Songbird (21 page)

“Ah, don’t give me that,” Alice protested. “Sure, haven’t I seen your husband — got the dreamy look of a film star, so he has.” She glanced at Raymond, big and bumbling, very slightly knock-kneed, and not one “film-star” feature on his lolloping square face.

Tongue in cheek, she asked the nurse, “I bet you wouldn’t swap your fella for mine, would you?” There was a twinkle in her eye. “I mean, why would you want to swap a rose for a cabbage, eh?”

The two of them chuckled at that.

In truth though, Alice had come to love Raymond as much as he had always loved her. It was not the kind of love where the world turns upside down at the touch of someone’s hand. Instead it was a warm and wonderful experience, and now, as he walked her gently through the ward, she felt that no one in the world could ever hurt her again.

Safe in the car and headed home, Alice asked him, “Have the police been to see you?”

“Not since last week, no.”

“So do you reckon they’ve given up on finding Maddy?”

“I hope so. But who knows?”

“So, what did you tell them? Did you remember what I said?”

“I just told them what I’d said before, time and again, that Maddy no longer worked for Drayton, and that she had
not
been in the club at all that night.”

“And did they ask about Ellen?”

“Yes, and I explained that, as far as I could recall, Ellen had been feeling unwell after she came offstage, and so probably went straight home. I said there had been talk of her going on holiday for a week or so. I told them I knew nothing more than that.”

“Did you send the letter?”

Raymond nodded. “I did.”

“You didn’t change anything, did you?” she asked. “You copied it down exactly as I said?”

Raymond fell silent.

“Ray?” Alice gave him a tap. “I’m still waiting for an answer.”

Looking sheepish, he apologized. “I copied down everything you’d written, word for word,” he confirmed, “except I told them not to contact me or anyone else at the club; I said the police were still about, so Maddy and Ellen needed to keep their heads down.” He paused. “I hope I did right?”

Alice could tell he had more to say. “What else did you write?”

When the traffic lights changed, he quickly swung the wheel to the left. “I’m sorry, love. Don’t be cross. I just… kinda mentioned that we’d meet up again one day — me, her, and Ellen. That’s all.”

When Alice made no response, he glanced down at her. Alarmed to see her crying, he drew the car over to the curb. “I did wrong, didn’t I? Oh look, I’m sorry. Please…”

But as she answered him, he was amazed to see her smiling through the tears. “Oh Raymond, aren’t you the lovely man? As for what you wrote, as long as you didn’t give Maddy any idea that I’m still alive, it was not wrong to tell her that we might meet up one day. In time, she will have to know the truth, but only when I’m satisfied that she’s safe from harm. Meanwhile, you’ve given her a glimmer of security, letting her know that she hasn’t been altogether abandoned. And I truly thank you for that.”

With her two hands she drew his face down to hers, and kissed him with all the affection she felt.

“I do love you, Alice,” he murmured. “You know that, don’t you?”

“I love you too,” she said. And meant it.

As they drove on, she wagged a finger at him. “Next time I ask you to copy something I’ve written, don’t take it upon yourself to add a whole new letter of your own.”

“I won’t.”

“Ah sure, I can’t abide folks who think they know better than anybody else.”

“I know you can’t,” Raymond agreed stolidly. “As for me, I can’t abide folks who are argumentative, frustrating, and difficult to please.”

“Oh! Would that be
me
you’re talking about, by any chance?”

“Well, if the cap fits…?” He gave her a sideways glance.

Alice had to laugh. “Will ye listen to the two of us,” she croaked. “Going at each other like an old married couple, so we are.”

“That’s exactly what I want,” he answered softly.

“What… the two of us fighting and feuding?” As if she didn’t know what he was getting at.

“Me and you — ‘an old married couple.’” Another sideways glance. “So, what do you think?”

“Glory be! Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I might be.”

“Then I might think about it,” she replied teasingly. She pointed to the cyclist wobbling alongside them. “Watch out for the old fella. And for goodness sake, keep your mind on the road!”

He smiled to himself. Alice had said she might think about them getting wed. That meant there was a chance.

His smile grew broader.

“And what the divil are you grinning at, like some Cheshire Cat, might I ask?”

“Just thinking.”

“Well, stop thinking and do like I said — keep your eyes on the road!”

Though, as he came onto the straight, her heart couldn’t help but smile too.

By the end
of November, winter had really begun to settle in. Blue skies had fallen to gray, the wind was bitter and for three days now, the driving rain had been relentless. But as always, inside Bob Maitland’s house, at number 8, Ackerman Street, it was cozy and warm.

“Look at me! I’m so big and heavy, my legs are going bandy.” Having negotiated the narrow stairway, Maddy ambled into the kitchen for breakfast. Patting her swollen belly, she eased herself into a chair. “I’ll be glad when the baby’s born,” she groaned.

“I’m not surprised.” Grandad wagged a finger. “You’re never still — making beds, sweeping the yard like somebody possessed, and insisting on your turn to do the washing and cooking. In your condition, you need to take things easy, lass, not drive yourself into the ground.”

Like any woeful man with misguided intentions he hoped to make her see sense by pointing out how, “It’s obvious you’re dog-tired, and I can’t help but notice how lately, you seem to be covered in spots.”

Oblivious to the fact that his kindly meant comments were not helping to restore Maddy’s confidence, he went blithely on, “All the upheaval of moving here, and the burden of carrying a child — well, it’s plainly telling on you, lass. It stands to reason, you can’t push yourself to the limits and still look bright and lively. So will you listen to me, pet, and be kind to yourself. Ease up a bit, eh?”

Feeling more self-conscious than ever, Maddy gingerly stroked her puffy face. “Where are they, these spots that I’m supposed to have?” She felt miserable now. “I haven’t seen any.”

At that moment Ellen arrived from the front room, where she had been hanging her smalls on the clothes horse. “Ellen? Have I got spots all over my face?” Maddy asked.

“I can’t see any,” Ellen said, peering at her. “What makes you think you’ve got spots anyway?”

“Grandad Bob said I had some.” Getting out of the chair, Maddy went to the fireplace, where she stretched up to look in the overhead mirror. “Where are they?”

“I’m surprised at you, Grandad,” Ellen gently chided. “I would have thought you knew better than to tell a woman she’s looking at her worst, especially when she’s eight months’ pregnant and already feeling self-conscious.”

“I’m very sorry, lass.” It came as no surprise to the old gent that he had put his foot in it, because women had always been a mystery to him.

“I know you are.” And to prove it, his granddaughter gave him a huge cuddle. “You’re just a bit dippy at times.”

At which both he and Maddy smiled at each other, and when he gave her a reassuring wink, she gave one right back.

Later that day, Grandad popped down the road to the bookies. “I’ll not be long,” he announced. “If you two want to go into town, I’ll run you there one day this week.”

“We might take you up on that,” Ellen replied.

When he was out the door, she checked in the cupboards and fridge. “We’re short on bread and sugar,” she told Maddy, “and there’s only half a pint of milk left. If you really want to make that rice pudding tonight, we’ll need another couple of pints.”

“And I desperately need some bigger knickers,” Maddy groaned. “My belly’s hanging over these ones — look!” Dropping the waist of her elasticated skirt she displayed the pink mound of flesh that was her baby. The knickers were all bunched up underneath. “Every time I stand up, I’m frightened in case my pants end up round my ankles!”

Laughing, she rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Ellen, I feel like a walrus out of water. I long for the day when I’m normal again, and I can throw out all this baggy underwear.”

“Oh no, you mustn’t throw them out.” Ellen acted horrified. “Best to burn them in the grate.”

Maddy was puzzled. “Why?”

“Because it makes sense,” Ellen replied with a twinkle in her eye, “Why spend good money on expensive coal, when your big knickers will keep us warm for a week?”

When Grandad opened the front door, he could hear the two of them helpless with laughter. “Tell me the joke then,” he asked, and they did. “I had thought about having radiators put in,” he confessed, “but I can hang on a bit, if you like.”

When the laughter subsided, he thought how wonderful it was having them here. “You’re a pair of terrors,” he chuckled. “One thing’s for sure, this house is more alive since you’ve been here, and so am I. God only knows what I’d do if you ever upped sticks and left.”

With that he collected his pipe and baccy and retired to the front room, to check on his cherished sculptures.

Grandad’s innocent remarks had set Maddy and Ellen to thinking, and when he was out of hearing distance, Ellen reminded Maddy, “I would hate to hurt him, but you and I both know, we can’t stay here forever. When the baby’s born, we said we’d find a place of our own. But if we move out, he’ll be heartbroken.”

“Maybe not.” Maddy had seen for herself how strong-minded and independent Grandad Bob could be, and after all, he had been content enough before they arrived on the scene.

“We owe him a lot,” she told Ellen now, “but if we don’t find a place of our own soon, he might begin to think we’re taking advantage, and that wouldn’t be fair on him, or us. So, maybe the sooner we do get a place the better; as long as it’s not too far for us to visit each other, I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“You could be right,” Ellen conceded. “We can’t put on him forever, and with a baby, it’s bound to be a bit squashed here.”

“So we’re agreed then,” Maddy asked. “We’ll get a place of our own, yes?”

“Hopefully, yes. We’ll stick to our original plan, and like you said, Grandad will still be a big part of our lives. He can visit any time he likes, and when he’s had enough of us, he can always come home for some peace and quiet.”

Maddy said she thought that would be kinder to him than having his sleep and his life disturbed by a new member of the household. “Babies are small and wonderful, but we all know, they can make their presence felt.”

Maddy was ready to go along with whatever Ellen and her grandfather decided, but, “The baby isn’t due for nearly a month, so we don’t need to fret about it just now, do we? I mean, there’s still plenty of time for us to talk it all through if needed.”

One thing she was sure of. “It would only be fair to let your grandad know what’s on our mind. He might even have some good advice for us, especially if we let him have a say in where we choose to live.”

“Of course!” Ellen clapped her hands. “We’ll let him feel as though he’s in charge — well, to a certain extent,” she added with a wry little grin. “I know from old that Grandad Bob likes nothing better than to be at the helm.”

The truth was, neither Ellen nor Maddy could have known how events were already out of their hands.

Very soon, the decision as to whether they might stay or go would be decided for them.

The next day was like a mini summer. The skies cleared and the wind dropped, and even the sun showed its face. “Why don’t we take a run out to the Ribble Valley?” Grandad asked, his nose pressed to the window. “We should take advantage of this fine weather, in case it turns cold and wet again tomorrow.”

Both Maddy and Ellen thought that was a brilliant idea. “We’ve been cooped up long enough,” Ellen declared lightheartedly. “Let’s go where the road takes us.”

Maddy was excited about taking a drive out to the countryside. “It’s just what we need, a change of scene.”

Ellen recalled a place from her childhood. “Can we stop for lunch at that lovely old inn on the moors — Whitely Inn, Whalley… oh.” Screwing her face up in frustration, she admitted, “I can’t recall the name now, or even where it was exactly.”

“I reckon you had it right the first time, lass.” Grandad Bob scratched his head in that comical way he had when thinking hard. “Whitely Inn, that’s the one. I think!” He also was uncertain.

An hour later, they were making their way along the Preston New Road. “This is the best car I’ve ever had.” Grandad Bob loved his secondhand Rover, though it was a little car and he was a big man, and sometimes he got a crick in his neck. However, the freedom of driving more than compensated for any niggling discomfort. “I’d forgotten what joy it was to get wherever you want, without waiting for a bus or a train. I got rid of my Escort after your nan died, and missed it ever since.”

“I remember that Escort,” Ellen said, and she giggled. “Always breaking down.”

“Aye well, I’ll admit that, but when it were gone, I missed it all the same. Many was the time when I thought of getting another, but I never did. Then you and Maddy came along, and that was the excuse I’d been waiting for. I’m not short of money, because I’ve been prudent over the years. And anyway, like I said, I’d been thinking of getting a car for some time. Oh, and I’ve already altered the insurance to accommodate you girls, so you can take it out whenever you like.

“You do have a license, don’t you, lass?” He looked at Maddy through his driving mirror. “If not, we can soon teach you the ins and outs, once the baby is born.”

“I do have a license,” Maddy informed him, “but I haven’t driven a car for a long time now. The traffic is so awful in London and parking is always a problem.”