by Kitty Neale
She ran to open the door, but when she looked at Adrian he was troubled and pale. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked, ‘How have—’
Adrian interrupted her. ‘Come and sit down, Dottie, we’ve just got back from the hospital and I’ve got something to tell you.’
‘What’s wrong? Do you feel ill?’ she asked worriedly.
‘No, I’m fine, but there’s been a terrible accident,’ he said. He turned to Yvonne. ‘I know you’re upset, but would you go through to the kitchen to make a pot of tea?’
Yvonne looked hesitant, but then nodded before she scuttled off. Then Adrian turned to Malcolm.
‘Nelly must be worried. Take my car, tell her what happened and then bring her back here. Speak to no one except Nelly, do you understand?’ Adrian said with authority.
‘Yes, guv,’ Malcolm answered with his head lowered, and he took Adrian’s keys and left.
‘Please, Adrian, you’re scaring me. Tell me what’s happened,’ Dorothy asked urgently.
‘Don’t be angry with Nelly, but she told me what Robbie did to you. You should have told me, Dottie, and you shouldn’t have gone to his place alone.’
Dorothy could tell from his tone that he wasn’t angry with her, and said, ‘I know and I’m sorry, but please, tell me what’s going on.’
‘I took Malcolm with me and we went to see Robbie. We went for two reasons. One, to have it out with him for hitting you, and two, to get Yvonne back. I must admit I was furious with Robbie, and I was happy to see Malcolm give him a punch, but the retaliation stopped at that.’
Adrian’s voice was shaky and Dorothy feared there was more. He paused for a moment, and her fears were realised when he reached out to take her hand before he spoke again.
‘Dottie, Robbie’s been hurt. It was all so quick, I’m not quite sure what happened, but Robbie fell down the stairs.’
‘Oh, no! Is he OK?’ Dorothy blurted out.
‘No, Dottie, he’s not. He’s alive, but he’ll never walk again.’
Dorothy instantly yanked her hand away and walked to the window to hide her face from her husband, afraid he would see how upset she was. She was fighting back tears and felt as though her breath was caught in her throat, rendering her unable to speak.
‘Dottie, it was an unfortunate accident, but the police will want to talk to me. I’ve spoken to Malcolm and Yvonne, and we’ve all agreed not to mention the prostitution, or that Robbie hit you. We’ll simply say he tripped, and in all honesty, from what I saw, that’s the truth.’
‘But what about Robbie?’ Dorothy managed to say, ‘Will he say the same?’
‘I don’t see why not. He’s hardly going to tell the police that he’s a pimp and that Malcolm punched him in retaliation for hitting you. And anyway, that had nothing to do with him falling down the stairs.’
‘You said Robbie’s never going to walk again. Does that mean he’s totally paralysed?’
‘Not from the neck, but he’s paralysed from the waist down. He’ll be in hospital for quite some time, and when he comes out he’ll be in a wheelchair.’
Dorothy felt dizzy and the room began to sway. She edged sideways and grabbed hold of the curtain to steady herself, but then felt Adrian’s arms supporting her.
‘Here, sit down. I know it’s been a bit of a shock for you, for all of us, but when Robbie leaves hospital, he’ll need our help. He won’t be able to go back to that top-floor room in Grant Street, and Myra won’t be able to look after him. He’ll have to come here.’
Dorothy looked up into Adrian’s eyes. She’d always found them so kind and gentle, but now she thought there was something in them that she hadn’t seen before. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but, as he quickly looked away, she wondered if it was guilt. A terrifying thought crossed her mind. Had Adrian deliberately disabled his brother? Or, even worse, had he tried to kill him?
Nelly put her flabby arms around Malcolm and held him to her generous bosom as he broke down and sobbed like a baby. My big teddy bear, she thought, loving what a softie he was and desperately wanting to take away his pain. ‘It’s all right, darling. From what you’ve told me, it wasn’t your fault,’ she said tenderly.
‘But you should have seen him, Nel. I’ve never seen anything like it … just lying there, all twisted the wrong way … it was … weird. I swear, Nel, I didn’t push him. I was trying to grab him, but he stepped away from me and … and just fell.’
‘I know, I know, shush now,’ she said and rubbed her hand up and down his back. It broke her heart to see Malcolm so upset. Though some might think her hard, she didn’t care about Robbie. As far as she was concerned, the man got what he deserved.
‘He’s in a bad way, Nelly. Robbie can’t move his legs and when the doctor spoke to Adrian he said that Robbie’s spine is so badly damaged that there’s little chance of recovery.’
‘So he’s going to be in a wheelchair now?’
‘Oh, Nel, if Robbie never walks again I’ll never forgive myself.’ Malcolm began crying again.
Nelly pushed him away from her and looked him straight in the eyes before saying firmly, ‘Malcolm, you’ve got to stop blaming yourself. You didn’t push Robbie. He fell, so come on now, pull yourself together and take me round to Dottie’s.’
Malcolm nodded but still sounded very sorry for himself when he said, ‘Yeah, Nel, you’re right, as usual. I’m acting like a stupid baby. Sorry, love, I don’t like you seeing me like this.’
‘It shows you’ve got a heart, you big oaf,’ she told him, which was more than anyone could say about Robbie Ferguson. He’d put a young girl on the game to line his own pockets, and to Nelly that was unforgivable. If a woman wanted to sell herself for money, that was her decision, but to be forced into it was a different matter.
Yvonne had made a pot of tea, and while Adrian and Dottie were talking she retreated upstairs to the bedroom she’d stayed in for just one night. She sat on the bed, pulled her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth, unable to forget the sight of Robbie’s broken body lying at the foot of the stairs. She hadn’t wanted that to happen to him, but at least he wouldn’t be able to make her do things with men any more. She stretched out on the bed, tired from all that had happened that day, but she hadn’t had anything to eat and was too hungry to sleep. She didn’t want to go back to that room in Grant Road; she wanted to stay here. She curled into a ball, fearing that soon they would tell her to leave. Yvonne had no idea how long she’d been lying there before there was a tap on the door.
‘Can I come in, Yvonne?’ called Dorothy.
‘Yes,’ she called back.
When the woman walked in Yvonne could see that she’d been crying, but when she spoke, her words made her feel very happy.
‘I’m glad that Adrian brought you back here and you’re welcome to stay. If you’re hungry, come downstairs. I’m afraid dinner is a bit dried up, but it’s still edible. Nelly and Malcolm will be back soon to talk about the … the accident so I’d like us to eat before they arrive.’
‘Fanks, I’m a bit starving,’ Yvonne said as she scrambled off the bed. ‘I want to stay here, I really do, but does Adrian think it’s all my fault?’
‘No, love, of course he doesn’t. Robbie brought this on himself. It wasn’t anybody’s fault except his own. So I don’t want you hiding away in this room for ever. I’ll do a deal with you – you help me look after my dad and I’ll help you get your life back on track,’ Dorothy said and held out her hand.
‘Deal,’ Yvonne replied.
‘Good,’ Dottie said. ‘It’ll make my life so much easier if I don’t have to ask Mrs Hart to sit with him every time I go out.’
Yvonne clapped her hands with excitement. ‘I’d like to do that,’ she said, and for the first time in a while she smiled happily.
Chapter 43
It had been six weeks since Robbie’s accident but Dorothy still hadn’t managed to bring herself to visit him in hospital. When she’d first heard about the accident, she ha
d planned to go, but when it came to it, she couldn’t face seeing Robbie so badly injured.
Adrian kept trying to encourage her, saying it would be good to clear the air with Robbie before he came home, but she fobbed him off with feeble excuses. It was strange: each time Adrian referred to Robbie, a black look would veil his eyes, one that she couldn’t fathom. She’d thought at first it was hatred for his brother, but now she chastised herself and regretted thinking so badly of him. It was probably guilt, she decided, though, from what she’d been told, Adrian had nothing to feel guilty about.
She heard a key in the front door and checked the time on the mantelpiece clock. It was already twelve-thirty, and she wondered where the morning had gone. ‘Hello, love, have you had a good day?’ Dorothy asked Yvonne.
Yvonne threw herself back on the sofa next to Dorothy and kicked off her shoes, saying, ‘Yes, but my feet ache.’
‘Put your feet up and I’ll make us a cuppa,’ Dorothy said and walked through to the kitchen. Yvonne had found herself a part-time cleaning job that wasn’t far away, in a big, fancy house near Battersea Park. She appeared to really enjoy the work and was coming out of her shell.
As the kettle began to whistle, Dottie thought it might be a good time to have the conversation with Yvonne, the one she had been dreading. When the drinks were made she drew in a steadying breath and carried them through to the lounge. ‘Here you are,’ she said, handing her a cup. ‘While you’re drinking that, there’s something I want to talk to you about. Now, the thing is, according to Adrian, the doctors have said that Robbie can leave hospital soon, probably in a week or two. His sister lives in Scotland, but, with three children and a house full of lodgers, she can’t take him in. There’s nobody else, so it means that Robbie is going to have to move in here.’
‘In here? With us?’
‘It’s that or an institution, and as I think Adrian feels partly responsible for what happened to Robbie, he’s offered him a home. I know it won’t be easy for you, but if you think you can cope with it, you’re more than welcome to stay.’
‘I … I don’t know, Dottie. I really like living here, and I love looking after Bill now and then. He’s such a funny old sod … but living with Robbie again? I don’t think I could …’
Dorothy didn’t want Yvonne to leave. She wasn’t bright, but she had a nice nature and Dorothy enjoyed her company. More importantly, the girl had managed to bring her father on in leaps and bounds. He responded well to Yvonne, more so than he did to anyone else, and Dorothy worried he would slip backwards if she left. ‘I know it’s a big ask, but I’d love you to stay and I know my father would too. Give it some thought. After all, Robbie isn’t the man he used to be. He can’t hurt you now or make you do anything you don’t want to.’
‘All right, I-I’ll think about it,’ Yvonne replied.
That was good enough for Dorothy for now, though it did make her think. She’d told Yvonne that Robbie wasn’t like he used to be, but she didn’t know that for sure. Just because he’d lost the use of his legs, it didn’t mean he wasn’t still capable of nastiness. Maybe it was time to bite the bullet and go to see him in hospital – if only to put her mind at rest.
Robbie had come to accept that he would never walk again, yet he persisted in trying and wasn’t prepared to give up yet. As he lay in his hospital bed, he lifted his head and looked at his feet, willing them to move. ‘Shit,’ he muttered, exasperated, as yet again his feet refused his command.
He rested his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. At least he still had use of his manhood – an unexpected display of morning glory had proved that. It had been a concern for him, but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to ask the doctors. Thankfully, this morning’s event had answered his question. He wasn’t sure how he’d manage to perform without the use of his legs, but surely there’d be a tart out there who’d take on the leading role. In the meantime he could still use his hands and that would have to do.
It wouldn’t be long until he was discharged from hospital and went to live with Adrian and Dottie, but then what? He could at least use the toilet unaided, and mostly dress himself, but what about getting out and about? He didn’t want to become a prisoner, unable to pop down to the pub, like Dottie’s father, who was stuck in a room day in and day out. It wasn’t so bad for the old man, he was as nutty as a fruitcake and didn’t seem aware of anything around him, but Robbie knew it would be different for him. He was young, with his whole life in front of him, but his future had been ruined. He’d have been better off if the fall had killed him, he thought bitterly, feeling sorry for himself.
‘Hello, Robbie,’ someone said, interrupting his thoughts.
Robbie instantly recognised Dorothy’s voice, but kept his eyes closed. If she thought he was asleep, she’d go away.
‘It’s no good pretending. I know you’re awake.’
He snapped his eyes open. ‘Yes, well, I’m pretending for a reason. Doesn’t that tell you something?’
‘Can’t we just talk civilly for a while? Adrian tells me you’ll be coming home soon and I wanted to see you to clear the air.’
Robbie glared at Dorothy. He had to admit she looked knockout, but ‘clear the air’ – who was she kidding?
‘What you mean is, you want to know if I blame you for what has happened to me. Well, then, I’ll tell you. Yes, I do. If you’d kept your nose out of my business, none of this would have happened.’
‘But I couldn’t stand by and let you get away with what you were doing to Yvonne. It wasn’t right, Robbie, and now that you’ve had time to think about it, surely you can see that?’
Robbie’s temper was rising and he ground out, ‘For fuck’s sake, who are you to lecture me?’
‘There’s no need to use foul language.’
‘I’ll swear if I want to, especially in front of the likes of you,’ he sneered. ‘You can come down off that high horse because I know you for what you are. As I’ve said before, you’re a slum girl who’s gone up in the world because you married a man with money, but one day my brother will wise up to you and then you’ll be out on your ear. Let’s see how you cope when you’re left with nothing … just as I was. You’ll be back where you started and I can’t wait to see that happen.’
‘You can accuse me of it as many times as you like, Robbie, but I didn’t marry your brother for his money, and another thing, he’ll never throw me out, because he loves me.’
‘Yes, but do you love him?’ Robbie snapped, and when Dottie just looked down at the floor he smiled triumphantly. ‘No, I thought not. You might have pulled the wool over Adrian’s eyes, but you can’t kid a kidder. Now do me a favour and piss off!’
‘I can’t bear it when you talk to me like this, Robbie, and I don’t think I’ll be able to stand living in the same house if we don’t get on.’
Robbie realised that he’d gone too far and fought to rein in his anger. If Dottie told Adrian that she didn’t want him to move in, then his brother would withdraw his offer. He couldn’t risk it, not if he wanted to stay out of a care home. ‘Look, I’m sorry,’ he forced out, ‘but I’m in a lot of pain and it makes me short-tempered. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you.’
‘Oh, Robbie, it’s all right. I understand.’
He was pleased to see that her eyes were full of unshed tears, and almost smiled at what a daft, soft cow she was. Not only that, when he’d asked if she loved Adrian he had hit a raw nerve and found her vulnerability. When he went to live with her, it was sure to be useful, but for now he’d keep it under his belt. He’d fooled her for now, but he didn’t want to keep up this façade. To get rid of her he said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m tired, so would you mind leaving now?’
‘No, of course not. Bye, Robbie,’ she said softly.
‘See you,’ he said and as she walked away Robbie watched her shapely hips swing from side to side. He had to admit that Dottie was a lovely-looking woman, but she had ruined his life and he would do all he could to make hers
an absolute bloody misery.
‘Good afternoon, Ferguson Haulage. How may I help you?’ Nelly said as she answered the telephone. ‘Yes, sir, if you could hold the line for just one moment, I’ll have that information for you.’
Nelly held her hand over the Bakelite mouthpiece and beckoned to Adrian. ‘When is Joe due to drop at Smythe’s and Co? I’ve got a right miserable git on the phone chasing him up …’
Adrian fumbled through some paperwork and answered, ‘That’s Joe’s last delivery, he should be there within the hour.’
Nelly removed her hand, and passed on the information, ending the call with, ‘If there’s anything else I can help you with please don’t hesitate to call again. Good day, sir.’
As she replaced the receiver, Adrian said, ‘Well, I never. Nelly, that was spot on. You almost had me believing you’re the Queen’s cousin! I’ve got to hand it to you, you’ve come on leaps and bounds and I’m chuffed to hear you answering the telephone so eloquently.’
Nelly chuckled. ‘What the bleedin’ ’ell does “eloquently” mean? Oops, sorry for swearing and dropping my aitches. I still slip up at times.’
‘Never mind,’ said Adrian, and shook his head. It was good to have Nelly back at work. There had been so much misery lately, and he was worried about the future, but he could always depend on Nelly to put a smile on his face.
Adrian could see Nelly’s thick legs jigging under her desk, and she was tapping her fingers on the edge of her typewriter, which was beginning to grate on him.
‘Nelly, what’s on your mind?’ Adrian asked. ‘You haven’t stopped fidgeting since lunchtime.’
‘I’m so excited, I think I might burst,’ Nelly answered.
‘I can see that, but please don’t, it would make a hell of a mess,’ Adrian said jokingly.
‘Adrian, do you mind if I pop round to see Dottie after work? I’ve got something to tell her.’
‘You could ring her. I won’t charge you for the call,’ Adrian jested.