by S G Read
‘Do we take everyone?’
‘No, not the old farts. Some of them don't know what day of the week it is. We just take the girl, her mother, the grandfather and that friend who likes to poke his nose in, where it isn't wanted!’
‘That will be a pleasure.’ For once Fromes smiled. ‘What about the father?’
‘From what I hear he's no more than a cabbage; if you’re worried you can always tie him to his bed!’ She added with a laugh.
Dermot used the walking stick by his bed to summon Barbara. Now that some feelings were starting to return at least he knew when he wanted to go. He found it drained his self-esteem when she had to literally hold him over the pan and was glad when it was all over.
‘Don't worry you'll soon be back to rights, if I have my way.’
Barbara said as if she sensed his feelings.
‘I hope so!’ He replied as he exercised his neck muscles. He now had movement in all the fingers in his left hand but he was determined to keep quiet about it until he could move the arm as well. ‘Leave the door open, at least I can hear a bit of life as it happens, even if it is only old Tom falling down the stairs again!’
‘That man will be the death of me! He knows he can't make the stairs but he still tries. He must have rubber legs!’
After she had gone, Dermot exercised everything he could move, he wanted out of the bed!
Darkness fell but Dan kept going, he made no stops except to fill the gas tank and let Cally use the wash room. He made good time and arrived in ##### at three A.M. Cally was asleep when he stopped at the first gas station he came to and asked directions to canal street. He found the bridge and was surprised to find a lot of people sleeping there. Cally woke and looked about. There was no point in her getting out as she did not know what Helen looked like, so she watched and waited. Dan moved from person to person until he shook a woman by her shoulder. Her reaction was to pull back and shield her daughter.
‘It's me Helen, your father. I've come to take you and Samantha home.’
‘Oh pa!’ Helen cried and she buried her face in his chest.
‘Come on, we have food in the truck.’
‘Shh! Not so loud or they might try to steal it!’ Helen warned. ‘The people under here don’t have much to eat at the best of times.’
Dan scooped Samantha up in his strong arms and carried her to the truck followed by Helen. Cally took the little girl onto her lap until Helen was on board, then she slid her over to her mother.
‘This is Cally.’ Dan said as an introduction, then added. ‘More than a good friend! Cally this is my daughter Helen and her daughter Samantha.’
Cally and Helen shook hands but Samantha just lay there looking at her. Dan drove off. When they were moving Cally passed a basket of food over.
‘Help yourself, we already ate.’ She said when Helen hesitated.
She needed no second bidding and ate until she was full. Her attempts at getting Samantha to eat were futile, she just lay there staring. Dan could see she needed help and drove all through the next day trying to get back to Wilmington to get help for her.
Morning arrived and Barbara needed a ride to get Archie from hospital. She walked up to the little store and arranged a lift from the owner, it was a lot cheaper than getting a taxi and Mr. Little always liked to earn a little money on the side. Drummond came along to help Mr. Little with the wheelchair. Barbara had made sure Dermot was okay and left food and drink nearby.
‘I've locked Tom in his room, just until I get back.’ She said as she reached the door to Dermot's room. ‘It's for his own good! Silly old goat!’
Archie never complained once as they struggled to get him on the back of Mr. Little's truck. He was tied in place to stop him rolling off and Drummond travelled in the back with him, on the return journey. Soon Archie was back in his own bed and happy. It was then that a very tired Dan drove up but there was no time for niceties. Dan laid little Samantha on the table and Barbara examined her.
‘She needs the hospital and now!’ She concluded. ‘And you are not driving!’
They all piled into the truck and Barbara drove to the hospital. The little girl was whisked away and examined while the others sat in the waiting room. If anyone in a white coat came in their heads lifted to see if he had news, then dropped again, when he or she left without speaking. Doctor Palmer came in.
‘Mrs. Grain?’ He asked.
‘Yes. How is she?’ Helen was close to tears, fearing the worst.
‘It's going to be touch and go but I think she has a good chance. We'll know more tomorrow morning.’
‘Can I stay with her?’
‘We always feel a mother nearby, is good medicine.’ Doctor Palmer replied.
Barbara pulled out a five dollar note. ‘Get something to eat and phone us when you have news.’
Helen nodded and followed the doctor.
‘What about you Dan?’ Barbara asked.
‘I'll stay here. I already lost one granddaughter, I don't want to lose another.’ He answered.
‘But you can't do any-’ Cally started.
‘Hush Cally.’ Barbara said interrupting her. ‘It's something he feels he should do and if you were in his place, you'd do the same!’
Cally did not really understand but she allowed herself to be steered out to the truck. ‘You made really good time getting to Helen and Samantha and then back again?’
‘Dan just kept driving, I don't know how he did it.’ Cally replied. ‘We only stopped for gas and so I could take a pee.’
‘I'll phone round schools tomorrow, if you keep talking like that!’
Dan slept on the seats in the waiting room until a nurse shook his arm.
‘Any news?’ He asked.
‘No not yet. I just thought you could do with a coffee.’ The nurse replied.
‘Thanks.’ He took the mug of coffee.
The nurse walked to the door.
‘Sugar and milk on the side there, at least she's still hanging on.’
He sat there drinking the coffee, hoping that Samantha would not suffer the same fate as Lucy. When the waiting room door opened he looked up and saw Helen. Her eyes filled with tears and they started to cascade down her face. The coffee fell to the floor as Dan bounded to her side and took her in his arms.
Back at the home Barbara had another complaining invalid to contend with. She dealt with him as she did with Dermot, except that now Dermot could use his hand, she had to fend him off, if she was short of time and that seemed to be quite often at the moment. Drummond and Cally sat upstairs in Drummond's room, when they were not cleaning or cooking. They talked a lot, kissed some and told stories of adventures they had when the other one had not been there. The stories Drummond told about Baptiste gave Cally the shivers, when she thought how close his knife had come to cutting her throat. To chase the shivers away she told of her grandfather’s part in blowing Baptiste away. When they ran out of talk they went into see Archie or Dermot, which ever one was not being tortured by Barbara. Now that it was safe to go out, they went for walks together and Barbara knew how things were going, she had been young and in love once! She phoned several finishing schools for young ladies with the idea of enrolling Cally but when she settled on one she found she could not do it. First Cally would have to agree! She would no longer take it for granted that Cally would do what she said, without wanting a say in it. She talked it though with Dermot and he agreed but asked her to wait until it was all over and Drummond was adopted by them, as he felt Drummond should go to a school as well. Barbara smiled at him.
‘What?’ Dermot asked.
‘I was just wondering why I left you, you are such a good man.’ Barbara replied and let his wandering arm slip round her waist. ‘Anything else stirring yet?’ She added with a wicked smile.
‘No but there's always hope!’
The fat woman spread out a map on the desk and looked at the roads which led from the court house to the state line.
‘If thing
s go well we can take the main highway but if there's trouble we need to know which back roads go where and what we might find up there.’
‘What are you planning you devious female?’ Fromes asked.
‘I always like to have an ace up my sleeve-’ She started to say.
‘There isn't room for anything in there with those arms.’ Fromes retorted.
‘I was speaking figuratively.’ She replied. ‘I always like to have another avenue of escape, just in case. A back door, so to speak.’
Helen stopped crying long enough to say. ‘She was taking soup.’ Then she cried harder than ever.
What she said slowly sunk in and Dan held her away from him slightly, to be able to see her face.
‘You mean she isn't; you know-’ He asked.
‘No! She's going to be okay. She hadn't eaten for two days and she started to take soup!’
Dan pulled her close and held her tightly, tears rolling down his own cheeks.
‘Thank God!’ He sighed.
‘You can come in to see her if you want?’
‘Try and keep me out.’ Dan replied and followed her to Samantha's bedside.
The soup bowl stood empty by her bed.
‘He doesn't look like a horrible old man!’ Samantha said directly.
‘Oh Samantha.’ Helen gasped, a little embarrassed.
‘I'm glad you think so.’ Dan replied. He knew who had said that to her and felt like responding by mentioning that her father had run out on them but thought better of it. ‘I didn't even know you had been born Samantha, I hope I'll have the pleasure of seeing a little more of you than I have done the last seven years.’
‘I'm only six.’ Samantha replied. ‘You don't smell like I was told you do. Are you drunk now?’
‘Do you know what a drunk is?’ Dan asked.
‘Of course Daddy told me. Someone who drinks booze until he falls asleep or dies. You aren't going to die are you?’
‘No, and I have no need to drink myself to sleep at night anymore. Are you feeling better?’
‘Yes thank you- What do I call you?’
‘Grandpa. I'm your grandpa.’
‘What like Daddies pa?’
‘Yes. I'm mummy's pa.’
Samantha held her arms wide. ‘Hello grandpa.’
Dan hugged her gently trying not to hurt her frail little body.
‘I can see we'll have to build you up a bit, you're all skin and bone!’ He said when he felt her bones through the night shirt she was wearing.
‘Do I get to eat when I want to?’ Samantha asked.
‘I reckon, as long as you can find room for it!’ Dan replied.
‘Oh she'll do that alright.’ Helen added. ‘Especially if it's candy!’
‘I'll buy you a big bar of candy, when they say you can have it!’ Dan offered.
‘Yes please!’ Samantha said excitedly. ‘When will I be able to go home?’
Dan looked at Helen.
‘We have a new home now Samantha. We are going to live where Grandpa Dan lives.’
‘Does that mean I won't get to see daddy again?’
‘Daddy can come and visit you whenever he wants to.’ Dan replied, remembering what Alexander said when Dan had asked the same question about Lucy.
The nurse came in and shooed Dan away, he went out to the waiting room and cleared up the mess from the coffee, then walked outside to walk in the cool night air. For once he felt good. It was too far to walk back to the home so he walked round the block. There was enough light to see to walk and he enjoyed it but the sight of Fromes leaving a house up the street brought him down to earth with a bump. He thought of intercepting Fromes and asking politely, at first, why the fat woman was so interested in Drummond but Fromes jumped in his car and sped off before he could. Dan changed direction and walked up as far as the house but it was in darkness when he reached it. He stood for a few minutes watching but nothing happen so he turned and walked back to the hospital. He thought about telephoning the home but Barbara was the only one fit enough to drive the truck and she needed her sleep. He returned to the waiting room and settled back down on the seats and was soon asleep, he was tired as well.
It was just light when Cally woke Barbara and they were soon on their way to the hospital in Chicago. Cally shook Dan's arm to wake him and find out if there was any news. It took Dan a while to get his bearings but Cally was asking him Questions long before that happened.
‘Slow down!’ Dan cried. ‘I don't know if I'm coming or going.’
‘Is there any news?’ Cally persisted.
‘Yes.’ Dan said but he was with it now and he deliberately did not elaborate.
‘Well?’ Cally asked.
Dan smiled.
‘They think she's going to be fine in a couple of days and with a good nurse back at the ninety ninth precinct, she might even be allowed home today!’
It was Cally's turn to smile. She hugged Dan.
‘See things always work out in the long run.’ She said and kissed him on the cheek.
Dan thought about Lucy but said nothing, at least he had Helen and Samantha. -Maybe I should pay Alexander a visit- He thought. -Yes when things have quieted down that's just what I'll do!-
Chapter 11
They drove back to the ninety ninth precinct on the day Samantha was allowed out of hospital. Barbara was driving with Dan, Helen and Samantha it the front seats. Cally and Drummond were in the back of the lorry. It was Sunday and all thoughts of going to church were long forgotten, now all Barbara wanted to do was to get home and cook the Sunday roast before everyone started moaning. She had locked old Tom in his room again and she would have to clear up any mess he had made, before his room would be usable again. Old Tom was a wonderful man but he would never believe he had grown old and tried to do things he had not been able to do for years. Barbara parked in front of the home as the garage was no longer safe to park in and Dan carried Samantha inside. Barbara headed for Tom's room but found the door laying on the floor!
‘He can still do some things!’ She groaned and looked about for signs of him.
Normally he would be at the bottom of the stairs in a heap but today he was nowhere to be seen! She started to search but found him sitting talking to Archie.
‘Hi Tom.’ She greeted.
‘Hi Barbara.’ Tom replied. ‘My door stuck I hope you don't mind?’
‘Not at all! When Archie is fit he'll make sure it doesn't happen again!’
‘It's a shame there's no operation for my condition!’ Tom replied. ‘But senility is just senility.’
‘You have a good heart Tom, just you remember that!’ Barbara answered a little at a loss as to what to say. ‘No matter how bad you get, you'll always be my second father!’
Tom smiled. It seemed to satisfy his need to go places and do things and he returned to his room. He looked at his door, he had done that! Maybe there was hope yet?
The Sunday roast was a success but Tom decided to eat it in his room, even after Dan had refitted his door. For once he was at peace with the world, he had done his bit for the police and now anything that came along was a bonus!
That evening the others sat talking in the lounge, Drummond and Cally washed the dishes and cleared the table before joining them. Samantha was taken to bed soon after dinner and Helen never came down again, it had been a while since she had slept on a bed as comfortable as the one in her room. With all the other residents in bed Barbara relaxed. She found she could talk to Dan and they talked well into the night with Drummond or Cally joining in when they had anything to add.
‘Time for bed I think.’ Barbara said stifling a yawn. ‘We have to go and make sure you are a fully-fledged member of the Doyle family tomorrow Drummond.’
‘It's been nice having a family again and not being beaten for nothing, just because my pa was in a bad mood, or drunk.’
‘Is that why you used to torment Dan?’ Cally asked.
Drummond nodded.
‘And I dese
rved it!’ Dan added. ‘Drunken old fool that I was.’
‘I like you better not drunk.’ Drummond replied.
‘It's sober.’ Barbara explained.
‘What is?’ Drummond asked.
‘Not drunk is sober.’ Barbara repeated. ‘Do you still need a drink Dan?’
‘No, not really Barbara. I didn't really like drinking, it was just a way of getting to sleep. I stopped drinking the day I met Cally.’
‘That's unusual, I thought she was enough to drive anyone to drink!’ Barbara replied, looking at Cally who merely put her hands on her hips as if to say ‘Oh ma!’ without actually speaking.
‘No. I'd say she changed my life when I saw her floating by, wrapped in that wire.’ Dan said. ‘She was like a drowned rat when I pulled her out but still full of fight.’
‘Did you know they were going to shoot me after they got the money back?’ Cally added. ‘Will they try again Dan?’
‘I don't think so Cally. The last I heard they were on a boat out of the country with the law after them!’ It was all fiction but Dan thought it was better than saying that he thought they were all dead now and their area had been taken over by Zicci’s gang.
‘If they were going to kill me, how did you lot get away? I get the impression they didn't like witnesses.’ Cally continued. She was starting to think more about it. ‘I was saved by one of the men in the nickelodeon.’
‘You will have to ask your grandpa about that, he was in charge of the changeover but don't bother him until he's up and walking.’ Barbara replied. ‘Now it's bed time.’
Fromes arrived at the fat woman's house at five A.M to pick her up, then they drove to the ninety ninth precinct. At six thirty Barbara came down stairs to be confronted by both of them and they both carried pistols.
‘One word from you and you all die!’ The fat woman warned. ‘Tie the bitch up.’
One by one they came down stairs. Dan was next and Fromes hit him with the pistol before he tied him up. Cally was taken from her bed and dragged downstairs in her nightshirt, complaining all the way, until she was gagged. Drummond was treated the same but dumped in the kitchen after he was tied up. Archie was told to get up but he was vehement, there was no way he was going to ruin the work on his back. He said that they would have to shoot him first. They even tied Samantha up, then searched the home. Dermot heard the noise Cally made and knew there was trouble, he didn't know from whom or why but he lay still and pushed saliva out of his mouth when Fromes and the fat woman walked in.