Stay as Sweet as You Are

by Joan Jonker

  After a brief pause, Bob went on to the start of last night’s events. ‘I took Lucy to the pictures last night, and we really enjoyed ourselves. We walked home eating chips out of the paper and I was happier than I’ve been in a long time.’

  ‘Didn’t Ruby go with yer?’

  Bob shook his head. ‘My wife was out boozing. Who with, God only knows. She wouldn’t dream of coming out with me or Lucy, she says we’re dull. And I’m a fuddy-duddy who doesn’t know how to enjoy himself. Anyway, Lucy went to bed about nine, and I followed an hour later. I was well away when Ruby came in at a quarter past eleven and woke me up getting into bed.’ Bob met Kate’s eyes, ‘I hope I don’t embarrass yer with what I’m going to tell yer, but it’s the truth and I want yer to know.’ It wasn’t easy to find the right words and he only managed by keeping his eyes to the ground. When he heard Kate’s sharp intake of breath, he looked up to see the colour had drained from her face. ‘Not a pretty story, is it?’

  ‘Not a pretty life for you or Lucy, either. I’m very sorry, Bob, I don’t know how yer’ve put up with it all these years.’

  ‘Neither do I, or me friends. But last night was the last straw. I’m getting away from her and I wondered if yer know anybody who takes in lodgers?’

  Kate shook her head. ‘They’re all two-up two-down houses where I live, and you’d need two bedrooms if Lucy’s with yer. My mam’s got a spare room and she’s taken a few lodgers in over the years. But, as I say, it’s only the one room, and a small one at that. I will ask around for yer, though, and I’ll get me mam to keep an eye open.’

  ‘Thanks, Kate. I bet ye’re sorry me and Billy ever came to sit at the same table as yer. I’ve done nothing but burden yer with me troubles.’

  ‘I don’t mind, I really don’t. If I could help yer at all I would, ’cos I think ye’re a good man, Bob, and I don’t like to see yer unhappy. Your wife must be a very stupid woman not to know when she’s well off.’

  ‘She might be stupid but she’s the one that’s going to be left with the house and all the furniture: me and Lucy will end up with nothing. But I’ve got to get out, I can’t live in the same house as her. We haven’t lived like a married couple for years, but right now I can’t even bear the thought of looking at her face, never mind sharing the same bed. And while I can manage sleeping on the couch for the odd night, I don’t fancy doing it for ever. So yer can see how desperate I am. If I had somewhere to go, I’d walk out today, even though it means leaving all me best friends behind.’

  ‘Something will turn up for yer, Bob, I’m sure.’

  ‘Oh, I know it will because I’m going to make it. As soon as I’m out of that house I’m going to make some enquiries about how to go about getting a divorce. I believe it takes a few years but I’m determined not to let her ruin me whole life for me.’

  Kate reached out and touched his arm. ‘Now, I might be able to help yer there. Yer see, I’m the poor one of the family. Me mam had two daughters, and our Audrey hopped in lucky and married a solicitor. At least he was only training when they got married, but he’s a fully fledged solicitor now. They live in a big posh house in Allerton. But he’s a nice bloke, Howard, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind giving yer some advice.’

  ‘Ye’re an angel, Kate. I feel better already, just talking to yer. If yer wouldn’t mind having a word with yer brother-in-law, I’d be grateful.’

  ‘Are yer sure it’s what yer really want, Bob? It’s a big step to take.’

  ‘It’s a step I should have taken years ago. Instead, I put up with being humiliated, degraded, and taunted by a wife who says I’m not a man, but a mouse. And for good measure she adds that she has no feelings for me, or our daughter. I’ve put up with all that, but I will not put up with a wife who goes with other men. Yer wouldn’t expect me to, would yer?’

  Kate shook her head. ‘No, I wouldn’t. I don’t think any man would. But I don’t want to interfere, you must make up your own mind.’

  ‘I have made it up, Kate, and I’ll not change it. So I beg of yer to ask around for some decent lodgings. The sooner I’m away from her the better.’

  ‘I will, I promise. And if I hear of anything I’ll give yer the nod in the canteen and we can meet here after work. Now I must go – me mam will wonder where I’ve got to.’

  ‘Yeah, I’d better scarper, too. I want to call in to see a couple of me friends. They’ve been good to me and it’s only right I tell them what’s going on. I’ll see yer tomorrow, Kate, and thanks for everything.’

  Bob’s hand was shaking as he knocked on Aggie’s door. It gave him no pleasure to talk about his wife to others, but she’d brought it on herself. And he couldn’t just disappear one day without telling his friends the reason.

  Aggie beamed when she saw him. ‘Have yer had something to eat already?’

  Shaking his head, Bob didn’t wait to be asked in. He passed her, saying, ‘No, I haven’t been home yet.’

  The wise old eyes noted his pallor and agitation. There was something radically wrong here. ‘What’s happened, son?’

  ‘I want to talk to yer, Aggie, and Irene. I wonder if yer could give her a knock for us. I don’t want to go in, in case Ruby’s looking out of the window. The last thing I need now is a slanging match with her.’

  ‘Are things as bad as you look, Bob?’

  ‘Much worse, Aggie.’

  ‘Right, I’ll go and get Irene. You sit yerself down.’

  Less than five minutes later the two women walked in, worry on both their faces. ‘Nothing has happened to Lucy, has it?’ This was Irene’s first concern.

  ‘No, Lucy’s all right. But what I’ve got to tell yer will affect her as much as meself.’

  ‘I should offer to make a pot of tea,’ Aggie said. ‘But I can see yer want to get something off yer chest so I’ll leave it till later.’ She motioned to Irene to sit down while she settled in her rocking chair. ‘What is it, Bob?’

  ‘I’m leaving home and taking Lucy with me.’

  The enormity of his statement rendered the women speechless. They stared at him, then at each other. Irene was the first to find her voice. ‘This is sudden, isn’t it? What happened to make yer think of anything so drastic?’

  ‘After years of being taken for a sucker, Irene, I’ve finally had enough. I did intend waiting for Lucy to leave school, but last night altered all that. Yer see, I found out my wife has been sleeping with another man. I doubt they did much sleeping, but I used the word to spare my embarrassment and your blushes.’

  Aggie fell back in her chair, shaken by Bob’s words. ‘Well, I’ve always thought the worst of Ruby, but even so I never thought she was that bad.’

  Irene too was shaken. ‘How did yer find out?’

  Choosing words that wouldn’t cause offence, Bob related the events of the night before. ‘I’ve been a fool not to have twigged what she was up to before now.’

  ‘Are yer sure ye’re not mistaken, son?’ Aggie asked.

  ‘Of course he’s sure.’ Irene couldn’t remember ever being as angry as she was now. If Bob moved away they would lose a good friend, and they’d lose Lucy. All because of a woman who wasn’t fit to wipe their shoes. ‘I’m sorry, Bob, but I’ve known for ages that Ruby was gadding about when you were on afternoons and nights. Perhaps I should have told yer, but I didn’t want to interfere. I’ve seen her a few times slipping out the back way when Lucy’s been in bed asleep.’ Irene would never give the girl’s secret away. Bob would never find out from her that his daughter knew, and was ill from the worry. ‘I didn’t know she was seeing a man, though, but I can’t say it surprises me.’

  Aggie was wishing Titch was home. He would think of some way whereby Bob wouldn’t have to leave his home. ‘Does Ruby know that yer know?’

  ‘Oh, yes. Before I went down to sleep on the couch, I told her she was a slut. A dirty, cheap slut.’

  ‘And she didn’t deny it?’

  ‘She couldn’t, Aggie, ’cos it’s the truth. Ruby thinks
I’m stupid, she’s told me often enough, but she knows I’m not that thick.’

  ‘And ye’re determined to move out and take Lucy with yer?’

  ‘For the sake of my sanity, I’ve got to.’

  ‘Does Lucy know?’

  ‘Not yet, Aggie, and I’m not going to tell her until I’ve found digs for us. I’ve got a few people looking around for me, so when it’s settled I’ll tell Lucy. That way she won’t be worrying and wondering.’

  Irene was feeling sick inside. Bob and Lucy were very dear to her, she didn’t want to lose them. ‘All these years yer’ve worked hard to build that home up, Bob, it’s not fair that you should be the one to leave. And Lucy won’t like being moved away from her friends.’

  ‘Don’t think I haven’t gone over all this in me mind a hundred times, Irene. I don’t want to move away from you and George, and Aggie and Titch. We’ve been best mates for years and it’ll break me heart to leave yer. But there’s no alternative. I’m so full of bitterness towards Ruby for what she’s done to me and Lucy, I can’t bear the thought of being in the same house as her.’

  Aggie coughed to clear her throat, because tears weren’t far away. ‘There is an alternative, Bob. It’s your name on the rent book, not Ruby’s. So let her move out. She’s the one who’s wronged you, not the other way round.’

  ‘I haven’t got it in me to throw her out, Aggie, and I can’t see her leaving of her own free will. There’d be blue murder and I can’t take any more, I’ve had a bellyful.’

  But Aggie was still determined to talk him out of it. ‘If your name’s down as the tenant, it’s you who’ll be responsible for paying the rent. Ruby won’t pay it, that’s a bleedin’ dead cert, so it’s you they’ll come after.’

  Bob sighed and ran a hand across his brow. ‘I’ll pay the rent, Aggie, but I won’t give it to Ruby, I’ll pass it in to the office. I won’t give her money to keep herself though, so she’ll have to find a job.’

  ‘I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous in all me life,’ Irene said heatedly. ‘Your wife is a bitch and a cheap tart. Any other man would have thrown her out years ago and said good riddance. But you don’t throw her out, yer throw yerself and yer daughter out instead! I can see neither sense nor reason in that.’

  ‘Me neither,’ Aggie said. ‘I wish Titch was here to drum some sense into yer. Why don’t yer go home now and tell her to pack her bags and go to the bloke she was with last night? She might just surprise yer and do it.’

  ‘Aye, and pigs might fly.’ But Aggie’s words set Bob’s brain in motion. Everyone would think he was a weak fool for leaving an adulterous wife sitting pretty in a fully furnished house, while he made himself and his daughter homeless. And if he didn’t even put up a fight, they’d be right. He didn’t think there was much chance of Ruby doing what Aggie said and packing her bags, but to prove to himself that he wasn’t the spineless creature she took him for, he had to at least try. He spread out his hands and gave a faint smile. ‘However, seeing as pigs have nothing to do with this, Aggie, I might just do as yer say. And because I don’t want Lucy involved in any fighting, I’ll get home now before she comes in from school.’

  ‘I’ll stand at the door and wait for her, Bob,’ Aggie said. ‘I’ll bring her in here and keep her talking for as long as I can.’

  ‘And I’ll stay with yer.’ Irene was so mad her heart was beating fifteen to the dozen. ‘We won’t let on, so don’t worry. But we’ll be on pins wondering how yer got on, so will yer give a knock tonight and let us know?’

  Bob pushed himself up out of the chair. ‘Of course I will.’ He looked from one worried face to the other. And with a catch in his voice, said, ‘I can’t imagine life without you two.’ With that he strode from the room before they saw the moisture of tears in the corner of his eyes.

  Rhoda was going to her grandma’s straight from school so, being on her own, Lucy used the back entries for quickness. When she opened the yard door, she could hear raised voices coming from the living room. Her heart sinking, she stayed close to the side wall where she couldn’t be seen, and stood on the kitchen step. She was in two minds what to do. If her mother was having a go at her dad, she’d go in without hesitation. But if they were discussing something private, it might be better if she went back out again. When she heard her father speaking, though, her feet were rooted to the spot. She didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but his words brought fear to her heart and she couldn’t move.

  Bob and Ruby were facing each other across the table, their faces red and their eyes blazing with anger.

  ‘Who was the bloke yer slept with last night?’ Bob asked. ‘That’s if yer even know his name.’

  ‘Don’t be so bleedin’ stupid. Ye’re away with the mixer, you are, imagining things in that thick head of yours. They’ll be putting yer away one of these days.’

  ‘I’m not imagining things, I know for certain that yer slept with a man last night. It’s probably not the first time, either, but I can’t be sure of that. I can be sure of last night, though.’

  Ruby was taken aback. Somebody must have seen her. She was always very careful but Bob was so sure of himself, she must have been seen. She opened her mouth to deny it, then changed her mind. Why bother lying when he couldn’t do anything about it, anyway? An evil smile crossed her face. ‘Okay, I was with a bloke. So what? If I can’t be entertained to my liking here, what’s wrong with looking elsewhere for it?’

  ‘I wouldn’t lower meself to answer that question. Ye’re a bitch, Ruby. A scheming, cruel, heartless bitch. And I want yer to pack yer bags and get out of my house, right now. I don’t want to ever set eyes on yer again.’

  Ruby’s hard laugh rang out. ‘Some hope you’ve got, soft lad. This is my house and no one is going to shift me from it.’

  ‘Wrong! It’s my house and I want you out of it. I’m surprised yer want to stay, anyway, seeing how little yer think of Lucy and me. I bet we never entered yer head when yer were being so well entertained last night.’

  ‘Ye’re bleedin’ right there! Mind you, yer never do enter me head. I wouldn’t care if I never saw either of yer again. But this house is a roof over me head and no one will budge me from it. Certainly not you, ye’re not man enough.’

  Bob was determined to knock that cocky smile off her face and the sarcasm from her voice. ‘I’ve made arrangements to see a solicitor with a view to starting divorce proceedings, so while I’m at it, I’ll find out whether you have any legal right, as an adulteress, to remain in my house.’

  His words did knock the cocky smile off her face, but not for long. ‘Who are yer trying to kid? Yer stupid bleedin’ fool, yer don’t expect me to fall for that, do yer?’

  ‘Please yerself. But tonight is your turn to sleep on the couch. And I warn yer, I’ll not hesitate to throw yer down the stairs if yer make any effort to get in the bedroom.’

  Lucy was devastated as she made her way silently out of the yard and walked up the entry to the main road. She wasn’t worried about her mother, she wished she would pack her bags and leave. It was her dad she was worried about because she knew her mother was brazen enough to stay put. Nothing would make her move, even though she knew her husband had found out what she was up to.

  Lucy sighed as she turned into her street as she normally did each night when she was with Rhoda. What was going to happen to them? Because they couldn’t pretend to be a family, not now. She was so deep in thought, she didn’t see Aggie standing on her step talking to Mrs Pollard, until she was on top of them.

  ‘Ye’re late, sweetheart, where’ve yer been? We were beginning to think yer’d got lost, weren’t we, Irene?’

  Irene smiled. ‘We nearly had the police force out looking for yer, sunshine. Our Greg got home ages ago.’

  ‘Rhoda was going straight to her grandma’s, so we stood talking for a while outside the school gates.’ Lucy was wishing her tummy would settle down and her heart stop racing. She just wanted to crawl away somewhere and give way to her sad
ness with tears. ‘Why, did yer want me for anything?’

  ‘Not for anything in particular, sweetheart, we just wanted to see yer pretty face. And we did start to get worried when yer were so late.’

  ‘Aggie’s right, sunshine,’ Irene said. ‘Yer see, when yer love someone, yer can’t help but worry about them.’

  ‘And yer do love me, don’t yer?’ Deprived of love all her life by the one person who should love her more than anyone, Lucy needed reassurance. ‘I mean, really love me?’

  ‘Of course we do, don’t yer know that?’ Irene sensed the girl’s unhappiness and was puzzled. Lucy couldn’t know what was happening because she hadn’t been home yet. ‘I’d go as far as to say yer must be the most loved person in this street. What do you say, Aggie?’

  ‘Oh, without a shadow of a doubt. Yer’ve got yer dad, me and Titch, Irene and all her family and Steve and his mam. That’s besides Rhoda and the other neighbours.’

  ‘There yer are, yer see. One thing yer’ve got plenty of, sunshine, is love.’ Irene held out her hand. ‘Come on, yer dad will be wondering what’s keeping yer. And it’s time I thought about what to give my lot for their dinner.’

  Lucy took her hand. ‘I’ll see yer, Mrs Aggie.’

  ‘Yer can count on it, sweetheart. Ta-ra for now.’ Aggie watched them walk away with sadness in her heart and tears in her eyes. She dreaded what the future had in store for the girl whose pretty face should never be without a smile. And whose life should never know anything but kindness and affection.

  Lucy was reluctant to release the hand that gave her comfort and a feeling of safety. But she had no excuse to cling to it. She was afraid of going home because of what she might find, but knew she couldn’t put it off for ever. ‘I’ll probably see yer later, Mrs Pollard.’

  ‘I hope so, sunshine. And yer know what I’ve told yer hundreds of times, just knock if yer want a game of cards or fancy a natter. Don’t ever forget that.’