One Step at a Time (8 page)

‘Well, thanks for that anyway.’ Ben opened both eyes just to test that the blinding headache had finally disappeared. It had, and he sighed with relief. Hauling himself upright he sat on the edge of the bed and waited for a moment, wondering if he should risk standing up. ‘What time is it?’

‘Ten in the morning. I’ll get you some breakfast. What do you want?’

‘Not chicken soup,’ Ben said with feeling. ‘What else have we got in the place?’

‘Your mother brought along a basket of goodies this morning, saying you would be ravenous when you finally came to. There’s sausages, eggs, bacon, things like that.’

‘Did she?’ Ben sat up straight. ‘That was thoughtful of her. You can cook us both a huge fry-up. She’s absolutely right; I am starving.’

‘Your mother’s a treasure, Ben. I don’t think you appreciate her enough.’

‘Oh, I do.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘I just don’t show it, and she’d be horrified if I gushed all over her. And talking of appreciation, Howard, thanks for looking after me. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.’

‘Think nothing of it.’ Howard slapped him on the back, nearly knocking him off the bed. ‘That’s what friends are for, and I’ve had plenty of help from your mother and our landlady. But we’re all damned relieved to see you without that fever. Worried us half to death, I can tell you.’

Ben watched his friend wander out, humming happily to himself, then he gritted his teeth and set about cleaning himself up. It was an effort, but he had to admit that he did feel better after a bath and shave. His stomach growled in anticipation as he walked into the kitchen they shared and saw Howard busy with the frying pan.

‘How many eggs do you want?’ Howard asked, not taking his eyes off the sizzling bacon.

‘How many have we got?’

‘A dozen.’

‘I’ll have three then.’ He eased himself into a chair, reminding himself to thank his mother as soon as he could. There was a pile of newspapers on the chair next to him, so he reached for them.

‘Leave those until you’ve eaten.’ Howard picked them up and tossed them on to the windowsill. ‘I’ve kept all the back numbers for you, but if you read them now you won’t enjoy your breakfast.’

‘Why?’ Ben frowned, then forgot about everything as Howard put a plate piled high in front of him.

‘You’ll feel stronger once you get that inside you.’

He nodded in agreement and began to eat, savouring every mouthful. It was wonderful. He had thought at one time that he would never want to eat again. Howard was no cook, but a simple fry-up was not beyond his capabilities.

There was silence while they cleared their plates, mopping up the grease with slices of bread.

Ben sat back and sighed. ‘Lord, but I was hungry. How long is it since I’ve had solid food?’

‘All you’ve had is hot lemon, gallons of water and soup for the last fortnight.’

‘No wonder I was hungry.’ Tipping his chair back on two legs he reached out for the papers. ‘Now I’ve got to catch up on what’s been going on in the outside world. Is that trial over yet?’

Howard nodded. ‘Over, found guilty, and hanged.’

‘What?’ Ben’s chair thumped back on all four legs again. ‘That was bloody fast! Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Ben, you had a fever and were delirious for a while. When you began to come out of that your mother threatened me with instant destruction if I so much as breathed a word about it to you.’

‘Bad as that, was I?’

‘Worse.’ Howard eyed his friend and grimaced. ‘It frightened the life out of me. Don’t do it again.’

‘No fear.’ Ben glanced around. ‘I see my mother has had a tidy-up as well. Where’s my coat?’

‘What do you want that for?’

Ben struggled to his feet. ‘I’m going to see if I can find Amy. She might need help.’

‘Oh, come on, Ben, you can hardly stand up, let alone go traipsing around in the rain.’ Howard looked alarmed. ‘Give yourself a couple of days to get your strength back.’

The room began to go out of focus, and Ben grabbed hold of the chair to steady himself.

‘For heaven’s sake, sit down!’ Howard pushed him back into a sitting position. ‘I can’t drive, and you certainly won’t be able to in that state.’

‘Perhaps you’re right.’ Ben reluctantly took his friend’s advice. ‘I’ll go and find her tomorrow.’

The next morning Ben did feel stronger, so after they’d finished off the rest of the eggs and a couple of slices of bread, he considered he was fit enough to go out.

His friend wasn’t so sure as he watched Ben lace up his shoes. ‘Why don’t you leave it another day? And what are you going to do if you do find her? You’ve only met her once, Ben.’

He stood up and shrugged into his coat. ‘I just want to make sure she’s all right. And you’re right, I have only met her once, but I’ve painted her twice, and feel as if I know her. I’m worried, Howard. Humour me, eh?’

Muttering under his breath, Howard grabbed his own coat.

‘You don’t have to come if you’ve got things to do.’

‘You’ve only just got out of your sick bed, and if you think I’m letting you wander around on your own so soon, then you’re very much mistaken.’ Howard followed him to the door.

Their landlady was in the hall and glared at them. ‘You’re never going out, are you? You’ve hardly got over that terrible fever.’

Ben playfully gave her a quick peck on the cheek. ‘I’m perfectly fit again, Mrs Dalton, but it’s sweet of you to worry about me.’

She wasn’t able to hide the smile. ‘I see the old charm is back. All right then, but I hope you’re well wrapped up. There’s a nasty wind out there and it’s drizzling.’

‘I’ve got my vest on,’ he teased, ‘and two pullovers.’

The landlady turned to Howard. ‘You’re the sensible one here; don’t let him stay out too long. He might look like a big strong boy, but that was a nasty bout of influenza he had.’

‘We’ll be back within the hour.’ Howard crossed his heart, knowing he was probably lying. Once Ben set his mind to something it was near impossible to stop him.

‘You be sure you are.’ She walked away, shaking her head and muttering, ‘They haven’t got the sense they were born with.’

‘Sometimes,’ Ben said as he started the car, ‘I feel as if I’ve gained another mother.’

‘Don’t complain.’ Howard grimaced as they shot
round a corner and had to brake suddenly because a van was coming the other way on the wrong side of the road.

Completely unruffled, Ben lowered his window, said something uncomplimentary, and continued as if nothing had happened. He gave Howard a sideways glance. ‘You were saying?’

‘I said don’t complain if our landlady treats us like sons because she always lets us off when we can’t pay the rent on time.’

‘Oh, I’m not. I was just stating a fact.’

‘Like you did to that van driver?’ Howard snorted. ‘One day someone’s going to punch you on the nose.’

‘You think so?’ Ben’s grin showed he was amused at the thought.

‘Not everyone’s going to run when you stand up and tower over them, Ben. You should have been a boxer, not an artist.’

‘Not likely! A mild-tempered man like me standing in a ring and letting someone try to knock him senseless?’

Howard roared with laughter. ‘I don’t know how you can delude yourself like that. Anyone upsets you at their peril.’

All that produced was a deep chuckle.

‘Anyway, providing we get to Wapping in one piece, what are you going to do if you find the girl?’

‘You’ve already asked me that. I’m just going to check that she’s all right.’

*

They parked the car at the bottom of Farthing Street and walked up the road. The houses were all the same: two floors, a basement and no front gardens. Ben hunched his broad shoulders as the cold wind hit him. He wasn’t sure he was up to this, but for some reason he couldn’t fathom, he just had to see her again. He was probably wasting his time, but at least he would feel easier after seeing her.

A woman was just coming out of a door and he stopped her. ‘Excuse me, but could you tell us where Amy Carter lives?’

‘Number twenty-three, but you won’t find her in.’ She didn’t seem too pleased about being stopped. ‘It’s her mother’s funeral today. She’ll be up at St Joseph’s.’

‘Where is that?’ Ben was shocked at the news. The poor little devil had lost her mother as well!

‘Turn right at the top of the road, then keep straight on. It’s about a ten-minute walk from here.’ With a look that said he’d wasted enough of her time, she stalked off.

‘Not very friendly.’ Howard ran a hand through his wind-blown hair. ‘Wonder if the kid’s got any other family?’

‘That’s what we’re going to find out.’ Ben’s long legs began to eat up the ground as he headed for the church.

Howard caught him up. ‘Hold on, Ben, we’ve got no business going to the church. Let’s wait in the car until she comes back.’

His suggestion was ignored, so he said no more.
He could tell from his friend’s grim expression that he was very concerned. By now Howard was more than a little curious to find out what was so special about this young girl.

It took them less than ten minutes, and a quick glance in the church showed it to be empty. They walked round the side and met the vicar. Howard stopped him when he looked as if he was going to hurry past them. ‘We’re looking for the Carter funeral.’

‘You’re too late; it’s all over. The daughter is just saying her last private goodbye.’ The vicar sighed deeply. ‘I don’t suppose she’ll mind if you go to the graveside though. No one else bothered to turn up. It makes you wonder what happened to Christian compassion.’

‘Where is the grave?’ Ben was looking around the churchyard as he spoke.

‘It’s round the back. Did you know Mrs Carter then?’

‘No.’ Ben shook his head. ‘I know her daughter.’

‘Ah, well, young man’ – the vicar looked up at Ben, sympathy showing on his lined face – ‘see what you can do for her. She won’t talk to me, but I think she’s in real difficulty.’

Ben practically ran round the side of the church, then stopped suddenly, looking at the small figure of Amy standing by the open grave, her head bowed. There was only one simple bunch of flowers on the ground.

‘Oh, Ben.’ Howard spoke softly, not bothering to hide the emotion in his voice. ‘This isn’t right.’

‘No, it isn’t.’

They walked quickly to the graveside and Ben’s heart ached when he saw Amy’s face. She didn’t look at all like the smiling girl he had sketched with such enthusiasm. Her eyes were red and swollen, and with the acute perception of an artist he read her expression. There were myriad emotions showing on her expressive face: sorrow, anger, and the thing that took his breath away – hopelessness.

‘Amy.’ He touched her arm. ‘I’m so sorry.’

She started in surprise, glancing up at him without recognition.

‘Don’t you remember me? We met by the river and I gave you a drawing.’

‘What are you doing here?’

‘We heard the news and have come to see if you are all right.’ Howard gave her his clean handkerchief, as the one she had in her hand was a sodden ball. ‘My name’s Howard and I’m Ben’s friend. Let’s take you home. It’s cold and we need to get you out of this rain.’

‘Home?’ Her face crumpled and she suddenly began to sob in great wrenching cries that shook her body. She was ashamed of herself, but it had all been too much for her and the dam burst. ‘I haven’t got a home. They’re turning me out at the end of next week. How could they do that?’

Ben tried to hold her, to give her some comfort, but she pushed him away, her swimming eyes now blazing.

‘Go away! You don’t know me. What do you care what happens to me?’

‘We do care. That’s why we’re here.’ Ben didn’t try to touch her again; instead he took a step back, giving her space. This poor girl was at the end of her tether. ‘Have you got somewhere to go?’

She gestured to the empty graveside in derision. ‘Does it look like it? No one came. What happened to all those
friends
who were only too happy to join her in the pub? Where are they? Can you tell me that?’

‘Ben.’ Howard stood beside him, speaking softly. ‘We can’t leave her like this. Mrs Dalton’s got a spare room.’

‘I was thinking the same thing.’ Ben was blazing angry now. ‘How could something like this happen? She’s only a kid.’

Amy heard and turned on them. ‘Stop whispering about me. I’ve had to put up with that all my life. And I’m not a kid. I’m fifteen soon.’

‘Sorry.’ Ben held up his hand in apology. ‘Will you let us help you?’

‘Why should you?’ She frowned, puzzled.

‘Because you need help and it’s obvious that we’re the only people around. We might be able to get you a room in the house we live in. We know our landlady’s got a spare room.’

‘You must be joking!’ The tears had dried now and she was bristling with defiance. ‘No one’s going to take me in. I’m the daughter of a murderer – or didn’t you know that?’

‘Yes, we do.’ Howard’s tone was coaxing. ‘But what your father did doesn’t change who you are.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Because I’ve seen the paintings Ben’s done of you. My friend has a way of seeing into the character and even soul of a person. They are beautiful, Amy.’

She sniffed and blew her nose. ‘Your landlady won’t give me a room. When my dad was condemned, we were sentenced with him. All our so-called friends disappeared as fast as they could. My mother couldn’t take it. She wasn’t strong and she just gave up.’ Her voice broke.

‘But you’re going to be strong, aren’t you?’

Ben watched with relief as her shoulders straightened slightly and her head lifted. ‘I haven’t got any money.’

‘Neither have we.’ Ben gave her an encouraging smile. ‘Our landlady’s very understanding. Why don’t you come back with us and meet her?’

She shrugged, gave one last sad look at her mother’s grave and turned away. ‘All right.’

8

This was hopeless, but what other choice did she have? She just had to make it on her own. If she didn’t then the welfare would get hold of her and she’d end up in a home or something worse. They had already been round asking her lots of questions. She’d lied and told them she had a job and could look after herself. She could just picture what her life would be like in an institution once they found out she couldn’t read or write properly. Everyone would gang up on her, tell her she was thick, and she wasn’t going through that again. Not that she really knew anything about such places, of course, but they were bound to be awful. If these two were daft enough to believe their landlady would give her a room, then let them try.