by Joan Jonker
‘I have received more than I have given, believe me. When Ada came into my life she brought with her her family and friends. From them I have been shown more warmth and affection than I’ve known since my parents died. They treat me as one of themselves, as a friend; my money means little to them. I have been given so much, Charles, I can’t ask for more.’
‘Do you mind if I tell Polly everything you’ve told me? What I’ve heard puts a different complexion on things, and I do so want to put her mind at rest. She misses her mother terribly, and Steve.’
‘Please do tell her, and quickly. Ada hasn’t said much, but I know deep down she is worried. I can’t help much over the Steve episode, but if we can get mother and daughter back together again, we can concentrate on sorting that out and getting the childhood sweethearts reunited.’
When Charles opened the door of the sitting room, it was to find Polly still wrapped in Victoria’s arms. He ruffled her hair before sitting down. ‘I’ve asked Lucy to bring some tea in.’ He took a cigar from the silver box, all the time thinking of how best to approach the matter. He had to get it just right. When the cigar was lit, he screwed his eyes up against the smoke. ‘Polly, when you were a little girl, who did you go to when you hurt yourself?’
Polly looked surprised. ‘Me mam, of course. Or me dad, if he was in.’
‘And what did they do to make you better?’
‘Sat me on their knee and gave me a cuddle and a kiss. Why?’
‘When you don’t feel well or are upset, it helps to have someone there to give you a cuddle, doesn’t it?’
Polly nodded, wondering where the questions were leading. ‘Me mam was always giving me and our Joey cuddles. Especially if we’d fallen over and cut ourselves – she used to kiss it better.’
Charles ignored Victoria’s questioning eyes. ‘Like today, it helped to feel my wife’s arms around you when you were telling us your troubles, didn’t it?’
‘Oh, yes!’ Polly’s curls danced around her face. ‘You feel safe when you’re in someone’s arms.’
‘Who gave your mother a hug when she needed to be comforted?’
‘Me dad was always giving her a hug.’ Polly closed her eyes at the painful memory. ‘That’s before he went into hospital.’
‘And after he went into hospital, who was there to hold and comfort her? She would have needed a lot of hugs because she must have been out of her mind with worry. What with your father being so ill and having no money, she would need someone’s shoulder to cry on.’
‘There was only me ’cos our Joey is too young. I would have given her a hug if she’d cried, but she never cried.’
‘Not in front of you, she didn’t,’ Charles said softly. ‘Because she didn’t want to worry you, she cried inside.’
Tears filled Polly’s eyes. ‘I didn’t know, she didn’t tell me.’
‘No, my dear, you wouldn’t know, so don’t blame yourself.’ Charles put the cigar in the ashtray before leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. ‘I have been to see Mr John, and the day you saw your mother in his arms, she was using his shoulder to cry on. She was upset because the day before she’d been in to see your father and his state of mind distressed her. She needed someone to comfort her, Polly, and Mr John was doing just that.’
Charles went on to relate the whole of the conversation, ending with John’s visit to the hospital. ‘So you see, my dear, if Mr John and your mother were being wicked, as you thought, he would hardly have visited the hospital and offered your father a job, would he?’
Polly dropped her head, shame flooding her body. ‘It’s me that’s wicked, isn’t it? I should have known me mam wouldn’t do anything to hurt me dad.’ She began to rock back and forth. ‘I’ll never be able to face me mam again. She won’t love me now, not after what I said about her.’
‘She doesn’t know, my dear, I only spoke to Mr John. But you’ll have to go and see her tomorrow because she’s beginning to worry about you.’
‘I couldn’t face Mr John, he’ll hate me now.’
Victoria now had her emotions in check. ‘Nonsense, Polly! Mr John is a thorough gentleman. He wouldn’t dream of repeating what Charles had told him in confidence.’
‘There was one thing he told me that sent him up in my estimation. He said that when your mother came into his life, she brought her family and all her friends. The Mitchells, Irish Mary and Sarah Jane – he’s proud to count them as his friends.’
Polly sniffed up. ‘I’ll go and see them tomorrow, if Mrs Nightingale will let me off for an hour. I’ll tell Mr John I’m sorry I thought bad of him and I’ll thank him for looking after me mam.’
Charles smiled at her. ‘Now we’ve only got the little problem of your boyfriend. But I think we’ve had enough for one day, so shall we leave it until tomorrow when our heads are clearer? He’s probably as miserable as you are, so we just need to think of a way to get you together without denting your pride.’
Polly jumped up and crossed the room to throw her arms around him. ‘You are both so good to me, I will never forget you until the day I die. Next to me mam and dad, and our Joey, I love you best in the whole world.’
‘Oh – and what about Steve, pray?’
Polly blushed. ‘I’ll let you know when I’ve had a good talk to him – but I’m not going to run after him. After all, I’ve got me pride.’
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Charles rapped on the study door with his knuckles before opening it and popping his head in. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, Mr Westly, but do you think Polly could be excused? I know you’re in the middle of a lesson, but it is rather important.’
‘Yes, of course, Mr Denholme.’ The tutor smiled at Polly. ‘Put your books away before you leave.’
But Polly didn’t move. Her eyes were wide and frightened. ‘What d’yer want me for? There’s nothing happened to me dad, has there?’
Justin and Rebecca exchanged glances. They’d been talking about Polly last night in Rebecca’s room, wondering what was making her so unhappy. To Justin’s surprise, it was his sister who brought the subject up. He was even more surprised, and pleased, when she admitted she’d been wrong about Polly. Her admission had earned her a warm hug before they got their heads together to discuss what they could do to bring a smile back to the pretty face, a twinkle in the deep brown eyes and laughter in her voice. But when bedtime came, and they still hadn’t found a solution, Justin promised to have a word with his father to see if he knew what was ailing Polly. Now they both waited with bated breath, hoping he wasn’t the bearer of bad news.
Charles smiled. ‘No, my dear, nothing has happened to your father.’
‘Is that what you’ve been worried about, Polly?’ This was the first time Rebecca had addressed Polly directly, and the fact wasn’t lost on her brother or Tom Westly.
‘One of the things,’ Polly told her. ‘I’ve made a pig’s ear of me life and because I’ve been miserable I’ve made everyone else miserable.’ She smiled briefly. ‘But your dad’s going to sort me out, aren’t you, Mr Charles?’
‘I’m going to have a jolly good try.’ Charles held the door open for her. ‘I’m quite prepared to move heaven and earth to get the old Polly Perkins back.’
‘Ay, Mr Charles, not so much of the old, if yer don’t mind! Yer make me sound like Granny Grunt, sitting in a rocking chair with a shawl around me shoulders and smoking a clay pipe.’ There was a hint of the old mischief in her eyes as she waved goodbye and left the room.
Charles closed the door behind him and gestured to Polly to follow him into the drawing room. Once inside he wasted no time in coming to the point. ‘You’ve got a couple of hours, young lady, in which to clear the most serious of your troubles. Firstly, I’m running you to the hospital to see your father.’ He saw the bewildered look on her face. ‘Oh, I’ve rung the hospital and got permission, so don’t worry. I thought we would cross that hurdle first, before you go and visit your mother.’
‘Will you
come with me to see me mam?’
Charles shook his head. ‘No, Polly, that is something you must do alone. Now, run up and fetch your coat.’
When the nurse told Tommy his daughter was coming to see him, he insisted on being moved from the bed to a chair. He could feel his tummy churning with excitement, and when she came through the ward doors there was a smile of welcome on his face to greet her. ‘Hello, sweetheart.’
‘Oh Dad, it’s lovely to see yer.’ Polly nearly smothered him with hugs and kisses. ‘And yer out of bed – that means yer must be getting better.’
‘I feel better for seeing you, sweetheart.’ Tommy’s heart was bursting with pride. ‘You’ve grown prettier than ever.’
She smacked his hand playfully. ‘I bet yer say that to all the girls, Mr Perkins.’
‘Only the pretty ones.’ He leaned forward to pat the side of the bed. ‘Sit down and tell me what yer’ve been up to.’
‘Well, Mr Charles brought me. He wouldn’t come in ’cos he said we’d want to be alone.’ She glanced towards the ward doors. ‘There he is, Dad, wave to him.’
As Tommy waved, he nodded his head in thanks, a sign understood by the well-dressed man standing in the corridor. ‘He’s good to yer, isn’t he, love?’
‘Oh Dad, yer’ve no idea how good the whole family are to me. I’m a very lucky girl.’
‘They must be very special people,’ Tommy said. ‘Tell them I said so.’
‘You can tell them yerself when yer come home.’ Polly shuffled her bottom on the bed until she was comfortable, then she folded her hands in her lap. ‘You tell me your news first, then I’ll tell yer mine. Not that I’ve got much, like, but I can always make some up.’
Charles felt quite emotional as he watched father and daughter smiling into each other’s eyes. Then he made a quick decision, turned on his heels and strode towards the Matron’s office. Her sharp bark in reply to his knock turned to a smile of welcome when she saw the handsome, fashionably-dressed man standing before her.
‘Yes, can I help you?’
‘I’ve brought Mr Perkins’s daughter to see him,’ Charles said easily, ‘and I thought while they were chatting I’d have a word with you about his progress.’
Matron waved to a chair standing on the opposite side of her desk. ‘Please be seated, Mr …?’
‘Denholme – Charles Denholme.’
‘Are you a relative?’
Charles raised his brows, looking very much in command of the situation. ‘I suppose you could say that.’
‘In that case I presume you will know that Mr Perkins’s condition deteriorated several months ago, causing great concern.’ Matron tucked in a wisp of hair that had escaped from the confines of her starched white cap. ‘Mr Denholme, can I rely on you not to repeat anything that is said in this room, especially to his wife?’ She waited for Charles’s nod. ‘The doctor was discussing Mr Perkins with me this morning and he feels there has been a slight improvement over the last few days, in both his mental and physical condition. He is hopeful the improvement will continue, but as it is too soon to say with any certainty, it would be unfair to build up the hopes of his family.’
‘I can assure you, Matron, that I shall be the soul of discretion. And I do appreciate your confidence.’ Charles rose and pushed the chair back into the recess of the desk. ‘I’ll call in again next week to see him, if I may?’
‘By all means, Mr Denholme. I’m sure Mr Perkins would appreciate a visit from you.’
Polly couldn’t contain her joy as the car travelled along Longmoor Lane. ‘Me dad looks heaps better, Mr Charles. I bet he’ll be home in no time at all.’ Her hands waved about as she shifted on the seat in her excitement. ‘He wasn’t half glad to see me. Oh, and he said to thank you for looking after me so well.’
Charles smiled but didn’t take his eyes off the road. ‘No thanks are necessary, Polly. Looking after you is a pleasure. But don’t be expecting miracles or you’ll be disappointed. Your father has a long way to go yet, so be patient.’
‘Oh, I will be, Mr Charles, I’ll be ever so patient. As long as I know he will be coming home, that’s enough to keep me going.’
Charles braked hard to avoid a child who was crossing the busy road without looking either way. After cursing under his breath at the stupidity of a mother who would let a young child roam free, he changed gear. ‘Anyway, Polly, my dear, that’s one of your worries laid to rest. Now I’ll drop you at Mr John’s and you can make friends with your mother again.’
‘Mr John won’t have told her, will he? I couldn’t bear it if he has.’ The brightness in Polly’s eyes clouded over. ‘Me dad told me Mr John had been to see him, and I felt real wicked about the things I’d said about him and me mam.’
‘I rang this morning and you can rest assured he hasn’t said a word to your mother. You will be welcomed with open arms by both of them.’
Polly glanced at his profile. ‘I’ll pay yer back one of these days, Mr Charles, honest I will. I don’t deserve all the kindness yer’ve shown to me, but I’ll make it up to yer, I promise. I don’t know how, but I will.’
Charles pulled into the kerb at the corner of Faulkner Square. He switched the engine off and turned to face her. ‘Polly, having you in our house has been payment enough. You have brought more into our lives than we have given you.’
He leaned across her and opened the passenger door. ‘Out you get, my dear, and don’t look so afraid, they’re not going to eat you. Give them a big hug, one of your brightest smiles, and in five minutes you’ll be wondering why you were worried.’
Polly waved as the car pulled away. Then she straightened her shoulders, held her head high and rehearsed the smile her mam would be expecting to see.
Ada rushed forward, her arms outstretched. ‘Oh, I’ve been so worried about yer.’ She smothered Polly with kisses. ‘I was going to call at Percy Street tonight, when I’d finished here.’ She held her daughter’s face between her hands, thinking how grown-up and pretty she looked. ‘What’s been wrong with yer, sweetheart?’
‘I must have eaten something that didn’t agree with me, Mam, and me tummy’s been upset.’ Polly glanced over her mother’s shoulder to see Mr John standing outside his office door. He knows I’m telling lies, she thought, yet he looks really glad to see me. Oh, I’ve been really stupid and wicked. It would serve me right if he didn’t like me any more. ‘I’ll just say hello to Mr John.’ Shyly, she approached him, but when she saw only kindness in his eyes she ran into his arms. Lifting her face for a kiss, she whispered, very softly, ‘I’m so sorry, Mr John, so very sorry.’
‘We’re delighted to see you, Polly. We’ve missed you so much.’ John led her towards the drawing room, saying over his shoulder, ‘Come and sit in comfort, Ada, and hold your daughter’s hand while she brings us up-to-date with her news.’
Polly couldn’t wait to get settled on the couch before blurting out, ‘I’ve just been to the hospital to see me dad … Mr Charles took me. And d’yer know what, Mam, he looks great! Much better than he did last time I saw him.’
‘I bet he was glad to see yer, wasn’t he?’ Ada felt as though a ton weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She’d been afraid the tummy ache was just an excuse, and the real reason for Polly’s long absence was that she preferred the Denholmes’ company to hers. But looking now into her daughter’s lit-up face she knew how wrong she’d been. Polly was her own person and would never change, not even for a king’s ransom. ‘Tell us what he had to say.’
‘Well, he told me Mr John had been and he was very pleased about that, I could tell.’ Polly repeated everything that had been said during her visit to the hospital, her head turning from her mother to John so that neither of them felt left out. As the tale came to an end, she spread her hands out and smiled. ‘And when I left him he looked real happy.’
‘I’m glad you went. It would cheer him up, seeing you.’ Ada patted her cheek. ‘And now what’s this about Steve? Aggie said yer didn’t g
o down to see Sarah Jane last Saturday, or the Saturday before, and Steve’s like a bear with a sore head. When the women asked him where yer were, he just growled at them, sayin’ he didn’t know.’
The smile slipped from Polly’s face and she lowered her head. ‘He’s finished with me.’
‘But why, sweetheart?’
‘Because I said I wasn’t going back home to live, not yet anyway. He wouldn’t let me explain that I just can’t walk out on the Denholmes, not after all they’ve done for me. He wouldn’t listen, he just walked off in a huff.’
‘Then you did right in not going down to Bold Street,’ Ada told her. ‘Steve would think you were running after him, and although I love him like my own son, yer must not be the one to give in.’
‘If I am allowed an opinion,’ John said, ‘I believe Steve is jealous. It’s all part of the growing-up process, Polly, my dear. He’s afraid of someone coming along and taking you away from him, and he thinks the way to prevent that is to have you living near so he can keep an eye on you. He is very young, you both are, but he must learn to curb his jealousy or you’ll both be unhappy.’
‘It wasn’t all Steve’s fault, Mr John, I was to blame as well. Yer see, I’d made him a promise and I broke it.’ Polly sighed as she turned to face her mother. ‘Remember when he took me to the pictures on me birthday? Well, I promised him then that I’d stay at the Denholmes’ another month, then go back home. But I couldn’t bring meself to tell Mr Charles I was leaving, not after they’d bought me those lovely clothes.’ There was spirit in Polly’s voice when she went on, ‘Anyway, it’s not just because they bought me the clothes, it’s everything. They took me in and they treat me like one of the family. I can’t just throw their kindness back in their faces and walk away – I’m too fond of them to do that. But I couldn’t get Steve to understand how I feel. I’d broken me promise to him and as far as he was concerned, that was that. He just took to his heels and walked away.’