Two Strangers (24 page)

‘She sounds ideal. I’d like to talk to her today, if possible. Could you give me her home address?’

‘I’ll do better than that.’ He stood up and opened the surgery door. ‘Betty, would you pop round and ask Mrs Adams if she would come and see me, please?’

While they waited, the doctor asked a lot of questions about the school and the pupils they were taking, and Harry told him how it had all come about.

‘This is something badly needed. I come across cases of abuse from time to time, and it is distressing not to be able to do more. I would very much like to visit your school, if I may?’

‘We would be pleased to show you around and let you meet the children.’

‘Thank you. Would this evening be convenient?’ he asked eagerly.

‘Any time that suits you.’ Harry studied the man in front of him. He was around fifty, of average height and with hair just greying at the temples. He was friendly, with a ready smile. Harry liked him. ‘I’m sure you have a very busy practice, but would it be possible to engage you as our doctor so we could call on you if needed?’

‘I would be delighted and honoured to help. I will give you my home address as well as the surgery. Please call me at any time, day or night.’

They were shaking hands, both well pleased with the agreement, when the door opened and Mrs Adams looked in.

‘You wanted me, Dr Saunders?’

‘Yes, come in, Elsie. This gentleman wants to talk to you. I have a call to make so I’ll leave you to it.’ He smiled at Harry. ‘I’ll see you this evening, then.’

Elsie Adams was just as the doctor had described and looked very suitable for the job. He told her what he was looking for and asked her if she would be interested in the position.

‘Oh, sir, I would love to look after the boys. It would be the answer to my problems at home. Living with my daughter isn’t a good idea. I’m used to working, and, to be honest, I miss it dreadfully.’

‘Then the job is yours. When can you move in?’

‘At once, sir.’

Harry smiled at her enthusiasm. ‘Dr Saunders is coming to see us this evening, so why don’t you come with him? You should see what you’re letting yourself in for before making a final decision.’

‘I’ll certainly come this evening, sir, but I can tell you now that I’ll accept the position.’

‘Well, if you are sure, then we will move you in tomorrow. Will that suit you?’

‘Absolutely, sir.’

‘Good, and my name is Harry. We only use Christian names at the school.’

‘Then I’m Elsie.’

‘We will be delighted and relieved to have you with us, Elsie.’ Harry stood up. ‘I have one more task to do today, so please excuse me. We will look forward to seeing you this evening.’

Harry walked towards the school, pleased that it had been so easy to find someone suitable – and not only that, but a doctor willing to be on call when needed. That was a good morning’s work, he acknowledged, as he strode along.

Now he had to talk to Bill.

Twenty-Four

When Harry reached the junior school, the children were just streaming out of the door for their break. A teacher was in charge of the youngsters, but it wasn’t Bill, so Harry went in and found the headmaster’s room. The door was open and a middle-aged man was sitting behind a large desk covered in papers.

Harry rapped on the door and waited for the man to look up. ‘My apologies for disturbing you, sir, but could you spare me a moment of your time?’

The man nodded. ‘Come in and sit down. It’s time I took a break. Are you by any chance the man who is setting up a school for abused children?’

Harry was taken aback. ‘I am, but how did you know?’

‘There has been a lot of talk amongst those of us in education, and you have been described to me in great detail. How can I help you?’

‘As you have probably already heard,’ Harry said drily, ‘our school is growing quickly, and so is our need for qualified teachers. When I passed this morning, I saw a tall man ushering the children into the school. He seemed just the age and type I am looking for, but I expect he is a valuable member of your staff and I wouldn’t approach him without your permission.’

‘I would expect no less from a man of your excellent reputation. You must be talking about Bill. He’s a fine man, a first-class teacher, and the children like him. I wish I could keep him, but that isn’t possible. He is standing in for our permanent teacher who has had a long illness. He is fit again and we are expecting him back next week.’

‘Ah, so he could be looking for work. What is his full name?’

‘William Dale.’

Harry started. Dale! He was using the name of his parents’ house. Now, why would he do that?

The headmaster stood up. ‘If you’d like to have a word with him, he’ll be in the staff room. I’ll show you the way.’

‘Thank you. I would indeed like to meet him.’ Harry smiled. ‘Looks as if I might have come just at the right time. If I can add another teacher to my staff, then I’ll have done very well today.’

The man Harry and Vicki had searched for was alone in the room and stood up as soon as they entered.

‘Bill, this gentleman would like to have a word with you. Take your time. I’ll look after your class if necessary.’ The headmaster shook hands with Harry. ‘A great pleasure to have met you, and I wish you every success with your school.’

‘Thank you.’ As soon as he had left, Harry turned his attention to the tall man standing in front of him, and found himself looking into a pair of stunning green eyes. They were so much brighter than the portrait they had seen of him, and he could understand why Vicki remembered him so clearly. It was then he noticed the scar just showing an inch or so from his hairline. A head injury!

‘Would you like a cup of tea? I’ve just made a fresh pot.’

‘That would be welcome.’ Harry sat down, watching every move Bill made to see if there were any other injuries evident. ‘I’ve had a busy morning.’

‘Why do you want to see me?’ Bill handed Harry a cup of tea and then sat opposite him.

‘The headmaster told me you might be looking for a job soon. I have opened a school for children who have suffered neglect or abuse, and we need another teacher. The children who come to us are troubled and need a great deal of care and understanding. The work is very rewarding, but not always easy. Would you be interested in taking on such a challenge?’

Bill sat slightly forward, his expressive eyes alive with interest. ‘I would welcome the chance to do something so necessary.’

‘That’s good. The headmaster has given me a glowing report of your teaching abilities, but I would like to know where you studied, and any past experience you’ve had. Another reference would be helpful.’

Bill sat back, his expression closed. ‘Then you have wasted your time, sir. I cannot supply you with the information you require.’

‘And why is that?’

After a long pause, Bill clearly came to a decision. ‘No one here knows what I am about to tell you, so I must ask that you keep this to yourself.’

‘You can rest assured that whatever you tell me in confidence will go no further.’

‘I cannot tell you about my past because I can’t remember. I believe I was injured during the war.’ His hand went up to the scar. ‘This goes right across my head.’

‘You’ve lost your memory. I understand.’ There was no doubt in Harry’s mind that this man was telling the truth. He’d seen the disappointment on Bill’s face when he thought the chance of the job had slipped away.

‘I have glimpses, but they never last long and I can’t seem to retain them, and I’m never sure if they are real memories or my mind playing tricks.’

‘Have you seen doctors?’

Bill lifted his hands in a frustrated gesture. ‘I suppose I have.’

Harry had the urge to reach out with comfort, to tell this man who he was and give him back his life and the people who loved him. But he’d had enough experience with troubled children to know it was the last thing he must do. His respect for the man sitting opposite him grew and grew. He must have a strong character to have carried this burden for so long. It was evident that he had hidden his disability in order to have some kind of a normal life, and Harry was determined to help him.

‘How soon will you be able to join us?’

Caution and then hope flooded his expression. ‘You would still offer me the job without references, without details of my education?’

‘I don’t need them. From your accent it is clear you have had an excellent education. A private one, I would say. And although you carry the frustration of loss of memory, you are dealing with it calmly and sensibly. It shows a man of sound character, and that is enough for me.’

Bill surged to his feet and shook Harry’s hand. ‘Thank you for giving me the chance. I won’t let you down, sir.’

‘I know you won’t, and the name is Harry. Do you know where we are?’

‘Yes, I have heard you are at the old house on Sir Charles Denton’s estate. I can find it.’

‘We have had signs put up now, so you won’t have any difficulty. Oh, and I forgot to mention. We need our staff to live at the school. We have good accommodation, and if that is all right with you, you can move in at once. We have an old bus if you need to move your things.’

‘I have very little. I will move in tomorrow, if I may?’

‘Of course.’ Harry stood up. ‘We will be delighted to welcome you to our special school.’

‘Was it him?’ Edward asked, pulling the door of the bus open the moment it stopped. ‘You’ve been a long time.’

Harry climbed out. ‘Bring Pearl out here. I don’t want the children to hear any of this.’

Without saying another word, Edward walked smartly to the house, reappearing almost at once with his wife.

‘Don’t keep us in suspense,’ Pearl demanded. ‘What happened? Is it Vicki’s Bill?’

‘Yes, it is, and we guessed correctly. He suffered a nasty head injury and has lost his memory.’

‘Oh, the poor man. Did you tell him who he was?’

‘No, Pearl, that would have been the wrong thing to do at this point and you know that well enough. We can’t rush in and overload him with what we know. This has got to be done slowly, gently, as we did with Alfie.’

‘That might be difficult once Vicki hears that you’ve found him. She’ll be down here at once, with Peter right behind her.’

‘That’s why I’m not going to tell them just yet, Edward.’ Harry then explained about his meeting with Bill, and the promise he’d made him. ‘I’m breaking that promise by telling you, but you have to know.’

Pearl nodded. ‘Do you think he’ll come tomorrow?’

‘I’m sure he will. The temporary teaching job he has finishes at the end of the week, and I believe he wants this job very badly. And what is just as important is that we need him. I was impressed.’

‘In what way?’ Edward asked.

‘It’s hard to put it into words, so wait until you meet him; then you will understand. The enthusiastic teacher is still there, despite his loss of memory. I’m convinced he will be a great asset here.’

‘Your judgement is usually sound, Harry. But have you spent all this time with him?’

A broad smile lit up his face as he told them about the new matron and the doctor.

‘That’s wonderful news!’ Edward declared. ‘And we also have some news for you. Jim Baker brought us a man who would like the job as night manager. He’s an ex-soldier who has lost an arm, but he’s eager, and we believe he will suit us very nicely.’

‘Wonderful. Did you employ him?’

‘We did, and he starts next week. We asked him if he would like to live in or stay at his parents’ home in the village. He jumped at the chance to have a room here.’ Pearl gave Harry an enquiring look, her mouth turning up slightly at the corners. ‘With all the new boys and extra staff moving in, could we manage to employ a girl to help with the housekeeping? George has a young sister who’s looking for work.’

‘Who on earth is George?’

‘The night manager.’

‘Oh, you didn’t mention his name. Go ahead, Pearl, and, while you’re at it, you also need more kitchen staff.’ Harry’s eyes glinted with amusement. ‘Has George by any chance got a brother who is good at accounts? I’m beginning to do more administration work than teaching.’

They laughed, and Edward said, ‘I’m sure he would know someone. Are you serious?’

‘No, that’s enough for today, but if we continue to expand at this rate, it will be something to consider in the near future. Come on, Pearl, put the kettle on – I’m gasping. And remember, not a word to anyone about Bill’s condition. Let’s get him here; as we come to know him, we can decide how best to help.’

‘After all this time it is unlikely he will ever regain his full memory,’ Edward said as they walked back to the school. ‘We can’t keep his family away from him for long.’

‘I know that is going to be a problem, but solving problems is what we do best, isn’t it?’

‘Right,’ Edward agreed. ‘And we are getting plenty now. One of the new boys is belligerent, and two more have just withdrawn into themselves. They all react differently to the troubled lives they’ve had.’

Harry nodded. ‘Poor little devils. But that’s why they are here, and thank heavens they are. We can give them a chance in life – if they are willing to take it, of course.’

That evening, Elsie and the doctor arrived. After she had given them a tour of the school, Pearl took the new matron to view her rooms. They had set aside a bedroom with an adjoining room she could use as a private sitting room.

‘Will the rooms be all right for you?’ Harry asked Elsie when they returned.

‘They will be perfect.’ She sat down, her expression serious. ‘Would it be possible to have another room down here that I could use as a surgery? A small one would do. I could then encourage the boys to come and talk to me if they have any problems.’

‘An excellent idea. When you move in, we will decide on the best place, and you can tell us what you need in there.’

‘Thank you, Harry.’ She relaxed then, smiling. ‘I can’t wait to move in and meet the children.’

‘We intended to get here before the boys went to bed,’ Dr Saunders told them, ‘but I was delayed with an emergency. I would like to come during the day to see them. If they do need a doctor, it will be less stressful for them if they already know me.’