her wedding.‘
It took a while for the penny to drop, but when it did, Pearl gasped. ‘You … you mean …?’
‘Yeah, she too was up the spout before she got married. It was common knowledge around here at the time, but there ain’t many left in the area who’d dare remind Dolly of the facts. She scares the life out of most people, even her old man, and that’s something she’s cultivated over the years. If you manage to get Kevin Dolby to own up to his responsibilities, you’re gonna have her as your mother-in-law, and as I said, the only way to stop her walking over you is to stand up for yourself from the start.’
Pearl knew she’d never have the courage to follow Bessie’s advice, and hung her head. ‘I’ve got to tell Kevin first and somehow I’ve got to catch him on his own.’
‘Even if he agrees to marry, you’d be mad to take him on. That young man will come to no good one day.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’ve got a funny feeling about Kevin Dolby. He might be a handsome bugger, but I reckon he’s a bad ’un. Now then, don’t look at me like that. I may be wrong, and anyway, I still think he’ll try to squirm out of it.’
Pearl stared at Bessie, her heart sinking. Yes, she knew about Kevin’s character and feared his reaction to the news too. But it was his baby, their child, the blame his as much as hers. Oh, surely he’d marry her, and once settled with a wife and child, surely he’d change. But what if Bessie was right? What if he tried to get out of it?’
Kevin Dolby heard the gossip as soon as he walked into the kitchen. His mother told him that Pearl was pregnant, and went on to say that it wasn’t Derek’s baby. He listened as she continued her tirade.
‘I’m not happy that Pearl walked out and if Madge doesn’t come back soon, we’ll be in a right old fix. Pearl’s staying with Bessie Penfold, but when your father went over there she refused to let him speak to the girl.’
Gertie pulled a face. ‘Yeah, Bessie can be a right old dragon, but I wonder if she knows who the father is.’
‘It’s got to be someone from round here, and from what we’ve been hearing, Derek Lewis is out for blood.’
Kevin blanched. Christ, if Pearl said it wasn’t Derek’s, it had to be his! So far it seemed that Pearl hadn’t named him, but for how long? He shuddered. When Derek found out he’d be mincemeat.
‘Are you all right, Kevin? You look a bit pale.’
‘It’s just a touch of asthma,’ he lied, relieved when Madge came into the kitchen, diverting his mother’s attention.
‘Well, it’s about time too,’ she snapped. ‘What did the doctor say?’
‘Huh, it was a waste of time. He said I’m on the change and have to expect hot flushes. I ain’t that old and couldn’t believe it, but it seems that some women start early.’
‘I hardly think this is a subject for my son to hear,’ Dolly snapped, but then she exhaled loudly. ‘Still, at least it’s nothing to worry about. I should have guessed. After all, I seem to be surrounded by Mrs Neverwells. I’m glad you’re back, Madge. As you can see, Pearl ain’t here so you’ll have to manage the lunchtime rush on your own.’
‘Pearl ain’t here. Why’s that?’
‘Mum, I’m going upstairs,’ Kevin interrupted.
‘Yeah, all right, son, and if your asthma is playing up, you’d best take it easy.’
Kevin nodded, leaving the kitchen before his mother told Madge about Pearl. Head down, he ignored his father as he headed upstairs. Christ, Derek would be out for blood soon. What was he going to do?
Kevin paced the room, finally deciding there was only one thing he could do, and that was to tell his mother.
He watched the clock, time ticking slowly until the café closed, and as she came upstairs, he blurted, ‘Mum, I’m in trouble, big trouble.’
Her face blanched. ‘What sort of trouble?’
‘Derek Lewis will be after my blood. He’ll make mincemeat out of me.’
Her broad forehead creased, the penny failing to drop. ‘Huh, I’d like to see him try. It’d be over my dead body, but why is he after you?’
‘Mum, do I have to spell it out? It’s Pearl. When Derek finds out, he’ll kill me.’
Dolly finally got it, her eyes rounding like saucers. ‘What! Don’t tell me that you’re the father?’
He nodded, seeing his mother stagger across the room before flopping onto the sofa. For a moment she rubbed huge hands across her face, her voice a growl. ‘I’ll kill that bloody girl.’
‘It isn’t Pearl who’s worrying me, Mum. It’s Derek Lewis.’
‘She’s having your baby and all you can say is you’re worried about Derek! Christ, son, get your priorities right.’ She shook her head in disgust, pinched her bottom lip between forefinger and thumb, then said, ‘Look, we need to think this through. How can you be sure you’re the father?’
‘Because I’ve had her and she’s already said it ain’t Derek.’
‘Don’t be crude. Anyway, she could have been with any number of men. If you ask me that girl has turned out to be nothing but a tart.’
He knew his mother was wrong, knew that Pearl was a virgin when he’d taken her. ‘She ain’t a tart, Mum. I was the first.’ Even as the words left his mouth he cursed himself. Pearl couldn’t prove he was the father and he should have kept his mouth shut. The trouble was he’d been too hung up about Derek Lewis to think straight, and now it was too late.
‘It could still be Derek’s.’
‘Leave it out, Mum. If Derek was the father she’d have said so.’
‘My God, this has come as such a shock and I can’t get my head round it. I need time to think, to work out what we’re going to do, and for that I need a bit of peace and quiet. Make me a cup of tea, and by the time you come back maybe I’ll have sorted something out.’
With a small nod Kevin left the room, feeling somewhat safer now. His mother wouldn’t let Derek Lewis touch him. He placed the kettle on the gas ring, thoughts now turning to Pearl and the baby. His mother said she’d sort something out, but would she make him marry the girl? No, surely not!
Dolly buried her head in her hands. Pearl was pregnant, Kevin was the father – and she was still struggling to accept it. The bloody girl had probably thrown herself at him and, like all men, when it was handed out on a plate he found impossible to resist. Damage control, that’s what she had to think about now, but the thought of losing her son to marriage made her groan in despair.
Dolly was desperate to find a solution, yet something Kevin said refused to go away. She tried to lock it behind a door in her mind, but it forced its way out. Kevin said he’d been the first, Pearl a virgin. Not only that, Pearl said with assurance that Derek wasn’t the father, and that meant she hadn’t slept with the man.
Dolly shook her head in despair again. She wanted to think the girl a tart, one who had set out to trap her son, but deep down knew it wasn’t true. Yet could they still bluff it out? Maybe they could accuse the girl of lying – but even as the thought crossed her mind, Dolly doubted it would work. Pearl had only been in the area a short time, but she was well liked and the locals might not take kindly to a denial. Dolly wasn’t stupid; she knew that, unlike Pearl, she wasn’t liked and many would be glad to see her brought down.
As her mind continued to work, Dolly came to the sickening conclusion that they had no choice. When Pearl named Kevin, he would have to face up to his responsibilities.
Once again Dolly groaned, dreading the idea of losing her son, yet as she closed her eyes