Читать книгу A Father’s Revenge - Kitty Neale - Страница 14

‘Other than thanking us for taking care of John in our will, you’ve hardly mentioned him,’ Dolly said as Kevin prepared to leave on Wednesday morning. ‘I know Pearl has sole custody, but she should let you see him.’

‘I want to achieve something first, to show John, and everyone else, that I’ve changed,’ Kevin replied.

‘John has only been told that you went to prison for robbery,’ Dolly pointed out. ‘Just recently he said he’d like to see you and I think he’s waited long enough, Kevin. It’s about time he met his real father.’

Kevin knew his father was listening and that if he wanted money he still had to impress him. ‘Mum, I’ve hardly been a father to be proud of, and I wouldn’t blame Pearl if she refused.’

‘It won’t matter if she does. Your father goes to pick John up from Winchester once a month and he spends the day with us. When he’s here, if you just happen to turn up, Pearl needn’t know about it.’

‘It would be wrong to deceive her. If I’m to see my son, it must be with his mother’s permission.’

‘But …’

‘Dolly, you heard what Kevin said,’ Bernie interrupted. ‘I for one am pleased to hear that he wants to do things properly.’

‘That’s right, Dad. I don’t want to cause any upset, to Pearl or to John.’

‘Kevin, I want you to take this.’

He looked at the wad of notes his father held out, wanting nothing more than to grab them; but as he might need to come back for more, he kept up his act. ‘No, Dad. I’ve caused you and Mum enough heartache as it is and I certainly can’t take your money.’

‘That’s all in the past now and this is just a little something to help you out.’

‘There’s no need. I trust in God to provide for my needs.’

‘Kevin, please, it would ease my mind if you take it,’ Dolly cajoled.

‘You have no need to worry about me. I still have a little money and I’ll be fine.’

‘If you don’t find a job straight away, it’ll soon run out’ Bernie pointed out.

‘Then as I said, Dad, God will provide.’

Bernie stuffed the money into Kevin’s hand, saying firmly, ‘Right then, you can call this a small donation towards the opening of your refuge.’

Kevin used a practised gentle smile. ‘In that case, thank you. The money will be used for just that purpose, and God bless you. Now I must go, but I’ll keep in touch.’

‘Don’t leave it too long before we see you again,’ Dolly begged tearfully.

‘I’ll ring you as soon as I’m settled,’ Kevin said, forcing himself to kiss his mother’s cheek as he said his goodbyes. He wanted to get out of there, wanted to count the money. How much had his father given him? Would it fund what might be an expensive trip to Soho?

Bernie waited until Dolly was having an afternoon nap, and then rang Pearl in Winchester. ‘Pearl, it’s Bernie. Kevin’s been released. You have nothing to worry about though. Kevin insists that he won’t try to see John without your permission.’

‘And you believe him? You didn’t sound so sure the last time we spoke.’

‘I must admit I was sceptical, and I still am – but think about it, Pearl. If Kevin was just using his religious conversion as a ploy to get parole, he has no need to keep it up now that he’s been released.’

‘Where is he? Is he staying with you?’

‘No, he left this morning. He’ll be staying with a friend of his in Ealing, but once he’s on his feet again he may get in touch with you. If he does, what are you going to do? Will you allow him to see John?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t want to, but maybe if I know he won’t be alone with John …’ Pearl’s voice trailed off.

‘From the way Kevin spoke, it won’t be for a while yet.’

‘Bernie, I’ve got a bit of news too.’

‘Oh, yeah, what’s that?’

‘Bessie Penfold has passed away,’ she said, her voice catching.

‘I’m sorry to hear that, love. I know you were fond of her.’

‘Yes, I was, but that’s not all. She’s left me her shop and the flat.’

‘Has she? Now that was good of her.’

‘There are strings attached,’ Pearl told him, going on to explain about the provision in Bessie’s will.

‘If you ask me, it’s a bit much,’ Bernie said when she’d finished. ‘Nora isn’t your responsibility.’

‘Derek says the same.’

‘Yeah, well, he’s right. So what are you going to do?’

There was silence on the line for a moment, but then Pearl said, ‘I’m not sure yet, but if I do as Bessie asks, it’ll mean telling John the whole truth about Kevin.’

‘I don’t see why.’

‘There are sure to be people in Battersea who remember what Kevin did. I’d rather tell him myself before John hears it from them.’

Just then Bernie heard Dolly stirring and had to end the call. He wondered how John would react when he heard the truth about Kevin. Would he still want to meet his father? Somehow, Bernie doubted it.

After dinner that evening, Pearl went over things in her mind once again. It was early days yet, but at the moment Nora was clinging to her like a limpet. The strangeness of staying here, away from Battersea and all that Nora knew wasn’t helping, but Pearl knew if she didn’t agree to the terms of Bessie’s will, they would soon have to find somewhere else to live. That would not only exacerbate Nora’s fears, it would put a huge strain on their marriage, both mentally and financially.

Taking everything into consideration there seemed only one choice, and if they returned to Battersea at least Kevin would be on the other side of the Thames in Ealing. Oh, she was tired – tired of trying to make the right decision. There was so much to consider: her son, her mother and of course her husband. She couldn’t do it alone, it was too much, and turning to Derek she voiced one of her concerns. ‘I know you think we should move back to Battersea, but it would disrupt John’s education.’

‘He’s young and he’ll adapt,’ Derek reasoned. ‘There’s the financial side of things to consider too and as the shop and the premises are worth a good few bob it’s a lot to give up.’

‘What about your business?’

‘Pearl, I’d hardly call it that. I do a bit of painting and decorating, that’s all, and the new contract I was hoping to get has fallen through. With only the hope of small jobs coming in now, there’s nothing to keep us here.’

‘There’s my mother.’

‘Pearl, she won’t be that far away, and we’ll see her regularly, or we could ask her to come with us.’

‘Come where?’

Startled, Pearl turned to see her mother standing in the doorway. ‘To live with us in Battersea,’ she explained.

‘Oh, no. Surely you aren’t going to agree to Bessie’s terms?’

‘Mum, I don’t think we have any choice.’

‘Well, I’m sorry, but I won’t be coming with you, and what about John? He’d hate it in London. He loves the countryside – and what about his friends?’

‘Derek, my mother’s right,’ Pearl cried as she turned to him. ‘Oh, I just don’t know what to do.’

‘There are weekends, school holidays, and as you don’t want to come with us, Emily, perhaps John could spend them with you,’ Derek suggested. ‘That’s if you’d like that.’

‘Well, yes, of course I would, but …’

‘There you are, Pearl,’ Derek cut in. ‘Your mum would be pleased to have John and I’m sure he’d be happy with that too.’

‘Yes, maybe, I … I’ll go and talk to him,’ Pearl said, and aware that she would have to tell her son about his father too there was a dull ache growing in her temples.

Steps faltering, Pearl walked upstairs.