Читать книгу Helping Hands - S. C. Loader - Страница 10

Chapter 4

Once the congratulations had exhausted themselves Paul was left in a mood for some answers and as soon as they had sat down he stood up.

‘Right! What’s going on here?’

‘Just about to make us another cup of tea,’ answered Liz innocently.

‘Please sit down, Liz!’ She complied.

‘Right now I want to know what’s going on around here?’

‘Kinda hard to talk without something to wet the old tonsils, lad.’

‘You don’t have any!’ stated Elsie.

‘Yes I have!’ he countered.

‘STOP THIS!’ shouted Paul at the top of his voice. ‘You’re avoiding me! And I need some answers!’

Undisturbed Eddy calmly asked, ‘Shall I make the tea Liz? You’ve been on your feet all morning and it’ll give you chance to let them rest a bit.’

Elsie interrupted, ‘No, no. I’ll make the tea Eddy, this is a woman’s job, men don’t know how to.’

‘Damn well do girl!’ declared Tom with affront. ‘Can make it better we can if you ask me!’

‘That’s it, Tom, you tell her!’

‘Liz, your man stirring Tom up again!’

‘I know Elsie, that’s all he ever does! Can’t make tea either!’

‘PLEASE!’

Liz looked up, ‘I wonder whatever’s got into Paul? Seems a bit agitated if you ask me.’

‘That girl no doubt,’ suggested Tom.

‘Women do that to us don’t they Tom, drive us mad they do!’

Paul sat down again, ‘And you four are driving me mad!’

‘Cuppa tea will fix that lad!’

‘Good idea Tom!’ stated Elsie enthusiastically. ‘Liz, would you like to make us all a tea? I think this young man could do with one.’

Liz picked up the tray, ‘Nothing like a good cup of tea to pick you up when you’re feeling a bit down,’ she told Paul sympathetically.

‘Answers have also been known to help!’

‘Never heard of that before, is that what they drink in the city, lad?’

‘Don’t be daft you old fool!’ said Elsie. ‘You get them in a chemist!’

‘Never had them myself, son, what they like? Taste good do they these “answers”?’

‘I wouldn’t know, Eddy, I never had one to find out.’

‘Then you’ll be better off with a good cup of tea inside you young man.’

‘That’s right son, you never know what’s in this modern fuddy-duddy stuff.’

Paul surrendered to the majority and waited patiently for the tea to arrive.

‘Right, now that you all have your tea, please may I have some answers?’

They swapped looks between themselves and eventually nods as well.

‘As these things seem of importance to you son, we’ll try.’

‘Okay! First I would like to know why you are trying to pair me off with Karen?’

‘Because such a pretty young woman deserves to have a handsome young man at her side,’ replied Elsie, the other three nodded in agreement.

‘Elsie, she’s married! Haven’t any of you noticed the big band of gold around her ring finger?’

‘Don’t worry yourself over that lad!’

‘Why not, Tom? What do you know I don’t? Has she left her husband? Has he left her? Does he mistreat her? What?’

‘Can’t say, lad.’

‘You can’t say because you don’t know, or you can’t say because you won’t?’

Tom remained silent.

‘Look, this is your church, this is your religion and under the very eyes of your own God, you are trying to encourage me to have a relationship with a woman you know to be married! One of you must have realised that this is not exactly in keeping with the purpose of this building and I very much doubt that adultery is recommended in the sermons here! And I know that your God, like mine, would not condone it either! So please, could one of you four explain why in this building of all places you are doing this?’

Tom, Liz and Eddy looked to Elsie, ‘Why me?’ she asked them.

‘Elsie, please! I need to know!’

‘We can’t tell you what you want to know, that must come from Karen herself. When it does, then she will be yours and both our God and yours will rejoice.’

‘Else, that doesn’t help me!’

‘Son, forget the ornaments Karen wears, concentrate on the woman wearing them.’

‘How can I, Eddy? The woman I’ve fallen in love with wears a wedding ring! Perhaps your God may not mind, but her husband isn’t going to be too damned happy about it when he finds out now is he?’

No one spoke, not to agree nor disagree.

Paul sighed deeply and dropped his face into the palms of his hands. After a while, his face reappeared, ‘Okay, let’s try another question. Can you tell me why she wears men’s clothes?’

Only silence answered the question.

‘Or why she wears them for so long?’

More silence.

‘Can you tell me her full name, her age, her address or anything about her?’

Yet more silence.

‘Can you tell me what is wrong with her, because unless I know how to help her, our pretty little princess will soon become a not so pretty dead princess!’

‘You are helping her Paul.’

‘How am I, Liz?’

‘By loving her you’re giving her the help she needs. Give her as much love as you can and you will see how pretty our princess really is.’

‘Liz, this is not a fairy tale! This knight in shining armour knows of the princess’s veiled beauty and has the desire to take his sword and cut away the ugliness in her life. He wants to swath her in layers of warmth and love, but this princess has given her hand in marriage to another! And this knight is not going to mount his trusty steed and blindly ride off towards the castle where his hearts-desire is held captive, because when he gets there, the wicked husband may have raised the drawbridge! If that happens then this knight in shining armour is not going to look so shiny as a pile of broken bones and mangled armour at the bottom of a moat is he? Even worse, the wicked husband may seek his revenge upon his unfaithful wife and only God knows the evil such spurned husbands are capable of!’

Liz took his hand, ‘Please Paul, mount your horse and ride off towards that castle. You will not be alone, God’s hand will be at your side to guide you.’

‘And will God’s hand be at Karen’s side in the hell on earth we call a divorce court? Have you any idea of the anger and hatred such places can bring out in people? She will be mercilessly ripped to pieces there and her dignity and what remains of her self-esteem will be ruthlessly crushed underfoot in the name of vengeance and in her present state Liz, that will kill her!’

‘Son, this is not something you should fear.’

‘Eddy I don’t fear it, not for myself, but for Karen’s sake!’

‘Place your faith in God, son, he’ll protect her.’

‘He’ll protect her? What’s he done for her up until now, Eddy?’

‘You son, he has given you to her.’

‘I’ve only been in Karen’s life a week and anyone including a blind man can see that Karen’s troubles, illness or whatever it is, has been going on a damn sight longer than that! Can one of you say just how long she’s been without God’s protection?’

‘A little over a year, lad.’

‘Thank you, Tom,’ and letting a deep sigh out Paul dropped his face into his hands again. ‘A year! The poor girl’s been left a full year in this state! Hasn’t anyone tried to help her during that time? Anyone at all?’

‘Lots have tried Paul, but all have failed! This is why God has sent someone special to help her, you!’

Shaking his head slowly he added despondently, ‘God waited until the girl was knocking at death’s door before helping her? Sometimes when I hear horror stories like this I’m led to question whether God really exists at all.’

Liz went and stood at his side and placed a comforting arm around him, ‘Paul, get up on that horse and you’ll never have to ask yourself that question again, I promise you! We all do!’

Paul sat himself up fully again, ‘You four may be short of answers, but I’ll say this for you, you’re not short of encouragement.’

‘That’s what helping hands are for son!’

‘And does Karen know what these helping hands are up to?’

Their silence led to an obvious assumption, ‘She doesn’t!’ Another deep sigh preceded, ‘Has it not occurred to any of you that she may not actually want me?’

‘She will!’ volunteered Elsie. ‘She will!’

The other three nodded enthusiastically.

‘Why?’

‘Every girl wants a handsome knight in shining armour! Actually…’ she plumped up the base of her hair, ‘…if I were a little younger she would have a fight on her hands for you!’

‘’Ey!’ exclaimed Tom. ‘You got one already girl!’

Elsie looked Tom up and down, ‘Your armour doesn’t fit like it once did!’

‘Nor does your glass shoe girl, but I ain't complaining!’ Then turning to Paul he added, ‘I like them with a bit of meat, good to have something solid underneath when you’re…’

‘I know Tom!’ interrupted Paul, ‘I also like them that way and you all know Karen doesn’t have any on her.’

After a slow look around the four disappointed faces, he added, ‘But I love her nevertheless! And despite what my common sense is telling me, I will climb up on that horse and perhaps between us, we can put some meat back on her!’

Eddy was lucky, he managed to step out of the way just before an excited, open-armed Elsie collided with the unlucky recipient of her tear-laden admiration, Paul.

*

The man from the telephone company arrived that afternoon, the exact date as stated in the letter of appointment Paul had received, although three and a half hours later than when he had been told to expect him. Still, this magician disguised in telephone company overalls waved his magic screwdriver about for a minute or so, spoke some mysterious words which sounded like, “Let’s give it eh try!” and produced from the tip of his finger not only the miracle of a dialling tone, but also the greater marvel of modern telecommunications, the Internet.

On Tuesday this greater marvel proved its worth in not only aiding Paul’s search for a dream location for his new home and place of business, but also as the only thing capable of restoring his state of mind to normality. Karen had not been in church that morning and her second unexplained day of absence caused a huge hole to appear where his stomach once was, a cavity into which his heart and hopes despondently fell. Wednesday only deepened that hole and his worries and his fears escalated with a third absence. To make matters worse than they already were, the greater marvel also revealed that his other dream had a status equal to that of the one he had for Karen, dishearteningly unrealistic.

There were no properties available for purchase that combined the size of business premises he needed with suitable residential facilities. Everything was either too small or far too large for his needs and although rental properties were available every lease came at a ridiculously high price. He had however found a glimmer of hope, in desperation his search had begun to include houses with sufficient outbuilding that could be converted to his needs. Fortuitously he had found one in his own village.

“Meticulously kept house, four generous bedrooms, plus various and sizeable outbuildings.”

The price tag was reasonable, even cheap compared to commercial properties and the accompanying photographs showed the outbuildings were of a useful size. The fact they needed some renovation proved they might also be very useful in haggling down the price. The house itself was beautiful and one he would take pride in owning and if God was on his side, one that he hoped Karen would want to share with him. With a click of a button, a small dialogue box appeared on the screen, “Thank you for your enquiry. Details of the selected property(s) will be sent to your email address as soon as possible.”

Recognising the property from one of the photographs and knowing it was only a short distance away, Paul set off on a clandestine reconnaissance mission. Being sited on a street corner not only allowed a surreptitious opportunity to view the outbuildings at the back of the property, but also permitted a glimpse of the walled garden and even a restricted view of the back of the house. It was perfect.

Paul felt a little happier returning to his flat, at least one small bit of his life now held a little real hope in it. Hope for the rest of it stood chatting outside the post office.

Rushing over and with lots of over theatrical fuss, he breathlessly interrupted her conversation with another lady, ‘I’m really, really sorry about this Vera, I got held up in traffic! Nightmare it was, an absolute nightmare I can tell you!’

‘Sorry?’ she replied baffled.

‘Our coffee date, I’m a bit late but never mind. Come on up! I was lucky to get here at all! Come on inside!’

With a little gentle cajoling Vera moved towards his front door, ‘But!’

‘You just can’t tell these days, can you! So much traffic to hold you up when you’re in a hurry! Come on let’s get that kettle on then!’

The other lady bid her farewell and disappeared into the post office.

‘Up you go then Vera; don’t dawdle! Never get that coffee like this will we?’

‘What coffee? Did we make an arrangement?’

‘Course we did Vera, what do you think I taking you up here for?’

‘Never know these days!’

With a wink and a broad grin he suggested, ‘Play your cards right Vera and you never know, this might just be your lucky day!’

She blushed bright red, ‘’Ad I known that I would’ve put something pretty on!’

‘Don’t worry about what you’re wearing Vera, I’ll soon have you out of them!’

Her blush visibly deepened.

Confused and with a hot cup of coffee in front of her, Vera tried to remember an engagement she could not recall making.

‘How’s that girl of yours Vera? The one in the picture.’

‘Causing me problems that girl is! One minute she’s got a man, next she hasn’t.’

‘Pretty as her mother is she?’

Vera’s blushes returned, ‘Beautiful she is!’

‘She definitely has her mother’s looks then! Married is she?’

‘Don’t be daft, like I’d be ’appy when she ain't got a man! What you wanna know for, looking for someone to fill your bed?’

‘No, I’ve already found her Vera!’

She spluttered over the sip of coffee.

‘Only I’ve lost her again! That’s why I need you!’

Vera started to choke on her coffee.

Grinning, Paul let her recover her composure a little while he drank his coffee.

‘Vera, how many women do you know in this village called Karen?’

‘There’s plenty young man, popular name is that hereabouts. Even me eldest girl has it.’

‘Your eldest girl? How old is she? Is she married?’

‘Thirty-seven and no, why?’

‘That’s no good! I’m looking for a younger, married Karen.’

‘Aint good to fill your bed with another man’s wife young man! Nothing but trouble comes of that!’

‘Perhaps you’re right, but that’s who I want to fill my bed with.’

‘Not right that ain't!’

‘How many married Karens do you know?’

‘Not sure I should tell you, don’t seem right somehow!’

‘Vera please listen to me. I’ve fallen in love with this woman and I need to know that she’s safe and well, because I fear her husband’s mistreating her. He’s certainly not caring for her, nor is he looking after her and he doesn’t seem to love her. And if he’s not going to do these things for her then I will, now will you help me find her?’

‘That ain't right! Man’s gotta look after his Missis!’

‘Then help me find her so that I can!’

‘’Ow old you say she is?’

‘Somewhere between her late twenties and early, perhaps mid-thirties.’

‘Can think of quite a few girls like that.’

‘Discount those with children, I don’t think my Karen has any.’

‘Most got kids as far as I know.’

‘Oh! I’ve just thought of something, she doesn’t have the local accent so she may not come from the village, but just lives here.’

‘Don’t ’elp any that! Sure you got her name right?’

‘Absolutely!’

‘Occurs to me that a girl like that might use a different name, married and all that!’

Paul sunk into his chair, ‘That had never occurred to me.’

‘Good name to ’ide behind is Karen, never find her, too many ’ereabouts.’

‘Why’s it so popular?’

‘Name of the old schoolmistress, very well-liked lady was that. You live in her old place too.’

‘She lived here, in this flat?’

‘Many a year!’

‘What happened to her? Did she die?’

‘Got old she did, got herself a cosy little place over in ’ampton now. One of them old peoples places.’

‘They call them retirement homes now Vera,’ Paul suddenly remembered something. ‘Wait here a minute Vera I have something to show you.’

‘Won’t make me blush, will it? Done enough of that this day!’

With a large mischievous grin, he started to play with his belt buckle, ‘Perhaps we’ll save that to later then!’

‘’Andsome young man like you shouldn’t make jokes like that, gets an old girl’s blood moving in the wrong direction that does!’

‘Vera… who’s joking?’

Predictably she coloured up bright red.

Shortly Paul returned with a photograph, ‘I found this while decorating, do you think it belongs to the Karen who lived here?’

‘Course it does! That’s ’er there,’ she said pointing out one of the figures, ‘and that’s ’er man Thomas there, the others I don’t know, but that’s the old school behind. Before they squashed it for the new one.’

‘Then I shall have to get over to Hampton and return it to her. Do you know the address?’

‘No, but it ain't ’ard to find, just a bit down from the chapel, opposite side of the road. Big place it is, all pink and white like a big birthday cake!’

‘And her surname?’

‘Brice.’

‘Thanks, Vera, you’re a star amongst women.’

She rose from her seat, ‘Glad to be of ’elp young man, ’ave to get on, lots to do. Can’t stay here all day chin-wagging can I now?’

**

The estate agent was as efficient as their Internet site was informative and the expected email awaited him. The detailed information enhanced his opinion of the house and grounds and the first call from his newly connected telephone was to the estate agent to request a viewing. The rest of his day revolved around thinking about Karen and trying to put together a build-it-yourself bookshelf with more pieces than shown in the picture and without a viable set of instructions.

On Thursday the bookshelf he had purchased stood in the shop’s storeroom, it had to be as the one in his office was not the one he had paid for, it was an altogether different product. A product that was not only wrongly packaged and labelled but also happily, considerably more expensive than the one he had opened his wallet for. Loading his books into it was also about the only thing he could raise any enthusiasm to do, Karen had not appeared in church again. After waiting for one and a half hours in a cold, damp musty church quietly pleading with his God, her God and any other God who might have been listening to bring her into his arms, he gave up and went back to his flat.

His morning walks had fallen to the lure of waiting for Karen in the church and his sporadic daytime walks around the village in the vain hope of finding her would be of little value that day as it was drizzling. Not that he minded the rain, but everybody else did and it emptied the streets of people and of hope.

By late afternoon he lay on his bed, alternatively staring at the picture on the wall, which now only held Karen’s face and the pillow that still bore the indentation of her head, wondering if it would ever again offer her the comfort that it once had.

The only two things to have distracted his attention the whole afternoon were a telephone call from the estate agent with an unexpended early appointment, which he duly accepted and Vera’s knock on the door to return and collect his laundry. The latter he had looked forward to, Vera’s irrepressible spirit he hoped would lift his a little and the prospect of talking to someone other than himself held a great appeal. But it was not to be, a highly flustered Vera delivered and collected his laundry at speed, ‘Got unexpected visitors coming I have! Lord knows if I can get tidied up by then!’ An explanation sufficient for Paul to comprehend her state of agitation.

Karen’s absence the next morning was spirit-crushing, although not wholly unexpected, but at least he found solace of sorts in the fact he was not alone.

‘You’re early lad! What’s got you out of your bed?’

‘Pizza delivery driver practising his emergency stop.’

‘Shame the bus driver didn’t practice his, isn’t it Tom?’

‘It is! What does the bus look like now then, lad?’

‘Sorry Tom, what bus?’

‘The one that ran you over lad! Must be in ’ell of a state if you ask me!’

‘Complete wreck I’d say!’ added Eddy.

Liz joined them, ‘Lose your way to the bathroom then Paul?’

‘Na! ’E’s been bus wrestling! Aint ’e Ed?’

‘Sure looks that way!’

Elsie joined in, ‘I say, young man! You do look a sight! What have you been up to?’

‘Bus wrestling!’ advised Tom

‘Losing as well by the looks of him!’ smirked Eddy. ‘Pick on a big one did you son?’

Despite his low spirit, a grin crept onto Paul’s face, ‘Sorry, it’s not been the best week of my life, feeling a bit down that’s all.’

‘Down! You look like you’ve been used as a doormat young man!’

Liz placed an arm around his shoulder and led him away, calling behind herself, ‘Eddy, come with me please, Elsie can you put the kettle on while we have a word with Paul. Tom, could you tidy up and help Elsie out?’

‘Bit early yet isn’t it?’ replied Elsie.

‘I think someone here could do with one!’

Liz sat Paul down beside herself, Eddy pulled up the chair to sit in front of him.

‘Right Paul, I want to know what you think you’re doing turning up here looking like that?’

Suddenly he felt like a schoolboy being reprimanded by the headmistress and although his shrug of the shoulders may have suited that role, it was not an explanation Liz found acceptable.

‘This is not good enough Paul! Look at you! You haven’t shaved, you haven’t combed your hair and your clothes look like you’ve slept in them! You’re a disgrace!’

‘Not to mention the state of your shoes, son!’ added Eddy. ‘This is utterly inexcusable!’

To add to his feeling of despondency, one of shame now found a little room to make itself known, ‘I just didn’t feel up to it this morning, sorry.’

‘Son, this isn’t good enough, not by a very long way! What if Karen had been here this morning? What would she have thought of you looking like this?’

‘But she wasn’t!’

‘That’s not the point son!’ exclaimed Eddy crossly. ‘She could have been!’

‘Paul, she’s looking for a knight in shining armour, not for something that’s just crawled out of a gutter!’

‘Son, if you want to win the heart of the woman you love then you must look your best for her and not just when you feel like it, but always! And it doesn’t end once you’ve won her heart either! If you love a woman then you must give her every reason to love you in return and presenting yourself to her in this appalling manner is one less reason for her to do so! Don’t risk losing the woman you love by letting yourself down again like this!’

‘I’ll try not to.’

‘No Paul! You’ll not “try” to, you’ll do it! If you want Karen then you’ll fight to win that girl’s heart, even if you have to fight yourself! And if you haven’t got the strength to do that then you had better pack your bags and leave now, because you certainly won’t have either the strength or the stamina required to help Karen through her pain. You are her last chance, please don’t let her down!’

For a few moments Paul thought over what he had been told, then leaning over he kissed Liz on the cheek, ‘I won’t! I promise you.’

‘Hey! I don’t get them!’ exclaimed Elsie. ‘What have you been doing to that young man to get kisses like that?’

‘Liz gave me a helping hand to understand, that’s all, Elsie.’

‘Speaking of which, Liz please keep Tom out of my hair when I’m making tea, his helping hands are never where they should be!’

‘What you on about girl! On the end of me, arms ain’t they?’

Grinning, Eddy enquired, ‘Been trying to warm up your hands again, Tom?’

‘Cold hands ain't no good to nobody I say!’ he replied sulkily.

‘Make me jump they do!’ huffed Elsie. ‘Made me spill the tea and all!’

As she put down the tray Eddy noted something amiss, ‘And forget the milk. Tom!’

Muttering, Tom made his way out from between the pews, ‘Not me fault me hands is cold!’

Paul took the opportunity of a rest in their banter to ask, ‘Where do you live in Hampton?’

‘Opposite the old chapel and down a bit son, why do you ask?’

‘Ah good! Sounds like you all live in the same place as a Karen Brice I’m trying to return a photograph to. If you know her, then I could give it to you to take over.’

They swapped looks between themselves, ‘Sorry son, don’t know the name.’

‘Would Tom?’

‘Doubt it,’ said Elsie. ‘He never asks their names before trying to warm his hands.’

‘Large place where you live is it?’

‘Three hundred or more son. Big enough wouldn’t you say?’

Paul nodded, ‘Never mind. I’ll drop in one day and give it to her.’

Tom returned with the milk, ‘So what flag do you fly then lad?’

‘Sorry?’

‘Tom’s asking after your religion son.’

‘He is?’

‘I am lad!’

‘Sorry! I don’t have one Tom.’

‘Got a God ain’t you lad? Gotta have a flag as well then!’

‘I do have a God Tom, but unlike yours, mine is not restricted to a religion, nor to a race, creed, colour or anything else.’

‘Aint one of them few age types are you?’

‘No Tom, I’m not one of these new-age types, I just have a different view of God, that’s all.’

‘So which God do you believe in then lad?’

‘The same one as you do.’

Tom nudged Elsie, ‘Didn’t he just say he had another?’

‘I did Tom.’

‘Then it makes sense ‘e can’t be the same as ours then can ‘e? Blame that girl I do!’ Tom told Elsie. ‘Gone to is ’ead she has!’

‘Tom, let me explain…’

Liz interrupted, ‘As simple as possible please Paul, old Tom’s grey cells are not what they were!’

‘What you insinuating there girl?’

‘She’s saying you’re a bit thick Tom! Now be quiet and let the young man speak!’

‘As I was saying, every religion in the world has its own God and each of those religions steadfastly refuses to accept in the legitimacy of a God from any other religion. My God doesn’t belong to any religion; he is the God of every religion.’

‘You saying what those Arabs pray to is the same God as us lad?’

‘Yes, Tom. That’s exactly what I’m saying.’

‘That’s not right! They kneel with their ’eads on the floor they do lad!’

‘Tom it is irrelevant how they worship God because it was not God who dictated how, when and where they should worship him, it was their religion!’

With a puzzled expression, Tom began scratching his head.

‘To make it even simpler Tom, it doesn’t matter what name he’s given, or how one worships him, we are all praying to the same God. Well, that’s what I believe anyway.’

‘Makes sense I suppose, when you put like that lad!’

Pensively Paul waited for the counter-attacks. Even on occasions such as this when he had managed to keep the explanation of his belief as inoffensive as possible, there was always someone only too willing to defend their religion’s ownership of God.

‘Who’s for another cup of tea then?’

‘Good idea darling! Tom?’

‘Yep!’

‘Elsie?’

‘Yes please!’

‘Paul?’

‘Isn’t anyone going to say anything?’

‘About what son?’

‘What I’ve just talked about!’

‘Nothing to talk about son, think you’ll find we all agree with you there. So do you want another cup of tea?’

‘Yes, please! But Tom, he…’

‘Oh pay no attention to him, son, he was just goading you!’

Confused, Paul quietly sat trying to understand their calm acceptance of his belief. Tom nudged Elsie, ‘Poor lad fell for it didn’t ’e! Blame the girl I do, gone to is ’ead she 'as!’