Nobody’s Girl (22 page)

Mary would go to the police, tell them she’d been raped, but what else could she tell them? Think, man! Think!

She didn’t know his name; with the job in mind he’d been careful to give her a false one. Had he mentioned where he lived? No, of course he hadn’t. His mind raced with his feet. How many people had seen them together? There had only been a couple of customers in the pub, old men playing cribbage, but the landlord might remember him and give a description.

Kevin’s thoughts were still raging as he broke free of the woods, relieved to find himself close to the small car park. His car! Bloody hell, could they trace him through his car? He rushed towards it, diving into the passenger seat, at the same time realising that without them knowing the number plates, it would be unlikely.

He had to get away and quickly! Frantically gunning the engine to life, he roared out onto the narrow country road, sweat pouring down his face and almost blinding him as he screeched away around a corner.

Bessie locked the shop. She hadn’t seen Pearl for a few days and was missing the girl. Pearl had been married for a few months now, and though she hadn’t appeared happy at first, nowadays it seemed that everything in the garden was rosy.

They were still living with Dolly and, despite Pearl’s protestations, Bessie thought Kevin was a lazy sod. He wasn’t well, Pearl insisted, suffering from nerves, but Bessie didn’t believe it. What did Kevin Dolby have to be nervous about? He’d been mollycoddled since childhood, spoiled rotten, and in her opinion it was just another excuse to avoid getting a job.

Bessie went upstairs, the empty living room cheerless as she walked in. Pearl had lived with her for only a short time, but since she’d left it emphasised her loneliness. Still, she had a card reading to do, and maybe Pearl would pop over to see her later.

She had barely made herself a cup of tea when the client arrived. Taking her into the living room, Bessie began to set the scene. She sat the woman opposite her at the table and then took out her cards, unwrapping them from a deep purple silk cloth. With a serious expression on her face she began to shuffle them, the cards old and worn after so much use. She then handed them to the client, the woman looking deeply worried as she took them. Bessie studied her, and judging by her age felt the consultation might be due to marital problems.

When the cards were returned she laid them out, glancing at the woman as she said, ‘Ah, I see a dark-haired man, one you may have worries about.’

‘Yes, that’d be my husband,’ the woman replied eagerly, her back straightening in the chair.

Bessie hid a smile. She had hit on the problem almost immediately, making this reading easy. ‘You care deeply for this man,’ she offered.

‘Yeah, I do,’ she said sadly.

Bessie fished again, hoping she was right. ‘You’re suspicious about something, perhaps an affair?’

The woman’s eyes filled with tears and, nodding, she sobbed, pulling a handkerchief out of her pocket. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.

Bessie turned another card, surprised to feel a sudden flash of intuition. ‘You’re wrong, he isn’t having an affair.’

‘But … but he hasn’t been himself lately. Are you sure?’

‘Yes, I’m sure. I think it’s his health that’s worrying him, and maybe you should talk to him about it.’

‘Oh, no! It ain’t anything serious, is it?’

‘The cards aren’t clear, but I don’t think so.’ She placed a card across the last one, smiling softly. ‘I see a good marriage, a strong marriage, and if your husband hasn’t mentioned his concerns, it’s because he wants to protect you from worry.’

‘Oh God,’ the woman said, ‘and here I am thinking that just because he ain’t touched me lately, he’s having it off on the side.’ She rose swiftly to her feet. ‘Thanks, Bessie, but I don’t want to hear any more. I just want to go home and talk to him. I’ve been giving the poor sod a rough time, and now I know that he doesn’t deserve it I feel awful.’

As the woman opened her purse, Bessie held up a palm. ‘No, love, it was only a short reading and there’s no need to pay.’

‘Thanks, it’s kind of you,’ the woman said.

She hurried from the room and Bessie had a job to keep up with her as she ran downstairs. She let her out, calling goodbye and then, puffing, returned to the living room. With a sigh she picked up the cards, shuffling them as her mind moved. The flash of intuition had come in handy, making the reading an easy one, but she couldn’t help feeling a little concerned about the woman’s husband. She hoped his illness wasn’t serious, her intuition unclear about that, but at least now he would have his wife’s support.

Bessie glanced at the clock, once again wondering if Pearl would pop over, and then, as she absentmindedly laid a card on the table, intuition flashed again. Her face stretched in horrified surprise as she stared at the card. She didn’t want to see it, wanted to shut it out, hastily returning the card to the pack.

Pearl smiled as Kevin stretched out beside her. He had changed so much during the last few months, hardly ever going out now, and since he’d persuaded his mother to buy another television for their bedroom, they spent every evening together.

They still hadn’t made love, but Pearl didn’t mind. In her eighth month of pregnancy her stomach was huge and she found it difficult to sit or lay comfortably.

She still worked in the kitchen, but for the first time there was a common consensus between Pearl and her mother-in-law, and that was their concern over Kevin’s nerves. She still felt Dolly’s animosity towards her, but at least she was used to it now and mostly able to ignore it.

Kevin was a little better, but there was a marked change in his personality that worried them. His swagger had gone, his confidence, and he was far too quiet. Not only that, his car, once his pride and joy, sat dirty and unused in the yard.

Pearl turned carefully onto her side, snuggling closer, her tummy pressed against him. ‘
Emergency
– Ward
Ten
is on in a minute.’

He moved away as if repulsed by her stomach. ‘Huh, it’s a load of old claptrap. I prefer
The
Adventures of Robin Hood
.’

‘Richard Greene is a bit of all right.’

‘If you say so,’ he said, swinging his feet to the floor and surprising her when he added, ‘I’m popping out to buy a packet of fags. I won’t be long.’

As Kevin left the room, Pearl turned onto her back again, feeling a twinge of pain. It soon passed and for while she was able to concentrate on her favourite programme, but then another small pain had her squirming uncomfortably. She’d had this before, and Dolly had told her the baby was probably pressing on a nerve. Thankfully the episodes were short-lived, and as she shifted into another position, Pearl’s hands unconsciously stroking her tummy, whilst her eyes once again focused on the television.

When
Emergency – Ward Ten
came to an end, Pearl struggled to her feet. She was thirsty and slowly made her way to the kitchen.

‘Are you all right, love?’ Bernie said as she passed through the living room.

‘I’m having a few twinges of pain again, but I expect they’ll pass.’

‘The baby isn’t coming, is it?’

‘Don’t be daft,’ Dolly snapped. ‘She’s got another month to go yet. Anyway, where’s Kevin? He said he was only going out to buy cigarettes and I expected him back by now.’

‘Me too,’ Pearl agreed, gasping as she bent forward.

‘You’d best sit down,’ Bernie urged as he rose to his feet.

‘It’s only a small pain.’ But even so, she sank thankfully onto the sofa.

Bernie hovered anxiously by her side. ‘Do you want a glass of water or something?’

‘For goodness’ sake, stop mollycoddling the girl,’ Dolly snapped.

Relieved that the small twinge had passed and anxious to placate her mother-in-law, Pearl struggled to her feet. ‘I’m fine now and I’ll make a cup of tea. Would you both like one?’

‘I’ll make it,’ Bernie said, ‘and if you ask me I think it’s about time you stopped work.’

‘Leave it out! I haven’t found someone to stand in for her yet, and until I do she’ll have to carry on.’

‘Have you seen her feet? They’re swollen up like balloons.’

‘That’s nothing. Mine were the same when I was carrying Kevin, but I don’t remember you showing
me
any concern.’

‘Honestly, Bernie, I don’t mind working,’ Pearl said, knowing that this could soon escalate into a violent row. She knew what her mother-in-law was capable of and had seen her laying into Bernie on several occasions. ‘I’ve got a chair in the kitchen and can sit down whilst preparing the vegetables.’

Bernie shook his head doubtfully, but said no more as he headed for the kitchen.

Dolly stood up and, walking to the window, she drew the curtains aside. ‘I can’t imagine what’s keeping Kevin.’

‘Maybe he’s met up with his friends and is having a drink—’ Pearl suggested, breaking off with a gasp as another pain shot through her.

Dolly swung round at Pearl’s gasp, her brow creased.

‘If that’s another pain you may be having contractions.’

‘But the baby isn’t due yet.’

‘It could be coming early. We’ll time them, and for Christ’s sake sit down again before you fall down.’ Dolly showed no sympathy as she added, ‘And don’t look at me like a frightened rabbit. You’re only having a baby and there’s no need to make a fuss.’

*

Kevin’s eyes had flicked up and down the High Street before he stepped outside. It had been months now and surely he was safe? After it happened he’d scoured the newspapers, but there had been nothing, no report of a rape, and he was beginning to think that Mary hadn’t reported it.

Maybe he could risk raising his head a little. With that thought in mind he made for the local pub. If he sat indoors with Pearl for much longer he’d go mad, the silly cow driving him daft with her inane chatter. At one time all he’d thought about was moving out, of finding a place of their own, but that had been put on the back burner now. They’d do it one day, but in the meantime they were fine where they were. With Pearl as big as a house he had no interest in her body, and his mother kept him supplied with pocket money.

He pulled open the bar door, a cloud of cigarette smoke engulfing him as he walked inside.

‘Well, bugger me, look what the cat’s dragged in,’ Nobby said, his smile tight. ‘Has your old woman let you off the leash at last?’

‘Pearl hasn’t got me on a leash. I’ve been a bit under the weather, that’s all.’

‘Don’t take us for mugs, Kevin. We’ve seen you scuttling around on the odd occasion and you looked all right.’

‘My asthma’s been playing me up.’

‘If you say so, but you’ve surfaced just in time. We’re on to a nice little earner and need a driver.’

‘No, thanks, mate. I want to keep my nose clean for a while.’

Nobby’s eyes narrowed. ‘I thought so, and I ain’t too pleased that you left us out of the loop.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘There’s only one reason why you’d keep your head down for this long and it ain’t got anything to do with asthma. I reckon you did a job without us and nearly got caught.’

‘That’s rubbish. I told you I ain’t been well and I came in here for a drink, not a cross-examination. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to get myself a pint.’ He glanced at the glasses in Nobby and Dick’s hands. ‘Are you ready for another?’

‘Yeah, I wouldn’t say no,’ Dick Smedley said, speaking for the first time.

Nobby nodded an affirmative, but his voice was hard as he said, ‘and once you’ve got them in, we’ll talk again about the little scam we’ve got planned.’

‘You can talk all you like, mate, but I ain’t interested.’

Despite all the cajoling, Kevin refused the job. Nobby was angry, but he didn’t care. As far as he was concerned the bloke was all mouth and he wasn’t intimidated.

At ten thirty, after a good few whisky chasers, Kevin left the pub and staggered across the road. An ambulance was parked outside the café, but his eyes were barely able to focus. He halted in his tracks, swaying, but before he could gather his addled thoughts, it drove off.

With unsteady hands, Kevin let himself in, almost falling up the stairs to the living room, and as soon as his father saw him, he jumped to his feet.

‘It’s about time you turned up. Pearl’s in labour and she’s been taken to hospital.’

‘Where’s Mum?’

‘You weren’t here so she’s gone with Pearl and she ain’t too pleased about it. Well, don’t just stand there, get yourself to the hospital.’

Kevin grinned inanely, trying to focus on his father as he spoke again.

‘Look at the state of you and you ain’t fit to drive, that’s for sure. I’ll call you a taxi.’

With a bemused expression Kevin sank onto the sofa, closed his eyes and knew no more as he fell into a drunken sleep.

‘Kevin! Kevin, wake up!’

‘Wh … what?’

‘I said wake up.’

His mother’s voice sounded loud in his ears and, managing to open one eye, Kevin saw her looming over him.

‘You’ve got a son.’

‘Wh … what?’

‘Christ, you sound like a parrot. Wake up, for Gawd’s sake.’

‘What’s the time?’

‘It’s four o’clock. Now did you hear what I said? You’ve got a son!’

Kevin’s head was thumping and he groaned, trying to pull himself upright, surprised to find himself on the sofa. His mouth was dry, and he grimaced at the bitter acrid taste on his tongue. ‘Any chance of a cup of tea, Mum?’

‘Bloody hell, Kevin. I can’t believe you. I’ve just told you that you’re a father and all you can do is ask for a cup of flaming tea.’

Kevin knuckled his eyes and saw his father coming into the room, his expression showing concern

‘How is she, Dolly?’ Bernie asked.

‘She’s fine, but it was a long labour. Well, Bernie, you’re a grandfather. Pearl gave birth to a lovely, bouncing boy.’

At last Kevin’s brain began to function. ‘Pearl’s had the baby?’

Dolly exhaled loudly. ‘So, you’ve come to life at last. You picked a fine time to go missing and I’ve been stuck at that flaming hospital all night.’

‘She’s actually had the baby?’

‘Am I talking to myself? Yes, she’s had the baby and you have a son.’

‘Christ,’ Kevin said, sinking back with shock.

‘Make us all a drink, Bernie. I’m fair worn out and without any sleep I don’t know how I’m gonna cope with the café today. Bloody hell, who’s gonna do the vegetables?’

‘I can’t believe this, Mum,’ Kevin said as his father scuttled from the room. ‘The baby wasn’t due yet.’

‘He came a bit early, but he’s fine and you can see him later.’

‘And Pearl’s all right?’

‘Yes, of course she is.’

‘Bloody hell, I’m a dad,’ Kevin whispered in awe.

‘I’ve been trying to get that through your thick skull for the last fifteen minutes.’ His mother’s words sounded harsh at first, but now she smiled softly. ‘He’s a lovely baby and the spitting image of you.’

‘Is he?’ Kevin said eagerly.
His son!
And he couldn’t wait to see him.

‘Here you are,’ Bernie said, passing a cup of tea to Dolly and then handing one to Kevin.