A Broken Family

by Kitty Neale

  ‘I know all that, Mum,’ Tommy said; a little irritated that his mother was already questioning his abilities. He’d seen the mess his father had made of the books, and there’d been numerous cases of under-quoting which wouldn’t happen now that he was in charge.

  ‘I’m not criticising you, darling. It’s just that I’d like to help. If I take over most of the paperwork, such as the accounts, wages and invoicing, you won’t be tied up with office work.’

  ‘There’s no need. I can manage.’

  ‘Don’t be difficult, Thomas. You’re father is intelligent, but he could never grasp arithmetic and was treated like a dunce at school, so much so that he was ashamed and tried to hide his problem. I of course found out about it and had he accepted my help, the business would have been more successful.’

  ‘I haven’t got his problem and I’m perfectly capable of handling the office work.’

  ‘I’m sure you are. It’s just that I want to be involved with building up the business and I insist that you accept my help.’

  ‘No, Mum. Thanks for the offer, but it won’t be necessary,’ Thomas said firmly but then seeing her face suffuse with anger, he quickly back-pedalled, adding, ‘at least,

  not at the moment. If my plans to expand are successful and I take on more staff, then yes, your help will be invaluable.’

  She looked a little mollified and said, ‘Very well, we’ll leave it for now, but bring the account books home tomorrow and I’ll take a look at them.’

  ‘There’s no need for that. Everything is up to date.’

  ‘Don’t argue with me, Thomas. I said bring them home and I meant it. Now, no doubt you’re hungry so I’ll see to your dinner.’

  Thomas wasn’t happy and felt that unless he stood up to his mother, she would end up trying to take over the business. He wasn’t going to put up with that, but at

  the moment she was still too vulnerable for him to make a stand. Not only that, he still had to tell her about his father and Rose.

  He ran both hands over his face and decided to leave it for a couple of days. It might be cowardly, but for now he was in no mood to put up with any more of his mother’s histrionics. At the moment she was calm, her old bossy self, but once told, it was sure to set her back – and that wasn’t something he was looking forward to.

  Chapter Sixteen

  On Friday morning Mabel did a bit of housework, upstairs and down, occasionally putting a glass to the wall. Though she had heard Frank Cole’s voice, along with Carol’s before he left for work, since then there had been nothing but silence.

  At eleven she went to see Phyllis to voice her suspicions and she was now a bit miffed that her friend was laughing at her. ‘I’m telling you, when Carol was in hospital, Frank kept his curtains drawn. He was acting strangely, keeping out of sight as though he was hiding something.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean that he’s done his wife in,’ Phyllis said, chuckling.

  ‘You may think I’m daft,’ Mabel said indignantly, ‘but I’m telling you there’s something funny going on. All right, maybe I’ve let my imagination run riot, but nonetheless, I still haven’t seen, nor have I heard, a sound from Daphne Cole.’

  ‘Mabel, she’s ill so that’s hardly surprising.’

  ‘Carol was worse but she’s all right now.’

  ‘I don’t think she’s fully recovered. Amy went to see her when she came home from work yesterday, but Carol was asleep and still was an hour later. Amy would have tried again, but Tommy arrived to take her out.’

  ‘Carol’s still able to speak – I heard her this morning, but her mother seems to have been struck dumb.’

  ‘Daphne has probably got something else along with the food poisoning, perhaps tonsillitis.’

  ‘It’s possible I suppose, but as Carol’s home, you could go along to see her and at the same time ask how her mother is,’ Mabel wheedled.

  ‘Why me? Why don’t you go?’

  ‘Because Daphne Cole hasn’t got any time for me, nor has her daughter; I doubt I’d get over the doorstep.’

  ‘As it happens, now that Frank has gone back to work, I was going along later to see if Daphne needs anything, a bit of shopping maybe.’

  ‘Good, and once you find out what’s going on, you can pass it on to me.’

  ‘Yes, all right, if only to prove to you that nothing sinister has happened. Oh, and by the way, Amy told Tommy about his dad and Rose.’

  ‘She did! Did he go potty?’

  ‘No, not at all, and he doesn’t blame Amy, though he’s decided not to tell his mother for a couple of days. Apparently he thinks she’s still too fragile.’

  ‘Fragile! Celia Frost! Huh, that’ll be the day.’

  ‘Her husband went off with another woman, and that’s enough to knock anyone for six.’

  ‘It wouldn’t bother me. With my Jack being so quiet I’d hardly miss him.’

  ‘You don’t really mean that, Mabel.’

  ‘Maybe you’re right, but it isn’t something I’d ever have to worry about. Jack would rather read a book than go in for a bit of slap and tickle, with me, or another woman.’

  ‘Here, have another cup of tea,’ Phyllis said as she picked up the pot.

  ‘I won’t say no, but then I’d best be off,’ she replied, and it wasn’t long before Mabel was in her own house again with a glass pressed to the wall. Still nothing from the Coles’ house – not a sound.

  Mabel’s lips tightened. Laugh at her or not, if Phyllis didn’t get to see Daphne Cole that day, she was going to take her suspicions to the police.

  At one time, the thought of staying at home every day, doing nothing but housework and cooking, would have horrified Carol. Now though, when her father had suggested it last evening, she had listlessly agreed.

  She had got up that Friday morning, but had done nothing, not even bothering to wash and dress. She was so depressed that the thought of doing anything was too much of an effort and the dust remained on every surface. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered any more.

  When there was a knock on the door, Carol didn’t get up to answer it. But whoever it was wouldn’t go away, the knocks becoming more persistent, and then the letterbox lifted, a voice calling, ‘Daphne, Carol, are you there?’

  Carol recognised the voice – it was Amy’s mum. As she called out again, it was obvious that Phyllis wasn’t going to go away. ‘Daphne, Carol, are you all right?’

  Sighing, she got up and partially opened the door, following her father’s instructions as she said, ‘My mum isn’t here. She’s gone to look after a sick relative.’

  ‘Oh, dear, is that your gran?’

  ‘No, it’s a great aunt who lives in Kent,’ she lied.

  ‘Carol, are you all right?’ Phyllis asked gently.

  ‘I … I’m fine,’ she said, yet Phyllis’s concerned expression was too much and she was unable to stem the tears that flooded her eyes.

  ‘Please, love, let me come in.’

  At first Carol was going to refuse, but for some reason she found herself standing back and allowing Phyllis to walk in. ‘I can see you still feel rough,’ Phyllis said, ‘and as you’re not dressed, I hope I didn’t get you out of bed.’

  Carol didn’t reply and returned to the sofa, wiping the tears from her eyes. She felt it dip beside her as Phyllis sat down too, her voice once again soft as she touched her arm and said, ‘You’re upset. Is there anything I can do to help?’

  ‘I … I don’t want to talk about it.’

  ‘All right, I won’t pry, but you look so pale and I’m worried about you.’

  Like a dam bursting, Carol broke then, and with a sob she flung herself into Phyllis’s arms. Nothing was said as she cried, Phyllis’s soft arms holding her, until at last, limp, her head pounding, Carol was able to say, ‘I … I’m sorry. I’m all right now.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Carol nodded, but Phyllis said, ‘I don’t think you are, and listen, if you need me I’m only a couple of doors
away. I know Amy is anxious to see you. Can I tell her to call in when she comes home from work?’

  Carol managed a small nod, but knew she would never be able to tell anyone that she’d been raped and had an abortion – not even Amy. Self-loathing and shame swamped Carol again. If anyone found out she’d be ostracised, treated like a dirty tart, and it would be no more than she deserved.

  ‘I’m going shopping soon,’ Phyllis said. ‘Is there anything I can get for you?’

  ‘No … No thanks,’ Carol managed to say. Her dad had said the cupboards were bare, but she didn’t have the energy to think about what they might need.

  ‘I don’t like to think of you being on your own all day. I’ll come back later to see how you are.’

  Carol wanted to be left alone and said, ‘No, don’t do that. I’m fine.’

  ‘Well, if you’re sure,’ Phyllis said, ‘but don’t forget I’m only a couple of doors away if you need anything.’

  Carol nodded; glad when Phyllis then left. She picked up a cushion to clutch to her chest, lying down again. With so much time to think, Carol went over it all again, despising herself. She had lied about her age, told Roy she was twenty-three, and as she’d gone up to that flat no wonder he hadn’t seen her as an innocent. Roy had raped her, but she had asked for it, and worse, she had aborted the consequences – killed her baby!

  Unable to stand the agony of thinking about it any more, Carol closed her eyes and once again escaped into sleep.

  Celia forced a smile when Libby called to see her, but it was knocked off her face when the woman spoke. ‘Celia, my dear, I’m so sorry. I must have appeared so insensitive when I sent that invitation to Melissa’s engagement party, but honestly, I had no idea that George has left you.’

  ‘How … how did you find out?’

  ‘I was in the grocers and heard two women gossiping. I was of course shocked to hear that they were talking about George and the fact that he went off with someone called Rose Bridges. It seems she’s a common barmaid and one of Amy Miller’s relatives … her mother’s cousin apparently.’

  Celia felt her face flame with both embarrassment and anger. She felt sick, humiliated, found she couldn’t speak, though Libby was obviously waiting with relish for some kind of response.

  ‘It must be dreadful for you, Celia. Of course my husband would never do such a thing so I can’t imagine how you must feel, but if there’s anything Tim and I can do …’

  Once again Celia’s pride came to her rescue and standing stiffly she said, ‘I’m perfectly all right, thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m rather busy.’

  Libby’s eyebrows shot up, but Celia ushered her to the door, where after saying a swift goodbye, she closed it firmly as soon as the woman stepped outside. Anger swamped Celia now. It was bad enough that George had left her, but for a common barmaid – and one who was related to the Millers!

  She’d make George pay for this; for her loss of standing, her humiliation. As sickening as it was, at least she had a way to find him now and Celia stormed out of the house to march down Lark Rise, determined to get the information she wanted.

  Mabel had collared Phyllis as soon as she appeared outside of the Coles’ house.

  ‘Well,’ she asked, ‘did you see Daphne?’

  ‘Carol said she isn’t there,’ Phyllis said as Mabel followed her home and they walked inside. ‘She’s gone to Kent to look after a sick relative.’

  ‘I don’t believe it. One minute Daphne Cole was supposed to have food poisoning too, and the next she’s gone off to Kent? I reckon Carol’s lying.’

  ‘Now why would she do that?’ Phyllis asked impatiently, too worried about Carol to listen to any more of Mabel’s daft ideas.

  ‘All right, maybe that’s what Frank told her and Carol thinks it’s the truth.’

  Both women then jumped when someone pounded on her door. It sounded urgent and Phyllis’s first thought was that something was wrong. Fearing that something had happened to Stan or Amy, she rushed to open it, only to be thrust aside as Celia Frost stormed in.

  ‘Oi, you’ve got no right to barge into my house!’ Phyllis protested.

  ‘Where is she?’ Celia snapped.

  ‘Where’s who?’

  ‘Don’t act the innocent,’ Celia snapped. ‘You know perfectly well who I’m talking about. That tart! Your cousin! Now, where is she?’

  ‘I’ve no idea.’

  ‘You’re lying!’

  Phyllis was shaking, but she wasn’t going to be intimidated by Celia Frost and stretching her neck she said, ‘Now listen here. I’ve had nothing to do with my cousin for years and I won’t have you calling me a liar. I don’t know where Rose is, and what’s more I don’t want to know. Now get out of my house!’

  Celia stood her ground, eyes blazing. ‘You must know that she’s gone off with my husband and I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where they are!’

  ‘I don’t know anything!’

  ‘Don’t give me that! Everyone is talking about it, though I only got to hear about it this morning. My neighbour took great delight in telling me that my husband has left me for a tart from this family!’

  Phyllis’s stomach turned and she shot a look at Mabel before saying to Celia, ‘If that’s what you’ve heard, it’s just rumour, gossip, and so far unsubstantiated.’

  Celia’s eyes narrowed into slits, her tone venomous as she hissed, ‘You would say that. After all, it’s one tart defending another.’

  Phyllis had tried to hold her temper, but now she lost it and though the door was still open she threw it wider. ‘I’m not standing for that! Get out of my house before I throw you out!’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’m leaving,’ Celia snapped, ‘and keep your daughter away from my son! She’s another tart and I won’t have him tainted by the likes of her.’

  Phyllis erupted then, but Mabel grabbed her before she managed to land a blow. ‘Stop it, Phyllis! She isn’t worth it,’ she said before shouting at Celia, ‘Go on, bugger off while you’ve got the chance.’

  ‘You sound as common as muck, just like her,’ Celia said scathingly as she strode out the door.

  Phyllis struggled to get free from Mabel, but she held her fast, and still fuming, she turned on her friend. ‘It was you, wasn’t it? You must have spread the gossip!’

  ‘I only told Edna Price.’

  ‘Get off of me!’ Phyllis yelled, and she continued her tirade as Mabel let her go. ‘I was mad to trust you, and in future stay away from me. You’ll never be welcome in my house again!’

  ‘Oh, Phyllis, don’t say that.’

  ‘Just get out! You’re no friend of mine.’

  ‘But I haven’t done any real harm,’ Mabel protested. ‘You said yourself that Amy has already told Tommy and he’d have passed it on to his mother.’

  ‘In a few days, yes, but that isn’t the point,’ Phyllis said bitterly. ‘You couldn’t have known that when you told Edna! I’ve always defended you in the past, made excuses for your poisonous tongue, but never again! Now as I said, get out!’

  ‘Fine, please yourself!’ Mabel snapped.

  As the door closed behind her, Phyllis slumped onto a chair, unable to believe that in one morning she had told two women to get out of her house. As her temper cooled, Phyllis wondered if she had been a bit harsh on Mabel, but there was no getting away from the fact that she would never be able to trust her again.

  Chapter Seventeen

  On Friday afternoon, Tommy was pleased with how the day had gone. He was happy with Len’s work and the two of them got on well together. However, as soon as he walked indoors after work it was like being confronted by a mad woman instead of his mother – and the smile instantly dropped from his face.

  He was unable to get a word in as she ranted and raved, though when he did get the chance it wouldn’t be to put up with her demands.

  ‘Did you hear me, Thomas? I said you’re not seeing that girl again!’

  ‘I could hardly fail to he
ar you,’ he replied. ‘But unlike you, I don’t blame Amy for Rose’s behaviour and I will be seeing her again. In fact, I’m taking her out tonight.’

  ‘You are not!’

  ‘I’m not a child that you can dictate to now. I’m a grown man and I can see who I want, go where I want to, and even find a place of my own.’

  Shocked, his mother stared at him, blinked, and then came the tears. ‘You’re going to leave me … just … just like your father.’

  Tommy found that though he was able to stand up to his mother when she was in a temper and making demands, he was hopeless when she started crying. ‘Mum, I didn’t say that. I was just pointing out that if I wanted to leave home, I could.’

  ‘I … I couldn’t bear it if you left me too,’ Celia said in a small voice.

  He could have told his mother that when he got married he’d want a place of his own, yet knew she wasn’t ready to hear that yet. He began to wonder if she ever would. For now though he had to make a stand and said, ‘I don’t want to leave home, but you’ve got to accept that I’m not going to stop seeing Amy.’

  The handkerchief came out and she wiped her eyes, silent for a while, but then at last she drew in a breath. ‘It seems I’ll have to, but don’t expect me to welcome her into my home.’

  ‘You haven’t so far, so that won’t make a lot of difference,’ he said, only just managing to keep the sarcasm from his tone. ‘Now I’m going to have a wash and change my clothes.’

  With that Tommy left the room, glad again to get away from the rollercoaster of his mother’s emotions.

  Celia was left feeling that she’d been blackmailed by her own son. The threat had been there; if she tried to stop Thomas from seeing Amy, he’d leave home. She’d been left with little choice, at least for now, but one day in the future she hoped to find a way to come between that tart and her son.

  Amy’s mother was just as bad, Celia thought, lying when she said she didn’t know where her cousin was. Of course she knew, and no doubt Amy did too. Well, that was something she’d talk to Thomas about. At least he’d be able to get that information from Amy and when he did, she’d be able to confront George. She needed to vent her feelings, to tell George just what she thought of him, and that tart he’d left her for would feel the sting of her hand across her face.