Homecoming (17 page)

‘Seeing as you only have time to shop about twice a year, Sam can hardly complain and it's not as if you'll be spending his money when you're earning your own.' Lily shook the cloth out of the window before folding it.

‘Doesn't it become joint money once you're married?'

‘Try telling Martin that.' Lily set two cups and saucers on the table. Boiling mad, she suddenly realised she was in danger of taking out her anger on Judy. ‘Promise you won't tell a soul,' she relented.

‘I swear,' Judy agreed solemnly.

‘Brian offered Martin a partnership in the garage, where he'd be in charge of the car maintenance and repair side of things.'

‘That's marvellous. Martin's always going on about opening his own business.'

‘It would be marvellous if he'd use this house and the investments Auntie Norah left me to raise a bank loan to buy into it.' Lily spooned tea into the pot.

‘He won't?'

‘No.' Lily wet the tea and set the teapot on the table. ‘I've tried telling him what I have is his, that he'll soon pay it back and we have enough money coming in to meet the bills and buy the essentials, not only from the flat downstairs but upstairs as well, now that Brian is moving into the attic.'

‘I didn't know Brian was moving in with you.' Judy's voice rose in alarm. Brian back in Swansea and running a garage was one thing; Brian living with Lily and Martin and picking up where he'd left off with the old crowd, including her closest friends, was quite another.

‘Yes, and that will only make it worse.' Lily was too preoccupied with her own problems to sense Judy's unease. ‘The garage is bound to be a success and I know Martin, he'll never forgive himself for missing a chance in a million. Men! They're stubborn, pig-headed creatures.' She sat across the table from Judy and poured out the tea.

‘What are you going to do?'

Lily turned to Judy.

‘You've already made up your mind, haven't you?' Judy reached for the sugar.

‘Martin is so furious with me anyway for putting the house and investments in our joint names, I decided it couldn't get any worse. I telephoned Brian earlier this evening and told him I'd raise the money. Tomorrow I'll ask the bank manager to give me the loan Martin needs to buy into the business. As the property is in joint names he'll lend it to either of us. As soon as it comes through, I'll present it to Martin, then if he wants to waste it, that will be his decision.'

‘He won't like it,' Judy warned.

‘I know,' Lily mused, ‘but he will just have to get over it, won't he? Among other things,' she whispered softly.

‘Trouble with the car, Martin?' John glanced over the wall, as he locked his garage door.

‘Just routine maintenance.' Martin only just stopped himself from addressing John as Mr Griffiths, but he couldn't bring himself to say ‘John' – it simply didn't seem right. ‘How are Katie and the baby?'

‘Very well. Katie sends you and Lily her love.' John couldn't stop smiling. ‘I can't wait to get them home. You haven't forgotten about tonight?'

‘Tonight?' Martin looked blank.

‘The Rose, wetting the baby's head,' John reminded. ‘You said you were going to ask Sam and Mike. Roy and Jack are coming.'

‘I'm sorry, I forgot. Mike said he'd be there and Sam will join us when his shift finishes at ten. Give me five minutes to wash my hands and change, and I'll meet you out front.'

John looked thoughtfully after Martin, as he ran back into the house. It wasn't like him to be forgetful. He made a mental note to take Martin aside in the pub. If Katie's brother had problems, the least he could do was offer to help.

‘You finished working on the car?' Lily said in surprise when Martin opened the kitchen door.

‘No, but I said I'd go down the Rose with Mr Griffiths. We arranged to wet the baby's head.'

‘So you did.'

‘You could have reminded me.' Martin made an effort to control his temper when he saw Judy sitting at the table. ‘How's it going, Judy?' He couldn't help feeling Lily had invited her over just so she could discuss their argument with someone.

‘It's going fine. Have you seen Sam?'

‘Not since yesterday.' He opened the door that led into the hall. ‘If you'll excuse me, I have to change. Mr Griffiths is waiting.' He ran up the stairs.

‘I see what you mean.' Judy gave Lily a look of commiseration.

‘Would you like another cup of tea?'

‘Yes, please.' Judy handed Lily her cup.

‘This wasn't just a social call on the off-chance that I'd need your shoulder, was it?' Lily filled Judy's cup and handed her the milk jug.

‘No, as I said, I wanted to ask a favour. Seeing as I was your bridesmaid I was hoping you'd reciprocate and be my matron of honour.'

‘You and Sam have set the date?'

‘First Saturday in July.'

‘That's wonderful and I'd be honoured.' They both laughed at the unintentional pun.

‘I only hope Martin calms down before he meets Sam in the pub tonight.' Judy sipped her tea. ‘Sam wants him to be best man and, in his present mood, Martin will more likely bite Sam's head off than agree.'

Chapter Nine

‘Glyn Martin Griffiths!' The toast echoed around the lounge bar of the White Rose as all the men in the room lifted their glasses to John, who had bought a drink for everyone in the pub.

‘And to Judy and Sam.' Roy gave Sam a sly glance, lifting his glass for a second toast. ‘Joy mentioned that you two have finally set the date.'

‘More like I wore Judy down. The big day's set for the first Saturday in July and you are all invited with your wives, children and in Mike's case, girlfriend.' Sam was grateful for Brian's absence. The last thing he wanted was one of Judy's old flames at their wedding. ‘Which reminds me,' he turned to Martin as the landlord collared John to offer his congratulations, ‘would you return the favour and be my best man?'

‘I'd be delighted.' Martin looked anything but, as he offered his cigarettes to the group at their table.

‘Is anything the matter with Martin?' John whispered to Jack.

‘Not that I know anything about.' Jack eyed his brother.

‘Is he going to work in Brian's garage as well?'

‘Brian hinted on Saturday that he'd like him to,' Jack murmured, taking care to keep his voice low. ‘But Marty bit my head off when I asked him about it earlier.'

‘I thought Martin would have jumped at the chance.'

‘He said something about being promoted in the council garage. Perhaps he doesn't want to move from there.'

John moved his chair closer to Martin's. ‘I've been talking to Jack about Brian's garage.'

‘Oh, yes.' Martin gave John a suspicious look.

‘Sounds like it's going to be a great success. Being a mechanic, I'm surprised you're not joining them.'

‘I already have a job,' Martin answered tersely.

‘I've often heard you say that you'd like to be your own boss. I know that working for a garage the size of the one Brian's about to open wouldn't exactly be working for yourself, but it would be more like it than working for the council.'

‘Have you been talking to Lily?' Martin narrowed his eyes.

‘No, why do you ask?'

‘Nothing.' Martin picked up his pint of beer. ‘I'm happy as a foreman in the council depot.'

‘Should you ever think of going self-employed, give me a shout. I'm always on the lookout for sound investments.'

‘The last thing I need is your money, John,' Martin refused curtly, so curtly John allowed the matter to drop.

‘As your boyfriend's coming round, I'll make myself scarce.' Emily closed the locks on a trunk and heaved it upright.

‘Here, let me do that.' Judy grabbed the handle and carried it to the corner closest to the door. ‘You shouldn't be lifting anything this heavy and there's no need to go to your room. Sam cried off to go to a stag night.' She unbuttoned her coat and threw it on to the sofa before collapsing into an easy chair.

‘I'm sorry.'

‘I'm glad to have some peace.' Judy looked at the trunk. ‘You packing already?'

‘I saw the doctor this afternoon.'

‘The one my mother recommended?'

‘Yes.' Emily sat in the chair opposite Judy's. ‘She said I'm nearer five months than four, and the three inches I put on around my waist this week is a sign that I'm about to expand even more, and soon. She rang a home after she examined me and they're prepared to accept me on Saturday. We … I … thought it best I take up their offer of a place.'

‘Don't you have to work your notice at Lewis Lewis's?'

‘I handed in my notice this afternoon after I left the doctor's. I have a couple of days' holiday due to me, so they said I could leave straight away. All I had to do was wait for the office to make up my wages.'

‘Had they …'

‘Heard about what happened at Robin's on Saturday night?' Emily finished for her. ‘I don't think they would have paid me off and given me my cards if they hadn't. No respectable shop wants a slut who is carrying a bastard to serve their customers.'

‘Please, don't talk or think about yourself that way. You're anything but a slut.'

‘Thank you for saying that, but face it, Judy, everyone who knows me, including you, will be relieved when I leave on Saturday.'

‘I'll be sorry to lose you as a flatmate.'

‘You can't mean that.'

‘Yes, I do.' Judy suddenly realised that it would be lonely to return to the empty flat after living with Helen for over two years. Emily wasn't Helen, but she felt close to her, even though they'd only lived together for a short time. And she felt sorry for her. Pregnant, abandoned by her boyfriend and so friendless she'd been forced to confide her problems to someone she hardly knew. ‘Is the home far?'

‘Not too far. It's in a big house outside Llandeilo.'

‘How are you going to get there?'

‘The doctor gave me directions. I get a train to Llandeilo and a bus from there.'

‘I could take you.'

‘I couldn't possibly put you to all that trouble. The doctor said it's over twenty miles.'

‘I'd enjoy the drive,' Judy insisted. ‘I haven't been to that part of the world in years and from what I remember it's quite pretty. Besides,' Judy nodded to the trunk, ‘you're in no condition to lug anything that size around.'

‘I won't have to. I saw Larry after work. He's decided to leave Swansea and join my mother in Bournemouth.'

‘He's heard you're pregnant?' Judy suggested perceptively.

Emily nodded. ‘The old crowd didn't waste any time in telling him.'

‘I'm sorry.'

‘Now can you understand why I can't wait to leave?'

‘Yes, but what you have to remember is that none of these people are your real friends.'

‘As I've found out.' Emily forced a strained smile. ‘Larry told his boss my mother's ill. She's not of course, but he's leaving for Bournemouth tomorrow. He offered to take anything I won't need for the next couple of months to my aunt's house. She has plenty of room so one trunk won't be a problem. I packed most of my clothes. There's no point in taking them with me because I can hardly get into any of them now, let alone in a few weeks.'

‘You'll need clothes in the hostel.'

‘I bought a couple of things on the market today, enough to see me through. I told the woman on the stall that they were for my sister. I'm sure she didn't believe me …' Emily bit her bottom lip to stop it from trembling.

‘Emily …'

‘No.' Emily left her chair before Judy could reach her. ‘I'm all right, really.' She went to the window and pulled back the curtain. The street outside was deserted, rain was falling, the street lights puddling the damp pavement with pools of yellow light and sepia shadows. ‘Thanks to you and your mother, I have somewhere to stay, people to look after me when the baby is born and help me place it for adoption.'

‘Do you have enough money?'

‘Robin dropped a cheque through the door last night.' What Emily didn't tell Judy was she'd returned the cheque together with his engagement ring to his solicitor's that morning. ‘So you see, I'll be fine. I really will.'

‘You'll let me drive you to the home on Saturday.'

‘You have the salons …'

‘My mother told me today that she'd like to start working again. Besides, if we leave early, I can still be back to check on them before they close.'

‘If you're sure.'

‘I'm sure. You'll need a contact number for the home. Is Larry …'

‘One of the reasons he's leaving tomorrow is to try to intercept any letters sent to my mother from Swansea. I telephoned my aunt at lunchtime. She's keeping an eye out until Larry arrives and she's agreed to set any that come aside for him to deal with. I only hope no one telephones her, but Larry and I don't think anyone here has my aunt's telephone number.'

‘You're not going to tell your mother and sisters that you're pregnant?'

‘Larry and I decided it would be better to keep it from them. He's going to tell them that I've taken a position as a receptionist in a country hotel. That way, after the baby's born, I can move on.'

‘To Bournemouth?'

‘No.' Emily kept her back turned to Judy as she shook her head. ‘I have a couple of testimonials. I hope they'll be enough to get me a live-in job in a real hotel somewhere far from here and Bournemouth. Then, when I've saved some money, I can start thinking about what I want to do with the rest of my life.'

‘You can tell the people in the home that I'm your next of kin if you like,' Judy offered.

Emily didn't even try to protest. ‘Thank you.'

‘And if ever you need a character reference from an ex-landlady, you know where to come.'

Emily finally turned to face Judy. ‘I wouldn't have coped without your help, you do know that.'

Embarrassed by Emily's gratitude, Judy muttered, ‘You would have coped fine.' Anxious to steer the conversation back to the practical, she added, ‘If you'd like to leave anything here until you're settled again, you're welcome. I won't be letting out your room.'

‘Everything I'm not taking to the home is in my trunk.' Emily wrapped her arms tightly around herself. ‘Please, don't take this the wrong way, Judy, but after the baby's born and been adopted, I never want to see Swansea again.'

Lily was sitting in the living room, embroidering a blue teddy bear on a white pram blanket she'd crocheted for John and Katie's son, when she heard the front door open and close. Seconds later the basement door banged shut. She glanced up at the clock, it was only just after half past ten and it took ten minutes to walk from the White Rose to the house. The men hadn't even stayed in the pub until stop tap.

The door opened but Martin remained in the doorway. Any hopes she'd had of patching up their quarrel before they went to bed faded when she saw the thunderous expression on his face. Weaving the needle into the blanket she set it aside.

‘Would you like some supper?'

‘No.'

‘Is anything wrong?' It was an idiotic question, but she felt she had to say something.

‘You tell me.'

‘Martin, all I want is for you to have a chance –'

‘So much so, you discussed our personal affairs with John Griffiths.' Martin gripped the doorframe so hard his knuckles turned white. ‘Damn it, Lily, isn't it enough that he bought Katie without him trying to buy me?'

‘It's not like that between John and Katie, and you know it.' For once, Lily allowed her temper to rise to meet her husband's. ‘They love one another.'

‘Whatever,' he dismissed frostily. ‘That still doesn't give you the right to discuss our private affairs with him, or him the right to offer me money as if I'm a bloody pauper.'

‘I haven't discussed anything with John Griffiths.'

‘No?'

‘No!'

‘And, I suppose you and Judy just talked about the weather when she called in earlier?'

‘We discussed her wedding. She wants me to be her matron of honour.'

‘My name never came up in the conversation.'

‘Of course it came up,' she countered irritably. ‘Sam wants you to be his best man.'

‘I don't want to talk about Sam and Judy's wedding!' His hands tightened into fists. ‘Did you tell Judy that we'd quarrelled?'

‘After the way you stormed through the kitchen, I rather think she worked that out for herself.'

‘So what did you talk about?'

‘A lot of things.' She met his glare defiantly.

‘Including Brian, the garage and his offer of a job.'

‘What if we did? Judy and I have been friends all our lives.'

‘And I am your husband.'

‘There are times like now when I wish you weren't,' she retorted, allowing the full force of her anger to erupt into words.

Silence closed in, glacial, raw with tension. Instead of shouting back at her as she'd expected him to, Martin clenched his jaw and grew visibly paler.

‘Marty …'

‘Thank you for letting me know where I stand.' Turning on his heel, he walked up the stairs.

Too upset to think of anything other than the bitter words they had flung at one another, Lily set the blanket aside. An hour later she calmed down enough to tidy the living room. When she'd finished, she switched off the fire, checked that the front and back doors were locked and the kitchen was tidy before climbing the stairs. Hoping Martin was asleep, she opened the door to their bedroom quietly. The room yawned cold and empty in the subdued light from the landing. Their bed was neatly made, just as she'd left it that morning. She checked the linen cupboard. A set of sheets, pillowcases, two blankets and a pillow had disappeared. With two spare bedrooms next to theirs and four on the attic floor, she had no way of knowing without opening the doors, which room Martin had elected to move into. Her hand shook as she closed the cupboard door. It wasn't worth escalating their argument to find out.

‘Mrs Clay,' Mr Hopkin Jones indicated the chair in front of his desk, ‘please, sit down.'

‘Thank you, sir.' Lily took the seat he offered her.

‘The overdraft facility was cleared this morning, two and a half thousand pounds secured against your investment properties, repayments variable in accordance with the amount borrowed, as we discussed.'

‘I didn't expect it to come through so soon, sir.' Lily did a quick calculation. She had applied first thing on Tuesday morning and it was only Friday. She had anticipated that the formalities would take at least two weeks and had been worried in case Brian returned before she had an opportunity to tell Martin what she had done. Although it was going to be difficult to tell Martin anything. They hadn't exchanged a single word since their argument on Monday night.