Bill Bailey

by Catherine Cookson

  ‘Can you?’

  ‘Can I?’ He pulled back from her. ‘Did you ever know anything that I couldn’t do?’

  ‘No, Mr Bill.’

  ‘Well, come on then an’ watch my magic. That fella Daniels isn’t a patch on me where magic is concerned.’ And as Fiona followed them, she thought, And how right you are, Mr Bill.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Fiona stood in the hall dressed for outdoors and she looked at Nell, who was holding out a scarf towards her, and said, ‘I hate scarves, Nell. One never looks dressed in a scarf.’

  ‘All right, go on, feel dressed and get a cold on top of all the other things.’

  ‘What other things?’

  ‘Well, that pain; it isn’t indigestion nor constipation, nor…’

  ‘It’s the appendix, Nell.’

  ‘Well, if you think it’s only the appendix, it’s only the appendix. But if you think it’s only the appendix why are you worrying yourself sick, and keeping it from Bill? What if he should phone up?’

  ‘Just say I’ve gone out shopping.’

  ‘Shopping! on a morning like this, rain, wind, hail, the lot?’

  ‘My appointment’s for quarter to ten; I’ll be back by eleven or so. Anyway, there’s no reason why he should phone. Stop fussing.’

  ‘Somebody’s got to fuss. I can’t understand how he hasn’t noticed when you’re doubled up with pain.’

  ‘Because it’s only happened at rare times, thankfully when he hasn’t been there.’

  ‘What if he wants to keep you in?’

  ‘Nell, I’m only going to the surgery. Where do you think he’s going to keep me? In the back room? Stop it; you’re worse than Bill. Here, give me the scarf. All right, I’ll put it on. But the trouble isn’t in my neck, it’s in my tummy.’

  ‘Your trouble’s in your head, doing the brave little woman stunt, and it won’t work. When he finds out there’ll be an explosion, if I know anything.’

  ‘Goodbye.’

  ‘And the same to you.’

  Fiona hadn’t come back by eleven o’clock; but just after, the phone rang, and when Nell picked it up she heard Fiona’s voice: ‘Nell.’

  ‘Yes? Yes? Where are you?’

  ‘I’m just outside the surgery. Look. Now, listen and don’t go off the deep end, but Doctor wants me to slip along to the hospital and have a test. If I go straightaway now his colleague can fit me in, if not I’d likely have to wait another week or two. He thinks I should take the opportunity…Are you there?’

  ‘Yes I’m here, Fiona. Which hospital are you going to?’

  ‘The General.’

  ‘I could wrap Mamie up and come along.’

  ‘Oh for goodness’ sake!’

  ‘All right, but somebody should be there to drive you back. You’ll likely feel wobbly after a test if it’s one of the barium kind. I’ve had it. Half your stomach seems to drop out.’

  ‘That was in 1066, they have different ways now. Look, I haven’t any more change; I’ve got to go.’

  ‘I knew this would happen. You should have seen to it before now. And Christmas coming on.’ By now Nell was talking to herself. She put the phone down, then stood looking at it, after which she bit twice on her lip and said half aloud, ‘He’ll go mad. Oh, I hope he doesn’t phone…’

  It was just after one o’clock when he did phone.

  ‘Does a Mrs B live there?’

  ‘It’s me, Bill, Nell.’

  ‘Oh hello there, Nell. Where’s the little woman?’

  ‘…She’s popped out, Bill.’

  ‘Popped out? Where?’

  ‘She…she wanted something from the shops.’ There was a pause now before Bill said, ‘It isn’t the weather for a dog to be let loose today. What’s she popped out for?’

  ‘…I’m…not quite sure, Bill.’

  ‘Nell.’

  ‘Yes, Bill?’

  ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘Nothing…nothing, Bill.’

  ‘Are you tellin’ me the truth?’

  When she made no reply his voice barked, ‘Are you there?’

  ‘Yes, Bill, I’m here, and…and I’m not telling you the truth.’

  ‘What’s up?’ His voice had dropped to almost a whisper now.

  ‘She’ll likely kill me for telling you, as you will her for keeping it from you, but she’s had that pain again and never let on. She went to the doctor’s and expected to be back about eleven, but he’s sent her for tests.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘The General.’

  She actually pulled her head back when she heard the receiver banged down, then turned sharply as a small voice said, ‘Mammy B’s a long time.’

  ‘She’ll soon be home.’

  ‘I…I want Mammy B.’

  ‘Now don’t you start.’ She held out her hand to the child. ‘Come on and let’s get the sails trimmed because there’s going to be a squall if I know anything.’

  The squall started in the hospital reception area. It was surprising to the spectators and certainly amusing when the tough-looking individual pushed open the main door, then stopped when he saw his wife standing at the desk talking to someone at the other side. There was another man and two women waiting in the hall, and two young men in white coats going one way while a nurse went the other when Bill almost bounced up to the counter and in what he imagined to be an undertone but was clear to everyone hissed, ‘What the hell are you up to, woman?’

  ‘Oh!’ It was evident that Fiona was startled, but she smiled and said, ‘It’s you.’

  ‘Of course it’s me. We see each other at times you know. What are you doin’ here?’

  As she took the card from the wide-eyed nurse across the counter, she facetiously replied, ‘Performing an operation.’

  ‘Well, here’s someone that’ll perform another one when I get you home.’

  The two young men had stopped and were now approaching the counter. They didn’t look at Bill but at Fiona and one of them asked quietly, ‘Are you all right?’

  She smiled broadly at him now, saying, ‘Yes, thank you. This is my husband.’ And she made quite an elegant motion towards Bill. ‘As you can gather he’s a very mild person. Takes things in his stride.’ She looked at Bill now and asked quietly, ‘Shall we go and continue this in private?’ and before he had time to make any response she turned to the two young doctors and, still smiling, she said, ‘It’s very nice to be cared for.’

  They both grinned at her now, but Bill, glaring at them, said, ‘I wouldn’t make any rejoinder to that if I were you; I’m in a mood for wipin’ grins off people’s faces.’ And with that he took her arm none too gently and marched her out of the door. But once outside her manner changed and, endeavouring to free herself from his grip, she said, ‘You are the one for making scenes, aren’t you?’

  ‘And you are the one for gettin’ people stirred up. What the hell’s all this about anyway? Frightening the liver out of me. Why couldn’t you phone me and put me in the picture? With one thing and another I’m about right for Sedgefield.’ Quietly now, she said, ‘And that’s why I didn’t want to worry you more than is absolutely necessary.’

  ‘You’ve gone a funny way about it.’

  ‘In my opinion it was the best way.’

  He was leading her towards the car now and she said, ‘I’m quite fit enough to drive.’

  ‘Well, if you are or you aren’t, you’re not goin’ to. Get in.’

  ‘Bill.’

  ‘Get in.’

  ‘But what about my car?’

  ‘I’ll send a couple of chaps along…’

  Few words were exchanged on the journey home, but once inside the door Fiona, looking at Nell, said, ‘I told you.’ And Nell replied, ‘Well you try fobbing him off next time.’

  Then both she and Bill turned quickly to Fiona, saying, ‘What is it?’

  ‘Nothing. Nothing.’ She stood drawing deep breaths for a mom
ent. ‘I just feel a bit muzzy, that’s all.’

  His voice soft now, Bill said, ‘Come on.’ He put his arm around her and led her into the sitting room and, looking at Nell, said, ‘A strong cup of tea, lass.’

  When she sat on the couch he lifted her legs up, pushed a cushion behind her head, then, kneeling by the side of the couch, he took her hands and said, ‘Got a pain?’

  ‘No, no; nothing like that, only a bit queasy inside.’

  ‘What did they do? Why did you go to the hospital?’

  ‘I’—she drew in a long breath—‘I never intended to go to hospital. I…I just went to Doctor Hall because I had a twinge in the side this morning, and I explained it to him, and when I said I’d had really nothing to eat since we had our meal last night, he phoned up the hospital and spoke to a colleague of his; and it should happen that this Doctor Amble could fit me in about twelve. No waiting, I was lucky I hadn’t had that breakfast.’ She smiled at him now, saying, ‘It’s good to have friends at court; it’s amazing the strings that can be pulled. And by the way, he asked after Mark and how he was liking his new school. He’s got a son there, in Mark’s department. Not for much longer, he’s going on to the upper school. By the way, what did you phone up about? Trouble?’

  ‘No; I just wanted to tell you I was going into Newcastle to a meeting and that if it was over early enough I’d pick up Mark and we’d do a bit of shopping.’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry…I mean, about the meeting.’

  ‘It’s all right. It’s all right.’ He stroked her hair back from her forehead. ‘I phoned them up. I asked for Ramshaw. He hadn’t arrived yet they said, but old Kingdom-come came on. And when I told him that my wife—’ he stressed the word, then tapped her cheek as he said, ‘has been taken into hospital, he was not concerned. “Don’t worry old fellow,” he said; “everything will be all right. Don’t worry.” Don’t worry. He must have been joking. But he’s a fine old bloke, and at the present moment I need the support of fine old blokes, if never before, for although I haven’t seen much of Brown I’ve got the feeling that there’s something in the wind. One thing I’m sure, he’s not goin’ to let up on me; he’s the kind of fellow who keeps his promises. Oh, but why worry, lass; all that is secondary. What I should be doing, woman, now, instead of sympathising with you, is to be giving you a good going over with both hands and tongue, for Nell had me scared silly.’

  ‘Nell should never have told you. It’s ridiculous.’

  ‘What is? That you’re bad enough for a doctor to send you straightaway for a barium? Anyway, when will you know the result?’

  ‘Not for a few days.’

  ‘Well now’—his voice sank low—‘promise me you’ll never keep anything from me again. Promise me. Good, bad, or indifferent, whatever the news, you’ll tell me?’

  ‘I promise.’

  He stared at her; then he asked quietly, ‘What does he think it is?’

  ‘An appendix of course.’

  ‘Well, if it’s an appendix why don’t they take you in and whip it out?’

  ‘They don’t do that these days, especially for a niggling little pain that I’ve got. And as I’ve said before, it mightn’t be an appendix; it might be a twist in the bowel or…Oh, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, here’s the informer with the tea.’

  As Nell put the tray on the table near the couch, Fiona said, ‘I’ll have a word with you later, Mrs Paget.’

  ‘Very well, Mrs Bailey, ma’am. In the meantime sit up and drink this tea and stop pretending you’re poorly.’ She now looked at Bill, saying, ‘She’s only after sympathy. I know her kind; my mother used to be the same. Oh by the way.’ She wagged her finger down at Fiona. ‘Speaking of the devil, she phoned.’

  ‘Mother?’

  ‘Yes, Mother.’

  ‘You didn’t tell her?’

  ‘That you’d gone to the hospital? No, no. They’ve got enough trouble in the hospital without her going there, I should imagine.’

  ‘What was she after?’ It was Bill asking the question.

  And, turning to him, she said, ‘She demanded that her daughter be put on the line. I said that her daughter was out, and that no, I didn’t know when she’d be back; she was with Mr Bailey.’ She inclined her head towards Bill, then said, ‘I thought she had gone, there was such a long pause, and then she said, “Tell my daughter I’m moving next Friday and I need help.”’

  ‘Well now.’ He turned quickly to the couch and, stabbing his finger at Fiona, he said, ‘No go Friday, you understand? No matter how you’re feelin’, because if you don’t promise me to stay put, I’ll go along there an’ raise hell. And you wouldn’t like that, would you, Mrs B?’

  ‘I have no intention of going to help her. And please don’t bawl anymore, Bill; I feel…well’—she shrugged her shoulders—‘you know, a bit weary.’

  And with this she put down the cup on the side table and lay back, and Nell and Bill exchanged a startled glance because this wasn’t like Fiona. Each in their own way could not have been more worried at the moment if she had voiced her inner thoughts and said, ‘I’m frightened. I couldn’t bear that. I’d rather die.’

  Chapter Twenty

  It was four days later and only a week to go until Christmas when the doctor’s secretary phoned Fiona and asked if she would care to come to the surgery.

  When at ten o’clock, she faced him across the desk and, looking at him, asked. ‘Well?’ he said quietly, ‘I would like you to see Mr Morgan. I’ve made an appointment for the day after tomorrow. You remember him? He saw you about three years ago when you were in for tests.’

  ‘Yes. Yes.’ She moved her head twice; then gulped in her throat where the words were sticking and which would have asked ‘What did the X-ray show?’ She knew that he would know what they had shown but he wasn’t going to tell her unless she asked. And she couldn’t ask; she must put it off a little longer, for Christmas was near, and there were the children, and the tree, and Bill. Oh, yes, and Bill.

  Her mind started to gabble now. It was fortunate she had Nell. It was funny how things happened. Nell had to come on the scene when she was most needed. And Nell was so good, and the children loved her, and…and…

  ‘Now don’t worry.’ Doctor Hall’s hand came across the desk and was gripping her twitching fingers. ‘There’s nothing definite, nothing to worry about as yet.’

  As yet. As yet. As yet. The words were going away like an echo in her mind. She stood up, telling herself that she must get out in the air.

  He walked to the door with her, where he again said, ‘Now don’t worry. Enjoy Christmas with the children. It’s their time, isn’t it?’

  ‘Then I won’t have to go in?’

  ‘No, no; I shouldn’t think so. No, no.’ He patted her shoulder. ‘Anyway, I’ll pop in in a day or two. Now do as I tell you and don’t worry.’

  She was out in the air and she gasped at it. She had read somewhere, or someone had told her, that if you took ten slow, slow breaths and counted each one as they came, it settled your nerves amazingly.

  She was sitting behind the wheel of the car when she finished the tenth, and yes, it seemed to work, she did feel calmer…

  Nell seemed to have been waiting at the door for her, it opened so quickly, but she didn’t ask any questions as she helped her off with her coat, but said, ‘The coffee’s brewing. And listen to them.’ She thumbed towards the stairs. ‘They are so excited; they won’t last out until Christmas. They’ll burn themselves up before then. I’m glad Mark breaks up soon; he’ll help keep them in order.’

  She led the way towards the kitchen, and not until she had poured the coffee did she ask quietly, ‘Well, what did he say?’

  ‘Nothing that I can go on. I’ve got to see Mr Morgan the day after tomorrow. The only thing that he implied was that whatever it is there’s no rush, and not to worry.’

  ‘Well, that’s a relief. Now drink that and get on the phone to that fellow of yours, because if
not you’ll have him round here at dinner time. And there’s only so much my nerves will stand.’ She smiled now, then added somewhat sadly, ‘You’re lucky you know, Fiona; he’s one in a thousand or more.’

  ‘Yes I know…Oh yes, I know, Nell.’

  ‘I had a letter from Harry this morning.’

  ‘You did? Does he want to come back?’

  ‘Want to come back? He wants the divorce getting through as quickly as possible! If it wasn’t that he never wanted children I would have imagined that she’s pregnant.’

  ‘He’ll have to support you.’

  ‘I hate that idea. I want nothing from him now; but his dad says he’s got to pay. Funny you know, but they’re both more bitter than I am, and he’s their son. Anyway, enough about me. Drink up, then get on the phone…’

  It was as if Bill too had been waiting at the other end of the line for before she even got his name out he said, ‘Well, love, what did he say?’

  ‘Oh’—she made her voice light—‘not to worry. I’ve got to go and see Mr Morgan the day after tomorrow. But there’s nothing to worry about, no hurry.’

  ‘Is that straight?’

  ‘Exactly his words, to which he added that Christmas is near and it was a time for the children, and I must enjoy myself. I don’t know whether he was classing me with the children or not.’

  ‘Oh, lass, you’ve taken a load off my shoulders. Now I’ll be able to carry the tree back on me own.’

  ‘You’ve got a tree?’

  ‘Aye. Bert, the one who hasn’t any truck with either wine, women, or baccy—By! they are pullin’ his leg, but he’s takin’ it—he’s a good fella in all ways is Bert, he tells me he’s picked one up from the forestry. It’s all of ten feet high and he’s got it along at his place. He says it’s practically the length of his garden. So you’d better get cracking and make room for it.’

  ‘Where do you think I’m going to put a ten foot tree?’

  ‘In the dining room of course, in the bay window. I’ll have to get a tub for it though. Anyway, I’ll see about all that when I get back. And, oh love, you’ve got no idea how relieved I feel…I love you, Mrs Bailey.’