In Focus (2009) (19 page)

‘My girlfriend wouldn’t approve,’ she said.

His smile turned into a sneer. ‘One of those, are you? Unnatural, that is. You need a real man to sort you out, you do.’

She pushed past him quickly, suddenly a little afraid, and when he grabbed her arm, she chopped at his throat with her free hand. She’d never actually tried any of the self-defence tactics she’d learned about in a class she’d once attended, had never needed to, because the first rule of self-defence was to avoid getting into dangerous situations. Though how you could do that when you were flat hunting was more than she could work out.

Hearing him coughing and choking behind her, she ran off down the street, groaning in relief when a bus came along almost immediately.

Ghita opened the door, expecting to see Jo, astonished when she found her father standing there again. ‘Come in.’

This time he knew to leave his shoes inside the flat. He still looked round suspiciously, but the sight of the two little boys playing with plastic cars on the rug seemed to reassure him.

Tears welled in her eyes. Would he always look at her so suspiciously? How could he think she’d ever do anything immoral?

Not till they were sitting with glasses of tea and a platter of untouched biscuits before them did he come to the point.

‘Your mother and I think you should come and live at home again. She could help you with the boy until—’ He broke off with a frown.

‘Until what?’

‘Until we find you a husband. There are older men who’d be prepared to overlook what happened to you. It’s just a matter of negotiating something.’

She stared at him in horror. She didn’t want an arranged marriage and to her surprise, didn’t want to live at home again, either. It’d mean waiting on her father and brothers hand and foot, keeping her opinions to herself, and she’d grown used to airing her thoughts and discussing her feelings openly.

Looking across at her rosy-faced son, she realized suddenly that she didn’t want her Kaleel growing up with her father’s attitude towards women. She hadn’t appreciated how much she’d changed . . . until now.

‘Well? What do you say?’ he asked impatiently. ‘This is no way to show your gratitude.’

She chose her words carefully, knowing they’d still upset him. ‘I’m grateful you want to help me, but I’ve grown used to living on my own now. I don’t think it would work to come back. And I definitely don’t want an arranged marriage.’

His face grew red and angry, and for a moment she quailed before that anger, as she had done many times before, then pulled herself together.

‘You will do as I say!’ he thundered. ‘You belong with your own kind, not with loose women like the one next door. To think of a daughter of mine acting as servant to one like that!’

The two little boys looked round fearfully at the sound of his raised voice.

‘Jo isn’t a loose woman and—’

He held up one hand. ‘Enough. Your brothers and I will be round at the weekend to help you move back home.’ He stood up. ‘I shouldn’t have to remind you that you owe a duty to your parents and family.’

She didn’t protest as he slammed the door behind him, because she knew he wouldn’t listen. And she didn’t weep until she’d looked out of the window and seen him drive away.

When someone knocked on the door a few minutes later, her heart began to thump with fear, because she thought he’d come back for her.

The person knocked again and she couldn’t move, didn’t dare open the door.

‘Ghita! Are you all right?’

She ran to the door and flung it open. ‘Jo! Oh, Jo, I’m so glad you’re back.’ And couldn’t stop weeping.

Beth went to check on how a new job was going. She made random inspections of every job that Sherbright contracted for, and the staff knew it. When a routine was well established, she put one cleaner in charge of the bigger jobs, paying that person a little extra.

The new office block was looking good and she complimented the cleaners on work well done. The woman in charge had a couple of suggestions for improving the way they tackled this job. Beth took them both on board and praised her employee for her initiative. She also made a mental note to keep an eye on the woman and promote her further if she continued to show initiative.

Some employees wanted only a part-time job, others were in transition, studying for better jobs, and one or two seemed to figure out that there might be long-term opportunities with Sherbright. Sandy had started off as a cleaner while studying at technical college, then had moved to the office. En route, she’d become a friend.

That morning Mal rang Beth.

‘There’s no accommodation free, not even for emergencies, and as usual we have a long waiting list.’

‘Oh. Well, thanks anyway for trying.’

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. What will your daughter and her friend do in the meantime?’

‘They’ll both have to come and live with me if they can’t find anywhere.’

‘That might not be wise.’

‘It’s better than them being homeless or living in a dangerous district.’

‘You try to hide it by being brisk, but you’re a kind woman, my dear.’

‘And you’re a kind man.’

He chuckled. ‘My grandson doesn’t think so. I gave him a telling-off yesterday for sloppy work. They can do what they want when I’m dead but until then we’ll run this company
my
way, even if it does seem old-fashioned to the young money-grabbers of today.’

When she put the phone down, Beth was thoughtful. She didn’t want to have two young women and two toddlers living in her flat, was sure they’d soon get on each other’s nerves. She was too used to doing things her way, and she knew she was pernickety about cleanliness. That had been one of the points she and Jo had quarrelled about in the old days.

They’d have to set some firm ground rules. But surely with goodwill all round it’d work? For a time, at least.

At lunchtime Jo phoned her mother. ‘Got a minute to talk? If not, I can ring later.’

‘I’m meeting someone in half an hour but I’m free till then.’

‘Right. We’ve got a major problem. Ghita’s father came to see her last night and laid down the law. She’s to go and live at home again and they’ll forgive her – though what there is to forgive about being raped, I’ll never understand. And then they’ll find her a husband, an older one who’ll put up with Kaleel. You can imagine what sort of life she’d have – and poor little Kaleel, too.’

‘I can indeed.’

Jo took a deep breath. ‘I’ve looked everywhere, Mum, and there’s nothing even half suitable. The flat I checked out yesterday had a sleazy landlord who offered reduced rent in return for my favours.’

‘Ugh.’

‘So . . .’ She’d practised saying it, but it was still hard to get the words out, ‘can we come to live with you temporarily, just till we find somewhere?’

‘Yes, darling. Of course you can.’

‘Both of us? Me and Ghita?’

‘Yes, both of you.’

Jo blinked furiously. ‘Oh, Mum. How can we ever thank you?’

‘By remembering when we quarrel – and I’m sure we will, however hard we try not to – that I still love you.’

‘I love you too, Mum. Look, can you let Ghita move in tonight? Would you mind? I know it’s short notice, but she’s terrified her father and brothers will come earlier and take her away forcibly.’

‘Why don’t you both move in tonight?’

‘Because there won’t be time to pack up both flats.’

‘I’ll arrange that. Can you get the afternoon off work?’

‘Yes. But how—’

‘Trust me. I know a firm of commercial packers who’re very efficient.’

When Jo switched off her mobile, she blew her nose hard, but it still didn’t stop her eyes filling with more tears. What would she and Ghita have done if her mother had refused to help them? It didn’t bear thinking of.

She hurried back to work to explain to her manager what was happening then, feeling much more light-hearted, she went home to tell Ghita the good news.

Beth had forgotten she’d agreed to go shopping with Renée until her friend turned up.

‘Sorry. Something’s cropped up.’

‘Need any help?’

‘No, but thanks for the offer. I’m organizing a team of professional packers to move my daughter and her friend in with me. They’ll be in and out of her place tonight in three hours max.’

‘What about the date with Edward? Have you put him off?’

‘Oops! To tell you the truth, I’d forgotten him.’

‘Do you want me to ring him for you?’

‘No, I’ll do it.’ She made a quick note on her pad.

‘I’ll get out of your way, then.’

‘Mmm. Thanks.’

Half an hour later the move was organized. Beth picked up the phone to call Edward.

‘I’m sorry but I have to cancel for tonight.’

‘Is something wrong?’

She explained quickly.

‘Let me help.’

‘I’ve hired a team of movers. You’d be in the way, I’m afraid. Can we put it off till next week?’

‘I don’t want to wait that long to see you. Tomorrow.’

‘But—’

‘Wednesday. I’ll pick you up at seven.’ He didn’t wait for her to agree but broke the connection.

She stared at the phone, not sure she wanted this. She’d have enough on her plate with Jo and Ghita and two little boys.

And was he being masterful because he really liked her, or was he trying to bully her? She wouldn’t put up with that.

She smiled and shook her head. No, he wasn’t the bullying sort. For some reason he liked her. Well, she liked him too.

Ghita stood in the middle of the sitting room of her little home, bewildered by the rapid packing that was going on around her. Kaleel sat in his buggy watching, one thumb in his mouth. For once she didn’t pull the thumb out.

‘Do you want all the stuff in this cupboard?’ a woman asked.

She nodded and watched in amazement as the contents of her pantry cupboard were rapidly transferred to boxes, labelled clearly.

It took less than two hours to pack all her things and carry them down to a waiting truck. When she went to check on Jo, the flat next door was also empty.

Jo’s mother came out of the bedroom and smiled at them. ‘We’re nearly finished. Your bigger pieces of furniture will be in safe storage, I promise you. I’ve got booster seats in my car for the boys. Let’s get back to my place to wait for your things.’

The car was big and comfortable, easily taking the two children’s buggies as well as a few bits and pieces. Ghita sat in the back with the boys, watching Jo’s mother drive so confidently in and out of the traffic. She’d like to learn to drive, but had never been able to afford lessons. Her father would throw a fit if she even hinted at doing such a thing.

She let her head fall back and closed her eyes for a minute or two. No doubt her family would totally disown her now, and she was sorry for that, desperately sorry. But they couldn’t expect women to remain the same once they’d moved to England. Things were different here. Frighteningly different sometimes. Wonderfully different at others.

For Kaleel’s sake, she must become braver. She’d already started studying, but it was hard to learn these days when you couldn’t afford a computer, and she couldn’t use the ones at the library very often with two small children to take care of.

Her eyes went back to Mrs Harding. How kind of her to take them all in!

Ghita watched the street lights alternately illuminate her son’s face and leave it in darkness.

One day, she decided, she too would help others in repayment for all the help she’d received since that dreadful day when she’d been attacked. She felt sad that strangers had been more understanding than her own family.

Twelve

In the morning, Ghita was woken by footsteps pattering down the short corridor that connected the bedrooms. She wondered for a minute what was happening, then memories of the previous day flooded back and she became aware that the children were up.

In the other narrow bed Jo raised her head and sighed. ‘Morning already. And I’m on early shift.’

‘I’ll get your breakfast if you want to have a shower.’

‘Did you sleep well?’

Ghita hesitated. ‘No. I was worrying about whether I’d done the right thing.’

Jo raised herself on one elbow and stared at her friend in shock. ‘Do you really want to go back to your father?’

‘Definitely not. But I’m imposing on your mother.’

‘We both are.’ Jo swung her legs out of bed. ‘If you want to use the bathroom, do it quickly.’

Ghita edged past the boxes in the bedroom and those lining one wall of the corridor. The boys were standing near the bathroom door, but she’d made sure all the doors that led off the corridor were shut last night, so the two of them would be trapped in the narrow space when they got up. She hadn’t dared close their bedroom door because she wanted to hear if they woke in the night.

‘We used the potty,’ Kaleel volunteered.

‘Clever boys!’ She kissed them one after the other. ‘I won’t be a minute then I’ll get you a drink.’

There was no way Mrs Harding could still be asleep, Ghita thought as she sat the two boys at the table. As if to prove her right, her hostess walked in at that very moment.

‘I’m sorry if they woke you.’

‘I’m an early morning person. I’m always up by this time.’

‘Jo’s in the bathroom, I’m afraid.’

‘I have an en suite shower room off my bedroom, tiny but workable.’

‘Oh, that’s good!’ She hadn’t dared ask to look round the rest of the flat. It had seemed discourteous.

Mrs Harding studied her, head on one side. ‘You’re worrying about being here, aren’t you?’

Ghita could feel herself blushing. ‘I have no right to impose on you.’

‘You’ve helped my daughter for years and looked after my grandson. That gives you the right, as far as I’m concerned, and if you want to consider yourself part of our family, I’d be very happy. You really are welcome, Ghita.’