Homecoming (13 page)

Touched by Emily's pain and despair, Judy felt sympathy for the girl but couldn't believe anyone would engineer a scene like the one Emily described between her and a boy she referred to as Thompson. She had however, heard enough rumours about the parties held at the Watkin Morgans' house to suspect that it wasn't uncommon for girls to wander around naked, or climb into bed with boys they hardly knew.

‘So you see,' Emily finished, as they continued to sit in the car after Judy had driven to her flat. ‘Robin will never see me or have anything to do with me ever again.'

‘I am so sorry.'

‘Why?' Emily asked bitterly. ‘You hardly know me.'

‘But we are flatmates.' Judy considered what had happened between her and Sam the night before. What if they quarrelled and she found herself pregnant despite all his assurances that he was being careful? ‘What happened to you can happen to any girl.'

‘You're not just saying that?'

‘No.' Judy took Emily's hand into hers. It was cold, icy to the touch. ‘Let's go inside and switch on the gas fire before you freeze to death.'

After settling Emily in the living room, Judy went into the kitchen and put the kettle on. Discarding the cold toast in the toaster, she cut more bread and laid a tray for both of them. When she'd buttered half a dozen slices of toast and wet the tea, she carried it through to the living room and set it on the coffee table between them.

‘Thank you.' Emily's hand shook as she took the cup Judy handed her.

‘I hate to think what might have happened if I hadn't woken up.' Judy finally bit into the toast she'd been craving for and savoured the taste. ‘Didn't you think of your family?'

‘They were the reason I did it. Another scandal will kill my mother. And Larry's had a terrible time this last year and there are my sisters, they're all younger than me. Imagine how people will treat them once it gets out that my fiancée caught me in bed with another man.'

‘Your mother and sisters don't even live in Swansea any more.'

‘You don't know the Watkin Morgan set. They love scandal. People will write to my mother, rub her nose in what happened.'

‘Then better they hear it from you.' Judy offered Emily a piece of toast.

She shook her head. ‘What am I going to do? I'm already fastening my skirts with safety pins. Another couple of weeks and I'll begin to show. I'll lose my job …'

‘You can stay here as long as you like and don't worry about the rent.'

Emily looked at Judy in disbelief. ‘You mean that?'

‘Yes.'

‘Why are you being kind to me?'

‘Let's just say because no one else seems to be.'

‘But I'll still need money for food and help with the baby when it's born. I just don't know what to do.'

Judy glanced at the clock. ‘Nothing for the moment because you're exhausted. If you get a couple of hours' sleep I'll take you to see my mother when you wake up.'

‘What can she do?'

‘I don't know. But I do know that she's the first person I'd go to if I were in trouble. And she's had two babies, one less than two years ago, so she knows all about pregnancy. She may be able to suggest something.'

‘You won't tell her about last night, or these.' Emily held up her bandaged wrists.

‘I won't tell her about Robin, except to say that he won't help you, but she's not stupid, Emily. Come on, go to bed. I'll wake you around twelve o'clock.'

‘Thank you.'

As she watched Emily leave the room, Judy contemplated the burden she'd just taken on. But everyone needed someone they could turn to when they had a problem, and it was just her bad luck that she had found herself saddled with a flatmate who didn't seem to have anyone else.

Chapter Seven

‘A boy, Dad, that's wonderful.' Helen flung her arms around John's neck and hugged him.

‘Congratulations, Mr Griffiths.' Jack shook his hand warmly.

‘As I just told Martin and Lily, I insist on you calling me John now that I'm the father of your nephew.'

‘Does that go for me too – John?' Helen opened the sideboard and brought out a bottle of sherry.

‘If you want to call me John, go ahead.'

‘I was joking. Here.' She handed her father and Jack two of the small sherries she'd poured. ‘To …'

‘Glyn Martin Griffiths.'

After they'd drunk the toast, John said, ‘Sorry, Jack, I wanted to make it Glyn Martin Jack Griffiths, but Katie says she wants to keep Jack for the next one.'

‘Tell her it's a silly name for a girl.' Jack was watching Helen. She appeared genuinely pleased by the news.

‘She said you, Martin and her were so close when she was growing up, she wants Glyn to have a brother or sister as soon as possible.'

‘He'll have a cousin too.' Helen set her sherry aside. ‘Jack and I have decided to talk to the doctor about that private adoption we discussed when I … before Jack went away.'

‘That's good news,' John smiled. ‘Would you like me to telephone him for you?'

‘No, we'll do it ourselves in a couple of weeks.'

‘After the second honeymoon.' John finished his sherry and handed his glass to Helen. ‘Which reminds me, I'm imposing.'

‘No, you're not.' Helen set the glasses on the table.

‘I promised Lily and Martin I'd have lunch with them.'

‘You could have eaten here.'

‘Not that you would have had anything other than party leftovers,' Jack warned. ‘We're eating out this evening.'

‘Jack's booked a table in the Mermaid and now we'll have three things to celebrate – Jack's homecoming, his job in Brian's garage and my new brother.'

‘Brian offered you a job?' John asked Jack.

‘Yes, and,' Jack looked sideways at Helen, ‘it appears that I've decided to take it.'

‘He's lucky to get you. If it doesn't work out, you can always come back to the warehouse and not as a stockroom boy.'

‘Thank you – John.' Jack smiled self-consciously at his father-in-law.

‘So, what's my new brother like?' Helen demanded.

‘Perfect, beautiful, small, what there is of his hair is fair and his eyes are blue.'

‘Give him and Katie a kiss from me. How soon can we see them?'

‘They won't allow anyone other than fathers into the nursing home for the first week, but as soon as you're allowed I'll take you two and Lily and Martin in, I promise.'

‘If you need anything, washing done, a meal …'

‘I'll ask Mrs Jones. Look after yourself and don't worry about the warehouse, love. No one's indispensable, not even the chief fashion buyer.' He kissed Helen's cheek. ‘Martin and Roy are joining me about half past eight in the Rose tomorrow to wet the baby's head and I've asked them to invite Sam and Mike if they're off shift. Brian, unfortunately, is returning to Pontypridd today. If you'd like to join us, Jack, you'd be more than welcome. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay with Helen, I'll understand.'

‘I'd be glad to get rid of him for a couple of hours,' Helen said lightly. ‘It will give me a chance to wash my hair.'

Jack glanced at Helen, and realising she meant it, said, ‘Thank you, John; count me in.'

‘See you then.'

‘I've never seen such a mixture of exhaustion and elation on a man's face.' Jack wrapped his arm around Helen's shoulders, as they stood on the doorstep watching John drive away. ‘And I'm proud of you.'

‘It would be mean to envy Katie and my father's happiness just because they have the one thing I want more than anything else in the world – after you.'

‘And soon will have.' Jack closed the front door. ‘I think it's a great idea of yours to see the doctor in two weeks, but if we do get offered a baby soon and I accept Brian's job, money will be tight until the garage is established.'

‘I told you we'd manage.'

‘Not at the expense of your savings.'

‘Our savings.'

‘I suppose I could give the garage six months,' he said thoughtfully. ‘If I don't make a reasonable wage by then, I'll go back to the warehouse.'

‘I'd rather you gave it a year.'

‘We'll talk about it in six months. So, when do you want to make the appointment to see the doctor?'

‘Tomorrow for a fortnight's time, then we can forget about it until it's time to go.' Blocking his path, she pulled his shirt from his trousers.

‘Helen,' he warned, as she slid her fingers beneath his waistband. ‘You know what that does to me.'

‘Yes.' Her eyes glittered.

‘You're for it,' he shouted, as he chased her up the stairs.

‘We arranged to visit my mother to tell her that we've finally set the date.' Sam's voice sank ominously low. He faced Judy in his basement kitchen.

‘I didn't know Emily was going to have an accident.' Judy had given Sam the sanitised version of events that Emily wanted the world to believe. ‘She is so upset I thought I'd take her to see my mother.'

‘For pity's sake, Judy,' he snapped. ‘You hardly know the girl.'

‘She is my flatmate,' Judy retorted.

‘I still don't see why you have to take her to see your mother.'

‘Emily has a problem.'

‘Haven't we all,' he griped, ‘and mine is you.'

‘My mother might be able to help her. Please, Sam, don't be difficult. It's not going to make any difference to your mother whether I visit her this weekend or next. It's not as if she's expecting me. And,' Judy reined in her irritation and gave him a strained smile, ‘we'll have more definite news to give her next weekend if we go to see the vicar of St Mary's and the manager of the Mackworth hotel tomorrow evening.'

‘We
can't visit anyone tomorrow evening,' he stressed caustically. ‘From tomorrow, I'm on the two till ten shift for two weeks.'

‘Then we'll visit the vicar and the hotel first thing in the morning and tomorrow night after your shift, you can come over to the flat and I'll make us a meal.'

‘You, cook for me?' he questioned incredulously.

‘I may amaze you.'

‘Knowing you, not in a way I like.' Refusing to be mollified, he crossed his arms across his chest and sat back in his chair.

‘There's always tonight.'

‘Tonight! How long do you and Emily intend to stay with your mother?'

‘As long as it takes, but you said that Mike won't be starting his shift until ten.'

‘You'll really go with me to see the vicar and the manager of the Mackworth tomorrow morning?' he asked in a marginally softer tone.

‘I'll pick you up in the car at nine o'clock.'

‘I suppose that's something,' he accepted, although she could still detect resentment in his voice.

‘I'll drive Emily home as soon as she's talked to my mother, then I'll come straight back here if you like.'

‘I'll visit my mother, if it's all the same to you.'

‘You're hardly dressed for riding your bike. It's tipping down out there.' She looked at the pale grey lounge suit he was wearing.

‘Yes, well, we had arranged to go to Neath in your car, remember?' He left his chair. ‘I need to change into my bike leathers.'

‘I'll be round this evening about eight o'clock then.'

‘I won't hold my breath.'

‘I'm sorry, Sam, but I promise I'll make it up to you later.' She waylaid him before he reached the door to the passage and kissed him. ‘That's on account.'

‘I'll hold you to that.' Giving her one final look of exasperation, he left her to see herself out.

‘I hope you haven't quarrelled with Sam because of me,' Emily said, as Judy ran up the outside steps of Lily's basement to the car she'd parked in the street.

‘Sam and I spend more time arguing than we do talking. Some say it's a sign of a healthy relationship.'

‘It could be,' Emily agreed despondently. ‘Robin and I hardly ever argued – until last night.'

‘I still think you should get in touch with him. If you don't want to telephone you could always write.'

‘No!' Emily's reply was so fierce and finite Judy dropped the subject. As soon as Emily left the car, she locked it and led the way up the path to her mother's front door.

‘I saw you coming.' Joy handed Billy to Judy and kissed her before turning to her companion. ‘You must be Emily, it's good to meet you.' Primed by a telephone call from Judy earlier, she opened the door to the front parlour. ‘I thought we'd sit in here.'

‘Where's Roy?' Judy asked.

‘Working. As he would say, a policeman's life is a hard one.'

‘I didn't know your father was a policeman.' Emily took the easy chair Joy offered her.

‘Both of them,' Judy answered. ‘Roy's my stepfather and my real father is a policeman too, in London.'

‘Roy's my second husband,' Joy explained. ‘Have you two had lunch?'

‘We had scrambled eggs on toast.' Judy tickled Billy and he giggled and squirmed in her arms.

‘Is that all?' Joy reproved.

‘As we slept late after being up most of the night, we didn't want anything else.'

‘There's a quiche in the fridge. Why don't you warm it up in the oven and make some tea for us, Judy?'

‘Should I make anything special for Billy?' Judy suddenly realised that Emily was staring at him.

‘He likes quiche too.'

‘Come on then, monster.' Swinging Billy on to her shoulders, Judy left for the kitchen.

Joy sat opposite Emily. She watched her for a moment, saw how uneasy she was, and decided to come straight to the point. ‘Judy tells me you're pregnant.'

‘Yes.' Emily stared at her hands and played with the gloves she'd kept when Judy had taken her coat.

‘Is the baby's father going to help you?'

‘He doesn't want anything to do with me.'

‘You could take him to court.'

‘No!'

‘I hate to ask this, Emily, but you have to be practical in a situation like this. Do you have any money?'

‘Not much.' Emily felt the room closing in around her.

‘And the baby, do you intend to keep it after it's born?'

Emily looked at Joy through glazed, frightened eyes. ‘Without money or a husband, how can I?'

‘I had a word with my husband before he went to work. I didn't mention your name,' Joy reassured. ‘Just told him that one of my friend's daughters was in trouble. He said there are all kinds of organisations that can help women in your situation. The Salvation Army, the Catholic Church and the Church of England all run homes where unmarried mothers can live board and lodge free until their babies are born and for six weeks afterwards. Then the babies are handed over to adoptive parents.'

‘And the mothers?' Emily asked apprehensively.

‘Are free to get on with their lives.'

‘What kind of life can I have after this?' Emily questioned pessimistically. ‘Everyone in Swansea will soon know I'm pregnant, that is if they don't already, and no one will want to have anything to do with a girl who's had an illegitimate baby. I'll be ostracised even more than I have been since … since …'

‘Swansea isn't the only place in the world. After your baby has been placed with adoptive parents, you'll be free to go wherever you want. No one need know about your past unless you tell them.'

‘It's not just the baby …'

‘I know what happened to your father, Emily, and I admire you and your brother for staying in the town and facing the gossips.'

‘I wish now that I'd gone to Bournemouth with my mother.'

‘Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But life goes on, and your first priority has to be your welfare and that of your baby.'

‘You're not shocked,' Emily challenged.

‘By you being pregnant and not married?' Joy shook her head. ‘It can happen to any girl who puts her trust in the wrong man.'

Emily bit her lip in an effort to contain the tide of emotion that threatened to engulf her. ‘You and Judy are being so kind …'

‘You'll soon discover that the world is full of kindness. Lots of people will be prepared to help you and your baby.' Sensing Emily's precarious state, Joy deliberately turned the conversation back to practical matters. ‘Have you seen a doctor?'

‘Only this morning in the hospital.' Emily flushed as she stared at her bandaged wrists. ‘He said I was four and half months pregnant.'

‘You haven't seen your own doctor.'

‘I couldn't … it would be horrible, so embarrassing.'

‘I know a very good woman doctor. I could make an appointment for you to see her. I'll even go along with you if you like. She'll be able to tell you what your options are.'

‘Thank you.'

‘I'll try to make it for tomorrow if possible. As soon as I have a day and time, I'll telephone you in the flat. In the meantime, I suggest you stop worrying. You have your whole life ahead of you, and so does your baby. And whichever home you opt to go into, I'm sure they'll find him or her a perfect set of parents. Now,' she brushed down her skirt as she rose from her chair, ‘I'll go and see what Judy's doing to that quiche that's taking so long.'

‘So, you meant what you said about visiting me?' Sam said when Judy walked into the basement.

‘I said I would.'

‘I thought Emily needed you.'

‘She is going to be fine. She'll also be moving out shortly.' Judy handed him her coat.