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‘No, I’ll come out. I don’t want Dad to come home and find him in here. Oh gawd, look at the state of me,’ she exclaimed as she stood up and tried to straighten her old dress before walking tentatively down the hallway, eager to see Craig, yet also dreading it. She was also conscious that her cheeks would be glowing bright red.
‘Jenny, hello.’ Craig smiled.
Jenny thought her heart had missed a beat at the sight of him. ‘Hello,’ she answered shyly. She heard a muffled giggle and guessed that Gloria was probably standing behind the door, trying unsuccessfully to suppress her mirth as she eavesdropped on them.
‘I hope you don’t mind me calling like this, but your gran has had a bit of a fall and asked me to come round. Oh, blimey, are you all right? You look like you’ve been in the wars too.’
‘I … I’m nearly better now, but what about my gran? Is she all right?’
‘She hasn’t broken any bones, but it’s left her a bit weak and dizzy. She’s hoping you, or one of your sisters, would stay the night with her.’
‘Oh, no! Poor Gran! Are you sure she hasn’t broken anything?’
‘She seems fine, just but a bit shaky. She tripped over and couldn’t get herself back up. She’s a bit unsteady on her feet at the moment though and that’s why she’d like someone with her.’
‘Yes, of course. I won’t bother to ask my sister Gloria, she’ll only make some excuse not to go, but I’ll send Pamela straight over. In fact, as it’s dark now, would you mind if she walked back with you?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Gloria, I know you’re there, so go and tell Pam to pack an overnight bag. Tell her to hurry up.’
Gloria emerged sheepishly from behind the door and flashed Craig a smile before running upstairs.
‘How have you been?’ Craig asked.
‘Not bad, thanks. Look, I’m sorry about the other week.’
‘It’s all right, I understand,’ Craig answered.
‘No, I don’t think you do. I did want to go out with you, but after the accident I was kept in hospital for a few days.’
‘An accident? What happened?’
‘I fell down the stairs. Silly really, just missed my footing,’ Jenny said. She didn’t like telling him lies but couldn’t bring herself to reveal the awful truth. ‘I fractured a couple of ribs and I’ve been in bed since I was sent home. I’m a lot better now though and this is my first day up.’
‘That sounds painful, Jenny, but I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better. Your gran will be pleased to know that it wasn’t your father again.’
‘What?’
‘Shit, sorry, I wasn’t meant to say anything. Edith was worried, she told me about your dad.’
‘Oh, I see. Well, she shouldn’t have, and as it happens, the accident had nothing to do with my father,’ Jenny replied, and lowered her eyes. She was embarrassed and didn’t want Craig to see that she’d been untruthful.
‘She didn’t mean any harm, but Jenny, does this mean that when you’ve fully recovered I can take you out again?’
Jenny wanted to shout yes please! – there was nothing she would like more. Instead she shyly nodded her head.
‘Great, well, when you’re ready, I’ll take you out to dinner.’
When Pamela came downstairs, Jenny turned to her and said, ‘Give Gran my love and tell her I’ll call in to see her as soon as I can.’
‘Yeah, all right,’ Pam agreed.
‘See you soon, Jenny,’ Craig husked, smiling softly.
She felt her cheeks flush, and before closing the door, stammered, ‘Y-yes, see you.’
As they walked back along the hall, Gloria smiled and said, ‘He really fancies you.’
‘Stop it, we’re just friends.’
‘Pull the other leg, it’s got bells on it. I only got the tail end of what was said when I came downstairs with Pam, but from what I heard it sounds like you’ve arranged another date?’
‘Yes, we have, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.’
‘Why on earth not?’
‘If Dad does this to me again, I’m not sure how Craig would react. It’s not fair to involve him in my problems.’
‘Your problem is that you think too much. Just go out with the man and enjoy yourself.’
‘Maybe, but I can’t think about it now. I’m tired, Gloria, and I’m going to bed.’
‘Righto, nighty night.’
Jenny wearily climbed the stairs to her room. She wished Gloria had called in to see their gran when she’d been asked to, but at least Pamela would be with her now. She undid the buttons on her dress and allowed it to fall to the floor then stepped into her winceyette nightclothes. It was easier to pull the nightdress up than put it over her head.
She slowly climbed into bed, with thoughts of Craig flying around her mind. It had thrilled her to see him again, and though it was against her better judgement, she liked the idea of going to dinner with him. Maybe she should take Gloria’s advice to just go out with the man and enjoy it. As long as she kept Craig and her father apart, surely it would be all right?
Even though it was almost dark, Pamela would have preferred to walk alone to her gran’s flat. She felt awkward with Craig and hoped he wouldn’t talk to her. Jenny had already told her to make sure he could see her lips, so he’d be able to understand what she was saying, but she still didn’t feel comfortable.
‘How old are you, Pamela?’ Craig asked.
Oh no, she thought, he’d gone and asked her a question. She turned her face to look at him, then answered, ‘Thirteen.’
‘Thirteen, a ripe old age. Do you know what you want to do when you leave school?’
‘I dunno. Work in a factory, I suppose, like my sister.’
‘A factory, eh? Have you ever thought about doing anything else?’
This wasn’t as bad as Pamela had thought it was going to be. Craig understood everything she said. ‘I did think about hairdressing, but I really want to be a fashion designer, like Mary Quant. Fat chance though. Things like that don’t happen to girls like me.’
‘Don’t say that, you never know what the future holds. Who’s Mary Quant? I’ve never heard of her.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Pamela said, smiling.
She found herself warming to Craig and decided she quite liked him. They were soon at her gran’s, and she was pleased to see the old woman was mostly unharmed from her ordeal. ‘Can I get you anything, Gran?’
‘Yes, love, a cup of hot milk and a couple of aspirins. It might help me to sleep.’
Pamela scuttled off to the kitchen, but she could still hear what was being said in the living room.
‘How was Jenny?’ her gran asked.
‘She’s as bad as you, Edith. She’s taken a tumble down the stairs and that’s why she hasn’t been to see you for a while.’
‘Stairs, my arse! Is that what she told you?’
‘Yes, why, don’t you believe her?’
‘No, I bloody don’t! You can bet your last farthing that her old man has given her what for. I’m telling you, Craig, if I was younger and fitter I’d skin that man alive.’
As soon as Pamela returned to the lounge, her gran asked pointedly, ‘Did Jenny hurt herself badly when she “fell down the stairs”?’
Pamela hated having to fib, but she’d promised her sister she wouldn’t tell anyone what really happened, though from what she’d just overheard they’d worked it out for themselves. ‘Yes, it was pretty bad. We had to get an ambulance for her. She wasn’t awake for a while … and … and it was really scary.’
‘Oh, sweetheart, it must have been terrifying for you all, especially Jenny. Was your dad at home? Did he call the ambulance?’
Pamela suddenly felt she was being interrogated and hoped she wouldn’t crack under pressure. ‘Yes, er, no … he … er … he was out,’ she stuttered nervously.
Her gran seemed to be scrutinising her, then asked, ‘Did he go out before or after Jenny fell down the stairs?’
‘I … I think it was before.’
‘Are you trying to hide something from me, young lady? I don’t know who you think you’re protecting, but I know when you’re fibbing to me.’
Her gran’s voice was unusually stern, and Pamela could feel herself beginning to crumple. ‘Oh, Gran,’ she blurted and felt a sob catch in her throat. It was as if all the fear and sadness she’d bottled up for weeks were suddenly unleashed. ‘I thought he was going to kill her … I thought he was going to kill us all!’
Pamela ran to Edith, dropped to her knees and then cried into her gran’s lap.
Edith softly stroked her hair, and soothed, ‘It’s all right, love, you’re safe here.’
Pamela wished she could stay in her gran’s flat forever, away from her father’s aggression and the pain he caused. It wasn’t possible, though: there was no room, and anyway, they all needed to escape, not just her.
With her head still in the old woman’s lap, Pamela didn’t see her gran look up at Craig and silently mouth, ‘I’d like to kill the bastard.’
Chapter 6 (#u45e94b84-8634-5093-849e-86a23cfcc53a)
Jenny hadn’t slept well. It wasn’t just the discomfort of her ribs that had kept her awake; she hadn’t been able to shift thoughts of Craig from her head. She managed to get out of bed and dressed and was about to creep downstairs when she heard a small voice.
‘Morning, Jen,’ chirped Timmy as he emerged from his bedroom, rubbing his eyes.
‘Good morning,’ Jenny answered quietly. ‘Is your brother still asleep?’
‘No, I’m awake,’ Peter announced as he followed his older brother.
‘Yeah, me and all, thanks to you two little brats,’ Gloria called from the bedroom.
Jenny grinned at the boys, and asked, ‘Did you jump on her again?’
‘No,’ Timmy answered, ‘we drew on her face.’
‘You didn’t! She’ll have your guts for garters. Come on, get yourselves downstairs and let her have a lie-in.’
The truth was, Jenny didn’t want the boys’ jovialities to disturb their dad. Luckily, he was a heavy sleeper, especially after he’d had a good drink.
In the kitchen, Jenny gave the boys a glass of milk and made them some bread and jam, along with a pot of tea for herself. It hurt to lift the kettle, but she hid the discomfort from her brothers.
‘Where’s Pamela?’ Timmy asked.
‘She went to stay with Gran last night.’
‘Can we go to see her today? Gran might have made some cakes!’
‘Not today, but we’ll go next Saturday,’ Jenny answered. Craig had said that Gran was fine, just shaky, but she wasn’t sure the old woman would be up to seeing the boys.
‘Can we go to the common then?’
‘Well, if you stop being mean to Gloria, she might take you. You can take the old bread and feed the ducks.’
‘Cor yes,’ Timmy said excitedly. ‘I like the ducks, but the geese are a bit frightening.’
‘I don’t want to go to the common,’ Peter said sullenly.
‘Why not?’ Jenny asked.
‘I just don’t want to. I want to stay at home today.’
‘But it’s going to be a lovely sunny day and you’ll have lots of fun.’
‘I don’t care. I’m not going!’ Peter said firmly, then sat with his arms folded.
‘Don’t be daft, Peter. You’re coming with us,’ Timmy told him.
‘No, and you can’t make me!’
Jenny pulled out a chair and sat opposite Peter. ‘No one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to, but can you tell me why you want to stay at home today?’
Peter’s bottom lip began to quiver, and his big blue eyes glistened. ‘Mummy might come to see us today,’ he cried, ‘and I want to ask her if I can live with her.’
Jenny’s heart broke for the boy. ‘I don’t think she’s coming today and I’m sorry, Peter, but I doubt she’s got room for you. Anyway, I don’t want you to leave us. We’d all miss you too much.’
‘If Peter goes to live with Mum, can I go too?’ Timmy asked.
‘No, I’m afraid the two of you aren’t going anywhere.’
‘But you said I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to … and I don’t want to live here!’ Peter cried, his cheeks now wet with tears and his nose beginning to run.
