by June Francis
When she arrived upstairs, she found James reading the Hardy Boys adventure story that Babs had sent at Christmas to Gabrielle, who told Lucia that she was feeling a bit better. Lucia stayed until her sister had emptied the cup and then she went downstairs, having been aware that the noise level below had sunk. It was as she reached the bottom of the stairs that there came a knock on the door. Responding to its summons, she found Jerry standing on the step.
‘Hello, Jerry. What are you doing here?’ she asked.
‘Dad said I was to ask nicely could I come and keep Joseph company? I’m much better and it is so boring at home.’
‘How is your dad?’
‘The doctor’s coming out to see him again.’ Jerry paused for breath. ‘Mrs Hudson is going to listen out for him – and Marty is bringing Granny to see him.’
‘Well, I’m sure your dad will soon be feeling better – and it’s good that your granny is coming to visit, isn’t it? You’ll be wanting to see her.’
He agreed. ‘Dad will tell her where to find me. Can I come in?’ he asked, looking slightly anxious.
‘Of course! What am I thinking of, keeping you on the step?’ She ushered him indoors, telling him to go into the kitchen, and watched as he and Joseph greeted each other like long-lost brothers. Within moments they were comparing spots, each trying to count how many the other had.
Lucia made herself a drinking chocolate and went into the parlour with a library book. She sat in an armchair by the window so she could keep an eye out for comings and goings next door. She had not been there long when she saw a car draw up at the kerb. Marty stepped out and went round to the passenger side and opened the door and helped out an elderly woman. She was dressed in a russet-coloured coat with a fur collar and a brown hat with a brim trimmed with beige ribbon and a cream flower. They crossed the pavement and walked up the neighbouring step.
Lucia wondered if she should immediately tell Jerry that his grandmother and uncle had arrived, or wait until one of them came for him. She decided on the latter, thinking that most likely they would want to talk to Tim undisturbed. She had to admit that she felt slightly concerned that he had felt the need to summon the doctor again.
She attempted to lose herself in the library book, but found herself re-reading two pages without taking in much of the story, so she gave up and went into the kitchen to see how the boys were getting on. She also loaded the washer of the twin-tub. Then she settled herself in the armchair by the window in the parlour again and soon saw another car parking out at the front and the doctor stepping out. No doubt Marty or his mother would be knocking on her front door very soon.
When the knocker sounded, Lucia opened the door to the elderly woman she had seen earlier. She introduced herself as Mrs McGrath, Tim’s mother, and asked if Jerry was there. Lucia invited her inside and led her into the kitchen, saying, ‘Jerry, your grandmother is here.’
Instantly he jumped to his feet and ran over to the elderly lady and flung his arms about her waist. ‘And how is my little cherub feeling?’ she asked.
‘I’ve got hundreds of spots, Gran, but I feel lots better than yesterday.’
‘Well, one thing is for sure, you look a lot better than your poor dad. So are you coming to say hello to your uncle Marty?’
‘Has he brought Fang with him?’
‘No, your dad has enough to cope with at the moment. He can’t be caring for a dog as well, when he’s ill.’
Jerry nodded and then looked at Lucia. ‘Can I come back later, please?’
‘Of course you can, if that’s all right with your dad and gran.’
Mrs McGrath looked at Lucia. ‘My son has told me a lot about you, Lucia. I hope you don’t mind me calling you by your Christian name, only he’s never mentioned your surname.’
‘It’s Brookes but I don’t mind at all you calling me Lucia.’
‘I believe Father Francis, my parish priest, is your uncle.’
‘Yes.’
‘He’s a lovely man,’ said Mrs McGrath.
Lucia agreed that he was, and wondered if it was via her uncle that she could worm herself into Tim’s mother’s good graces, although why she was thinking such a thing she did not know. It wasn’t as if she expected to have much to do with her.
‘I do appreciate all the help you’ve given my son in taking care of Jerry.’
‘Jerry isn’t any trouble,’ Lucia said. ‘But how is Tim this morning?’
‘His temperature is still high but the doctor has prescribed a stronger medicine that should bring it down. He’s always been a delicate boy.’
Lucia found that hard to believe but kept her thoughts to herself.
‘I’d better go,’ said Mrs McGrath. ‘It’s been very nice meeting you, Lucia.’
‘Likewise,’ murmured Lucia. ‘I’ll see you out.’
She stood at the door, watching until Mrs McGrath and Jerry disappeared inside next door. Then she went upstairs to see how Gabrielle was doing. When she reached the landing, she expected to hear James reading to his sister, but all was quiet. Opening the bedroom door she found James lying on the bed, reading to himself.
‘She’s asleep,’ he said, glancing at Lucia.
‘Good! Best thing for her.’ Lucia felt Gabrielle’s forehead and was relieved to find it cooler. ‘I think she’s turned the corner.’ She looked at James. ‘You can go downstairs now if you like.’
‘It’s OK. I’m comfortable here and it’s quieter – better for reading. I can also keep my eye on Gabby.’
‘Don’t call her that. Mam always insisted on us being given our full names.’
‘But Gabrielle is a mouthful.’
‘I know, but Gabby isn’t very complimentary, is it?’
‘I’ve called her it before and she doesn’t mind.’
‘Well, just don’t call her it in my company.’
‘It’s all right for you. Your name’s short. Mam’s dead, so what does it matter if we shorten our names? Besides which, Mam’s name was Charlotte but nobody called her that – she was always just Lottie.’
‘Maybe that’s why she insisted on us being called by our full names,’ Lucia said. ‘Now I’m going down.’
‘Who was at the door?’
‘Jerry’s grandmother. She came to visit him and his dad, so Jerry’s gone back next door.’
‘Good. He’s always here. You’re not going to marry his dad, are you?’
Lucia’s heart did a peculiar little jump. ‘Why should you think that?’
‘Because you obviously like him and he likes you. I can tell by the way he looks at you.’
‘How would you feel if I did marry him?’
‘I’d hate it. He’d be telling me what to do, and besides, we don’t need another man in the house. We’ve got our Michael.’
‘Only when he’s here,’ Lucia said. ‘Anyway, I doubt Tim would ask me to marry him when it means taking you lot on as well.’
James gave a satisfied smile. ‘Yes, but you’re forgetting he’s no Tarzan. He can’t even walk properly. I bet he can’t dance and you like dancing – and he’s an ex-jailbird.’
Lucia turned and left the bedroom, controlling her temper and closing the door gently behind her. Brothers! They think they have everything sussed out. Yet she could not deny the truth of his words.
All was reasonably peaceful downstairs, so she put the washing in the spin drier and then prepared lunch.
Joseph asked if he could go next door and ask to play with Jerry.
‘No,’ she said.
‘Why not?’ he asked. ‘I’m fed up all on my own painting a silly ol’ picture.’
‘Because Jerry and his dad have visitors, so they won’t want to be bothered with you.’
‘I wouldn’t be a bother – and I bet Jerry would rather play with me than talk to visitors.’
‘Just do as you’re told,’ Lucia said. ‘I’m making lunch anyway.’
‘Can I go after lunch?’
‘No!’
&n
bsp; ‘Why not? The visitors might have gone by then.’
‘And they mightn’t have. Why don’t you just do as you’re told?’
‘Because I want to play with Jerry. If we didn’t have the measles we could be out, taking turns riding his bike.’
‘You wouldn’t – you’d be at school. Now stop bothering me and be a good boy. It could be that Jerry will come here as soon as the visitors have gone,’ she said.
Those words were enough to satisfy Joseph for the moment, and he returned to the kitchen and his colouring in. Lucia picked up the washing basket and went out into the garden, glad to have some fresh air. She hung out the washing as it was windy and dry and she hated having it drying inside unless absolutely necessary – she loved it smelling of fresh air – then it was back indoors.
Joseph must have heard her come in because a few minutes later he was back trying to persuade her to let him go next door. She said, ‘You have to understand, love, that you can’t always have your own way. If Aunt Nellie was coming to visit, she’d want to see you and have your whole attention, not have you playing with the boy next door.’
‘She wouldn’t want to talk to me for long. Grown-ups don’t. She’ll want to get all the gossip from you.’
Lucia could not deny the truth of that. ‘Even so, Jerry’s dad is very poorly and won’t be able to cope with having you there. Be patient and let’s see if Jerry comes back this afternoon. In the meantime you can help me make gingerbread men after I’ve made some soup.’
‘OK,’ said Joseph cheerfully. ‘Can I cut them out?’
Lucia nodded.
It didn’t take her long to make a pan of lentil soup, and then she collected all the ingredients together for the gingerbread. When she had mixed it and rolled it out, she passed the cutter to Joseph and watched him press it in to the pastry. Several times she wanted to take over from him, but managed to restrain herself until she could gather the leftover pastry into a ball, then rolled it out and cut out four more little men. She emptied currants into a small bowl and, between them, they gave the gingerbread men eyes and a nose and buttons down their fronts before placing them on a baking tray and putting that in the oven.
‘They won’t burn, will they?’ Joseph asked anxiously.
‘No, they’ll bake and come out nice and crunchy.’ Lucia cleared up the mess before getting out bowls, spoons and a loaf of bread; the crust crackled when she sliced it. She set the table and then went to tell the sleeping beauties that lunch was ready. Then she went to check the gingerbread men and, with Joseph hovering beside her, took them out of the oven.
‘They smell lovely,’ said Joseph. ‘I can’t wait to taste one. I’m sure Jerry would love one.’
‘We’ll save one each for him and his dad,’ said Lucia, thinking if Jerry did not come knocking that afternoon, once Theresa came in from school, she would pop next door with Joseph and take two gingerbread men and see how Tim was.
They did not hear from Jerry, so when Theresa turned up at a quarter to five, Lucia called to Joseph so they could nip next door while Theresa kept her eye on the two upstairs, and got things ready for supper. Lucia had noticed that Marty’s car had gone, so presumed that Tim and Jerry were now alone.
‘Is Michael home?’ asked Theresa.
‘Not yet.’
‘I bet he’s with Marjorie.’
‘I wouldn’t think so this early,’ said Lucia. ‘Anyway, I haven’t time for this right now. I’m off.’
She and Joseph hurried to the neighbouring house. To her surprise the front door was slightly ajar, so she walked inside and knocked on the door of Tim’s apartment.
The door was opened by Jerry. His face lit up when he saw Joseph and he dragged him inside. ‘Come and see the Meccano set that Grandma brought me from my mam’s sisters.’
It was the first time that Joseph had heard that Jerry’s dead mother had sisters, but he made no comment and just let himself be dragged by Jerry to his bedroom, but not before he had asked Lucia for his friend’s gingerbread man. She kept hold of the one for Tim and asked Jerry if his dad was in bed.
‘Yeah,’ said Jerry. ‘Uncle Marty moved my bed back into my room so I wouldn’t be disturbing Dad too much.’
Within a few minutes, Lucia was seated on a chair at Tim’s bedside, thinking he didn’t look or sound any better. ‘I thought your mother might have stayed to look after you.’
Tim reached for pencil and pad and wrote: She had promised our Lil to babysit as she and her husband have an engagement party to go to, so Mam has to stay home this evening.
Lucia felt indignant on his behalf, thinking, what was a party compared to her son’s health?
He answered her unspoken question by writing: Mam would never hear the end of it if she put me before our Lil’s needs. Lil thinks the rest of the family should cut me off.
‘That’s sad.’
Not really, wrote Tim, I have no time for our Lil so I don’t care if I never see her again. She’s a hypocrite, and not in the least like our Marty and Peggy, who’ve never let me down.
‘I suppose your Peggy hasn’t visited you because she doesn’t want her little girl catching measles and she’d have to bring her with her?’
I told Marty to tell her not to come, Peg has enough on her plate.
‘It can’t be easy living with a mother-in-law,’ Lucia said.
He wrote, No, but it’s better than being homeless like so many were after the Blitz.
‘That’s very true. Anyway, how are you feeling? What did the doctor have to say?’
That I must stay in bed, no getting up and trying to write. I have to rest, plenty of drinks, and I must make sure and not miss taking any of the tablets he’s prescribed.
‘How are you going to manage all that on your own? And with all those drinks you’re going to need to get up to go to the loo. He must have thought your mother was staying because she was here when he visited.’
‘Yeah!’ croaked Tim. ‘And Mam seems to think Mrs Hudson could help me out.’
‘But she’s an old woman; older than your mother, I’d say,’ murmured Lucia.
Tim nodded.
‘Anyway, while I’m here I can give you a helping hand,’ said Lucia. ‘What would you like me to do first? Help you to the loo?’
‘You’re all right there,’ said Tim huskily. ‘Marty did that and helped me shave. I’d better take a tablet, so if you could get me a drink?’
‘Sure. What would you like?’
‘Lemon barley water. Mam brought it. The bottle’s by the electric kettle which Marty filled,’ Tim whispered.
Lucia wasted no time bringing him a drink. ‘Joseph and I baked some gingerbread men and I brought you one, but you might find it painful to eat.’
‘I could dunk it if you don’t mind making me a coffee before you have to go?’
Lucia brought her head closer to his in order to hear him properly. She took the opportunity to feel his forehead and came to a decision.
‘How do you feel about me sponging your face with a cold flannel?’
‘It sounds lovely,’ he whispered. ‘A cold bath would be better. But that’s out of the question. Fortunately I have a sink in here, though, and a flannel.’
She went over to the sink and filled it with cold water, soaking the flannel before wringing out the surplus water and then going over to Tim’s bedside. She placed the flannel on his brow and held it there.
‘That’s lovely,’ he croaked.
She smiled down at him. ‘I was wondering if you have any ice in your fridge?’
‘I seldom use ice, but there just might be some in the ice-cube tray in the freezer compartment that’s been there for ages.’
‘I’ll have a look later,’ she said, removing the flannel and sponging the rest of his face with it.
He seized her wrist and lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. ‘I don’t know why you’re so kind to me.’
Lucia was deeply moved. ‘I told you, I like you, and when you lik
e people you want to help them.’
‘But why d’you like me when I’ve done so many selfish and wrong things?’
‘I admire you. You’re sorry for what you did and I think you are trying really hard to put the past behind you and forge out a new life for you and Jerry. I believe you need all the help you can get and I want to encourage you. We all need lots of encouragement when we go through a bad patch.’
‘But you’ve got so much on your plate with the kids having measles.’
‘It’s only Gabrielle who’s got it bad, and Theresa’s back from school so she is holding the fort right now.’
‘She’s a good kid, is Theresa. What about Michael, is he helping out?’
‘Not so as you’d notice. All he seems able to think about is Marjorie.’
‘Love’s young dream, hey?’ he said huskily.
‘You can say that again.’
‘We’ve all been there,’ he said.
‘Yes, and a lot of good it did me, I don’t think.’
‘Same here. But I wouldn’t have Jerry if I hadn’t married Bernie.’
Lucia said, ‘He’s a good lad. I believe some people are just meant to be born against the odds.’
‘You mean because God has a purpose for them in life?’ His voice sounded strained.
Lucia had forgotten her task and now got up and went over to the sink, dipping the flannel, which was warm with the heat from Tim’s face, in the water.
Time was getting on and Tim was starting to feel sleepy. He stifled a yawn.
‘You’re tired,’ Lucia said. ‘I’ll go in a few minutes so you can get some sleep.’
He caught her hand again. ‘You’ll come back tomorrow and see me?’
‘If that’s what you want.’
‘I want it to be what you want as well,’ he whispered.
Nine
Flushed with excitement, Lucia returned home, wondering if she should have lingered longer. Was it possible that Tim might have gone on to tell her that he was growing fond of her, and maybe even that he was falling in love with her? Her knees went weak at the thought. Too shy to make the next move, she’d hurried away to the kitchen to replace the flannel in the freezer before he could say anything else.