Читать книгу Kitty Neale 3 Book Bundle - Kitty Neale - Страница 34

Amy was looking out for Carol as she walked along Lavender Hill after work on Saturday. They came from opposite directions, and often bumped into each other, Amy now waving an arm as she saw Carol walking towards her. ‘Hello,’ she said as they met up. ‘Your hair looks nice.’

‘I’m going out with the boys tonight, and though the salon was busy one of the stylists quickly put it up for me.’

‘How’s your dad? It must have been awful for him to get chucked out of his house like that.’

‘It was his own fault,’ Carol said without any sign of sympathy. ‘He should have got a job and paid the rent.’

‘I suppose he’s living with you and your brothers now?’

‘No, he isn’t with us. He turned up looking for money last night, and once he got his hands on a few bob he buggered off, which is just as well because there’s no way I’d live under the same roof as him again.’

Amy supposed it was because Carol’s father was a drunk, but it still seemed so hard and she asked, ‘So where is he now?’

‘I’ve no idea, though I’d guess that he’s sleeping rough somewhere with the rest of the down and outs.’

‘But that’s awful,’ Amy exclaimed. ‘Aren’t you going to try to find him?’

‘No, I’m not, and if you knew what my father did to me, you’d understand why. Now I’ve got to go, so bye for now,’ Carol said, abruptly walking off towards her brothers’ flat.

Amy was left bewildered. She knew that Carol’s dad had turned into a drunk, but now it sounded as though something else had happened to turn her against him. With no idea what he had done, Amy was left to wonder as she continued on her way home.

Carol stomped upstairs to the flat. Her brothers were at home, only working overtime on the occasional Saturday, and Paul cocked his head as he looked at her, asking, ‘What’s got up your nose? I can see by your boat race that you’re in a strop.’

‘I bumped into Amy, and because you insisted that I kept my mouth shut about what Dad did to me, she looked shocked that I don’t give a damn about him being evicted.’

‘Give it a rest, Carol,’ said Dave. ‘It happened months ago, but you keep going on about it. We’ve told you over and over again that Dad was drunk, that he didn’t

know what he was doing and like us, you should give him the benefit of the doubt. We’re worried about him since he shot off yesterday, and though we’ve been having a scout round we can’t find him. We’ll give it another go tomorrow.’

Carol was still sick with worry, fearing that her dad would one day blurt it out – that he’d tell her brothers about the abortion. Not only that, the thought of having him anywhere near her was more than she could bear. ‘If you find him, don’t bring him here. You weren’t there that night! I was and I’m still having nightmares. I screamed at Dad, yelled at him, told him it was me, Carol, but it didn’t stop him. He may have been drunk, but he wasn’t deaf!’

‘You never told us that,’ Paul said sharply.

‘Yes I did. I must have done,’ Carol protested.

‘No, you didn’t,’ said Dave. ‘You just said he came into your room and that you had to fight him off.’

‘Dave, do you know what this means?’ Paul asked.

‘Yeah, that Dad lied to us. He must have known it was Carol, but the filthy pig told us he thought she was Mum,’ Dave said, his features now tight with anger.

‘Well that’s it. He can rot in hell,’ Paul growled, ‘and he’d better not turn up here again.’

Carol hadn’t realised that she’d left out some of what had happened that night and felt a huge sense of relief that her brothers believed her now. If they had found their dad and taken him in, she would have been forced to leave, but that wasn’t going to happen now. She loved living with Paul and Davy – loved it when they took her out with them. Her bad mood lightening, she said, ‘Come on, let’s forget about Dad. We’re going to the 2i’s coffee bar tonight and I wonder who’ll be performing.’

‘Another lot of hopefuls I should think,’ Paul said. ‘Since that Tommy Hicks was spotted and signed up with Decca, the place is buzzing.’

‘He’s just had a record released called Rock with the Caveman, but he’s changed his name to Tommy Steele now,’ Dave said.

Carol hadn’t thought much of the small coffee bar when her brothers had first taken her there, the live music played in the basement, but now it had become the in place to be.

It was great to be a part of a new, emerging music scene and now Carol felt that she was really living again.

Rose was excited. They’d already exchanged contracts on the new house in Battersea and as it was an empty property, they’d soon be moving in. ‘If it’s all right with you, I’ll pop down to see Phyllis in the morning. I want to find out if she’s made up her mind about coming to work for us.’

‘My dear,’ Samuel said, ‘you don’t have to ask my permission every time you want to go out.’

‘I know, but I don’t like leaving you on your own for too long. You could come with me.’

‘No, Rose. As you know, I’ve just evicted one of my tenants on Lark Rise and feelings might be running high among his neighbours.’

‘I suppose it’s possible,’ Rose said, wondering if as Samuel’s wife, she’d take some stick too. ‘I did try to dissuade you, but you wouldn’t listen to me.’

‘Rose, I run a business, not a charity, and I can’t allow my tenants to accrue rent arrears that they’ll never be able to repay.’

‘I know, I’m not criticising you.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. Now you go along to see Phyllis in the morning and don’t worry about me. I’m not so doddery that I need constant care. You’re my wife, Rose, not my nurse.’

Rose grinned, ‘I’d say that what we got up to last night proves you don’t need nursing.’

‘My father never did,’ Samuel said. ‘He lived into his late eighties and was comparatively healthy until the day he died.’

‘That’s wonderful,’ Rose managed to enthuse, though inwardly thinking that if Samuel lived that long, it would be many, many years before she became a rich widow. Still, as things were at the moment she wasn’t complaining. Samuel was generous, her extensive new wardrobe proved that, along with her weekly allowance. He’d also recently suggested driving lessons so that she could have her own car.

She had soon adapted to living in luxury, Rose thought, and when she went to visit her cousin now the contrast in their lifestyles was starkly obvious. Though she knew she could help her cousin financially, Rose also guessed that Phyllis would be too proud to accept handouts. At least in offering her the job as their cleaner, Phyllis would be earning more money, and that was a start.

She’d just have to be devious, Rose decided, in finding other ways to help Phyllis, if not financially then in other areas. She looked around the sitting room and an idea came to mind, one that would serve them both. She’d have to get around Samuel, but she’d already found that as long as he was in the right mood, it wasn’t too difficult.

Rose smiled. When they went to bed, she knew just how to make Samuel amenable to her suggestions. She glanced at the clock – it was far too early to retire yet, but later she would get her own way.

At ten thirty that evening, after going to the cinema with Tommy, Amy was snuggled up to him in his van, parked outside her house. The summer was over and the autumn evening chilly, but in the van they were protected from a fall of light rain.

‘Sorry,’ Tommy said after yawning widely.

‘You’re tired, and with the hours you’re working I’m not surprised.’

‘I’m fine and as it’s Sunday tomorrow I can have a lie in,’ he said.

Amy placed her hand gently on his cheek, saying softly, ‘That’s something I suppose. At least you aren’t working seven days a week.’

‘If it could bring the date of our wedding forward, I would.’

‘We haven’t discussed a date,’ Amy told him.

‘If business continues to go well, and if I get a nice big contract again, how do you feel about next spring … perhaps April?’

‘I’d love that, but what if you don’t get a large contract?’ Amy asked as she drew away from Tommy. ‘I know we’re not going to have a big wedding, but we’d still need a firm date to book the registry office.’

Tommy bit his lower lip in thought and then said, ‘Do you think Rose’s husband meant it when he said he’d rent us one of his houses?’

‘Yes, I’m sure he did.’

‘Well then, new contract or not, if we start off in something small, maybe a one-bedroom flat, the rent would be low.’

‘We’d have my wages too,’ Amy pointed out.

‘I don’t expect you to work when we’re married.’

‘Tommy, there’s no need for me to stay at home just to clean a one-bedroom flat.’

‘I still don’t like the idea, but we can talk about that another time. For now, come here and give me a kiss,’ he said.

Amy went willingly into his arms, melting as their kisses grew deeper, until aware of Tommy’s rising passion, she breathlessly pulled away. ‘I … I’m sorry, Tommy. I want to wait until we’re married.’

‘I know,’ he groaned, and though obviously frustrated he added, ‘I do too, so let’s make a firm date for the second Saturday in April.’

Amy willingly agreed and soon after she slipped out of the van to go indoors, still smiling with happiness.

Stan had just come in from the pub, followed shortly by Amy, and seeing the look on her daughter’s face, Phyllis said, ‘You look chuffed about something.’

‘I am,’ Amy said, her eyes sparkling. ‘We’ve set a date for the wedding.’

‘What! Already!’ Stan exclaimed.

‘It’s all right, Dad. It won’t be until next year … in April.’

‘But you’ve hardly been engaged for five minutes,’ he protested.

‘It’s been four months, and by next April it will have been ten.’

Unlike Stan, Phyllis was happy about the date, and said, ‘That gives us six months to sort out all the arrangements.’

‘Mum, I’ve already talked to Tommy and we’ve decided on a small, registry office wedding.’

‘No, Amy,’ Phyllis protested. ‘I want to see my daughter walking down the aisle in church, wearing a beautiful, flowing white gown that’s fit for a princess.’

‘I’m sorry, but it isn’t what we want.’

‘Tommy might want a simple wedding, but I can’t believe it’s what you want, Amy. Every girl dreams of a huge white wedding.’

‘But don’t you see, Mum, it wouldn’t be huge. There’s just us, Rose and Samuel, along with a few friends. On Tommy’s side of the church, if his mother refuses to come, the pews would be virtually empty too.’

‘She’s got a point, love,’ Stan said.

Phyllis didn’t want to admit it, but Amy was right – a church wedding would be a very spartan affair. As for Celia Frost, it made her fume that she still chose to ignore Amy and she hoped the woman would end up alone and lonely as she deserved. Pushing Tommy’s mother from her mind, Phyllis said, ‘Fine, a registry office it is, but I still want it to be a special day, Amy, with you in a lovely dress, and flowers, lots of flowers.’

‘All right, Mum, whatever you say, and afterwards we could sort of copy Rose and go to a restaurant.’

Phyllis was happy with that, and with something she knew that she was keeping as a surprise. Unbeknown to Amy, Rose had already had a word with Samuel, but he hadn’t been happy about the length of time that could be involved. Now though, with the wedding only six months away, Phyllis hoped her plan could come to fruition. If it did, everything would be just perfect, and Stan would be over the moon too.

Celia had made Thomas a cup of cocoa before they retired for the night, and after drinking it he said, ‘Mother, before we go to bed I have something to tell you. Amy and I are going to marry next year and we’ve decided on April.’

She stared at him in horror. ‘No, Thomas, you can’t mean that!’

‘I’d hardly say it if I didn’t mean it.’

‘Next April! No, I can’t believe it.’

‘I don’t see why. We’re engaged and you must have known the wedding would follow.’

‘I didn’t want to think about it.’

‘I know … you buried your head in the sand, but you’ve got to face up to it now. Amy is going to be my wife, your daughter-in-law and you’ve got to accept that. You’ve also got to stop slighting Amy. It’s gone on for long enough.’

‘I haven’t got to do anything,’ Celia snapped.

Thomas reacted angrily, his voice rising. ‘Fine, but if that’s your attitude, think about this. When I marry my loyalties will be to my wife – and I won’t be visiting you if Amy isn’t welcome too.

Celia’s stomach churned with a mixture of anger and fury. Thomas had made his feelings clear. If she didn’t accept Amy, she’d lose him too. It rankled, but there really was no other choice and she said, ‘Thomas, you know I couldn’t bear that. All right, invite Amy to join us for dinner tomorrow and I’ll do my best to make her welcome.’

The anger drained from his face as Thomas said, ‘You won’t regret it, Mum. Amy is a sweet, kind person and I’m sure that like me, you’ll grow to love her.’

Celia felt like telling her son that hell would freeze over before that happened, but Thomas stood up, leaned over to kiss her and said he was going to bed. She bade him goodnight, and watched him leave the room, while she was left still inwardly fuming.

Thomas had chosen Amy over her, and now he had the audacity to virtually blackmail her into accepting the common slut too. While words of vitriol against Amy poured into her mind, Celia grabbed a writing pad, putting them all down on paper, along with everything that had happened since George walked out.

When it was finished, Celia found an envelope and the last address she had for her son Jeremy. He had probably moved on by now so might never receive it; but if he did, Jeremy would at least know what a terrible life his mother now suffered, Celia thought.