Mother’s Ruin Page 29

  ‘Right, I’ll try there.’

  Andrew kissed Sally on the cheek, called goodbye to Sadie, getting only a grunt in reply, and made his way to the bus stop, wishing he had his car. It had made sense to travel to London by train, but nowadays he was unused to public transport.

  As he stood waiting for a bus his eyes were once again scanning the area. He would miss his new-found family when he went back to Scotland, but seeing the huge factories belching out smoke, he certainly wouldn’t miss the polluted air.

  At six-thirty that evening, when Joe dropped Arthur off outside his flat he said, ‘You don’t fancy a drink tonight, do you, Joe?’

  ‘No thanks, mate. I haven’t recovered from last Sunday yet, and still can’t remember getting home.’

  Arthur managed a smile. ‘When I woke up in your flat it gave me a bit of a turn. Christ, mate, it’s a dump and I reckon you should find something better.’

  ‘I will, one of these days. See you in the morning.’

  ‘Yeah, see you,’ Arthur said, his mood low as he walked into the flat. After a day on site he hated coming home to emptiness, and even though he hadn’t liked living with Sally’s mother in Candle Lane, it was better than this. God, he missed Angel, missed the way she always ran to greet him, her cheeky little face lighting up in a smile.

  As he flopped onto a chair, Arthur’s head sank to his chest. It wasn’t just Angel he was missing, it was Sally too. Memories of the happiness they’d shared plagued him. Her joy when he came back from Australia, their wedding, and then the excitement of moving into their first home.

  Things had started to go wrong when they’d moved back to Candle Lane. There had been no privacy and with Angel in the same bedroom, no sex. Then there had been his prolonged stay in hospital, and the loss of his lower leg. He cursed himself for misjudging Sally, and now squirmed in his chair. She had always been intuitive and now he wondered if she’d picked up on his phantom pains, mistaking them for real ones. If that was the case, no wonder she had kept a distance between them in bed. Once again he cursed himself for not speaking to her, but he’d been afraid in case she really did find him repulsive.

  The telephone rang. It was his mother. ‘Hello, Mum.’

  ‘Arthur, I just rang Ruth and she told me you went to see Sally on Sunday. I’m surprised I had to hear it from her.’

  ‘There was no point in telling you. Sally won’t come back.’

  ‘Don’t give up, son.’

  ‘Mum, my marriage is over and I’ve got to accept that.’

  ‘Arthur, Sally has got a lot on her mind at the moment and it may be that you just went to see her at the wrong time. Didn’t she tell you that her father has turned up?’

  ‘No, she didn’t, but I bet Ruth soon showed him the door.’

  ‘No, love, I don’t mean Ken Marchant. I mean Sally’s real father.’

  ‘Really! I bet that was a shock.’

  ‘According to Ruth, he’s a lovely man and he and Sally hit it off immediately. The only problem is that after Laura Walters’ funeral, he’ll be returning to Scotland.’

  ‘Hang on, Mum, you’ve lost me. What has Sally’s father got to do with Laura Walters?’

  Arthur listened to his mother’s explanation and his jaw dropped. It sounded too fantastic to be true, a chance in a million. ‘So this means that Sally is Tommy’s cousin.’

  ‘Yes, but Arthur, as I said, with all this going on you probably caught Sally at a bad time. Now that things have settled, go to see her again.’

  ‘No, Mum, it’d just be a waste of time.’

  ‘If you love Sally, you can’t just give up. Can’t you see that you have to put up more of a fight if you want her back?’

  ‘Mum, don’t go on about it.’

  ‘All right, I’ll say no more, but sometimes I could kick you, son.’

  ‘Thanks, Mum, and if that’s all, I’ll say goodbye now.’

  ‘I’ve said my piece. Bye, Arthur.’

  As Arthur replaced the receiver he wondered if his mother was right.

  He went into the kitchen to make himself something to eat, and as he prepared a meal, Arthur decided to give it one more try. He’d go to see Sally again, but not yet, not until he’d properly rehearsed what he was going to say.

  Joe didn’t drive to Earls Court; he was on his way to Clapham Common. He was still sure that Sally and Arthur would get back together, unable to believe that two people who so obviously loved each other could remain apart. It had been a bit sticky when Arthur had asked him out for a drink again, but he’d managed to fob him off, and was now on his way to meet Patsy. Even if Arthur managed to get Sally back, he doubted she’d return to Maple Terrace with Patsy living upstairs, but that was something he hoped to remedy.

  Patsy had been surprised to hear from him, and at first she’d been hostile, but he knew her now, knew what buttons to push, and finally she’d agreed to meet. Joe sat in the pub, eyes on the door, brows lifting when she walked in. There was no getting away from the fact that she was a stunner, her dainty innocent looks giving no clue to her occupation.

  ‘Hello, Patsy. What would you like to drink?’ he asked, as she sat beside him.

  ‘A vodka and lime,’ she said curtly.

  He went to the bar and was soon back, placing her drink on the table. ‘Thanks for agreeing to meet me.’

  ‘Well, I must admit I was surprised.’ And getting straight to the point she added eagerly, ‘You said something about a proposition?’

  Joe’s face hardened. ‘Yes, that’s right. I’m proposing that you move out of your flat.’

  ‘Move out of my flat! But why should I?’

  ‘I should have thought it was obvious.’

  ‘Not to me, it isn’t.’

  ‘Sally won’t move back while you live upstairs.’

  She shrugged her shoulders. ‘That’s just too bad.’

  ‘Does your landlord know what you do for a living, Patsy?’

  ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

  ‘A lot. I wonder how he’ll react when I tell him that one of his tenants is a prostitute who uses the flat to entertain men.’

  ‘But I don’t!’

  ‘It would be your word against mine, Patsy, and what about the neighbours? When I tell them what you do for a living, I’m sure they’ll complain too.’

  ‘You bastard!’

  ‘It takes one to know one, Patsy. Now I’ll give you until the end of the week, but if you’re not out by then I’ll make it my business to spread the word.’

  She jumped to her feet, livid, and snatching up her glass of vodka she threw it in his face. ‘All right, you win, but you can stick your soddin’ drink.’

  As Patsy marched out of the pub, Joe pulled out a handkerchief, hastily wiping his face. A few customers were looking at him, doing their best to hide their smiles, but Joe ignored them. As long as Patsy left the flat, that’s all that mattered, and then he was struck by another idea. Arthur had suggested he should find somewhere decent to live, and with the flat above him in Maple Terrace now becoming vacant, maybe he’d approach the landlord. It was certainly better than his place in Earls Court.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  On Thursday evening Andrew was ready to take Ruth to dinner. She wasn’t the same woman he remembered, one who had been so full of life. It was as if Ruth had been through so much that all the fun had been knocked out of her. Yet even so, when Andrew saw the love she showered on Tommy and Angel, he saw a warm, caring, affectionate woman. Unlike Moira, he thought, remembering his late wife’s cold and distant nature.

  ‘Are you ready?’ he asked when she opened the door.

  Ruth looked a bit pink and flustered as she said, ‘Yes, nearly. I just need a minute. Come on in.’

  ‘Hello, Sally,’ Andrew said, as they walked into the kitchen. ‘I hope you don’t mind that I’ve invited your mother out to dinner.’

  ‘Why should I mind? The children are asleep,’ and nodding in Sadie’s direction she added
with a wry smile, ‘Gran too.’

  ‘No, I’m not,’ Sadie protested. ‘I was just resting me eyes.’

  ‘I wonder who was snoring then,’ Ruth said, then turned to smile at Andrew. ‘I won’t be a tick.’

  He nodded, looking at her legs appreciatively as she hurried from the room. Once again he was struck by how little she had physically changed in over twenty years. Her figure was still trim, her skin wonderful, and there were no signs of grey in her hair.

  ‘Angel is still bossing Tommy around,’ Sally said.

  ‘She seems pleased that I’m her grandfather, but it was a shock for Tommy to find out that you’re his cousin. Once he gets used to the idea he’ll find his feet, and woe betide Angel then.’

  ‘Yes, I think you’re right, but I doubt he’ll pick on Angel. If anything he’s always been protective of her. It’s strange really, almost as if he sensed the connection between them.’

  Andrew grinned. ‘I don’t know how you can say it’s strange, especially with the gifts that you and my mother have.’

  ‘Right, I’m ready,’ Ruth said.

  Andrew smiled at the pretty picture she presented in her flowery summer dress, topped with a lace cardigan. ‘Right, bonny lass, let’s go.’

  As they walked along Candle Lane, Andrew impulsively took Ruth’s hand, and she turned to smile at him, her eyes sparkling. For a moment he saw the happy young woman he remembered, one who loved to dance the night away. ‘Do you recall doing the jitterbug with me, Ruth?’

  ‘Of course I do. We had a lot of fun in those days.’

  ‘It was certainly fun when I flipped you over. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the sight of your frilly French knickers.’

  ‘Andrew!’ Ruth said, looking horrified, but then she giggled. ‘It’s just as well you weren’t wearing a kilt or I’d have got my own back.’

  ‘My goodness, woman. You’d have seen more than you bargained for. Scotsmen don’t wear anything under their kilts.’

  ‘Oh, I think you’ll find I saw enough,’ she said, going pink again.

  Andrew squeezed her hand, remembering their lovemaking. It had been a passionate affair, their time together snatched, and little had he known that Sally would be the result. ‘Our daughter’s a lovely girl,’ he murmured.

  Ruth returned the pressure of his hand, and when they reached the restaurant they sat gazing at each other until the waiter brought the menu.

  They chatted throughout the meal, at ease in each other’s company. They were on their final course before Andrew raised the subject that was heavy on his mind. ‘Ruth, I’d like to do something to help you, and by doing so it will help Sally too.’

  ‘Help me in what way?’

  ‘I’d like you to accept a monthly allowance, enough to enable you to give up work.’

  ‘Forget it. I can’t accept your money.’

  ‘But why? Sally is my daughter and I’ve provided nothing for her upbringing.’

  ‘What is this – guilt? If so, there’s no need. I chose not to tell you that I had given birth so you have nothing to feel guilty about. Sally is no longer a child now, she’s a grown woman, and I don’t need your money for her upkeep.’

  ‘I know that, Ruth, but you’re being selfish. If you’d accept my financial help you could stay at home to look after your mother. Instead you’re laying the burden on Sally.’

  ‘How dare you say I’m selfish? When Ken left I had to work full-time to earn enough to bring Sally up, and without my mother’s help I don’t know how I’d have coped. She contributed most of her pension, and looked after Sally while I was working my socks off. Now my mother is ill and the role is reversed, but Sally loves her and she doesn’t mind.

  ‘Are you sure about that? Have you asked her? She’s a young woman, tied to the house all day, and if you ask me, it’s your duty to care for your mother.’

  Her eyes flashing with anger, Ruth said, ‘I’m not listening to any more of this! You’ve been here for less than a week and already you think you can tell me how to run my life.’

  ‘I’m not doing that. I’m just trying to help, and as I said, it’s your duty—’

  Ruth’s chair scraped against the floor as she got to her feet, face white with anger. ‘Duty, you talk to me of duty, you sanctimonious git! I’ve done well enough without you for over twenty years, and I can take care of my own affairs. In future, I suggest you keep your nose out and . . . and you can stick your money up your arse!’

  With this Ruth stormed out of the restaurant, the other customers trying to hide their amusement as Andrew threw down his napkin. ‘Waiter,’ he called, ‘the bill, please.’

  Ruth practically marched all the way home, seething with indignation. How dare Andrew call her selfish? She had worked hard to bring Sally up when Ken had left her, with no further help from him, or any man!

  What an idiot she’d been. When Andrew had asked her out to dinner, she’d felt like a young woman again, all those feelings she’d harboured for so long rising to the surface.

  She was crazy and realised that now – crazy to expect that he still had feelings for her. She had imagined his looks of affection. All he had been interested in was the welfare of his daughter.

  As Ruth neared Candle Lane, Andrew’s words played over in her mind. He’d called her selfish, but flaming hell did he really think that she enjoyed going out to work? When Sally was a child she would have loved to be a stay-at-home mum, but she’d had no choice.

  As she arrived home, Ruth hesitated before putting the key in the lock. Sally would wonder why she was home so early and she wasn’t in the mood for explanations. Andrew had said it was her duty to look after her mother, that the burden shouldn’t be Sally’s, but was looking after her gran so bad?

  No, Ruth decided as she quietly crept upstairs to her room. Of course it wasn’t.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Friday morning saw Sally up earlier than usual. It was Tommy’s birthday today and she was going to prepare a special tea for when he came home from school. The jelly would have to be made now if it was to set in time and she wanted to do it before the children got up.

  There had been a debate about the birthday tea, Sadie saying it wasn’t right when the boy’s mother hadn’t been buried yet.

  Ruth argued that Laura would have wanted to celebrate Tommy’s birthday. There would be enough tears on Monday, she insisted.

  Sally had been torn between both points of view, but in the end had sided with her mother, much to her gran’s disgust.

  Only half an hour later, Ruth appeared, but she looked morose as she walked into the kitchen.

  ‘Are you all right, Mum?’

  ‘Yeah, why shouldn’t I be?’

  ‘You look a bit down in the mouth.’

  ‘I’m fine,’ she said shortly.

  Sally knew from past experience that her mother could be stubborn and that it would be pointless to press her. ‘Right then, I’ll go and get the children up.’

  Shortly they were washed and dressed, and then when they went downstairs, Sally smiled when she saw how Tommy’s face lit up.

  ‘Wow!’ he yelled, looking in wonderment at the parcels. ‘Can I open them?’

  ‘Of course you can.’

  Tommy grabbed the largest, tearing off the paper, and said joyously, ‘Look, Angel. It’s a train set from my dad and Uncle Andy.’

  ‘It’s not fair. I want one too,’ Angel scowled.

  Ruth’s smile was strained, but she spoke at last. ‘Wouldn’t you rather have a nice new doll?’

  ‘I don’t like dolls. I want a train set.’

  ‘Now then, miss, it’s Tommy’s birthday today,’ Sally admonished, ‘and I don’t want any sulks. When it’s your birthday you can choose what you want, but until then I think you should wish Tommy a happy birthday and give him our present.’

  Angel ran to the dresser and taking out a parcel she handed it to Tommy. ‘I chose these, and you’ve got to let me play with them.’

&nbs
p; Tommy took the package, eagerly tearing off the paper, his face lighting up when he saw the contents. There was a net bag of marbles, cigarette cards, the latest edition of his favourite comic, The Beano, a jigsaw puzzle, and a box of jelly babies. ‘Cor, fanks.’

  ‘And this is from me,’ Ruth said, holding out yet another package.

  ‘Blimey, this is me bestest birfday ever,’ Tommy said, once again ripping off the paper. ‘Cor, fanks!’ he cried, pulling out six little boxes containing Dinky cars.

  ‘I want some cars too,’ Angel said, pouting.

  After admonishing her daughter again, Sally spoke to Tommy. ‘When you come home from school we’ll have a birthday tea and I’ll ask your father and uncle to join us.’

  ‘Fanks,’ but then his expression changed to one of sadness. ‘I wish me mum could see me new toys.’

  Angel wrapped an arm around him, and Sally was touched as her daughter said, ‘Never mind, Tommy. You can share my mummy.’

  ‘I can’t. She’s me cousin.’

  Sally bent to ruffle his hair. ‘That’s right and a cousin who loves you very much.’

  He brightened a little and began to play. Angel joined in and said, ‘I want the red car.’

  Sally looked at her mother. She had hardly spoken to Tommy. ‘Mum, are you sure you’re feeling all right?’

  ‘I’ve told you, I’m fine, but unlike some people, I have to get ready for work.’

  Why had she said that? Sally wondered as her mother stomped out from the room.

  That afternoon, Andrew found the birthday tea a success, with Denis sober and on his best behaviour. After the children had consumed copious amounts of food, including jelly and ice cream, he set up Tommy’s train set, joining the children on the floor and regularly winding up the clockwork engine. After a while, unable to resist, Denis joined in too.

  When Ruth came home from work the atmosphere immediately changed. She was unsmiling, and her eyes barely met Andrew’s as she took in the scene. He stood up, and walked over to her, saying quietly, ‘Let’s not spoil Tommy’s party. Can we go somewhere and talk?’