Mother’s Ruin (31 page)

‘Really, and what decision is that?’

‘Nelly Cox has moved into Osborne House, and I rather fancy joining her.’

‘Gran, please, don’t do that. I’ll stay here and we can live together.’

‘No, I’ve made up my mind. Now then, let’s talk about you. I had hoped you and Arthur would get back together, but as you’re adamant that you won’t, then I think you should move to Scotland. I don’t like the thought of you living alone in London and your family will be there.’

‘You won’t be, nor will Aunt Mary.’

‘Scotland isn’t in Outer Mongolia. You’ll be able to travel down to visit. Flaming hell, Mary! She doesn’t even know that your mother is getting married again.’

‘Yes she does, I rang her last night before I went to bed,’ Ruth said, yawning as she walked into the room.

‘Gran said she’s going to move into Osborne House. Do something to talk her out of it, Mum.’

‘If you think I’m going to Scotland without you, Mum, you’ve got another think coming. In fact, I’m not going anywhere unless the pair of you agree to come too.’

‘Now you’re being silly.’

‘No I’m not. Now what’s it to be? Have I got to call off my wedding or are you coming with me?’

‘Now you’re resorting to emotional blackmail,’ Sadie complained, ‘but as Andrew seems a good man and you deserve a bit of happiness, I suppose I’ll have to move to Scotland with you. What about you, Sal?’

‘Yes, I’ll come too.’ Ruth grinned. ‘Thank goodness for that. Now I’m off to get dressed and then I’m going next door to tell Andrew the good news.’

She hurried from the room, and half an hour later they heard the door close behind her. With a small shake of her head, Sadie said, ‘It’s nice to see my daughter so happy. I just wish I could say the same about you.’

‘I’m all right, Gran,’ Sally lied, as she looked out of the window. They were going to live in Scotland and it felt so unreal, like a dream.

Ten minutes later, Ruth returned with Andrew, her eyes alight with pleasure. ‘Denis has agreed,’ she cried, ‘Tommy can come too.’

Angel came into the room, her eyes sleepy, but they lit up when she saw Andrew. ‘Granddad!’ she cried, running up to him. ‘You’ve come back.’

‘Hello, my beauty,’ and turning to Sally, he added, ‘This one will have to be told too.’

‘Told what, Granddad?’

Tommy appeared then, puzzled to see them all, and sitting both children down, Sally crouched in front of them as she tried to explain the move to Scotland as simply as possible.

‘My dad said that men wear skirts in Scotland. I’m not doing that,’ Tommy scowled.

‘They aren’t skirts, laddie. They’re kilts.’

‘Don’t care, I ain’t wearing one.’

‘Is my daddy coming with us?’ Angel asked.

‘No, darling, but you’ll still be able to see him. There’ll be weekends, and school holidays.’

‘What about my dad? Is he coming?’ Tommy asked. Ruth answered, ‘No, love, but I’m sure he’ll come to Scotland as often as he can, and like Angel, you’ll see him during school holidays.’

‘That’s all right then,’ Tommy said. ‘What’s for breakfast?’

Ruth chuckled and went to pour out some cereal, whilst Sally, finding that her daughter had gone strangely quiet, gazed at her worriedly. Angel’s eyes looked unfocused and strangely distant, but just when Sally was about to give her a little shake, Angel’s head tipped to one side as though she was listening to something.

Angel then smiled and gave a little nod before saying, ‘When are Nanny and Granddad leaving?’

‘We’ll all be leaving at the same time,’ Sally told her, ‘but I’m not sure when. You had better ask your granddad.’

‘Well now, let me see,’ Andrew said. ‘It’s Saturday today, so how about Tuesday?’

‘Andrew, that’s impossible,’ Ruth spluttered. ‘There’s too much to do.’

‘Like what? You’ll have no need to bring any furniture so will only have to pack your personal things.’

‘We’ll have to do more than that. There’s the house to close down, the meters to be read, and what about the children’s school?’

‘I live in a lovely little hamlet with a good school for the children, and they can go there when the new term starts in September. As for the utilities, I can sort those out by telephone.’

‘I ain’t leaving my bed behind,’ Sadie protested. ‘It’s all I’ve got left of my home with Charlie. I’ve slept in the same bed since the day I got married, and I ain’t going without it.’

Andrew smiled gently. ‘In that case I’ll lay on a small removals van.’

‘Thanks,’ Sadie said. ‘Tuesday it is then.’ Andrew grinned with delight, and picking Ruth up he swung her round. ‘Start packing your cases, woman. We’re all going to Edinburgh.’

At the thought of packing, it finally hit Sally. They were leaving on Tuesday, and she would have to tell Arthur.

Chapter Forty-Nine

On Sunday things were still frantic. Ruth was in her bedroom, clothes strewn everywhere as she sorted her wardrobe, bemoaning having to discard things she had hoarded for years. She held up a halter neck dress; the style was too young for her now, but she hated to throw it away. With a last rueful look, Ruth threw it on the pile of rejects, and then began to empty her chest of drawers.

Sally was glancing nervously at the clock. Arthur would be calling for Angel soon, and she would have to tell him. This was a meeting she wasn’t looking forward to and she was dreading his reaction.

Soon after, when she heard Arthur’s knock, Sally straightened her shoulders, but despite the pretext of bravado, she was still trembling as she let him in. ‘Err . . . I need to talk to you in private. Would you come into my gran’s room?’

He looked surprised, and as she stood aside to allow him to walk ahead of her, Sally saw no sign of a limp, no sign that he had an artificial leg. He turned to face her, looking tall and handsome, and her stomach lurched. Chiding herself, she fixed her mind on what he’d done, hardening her heart against her feelings.

Tommy was next door with his father and Andrew, whilst Angel was in the yard, absorbed in a game of make-believe shop. Sally faced Arthur. ‘I . . . I have something important to tell you. We . . . we’re all going to live with my father in Scotland.’

He frowned. ‘Scotland! No, Sally . . .’

‘My father and mother are getting married,’ Sally interrupted, suddenly aware of how strange that sounded. ‘He . . . he has a large house with room for all of us, and . . . and I’ve agreed to go. Angel and I will live in the annexe.’

‘Don’t be silly. You can’t take Angel to Scotland. When would I get to see her?’

‘Occasional weekends. School holidays.’

Arthur’s face suffused with colour, his voice now rising in anger. ‘I’ll fight this, Sally. You have no right to take my daughter so far away.’

Sally found her own anger mounting. If she remained in London it would mean finding a flat to rent, and bringing her daughter up alone. Instead her father had offered her a home, a wonderful place to live. ‘I have every right! You were the one who committed adultery and caused the break-up of our marriage. If you want to try to stop me, go ahead! I’ll see you in court!’

The colour now drained from Arthur’s face, and instead of anger she saw pain. ‘One mistake, Sally. I made one mistake and I’ve told you it will never happen again, I swear it. Please, don’t go to Scotland. Come back to me and let’s make a fresh start.’

There was the sound of footsteps, then Angel’s voice as she burst into the room. ‘Daddy!’ she cried, running up to him. ‘I thought I heard you.’

Arthur swept her up, but his eyes were still on Sally. ‘Please,’ he whispered.

Sally hesitated, but then shook her head decisively, ‘No. Never.’

His face crumbled in defeat, and as he lowered Angel to the floor his voice sounded strangled. ‘Come on, I’ll find a taxi. We’re going to Wimbledon to see your nanna and granddad.’

After kissing Angel goodbye, Sally watched them leave, trying to deny her feelings. It was no good, despite everything, she still loved Arthur. The question whirled in her mind. Could she go back to him?

Sally went upstairs. She needed advice, someone to talk to, and went into her mother’s room.

‘Mum, Arthur’s just been to collect Angel and he’s asked me to go back to him again. What do you think?’

‘What! After what he’s done?’

Sally sat on the side of her mother’s bed, her head low. ‘I still love him, Mum.’

‘Now you listen to me, my girl. Arthur had only been home from hospital for five minutes when he had it off with that tart. To top it all, when you left him, he didn’t even bother to come after you. No, instead he carried on sleeping with Patsy. Christ, Sally, you’d be mad to trust him again.’

She took in her mother’s words and the pain of Arthur’s betrayal became fresh again. Yes, she still loved him, but what he’d done was unforgivable. ‘Yes, you’re right,’ Sally said, her shoulders slumped as she left the room.

Had Sally looked back, she would have seen the look of triumph on her mother’s face.

Elsie could see that something was wrong as soon as Arthur arrived, so after cuddling Angel for a while she then urged her into the garden with her grandfather.

‘Right, son. Tell me.’

He did and Elsie was devastated. ‘Scotland,’ she cried. ‘They’re all going to Scotland! But it’s so far away!’

‘I tried to talk to Sally, but she wouldn’t listen. I blew it as usual.’

‘Arthur, start at the beginning. What have you said to Sally?’

‘The first time I tried to talk her into coming back to me, I made a right mess of it. I said it was her fault that I’d slept with Patsy again and that it wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t left me.’

Elsie could guess how Sally would have reacted to that. She loved her son dearly, but he rarely took the blame for anything and always tried to find a scapegoat. He’d been the same as a child. Yet he had so many wonderful qualities, ones she felt made up for this one flaw in his character.

‘Arthur, when are you going to take responsibility for your own actions?’

‘Don’t start, Mum. I know it was my fault and I’d do anything to turn the clock back.’

‘We’d all like to do that, but don’t give up, Arthur. If you want Sally back, you must try again.’

‘It’s no good. Sally was adamant, and now that she’s moving so far away, I’ll only see Angel during school holidays.’

‘Oh, God, this is awful. I’m going to miss Angel too, but not just my granddaughter, I’ll miss all of them. Ruth and I go back a long way,’ Elsie said as she rose to her feet. ‘I must go to see her, and perhaps talk to Sally at the same time. She might listen to me.’

‘I doubt it, Mum.’

Elsie ignored this and went to the back door, calling to Bert. When he came inside she said hurriedly, ‘I want you to run me to Candle Lane.’

‘What? Now?’

‘Yes, it’s important. I’ll tell you all about it in the car.’ She then turned to Arthur. ‘Make some sort of excuse to Angel, and stay here until we come back.’

Arthur nodded, rising to his feet and walking out to the garden. Elsie watched for a moment as he crossed the lawn towards his daughter. Angel was playing with the cat, pulling a piece of string and giggling as the animal tried to catch it. Her red curls were bouncing, the sun enhancing the fiery colour, and she saw Arthur sweep the child up into his arms. How must he be feeling? He had lost his wife, and now must feel that he was losing his daughter too. There had to be something she could do, there just had to. ‘Come on, Bert, let’s go,’ she urged, anxious now to get to Candle Lane.

*   *   *

Ruth’s bed was still strewn with clothes when she heard a knock on the door. She thought it was Mary and hurried downstairs to let her sister in.

‘Elsie! Bert!’ she said, startled to see them instead of Mary.

‘Arthur has just told me that you’re all going away. We’ve been friends for years, since our children were small and I had to come to see you. I can’t believe you’re getting married.’

‘You could have knocked me down with a feather when I saw Andrew again,’ Ruth said, as they followed her inside. ‘He’s wonderful and just as I remembered him.’

‘I’m pleased for you, even though it seems a bit quick.’

‘I know, isn’t it amazing? If Andrew didn’t live in Scotland, I’m sure we’d have taken things more slowly. Still, quick or not, I’m over the moon. I’m sure we’re all going to love living there.’

Elsie’s stance stiffened. ‘What about Arthur! Sally’s taking Angel such a long way away and he’s in a terrible state.’

‘When my daughter caught Arthur with that girl, she was in a state too. It’s his fault that the marriage broke up, and seeing what Sally has been through, I can’t feel sorry for him.’

‘Ruth, please, Arthur made a terrible mistake, but he loves Sally, and I’m sure that deep down she still loves him too. Isn’t there something we can do to get them back together?’

‘No, I’m afraid not. She’s made up her mind and is coming with us.’

‘Is she in? Maybe I could try talking to her.’

Ruth lowered her eyes. She was getting married, going to Scotland, and when Sally had agreed to go with them, her happiness had been complete. The last thing she wanted was Elsie putting a spoke in the wheel. ‘Sally is upstairs and I think she’s had enough upset for one day.’

‘But—’

Another knock on the door cut off Elsie’s protest. Ruth went to answer it, hoping it was her sister this time as that would give her an excuse to get rid of Elsie. ‘Mary, come in.’

Mary greeted Elsie and Bert, but then Ruth said, ‘As you can see, my sister had just arrived and we have family business to discuss.’

Bert’s voice suddenly boomed. ‘Fair enough, but we’d like to see Sally before we go.’

‘I heard your voices and was on my way down,’ Sally said, as she walked in.

Ruth’s lips tightened. This was the last thing she wanted. ‘Elsie and Bert are just leaving.’

‘Sally, I can’t believe you’re going to Scotland,’ Elsie said, ignoring the hint. ‘Arthur is in a dreadful state.’

’It’s no more than he deserves,’ Ruth told them.

Bert walked up to Sally, taking her hand in his. ‘I know you’ve been badly hurt, but Elsie is right. I’ve seen the state my son is in. Can’t you find it in your heart to forgive him?’

‘Please, Sally,’ Elsie urged.

Ruth held her breath, her heart thumping as she looked at her daughter.
Oh, Sally, don’t go back to him,
she silently willed.

‘No, it’s too late now,’ Sally told them, and Ruth’s breath left her body in a rush of relief.

‘Do you still love him?’ Bert asked.

‘Please, I don’t want to talk about it any more,’ she said, tears suddenly filling her eyes.

‘I told you I didn’t want my daughter upset again,’ Ruth cried. ‘She’s been through enough. Now I don’t want to be rude, but I think you should go.’

Sadie came into the room. ‘What’s going on?’

It was Elsie who answered. ‘We just came to talk to Sally and to say goodbye to you all.’

‘I hate goodbyes,’ Sadie said grumpily, as she shuffled across to her chair.

Elsie pulled Sally into her arms. ‘I’m sorry we’ve made you cry. It’s the last thing we wanted to do. I know you’re leaving soon, but will you keep in touch?’

Sally dashed the tears from her eyes and with a watery smile, said, ‘Of course I will, and . . . and you’ll still see Angel. I’ll bring her down to visit as often as I can.’

Elsie was close to tears now, and seeing her distress, Ruth felt awful. This was her friend, a woman who had helped her when she was in need. She ran across the room, wrapping her arms around her friend. ‘I’m going to miss you, Elsie.’

It was Elsie who pulled away first, sobbing now as Bert led her from the room.

‘That was awful,’ Mary said. ‘The poor woman was so upset. Mind you, I’m going to miss you all too.’

‘You can come to visit us as often as you like. Andrew has a large house so there’ll be plenty of room.’

‘Have you set a date for the wedding?’

‘No, not yet. Everything is happening so fast, but when we do have a date, you will come, won’t you?’

‘Yes, of course. Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.’

Both looked at their mother when she spoke. ‘I never thought I’d leave London. Even when bombs were falling during the war, I stayed put.’

‘You could live with me, Mum.’

‘Don’t be daft,’ Ruth protested. ‘You have to work and Mum still can’t be left on her own.’

‘Sally could stay with me too.’

‘You haven’t got room,’ Ruth pointed out, annoyed at her sister’s suggestion.

Mary sighed. ‘I know, and to be honest I’m just being selfish. You’re all moving away and it feels like I’m losing my whole family.’ And as though fighting her emotions, Mary’s voice became brusque. ‘Anyway, where’s Andrew? I’ve yet to meet him.’

As if on cue, there was a knock on the door. ‘I expect that’s him now,’ Ruth said, soon leading him into the kitchen. ‘Andrew, this is my sister, Mary.’

‘Hello,’ he said, reaching out to shake her hand.

‘So, you’re going to marry my sister.’

‘Yes, and I hope you’ll come to our wedding.’

‘As I told Ruth, I’ll definitely be there.’ Sally was hardly listening, her mind drifting and her head beginning to ache. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d best start sorting my things out,’ she said, glad to leave the chatter of voices. Her heart was heavy as she went upstairs, and instead of packing she flung herself across the bed.

She had made her decision, she was going to Scotland, but now, as Sally turned over to stare up at the ceiling, tears once again flooded her eyes.