The New Neighbours (28 page)

“But, Mum, I don't want to be on pills all the time,” protested Melanie. “I don't agree with this idea that drugs solve all your problems.”

“Nor do I,” agreed Shirley, “but there are times when it may be necessary for a little while. You really can't get as desperate as you were yesterday again. This is what I think we should do…”

Shirley explained what she had decided in the night as she had lain awake churning everything in her mind. “Go to the doctor this morning…”

“He won't have an appointment,” Melanie interrupted.

“I've already got you one,” Shirley said patiently. “They always keep one for an emergency,”

“I'm not an emergency,” snapped Melanie.

“Darling, I think you are.” Shirley spoke gently, but firmly. She was determined not to budge on this; Melanie should see a doctor today. “Then, as I believe these pills take a week or so to take effect, I'll take you all home with me. You can look after the children, get a routine sorted out, and I'll be there to help when you need me. It'll give everybody a break, a change of scene. Dad will enjoy having the children, and we can give you all the support you need. Peter can come at the weekend, and when you're feeling better we can take it from there.”

“You've got it all worked out,” Melanie said tartly. “Do I get any say in this?”

“Of course you do, but I've had time to think about it all overnight, and this seems to me to be the best solution.”

“Couldn't you stay here?” suggested Melanie. “Stay and help me here?”

“I could,” said Shirley unwillingly, “but to be honest, Mel, I don't want to. I'd rather have you in my own home, where I can help you and carry on with my other commitments too.” And have David beside me for moral support, she thought, because this could be a long haul, I don't think we're going to get this all sorted for quite a while.

Melanie went, reluctantly, to see the doctor and while she was out of the house, Shirley bathed Suzie and packed up clothes and toys for the children. She also rang David to put him in the picture.

“I really wish that I could have gone with her,” Shirley said. “I want to be certain that the doctor really understands the depth of the problem, and I don't really trust Melanie to tell him the whole story.” She sighed, “But of course I couldn't insist. Anyway, I'm bringing them home with me, I can't leave Mel to cope on her own, but I don't want to stay here, I'd rather have them in my own home.”

“How long for?” David asked.

“As long as it takes,” Shirley replied. “Peter can come and join us at the weekend, and we'll have a discussion all together then. But for now we have to give Melanie our support, and I think this is the best way to do it.”

“Fine,” David agreed, though his heart was sinking at the thought of the invasion. “Whatever you think is best. What do you want me to do?”

“Well, can you put the cot up, ready for Suzie? And perhaps go to the supermarket and stock up on some of Todd's favourite things, you know, sausages, fish fingers, ice cream. Just stick them in the freezer.” She smiled into the receiver, visualising David's face as he heard these instructions. “Thanks, love. If all goes well at the doctor's this morning, I hope to be with you about tea time, anything different and I'll give you a ring.”

When Melanie got home again, the coffee was waiting on the stove and her mother sat her down to hear what the doctor had said.

“He said a change of scene would do me good,” Melanie said. “He thought going to stay with you for a few days would help.”

“And did you ask him for something to relax you a bit so that you can cope with the children more easily?”

“Not exactly,” answered Melanie, and she wouldn't meet Shirley's eyes.

“Oh Mel,” said her mother exasperated, “That's what you went to see him for.”

“It wasn't,” snapped Melanie. “I don't want pills, Mum, OK?” She glared at her mother. “He said I needed counselling and that when I get back from staying with you he'd try and get something arranged, someone would come and see me and assess me.”

Shirley felt the fury boil up inside her. I wish I could have gone with her, she thought. I knew this would happen. Still, she resolved silently, I shall get Dr Fran to have a chat with her and see if she can't help in some way. She forced herself to speak calmly and said, “Well, I've put some things ready in the hall, so when you've sorted out what you need and we've checked I've got everything the children need, I thought we'd have an early lunch and then crack on home.”

They finally turned into Dartmouth Circle at about five and found David working in the front garden. He greeted them all with a huge smile, swinging Todd up into the air and hugging Melanie. Suzie had fallen asleep in her car seat and he carried her into the house with Todd trotting at his heels. As they were unloading the car, Cirelle Thomas came out of the students' house next door, a sports bag over her shoulder.

“Hi,” she called.

“Hallo, Cirelle,” said Shirley. “You haven't met my daughter, Melanie, have you? Mel, this is Cirelle from next door.”

The two young women exchanged greetings. “You look as if you've got your hands well full,” remarked Cirelle, as Todd emerged from the house again, swinging on his granddad's hand. Todd stopped and looked at her, and his thumb went into his mouth.

“Hallo,” said Cirelle. “My name's Cirelle. What's yours?”

Todd eyed her from behind his granddad's back, but didn't answer.

“This is Todd,” said Shirley. “They've all come to stay with us for a little while. Aren't you going to say hallo to Cirelle, Todd?”

Todd still didn't answer, so Shirley said gently, “You left Tedder in the car, Todd, have you come to fetch him?” Shirley reached into the car and brought out Todd's teddy bear and held it out to him. The little boy reached for him and hugging him tightly took refuge once more behind his grandfather.

“Well, I'm off to the gym,” Cirelle said cheerfully. “If you need any help with babysitting, don't hesitate to ask.”

As she turned away, a thought struck her and she turned back. “I meant to ask you,” she said, “who lives in number nine? Are they away? I've never seen anyone there.”

“The Smarts,” replied Shirley. “They are away, and have been for six months. They're visiting their daughter in Australia. Why?”

“It's just that I saw someone going round through their side gate, earlier today. Youngish bloke, didn't see his face, but when I saw his back disappearing through the gate, I suddenly thought that the house might be empty and he shouldn't be there.”

“I'll take a look when we've got this lot unloaded,” David promised. “We've got a key, if necessary. Thanks for mentioning it. You didn't recognise him, I suppose.”

Cirelle shook her head. “No, but I only saw him from the back. He was in jeans and a bomber. Could've been anybody.”

“Well, thanks anyway,” David said.

Cirelle grinned at him cheerfully. “No probs,” she said. “See you all,” and she jogged off round the Circle.

“She's a lovely girl,” Shirley told Melanie. “She helps out at St Joe's sometimes. Her babysitting offer is a good one, Mel, we might want to take her up on that.”

Melanie, nodded, “Yes, whatever,” she said absently.

While the two women finished carrying the luggage indoors, David went across to the Smarts' house. He wanted to check that everything was all right there. The front looked as it always did, and so he went to the side gate and pushed it open. It wasn't latched as it should have been. He walked down the side passage and into the back garden. All was still and quiet and there was certainly no intruder there now. He looked up at the windows, but they were all closed, and there was no sign that anyone had tried to open one. Similarly the garden door was shut and undamaged. Probably one of the Callow boys hit a ball over and had come to fetch it, David thought. He peered in through the kitchen window, but the little he could see appeared undisturbed. He walked back round the house, and noticed, in a muddy patch by the back gate, the print of a trainer, quite fresh and distinct. Well, he thought, Cirelle was right, someone has definitely been inside the gate recently. Perhaps he would just give Mike Callow a ring and see if his boys had been there today. If not they should keep a sharp look out in case someone had been casing the house.

He went in home and found the children having their tea. Shirley had taken charge, but she encouraged Melanie to give Suzie her bottle and later to bath Todd, while she, Shirley, cooked the supper.

“I must see Fran,” she said to David when he came into the kitchen. “I shall pop out after supper and see if she's at home.”

“Do you think she'll be able to do anything for Mel?” David asked.

Shirley shrugged helplessly. “I don't know,” she sighed. “But at least she's known her for years and might be able to talk to her as a friend, if not a doctor.”

“Don't you think Mel might think you're going behind her back?” David asked.

“I suppose I am really,” Shirley admitted. “But it's for her own good.”

“She may not see it like that,” David warned.

“No, I suppose not. Still, I could at least talk to Fran, don't you think? I really am worried about Mel, you know.”

“I know you are, all I'm saying is, don't make things worse.”

Shirley didn't go to see Fran that evening; she decided to wait a couple of days and see how things went, but the next day, on her way to do a stint at St Joe's, she bumped into Fran in the Dartmouth Road.

“Fran, can I talk to you some time? In confidence?” she asked.

Fran looked at her keenly and said, “Of course, Shirley. Do you want me to come over when I've finished today?”

“I'm not sure, it's a bit difficult. It's about Melanie, and she's staying with us. Honestly Fran, I'm so worried about her.”

“Would you rather come over to me?” suggested Fran.

“In a way. The thing is I don't want her to think I'm going behind her back.”

“Even if you are.” Fran smiled, taking any sting out of her words.

Shirley laughed ruefully. “Exactly.”

“Well, why don't I pop in later, casually? I'll think of a reason, and then we can take it from there.”

“Would you? Do you mind doing it like that?” Shirley was apologetic. “It's just that I feel in need of some advice.”

“I'm always ready to listen,” Fran said. “As to advice, well, let's wait and see. Melanie isn't my patient, remember.”

“No, but I am,” Shirley said, “and I'm the one who needs the advice… about Mel.”

“I can see you're worried,” Fran said, “but try not to be. I'll drop in later this afternoon. What time will you be back?”

“I finish at St Joe's at about half past four,” Shirley said.

“Fine, it'll be after that, then.”

Shirley went on to the day centre, and found that when she was busy with the regulars she managed to forget about Melanie for a while. There was only one other volunteer there, the co-ordinator, Mavis Potts, so they were both kept fairly busy. Wrestling with Vera's ever-recalcitrant knitting and playing dominoes with old Fred Barnes, making and pouring numerous cups of tea, helped Shirley keep her mind occupied. Only once did she think of her daughter and that was when Vera called across to her, “'Ow's that baby, then? Getting on all right, is she? Did you bring them snaps you promised?”

“Oh, Vera, I'm sorry,” Shirley replied. “I put them out ready and then came without them.” Because Melanie didn't want me to come and leave her, she added silently. For goodness sake, David was there! And in all the fuss, I forgot the photos.

“Do you have to go, Mum?” Mel had wailed. “Couldn't you miss it just for once?”

“No, Mel, I couldn't,” Shirley said firmly. “They rely on me.”

“I'm relying on you, too,” Melanie said pettishly.

“I shall be home by about half four,” Shirley said soothingly. “Suzie's asleep and Todd's got the toy box out in the dining room, you can play with him. And make your father a cup of tea at about half past three, will you? He usually stops for one about then.” She gave her daughter a hug. “And don't worry, Mel, you'll be fine, and I'll be back soon.”

So she had left without the photos and without the books she'd collected to add to the bookshelf in the centre.

Towards the end of the afternoon, Cirelle came in.

“Hi,” she said cheerfully. “ I've got half an hour before I'm due at a tutorial, so I thought I'd look in. Anything I can do?”

Shirley smiled at her. “Well,” she said, “would you mind tackling the washing up in the kitchen? They were short of helpers at lunchtime and there's still a pile in the sink.”

“Yeah, no probs!” Cirelle turned to the kitchen.

“I'll be in to help you in a minute,” Shirley promised.

As soon as she could, Shirley went in to help Cirelle clear the kitchen.

“I'm glad you came,” she said. “I wanted a quiet word with you.”

“Oh, what about?”

Shirley hesitated, wondering if she were being disloyal to Melanie, and then deciding she couldn't help it. “It's my daughter, Melanie,” she began.

“The one I met yesterday?”

“Yes.” Once she had decided to speak, all Shirley's words came out in a rush. “The thing is she's not been very well lately and is finding the children too much for her. That's why she's come to us, really, so we can help out. But we're not getting any younger and I wondered, well, I wondered if you would like to help out with the children at times. We'd pay you of course, and it could be fitted round your college times. Would you be interested?”