Swansea Summer (44 page)

‘He sorted one of the flower beds for me. I made us tea, then Martin arrived. You should have heard the way he carried on. He behaved worse than any outraged father.’

‘You were just sunbathing?’ Judy pressed. ‘He didn’t try anything on …’

‘Now you’re starting on me.’ Helen turned on Judy. ‘Yes, I am sure that we were just sunbathing.’

‘And you had your clothes on.’

‘Our costumes and the garden is a public place.’

‘Not that public, Helen, it might have been better if the two of you had gone down the beach.’ Katie took a knife from the drawer, pulled out a chair and picked a potato out of the bowl.

‘Why should I when I can sunbathe in my own garden?’ Helen finally lit a match at the fourth attempt and turned on the gas.

‘Because people talk and that’s probably what Marty was thinking about,’ Katie defended. ‘Jack’s hot-tempered. If he heard rumours …’

‘About me and Adam!’

‘Katie’s right,’ Judy broke in swiftly, ‘and you won’t be the only one writing to him, Helen.’

‘You two and Marty would write and tell him that I was sunbathing with Adam Jordan …’ Helen began hotly.

‘Don’t be silly,’ Katie interrupted. ‘And it’s not just us. All the boys have Jack’s address. He has a lot of friends on the building sites and in the warehouse; some of them are bound to come up here to swim. It’s one of the easiest beaches to get to and you can’t walk down to it without passing this house. You know what terrible gossips Swansea people are. Marty’s probably worried that someone might say something and Jack will get the wrong end of the stick.’

Helen washed three pork chops under the tap, set them on a plate, scooped a second knob of dripping out of the jar when the first had melted and placed it together with the chops in the frying pan. ‘That’s ridiculous.’

‘Is it?’ Katie took over the conversation again. ‘You only have to look at Martin with your brother.’

Helen looked at Katie carefully. ‘I didn’t know Martin was jealous of Joe.’

‘It’s not something Lily would talk about to you. After all, you are Joe’s sister. But I think Marty finds it difficult to forget Lily was almost engaged to him.’

‘But there’s nothing going between them now.’

‘I think Lily’s finally managed to convince him,’ Katie said, ‘but it’s been hard for him to accept and he still watches her every time he sees her talking to Joe.’

‘I didn’t know.’ Helen turned the gas under the frying pan down low. ‘You’re close to Martin and Jack.’

‘Very,’ Katie said fiercely. ‘We’ve always had to look out for one another.’

‘Which is why Martin lost his temper with me tonight.’

‘If he did, I’m sure he was only thinking of Jack – and you,’ Katie added tactfully.

‘You believe that?’

White-faced with strain, Judy rose from the table. ‘I don’t think you should let Adam come round here again, Helen, whether he’s looking for Katie or you …’

‘He’s one of the crowd,’ Helen interrupted. ‘I can’t just tell him to stay away.’

Judy looked at Katie and Helen. There was no way she could explain to either of them why they should stay away from Adam Jordan without telling them what had happened and she simply couldn’t face losing their friendship. It was hard enough living with the disgust she felt for herself after that night, without losing their respect as well. ‘I’m sorry, I’m not hungry, Helen. I’m going to bed. Please don’t disturb me.’

Chapter Twenty-five

‘Been celebrating?’ John asked, as Joe walked unsteadily into the living room. He smelled the whisky and noticed the glazed expression in Joe’s eyes but refrained from making further comment.

‘Robin had a pool party.’ Joe fell unsteadily into a chair.

‘It broke up early.’

‘Most of the boys were too drunk to stand, let alone party any more.’ Joe attempted to prop his legs on the coffee table. Missing the edge by two inches, his heels crashed to the floor.

‘You’re all entitled to let your hair down after the way you’ve been working.’ John smiled.

Joe nodded, as a tide of sour, whisky-tainted bile rose in his mouth.

‘Summer ball tomorrow.’

Joe nodded again.

‘I have to talk to you about something.’

‘That sounds serious.’

‘It can wait.’

‘I’m not very drunk.’ Making a supreme effort, Joe managed to focus on John. ‘Tell me now.’

‘You won’t remember a word I’ve said tomorrow.’

‘I might,’ Joe enunciated carefully. ‘If not, you can bring it up again.’

John looked at his whisky glass. It was almost empty but he decided against refilling it because he’d feel obliged to offer Joe one and he’d had more than enough. ‘Your mother’s been taken ill.’

‘You expect me to be sorry after the way she’s treated us?’

‘She’s going to be all right …’

‘Bully for her,’ Joe bit back truculently.

‘It’s not just that, Joe. It’s something your Aunt Dot said.’ He looked Joe in the eye until he was sure he had his full attention. ‘She wanted to warn you off saying anything to Richard Thomas.’

‘Such as?’

‘Apparently your mother said something to him when she was … taken ill. He threatened to sue the nursing home staff who overheard her if they dared to repeat her allegation.’

‘And this something she said was about him being my father.’

Forgetting his earlier resolve, John reached for the whisky bottle. ‘You know he’s your father?’

‘She told me after Grandmother’s funeral.’

‘You didn’t say anything.’

‘I didn’t want to upset you.’ Joe slumped back in his chair. ‘Is he my father?’

John shook his head as he refilled his glass. ‘I honestly don’t know, Joe.’

‘How many men did the bitch sleep with?’

‘I won’t allow you to talk about your mother that way …’

‘Why not?’ Joe questioned caustically. ‘You can’t stand her …’

‘Whatever else, she is your mother,’ John reminded him forcefully, ‘and just because I no longer want to remain married to her doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and let you call her names.’

‘Women of her class are all the same. All they think about is sex and money. They strip off and open their legs for any man with a big enough bank account …’

‘What happened tonight, Joe?’ Disturbed by Joe’s ramblings John realised he was drunker than he’d originally thought and wished he’d never brought up the subject of Richard Thomas.

‘Nothing,’ Joe slurred. ‘Absolutely bloody nothing.’ He began to laugh.

‘You’re overwrought; you’ve been working too hard …’

Joe stopped laughing as suddenly as he’d begun. ‘You’re right, Dad – or is it John? I’m going to bed.’

‘Want a hand?’

Joe shook his head again and regretted it as the room began to spin alarmingly around him.

‘Want some black coffee before you go up?’

‘I’ll be all right.’ Staggering to his feet Joe lurched through the door. John watched him leave, then listened intently as he stumbled up the stairs and into the bathroom. He waited for the water to stop running before walking up behind him. Joe was lying face down on his bed. He moved his head to a more comfortable position, removed his shoes and, taking a blanket from Helen’s room, covered him.

He stood back and watched him for a few minutes. The boy he had regarded as his son from the day he’d been born was young, bright, clever, tipped to get a good degree, had an excellent job waiting for him at the end of the summer, had inherited more money than he could possibly want in one lifetime and had a girl like Angela Watkin Morgan throwing herself at him. To all intents he was set to lead a charmed life. What he couldn’t understand was why he felt so worried for him when all Joe had done was drink too much on the day he finished his examinations.

Helen wrenched open her front door the minute she heard the bike engine. ‘Sorry.’ She stepped back, embarrassed at interrupting Martin as he was about to kiss Lily.

‘You wanted something?’ Martin questioned coldly.

‘I was hoping to talk to you.’ She had the grace to look shamefaced.

‘Me or Lily?’

‘Both of you. I know it’s late but …’

‘We’ll be inside in a minute.’ He turned back to Lily unwilling to forgo his goodnight kiss.

‘Remember tomorrow,’ Lily reminded him as the minutes ticked by.

‘We’re having an entire day together.’ Locking his hands behind her back, he pulled her close.

‘Starting early, which is why we should find out what Helen wants.’

‘I’m greedy, I want tonight as well as tomorrow.’

‘Marty …’

‘All right, give me a minute.’ He propped the bike against the wall as she walked into the house.

Lily opened the door to the living room to see Helen sitting alone. ‘Where are the others?’

‘Judy went to bed almost as soon as she came in and Katie went up half an hour ago.’

‘Are they all right?’ Taking off her coat, Lily hung it on a hook on the back of the door.

‘Katie said she’s just tired but Judy didn’t look well.’

‘Have you checked on her?’

‘She said she didn’t want to be disturbed but the last time I looked in on her, she was sleeping.’ Helen went into the kitchen and returned with a tray. ‘I prepared some coffee. I thought you and Martin might like some.’

‘That was thoughtful.’ Given Helen’s unpredictability, Lily hadn’t been sure what to expect.

‘Coffee?’ Helen asked Martin as he walked in.

‘Please.’

‘Won’t you sit down?’ Helen poured hot water on to the instant granules she’d spooned into the cups as Martin sat beside Lily on the sofa. ‘I wanted to tell you that you got the wrong impression earlier about Adam. He had the afternoon off, so he decided to go for a swim. Afterwards he called in here on the off chance as a friend.’

‘Friend,’ Martin repeated sceptically.

‘If you must know, he was hoping to see Katie,’ she revealed, feeling as though she were being disloyal to Katie.

‘In the afternoon when she works,’ Martin said flatly.

‘On a Thursday afternoon when she works in a department store.’ Helen handed him his coffee. ‘It is half day in Swansea.’

‘Office staff don’t have half days.’ Martin helped himself to sugar and milk.

‘Adam didn’t know that.’

‘Katie has told him she’s not interested in him.’ He placed his cup on the table.

‘That obviously hasn’t stopped Adam from hoping she’ll change her mind.’ Helen was close to exasperation.

‘Then perhaps I should have a word with him and tell him that when my sister says no, she means it.’ Martin’s temper rose along with his voice.

‘Katie has handled the situation with Adam perfectly well by herself until now, Marty. I’d let her carry on, unless she asks for your help.’ Lily took the coffee Helen gave her and sat back next to him.

‘I just wanted you to know that there’s nothing going on between me and Adam, there won’t be and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t write to Jack …’

‘You thought I’d write to Jack about this!’ he exclaimed, conveniently forgetting that he’d talked to Lily about doing just that.

‘You won’t?’

‘The last thing Jack needs when he’s finishing his basic training and on the point of being sent to God knows what forsaken corner of the world is a letter from me or anyone else telling him that his wife is …’

‘A tart.’ Helen looked him in the eye.

‘I wasn’t going to say that.’

‘Then what were you going to say, Martin?’

‘If I were going to say anything to Jack – and I wouldn’t consider it unless I thought someone else was about to tell him what you were up to – it would be along the lines of “entertaining Adam in her house in the afternoon when everyone else is at work”.’

‘I suppose I deserve that,’ she conceded.

‘And even then, I would only say something, because I know he would never forgive me for holding back anything important about you. He’s my brother, Helen, I owe him …’

‘I’ve had the family talking-to from Katie, thank you. I may not have realised before, but I do know now, just how close you three are.’

‘Katie knows about this?’

‘I talked to her and Judy about it.’

‘What did they say?’ Taking Martin’s hand, Lily leaned against his shoulder.

‘More or less the same as you two.’

‘That what you and Adam were doing could give rise to gossip,’ Martin suggested.

‘Yes,’ Helen agreed. ‘But that’s not to say the four of you aren’t hopelessly old-fashioned fuddy-duddies. But OK, there could have been gossip and it might have upset Jack if he’d heard about it. All I can say in my defence is that I didn’t think and since I’ve come out of hospital I’ve been lonely when you three have been out at work all day. But from tomorrow it’s going to be different. I have a fashion show to organise and I’ll be in the warehouse more or less every day from now on, so’ – she forced herself to look directly at Martin – ‘there’ll be no time for me to entertain Adam, or anyone else for that matter, when Lily, Katie and Judy are at work.’

‘I know it’s not easy for you with Jack away …’

‘But you still think I should shut myself into a cupboard until he comes back, or at least go into mourning.’

‘I think you should carry on going out with Lily, Judy, Katie, the boys and me,’ Martin said. ‘As one of a crowd.’

‘Starting tomorrow down the Pier.’ Lily smiled, relieved that the situation between Helen and Martin was resolved.

‘Dancing,’ Helen murmured doubtfully.

‘Why not?’ Martin questioned. ‘What can anyone possibly say if half the crowd consists of girls and your brother-in-law is there as well?’

‘The Mrs Lannons of this world would find plenty.’

‘Jack would never listen to the Mrs Lannons of this world.’

‘I’ll see how tired I am after working.’ She left her chair. ‘And speaking of which, I should go to bed.’

‘Sleep well, and don’t bother about the cups. I’ll clear them,’ Lily offered.

‘You spending tomorrow here, Lily?’

Lily gripped Martin’s hand. ‘We planned to.’

‘There’s three pork chops in the meat safe,’ Helen reminded her. ‘You could have them for your dinner.’

‘I’ll buy something in the village for tea and cook for all of us.’

‘That would be nice. ‘Night, Lily. Goodnight, Martin.’ Helen held out her hand.

‘Goodnight, Helen.’ Martin shook her hand and kissed her cheek. ‘What you said earlier about Katie, Jack and me being close, that goes for you too. You’re one of us now. A Clay, and don’t you forget it.’

‘That was a nice thing you said to Helen.’ Lily held on to Martin’s arm as she walked him to his bike.

‘It’s true, she is a Clay. I only hope Jack won’t live to regret making her one.’

‘He won’t.’

‘That’s my Lily, ever the optimist.’ He gazed across the bay. ‘Every time I look at the sea, I understand why you wanted to move here.’

‘The sea’s only part of it, Helen’s house gives all four of us independence.’

‘Until Jack comes back.’

‘Two years is a long time.’

‘It seems endless at the beginning of National Service but it goes by in a flash. No sooner was I in the army than I was out of it.’

‘I’m glad you won’t be going away again.’

‘So am I.’ He kissed her. ‘See you in the morning.’

‘Bright and early with your swimsuit.’

‘Until then.’

She closed the gate as he wheeled the bike out. Leaning on it, she watched him start the engine and drive off down the road. Tomorrow was going to be a day she would remember for the rest of her life. She just knew it.

‘I wasn’t expecting to see you this early. Tea?’ John held up the pot as Joe joined him in the kitchen.

‘Is there any coffee?’

‘Is that your way of asking if I’ll make it?’

‘Yes.’ Joe opened the cupboard door and rummaged among the bottles of pills and patent medicines. ‘Are there any Alka-Seltzer?’

‘Bottom left-hand shelf last time I looked,’ John directed.

‘Was I very incoherent last night?’

‘How much do you remember?’

‘Getting home …’

‘I hope you didn’t drive Robin’s car.’

‘I shared a taxi with a couple of girls.’

‘Do you remember talking about Richard Thomas?’

Joe looked at John blankly for a moment, then a hazy memory unfolded. ‘You said something about Aunt Dot telling you he wasn’t my father.’

‘Not quite. I said if he is, he’s denying it.’

‘And you don’t want me to talk to him about it,’ Joe said slowly, fumbling through his fudged recollection of their conversation.

‘Dot warned me that he doesn’t want to talk to you or anyone about it.’

‘He can’t expect me just to ignore what my mother told me.’ Joe found the Alka-Seltzer, tore a couple free from their paper wrappings and dropped them into a glass.

‘I don’t know what he expects. But I do think you should take Dot’s advice. He’s not a man anyone would want to cross.’

‘Good morning, dear father, dear brother, isn’t it a lovely day.’ Anxious to appear fully recovered and cheerful, Helen breezed in from the front door.

‘God, that’s all I need, a chirpy sister.’

‘Poor, Joe.’ Helen slipped her arm round Joe’s neck and watched the Alka-Seltzer fizzing in the glass. ‘Did he drink too much last night, then?’

‘I’d say so.’ John reached for another cup and saucer. ‘But it’s best to take no notice, love. Tea?’

‘Please, and toast. I’m starving.’

‘Didn’t you have breakfast before you left home?’

‘Sort of, but I’m still ravenous.’

‘How can you “sort of” have breakfast?’ Joe growled.

‘It was “sort of” on the hop. Katie’s alarm didn’t go off and, as she’s usually first up, we were all late and I had to fight for the bathroom …’