Family Matters

by Rachel Ennis

  ‘I’ll run home and fetch those baby clothes. I won’t be long.’

  ‘Don’t rush,’ Annie warned. ‘It’s black as your father’s hat out there. I don’t want you tripping over. I got enough to do.’

  Downstairs Jess grabbed her jacket.

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Tom said.

  ‘There’s no need, I’ll only be –’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Tom repeated. He handed the keys to Viv. ‘Gill should be back any minute.’

  The night air was cold and Jess smelled wood smoke then the scents of beer and frying onions as they hurried past the pub.

  Tom waited inside the front door as she grabbed a plastic bag from the cupboard and ran upstairs to the spare bedroom. From the top drawer of the chest she took two tiny white sleep suits and vests, then picked out a couple of towels from the airing cupboard, stuffing them into the bag as she hurried down.

  As they crossed the yard Jess heard Morwenna sing the first two lines of ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High,’ then the choir and the rest of the village joined in the chorus.

  Back inside, the door relocked, Jess handed her coat to Tom as Gill came downstairs carrying the kettle and jug.

  ‘Tom, go and talk to that boy. He’s fretting and Annie have got her hands full.’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘You’re a father,’ Jess reminded him. ‘You’ve been through this. Khalid is in strange place among people he doesn’t know. He’s probably blaming himself for everything that’s gone wrong.’

  ‘I can’t go in there,’ he blurted. ‘Not while she’s – it’s private.’

  ‘You can’t see anything –’ Gill began.

  ‘I rigged up a curtain,’ Jess explained. ‘It’s no different to being on a hospital ward.’

  ‘Not much it isn’t.’ But he followed her up. Jess opened the door. Indicating the faded velvet, she bit back a grin at the relief on his face.

  As Khalid looked up, Tom picked up two chairs and carried them out onto the small landing.

  ‘Come on, we’ll leave the women to it. They know what they’re doing. Your girl is in safe hands.’

  ‘I can’t –’

  ‘Listen, it’ll be harder for her if she’s afraid to make a sound in case you panic. But you’re here ready to go in when it’s time. Had something to eat, have you?’

  As the door closed Jess felt herself soften inside. When it came to steamrollers there was little to choose between Tom and Annie.

  ‘It’s me, Annie. I’ve brought the baby clothes and a couple more towels.’

  ‘Come in, Jess. Here, sit and talk to Farah for a minute.

  Jess sat on the small hard chair close to Farah’s head, facing her. ‘Would you like a drop of water?’

  Farah moved her head on the cushion Annie had covered with a torn piece of clean sheet. ‘Khalid?’ she asked in a raspy voice.

  ‘He’s out on the landing. Tom is keeping him company. Can you hear the singing?’ The choir had moved on to ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. Farah nodded. ‘Then you can imagine how loud it is down in the hall.’

  ‘No one will hear me?’

  Jess shook her head. ‘No.’

  Farah relaxed. Then her face crumpled as another contraction began. Jess grabbed her hand. ‘Don’t try to hold it in. Breathe as if you’ve been running. Like this.’ Jess panted. As the contraction progressed, Farah’s grip tightened. ‘Come on,’ Jess urged. ‘I learned to do it when I had my twins. I promise it will help.’ With Farah’s liquid brown eyes fixed on hers, they panted.

  The contraction subsided and Jess took a deep breath. Farah did the same. But as her mouth curved in a tired smile, tears slid from the outer corners of her eyes and soaked into the sheet.

  Jess’s throat ached in sympathy. She’d been alone when the twins were born. Alex had been abroad and her gran too ill to come to the hospital. Though Farah was giving birth among strangers, Khalid was feet away. That he loved her was obvious, and he was suffering on her behalf.

  ‘You’re doing brilliantly,’ Jess encouraged. ‘Isn’t she, Annie?’

  ‘Proper job,’ Annie said, setting out scissors and other items on a small tray then tearing open a white paper packet.

  ‘That’s a yes,’ Jess whispered, smoothing sweat-damp hair back from the girl’s forehead.

  ‘Won’t be long now, my bird,’ Annie said.

  During the next half-hour the contractions grew stronger and more frequent. Farah clutched Jess’s hand as they both blew quick breaths through pursed lips.

  Then suddenly Farah curled forward, her head lifting off the cushion as she strained.

  Jess swivelled round, slid her arm under Farah’s shoulders to support her, and saw Farah’s lips draw back from her teeth as a guttural sound emerged from her throat.

  ‘Hold on, bird, just a minute,’ Annie’s gloved hands were busy between Farah’s raised knees. ‘All right, push now. That’s right, my sweetheart. And one more.’

  Farah hunched and groaned, trembling with effort.

  Jess saw a smile spread over Annie’s face. ‘There we are. You’ve got a handsome baby boy.’

  Wonder smoothed all the pain from Farah’s face as Annie gave the baby a little shake. The tiny mouth opened and a bleat of protest emerged.

  ‘Got a fine pair of lungs on him,’ Annie said, laying the small pink slippery body on Farah’s deflated stomach.

  ‘Oh! Isn’t he beautiful?’ Farah breathed.

  Her eyes stinging, Jess nodded, flexing the hand Farah had crushed. ‘He’s perfect.’

  From downstairs the sound of ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night’ thundered through the closed doors. Jess thought of Morwenna singing her heart out and blinked away tears.

  She, Tom, and Morwenna had been in the same class at the village school. But as far as Jess knew Morwenna had never had a boyfriend and was now unlikely ever to have a child. Her life revolved around her job at a builder’s merchants in the town two miles away, the choir, and looking after her endlessly complaining mother.

  Looking at Farah’s glowing face as she gently stroked her son’s damp swirl of black hair with a careful finger, Jess thought of her own sons. Sam in Australia teaching at a sports academy, spending every spare moment surfing, and Rob, married with a baby girl and currently on rotation in A&E at the city hospital.

  ‘Jess,’ Farah’s soft voice broke into her thoughts. ‘Will you tell Khalid? He’s been so worried.’

  Annie glanced up. ‘He can come in and see for hisself soon as I’ve made you comfortable and tidied things away. Jess, this young lady could do with something to eat and a cup of tea. I wouldn’t mind one myself.’

  As Jess opened the door, Khalid and Tom both jumped to their feet.

  ‘Khalid, you have a fine baby boy.’

  ‘A son?’ Khalid’s voice cracked. ‘Farah?’

  ‘She’s fine. Tired but very happy and waiting to see you. Annie is just making her comfortable.’ She glanced down the stairs and saw Gill and Viv peering up.

  ‘Everything all right?’ Gill asked.

  Khalid leaned forward, his tired face alight with pride and relief. ‘We have a son.’

  ‘That’s wonderful. Congratulations,’ Gill said. ‘Your girl all right, is she?’

  He nodded. ‘Jess says they are both fine. I will see them soon.’

  ‘Proper job, my ’andsome,’ Viv beamed.

  ‘Come on,’ Gill nudged her. “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” was the last carol. Be like feeding time at the zoo in a minute.’ She switched off the bubbling urn, rinsed two huge brown teapots, added teabags, then filled them with boiling water. Viv carried the last loaded plate to the hatch worktop.

  Khalid seized Jess’s hand between both of his. ‘Thank you so much.’ Then turning he grabbed Tom’s hand and shook it hard. ‘Without your kindness … We can never –’

  ‘Baby got here safe and mother’s fine,’ Tom grinned. ‘That’s enough for me.’

  ‘Me too,’ Jess nod
ded. ‘I’m sorry you had to run away. But I’m glad you ended up here. I wouldn’t have missed this for anything. Would you like another cup of tea? I’m going to get one for Annie and some supper for Farah.’

  He shook his head. ‘Will Annie be long, do you think?’ As he spoke the door opened and Annie beamed at him.

  ‘In you come. You give your girl a kiss then you can watch me bath your son.’

  As the door closed behind him, Jess walked down the stairs with Tom close behind. At the bottom he put his arm around her shoulders.

  ‘Been some night, hasn’t it? And not over yet.’

  Applause erupted, loud and prolonged, on the other side of the hatch.

  ‘Viv,’ Jess leapt forward. ‘Don’t open the hatch for a minute. I’ve got to take –’

  ‘Don’t fret, bird,’ Gill called. ‘Tray’s ready. Two cups of tea and two plates filled with a bit of everything.’ She thrust it into Jess’s hands. ‘Up you go.’

  Viv waited for Jess to come down and as soon as she stepped off the bottom stair, unbolted the hatch and folded the doors back. Noise burst into the kitchen like a breaking wave.

  While Viv and Gill poured tea and pushed cups and saucers through the hatch, Tom replaced empty plates with others piled high with sandwiches, sausage rolls, portions of quiche, scones topped with jam and cream, and slices of various cakes.

  Filling the sink with hot soapy water, Jess started to wash up, her euphoria giving way to concern.

  ‘Hey, don’t look so worried.’ Tom bumped her shoulder with his. ‘Where’s the tea towels?’

  ‘Second drawer down,’ she nodded, her hands deep in the frothy water. ‘Tom, they can’t stay here.’

  ‘They’ll have to until everyone’s gone home and the pub’s shut for the night.’ Drying the cups and saucers he put them on the cleared worktop ready for Gill, keeping his back to the open hatch so no one but Jess could hear him. ‘Can I phone from your place? The friends they were meeting in France ought to be told what’s happened. And I need to make another call.’

  Jess turned her head, looked into his eyes. ‘You’re not thinking of taking them across on Marie-Louise?’

  He grinned. ‘You always were sharp as a tack.’ The grin faded. ‘I’ll be straight with you. I did think about it –’

  ‘Tom, you can’t.’

  ‘Let me finish, woman,’ he said mildly. ‘I said I thought about it. But it’s too risky. They’ve got passports but the baby hasn’t. If we arrived at Roscoff or Cherbourg and they haven’t got paperwork proving the baby is theirs, the border police and God knows who else would be called in and they could be charged with kidnap or child trafficking.’

  His words hit Jess like a punch, stopping her breath. ‘No!’

  ‘If that happened it would wreck any hope of keeping their whereabouts secret. It also crossed my mind to sail over to some quiet cove on the Brittany coast and put them ashore. But if they were picked up it would mean police, courts, all kinds of trouble. They’d likely be put on the first ferry or flight back to the UK.’

  Jess was awed. ‘You certainly have thought about it.’

  ‘I’m not just a pretty face.’

  ‘Jess!’ Jess looked round and saw Gill nod towards Morwenna who had slipped into the kitchen through the back door that Viv immediately relocked. She was carrying a man’s unturned cap in front of her. Her face was flushed deep rose and her eyes were shining. Recognising the cap as Dennis’s, Jess saw it was full of money.

  ‘What’s this?’

  ‘I took up a collection. I said it was for the homeless. Well it is.’

  Cupping her face, Tom kissed her soundly. ‘You are a jewel.’ She blushed crimson.

  Jess wiped her hands on Tom’s tea towel. ‘Mor, come with me.’

  ‘Hang on a minute.’ He poured the money into a plastic tub and handed it to Morwenna. ‘Dennis will want his cap.’

  Jess pushed Morwenna towards the stairs. ‘Don’t be long,’ she murmured to Tom. ‘I want to know what you’re planning.’

  On the landing she knocked then opened the door. ‘May we come in?’ Annie had pushed the makeshift curtain back towards the window removing the barrier.

  Khalid rose from his chair facing Farah. ‘The lady singer,’ he smiled. ‘Come and meet our son.’

  A lump swelled in Jess’s throat at the expression on Morwenna’s face as she looked down at the baby in Farah’s arms.

  ‘Oh, the dear of him! Isn’t he just handsome?’ She thrust the tub into Khalid’s hands but spoke to Farah. ‘’Tisn’t much but it all helps, don’t it?’

  Jess saw shock blank Khalid’s face as he looked from the money to Morwenna.

  ‘What is it?’ Farah asked. Khalid showed her. ‘Oh!’ Tears spilled down Farah’s cheeks but her smile was radiant. ‘When he’s older I will tell him about the night he was born. You’ve all been so kind.’ She lifted the baby to kiss him, her shoulders shaking. Putting the tub down, Khalid crouched beside her, his head close to hers as he stroked her hair.

  ‘Come on, Mor,’ Jess drew her towards the door. ‘You must be parched. Gill’s got a cup of tea waiting for you downstairs. We heard your solos.’

  ‘You did?’ Morwenna glanced back at couple and baby one final time. Then Jess closed the door and they started down to the kitchen.

  ‘Oh damn,’ Jess muttered seeing Bessie Richards at the hatch, her eyes bright with curiosity as she heaped a plate with different types of cake.

  ‘What you doing up there?’

  ‘Trying to make space for Margaret’s screens,’ Jess improvised before Morwenna could speak. ‘There isn’t room behind the stage.’

  ‘How’s that then?’

  ‘Harry’s storing the card tables back there. He wants them easier to reach.’

  ‘Well, make sure you get him to carry them up. You shouldn’t have to do it.’ She waddled away with her full plate and Jess released the breath she’d been holding.

  Reaching the bottom, Morwenna hurried over to Gill. ‘Isn’t he just gorgeous? Dear little soul. I’ve never seen a newborn. He’s so tiny. Those little hands and that lovely black hair.’

  ‘My Mark was born with a lovely thatch of hair like that. He kept it too.’ Gill pulled out a stool and patted it. ‘Take the weight off, Mor. Tea’s fresh.’ She moved the steaming cup forward then put a plate of food beside it. ‘You did some wonderful job tonight. We could hear you. Sounded beautiful you did.’

  As Viv chatted to people returning empty cups and plates to the hatch, Jess joined Tom at the sink.

  ‘What did she think of the baby?’ he asked as she picked up the tea towel.

  ‘The look on her face –’ Jess looked away shaking her head as she swallowed hard.

  ‘Been one hell of an evening hasn’t it, girl?’

  Taking a deep breath Jess wiped her eyes. ‘So, if you can’t take them across by boat –’

  ‘I could, but not without papers for the baby. Besides, sailing over in Marie-Louise could take up to twenty-four hours depending on winds and where we landed. Better to fly them across.’

  Jess clutched a half-wiped plate to her chest. ‘Fly?’

  ‘Did you ever meet Roger Tregenna?’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘His father used to over-winter his boat at the yard. I’ve known him years. He’s a flying instructor up at Bodmin Airfield.’

  ‘I’ve seen those little planes flying from Land’s End airport. But they’re only two-seaters.’

  ‘Not Roger’s. He does charter work as well. He’s got a four-seater Cessna Skyhawk.’

  ‘Even assuming he agrees –’

  ‘I’ll persuade him. He owes me a favour.’

  ‘Yes but how much will it cost? We can’t expect him to do it for free.’

  Tom lifted one shoulder. ‘I won’t know till I ask.’

  ‘Go and phone him. The front door key is in my right-hand pocket. While you’re there you’d better phone Khalid’s friends and tell them what’s
happened.’

  Wiping his hands on the tea towel, he shrugged into his jacket, held up the key, then took the stairs two at a time. Moments later he hurried down, pushing a piece of paper into his pocket.

  ‘Oi, where’re you skiving off to?’ Gill demanded as she picked up a stack of dirty dishes and started towards the sink. Jess saw him pause, speaking softly. Gill nodded towards the kitchen door. ‘Oh, right. Go on then.’

  Morwenna carried her plate and cup to Jess. ‘Want me to dry them do you?’

  ‘No, it’s all right, Mor. Most of it’s done. You’d better get on home. You did a brilliant job tonight.’

  ‘I’d sooner stay.’ There was yearning on her face. Then she sighed and went to fetch her coat. ‘But Mother will fret if I’m late.’ She glanced towards the stairs. ‘Where will they go, Jess?’

  ‘Tom’s gone to make some phone calls. He’s got a plan to help them reach their friends.’

  Excitement flickered across Morwenna’s tired face. ‘Will you tell me what happens?’

  ‘Of course I will. I’ll phone you at work and you can call in at my place on your way home.’

  Morwenna buttoned her coat. ‘I’ll never forget tonight, not till my dying day.’

  ‘’Night, Mor,’ Jess, Gill and Viv called.

  As the back door closed behind Morwenna, Gill leaned over the worktop and peered out through the hatch. ‘The choir’s gone. There’s just a few stragglers chatting near the door. I’ll go and get the rest of the dishes.’ Picking up an empty tray she unlocked the door into the hall and left it open.

  ‘Jess, I’ve put the leftovers in those two plastic containers,’ Viv said then began wiping down the worktops.

  ‘Any sign of Harry?’ Jess asked as Gill returned and unloaded the tray.

  ‘You got to be kidding. He’ll be over in the pub until Alan calls time.’

  Jess sighed. ‘Looks like we’ll be folding the card tables and stacking the chairs.’

  They had almost finished when Tom arrived back. He came through the front door and locked it behind him.

  ‘I called in at the pub and got the keys off Harry. I told him we still had a bit to do so I’d lock up to save him hanging around.’