by Kitty Neale
She felt she had ruined their evening, and whilst Wendy was dancing with Tony she said, ‘I … I'm sorry. It's my fault that you haven't been asked to dance. People are frightened of my family, but there's no need, and I wish they knew how wrong they are. I've spoiled things for you and shouldn't have come.’
‘Yeah, well, don't worry about it,’ Jane said. ‘Anyway, the blokes are always like this.’
Pet doubted it was true, but as usual she couldn't help jumping to her family's defence. ‘I know my father and brothers have got a reputation, but I don't know why. They're builders' merchants, that's all.’
She saw the swift glance that passed between Jane and Susan, but neither said anything.
Moments later Wendy left the floor, grinning as she joined them. ‘That was the last dance and as usual, Tony made sure he had it with me.’
Pet hid her feelings, only saying, ‘I'd best make a move or I'll be late home.’
The four girls left the hall together, but Pet would have to turn in the opposite direction to the others for her walk home. She glanced around, pleased that her father had kept his word and hadn't sent one of her brothers to meet her.
She said good night to her friends. Wendy was looking smug as Tony emerged with his brother, smiling in her direction.
‘It's still early and Tony lives only over the road. Once he's dropped his brother off, I'm sure he'll be back to say a proper good night,’ Wendy whispered, adding with a wink, ‘if you know what I mean.’
Pet forced a smile as she said goodbye again. ‘See you at school on Monday.’
‘Yes, see you,’ the girls echoed.
Pet gave a small wave as she walked away, but now her smile dropped. She had no chance with someone like Tony, but couldn't help dreaming, wondering what it would be like if she were the one he kissed good night.
She walked slowly. Had George turned up? Had her father sorted him out? God, she hoped so – hoped that peace had returned to the alley.
‘Hello, Pet.’
With a start, Pet spun round, her eyes widening at the sight of Tony smiling down at her. ‘Er… hello.’
‘Do you mind if I walk you home?’
‘No … no, of course not,’ she stammered, glad that the darkness was hiding her blushes.
He tucked her arm in his, and as they passed under a streetlamp, she looked up at his face, her heart skipping a beat. He was so good-looking! She was so nervous, and desperately tried to think of something to say, but words failed her. Come on, she cajoled herself, say something. At last she stammered, ‘Er … one of the girls told me that you're eighteen. What sort of work do you do?’
‘Oh, a bit of this and a bit of that.’
Pet frowned. ‘That sounds rather enigmatic.’
Tony laughed. ‘Rather enigmatic! Now that's classy. As I said before, I love the way you speak. I've always had a soft spot for a posh twang.’
‘Posh! I'm not posh.’
‘Don't kid a kidder. I can't wait to see where you live.’
Pet almost stopped in her tracks. Goodness, she couldn't let Tony take her all the way home. Her father would go mad if he saw her with a boy – let alone her brothers. Her mind raced. She'd let him walk her part of the way, but then insist that he turn back. All she needed now was an excuse. ‘My father insisted that I take elocution lessons, but I can assure you that we aren't posh. In fact, I'm afraid he's rather strict so it might be better if we part company on Lavender Hill.’
Tony smiled. ‘Yeah, all right, I get the picture.’
They continued to walk, the conversation now turning to music. Pet was enthusiastic in her praise of Elvis Presley, thrilled to find that Tony was a fan too.
They discussed his records and with something in common, Pet found that her nerves had eased.
They had just turned onto Lavender Hill when Tony pulled into a recessed shop doorway, one that was deep and in total darkness.
‘What …?’ Pet protested, but as Tony pulled her into his arms, bending to kiss her neck, a wave of delicious feelings made her gasp. Only moments later, his lips found hers, but as his tongue snaked in her mouth, she didn't know how to react. Was she supposed to do it back? God, she felt so gauche, out of her depth. She tentatively tried, finding it strange, yet sort of nice too. The kiss seemed to go on for ever, but then Tony began to run his hands over her body, one touching her breast.
Instantly Pet tried to pull away, but Tony held her fast.
‘No, no, let me go,’ she protested.
‘Come on,’ he said huskily. ‘You know you want it.’
‘I said let me go!’
Tony abruptly released her, his tone scathing. ‘I should have stuck with Wendy. At least she ain't a tease.’
Pet's eyes widened in the darkness. Was Tony inferring that Wendy let him go all the way? She drew herself upright, unaware of how haughty she sounded as she said, ‘Unlike Wendy, I am not that type of girl. She may not be a tease, but she must be a tart.’
Tony chuckled. ‘Oh, Pet,’ he gasped, ‘it's like I said. You've got class. Look, I'm sorry, but you can't blame a bloke for trying it on. Have I spoiled my chances or can I see you again?’
‘I'll think about it,’ she said, yet knowing full well that she'd jump at the chance of a date with Tony, despite his fumbling.
‘Fair enough,’ he said, as they moved out of the doorway. ‘Now can I walk you a bit further, or are we close to where you live?’
‘It isn't far so you'd best turn back. I live in Drapers Alley.’
‘Bloody hell! Don't tell me that you're related to the Drapers!’
‘Well, yes. Dan Draper is my father.’
‘Jesus,’ he groaned, ‘of all the girls to choose from, I had to pick Dan Draper's daughter. Look, forget I asked you out. In fact, forget you ever saw me,’ and on that abrupt note he hurried off without a backward glance.
‘Tony… wait,’ Pet called, but he didn't come back.
She saw him turn into a side street, out of sight now, and desolately she began to walk home again. She liked Tony a lot, but had seen the fear in his eyes when he realised who her father was.
Pet felt sick, at last facing her nightmare: the fact that all the gossip, the talk of her family being criminals, could be true. And not only that, judging by Tony's reaction, if they were criminals, they could be dangerous ones. No, no, it had all been in the past – it had to be …
As Pet drew near to Drapers Alley, all these thoughts were stripped from her mind when she saw an ambulance parked outside. Someone was being carried out of the alley! George! My God, what had her father done?
She ran – saw the family surrounding a stretcher and that her mother was sobbing.
‘Mum! Mum! What happened?’
It was Bob who stepped in front of Pet, obscuring her view. ‘Pet, go inside. You don't want to see this.’
‘Oh God! What has Dad done to George?’
‘It isn't George on the stretcher – it's Dad.’
‘What? No, no!’ she cried, pushing him aside, but her father was being loaded into the ambulance and it was too late for her to see anything. Her mother climbed inside, followed by Maurice, and then the doors closed. In seconds the ambulance sped away, lights flashing and the bell piercing the night air.
‘Pet, I'm taking Dad's car,’ Bob said. ‘Yvonne and I are going to the hospital. You go to my place. Wait with Sue, and when Danny and Chris turn up tell them where we are.’
‘I'm coming with you.’
‘No, it's best you stay here.’
Pet's shoulders stiffened. ‘He's my dad too and I've got a right to be there. Yvonne should be the one to stay behind. She can wait for Danny and Chris.’
‘Mum will need Yvonne, love. You know that.’
Pet's stomach lurched. ‘Why does Mum need Yvonne? Oh, Bob, don't tell me that Dad's dead?’
‘No, he's still alive, but he's in a very bad way.’
‘Then I'm coming with you,’ Pet said firmly.
Yvonne spoke then. ‘Pet's right, Bob, she should be there,’ and turning to Sue she said brusquely, ‘Keep an eye out. When Danny and Chris turn up, tell them what's happened.’
Sue looked momentarily annoyed, but then nodded. ‘Yeah, all right.’ She then took Norma's arm. ‘Come on, girl, let's get you inside.’
Norma looked awful, her voice high. ‘What if George turns up again?’
‘Keep out of his way. Leave Danny or Chris to deal with him,’ Bob said as he urged Pet and Yvonne forward.
Pet broke as she climbed into the car. ‘Oh, Yvonne, I can't believe this is happening.’
‘Don't cry, love. Your father's tough. He'll pull through, you'll see. Now come on, dry those tears. Your mother will need you to be strong.’
Strong? thought Pet. How can I be strong when my father might be dying?
Pet lost all track of time, and had no idea how long they had been sitting in the waiting room. Her mother was quiet, saying nothing, but Maurice was breathing heavily and Pet feared he was going to have a full-blown asthma attack.
As though aware of her eyes on him, he said, ‘Don't worry, I'm all right. What about you? How are you doing?’
‘I'm just worried sick about Dad.’
The door flew open and Chris came running into the waiting room, his face drawn with anxiety. ‘What's going on? How's Dad?’
‘We don't know,’ Bob told him.
‘We've been waiting for nearly an hour. It's about time someone came to tell us how he's doing,’ Maurice complained.
Yvonne stood up. ‘I'll see if I can find anyone.’
‘Are you all right, Mum?’ Chris asked as Yvonne left the room.
When his mother didn't reply, Chris sat down and placed his arm around her shoulder, but she shrugged him off. He shook his head, standing up again to move close to Bob, and though his voice was a hiss, Pet heard every word. ‘What the hell happened? And where's Danny?’
‘I'm not sure what happened, but going by Dad's injuries, I'd say that George kicked him in the head. As for where Danny is, your guess is as good as mine.’
‘Kicked him in the head!’ Pet cried. ‘You didn't tell me that.’
Chris looked annoyed. ‘What the hell is Pet doing here?’
‘I told her not to come, but she wouldn't have it,’ Bob said.
‘You're the adult. You should have put your foot down.’
‘Stop it!’ Pet cried. ‘Stop talking about me as if I'm not here.’
‘All right, that's enough! Can't you see that you're upsetting Mum?’ Maurice said.
They all looked at their mother, but she didn't look up, her hands wringing in her lap. ‘You all right, Mum?’ Chris asked again and when she didn't reply, he hissed, venomously, ‘When George shows his face I'll fucking kill him.’
Yvonne came back, shaking her head as she said, ‘The nurses can't tell me anything. We've got to wait for the doctor.’
‘What's taking him so bloody long?’ Maurice complained.
‘I think they're still working on your father.’
‘Bloody hell,’ Bob murmured.
Time slowly passed, and their conversation was sporadic. Despite her fears, Pet found her eyes drooping, but when the door swung open at midnight, she sat up with a start. But it wasn't a doctor who walked in, it was Danny.
‘What the hell's going on? How's Dad?’
‘We're still waiting for news,’ Maurice told him. ‘The doc …’
Danny was gone before Maurice finished the sentence; his brothers hurrying after him.
‘I expect Danny is going to see if he can find anything out, but like me, I doubt he'll have much luck,’ Yvonne said. ‘Can I get you anything, Mum? Would you like something to drink?’
Joan just shook her head, but at least there had been a reaction.
‘What about you, Pet?’ Yvonne offered.
‘No, no, thanks. Oh, Yvonne, why is it taking so long?’
‘I don't know, love, but we're sure to hear something soon.’
Danny came back into the room, trailing his brothers behind him. ‘Fucking nurses,’ he spat. ‘They won't tell me anything.’
‘Danny, please,’ Yvonne begged. ‘There's no point in losing your rag. The nurses do their best.’
‘I want to know what happened, from the beginning,’ Danny demanded. ‘All I got was a garbled report from Sue about George attacking Dad.’
‘That's about it,’ Bob told him. ‘I saw George running off and when I went round to his place I found Dad unconscious on the floor. He was in a state, so I called an ambulance.’
‘There must be more to it than that.’
‘George has been hitting Linda, and Dad was livid. He went round to sort him out, but don't ask me what happened after that because I wasn't there.’
Pet listened to this exchange, her stomach churning. George had attacked their father and beaten him. A sob escaped her throat.
Danny looked at her, his expression darkening. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’
Pet just shook her head, too choked to reply.
‘Chris, take her home.’
‘No, Danny,’ Pet begged. ‘Please, I can't go home, I can't … not until I've found out how Dad is.’
Before Danny could say anything, the door opened.
‘Mrs Draper?’ a doctor asked as he walked into the room.
Joan stood up, her eyes suddenly clear. ‘How is he?’ she asked.
‘Mr Draper is stable now, but he will have to remain in hospital until we can assess the extent of his injuries. He's obviously been badly beaten, and the police will have to be informed.’
‘No,’ Danny snapped. ‘He wasn't beaten – he fell down the stairs.’
The doctor's bushy eyebrows rose. ‘I find that unlikely.’
‘My father will tell you the same thing.’
An expression crossed the doctor's face, one that Pet couldn't fathom, but then Danny spoke again.
‘Can we see him?’
‘Just for a few minutes and only two of you, please.’
Danny stepped forward and Joan leaned on his arm as they left the room. ‘That's nice, ain't it?’ Bob complained. ‘Why Danny? Why not one of us?’
‘He's the eldest,’ Yvonne said.
Bob grunted but said nothing further, and they were back after only five minutes.
Pet, seeing how grey her mother looked, blurted out, ‘How is he? How's Dad?’
It was Danny who answered. ‘Dad's conscious, but he ain't right. When he tried to talk, he just sort of gibbered.’
‘Oh, Danny, surely his brain hasn't been damaged?’ Yvonne gasped.
As Joan's legs began to wobble, Chris hurried forward to take her other arm.
Pet's head was reeling. Did her father have brain damage? Was the knowledge of that what she had seen on the doctor's face?
Danny looked grim as he answered Yvonne. ‘I don't know and the doctor said it's too early to tell. Dad needs more tests.’
‘Mum's near collapse; we should get her home,’ Chris said.
‘No, no, I can't leave,’ Joan protested.
‘Mum, you heard the doctor,’ Danny said. ‘Dad's stable now, but as we can't see him again tonight, there's no point in staying. Now come on, you look exhausted and you won't be fit to see him in the morning unless you get a bit of kip.’
Joan allowed Chris and Danny to lead her from the room, Pet and the others following. Danny helped his mother into the front seat of his car, leaving Yvonne to climb into the back.
‘Bob, drive Dad's car home,’ Danny ordered. ‘Take Maurice and Chris with you, then come round to my place.’
‘Bloody hell, it's well after midnight. Can't it wait?’ Bob complained.
‘No it can't.’
‘Danny, we're all worn out,’ Maurice protested.
‘Just do as you're told,’ Danny growled.
Pet paused in the act of getting in beside Yvonne. Danny sounded harsh, but his tone was at odds with the expression on his fac
e. If anything, he looked pleased. No, she had to be imagining it. Yet as he climbed into the car, she was sure he was smiling. Why? With all that had happened, how could Danny smile?
Chapter Twelve
Danny sat on the sofa, his trump card in his pocket. He was tired, but fought it off. There were things to sort out – and the sooner the better.
‘Norma was none too pleased about me coming round here at this time of night. I got a right earful,’ Maurice complained, ‘but Ivy came up trumps. It was good of her to have that hot chocolate waiting for us and it went down a treat.’
‘I got an earful too. Sue waited up but I couldn't tell her much and now she's gone to bed with the hump. I'm gonna get nothing but grief in the morning.’
‘Who wears the trousers in your houses? My Yvonne does as she's told and I can't believe I'm hearing this.’
Both Bob and Maurice lowered their heads, whilst Danny said to Chris, ‘If ever you decide to get married, make sure you rule the roost from day one. If you don't, you'll end up like this pair of dozy gits.’
‘I can't believe you lot,’ Chris said, shaking his head in disgust. ‘George nearly killed Dad, and here you are talking about your bloody wives.’
‘Yeah, Chris is right,’ said Danny. ‘We need to get down to business. First, we don't want the police involved, so as I told the doc, Dad fell down the stairs. Second, we need to find George.’
‘Too right we do,’ Chris growled. ‘He can't be allowed to get away with half killing Dad. When I get my hands on him – he's dead. Instead of sitting here, we should be out looking for him.’
Maurice yawned widely. ‘Chris, from what Danny and the doctor told us, Dad's in a bad way. I feel the same as you about George, but it's after one in the morning and I can hardly keep my eyes open. It'd be a waste of time looking for him now. He's had plenty of time to get away and will be well out of the borough.’
‘Maurice is right,’ Danny said. ‘George could be anywhere by now.’
‘We can at least put the word out that we're looking for him,’ Chris argued.
‘We'll do that first thing in the morning. Maurice can run Mum to the hospital while the rest of us start the search.’
‘No way,’ Bob protested. ‘I'll take Mum to the hospital. I want to see how Dad's doing.’