Swansea Summer (46 page)

‘It’s no bother, he’s only in his study.’

‘Drop it, Angie, it’s nothing.’

‘How did you do it?’ Emily nosed.

‘Fed up with him chasing her, the gorgeous Lily lashed out.’ Robin sipped the whisky punch Emily had mixed for him. ‘I was joking.’ He shrank back as Joe loomed over him.

‘Joseph, how lovely to see you; have you come to discuss tonight’s arrangements?’

‘Tonight, Mrs Watkin Morgan?’ Joe repeated in confusion.

‘The summer ball, you ass. Take no notice of Joe, Mums, he’s had an accident with a door.’

‘So I see. Perhaps my husband should look at you …’

‘It’s fine, Mrs Watkin Morgan,’ Joe snapped, obviously on edge.

‘Angie, get Joe a drink, there’s a darling, it’s absolutely baking out here.’

‘Whisky punch, Joe?’ Angie rose from her seat.

‘If that’s what everyone else is drinking.’

‘Goes with the weather.’ Robin emptied his glass. ‘Another for me while you’re at it, sis. So, not that you’re unwelcome, but why did you come?’

Joe watched Angie as she mixed the drinks. Her gold nylon two-piece swimsuit left very little of her slim, firm body to the imagination. And after what had happened between them the day before, he didn’t even have to use that, just his memory. ‘To ask Angie if she’ll go to the summer ball with me.’

‘And the gorgeous Lily?’

‘Is dead and forgotten.’

‘Hear that, sis?’ Robin called. ‘Joe’s come to invite you to the summer ball if you can stand the sight of his bruises.’

Eyes sparkling, her mouth split into a smile designed to showcase her perfect teeth. ‘I’d love to go with you, Joe.’

‘I’ll pick you up at seven.’

‘No, we’ll pick you up.’ Robin swung his legs down from the steamer chair he’d sprawled out on. ‘Swim?’

‘I have a few errands to run before tonight.’

‘Sure I – or Angie – can’t persuade you?’

‘Sure.’ Joe took the drink Angela handed him and finished it in two long draughts.

‘You were thirsty,’ she flirted, conscious of her mother in the den behind them.

‘Yes.’

‘See you at seven, Joe.’ Angie kissed his bruised cheek.

‘I’ll be waiting.’ Setting down his glass, he walked back through the house.

Chapter Twenty-six

‘Was Joe ever like that with you before?’ Martin lay stretched out next to Lily on the same blanket that Helen and Adam had used to sunbathe on in Helen’s garden.

‘Violent, you mean?’ Lily understood him at once. ‘Never. There’s something else I want you to know about Joe and me …’

‘I don’t want to know anything about you and Joe,’ he cut her short.

‘Please, Marty. I don’t want any secrets between us. I need to say this and it’s nothing I’m ashamed of, or anything that will make you more upset with Joe than you already are.’ She sat up beside him. ‘You know Joe was the first boy to ask me out. He even came round to ask Auntie Norah’s permission to take me to the pictures. It felt odd to begin with because I’d only ever thought of him as Helen’s older brother, but I grew to like him and I knew Auntie Norah and Uncle Roy approved of my going out with him. And after some of the stories I’d heard from other girls about having to fight off boys, I was relieved that he always behaved like a perfect gentleman. The most we ever did was kiss and nine times out of ten it was a peck on the cheek.’

He held her look. ‘Then he never touched you …’

‘Not in the way you have – and did after a couple of dates.’

Ashamed of the jealousy that had almost finished their relationship before it had even begun, he sat up next to her. ‘That puts me in my place.’

‘You only did what I wanted you to.’ She smiled mischievously, before becoming serious again. ‘I should have known we could never be friends in the way I thought we were after I gave him back his engagement ring, because every time we accidentally met, he hinted he wanted more. But it was never more than a hint and I brushed off his invitations to dinner and balls, because they always seemed to be half-hearted – almost like a joke between us. Shortly after I began to go out with you, I told him that if I’d ever had any feelings for him they’d long gone, so when he bumped into me after work one day and suggested we become friends, there didn’t seem to be any reason not to be. I thought he’d soon find himself another girl …’

‘Can’t you see those were no accidental meetings, Lily?’ Martin interrupted. ‘And now, he broke in on us, he attacked you …’

‘And I should have seen it coming,’ she insisted, taking a share of the blame. ‘When we were together Joe spent most of his time either making up fairy stories, that with hindsight I think he half believed, or planning out the perfect future for us. Now, I think that he lived more in that story-book world than reality.’

‘Did he still talk about your future together after you gave him back his ring?’ He leaned against the wall of the house.

‘He occasionally mentioned his plans but it was always in a “remember this” kind of way and I never thought for one minute that he was waiting for it to happen. When we were about to get engaged, he said he would buy a cottage for us near Llandaff where he was going to work. It was going to have a big garden, roses round the door, leaded-glass windows, something like a cross between Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ cottage and Little Red Riding Hood’s, and to me just as fanciful. Inside it was going to be furnished like a palace. He talked about blue and silver, and gold and green colour schemes. He even planned a honeymoon in France.’ Shading her eyes against the sun, she tried to read the expression on Martin’s face. ‘Looking back, even in the beginning when he showed me the engagement ring he’d bought, I think I sensed that something was wrong but I had nothing to compare Joe and me with except your brother and Helen, and I knew from something Helen had let slip that she had made love to Jack. Judy joked about Brian pulling off her bra every time they were alone and all Joe wanted to do was kiss me goodnight and hold hands.’

‘And that wasn’t enough for you.’ His eyes were dark, enigmatic and she wished she could read his thoughts.

‘It was enough for me with Joe. But I didn’t look or think further than our engagement and that never really happened.’

‘So even when you were almost engaged to Joe you thought that some day there’d be someone else for you.’

‘It wasn’t as definite as that. I was living day to day. I’d just lost Auntie Norah, Joe was safe, steady, undemanding, a bit like an older brother, I suppose, although I’ve never had one so I don’t know what that’s like. When my mother turned up at the party and Joe walked away from me I was upset, but looking back, only because of my mother. I think even then I was relieved that it was over between us because he wasn’t the right one for me.’

‘And I am?’

She knelt in front of him. ‘I need you to know that you’re not only the first man I’ve made love to, but the first man I’ve really loved.’

He kissed her. ‘Perhaps I should talk to your uncle about what happened.’

She threw her arms round his waist. ‘With Joe or what Joe saw us doing?’

‘Better we tell your uncle everything than he find out from Joe.’

‘Uncle Roy has enough to worry about, planning his wedding. Besides, I don’t think Joe will tell anyone what happened because he’d have to admit he’s a Peeping Tom. Creeping in on us …’

‘I was a fool not to lock the front door.’

‘Helen may have given him a key, so it wouldn’t have made any difference.’

‘We might have heard it turning in the lock.’

‘And we might not have,’ she countered. ‘It happened, Marty. All we can do now is try to forget it.’

‘I can’t forget that he hurt you.’

‘Thanks to you, not for long.’ She looked into his eyes. ‘And as for what happened before Joe walked in, I never want to forget that as long as I live.’ She reached for his hand. ‘The girls won’t be in for another couple of hours.’

‘And?’

‘The sun’s getting too hot to lie out here any longer.’

‘I love you, Lily Sullivan.’

‘I know,’ she whispered as she pulled him to his feet.

Joe walked out to meet Richard Thomas as he parked his car in the drive of the house in Langland.

‘You said it was urgent.’ Richard climbed out of the driver’s seat.

‘It is.’

‘I assume it’s something to do with the house.’

‘No.’

‘I don’t work on Saturdays.’

‘You of all people, Mr Thomas, should know that I have sufficient money to pay your fees.’

‘No amount of money buys my services on a Saturday, Joseph.’ Richard opened his car door.

‘I only need five minutes.’

Richard glanced at his watch. ‘And that is all you have. I’m on my way to a golf match.’

‘Are you my father?’ Joe held Richard’s glare for what seemed like hours, although it could only have been a minute or two, and he was the first to turn his head away.

‘If you ever ask me that question again, I will sue you to the point where you won’t be able to afford the services of a shoeshine boy, let alone a solicitor.’

‘Then you deny it.’ Forgetting his resolve to stay calm, Joe allowed his anger to surface.

‘Publicly, for both our sakes, I most emphatically do.’

Joe lowered his voice. ‘And privately?’

Richard hesitated for a moment before answering. ‘If you are ever in trouble I will do whatever I can to help you.’

‘Because I am your son.’

‘Because your grandfather was my closest friend.’

‘Did you put any of your own money into the trust fund my great-aunt set up for me?’ Joe questioned harshly.

‘No.’

‘And my grandmother’s will?’

‘Was written exactly the way she dictated it. You can check with her doctor and vicar if you don’t believe me.’

‘You seduced my mother …’

‘Your mother is a fantasist, Joseph.’

‘You never slept with her?’ Joe challenged.

Richard Thomas leaned against his car. ‘Your grandmother told me that she caught your mother sneaking boys into her bedroom before her sixteenth birthday and never the same one twice. Any boy in her set could have fathered you.’

‘And you? Is it possible …’

‘The only thing I can tell you for certain, Joseph, is that John Griffiths is not your father. And I’d appreciate it if you never mention this subject again, to me or to anyone else.’

‘You give me your word about my trust fund and grandmother’s will?’ Joe pressed, realising he’d get no more from Richard Thomas than he already had.

‘I give you my word.’ Richard looked Joe straight in the eye. He almost convinced himself as well as the boy, but then he’d had a lifetime’s experience of lying.

‘No.’

‘Please, Katie, we can’t leave you alone, not on a Saturday night,’ Lily pleaded.

‘I have a headache. The last thing I want to do is to go down the Pier. I want a quiet walk on the beach.’

‘I’ll go with you,’ Judy offered eagerly, anxious to avoid Adam Jordan.

Katie refused Judy’s offer. ‘I’d rather be by myself and Martin’s expecting you, Lily.’

Lily looked at Judy and Helen in exasperation. ‘All right.’ She pulled on her gloves. ‘We’ll go down the Pier but we’ll be back early.’

‘Please don’t, not on my account.’ Katie lifted her jacket from the hook on the back of the door and checked that her front-door key was in the pocket.

‘We did what we could,’ Helen said as they followed her out of the door.

‘I just wish …’ Lily bit her lip.

‘What?’ Judy asked.

‘That I could help her,’ Lily answered, as she slammed the door behind her.

‘Will you stop looking at the door every five minutes,’ Sam griped to Martin. ‘The girls said they’d be here and they will.’

Martin paid the barmaid for the beer he’d bought for himself, Sam and Adam, and followed Sam to a table on the edge of the dance floor. He had spent the entire day with Lily, refusing to leave her until Katie, Helen and Judy had returned. But concerned that even then Joe might come back, he had found it difficult to tear himself away.

It had been an almost perfect day for him and, he hoped, Lily – almost, because although Lily had insisted she had recovered from Joe’s attack, his presence hung like a black cloud over the remainder of the time they had spent together. In the afternoon they had walked on the beach, but even there he had caught himself looking over his shoulder every time a car drove along the coast road to see if Joe was in it.

‘You and Lily have a good day?’ Adam sat down and sipped his pint.

‘The water was a bit cold, but the sun was warm.’

‘I didn’t ask about the sea.’

‘I know you didn’t.’

‘Lover boy doesn’t want to talk about his girl,’ Adam mocked.

‘No.’ Martin gave Adam a warning look.

‘Nice house Helen has there,’ Sam broke the tension. ‘And, believe it or not, the sergeant took pity on this poor rookie when he drew up the last roster and I have a whole Sunday off tomorrow. Do you fancy spending it at the beach?’

‘Limeslade beach?’ Adam asked.

‘Are there any others?’

‘Thirty or so on the Gower, more if you count Swansea Bay and head out Porthcawl way.’ Adam offered round his cigarettes.

‘We can ask the girls what they think,’ Martin suggested cautiously, not wanting Helen – or Lily – to feel they were imposing. Beyond tonight, he and Lily hadn’t made any definite plans. He would like nothing better than to spend tomorrow with her – even if the others were around – but what if she wanted to spend it with the girls and only agreed out of politeness?

‘It is a public beach.’ Adam lit their cigarettes before his own.

‘But it would be nice if we could use the house to change and make the odd cup of tea,’ Sam commented. ‘So how about it?’

‘Fine by me,’ Martin agreed.

‘Good, you’ll ask Helen, then?’

‘Why me?’ Martin questioned.

‘She’s your sister-in-law.’

‘And here are the lovely ladies.’ Rising to his feet, Adam pulled three chairs out from under their table. ‘Where’s Katie?’

‘We couldn’t persuade her to come.’ Judy took the chair furthest from Adam, leaving Helen no option but to sit next to him.

Martin winked at Lily who was wearing a white, off-the-shoulder, gypsy-style frock that showed off her tan.

‘You look smart,’ Sam complimented Judy who was wearing a dress similar to Lily’s in bottle-green. ‘What would you all like to drink – Babycham?’

‘I’ll have an orange juice, please.’ Helen, who had dressed soberly for the Pier for the first time in her life, was wearing a navy-blue shirtwaister, trimmed with white braid round the collar, edge of the short sleeves and pockets. More suitable for the office than a dance, she had chosen it in the hope of impressing on Martin that she had no intention of flirting with anyone.

‘You’re late,’ Martin complained to Lily as Adam went to the bar to help Sam with the drinks. ‘There’s nothing wrong, is there?’

‘Only Katie point-blank refusing to come with us. She said she’s tired but she’s been using that excuse for weeks now.’

‘If we leave early, I’ll walk you home and try talking to her.’

‘It might be better left until tomorrow.’ She smiled at Sam as he handed her a Babycham and a glass.

‘You want to see me tomorrow?’

‘Not if you don’t want to,’ she teased.

‘Carry on like this, Lily Sullivan, and you’ll have to throw stones to keep me from your door.’

As Sam and Adam sat down with their drinks, Martin surprised Judy by asking her to dance. She looked at Lily, but Lily only laughed.

‘Go ahead. I’m not his keeper.’

‘To what do I owe the honour?’ Judy murmured guardedly as Martin led her out on to the almost deserted floor.

‘When I returned to the flat this afternoon there was a letter waiting for me from Brian.’

‘Did he say anything in particular?’

‘He asked me to tell you that he’s missing you, thinking about you and he’d like to write to you.’

‘He has my address,’ she said shortly.

‘Shall I tell him that in my next letter?’

‘That’s up to you.’

‘Then I will.’

‘Is that all he said?’ she asked tentatively, after a few minutes’ silence.

‘About you.’

‘Is he all right?’

‘He complained that he’s worn out with doing double shifts, there’s more work than he can cope with and London is a big, hot, noisy, impersonal city, especially in summer.’

‘You’ve just reminded me of a few of the reasons why I left.’