiling his acceptance of another piece of orange almond cake as he spoke.
>
  So she talked about her great-aunt Margaret, known as Peggy, whom they hadn’t seen for years because no one liked her bully of a husband, her cousin Cheryl –should that be second cousin or first cousin once removed? Neither of them knew for certain. Cheryl was a spoilt brat, it seemed, even though she was years older than Lou. Then there was her beloved grandfather Jake and her mother, who had moved to live in Birmingham recently.

  ‘Is that all your close relatives?’

  ‘No, there’s Auntie Bridget. She’s eighty-two and she’s great fun, not at all old in the head. She has a computer and goes on the internet and has all sorts of friends on line.’

  The phone rang just then and Gina excused herself to pick it up.

  ‘Mum?’

  ‘Mel darling, how are you?’

  ‘A little better. They say I can come home tomorrow if there’s someone to look after me. I’m sorry to be such a drag, but you will be able to stay on a bit longer, won’t you?’

  ‘Yes, of course. Are you keeping food down now?’

  ‘Sort of. They’re going to get a nurse to come every day at first then every few days, to keep an eye on me. And I’m not to go back to work – well, I couldn’t anyway. It exhausts me just to have a shower.’

  Gina could hear by her tone how unhappy that made Mel. ‘I’m sorry, love. You really like that job, don’t you?’

  ‘Yeah. But I’m using up my sick leave before I resign, just in case.’

  That comment reassured Gina more than anything else that her daughter was a bit better. She told her about her relatives, but could hear that Mel was sounding weary so didn’t go into any detail. Putting the phone down, she went back to join her guests.

  ‘I hope nothing’s wrong?’ Lou said.

  ‘Not exactly. Mel’s able to come home tomorrow, but she’ll need looking after. So I’ll definitely have to put off my trip to the UK. It’s selfish of me, I know, but I was so looking forward to meeting my family.’ She pulled a wry face and changed the subject. ‘What about you two? Simon says you can come and stay here for a while, if you like. There’s a spare bedroom and it’ll save you money.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Lou asked. ‘I mean, if you have Mel to look after, you won’t want us as well.’

  ‘You’re family. And anyway, who said you’re getting the five-star hotel treatment?’

  ‘We can help with the cooking, if you like,’ Rick offered.

  They both beamed at Gina and their enthusiastic acceptance cheered her up a little.

  But when they’d gone to get their things from the hostel, she sat for ages staring out into the garden before she got on with the housework.

  Life didn’t always let you have what you wanted. She should be used to that by now. She’d better ring and cancel her provisional flight booking. Trouble was, the information was at home. Well, a day or two wouldn’t make any difference.

  CHAPTER 18

  England

  Brad returned to Jane’s house after the specified half-hour had passed, a very long half-hour during which he looked at his watch every minute or two, amazed to see how slowly the hands were moving.

  Jane opened the door for him, grim-faced, and he went inside, feeling bad about upsetting her. She led the way into the living room without a word.

  Rosie was standing facing the door. She didn’t say anything, but she looked at him as if trying to memorize his face. He smiled as he did his own staring. Her hair was dark and curly, her face piquant and full of life.

  ‘Do you want me to stay?’ Jane asked her daughter, pointedly ignoring Brad.

  ‘No, Mum. I told you.’

  ‘Well, I’ll be in the kitchen. Just call out if you need me.’

  When the door had closed behind her, Rosie looked at him apologetically. ‘She’s only trying to protect me.’

  ‘I know.’ Brad walked across and took her hands, holding her at arm’s length. ‘Let me look at you properly. You’re a bit like my daughter Joanna, a bit like your mother, but the final mixture is very much yourself.’

  ‘And you don’t look old. Mum said you were fifty-five.’

  ‘Only fifty-four!’

  She grinned at him. ‘You’re wearing well.’

  ‘And you haven’t even started wearing yet. Shall we sit down?’

  She plumped down on the couch and after a moment’s hesitation he took a chair opposite, from which he could watch her.

  ‘I have a half-sister and brother, haven’t I?’

  ‘Yes. Joanna and Michael. Do you want to see some photos?’

  She nodded, so he got out his wallet and passed the photos to her. ‘And here are their children.’

  She stared at them in delight. ‘That makes me an aunt, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Cool.’ She studied the photos intently before passing them back to him. ‘Did you tell Joanna and Michael about me?’

  ‘Yes. They were surprised – and rather upset that I’d been unfaithful to their mother.’

  ‘Was it a grand passion? You and my mum, I mean.’

  ‘It was a grand attraction. She was very pretty and lively with it. I shouldn’t have… but I can’t regret it because she lifted my spirits during some very dark times. And of course, our relationship created you.’

  ‘How does it feel to have an extra daughter?’

  ‘Awesome – in a literal sense. I love being a father, you see. I’m sorry, though, that I’ve had no part in your life until now. I’ll always regret missing your childhood. But I hope you’ll let me see you sometimes from now on.’

  ‘I’d really like that. But Dad will always be – well, my dad. So I think I’d rather call you Brad, if that’s OK with you.’

  ‘Of course it is.’

  They chatted for a few more minutes then Jane came in and the atmosphere chilled perceptibly. ‘Would you like a cup of tea or coffee, Brad?’

  He looked at his brand-new daughter and shook his head. ‘I think I’d better leave now. Rosie’s looking tired.’

  ‘She’s just recovering from flu.’

  ‘I want to see you again, Brad,’ Rosie said immediately. ‘Perhaps we could go out together somewhere on Saturday?’

  ‘I’d like that.’ He turned to Jane. ‘Would you be all right with that?’

  ‘I’m not all right with any of this, as you both know. I’ll have to ask her father. He’s the one who’s going to be most upset.’

  He gave them the piece of paper he’d prepared. ‘I’m at this address for the next week, then I’m considering finding a self-catering place.’

  Jane looked at him in dismay. ‘I thought you were just passing through!’

  ‘No. I want to explore the north of England, because that’s where my family comes from. But most of all, I’d like to spend some time with Rosie. There are other relatives in England that I want to visit later as well.’

  ‘I’ll see you to the door.’

  Rosie winked as she shook hands with him. ‘See you on Saturday, Brad.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to it. Ten o’clock suit you?’

  She nodded.

  When he’d driven off, Jane slammed the front door and came back into the living room. ‘How did he find out our address?’

  ‘I don’t know. It wasn’t from me. Mum… don’t be like this. Please. He seems very nice. I can see why you fancied him. Tell me—’

  ‘Well, I don’t fancy him now and I wish he hadn’t come back into my life. What happened between us is long gone. And what your father – your real father – will say about Brad coming to see you, I dread to think.’

  Rosie bent her head and let the tirade wash over her. Her mother had already said all this – several times. But it was never any use arguing when her mother was in this mood. She and Casey had found that out years ago.

  She was dying for her brother to come home so she could tell him about Brad. He at least would understand and wouldn’t treat her like a criminal.

  It was a relief when her mother went
to work in the afternoon. But she didn’t give Rosie her mobile back and she made her promise solemnly not to phone anyone, not even her friend Mandy.

  Why was Mum acting like this? Rosie wondered rebelliously. And how would Dad be?

  * * *

  Stuart was late getting home from work and when he came into the kitchen, Jane could see at a glance that something had upset him.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘They’ve given the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator job in the new school to someone else. It’s not even the guy from the other school, it’s an outsider.’

  She rushed to put her arms round him and they stood close together for a minute or two. ‘I’m so sorry, darling. Have they – offered you anything else?’

  ‘Not exactly. There’s to be one other teacher in the Learning Resources Centre. I may or may not be offered that position. It’d be a step down in status, though it wouldn’t affect my salary. As if money is all that matters!’

  He stepped away from Jane, reached into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine. ‘If I don’t get that other job, I can work in the new combined school as an English teacher or I can find myself a job elsewhere and they’ll give me glowing references, because they really appreciate what I’ve achieved.’ His voice dripped with sarcasm, but broke on the last word and he dashed one hand across his eyes.

  ‘Well, surely there’s a shortage of Special Education Needs teachers?’

  ‘Not round here, there isn’t. Everyone wants to live close to the coast, it seems. And anyway, most of the vacant jobs have been filled for the coming school year by now.’ He poured himself a glass of wine and took a big gulp before pouring one for her.

  ‘What are you going to do, then?’

  ‘I don’t know, can’t seem to think clearly.’ He swallowed more wine with an audible gulp.

  Casey came in, opened his mouth to speak then closed it again and looked from one parent to the other. ‘Something wrong?’