Family Connections

by Family Connections (retail) (epub)

  ‘I apologize for my brother. He can be a right little oik sometimes.’

  ‘I like him. And he wasn’t scowling at me, at least. Cheer up, Rosie love. We’ll get through this.’

  She relaxed a little. ‘It’s not easy, is it?’

  ‘No, but I can’t tell you how happy I am to have met you.’

  She relaxed still further. ‘Me too.’

  * * *

  In the kitchen Jane said in a low voice, ‘Stop this now, Stu and let them go out together.’

  ‘She’s my daughter and I’m keeping an eye on her. He could be a paedophile for all I know.’

  ‘Thanks for the compliment.’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘That I’d choose my friends so badly.’

  ‘That’s not what I was implying and you know it.’

  ‘How’s the hangover today? Does being unkind to Rosie make it feel better?’

  He looked at her, such a ravaged look that she suddenly rushed across to fling her arms round him and whisper, ‘Don’t.’

  ‘Don’t what?’ he asked, cuddling her closely.

  ‘Don’t look so anguished. Things will get better, we have to believe that.’

  ‘Do we?’

  ‘Yes.’

  They stood there for several minutes, not saying anything, needing to be close.

  When he pulled away, she looked at him anxiously.

  ‘I’ll go and tell them they can go out for a couple of hours – but only because you asked me so nicely.’

  ‘Welcome back, Stu. I didn’t like the other man who’s been wearing your shoes lately.’ She cradled his cheek in her hand for a minute then stepped back.

  Reassured by his wife’s demonstration of love, Stu went back into the living room.

  Rosie was engaged in animated discussion with Brad, but broke off to look at him warily and he felt even guiltier. She’d been spot on when she accused him of taking it out on her. But he still didn’t really want that man intruding on their lives. He wasn’t giving up on that, but would have to deal with things more subtly from now on. He cleared his throat. ‘Now that I’ve met you, Mr Rosenberry, I don’t mind if you go out for a couple of hours.’

  Rosie’s face lit up and she bounced across the room to fling herself into his arms. ‘Thanks, Dad.’

  He hugged her convulsively then held her at arm’s length and smiled, too choked with emotion to say anything more. But her hug made him even more determined that no one was going to take her away from him.

  ‘I will look after her,’ Brad said as he followed Rosie out.

  ‘Mm-huh.’

  * * *

  When they’d gone, Stu muttered something under his breath, wiped his forearm across his eyes and went back into the kitchen. ‘Let’s go out for a meal tonight, all four of us.’

  Jane paused, cup in hand, then nodded. ‘OK by me. Better ask Casey if he’s got anything on. I know Rosie hasn’t.’

  Stu went upstairs and found his son hunched over his computer. ‘You sister’s gone out with him for a couple of hours. If you’re not doing anything tonight, how about an Indian meal, all four of us?’

  ‘Good one, Dad.’

  Stu hesitated, then asked, ‘What did you think of him?’

  ‘Seems a nice guy.’

  ‘Yeah. I suppose.’ He’d thought so too. It made things worse, somehow. He didn’t say damn Brad Rosenberry, but he thought it.

  Casey gave him a knowing look. ‘She isn’t calling him Dad, you know. She calls him Brad.’

  Stu shrugged and went back downstairs. Sometimes his son could be all too perceptive.

  But it still felt dangerous to let that man into their lives and if he could do anything to put a spoke in Brad bloody Rosenberry’s wheel, he would.

  CHAPTER 22

  Australia to England

  Lou sat outside by the swimming pool in the sunshine, wishing it was warm enough to swim, but June was the beginning of winter down under and the water was surprisingly cold. Simon said it all depended on the night time temperatures and these had been quite low lately.

  ‘This is bliss, isn’t it? Fancy it being so warm and sunny in winter. Rick…’

  He moved closer, put his arm round her and pretended to push her in, laughing as she squealed and clutched him.

  ‘Stop messing about. This is serious. Would you mind spending a bit longer in Western Australia?’

  ‘Not at all. The manager at the shopping centre has asked me about working for longer. I’m a popular attraction, it seems. Why?’

  She looked at him fondly. He had the widest, most infectious smile she’d ever seen. He wasn’t just a gentle giant, he had a friendly soul. ‘I want to suggest something to Mel and Auntie Gina.’ She leaned closer to explain, speaking very quietly, not wanting to be overheard till she was sure he’d agree.

  ‘Hey, that’s fine by me. If Simon doesn’t mind us staying on, that is.’

  ‘He’s going to need us both if Mel agrees.’

  * * *

  Inside the house Gina was watching them, envying them their closeness, the love they showed towards one another in big ways and small. Seeing them made her miss Tom even more, though it was years now since he’d been killed. But you never stopped missing someone. She missed being a couple as well.

  Footsteps made her turn round. ‘Mel! Are you all right? Should you be up?’

  ‘I was bursting for a pee. Even invalids have to do that.’ She ran one hand through her hair. ‘If I lie on that couch for much longer, I’ll turn into a vegetable and put down roots.’

  ‘The doctor said you were to have as near to bed rest as you could manage.’

  ‘I know.’ She came across to put her arm round her mother. She was so thin at the moment that it upset Gina. ‘I’m so grateful to you for stepping in.’

  ‘That’s what family are for, helping one another.’

  ‘Yes, but you should have a life of your own, too. We took you for granted before, didn’t we? With the babysitting, I mean.’

  ‘A bit.’

  ‘Well, I’m not taking you for granted now. If there was any way I could manage without you, I would. But I can’t, Mum.’

  She sniffed and Gina gave her a quick hug. ‘I can go to England next year, Mel. Once the baby’s born and you’re able to sort your life out, I’ll be free to travel. Now, can I get you something to drink?’

  Even as she spoke, Lou came into the kitchen. ‘I was just going to ask if you wanted a snack.’ She studied her cousin. ‘Is it my imagination or do you look just a teeny bit better this morning?’

  ‘If I do, it’s partly thanks to you. Are there any more of those little apricot pastries left? I—’ She broke off an looked at them in surprise before finishing her sentence, ‘I’m hungry. That’s the first time I’ve felt hungry since I got pregnant.’ She smiled. ‘It feels strange.’

  ‘We’ll bring our snacks into your parlour and eat with you, shall we?’ Gina suggested.

  Mel grimaced. ‘Not if you’re having coffee. I can’t stand the smell of it at the moment.’

  ‘I prefer tea, as you well know. Tea all right with you, Lou?’

  ‘Sure.’

  Later, when Gina had gone out to do some shopping, Lou went to sit with Mel again. ‘Before you go to sleep, can I ask you something?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘If Rick and I stayed on here for a couple of months, would you feel all right about your mum going to England?’

  Mel looked at her in surprise. ‘But don’t you need to move on soon?’

  ‘We can do that if we’re in the way. But they want Rick to continue at the shopping centre and he’s earning good money. And if we continue to stay here, we can save quite a bit.’ She laughed. ‘The picture shop is making a fortune framing his sketches and they’ve offered to pay him a retainer as well as what he gets from clients for his portraits. It’s really nice getting to know you and Lexie, much more important than travelling round Australia, a
s far as I’m concerned. I don’t really get on with Cheryl. She’s about your age, but she’s so up tight about the world.’

  Mel stared down at her lower body, not looking forward to the small bump growing into a large one. ‘I’d be fine about you staying. In fact, it’d be brilliant. Mum’s been hiding her disappointment, but she was really excited about going to find her family in England. It was the first time I’d seen her so excited and alive-looking since Dad died. Lexie told her she should move on just before I got so sick, and now I’ve stopped her doing that. I’ve been feeling so guilty.’

  ‘Then I’ll suggest it to Auntie Gina tonight. She could go for two or three months, longer even if things work out well, and still be back in plenty of time for the birth.’

  ‘She might not accept your offer. She’s got a thing about family not letting one another down.’

  ‘We’ll have to persuade her that you’ll be all right.’ Lou smiled at her cousin. ‘I’m family too, after all. Besides, you prefer my cooking.’

  Mel stretched out her hand and as Lou took it they both smiled.

  ‘That’s one of the downsides of people emigrating,’ Mel said. ‘Cutting themselves off from their families. At least Emma and this baby have relatives here, on my side and Simon’s.’

  * * *

  ‘Say that again!’ Gina stared at Lou and Mel, unable to believe what she was hearing.

  ‘Why don’t you go to England as planned and let Lou and Rick look after me?’ Mel repeated patiently.

  ‘I couldn’t do that.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because… I’m your mother.’

  ‘I’m grown up now and you don’t have sole responsibility for me. The trouble is, if I lie around like a queen with people waiting on me, I do feel better.’ Mel grimaced. ‘Well, I’m only throwing up a few times a day, which is a big improvement. I’m even managing to keep things down more, especially the food Lou prepares. You know, you could start a business delivering food specially to tempt invalids. You’d make a fortune. You’d have to get a dietician to endorse it, though. Or you could write a book about it.’

  Lou gaped at her in surprise.

  Mel smiled. ‘When I’m working, I’m employed as an ideas person.’ She turned to her mother. ‘Will you go?’

  ‘I’ll think about it.’

  Lou opened her mouth to argue, but Mel nudged her in the ribs and shook her head.

  Later she explained, ‘Mum’s always like that. Has to think things through. She didn’t say no, though, so I reckon she’ll agree.’ She smiled at her young cousin. ‘I’ll feel a lot less guilty if she does. Now, how about a tiny bowl of soup?’

  The soup came with a piece of toast in the shape of a flower and somehow both slipped down easily.

  * * *

  Gina went up to her bedroom and stood by the window, staring down at the turquoise pool, which was sparkling in the sunshine. Could she go to England? Would it be right?

  A feeling of responsibility for her daughter warred with her desire to meet her English family and in the end, she allowed herself to consider it seriously. What would she need to do? What should she take with her?

  Without realizing it, she sat down at the dressing table and started making a list.

  It was only when she went downstairs to tell them she was going to accept their offer that she realized how excited she felt – and how nervous.

  She peeped in on Mel and saw that her daughter was asleep, so went to the kitchen to find Lou. Rick was out at the shopping centre, so for once she was alone with her niece. ‘I wondered if you could tell me more about my brother and sister.’

  ‘You’re going?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘That’s great! Well, I haven’t seen my great-aunt Peggy for ages. Even Gramps doesn’t see much of her. She married a horrible man, a real control freak. He bullies her all the time.’

  Gina stared at her in shock. ‘He beats her?’

  ‘I don’t think so, but he puts her down and won’t let her do anything except run around after him. Gramps can’t stand him, and my granddad is a good judge of character, who always gives people the benefit of the doubt. He must have been very hurt by his father leaving to hang on to his anger so long.’

  ‘Any child would be. What do you know about your Aunt Peggy, then?’

  ‘Not much. She likes embroidering and does beautiful pictures, but apart from that, she’s rather colourless.’

  Gina was disappointed by that description. She’d love to have a sister, but having lived with Lou for a few days, she already trusted her niece’s judgement. Lou had a very sane view of the universe and was wise beyond her years. Rick was equally balanced about life. Some people just were.

  ‘You’d better go and see Peggy during the daytime when the big bad husband isn’t home,’ Lou suggested.

  ‘What about your grandfather?’

  ‘He’s great. I never think of his wife as my grandmother because I never met her. She left him years ago when Mum was thirteen, more fool her. So Gramps brought Mum up on his own. He’s retired now, lives quietly, cares about the environment and sometimes goes to help clean up parks and things. And he grows the most amazing organic vegetables. He has a share of a community allotment scheme as well as his own back garden, and he has a greenhouse for tomatoes and for propagating stuff. He sells plants sometimes at weekend markets.’

  ‘You sound fond of him.’

  ‘I am. He wasn’t happy about me coming to find you and stirring up old quarrels, but maybe he’ll have got over that now.’

  Gina felt disappointment sear through her and tried to hide it from her niece.

  There was silence then Lou added quietly, ‘But if Gramps gets to know you, I’m sure he’ll like you – and you’ll like him. I’ve already written to tell him about you. I can let him know you’re coming, if you want.’

  Gina thought about this, then shook her head. ‘Thanks, but no. I think I’d prefer to stick with my original plan and not warn them. I’ll simply turn up and insist on talking to them.’

  ‘Good for you.’ Lou eyed her sideways. ‘So, you’re going?’

  Gina nodded. ‘I want to, but we’ll have to ask Simon if it’s all right with him.’

  ‘Mel told me to leave her to handle him.’

  ‘She must be feeling better to say that.’

  ‘She is as long as she rests, but she still gets sick if she tries to do anything.’ Lou frowned suddenly. ‘I hope this doesn’t run in the family. I want lots of kids, but I don’t want to go through something like that each time.’

  ‘My other daughter wasn’t sick at all, except for a bit of morning sickness, mostly just nausea, no throwing up. That passed after three months. Goodness, you do plan ahead, don’t you?’

  ‘You have to. Me and Rick know what we want in life so we’re going for it. You should do that, too.’

  Out of the mouths of babes, Gina thought as she waited for Simon to come home from work. She could learn a lot from her niece, was learning a lot.

  * * *

  A week later Gina got on the plane and it wasn’t until she was sitting in her seat that she began to feel nervous. Not of the flight, but of what lay at the end of it.

  Suddenly the longing for family which had been driving her for several months seemed to evaporate and she wished she hadn’t started this.

  The woman next to her said something and Gina forced herself to reply politely. But she was glad when the first meal was served and the woman stopped talking to devour every last morsel on the tray. Gina had lost her appetite. She wished she could sleep, but she’d never felt so wide awake, even though it was the middle of the night her time.

  She was relieved when they landed at Manchester what seemed an eternity later. She’d dozed briefly on the second leg of the journey, but hadn’t really slept and yet she didn’t feel tired. Picking up her hire car, she studied the map book then set off for Blackpool, nervous of driving in a new country. The roads seemed much more
crowded, even outside the city centre.

  ‘I’m coping,’ she said aloud and gave a little nod of satisfaction about that.

  Mel and Lexie, who’d been overseas several times, had given her several lectures about what to do and what not to do when travelling alone. And even Simon, who’d driven her to the airport in Perth, had warned her to be careful.

  She’d booked a hotel room in Blackpool, the place she’d found before on the Internet with a special offer for weekly accommodation. Rick knew the hotel and said it was a good one.

  She’d studied a map of the city on line and done her best to memorize her route through it after she left the freeway – no, she had to learn to call them motorways now. Of course she got lost, but when she stopped to ask for help, people were very kind and their accents reminded her so much of her father that she felt comforted.

  She would just take her time, find her feet and see how she felt about going to see Jake and Peggy.

  She smiled as she parked outside the hotel. She’d done it!

  CHAPTER 23

  England

  Brad dropped Rosie back at home just before the end of the two hours he’d been allotted for taking her out. They’d walked along the sea front at Knott End, talking about her, talking about him, not in any structured way, just following their impulses. Later they’d gone into a café and talked some more over a cappuccino, an orange juice and some pastries.

  Stu answered the door but Brad could see Jane standing at the rear of the hallway, watching and listening. Who was she keeping an eye on? Him or her husband?

  ‘You’d better go up to your room now and finish that schoolwork, Rosie.’ Stu turned as if to shut the door in Brad’s face.

  ‘I’d like to arrange another outing,’ Brad said quickly, putting a hand out to hold the door open. He could see Rosie standing halfway up the stairs, listening, her head bent as if she didn’t dare look at anyone.