A Change of Fortune (31 page)

Nipping upstairs to check on Ma and finding her asleep, Jenny went back to the kitchen to put the kettle on. The least she could do was offer him a cup of tea when he returned.

He was back in less than twenty minutes, and Jenny gaped at the overflowing basket. ‘You never got all that with the money I gave you.’

‘No, I bought a few extras.’ He began putting the packets on the table.

Jenny watched open-mouthed, becoming angrier by the second. There was butter, bread, jam, bacon, eggs,
sausages, tea, milk, biscuits – whole ones – fruit, veg and even a small chicken.
A few extras?

‘I can’t afford all that. You’ll have to take it back.’

‘Don’t be so bloody proud, Jen.’ Matthew was clearly exasperated by her attitude. ‘You and Ma have got to eat. Look at you, you’re starving.’

‘We are not! And who the hell gave you permission to call me Jen?’

‘Don’t change the subject.’ Matt raised his voice. ‘All I’ve done is buy you a little extra food. If it upsets you so much, you can pay me back when you’ve got the money.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she snorted. ‘Where do you think I’m going to get that much money from? And stop shouting!’

There were three sharp taps from the room above.

‘Now look what you’ve done, you’ve woken Ma up.’ Jenny headed for the stairs at a run, with Matt right on her heels.

Ma was propped up and holding her stick in her good hand.

‘Hello, Ma,’ Matt said cheerfully. ‘Sorry we woke you, but your Jen needed a good talking to.’

Jenny couldn’t believe her eyes when Ma winked at him.

‘Ah, I see you approve.’ He sat down on the edge of the bed and removed the stick from her hand, laying it on the blanket where she could still reach it. ‘Now, I don’t want you to worry about her, because I’m going to be around. All right?’

Ma winked again and Matt leant forward and kissed her forehead. ‘Good, that’s settled, then.’

What’s settled? What the devil was he on about? Jenny had thought that Ma couldn’t understand, but she was obviously communicating with Matthew.

‘I’ve bought you a nice little chicken for Jen to cook and make soup with the bones. And a pound of your favourite sausages, because the butcher told me you’re real partial to them.’

Ma winked again.

‘Now I’ll leave you to get some sleep while Jen cooks you a lovely meal.’ He patted Ma’s hand. ‘You keep her in line now. Her language is something shocking!’

Jenny could hear Ma’s cackle in her head as she watched Matthew stand up and give Ma a wink; then he clattered down the stairs and out the front door.

‘Well,’ was all Jenny could say as she stood motionless, absolutely amazed at the scene she had just witnessed. ‘Do you know what he was on about?’

Ma gave a crooked smile. She actually smiled!

Jenny did the same in relief. It was as if Matthew had woken Ma out of the stupor she had been in since the stroke. Hope flooded through her. Perhaps her dear Ma was going to survive against all the odds. ‘Terrible bossy, isn’t he?’ she joked, feeling light-hearted.

The smile came again, and Ma lifted her hand to shoo Jenny away.

‘I see, you want your chicken, do you?’

Ma actually nodded this time. Jenny sang to herself as she went downstairs and set about the meal.

‘My, something smells good,’ Glad said, as she looked in the kitchen an hour later.

‘It’s a chicken!’ Jenny beamed. ‘You’ll never guess what happened today.’

Glad sat down while Jenny told her about the argument with Matthew because he’d bought extra shopping, and his conversation with Ma.

‘She’s so much better, Glad,’ Jenny told her excitedly. ‘She actually smiled. Isn’t that marvellous? Perhaps she’s turned the corner and is going to pull through.’

‘Don’t raise your hopes too much,’ Glad warned. ‘I’ve seen folks rally for a while and then sink back again.’

‘I know that can happen.’ Jenny’s smile faded. ‘But I can hope, can’t I?’

‘Of course you can.’

Fred came in. ‘I’ll just pop up and see her.’

Fred was with Ma for almost half an hour. When he came down, he handed Glad a piece of paper with spidery writing on it. ‘Ma wants you to sign this, Glad.’ He gave his wife a pen and when she’d put her signature on the bottom, Fred tucked it in his pocket.

Fred and Glad had always looked after Ma’s affairs, and Jenny thought this was another good sign. Ma was obviously feeling bright enough to give them instructions to deal with something. ‘She’s much better, isn’t she, Fred?’

‘She’s quite perky and looking forward to the chicken.’ He laughed. ‘She’s fairly drooling at the mouth, and I’ve given her a pencil and pad so she can write messages while she’s still thinking straight.’

‘That’s a good idea.’ Jenny approved. It would be lovely to be on the receiving end of Ma’s caustic remarks again, even if they were only written ones.

The chicken was beautifully tender, and Jenny was delighted when Ma ate every morsel. She cut herself off a small amount; the rest she sliced up and took next door to Ivy for the children. The carcass with vegetables was made into a large saucepan of soup for the next day.

As the gorgeous smell of cooking filled the tiny kitchen, Jenny felt rather ashamed of the way she had reacted to Matthew’s shopping trip. He was only being kind, but she didn’t want him to feel he owed her something.

Giving the soup another stir, Jenny pondered why that should worry her. After a taste she added a little more salt. The spoon was halfway to her mouth again when she realized why she had exploded at him. She liked Matthew, had done from the moment she had seen him that first Christmas, and she wanted his friendship. Wanted to know he liked her for herself.

The spoon dropped with a clatter. Oh, dear, that wouldn’t do at all! He was from a wealthy family, and even though she had once been in the same situation, she was now penniless. It was ridiculous, but these things still mattered to society. She ought to know, because she’d been brought up with these prejudices. If she became too friendly with him, his family would believe she was trying to edge her way back up, through
him. She gave a snort of disgust, imagining what his father would have to say about that! No, she must forget the whole thing. Anyway, he was probably only helping because he felt sorry for her, and she didn’t want or need anyone’s pity. Things were difficult at the moment, but it wouldn’t always be like this. The fact that Ma was so much better was a hopeful sign.

She turned the gas down to simmer the soup, shaking her head in disbelief. How stupid to have her first crush on one of the Stannard family.

26

That evening Matt arrived home still highly amused by the argument he’d had with Jenny about the extra shopping he’d bought for her and Ma. Where had that timid frightened under housemaid gone? The girl who had turned on him with such fire was so different. Now eighteen, she had grown in stature and confidence. He doubted if she was afraid of anyone or anything now. The last two years must have been unbelievably hard for her, but, instead of becoming cowed by the experience, she had come through it magnificently. He liked this new, mature girl. Although too thin, she was absolutely beautiful.

He grinned to himself as he remembered the old woman winking saucily at him. It wasn’t any surprise that Jenny loved her so much, because even in sickness there was still a hint of her feisty nature. He’d understood the plea in those sharp eyes – you look after my girl, lad, it had said. When Ma died, and she knew she was going to soon, he would make sure Jenny was all right. That should cause a fight or two, but when that day came he was well aware that she was going to be distraught. She would have the support of her friends, of course, but he would also be there, whether she wanted him to be or not!

John walked in just in time for dinner. ‘I’ve got some news.’

‘Tell us before we sit down to eat,’ his mother suggested.

‘Greaves
is
in trouble.’ John sat down and stretched out his long legs. ‘He’s a gambler.’

‘The stock market?’ Luke sat forward, interested.

‘No,’ John said, shaking his head. ‘He’s always boasted that he didn’t lose anything in the crash, but he has on the horses. He invested a lot in four steeplechasers, and bet heavily on them whenever they raced. None of them ever won, and he had to sell them at a huge loss. By this time he was in debt and continued gambling to try to recoup his losses, with disastrous results.’

‘That’s a fool’s way to try to make money.’ Their mother was clearly disgusted. ‘He doesn’t sound very bright, and from what I saw of him he is too fond of the drink.’

‘Well spotted, Mother,’ John grinned. ‘That’s another of his problems.’

‘So he’s selling the family silver to pay his gambling debts.’ Matt grimaced. ‘The damned idiot. If he doesn’t pull himself together, he’ll lose everything.’

‘From what I can gather he’s quite close to that now.’ John stood up as the dinner gong sounded. ‘He needs an injection of cash very quickly.’

‘Good thing you found this out, John.’ Gilbert helped his wife up. ‘He needn’t bother coming to us for a loan.’

Luke slapped Matt on the back. ‘Well, he won’t be
bothering Jenny again. She hasn’t got a dime.’

‘If he does, she’ll really give him what for!’ A deep chuckle of amusement rumbled through Matt; it also contained relief. That was one problem she wouldn’t have to deal with again. ‘She’s changed beyond belief.’

‘She’s had to change to survive,’ his mother said gently. ‘Some might have crumbled under it, but it has made her strong.’

‘Yes, it has.’ He had to agree with that. She wouldn’t let anyone push her around now, but that strength must have been there in the beginning or she would never have had the courage to run away in the first place. The harshness of her life since then had brought her true character to the surface. He had thought he was being courageous by leaving university to become a car mechanic, but that was nothing compared to what Jenny had achieved. His admiration for this plucky girl just grew and grew.

During the next two days Jenny’s hopes soared as Ma began to order her around again with the aid of the pencil and paper. She still couldn’t speak, but was obviously in control of her faculties and aware of everything going on around her. Her frustration at being helpless also showed quite often, when she threw the pencil across the room with fury gleaming in her eyes. Jenny understood how difficult it must be for her and patiently ignored the outbursts.

Ma was in this kind of mood when she and Glad struggled to move the fuming woman and change the sheets.

‘Don’t be so difficult, Ma,’ Glad scolded when she was pushed away while trying to brush Ma’s hair. ‘You’ll feel much better when you’re clean and tidy.’

Grabbing her pencil, Ma scribbled, ‘Won’t. Bugger off.’

Jenny laughed, enjoying these flashes of spirit from Ma. If she continued to improve, she would soon be shouting at them. Everyone kept telling her that there was no hope of recovery, but she didn’t believe that. She wouldn’t believe it. While Ma still had fight in her, anything was possible.

Ma was writing again, and she thrust the notebook at Jenny. It said, ‘Get Matt. Want see. Now!’

‘What do you want to see him for?’ Jenny was perplexed by the demand.

The word ‘now’ was underlined with such a heavy stroke that the pencil lead snapped. Ma tossed it away in disgust and then waved Jenny towards the door.

‘You’d better do as she says.’ Glad sighed, picking up the pencil and sharpening it. She glanced up at Jenny, giving a wry grimace. ‘She’s certainly making good use of the one arm she can move. I’ll stay with her while you find him.’

‘I’ll go to the hall and ask his mother to give him a message.’

The pencil was snatched out of Glad’s hand and the word ‘garage’ written down.

‘Now look here, Ma, I’m not going to Mayfair where he works,’ she protested. ‘I’ll tell his mother that you want to see him, and that’s all!’ She left quickly as a scowl darkened Ma’s face.

There was a spring in her step as she approached the hall. The thing that struck her was the difference in the place. The outside had been cleared of rubbish and given a coat of whitewash. It had brightened the building beyond recognition. A large notice on the outside said that all unemployed were welcome to a free hot meal. The front door wasn’t open, so she went round to the side door and let herself in.

‘Hello, Jen.’ Jimmy called as she walked into the main hall. ‘What do you think of the old place now?’

‘My goodness, what a difference.’

The main hall was filled with wooden tables and chairs; there was new lino on the floors; and every wall and ceiling had been painted. The kitchen had been opened up with a serving hatch that went along the entire wall, so food could be served straight into the dining area. Jenny could see Ron’s carpentry skills had been put to good use here. There was a smaller room just off the hall, and she looked round with a gasp of pleasure. There was a good fire burning in the grate, bathing the room in a warm glow. Again the lino was new, and there were plenty of comfortable chairs to sit on. These were all second-hand, but they were in good condition.