Josephine Cox - Songbird

Wide awake now, and on the alert, Ellen spoke her mind. “It’s all a bit quick, isn’t it? Are you sure he’s not just after what he can get, and then it’s ‘on your bike and thank you very much’?”

Maddy could not be more sure. “I think I’ve loved him all along and never let myself believe it – or that he loved me. But he does, and oh Ellen, I’m so happy.” She paused, looking for a suitable solution. “I’ve thought and thought, and there is no other way. He simply has to know that I’ve got a son. If and when he meets Michael, I’m sure he’ll love him so much that nothing else will matter.”

Ellen was frantic. This news was the last thing she could have imagined.

“Ellen?” Maddy wondered at the silence. She put more coins in. “Look, I know this is all out of the blue, and I know it won’t be easy. But I do so want you to be happy for me.”

The other girl collected herself and managed to say, “So what are you going to do next? And where do I come in?”

Maddy took a deep breath. “Well, either I take a calculated risk, and come up to Blackpool to get Michael or you bring him down here – or even meet me halfway, if you’d rather?”

Ellen was not best pleased. “So, you’re throwing caution to the winds just for a man, eh, even after I told you about the call from the hospital, and the suspicions I have that we’re being watched. You’re honestly telling me that, after all this time of running and hiding, you’d put your son at risk by taking him halfway across the country? Well, I won’t be a part of it,” she said peevishly. “Seems to me, you’re not thinking straight.”

She needed to change Maddy’s mind. “Your man should also know that Michael’s father, your ex-boss and sweetheart, is a convicted murderer. And you’ll need to tell him all that before he meets Michael. No matter how you say it, Maddy, he’s not going to like it, not one bit. In fact, that could spell the end of your relationship. Who would want to get mixed up with the ex-girlfriend of Steve Drayton, eh?”

Maddy was astonished at Ellen’s almost violent reaction. She put it down to having woken her out of a deep sleep. “I thought you might be pleased that I’ve found a man I truly love, and who loves me,” she said, abashed. “I thought you wanted the same as I did – for me and Michael to have a proper home, not just foisting ourselves on you and Grandad Bob.”

Cursing herself for not feigning a degree of sympathy, and maybe even having risked arousing Maddy’s suspicions, Ellen apologized. “I’m a bit cranky this morning,” she said quietly. These days, lying had become second nature: “I’ve been up with the baby most of the night.”

“Well, there you are.” Maddy understood. “That only goes to prove what I’m saying – that you’ve done so much for Michael and me, and it’s time I took the burden off your hands.”

“And how do you expect to do that?” Ellen asked worriedly. “Even if you take Michael from me, nothing’s changed. The fact that you want to get married doesn’t mean the danger has gone away. It doesn’t mean that Drayton won’t want you and Michael off the face of the earth! So tell me, how will you be any safer than you were before?”

Maddy shoveled in some more 20p coins, admitting, “You’re right, I’ll admit I may not have fully thought it through. But Brad has already guessed that I’m hiding a secret; he’s told me that whatever it is, he’ll help me. And he will, I know it.”

Ellen forced herself to stay calm, but the fear of losing Michael was all she could think of. “Look, Maddy, this new man of yours might mean well, but the poor bloke doesn’t know what he’s taking on.”

“I promise you, Ellen, I’ve already thought of that, and even if it all goes wrong, I’ve decided I still want Michael with me. I just can’t go on without him. So, this is how I see it. I either come and get him, or you can bring him to me. Stay awhile, if you like, or stay for good. There’s room enough, and it would be great to have you near. You’re my one and only friend, Ellen. And I do miss you so.” She would never forget how Ellen had stood by her through the worst time in her life.

Ellen remained silent while Maddy finished explaining. “The choice is yours,” she said. “Either way, I need my son here when I tell Brad the truth. I know in my heart that he won’t turn us away. He loves me and I love him, and he will help us. Somehow or other, Brad will find a way.” She had to believe that. “So, do you think you can bring him here?” she asked now. “Or do you want me to come and fetch him? I’ll be careful. I’ll travel at night, stay indoors during the day, then travel on the night coach back to here.”

“No!” Ellen almost lost control, but there was too much at stake to risk everything now, so she took a deep breath and went on in a quiet tone, “No, Maddy. The danger is still here for you – for all of us. Look, don’t worry. I’ll bring him to you. I’ll travel like you suggested. That way, we might just get away with it.”

As they made their plans, for Ellen to travel down in two days’ time, Maddy was beside herself with joy. The prospect of holding her baby in her arms again, and seeing Ellen, was something wonderful, though she knew the risks were real. With her heart in her mouth, she said, “Be very careful. Please?”

“I will. Maddy, you know you can trust me.” And that was the biggest lie of all.

Maddy had always trusted Ellen, who she regarded as being like a sister, “All right. But you must take every precaution… keep a wary eye out.”

A few moments later, having arranged to make the journey over the weekend when there would be more people about, Maddy replaced the phone.

For what seemed an age Ellen paced up and down, thinking, making her own plans, determined that come what may, she would not give Michael up, “You’re not having him!” She glanced at the phone, “I can’t give him up. Not to you … not to anyone.” Her loyalty to Maddy meant nothing compared to her love for the child.

Being Tuesday, Grandad Bob had gone into town to place his weekly bet. At five-thirty he returned home to find Ellen sitting at the kitchen table in subdued mood. “All right, sweetheart?” He went to the sink and filled the kettle. “Fancy a brew?”

Ellen shook her head, “No thanks, Grandad.”

“Well, I’m gasping. It were that hot and crowded in the bookies, I were sure I’d pass out.” He went over and looked at Michael, lying asleep in his pram, then made his tea and brought it to the table. “You’re a bit quiet, lass. What’s up?”

“Just thinking.”

“Well, whatever it is you’re thinking, I’d stop it and think o’ summat else, ’cause it seems to be mekkin’ yer miserable.” Bending his head to see her better, he asked, “A trouble shared is a trouble halved. Did yer know that?”

“I’m not troubled, Grandad.”

She had been. But not any more, because now she knew what she must do; although when contemplating the shocking consequences, she did not feel good about it. Yet she comforted herself with the belief that it was Maddy herself who had forced her into it.

It was visiting time at Brixton Prison. Drayton’s man, Danny, had something to report, and he was not looking forward to it.

When the door opened and Drayton strode forward, dark and scowling as ever, the little man noticed the bruised swelling on his cheekbone. He was curious but would not dare ask, so he waited as Drayton threw himself moodily into the chair. “Well?” His flat, staring eyes fell on Danny, sending a shiver through his spine. “What have you got for me? Something useful, I hope.”

Finding it hard to keep his gaze from that raw, angry swelling on Drayton’s face, Danny forced himself to concentrate on the matter in hand. “It’s not good,” he began gabbling. “I tried every which way to talk that nurse round, but she was having none of it.”