Whispers (6 page)

‘You’re late tonight,’ Jess commented as Simon walked in and threw his car keys onto the coffee-table. He had been to the Town Talk on Abbey Green for his weekly game of darts and she was curled up on the settee reading a magazine.

‘Blame Beth,’ he said as he sank wearily into a chair opposite. ‘They had some disco or something on at the youth club when I went to collect her, so I had to wait for it to finish.’

‘That was kind of you,’ she said, noticing how tired he looked. Neither of them had had a proper day off work since moving into the house and she wondered if perhaps they shouldn’t plan a short holiday. It would do them all good, the way she saw it. She suggested it now but Simon shook his head.

‘No chance,’ he said regretfully. ‘Me and the lads have got work booked right through until the end of November and I can’t turn it down.’

‘No, of course you can’t.’ Jess tried not to sound disappointed. Simon had a lot of faults but he had always worked hard.

‘Then perhaps you should slow down a bit on your days off?’ she suggested. ‘You look totally whacked.’

‘Oh yes, there’s fat chance of that happening, isn’t there? If I paid workmen to do every single thing around here that needs doing, it would cost us a fortune. But then as you so quite rightly keep pointing out, it can’t go on for ever, can it? I mean, hopefully we will get this place straight one day and then we can both take a breather.’

‘Mm.’ Feeling more than a little guilty, Jess headed for the kitchen to make him a last drink before they went to bed.

The girls were back at school now, and noticing one of Mel’s exercise books left discarded on the central workstation, Jess flipped through the pages. She was becoming more and more concerned about Mel, who seemed to be sinking into a deep depression. She had lost weight too and only this morning at breakfast Jess had noticed dark circles under her eyes, although Mel hadn’t complained of having any
more
nightmares lately. Once or twice Jess had tried to ask her what was wrong, but after having her head almost snapped off, she had given up.

Just today she had received a phone call from Mel’s teacher who had told her that Mel was slipping behind with her schoolwork. Jess hadn’t known what to say. Mel had always been so bright in her lessons until recently. She made two mugs of cocoa and after carrying them back to the lounge she told Simon about the call from school.

‘I suppose you’re going to start worrying about that too now,’ he grumbled. ‘When is it going to sink in that Mel is a teenager? Christ, at her age everyone had a job to even
get
me to school.’

Jess eyed him coldly. Every time she tried to talk to him seriously about Mel he simply blamed it on her age or changed the subject.

But then he surprised her when he suggested, ‘How about we plan a party for her birthday? You know – let her have some of her friends from her new school come here for a sleepover or something?’

Mel chewed on her lip as she considered. Mel would be fourteen soon and it sounded like a good idea, although she wasn’t at all sure that Mel had even made any friends at her new school as yet. She had certainly never mentioned them if she had.

‘It sounds like a plan,’ she admitted. ‘But I haven’t heard her speak about anyone special, not even a boy.’

‘We don’t want boys here. She’s too young for that sort of thing,’ Simon said protectively. ‘I think we should limit the invites to girls only.’

‘Oh Simon, you’re the one who’s always telling me she’s a teenager. It’s normal for a girl her age to start taking an interest in lads. You can’t wrap her in cotton wool and lock her away for ever, you know?’

He glared. ‘Well, I can, for as long as she’ll let me,’ he muttered. ‘There’ll be plenty of time for that sort of thing when she’s older.’

Feeling a row brewing, Jess stood up and said shortly, ‘I’m going to bed. Goodnight.’ And with that she left him to it.

Once upstairs in their room she crossed to the open window and stared out musingly over the lake which was sparkling in the moonlight. Rabbits were gambolling across the lawn and they could have been miles from anywhere rather than on the outskirts of a busy town. Jess supposed that was one of the things she loved about this place. It was like a little retreat from the world. The painters were now busily working on the outside of the house and it was beginning to look smart. She estimated that in approximately another year they should
have
it all as she wanted it and then she would see about starting her B and B business. In a happier frame of mind again she rolled into bed and within minutes she was sound asleep.

Saturday morning, Jess woke to the sound of birdsong and stretched lazily. For the first time in weeks Simon was not going to work today and as there were no workmen there at the weekend she was looking forward to a lazy day with her family. Or part of the family at least. Jo had been invited to a birthday party at the house of one of her new friends in Shanklin Drive in Weddington, and then once the party was over she was going to stay for the night. Jess had asked Mel if she would like to invite one of her friends to stay over, but the girl had silently shaken her head and disappeared off to her bedroom again.

As she lay listening to Simon’s breathing, Jess tried to think of something they could do that might encourage Mel outside. And then it occurred to her. Laura had offered to take them all to see the stone bridge that their home had been named after. It was about half a mile away apparently, and Jess quite fancied a casual stroll across the fields. No doubt Laura would be happy to show them the way as Den would be working. He often spent the weekends repairing train tracks, which left Laura at a loose end.

Slipping out of the bed, Jess shrugged her arms into her dressing-gown and headed for the kitchen. She would make Simon his breakfast and take it to him in bed. That should put him in a good mood if nothing else did.

Alfie was lying in his basket when she entered the kitchen and Jess was surprised. He had always slept with Jo on her bed until recently, but for some reason he seemed reluctant to go upstairs now. Jess bent to stroke his silky golden coat then put the kettle on and began to rummage in the fridge.

Half an hour later, Simon rubbed his full stomach as he sat propped up in bed on pillows. ‘I could get used to this treatment,’ he grinned. ‘What did I do to deserve this?’

‘You work so hard – too hard really.’ Jess was standing at the open window watching a heron that was hovering by the lake for a sight of some unsuspecting fish. ‘I was thinking we ought to give ourselves a day off. How about we go for a nice walk? It’s a lovely day and we have the whole afternoon to ourselves after I’ve dropped Jo off at her friend’s house. Laura offered some time ago to show us the stone
bridge
but I’ve never got round to going and seeing it yet. What do you think?’

‘It sounds lovely but I thought you wanted me to make a start on stripping the old wallpaper off the dining room.’

‘Oh, sod the dining room!’ Jess exclaimed uncharacteristically. ‘I reckon we deserve a break. We’ve been going flat out ever since we moved in and we both need a rest.’

‘In that case I’m all for it.’

Jess wondered briefly if it was the thought of spending time with Laura that appealed to him more than the walk. She had seen the way he looked at their neighbour. Not that she could blame him. Laura was a very attractive woman, and Jess knew she had let herself go a bit since moving into the house. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been to the hairdressers or worn a skirt, and she promised herself she would make more of an effort in future.

They all had a lazy morning at home and then Jess drove Jo to her friend in Weddington. Back home, she found Laura and Beth already there, sitting on the bench in the courtyard with Alfie skittering about their feet.

She greeted them as she got out of the car before asking Simon, ‘Where’s Mel? Isn’t she coming with us?’

‘I’m afraid not. As usual she’s closeted herself in her room.’ He sighed. ‘She’s getting to be a right little madam, I don’t mind telling you. If this is what living with a teenager is like I reckon I’ll freeze Jo before she gets there and defrost her when she’s twenty-one.’

Jess smiled at his joke but inside she felt uneasy. Mel was far too reclusive for a girl her age. She should be taking an interest in clothes and make-up and boys by now, and going out to discos instead of staying locked away in her room all the time. Still, there was no point in spoiling the afternoon, so after tossing her car keys through the open kitchen door onto the table she asked, ‘Are we all ready then?’

It was nice to see Laura. She’d been avoiding the place lately, and Jess had missed her. Now they all strolled towards the sloping lawn at the bottom of the garden before walking along beside the River Anker, which slowly meandered into the distance ahead of them. Beth was as close to Simon as she could get, staring up at him like an adoring puppy, and again Jess was saddened. Beth really was a stunningly pretty young woman. It was only when she spoke or if you looked into her vacant eyes that it was apparent there was something not quite right about her. It somehow put the problems they were
having
with Mel into perspective. At least Mel was healthy and bright and once she came out of her mood swings she would be able to enjoy a full life, while poor Beth would always be dependent on someone to care for her.

‘L . . . look. B . . . buttercups,’ Beth now told Simon as she pointed to some.

‘That’s right. Clever girl,’ Simon said approvingly, and Jess smiled at him, proud of the patience he showed to the girl. Laura looked pleased too as she grinned at her lovely daughter.

They had gone some way when Laura suddenly pointed. ‘There’s the stone bridge ahead – look. Or should I say what’s left of it.’

Jess quickened her pace until she came to the remains of the bridge. The top of it had gone, tumbled into the river many years ago, but it was clear to see how it might once have looked. It had been built in three rough stone arches, the footings of which still stood above the waterline.

‘It must have been a very pretty bridge at one time,’ Jess said musingly.

‘It probably was in the summer when the waterline was low, but from what I’ve researched, it was pretty treacherous in the winter,’ Laura told her. ‘This whole area is prone to flooding, and more than a few people were swept to their death from that bridge.’ She flinched and took an involuntary step back, as if someone had trodden on her grave.

‘Are you all right?’ Jess noted how pale her friend had gone.

‘I, err . . . yes, I’m fine. Now how about we go for a wander over the Weddington fields? It’s too hot to stand about.’ Without waiting for an answer, Laura strode off, as Simon and Jess exchanged a puzzled glance. But then they set off after her, and for the rest of the afternoon they thought no more about it.

It was shortly before tea-time when they arrived back in the courtyard of Stonebridge House pleasantly tired from their outing.

‘Christ, it would have been easier to go to work,’ Simon complained as he sank onto the bench. ‘I reckon you lot have nearly walked my legs off. We must have covered
miles
.’

‘Oh, stop moaning. Exercise is good for you,’ Jess giggled. ‘Now sit there while I go and get us all a nice cool drink.’

‘Not for me thanks,’ Laura said a little too quickly. ‘I’m going to have to shoot off to get Den’s meal ready. He should be in from work soon, but thanks for a pleasant afternoon.’ With that she snatched Beth’s hand and dragged her towards the drive.

Jess stepped into the kitchen just in time to see someone pass the door that led into the hallway.

‘Is that you, Mel?’ she called out, but a quick inspection of the hall showed no one in sight and the only sound was that of the loud music wafting down the stairs from Mel’s bedroom. Sighing, she headed for the fridge to get the lemonade out, thinking that she must have imagined it.

It was three weeks later before Jess ventured into the attics again. She was going into Nuneaton that afternoon and had decided to take the three sketches she had found with her. There was an art shop in Abbey Street where she could get them reframed, and then she intended to hang them in their bedroom.

Once again she climbed the bare wooden staircase to the small room where she had found the other sketch and stood there in the doorway as her eyes adjusted to the gloomy light. The smell of roses still hung heavy on the air, which she found quite strange as the window was shut tight. She lifted the sketch from the wall, keen to get out of there for no reason that she could explain, and she didn’t look round again until she was out on the landing with the door firmly closed behind her. She was shocked to discover that her heart was pounding fifteen to the dozen.
I reckon I’ve been listening to Laura too much
, she thought to herself.

It was then that her curiosity got the better of her. She hadn’t been back into the big attic room and now that she was up here it seemed silly not to take a peek. Propping the picture up against the wall, she quickly headed for the big room, opened the door and put the light on. She was shocked at the size of the place and the amount of stuff that was stored up there. She hadn’t realised on her first inspection just how much there was. Cobwebs hung in great festoons from the ceiling and she thought she heard something scuttle across the floorboards. Shuddering, Jess made a mental note to get Simon to put some mouse traps up there. The whole place could be infested with rodents for all she knew, and she’d had a fear of mice ever since she was a child.

Jess didn’t know where to look first. To one side of her was a large dressmaking mannequin, obviously very old, with straw sticking out of it. Crossing to the nearest chest, she cautiously raised the lid to find herself staring down at a collection of china-faced dolls. They looked very old and she wondered if they might be worth anything.
The
next chest she opened revealed bed linen, yellowed with age. Soon her trip into town was forgotten as she continued with her exploration. She found an old rocking horse with a beautiful if somewhat dusty mane beneath one of the sheets, and exclaimed aloud with delight. That would look beautiful in the bay window in the drawing room if I were to clean it up, she thought, and determined to get Simon to carry it downstairs for her. It was far too beautiful to be hidden away up here.