Mother’s Ruin

by Kitty Neale

  ‘I know. I feel the same.’

  When they arrived home it was to find Angel covered in flour. It was daubed on her face and showing starkly white in her red hair. She excitedly pointed at the fairy cakes. ‘Look, Mummy, I made them, and Nanny said I can take some for Darren and Jason.’

  Angel looked thrilled, and smiling, Sally lifted her from the chair. ‘I’m sure they’ll love them, but come on, let’s get you cleaned up and changed for when your granddad arrives. I won’t be long, Ann.’

  ‘There’s no hurry, I’ll be fine with your mum and Sadie.’

  Sally nodded, but with one foot on the stairs she felt it again, that awful feeling of apprehension. Her stomach did a somersault, but then seeing that Angel was looking at her worriedly, she managed to force a smile. It was all in her imagination, that was all. It had to be.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was towards the end of the month that Sadie’s prediction came true, Arthur the first to find out when the surgeon came to see him. He was told that despite the aggressive treatment he’d been receiving, he had now developed another infection, one called osteomyelitis.

  ‘What’s that?’ he asked.

  ‘In layman’s terms it’s a disease of the bone marrow and it’s preventing your fracture from healing. I’m sorry, young man, but we now have two alternatives, the first being a sequestrotomy.’

  ‘A what?’

  ‘To put it simply again, we’d cut away the dying bone and hope then that the wound will heal, but as the gangrene hasn’t been brought under control I can’t guarantee success. If it doesn’t work it will mean another operation, again with no guarantee of success, and even if successful, you’d be left with one leg considerably shorter than the other. It would mean wearing a surgical boot for the rest of your life.’

  ‘What’s the other option?’

  ‘I don’t want to risk the infection spreading above the knee and to prevent that happening I would recommend amputating your leg now, while the infection is still below the joint.’

  Arthur’s stomach flipped and feeling nauseous at the thought he managed to gasp, ‘I don’t fancy that.’

  The surgeon ignored his comment. ‘A below the knee amputation is easier to adapt to, and once you’re fitted with a prosthetic you would soon learn to walk again.’

  ‘I still don’t like the thought of losing my leg,’ Arthur protested as his mind railed against the surgeon’s words. Why is this happening to me, he thought as self-pity engulfed him.

  ‘I’ll let you think about it,’ the surgeon said, leaving Arthur alone in the room.

  With his forearm flung across his eyes, and for the first time in many, many years, Arthur gave way to tears.

  Sally had arrived at the hospital earlier than usual to see Arthur, but as she walked to his room an awful feeling engulfed her. Something was wrong. She began to run, only just remembering to get a mask before going into his room.

  Arthur looked at her, his eyes red. His attempt at a brave smile didn’t fool Sally. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’

  ‘I . . . I’ve just agreed to have my lower leg amputated.’

  ‘Oh, Arthur,’ she said, rushing forward and forgetting the rules she grasped his hand.

  The pretence dropped and Arthur said in a choked voice, ‘With only one leg, I’ll be a burden, less than a man.’

  Sally fought for words. ‘Don’t be silly. Think about Douglas Bader, he lost both his legs during the war, but still managed to fly a plane.’

  Arthur was silent, his expression morose and Sally didn’t know how to comfort him. ‘I . . . I’m so sorry, darling, but don’t worry, we’ll get through this.’

  ‘We! Don’t you mean me? I’m the one who is going to be a cripple,’ he said, almost shouting, but then his expression changed. ‘I’m sorry, Sal, I shouldn’t take it out on you, but I’m having the operation in the morning and my guts are churning.’

  ‘Tomorrow! That soon!’

  ‘The surgeon wants to do it before the infections spread any further.’

  Sally blinked rapidly. Arthur needed her support, not her tears. She continued to do her best to comfort him, but she felt useless, the fear in Arthur’s eyes apparent when she had to leave. ‘I’ll be here in the morning,’ she said, ‘and no doubt when I ring your parents to tell them, they’ll be here too.’

  With a heavy heart Sally left the hospital, and unable to face waiting for a bus she waved down a taxi. Tears were close to the surface, waiting to spill, and she arrived home to find her mother and gran watching the television. They were barely aware that she was there until Sally cried, ‘Mum, Arthur has got to have his leg amputated.’

  ‘What? Blimey, love, that’s awful.’

  ‘It’s rotten luck, but I warned you this would happen,’ Sadie pointed out.

  ‘I’m scared, Gran, he’s in an awful state and I don’t know how he’ll cope.’

  ‘Now you listen to me, my girl. Arthur is a strong man, just like his father, and once he comes to terms with this he’ll be fine.’

  Sally tried to draw strength from her gran’s words, and wiping tears from her cheeks she said, ‘I’ll ring Elsie.’

  It was extremely hard to pass on the news. Elsie burst into tears and then Bert came to the phone, his voice cracking when he said they’d see her at the hospital in the morning.

  The rest of the evening passed, but unable to stop thinking about Arthur, Sally found her head aching when she went upstairs to bed. Where are you? she begged inwardly as her eyes roamed the room. Oh, she wished her friend would come, the lovely angelic presence who brought her such comfort. No, she was being selfish. Arthur must be going out of his mind and more in need of comfort than her.

  Go to him, please go to him, she begged, and as Sally whispered these word, her worry suddenly eased.

  * * *

  Arthur too was lying awake, his stomach churning. He tried to picture what it would be like with half a leg, but his mind shied away from the image. He felt that he’d been talked into having it done – that maybe he should have opted for that request . . . whatever the word was.

  ‘Can’t you sleep?’ his night nurse asked, as she came into the room.

  ‘I can’t stop thinking about having my leg off tomorrow.’

  ‘The surgeon said it’s the right course of action and he’s one of the best in the country. Here, take these, it’ll help you to sleep.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Arthur managed to murmur before swallowing the pills.

  The nurse left the room and now laying in darkness, Arthur was still in despair. Soon though a strange feeling began to engulf him, a feeling of being cocooned, enfolded, as though in some- one’s arms. It must be those pills, he thought as a profound feeling of peace washed over him.

  Arthur closed his eyes, at last able to sleep.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The operation had been successful and during the following ten days Arthur began to take an interest in his surroundings again. He was taken out of isolation and allowed visitors, but when Sally took Angel to see him, she felt his attempts at cheerfulness were false. Sally had kept Joe Somerton up to date, and he was going to see Arthur within the next few days.

  That morning, Sally had just taken Angel to school, and was almost home again when she felt a shiver of intuition as she reached Tommy’s house. She paused to gaze at his front door, the feeling or foreboding so strong that she rattled his letterbox. Something was wrong, she was sure of it.

  The door opened a crack and a small voice said, ‘What do you want?’

  ‘Tommy, is that you?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Why aren’t you at school?’

  ‘My mum ain’t well.’

  ‘What’s wrong with her?’

  ‘I dunno, but I’m staying home to look after her.’

  ‘Where is your father, Tommy?’

  ‘I dunno.’

  Sally crossed her fingers, hoping Gran would be all right for a few more minutes. ‘Perhaps I
can help. Can I come in to see your mother?’

  ‘No, she’ll kill me if I let anyone in.’

  ‘Tommy, if your mum’s ill she may need to see a doctor.’

  There was a pause, but then the door opened a few more inches. ‘All right, come in.’

  As Sally walked inside, she gagged at the smell of the place, for a moment wanting to run out again, but then Tommy led her upstairs. In the bedroom she saw what looked like a bundle of rags on the bed and, amongst them, Laura Walters. The woman’s eyes were closed and she looked awful, her lips tinged blue. ‘How long has she been like this, Tommy?’

  ‘She was all right last night, but she won’t get up this morning.’

  ‘Laura . . . Mrs Walters,’ Sally said loudly.

  There was no response, and though frantic with worry, Sally tried to keep her voice calm. ‘Listen, Tommy, I’m going home to call the doctor. I can’t leave my gran for long, so I’m going to find someone else to stay with your mum until he arrives.’

  Tommy stared up at her, his eyes round with fear, and Sally’s heart went out to the boy. ‘Don’t worry, everything will be all right. Wait here, and I’ll go and get Nelly Cox.’

  Sally shot out of the house and as soon as she got indoors she called the surgery. She then rattled off a quick explanation to her gran before hurrying down the lane to fetch Nelly.

  Thankfully the old lady took in the situation straight away, and in no time they were standing by Laura’s bed. ‘Blimey, she looks rough,’ Nelly said as she gazed down at the woman.

  ‘I told the receptionist that it’s an emergency, so the doctor should be here shortly.’

  ‘The sooner the better,’ Nelly said as she endeavoured to straighten the bed covers. ‘What about the boy?’

  ‘I’ll take him home with me.’

  ‘No, I want to stay wiv me mum.’

  ‘All right, don’t get upset, love. You can wait with me if you want to,’ Nelly said, adding, ‘Go on, Sally, you’d best get back to Sadie. I’ll give you a knock after the doctor’s been.’

  Sally reluctantly left, but once indoors she hovered at the window, looking out for the doctor’s car. ‘Laura Walters looked awful, Gran.’

  ‘Are you sure it isn’t just a hangover?’

  ‘It’s more serious than that.’

  ‘Did you look at her aura?’

  ‘Yes, briefly, and I think it’s her heart. Oh good, the doctor has arrived.’

  Sally turned away from the window, but shortly after there was a knock at the door, the doctor asking to use the telephone.

  ‘Of course, come in,’ Sally said, stepping to one side.

  She hovered whilst he rang for an ambulance, and when the call ended he turned to speak to Sally. ‘I need to get in touch with Mrs Walters’ husband. Do you by any chance know where he works?’

  ‘No, I’m afraid not. In fact, I’m not sure if he has a job.’

  ‘He needs to be found. The child can’t be left alone, and he’s too young to go to the hospital with his mother.’

  ‘It’s all right. I’ll look after him until his father comes home.’

  ‘Good, well, I’d better get back to my patient.’

  Things happened quickly after that. The ambulance came, and with the neighbours watching, Laura Walters was carried out. Tommy was yelling, trying to get into the ambulance too, and it took Sally, along with Nelly Cox to restrain him until finally he was led sobbing into number five.

  Nelly sat opposite Sadie, both of them saying nothing as Sally did her best to soothe the boy. When Tommy finally stopped crying, he closed his eyes, obviously so emotionally exhausted that he fell asleep.

  ‘Blimey, with the way Laura Walters treats the boy, and the state they live in, I’m surprised he’s so upset,’ Nelly said softly.

  ‘I’ve seen it before,’ Sadie said. ‘The bond is strong. Kids can be beaten, abused, half-starved, but they still cling to their mothers.’

  ‘I’ve never had kids so I wouldn’t know, but then again my old mother was a strict and taciturn woman, and I still loved her.’

  ‘It’s the only life Tommy knows, and so he’s clinging to it.’

  ‘The poor kid,’ Nelly said. ‘I hope for his sake that Laura recovers.’

  ‘I’ve got a feeling she’s going to be all right,’ Sally murmured.

  ‘Have you, love?’ Sadie said. ‘That’s good. Now I don’t know about you two, but I’m spitting feathers.’

  ‘I’ll make a pot of tea, Sally,’ Nelly offered. ‘You’ve got your hands full.’

  Sally smiled her thanks as she continued to hold Tommy. Yes, something was telling her that Laura Walters was going to be all right this time, but if she didn’t keep off the booze, Sally feared it wouldn’t be for long.

  Tommy’s father still hadn’t turned up when Sally left to visit Arthur that evening. She found him sitting in a chair by the side of the bed, a blanket over his knees and his expression glum. She pulled up a chair beside him, her attempts to cheer him up unsuccessful, but then Joe Somerton arrived.

  ‘Well mate, how are you doing?’ Joe asked Arthur.

  ‘Not so bad, but I expect you’ll want to find another partner.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I’ll be no good to you or anyone else with half a leg.’

  ‘Leave it out. Now if you said you only had half a brain that might be a problem, but with a prosthetic you’ll be walking in no time. Like it or not, you’re my partner, mate.’

  ‘What if I’m unable to drive?’

  ‘We’d find a way round it and stop putting obstacles in the way before you know the score. Take one step at a time or should I say hop?’

  Sally stiffened, but to her surprise Arthur laughed. ‘Yeah, and you can call me Skippy.’ Both men then broke into song, ‘Skippy, Skippy, Skippy the bush kangaroo.’

  ‘That’s the spirit,’ Joe chuckled. ‘Arthur, you’re young, you’re strong, and I’m sure you’ll adapt to a false leg in no time. Anyway, our job is to sell houses, not build them, and with the show house taking shape we’ll be able to start marketing them when you get out of here.’

  ‘Thanks, Joe, but I wouldn’t hold it against you if you’d prefer to find someone else.’

  ‘No, Arthur, we’re in this together. All you’ve got to worry about for now is getting on your feet – or should I say foot?’ Joe joked.

  Arthur laughed again, and Sally was thrilled to see him looking so much happier. There was a brightness in his eyes and as he and Joe continued to chat, she sat there holding Arthur’s hand.

  ‘I must say I’ll be glad to get out of here,’ Arthur told Joe.

  ‘Yeah, I can understand that, but if you want something to keep you occupied, how about having a go at designing a brochure to market the houses?’

  ‘I suppose I could give it a try.’

  ‘I’m having a board put up at the site soon so we’ll need a name for the development. Any ideas?’

  Arthur’s brow furrowed in thought, and then said, ‘It’s in the countryside, surrounded by fields, so how about “The Meadows”?’

  ‘Yes, I like it,’ Joe said, smiling. ‘See, I knew you had a brain in there somewhere. It’s just as well it wasn’t in your foot.’

  ‘You cheeky sod,’ Arthur joked back.

  Sally loved to see Arthur so happy, but all too soon visiting time was over. Joe rose to his feet. ‘I’ll leave you two to say your goodbyes, but would you like a lift home, Sally?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘Right, I’ll be in the car park. Bye, partner, and get on with that brochure,’ he said to Arthur.

  As Joe left the ward, Arthur said, ‘He’s a great bloke, Sally. I thought that he would want to find another partner and where would that have left me? I’d be no good to my dad now, unable to drive a lorry or to hump furniture.’

  ‘Your dad would have found something for you to do.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have agreed to that. I’d just be a burden, taking pay for doing sod all.�
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  ‘Well, Joe is happy to keep you as a partner so all you’ve got to worry about now is getting on your feet.’

  Arthur smiled. ‘Foot, as Joe said. If he can joke about my leg, then so can others, and though I expect it’s been my fault, it’s been lousy in this ward. All the other patients seem to avoid talking to me, but I know what to do now. I’ll make a joke of having one leg and that’ll surprise them.’

  ‘Good for you.’

  ‘Sally, I’ve been meaning to tell you something, but sometimes I think it’s all in my imagination.’

  ‘Tell me anyway.’

  ‘It was the night before my op, and at first I thought it was the pills, but I’ve had them before and since without the same effect. I don’t really know how to describe it, and I’ve never taken any notice of this spiritual mumbo jumbo that you and Mum get up to, even if the pair of you have unnerved me at times. But that night . . . well . . . I sort of felt something around me.’

  ‘Can you describe it?’

  ‘It’s going to sound daft but it was like a presence, and for a while it felt as though I was wrapped in cotton wool. The feeling was so comforting, and suddenly I wasn’t scared about the op any more. I could still sense it the next morning and sort of felt at peace when I went down to theatre. They gave me an anaesthetic and the next thing I remember was waking up in the ward.’

  Sally gave silent thanks, smiling as she said, ‘I’ve had that same feeling in times of trouble and I’m so pleased to think you experienced it too.’

  ‘It was a bit strange, but watch out, love, visiting time was over a while ago and the battle-axe is on her way. You’re the last one here and had better scarper.’

  Sally glanced to her side, saw the ward sister and then hurriedly leaned forward to kiss Arthur. ‘Bye, darling. See you tomorrow.’

  He waved as she left, and finding Joe’s car in the car park, Sally got into the passenger seat. She felt much more optimistic now. ‘Thanks, Joe.’

  ‘There’s no need to thank me. It won’t take me long to drive you home.’