by Jacobs, Anna
‘I can’t say, sir. The doctor will be able to tell you more when they’ve done the scan.’
Edward would have paced up and down, but the waiting area was too small, so all he could do was sit – and try in vain to contact Pete.
When the doctor came, she said it was a stroke, but luckily not too major.
‘My aunt will recover, then?’
‘Nothing is ever certain with strokes, but she stands a good chance.’ She smiled. ‘You can go and sit with her, if you like. I’m sure it’ll comfort her to see you when she rouses.’
He found a nurse straightening the covers and adjusting the position of the call button. His aunt had always been slender, but now she hardly made a bump in the covers and she was nearly as pale as the sheets beneath her. Her eyes were closed but she opened them when Edward spoke to the nurse. He turned to her at once.
‘You’ve had a little stroke, Aunt Sue. Don’t worry. It’s not a serious one. I’ll stay with you till you feel a bit more yourself.’
She managed a tired smile and he was sure her eyes were saying thank you, then her eyelids fluttered and she seemed to sleep again.
He looked round the ward in distaste. They’d partitioned off the huge, old-fashioned room into smaller sections of six beds, in an attempt to give the patients more privacy, but the stroke unit wasn’t a restful place. Several people in his aunt’s section were lying still. From other parts of the unit, however, sounds carried all too clearly, echoing from the high ceiling. Somewhere a woman was weeping, another was calling out incoherently and from a room at the side a man’s voice rambled on and on, the words blurred and incomprehensible.
Edward went back to the ward clerk. ‘My aunt has private medical cover. Isn’t there somewhere quieter she can be transferred?’
‘If we transfer her, she won’t be in the specialist stroke unit, sir, with staff experienced in caring for and diagnosing her problem. It really is for the best, at least till we’re sure she’s stabilized.’
‘Are there no side rooms, then?’
‘They’re occupied by people who are worse than her, sir.’
He went back to sit by Sue’s bed, nodding to a woman sitting by a bed further down the row. He’d read somewhere that the first twenty-four hours were critical, so he wasn’t going anywhere yet.
Every now and then he tried phoning Pete. It wasn’t until four o’clock that his cousin picked up the call and it didn’t take Edward long to realize that Pete was still drunk.
‘Your mother’s in hospital.’
Silence. Then, ‘What happened?’
‘She had a stroke. I’m with her now. You might like to join us, if you’re sober enough. I’ve been ringing you for several hours.’
Pete ignored his comment. ‘I’ll have a quick shower first.’
‘Clearing your head? You’ve got to stop hitting the booze so hard, Pete. Your face is starting to get puffy. That’s not good for your image.’
‘Will you get off my back!’ The phone was slammed down hard.
Early on Tuesday morning Beth picked up the phone, hoping the call hadn’t woken the children. Her heart lifted when she heard Edward’s voice. Then he explained about his aunt.
‘Oh, dear! I’m so sorry.’
‘I’m staying with her. At the moment I’m waiting for Pete to arrive. I hope I didn’t wake you. You said you always got up early.’
‘I’m in the kitchen enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee. The others haven’t surfaced yet.’
‘We’ll have to play it by ear as to whether I can still take you out tonight, as we’d planned. I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Of course I don’t. Your aunt must come first. Is Pete with her?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll be thinking about you.’
Ghita walked to the supermarket, strapping the boys into their double buggy and enjoying the afternoon sunshine. Soon they’d be too old to push around then things would be more difficult. They were a lively pair and Mikey in particular was always into mischief.
As she was coming out of the supermarket, a car screeched to a halt and she jerked back in shock as her father jumped out of it and strode across to her.
He grabbed her arm. ‘Why didn’t you let me know you’d moved? Where are you living now? If you’re with a man—’
She tried to pull away and the security officer outside the supermarket moved forward a little. ‘Let me go!’ she muttered. ‘People are staring.’
He looked round, then did as she’d asked, but his expression was dark with anger. ‘Give me your address at once.’
She knew he’d make a scene if she didn’t do as he asked, and for a moment wondered whether to give him a false address, but she knew she couldn’t hide for ever unless she left London completely. Then what would Jo do? And how would Mikey and Kaleel cope without one another?
She raised her chin and for the first time stared right back at him. ‘Jo and I are living with her mother temporarily, while we search for somewhere to live. They’re pulling down the flats we used to live in.’
‘Those hovels! I was ashamed to think of my daughter living there. And why did you go to Mrs Harding when you could have come home?’
She felt her knees tremble, but she had to do it, had to tell him that she wouldn’t obey him. ‘I told you it wouldn’t be right to live at home again. I’m a mother myself now and I need to make a home for my son.’
‘You can’t possibly give him a home like ours. And what sort of home is it with only women?’
‘My home may not be as comfortable as yours, but I can give him love and happiness. I’m not bringing him to a place where he’d be scorned – and where I would, too.’
‘How dare you speak to me like that?’
He raised his hand, as he’d raised it so many times before, and she cowered back.
To her shuddering relief, the security officer stepped between them. ‘Excuse me, sir. I hope you weren’t going to hit this young lady.’
‘She’s my daughter. I’ll do as I like with her.’
The officer grew grim-faced. ‘It’s against the law to assault people, sir, whoever they are. If you hit her, I’ll call the police.’
Breath whooshed into her father’s mouth and he seemed to grow bigger, his face dark red. Oh, she knew that look, knew it all too well.
Kaleel began to cry and it was the fear in his voice that gave her the courage to say, ‘Please leave us alone, Father. You won’t change my mind.’
‘Perhaps you should move away now, sir?’ the officer said, and though his voice was perfectly polite, there was steel beneath the quiet tone.
Ghita’s father swung round and strode back to the car.
She watched it drive away then reaction set in and she began to tremble.
‘Come over here and sit down a minute, love.’
Before she knew it, she was inside a small office, sitting on a hard metal chair, and the two boys had somehow been released from their safety straps and followed her in. They clung to her, one on either side, terrified. Even Mikey was weeping. The man who’d saved them stood in the doorway, his eyes kind.
‘I’ve asked my friend to get you a cup of tea. Nothing like it for shock.’
‘Thank you. I’m sorry about the disturbance. My father . . . hasn’t grown used to British ways.’
‘There are a lot like that and some of them aren’t from overseas. I think bullies are bullies, whatever their background.’
She blinked at him in shock. ‘You do?’
He nodded. ‘My old man was Irish. He used to beat us up till my brother got big enough to thump him back, and by the time Sean had left home, I was big enough to protect myself and our mother.’ He looked at her, worry creasing his forehead. ‘Will you be all right going home?’
‘I don’t know. My father will probably follow me to find out where I live.’
‘Look . . . I’ve got a van. I come off duty in a few minutes. I could take you home. If you and the boys ride in
the back, no one will see you.’
She looked at him, amazed that a stranger could make such an offer. She was going to say no, but he had such a kind, open face, she trusted him instinctively. ‘Would you really do that?’
He grinned. ‘Sir Kevin O’Galahad, that’s me.’
She smiled involuntarily. ‘You do feel like a knight coming to my rescue.’
‘That’s agreed, then. Now, drink your tea and I’ll just finish my shift.’ He paused in the doorway. ‘I’m Kevin Daly, by the way. If you want me to bring the manager to vouch for me being respectable, I will.’
‘No need. I trust you.’
‘Well, I’ve never hit a woman and I never shall, nor do I go around frightening little lads.’
‘Your wife is a lucky woman.’
His face grew sad. ‘Mary died last year. Cancer, it was. And I was the lucky one to have even a few years with her. She was a lovely woman.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Ah well, life goes on, don’t it?’
Fifteen minutes later Kevin came back and took them out through the staff entrance, fastening her and the little boys carefully into his elderly but immaculately clean van. She gave him her address and they drove off.
As they passed the front of the supermarket she saw through the back window that her father had parked his car to watch for her, and she shivered.
‘My father was waiting for us.’
‘Well, he didn’t see you.’
When they arrived at the flats, Kevin insisted on helping her and the boys in with the shopping.
Jo had just come home off an early shift and when Ghita explained what had happened, she grew angry. ‘You’re going to have to get a restraining order.’
‘They don’t work,’ Kevin said. ‘My sister tried that with her ex.’
‘My father will keep on till he finds me. He won’t care about restraining orders.’
‘We’ll think of something,’ Kevin said. He coloured slightly. ‘If you’ll let me help you, that is?’
‘Why should you?’ Jo asked.
‘I don’t like bullies. And I’m fond of kids.’
Jo studied him through narrowed eyes and looked questioningly at her friend.
Ghita blushed and it was left to Kaleel to solve the dilemma. He fetched one of his books in and dumped it in Kevin’s lap.
‘Read it.’
Kevin picked up the book and beckoned to Mikey, then looked at the two women. ‘I think the lads have just voted for me but I’ll leave if you want me to.’
‘I still don’t understand why you want to help me,’ Ghita said.
He shrugged. ‘Loneliness, if you must know. I’ve nothing much to do after work now I’m on my own. Mary always said you should help others, so that’s what I try to do. Besides,’ he looked at the boys, ‘I love children. Trouble is, you have to be careful of going near them these days if you’re not related. If you want me to get a police clearance, I will.’
Jo shook her head, smiling now. ‘I think you’ve just talked yourself into a friendship, Kevin.’
He smiled back at her, but his eyes immediately returned to Ghita.
Beth came home just as Kevin was leaving.
‘Hello, Mrs Harding! How’ve you been keeping?’
‘Kevin!’ She looked at his uniform. ‘I see you got yourself one of those security jobs. You all right?’
‘Yes.’ He looked at the girls. ‘Small world, isn’t it? I used to do odd shifts for Mrs Harding when Mary was ill.’
Ghita explained how she’d met Kevin and Beth assured both girls that he was indeed trustworthy.
‘I think he fancies Ghita,’ Jo said after he’d left.
She went bright red. ‘I’ve only just met him.’
‘And he’s already talked himself into seeing you again. He’s coming round to take you shopping tomorrow.’
‘If you don’t want to see him, you have only to say so.’ Beth looked at her questioningly.
Ghita hesitated then avoided their eyes as she said, ‘The boys like him. It’s not good for them only to be with women.’
‘Well, invite him round to tea in return for the shopping.’ Jo winked at her mother.
Linda looked at Nat mutinously. ‘I know I’m going to get hurt, but I can’t let it go. He’s my son.’ She watched him rub his right temple, a habit he had when he was worried about something. She knew he cared about her, but she had to do this for herself. Had to.
‘How are you going to see him if he keeps avoiding you, love?’
‘Beth’s given me the address of his office.’
‘And you’ll just push your way in?’
‘If I have to.’
‘You’ll let me come with you?’
‘As long as you promise not to try to stop me.’
He mimed crossing his heart. ‘I doubt anyone could. But I want to be there for you. When are you going?’
‘Thursday. It wouldn’t be fair to do it just before a show. This way, if he’s upset, he’ll have time to get over it before the next show.’
‘And you? Will you get over it within a day or two?’
‘I don’t suppose so. But I shan’t have a nervous breakdown this time. I’m much stronger than I used to be.’ She went across the office and put her arms round him. ‘Dear Nat. Thank you for caring about me.’
He hugged her back and his voice came out muffled as he said, ‘I don’t want to lose you.’
‘Why should you? This has nothing to do with you and me.’
‘Who knows? I don’t trust family crises. People can be cruel to one another, or they can act out of character.’ He pulled away from her as the phone rang. ‘No peace for the wicked.’ He picked it up. ‘Nat Bailey here. What? I don’t believe it! I’ll be there in five minutes.’ He slammed the phone down. ‘Damned fools. What do they think they’re doing? That lorry cost me a fortune.’
As she watched him go, she murmured, ‘No peace for the good, either.’ What a lovely man he was!
But she had trouble concentrating on her work that afternoon, kept thinking about her son.
Seventeen
Early on Wednesday evening Pete went to the make-up department. He’d seen his mother that morning and she’d looked a lot better, thank goodness. He’d met Edward at the hospital and they’d had another row afterwards about how he’d told Mum about his birth mother. Well, how was he to know she wasn’t well? She always said she was all right when he asked, didn’t she?
The older of the two make-up women had been in the job for a long time and was one of the best in the business, so spoke her mind to everyone without fear or favour.
Today Di scowled at him in the mirror. ‘Did you have to dress young Gerry down in front of everyone the other day, Pete? The lad’s doing his best. No one can do more than that.’
‘Mind your own damned business, Di.’
Lips tight she carried on with his make-up. When she’d finished, he thought he didn’t look as good as usual, but there wasn’t time to have it redone. He looked at her suspiciously and she smirked.
Had she deliberately made him up wrongly? He peered into the mirror. No one would believe him if he complained because if she had, it was very subtly done. Or maybe it was because his face looked puffier. Could Edward be right about the drinking doing that?
He was still worrying about his appearance when the show began.
For the first time ever, things didn’t run smoothly, and it was going out live. Furious at this, Pete pinned on a smile and at one stage confessed to his viewers that he’d lost a valuable member of staff that week, which was why things weren’t running as smoothly as usual. ‘The young guy who’s taken over is doing his best and I’m sure he’ll have things under better control next week. A big hand for Gerry!’
The studio audience applauded wildly.
Gerry’s smile was unconvincing.
The regression segment went well, though, thanks to the computer gurus, who continued to produce their wonderful i
mages at the drop of a hat. It was a continuation night, with two follow-up stories. One was particularly touching. An elderly man, who’d been separated from his family and taken to Australia when he was a child, was back in England desperately searching for any surviving relatives. Thanks to ReGress he’d been able to get an image of himself at the age when he’d been sent to Australia by the authorities, and had made an appeal when he first appeared on the show. A major newspaper had taken up the story, publishing the image and asking if anyone remembered that child.
The man’s brother and sister had recognized him and this continuation segment showed the reunion. A real tear-jerker, which the viewers loved. Most people in the studio audience were dabbing unashamedly at their eyes and even Pete felt moved by the three siblings’ joy. He listened to tales of the English pair’s desperate search for their lost brother, whom they’d believed to be in Canada, marvelling at how keen people were to find their families.
They mentioned how upset their widowed mother had been when her son had been taken away from her while she was recovering from a serious illness. But the authorities in those days had been more autocratic and had decided the boy would do better with a fresh start. She’d never managed to find out what had happened to him and had died grieving over that.
For the first time, Pete wondered what his birth mother had gone through when he’d vanished. He simply hadn’t connected with the emotional side of the affair before, had only seen it as an annoying disruption at an important stage in his career.
He was thoughtful as he walked out of the studio. He still didn’t want to rock the boat, nor did he want to see his birth mother – definitely not! – but he was beginning to realize how unhappy she must have been.
Perhaps Edward could find some way of letting her down gently.
No, dammit, Edward wasn’t there any more.
Well, he’d think of something to do himself. But not tonight. He was exhausted.
As Pete left the studio, Gerry scowled at him. Not only had he not said thank you for all the extra effort and hours Gerry had put in since Edward’s departure, he’d blamed Gerry on the show itself for the problems, though most of these stemmed from last-minute changes Pete had ordered. Not content with that, as he left the studio he’d made yet another dig at his acting manager’s ability to organize things, one that had been overheard by several of the other guys.