Family Drama 4 E-Book Bundle (126 page)

At thirteen he’d run away with as many of his clothes he could wear at once and never gone back. He quickly taught himself how to live rough and he’d survived by doing odd jobs when he was well, and sleeping in the woods in his makeshift shelter when he was poorly. He loved his den, which was made of collected wood and any old rags he could find all moulded together with mud to make a reasonably waterproof shelter. He’d learned to hunt for food by trial and error and had become skilled at roasting rabbits over an open fire and sewing the pelts together for warmth in the winter. No one knew where his hideaway was so he was left alone in his solitude unless he went out into the villages looking for work.

He’d lived that way for several years until the day he’d collapsed both physically and mentally while working in the village next to Melton. Dr George Wheaton had not only treated him, he’d taken him under his wing and helped to mend him.

Derek Yardley adored the couple who had made him feel like an ordinary human being, and he had never been as happy as he was in those early years being sheltered by the Wheatons. They fed him, tended his illness and taught him all about cars; then they gave him a job and his own home. They had not only saved his life, they’d replaced it, and he saw himself more as a son than an employee.

But that had all changed when they’d brought in Ruby Blakeley and really embraced her into the family; in his mind he was convinced the London evacuee had replaced him.

Now he felt as if he were fighting for survival all over again. He’d been happy in the woods at the time but now he knew different, and he couldn’t imagine not having his job and home. He didn’t ever want to go back to having nothing.

Babs and Yardley carried on doing the gardening while George dozed and Maggie bounced around with her puppy.

‘I’ve been thinking, Yardley, it seems a long time since you had a holiday. Why don’t you take some days off and go somewhere? It would do you good, I’m sure. We all need to get away sometimes.’

‘I’m fine, Mrs Wheaton. I don’t like holidays, I like to work.’

‘I know you do, and we all appreciate it,’ she said. ‘I tell you what, I’ll have a word with Ruby. She’s at that lovely little place in Southend that used to be Dr Wheaton’s sister’s hotel, where we went for Mrs Wheaton’s funeral. Well, you couldn’t stay there because it’s ladies only, but I’m sure she could recommend somewhere. The sea air would be good for your chest as well …’

Halfway through what she was saying his mind switched off so he didn’t really hear the words, he didn’t recognise her thoughtfulness, he just heard Babs Wheaton trying to get rid of him.

Instantly his back was up and he was angry all over again.

‘I don’t like the sea, I like the country, I like it here …’ he muttered without looking up, but he didn’t think she’d heard him because she was across the garden, laughing with Maggie as they tried to catch the puppy.

‘Well, I think we’ve finished here now, Yardley,’ she shouted across to him. ‘Thank you for your help. An apple pie it is for you!’

He turned away and walked back up to his flat, feeling as if he’d been dismissed.

Apple pie. He sneered as he walked up his staircase. He didn’t want apple pie, he wanted things to be as they used to be before Ruby Blakeley came along.

His head was throbbing with the familiar pain as he went inside. Revenge was all he could think of, but his head was hurting too much for him to formulate anything. He looked in the drawer for his bottle of aspirin. He took three with a glass of water to be sure, then lay down on the lumpy sofa with his head on a small cushion and his legs hanging over the end. He would think about Ruby Blakeley in the morning.

Babs had opened up the door of the boiler in her kitchen, and George and Maggie were sitting warming their hands in front of the glowing coals while Babs prepared supper for them all. The curtains were drawn and the puppy was curled up in his bed fast asleep, tired out from all the exercise.

‘Maggie darling, I think it’s time you went and had a good wash after all that playing in the garden with Scruffy.’

The little girl turned down the corners of her mouth. ‘But, Mummy, I don’t want to. I want to stay here with Scruffy.’

‘No supper for you then. We’ll have to give it to this little doggie here instead.’ George shook his head and pulled a sad face, making her laugh and run for the stairs.

Babs looked round the door to make sure she’d gone. ‘George, I have to confess I’m a little worried about Yardley. I’m concerned he’s going back a bit to how he was when you first treated him. I can’t quite put my finger on it but something’s not quite right. Even Ruby was asking questions about him when she was here.’

‘Can’t say I’ve noticed.’ George looked at her. ‘He’s just being Yardley, surely. He’s always been different, that’s how he ended up here in the first place.’

‘I know, but I am going to keep a close eye on him. It’s been a long time since he had any of his mental problems but I think we need to watch him … for his sake as much as anyone else’s. Maybe give him a check up? He can’t say no to you if you suggest it.’

‘Fair enough, but here’s no reason for it to happen again. His problems were caused by his circumstances. Living alone in the woods for years would affect anyone. The one single factor would be if he was stressed, and he certainly doesn’t have any stress here.’

‘I’m still going to keep an eye. Especially with him driving you on your rounds.’ Babs looked thoughtful. ‘Next time I speak to Ruby I’m going to find out what made her ask about him. Unfortunately we were too busy with Maggie’s birthday tea to really talk, and then Leonora died and everything was forgotten.’

Babs Wheaton loved her husband just as much as she had when they were courting. The couple had a strong marriage and adopting Maggie had added to it. They both adored her. Babs also admired George tremendously. He had overcome being crippled by polio as a child and, against all the odds, had gone to medical school and qualified as a doctor so that he could carry on when his father, the village GP, retired.

A popular figure in the village community and a much-admired GP, George was always doing over and above his duties. Babs loved the fact that he was kind and caring and that he always tried to see the best in everyone, but it was this very trait that was now making Babs feel she had to be extra observant.

Something wasn’t right about Derek Yardley. Her instincts told her that he had changed recently and, with hindsight, her conversation with Ruby was now worrying her. She wondered what it was that had made Ruby ask the questions she had.

‘I’m going to telephone Ruby to double-check. You don’t mind, do you?’

‘Of course not, if it puts your mind at rest,’ George smiled.

After she put the phone down she went back through to George.

‘Well? What did she say?’ he asked.

‘I didn’t get round to asking about Yardley.’ Babs’ expression was thoughtful. ‘She said that she and Tony wanted to come and see us. George, they’re engaged. She wanted to tell us face to face but as I’d phoned she told me.’

‘Oh, that’s interesting. Can’t say I’m surprised he’s asked her – I’m sure lots of young men would like to marry our Ruby – but I am surprised she said yes. What do your instincts tell you about Tony Alfredo?’

‘I don’t like him one little bit, as you know, but Ruby’s a big girl now. All we can do is cross our fingers …’

‘And make sure the ownership of the hotel is watertight. Solicitor or not, I don’t trust him as far as I can run, and that’s certainly not very far at all, is it?’

Babs laughed. ‘Yes. At the funeral he trying to inveigle his way into every conversation. He asked too many questions for a stranger. The hotel definitely needs to be wrapped up legally.’

Twenty-Six

Ruby stood on the doorstep for several minutes while she plucked up the courage to knock on the door. It had been so long since the day she had just upped and left that she wondered if perhaps it was best to leave it be, to turn and walk away a second time. None of them had contacted her after Ray had found her, although he had telephoned her once. But then again she hadn’t contacted them.

She knocked twice and waited. Then she knocked again.

‘There’s nobody in.’

She looked around and realised the voice was coming from next door. Nosy Norah.

‘Well, knock me down and call me Charlie, it’s young Ruby, I’d recognise that hair anywhere. How are you, lovey? Long time no see, eh?’

Ruby smiled. ‘I’m fine, thank you, and it’s nice to see you too. Do you know where everyone is?’

‘Probably at Whipps Cross. Elsie was carted off in the ambulance a couple of weeks ago.’

‘What happened to her?’ Ruby asked. ‘Is she all right?’

‘She had a fall and broke something – her leg or her hip. It’s afternoon visiting today so that’s where they’ll be.’

Ruby started to walk back down the short path but Norah had no intention of letting her get away that easily.

‘You look smashing, a right proper lady. Best thing you did was to get away from those brothers of yours, your nan used to say. Mind you, your mother’s done all right for herself. Really nice man she’s married, always passes the time of day and even tends my bit of back yard at the same time as your mother’s. And she doesn’t have Ray and Bobbie there no more, which is probably a blessing.’

Ruby smiled. ‘Thanks, Norah. I’ll try again later.’

‘Why don’t you go down to Whipps? Elsie really missed you; always talking about you. She’d be chuffed to see you.’

‘I might just do that.’

With that she turned and started walking to her car, which she’d left away from the house for fear of them thinking she was showing off. As she got to it she tried to talk herself out of doing what she was thinking, but it didn’t work so she walked down the road to Betty and Roger Dalton’s house.

‘Ruby Blakeley,’ Betty said as she opened the door. It was a statement rather than a welcome.

‘Hello, Betty. I came to visit my family but no one’s in so I thought I’d knock and see how you are …’

‘Johnnie doesn’t live here any more.’

‘I know that, I know he’s married …’

Betty smiled. ‘I thought you might! It’s probably not the wisest thing, but would you like to come in?’

‘I would, I really would,’ Ruby said, puzzled by the less-than-enthusiastic reception. As far as she was concerned, Betty knew nothing about her and Johnnie except that they were friends.

Betty stood back and gestured her in.

It seemed strange walking down the familiar hallway to the back room. Everything looked exactly the same: the wallpaper, the carpet runner, the hallstand by the door.

‘So what have you been doing, Ruby? You left a bit sharpish, leaving everyone wondering …’

‘I’d had enough so I just went. I live down in Southend now.’

‘I know.’

‘How do you know? Did Ray say something? I know he works for Johnnie now.’

‘Do you now …’ she said, more as a loaded statement than a question before continuing, ‘No, it wasn’t your brother. A postcard came here for Johnnie telling him where to find you. But he’s married now, lives in Wanstead with his wife and two children. He married Sadie who used to work with him at the Black Dog. He’s got a good job, a nice car, he’s settled and doing well.’

‘I’m so pleased for him. He was destined to do well, with all his ambitions,’ Ruby said as lightly as she could.

Suddenly it all fell into place.

Sadie. Ruby had never met her but she’d heard all about her from Johnnie. She was the barmaid he worked alongside at the Black Dog, the one he said wouldn’t leave him alone, the one he said had pursued him so relentlessly but he had dismissed categorically. And now he was married to her …

‘I’m pleased he’s happy. He was nice to me when I was having such a bad time, and I remember him fondly … I’m engaged now.’ Ruby held her hand out across the table to show Betty the ring. ‘My life is finally together so I thought it time to see Ma and Nan and make the peace.’

‘Congratulations, Ruby. I hope you’ll both be very happy,’ Betty said, her manner thawing slightly. ‘I’ll put the kettle on. Do you still like cake?’

Ruby laughed. ‘You remembered.’

Once the conversation started to flow Ruby told Betty about her life after she’d left. Selectively, of course. She didn’t tell her that she’d had a baby that she’d had to give up – Johnnie’s baby – or that she had inherited the hotel where she worked. It was all very general and light.

‘Betty, can you tell me anything about the postcard you said Johnnie got? Only Ray got one as well, and he came and found me. No bad thing, as it happens – it broke the ice – but I don’t think it was meant to be a good thing. I think someone is stirring something but I don’t know who or why.’

‘Hmm. Plain postcard which just said your name and the address of a hotel. Posted in Southend …’ As she said the words so Ruby could see Betty’s brain furiously clicking away. ‘Johnnie went to Southend recently, took Sadie and the boys for a day out. Did he go and see you?’

‘No. I haven’t spoken to Johnnie since before I left,’ Ruby answered confidently. ‘We weren’t friends of long standing, there was no need to keep in touch.’