by Kitty Neale
The chamber buzzed with voices, and a sea of faces looked at them as they sat down. Dolly kept her head low, Pearl surprised when she reached out to grip her hand.
There was a hush as Kevin appeared in the dock, which continued when the judge entered the courtroom.
The trial began, but after all Pearl’s nervous anticipation, it was quickly over. On his lawyer’s advice Kevin had pleaded guilty, and now the judge was looking at the medical evidence. The jeweller had recovered, but only just, the report revealing brain damage.
Pearl’s found her eyes were fixed on the bench and the stern-faced judge. He looked grim as Kevin stood before him, and she gasped as he passed a sentence of fifteen years imprisonment.
The courtroom came alive, buzzing with voices again, but Dolly slumped in her seat. Pearl thought she had passed out, and bent anxiously over her mother-in-law, but as Kevin was led away Dolly rallied enough to rise to her feet.
‘Oh, son,’ she cried.
Kevin’s eyes flicked towards them, but then he was urged downstairs and out of their sight. Dolly stood transfixed, but Pearl took her arm, pulling her mother-in-law towards the exit.
They emerged into bright sunlight, but it was the flash of a camera going off in Pearl’s face that made her blink. She hadn’t expected reporters, new headlines taking up the front pages, and now looked frantically for a taxi. One was coming and she raised an arm to hail it, almost bundling Dolly inside before slamming the door behind them.
‘Battersea High Street,’ she told the driver.
‘Oh, Pearl, I can’t believe it,’ Dolly whispered. ‘Why did Kevin plead guilty?’
‘With the amount of evidence against him, I don’t think he had any choice. If Kevin tried to plead not guilty and then lost the case, the judgement would have been harsher.’
Dolly sunk low in her seat, dabbing at her eyes, and as the taxi drove off Pearl didn’t look back. Kevin was going to prison, he didn’t want to see her again, and that meant her marriage was over. Suddenly she felt a surge of freedom again, followed by another of shame. How could she feel like this when her husband had just been sentenced to fifteen years in prison? Yet as she closed her eyes against her guilt, Pearl found that nothing could mar her feelings of relief.
Bernie was giving Johnny his bottle as they walked in, his eyebrows rising in enquiry. ‘Fifteen years,’ Pearl told him.
‘It’s what I expected,’ he said, but then as Dolly suddenly staggered he rose to his feet. ‘Pearl, take the nipper. I’ll see to Dolly.’
She took her son, surprised when Bernie spoke firmly to his wife. ‘See, I told you not to go, and in future perhaps you’ll listen to me.’
‘Oh, Bernie …’ Dolly groaned.
‘Come on, let’s get you to bed,’ he said.
As her father-in-law led Dolly from the room, Pearl saw that he was growing in stature. He seemed the leader now, Dolly clinging and the follower, but Pearl couldn’t help wondering how long this situation would last.
As they left the room, Pearl sat down, popping the teat into Johnny’s mouth. She gazed at his face, seeing Kevin in his features. Her marriage was over, but he had given her Johnny and she would always thank him for that.
When Bernie returned, his face was etched with worry. ‘Dolly’s taken the sentence really badly. I think she was clinging to the misguided hope that Kevin would get off.’
‘Maybe it would help if you get back to a routine again. Perhaps open the café.’
‘Dolly refuses to talk about the business and I’m really worried about her. She’s becoming almost a recluse, only leaving the flat when she went to see Kevin. If we continue to live and work around here, I can’t see her ever getting back to her old self.’
‘Given time, she’ll bounce back.’
‘No, I don’t think so. She’s been brought too low, and I’ve been giving it some thought. I reckon we should sell up and move out of the area.’
‘Sell up! But where will you go?’
‘I ain’t thought that far ahead, but a nice little teashop in Devon or Cornwall would suit me. That nipper seems Dolly’s only comfort now, and as long as you’re with us, I reckon she’ll be happy to move anywhere.’
Pearl drew in a breath. It was time to tell him, but she dreaded his reaction. ‘No, I’m sorry, Bernie, but I won’t be coming with you. My marriage is over, and though I feel sorry for Dolly, it wouldn’t be right to go on living with you.’
‘Don’t be daft. You’re family, and how you can bring Johnny up on your own? You’d need to earn enough to support you both, and you can’t work with a baby to take care of.’
‘I wouldn’t be on my own. Bessie has asked me to live with her.’
‘Well, yeah, you could do that, but do your really want to stay in this area? If you come with us it would be a fresh start, and nobody need know about the past.’
‘I admit I’d like to get out of Battersea, but I can’t face living with Dolly.’
‘Look, I know she gave you a rough time of it, but she’s different now. Please, Pearl, I need you. Until Dolly gets back to normal, I don’t think I can cope with her.’
‘Yes you can. You’re doing fine, but what about when she is back to her old self? She’ll try to take Johnny over again, undermining everything I do.’
‘I’ll see that she doesn’t,’ Bernie said, and, seeing Pearl’s expression, he smiled faintly. ‘There’s no need to shake your head in doubt. Things have changed, Pearl. I let Dolly get away with dominating me in the past, but I don’t intend to let it happen again.’
‘I’m sorry, Bernie, but Kevin urged me to get Johnny away from his mother, and though I don’t know what made him say that, he must have had his reasons. I don’t want my son hurt.’
‘Leave it out. Dolly loves the nipper – we both do – and neither of us would do anything to harm a hair on his head.’
‘I know you wouldn’t, Bernie, but when it comes to Dolly I can’t take that chance.’
He shook his head sadly. ‘It’s madness, if you ask me, but it seems you’ve made up your mind. I just hope that I can still persuade Dolly to move.’
Dolly didn’t surface until the following morning, her long hair hanging lacklustre down her back, and her complexion wan.
‘How are you feeling, love?’ Bernie asked as he lowered his newspaper.
‘I’m all right.’
‘Did you take your pill?’
‘Not yet.’
‘Well then, how about having a cup of tea and a couple of slices of toast first?’
‘I’ll do it,’ Pearl offered, rising to her feet with the baby in her arms.
‘Can I hold him?’ Dolly asked.
With Bernie in the room, Pearl didn’t mind, ‘Of course you can.’
Bernie waited until Pearl left the room and then leaned forward, speaking earnestly. ‘Dolly, how do you feel about moving out of the area? We could sell up and buy a little tearoom in the West Country. Nobody would know about us and it’d be a fresh start.’
‘But that’s miles away! No, I need to be near Kevin.’
‘Dolly, he’s in prison and doesn’t want to see you.’
‘I know that, but he’s sure to come round. When he does, I’ll be able to visit him.’
‘Maybe, but even so, you won’t be able to see him every day. I’m only talking about moving to Devon or Cornwall, not Timbuktu.’
With infinite gentleness Dolly stroked the baby’s cheek. ‘It might be nice for Johnny to grow up in the country.’
Bernie knew there was no putting it off. Pearl had made up her mind to leave and he couldn’t see her staying for much longer. ‘No, love, Pearl won’t be coming with us. She’s moving in with Bessie.’
A spark returned to Dolly’s eyes, her voice indignant, ‘She can’t take Johnny away from us. We’re his grandparents.’
‘She can, love. Now that the marriage is over, Pearl can do what she likes.’
‘Who said it’s over? Pearl is still Kevin’s wif
e and it’s her duty to wait for him until he comes out of prison.’
‘Dolly, for Gawd’s sake, you’re talking rot! He beat up a man, raped a woman and, if you ask me, Pearl’s better off without him.’
Before his eyes, Bernie saw the transformation in his wife’s demeanour. The spark in her eyes turned to fire as she spat, ‘He didn’t rape that woman, and I am not talking rot. Like it or not, Pearl must stay with us. I’ve already lost my son, and I don’t intend to lose my grandson too.’
‘It’s Pearl’s decision,’ Bernie said.
‘She’ll move in with Bessie over my dead body.’
‘Dolly …’
‘Enough! I don’t want to hear another word about it.’ Dolly stood up and, finding a clean nappy, she laid the baby on the rug to change him.
Pearl came back into the room, carefully balancing a tray, smiling at her son’s antics. He loved being free of the binding, his chubby legs kicking, and hands waving before going down to pull on his little penis. Dolly slapped it away, her voice loud. ‘Stop that, you dirty little boy,’ she cried. ‘Bad boy, it’s nasty to do that.’ Then, seeing Pearl, she added, ‘What’s this about you moving in with Bessie Penfold?’
Dolly looked surprised when Pearl slammed the tray down before moving swiftly to her side. She picked the baby up, her face and voice tight, ‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Well you can forget it.’
‘But—’
‘No buts. You’re Kevin’s wife and your place is with us. Bernie has suggested that we move out of the area and I think it’s a good idea. Mind you, Devon or Cornwall is a bit far, but Dorset would be all right. It’ll be lovely for Johnny to grow up in the country and while we’re waiting for Kevin to come home, we can all work together in a nice little tearoom.’
Bernie held his breath, but Pearl didn’t argue, just saying, ‘Johnny needs a wash and then I’ll get him dressed.’
Dolly, he saw, had a smile of satisfaction on her face. ‘See, I soon sorted her out. Right, Bernie, let’s see about getting this place on the market.’
Bernie heaved a sigh. He should have stood up for Pearl but, like Dolly, he didn’t want to leave their grandson behind. ‘So, you fancy Dorset then?’
‘Yes, and the more I think about it, the better it sounds. We can offer sandwiches and home-made cakes, served on pretty china. There’ll be no more getting up at the crack of dawn to cook flaming breakfasts. Oh, I can just see it, Bernie. Lovely fresh white linen tablecloths and small vases of flowers on the tables.’
‘Sounds good to me, love.’
‘I’ll be able to spend a lot more time with Johnny.’
Whilst they happily made plans, unbeknown to them, Pearl was rapidly making her own. She was stuffing clothes into bags before hiding them in the bottom of the wardrobe. She’d wait until that night, wait until her in-laws were asleep, and then she was getting out of there.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The house was silent. Pearl’s nerves were jumping as she crept downstairs. She had taken all she could carry, stuffing bags into the pram, and now, fully loaded, she carefully opened the street door. With infinite care she closed it behind her, stepping outside into the dark night. She was leaving, her shoulders stiff with resolution. Dolly was back to normal, laying down the law, but Kevin had told her to keep Johnny away from his mother, and she intended to do just that. She was going to Bessie’s, and there was no way Dolly Dolby was going to drag her back.
Pearl banged on Bessie’s door again and again, relieved when at last she opened it.
‘Bloody hell, love, what are you doing here at this time of night?’
‘I’m sorry, Bessie, but I had to get away.’
‘All right, come on in, but why didn’t you wait until the morning?’
‘Dolly’s back to normal and if I hadn’t sneaked out now, there’s no way she would let me leave.’
‘She couldn’t have kept you a prisoner.’
‘Dolly’s capable of anything,’ Pearl said as she put the brake on the pram, leaving Johnny asleep as she lugged her things upstairs. She then went down again to get her son, laying him gently on the sofa.
‘Right,’ Bessie said. ‘Start at the beginning.’
‘They’re going to sell up and move out of the area, and it’s as though the decision has given Dolly a new lease of life. Only yesterday she was a wreck, but now she’s back to laying down the law. She won’t accept that my marriage is over and insisted that I go with them to Devon or Cornwall.’
‘For goodness’ sake, Pearl, you’re not a child. You’re a grown woman and she can’t force you to go.’
‘I … I just didn’t want an argument.’
‘If I know Dolly, you won’t have much choice. As soon as she finds you’ve gone, she’ll be over here.’
‘Oh, Bessie, what am I going to do?’
‘For starters you can get that frightened rabbit look off your face and stand up for yourself. As I said, Dolly can’t force you to go, and you’ll just have to tell her that.’
Pearl shook her head doubtfully, her head drooping.
‘Come on,’ Bessie said. ‘Let’s get to bed and we’ll worry about Dolly bloody Dolby in the morning.’
With a nod of agreement, Pearl rose to her feet and lifted Johnny into her arms. She followed Bessie upstairs, her tired eyes widening when she saw her old room and the cot in the corner. ‘Oh, Bessie.’
‘Now then, don’t start the waterworks. I knew you’d be moving in eventually and the cot didn’t cost me anything. It was in the back room, but cleaned up nicely.’
Pearl took in the clean white sheets, the soft blankets and choked, her eyes watery as she said, ‘I don’t know how to thank you.’
‘Leave it out, girl. Now get yourself and Johnny to bed and we’ll talk again in the morning.’
Bessie left then and, after settling Johnny, Pearl climbed into her own bed. She had done it; she had got away from Dolly. But now she shivered. Bessie was right: as soon as Dolly found her gone, she’d come looking for her and she dreaded it.
Pearl wanted to remain hidden, but Bessie wouldn’t stand for it. ‘You can’t stay up here for ever, love. If Dolly comes over here, stand your ground. She doesn’t own you and can’t drag you back.’
Reluctantly Pearl followed the woman downstairs, but as she settled Johnny in his pram and glanced out of the window, her heart skipped with fear.
‘Oh God, Dolly’s already on her way over.’
‘Now then, don’t run away. As I told you, stand your ground, girl.’
Pearl wanted nothing more than to flee, but moments later the door flew open, crashing back against the wall. Ramrod straight, her hair still loose and flying wildly around her shoulders, Dolly marched into the shop.
‘I don’t know what your game is, but you can bring that child back to the café.’
The noise woke Johnny up and he began to cry, but as Dolly moved towards the pram, Pearl barred her path. ‘Keep away from him.’
‘You must be mad, girl. I’m not having my grandson living in this dump!’
‘Oy, watch your mouth, Dolly Dolby,’ Bessie said, moving from behind the counter.
‘Shut up!’ Dolly shouted, her hand coming out as though Bessie was a fly to swat away.
‘Don’t you dare touch her!’ Pearl screamed.
Dolly stayed her hand, saying with a scowl, ‘Huh, I wouldn’t touch her with a bleedin’ bargepole.
She made for the pram again, but Pearl bent swiftly, snatching Johnny up and holding him tightly to her. ‘Stay away from my son!’
‘I’ll do no such thing! He’s my grandson and his place is with me.’
Pearl felt her body swelling, stretching, and from somewhere inside she felt imbued with strength. ‘No, Dolly, his place is with me, his mother! I’ll decide where he lives, not you, and we’re staying here.’
‘You heard her. I want you out of my shop, Dolly Dolby, and now.’
‘I told you to shut your mouth, Bessi
e Penfold! I ain’t going anywhere without my grandson and if you get in my way I’ll smash your bleedin’ face in.’
When Pearl heard the threat it was the final straw. She had lived in fear of this woman, allowed herself to be ordered about like a servant, but she wasn’t going to let Dolly take her son. Johnny was still wailing, but her voice rose above his cries. ‘You lay one finger on Bessie, or my son, and I’ll call the police.’
‘You wouldn’t dare!’
‘Oh yes I would.’ And playing what she hoped was a trump card, she added, ‘And I’m sure the locals would love to see another Dolby being carted off to gaol.’
‘You little bitch,’ Dolly spat. ‘All right, I’m going, but I ain’t finished with you yet!’
The breath left Pearl’s body in a rush as Dolly marched out of the shop, slamming the door behind her.
‘There, there, it’s all right,’ she soothed, patting Johnny on his back. His cries turned to little hiccuping sobs, and then finally stopped.
‘Well done, love,’ Bessie said. ‘She was like a bleedin’ Amazon, but you sorted her out.’
‘Yes, but for how long?’
‘You’ve got the upper hand now, and it won’t take her long to realise that if she wants to see her grandson, she’ll have to behave.’
Pearl smiled at last. She had done it. She had stood up to Dolly and from now on, nobody was going to walk all over her again.
Dolly was fuming as she marched across the road, but saw many eyes looking at her, and heard sniggers of laughter. Her hand flew up, touching her hair, and she suddenly realised that she had dashed out without giving any thought to her appearance. Christ, she still had her slippers on! Head down she surged forward, almost running to the sanctuary of the café.
The postman had been and a few letters lay on the floor. She swept them up, still sick with shame as she flicked through them, but then stayed her hand as one caught her eye. It was addressed to Pearl, the writing spidery, and she frowned, wondering who it was from.
Well, sod the girl. She had run off, taking Johnny with her. Without hesitation, Dolly tore the envelope open. Her mouth gaped in disbelief as she read the contents. She then smiled slyly. She’d keep this bit of information to herself and it would serve Pearl right. Dolly stuffed the letter into her pocket and went upstairs.