by Rosie Harris
‘I imagine George will be very upset,’ Bill told her.
‘I don’t know, he may not be. He sees very little of her, in fact, he sees more of Lucia than he does of his mother.’
‘Perhaps you should leave it to Lucia to tell him,’ Bill suggested.
Mary shrugged her shoulders in a despairing way. ‘I simply don’t know what to do for the best.’
‘Or let Richard tell him. He might accept the news better if it came from his father.’
Mary shook her head. ‘No, Richard is in no fit state to deal with it at present and the sooner George is told the better. Supposing someone at school said something to him about it!’
‘Not very likely, is it?’ Bill frowned. ‘It’s not as though Megan was friendly with any of the other mothers and I don’t think Richard’s close to any of them.’
‘No, but Lucia may be.’
‘Tell her not to say anything. I would think she would know better than to gossip about the family to anyone.’
‘I don’t know. I simply don’t want to take chances. You know how people overhear things and then repeat them. That’s how rumours spread.’
Before Bill could answer the taxi came to a stop outside the hospital.
‘What about having a coffee first, before you face Richard?’ Bill suggested after Mary had paid off the taxi and they were inside.
‘No.’ Mary shook her head. ‘I think I would prefer to get this over with first and I am sure I will need a coffee afterwards,’ she added as she squared her shoulders and started to walk towards the ward she knew Richard was in.
‘Do you want me to come with you?’ Bill asked frowning uncertainly.
‘Mary hesitated. ‘No, perhaps it would be better if I saw him on my own.’
‘Right. Well I’ll wait for you in the restaurant,’ Bill said quickly before she could change her mind.
He felt sorry for Mary, for having to break such terrible news to Richard and for Richard, for having to receive it. He couldn’t start to imagine what it would do to him when he was in such low spirits anyway, but he felt that it was such a personal matter, that it was better for the two of them to be alone. It might only upset Richard even more if he felt everyone knew about it before he did, Bill mused as he headed towards the hospital restaurant.
TWENTY-NINE
Mary’s spirits lifted slightly as she walked into the ward and saw that the green curtains were no longer drawn around Richard’s bed. Even more encouraging was the fact that, supported by four or five pillows, Richard was sitting propped up in bed. He was watching the door and the moment she entered he raised his hand weakly in greeting.
‘How are you, my dear?’ she asked as she bent down and kissed him on the brow. He reached up and squeezed her hand, but shook his head without actually replying to her question. As she sat down in the chair beside his bed, she saw the deep frown that creased his forehead and the tension around his eyes.
‘You’ve spoken to Megan,’ she stated, having decided that the sooner it was said and out into the open the better.
‘Yes,’ he said quietly. ‘She’s already phoned you and told you the news?’
‘That she is not coming back from America. Yes, she told me that.’
‘Not coming back for good!’ he said bitterly as he ran a hand over his hair until it stood on end. ‘I tried to reason with her, for George’s sake but she wouldn’t listen. Can’t you make her see sense, Mother?’
Mary shook her head sadly. Much as she disliked Megan and thought her unbelievably heartless, she would have done anything in her power to have her back if it kept Richard happy.
‘I’m afraid, Richard, that I am the very last person she would listen to.’
He stared at her hopelessly for a minute.
‘Can’t you persuade her to do it for little George’s sake. What is going to happen to him?’ he said in a strangled voice.
‘You will have to look after him and I will do all I can to help, of course,’ Mary told him. She could feel her tears coming and she swallowed hard. She mustn’t cry, she told herself. She must be strong for Richard’s sake. ‘It’s a good thing we still have Lucia. George is very close to her and she cares for him deeply.’ She paused, hoping that what she was about to say wouldn’t upset him further. ‘We are lucky to have Lucia because George sees more of her than he does of Megan,’ she said gently.
He looked at her blankly as if he didn’t understand what she was saying. Then he shrugged rather dismissively.
‘I suppose we are,’ he said in a flat, toneless voice. There was an uneasy silence for a few minutes and then Richard said, ‘I really don’t understand why she is leaving me. I’ve always let her lead her own life, what is she gaining from us divorcing? I’ve never stood in her way. I know her career has meant a lot to her, but she has always been free to travel whenever it was necessary to do so.’
‘Yes, I know, dear,’ Mary murmured consolingly. She wondered whether she should tell him that one of the reasons was that Megan thought he might be a cripple, but since she couldn’t see that there was anything to gain from doing so, she kept quiet.
When Richard next spoke she was glad that she had held her tongue.
‘I told her that the surgeon was pleased with my progress and that I’d be walking again in a couple of months, but it didn’t seem to interest her. In fact,’ he added, looking at Mary, ‘he seemed to think that, by the time the new school year started I would be, more or less, back to normal. Doing physiotherapy every day is not much of a way to spend the school holidays, of course,’ he grinned, ‘As far I was concerned it was brilliant news.’
‘Oh, it is, it’s wonderful news,’ Mary said smiling.
‘Well, you might think so but it didn’t impress Megan. She never even commented on it,’ he said bitterly. ‘No, all she said after I told her was “George is your son so it is up to you to look after him. I don’t want anything more to do with him.” Can you understand that, Mum? She doesn’t want anything more to do with her own child.’
In Megan’s case Mary could understand it, because she had already revealed herself as callous and heartless. A child might hamper her progress in her career and she wasn’t prepared to take that chance.
Mary bit her lip and then said, ‘Don’t let it upset you, Richard. It is a relief to know that you won’t have to go to court to establish your rights. There is no doubt that he will be looked after far better if he lives with you than with her.’
He still looked gloomy so once again she reminded him how lucky they were to have Lucia looking after George.
‘I know, but who is going to tell him that his mother isn’t coming home and that he will never see her again?’
Mary didn’t answer. She didn’t know what to say or to suggest. She could understand Richard not wanting to be the one to tell him because she knew how she felt about doing so. She didn’t really feel that it was right to expect Lucia to do it and Mary worried she would tear up whilst telling him, which wouldn’t help at all. Yet who else could be asked?
Suddenly an idea came to her but she wasn’t at all sure how Richard would react if she voiced it. She pondered on her idea for several minutes, then hesitantly she suggested, ‘What about letting Bill tell George?’
Richard looked at her startled. ‘Bill?’
‘Yes, Bill Thompson. George likes him and trusts him, and Bill is very good with him.’
Richard was quiet as if contemplating what the outcome might be. ‘It’s hardly fair on Bill to ask him to do a momentous thing like that, is it? He mightn’t want to do it but he might not want to upset you by refusing.’
‘I don’t think that’s a problem. Bill is very pragmatic. He will turn the idea down if he doesn’t think it’s a practical solution.’
‘You know him better than I do, but don’t forget that friendships can be like marriages and easily broken,’ Richard said bitterly.
‘Bill is waiting for me in the hospital restaurant. I’ll go and proposition
him over a cup of tea and let you know how he feels about it.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Oh, he’ll be there. He promised to wait for me,’ Mary told him guilelessly.
‘I didn’t mean that and you know it,’ Richard said with the trace of a smile. ‘Go on then and ask him. Tell him I will be eternally grateful to him if he will do it.’
THIRTY
Mary waited anxiously for Bill to return from reading a bedtime story to George. He had promised to call in and let her know how George had reacted to the news about Megan. She felt guilty, perhaps she should have been the one to tell him. After all she was his grandmother; Bill was not even related to George. The moment she heard Bill’s footsteps coming up the path she switched on the kettle then went to open the front door.
‘Did you tell him?’
Bill shook his head, avoiding her eyes as he came into the hall. ‘No, the time wasn’t right.’
‘What on earth do you mean?’ Mary frowned. She felt annoyed. He had volunteered to do it and now he had chickened out. She should have known this would happen. How could you expect a man to tell a young child that his mother had left him and that he might never see her again?
Mary turned her back on Bill and went back to the kitchen. The kettle had switched itself off, so she poured the water into the teapot, which was standing there ready with the teabags already in it. She was so perturbed by Bill’s news that she hardly watched what she was doing, until she missed the pot and the scalding hot water went over her hand. With a shriek, she put down the kettle and rushed to hold her hand under the cold tap to ease the burning.
‘Are you all right?’ Bill asked solicitously.
‘No, I’m not all right,’ Mary said in a tight voice.
‘Here, let me take a look at it,’ he reached out to take her hand but Mary pulled away.
‘My hand will be all right in a minute,’ she said tetchily. ‘It’s George that I’m upset about.’ She took a deep breath. ‘What am I going to tell Richard?’
‘He’ll understand when I explain,’ Bill said quietly.
‘Explain? Her brow furrowed. ‘What do you mean by explain.’
‘Here let me finish making the tea and then, while it is brewing, I’ll explain,’ he told her. Mary watched in silence as he finished pouring the water into the teapot. Her hand was throbbing, but it was nothing compared with the turmoil she felt because George still had to be told the news.
‘I didn’t tell George,’ Bill explained ‘because I felt it was too much for him to take in. I wanted to prepare him for it first.’
‘How can you do that?’ Mary asked.
‘By telling him a story related to such an episode,’ Bill told her. ‘Tonight, I told him one about small boy whose friend had moved far away to a foreign country and he would never see him again.’ Bill piled all the tea things onto a tray. ‘Let’s take these into the other room and sit down,’ he suggested. He waited until they were both sitting in armchairs and then he poured out the tea and passed a cup to Mary.
‘How is your hand now?’ he asked.
‘Stinging, but that will wear off,’ Mary said quickly. ‘What did George say when you’d finished the story?’
‘He was quiet for a minute or two and then he said, “Why can’t he get on a bus and go and see his friend?”’
‘You managed to explain?’
‘Yes, a rambling explanation about how long it would take and how much it would cost to do that.’
‘George accepted that?’
‘After he’d thought about it.’ Bill smiled. ‘George said if that happened to him he’d get another best friend.’
‘Sensible, but it won’t be the answer when you tell him about his mother leaving him,’ Mary said dryly.
‘No,’ Bill agreed.
He was quiet for a moment, sipping his tea and looking thoughtful. ‘No,’ he repeated, ‘there’s no easy solution is there.’ He put his empty cup back on the tray and stood up. ‘Now don’t worry and look after that hand. I bet it’s sore,’ he added as he headed for the front door.
‘So, when are you going to tell him?’ Mary asked again.
‘Tomorrow night,’ Bill promised.
‘Can I put Richard’s mind at rest on that point when I go in to see him?’
‘Yes, you can do that,’ Bill nodded. ‘You can also explain why I’ve delayed. I’m sure he will agree.’
‘I hope so,’ Mary said. ‘I know he’s very worried about how George is going to react to the news.’
‘I understand,’ Bill said quietly. ‘Now don’t worry. I’ll call in on my way home from seeing George tomorrow night and let you know how things are.’
Mary spent the day worrying about little George. Would he understand and be able to accept that he was never going to see his mother again? Or would he brood on it? When she went to visit Richard later that day, her heart thudded as she saw the hopeful, expectant look on his face. She dreaded having to tell him that George still didn’t know. Richard took the news stoically. His mouth hardened and the tiny lines underneath his eyes creased as he listened to what his mother was telling him.
‘He said he would definitely tell him tonight?’
‘Yes, he assured me on that point. He felt it would be the ideal time. George had had time to think about the boy in the story losing his friend, so it wouldn’t be too much of a shock for him when he told him that his mother was moving away to another country and he wouldn’t be able to see her.’
‘I can see his reasoning but I’m not sure about it,’ Richard sighed. ‘Still, I can’t tell him and it’s not fair to ask Lucia, so we will have to hope for the best.’
Mary bit her lip. She felt guilty, too. She knew that she ought to be the one to tell George, but she felt she wouldn’t be able to stand the sight of his little face crumpling and that once it did, her tears would mingle with his, even if it was for a different reason.
Mary didn’t stay at the hospital as long as usual. Richard kept closing his eyes and no matter what she said to him he only mumbled ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ He complained that he wasn’t feeling too bright and said he wanted to sleep so Mary took her leave. She promised to call in the next day and let him know if Bill had told George.
She found it difficult to get through the rest of the day. She went to the shops and bought some cake and chocolate biscuits to offer Bill with his cup of tea. She knew he would have preferred homemade cake, but her heart wasn’t in it and she couldn’t concentrate. She had everything ready and waiting, and the moment she heard his step she brewed the tea so that there would be no delay. She waved him to his armchair the moment he came into the hall and poured out his tea almost before he could sit down.
‘Well?’ She looked at him expectantly. ‘Have you told him?’
Bill sank wearily into the armchair. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘He knows.’
Mary waited while he took a sip of his tea.
‘He took it quite well,’ Bill said, then gave a chuckle. ‘He listened to what I had to tell him then looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘I don’t mind, I don’t know her very well.’
Mary’s hand flew to her mouth to cover her gasp of dismay. ‘Oh, poor child,’ she said shaking her head from side to side. ‘Was that all?’
‘No.’ Bill took another gulp of tea then put his cup down on the saucer. ‘He said, “My daddy hasn’t gone as well, has he?” So I quickly reminded him that his daddy was in hospital. Then George said, “Will he go when he is better?” I assured him that his daddy would be coming home and staying with him, just as soon as he was better. He thought about it for a couple of minutes then he asked if Lucia was going away and I was able to put his mind at rest on that point as well. You should have seen his little face when I told him that. It lit up and he said, “So everything will be the same as it is now,” and snuggled down in bed to listen to the story he wanted me to read to him.’
‘So all is well,’ Mary said. ‘Richard will be so relieved. I am as
well and so very grateful to you for telling him,’ she added reaching out and squeezing his hand.
‘He’s a tough little guy,’ Bill said. ‘There were no tears, no scene.’
‘Well, you had prepared him in a way,’ Mary said thoughtfully. ‘You really do understand children, Bill. You should have been a schoolteacher.’
‘It’s much too late now for thinking of anything like that,’ Bill laughed. ‘I must say, though, I am very fond of little George.’
‘He likes you,’ Mary said. ‘Look how he’s wanted you to be the one to tell him a bedtime story.’
‘That’s true. Nevertheless, I shall be glad when Richard is back home and able to resume his duties.’
‘You are finding it exhausting?’
‘The last couple of nights have been pretty trying.’
‘I’m sure they have,’ Mary agreed solicitously. ‘I hope he won’t be asking you too many awkward questions about his mother leaving.’
‘I don’t think he will mention it again,’ Bill told her. ‘He’s accepted she’s gone and that he won’t be seeing her again. All he wants now is for Richard to come home.’
‘Yes,’ Mary said thoughtfully. ‘I wonder if I ought to ask if I can take him in to see Richard. I know they don’t allow young children in as a rule, but the sister in charge of the ward seems to be very understanding and if I tell her the reason I am sure she would let me do it.’
‘It is certainly worth a try,’ Bill agreed. ‘Although George accepted it when I said Richard would be home as soon as he was better, hearing it from his Dad’s own lips would really set his mind at rest.’
‘Perhaps you should also have a word with Richard, so that it doesn’t come as too much of a shock for him when he sees George at his bedside.’
‘Oh,’ Mary’s face fell, ‘I thought it would be a lovely surprise for him.’
Bill shrugged. ‘Maybe, or he might think that he is worse than he is and that the hospital have told you to bring George in to see him.’