by Dee Williams
As they got closer to number thirteen, Ruby could feel the atmosphere grow ever more tense. Would Mr Cox be there? Would he say it wasn’t him? She had been carrying Danny for well over an hour. He was a big boy and she was tired.
‘Ruby. I’m frightened,’ said Tom.
‘Don’t worry. Nothing’s gonner happen. I’m here now.’
But despite her brave words, her mind was churning over and over. Her father had remained silent throughout the long journey home. Would he snap out of it again? Should she let that doctor send him away? Could she cope with all that was in front of her? Danny began to wriggle to get down. Who was there to look after Danny? Did Beth actually have a husband? In all the time they’d known her he had never appeared, not even a letter, as far as Ruby knew. Would Mr Thompson know who her family was and where she’d come from? How would she be able to look after her father, Tom - and Danny if need be - and go to work? This wasn’t how Christmas should be.
Milly must have been looking out of the window because as soon as Ruby had collected the front-door key from the ledge she was at her side.
‘That’s a smashing hat you’re wearing,’ she said to Tom.
He gave her a watery smile and touched his bandage.
‘At least it’s keeping your brains in. How’re things with Beth?’
Ruby didn’t answer at once. In the narrow passage she put Danny down. ‘He’s a ton weight.’
Her father, Tom and Danny moved on to the kitchen. Milly went to follow them but Ruby put out her hand to stop her.
‘Milly, they think Beth will die.’
Milly put her hand to her mouth. ‘No! Do they know who did it?’
Ruby nodded. ‘Mr Cox.’
‘What?’ Milly screamed out.
‘Shhh, keep your voice down. He might be upstairs.’
They both looked up at the stairs to the door of his kitchen - it was closed.
‘Have the police been here?’ asked Ruby.
‘No. I would have seen them from the front-room window.’
‘Ruby, it’s freezing in there,’ said Tom, poking his head out of the kitchen door.
‘I expect it is. I’ll get the fire going as fast as I can.’
Milly waited till Tom went back into the kitchen, then asked, ‘Why did he do a thing like that?’
Ruby didn’t answer and, as they moved on, Milly asked, ‘What you gonner do about it?’
‘That’s up to the police.’
‘Look, it’ll take a while for the fire to take hold and the oven to get hot, so I’ll just pop home and get you a few bits.’
Milly was back and forth to the shop fetching a pot of tea and food for Danny and the Jenkinses. She wanted to stay a while to help, but Ruby told her she had to get back to her own family. After all, it was Christmas night. All the while the only time Thomas Jenkins moved was to pick up Danny and sit silently with him on his lap.
After a while Danny fell fast asleep. Ruby took him and put him on the floor in her and Tom’s room. She sat next to him. If only she had finished sewing that mattress. Tom would be in with her father and she wouldn’t have any fear of touching his head in the night. She gazed down at Danny sleeping peacefully. Thank goodness he was too young to know what had happened. This was all wrong. He should be playing with new toys. He didn’t know he could be all alone. Who was his father? Was there any way of finding out? She gently kissed his forehead. ‘This is a wicked world you have been born into, but I’ll do my best for you. Your mother’s bravery in looking after my brother may have cost her her life, and I’ll never ever forget that.’ Ruby lay next to her charge hoping she wouldn’t roll on him in the night. Soon she was sound asleep.
Chapter 26
It was Danny crawling all over her that woke Ruby up. She screwed up her nose. ‘You smell.’
He gave a little chuckle.
‘Ruby. Is Mr Cox home?’ Tom’s voice came through the darkness.
Ruby gave a start. ‘I don’t know.’ She hadn’t really thought about him.
‘Don’t let him get me.’
‘He won’t. How are you feeling?’
‘Me head hurts.’
‘I expect it does, you’ve got a nasty bump.’
‘Can I stay here for a bit? It’s nice and warm in bed.’
‘Course. Now, I’ve got to get this young man changed and fed.’
With Danny over her shoulder Ruby went into the kitchen. It was cold and she was taken aback to see her father sitting in front of the empty fireplace. ‘Dad. Dad.’
He looked up. ‘I’m sorry, Ruby.’
‘Ain’t you been to bed?’
He shook his head.
Ruby stared at her father. ‘You should have kept the fire in.’
‘Wasn’t thinking.’
She sat Danny on the floor and began clearing out the grate. ‘Keep your eye on Danny while I get some wood and coal.’ Outside it was just beginning to get light. Although the snow had kept away it was still freezing. She collected the wood and as she made her way back to the house she suddenly stopped. There on the ground was a large dark patch of blood. She felt sick at the thought of what must have happened here such a short while ago. She carefully stepped over it. ‘Please let it rain and wash it all away.’ Ruby knew that if she had to scrub it away, she would feel she was scrubbing Beth away.
Deep in thought she laid the fire and soon it was blazing and the kettle in place.
‘Dad, I’ll take a drop of water to wash Danny with. When the rest boils, make the tea.’
‘I can’t.’
‘Why not?’
‘The voices.’
Ruby couldn’t help herself as she shouted, ‘Tell them to go away.’
‘They won’t. I’ve tried.’
Her shouting made Danny cry.
‘Now see what you’ve done.’ Tears filled her eyes.
‘It was the blood.’
‘Oh Dad, please don’t give up. We’ve got to get through this together.’
‘It was seeing young Tom and Beth lying there. I haven’t slept worrying about her. She was there because of our Tom.’
‘I didn’t think you was listening.’
‘I was listening, but the voices in my head were getting louder.’
‘Look, I’ve got to get Danny changed. I’ll have to go down the ragbag to make him some sort of nappy. Later on you can go up to Mr Thompson and collect some of his things.’
‘I can’t.’
‘You’ve got to help.’
‘I don’t know if . . .’
‘That doctor said you could go to some sort of home. They can help you.’ As soon as the words left her lips Ruby regretted them. A look of horror filled her father’s face.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said immediately.
‘The doctor wants to put me away?’
‘No. No, course not. They can help war victims. Look, I’ve got to get Danny cleaned up.’ Ruby took the kettle into the washhouse and poured the water into the large butler sink. She sat Danny in it and gently let the warm water trickle over him, making him splash and laugh. She laughed with him but her thoughts were with her father. He must be having a terrible time fighting his demons. She should be more tolerant. Then there was Mr Cox - where was he? He hadn’t come down, nor had she heard him moving about upstairs. Does he know what he’s done? she wondered.
A knock on the front door startled her, then she heard Milly’s voice calling from the passage. ‘It’s me, may I come in?’
Milly walked into the washhouse. ‘Mum’s in the shop and Dad’s doing the books. I don’t think we’ll be very busy today. I’ve brought you over a couple of eggs and a bit of bacon. The bread ain’t that fresh, but it’ll do for toast.’
‘But we can’t—’ began Ruby.
‘Call it a late Christmas present. Besides, we’ve all got to help.’
‘You’re so good to us. I don’t know what we’d do without you.’
Milly shrugged her shoulders. ‘How’s Tom this mor
ning?’
‘Got a headache and a bruise on his face, but other than that, he seems fine. He’s worried about seeing Mr Cox though.’
‘Where is he? Is he upstairs?’
‘I don’t think so. I ain’t heard him.’
‘D’you want me to go and look?’
‘I don’t know. If he knew what’s happened wouldn’t he run away?’
Again Milly shrugged. ‘Knowing him, I wouldn’t have thought so. D’you know why he did it?’
Once again Ruby ignored the question as she lifted Danny from the sink and wrapped him in a towel.
‘He’s a lovely kid,’ said Milly, holding his hand. ‘What’s gonner happen to him, if anything . . .’ She couldn’t finish the sentence.
‘I don’t know. But we mustn’t give up. Beth is still alive and you hear of wonderful things happening these days.’
‘Yes, that’s true. Are you going to work?’
Ruby shook her head. ‘I can’t go and leave all this.’
‘Perhaps it will sort itself out.’
‘I wonder if Mr Thompson’s home? I need clean clothes for Danny and nappies. And I could do with his pram and high chair.’
‘It sounds as if you’re taking over.’
‘Who else is there?’
‘I don’t know. I’ll tell you what, I bet when this gets out all sorts of people will come and tell us about Beth. We might even find out if she really is married and who Danny’s father is. How’s your dad taking this?’
‘Not well. It looks like he’s slipping back to the way he was before Mum died.’
‘Look, I’ll go up and see if he’s home.’ Milly raised her eyes to the ceiling.
‘Give me a minute to dress Danny, then I’ll come up with you.’
Milly followed Ruby up the stairs. Ruby could feel her heart racing. What would she say to him? Not that she wanted to talk to him: she wanted to hit him.
Ruby knocked on the door. Silence.
‘Let’s go in,’ said Milly, grabbing the handle and attempting to turn it. ‘It’s locked.’
‘He always keeps his door locked.’
‘So how we gonner get in?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘What happens when you do his cleaning?’
‘He leaves it open.’
They stood for a moment or two looking at the door.
‘I’ve got an idea,’ said Milly, rushing down the stairs.
‘What you gonner do?’ yelled Ruby over the banister.
‘Get a chopper.’
The gentle tapping on his shoulder woke Mr Thompson. ‘What is it? What’s happened?’ He quickly regained his senses and sat up. ‘Is she all right?’
The nurse was standing over him. ‘Nothing’s changed. I’m afraid you have to leave.’
‘But why?’
‘The hospital has to get back into its routine.’
Mr Thompson was stiff from sitting in the chair all night. He hadn’t had a lot of sleep, as the corridor was a constant hive of activity. ‘Please let me stay, just in case she wakes up.’
‘I’m sorry. You have been very lucky to be here all this time. It was only because it was Christmas that Matron was so generous.’
He stood up. ‘Can I say goodbye?’
The nurse smiled. ‘Yes, but you must be quick. The doctor will be doing his round shortly.’
He arched his back. Every bone in his body ached, but he would have climbed Everest if it meant seeing Beth well.
Behind the screens he gazed down on her lovely face. ‘You have been like a breath of fresh air into my life. I’ll be back with the ring I bought you for Christmas. Beth, will you be my wife? I promise to take care of you and Danny till the end of my days.’
The screen was pulled to one side. ‘Please. You must go now.’
He bent down and kissed her pale lips. ‘I love you.’ With tears stinging his eyes he quickly walked away. It wouldn’t do for anyone to see what a stupid old fool he was. After all, she was years younger than him.
Outside he stood and blew his nose. The first thing he had to do was find Cox. He didn’t know what would happen after that.
The crashing of the chopper hitting the door brought Tom and his father to the foot of the stairs.
‘What are you doing?’ shouted Tom.
‘Trying to get in,’ said Milly with the chopper above her head, ready to give the door another blow. ‘Who knows what we’ll find.’
‘You can’t do that,’ said Thomas.
‘I can,’ Milly said defiantly.
‘We’ve got to get in,’ said Ruby.
‘Why?’ asked her father.
‘He might not be at home,’ said Tom from the safety of the bottom of the stairs.
‘If he’s not in, then he’s deaf, or dead,’ said Milly.
Ruby took in a quick breath. ‘You don’t think . . .? He wouldn’t . . .?’
‘You never know.’ The chopper crashed against the door again and Milly put her hand through the hole and opened the door. ‘Welcome,’ she said with a grand gesture, standing to one side.
Ruby wanted to giggle at the mess. Her father and Tom remained at the bottom of the stairs; both had a worried look on their faces.
Ruby went into the kitchen. It looked just the same as always. On the table was a dirty cup and saucer, a teapot and a milk jug. Ruby picked up the jug and smelt it.
‘Phew, this is off.’
The sugar in the bowl was caked and brown with tea.
Ruby walked into the tiny scullery and looked about her. There was nothing different.
Milly went out of the room and Ruby followed her.
‘This the bedroom?’ asked Milly, pointing to another closed door.
Ruby nodded.
Milly stood to one side and let Ruby go first.
‘Do I need me chopper?’
‘Might do. It is normally locked.’ Ruby took hold of the handle and turned it. The door opened and as she slowly pushed it open a little wider and moved in, it squeaked in protest. Ruby was very frightened at what she might find, but the room was empty. ‘He’s gone.’ Relief sounded in her voice. ‘He’s not here.’
‘Let’s see if he’s taken his things,’ said Milly, opening the cupboard.
Ruby stood and watched her.
‘There ain’t much here.’
‘Never did have a lot. Come on, let’s get downstairs, it’s freezing up here.’
In the cosy kitchen Milly asked, ‘What happens now?’
‘Don’t know,’ said Ruby.
‘He ain’t gonner be pleased at that mess,’ said Tom.
‘I know. I wonder where he’s gone,’ said Ruby.
‘D’you think the police have got him?’ asked Milly.
‘They don’t have a reason,’ said Thomas Jenkins.
Milly looked at Tom and his father. ‘Not yet they don’t. After all, a lot of men knock women about,’ she said with displeasure in her voice.
Tom said nothing.
‘D’you think Mr Thompson is still at the hospital?’ asked Ruby.
‘He seems a nice man.’
‘I think he is.’
‘He should be back soon to open the pub,’ said Milly.
‘Unless . . .’ Ruby shook her head. ‘I mustn’t think like that.’
It was later that morning when Mr Thompson finally knocked on the front door.
‘Come in. How’s Beth?’ asked Ruby.
‘About the same. Is Cox upstairs?’
‘No.’
‘Where is he?’
‘We don’t know. Would you like a cup of tea?’
‘Yes please. Then I must get back to open up for the lunchtime trade.’ He bent down and picked up Danny. He turned to Ruby. ‘I wish I could take him with me, but I expect I’ll be busy. You do understand?’
‘He’ll be all right here. Could I possibly have some of Danny’s things?’
‘Yes, of course. You can walk back with me. I’ll give you some money too, so that you
don’t go short.’
‘That’s very kind of you.’
‘How are you feeling, young man?’ he asked Tom.
‘Not too bad. I’m ever so sorry about what happened to Beth.’
‘Not nearly as sorry as Cox will be when I catch up with him. Do you know what made him do it?’
Ruby and Tom looked at each other.
‘I’d rather not say,’ said Tom.
Mr Thompson put Danny on the floor. ‘If it’s what I think you’re trying to say, then he should be strung up. If there’s something I can’t stand, it’s dirty old sods what . . . I bet you’re livid, ain’t yer, Thomas?’
Thomas looked at him. ‘I don’t know why it happened.’ ‘Never mind. My Beth’s a good girl and she wouldn’t let anybody do anything like that.’
Ruby could see Tom was about to speak. ‘Is it all right if we go soon? I don’t have any more rags to make Danny a nappy.’
‘Course, love. I’ve finished me tea. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the mess up there. Just went off and left it.’
‘Dad, Tom, let’s all go and give Mr Thompson a hand.’
‘I can’t let you do that.’
‘Why not? It was Beth who helped us.’
For the first time in two days Mr Thompson smiled. ‘Thanks.’
‘I ain’t going,’ said her father.
‘But, Dad, why not?’
‘I’ll wait here for Mary.’
Ruby slumped into the chair. ‘Mum’s dead.’
‘No, she’s at the hospital.’
Ruby looked up at her father. ‘No, Dad. It’s Beth. Oh, what am I gonner do?’
‘Give him time,’ said Mr Thompson. ‘You stay here and look after your father. Tom can come with me and bring Danny’s things back.’
Ruby stood up. ‘No. I’m coming with you.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes.’ Ruby was putting on her hat and coat. She knew if she stayed with her father she would say things she might in later life regret. She had to keep herself busy. She knew she should be scrubbing the yard, but she couldn’t bring herself to do that, not just yet. ‘Ready.’
Outside, Mr Thompson put Danny high on his shoulders and they walked up the road.
‘He’s getting to be a ton weight. You’d better take his pram.’