Nobody’s Girl (25 page)

Dolly was in deep shock – Pearl too, but somehow she had to keep going for Johnny’s sake. For the first time in the living memory of most locals, the café was closed, and had been for a week.

Bernie threw yesterday’s newspaper to one side with disgust. ‘I don’t know how they got hold of Kevin’s photo, but his face is plastered all over the front page again.’

‘I don’t care what they say. It was self-defence, it had to be. My son would never do something like that.’

‘I don’t think the jeweller could have put up a fight. He’s an old man and lucky to be alive.’

‘There must have been someone else with Kevin and he did it.’

‘Not according to the police. Christ, Dolly, he was caught in the act, and he was the only one there.’

‘Shut up, Bernie! Instead of standing up for Kevin, it sounds like you’ve already decided he’s guilty.’

‘I’m just facing the facts.’

‘I’m telling you he didn’t do it!’ Dolly cried, but she remained seated, for once not lashing out at her husband.

Pearl had been surprised by her father-in-law’s reaction to the news. He’d shown no sympathy for his son, his thoughts for the poor old jeweller, whom Kevin had bludgeoned almost to death. She shuddered, still hardly able to believe that her husband was capable of doing such a thing.

Someone was banging on the front door. Seeing that both her in-laws were ignoring it, Pearl made her way downstairs. Tentively she opened the door.

‘Mrs Dolby?’ a man said. ‘I’m a reporter from the
Sketch
and—’

‘Go away!’ Pearl screamed, cutting off the man’s words as she slammed the door in his face.

The letterbox lifted. ‘Have you any comment about the new accusations against your husband?’

New accusations! What new accusations? For a moment Pearl stood rooted to the spot, but then she turned, racing back upstairs. ‘Bernie! There’s a reporter outside and he said something about Kevin facing new accusations.’

‘Christ, that can only mean the jeweller’s snuffed it. Kevin must be facing a murder charge now.’

‘No. Oh, no!’ Dolly sobbed.

They soon found out when, following another loud banging on the door, Pearl went to the window to see a costermonger walking away. She crept downstairs to find that today’s newspaper had been shoved through the letterbox.

After reading it they were all stunned. A young woman had seen Kevin’s photograph in the paper, coming forward to accuse him of rape and battery.

‘I don’t believe it,’ Dolly cried. ‘She’s telling lies, she must be, and how come we’re the last to hear of it?’

‘Why would she lie about something like that?’

‘I don’t know, Bernie, but it ain’t true. Maybe she’s jumped at a chance to make money by selling a trumped-up story to the newspapers.’

‘That seems a bit unlikely.’

‘My son is
not
a rapist,’ Dolly snapped. Her eyes flicked to Pearl and she added venomously, ‘Kevin was all right before he married
you
.’

Pearl had been reading the report again, but now she dropped the newspaper before rushing, gagging, from the room.

It wasn’t long before Bernie heard Pearl being sick and looked at his wife with disgust. Dolly was grasping at straws, and rather than face the truth about Kevin, she was using Pearl as a scapegoat. She had to find an excuse for her precious son’s behaviour, but to lay the blame on Pearl was bloody ridiculous. With a small shake of his head, Bernie went after his daughter-in-law, finding her just leaving the bathroom. The poor kid looked awful, ashen, as she dragged a hand across her mouth. ‘Are you all right love?’

‘I … I’ve been sick.’

‘Yeah, I know, but listen, don’t take any notice of Dolly.’

Pearl nodded sadly and he saw a tear rolling down her cheek. ‘I … I think I’ll go to my bedroom for a while.’

Bernie returned to the living room, his mouth set in a grim line. ‘Dolly, I don’t think it’s fair to blame Pearl. She’s really upset.’

‘It’s no more than she deserves. Kevin changed when he married her. He became a nervous wreck and hardly left the flat. God knows what that girl’s been doing to him.’

‘You’re mad, woman! Read the newspaper report again and check the dates. Huh, Kevin’s nerves! It all makes sense now. He did it, Dolly. He raped that woman, and was scared of being caught. That’s why he’s been staying in so much. He was too bloody frightened to show his face!’

Dolly reared to her feet and Bernie stiffened, expecting a clout. ‘Why do you always think the worst of him?’ she yelled. ‘He didn’t do it! That woman’s lying. I know she is.’

Bernie kicked off his slippers and reached for his shoes. ‘All right, I’ll go down to the station and we’ll see what they’ve got to say about it.’

‘We’re going to see Kevin tomorrow and we’ll hear the truth from him.’

As Bernie finished tying his laces he felt something snapping inside. Kevin had been caught almost beating an old man to death and he had no doubts about these latest accusations. ‘No, Dolly,
you’re
going to see him, not me. I never want to set eyes on him again.’

‘But he’s your son!’

‘I was only there at the conception. I’ve had no hand in bringing him up. You saw to that.’

Dolly raised her hand but this time Bernie didn’t flinch. For the first time in years he felt no fear, and uncaring of the consequences his voice rose. ‘I’ll tell you something else. Pearl has just been sick and if you ask me that girl deserves an apology.’ And on that note he strode from the room.

When Bernie left the café he saw that the market was thronging with life, and there was no way he could avoid being seen. Someone shouted his name but he ignored it, keeping his head down until he was out of sight. Christ, he’d known his son had a weak character, but had never dreamed he was capable of such violence. If anything, he had thought him a coward, a mummy’s boy, and his stomach twisted. Had his home environment caused it? Had Kevin seen too much and it had somehow turned his mind? Bernie shook his head, refusing to believe it. He’d heard of worse parents, ones that neglected, starved or beat their children, yet none had turned out like Kevin. No, the boy must have been born like it, he and Dolly bringing a monster into the world.

Pearl heard Bernie going out, but remained sitting on the side of the bed, her hands clutched between her knees. It wasn’t her mother-in-law’s accusation that had made her sick. Like Dolly, she couldn’t believe that Kevin had raped and beaten a woman, but as she read the newspaper report, a memory surfaced. Before their marriage, when Bessie had been ill in bed and they were alone, Kevin had virtually attacked her too, the sex violent. She remembered how frightened she’d been, Kevin calming her fears with excuses, ones that she had believed … until now.

She groaned, rocking back and forth. It was as if her eyes had opened and she was seeing Kevin for the first time. The man she thought herself in love with didn’t exist. Yet even as these thoughts crossed her mind, Pearl knew she was fooling herself. There had been many times when she had worried about his Jekyll and Hyde character but, loving him, she had chosen to dismiss her fears.

Pearl had no idea how long she sat there, her thoughts twisting and turning, but then Bernie poked his head around the door.

‘Come into the living room, Pearl. I’ve been down to the police station and I’ve got some news.’

She rose to her feet, following Bernie into the living room.

Dolly’s head snapped up as soon as she saw her husband. ‘What did the police say?’

‘They wouldn’t tell me much, but one copper was a nice bloke and took me to one side. He said that so far there’s lack of evidence to support the young woman’s story.’

‘See, I told you my boy wouldn’t do such a thing.’

‘He’s not out of the woods yet. They’re still making enquiries and are bringing a few people in for an identity parade.’

‘They’re wasting their time.’

‘Don’t be so sure. And are you forgetting what he did to that old man? He’s lucky he hasn’t been charged with attempted murder.’

‘How many times have I got to tell you that he didn’t do it?’

‘And how many times have I got to say that he was caught red-handed? If that copper hadn’t turned up when he did, Kevin would have killed that old man. There’s no getting away from it, Dolly. Even if Kevin gets off a charge of raping that young woman, he’ll still go down for robbery with violence.’

‘He can’t … he won’t,’ Dolly cried, tears filling her eyes. She leaned forward, her sobs turning to wails as she rocked back and forth.

Pearl and Bernie looked at each other, both floundering. This wasn’t the Dolly Dolby they knew. The once-strong woman was almost choking on her own tears, and neither knew how to react.

‘Oh, Bernie, Bernie,’ she sobbed.

With a small shake of his head, he sat beside her, placing an arm around her shoulder. ‘Come on, old girl. If you carry on like this you’ll make yourself ill.’

She fell against him and, feeling like an intruder, Pearl quietly left the room.

Johnny was still asleep, but she lifted him from his cot. She needed comfort too, someone to talk to, and only one person came to mind: Bessie.

She’d only managed to see the old lady a couple of times since Kevin’s arrest, and now wondered if she’d heard about the latest charges. It didn’t take Pearl long to get Johnny ready and, popping her head around the living-room door, she was surprised to find Bernie alone.

‘Dolly’s in an awful state. I should have kept my mouth shut. She’s gone to lie down, but I can’t get her to stop crying.’

‘Maybe you should call the doctor.’

‘You could be right, but I know Dolly and she won’t thank me. Instead she’d probably go potty. It might be safer to wait and see how she is in a couple of hours. Where are you off to?’

‘I’m just popping out to see Bessie.’

‘All right, but before this you’ve only been to see her when the market was closed for the day. Tongues are wagging and it might be a bit rough for you.’

Bernie was right. It was awful walking through the market. Heads turned, murmurs could be heard, but Pearl ignored them all until a hand touched her arm. She raised her eyes, stunned to see Derek by her side.

‘I’m so sorry, Pearl. You’re having a rotten time of it and I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Mind you, in the light of this latest news I’ve got more doubts about how you got pregnant. I think you took the blame, but you can tell the truth now. Did Kevin rape you too?’

Tears filled her eyes. She had badly hurt this man, but here he was, offering her sympathy. ‘No, Derek, he didn’t.’

‘Are you sure about that?’

‘Yes, I’m sure.’ And, unable to bear his kindness, she moved quickly away from him, almost running to the second-hand shop.

‘Oh, Bessie,’ she cried as she rushed inside, relieved to find that there weren’t any customers. ‘Derek just offered me his sympathies. Wasn’t that nice of him?’

‘Yeah, he’s a good bloke.’

Pearl sank onto an old chair. ‘I suppose you’ve heard that Kevin’s been accused of rape as well now?’

‘Yes. It doesn’t take long for bad news to spread around here.’

‘You knew it was going to happen, didn’t you?’

‘No, love.’

‘You told me you saw Kevin surrounded by police, but you saw more than that, didn’t you?’

Bessie heaved a sigh. ‘There wasn’t much more, and I once told you that I’d misinterpreted a vision I had about Connie Lewis. Since then I’m loath to say anything unless I’m a hundred per cent sure.’

‘What did you see, Bessie? It’s happened now so there’s no harm in telling me now.’

‘All I missed out was that I had a bad feeling about it. I felt that Kevin was up to no good and would be caught, but I don’t think it had anything to do with rape. I think I saw the robbery.’

‘Oh, Bessie, it’s bad enough that Kevin attacked that old man, but now there’s a woman too. When he’s found guilty of either offence he’ll probably go to prison for years.’

‘I notice that you said
when
he’s found guilty – not
if
.’

‘He was caught red-handed at the jeweller’s, and somehow I just know he attacked that girl.’

‘I warned you against Kevin from the start. I told you he’d come to no good, but you wouldn’t listen.’

‘I know, but I loved him, Bessie, and I didn’t take any notice of your warning.’

‘Well, you ain’t the only one. As I’ve told you before, people only hear what they want to. Anyway, if you’re right and Kevin goes down for a long time, what are you going to do? Have you given any thought to your future?’

‘Well, no, but all this has been such a shock.’ For a moment Pearl was quiet, pondering the old woman’s words. ‘I’d like to get out of this area. It would be awful for Johnny to grow up hearing his father talked about as a man who nearly killed someone and, not only that, raped a woman too.’

‘Yeah, I can understand that, but where will you go?’

Pearl stared at Bessie, her mind racing. There was no doubt that Kevin would go to prison, and for many years. She’d be alone again, and even if she could get out of Battersea, how was she going to survive on her own?

In an effort to identify Kevin, the police had brought a few people to an identity parade. There was a publican from a country pub, along with a customer, and also the girl’s employer, but as the attack had happened some time ago, none had been able to positively identify him. There was no forensic evidence either, and now the charges had been dropped.

Hearing this news, Dolly had rallied a little, but Kevin remained on remand for the charge of robbery with violence. Nearly three weeks had passed, but still the café remained closed, Dolly’s thoughts only for her son.

Then, at six o’clock that evening, they heard a banging on the café door.

‘I’ll see who it is,’ Bernie said. Soon he returned upstairs with Gertie and Madge.

Without preamble, it was Madge who spoke. ‘Dolly, we’re worried about our jobs. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but when are you going to open the café again?’

‘I can’t think about that now, Madge.’

‘Look, I can understand how you feel, but me and Gertie can’t afford to wait around much longer. If you ain’t gonna open up soon, we’ll have to start looking for something else.’

Dolly at last reacted, her neck stretching as though on a stalk. ‘Neither of you have shown your faces until now, and
you
, Madge, are family. Your lot could have called round to offer us a bit of support, but we haven’t seen hide nor hair of you.’

‘We knew you’d be going through hell and didn’t like to bother you,’ Madge blustered.

‘Nor me,’ Gertie agreed. ‘I mean, from what we’ve heard, the jeweller’s in an awful state and I can’t understand how Kevin could do something like that.’

‘What! My God, it sounds like you’ve tried and convicted him already.’

‘Of course we ain’t,’ Gertie said, ‘but seeing as he was caught red-handed, there can’t be much doubt about it.’

‘Get out! And as for getting another job, go ahead. You’re both sacked.’

‘Well, that suits me,’ Madge bristled, ‘but the least you can do it pay our wages for the time we’ve been hanging around.’

Bernie’s voice was quiet, but there was an undertone of anger. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll get your wages, and I’m only sorry that we didn’t think about it before. But we’ve been through a lot, and as Dolly said, you took your time coming to see us.’

‘I’m here now, ain’t I?’

‘And me,’ Gertie agreed.

‘Yes, but only because you’re worried about money. As for you, Gertie, well, you’ve been with us for years and should have known that you’d get paid. Now come on, I’ll show you both out.’

It was only a short time before he returned, shaking his head as he walked into the room. ‘Well, Dolly, I can understand why you sacked them, but now we’re in a right old fix. We’ll have no staff when we open up again.’

‘I don’t give a damn about the café. You heard them, Bernie. If those two are anything to go by, everyone around here must think that Kevin is guilty.’

‘Yes, love, I’m afraid they do.’

Dolly stared at him for a moment. Then, jumping up, she fled to her bedroom.

As the door slammed behind her, Bernie shook his head, ‘Christ, Pearl, I’ve put my foot in it again, but when is she going to face the truth?’

‘I don’t know, but perhaps deep down, she already has.’

‘I doubt that.’ He sighed heavily. ‘Dolly ain’t liked around here, and that’s her own fault, but I didn’t expect Madge and Gertie to behave like that. I should have thought to pay them until we open up again, but there was no need for that attitude. Instead of sympathy, they rubbed salt in the wound.’

Pearl nodded her head in agreement, but in truth she wasn’t surprised. Dolly had ruled the roost, enjoying her dominance over the women, and though she’d been shocked by Gertie’s behaviour, she knew that Madge was glad to see Dolly brought low. Family or not, Madge had no love for her cousin.

It was visiting day and Pearl sat opposite Kevin, listening as her mother-in-law monopolised the conversation as usual. Was he all right? Was he getting enough to eat? On and she went whilst Kevin sat morosely, only answering in monosyllables.

‘I knew that girl was lying, Kevin, and now I’ve been proved right.’

Pearl watched the range of emotions that chased across her husband’s face, but she was seeing him clearly now, the veil lifted. Guilt was the one expression that stood out. He had nearly killed a man, raped a woman, and she was sickened. Had she ever really loved him? In truth she had never really known him. She’d fallen for his handsome face, and had chosen to ignore the side of his personality that she feared. He really was like Jekyll and Hyde. On one side, charming, but the other side, a monster.

Kevin spoke to her now, his voice hoarse. ‘How’s my boy, Pearl?’

‘He’s fine.’

With shock, Pearl saw tears forming in Kevin’s eyes. ‘Johnny will be an adult before I get out of here.’

‘Don’t say that,’ Dolly cried. ‘You may get off the other charges too.’

‘No, Mum. I’ll be going down for years.’

‘Oh, Kevin …’

He ignored her, his eyes still on Pearl. ‘I’ve had a lot of time to think while I’ve been on remand, and I don’t want Johnny to see me while I’m in prison. In fact, you can stay away too.’

Pearl couldn’t help it: she felt only a sense of relief. She had felt it her duty to visit Kevin, but now he had freed her. ‘Why don’t you want me to visit you?’

‘It’s obvious. As I said, I’ll be going down for a long time, and you ain’t likely to wait for me.’

‘Of course she will, Kevin.’

‘Leave it out, Mum. Ours wasn’t exactly a love match and I only married her because she was having my kid. Yes, and that was your idea too. Christ, it’s all your fault.’

‘My fault! How can it be my fault?’

His look darkened. ‘I only robbed that jeweller because I wanted enough money to get away from you.’

‘Get away from me! But why?’

Kevin’s voice was as hard as his expression. ‘You need to take a good look at yourself and then you’d know.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘All right, Mum, you’ve asked for it. You’re a sick, narrow-minded bully.’

‘What!’

‘You heard me. You’ve ruled the roost, made Dad’s life a misery, and because I’ve had to watch it, mine too.’ His eyes flicked to Pearl before continuing, ‘When Pearl was unfortunate enough to marry into the family, look how you treated her, and I’m sorry to say I wasn’t much better.’

‘You were fine before you married her.’

Kevin’s laugh was derisive. ‘No, Mum, you can’t blame Pearl for the way I turned out. It’s all down to you, and I’ll tell you something else, I don’t want you ruining my son.’

‘Kevin, how dare you talk to me like this? Of course I won’t ruin Johnny.’

‘Oh, I dare.’ And then his eyes turned to Pearl, his voice hissing and urgent as visiting time drew to an end. ‘My mother made sex a dirty word, and I want you to get Johnny away from her. Find somewhere else to live, and don’t come here again.’

Pearl stared at him in confusion, but then a guard came to lead him away. Dolly reared to her feet, calling, ‘I know you don’t mean it, son. You’re under a lot of strain, that’s all. I’ll be back to see you as soon as I can.’

‘Don’t bother,’ he shouted, ‘and, Pearl, do as I say. Get Johnny away from her.’

Dolly’s face was white as she turned to Pearl. ‘He’s upset, and you mustn’t take any notice of what he said.’

‘Please, I just want to get out of here.’

Dolly nodded, becoming quiet, and she hardly spoke on the way home. Pearl too was deep in thought. Kevin has said some strange things. He said that Dolly was sick, that she had made sex into a dirty word. What did he mean? Had Dolly interfered with him in some way? Oh God, it was awful. He had told her to get Johnny away from his mother and, somehow, she intended to do just that.

The following day Dolly was morose, hardly speaking and, wanting to get out of the flat, Pearl got Johnny ready, wheeling him across to Bessie’s shop. She wanted to talk to the old lady, to tell her what Kevin had said.

‘Hello, love,’ Bessie said as Pearl pushed the pram inside, her head cocking to one side. ‘What’s up?’

Pearl took a seat by the counter. ‘It’s Kevin. I had a bit of a shock when we went to see him.’ She went on to tell Bessie what had happened, finally saying, ‘He told me to move out, to get Johnny away from Dolly.’

‘Well, love, I must admit I don’t like the sound of it. Are you going to take his advice?’

‘Yes, of course I am, and I want to move out as soon as possible.’

‘Can’t say I blame you, but before we work out what you’re going to do, I must tell you about another vision.’

‘Was it about Kevin again?’

‘No, this time it was about you.’

‘Me! What did you see?’

Bessie’s forehead creased. ‘It was odd. All I saw was a woman sitting in bed looking at a newspaper, and your face was on the front page.’

‘But I’ve never been in the newspaper, and who was this woman?’

‘I have no idea. All I can say is that she looked ill, but happy.’

‘Is that all?’

‘Yes, but I have a feeling she’ll come into your life.’

Pearl rubbed a hand across her forehead. Why would a strange woman be happy to see her? ‘Maybe I’ll meet her when I move out of this area?’

‘Have you any money, Pearl?’

‘No.’

‘So how do you think you can move away? You’d need to find a home, a job, and you can’t work with a baby to look after.’

Pearl knew Bessie was right. She’d been stupid, living in a dream world, and now she was facing reality, tears stung her eyes.

‘Don’t get upset, love. Why don’t you come back here? I know it’s only a stone’s throw from Dolly, but it’s a start.’

‘I can’t expect you to keep me.’

‘Keep you! Leave it out. There’s work for you in the shop and it’ll be nice to put me feet up for a while.’

Pearl’s heart surged with gratitude. This lovely old lady was offering her a way out, and she grabbed it. ‘All right, Bessie, I’ll come back, and thank you.’

Things didn’t work out as Pearl expected, her happiness short-lived. During her absence Dolly had collapsed and Pearl returned to find Bernie in a dreadful state.

‘She’s hardly said a word since seeing Kevin yesterday and when you went out she just sort of folded. It was weird, Pearl, and she won’t stop crying.’

‘Have you called the doctor?’

‘Yes, and he should be here shortly, but what happened to bring this on?’

She told him that Kevin had said he didn’t want to see his mother again, blaming her for all that had happened. Her face reddened, too embarrassed to tell Bernie the bit about Dolly being sick and making sex a dirty word.

‘I can’t believe that he doesn’t want to see his mother again, and no wonder she’s upset.’ There was a knock on the door. ‘That’ll be the doctor,’ Bernie said. ‘Would you let him in, Pearl?’

She went downstairs, returning to wait with Bernie whilst the doctor examined Dolly.

Bernie scratched his head. ‘I reckon that, like Dolly, Kevin is looking for a scapegoat. He’s done wrong, but it’s easier to blame someone else than face his own actions. Dolly spoiled him rotten, but that doesn’t mean she’s responsible for what he did.’

Before Pearl could respond, the doctor emerged, Bernie jumping to his feet. ‘Is she all right?’

‘I think your wife is suffering from nervous exhaustion.’

‘What the hell is that?’

‘It’s caused by stress. Has she been sleeping?’

‘No, not really, but she’s a strong woman and always has been.’

‘Everyone has a breaking point, Mr Dolby, and I think your wife has reached hers. I’ve given her a sedative, and if you keep her free of any further worries, I’m sure she’ll be fine.’

‘Gawd, how am I supposed to do that? She still has our son’s trial to face.’

‘Don’t let her go. Keep her at home.’

‘Huh, if she wants to go there’ll be no stopping her.’

The doctor sighed. ‘You can tell her it’s against my advice, and until then keep her as quiet as possible. Call me if you have any worries.’

When the man left, Bernie went in to see Dolly, but he soon returned. ‘She’s asleep, but what about when she wakes up? I don’t know how I’m going to cope with her, Pearl.’

Bernie looked sick with worry and, with a sinking heart, Pearl realised she’d have to remain. Bernie had always shown her kindness and she was fond of her father-in-law. She couldn’t abandon him now. She’d stay for a while, just until Dolly recovered, and then she’d be out of there like a shot.

Dolly was up in less than a week, but she still looked awful and hardly spoke. Bernie seemed lost, creeping around his wife as though she was made of china. However, later that morning both he and Pearl were surprised when she suddenly surged to her feet, her voice strong and assertive again.

‘I’m going to see Kevin.’

‘You’re not up to it, love,’ Bernie protested.

‘I have to see him. He’s my son.’

‘All right, if it means so much to you, I’ll come along.’

‘No, Bernie, I want to see him on my own.’

Nothing Bernie could say would prevent her, and when she left they felt as if they were holding their breath until she returned.

One look at Dolly’s face was enough for them to realise her visit had been a mistake. She looked almost on the point of collapse, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

‘What happened, love?’ Bernie asked.

‘Kevin agreed to see me, but said it was for the last time.’

‘He said what?’

‘Oh, Bernie, he still blames me for everything and I … I think he’s right.’

‘Don’t be daft, Dolly. He tried to rob that jeweller – not you.’

‘Yes, but he only did it to get away from me.’

‘He’s just making excuses. If he wanted money to move out there was nothing to stop him from getting a job.’

‘Maybe, but he said I’m a dominant and interfering mother.’

‘Well, you certainly ain’t mouselike,’ Bernie chuckled, trying to inject a bit of humour.

Dolly didn’t smile; instead her voice rose. ‘Kevin’s right then. I drove him to it!’

‘Leave it out, Dolly. You weren’t that bad and, if anything, you spoiled the lad.’