Secrets to Keep (9 page)

‘The same one Mam always used. Jones.’

‘Oh, him,’ Pat snorted. ‘Wouldn’t touch his stuff meself. More gristle and fat than meat, what he serves up. It’s cheap, I suppose, though. You can tell this ham’s cheap, can’t yer? It’s not got much taste. Harry Worth would have seen you right, once you told him I’d sent yer. And it’s a pity you didn’t ask my Jim
to get the booze for yer. One of his mates is a drayman. He could have got you three barrels of beer for less than the price you paid for one. If you paid for good sherry as well then you’ve been done. This stuff is barrel that’s been put into bottles.’

The sherry was certainly not barrel but best Cyprus, and Pat knew that it was. Her unwarranted petty complaints were just because she was fuming she had lost out on her backhanders from the suppliers she had instructed them to use, and besides couldn’t brag to the rest of the mourners that it was she who had arranged it all. It was taking all Aidy’s will-power now not to snatch the plate of food back off Pat,
and
her glass of sherry, and tell her to leave, but she would not cause a scene at her own mother’s wake. Evenly she said, ‘Do excuse me, Mrs Nelson, but I need to thank people for coming.’

As Aidy was walking away from her she heard Pat say to another mourner: ‘
You off? Oh, ’course, husband’s dinner to get. Well, I must be off meself as soon as I’ve finished me food. Packing to do
…’

Aidy frowned thoughtfully. Had her in-laws come into money somehow that they could afford a holiday? Pat’s part-time job as a lavatory attendant didn’t pay much and she was always pleading poverty, hoping to make people feel sorry for her and offer her a handout, which she always snatched before their mind was changed. Her lazy husband hadn’t had a
paid job for years, due to his supposedly having a bad back from a fall at work, but that didn’t seem to stop him from getting to the pub and back or from operating his side line, dealing in scrap metal. Much to their wives’ chagrin, the three Nelson sons each handed over a pound a week between them to their parents, even though they could not really afford to do so, but at least it ensured Pat and Jim’s rent was paid, with a little left over so they didn’t end up having to live with any of their offspring. Aidy wondered now if Arch or his two brothers knew of their parents’ windfall.

She felt a hand grab her arm. It was Bertha’s. ‘I was just making my way over to rescue you since it was obvious to me that whatever Pat Nelson was saying to you, it was annoying you.’

Aidy sighed. ‘Gran, the only complaint she
hasn’t
got about the arrangements we made for Mam’s funeral is that Arch was chief pall-bearer.’ Through the crowd she spotted Arch’s father knocking back a pint next to the table holding the barrel and bottles of sherry. ‘I know for a fact that’s Jim’s fifth. I hope he’s going to have the decency to leave some of the beer for the other men. Anyway, we haven’t to put up with either of them much longer. They’re leaving soon, to do their packing.’

Bertha frowned, bemused. ‘Packing?’

Aidy shrugged. ‘I overheard Pat telling Maud Gates
– I can only think to go on holiday. God knows where they got the money from. Mr Nelson must have come up trumps on a bet, that’s all I can think of.’

Bertha scowled. ‘I don’t suppose it entered their heads that their family could use some of their good fortune, by way of repayment for what those lads have given them over the years,’ she said scathingly. ‘Still, look on the bright side, ducky. With them away, it gives you a rest from them coming around cadging whatever they can off you.’

Aidy smiled. ‘And I’ll welcome that. Have you seen the kids, Gran?’

‘It’s after four so school’s finished. I expect they’re all off playing with their friends. Best thing for ’em. Marion caught me in the kitchen a bit ago. Seems her friend Elsie has lent Marion her best doll until her mam wakes up from her sleep, comes home and gives her Janet back.’

Tears glinted in Aidy’s eyes. ‘Oh, Gran, I don’t know how she’s going to take it when she finally realises Mam is never going to wake up.’

Bertha patted Aidy’s hand. ‘We’ll be here, lovey. Me and you together will see her through.’

Aidy flashed her a wan smile. ‘That was so thoughtful of Elsie, giving Marion her doll.’

Bertha chuckled. ‘The same Elsie that thumped her last week ’cos Marion wouldn’t share her Sat’day
penny sweets with her ’cos Elsie wouldn’t share hers with her … or summat like that anyway. I wouldn’t be surprised if the doll’s back with Elsie at bedtime, the way those two fall in and out with each other on a daily basis.’

To Aidy’s surprise, Bertha then stepped behind her, seeming to be using her for cover, and Aidy spun round to ask, ‘What are you doing, Gran?’

‘Hiding from Ivy Ibbotson. Can you believe that today of all days she’s badgering me to mix her up a potion, to help draw a nasty boil she’s got on her backside?’

‘Oh. I wondered why she wouldn’t sit down when I offered her a seat a while back.’

Bertha grinned wickedly. ‘Well, now yer know why. But some people have no respect, have they? If she doesn’t stop pestering me, I’ll mix her up summat that’ll make the boil grow twice as big! Ah, good, Nell Wright has collared her. She’ll keep her ages, boring her to death about her new grandson, so I’m safe for a bit.’

Bertha bustled off. Aidy spotted Arch coming in from the kitchen then, carrying clean glasses which several benevolent neighbours had washed up and dried. He didn’t see her at first but she made sure he did by catching his arm. ‘Arch, can you make sure your father leaves some beer for the other men, please?’ she whispered. ‘He’s standing guard over the barrel
like a sentry. Not that I’m watching him, but he’s had five glasses to my knowledge … and it’s anyone’s guess how many he’s had
not
to my knowledge.’

‘I’ll go and have a quiet word with him.’ Not that he’ll take any notice of me, thought Arch. ‘It’s been a good turn-out, hasn’t it, love?’ he asked her.

‘Yes, it has, but I won’t be sorry to see them go.’ Arch made to continue on his way, when Aidy stalled him by asking. ‘Oh, have your parents had a windfall?’

He looked surprised. ‘Not to my knowledge. But then, if they had, they wouldn’t tell me or my brothers in case we demanded back some of the money they’ve fleeced us of over the years. What makes you think they have?’

‘Just something your mam said about getting home soon to do the packing.’

‘Oh! That’s not packing for a holiday …’

‘Packing for what then?’ He seemed reluctant to tell her but it was obvious to Aidy he knew what for. ‘Arch?’ she urged him.

He swallowed hard. ‘I haven’t had a chance to tell you. I haven’t found the right time, with all that’s been going on.’

He looked mortally uncomfortable and she very strongly suspected that whatever he’d not had a chance to tell her, she wasn’t going to like. ‘Tell me what, Arch?’ she demanded.

He gulped again. ‘Well … er … they’re packing to … er … move in here.’

Aidy’s jaw dropped. Astounded, she blurted out, ‘Your mother and father are
moving in with us
!’ Her face then darkened thunderously as she hissed, ‘They do that over my dead body! I can just about stomach your mother in small doses, but as for living with us …! Same goes for Gran and the kids. I’m not sure where me and you are going to sleep yet. If your parents have been evicted for whatever reason, then they’ll have to go cap in hand to one of your brothers ’cos they ain’t coming
here
to sponge off us, not even for a few days, and that’s final, Arch.’

‘Ah, but, Aidy …’

‘No, Arch.’

She made to walk away from him but he thrust the glasses he was holding on a mourner by him, asking him to deliver them to the drinks table, then caught Aidy’s arm, pulling her back to him. ‘My mother’s only thinking of us. She’s trying to help, so we can carry on with our own lives.’

Aidy was staring wild eyed at him. Pat Nelson didn’t think of anyone else but herself. Whatever her reasons were for moving in with them, they were for her own benefit and no one else’s. Grabbing Arch’s arm, Aidy dragged him through the throng and outside into the backyard, hopefully out of earshot of any eavesdroppers. Letting go of his arm, she fixed
him with her eyes and demanded, ‘Your mother is thinking of us in what way, Arch?’

He eyed her hesitantly. ‘Well, it’s a huge responsibility we’re taking on, looking after your gran and the kids, so that’s why Mam’s kindly offered to move in, so her and Dad can take care of them instead and we can go back to living our own lives.’

Aidy looked blankly at him for a moment, then the real truth behind Pat’s offer struck her and she gave a scoffing laugh. ‘Your mother must think I’m doolally not to know what her true aim is! She’s always hankered after this house. She was always passing snide comments to my mam, such as it didn’t seem fair she had a house like this when she’d no man supporting her, and insinuating Mam must have had something underhand going on with the landlord and
that
was how she could afford the rent. She never gave my mam any credit for hard work and determination in keeping a decent roof over our heads.

‘This offer is your mother’s sneaky way of getting her hands on this house. She’s well aware that within weeks … no, I’m being generous … days or hours even, the kids and Gran would come running to us, begging us to take them in, not able to stand Pat’s domineering ways. She’d turn them into her slaves, running after her and your dad. And that’s not to mention she’d be looking to us to stump up the
money for Gran and the kids’ keep. She’s got some nerve, Arch! Now go and tell we won’t be accepting her generous offer.’

‘Oh, I see Arch is breaking the good news to yer.’ Pat had come out to join them. She was looking annoyed. ‘But I told yer not to bother Aidy with this until after the funeral. Huh, well, it’s done now.’ Before either of them could get a word in, she then addressed Aidy. ‘There’s no need to thank me. It’s the least we can do in the circumstances.’ To them both she said, ‘Dad’s staying here, said it’s not seemly we should both leave early as we’re family, but I’m off to start packing.’ Truth was Jim Nelson would not budge for any reason until there was not a drop of beer left in the barrel. ‘Wouldn’t hurt the kids to come and give me a hand, ’specially the two older ones. Find ’em, Arch, and send them round. I’ll get it all done as quick as I can and then yer can help us settle in before you need to get yerselves back to yer own house. It’s been a long day and you’ll be wanting an early night.’

‘Now look, Mrs Nelson …’ Aidy began.

Pat put up a warning hand and interjected, ‘As I said, there’s no need for thanks. We’re family, least we can do.’ With that she heaved her bulk the short distance to the back gate and disappeared through it out into the jetty beyond.

Aidy glared in annoyance at her husband and told
him, ‘You’d best go after your mother. Tell her she’s wasting her time packing.’

With that she spun on her heel and marched away back into the house, leaving a worried-looking Arch staring after her.

B
ertha was in the kitchen drying dishes when Aidy found her. She took one look at her granddaughter’s face and knew something had greatly upset her. Discarding the pot she was drying, along with the cloth, on the draining board, she caught Aidy’s arm, pulling her to a halt. Aware they were not alone in the kitchen, she whispered, ‘What’s up, ducky?’

Bertha would be furious herself when she learned of Pat’s devious plan to get her hands on this house. But there was no need for her grandmother to know now as Aidy had put a stop to the plan. ‘Nothing, Gran, I’m just tired,’ she told her, which was actually true so she wasn’t lying.

But Bertha knew her granddaughter well and wasn’t convinced. ‘You sure that’s all?’

‘I’m sure, Gran. Now stop fussing.’

Bertha still wasn’t convinced. She wasn’t that short sighted she could mistake an annoyed expression for a tired one. ‘Mmm … well … have it your own way.
I’m tired too. Although I’m glad they all turned out for Jessie, I’ll be glad when they go.’

Six o’clock saw the last of the mourners take their leave and the bereft family was finally on their own, to start rebuilding their lives. Well, all but one member of it. Arch was missing.

He’d had plenty of time to pay a visit to his mother. As he hadn’t come back, Aidy was convinced he was feeling mortally embarrassed that he had ever allowed her to suggest her plan, and needed to get up the courage to face his wife with an apology. He’d be in the pub, gaining that courage through a couple of pints.

Arch
had
been to the pub, but it wasn’t the courage to face his wife he needed. He was preparing himself for a scene with Pat. Being raised by a mother like that had made Arch a strong-minded man who could stand his ground with anyone … except his mother, that was. Despite his no longer living under her roof, Pat still managed to keep a controlling influence on him that he just couldn’t bring himself to shake off. Arch himself understood why. Although he would never admit it, his own mother terrified him. Memories of the many thrashings he’d received as a child whenever he had dared to cross her were still very vivid in his mind. Despite the fact he was now a man, Pat still treated him as she’d always done … woe betide him if he didn’t do her bidding. The
thought of being on the receiving end of her wrath again and possibly suffering a battering was torture to Arch. He couldn’t bear the thought of anyone knowing how he’d received his injuries. Not even Aidy.