Forgotten Child (21 page)

The new year had come in with high January winds, the lawn now covered in leaves that the gardener would tackle, but with housework to do Jenny took off her engagement ring to put in her jewellery box. As always, when she looked inside, she was struck by Marcos’s generosity. For their first Christmas together he had given her a Cartier watch among other things, then an emerald bracelet for her birthday. On their first wedding anniversary it had been a trip to Paris, and a diamond-encrusted heart-shaped locket.

They’d just had their second Christmas, a family one this time, and Marcos had given her pearls, along with the promise of another trip away soon. Jenny closed her jewellery box. So many wonderful presents, so many lovely things, but all Jenny really wanted was a baby.

The entry system buzzed and she hurried downstairs to let in Edna. It wasn’t long before the woman was at the front door and Jenny smiled.

‘Hello, Edna, did you have a nice Christmas and New Year?’

‘Yes thanks, Mrs Cane,’ she said.

Edna still called her Mrs Cane and Jenny sighed. She had tried, but had been unable to get past Edna’s reserve. The woman was friendly enough, happy to chat, but only about mundane things, and Jenny had soon come to realise that talking about Marcos was strictly taboo.

‘We had my parents here for Christmas dinner, along with my brother, aunt and uncle.’

‘That’s nice.’

‘Yes, it was, though I don’t think Marcos would agree. He’d have preferred it if we had spent Christmas alone.’

‘Yeah, well, I’d best get on,’ Edna said, heading for the kitchen.

Jenny followed her. She wasn’t surprised that Marcos had found her aunt trying on Christmas Day, she’d felt the same, but worse, Penelope Grainger and her husband had called round later in the evening. That had been down to her mother taking it upon herself to invite them, and though Jenny had seen that Marcos was annoyed, he had managed to hide it well. She’d been so nervous, expecting him to go mad when everyone left, but instead, to her surprise, he had shrugged it off, saying that it hardly mattered.

‘It was good of you to give me so much time off,’ Edna said as she took off her coat.

‘Nonsense, you’ve been with us for over a year and you’ve never missed a day.’

‘I had a holiday in July.’

‘Well, you deserved another one,’ Jenny said.

‘The time’s flown past and now it’s 1975. I hope it’s going to be a good year.’

‘Yes, me too,’ Jenny agreed, the thought of having a baby once again springing to mind.

‘Right then, I expect you’d like a cup of tea?’

Jenny smiled. This was Edna’s routine, a cup of tea before she got down to any work. She had missed her presence in the morning, and was pleased to have her back.

‘Yes, please, I’d love one.’

When the tea was made they chatted over it, but once again the subject of Marcos was avoided.

‘How is your son, Edna?’

‘Tom’s all right, but if you ask me it’s about time he found himself a decent woman and got married.’

‘How old is he?’

‘He’ll be forty this year.’

‘Marcos will be too.’

‘Yeah, I know, they went to school together.’

‘Did they? Goodness, I didn’t know that.’

‘There’s a lot you don’t know,’ Edna said, but then her expression changed to one of horror. ‘Gawd, I shouldn’t have said that.’

‘It’s all right, Edna. You’re right, I know hardly anything about Marcos’s childhood. He did say once
that he came from a poor background, but I’d love to hear more.’

‘I can’t tell you anything. I…I don’t know anything.’

‘You just said Marcos went to school with your son.’

‘Please, you’re a nice young woman, a kind young woman, so don’t mention it to Mar…Mr Cane. He’ll know it came from me.’

‘Edna, I’ve noticed this before. You seem frightened of Marcos, but why?’

‘No! No, I’m not. It’s just that, well, er…some things in his past he doesn’t like talked about.’

‘Is it that something dreadful happened to him during his childhood?’

‘I’m sorry, Mrs Cane, really I am, but if he wants you to know he’ll tell you himself. Now…now I really must get some work done.’

Jenny knew she’d get nothing more from Edna, but felt she had a clue now. Poor Marcos, something really awful must have happened to him, something so dreadful that he didn’t want it talked about. Perhaps that was why he avoided the subject, perhaps he hated the memories of his childhood; having bad ones of her own, she could understand that.

Marcos was sitting in a small office at one of his garages, going over the books, when Bernie walked in.

‘Morning, boss.’

Marcos smiled. Bernie looked hung over but, reliable as ever, he’d still turned up for work. ‘Rough night?’

‘Nah, I’m still recovering from seeing in the New Year.’

‘Close the door,’ Marcos said.

Bernie did so, asking worriedly, ‘What’s up?’

‘I’ve decided to schedule the job for the end of February. They’ll have stocked up after Christmas sales and, even better, Steve’s had a sniff of a huge diamond coming in. It’s for someone famous who wants it made into a ring for his wife, and apparently it’s worth a mint.’

‘Sounds good to me, but what about selling the stuff on?’

‘We’ll use the Dutchman again. He knows better than to do us on price.’

‘Yeah, but he…’

‘We’ll go over it later in the week,’ Marcos interrupted, ‘at my place.’

‘Just the four of us?’

‘There’s no need to include Dan. He’s just the driver and doesn’t need to know the details of the job. I’ll be using Tommy, but I’ll pay his cut.’

‘So you’re gonna pull your usual stroke?’

‘Yes, but that’s strictly for your ears only. As far as the others are concerned, we’re sticking together. When they see you’ve got the haul they won’t argue.’

‘Are you sure you can trust Tommy? You know what he’s like with the booze.’

‘We go back a long way, and yes, I trust him.’

‘If you say so, boss.’

‘I do,’ Marcos said shortly, looking up and seeing a man looking over a car in the showroom. ‘That’s enough for now. You’ve got a customer.’

Bernie hurried out while Marcos sat back in his chair. The decision was made, with just a few tweaks left to sort out, but yes, he’d pull his usual stroke. If anything went wrong, the others would be the main focus of attention, while he slipped quietly away.

Edna Moon was thinking about Marcos as she changed the sheets. Jenny, as she wished she could call her instead of Mrs Cane, was lovely and if hadn’t been for that bastard she’d have enjoyed working for her. It made her sick that the poor young woman didn’t have a clue. She wanted to put her straight, to spill her guts out, but Marcos had warned her to keep her mouth shut. She’d wanted to refuse the job, but with Tom pouring anything he earned down his throat, the money had been too good to resist.

It was the break over Christmas that had done it, lowered her guard, and Edna had spoken without thinking. Now Mrs Cane wanted to know more, but she couldn’t tell her, daren’t tell her. Edna’s nerves
were jangling. Good money or not she wanted out, but would Marcos let her leave?

No, she thought, not without a bloody good excuse, but somehow she’d have to think of one. Her health perhaps, she could try that, but she doubted Tom would have the sense to keep his mouth shut. If Marcos asked how she was, the daft sod would say she was fine, and then what?

She wished God would strike Marcos down, but in her experience men like him always survived. The devil takes care of his own, they said, and Marcos was definitely in league with him.

At ten thirty Jenny answered the telephone.

‘Good morning, Jennifer, it’s Penelope. I’ve invited your mother round for coffee at eleven. She gave me your number and I’m ringing to see if you’d like to join us.’

‘Er…well…yes, and thank you.’

‘Wonderful. See you in half an hour then. Bye for now.’

Jenny was left listening to the dialling tone, her grip tight on the receiver, wishing now she’d had the wits to make an excuse. If this led to more, Marcos would hate it, but it was too late now. She’d accepted the invitation and Penelope Grainger was expecting her. Of course, this was down to her mother again, Jenny thought. She was probably champing at the bit to see the inside of Penelope’s house.

With her hair brushed and a fresh coat of lipstick applied, Jenny was on her way back downstairs again when Edna came out of the kitchen with her coat on.

‘I’m off now, Mrs Cane.’

‘All right, Edna, and thanks.’

‘You…you won’t say anything to Mr Cane…you know, about what I told you earlier?’

‘No, I won’t say a word.’

‘Thanks,’ Edna said, looking relieved. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Hang on a minute. I’m popping next door and instead of waiting to buzz you out, I’ll come to the gate with you. This entry system is such a nuisance. I’ll have to ask Marcos to give you a key.’

Edna said nothing as they walked along the drive, only calling goodbye as she hurried off. Jenny shook her head, still wondering why the woman was so reticent about Marcos, but then saw her mother pulling up outside Penelope Grainger’s. Delia got out of her car, having chosen to drive rather than walk and Jenny could see why. Her mother was dressed up to the nines, complete with a hat, as though going for a formal lunch.

‘Jenny, hello. Coffee with Penelope. Isn’t it wonderful?’

‘For you maybe, but I’m not so sure.’

‘Nonsense. It’s about time you became acquainted with your other neighbours and I’m hoping Penelope has invited a few of the wives along.’

Jenny was ushered down the drive, her mother prattling on as she rang the doorbell. ‘You could have made more of an effort, Jennifer. That dress and cardigan are hardly suitable.’

‘It’s just coffee, Mummy,’ she protested.

Penelope opened the door dressed in brown corduroy trousers and a thick, green, baggy crew-neck jumper, her hair dragged back untidily. Jennifer glanced at her mother, saw her shocked expression, and had to bite her lip to stop herself from bursting with laughter.

‘Delia, Jennifer, come on in,’ she said, ‘and give me your coats.’

‘Thank you, and thank you too for inviting us.’

Her mother sounded so formal, but Jenny just smiled at Penelope as they stepped inside. The entrance hall was a shamble of coats, wellington boots and umbrellas, and their coats were hooked precariously on top of a pile of others.

‘Goodness, you look awfully smart, Delia.’

‘This is just an old suit,’ she blustered. ‘I’ve had it for years.’

‘And there’s me still dressed for the stables.’

‘Do you keep horses, Penelope?’

‘Of course, in local stables. Don’t you?’

‘Er…no.’

‘What about you, Jennifer? Do you ride?’

‘No, it isn’t something I’ve tried.’

‘Goodness, how odd. My father put me on my
first horse before I could walk. Come on through,’ Penelope then said, leading them to a drawing room that was clean, but dreadfully untidy. There were shabby leather sofas with cushions scattered haphazardly and side tables piled with magazines. ‘Take a seat and I’ll fetch the coffee.’

‘This is nice, sort of cosy,’ Jenny commented as she sat on a wing chair by the fire.

‘It isn’t what I expected.’

‘No, I didn’t think so.’

‘Still, now I’ve looked around there are some wonderful pieces in here. That clock is marvellous, and that horse painting,’ Delia said, pointing over towards the hearth. ‘It looks like a Stubbs and if so I bet it’s original.’

‘Of course it is,’ Penelope said, holding a tray. ‘It was my father’s and he gave it to us as a wedding present. I had the coffee ready, but excuse the mess. I’ve just lost another daily.’

Jenny saw that her mother was flushing, obviously flustered that she had been overheard, but Delia recovered quickly. ‘Yes, staff can be very unreliable. Jennifer has a wonderful woman, though, and she’s been with her for over a year.’

‘Has she? Jennifer, do you think she’d work for me too?’

‘I don’t know, I could ask her.’

‘Wonderful,’ Penelope enthused, pouring the coffee. ‘I’m having a small dinner party on Thursday
night. You must come, Jennifer, your husband too of course.’

Just as she had feared, an invitation, one Marcos wouldn’t like, and Jenny quickly sought an excuse. ‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Marcos is rather busy at the moment and he’s rarely home before nine.’

‘I can sympathise with that. When Freddie was training he worked so many hours that I hardly saw him. Of course that was many years ago. Sugar, Delia?’

‘No, thank you.’

Jenny was thankful when the two of them began to chat, mostly about the WI, and she was happy to sit quietly. She had got out of the invitation this time, but for how much longer?

At last, after they had both refused another coffee, her mother said, ‘We should go now, Penelope, but you must come to me next time, perhaps tomorrow?’

‘Sorry, Delia, I’ve got something else on, lunch with friends and after that a frantically busy week.’

‘I see, well, never mind,’ Delia said, lips tight.

They left then, and as soon as the door shut behind them, her mother hissed, ‘Did you hear what she said, Jennifer? Lunch with friends, but she didn’t invite me, nor did she invite your father and me to dinner. That invitation only went to you and Marcos.’

‘I shouldn’t think Daddy will care about that.’

‘Well, I do,’ Delia said as they reached her car. ‘When you moved into Almond Crescent – in a superior house to Penelope’s, I might add – I hoped it would gain me entry into her set.’

Jenny frowned. ‘I see, so what you’re saying is that you saw me as a way in to what you deem a higher social circle?’

‘Well, yes, but you make it sound awful.’

‘What do you expect? I really thought you’d changed, but now I realise what all this mother-daughter stuff has been about. You just wanted to use me.’

‘No, Jennifer, that isn’t true. I’ve really come to enjoy the time we spend together, and you moving here just seemed opportune, that’s all. In fact, why don’t we spend more time together today? We could go for a look around the shops if you like.’