A Family's Heartbreak

by Kitty Neale

  ‘I know, but, it just doesn’t seem right. Are you sure you’ve thought this through? You’d be giving up a lot by having my family living with you.’

  ‘Jenny, I’ve been thinking about it all night. Like I said, it wouldn’t be for long and then we’d find somewhere bigger, more suitable, but for now, I’d know that your father couldn’t get to you and I’d sacrifice anything for that sort of peace of mind.’

  Jenny was touched by Craig’s concern and had to hold back from crying. The idea was appealing, but she couldn’t shake the worry about what people would think.

  Craig squeezed her hand. ‘I didn’t have any breakfast, so what have you put in those sandwiches? Let’s eat, it’ll give you a moment to think.’

  Jenny pulled one out, ‘I’m afraid it’s only fish paste.’

  ‘That’ll do me,’ he said, biting into it with relish.

  With her mind all over the place, Jenny watched the boys playing. She thought about Peter’s behaviour earlier, how he didn’t want to live with their father, and of Pamela who was so afraid of him that she constantly wet the bed. What would their father’s reaction be if they all left? He wouldn’t know they were just upstairs from Edith. Yet why was she thinking about that? It was impossible, they couldn’t all move in with Craig! Could they?

  Chapter 7

  ‘I sure do love you, Lizzie, you’re one hell of a gal!’

  Lizzie was straddled across Dwight’s naked body. She ran her finger down his bare chest. ‘Yes, I am, and don’t you forget it,’ she said before climbing off him and pulling her blouse around her chest. She walked over to the desk in his bedroom and took a cigarette from a packet. As she lit it, the smoke curled up and made hazy circles in the sunlight beaming through the window.

  ‘They don’t make gals like you in the US of A, not in Alabama where my momma and papa live.’

  ‘Yeah, I’m unique. You won’t find many like me in Balham either,’ she said, then sat on his desk with her legs slightly parted.

  ‘You’re such a tease. It’s only ten in the morning and you’ve already had me up twice. A man needs a bit of time to recover.’

  ‘If you need to keep your strength up, Dwight, how about you make us some of those delicious pancakes?’

  ‘I can do that … anything for my pretty gal.’

  Dwight stood up and pulled on his underpants. He winked at Lizzie then sloped off to the kitchen. Lizzie threw herself down on his bed and pulled hard on her cigarette as she stared up at the ceiling. She liked being with Dwight in his small flat. She thought his strange accent made him sound a bit thick, but he treated her like a queen. From what he’d told her, she’d learned he was an American GI who’d been posted to London during the war. He’d got a British woman in the family way and had felt obliged to marry her. Lizzie thought that was typical of him, he was so polite. As it turned out, the woman wasn’t pregnant and passed away a few years later. He’d never been back to Alabama, though he said he would one day, and when he did, he’d take Lizzie with him.

  She was so wrapped up in Dwight that she hadn’t given a thought to her kids in a while, but Lizzie wasn’t worried about them. They were housed and fed, which was more than she’d been at times. The smell of the sweet pancakes wafted through to the bedroom and she could hear Dwight whistling a tune she didn’t recognise. She wondered if it was one he’d written himself. He played guitar in a band. That’s how she’d met him. She’d been swaying to the jazz and had caught his eye. It had only been a week ago, but she already had her feet firmly rooted under his table.

  She heard Dwight call, ‘Hey, pretty lady, your breakfast is ready.’

  ‘I’ll take it in bed, thanks,’ she called back, and puffed up the pillow behind her.

  Dwight came in carrying a tray and asked, ‘Is there anything else you’d like?’

  Lizzie eyed him up and down, from his broad, toned chest, to his long, muscular legs. ‘Yes, there is,’ she purred, ‘But after breakfast.’

  After some gentle coaxing, Craig had finally persuaded Jenny that moving in with him would be for the best. She’d eventually agreed but he smiled as he recalled her firm stipulation that there was to be no funny business between them. He’d assured her that he would never take advantage of her, though how she thought that could happen with six of them crammed into his small flat was beyond him. He was just relieved that she’d no longer be subjected to her father’s sickening temper.

  Since then he’d had a week of frantic activity, arranging extra beds and bedding to accommodate the impending arrival of the Lombard siblings later today. With the beds sorted, he went downstairs to give Edith an update.

  ‘So, they’re all moving in today? Doing a runner whilst Henry’s at work?’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. I reckon they’ll be here in about an hour.’

  He was pacing the room and repeatedly looking out of the front window.

  ‘Craig, will you please sit down! It’s making me dizzy just looking at you.’

  ‘Sorry. I know Jenny said to wait here for them, but I really think I should go and help. What if Henry comes home and catches them? And there’s all their stuff to lug here,’ Craig said, and after only just sitting down he jumped up again, ‘Yes, I’ll go and help, just in case.’

  ‘Craig!’ Edith shouted, ‘I don’t know why I’m raising me voice ’cos you can’t hear me. If Jenny needed you, she would have said so, wouldn’t she?’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so.’

  ‘Right, go and make yourself useful and make us both a drink.’

  Craig smiled warmly at the old woman, then said, ‘Don’t tell Jenny I got myself all worked up, will you?’

  ‘No, I shan’t say a word. Go on, bugger off, you silly sod. That kettle won’t boil itself.’

  Craig normally felt relaxed and at home in Edith’s flat, but today he was fretting. He’d done everything he could to make his place comfortable for his new lodgers and hoped Jenny would like it. He made the tea and handed Edith a cup.

  ‘I know what you’re thinking, but stop worrying, young man. Jenny will be happy up there with you. You’ve assured me that there won’t be any funny business going on over my head, yet no doubt there’ll still be gossip. If I hear anything said I’ll put them in their place, but all that matters to me is that Jenny will be away from her father.’

  Craig hoped he could keep them all safe but worried that once Henry found out where they were, he’d come storming round to drag them all back. The man could try, and though Craig had no doubt that Henry could flatten him, he’d still fight if he had to. He shook his head as if trying to shake some sense into himself, but it was no use. He knew, if it came to it, he’d put his life on the line for Jenny.

  Jenny still had misgivings about moving in with Craig. She knew there’d be gossip, or even women spitting at her in the street. She’d probably be ostracised too, but the thought of being beaten like a dog by her father again was far worse. They’d all be safe at Craig’s, so not just for her own sake, but for the others’ too, she’d agreed.

  They were moving out that day, but Gloria leaned against the kitchen table with her arms folded and lips pouting. ‘I ain’t happy about us all being crammed into Craig’s flat. I don’t see why I have to go with you … why can’t I stay here?’

  Jenny looked at her sister in disbelief. The girl hated her father, so she couldn’t understand why she’d want to remain living with him.

  ‘Don’t look at me like that,’ Gloria snapped. ‘Once you’re gone, I’ll have my own room at last and maybe when you ain’t here he won’t be as bad.’

  ‘And maybe he’ll beat you up instead of me. Have you thought about that?’

  ‘Yeah, well, maybe he won’t!’

  ‘Gloria, listen to yourself. You sound really childish. Anyway, I’m not prepared to leave without you, so either we all stay, or we all go.’

  ‘That’s blackmail!’

  ‘I don’t care what it is. I’m only concerned for your safety. So, what
will it be?’

  Gloria stamped her foot and threw her arms around as she trudged out of the kitchen, shouting, ‘All right, you win … we all go.’

  Jenny momentarily closed her eyes and sighed with relief. Gloria digging her heels in was the last thing she’d expected.

  ‘What’s Gloria on about?’ Timmy asked as he ran into the room with his brother.

  ‘Yeah, where are we all going?’ from Peter.

  Jenny hadn’t told her brothers they were going to live with Craig for fear of one them accidently saying something in front of their father. She’d warned her sisters to say nothing too, but now Gloria had let the cat out of the bag. ‘Right, sit down, I’ve got something to tell you.’

  The brothers exchanged a glance, then quickly sat at the table.

  ‘Do you remember Craig?’

  ‘Course we do. He’s the deaf bloke,’ answered Timmy.

  ‘He lives in a flat above Gran, and we’re all moving in with him. Not Dad though, he’ll be staying here.’

  ‘What, forever? Not just for three days or seven years? We’re going to live with Craig forever? Timmy asked.

  ‘Yes,’ she said, watching Peter’s face light up. ‘Eventually we’ll have to find a bigger place, but we won’t be coming back here. Craig’s flat is a bit small, and you two will have to share the front room with him while we girls have the bedroom. Hopefully it won’t be for long. I’m back at work on Monday, and I’m sure Gloria will find a job soon, so we’ll be able to find a larger flat or even a little house to rent.’

  Gloria stamped back into the kitchen. ‘Are you still going on about me finding a job? I told you, Queenie said I can work part-time in her fag shop, starting next week.’

  ‘Yes, but I’m not happy about that. You need to be bringing in full-time wages, and that Dennis upstairs will be too much of a distraction for you.’

  ‘Stop telling me what I can and can’t do! It’s bad enough that you try to dictate where I work and who I see, but now you’re telling me where I’ve got to live too. You’re not my mother!’ Gloria glowered at her sister.

  ‘No and thank goodness for that! I’d be ashamed to have such a brat as a daughter!’ Jenny snapped. She hadn’t meant to be so harsh, but now it was said she couldn’t retract it. Her sister really was trying her patience.

  Gloria threw her a vile look, but Jenny could see it was masking her hurt, then she spun on her heels and walked out.

  ‘Gloria … wait … I’m sorry,’ Jenny called.

  Pamela then slipped into the room and asked, ‘What’s the matter with Gloria? What’s going on?’

  ‘I said something I shouldn’t and now she’s got a strop on,’ Jenny replied, rubbing her forehead in despair. She’d hoped this would be a happy day, but it didn’t appear to be for Gloria. ‘I’ll just have to grovel a bit and maybe she’ll come round.’

  ‘We’re all moving into Craig’s flat and Daddy isn’t coming,’ Peter said with gusto.

  At least the boys were pleased, and though Pamela didn’t show her feelings, Jenny knew she was too. ‘Will you take your brothers upstairs and help them to pack their things?’ she asked her sister. ‘Remember, only take what they really need. There won’t be room for everything.’

  The boys ran upstairs with Pamela following. Jenny relished the silence as she pulled a notepad and pencil from her pocket. She sat at the table and began to write.

  Dad,

  I’ve taken the boys and my sisters to live somewhere else.

  I’m sure this won’t come as too much of a shock to you, and I don’t suppose you’ll be sad about it.

  I know you did your best, but it wasn’t good enough.

  Take care,

  Jenny

  The note was short, simple and to the point. She couldn’t bring herself to sign off ‘with love’ or to add any kisses. She didn’t feel the need to spell out their reasons for leaving as she figured he must be aware of the pain he’d caused her, and how much he’d scared his own children. She pushed the note to the middle of the table and took one last look around the kitchen. It was the only home she’d ever known. She and her siblings had all been born in this house, but she wasn’t sad to say goodbye to it. Any happy memories she’d once had were tarnished now by her father’s viciousness.

  Their home had been ruined the day their mother had left it.

  Later that evening, Henry was fuming as he marched out of the pub and stomped home. He hadn’t liked hearing that Lizzie was now hooked up with an American musician, and she’d already been throwing rumours around about marrying the bloke. One week! She’d been shacked up with the wanker for one week and she was talking wedding bells.

  ‘Over my dead body,’ Henry muttered through gritted teeth. She couldn’t marry the idiot if she wasn’t divorced, and there wasn’t a hope in hell of him agreeing to one.

  When he arrived home, Henry was too wrapped up in spiteful thoughts about Lizzie to realise that his kids weren’t around. He marched through to the kitchen, expecting his dinner would be in the oven, but he couldn’t eat. Instead, he reached to the top of the larder for his bottle of whiskey. He dragged out a wooden chair and slumped down, then unscrewed the bottle to take several large glugs of the alcohol before shouting, ‘Where the fuck is everyone? Jenny!’

  As Henry was about to take another swig from the bottle, he noticed the note on the table. He reached out, grabbed it and read it through bleary eyes. ‘Huh, so you’ve all fucked off … just like your mother, the fucking lot of you! See if I care. See how you manage without my pay packet.’

  He read the note again, but it didn’t occur to him that he could be the reason they’d left. He didn’t look at himself and question why. He screwed the note up and threw it to the floor before drinking from the bottle again. Sod the lot of them. His house and his life would be quiet from now on and that suited him fine. He’d have more money in his pocket, and with the kids gone there’d be no excuse for Lizzie to turn up. He might miss the boys a bit, but he didn’t want to set eyes on any of the bitches again; no, he didn’t want to see his wife or his daughters.

  Chapter 8

  It was mid-June and Jenny had been living at Craig’s for a month now. She’d felt awkward at first, especially about Craig seeing her first thing in the morning with her wild red hair. Now, though, she was more relaxed and they’d all settled into a routine. All except for Gloria. Jenny had expected her sister to show Craig a bit more gratitude but instead she was often nasty to him and made it quite clear that she didn’t enjoy living there. Jenny took some solace in knowing they’d all be moving to a larger home, just as soon as she and Craig had saved enough money. She hoped Gloria would then be happier and a bit more charitable towards her brothers and sister too.

  Jenny heard a tap on the front door and felt herself tense. She still feared her father would find them, though as far as she knew he hadn’t been to their gran’s to look for them. She glanced across at Pamela. The girl was sitting on the sofa eating her breakfast but had turned deathly white.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Craig asked.

  ‘There’s someone knocking on the door,’ Jenny answered.

  ‘What, up here?’

  ‘Yes … w-w-what if …’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll answer it,’ Craig said reassuringly.

  Moments later, Jenny heard muffled laughter and once again relaxed. Then Craig returned to the front room carrying a large box wrapped in brown paper. He looked to be struggling so Jenny suspected the package was heavy.

  ‘It was a delivery I’ve been expecting. Edith had let him in downstairs.’

  ‘What’s in the box?’ Timmy asked as he and Peter ran in from the bathroom.

  ‘A surprise,’ Craig answered and placed it in the middle of the floor.

  ‘Is it a surprise for us?’ Peter asked.

  ‘It’s for all of us.’

  Timmy ran forward and sat next to the box. ‘Can we open it?’

  ‘Wait for Gloria, then we can all ope
n it together.’

  ‘I wouldn’t worry about her, she’ll be ages in the bedroom doing her face,’ Jenny said. As much as she loved her sister, she didn’t want Gloria’s mood or scathing comments spoiling the moment when the mystery in the box was unveiled.

  ‘All right then. Go on, boys, you can open it.’

  Jenny watched with delight as her brothers tore at the brown paper, then Craig helped them. She heard Peter squeal, and Timmy jumped up and down excitedly. ‘What is it?’ she asked, intrigued.

  Peter spun around to look at her and said, ‘It’s a television set! I can watch Andy Pandy!’

  Jenny gasped. Many homes now had televisions, but they’d never had one. Part of her wanted to be annoyed at Craig for being so extravagant when they were supposed to be saving for a home, but seeing the thrilled faces of her brothers melted away her annoyance. ‘Wow, that must have cost a packet,’ she commented, but with a smile.

  ‘Actually, it didn’t. My uncle sent it for us. He said he hardly uses it and thought we’d appreciate it.’

  ‘How kind of him. Yes, the boys will definitely appreciate it, I should think even Gloria will like it too.’

  ‘What will I like?’ Gloria asked as she sauntered into the room.

  Jenny thought her sister looked very pretty and glamorous but it was a shame about her miserable face. Perhaps the surprise would cheer her up? ‘Craig’s uncle has sent us a television set and I said you’d like it.’

  ‘Yeah, right, as if I’d ever get a chance to watch anything that I’d like to see.’

  Jenny pursed her lips but didn’t respond. Nothing seemed to be good enough for Gloria lately and her negative attitude was beginning to get on Jenny’s nerves.

  ‘Can we watch something now?’ Timmy asked.

  ‘No, not at the moment. I’ve got to set it up and you’ve got to go to school, but when you get home this evening, you can watch the television then.’

  ‘Please, just for a little while?’