Читать книгу Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection - Josephine Cox - Страница 28

JASPER WAS ON Jack’s boat, the Mary Lou, listening to the news on North Korea, where US Marines had been forced to resort to using flame-throwers in an effort to rid the area of snipers. ‘By! It’s a bad old do, an’ no mistake,’ he muttered, sipping his mug of tea. ‘Thousands med homeless and soldiers being tekken home in boxes. Will it never end?’

He thought back to the terrible years of the last war, and further back to the time when he had been a sailor. He had seen the horrors of war first hand, and it was not something he would ever want to get involved in again. Yet tragically, premature death had now come to West Bay; he’d arrived back from his visit with Liz and Robbie to find that Kathy’s sister had met with a terrible accident. Poor Kathy was beside herself: more so, since her mother had turned up.

He thought about Kathy’s mother, Irene. She was a hard, unforgiving woman, it seemed to him. ‘Aye, she’s a bad ’un, is that Irene!’ he muttered, swilling back the dregs of his tea. ‘How a mother can turn agin her own child like that is a mystery to me. All right! I know she’s grieving and I’m sorry it had to happen that way, but to blame that lass is a sin an’ a shame, that’s what it is!’

‘Talking to yourself again, is it?’ Jack’s ruddy face peered through the cabin door. ‘They do say as how it’s a sign of madness.’

Jasper’s face broke into a half-smile. ‘Oh hello, lad. I were just thinking aloud, that’s all. It comes o’ growing old, I expect … I hope you don’t mind me mekkin’ meself at home here while I waited for you?’

‘No, of course not,’ the skipper said, settling himself down before remarking, ‘Bad business, though, and now they say Kathy’s mother is ranting and raving … blaming Kathy for what happened. She seems a right old witch; from what I’m told, they can hear her all over the place, screaming like a fishwife. I know she’s had shocking things to deal with, but for the life of me I can’t see the reasoning behind her attitude to Kathy.’

Jasper shook his head. ‘Ours is not to reason why,’ he said. ‘But you’re right about one thing … her mother has had to bear up to the most shocking news. Summat like that could affect a body real bad.’ Once more he shook his head slowly from side to side. ‘It’s terrible what happened. It just don’t bear thinking about.’

‘I couldn’t help but hear what you were saying … just now.’ While he talked Jack poured himself a cup of tea from the pot. ‘How is Kathy? Is she coping all right?’

‘She’s devastated, poor lass.’ Jasper had only now come back from there. ‘I were there a few minute since, doing me best, like yer do. Trying to help where I can. Only her mother arrived, so I thought I’d best mek mesel’ scarce.’

Taking out his hankie, he wiped a dewdrop from the end of his nose. ‘I can’t imagine how it must feel … being told that yer daughter’s drowned. In one way me old heart goes out to her. But though I say it as shouldn’t, that woman’s a bad bugger if ever there was one.’

‘Why don’t they get on, her and Kathy?’ Jack asked.

‘Goes back a long way, from what I understand. According to Kathy, she’s never been like a real mother to her. It were Kathy’s father who seemed closest to the lass.’

Just then he peered out the porthole. ‘Hang on a minute! Look! Her mam’s just going.’

Two pairs of eyes followed Irene as she emerged from Kathy’s house. Dressed in a dark suit with fur collar and black ankle boots, she was a picture of elegance, much as her elder daughter had been before her.

With her, and holding onto her arm as if to support her, was a portly man, somewhat older and greying at the temples. ‘Who’s that?’ Jack was curious.

‘It’s Kathy’s stepfather.’ Jasper switched off the radio. ‘I’d best go and see how she is. I’ll see you later.’

‘Aye, you go on. I’ll sit here awhile, afore I take myself off for my tea.’ He winked. ‘I reckon the missus will have a tasty hotpot bubbling away on the stove, time I get home.’

‘Hmh! It’s all right for you. Some of us ’ave to do for us-selves.’

Concerned about Kathy, Jasper clambered his way out of the cabin and onto the deck; from there he shimmied up the mooring rope like a two-year-old. ‘You ain’t lost it yet, old-timer!’ Jack called from inside the cabin.

Jasper nodded appreciatively. ‘Yer should see me on a bad day,’ he chuckled.

In a minute he was wending his way across the green towards Barden House. Kathy saw him coming and ran to the door. ‘Oh, Jasper, I was hoping you’d come back when you saw them leave.’

‘What’s up, lass? Yer look badly.’ Kathy’s brown eyes were red and swollen, and her face was all puffed up; it was obvious to anyone who knew her that she was distraught.

Trying hard not to show her emotion, she said, ‘Tell me the truth, Jasper … do you think I was cruel to her? Do you think it’s because of me that she’s –’ After the crippling confrontation with her mother, her resolve failed and she broke down.

‘Now then, lass. Take a hold on yersel’.’ Grabbing her by the shoulders, he drew her to him. ‘For a start off, I don’t think you could be “cruel” if you tried. And for another thing, it weren’t ’cause o’ you that she went out.’

‘But maybe I could have stopped her.’

‘No, lass! From what you tell me, that sister o’ yourn was a law unto hersel’. I dare say if you’d pleaded with her to stay in that night, she would still have gone out and done things the way she wanted. God only knows, what happened to her was a shocking and awful thing, but there was nothing you could have done … except maybe to baby her and follow her everywhere she went.’

He held her at arm’s length, his old heart breaking to see what a state she was in. ‘You gave her nowt but kindness. You let her into your home and allowed her to stay … even when she let it be known that she were out to take it from you.’ He gave her a comforting shake. ‘No, lass, you weren’t “cruel”. You were a good sister. Nobody can tek that away from yer. Just remember that.’

Kathy found it hard to believe him. ‘Mother says I’ve been selfish and greedy. She says I should have sold this house and given her half … that it wasn’t much to ask, and I turned my back on her when she needed help.’ Taking a deep, choking breath, she went on. ‘Maybe if I’d promised to do what she wanted she would still be here today.’

‘Now then! Don’t torment yersel’ with them kinda foolish notions. Y’see, lass … we’re all on us sent into this ’ere world with a number agin us. When that number is called, we’re away to God Almighty, and there ain’t nobody – not you, nor me, nor anybody else – as can mek the slightest difference to that.’

For a time, Kathy couldn’t answer him. Instead, she held onto him, her face buried in his shoulder, and the tears ran freely as she thought of Samantha and the awful way she had died: slipping and knocking her head as she fell into the harbour. ‘You’re a good friend, Jasper,’ she murmured. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without you.’

‘I’ll tell yer what, lass.’

Sniffing, she wiped away the tears. ‘What?’ Looking up at him, she felt safe; absolved somehow.

‘How about you mek us a brew, eh? An’ we’ll sit and decide what’s to be done.’

A great, heavy sob escaped her, but with it came the tiniest of smiles. ‘I forgot my manners, didn’t I?’

He wagged a podgy finger. ‘So yer did. Shame on yer!’

He thought it would be good for her to busy herself and take her mind off things. While he waited, he asked about Rosie. ‘She’s been that worried about yer.’

Kathy returned with the tea. ‘Rosie’s been wonderful … just like you.’

Placing the tea in his outstretched hand, she sat in the other chair.

Hesitating just a little because he knew it was a thing close to her heart, he asked pointedly, ‘D’yer intend asking Tom if he’ll come back?’

‘No.’

‘Yer do know where he’s staying, don’t yer, lass? I mean … he did give you an address of sorts, didn’t he?’

‘I have the address of his hotel, yes.’ So many times she had been tempted to write to him or telephone, but she hadn’t, and she wouldn’t. ‘See, Jasper, if I were to phone him he’d be here straight away, and that wouldn’t be fair … to get him back just for my sake. He has a job to do, and the last thing I want to do is interfere with that.’

‘He’s bound to telephone you sooner or later.’

‘I know.’

‘And what will you say to him?’

‘That I’m all right, and that I’m missing him. That I love him and can’t wait for him to come home.’

‘Nothing about what happened, then?’

‘No.’

‘What’s the name of his hotel?’

‘I’m not saying.’

‘I see.’ Jasper realised he’d been rumbled. ‘All right, but he’ll not be best pleased when he finds out what’s happened, and that you didn’t contact him.’

‘I know that.’

‘Your choice, lass.’

‘It’s the only choice I’ve got.’ She was doing the right thing in leaving Tom out of it. Only she did need him so desperately, especially now.

‘I’m going to see Samantha, before she’s taken away.’ Her voice broke, but this time she steadied herself. ‘I have to say my goodbyes. I have to see her one more time.’ She bowed her head. ‘There are things I need to say.’

‘I understand that, lass. And you do right to go and see her.’ Though he didn’t like the idea of her going on her own, not in her state. ‘If yer want somebody to come with yer, I’ll be on hand, lass.’

Kathy thanked him. ‘Rosie’s going with me, but thank you all the same, Jasper. It’s good of you to offer.’

She glanced towards the stairs. ‘There’s something you could do, if you don’t mind, that is?’

‘That’s what I’m here for, lass … to help wherever I can.’

‘Mother told me to get Samantha’s things ready, but I haven’t the heart to do it on my own.’

‘’Course not, lass. I’ll be glad to give a hand, whenever yer ready.’

Kathy was in no hurry. ‘Mother said she’d be back in an hour. We’ve time yet.’

When, an hour later to the minute, Irene and Richard returned, all of Samantha’s things were ready for collection.

Fighting back the tears, Kathy had gathered the more personal items, while Jasper had folded her clothes and put them in the small case.

Irene banged on the door in her usual impatient manner. When Kathy opened it, she barged through; on seeing Jasper she demanded to know what he was doing there. ‘I should have thought this was a time for reflection,’ she said, spying the two teacups, ‘instead of drinking tea and behaving as if nothing had happened!’

Up until now, Richard had kept his own counsel, but with Kathy looking so upset and Irene overstepping the mark, he stepped in to chide her. ‘Easy now, Irene. Everyone needs a friend at times like this.’ Allowing Jasper a friendly nod, he gave his wife a gentle pat on the shoulder. ‘I think we should leave now.’

Swinging round, she was about to give him a piece of her mind, when she remembered he was not the soft touch she had at first imagined him to be. He had only now reinstated her account because, being the good man he was, he thought she had suffered enough.

‘All right.’ Since he could take her account away any time he thought fit, she needed to keep him sweet, particularly now she no longer had her elder daughter as an ally. ‘You’re right. There’s nothing to be gained by getting myself upset all over again.’

Before they left she had a warning for Kathy. ‘I’ve spent the worst day of my life!’ she told her. ‘The police have given me little peace. I’m desperate to organise for your sister to be taken home, only they won’t release her, not yet.’ Her voice trembled. ‘As for you!’ She came forward threateningly. ‘You monster!’

When Kathy involuntarily took a step back, Jasper was there to hold her, his face set hard as he looked at her mother, and thinking how he was on the verge of showing her the door.

‘It should be you lying there, not Samantha! I know you plan to see her at rest, but I don’t want you anywhere near her! It’s all your fault that this has happened. You’re a wicked, selfish creature, and I wash my hands of you. As far as I’m concerned, I have no family now …’ She turned to smile weakly at her husband. ‘Only my darling Richard,’ she added disingenuously.

When again she turned to round on Kathy, Jasper stepped forward. ‘I would not normally interfere in family business,’ he said respectfully, ‘and I’m very sorry for your loss. But I think you should listen to your husband.’ He smiled sadly. ‘Best to leave now, I reckon.’

‘Really!’ After staring at him for what seemed an age, she stormed out, with Richard lingering to apologise to Kathy before he, too, was gone.

‘She can’t stop you from seeing yer sister, if that’s what you want, lass.’ Jasper had never before encountered such a horrid creature as Kathy’s mother.

The tirade of abuse had shaken Kathy but after a minute or two at the window, watching them depart, she quickly recovered. She felt stronger and more determined. ‘If they’ll let me, I will go and see her. I have to.’ Her mind was made up.

Later that afternoon, she and Rosie set off. ‘Are you sure you want to do this, me darling?’ Rosie was nervous for her. ‘Sure, it’ll not be a pleasant thing, you do realise that?’

‘She’s my sister.’

‘Ah, I know. I’ll be there with you, so I will.’

Just as Rosie promised, seeing Samantha like that was not a pleasant thing. In fact, it was the hardest thing Kathy had ever had to do in the whole of her life. With her father, the pain of losing him had been lessened by the fact that, for him, it was a merciful release. That was not the case with Samantha.

After being greeted at the desk, she was quickly taken downstairs; big green doors were swept open and she was led into a large, clinical-looking room. In the centre of the room was a trestle, and on the trestle was Samantha’s body, covered in a white cloth. ‘We’ve done our best,’ the policeman explained, ‘but you do realise she isn’t as you would see her in a chapel of rest.’ The man was a kindly soul, with the gentlest of smiles. The police had been concerned at first, wanting to establish how Samantha had come to fall in backwards: there was a nasty blow to the back of her head. But with no evidence of foul play, they were about to release her body.

Kathy nodded. With Rosie at her side, Kathy stepped forward; while Rosie turned her head, she watched him peel back the cloth. There, cold and still, was Samantha.

Catching a breath, Kathy fought back the tears. ‘Can I have a minute with her?’ she asked brokenly.

‘I understand.’ The policeman and Rosie stepped back, towards the far end of the room, from where they watched but could not hear. Only the soft murmurings of Kathy’s voice broke the silence.

Taking a moment to gaze down on that familiar face, Kathy wondered at her sister’s proud beauty. In all her life she had never seen Samantha look so calm and pure. Her head was discreetly covered with a fine, lace cloth, while her face was like cold, chiselled marble. ‘You’re very beautiful, Samantha,’ she whispered, ‘but you shouldn’t be here. You should be dancing and shopping, and wearing the fine clothes you love so much.’

For a minute she couldn’t go on. Unbearable emotion clogged her throat and the tears fell, regardlesss of her determination not to cry. ‘Forgive me,’ she murmured, ‘but I couldn’t let you take what you wanted. If that was wrong of me, then I’m sorry. I don’t know if I was right or wrong to refuse you, but oh –’ her voice broke; the tears blurred her vision – ‘if only I could turn back the clock, we might have come to some sort of compromise. I don’t know. I’ll never know.’

Reaching out, she touched her face, shocked by the coldness of her skin. ‘What went wrong between us? Why couldn’t we get it right?’

Raising her hand, she wiped away the blinding tears. ‘Rest now, Samantha,’ she whispered. ‘I only wish things could have been different …’

She looked at her sister’s quiet face for a moment longer, taking it in, preserving it in her memory. Leaning forward, she kissed her, shocked to realise that it was a long time since she had done that. ‘Goodbye, Samantha.’

When, a few minutes later, she and Rosie emerged from that formidable building, Kathy needed a moment to lean against the wall, her face ashen, her whole body trembling.

In this moment of harsh reality, she needed Tom more than ever.