Porthellis

by Porthellis (retail) (epub)

  ‘I’ll bathe ’em when I get home.’ Daniel stretched his shoulders and his eyes landed on the bunk opposite. It had been Matt’s bunk when he’d been a partner on the Sunrise. A partner and a mate. Changed because of Hannah. Hannah… No! Think of Melanie.

  He said abruptly, ‘I’ll take Melanie to the bazaar. ’Tis time she mixed with the other kids. Grace keeps her under wraps. ’Tisn’t good for her. She won’t feel she fits in when she starts school after Christmas.’

  ‘You’re a wise man,’ Colville said approvingly. He viewed the top of Daniel’s bowed head and said carefully, ‘The way to happiness comes when you put others before yourself.’

  Daniel looked up. ‘Think me selfish, do you, Colville?’

  ‘Don’t really matter what a man thinks others think of un, but what he thinks of himself.’

  Narrowing his eyes, Daniel spat, ‘All right, Colville. I’m a selfish bastard! Not only that, I’m cruel and evil. When I want something I’ll do anything, and I mean anything, to get it, no matter who it hurts. Satisfied, you sanctimonious piece of shark shit?’

  Colville didn’t bat an eyelid. ‘And now you want to do right by your little maid. That’s good.’ He headed out of the cabin. ‘Drink up your tea while it’s hot. We’ll be home in under an hour.’

  Daniel’s jaw dropped but no words came out. He closed his mouth and picked up the mug of tea. ‘Conniving old bastard,’ he breathed out loud. Colville hadn’t said so but it did help, thinking about Melanie. He’d make plans to secure her future. And next year he might have another child. Grace was probably pregnant. She had been rather tetchy lately, not quite so eager to come to him, even more protective of Melanie. Women got like that in pregnancy, susceptible to mood swings, nest building – she was having some of the rooms in the house redecorated. Perhaps one was to be a nursery. He was suddenly looking forward to going home.

  When they’d finished with the fish buyer and washed down the lugger, Daniel made his way up the hill on a quicker step than normal. Melanie never said much but sometimes, when he was in a good mood at home, she gave him a sweet little smile when he looked at her. He wanted to see that smile every time he walked through the door. He wanted her to look forward to him coming home, run to meet him, like other kids did their fathers.

  Dumpy was trotting at his feet, seemingly eager, too, to see the little girl who always made a fuss of him. As they passed Seaview Cottage that horrid sinking sensation overwhelmed Daniel again. He’d never get used to Hannah hating him. Somehow, he would have to change the way she felt. She’d never trust him again but he couldn’t bear to think of her meeting him with hostility for ever.

  Once inside his own door, he called out softly, ‘Melanie.’ Nan Trebilcock appeared at the kitchen door shushing him with a finger to her bright red lipsticked mouth. ‘The dear little soul’s just dropped off to sleep in the sitting room. I’m just doing a few little jobs for Grace in here.’

  Moving to the kitchen, Daniel threw his allowance bag on the table. ‘Where is my wife?’ he asked.

  Nan was putting the kettle on the range. ‘She’s down at the shop. She’d just come in from riding not ten minutes ago when Miss Faulkner came here in a right state. A water pipe’s broken in the shop and the stock’s getting all wet. Most of the wool’s ruined. Grace phoned for a plumber then took the mop and some cloths down there to help clean up. Be some time before she gets back, I should think. She’s taken her car to pile the ruined stock in.’

  Daniel made a face but he wasn’t much concerned for the condition of Grace’s shop. ‘I’ll go upstairs and wash and change.’

  Nan pulled at a curl of her recently permed hair. ‘Would you like me to heat up your dinner? It’s a nourishing lamb stew, with my own herb dumplings.’

  He nodded, holding her gaze. He knew Nan’s little game with him. She wanted his body. He would have given it to her right at the beginning but that would have caused complications. The signals she’d been throwing at him had been getting stronger the past few weeks. Sly, lingering looks, knowing smiles, swaying hips. She’d pressed her breasts against him as they’d passed in the passage where the space had been made narrow by the delivery of a new dressing table Grace had ordered. He’d come across her straightening the seams of her stockings, and knowing he was watching, instead of pulling down her skirt she had kept it up for several moments. It was time he did something about it.

  When he came back down the stairs, smelling of soap and aftershave, he was smiling smugly.

  ‘Oh, there you are,’ Nan said. ‘It’s all ready.’ She tilted her head to the side and simpered at him. ‘Can I get you anything for afters?’

  ‘Perhaps.’ After she’d put his meal on the table, he came close to her. ‘You look very nice today, Nan. That a new hairdo?’

  ‘Yes.’ She patted her head coquettishly. ‘Do you like it?’

  He dropped his voice to a low husk. ‘I’ve noticed you like to take care of your appearance.’

  ‘Well, I think a woman should look her best, don’t you?’ Her eyes travelled along his shoulders, down over his muscular chest and arms, lingered on his large hands. ‘Your wrists look sore. You should do something about that.’

  ‘Would you bathe them for me?’

  ‘I’d be glad to, Daniel.’

  He put his hands on her waist. ‘I get the feeling you’d like to do a lot of things for me, Nan.’

  ‘Well, I am a widow.’ She thrust her lower body against him. ‘People already say we’re closer to each other than we are.’ She put her arms round his neck and raised her face to kiss him with open lips. The next moment she cried out as Daniel pushed her roughly back over the draining board.

  ‘You bloody disgusting whore! You look after my daughter and want to romp with me. Get out of my house and never come back. And never go near Melanie again or I’ll make sure every man in Porthellis knows what easy meat you are. I’ll tell my wife you’re seeking a job elsewhere.’

  He let Nan go and, sobbing, one hand on her hurting back, she snatched up her coat and scarf from the hall and ran out of the house.

  Daniel peeped into the sitting room and saw that Melanie was still sleeping, curled up on the sofa with the two cats. He ate his meal then made three phone calls in the hall. The last was to his contact in Plymouth. ‘We’ll be up your way next week. Tell the Frenchie I’ll meet him, usual place, Monday night, to see if he’s got anything for me. How much have I made? Cheeky bugger. A tidy sum or I wouldn’t be bothering to do it, of course. How about you? Really? No, I’m keeping my head down this way. The coppers are watching me for other reasons. What?’ He laughed. ‘Nah, I’m too old to change my ways now.’

  He sat on a chair and watched his sleeping daughter. Melanie was softly flushed, her lips slightly pouting, cat in either arm. A red-haired angel, he thought proudly.

  When she woke she was confused and whimpered to see him there.

  ‘It’s all right, sweetheart. It’s only Daddy. I’ve got Dumpy in the kitchen for you.’

  The cats wriggled out of her arms and she sat up, grabbing her scrap of blanket, eyeing him warily. ‘Nan?’

  ‘She’s gone home and Grace is down at the shop. Listen, Melanie, I’ve rung for a taxi. How would you like to ride in it with me? All the way to St Austell? We could look round the shops. You can choose a new dolly or something. Then we’ll buy a huge cream cake for Grace and bring it home and all share it for tea. Would you like that?’

  Melanie looked uncertain and he repeated all that he’d said. Then he smiled at her and finally she nodded. ‘Right then, you’re looking smart enough but you’d better run along to the bathroom before we go. I’ll fetch your hat and coat.’

  There was a man in Gorran Haven who ran a small taxi service and about fifteen minutes later, dressed in his suit, a black silk tie and a cashmere overcoat, Daniel handed Melanie into the back of the car and sat beside her. Their first stop in St Austell was a solicitor’s office.

  ‘It was good of you to se
e me,’ Daniel said across the desk to a thin, severely suited man with a meticulously trimmed grey moustache and full head of wavy grey hair. Melanie sat on his lap, leaning shyly against his chest.

  ‘It was fortunate that I had a cancellation this afternoon, Mr Kittow.’ The solicitor, Mr Sobey, smiled widely, revealing big teeth. ‘How may I be of assistance to you?’

  ‘I’ll be frank with you, Mr Sobey,’ Daniel began, totally at ease. ‘This little girl is my daughter. I did not marry her mother and her existence was only brought to my notice a few months ago. My wife and I wish to legally adopt her so she can take my name and inherit from us. Also we wish to stop her real mother from reclaiming her,’ he said as if he’d taken a high moral stand. ‘She’s turned into a thoroughly undesirable sort. She suddenly left Melanie with my wife one day, saying she wanted nothing more to do with her. The one thing that might go against me is that I’ve served a short prison sentence but my wife is the daughter and niece of Methodist ministers. She is a lady by birth, has her own means and has an exemplary character.’ Daniel looked the solicitor in the eye. ‘She has helped me to reform. We both love Melanie very much and can give her a good life.’

  ‘I see, Mr Kittow.’ Mr Sobey leaned forward to view Melanie closely. She turned her face into Daniel’s coat.

  ‘Is there any proof that the little girl is your daughter?’

  ‘She’s proof enough surely. She’s the image of me and I’d hardly be claiming somebody else’s brat, would I?’

  Mr Sobey nodded. ‘Do you happen to have her birth certificate? If not, we could request a copy.’

  Daniel put an envelope on the desk. ‘It’s in there.’

  ‘Good. The adoption should be reasonably straightforward, Mr Kittow. It should only take a few months and a short court appearance. I would recommend in the meantime that you and your good wife make a will to protect the child.’

  ‘I’ll make mine now,’ Daniel said, taking it for granted that Mr Sobey’s time was at his disposal.

  When business had been satisfactorily concluded, Mr Sobey promised to be in touch shortly and Daniel left. He carried Melanie down the steps leading from the office and put her down on the pavement in Fore Street. The sky was overcast and it was getting dark, but it made the Christmas decorations in the shop windows sparkle beguilingly. Melanie stared about her with a child’s eager hope. Daniel took her hand and smiled down on her. ‘Now, sweetheart, let’s find a toy shop.’

  * * *

  Grace was peering out of the sitting-room window, wringing her hands, when the taxi pulled up outside the house. She rushed to the front door. ‘Daniel! Where have you been for so long? I’ve been worried sick.’

  ‘I left a note for you.’ He kissed Grace’s forehead and lifted Melanie out of the taxi before Grace could. He paid the taxi driver and tipped him heavily to carry their shopping into the hall. When the family was assembled in the sitting room and he was helping Melanie off” with her hat and coat, he said to Grace. ‘I’ve been to see about us adopting her. I thought it was time something was done about it.’

  Grace stared at him. There was a subtle change about him. Were his intentions good? Could they be after what Hannah had told her? ‘That’s wonderful. Perhaps she could start calling me Mother. I’d like that.’

  Free of her outdoor things, Melanie ran out of the room. She hadn’t said a word to Grace. ‘She wants to show you our shopping,’ Daniel explained, grinning.

  The door of the sitting room received a hard whack from something as Melanie came back.

  ‘Daniel!’ Grace shrieked. ‘You can’t buy a child so many toys at once.’

  Melanie was proudly pushing a smart doll’s pram which was nearly as big as one for a real baby. Piled inside it were a big porcelain-faced doll with golden hair, a golliwog, a teddy bear, a beach ball, various boxed games, jigsaw puzzles, storybooks, a sketchbook and paints, and a huge variety of doll’s clothes and pram covers.

  ‘Why not?’ Daniel said as the pram arrived in front of him and Melanie sat on his knee. ‘I have a lot of birthdays and Christmases to make up for.’ His expression darkened for a moment and he swallowed hard. ‘I’ve a lot to make up for.’

  Chapter 22

  Matt buttoned up his shirt, tucked it into his trousers and pulled on his jumper. He pushed his feet into his shoes and raised each foot carefully on to a chair to tie the laces. He bent over to look into Hannah’s dressing table mirror and raised his arm to comb his hair. He accomplished all this without letting himself think about the odd twinge of rawness as he moved about. Finally he stared at his stony reflection for a full minute. He did this every day, to prove to himself that his scars didn’t bother him – that the man who had ordered the mutilation didn’t bother him.

  Fingering the rough pits either side of his face, Matt attempted an encouraging smile at himself. Who was he fooling? He had hardly begun to get over his injuries and was still getting terrifying flashbacks to the attack when Hannah had suffered a nervous breakdown. Greg had been wonderful. When he’d brought Hannah home he’d taken his protesting grandmother immediately to his car then contacted a specialist he knew. Hannah had forlornly agreed to see Dr Adam Bennett, not knowing, and still unaware, that he was a psychologist. She was much improved after her talks with him but he had warned Matt that she would be vulnerable for some time.

  Matt went downstairs, ignoring the fact that he had to moderate each step to avoid the occasional stab of tenderness about his ribs. In the kitchen Hannah was sitting at one end of the table, her head bent over her sewing, one of the numerous orders for Christmas presents that she and Janet were making. She looked up and smiled at him. He kissed her cheek and she kissed him back, then he automatically sat down opposite her.

  Laying aside her work, she stood up. ‘I’ll get your breakfast, darling.’

  Matt couldn’t get used to Hannah rising each morning before he did; he never woke up until an hour or so later. While she was busy sewing, he hadn’t brought money into the house for weeks; he didn’t count his share of the Misty’s profits which were anyway meagre because of the poor catches. He said, ‘I can do it, darling. I don’t need someone to wait hand and foot on me every day.’

  ‘I don’t mind, Matt.’

  She watched him for physical trauma as keenly as he looked for signs of mental distress in her.

  ‘I’d like to do it, Hannah,’ he said, making his voice lively. ‘It’s not good for me to stay idle. Have we got any bacon left? You can fetch that for me if you like while I get the frying pan ready.’

  When she came back from the cold cupboard with three rashers of bacon on a plate, he asked, ‘Where’s everyone gone to?’

  ‘Mum and Josh have gone home today and your mother’s taken Nathan down to Naomi’s to play with her three. She’s going to help pack up Mr Nunn’s house with Mrs Skewes. Shame, he not having any relatives, but his will left everything to the village. The seventy-eight pounds and the proceeds from his bits and pieces when they’re sold off at the bazaar will be an enormous help to the storm fund.’

  ‘Mr Nunn would have been pleased about that,’ he said, pushing the melting dripping around the pan as Hannah returned to her sewing. ‘I’ve been thinking about the bazaar. I’ve got heaps of things I could turn out for it. Someone might like to buy my old sailing magazines.’ When the rashers were sizzling in the frying pan, he added, ‘I’m missing Nathan but it’s good having the place to ourselves for once.’

  ‘I was thinking the same thing.’

  ‘Want a cup of tea?’

  ‘Yes, please.’ She dropped her sewing again and fetched her cup from the cupboard. She watched Matt, sadly noting how he had to restrict his movements. But it was peaceful and comforting to have him all to herself. It felt warm and safe in their home while a bitter-cold wind battered the walls outside. She had a sudden need to be close to him and nestled against his side where he stood at the range.

  Matt put the fork down and turned to hold her, saying tenderly
, ‘Everything’s all right, Hannah.’

  ‘I know.’ She snuggled in closely. ‘Sometimes I just have to reassure myself you’re really here.’

  This time she didn’t shed any tears as she so often did and it gave him hope. Gently tilting back her head, he kissed her lips and very soon their embrace became passionate. ‘Do you believe I’m here now?’ he grinned into her eyes.

  ‘Oh, yes, Matt,’ and she squeezed him so tightly it hurt him.

  After he’d eaten, and insisted on washing and drying the dishes, he stood behind her as she worked and put his hands on her shoulders. He kissed the top of her head. And caressed her neck with his fingertips. And kissed the hand she raised to him.

  ‘We haven’t been alone for ages,’ he said huskily.

  ‘No.’ She rested her head carefully against his chest. ‘It’s lovely.’

  ‘We ought to make the most of it,’ he murmured, sending tingles coursing through her as his hands slid down to rest on her breasts. They hadn’t made love since their double affliction but took comfort and pleasure from touching each other.

  ‘Shall we go upstairs?’ she said eagerly and gave a girlish laugh. ‘We’ve got the perfect excuse. If anyone comes we’ll say we’re both tired.’

  ‘You’re reading my thoughts, darling.’

  A week ago, Dr Bennett, realising their special closeness was more healing than anything he could prescribe or suggest, gave permission for them to return to their own double bed. A fire was kept lit day and night in their room. They undressed quickly and got into the warm cosy bed.

  To show she was not repelled by his scars, Hannah kissed the ones on his face, then those on his body. He sought her lips and they took delight in each other for a long time.

  ‘I could stay like this for ever,’ Hannah purred dreamily, her eyes closed as she breathed in the wonderful familiarity of him.

  ‘Me too. I wish I wasn’t so shy.’