Homecoming (9 page)

‘One more comment like that and I won't pour the beer I was about to offer you.'

‘I see you've picked up more cheek too.'

‘Come down from the Smoke especially to insult me?' Jack jibed.

‘Of course. Couldn't risk you getting too big for your boots, now could I?'

As Jack went into the kitchen to get the beer, Brian accompanied Martin and Lily into the living room. ‘Helen,' he kissed her cheek as she returned from upstairs, ‘you look more beautiful than ever. Any time you want to run away from your husband, give me the nod and we'll go off together.'

‘Not when I've just got him back. It is good to see you, Brian. Thank you for coming.'

‘Thank you for allowing me to gatecrash.' He glanced round the room.

‘Looking for someone?' Helen asked.

‘No, the old crowd are all here.'

‘Except Judy and she's always late for everything these days.'

‘Any reason.'

‘Haven't you heard? She's running the salons now.'

‘Salons,' he repeated in surprise.

‘She and her mother own eleven.'

‘Good for her. They must keep her busy.'

‘They do,' Helen agreed, as he looked round again.

‘You have a beautiful house and fantastic views.'

‘Thank you.'

‘Don't suppose you'd like to show me round,' Brian asked Jack, as he carried a tray of glasses and bottles of beer into the room.

Jack looked at Brian in surprise. Martin gave him an almost imperceptible nod. ‘Just as soon as I get rid of these.'

‘We're going to be late,' Sam grumbled, staring out of the lounge window of Judy's flat.

‘I know.' She opened her bedroom door and twirled around in front of him. ‘But I hoped you'd say the wait was worth it.'

He walked towards her. ‘You look good enough to eat.'

‘Can you eat me when you bring me home? I won't mind you messing my hair or smudging my lipstick then.'

‘Promises, promises.'

‘Emily's away for the night.'

‘Is she now?' His smile reached his eyes.

‘Yes, and she has no idea what time she'll be back tomorrow.'

‘You'll be lonely.'

‘And you, I saw Mike when I visited the town salon this morning. He told me you'd offloaded your shift on to him tonight.'

‘Did he now?' Sam's smile broadened. ‘Is that an invitation for me to stay over?'

‘I was thinking more of coffee on the way home.'

‘Why stop at coffee?'

‘Maybe a little more than just coffee.' Her mouth went dry, as she realised what he was thinking.

‘You promised you'd have a date for me.'

‘After I've spoken to my mother.' She conveniently forgot that she'd called in on her earlier.

‘Then you can give it me when I bring you home.' Taking her mohair stole from her, he dropped a kiss on to her naked shoulder before draping it around her.

‘You know what Robin is like at a party, Ems. He and the boys always hole up in the billiards room.' Angela went to her dressing table, picked up her atomiser and sprayed the toilette water she had bought on her last visit to France behind her ears.

‘I know.' Emily blotted her eyes with a handkerchief. ‘It's just that – well, you know how foul everyone's been to me …'

‘That's why Robin and I threw this party to get you back in with the crowd.'

‘So they can cut me like Cicely just did.'

‘Cicely's a bitch,' Angela commiserated. ‘I'm here, aren't I?' Replacing the atomiser, she went to her bedside cabinet. Opening it, she lifted out a bottle of brandy, poured two stiff measures, and handed Emily one. ‘Come downstairs.'

‘You won't leave me.'

‘Not for one minute.'

‘And Robin?'

‘I'll do what I can to entice the boys out of the billiards room, but you know what they're like when they get together. Come on.' Angela picked up Emily's overnight case from the foot of her bed and carried it into the spare room. Emily trailed behind her, still dabbing her eyes. ‘I hope you'll be comfortable in here.'

‘Yes,' Emily mumbled tearfully.

‘It's important to keep up appearances. I know you and Robin are engaged but with a house full, we don't want to risk any gossip. That's why I asked Mrs Jones to put you in here. Robin's only next door, he can slip in and out without anyone noticing.'

‘Thank you.' Emily's eyes shone with gratitude.

‘Now drink that down and I'll get you another one.'

Chapter Five

‘You'll love it in the nursing home, the staff are marvellous and nothing is too much trouble for them. Billy's birth there was wonderful, so calm and relaxed it was a completely different experience to having Judy in hospital,' Joy confided to Katie.

‘Medicine has advanced in the last twenty odd years, love,' Roy reminded her gently.

‘Seeing as men know absolutely nothing about having babies, you're not allowed into this conversation,' Joy rebuked.

Not in the least offended, Roy wandered off, beer glass in hand.

‘So how are you keeping?' Joy whispered to Katie. ‘Not that I don't know exactly how you're feeling. Between the backaches, the cramps, the baby kicking lumps out of your insides every time you try to eat, the heartburn, the varicose veins …'

‘I haven't had the varicose veins,' Katie smiled.

‘Lucky girl, but I'll talk to you again when you are having your second.'

‘I feel incredibly well,' Katie insisted. ‘But then John hardly lets me lift a finger in the house. Mrs Jones does most of the housework and prepares the evening meal, and we eat out most Friday and Saturday nights.'

‘Lucky you. I wish Roy and I could go out more than once in a blue moon.'

‘If ever you need a babysitter …'

‘Between Judy and the neighbours I'm never short of a babysitter. Just a husband who works regular hours. I'd forgotten what a bind police shift work can be. Now where was I?' Joy thought for a moment. ‘I find it difficult to talk to anyone over two years old these days. I'm so used to spending all my time with Billy, I get the urge to show everyone picture books or talk about Moo Cows and Bunny Rabbits. So beware, your brain could go the same way.'

‘You were telling me about the nursing home,' Katie prompted shyly.

‘Of course I was, it's a splendid place, but be sure you allow the staff to wait on you hand and foot after the baby's born. Make the most of your ten days there because, once you get home, between seeing to the baby and John, and running the house, you won't have a minute to yourself.'

‘I'm looking forward to that part.' Katie set her orange juice on the coffee table.

‘You're not worried about the actual birth, are you?' Joy asked.

‘Just a bit. You hear such terrible stories.'

‘Invented and spread by old wives who enjoy scaring young girls because it makes them feel important. Thank you, Helen.' Joy took the bottle of Pony Helen handed her and poured it into her glass. ‘I won't say having a baby is easy because it's not, they don't call it labour for nothing.'

‘Is there a lot of pain?' Katie asked apprehensively.

Joy thought for a moment before answering. ‘Yes, but it varies enormously from one woman to another. It's also a peculiar pain, it hurts at the time but once you're holding your baby for the first time you forget all about it.'

‘And that's how you felt after Billy was born.' Helen sat on the arm of the sofa.

‘And Judy. If I hadn't forgotten what it had been like to give birth to her, I might not have had Billy.'

‘And you honestly can't recall the pain now,' Helen pressed.

‘Only the good bits,' Joy asserted. ‘Holding Judy and Billy for the first time, seeing what they looked like after spending so many months wondering whether I was going to have a girl or a boy. It's a feeling like nothing else I've ever experienced and impossible to explain, other than to say it's wonderful.'

‘Then Billy's not going to be your last baby?' Katie ventured.

‘I think having Billy was pushing it a bit at my age, not that I'd mind having another one,' Joy said quickly, ‘but I think it's time you girls did your bit to repopulate the world. Katie's baby needs a few playmates and now Jack's home …'

‘Excuse me, I have to check there's enough food laid out in the dining room.' Helen left the sofa and went to the door.

‘Trust me to put my foot in it,' Joy murmured guiltily.

‘Now Jack's home I'm sure they'll try again,' Katie sympathised.

‘I hope you're right.' Joy looked through the open door into the dining room. Jack had slipped his arm around Helen's waist, as he carried on talking to Martin and John. ‘They look happy together.'

‘Helen was worried that Jack would have forgotten her. I told her there was no chance of that but I'm not sure she believed me.'

‘From the way she's looking at him, she does now.' Joy took an oyster pattie from a plate Lily was handing round. ‘These are good, you must give me the recipe.'

‘I will.' Lily glanced at the door. ‘I hear Judy.'

‘At last. I was worried she had stopped off to buy another salon on the way here,' Joy quipped, and not entirely humorously.

‘You persuaded Brian to stay then.' Sam looked from Martin to Brian, who was gazing intently at Judy. To his annoyance, he realised Judy was staring back.

‘You look as beautiful as ever, Judy.' Brian found his voice, sensing the sudden silence had something to do with him and Judy.

Acutely aware of Sam's grip tightening on her arm, Judy replied, ‘I didn't expect to see you back in Swansea, Brian.'

‘You know me, a sucker for punishment.' He forced a smile, as he glanced from Judy to Sam, who looked as though he was trying to weld himself to her. ‘Still breaking men's hearts?' The flippant remark fell like lead shot into the heavy atmosphere.

‘I hope not,' Sam answered caustically. ‘Judy and I are engaged – and soon to be married,' he added, giving Judy an uncompromising look.

‘So where's Julian tonight?' Thompson leered at Angela, as she topped up his glass of whisky.

‘I haven't a clue,' she answered blithely.

‘I thought you two were courting strong.'

‘We are, when we're together,' she concurred.

‘And when you're apart?' He flushed, as she gave him a dazzling smile.

‘We go our own way. I'd find anything else stifling and you know how I hate being stifled.'

‘I'd jump at the chance to find out.' Encouraged by her flirtatious smile he dared to run his fingers down her bare arm.

‘I thought you were seeing Cicely.'

‘Were being the operative word.'

‘I'm sorry.'

‘I'm not; she's a tease. Don't suppose you'd consider showing me around upstairs,' he suggested artfully. ‘I've always wanted to see over this house.'

‘You don't suppose right. But …' Angela eyed Emily who'd stuck to Robin like glue since he'd emerged from the billiards room, which was undoubtedly the reason why he was demanding that the boys return there with him.

‘But,' he repeated, running his tongue suggestively over his lips as she turned back to him.

‘I might change my mind if you are good.' She pulled him towards her by his tie. ‘Very very good,' she whispered.

‘And what do I have to do to be considered good?'

‘Look after Ems for me.' She scowled at Robin, as he stalked out of the room leaving Emily fighting back tears.

Thompson followed her line of vision. ‘She has nerve coming here, I'll give her that.'

‘Have you spoken to her?' she asked. Emily turned her back on the room and looked out of the window.

‘I said hello, which was more than most people did,' he retorted defensively.

‘As you see from his absence, Robin's a pathetic host, so while I check on people's drinks, you,' she poked his chest, ‘can start being good by being nice to Ems until I'm free.'

‘And if I do, you'll reward me?'

‘Possibly.'

Angela joined Emily at the window. Taking her by the hand she led her to Thompson. ‘He'll look after you while I see to everyone's drinks.' She folded Emily's hand into Thompson's. ‘Take this.' She handed Thompson a bottle of whisky. ‘I'd hate for you or Ems to be thirsty.'

‘I didn't have the chance to congratulate you and Sam earlier.' Brian had been waiting for an opportunity to speak to Judy ever since the embarrassing scene in the kitchen, so the minute he saw her walk into the empty dining room he followed.

‘Thank you.' She looked into his eyes, a deep, rich brown, intensely and overwhelmingly familiar even after the years they'd spent apart. He seemed taller than she remembered and she wondered if it was because he'd lost weight. Lily had said something about him being injured and not wanting to talk about it …

‘I'd also like to apologise for some of the things I said to you when we split up. My only defence is that I was angry, young and stupid at the time.'

‘Both of us were.'

‘But now we're grown-ups it's good to know that we can remain friends.'

‘Is it?' Judy found it difficult to control her resentment. Since Brian had walked away from her almost three years ago on Swansea station, he had never once tried to contact her, never sending her as much as a Christmas card, although she knew full well that he sent them to Martin and Lily, Katie and John, and Helen and Jack. And now he dared to presume that they could remain friends!

‘You haven't changed. I would have known you anywhere.' His eyes crinkled at the corners. ‘Same green eyes, same red hair, same temper …'

‘Temper,' she blazed, before realising he knew exactly how much the ‘friends' remark had incensed her.

‘Sam is obviously better at handling you than me. Martin mentioned you'd been engaged for eighteen months. We barely lasted a third of that time, probably a sixth if you take out the days and weeks we spent sulking and quarrelling. Do you remember?'

‘I'm so busy these days, I can't remember what happened three weeks ago let alone three years,' she said loudly for Sam's benefit as he joined them.

‘I hear you've become quite the entrepreneur.' Brian helped himself to a cheese straw. ‘Helen told me you have eleven salons now.'

‘My mother and I,' she corrected. ‘We do.' She took the glass of orange juice Sam handed her and promptly abandoned it on the table to show him she resented his intrusion.

‘Martin said you're moving back to Swansea permanently, Brian.' Sam slipped his arm proprietorially around Judy's shoulders.

‘Yes,' Brian confirmed, reaching for another cheese straw. ‘Have you tried these?' He handed Judy one. ‘They're delicious.'

‘You're renting the top floor of Lily's house.' Sam watched Judy bite into the straw.

‘Yes, we'll be housemates again. It will be like old times.' Brian was finding it increasingly difficult to remain pleasant in the face of the antagonistic looks Sam was sending his way.

‘Not for long.' Sam squeezed Judy so hard she winced.

‘Then the big day's imminent?'

‘We're setting the date this weekend, aren't we, darling?'

‘Mm, sorry, I wasn't listening.' Judy was furious with Sam for allowing his jealousy to show. She and Brian had been over long before she and Sam had gone out together.

‘I said we're setting the date this weekend,' Sam repeated tersely.

She looked up and saw Brian watching her. His smile broadened and she had an uncontrollable urge to wipe the grin from his face and hurt him every bit as much as he had hurt her. ‘Yes, we are,' she confirmed, sliding her hand around Sam's waist.

‘So, what are you going to do in Swansea, Brian?' Sam asked.

‘Open a laundry.'

‘I didn't know you were a washerwoman.'

‘There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Sam. Congratulations again to both of you, I hope you will both be very happy.'

‘We will,' Sam declared forcefully.

‘If you'll excuse me, I'd like to speak to Katie and John and wish them well with the baby. I haven't had a chance to talk to either of them all evening. And,' Brian lifted his eyebrows, ‘they'll soon have a lot of nappies that will need washing.'

‘Ems is plastered,' Thompson announced, as he walked into the conservatory where Angela was mixing cocktails for an appreciative and tipsy audience.

‘Since when have you joined a Temperance Society?' Cicely drawled. ‘None of us are exactly sober.'

‘The rest of us aren't lying flat on our faces under the dining-room table,' Thompson rejoined.

‘I'll see to her. Take over here, Cicely.' Angela tossed Cicely the cocktail shaker before following Thompson into the dining room. He hadn't exaggerated. Emily was lying face down on the Turkish rug under the table. ‘Roust Robin out of the billiards room.'

‘My pleasure.'

Angela had turned Emily on to her back and pulled her out from beneath the table by the time Robin appeared.

‘I should never have listened to you, Angie,' Robin groused. ‘It was a stupid idea of yours to invite Ems. Everyone's cut her and, as if that's not enough, she's made a complete fool of herself.'

‘Just give me a hand to get her out of here and into bed,' Angela ordered tartly.

Robin picked Emily up; slinging her over his shoulder, he hauled her up the stairs. ‘There's no way she's sleeping in my room in this state,' he said unequivocally.

‘I've put her in here.' Pushing past him, Angela opened a door.

‘Mums' favourite guest room. She'll kill you if Ems throws up in here.'

‘If Ems does, I'll get Mrs Jones to clean it up before Mums gets back.'

He tossed Emily on top of the bed. ‘Did you find out if she is preggers?' he whispered, after glancing over his shoulder to make sure that no one had followed them up the stairs.

‘I didn't get a chance.'

‘You're bloody useless.'

‘Give me a hand to undress her.'

‘I'm not her bloody maid.'

‘We can't leave her in what she's wearing, she'll ruin it.' She turned Emily on to her side and unzipped her frock. ‘Here, you hold her up and I'll pull it off.'