Moving On (7 page)

It was three weeks before Jenny heard from Karen and then it was to say that she hoped she’d settled in to her new home at Merseyside Mansions but she was too busy at the moment to visit.

Jenny felt disappointed but by then she felt quite settled and very much at home in her new surroundings. She had met a number of the residents at the Wednesday coffee mornings and could even remember most of their names and in some cases where they lived.

They were certainly a very mixed bunch of people, she thought wryly. As far as she knew only four of the residents were still working and went out at regular hours each day. The rest were retired and filled in their time in a variety of ways.

Some of them, like Clare and Peter Green, had a very regular routine. Clare was a very large lady and so severely incapacitated that she was unable to walk more than a few steps at a time. Even so she went out every morning at eleven thirty in a wheelchair with Peter pushing her.

He was the exact opposite of his wife; small and weedy. It took every ounce of his strength to manoeuvre the wheelchair and his face was usually a bright red with exertion by the time they came back from their walk.

Clare was extremely demanding. Jenny felt sorry for Peter. She saw the way he was constantly berated and belittled when he was obviously doing his utmost to please her.

Clare always seemed to be particularly aggressive towards him at Wednesday coffee mornings. Peter would leave her wheelchair in a convenient alcove and then help her out of it. She would lean heavily on him as she took the few steps necessary to reach the nearest chair.

On the second Wednesday she’d been there Jenny had rushed to help and offered her chair to Clare because it was the nearest one but Clare had waved her hand dismissively.

‘He’s quite capable and he’ll be the one who decides which chair I am to sit in,’ she stated imperiously.

Jenny felt her colour rising and quickly returned to her own chair as she saw several people trying to hide amused smiles.

‘Take no notice, she’s always like that. We put her rudeness down to her not feeling very well,’ Sandra Roberts whispered.

Jenny nodded but made a mental note that in future she would avoid Clare Green as much as possible.

It was not difficult to do so; Jenny found that there were many other residents who were extremely friendly. Several times she was invited to go shopping in Liverpool or for a walk along the promenade with one or other of the ladies.

Some of the men were attentive but Jenny was guarded. She knew from various conversations that some of the other women hoped for an invitation to take a stroll or go out for a meal either from the Major or one or two other bachelors who resided there and she had no intention of causing any jealousy.

Jenny found her time fully occupied and although as the weeks slipped by she missed Karen, she never really felt lonely. There was always a great deal going on in Merseyside Mansions in addition to the Wednesday coffee mornings.

If she felt she needed outside stimulus she could always take a walk along the promenade to New Brighton. She also enjoyed going to Vale Park to listen to the band and did so most Sunday afternoons, whether on her own or with one of the other residents.

As the summer faded and the crisper days of October were followed by the fogs and rains of November, Jenny spent more and more of her afternoons in the communal lounge enjoying the company of other residents.

As she listened to the tales about their families and the get-togethers they’d enjoyed with them, it made her more and more aware that she hadn’t seen Karen for months.

She knew that since she had sent Karen her share of the money that had resulted from the sale of the house in Warren Point, she had moved to a new flat on the outskirts of Liverpool and, one Sunday afternoon, feeling rather bored, Jenny decided on impulse to pay her a visit.

She might be out or entertaining some friends, she thought, as she caught a bus to Seacombe and from there the Royal Daffodil ferryboat over to Liverpool.

When she reached Liverpool Pier Head she checked on the address and then asked one of the bus drivers if he could tell her which bus she ought to take to get to Calderstones Park.

As the bus travelled through the city and out into the suburbs the houses grew bigger and looked more and more expensive. When she reached her destination the house seemed to be so grand that Jenny began to wonder if she had the right address.

Having come so far I may as well ring the doorbell and find out, she thought resignedly.

The young girl who answered the door looked surprised when Jenny asked for Karen. After Jenny explained who she was the girl invited her to step inside. She showed her into a beautifully furnished lounge and told her to take a seat, saying that she would let Miss Langton know that she was there.

Jenny looked round in amazement. Everything was top quality and beautifully coordinated; almost like a show house. The deep pile cream carpet on the floor, the dark red velvet drapes at the large bay window, the plush cream upholstered settee and matching armchairs and the numerous little tables with their elaborately carved legs were all top quality. It was far grander and more expensive than Karen could possibly afford and Jenny assumed she must be sharing with someone.

When Karen finally appeared, Jenny could hardly believe her eyes. Karen was looking extremely glamorous in a midnight blue velvet housecoat, her hair piled high on her head in a very sophisticated style. She looked astonished to see her grandmother and her greeting was cool rather than exuberant.

‘Is something wrong?’ she asked as she gave Jenny a brief peck on the cheek.

‘No, not at all.’ Jenny smiled. ‘It is such a long time since we saw each other though that I thought I’d better come and see if you were all right.’

‘Yes, of course I am,’ Karen said with a frown, ‘but I am very busy.’ She looked at the expensive diamond studded gold watch on her wrist. ‘I’m packing at the moment; I have to catch a plane in less than an hour on a business trip.’

‘On a Sunday!’

‘Yes, I have to be somewhere first thing tomorrow morning, which means leaving now. I’m sorry, Gran, but I really must go; my taxi will be here at any minute. You should have telephoned and let me know you were coming,’ she added half apologetically.

‘Mmm, I’ll remember to make an appointment next time,’ Jenny said quietly. She picked up her handbag from the small table beside the chair she had been sitting in. ‘When will I see you?’ she asked as Karen walked with her down the hall towards the front door.

‘I have a very busy schedule for the next month or so but I’ll try to be in touch before Christmas,’ Karen murmured. She kissed Jenny on the cheek. ‘I’m so sorry I can’t stop and talk to you now, Gran. It’s just unfortunate …’ Her voice faded away.

‘I understand,’ Jenny said quietly. ‘Make it as soon as you can because I really do want to know how you are getting on, Karen, and what your plans are for the future and so on, my dear. I also want you to come across to Wallasey and see my flat. I thought you would have done so long before this.’

‘I know, I know,’ Karen said contritely, ‘but I have been very busy. Really I have Gran.’

By this time they were at the door and Jenny found herself once more in the street and the door closed behind her. She hesitated for a moment, feeling bewildered. Karen hadn’t shown her round her new home or even offered her a drink, yet she knows how far I’ve come to see her, she thought, feeling slightly resentful. She didn’t even ask me if I knew the way home, she thought, as she made her way back to the bus stop.

Jenny felt very curious about the house where Karen was living; it was not only in an expensive area but extremely tastefully furnished. She was also puzzled about the young girl who had answered the door. She wasn’t old enough for her to be the person Karen was sharing with so who was she? Was she a maid? Surely such a luxury as having a servant was well out of Karen’s pocket.

Jenny felt concerned and hoped that Karen hadn’t let her inheritance go to her head and was living beyond her means. It wasn’t only the grand house but Karen’s appearance.

She realized that she probably had to look glamorous when she was at work but the watch she’d been wearing and the diamond stud earrings looked to be very expensive.

As the ferryboat ploughed its way across the Mersey, cutting through the heavy fog that had come down suddenly, Jenny felt both worried and despondent. Perhaps she should have tried harder to keep their house because it had been Karen’s home as well as hers. Selling it and not keeping more of an eye on Karen was letting Eddy down she thought guiltily.

She really must ensure that she kept in closer touch with Karen so that she knew more about what was happening in her life. She might be twenty and independent but she had led quite a sheltered life while she’d been growing up and she hoped she wasn’t moving into the wrong sort of company.

Then she had a brilliant idea. They were having a Christmas party at Merseyside Mansions in December and they’d been told they could invite a friend or relative. If Karen hadn’t paid her a visit before then she would send her an invite to the party.

The Christmas party at Merseyside Mansions was planned for Friday the seventeenth of December. So many people were eager to help with the preparations and to decorate the communal lounge that Jenny held back.

She knew she no longer felt confident about going up ladders or standing on steps to fix the decorations or put up the fairy lights and thought that the men were more capable of doing that sort of thing anyway.

She would have been quite willing to help to decorate the Christmas tree but so many of the other ladies were already intent on doing so that she felt it was better to keep out of their way.

Outside caterers had been hired to supply a spread of sandwiches, cakes, mince pies, biscuits and cheese and other seasonal titbits. They would also be there to pour out the mulled wine and soft drinks and hand them around. The concierge would be there to supervise them.

There was really nothing at all for her to do except send an invitation to Karen and hope that she would come. She’d already written a letter telling her the anticipated date and she had phoned her several times since and left messages on her answerphone to let her know that it was fixed for the seventeenth. So far there had been no reply, so she assumed that Karen must be away somewhere.

Jenny refused to let her disappointment spoil her anticipation of the evening festivities. She dressed with care in a floor-length dark red velvet skirt, a white lacy blouse and an elegant black patterned velvet stole which she draped loosely over her shoulders.

As she entered the communal lounge for the evening’s event a waiter handed her a glass of mulled wine. She steeled herself to enter into the spirit of the occasion although she felt annoyed that Karen wasn’t there to accompany her.

In addition to the fairy lights and glittering baubles on the Christmas tree, the lounge was so lavishly decorated that everywhere glittered. The room was crowded and everyone was suitably dressed up for the occasion.

The party was already in full swing, a cacophony of voices almost obliterating the music, when there was a loud rapping on the main door. The concierge went to open it and came back to tell Jenny that there was a young lady asking for her.

Jenny could hardly believe her eyes when she saw that it was Karen. Suddenly the whole evening took on a new appeal. She had been feeling lost and lonely as other residents introduced her to their sons and daughters and then went off with them happily chattering and laughing and enjoying their company while she had remained isolated and alone.

She hastened to greet Karen, offered to take her to her own apartment if she wanted to freshen up, but Karen declined. Heads turned as she shrugged off her grey fur jacket to reveal a short black figure-hugging dress with a very low-cut neckline, sheer black stockings and very high-heeled shoes. Against the whiteness of her skin an emerald necklace gleamed and she had earrings and a bracelet to match.

The concierge took Karen’s fur jacket saying she would put it in her office. A waiter handed Karen a glass of mulled wine and Jenny, with a mixture of pride and happiness, began introducing her to some of the other residents.

Everybody seemed eager to meet the newcomer, especially the men. The Major took her hand and bowed low over it in a courtly manner, saying how charmed he was to make her acquaintance.

There was one surprising moment when Jane Phillips, a tall, imposing woman in her late sixties who had up until now more or less ignored Jenny, came over with a frosty smile and said in a rather condemning tone of voice to Karen, ‘I’m very surprised to see you here.’ She didn’t stay to talk and, when Jenny looked at Karen enquiringly, she offered no explanation but immediately became involved in a conversation with Lionel Bostock and his son Edwin.

Jenny had only spoken to Lionel Bostock once before, but she knew that he was held in high esteem by most of the other residents. He was something of a character, very smart and upright with white hair and a white moustache. He had once been a well-known surgeon and his son, who was with him that evening, had also followed in the same profession.

They both seemed to be captivated by Karen while Jenny stood patiently waiting for them to acknowledge her presence. When the older man finally did it was merely to tell her that he hoped she would let him know when her delightful daughter was visiting again.

As midnight approached Karen looked at her jewel-studded wristwatch and said that she’d ordered a taxi and that she expected it to be there at any minute.

Although Jenny had enjoyed seeing Karen she was disappointed that she’d had no opportunity to talk to her privately and catch up with any news or even take her to see her new flat.

‘Can’t you stay over?’ she asked hopefully.

‘Impossible. I have to be away early tomorrow morning on a trip,’ Karen told her. ‘You know what my lifestyle’s like. I’ll come over again in the New Year and take you out for a meal,’ she promised.

‘I can come over to Liverpool if that is easier for you,’ Jenny said eagerly.

‘No. No, Gran, I’d rather you didn’t do that. I don’t like to think of you making such a long journey, not at this time of the year. I’ll come again very soon, I promise you.’

Before Jenny could argue any further someone called out, ‘Miss Langton, your taxi is here; it’s waiting for you at the door.’

Once Karen had left, the enjoyment went out of the evening for Jenny. She accepted another glass of mulled wine but it tasted sickly sweet and she didn’t really want to finish it. She was there yet she wasn’t; her thoughts were focused on Karen and the Christmas celebrations they had known in the past.

She was so absorbed in her daydreams that when Jane Phillips suddenly appeared at her side she almost spilled the remains of her drink she was so startled.

‘I take it that since you both have the same surname you are in some way related to Karen Langton,’ she said frostily.

‘Yes; she’s my granddaughter.’

‘Really!’ Jane’s thinly pencilled eyebrows rose. ‘You must be very concerned about her reputation.’

‘Her reputation? What do you mean?’ Jenny asked in a puzzled voice.

‘Surely you know where she is living?’ Jane’s eyebrows went even higher.

‘Yes, of course I do. She’s living in Liverpool, in the Calderstones area. A very nice house …’

‘It should be seeing it’s the home of someone in shipping who is reputed to be a millionaire,’ Jane said with a sneering laugh.

Jenny stared at her, frowning in surprise. ‘I don’t think so. Karen is sharing with someone.’

‘Sharing! Is that what it’s called these days. Oh yes, she’s sharing all right. Proper little love-nest they have there.’

Seeing that Jenny still looked bemused, Jane went on, ‘She’s living with Hadyn Trimm the shipping magnate. How else do you think a girl of her age could dress like she does and be able to afford a fur coat and emeralds?’

Her words were meant to shock but Jenny gave a disarming chuckle. ‘Karen always has had good taste when it comes to clothes. You may have seen her at this Hadyn Trimm’s house because he is the head of the shipping line where Karen works. She is their press officer and handles their publicity so she was probably there delivering some papers to him for his approval or something.’

‘And staying there all night?’ Jane sniffed.

‘How do you know she did?’ Jenny asked sharply.

‘I know because my sister lives only two doors away and both my sister and her neighbours are absolutely disgusted by what is going on at that house. Your granddaughter appears to have moved in with him. She’s in and out of there as if she owns the place.’

‘You mean your sister and her friends are gossips who spend all their time watching other people from behind their net curtains?’ Jenny murmured spiritedly. Her heart was thumping but she was determined not to let this obnoxious woman see how upset she was. Nor did she intend to let her spread scandalous lies about her beloved granddaughter.

‘Hadyn Trimm’s wife is desperately ill in a nursing home and what sort of effect do you think your granddaughter’s behaviour is having on her,’ Jane went on, ignoring Jenny’s comment.

Jenny’s heart sank. She had wondered how Karen could afford to live in such an area even if she was sharing with another woman. Now this revelation saddened her but she was determined not to let Jane Phillips know how she felt.

‘I think you should get your facts right before you go around making accusations like that,’ Jenny said quietly. She put her glass down on the table and stood up, preparing to leave.

‘You believe what you like,’ Jane retorted, ‘but I know the truth. Anyway,’ she added as a parting shot, ‘you have only to look at the way she was chatting up old Mr Bostock and making eyes at his son to know the sort of person she is.’

Jenny found she was shaking when she reached her apartment; so much so that she could hardly fit the key into the lock.

Although she had refuted everything Jane Phillips had said she had the awful feeling that the woman spoke the truth. She wasn’t shocked but she was certainly concerned. She also felt very sorry for Hadyn Trimm’s wife and wondered if it was because of Karen’s behaviour that she was so ill.

Although it was now well past midnight she no longer felt sleepy. Her mind was churning. Was it her fault that Karen had turned out like this, she wondered. If so, it meant that she really had failed Eddy. He had always been so proud of his daughter.

If he was still alive and they were all living in Warren Point then none of this would have happened, she thought sadly. She had failed his trust in her by not making sure that Karen had the right sort of guidance. She should have tried harder to find some way to keep their family home. She knew she must do something to put matters right and tried to think how Eddy would have handled the situation.

It had all started to go wrong when Jimmy Martin had persuaded Karen to leave Premium Printing to work for a shipping company and move in with him.

She should have stepped in at that point and insisted that because it was what her father had wanted, Karen should stay with her father’s firm. Karen had been so determined to stand on her own feet though that she simply wouldn’t listen, Jenny reminded herself.