by Kitty Neale
As the car drove away the man turned and walked through the doors into the hospital where he followed the signs until he reached the unit.
‘Excuse me,’ he said to a nurse coming out of the ward. ‘Could you tell me if Mrs Pearl Lewis is still in intensive care, and if so, how she is?’
The ward sister approached them and said stiffly, ‘I’ll deal with this, Nurse Roberts.’
‘Yes, Sister,’ the nurse said, hurrying away.
The man turned to the rather stern-faced woman, and managed a pleasant smile. ‘I’m sorry to trouble you. I’m making enquires about Mrs Pearl Lewis.’
‘Are you a relative?’
‘Err … no.’
‘Then who are you?’
‘Just … err … a friend of the family.’
‘Your name?’
‘Why do you want to know?’
‘If you’re a friend of the family, Mr Lewis will be able to confirm that.’
‘There’s no need to bother him,’ he said hurriedly.
‘I thought so. You’re a reporter and if you don’t leave, I’ll call security.’
‘All right, I’m going,’ the man said, defeated, as he headed for the exit.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Derek couldn’t believe it. Yesterday he’d felt optimistic that the future was going to be brighter, but now he felt as though he’d been kicked in the guts.
‘How could you?’ he growled when he arrived at the nursing home before ten in the morning and slapped the local newspaper down in front of his gran. ‘Don’t you think Pearl’s been through enough without you making her sound like a money-grabbing tart!’
‘I didn’t know he was a reporter! He lied to me, said he was visiting his grandmother and I fell for it. Anyway,’ Connie bristled, ‘I was only telling the truth.’
‘This isn’t the truth! It’s garbage.’
‘No it isn’t, Derek. How many times have I tried to get it into your head that Pearl twisted you round her little finger? She had you waiting in the wings in case her scheme to get pregnant by Kevin Dolby didn’t work.’
‘Gran, it wasn’t like that. When Pearl came to live in Battersea she was a lonely, innocent sixteen-year-old who had spent her childhood in an orphanage. She was scared of her own shadow and I took her under my wing, but Kevin Dolby saw her as easy prey and she didn’t stand a chance. He was a good-looking bloke who had a way with women and she fell for it, for him, only to find herself used and pregnant.’
‘Yes, unmarried and pregnant. That makes her a tart, just like your mother!’
Derek’s eyes narrowed. ‘So this is what it’s all about. We’re getting to the bottom of it now. My mother, your daughter, was unmarried and pregnant with me. You were ashamed of her, but she died before you could pour out all your vitriol. As she isn’t here to suffer for it, you’ve been taking all your anger and bitterness out on Pearl.’
‘That’s rubbish,’ Connie snapped. ‘Pearl dropped you for Kevin, but when he went to prison for robbery she came after you again and like a mug you married her. She took you away from me and I was left on my own to end up in this dump.’
‘Pearl didn’t chase after me. I’ve told you before, I was the one doing the running and when she agreed to marry me I chose to live in Winchester, though I came to see you as often as I could. As for ending up here, you like it, but you’d twist anything to blame Pearl and to justify what you told that reporter.’
‘I don’t need to justify anything,’ Connie spat. ‘Pearl’s no good, but you’re too blind to see it.’
‘I’ve had it, Gran. You’ve gone too far this time and don’t expect to see me again,’ Derek said before he turned and stormed away. He had put up with his gran’s bigotry for years but this was the final straw.
After reading the local newspaper, Emily was reeling that morning too, unable to believe that Derek’s gran had said such awful things about Pearl. It was grossly unfair, a dreadful misinterpretation of the truth, and she wished Derek hadn’t stopped her from going with him when he went to see Connie Lewis. Emily was usually an even-tempered, mild woman, but now she was boiling with anger, frustrated that she couldn’t give the woman a piece of her mind.
If Pearl read it she’d be so shocked and hurt that it could set back her recovery. Somehow they had to prevent that from happening and there was John too. He was still in bed and hadn’t seen the paper, but the gossip would be rife and Emily dreaded what he would have to face in school on Monday. Unable to contain her frustration Emily poured her heart out to Lucy.
‘I know,’ Lucy said when Emily was spent. ‘I feel the same as you. Pearl isn’t anything like that and it’s so unfair. You’re right, everyone will be talking about her now, but don’t you worry, if anyone says anything to me, I’ll put them straight.’
‘Put who straight?’ Derek asked as he walked into the room.
‘Anyone who says a word against Pearl,’ Lucy told him.
‘Derek, you’re back,’ Emily said. ‘Did you speak to your grandmother?’
‘Yes, but I was wasting my breath. She’s a vindictive old woman who prefers her own twisted version of events.’
‘We could threaten legal action against the newspaper unless they print a retraction,’ Emily suggested.
‘I doubt that would work,’ Derek said as he raked his fingers through his hair in agitation. ‘The reporter will say he got the story from a legitimate source, a relative of the family, and anyway, it’s too late now. The damage has already been done.’
‘I’d best get on,’ Lucy said abruptly and left the room with an intent look on her face that neither Emily nor Derek noticed.
Lucy spotted a reporter as soon as she stepped outside. ‘Can I have a word?’ she said, walking up to him.
He looked surprised, but there was avarice in his eyes too as he said, ‘A word about what?’
‘The story about Pearl Lewis; the one that appeared in the local paper this morning.’
‘It’s got nothing to do with me. I work for the nationals, not some local rag.’
‘Good. There’s a café just down the road, we can chat in there.’
Lucy refused to say anything until they arrived, but when they had cups of dark, strong tea in front of them, she finally spoke. ‘That local paper has got it all wrong. I work for Pearl Lewis and I can tell you she’s a lovely woman. I want to put the record straight and that’s why I’m talking to you.’
The reporter shrugged. ‘Sorry, I’m not interested. People want to read about sinners, not saints. Now take that Adrianna, what do you know about her?’
‘Nothing. I never met her.’
‘What about the Lewises? Someone in that family must know something about her and that’s the angle I’m looking for.’
‘They don’t,’ Lucy said quickly.
‘I’m not so sure about that. The rest of the strippers at Chase’s club won’t open up until he’s convicted, but in the meantime the story is still hot. If you can tell me anything about Adrianna, or point me in the direction of someone who can, I might be able to make it worth your while.’
‘I can’t, and I only spoke to you because I thought you’d be interested in the truth about Pearl Lewis.’
‘Sorry, love, but she’s old news now.’
Lucy left her tea untouched and the reporter sitting there, sad that she had failed as she returned to work. It was so unfair that Pearl had been torn to shreds by that wicked old lady, and she hoped that Connie Lewis would live to regret it.
‘Emily, what do you think I should do?’ Derek asked. ‘John isn’t interested in newspapers so I doubt he’ll read the local, but the article is sure to arouse a lot of gossip and it might reach him.’
‘I thought the same and it might be best to forewarn him.’
‘He doesn’t know what Pearl went through in the past. He knows about Kevin, of course, but she kept the rest away from him.’
‘It would be better to hear it from us, before someone tells him your gr
andmother’s version of events,’ Emily said, but then as though hearing someone coming, she put a finger over her lips.
She was too late. John walked into the room and asked, ‘What are you talking about?’
‘You’re up then,’ Derek said. ‘It’s about time.’
‘I’ll get you some breakfast,’ Emily offered.
‘It’s all right. I can pour myself a bowl of cereal, but I heard a little of what you were saying, something about me hearing something. What’s going on, Dad?’
‘Get your breakfast first and then we’ll talk,’ Derek said, playing for time so he could work out what he was going to say. He turned to Emily as soon as John went to the kitchen. ‘I’m not sure how Pearl is going to feel about this. Maybe it should come from her.’
‘That would mean telling her about the story in the local paper, and I’m hoping we can keep it from her. I think Pearl’s been through enough at the moment. She’s sheltered from gossip while in hospital, and hopefully it will have died down by the time she comes home.’
They both stopped talking when John returned, and he said, ‘I’ve just got a glass of juice for now.’
Derek tried to gather his thoughts, and then said, ‘There have been things said about your mother, that aren’t true and …’
‘What things?’ John broke in. ‘And who’s been saying them?’
‘It would help if you didn’t interrupt,’ Derek said irritably.
‘Sorry, Dad.’
John listened without interruption this time, wide-eyed as he took it all in. Derek told him the truth, refuting all his gran had said, and ending with, ‘Your mother didn’t set out to trap Kevin. She was shocked when she found that she was pregnant. She hadn’t wanted it to happen; in fact she was so innocent she didn’t even know it would happen. She married Kevin, you came along and she was so happy, until well, the robbery. You know the rest, that they divorced, and eventually your mum married me.’
John was quiet for while but then said, ‘I used to ask you about your gran, wondered why I’d never met her, but you always managed to make excuses, said she didn’t like visitors or that she wasn’t well. I gave up asking in the end, but now I know it wasn’t for any of those reasons. It’s because she hates my mum.’
‘She has no reason to, but though I’ve tried, she won’t see sense.’
‘If you ask me, Derek, your grandmother is a jealous, bitter woman who didn’t want you to leave home,’ Emily said.
‘You may be right, but I didn’t think she’d go this far.’
‘John, we’ve told you the truth to prepare you for any gossip,’ Emily said, ‘and we would rather keep this from your mother.’
‘If anyone says anything nasty about my mum to me, I … I’ll knock their block off.’
‘Fighting doesn’t solve anything,’ Emily warned.
‘Just point them in my direction, son, and leave it to me to put them straight,’ Derek said, feeling the same as John. He knew there were those still in the area who already knew the truth, and with any luck they’d put it around, but there would be others who’d be happy to dish the dirt. This was all down to his gran and his anger mounted again. From now on, she could stew in her own juice.
‘It’s no good crying now,’ Ann told Connie without a trace of sympathy. ‘You should have known better.’
‘Derek said he … he won’t be coming to see me again.’
‘What did you expect?’
‘I only told the truth.’
‘As you see it, but your version doesn’t coincide with mine.’
‘Huh,’ Connie sniffed. ‘You don’t know anything about it.’
‘You’re forgetting that I lived in the same street as you, and at the same time. I met Pearl a couple of times and I liked her. I also saw and heard what happened to Pearl and like a lot of other people in the area, I felt sorry for her. If you ask me, that poor girl was more sinned against than a sinner.’
‘Well, I didn’t ask you.’
‘No, you didn’t, and you never listen either,’ Anne said, ‘yet I’m still going to say my piece. You saw from the start how happy Derek was when he married Pearl and could have welcomed her into your family. Instead you chose to ostracise her, and you did it again recently when she came here to see you.’
‘How do you know about that?’
‘I’m not deaf and overheard what you said to her.’
‘You nosy cow. You had no right to listen in.’ Connie snapped.
‘Well I did, and after that show you were lucky that Derek still came to visit you. Now though you’ve gone too far, spewed your guts out to the press and I’m not surprised he won’t be coming again. It serves you right.’
‘Bugger off.’
‘Charming, but don’t worry, I’ve said what I had to say and I’m going.’
Connie watched Ann struggling away on arthritic hips and the echo of her words remained in her mind. Pearl sinned against! What a load of tosh, yet deep down Connie knew it was true. She also knew that she had gone too far and now wished she could turn back the clock. It was too late though, she had driven Derek away, but surely there was some way she could make amends?
She closed her eyes, trying to think of a way, but the events of the day had exhausted her and soon Connie fell asleep.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Contrary to Emily’s expectations, when they left the flat to visit Pearl, a lot of stallholders spotted them and a small crowd gathered. Eddie White was the first to speak as he brandished the local paper. ‘Don’t worry, Derek, we know this is a load of rubbish. If you’re going to see Pearl, give her my best.’
‘Yeah,’ said Harry. ‘Mine too.’
The flower seller stuffed a bunch of chrysanthemums into Derek’s hand. ‘Tell Pearl these are from me and I wish her all the best too.’
‘Thanks,’ Derek said gruffly, looking overwhelmed, yet gratified.
They left with many more good wishes ringing in their ears, and Emily got into Derek’s car feeling a lot calmer. ‘Wasn’t that nice?’ she said.
‘They’re a great bunch,’ Derek agreed, ‘and I don’t just mean the flowers.’
John looked happier too, and with Nora smiling as she hung onto the flowers, they arrived at the hospital.
‘Mr Lewis, I had to get rid of a reporter yesterday,’ the ward sister said when she saw them.
‘He didn’t get in to talk to Pearl, did he?’
‘Definitely not. He said he was a friend of the family, but then refused to give me his name. He soon left when I threatened to call security.’
‘Thanks, Sister.’
‘There’s no need to thank me. I won’t have my patients upset and I also have some good news. Your wife saw the consultant this morning and he said she’s well enough to leave intensive care.’
‘Oh, that’s wonderful,’ Emily said.
‘She’ll be moved later today so when you come to see her this evening, you’ll need to go up to the first floor. Ward Seven.’
‘Thanks, Sister,’ Derek said for the second time and taking the flowers from Nora they separated, Emily insisting that he and John go in first this time, while she led Nora to the waiting room.
Pearl greeted them with a smile of delight and after being hugged and kissed she asked, ‘Did Sister tell you I’m being moved?’
‘Yes, and it’s great news,’ Derek said.
‘Did she also tell you that I was able to stand up today, and with support I was allowed to take a few steps?’
‘Fantastic, Mum,’ John enthused.
‘If I keep this up, I’ll be home in no time.’
‘It can’t come soon enough for me,’ Derek said, gripping her hand.
‘Nor me,’ John agreed.
Derek knew that Pearl wouldn’t have been this happy if she’d seen the local paper, and felt a surge of relief. After a while he and John left her side to allow Emily and Nora in, and though Derek kept an eye out, he didn’t see any sign of the reporter that the ward sister
had mentioned. The bloke had been turned away yesterday, so perhaps he’d given up, but would the staff in the ward Pearl was being transferred to be so vigilant?
All too soon, after seeing Pearl again, it was time to leave and as they drove home, Emily said, ‘I’ve had a lot of time off work, but now I know that Pearl is going to be all right I think I should return to Winchester. We spoke about it and Pearl understands.’
‘Gran, do you have to go?’ John asked.
‘I’m afraid so, darling, but I’ll come back every weekend.’
Derek knew that like John, he’d miss Emily, but he too understood that there was a limit to how much time she could take off. ‘When are you leaving?’
‘On Sunday morning.’
‘So we’ve got to put up with you till then,’ Derek complained.
‘Yes, you jolly well have,’ Emily said. ‘Like it or lump it.’
‘I’ll like it,’ he said, smiling, well aware that Emily knew he was only joking. He had longed to return to Battersea, had thought that Bessie’s flat and shop had been a godsend. He had done all he could to persuade Pearl that it would be a good move and it had all started out so well. He had his stall, Pearl had refurbished the shop, and even John had eventually settled down.
Now, though, Derek wished he’d kept his mouth shut. The move to Battersea, far from a godsend, had turned into a curse. It had all gone wrong and now he wished they’d never left Winchester.
‘I’m glad you all did that,’ Lucy said when Eddie told her about the support they had tried to offer Derek earlier that day. It was after nine that evening and Clive was in bed, but as usual he’d demanded that Eddie tucked him in.
‘Harry was the first to tell us the story was all rubbish, and a couple of the other old traders agreed with him,’ Eddie said. ‘It didn’t take long for that to spread, and anyway, Derek’s one of us so it was the least we could do. A good few of my customers, local gossips, were ready to believe it, but I gave them an earbashing.’
‘They’re used to your cheeky banter so I bet that gave them a shock,’ Lucy said, smiling.