‘Er . . . yes . . .’ She looked confused.
‘All right, Daisy.’ He had removed his jacket, placed it on the back of a chair, and rolled up his sleeves. ‘Now, where’s this husband of yours?’
‘Upstairs in the bedroom.’ She eyed him with alarm. ‘Bob, what are you going to do?’
‘Hopefully make Steve more comfortable and see if I can help him.’
‘But . . . but . . .’ She looked helplessly at the captain. ‘I don’t understand?’
‘Start heating up plenty of water, Daisy.’ Bob called as he took the stairs three at a time.
Panicking now, Daisy rushed up after him, and Ben followed. They entered the bedroom just in time to hear Steve saying, ‘What the hell are you doing here?’
‘I’m here to help you.’ Bob pulled back the bedcovers. ‘You can curse me all you like. I’m used to it, so let’s have a look at you.’
When Daisy went to stop him, Ben caught her arm. ‘He knows what he’s doing, Mrs Cooper.’
‘I’m going to turn you over, Steve, so I can take a look at your back.’
‘Become a doctor since you left us, have you?’ Steve tried to fend off the strong boy.
‘No, a masseur, and it’s no good you fighting me.’ Bob grinned. ‘You’re not going to win.’
Steve stared at the tall, powerful boy in disbelief. ‘A masseur?’
‘Among other skills. Now, let me have a look at you,’ he said gently, lifting the man with ease and placing him face down.
They watched as Bob went to work, his long-fingered hands moving over Steve’s back, probing, soothing.
‘Oh, that feels good,’ Steve groaned.
After a while, Bob lifted Steve back, sat him up in the bed, and then he pulled over a chair and straddled it. ‘I’m not making any promises; your back is damaged but not broken. If you’ll let me work on you we might be able to get those legs working again. It’s going to be a long job, though.’
For the first time since the accident, hope flared in Steve’s eyes. ‘You think so?’
‘I’ll do my best, but you’ll have to do as I say.’
‘Yes, sir!’ Steve actually smiled when he said it.
‘Right.’ Bob stood up and swung the chair back against the wall. ‘First thing we’re going to do is make you more comfortable. Daisy, get that water going while I bring the tin bath up here, then we’ll change the bed and have clean pyjamas. Captain, I’ll need your help.’
Ben was already rolling up his sleeves, eager to be of some use after following the boy around all day and feeling helpless. An assortment of emotions was rushing through him. Not only did this boy know what he was doing, but also he knew how to deal with Steve and Daisy. He had sensed there was something special about Bob when they had first met, and now that instinct was being confirmed.
The bath was soon in place and they were running up and down the stairs with hot water to fill it. While this was being done Daisy put clean sheets on the bed, then left the men to it.
Steve looked apprehensively at the steaming bath. ‘How are we going to manage this?’
‘Easy.’ Bob removed Steve’s pyjamas, lifted him out of the bed and eased him into the bath.
The captain was drying Steve’s hair when the door burst open, and Alf stood there, unable to believe his eyes. ‘What the hell . . .?’
‘Hello Dad.’ Bob glanced up briefly. ‘You’re just in time. There’s a large sheet in my bag over by the window. Take the pillows off the bed and spread it out for me, please.’
Absolutely shocked to see his son, Alf was too dazed to argue. The bag held all manner of things, bottles containing liquid of some sort, a bedpan and the sheet. He spread it out as ordered, still reeling from the fact that his son was here, and giving the orders.
Bob carried Steve to the bed and laid him face down on the bed. Then he opened one of the bottles, poured some of the liquid into his palms and rubbed them together. Bending over the man on the bed be began to massage his back and legs.
Tearing his gaze away from his son, Alf whispered to the captain. ‘Should he be doing that?’
‘He’s been trained to work on injured men, so don’t worry. Let’s empty the bath and I’ll tell you all about it.’
While they carried buckets of water out to the backyard, the captain told Alf what his son had been doing, and how he had managed to find him. By the time the water had been thrown away, they went back to find that Ruth and her brothers and sister had arrived home.
‘Hello, Captain Russell,’ she frowned when she saw him with his sleeves rolled up and the front of his shirt wet. She opened her mouth to ask what they were doing, when Bob appeared carrying the tin bath.
‘Bob!’ the youngsters squealed.
‘Hello kids. Talk to you later. I’m busy now.’ He walked past Ruth, dropped a quick kiss on her cheek, and said, ‘You look awful.’
She watched him go out to the yard, her expression one of utter disbelief. ‘What’s he doing here?’
He soon returned, and ignoring the expression of hostility on Ruth’s face, said, ‘Daisy, set a place for Steve at the table because he’s going to join you for supper. He needs to feel a part of the family again, not shut away all the time in that room.’
‘But how’s he going to get down here?’ Daisy asked.
‘I’ll carry him.’ He glanced at everyone in the room. ‘And I don’t want to see any long faces at the table. All of you talk about your day, and any funny stories will be good. Let me know when you’re dishing up the food, Daisy, and I’ll bring him down.’
Ruth turned to her mother as soon as Bob had gone upstairs again. ‘He turns up after all this time and starts ordering us around? He’s got no right to do that!’ She glared suspiciously at the captain. ‘Did you find him?’
‘I did, and if anyone can help your dad, then it’s him, Ruth. He knows what to do, and he’s given up a lot to come here.’ The captain explained about Bob’s work. ‘He’d made a good life for himself, but he didn’t hesitate when he heard about the accident. I stayed with him so we could come back together, and it tore me apart to see him dismantle the life he had there. He has received good training, and also had a professor and a top-class teacher interested in him. All that’s gone now, and I haven’t heard one word of complaint from him. He’s done this because he knows it will be a long job, so he’s staying. When we got on the train I was desperately sorry I had found him, but after seeing him in action, I know it was the right thing to do.’
Daisy turned to her daughter, showing the first spark of life since the accident. ‘I know you’ve never forgiven him for not being around when he was needed in the past, but don’t you go giving him a hard time. Your dad needs the kind of help Bob can give him, and I thank God he’s here. Thank you for finding him for us, Captain.’
Upstairs, Bob was sitting beside the bed. Steve was clean and refreshed, and he sighed with relief.
‘I expect you’re feeling tired now.’
‘Just a bit.’ He smiled at the boy – no, a man now – sitting beside him, the worried expression returning to his face. ‘I’ve got to be able to go back to work again, Bob. What are my chances?’
‘I’m not a doctor, but as far as I can see you are healing well, Only time will tell how complete your eventual recovery could be, but if at all possible, I’ll get you walking again. I can’t make any promises though, Steve.’
‘Are you staying then?’
Bob nodded, then grinned. ‘You’re not getting rid of me until you can run up and down the stairs.’
‘Thanks.’ Steve gasped and closed his eyes.
‘Where’s your medication?’
‘In the bedside table drawer, but there’s only a couple of tablets left. I’m keeping them in case the pain gets too bad any time. It’s taken all the money we had, and your dad’s, to pay for the doctor and the medication. I won’t have my family going without just so I can have more pills. I told them I don’t need them any more.’
Steve was already dozing so Bob slipped the empty bottle into his pocket and went down to the scullery. ‘He’s comfortable and sleeping now, so don’t disturb him.’
The captain put on his jacket. ‘I must be going, but if you need anything, Daisy, you must let me know.’
‘Oh, we’ll be all right now, Captain.’
‘I’ll walk with you to the station.’ Bob picked up his jacket and then they left the house. As they walked along, he said, ‘Thank you for tracking me down, Captain. I shouldn’t have been so secretive about where I was living, and I could have come as soon as this happened. I’m sorry about that and many other things I’ve done.’
‘Don’t be. If you had stayed at home or with me you wouldn’t now be in a position to help Steve.’
Bob chuckled. ‘Fate, was it, Captain?’
‘Seems that way. Who knows?’
Bob nodded, a faint smile on his face.
Twenty-Seven
With a new box of Steve’s pills in his pocket, Bob made his way back to the house. His return had been greeted with disbelief, and he had sensed hostility from Ruth, but he felt fairly confident that his dad was pleased to see him. He hadn’t had much chance to talk to him, but he must find time as soon as he could.
The scullery was bustling with activity when he walked in. Everyone, except Ruth, was pitching in to help prepare the meal and lay the table. There was no sign of her.
Daisy smiled. ‘Steve’s resting peacefully after his bath. We’ll let him sit at the head of the table in his usual position. Is that all right, Bob?’
‘Perfect, but I’ll get one of the chairs with arms on from the front room. He’ll be more comfortable in that.’
‘I’ll get it.’ Eddie hurried to get the chair.
John and Sally were gazing at him in wonder as if he was some stranger, and he supposed he must seem like that to them. ‘How long will supper be, Daisy?’ he asked.
‘Half an hour.’
‘That will give me time to get something from next door.’
Once in his old room he removed the mattress from the bed, slung it on to his shoulder and climbed back over the fence. ‘Make way,’ he called, before entering the scullery.
Alf immediately grabbed an end of the bulky mattress. ‘Here, let me help you.’
‘Thanks, Dad.’
Ruth appeared and stepped quickly out of the way as they manoeuvred their way towards the stairs. ‘What on earth is that for?’
Bob lowered his end and looked at her over the top. ‘I’m going to sleep in your dad’s room so you and Daisy can get some proper rest. You both look exhausted.’ She spluttered a protest that he ignored. ‘All right, Dad, up we go.’
Steve was awake when they carried the mattress into his room. ‘I’m going to make up a bed on the floor,’ Bob explained. ‘I’m a light sleeper so if you want me during the night you just call. Your wife and daughter can have a good night’s rest now.’
‘Oh, that’s a relief. I’ve been so worried about them.’
‘You can stop fretting now,’ Alf told him with a touch of pride in his voice. ‘Everything’s going to be all right now my son’s here.’
‘We’ve still got a lengthy fight on our hands,’ Bob warned, not wanting them to get too confident.
‘Ah, we know that, son, but it’s good to have you back, isn’t it, Steve?’
‘It certainly is. My back feels easier since you massaged it, Bob.’
‘Good, I’ll do that twice a day at first, and then we’ll see how it goes.’ He laid the mattress in the only spot large enough, against the wall near the door.
Daisy appeared holding sheets and pillows. ‘You’ll need these.’
‘Oh, thanks.’ Bob jumped up and took them from her, then made up his bed.
‘Supper’s about ready. We’ve got your favourite sausages, darling,’ she told her husband. ‘Ruth brought them home with her.’
‘Lovely, I’m looking forward to those. I’m starving.’
When she left, Bob said to Steve, ‘Would you like to get out of those pyjamas and wear trousers and a shirt for a change?’
‘Please, if you can manage it? My underclothes and shirts are in the chest of drawers, and trousers in the wardrobe.’
‘Give us a hand, Dad.’ It didn’t take long for the two big men to dress Steve, and they were all smiling with pleasure when it was done.
‘Right, how are we going to do this?’ Alf asked when his son lifted Steve off the bed.
‘You walk backwards in front of us. The stairs are so narrow I’ll have to go down sideways.’
It was tricky, but Bob was determined that Steve should eat with his family. He knew how important it was for him to feel a part of ordinary life again. With Alf walking backwards with arms outstretched to support Bob, they made it down successfully.
Steve breathed a sigh of relief when he was safely in the chair. ‘Blimey, I don’t know how you did that, Bob. You must have muscles of steel now.’
‘He has grown taller and filled out a bit.’ Alf was smiling happily at everyone in the scullery. ‘How tall are you now, son?’
‘About six feet six, I think.’
‘Sit down everybody,’ Daisy ordered. ‘Ruth, help me dish up.’
It was a lively meal with the kids chattering away, obviously happy to have their dad with them again. Steve asked Ruth how the market was doing, and she told him every detail, but never once did she speak to Bob.
He watched her as she laughed and was struck by how pretty she had become. She was clearly angry with him, and he wasn’t surprised. He would have to make his peace with her when he had time, but for the moment, Steve must come first.
They were all still too busy talking to Steve to ask Bob any questions, and that suited him just fine. He said very little, intent on watching the man at the table, and he recognized the moment when it was becoming too much for him.
Pushing back his chair, he nodded slightly to Alf who instantly stood up as well. ‘Steve will have his tea upstairs, Daisy,’ he told her cheerfully, bending to lift Steve out of the chair.
Going up was easier than coming down and they soon had Steve settled back in bed. ‘Oh hell, I’m tired, but that was good. Thank you both.’
Father and son stood side by side, both tall strong men. ‘No thanks are needed, mate.’ Alf slapped his son on the back. ‘Let’s go and get our tea.’
‘Is he all right?’ Daisy asked anxiously when they came down.
‘He’s tired, but fine.’ Bob sat at the table. ‘Why don’t you take him up a nice hot cup of tea?’
Ruth had disappeared, but all the other kids were there, eager to talk to Bob.
‘I’ve still got my dictionary.’ John pulled it out of his pocket. It was falling apart now and he’d put a piece of string around it.
‘Looks as if I’ll have to get you a new one.’
John shook his head. ‘I like this one, and I think all the pages are still there. Will you read to me again, like you used to, please? I’ve got lots of new books. Ruthie gets them for me from the market.’
‘I’d love to, John, but you must give me a few days to see to your dad.’
He nodded solemnly. ‘Is he going to be all right?’
‘I can’t say for certain, but I hope he will.’
‘The doctor told Mum he couldn’t do any more for him,’ Sally told them. ‘I heard him say he needed another kind of doctor, but it would cost a lot of money.’
‘I didn’t know that,’ Alf exclaimed. ‘Daisy should have told me. I’d have raised the money somehow, even if it meant selling my house.’
‘Mum said we weren’t to tell you because you’d already used all the money you’d saved for another house.’ Eddie sat next to Alf and rested his arms on the table. ‘None of us have
got any money left, and that’s why I’ve left school early.’
‘I know.’ Alf’s expression was grim. ‘But Daisy should have told me. Have you got enough for the rent this week, Eddie?’
He nodded. ‘Ruth pawned the brooch the captain’s mum left her, so we’re all right for the moment, but that money won’t last long.’
‘Hold on a minute.’ Bob was mystified. ‘The captain told me about the brooch, but what’s all this about buying houses, Dad?’
‘It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you when we have time,’ Alf told him, dismissing the subject firmly.
Daisy came downstairs again. ‘He’s asleep and too tired to even finish his tea.’
‘That’s only natural.’ Bob took the tray from her and placed it by the sink. ‘We’ll have to take it steady at first, but I want to get him out of that bed as much as possible. What we need is a wheelchair, so I’ll see if I can get hold of one, and then I’ll be able to take him outside if it’s a nice day.’
‘They cost a lot of money, don’t they?’ Daisy frowned. ‘We’re only just managing on what we’ve got coming in.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll get one somehow.’
‘Oh.’ Daisy looked relieved to leave it to Bob. ‘It would be good for Steve. Thank you very much.’
‘You don’t have to keep thanking me, Daisy. Now, you kids nip upstairs and say goodnight to your dad, but only stay for five minutes.’
The three of them rushed out and Bob glanced at the clock so he could make sure they didn’t overtire Steve. He was already worn out.
‘Do I have your permission to go up as well?’
‘There’s no need to be sarcastic, Ruth.’ She was standing in the doorway when he turned to face her. ‘You’ve made it very plain that you don’t want me here, and if I can get Steve on his feet again, I won’t bother you any more. Of course you can go up.’
‘Ruth!’ Daisy was livid. ‘What’s the matter with you?’
‘Well, who does he think he is, coming in our house and giving orders?’
Battles Lost and Won Page 19