A Mother’s Sacrifice. Kitty Neale

inside, thinking it was strange for Harry to stop to talk to her. Normally, if she saw him in the street, he would just about manage to acknowledge her with a bit of a grunt.

      ‘I bet you’re fucking lying. All of you, you’re all as bad as each other! Glenda’s a lying bitch and a two-timing slag. I ain’t no fool!’ he yelled. ‘I know what she’s been up to and she’s gonna fucking well regret it! And so will that Frank Myers when I get my hands on him. You will too if I find out you knew anything about it.’

      Betty Howard was standing in the shop doorway with wide eyes, listening to the threatening exchange. Helen wanted to run and hide behind Betty, but somehow she gathered the strength to stand there and answer Harry back. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, and quite frankly I don’t want to know. This has nothing do with me, so please don’t try to involve me in anything to do with your marriage,’ she said, pretending to be affronted. ‘Now if you’ll excuse me …’

      Helen walked around Harry in the most dignified manner she could muster and headed back towards home. Her chest was hammering and tears welled up in her eyes. She could hear Harry shouting from behind her, his words terrifying her.

      ‘I’m telling you, Helen, I’ll find the pair of them, and I’ll knock down every fucking door in Battersea until I do. If you see her, tell her I’m coming for her and don’t think she can hide out at Ted’s house either!’

      A feeling of foreboding came over her. Obviously Harry had somehow found out about Glenda and Frank.

      After a few minutes, Helen looked back over her shoulder to see that Harry was nowhere in sight. With the view clear, she ran as fast as her chubby little legs would carry her, adrenalin speeding her along. Breathless and close to vomiting, she fumbled with the key in the door, desperate to warn her friend about Harry’s discovery.

      ‘GLENDA, GLENDA!’ Helen ran through to the kitchen to find Glenda gently rocking Johnnie on her lap. ‘I’ve just seen Harry and he’s on the warpath. He knows about you and Frank!’

      Glenda turned as white as a sheet and her bottom lip started to quiver as she placed Johnnie back in his pram. ‘How does he know? Oh, God, he’s gonna kill us! What can I do? Helen, I … I …’

      ‘You’ve got to get away. It’s the only thing you can do. Harry’s out for blood, Glenda.’

      ‘Oh, God, Frank! I’ve got to warn him. I’ve got to get to him before Harry does! Where was Harry going when you saw him?’ Glenda was shaking and pulling at her hair.

      ‘I don’t know, but how are you going to warn Frank? Do you know where he lives? And even if you do, it ain’t safe for you, Glenda. Think about it. What if you find out Frank’s address and go there, only for Harry to turn up too? It’ll make things worse.’

      ‘It can’t get any worse than this,’ wailed Glenda, ‘and I have to let Frank know. I love him, Hel, and I can’t let Harry hurt him. I know he lives in one of those prefabs down Sheepcote Lane so I’ll take my chances and make a dash for it.’

      ‘I still think it’s too dangerous, but if you insist on going I think you should leave Johnnie here. You’ll be faster without him, and just in case you do see Harry and he kicks off, it’ll be better if Johnnie’s safely here with me.’