A Sister's Shame (38 page)

Ada clutched hold of Vesta’s cold hand. ‘I wish you had come to us. It don’t matter what you’ve done, we love you and could have worked something out.’

Vesta sobs were smothered as Ada bent and held her close.

At last Ada stood up. Pressing her hand on Vesta’s hot forehead, she turned to Marie. ‘We must call Dr Tapper. He brought you two into the world and will know what to do.’

‘Bing will fetch him.’

Ada took out her hanky and blew her nose. Pulling back her shoulders, she looked down at Vesta. ‘Don’t worry, you’re home now, love. We’ll soon have you right.’ She
began to unbutton Vesta’s dress and Marie helped her, replacing Vesta’s clothes and underwear with a nightdress and clean knickers. But, as she was still losing blood, these had to be
padded out with rags. When all was done that could be done, Marie went out to Bing and gave him the address of the doctor.

‘What’s happened?’ Hector asked after Bing had left.

‘Vesta was going to have a baby.’

He drew in a shaky breath. ‘A baby?’

‘Yes, but she lost it.’

Hector sat down heavily. He rubbed his hands over his face. ‘How can this have happened?’ He looked bewildered. ‘Was it Teddy’s child?’

Marie couldn’t tell him, as she didn’t know. Before she could speak again, Hector shook his head gloomily.

‘It’s all my fault. All this has happened because of me.’

Marie put her arms around him. ‘Dad, if Vesta hadn’t gone with Teddy,’ she reasoned, ‘none of this would have happened.’

But Hector made no reply. His eyes were very far away. A haunted expression filled them.

Marie sat with Bing as Hector paced the room. Once again the minutes ticked slowly by as Dr Tapper examined Vesta.

When Ada and the doctor appeared, they jumped to their feet. Dr Tapper, dressed in black, with a grey beard and only a little white hair left on his head, lowered his bag to the table. Despite
his age he was still called on in times of trouble.

‘Vesta has an infection,’ he told them. ‘Pus has formed inside her womb and is leaking from her abdomen. This infection is caused by the monstrous procedure performed on her
and she has suffered internal damage.’

‘Will she be all right?’ asked Marie anxiously.

‘I’ll do all I can to see that she is.’ He looked sternly at them all. ‘I hope you realize what was done was against the law.’

Marie saw Hector sink down to the couch. He buried his face in his hands.

‘I’m sorry,’ the doctor said more gently. ‘But there is no easy way to say this. She won’t be able to bear a child again.’

Ada sobbed quietly and Hector’s eyes filled with tears.

‘I’ve done all I can for today, but the wound will need to be kept clean, Ada, until the bleeding stops.’

‘I’ll see to that,’ Ada nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

‘When the infection clears she’ll start to improve. My professional opinion is that she should be in hospital. But of course . . . there are other things to be considered.’ He
pleated his grey eyebrows. ‘The police should be informed.’

‘No,’ said Ada immediately. ‘I don’t want them coming round here to question me daughter.’

‘Very well.’ Dr Tapper put on his black hat. ‘I’ll call by again tomorrow.’

As Ada saw the doctor out, Marie looked at Bing. She knew that he had been right to bring Vesta back here. Vesta now had to regain her strength and recover from the infection. But to never be
able to have children again! Even when she was well, Vesta would have to live with the consequences of the terrible thing that had been done to her.

In bed that night, Bing held Marie close. ‘If only I hadn’t let her do it,’ she said sadly. ‘When I threw away those rags with her blood on, I knew it
had been very wrong to go there.’

‘No use fretting now,’ Bing whispered beside her. ‘She said she was going to kill herself and you believed her.’

‘I thought she might throw herself in the river.’

‘Vesta was always one for dramatics.’

Marie put her arms round him tightly. But her mind kept playing over the events of the day. ‘If only she’d decided to leave Teddy sooner.’

‘Does your Mum know the whole story?’

‘Yes, I told her.’

‘What did she say?’

‘Only that Vesta was innocent.’

‘Yes, but she jumped into bed with another bloke too,’ Bing was quick to remind her.

Marie closed her eyes at the thought. ‘They gave her drink. She didn’t know what she was doing.’

‘There will always be an excuse for Vesta. But remember, she did what she did because she wanted to.’

‘What will she do if she can’t have children?’

‘Come on now, stop worrying. At least the old doc won’t report this to the law. Though I’d like to see that backstreet butcher get her comeuppance.’

‘I don’t want to think about it.’

Tenderly he kissed her. ‘Vesta’s in the best place now. Your mum and dad will look after her.’

‘I would never have got her home without you.’

‘I had the fright of me life when that kid turned up at the docks and said my missus was in trouble.’

Marie had felt sorry for the boy, living in a place like that. ‘I thought he might have run off with my pound.’

‘Let’s hope he keeps his mouth shut.’

‘You don’t think he’ll tell the police, do you?’

‘No, that sort don’t like the coppers, and, as usual, the landlord will get away scot-free.’

Marie heard the anger in his voice. It was dark and she could see only the outline of his face. There were deep hollows of black where his lovely eyes were. She snuggled close. ‘I love
you.’ Men seemed to see things so clearly. Life to them was always a yes or a no. But for a woman there was always the in-between.

‘And I love you. But now I want you to keep out of trouble. And no more telling fibs on Vesta’s behalf.’

‘I promise.’

He ran his hands over her body. She knew he wanted to make love to her, but instead he said softly, ‘Go to sleep now. It’s Saturday tomorrow and we’re up early for
work.’

But Marie didn’t want to go to the factory. She wanted to be with Vesta instead. One more morning off work wouldn’t harm. On Monday she could tell Mr Morton that she had stayed with
her relatives. But that was yet another lie.

She had promised her husband there would be no more lies. And, as his wife, it was a promise she had to keep.

Every evening, after work, Marie went to see Vesta. Things had changed at home. Ada had given up her job to look after Vesta, and Hector was busking again.

‘Your father has to bring in the money,’ Ada said when Marie called on Friday. ‘Vesta has to be cared for.’

‘Soon I’ll be able to help out,’ Marie told her. ‘Mr Morton is giving me a rise.’

But Ada shook her head. ‘I won’t hear of it, love. As soon as we’re on our feet again, I won’t take a penny from you.’ Ada lowered her voice as she stood close to
Marie in the kitchen. ‘Come and see if you can cheer up your sister. She’s down in the dumps.’

‘Has the bleeding stopped yet?’

‘Yes, but –’ Ada lowered her voice. ‘She’s got no control on her waterworks. Dr Tapper says it’s the infection.’

‘Can’t he give her something to help?’

‘He’s done what he can.’

When they walked into the bedroom, Marie’s heart sank. Vesta couldn’t even sit up. Her lank hair hung over the pillows and big shadows were under her eyes. ‘I can’t stop
wetting meself,’ she complained when Marie asked how she was. ‘Mum has to keep washing my drawers.’ She reached under the sheet. ‘And now I’ve got another wet
pair.’

‘Don’t upset yourself, love,’ Ada soothed. ‘There’s plenty more on the airer.’ Ada hurried out and Vesta dropped her head to the pillow. ‘I hate meself,
Marie. Look at me, I can’t even wee in the pail on me own. Mum has to help me.’

Marie held her hand. ‘You’ll feel better when the infection goes.’

‘I don’t want to live like this. I’d rather be dead.’

‘You said that before and I believed you.’

‘I meant it then.’

‘But you don’t mean it now. So stop trying to scare me.’

That brought a glimmer of a smile to Vesta’s face. ‘I know I’m a misery guts.’

‘Yes, but you’ve got reason.’

‘Was it Bing who got me out of that place?’

‘Yes.’

Vesta pushed herself up and winced. ‘I don’t remember much after—’ She broke off, looking away.

‘You’ll be better soon.’

‘Marie, I’m scared. Teddy will find me again.’

‘He wouldn’t come round here.’

‘That nurse might tell him what she did and he’d guess I’d come back to Mum and Dad. What if he turned up with that gun?’

Marie laughed, although her smile soon faded. The thought was ridiculous but Vesta looked frightened. ‘He wouldn’t, not in broad daylight. Not in Sphinx Street, with everyone
about.’

‘I’m not so sure.’

‘Listen, don’t worry about things that won’t happen.’

Vesta managed a nod. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you. I know you think it was wrong what I did, but I wouldn’t know how to look after a baby. And anyway . .
.’ She looked sad again. ‘I didn’t know who the father was. I’d always be thinking of what they did to me and the baby was the result. I might even have blamed it.’
She gave a small sob and closed her eyes.

Just then Ada came in with a bowl of warm water. Over her arm was a pair of knickers and a fresh nightgown. Marie helped her to wash and clean Vesta. Her bones stuck out at all angles. She
complained of the pain, causing her to draw up her legs again.

Ada covered her with the bedclothes. ‘Would you like a bite to eat, love?’

‘No, I just want to sleep and forget everything.’

Marie bent down and kissed her cheek. ‘Don’t worry,’ she whispered, ‘you’ll soon feel like your old self again.’

In the kitchen, when the gas was lit and the kettle boiling, Marie sat with Ada at the table.

‘Marie, Vesta is afraid Teddy might come round here,’ Ada said worriedly.

‘Yes, I know. But he wouldn’t do that. He’s too much of a coward.’

‘If your father was home, I’d be happier.’ Ada looked into Marie’s eyes. ‘Sometimes I catch myself thinking of the future and having my little girl back.’ Ada
raised her thin eyebrows, her eyes suddenly hopeful. ‘I even dream of her finding a good man who will love her and protect her. But then . . .’ Ada’s face clouded and she looked
sad again. ‘But she can’t have children. What man wants that?’

‘There must be some.’

‘After what happened to her?’ Ada clutched her hands and entwined her thin, rough, red fingers. ‘In any man’s eyes she’s damaged goods.’

‘Don’t say that.’

‘But it’s true, isn’t it?’

Marie knew she was right, but Vesta could have died in that stinking hovel. She had survived the ordeal and now she had a future – perhaps not as it could have been, but still with the
love of a family around her. ‘One day she’ll find someone to love.’

‘I hope so. If only that Teddy hadn’t given her all the luxuries of life that me and your father could never afford. Clothes, shoes, jewellery, going to posh places, they all impress
Vesta. He was so clever. He gave her everything she loves and more. He bought her, like that other man did.’ Ada shuddered, closing her eyes. ‘I can’t bear to think of what
happened to her. Someone should punish them, but we can’t tell the police.’ She covered her mouth with her hands as tears shone in her eyes.

‘Mum, let’s take a day at a time.’

‘Yes, Elsie said the same thing.’

‘Does she know what happened?’

‘With all the doctor’s visits, I had to confide in her. There ain’t much that me and Elsie don’t share.’ Ada looked down at her work-worn hands. ‘Wippet and
Nina know she’s back home but I ain’t told them much.’ She gave a frown. ‘Do you think it’s a good idea to lock the front door?’

‘Because of Teddy?’

‘It ain’t been locked in years. The key always hangs on the string. But I could ask Elsie to take that away and give Wippet and Nina their own.’

Marie hesitated. She knew her mother was very worried. Would Teddy really try to come round? ‘It can’t do any harm.’

‘I’ll go and speak to Elsie.’

Marie stood up. ‘And I have a husband to feed.’

‘Thank you for stopping by, love. You always put a smile on your sister’s face.’

‘See you tomorrow afternoon. As it’s Saturday and me afternoon off, I’ll do your shopping.’

But Ada only smiled. ‘No, you have a home of your own now. In all this, have you forgotten you are Mrs Brown, not Marie Haskins any longer?’

As Marie walked home to Manchester Road she thought of the housework that awaited her: the light coat of dust everywhere, and the floors that needed washing and sweeping. She hadn’t even
changed the bedclothes. Bing hadn’t complained that his dinners were late or even not cooked when he got home. He knew Vesta came first.

Marie smiled as she opened her front door and looked around. If she started now, she could have dinner ready by the time Bing came home. After that, she would attend to the housework.

It was the following Friday when Marie found her sister sitting in a chair in the front room.

‘It’s wonderful to see you up,’ Marie said as she slipped her key into her pocket. Every time she came now, she had to unlock the front door.

‘Mum said she wanted to change the bed.’ Vesta’s voice was a whisper.

‘Do you feel any better?’ Marie sat down eagerly.

Vesta picked at the threads of her dressing gown. ‘A bit.’

‘Why don’t you put some lipstick on?’

‘What for? Who’s gonna see me?’

‘Nina and Wippet called in last week. Remember, they brought you some fruit? And Elsie gave you those flowers.’ She nodded to the white chrysanthemums on the table.

‘Yes, it was very kind of them.’

‘Do you feel like putting on a blouse and skirt?’

‘I haven’t got any nice ones here.’

Marie smiled. ‘There are some of our old clothes in the wardrobe. Mum kept them just as they were.’

‘It’s like a museum.’

‘She’s only doing her best.’

‘I don’t want to wear that old rubbish again.’

‘It was good enough for us both once.’

‘Yes, but then I didn’t know what was good taste.’