by Rosie Clarke
‘No, I’m afraid there isn’t,’ Maureen said. ‘They were quite open about it at the hospital; they don’t know how much of a recovery he’ll make. Even if he comes through this he may be partially paralysed. He certainly won’t be able to manage the shop…’
‘You won’t go back there?’
‘No, I shan’t do that, Peggy. I’ve got my nursin’ and a life of my own – but I’ll find someone to look after it for him. If Tommy hadn’t had that accident I’d have persuaded Dad to give him the job…’
‘Yes, he’s a good lad, but it will be a while before they let him out of hospital,’ Peggy said. ‘It never rains but it pours…’ she hesitated, then, ‘I’m trying to get his father out on compassionate leave.’
‘They’ll never let him come home – will they?’
‘Doctor Blake says there’s a good chance in the circumstances. Tilly Barton is ill, Maureen. I think she’s losin’ her mind. She doesn’t eat and most of the time she just sits and stares at the wall. Doctor Blake told me that he may have to send her away for special treatment if she doesn’t snap out of it – and Sam’s body is still at the undertaker’s.’
‘But it’s weeks since…’
‘Yes, I know,’ Peggy nodded. ‘I’ve tried tellin’ her, askin’ her to make a decision, but she just stares at me and doesn’t answer. Sam’s father needs to come home, if only to sign for the body to be buried. And Tom is going to need someone when he does come home. I’d have him here, but…’ Peggy sighed. ‘It’s such a mess. I’ve been told that unless we get his father home the hospital might send Tom to an orphanage when he’s ready to come out – though that’s not for a while.’
‘You don’t need all this worry, Peggy. You should be lookin’ after yourself and the baby.’
‘I’m all right,’ Peggy sighed. ‘I just want to do what I can for Tom…’
‘Yes, of course you do – we all do,’ Maureen agreed. ‘If I can be of any help, you know you only have to ask.’
‘You can sign the petition, love. Doctor Blake is fetching it in the morning. We’ve got three hundred signatures. He says he thinks he knows someone who can help. Of course Jack Barton will have to go back to prison and finish his sentence when his wife and son are better but just a few weeks now could make all the difference to his family…’
‘Yes, well, we’ll do all we can,’ Maureen said. ‘And now I’d better go along and see how Violet is managing. I feel sorry for her. They haven’t been married very long and now Dad is ill and she has to cope with him in hospital and the shop, as well as her own business.’
‘I hope she won’t have to close the shop – I mean if your dad can’t work or…’
‘I suppose that’s up to Gran in a way,’ Maureen said. ‘It belongs to her and she only rented it to Dad. She said that whatever happens she wouldn’t put Violet out of the flat until she finds another place – but they don’t get on well…so we’ll just have to see…’
*
‘Well, I hope you’re satisfied with yourself,’ Violet said as she led the way upstairs to the sitting room. ‘Now you can see what you’ve done – goin’ off and leavin’ your poor father to cope with the shop alone.’
‘Violet, I know you’re upset,’ Maureen said, holding her temper in check. ‘I’m upset my father is ill and I’m sorry you’ve been landed with everythin’, but I think I did my duty for years. You married Dad and it’s your job to manage until we can sort somethin’ out for the shop. He won’t want to give it up and I can’t look after it – but I will help to find someone to work for him and if there are any small things I can do to help you, a stock list or visitin’ the wholesaler when I have a free period…’
Violet dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. ‘You and your grandmother have made it plain what you think of me. Well, I’ve got my own business to look after so the shop will stay shut – unless Hilda wants to open it up for a few hours.’
‘You’re being a bit unkind,’ Maureen said. ‘Gran isn’t completely well herself and she couldn’t manage it – she has more than enough to do at home…’
‘She can look after that girl for you…’ Violet sniffed, ‘but when it comes to helpin’ her own son and me…’
‘Gran has helped Dad for years and so have I,’ Maureen said. ‘I’m sorry, but emotional blackmail isn’t going to work, Violet. I’ll put a card up in the corner post office and see who turns up…’
‘Well, I’ve told you I don’t have the time,’ Violet said. ‘It’s up to you, leave it shut until your father comes home – or look after it yourself.’
‘I think I should leave,’ Maureen said. ‘I’m goin’ to talk things over with Gran this evenin’, but you may as well accept it: I shan’t be workin’ in the shop now or in the future…’
She got up and left without bothering to look back. Violet had thought she could force her to take over the shop but that was something Maureen wasn’t prepared to do.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she had a sudden little turn and put out her hand to stop herself falling. Just for a moment she felt really faint, but it passed quickly and was gone by the time she’d crossed the street. It was just all the rushing around and the upset over her father. She was perfectly well, and she would join her new posting in a week’s time as she’d been told. In the meantime she should be able to sort something out…
Chapter 26
‘Peggy, can you come?’ Alice said, rushing into the bar the next morning. ‘Only, it’s Tilly and we can’t do anythin’ with ’er…’
‘What do you mean?’ Peggy asked. She glanced at Janet. ‘You can manage while I find out what’s goin’ on?’
‘Of course I can, Mum. You go…’
Peggy listened to Alice’s rather garbled tale as she hurried across the road to Tilly Barton’s house. The front door stood wide open and there was a pile of clothing on the pavement outside, shoes, a man’s work boots and an old army overcoat.
‘She’s throwing all Jack’s things out of the door,’ Alice said. ‘Some of them have been ripped up. I tried to reason with her, because ’e’ll need ’is things when ’e gets ’ome.’
‘Yes, of course he will,’ Peggy said and bent to pick up the clothes and boots, taking them into the house. Tilly was in the middle of cutting up one of her husband’s shirts, but stopped and glared at them. ‘Tilly, think what you’re doin’, love. Jack will need these…’
‘What the bugger needs ain’t nothin’ ter me,’ Tilly said bitterly. ‘Jack ain’t comin’ ’ere. He left me in the lurch when he was arrested and I blame ’im fer what happened to me boy…’
‘Tilly, I know he did wrong, but he’s paid for it – and Sam was his son too…’ Peggy saw the fury in her eyes as Tilly snatched an official-looking letter from the table and thrust it at her.
‘I know I’ve got you to thank for this,’ Tilly snarled and brandished the scissors at her. ‘They’re sending the bugger ’ome on compassionate grounds. Well, ’e comes in this ’ouse over me dead body!’
‘Tilly…’ Peggy eyed the scissors warily. ‘You need help and so does Tommy. And you have to bury Sam.’
‘Don’t you tell me what I need, Peggy Ashley!’ Tilly said and flew at her with a stabbing motion with her scissors. ‘Sam ain’t goin’ in the ground. Me boy’s frightened of the dark…’
Peggy caught her wrist. For a moment Tilly’s eyes were wild with grief and a kind of madness as they struggled, but she’d neglected herself for weeks, hardly eating or drinking, and Peggy was stronger. The scissors clattered to the floor, where Alice quickly retrieved them and thrust them in the sideboard drawer out of harm’s way. Tilly gave a little cry of frustration and then collapsed into Peggy’s body, all her strength seeming to ebb away.
‘Help me get her on the sofa,’ Peggy said and, taking most of Tilly’s weight, she led her to the ancient sofa with its stained upholstery and sagging springs. ‘She won’t be very comfortable here, but we need the doctor. I’ll stay with her if y
ou go across to the pub and ask Janet to telephone Doctor Blake.’
Alice nodded, casting a knowing eye over Tilly. ‘I reckon she’s just about done fer, Peggy. She needs puttin’ away fer ’er own sake and others.’
‘That’s not our decision, but I think it might be the best just for a while. If she had another bout like this she might kill someone without truly meaning to do it; she doesn’t know what she’s doin’, Alice.’
‘She knew what she was doin’ just now. If she could, she would’ve done you mischief, Peggy – and after all you’ve done to ’elp ’er an’ all…’
‘Anyone would’ve done the same,’ Peggy said. ‘Get off quick, Alice. She needs a doctor – and if Janet can’t get Doctor Blake, tell her to ask for an ambulance. I don’t like the look of Tilly’s colour…’
Alice went and Peggy bent over Tilly, placing a hand to her brow. She had a fever and the words she began to utter were a jumble that made no sense. Although Tilly appeared to know what she was saying, Peggy thought the woman very ill. Her mind couldn’t cope with her pain and she’d abused her body. It looked as if she would have to be admitted into hospital – but Peggy had no intention of telling anyone about the attack on her. Tilly needed medical attention, but she didn’t need to be shut up in a secure unit. Mental hospitals were much better than they had been years ago, but most people still thought of them as places of incarceration for hopeless wretches that society couldn’t cope with, holding little hope of release or a cure, and Peggy wouldn’t wish such a thing on her worst enemy.
Tommy needed his mother to be home and well, which she might be after a stay in hospital. Peggy knew he’d started to recover from his head injury and the last thing he needed was to be told that his mother had been sectioned as mentally unstable.
*
‘How are you feeling, Tommy?’ the nurse asked as she took his temperature that afternoon. ‘Your fever has gone at last – so I think you could have a visitor, if you feel up to it?’
‘Who?’ Tommy croaked. His arm still hurt like hell and he was only just starting to focus on what had happened to him. ‘Is it Sam – or Mum?’
‘It’s someone who wants to see you very much,’ the pretty nurse replied with a smile. ‘It’s your dad…’
‘Dad?’ Tommy tried to lift himself up to see, but his head fell back, because it was spinning. They’d told him the headaches would pass, but he still felt dizzy if he tried to get up. ‘Where’s me dad?’
‘I’m here, son…’ Tommy’s eyes misted as his father’s face loomed into vision and his lips touched Tommy’s brow in a light kiss. ‘How’s my brave boy then?’
‘I’m all right, Dad. How did you get ’ere?’
‘They let me orf fer good behaviour,’ his father said and smiled. ‘It’s partly ’cos of what ’appened to you and yer brother, son…’
Tommy saw the sadness in his father’s faded blue eyes and fear gripped him.
‘They won’t tell me what ’appened to Sam…’
‘Sam didn’t make it, Tom. They told me you went after ’im, tried to keep him clear…’
‘I’m so sorry, Dad – it’s all my fault. I should’ve stopped him sooner.’ Tom’s eyes filled with tears.
‘It’s my fault not yours, son. I should’ve been at ’ome to take care of you all – but I’ll be around now, for a while anyway…’
‘How? You’ve got another two years to go…’
‘It’s compassionate leave, see,’ his father said gently. ‘I’ve been given parole fer good behaviour. Yer ma can’t cope, so they’ve given me a chance. I’m on probation fer a while – it’s ’cos I weren’t a hardened criminal, see, and it was me first offence. They’ve let me out to take care of you and yer ma…’
‘Good…’ Tears trickled down Tom’s face. He didn’t really understand why they would let his dad out but he was glad they had, because he’d missed him, even though he was angry with him for robbing that post office. ‘I tried to stop Sam but ’e wouldn’t listen – ’e wouldn’t listen…’
‘I know,’ his father said and touched his face, wiping away the tears with his fingers. ‘I should’ve been ’ere to take care of you both, Tom – but I’m going to look after you now, I promise. I’ll get a job until…’ he shook his head. ‘Just you rest and get better, son. Don’t worry about yer ma. I’m takin’ care of everythin’. All you’ve got to do is get better. Peggy and Alice were askin’ after yer – and Maureen Jackson wrote a lovely letter to yer mum. It was Peggy and a few others what got me my parole. You’ve got a lot of friends and they’re all thinkin’ about yer, Tom.’
‘I think that will do for the first visit, Mr Barton,’ the pretty nurse said, coming back then. ‘You can see him another day, but Tom needs a little rest now…’
‘Yeah, thanks for comin’,’ Tom said and closed his eyes because he was feeling very tired. ‘You tell Peggy I’ll be in to finish papering that bedroom soon as I can…’
‘Yes, I’ll tell her,’ his father said and turned away. ‘You just get better, son – that’s all I ask…’
*
‘Peggy, I want ter thank yer fer all you’ve done for my family,’ Jack Barton said later that afternoon as he sat in the pub kitchen and drank the tea she’d poured him. ‘I don’t know how yer managed ter get me out – but I’m glad yer did – that boy needed someone to visit and give ’im a bit of ’ope.’
‘I only did what you or Tilly would’ve done for me if I’d needed it, Jack,’ Peggy said and smiled at him. ‘Doctor Blake was concerned about Tilly’s state of mind and he suggested we might be able to swing your release if we put her case to the right people. He’s the one with connections to the prison parole board. All I did was collect signatures…’
‘You’ve done a lot more than that,’ Jack said. ‘Alice told me how you gave Tom little jobs so he could earn money and help ’is mother. You looked after ’er when the accident ’appened and you took ’er a meal over every day, even if she didn’t eat it.’
‘I wish I could’ve done more,’ Peggy said. ‘There was no comforting her. She refused to bury Sam – told me he was frightened of the dark.’
‘So he was as a young boy,’ Jack said and his face twisted with grief. ‘He’s my son too and I’ll do right by him. I shall arrange the funeral as soon as I can. There’s no point in waitin’ for Tilly, no tellin’ when she’ll be well enough to face it. Sam needs a decent burial and then perhaps his mother will come to accept he’s gone.’
‘She became very ill in her mind,’ Peggy said. ‘Some of your things – she cut them up. I don’t think she realised what she was doin’.’
‘Tilly knew all right. She blamed me for goin’ ter prison, blamed me for what Sam did, and she’s right. I know that none of it would’ve ’appened if I’d been ’ome. It was my fault for lettin’ me family down, tryin’ ter rob that post office, and making a muck of it.’
‘Why did you do it, Jack?’
‘I wish I knew,’ he confessed. ‘I was desperate to pay the bills after I lost my job. I thought if I could just get straight once – but I was a damned fool. Thievin’ never does anyone any good.’
‘Yes, well, I suppose anyone might make the same mistake.’ Peggy gave him an understanding look and refilled his cup.
‘Not my Tom. I’ll never forget ’is face when the coppers took me away, Peggy. I swear I’ll die before I let my boy down again.’
‘Good. In that case, you can finish some of the jobs your Tom started while you’re out – and I could do with a hand in the pub now and then.’
‘You don’t ’ave to give me charity, Peggy. I’ll find a job somehow – there’s more work now for men ready to turn their ’ands to anythin’.’
‘Well, the offer is there,’ she said and smiled. ‘Finish off that pie, Jack – and you’re welcome to have your dinner with us any time you like.’
‘You’re a good woman, Peggy Ashley. I’ll eat the pie – and then I’m back off to the hospital to see how Tilly
is gettin’ on. I’ll look fer work tomorrow.’
‘Right, but remember my offer if you get stuck…’
‘Thanks, I certainly will…’
Peggy watched him leave. Jack Barton was like his son Tommy, a tall loose-limbed man with large hands and feet. He had rugged good looks and a nice smile, but she doubted if any of that would help when it came to finding a job round here. The people of the lanes might accept he’d made a mistake and they’d signed for him to come home for his family’s sake, but when it came to giving him work, most would think twice about offering a job to a man with a prison record. Peggy had offered because she liked Jack and she was fond of his son, and she wasn’t sure that anyone else would offer him a decent job.
*
‘So the funeral is on Tuesday,’ Maureen said as she called in to see Peggy that Friday morning. ‘I start work that evening so I’ll be able to come with you – and so will Gran, because Shirley is at school.’
‘Janet says she’ll stay and look after things here. She doesn’t know Jack as well as we do, so it’s best this way. We thought we’d all club together to buy some flowers for Sam, and help pay for the funeral, though Jack says he’s been given a small grant for that. Just a small wreath from everyone in Mulberry Lane – that way no one needs to contribute more than they can afford.’
‘I saw the box on the bar,’ Maureen said. ‘I’ll put in half a crown. It’s a rotten shame that poor kid had to die – and Tommy is still in hospital, Tilly too. They’ve had a terrible time of it as a family…’
‘Tom is gettin’ better his father says. I’m goin’ to see him one day next week.’
‘Good, give him my love,’ Maureen said. She got up from the kitchen table, pushing back her chair. Then, as the room started to spin madly, she sat back down with a bump. ‘Oh… that’s weird…’
‘What’s wrong, love?’ Peggy asked in concern. ‘Did you feel faint?’
‘Yes, just a bit…’ Maureen closed her eyes for a moment. ‘It happened the other night after I left Violet. I thought I’d been rushing around too much…’