Whispers (34 page)

‘Ouch!’ Jess suddenly stopped and put her hand to her stomach.

‘What’s wrong, love?’ Simon asked as he took her elbow.

‘Nothing,’ she said a little breathlessly. ‘The baby just gave me its first proper kick, that’s all, and I wasn’t expecting it.’ She knew that soon, she would have to go into proper maternity clothes. ‘I feel really fat,’ she said glumly. ‘And I’m not sure if it’s all I’ve eaten over Christmas or the baby growing.’

Simon chuckled. ‘I dare say it’s a combination of both. But then you can’t expect to have a baby without putting weight on.’

At the mention of the baby, Mel’s expression darkened and now she overtook them and headed for the house.

‘Do you think she’ll accept the baby when it comes?’ Jess murmured with a worried expression on her face.

‘Of course she will.’ Simon kept his eyes fixed on Mel’s back. ‘She’ll have to, won’t she?’

‘I suppose so.’ Jess wished that Mel could be just a little excited about the prospect of a new brother or sister. Jo certainly was and went on about it all the time, but Jess hoped that once Mel actually saw the baby, and realised that it was a real little person, she would be more tolerant.

‘When are you going to get the paper for the nursery?’ Jo suddenly asked, as if she had been able to read her mother’s mind.

‘I thought we might pop down and get it sometime this week. The decorators will be coming in to start on it as soon as we’ve got the New Year over, so I can’t wait for much longer.’ Seeing as Simon didn’t have a lot of work on, Jess had hoped that he would do the decorating, but she was fed up of dropping hints. ‘Are you quite sure you’ve decided on the one with Winnie the Pooh on?’

Jo nodded. ‘Yep! That’s the one I like.’

‘Then that’s the one it shall be.’ Jess smiled at her fondly, hoping that the new baby would inherit its sister’s sunny nature. Jo was shooting up now and was at that curious stage where she seemed to be all arms and legs, neither a child nor yet a young woman. She was already taller than her older sister and Jess guessed that she was going to take after her father for her height.

She remarked on it now to Simon as they strolled along. ‘I reckon she could be a model if she keeps on growing the way she is and stays as skinny.’

‘You could be right,’ he said. ‘She’s turning into a little stunner, isn’t she?’

As soon as they got in Jo went off to log onto Facebook and Mel went to her room to play her new CDs, leaving Jess and Simon to enjoy a leisurely afternoon cuppa together.

‘Ah, this is the life,’ Jess sighed contentedly as she wriggled her bare toes and held them out towards the fire that was blazing in the grate. Simon had offered to fit a living flame gas fire in this room for her but Jess had decided to keep the coal one. It was so much cosier somehow and worth all the mess of having to clear out the ashes each morning and bring the coal in.

The following morning, Simon ran Jo into Weddington to pick up her friend, Molly, who was coming for a sleepover, and Jess decided that once he was back, she would pop into town and pick up the wallpaper for the nursery while she was in the mood. She had no doubt the town centre would be heaving with people shopping in the sales but she wanted to get it out of the way while Simon was at home to keep his eye on the girls.

As soon as they were back, she picked up her car keys. ‘I’m going into town,’ she told Simon. ‘I don’t suppose I can tempt you to come with me, can I?’ She grinned, knowing the answer to the question before she even asked. Simon hated shopping and only ever went when he absolutely had to.

‘No, thanks,’ he said hastily. ‘It’s hardly my favourite pastime, as you know.’

She chuckled. ‘I guessed you’d say that. I just want to pick the wallpaper up from town and call in to Asda on my way home, so I shouldn’t be too long.’

It was just beginning to rain as she pulled out of the courtyard, and by the time she got to the end of the drive it was pelting down. Switching the windscreen wipers on full she leaned forward and peered
through
the screen as she turned into the lane that led to the main road.

Lorries were thundering past with a constant stream of cars and vans between them. Jess changed down to third gear and gently touched the brake, but nothing happened. Pressing her foot down harder, she applied more pressure and it was then that it hit her like a douse of cold water: she had no brakes and she was heading towards the main road. Sobbing with fear and frustration she pumped the brakes again and again, as the main road loomed closer, and then from the corner of her eye she saw a farm gate that had been left open and she swerved the car towards it, narrowly missing the wooden posts by inches as she careered past them out of control. With shaking fingers she switched off the engine and immediately the car lost speed and bumped across the uneven grass before coming to a stop in the middle of the field. Badly shaken, Jess leaned over the steering wheel and began to cry as shock coursed through her. Had the gate not been open she would have had no option but to career into the main road, and then God knows what might have happened.

Minutes later there was a rap on the car window.

‘Are you all right, love?’ A middle-aged gentleman with a bald head and a nose that looked as if it had done ten rounds with Mike Tyson was peering in at her with concern. ‘I was following you back there on the lane when I saw you suddenly swerve through the gates. What happened?’

‘M-my brakes failed,’ Jess sobbed.

‘My God.’ He tutted as he stood there in the rain. ‘It’s a good job that you spotted the gate open then.’ Looking towards the traffic that was flying past on the main road just metres away from them, he asked kindly, ‘Where do you live? You look a bit shaken up. I’ll give you a lift home. Come on.’

Jess unfastened her seat belt and climbed from the car on unsteady legs. ‘I er . . . live just back there in Stonebridge House. Thank you, it’s very kind of you, but I can’t understand it. The car is less than a year old.’

‘Unfortunately these things happen sometimes. But luckily for you you’ve lived to walk away from it,’ he said as he gently took her elbow. ‘Best leave the car here and get your husband to come and look at it, eh? Come on – let’s get you out of the rain. You look as if a good stiff drink might do you the world of good.’

He helped her back to the lane where he had parked his car and
after
reversing it he headed back the way she had come. When they pulled into the courtyard she thanked him profusely.

Simon was standing in the kitchen window and he rushed outside immediately.

‘What’s happened?’ he asked as he stared at Jess’s pale face. ‘And where’s the car?’

‘I had an accident,’ Jess stuttered, still visibly shaken. ‘Or should I say I almost had an accident. I was heading for the main road when I realised that the brakes weren’t working and I couldn’t slow down. Luckily I noticed a farm gate was open and I managed to steer the car into a field where I turned the engine off and waited for the car to stop. This gentleman saw what was happening and very kindly gave me a lift home.’

‘My God.’ Simon wrenched the car door open and helped her out as he nodded at the man. ‘Thanks for bringing her home, mate. Thank goodness you were there.’

‘You’re welcome,’ the man replied. ‘But she’s had a nasty shock. I should get her checked over by a doctor, if I were you.’

Simon nodded grimly as he led Jess towards the house and once inside he pressed her into a chair.

‘Are you hurt?’ he asked anxiously. ‘Did you injure yourself?’

Jess shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t even have a bang. I’ll be right as rain once I stop shaking.’

‘And where’s the car?’

‘Still in the field leading down to the main road. I couldn’t drive it home without any brakes, could I? I’m going to ring the garage where I bought it from and give them hell. It’s not even a year old yet, for Christ’s sake, and it’s still under warranty! I could have been killed.’

‘Don’t do that,’ Simon told her hastily. ‘I’ll give Dan a ring and he can come with me and we’ll tow it back here.’

Dan was the young man that worked for Simon as his labourer. He was a nice young chap and engaged to be married, and Jess knew that Simon set a lot of store by him because he was a good worker.

‘But you shouldn’t have to do that when it’s still under warranty,’ she protested.

‘There’s not much Dan doesn’t know about cars, and I want to find out what caused the brakes to fail before I contact the garage,’ Simon told her with a frown.

‘All right then, if you think that’s best,’ Jess conceded, just grateful that she had come out of it unscathed. ‘I reckon I might go and put
my
feet up for a bit while you ring him, if you don’t mind. My heart is going fifteen to the dozen.’

‘Of course you should. Come on, let me help you upstairs.’ Simon promptly hauled her to her feet again and led her away.

Once Jess was settled against the pillow on her bed, tears coursed down her cheeks as she allowed herself to think of what might have happened. Had she not spotted the open farm gate when she did, she would have shot straight out into the path of the ongoing traffic and she wouldn’t have stood a chance. She and her unborn baby would probably have been killed outright, and suddenly she realised just how much she did want the child now. Her hand dropped to protectively stroke her stomach. There was no doubt about it, a guardian angel must have been watching over them today.

Eventually she fell asleep with the sound of whispering in her ears.

The following morning at breakfast, Simon tossed Jess her car keys across the table. He had towed it back from the field the day before.

‘Why are you giving me these?’ she asked. ‘Shouldn’t it be going into the garage?’

‘It’s all mended,’ he assured her. ‘Dan had a look at it: somehow the brake cable had snapped, but he’s fixed it now.’

‘But how could that have happened?’

Simon shrugged as he tucked into his Weetabix. ‘Just one of those things, I suppose. Perhaps it was faulty. But all’s well that ends well. There’s no point in taking it any further.’

Jess dropped the keys into her handbag as if they might bite her. Somehow the thought of having her own car wasn’t quite so attractive any more and she wondered if she would ever find the nerve to get behind the wheel again. The incident the day before had badly shaken her.

‘I shall be out for most of today,’ Simon informed her, and when her face fell he said, ‘Sorry, love, but I’ve got some quotes to do, and with work being as it is I can’t afford not to do them.’

He had promised to have two whole weeks off work over Christmas and the New Year, but Jess could understand that he couldn’t turn possible work down. There were lots of good programmes on the TV and she decided that she might even find time to read a little more of Martha’s journal too.

‘Of course you should go,’ she agreed. ‘Is Bill coming with you?’

Simon nodded. ‘Yes, I’ve got to pick him up at ten.’ Glancing at his wrist-watch, he hastily finished his last mouthful and got up from the table. ‘I’d better get a move on else I’m going to be late.’ He then kissed her before asking, ‘You are feeling all right, aren’t you? I know you were pretty shook up after what happened yesterday. Do you think I should get the doctor to check you out?’

‘No, I’m feeling absolutely fine now I’ve had a good sleep,’ she said. ‘You just get off and I’ll see you later.’

Once he’d gone she had a leisurely shower and got dressed, toying with the idea of going to see Laura.

Laura was becoming a little reclusive since she had found out about Beth’s unplanned pregnancy, and Jess was concerned about her. But then Den might be off work and she didn’t wish to intrude. She decided she would take a leisurely walk down the drive and if his car was there she would come back. It wasn’t, and seconds later she was sitting with Laura in her kitchen telling her all about the accident the day before.

Beth was sitting in the chair at the side of the inglenook fireplace again, rocking to and fro, locked in a world of her own more than ever now.

‘Good lord.’ Laura looked horrified. ‘Just imagine what might have happened. You must have had someone watching over you yesterday.’

‘That’s what I thought,’ Jess chuckled. ‘I have to admit I’ve never believed in guardian angels before but I’m beginning to now.’ As she glanced towards Beth her eyes became sad and she whispered, ‘How is she?’

‘Not good.’ Laura folded her arms tightly across her chest and Jess was shocked to see how much weight she had lost.

‘She hardly ever speaks now,’ Laura continued, her eyes locked on her daughter. ‘Den and I are seriously worried about her but the doctor says there’s nothing we can do. The trouble is, she doesn’t really understand what’s happening to her and I know she desperately misses going to the youth club. She keeps pointing to the door and saying “Simon”. She misses him picking her up and taking her there.’

‘It’s so sad,’ Jess said as sympathetic tears burned at the back of her eyes. ‘I reckon if Simon could get his hands on whichever lad did this to her, he’d strangle him with his bare hands.’

Changing the subject slightly, Laura asked, ‘And how are things with you now?’

‘Unbelievably good, apart from the fact that Mel is still having her moods,’ Jess replied. ‘Simon has suddenly had a complete change of heart about the baby and actually seems to be looking forward to it now. He was devastated when I had the accident yesterday and couldn’t do enough for me. He isn’t going out so much either, so all in all things are looking up.’

‘Good.’ Laura looked pleased for her and once more, Jess felt guilty as she remembered that she had once suspected Laura of having an affair with her husband.

‘And how is your family tree progressing?’ she asked.

Laura looked slightly more cheerful. ‘Very well actually. I’ve almost completed mine and Den’s, and I’m well on the way with the Fenton one too. It makes very interesting reading, believe you me. I wondered how you’d feel about me tracing yours and Simon’s? It gives me something to do now that I can’t go out so much, and I really enjoy it. All I’d need to know is your dates of birth and the places where you were both born and then I could take it from there.’