Читать книгу A Father’s Revenge - Kitty Neale - Страница 12

Lucy Sanderson sat in her tiny flat. Though deeply saddened by Bessie’s death, she couldn’t help but start to really worry about her wages. She’d been helping out in the shop on a part-time basis for three days a week. However, since Bessie went down with bronchitis, she’d been working every day, along with doing little extras, like cooking their hot meals. On the strength of extra money coming in she had splashed out on a new pair of trousers and shoes for Clive. Now though, she hadn’t been paid and the rent was due.

I’m daft, she mused, I should’ve had a word with Pearl. But it hadn’t seemed right to bring up the subject of money when they were all so upset about Bessie. Not only that, Lucy had no idea who was responsible for her wages now.

Though it was sad, at least Bessie had lived to a ripe old age, Lucy thought, unlike her husband, Paul, who had died before setting eyes on his son. She bit her bottom lip, fighting back tears. Clive had seen enough upset for one day without her crying too.

‘I’m hungry, Mum.’

His voice roused Lucy. Clive had soon recovered from the upset at the shop, and though it was a bit early for lunch, she took a tin out of the cupboard. ‘How about beans on toast?’

‘Cor, smashing,’ he said eagerly.

As Lucy prepared the meal, she couldn’t help wondering what was going to happen to the shop now. She had no idea if Bessie owned or rented it, but one thing was certain, Nora wasn’t up to running it.

Would it remain closed? Lucy suspected it would and she sighed, her financial future even more uncertain now.

Pearl was trying to persuade Nora to come home with them, but so far nothing was working.

‘Bessie said I stay here.’

‘Darling, we can’t leave you on your own.’

Stubbornly, Nora repeated, ‘Bessie said I stay here.’

With no other choice, Pearl had to use guile. ‘But you haven’t been to see us for a while and I know John would love to see you.’

‘Johnny. Like Johnny.’

‘Yes, I know,’ she said. Nora was the only one who still called him Johnny, ‘and he likes you.’

‘Nice, Johnny nice … But I stay here.’

Pearl sighed and deciding that it was doubtful Nora had eaten, she tried another tack. ‘If you come home with us, we could buy fish and chips on the way.’

‘Yes, I like fish and chips.’

‘Right then, why don’t you go and have a nice wash and I’ll sort you out something pretty to wear?’

The ruse worked and while Nora was in the bathroom, Pearl hurriedly stuffed a few of her things into a bag. She then went to find Derek, puzzled when he handed her a bulky envelope. ‘It was in this box,’ he said.

Pearl saw that her name was written on it in Bessie’s spidery hand and for a moment she just clutched it to her chest, still unable to believe that she would never see her again.

‘Aren’t you going to open it?’

‘Yes,’ she said and found that along with a letter, it contained Bessie’s last will and testament. She sat down, read both and cried, ‘Oh, no! How could Bessie do this to me?’

‘What is it? What has she done?’ Derek asked.

‘Bessie has left me these entire premises, shop and flat.’

‘But that’s good, isn’t it?’ he said, looking confused.

‘No it isn’t. It’s awful.’

‘Pearl, you aren’t making any sense. You’ve just been left this place and you should be over the moon.’

‘Read the conditions and then you’ll know why I’m not,’ Pearl said, passing the document to Derek.

He quickly scanned it. ‘All right, I can see now why you’re upset, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world, would it?’

‘How can you say that? You know how I feel about living in Battersea. Bessie knew my feelings too, yet she’s put in this provision that I can’t inherit these premises unless I live in them.’

Derek rubbed his chin. ‘I don’t know why she’s insisted on that.’

Pearl brandished the letter at him. ‘I do. It’s all in here. Bessie says that Nora can’t cope with change, that moving away from here would confuse and upset her. This way, she says, if we agree to the provision, not only will Nora have continued stability, but we’ll have a home large enough for all of us, with a business thrown in.’

‘Well, she has got a point, love.’

‘No! I won’t move back to Battersea. Bessie may have been thinking about Nora, but I’m thinking of my son.’

‘I suppose you could always sell the place.’

‘Read the will again. If I don’t take this place on it’s to be sold, with the proceeds going to Battersea Dogs’ Home.’

‘What! Blimey, that’s a bit harsh. So much for making sure we’d have the finances to look after Nora.’

Pearl’s voice cracked as she ran a hand tiredly across her face. ‘I still can’t believe that Bessie has done this.’

‘Come on, love, I think you’ve had enough for one day. You need time for it all to sink in and we can talk about it later. For now, let’s go home,’ Derek said, a tower of strength and support as ever.

Pearl didn’t argue. Hoping that Nora was ready, she hurried back to her bedroom, feeling relieved when she didn’t become difficult again.

Pearl and Derek agreed not to mention anything about Bessie in the car so as not to distress Nora, yet as they neared Winchester she began to cry again.

‘Told you, Pearl,’ she sobbed. ‘I told you Bessie not get better.’

‘I know you did, darling,’ Pearl said, her mind twisting and turning. They would have to arrange Bessie’s funeral and perhaps consult the solicitor who had drawn up her will. Maybe he’d be able to tell them if there was a way around the conditions of the inheritance.

‘Go home now.’

‘But we haven’t had our fish and chips yet,’ Pearl said, hoping Nora’s favourite meal would placate her again.

‘What’s it to be, Nora?’ Derek asked. ‘Cod and chips?’

‘Yes, and can I have a pickled onion?’ Nora asked.

‘Yes, love. I fancy fish and chips too, but I think with a gherkin.’

Once again the thought of food quietened Nora and at last they were pulling up outside a chippie close to home. Pearl got out of the car, pleased to be served quickly, and then with packets of steaming fish and chips they arrived at the cottage.

Inside, Nora ran straight to John. ‘Bessie dead, Johnny.’

‘I know, but don’t cry,’ he said, hugging her short, bulky body to him. ‘Bessie wouldn’t want you to be unhappy.’

Pearl was impressed by her son’s maturity, but when she looked at her mother it was to find her expression less than pleased. She drew Pearl into the conservatory to ask quietly, ‘What is Nora doing here?’

‘I couldn’t leave her on her own, Mum.’

‘But she can’t stay with us. We’ve got nowhere to put her.’

‘It won’t be for long. We’ll find somewhere else to live as soon as we can, but in the meantime, I … I thought maybe a camp bed in here.’

‘Well, yes, I suppose so, but—’

‘Mum, can we talk about it later?’ Pearl interrupted. ‘I don’t think Nora has eaten today and I need to dish out the fish and chips before they get cold. Would you like some?’

‘No, thank you, darling.’

Pearl went back into the kitchen to find that Derek had already put the meal onto plates and Nora was already tucking into her portion.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked her softly.

Pearl nodded, but in truth she was far from all right. Their life had been chugging along nicely, without a care in the world really. She loved living here with her mother, loved the area, the cottage and her little part-time job.

Now, with the responsibility of Nora, they would have to make changes and Pearl felt as if her world was spiralling out of her control.