A Rare Ruby
Page 23
He picked up his hat. ‘I’m sorry. I only wanted to see you home, just to make sure you got here safe.’
She lit a cigarette and blew the smoke high in the air. ‘Thomas, I’ve been looking after meself since I was nine years old. I know all the wrinkles and how to get what you want out of life. The reason that I live in this block, this glory hole’ - she pointed to the front door - ‘is because I get it free from a punter. That way all the money I earn goes on the things I want and not on rent.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Thomas.
‘No, it’s me that should be sorry. I should have guessed that you would still be in mourning. But you see, I like you, and I thought I could help cheer you up.’
He smiled. ‘Perhaps some other time.’
‘Yes,’ she said, opening the door.
As he walked home he thought of Ruby. What would she say if she knew her father had been to Mrs Bell’s place? This was something he would have to keep to himself.
Tom tossed and turned all night.
‘I shan’t be sorry when you’re in Dad’s room,’ said Ruby the following morning. ‘You’ve been a right fidget all night. What’s the matter with you?’
‘Nothing. A bit excited, I suppose. It’s Christmas Eve!’
Ruby felt her heart sink. ‘Tom, I’m so sorry. I don’t think there’s anything to get excited about. We’ve only got the pork chops Mr Cox gave us for Christmas. We ain’t got a pudding or anything fancy.’
‘It’s all right. I’ve got you a little present.’
She couldn’t bear to puncture his enthusiasm. ‘Look, I’ve got to get ready for work. Make Dad a cuppa, will you?’
As soon as he’d finished chopping the wood and doing the errands for Milly, Tom raced to the coal yard. The thought of bringing home a chicken was uppermost in his mind and he didn’t want to miss the gang. He was relieved to see they were still sitting talking.
‘Yer late,’ said Freddie.
‘I had some other things to do.’
‘Are they more important than the gang?’
Tom looked at his boots and shook his head.
‘Right,’ said Freddie. ‘After last night I think we’d better move on ter new territory. I thought we might give the market round by the Blue Anchor a go.’
Ginger took a quick intake of breath. ‘That’s Alfie Anderson’s patch.’
‘So what?’ said Freddie.
‘He can be very nasty,’ said Ginger.
‘I know. So can I when I need to.’
Tom knew he must be visibly shaking. He couldn’t tell them that he didn’t want to go. He was terrified of Alfie Anderson.
Freddie stood up. ‘OK. It’ll be the same as we always work.’
‘When we gonner get these chickens?’ asked Tom.
‘Not till ternight. We’ve got ter wait till the blokes come out the pub stoned out their minds and all the old dears are hanging about waiting fer their old men and somefink cheap. That way the butcher and his boy will be so busy pulling the birds down ’e won’t notice when a few of ’em go missing.’
‘Is it safe?’ asked Harry.
Freddie grinned. ‘’As been all the years me and me dad’s been doing it. Now ’e’s inside I told me mum I’d take over.’
Tom felt sick. He didn’t want to be here. All the money he’d had had gone. He knew now that it wasn’t worth it. He felt guilty. He had let Ruby and his dad down. He had to get away from Freddie Porter and his gang, but how? Would they beat him up now he knew about their gang? How could he get away?
As they were marching out of the coal yard somebody called to them, ‘Oi, you lot. What you up to?’
Tom looked round and then realised the others were running away.
‘Come back ’ere, yer little buggers.’
Tom took this opportunity to run in the opposite direction to the gang.
‘Look where you’re going, Tom!’ said Beth as he rounded the corner and almost fell over the pram. ‘What’s wrong, you’re as white as a ghost.’
He burst into tears.
Beth quickly put her arm round his shoulders and pulled him close to her. ‘What is it?’
He couldn’t speak. All the exhilaration at his exploits over the last weeks left him. He was angry, upset and full of guilt.
‘I’d better walk home with you. Is your dad home?’
Tom shook his head.
‘In that case you’d better come back to the pub with me. It’ll be opening time soon.’
Slowly they walked along. Beth was wondering what had happened to upset him like this. She wouldn’t question him in the street, but his sobs were pitiful to hear.
When they reached the pub she went from the back out to the bar. ‘Can you manage for a while without me?’ she asked Mr Thompson.
‘What’s up?’
‘I’ll tell you later.’
‘Don’t be too long.’
‘No, I won’t.’
Beth hurried back to Tom who was sitting playing with Danny.
‘Now, young man. I want you to tell me what’s the matter. I haven’t got a lot of time as I’ve got to go into the bar.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Tom stood up.
‘Sit down.’ Beth’s voice was forceful.
Tom did as he was told.
‘Well?’
Tears sprang to his eyes as he told her everything that had happened. Beth didn’t interrupt till he had finished. Tom blew his nose. ‘I wanted to give the money to Ruby. I wanted her to have nice things. I wanted to buy her a frock so she can go to her mate’s wedding in something nice, not always wearing other people’s left-offs. And I wanted us to have a nice Christmas even though we ain’t got Mum.’
Beth thought her heart would break. She went to him and held him close against her.
‘Beth. Beth! Hurry up!’ Mr Thompson was shouting from the bar.
‘Look, I’ve got to go. Stay here and look after Danny for me. We’ll try and sort this out, don’t worry. We’ll find out who took your money, but remember, you stole it in the first place, so . . .’ Beth shrugged. ‘Don’t worry,’ she repeated. She kissed the top of his head and left the room.
Tom sat on the floor and looked round the room. They had decorations, plenty of them. He looked at Danny’s toys. ‘You’re a lucky little boy, you’ve got lots of nice things. I was gonner buy you a bar of chocolate for Christmas.’
Danny toddled over to Tom and gave him a small horse. ‘Horse. Horse,’ he said, and fell on his bottom.
‘Have you got a cart we can fill up?’
He gave Tom a cart but said, ‘Horse. Horse.’
‘This is a cart. Say “cart”.’
‘Horse. Horse.’
Tom laughed, then stopped. He hadn’t laughed in a long, long while.
Chapter 23
Beth had told Mr Thompson that Tom was looking after Danny, as she knew he worried about him when she was behind the bar. The thing that had been uppermost in her mind lately was that soon she wouldn’t be able to leave her son in his pram, he was getting too big. Although he was just in the passage, she spent a lot of time looking out of the door to make sure he was all right. He was usually very noisy and restless, and although he was strapped in he could tip the pram over. She needed someone to keep an eye on him; she didn’t know what she’d do if anything happened to him. He was more than the apple of her eye, he was her life. She had nobody but him. Her family was something she would rather forget. When she and Len sat quietly together in the afternoons she had gradually told him the truth about her past and her fears. She’d admitted that she’d run away from home when she was very young, and that she hadn’t been married to Danny’s father.
‘So you’re not a widow,’ Len had said.
‘No,’ she’d whispered. She’d been worried he would hold it against her, but he’d told her he wasn’t interested in her past. Perhaps on New Year’s Eve she could get Tom to come and look after him during the lunchtime shift. Evenings weren’t a problem as Danny
was in bed and fast asleep before she went down. In fact she could do with Tom every Saturday and Sundays: they were the only lunchtimes she was in the bar. She would ask Tom. She knew he could do with the money.
Beth’s thoughts went back to Tom and why he was here. She was confident he had told her everything and suspected he was right that Mr Cox had taken his money. It was going to be difficult to accuse him though, with the money being stolen in the first place; Mr Cox was no fool and was probably aware of that. Tom must have been desperate to do a thing like that. She knew how easy it was to get in with the wrong crowd; she had been born into it, and she didn’t want her son to finish up the same way. Would Mr Cox go to the police? When he walked into the bar, it took Beth all her energy to be polite to him. Her smile was fixed on her face like a mask.
‘Looking forward to Christmas?’ she asked him.
‘Not really,’ he said, taking the froth off the top of his glass and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘Young Ruby does her best but it ain’t the same since her mother went. I told her she should find herself a rich bloke, then we would all have decent meals.’
‘If she found herself a rich bloke she wouldn’t stay in that house looking after you.’
He gave her a smarmy grin and walked away to the seat next to the fire; it was the one he always sat in.
Beth was pleased when Mr Thompson called time and, as he ushered the last customer out, she said, ‘I’ll just pop out back and put the kettle on, then I’ll come and give you a hand with the glasses.’
‘You’re a good ’en, Beth, and no mistake.’
She smiled at him. She was so happy here. She knew that if he ever asked her to marry him, she would. It might come as a shock to those who thought she was already married, but she could live with that. He was good to her and he loved Danny and she knew he would look after her and her son.
‘Is your dad at home, Tom?’ she asked when she walked into the back room.
‘No, he’s working.’
‘Well, it is Christmas Eve and one of the busiest times. Tonight we’ll be rushed off our feet. Would you like me to come home with you and try to find out if Mr Cox has taken that money?’
‘It’s got to be him. Ruby and Dad would think they’d found a gold mine and they’d be full of it.’
‘Yes, you’re right. When I’ve made this tea I’ve got to help with the glasses so that Mr Thompson can bottle up for tonight. You keep your eye on Danny, then when I’ve finished we’ll go and see him.’
‘Thanks, Beth.’
‘Would you like to look after my son next Saturday when I have to go behind the bar at lunchtime?’
‘I don’t know. What if he cries?’
‘I’ll only be in the bar. I’ll pay you.’
Tom smiled. ‘All right.’
‘How’s the little lad?’ asked Mr Thompson when Beth returned to the bar.
‘He’s all right.’
‘Now, you’ve made sure that guard is firm in front of the fire?’
‘Course.’
‘Would never forgive meself if anything happened to him.’
Beth kissed his cheek. ‘I know. When I’ve finished here I’ve got to pop along with Tom. He’s had a bit of trouble.’
‘Nothing serious, I hope?’
‘No. I can handle it. But can I leave Danny here with you?’
‘Course.’
‘I’ll put him down for his afternoon nap. You can have a little rest when I get back.’
‘As I said, Beth, you’re a good ’en, and the best thing that ever happened to me.’
Tom was shaking when they went into the house. It was with fear and anger. Beth had warned him that Mr Cox might deny it, and he might even threaten Tom with the police. ‘After all, it wasn’t really your money, was it?’
Tom shook his head. ‘Shall I come up with you?’ he asked as he stood at the bottom of the stairs watching Beth go up.
‘Perhaps you’d better. Just in case he thinks I’m making it up.’
Beth knocked on his kitchen door. ‘Mr Cox,’ she called softly. ‘It’s me, Beth.’
There was no answer.
‘I don’t want to knock too loud in case he’s asleep,’ she said over her shoulder. ‘I don’t want him to have a heart attack. Mr Cox,’ she called again.
‘He must be out,’ said Tom, almost relieved. ‘Let’s leave it, shall we?’
‘No. I think he should know how you feel.’
‘But what if he’s gone to the police? He could be there now.’ Tom was full of dread. He ran down the stairs.
‘Tom. Tom. Come back.’
‘I don’t want to go to prison. Freddie’s dad and brothers are in prison,’ he shouted from the bottom of the stairs.
‘You won’t go to prison,’ said Beth, hurrying down to join him.
‘How do you know?’
‘I’m sure it won’t come to that. We can talk to Mr Cox.’
‘We might be too late.’ Tom’s voice was high and emotional. ‘He can keep the money.’
‘Make a pot of tea. Your dad should be home soon. Is Ruby finishing early today?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You’d better put a bit of coal on that fire, they’ll be frozen when they get home. I’m just going out to the lav.’
Tom took the big black kettle that sat on the range and poured some water into the teapot. He took the pot into the washhouse to empty. He looked through the washhouse window and through the late afternoon gloom he saw Beth - she was arguing with Mr Cox. He must have been in the lav.
‘Thomas, I’m very sorry about last Saturday,’ said Mrs Bell as they walked along.
Thomas had been very surprised to see her waiting for him outside the pub. ‘What are you doing here? And why are you waiting for me?’
‘I want to apologise.’
‘Apologise! What for?’
‘Last Saturday. I didn’t mean to hurt you. You are a very warm and sensitive man.’ She touched his arm. ‘I didn’t like to say anything in there.’ She looked behind her towards the pub. ‘I’ve brought you a Christmas present.’
‘What?’
She delved into her handbag.
‘Mrs Bell—’
‘Please, call me Rita.’
‘Rita. I can’t . . .’
‘Merry Christmas,’ she said, handing him a small package. ‘I won’t be in tomorrow lunchtime as I’m going away with a gentleman friend. I hope you have a nice Christmas.’ She pulled the luxurious black fur collar of her coat closer to her face, leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
She turned and hurried away, leaving Thomas Jenkins bewildered. At the corner of the street she turned and waved. He smiled, waved back and touched his cheek. He really didn’t know what to make of that woman.
Tom rushed out into the yard.
‘Ah, here’s our little thief. You thought you was being clever, hiding your ill-gotten gains on the ledge in there, didn’t you?’
‘How d’you know it was stolen?’
‘Come off it. I wasn’t born yesterday. When I saw you drag that box in the lav I wondered what you was up to.’
‘But . . . How . . .?’
Mr Cox pointed up to his kitchen window. ‘Saw you from up there. Thought it was a bit odd, so I decided to come down and see what it was all about.’
Tom felt deflated. He had never thought to check up there. Mr Cox’s kitchen window overlooked the yard. He often looked down on what they did. Tom had to think quickly. ‘How d’you know I wasn’t saving it for Christmas?’
‘What? Where would you get twenty-five bob from?’
Tom heard Beth take a quick breath. He hadn’t told her how much there had been.
‘It ain’t from chopping up wood,’ continued Mr Cox.
‘I think you should give it back to Tom,’ said Beth. ‘After all, his needs are greater than yours.’
Mr Cox laughed in her face. ‘So you’re encouraging this little sod to steal?’
‘Cou
rse I’m not.’ Beth’s voice was full of anger.
‘You lot are all tarred with the same brush.’ He poked her shoulder with his finger. ‘You ain’t a relation, you’re just a trollop, you ain’t married neither. I’ve made it me business to find out all about you. I know where you’ve come from. Right old lot they are an’ all.’
Tom looked from one to the other.
Beth was seething. ‘Don’t you poke me. How dare you talk to me like this? You’re barred from the pub.’
‘You can’t do that, it ain’t yours. I know what your little game is - you’ve set your sights on poor old Thompson. Wait till he knows all about you.’ He went to walk away. ‘And you wait till I tell his father and that stuck-up sister of his about this. Then, when I’ve spent half of it, I’ll go to the police.’ He laughed. ‘I’m really going to enjoy this.’
‘You can’t, you can’t,’ yelled Tom.
‘And who’s gonner stop me?’
‘Me.’ Tom lunged at Mr Cox and knocked him against the wall.
He quickly regained his breath and balance. ‘You little sod, come here. I’ll kill you.’
‘No you won’t!’ said Beth, hitting him with her clenched fists.
‘You cow.’ He threw his hands across Beth’s face and she fell heavily to the ground.
Tom and Mr Cox stood and looked at her lying still on the damp concrete.
‘You’ve killed her,’ said Tom softly.
‘Course I ain’t. Get up, you silly cow.’ He touched her with the toe of his boot.
Beth didn’t move.
‘You’ve killed her!’ repeated Tom, his voice rising.
‘Shut up.’
‘You’ve killed her!’ shouted Tom, falling to the ground beside Beth. He put his hand under her head. He slowly brought it out and looked at it. It was covered with blood. He sat on his haunches for a moment or two then leapt to his feet. ‘You’ve killed her. You’ve killed her,’ he yelled, pummelling Mr Cox’s chest with his fists.
‘I said shut up!’ Mr Cox was trying to get hold of Tom’s hands.
The last thing Tom felt was a blow to the side of his head.