he’s stuck in bed with bronchitis.’
‘Oh no,’ Amy cried, all thoughts of Carol at that moment flying from her mind. ‘Do you think it would be all right if I pop up to see him?’
‘I don’t see why not.’
‘Mum, Tommy’s ill,’ she said, grabbing her coat from a hook by the door.
‘Amy, your dinner!’
‘I’ll have it when I come back,’ she said, hurrying out and asking Jeremy as they quickly walked up the hill, ‘How bad is it?’
‘He’s pretty rough, but he’s been put on antibiotics so that should sort him out.’
The wind was biting and Amy pulled her collar up, almost halting in her stride when Jeremy put an arm around her to draw her closer. ‘You’re cold,’ he said softly and with what sounded like concern.
Amy didn’t know how to react. She felt awkward to be this close to Jeremy and to have his arm around her, but if she pulled away it would look churlish. Confused, she just carried on walking and was glad when they arrived.
However any relief she felt was wiped away when Celia saw her, the woman saying, ‘Amy, what are you doing here?’
‘I … I’ve come to see Tommy.’
‘Thomas is in bed, and as I’ve told you before, it wouldn’t be proper for you to go up to his bedroom.’
‘Leave it out, Mum,’ Jeremy protested. ‘They’re engaged.’
‘Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be right,’ Celia argued.
‘The days when couples needed chaperones have well gone, but if you’re going to be prissy about it, I’ll take Amy upstairs and act as one.’
‘Oh, very well, but only for five minutes. Thomas is ill and needs his rest.’
‘Thanks, Jeremy,’ Amy whispered gratefully as they went upstairs.
‘I didn’t realise my mother was such a prude.’
Any comment Amy might have made died on her lips when they walked into Tommy’s bedroom. He looked awful and she flew to his side. Tommy tried to smile, and tears filled Amy’s eyes. This was the first time she’d seen him like this, and it was heartbreaking to hear when he began coughing, his chest heaving and perspiration beading his forehead. ‘Oh, Tommy,’ she cried, feeling utterly helpless.
‘I … I’ll be all right,’ he gasped. ‘Sorry about tonight.’
‘Don’t be silly, it doesn’t matter.’
‘I … might be stuck in bed for a good few days.’
Amy felt it would take longer than that and said, ‘Don’t try to get up before you’re fully recovered.’
‘I’ve got a business to run,’ he croaked.
‘Don’t worry,’ Jeremy said, speaking for the first time. ‘I can keep an eye on things for you.’
‘No … no need,’ Tommy said, but Amy looked sideways to see that Jeremy was leaning casually against the door frame and she smiled at him gratefully. He winked and she flushed, turning to see that Tommy’s eyes had closed. Softly she kissed his cheek, but he didn’t stir, and after just sitting beside him for another couple of minutes, she indicated to Jeremy that they should leave.
Celia was waiting for them at the foot of the stairs, and Amy wondered if she’d been timing the visit. ‘As you saw, Thomas is very ill and he needs lots of rest.’
‘Would it be all right if I just pop in for a few minutes each day?’
‘Yes, of course it will,’ Jeremy agreed before his mother got a chance to answer. ‘That’s all right, isn’t it, Mum?’
Celia hesitated, but then said stiffly, ‘Yes, I suppose so.’
‘Thank you,’ Amy said. ‘I’ll go now, but I’ll call in after work tomorrow.’
‘I’ll walk you home, Amy,’ Jeremy offered.
‘There’s no need,’ she said hurriedly.
‘I insist,’ he said.
‘Jeremy, you heard her,’ Celia snapped. ‘There’s no need.’
Before he could respond, Amy pulled open the street door, calling a swift goodbye before hurrying out, relieved that Jeremy didn’t follow her. There was something about Jeremy, a sort of dangerous magnetism that made her nervous and she was glad to get away from him.
Carol had done her Christmas shopping and had put a small tree in front of the window, adding fairy lights and baubles. It was Sunday morning, so she had wrapped the presents chosen for her brothers and placed them under the tree. She hoped the hint would work, that some would be added for her, but more than anything she longed for her mother to get in touch. It had been around seven months now without a word, and when she’d been to see her gran, the old lady still insisted that she hadn’t heard from her either. Carol didn’t believe it. Before she left her mother had been to see her gran every day, and it didn’t make sense that she hadn’t at least been in touch to make sure that the old woman was all right.
Not only that, if Gran hadn’t been in contact with her mother, she wouldn’t know that the house on Lark Rise was now empty, and if she did come back it would be a bit of a shock. Thoughts of the recent past, the things that had happened in that house, suddenly crowded Carol’s mind. It was too painful to think about, so when there was a ring on the doorbell, Carol was glad of the distraction.
Even though there had been no sign of her father, Carol still looked out of the window to make sure it wasn’t him at the door, and was thankful to see that it was Amy. She ran downstairs to let her friend in, but Amy said, ‘Are you on your own? I’ve got something to tell you, but it needs to be in private.’
‘It’s all right, my brothers aren’t in. Come on up,’ she said and when they sat down in the living room, Carol could see how tense Amy was. ‘What’s wrong? Why do you need to talk to me in private?’
Amy swallowed as though nervous, but only said, ‘Tommy’s got bronchitis and he’s really rough.’
‘Oh, no wonder you look upset.’
‘Tommy’s brother has come home too. Jeremy is older than Tommy and has been away for about seven years. He seems all right, and he’s really good looking.’
‘Is that what you’ve come to talk to me about? Do you fancy him or something?’
‘No, of course not,’ Amy protested.
‘Then what is it?’
‘I … I was going to tell you about this yesterday, after work, but I saw your brothers arriving home and I didn’t want to talk to you in front of them. That’s why I came today, hoping they were out …’
Amy’s voice had trailed off and worried that she was in some kind of trouble, Carol urged, ‘You’re safe, we’re on our own, and if I can help you know I will.’
‘This … this isn’t about me. It’s about you. I hate to tell you this, and of course it’s all lies, but there’s some nasty gossip going round and I thought I should warn you.’
Carol’s stomach clenched. Surely it hadn’t come out after all this time? She dreaded what was coming, but had to ask, ‘What are they saying about me?’
‘They’re saying that you … well, you had an abortion.’
Carol lowered her head and ran both hands over her face as she groaned,