Diamonds in the Dust (7 page)

When they’d finished eating, they lit cigarettes and relaxed.

‘Feel up to telling me what you found out?’

Stan drew deeply on the cigarette, and then told Reg about his visit to the jeweller’s. When he’d finished his brother-in-law swore fluently. ‘You impersonated a police officer?’

‘I didn’t think they’d talk to me otherwise.’

‘You were lucky they didn’t ask you for proof.’

‘Wasn’t I.’ Stan grinned, feeling much better now. ‘Anyway, what do you think about the necklace?’

‘Oh, it can’t be real. We’d have to borrow it if we wanted to get it verified, and I don’t want to do that at the moment, because I don’t think it’s going to help us find Mrs Bentley. Don’t say anything to Dora. We’d better forget about it for the time being.’

‘I agree. Had any luck with your enquiries so far?’

Reg shook his head. ‘We’re still waiting to hear from some area stations. And I must get back.’

Stan propped himself up on his crutches and followed Reg, who stopped suddenly in the middle of the road.

‘Your bus stop is on the other side of the road.’

‘I know, but I’m coming with you to see if there’s any news.’

Giving a gusty sigh, Reg glared at him. ‘You need to go home and rest. Any good me arguing?’

‘None at all.’

It was after six o’clock, and Dora stood by the window watching anxiously for Stan to return home. When she saw him making his way along the road, it made her gasp in shock. He looked dreadfully ill, and in so much difficulty she expected him to topple over before he reached his gate.

‘Tom, look after Lily for me. Stan’s just arrived and he needs help.’

Dora rushed out of the house and reached Stan’s gate just before him. She held it open, waited while he opened the front door, and followed him into the front room. He didn’t say a word as he collapsed into an armchair, the crutches clattering to the floor.

Dora picked them up and stood them against the wall within his reach. Then she stooped down in front of him,
deeply concerned. ‘Do you want me to get a doctor for you, or ask your sister to come?’

‘No, I don’t! And what the hell are you doing here?’ he growled.

Although she was taken aback by his sharpness, she chose to ignore it. ‘I came to help,’ she said gently. ‘You rest and I’ll get you something to eat.’

‘Go away, Dora!’ He laid his head back and closed his eyes.

Inside Dora there was a stubborn streak. It didn’t often surface, but now it did. Finding a stool in the corner of the room, she put it by his feet and carefully lifted his leg to rest on it. ‘There, that will be more comfortable for you. I’ll make a pot of tea.’

‘I told you to clear off!’ His eyes were now open, and furious. ‘I don’t want your help, so just mind your own bloody business.’

That was it as far as Dora was concerned. She cried out, ‘Don’t you talk to me like that! You’re worn out, and whether you like it or not, you need help. That’s what I came to do, and don’t you dare throw it back in my face. I understand that you don’t want people to see you like this. You’re hurt and frustrated because you can’t do what you used to. I wish I could change that for you, but I can’t! I wish I could change what’s happening to my family, but I can’t! However much we dislike the situation we’re both in, we’re stuck with it! What’s done is done! But it’s clear to me now that we shouldn’t have come to you for help. It’s obviously too much for you, and I’m sorry we’ve bothered you with our problems.
But we didn’t know what else to do, and I’ve got enough to put up with, without receiving the sharp end of your tongue. My mother’s disappeared. I’ve got Tom and Lily relying on me and I’ve lost my job. How am I going to manage, I ask you? How am I going to keep my family together …?’

Tears of rage and despair began to gather in her eyes, so she spun away from the ungrateful man before she disgraced herself by sobbing.

As she reached the door strong hands rested on her shoulders, stopping her flight.

‘I’m sorry. Please forgive me. You don’t deserve to be treated like that. You were right to come to me, and I’m glad you did.’ Stan tightened his grasp and turned her to face him. ‘What do you mean, you’ve lost your job?’

‘They’re moving to Scotland at the end of this week, on my eighteenth birthday would you believe, and I don’t know what I’m going to do. Most households want maids who live in, and I can’t do that.’

‘You’re an intelligent girl, you can do something else.’

‘What? Looking after other people is all I’ve ever done. I won’t be able to pay the rent on our house for long. We’ll have to move to a cheaper place.’ All Dora’s suppressed fears were tumbling out. ‘Mum worked hard to get us out of the slums and we could end up back there again. I don’t want that for Tom and Lily. I’ve
got
to find another job. I must, but what am I going to do? Don’t shout at me, Stan. I can’t take any more.’

‘I won’t, I promise.’ Stan propped himself against the
door-frame and gathered Dora into his arms. ‘You must be out of your mind with worry, but we’ll work something out. It’ll all come right in the end, you’ll see. If the worst comes to the worst you can move in here, and I’ll inflict myself on Win and Reg.’

‘Oh, you can’t do that.’ Dora lifted her head, eyes troubled. ‘I wouldn’t allow you to give up your home. It wouldn’t be right. I’m letting my fears run away with me. I’ll soon get another job. I can be very determined when I have to be.’

‘I’m already finding that out.’ He brushed his lips over the top of her head. ‘I think you said something about a pot of tea?’

She nodded, and helped him back to his chair, wondering how on earth he’d managed to get across the room without support. Then she noticed the grim set of his mouth, and knew he’d reached her at some cost to himself. She placed his leg carefully back on the stool and stood back, feeling breathless. He was quite a disturbing man to be close to. ‘Have you changed your mind about something to eat? It wouldn’t take me long to prepare a meal for you.’

‘That’s kind of you, Dora, but I had a huge lunch with Reg.’

‘Just tea then.’

Stan took hold of one of her hands as she went to turn away, brought it to his mouth and kissed it gently. ‘I really am sorry. I’ve overdone it today and it’s no one’s fault but my own. I’m inclined to snap and snarl with frustration at times.’

‘So I’ve discovered.’ She removed her hand and smiled. ‘I’ll make that tea.’

Alone in the kitchen, Dora rested her hands on the sink and bowed her head. One large tear trickled down her cheek. She was so frightened, but had managed to keep it under control until Stan had snapped at her. Then every worry had come to the surface. Her fears had all been for Tom, Lily and herself, but now Stan had been included. He was pushing himself too much for them, and he just wasn’t fit enough. Thank goodness the police were now involved. She must get him to leave it to them. That thought made her pull a face. He would probably shout at her again for trying to tell him what to do, but it was a risk she would have to take. She cared about him.

With the tea made, she put it on a tray and took it into the front room. Stan hadn’t moved. He smiled when she handed him a cup, but it couldn’t erase the lines from his face, or the look of sadness from his eyes. He’d lost a brother, seen goodness knows what horrors, and been injured. He had suffered, and was still suffering from the madness of war, but like other ex-servicemen, he never spoke about it. How she wished she could help …

‘What are you thinking?’

The sound of his voice brought her out of deep thought. ‘Oh, nothing worth mentioning,’ she said, refilling his cup. ‘Did you find out anything today?’

Stan took a mouthful of tea, swallowed, and then shook his head. ‘Nothing yet, I’m afraid, but Reg is widening the
search. He’ll let us know immediately there’s news.’

‘How can someone just walk out of the house and disappear, Stan?’

‘There are many reasons, and some of them don’t want to be found.’

‘Mum would never leave us like this. And she certainly wouldn’t go without her clothes. She was always particular about looking smart.’

‘I agree. Your mother was always smartly turned out.’ Stan sighed quietly. ‘We won’t give up until we know what’s happened to her. That’s a promise, Dora.’

‘Thank you, and you must promise not to overtire yourself again.’ She clasped her hands together tightly as he nodded his head. ‘In the meantime we’ve got to deal with the situation we find ourselves in. You must rest more, and I must find myself another job.’

‘Don’t only look for a position as a maid, Dora. You might be able to find work in a shop, or something like that.’

‘I’ll try anything.’ Dora put the cups back on the tray and stood up. ‘I’ll wash these, and then I must get back to Tom and Lily. They’ll be anxious to know if there’s any news.’

‘Tell them everything possible is being done.’ Stan glanced casually at Dora. ‘How’s Lily? Did you manage to get the necklace off her last night?’

The tension lifted from Dora’s face as she smiled fondly. ‘She wanted to sleep in it, but I told her it would break. I’ve put it back where we found it, and said she could have it when she was older.’

Stan merely smiled.

While she was washing up, the back door opened and Winnie walked in.

‘Hello there.’ She greeted Dora in a friendly manner. ‘I see you’ve beaten me to it with the tea. Is he all right?’

‘He seems to be now.’

Winnie frowned. ‘Now? What do you mean?’ Dora told her what had happened.

‘I thought Reg was holding something back.’ Winnie was clearly worried about her brother. ‘If he keeps pushing himself like this, I’m frightened he might shorten his life. The strain on him is immense. He’s got other injuries as well as the leg.’

‘Oh, I didn’t know that.’ Dora was shocked.

‘The doctors told me they couldn’t be sure they’d removed all the shrapnel from his body.’ Winnie sat on a kitchen chair. ‘I’ve lost one brother and I don’t want to lose this one. He’s such a special man.’

‘Yes, I think he is,’ Dora agreed, and sat beside her. ‘I haven’t known him very long, but I’ve found out one thing about him. No matter how severe his injuries, he isn’t the kind of man who could live a half-life. I think he’d rather have a shorter, active life than a longer, lingering one.’

Winnie stared at Dora in amazement. ‘My word, you have worked him out, haven’t you? You’re so observant. You’ve caught my brother’s character perfectly. I shouldn’t fuss, he hates it. But I love him, and I’m being selfish by trying to curb what he does.’

‘Well, I’m just as bad.’ Dora stood up to stack away
the cups. ‘I’ve made him promise not to overdo it, but I expect I’m wasting my breath. He’s going to do whatever he wants, no matter what anyone says.’

‘How right you are.’

‘Tell you what,’ Dora whispered in Winnie’s ear, ‘we’ll leave him in peace for the moment, but soon we’ll gang up on him and get him to see a doctor again. Things change, and they might be able to do something for him by now.’

‘He’s never said, but I think he had a rough time. He’s reluctant to go near doctors again.’ Winnie looked doubtful. ‘I’ve tried several times already, but he either ignores me or explodes.’

‘Ah, but he’ll have two of us to cope with from now on.’

Dora and Winnie walked into the front room, looking like a couple of smug conspirators.

‘You two look suspiciously pleased with yourselves. What are you up to?’

‘Nothing you need worry about.’ Winnie winked at Dora. ‘Yet.’

Dora took her leave in a hurry. Hatching that little plot with Winnie had lifted her own worries a little, but as soon as she stepped in the house they came crashing down on her again.

‘Any news?’ Tom asked, when she walked in.

‘Nothing, I’m sorry to say, but they’re widening the search. They’ll let us know as soon as they have anything to report.’

Tom drew Dora away from Lily, who was busy drawing
at the kitchen table. ‘Nothing was said about someone coming round to see if we’re all right, then?’

‘It wasn’t mentioned. Reg seems to be handling the investigation, and he knows us, so I’m sure he’ll tell everyone that.’

‘I expect so.’ Tom looked relieved. ‘You rushed off to help Stan. How is he?’

‘Exhausted.’ Dora told her brother what had happened, and what Winnie had said about Stan’s injuries.

‘That’s bad news, but I’m sure he’s pleased to be doing something useful. We’ll just have to hope we haven’t asked him to do too much for us. Shall I pop in and see him now?’

‘I wouldn’t, Tom. He needs to rest, and he isn’t in the best of moods. You and Lily go and see him in the morning before you go to school. He seems to like her.’

‘Good idea, and perhaps I can drop a hint about him taking it easy.’

‘You can try.’

Tom frowned as he thought over what he’d just been told. ‘We mustn’t be selfish and expect him to do any more for us. I’ll ask him if he needs any shopping. I can get that along with ours on my way home from school.’

‘I’m sure he’ll appreciate that, Tom.’ Dora had always known that Tom had a kind nature, but since their mother had disappeared he had become a caring young boy. This crisis was making him grow up quickly.

‘We’d better get Lily to bed.’ Tom lifted her off the chair, making her squeal, and started up the stairs with her.

Once the little girl was tucked up in bed, Dora held on to Tom, making him stay. ‘We’ll all say our prayers together tonight, and include Stan in them.’

Lily had fallen asleep quickly, and they went back to the kitchen to make themselves a cup of cocoa. Then they sat down to talk things over.

Dora stared at her hands wrapped around the cup. ‘Tomorrow I’ll ask Mrs Marsden if she knows of a family who need a daily maid. If she doesn’t then I’ll take a couple of hours off and visit a few shops and apply as an assistant. They’ve said I can do that if I need to.’

Tom nodded. ‘You take all the time you need. I’ll see to Lily and get the dinner ready.’

‘Thanks, Tom.’

‘How long can we afford to pay the rent, and buy enough food for us? And Lily’s growing out of her shoes.’

‘I know she needs new ones.’ Dora opened her purse and tipped the contents on the table. ‘I’ve put aside the money we found. That’ll take care of the rent for a little while, but Lily must also have her shoes. Then there’s our bus fares …’

‘If you can’t get another job our money isn’t going to last long, is it? I don’t want to move from here, Dora. Lily likes her school, and so do I. But we’ve got to face the fact that Mum isn’t coming back, haven’t we?’

Dora’s insides heaved with grief and worry. Tom was voicing her own conclusions. Something dreadful must have happened. But what? She gazed at her brother,
deeply troubled. ‘I think we must plan as if she’s gone for good. We’ve got to keep us together. It isn’t going to be easy, but we’ll find a way. Between us we’ll do it, Tom.’

‘Of course we will.’