A Broken Family (37 page)

‘No, thank goodness,’ Carol replied. ‘Mum goes to see her every Sunday, but I mostly keep away. She’s such a miserable old cow and all she does is moan.’

‘I can’t believe Christmas is less than two weeks away. We’re going to Rose’s with my parents, though Tommy had to placate his mother by saying we’d spend Boxing Day with her. I’m not looking forward to that.’

‘I suppose that’s because Jeremy will be there.’

‘Yes, and as much as I try to avoid him, Jeremy makes it impossible. He’s in our house at least two evenings a week and it’s driving me mad. You’re the only person who knows the truth and if I hadn’t found the courage to confide in you, I think I’d have gone out of my mind.’

‘That’s what friends are for.’

‘I know that I can trust you, but sometimes I wish I’d had the courage now to have an abortion.’

‘I’m glad you didn’t,’ Carol said. ‘Mine was botched and I could have died.’

‘But look at the size of me! I’m so huge my mum t
hinks I m
ight be having twins. Oh Carol, how am I going to explain it when I give birth in January instead of February?’

‘Stop worrying. It’s rare to have a baby at the given date. Some come a bit early and others late.’

‘How do you know that?’ Amy asked.

‘This hairdresser’s no different to the last
–
you’d be surprised what I overhear when women are having their hair done.’

‘This baby needs to be born late, yet even that won’t be enough to convince Jeremy that he isn’t the father.’

‘When I met him at your wedding, good looking or not, I didn’t like him. He was too full of himself, but in this case I still don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about. Think about it. Jeremy can’t claim the baby is his. If he does he’d have to admit to raping you.’

‘Jeremy would never do that. He’s more likely to say that
I threw myself at him, that it was consensual, and sometimes I still wonder if it was.’

‘Amy, we’ve been over and over this, and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve told you that it wasn’t. Just because you gave up fighting, it doesn’t mean you wanted it to happen. He overpowered you and I know what that’s like because the same thing happened to me.’

‘We grew up together, went to school together, but it still seems unbelievable that we’ve both been raped.’

‘I know. It angers me sometimes that Roy got away with it, but if I don’t let it go it will be like he’s beaten me, ruined the rest of my life and I’m not going to let him do that. You’ve got to put it behind you too and instead think about that gorgeous baby you’re going to have.’

‘But what if I can’t love it, Carol?’

‘The baby will be a part of you, and my biggest regret is that I had an abortion. I know that had it been born I’d have loved my baby, and you will too.’

Amy cupped her stomach, hoping and praying that Carol was right.

Celia was Christmas shopping, and looking at baby clothes. Since the day she had been told that Amy was pregnant, she’d felt left out. Of course with Phyllis living next door to Amy, she had a hand in everything, and anyone would think she was the only grandmother to be. Huffily she continued to look at baby clothes and when a white woollen pram set caught her eye, Celia decided to buy it.

‘Celia, my dear. How are you?’

‘Oh hello, Libby,’ Celia said, faking a warm smile. ‘I’m very well thank you.’

‘I see you’re buying baby clothes.’

Celia tried to avoid Libby as much as possible nowadays, and living next door to her remained a trial. However, the smile remained fixed on her face as she said, ‘Yes, it’s rather fun shopping for one’s coming grandchild.’

‘It must be nice to have Thomas and his wife living so close, even if they are at the
bottom
of the Rise.’

The inference was there, but Celia managed not to bite. ‘It’s only a temporary measure. Thomas ploughed all our profits back into the business for expansion and we employ a large workforce now. As we’ve made such huge profits this year Thomas will soon be buying a property, and of course, in a far superior area.’

‘How nice,’ Libby said, ‘but I must get on. I’ve still got so many presents to buy. Goodbye, my dear.’

Celia nodded a goodbye in return. Thomas wasn’t going to buy a house, but because Libby had got her back up she’d wanted to wipe the sanctimonious smile off her face. Now though, if Thomas remained at the bottom of the Rise she’d be made to look a fool, and in due course no doubt Libby would find great satisfaction in rubbing that fact in her face.

‘Everything’s on track to move into the larger unit,’ Tom said. ‘We certainly need the extra capacity, and talking about size, Amy is absolutely blooming.’

‘When did you say the baby is due?’ Jeremy asked, though he’d already worked it out.

‘Amy said around mid-February and then I’ll be a dad,’ Tom said, grinning.

She’s clever, Jeremy thought. Amy had already knocked off about a week, but he knew the baby would arrive a lot earlier than that. Amy had denied it, but Jeremy was sure he was right. Amy was carrying
his
child, but he’d have no claim on it.

‘I hope it’s a boy, but on the other hand, a daughter might be nice,’ Tom mused. ‘I keep swinging from one to the other.’

‘Can we get back to this quote now?’ Jeremy said impatiently.

‘You’re in a bit of a mood this morning. What’s up?’

‘Nothing,’ Jeremy said, but in truth when Tom was looking as chuffed with life as he was now, Jeremy hated it.

The baby was his; Amy should be his – but Tom had it all.

In January, Amy had done all she could to take it easy and so far the baby was five days late. If she could just hang on for another week, she might get away with it, but that now seemed unlikely.

‘Hello, love,’ her mother said as she came in through the back door. ‘You’ve got your feet up I see.’

‘Yes, my ankles keep swelling.’

‘What did the midwife say this morning?’

‘Oh, nothing much, just that everything is fine,’ Amy said offhandedly. In truth, the midwife said she was sure the baby’s head was in position, which meant the birth was probably imminent.

‘You look tired.’

‘I am, and I think I’ll have a little nap.’

‘All right, I’ll leave you in peace.’

Amy managed a smile and then her mother was gone, leaving her to feel sick at the lies she was forced to tell. Only half an hour later, the pains started, small twinges at first that didn’t last long, but as they increased, Amy knew she was in labour. She cupped her tummy in despair. How was she going to explain that the baby, who wasn’t supposed to be born until February, was about to be born now?

It was then that Amy was struck by an idea, and though she hated what she was going to do, it was the only thing she could think of. She stood up and moved to the bottom of the stairs, where after lying on the floor she forced herself to scream, and she kept screaming and shouting until her mother appeared.

‘That was Amy’s mother,’ Tom said frantically as he replaced the receiver. ‘Amy’s had a fall and she might have gone into labour. I’ve got to go! I’ve got to get to the hospital!’

‘You’re in no fit state to drive,’ Jeremy said. ‘Come on, I’ll take you.’

‘Yes, yes, all right,’ Tommy agreed, running from the office.

As they raced through the unit, Jeremy called, ‘Len, we’ve got a bit of an emergency. You’ll have to hold the fort and if we’re not back, lock up.’

Tom seemed oblivious to everything as he ran to the car, and soon they were speeding off. ‘Where have they taken Amy?’ Jeremy asked.

‘To St Thomas’, and get a move on!’

‘I’m going as fast as I can,’ Jeremy said, screeching around a corner, as anxious as Tom to get to the hospital.

‘Yes, sorry,’ Tom said. ‘It’s just that I’m nearly going out of my mind! Oh, God, I hope Amy’s all right.’

At last they arrived, and after parking up Jeremy found he was once again racing after Tom. Inside at the desk they were given directions, and found when they followed them that Amy’s mother was pacing in the corridor.

‘Phyllis, how is she? Where is she?’ Tom asked anxiously.

‘She’s in there, but we can’t go in. The doctors are with her and …’

Tom didn’t wait for Phyllis to finish the sentence as he pushed open the door she had indicated and went inside, while Jeremy asked Phyllis, ‘What happened? Tom only said something about Amy having a fall.’

Phyllis sat down on a chair and Jeremy perched next to her as she said, ‘I … I hadn’t long been with her and she was going to have a nap when I went home, but then about an hour later I heard this awful scream. I dashed back to Amy’s and found her on the floor. She … she had fallen down the stairs.’

Phyllis was crying, tears rolling down her cheeks, and Jeremy had just placed a comforting arm around her when Tom came out of the room with a sheepish look on his face. ‘I got chased out,’ he said.

They both jumped to their feet, Phyllis asking, ‘How is she?’

‘They’re making sure that Amy hasn’t sustained any injuries from the fall, but the doctor said so far everything looks fine.’

‘And the baby! What about the baby?’ Jeremy asked.

‘There don’t seem to be any problems. They’re going to closely monitor the birth, and once they’ve finished examining Amy, I can go back in.’

This proved to be true when shortly afterwards the doctor came out and echoed what Tom had told them, along with saying that Amy was in the early stages of labour.

‘What does that mean?’ Tom asked Phyllis when the doctor walked away.

‘It means it could be hours and hours before the baby is born.’

‘So we could be here for a long time,’ Jeremy said.

Tom shook his head. ‘There’s no need for you to stay, Jeremy. I’ll ring you and Mum, when there’s any news.’

‘All right,’ Jeremy reluctantly agreed, though inside his guts were churning. He should be there. Amy was going to have his baby, yet Tom would be named as the father.

Amy was glad to have her mum there, but it was mostly Tom who sat by her side. As the hours passed, the pain increased to an intensity that had her yelling out, begging for it to stop. The doctor and nurses came in on regular occasions, listened to the baby’s heartbeat and examined her, but they had just left when Amy felt something change. ‘Tommy, quick, I think the baby’s coming! Go and get the doctor!’

He dashed outside, soon returning, and as Amy felt another urge to push the nurse said, ‘Mr Frost, you’ll have to wait outside.’

‘But I don’t want to leave her.’

‘Tommy, just go!’ Amy cried, straining through clenched teeth.

Tommy reluctantly left, and Amy gave in to the urge that was impossible to ignore. The doctor’s instructions came through a haze of pain as she pushed, and then again, grunting, yelling, until at last, with one final push, her baby was born.

Amy heard small cries, and then the doctor said, ‘Well done. You have a baby boy.’

Amy sank back, her body and hair wet with perspiration, but shortly after that her baby was placed into her arms. She took one look at him, and all her fears dissipated as her heart swelled with love.

All too soon, the nurse said, ‘I’ll just clean you up a bit and then your husband can come in.’

The baby was taken from her, but it wasn’t too long before he was back in her arms and Tommy was walking into the room. He moved to the side of the bed, gazing at the baby, and Amy saw tears of emotion form in his eyes. ‘My son,’ he choked.

Amy fought tears too; tears of guilt, but as she held the baby up for Tommy to hold, she could see the love in his eyes – love for both of them.

Tommy looked so happy, so overwhelmed with joy as he looked down at the baby, and Amy knew she’d rather live with the agony of her lies than take that away from him.

Phyllis was overwhelmed by her new grandson. Amy and Tom had chosen the name Robert, and though he’d arrived early he’d been a good weight and was thriving. Stan was over the moon too, and he’d taken to popping round to Amy’s to see the baby the minute he arrived home from work.

Phyllis knew she was just as bad, but Bobby, as he was mostly called, was so adorable that she couldn’t keep away. January turned to late February, and one Thursday, after work, Mabel collared her as she passed her door.

‘Come in, Phyllis. I’ve got a bit of news.’

‘All right, but I can’t stay long.’

As she stepped inside, Mabel swiftly closed the door against the cold and said, ‘I’m taking on another foster child on Monday.’

‘Oh, that’s good,’ Phyllis said. She knew how hard it had been for Mabel and Jack to part with Peter. It had knocked them for six and she’d doubted they would put themselves through that again. Now though she’d been proved wrong, and Mabel looked happy at the prospect of having another child to care for.

‘It’s a girl this time, called Sandra, and she’s nearly five years old. She’s got a club foot and the poor kid’s been in care for years with no sign of anyone wanting to adopt her.’

‘Would you consider adoption?’

Mabel bit on her lower lip in thought and then said, ‘I grew really fond of Peter, and if the same thing happens with Sandra, do you know, I just might.’

Phyllis suspected it would happen and they talked about it for a few more minutes before she was able to get away. She then went straight to Amy’s, saying as she went in, ‘How’s my grandson?’

‘He’s fine, but I’m not so sure about Tommy. He didn’t look too well this morning, but he still went to work.’

‘Let’s hope it isn’t anything to worry about,’ Phyllis said. Bobby was asleep, one little fist tucked under his chin, and with his thick head of dark hair, he looked adorable. He had brought so much joy into their lives, and she would be forever grateful that thanks to Rose, both her daughter and grandson were living so close to her that she could see them every day.

‘You look a bit rough,’ Jeremy said to Tom when he returned to the unit after seeing a building contractor.