Читать книгу Daddy’s Little Princess and Will You Love Me 2-in-1 Collection - Cathy Glass, Cathy Glass - Страница 13

Sunday was another bitterly cold day so we decided to go to the cinema in the afternoon for the three o’clock showing of a newly released Walt Disney film. After lunch – at about half past one – I took Beth upstairs to my room to telephone her father, leaving Adrian and Paula with their father in the living room. Beth perched beside me on the bed while I dialled the number of the hospital, and once the call was connected to the ward Derek came to the telephone very quickly. As soon as he spoke I knew he was in better spirits. His voice was lighter and sounded more alive.

‘Thank you so much for calling. I’m sorry about yesterday,’ he said.

‘There’s no need to apologize,’ I said. ‘I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better. I’ll put Beth on now.’

‘Thank you, Cathy.’

I passed the telephone to Beth, who was smiling. ‘Hello, Daddy. How are you?’

‘I’m doing all right,’ I heard Derek say. ‘So, how’s my little princess?’

‘I’m all right too,’ Beth said brightly. ‘We’re going to the cinema this afternoon and I’m going to have popcorn and an ice cream.’

I was pleased that Beth was being positive rather than telling her father that she was missing him, as she had done the day before. I’d had a little chat with her that morning when I’d explained that I thought it would help her father if she kept their conversation happy and told him nice things, so he wouldn’t worry so much about her. Clearly she’d taken on board what I’d said, for she was now describing the games we’d been playing and the paintings she’d done for him, which she said she would give him when she next saw him.

I relaxed, and drawing my legs onto the bed I rested against the headboard, prepared for a long telephone conversation. Presently, Beth did likewise and propped herself beside me on the bed. It crossed my mind that I could leave her talking to her father while I got on with something else, but then I thought that Derek might want to speak to me, and if Beth became upset I wanted to be on hand to comfort her. With us both relaxed back against the bedhead, Beth continued chatting gaily to her father, now answering his questions about her clothes. ‘Are you wearing the blue dress I bought you last month? The one with the bow at the back.’

‘No,’ Beth said. ‘I’m wearing my new pink dress.’

‘Good. I like you in that,’ Derek said.

‘I know you do, Daddy, that’s why I chose it.’ Beth grinned.

Beth liked her dresses, preferring them to jeans or jogging bottoms, and spent some time choosing which one to wear when she wasn’t in school uniform.

‘I like to look nice for you, Daddy,’ Beth said, tweaking the flex of the telephone.

‘But I can’t see you,’ Derek joked.

‘I know, but you can think of me in my pink dress, can’t you?’

‘Yes, I can,’ Derek agreed. ‘If I close my eyes I can picture you in your pink dress with your hair flowing over your shoulders like a real princess: Daddy’s princess.’

‘And you’re my prince!’ Beth exclaimed. ‘And we’ll live happily ever after in a magical fairy-tale castle, just you and me.’

Beth also liked her fairy-tale stories and I’d read her quite a few, as she’d told me her father did at home.

‘So, what are you going to see at the cinema?’ Derek now asked.

Beth told him. ‘John is coming,’ Beth added. ‘He’s staying for the weekend.’

‘Who’s John?’ Derek queried.

‘Cathy’s husband,’ Beth said. ‘He’s helping Cathy look after me.’

It went quiet on the other end of the telephone, and then Derek said: ‘Please don’t say that, my princess, or you’ll make your daddy sad. There’s only one man in your life and that’s me, your daddy.’

‘I know, I’m only kidding!’ Beth exclaimed quickly. ‘Please don’t be sad, Daddy. I think about you all the time, even at night. I have to sleep by myself here and I miss you lots. I wanted to sleep with Cathy, but she wouldn’t let me. I have your photo under my pillow, but it’s not the same as being with you.’

‘It’ll have to do for now,’ Derek said flatly. ‘Remember, you never sleep with anyone else, only your daddy. Remember that.’

‘I will,’ Beth said.

I suddenly realized that the conversation seemed to have taken on a different direction, and one that I wasn’t feeling wholly at ease with. I had the same feeling as I’d had when I’d looked at all the framed photographs of Beth and her father, although I still couldn’t identify what it was that was making me feel uncomfortable. I looked at Beth, who was again tweaking the telephone flex. She looked serious as she continued to reassure her father.

‘Of course I won’t sleep with anyone else,’ she said. ‘I only ever sleep with you. You’re my handsome prince and always will be.’

‘Thank you, princess. I love you.’

‘I love you too, Daddy. You’re not sad any more, are you?’

‘No.’

Beth then asked her father what he’d been doing that day and he said watching television. They chatted for about five minutes more, during which time Derek told her about the hospital routine and Beth asked questions, and then he said he had to go. They blew each other lots of kisses and said I love you before they said goodbye, then Derek asked to speak to me. Beth handed me the telephone and went downstairs to join John, Adrian and Paula.

‘I was wondering when you will next phone,’ Derek said.

‘I’m not sure,’ I said. ‘The social worker just said Saturday and Sunday.’

‘I want Beth to call every evening.’

‘I suppose that’s all right,’ I said, unsure.

‘Good. We have dinner here at six o’clock, so can you telephone me at seven. I’ll be ready and waiting by the telephone then.’

‘Yes, all right, seven o’clock,’ I confirmed, hoping I was doing the right thing.

‘Thank you,’ Derek said. ‘Give Beth my love and tell her I’ll speak to her tomorrow.’

We said goodbye and I went downstairs, where I told Beth what her father had said. She was, of course, delighted she’d be speaking to her father every evening. ‘I miss my daddy,’ she said to us all.

‘Of course you do,’ John said. ‘That’s only natural.’

That evening, when all the children were in bed, and after a pleasant afternoon at the cinema, John and I sat together in the living room, talking.

‘Adrian misses you a lot more than he says,’ I said. ‘I hope you won’t have to work away for much longer.’

‘I hope so too,’ John said with a small shrug. ‘But you know I have to go where the company sends me. I don’t have much choice in the matter.’

‘Perhaps you could telephone a bit more during the week?’ I suggested. ‘Beth will be speaking to her father every evening and it will be nice for Adrian and Paula to speak to you.’

‘I’ll try, but it’s not always possible,’ John said. ‘Sometimes we don’t finish work until very late.’

‘I understand,’ I said. I hoped Adrian and Paula did too.

My thoughts returned to Beth and her father, as they had been doing on and off for most of the afternoon, and I now voiced my concerns to John. I needed his opinion.

‘I know you haven’t seen that much of Beth,’ I said thoughtfully, ‘but from what you have seen, do you get the impression that her relationship with her father is a little too intense? They obviously love each other, but is it too much?’ I didn’t know how else to phrase it.

John looked at me oddly. ‘No. Whatever makes you say that?’

‘Well, Beth talks about her father non-stop, and you’ve seen all those photographs in her room. She isn’t allowed to play with children outside of school, and her teacher said she thought their relationship could be stifling Beth’s social development. Then, this afternoon, when they were on the telephone, their conversation made me feel a bit uncomfortable.’ I stopped, unable to find the exact words I needed to express my instinct.

John was still looking at me. ‘No, I don’t think there is anything wrong in Beth and her father loving each other,’ he said. ‘I’d hope that if I was in hospital Adrian and Paula would talk about me a lot. I think her teacher should concentrate on teaching rather than trying to cause trouble.’

Which surprised me, as John was usually more supportive when I aired my concerns, so I let the matter drop. I didn’t want any ill feeling. John would be leaving again in the morning.

Later I telephoned my parents as I usually did on a Sunday evening if I hadn’t seen them over the weekend. Then John left the living room to re-pack his suitcase ready for an early start the following morning. I put any thoughts of Beth and her father out of my mind. John’s comments had half convinced me there was nothing wrong. It was midnight before we were both in bed and when I woke it was to the sound of the front door closing as John let himself out. I looked at my bedside clock; it was 6.15 a.m. As I turned over I saw John had left a note on the pillow: Hope I didn’t disturb you. I’ll try to telephone the kids more. Have a good week. John x. I was pleased.

I stayed in bed for another quarter of an hour and then showered and dressed before waking the children ready for school. We fell into our weekday routine and Beth was downstairs first for breakfast, having washed and made her bed. Adrian needed a couple of reminders before he appeared, but as always, with a lot of chivvying along, we left the house on time. As we arrived in the school playground, Beth remembered that her class had swimming the following day and she hadn’t packed her swimming costume in her case.

‘Marianne must have it,’ Beth grumbled. ‘She still does our washing sometimes.’

‘Don’t worry,’ I said, thinking that it was nice of Marianne to do their washing. ‘I’ll buy you another costume.’ Although where I’d find one in the middle of winter, I’d no idea.

The klaxon sounded for the start of school and Beth said goodbye and joined her class. Adrian, who’d been playing with his friends, ran over, kissed Paula and me goodbye and then joined his class. Paula and I returned home. I intended to have a coffee before setting off for the shops, but fifteen minutes after arriving home the telephone rang, and when I answered a female voice I didn’t recognize said: ‘Hello. Is that Cathy?’

‘Speaking,’ I said.

‘Hi, my name is Marianne. I’m Derek’s friend.’

‘Hello,’ I said, surprised, and wondering how Marianne had my telephone number.

‘Jessie gave me your number,’ Marianne clarified. ‘I have Beth’s swimming costume and she’ll need it tomorrow. I thought I could drop it off to you in my lunch hour. The offices where I work are not far from you.’

‘Thank you very much indeed,’ I said. ‘That’s great. I was about to go into town and try to buy Beth a new costume.’

‘No need,’ she said. ‘It’s washed and ready. I can be with you at twelve-thirty, if that’s OK?’

‘Perfect,’ I said, grateful. ‘I hope it’s not too much trouble.’

‘Not at all.’

‘Thank you so much.’

‘I just need your house number. I have the name of your road.’

I told Marianne the number of my house and, thanking her again, said goodbye and hung up. What a lovely lady, I thought. How very kind and considerate. I would, of course, invite her in for a coffee if she had the time. I wondered why Beth didn’t like Marianne; she seemed very pleasant to me. With no need to dash into town, I now played with Paula and then, while she had her nap, I tidied the living room and made a sandwich lunch ready for when she woke at twelve.

We had just finished eating when the doorbell rang. ‘That’ll be Marianne,’ I said to Paula as she clambered down from her chair. Always a bit cautious of strangers, she held my hand as we went to answer the door.

‘Hello, Marianne?’ I smiled at the lady.

‘Yes. Nice to meet you.’ She handed me a carrier bag. ‘Beth’s swimming costume and also a doll she’s fond of, and a few of her favourite fairy-tale stories. I wasn’t sure what you had here.’

‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘That’s nice of you. Would you like to come in?’

Marianne glanced at her watch and hesitated but didn’t immediately say no.

‘I could make you a quick coffee?’ I offered.

‘I’m not intruding, am I?’

‘No.’ I smiled. ‘There’s just Paula and me at home. Do come in.’

‘And Beth’s at school?’ Marianne hesitated again. ‘She wouldn’t want to see me.’

‘Yes, she’s at school,’ I confirmed.

Marianne came in and said hello to Paula, who hid in my skirt.

‘She’s a bit shy with anyone new,’ I said. ‘Come through and have a seat in the living room. Would you like a tea or coffee?’

‘A coffee would be lovely, thank you.’

‘Milk and sugar?’

‘Just milk, please. Thank you.’

I showed Marianne into the living room and Paula came with me to make the coffee. Marianne was an attractive woman who I guessed was a few years younger than Derek – in her mid-forties. She was smartly dressed for the office in a black pencil skirt and light-grey jumper. She clearly looked after herself; her hair was cut in a stylish bob and her lacquered nails were without a chip. I glanced at my own nails as I made the coffee and thought that I should really make an effort to lacquer them, but somehow I never had the time, unless I was going out for a special occasion. I set the two cups of coffee on the tray, added a few biscuits on a plate and carried the tray into the living room with Paula beside me. I placed the tray on the coffee table and handed Marianne a cup and saucer and offered her the plate of biscuits.

‘Thank you so much,’ she said appreciatively.

‘Thank you,’ Paula said, helping herself.

Marianne smiled. ‘How old is she?’

‘She’ll be three in April.’

‘I’m guessing your son is about Beth’s age?’ Marianne asked, glancing at Adrian’s most recent school photograph on the wall.

‘Yes, he’s a year younger than Beth,’ I said. ‘Coincidentally, they both go to the same school.’

‘That explains it,’ Marianne said. ‘I thought you looked familiar when you answered the door. I drop Beth off at school sometimes on my way into work, when Derek is on an early shift. I’ve probably seen you in the playground.’

‘Very likely. I’m there every day. What does Derek do?’

‘He works in the warehouse at –’ and she named a large electrical store on the edge of town.

‘And you work locally?’ I asked, making conversation.

‘Yes, at Gilford Accountants on the high street. I’m a book-keeper. Not very exciting, but it pays the bills. I’ve been doing the job a long while.’

‘Thank you so much for bringing Beth’s swimming costume,’ I said as we sipped our coffee. ‘Beth did very well in remembering to pack most of what she needed.’

‘Yes, she would,’ Marianne said. ‘She’s very self-sufficient.’ Her comment should have sounded like a compliment, but it didn’t. ‘So how is Beth?’ Marianne now asked, setting her cup in her saucer and looking at me. ‘I visited Derek at the hospital yesterday evening and he said she’d phoned.’

‘Beth’s fine,’ I said. ‘She’s obviously missing her dad a lot, but I think it helped speaking to him on the phone. We’re ringing him again tonight. Derek has asked us to telephone every evening.’

‘He would,’ Marianne said bluntly.

I looked at her as the words hung heavily in the air, but Marianne didn’t elaborate, so I took a chance and shifted the conversation to a slightly more personal level. ‘Have you known Derek long?’ I asked.

‘Over ten years,’ Marianne said. ‘I was friends with him and his wife when she was there.’

I nodded and looked at Paula, who had quietly helped herself to another biscuit. ‘Two is enough,’ I said. Paula grinned sheepishly.

‘When his wife left,’ Marianne said, ‘Beth was only small. I stepped in and helped Derek when I could, juggling it around my work. Everything seemed fine when Beth was little and while I was just a friend of Derek’s, although it’s true that she was always a daddy’s girl. But when our friendship grew into a relationship and I began staying some nights, Beth turned on me. The situation became intolerable, until Derek finally ended our relationship. He didn’t have any choice really, with the way Beth was behaving.’

‘But Beth’s only a child,’ I said. ‘How could she be responsible?’

Marianne held my gaze. ‘Beth can be very manipulative, especially when it comes to her father. But I blame him as much as her. It was the two of them against me. Their relationship really isn’t healthy. Not at all.’