Kitty Neale - A Family’s Heartbreak

‘The silly old bat is getting so forgetful I doubt she noticed.’

Coming downstairs had taken its toll on Jenny. She was tired and didn’t have the energy to argue with Gloria but knew her gran would be beside herself with worry. It was painful just to stand up, so Jenny knew she wouldn’t be able to walk there. It was pointless asking Gloria to go, but she’d send Pamela to see her tomorrow.

Gloria sipped her tea then studied her painted fingernails while Jenny watched, thinking that her father was right. Gloria was very much like their mother. Both were vain and self-centred, though she hoped that, without their mother around to influence her, Gloria would lose some of her selfish streak. Once again Jenny had to admit that Gloria had stepped up since she came home from hospital, and for that she was grateful, but to leave their gran to fret showed there was still some way to go.

At six o’clock, Craig packed up his tools and prepared to go home, though he wasn’t looking forward to spending yet another weekend alone. As he padlocked the door to his furniture workshop, he thought again how lucky he was to have found the place. Mr Rendall owned the small building and had worked in it for years, but since his retirement he’d been happy to rent it to Craig.

When he arrived home and walked into the house, Craig paused briefly outside Edith’s door. He hadn’t seen her for a while, or Jenny. They’d arranged another date, and he’d been more than disappointed when Jenny stood him up. He shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, he didn’t think any pretty young woman in their right mind would want to be lumbered with a deaf boyfriend.

He’d avoided Edith since then, but as he was about to walk upstairs, on impulse he turned back and knocked on her door. It wasn’t the old woman’s fault that Jenny wasn’t interested in him, he thought as he knocked again, harder this time. He waited a minute or two, but when Edith didn’t come to the door, worry began to niggle at him. Edith was almost always at home and he had a feeling that something wasn’t right. He hammered the door now and called out her name. The door had a lock but no letterbox, so when there was still no response he dashed outside and peered through her front room window. It wasn’t easy to see much through Edith’s net curtains, but panic rose when he spotted her legs. She looked as if she was lying in the doorway, but her top half was obscured.

‘It’s all right, Edith,’ Craig shouted, ‘I’m coming.’

He ran back inside and threw his shoulder at her door, but it didn’t budge. Then, as his mind raced, he darted upstairs and a few moments later came back down with a crowbar. ‘Don’t worry, I’m going to get this door open,’ he shouted.

Thankfully, with leverage, it gave way and Craig ran up the small hallway and almost slid to his knees beside Edith. She was flat on her back and he couldn’t see her chest moving. If she was breathing, it was very shallowly.

‘Edith,’ he said, gently shaking the old woman and silently praying that she was alive, ‘Edith, it’s me, Craig. Can you move?’

To his relief, she groaned and slowly opened her eyes. ‘Oh … Craig … I’ve had a bit of a fall,’ she croaked weakly, and grasped his hand.

He couldn’t see any signs of obvious injury. ‘I can see that. Do you think you’ve broken anything?’ he asked.

‘No, I … I think I’m all right.’

‘Shall we see if I can help you up?’

‘Yes,’ she agreed.

‘Good, come on then, gently does it,’ Craig said as he eased Edith to a sitting position. ‘Right, good, stay there a moment and I’ll get you a glass of water.’

Craig left Edith and rushed to her kitchen then returned with the refreshment. ‘Here you go, sip slowly on this,’ he said, offering her the glass.

Edith gulped a few mouthfuls, then said, ‘I’ve been lying here since yesterday. I was banging and shouting as loud as I could, but of course you couldn’t have heard me. Silly old sod, aren’t I?’

‘No, and I’m so sorry. Do you think you can stand up or should I call the doctor, or an ambulance?’

‘I don’t need an ambulance, or the doctor. I just feel a bit dizzy, that’s all. Perhaps you could pop around to Jenny’s for me? Ask her if she, or one of the other girls, can come here to look after me tonight.’

‘Yes, of course, but if you’re feeling dizzy perhaps you really should see the doctor.’

‘No, Craig, there’s no need to make a fuss. I just tripped over, nothing to worry about. Now, take this glass and give me a hand up.’

The woman looked frail, but Craig liked her spirit. She was made of strong stuff and wasn’t prepared to let a little fall faze her. ‘What’s Jenny’s address?’ he asked. ‘I’ll make you a cup of tea then go straight there. I’m not sure she’ll be too pleased to see me, though. We were supposed to be going out again the week before last, but she didn’t turn up.’

‘Didn’t she? That’s not like her. In fact, I haven’t seen her since you two went off to see a film. I’ve been worried sick that she hasn’t been in to see me. The other kids don’t call in that often, but Jenny always comes at least once a week. I hope everything’s all right.’

Craig managed to get Edith into her armchair. ‘I’m sure it is. Jenny probably stayed away to avoid me.’

‘No, my Jenny isn’t like that. I hope her bleedin’ father hasn’t given her another good hiding. Pass me that pen and paper on the table please. I’ll write down the address while you make me that cuppa.’

Craig couldn’t hear the urgency in Edith’s voice, but he noticed how worried she looked.

‘Sorry, Edith, did you say that her father hits her?’

‘Yes, he’s not been right since their mother walked out. But don’t say anything. She doesn’t like people to know.’

Craig tried to get his head around what Edith had said. It was outrageous! He’d never understand how any man could hit a woman, let alone his own daughter. Jenny hadn’t told him about it, but he recalled how she’d tensed when he’d mentioned her father, then she’d quickly changed the subject. He hadn’t thought much about it at the time, but now it made sense. As he waited for the water to boil, he could feel his heart pounding faster at the thought of seeing Jenny again. He liked her. He liked her a lot and couldn’t stand the thought of her being hurt. Something had to be done. He didn’t know what, but there would be no way he’d stand by and allow anyone to ever lay a hand on her again.

Jenny checked the clock. Their dad wasn’t home yet so she assumed he was in the pub. Pamela had come back with two very hungry and tired boys. Gloria had fed them and they were now tucked up in bed. Jenny sat back on the sofa with thoughts of Craig. She felt awful about not meeting him for their date but it’d been impossible to get word to him.

Gloria broke into her thoughts, saying, ‘That’ll be another dinner wasted then.’

‘Keep it warm, he might eat it when he gets home,’ Jenny answered, though she doubted he would, he rarely did.

‘I think I’ll go up and read my book. Night, night,’ Pamela said quietly, and slipped from the room.

‘She’s been pissing the bed every blinkin’ night since Dad bashed you up, and I can’t stand it,’ Gloria hissed.

‘Pamela can’t help it. Maybe she should have my room until she stops, and I’ll share with you.’

‘Why can’t I have your room and you share with Pam?’

‘No, Gloria, the idea is that if Pam has her own bed, she won’t bother anyone when she has her accidents.’

‘But it isn’t only Pam. I hate sleeping in a room with the boys. Peter’s always crying for Mum and Timmy has nightmares, waking us all up.’